by Kevin Smith
Logansport officials extended a hand of friendship and welcome to 10 representatives from the Japanese city of Mibu Town Tuesday afternoon.
The delegates are visiting the area for two days this week in what officials from both communities hope will be the latest step in forming a long-term sister city relationship between the two communities.
Deanna Crispen, executive director of the Cass County Community Foundation, who was part of the Logansport group who visited Mibu Town, said that it was like catching up with old friends when they met the party in Chicago.
“It was so exciting when the bus pulled in to the hotel to see the same people.” Crispen said. “There are four that we already had a connection with and one brought the business cards that we gave him when we visited to show us.
“They are so excited to learn about things that we are able to see and do and take for granted everyday. You see it through their eyes and it makes you think that we do actually have some pretty cool stuff.”
Mibu Town has an estimated population of 39,911 and is located in the Japanese prefecture of Tochigi, Indiana’s sister prefecture, on the island of Honshu.
The delegates began their visit with a whistle-stop tour of Logansport Memorial Hospital, led by Chief Operating Officer Alan Biggs. The visitors were shown the hospital’s emergency room, X-ray department and were given a brief overview of the type of care offered at the hospital and how the American health care system operates.
Later the delegates smiled and laughed as they grabbed the brass ring at the Cass County Carousel before a barbecue dinner reception at the home of Skip Kuker, president of Logansport Cass County Economic Development Foundation.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mibu Town Mayor Hideo Shimizu said the delegation is hoping to form a lasting relationship with Logansport.
His first impressions of the city were that it is much bigger than he expected, with its buildings and homes spread out more than in Japan.
The mayor explained Mibu Town, like Logansport, is predominately an agriculture community close to Tokyo that is seeking greater industrial development.
“We are very close to Tokyo and are the production base for stable and farm production for the area,” Shimizu said. “We are trying to invite some more industry to try and change our main industry to manufacturing.”
Mayor Mike Fincher said the visit is an opportunity for the city to build relationships with Mibu dignitaries and to expand its cultural understanding which is increasingly important in a globalized society.
“Our world is becoming smaller and it is becoming more important that we learn to live together and work together to help each other,” Fincher said. “It is important that we become aware of other cultures. With the influence of the Hispanic and Burmese population that we’re now getting in Logansport its now obvious that we are a diverse community and we want to build on that.”
The tour will continue today with stops at Cole Hardwood, Eshelman Farms, the Cass County Historical Museum and Logansport High School planned. The trip will conclude this evening with a farewell dinner at the Logansport Country Club.
Fincher hopes the delegates will leave the area with a sense of the friendliness of the community and the sincerity of its people.
“I hope that they leave Logansport with a soft spot in their heart so they want to become more involved not just in Logansport and Cass County, but in the state of Indiana as well,” he said.
• Kevin Smith is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5148 or kevin.smith@pharostribune.com
