Sister City Relationships
Macon- Kurobe
The sister city relationship between Macon and Kurobe was established on May 10, 1977. The partnership was facilitated by YKK, which has large plants in both cities.
The sister city relationship was established to accomplish the following four objectives:
Establish cultural and educational exchange programs;
Establish and create trade, industrial and commercial relationships between Macon and Middle Georgia and Kurobe City, Japan;
Develop medical and health care interchange programs to the benefit of the citizens of the two cities;
Share in programs of education and information so as to create understanding and goodwill between the people of the City of Kurobe and the City of Macon.
In the four decades since the relationship was established, more than 500 students have visited each other’s cities. Every two years, students from Sakurai High School visit Macon for a one week home stay and cultural exchange. Every other year, students from Kurobe’s four middle schools visit Macon, while high school students from Macon visit Kurobe in alternating years.
The cities of Macon and Kurobe also have an active medical exchange between Navicent Health, Mercer University, and Kurobe City Hospital. Since the program’s inception in 2003, 63 medical residents, 11 nurses and 3 healthcare providers from Kurobe have visited Macon-Bibb County, while 42 doctors and 16 nurses from Macon-Bibb County have visited Kurobe.
City officials have also actively engaged in exchange activities. To date, mayors Buckner Melton, George Israel, Lee Robinson, Tommy Olmstead, Jim Marshall, Jack Ellis, and Robert Reichert have all visited Kurobe together with delegations of comprised of city employees and business leaders.
The International Cherry Blossom Festival has also been a huge supporter of the sister relationship, with festival founder Carolyn Crayton making the voyage to Kurobe 6 times. Many students from Kurobe have had the rare opportunity to ride the YKK float in the Cherry Blossom Festival parade, to the great delight of participant and spectator alike.
YKK is proud to have supported this important interpersonal exchange program for the past 40 years.
History and Timeline of events: History of Sister City Relationship between Macon and Kurobe
Dublin- Osaki
The sister city relationship between Dublin and Osaki (formerly Sambongi) was established on May 29, 1998. The partnership was facilitated by YKK AP, which has has a manufacturing facility in both Dublin and Osaki.
In the two decades since the relationship was established, more than 130 students have visited each other’s cities, with high school students from Dublin and Osaki alternating visits each year.
City officials have also actively engaged in exchange activities. Mayor of Sambongi Buichiro Sato visited Dublin in March 2004 and Mayor of Dublin Phil Best visited Sanbongi in May 2004 together with delegations comprised of city employees and business leaders.
YKK AP takes great pride in its support for the sister city relationship and the close bonds of friendship that have been formed over the past 20 years. is proud to have supported this important interpersonal exchange program for the past 40 years.
History and Timeline of Events: History of Dublin-Osaki Exchange
