JAPAN- Our oldest and most active relationship is with Hitachi. Since 1983 over 250 Birmingham youngsters have traveled to Hitachi. We have an agreement whereby 2 Birmingham college graduates are employed by the Hitachi Board of Education for years service, and over 20 young people have participated in this program. Birmingham sent Hitachi a 10 foot replica of Vulcan which is displayed in the park overlooking the city.
Birmingham received large stone lanterns which greet visitors to the Botanical Garden. Hitachi has sent several delegations of city and economic development officials to Birmingham to study how we changed to a diverse economy. Adult exchanges have included museum groups, environmental groups, women’s rights groups and many other people of varied backgrounds. Positive media attention for this relationship has been common in Japan. For example several years ago when the Japanese Prime Minister made statements disparaging America’s multi-ethnic nature a Japanese film crew from their version of “60 Minutes” was in town for another story and also coincidentally there was a delegation of Japanese youth visiting Birmingham with home stays with local children’s families. The interviews of the Japanese and Birmingham children talking about how their experience had helped them understand each other was featured prominently on Japanese media in stories about the PM’s gaffe. A very positive rebuttal of a politician’s gaffe.
We also have a very positive relationship with Maebashi as a friendship city. They also employ our students, they have featured Birmingham poet Samuel Ullman in their city poetry museum and are sponsoring a major art show in Birmingham in 2005.
-Birmingham-Southern "Love Asia" club present donation of $2200.00 for
Hitachi Relief.
-Dear Mr. Colson,
Thank you very much for your concern.
I couldn't write to you sooner, because I had been to some shelters and take care of evacuees after the earthquake. I just came back to my office yesterday.
I am very sorry for making you worry, Mr. Colson, we (Jinichi, Reiko and all members of Community Relations Section) are a little bit tired but doing well here in Hitachi.
A large earthquake in the Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture in March 11th generated large tsunamis that caused great damage to a wide range of coastal areas in our city.
Fortunately no one died the tunami, but many houses and belongings were swept away.
After the earthquake and tunami, Jinichi and I went to one of the beach in the north part of Hitachi in order to examine disaster refuse.
We found a horrific injuries sight. Our beautiful beaches were gone. I was near to tears.
Some parts of the city are still without power and water and it may take a few more days before services are fully restored.
The tunami-hit regions may need 5 to 10 years for reconstruction.
The earthquake will be the most traumatic experience of our life.
Sorry for only a gloomy story. I'm not a pessimistic.
Thank you very much for your warm words of encouragement.
I really appreciate it. Your email really brightens up my day. Thank you!
Our city faces really daunting challenges, but we'll have to keep working!
Please say hello to Mayor Bell. His encouraging letter really touched all our hearts.
I'll keep in touch wherever I go.
Keep up the fantastic work, Mr. Colson!
Reiko Numata
Community Relations Section, Hitachi City
-We sent $30,000.00 to the Hitachi Earthquake Relief fund! Thanks to Birmingham Business Association, City of Birmingham and all of our volunteers for their help!
-Eight locally-made Birmingham quilts recently returned from a month-long exhibition in Hitachi, Japan where they were warmly received. The February 2011 show marked the seventh annual exhibition of Birmingham quilting in Hitachi.
- Tim and Masako Cook will be taking a group of UAB students to Hitachi, Japan the summer of 2012-we will have more information later
-Student artwork from Glen Iris and Robinson Elementary Schools students recently returned from a school exhibit in friendship city, Maebashi. They host elementary school sent back a large sample of their own students’ artwork to display at our local schools.
-Below are pictures from Hitachi students thanking us for our contributions to their Earthquake/Tsunami relief effort.
-May 11-21 a delegation will going to Jordan and Israel. Mayor Bell is
scheduled to go and Eric Essix will be performing in both cities. For
more information see the home page! You can be part of this delegation!
-Birmingham will send 3-6 runners to Maebashi for the annual run April 24. The Birmingham Track Club works with us on recruitment and selection of runners. For more information contact Johnaca Kelley btcpres09@gmail.com
-Eight locally-made Birmingham quilts recently returned from a month-long exhibition in Hitachi, Japan where they were warmly received.The February 2011 show marked the seventh annual exhibition of Birmingham quilting in Hitachi.
- Tim and Masako Cook will be taking a group of UAB students to Hitachi, Japan this summer
-New pictures from our successful Runners exchange April 20-24 for the Maebashi Run. Thanks to Birmingham Track Club for helping promote and coordinate this event and congratulations to our runners-Katie McGinly Shannon Talyor, Geoff Gottlieb, Joe Shaw, David Armistead, Christoph Berenotto
-Eight locally-made Birmingham quilts recently returned from a month-long exhibition in Hitachi, Japan where they were warmly received. The February 2009 show marked the fifth annual exhibition of Birmingham quilting in Hitachi.
-Student artwork from Glen Iris and Robinson Elementary Schools students recently returned from a school exhibit in friendship city, Maebashi. They host elementary school sent back a large sample of their own students’ artwork to display at our local schools.
-Birmingham is sending six runners to the Maebashi Run in April and the Birmingham Track Club will host three Maebashi runners in the fall for the Vulcan Run.
-Birmingham Boys Choir will visit Maebashi and Hitachi on a performance tour in June.
-We are working on an exchange of animals with Hitachi's Kamanie Park Zoo and our Birmingham Zoo. We will exchange a pair of beavers for a pair of Tanuki (raccoon dogs). In June 2006 we sent a group of 12 high school students for a week in Hitachi and we will host a group of 15 middle school students in Birmingham Aug. 3-6 2007.
-Birmingham Public Library will host a series of classes this summer to prepare students for the Hitachi Civic Center Computer Art contest. We also had a successful exchange of runners to Maebashi for their Marathon and will host runners from Maebashi for the Vulcan Run next year.
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