TYLER, Texas — This week, the Tyler City Council celebrated 30 years of Tyler having a sister city relationship with Yachiyo, Japan.
During the city council meeting Wednesday, Tyler leaders honored its relationship with its second Sister City Community that began in 1992.
According to the city, Tyler sent the first two Texas teachers to Yachiyo to teach in junior high schools as a one-year pilot program and since then, a long-standing Assistant Language Teacher Program has blossomed. Tyler and Yachiyo are both medium-sized cities near major metropolitan areas as Tyler is close to Dallas and Yachiyo is close to Tokyo.
Additionally, Yachiyo is also a major agricultural producer of roses and the city has its own rose garden as well, according to the city of Tyler.
Over the years, there has been a shared biannual trip rotation schedule between the cities. Due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the cities' twinning was delayed.
In November, a group from Tyler traveled to Yachiyo, including Jennifer Rader, the current president of Tyler Sister Cities. Rader received a commemorative award from the mayor of Yachiyo to celebrate 30 years of being sister cities.
President Dwight Eisenhower started the Sister City partnerships in 1956 to promote peace and diplomatic ties. Other sister cities of Tyler include: Jelenia Gora, Poland; Lo Barnechea, Chile; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and Liberia, Costa Rica.
Those interested in being members of the Tyler Sister Cities program to encourage international citizen diplomacy can learn more by visiting this link: Membership – Tyler Sister Cities.