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Birmingham seeks hosts for Japanese visitors

The city of Birmingham is looking for families willing to host three visitors from its Japanese sister city, Ritto, for four nights in September 2024.


The visitors – two students and an office worker – are part of a larger delegation from Japan’s Shiga Prefecture on a goodwill visit to experience Michigan’s culture from September 5 through 11. Other Michigan cities hosting citizens from their sister cities include Lansing (Otsu), Ann Arbor (Hikone), Grand Rapids (Omihachiman), Petoskey (Takashima) and Sault Ste. Marie (Ryuo).


The program is part of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Program (MSSSP), established in 1968. Shiga, a district located on Japan’s largest lake, shares a connection with Michigan and its Great Lakes.


The visitors coming to Birmingham – two students and an office worker – will need host families for the nights of September 6, 7, 8 and 9. Host families are also welcome to attend a September 10 farewell event in Lansing.


Interested hosts can contact Christina Woods, city of Birmingham Human Resources Manager, for more information at cwoods@bhamgov.org or (248) 530-1824.


“Past host families have found this to be a rewarding experience. This is a unique opportunity to share our Birmingham-American life with a visitor from over 6,500 miles away. It allows both of us to learn about each other's culture while gaining a deeper appreciation for our own community by seeing it through someone else's perspective,” Woods said.


Birmingham has welcomed more than 100 sister-city goodwill delegates through MSSSP’s goodwill missions since 2000. In addition to tourist attractions and activities, the delegates get to experience daily life firsthand through a homestay with a local host or host family. Delegates vary widely in age, profession, personal interests, etc. People of all backgrounds who are sincerely interested in international exchange are encouraged to participate – the goodwill mission coordinators work to match people accordingly. More information on MSSSP can be found at michiganshiga.org.

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