Friendship Programs The 40th Anniversary Takayama Delegation visited Denver ..June 28 to July 6, 2000 .....69 members including Mayor Tsuchino, Mr. Shimada, the president of the Takayama City Council, Mr. Shimohata, the president of TDFA, and Mr. Minotani, the chairperson of the Takayama Chamber of Commerce & Industry visited Denver to celebrate the 40th anniversary with our friends. .....The Sister Cities International Conference 2000 was held when the delegation was there. .....Tsubouchikai performing arts group, Nabeshima Japanese tea group, and Iwahata kimono dressing group also join the tour to introduce our culture to not only the citizens of Denver, but to all participants of the conference. Opening Ceremony and Parade of Nations for the Conference .....Takayama members wearing traditional Japanese costume joined the opening ceremony and the parade of nations for the conference. .....The ceremony was held at the Civic Center Park on the 29th of June Mayor's International Reception for the Conference .....In honor of the international guests of the Sister Cities International Conference 2000 and the United States/Africa Sister Cities Conference, also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Denver-Takayama sister city agreement, Mayor's reception hosted by Mayor Wellington E. Webb was held at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. .....Tsubouchikai Performing Arts group performed their excellent music of Japanese drums and shamisens. Re-signing of the Denver-Takayama Sister City Agreement .....At the time of the Mayor's International Reception, Mayor Tsuchino and Mayor Webb re-signed the sister city Agreement and confirmed further promotion of the friendship between the two cities. Cherry Creek Arts Festival .....Tsubouchikai performing arts group, Nabeshima Japanese tea group, and Iwahata kimono dressing group demonstrated their skillful form of the arts at Cherry Creek Performing Arts Festival and received high praise from the audience. =To the Top of This Page= The 40th Anniversary Denver Delegation visited Takayama .. September 30 to October 3, 2000 .....22 members including Mrs. Kimiko Side, the chairperson of DTSCC, Ms. Teddie Throm, the former president of DSCI, Ms. Rosy Griffiths, the president of DSCI, and Mr. Tom Migaki, the manager of the Department of General Services of the City and County of Denver, and Mr. Eric Hiraga, International Trade Specialist of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development & International Trade of the City and County of Denver visited Takayama to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the sister city agreement. Takayama City Memorial Day Ceremony & Proclamation of Denver Week .....The Denver delegation attended the Takayama City Memorial Ceremony which was held at City's Culture Center on the 1st of November. .....At the ceremony, Mayor Tsuchino presented letters of appreciation to those who have contributed to promoting the sister city relationship. .....Mayor Tsuchino also proclaimed from 30th of September to the 5th of November to be known as "Denver Week". .....Lettres of appreciation were presented to; .....Mrs. Kimiko Side, chairperson of Denver Takayama Sister City Committee .....Ms. Teddie Throm, former president of Denver Sister Cities International .....Dr. Masatoshi Murata, former president of Takayama Denver Friendship Ass. .....Dr. Akira Hisakane, former president of Takayama Denvere Friendship Ass. .....Mr. Bill Hosokawa .....Ms. Elizabeth Rose, former chairperson of Denver Takayama Sister City Committee .....Takayama Denver Friendship Association .....Takayama Wind Orchestra Ceremony and Reception of the 40th Anniversary of the Sister City Affiliation .....The official ceremony and reception of the 40th anniversary of the sister city tie were held on the 1st of November. .....About 130 local people attended, and all of them agreed to further promote the friendship between the two cities. Mr. Shimohata, the president of Takayama Denver Friendship Association awarded those who have contributed the sister city promotion programs. Recipients of award are; .....Mrs. Kimiko Side, chairperson of Denver Takayama Sister City Committee .....Ms. Teddie Throm, former president of Denver Sister Cities International .....Dr. Akira Hisakane, former president of Takayama Denvere Friendship Ass. .....Takayama Denver Friendship Association .....Takayama Wind Orchestra =To the Top of This Page= Simon & Son Friendly Concert .. June 18 - 21, 2001 .....Peter Simon and his son, Saling visited Takayama to have Friendly Concert. They made excellent music at the concert, as well as at the Kita Elementary School where children enjoyed their perfromance. =To the Top of This Page= Denver Brass Concert .. February 24, 2002 .....Aries Brass Quintet of the Denver Brass from Denver University had an excellent concert in Takayama. They are F. Joseph (trumpet), Alan (trumpet), Susane (French horn), Jopseph (trombone) and Kathy (tuba). Thye people of Takayama were facinated by their beautiful sound. =To the Top of This Page= Yatai (festival float) Restoring Project .. July, 2002 .....A replica of the famous Takayama Festival Float was presented to Denver in 1964 when the first official delegation from Takayama visisted Denver. The replica had been displayed at the Sakura Square for a long time, and it had been damaged by the length of time. Then, the memmbers of the Denver Takayama Sister City Committee took the first stand to restore the float, and the citizens of Takayama also donated the funds to repair it. .....Thanks to the hard work of our friends of DTSCC and the city of Denver, the replica was completely restored. Now it is exhibited carefully at the Sakura Square. Now it's reborn!! =To the Top of This Page= OFFICES TAKAYAMA (Takayama-Denver Friendship Association) c/o Mayor's Office, Takayama Municipal Office 2-18 Hanaoka, Takayama, Gifu 506-8555, Japan TEL:0577-35-3130 / FAX:0577-36-2060 e-mail:takayama@gix.or.jp DENVER (Denver Takayama Sister City Committee) Mrs. Rosy Griffiths, Chairperson Mrs. Kimiko Side, Honorary Chairperson 225 South Grape Street Denver, CO 80246 USA TEL&FAX (303)333-5200