Middle School students from Mombetsu perform traditional and pop dance at the Oregon Coast Aquarium
The 50th Anniversary of the Newport/Mombetsu Sister City exchange is this year. There was a special city council meeting to welcome and introduce Mombetsu visitors to Newport. Host Families brought their guests to City Hall. There was an exchange of a Mayor to Mayor gift to commemorate the 50th anniversary and a tree planting. The Sister City project between Mombetsu and Newport began in November 1965 with a resolution passed by then Mayor Robert Updenkelder and in January 1966 a resolution was passed by the Mayor of Mombetsu Kanwich Kanwo declaring the sister city partnership. The First Official Delegation from Mombetsu arrived in Newport in the spring of 1966.
The exchanges began in earnest and have occurred with regularity over these past 50 years. It was also one of the goals to set up an exchange program for students to experience life in a different language and culture. Ms. Kimiko Kondo, was the first exchange student to Newport arriving after her parents visited in 1969. She stayed with the parents of Jeralyn Woodfield, who was the first exchange student to Mombetsu, where she lived with the Kondo family. The exchange program flourished and still runs today, bringing Rotary students to and from Newport on an annual basis. In July a delegation from Newport, including City Manager Spencer Nebel and former Mayor Mark McConnell and their wives, will travel to Mombetsu to participate in a similar celebration of the partnership.
