The Beginning: Miyazu, Japan, and Delray Beach, Florida, Sister Cities relationship was inspired by the generous donation from Mr. George Morikami. In 1906, Mr. Morikami immigrated to the United States joining the Japanese farming community in South Florida known as the Yamato Colony. Many of these Japanese farmers were also from Miyazu. Eventually Mr. Morikami purchased land in Delray Beach which is now the home to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. In 1973, after more than 65 years of farming, Mr. Morikami donated 200 acres of his land to Palm Beach County to establish a park. He passed away three years later. In 1977, the Morikami Museum opened on that land, realizing Mr. Morikami’s dream of a permanent bridge between the two great cultures of East & West. That same year the relationship between Miyazu & Delray Beach formalized as “Sister Cities.”
In 1991, a group of 10 businessmen from Miyazu, Japan, came to Delray Beach, Florida, to meet with Mayor Tom Lynch and contribute to the Morikami Museum building fund.
In 1994, Sister Cities of Delray Beach President David Schmidt traveled to Miyazu, Japan, with Delray Beach Mayor Tom Lynch. During that visit, Miyazu officials dedicated a new plaza near their civic center to Delray Beach.
1997 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the sister cities relationship between Delray Beach, Florida and Miyazu, Japan. In May, 1997 Miyazu Mayor Toshio Tokuda visited Delray Beach with a delegation of 25 persons. He presented Delray Beach with a large sculptural monument, on which the inscribed plaque reads “Under the blessing of the sun and on the earth, with this monument, we vow our eternal friendship, which contributes to world peace.”
In 1999, Delray Beach sent a delegation of business persons and officials to Miyazu to learn how Miyazu’s government and city operated. Representatives from Delray Beach included Deputy City Clerk Barbara Garito, Police Officer Tony Durante, Fire Lieutenant Larry Garito, and Chamber of Commerce President Bill Wood. They met with Miyazu Mayor Toshio Tokuda and other Japanese city officials.
STUDENT EXCHANGES: In 1999, Sister Cities of Delray Beach sent its first group of high school students to Miyazu to act as student ambassadors between the two cities. Likewise, Miyazu also sent some of their high school students to Delray Beach. Since then, a group of student ambassadors from Delray Beach has visited Miyazu every two years to continue the exchange of cultural understanding and friendship, with Miyazu students visiting about every two years. The students share homestays and attend school with their host brother or sister. They tour the area with host families and city representatives, visit with city officials, and enjoy cultural exchange. Unfortunately, that streak was broken in 2020 when travel was restricted due to the Covid pandemic. Sister Cities of Delray Beach renewed the exchange with Miyazu and sent 5 Student Ambassadors to Miyazu in June 2024 to continue this vital part of the Sister Cities mission. This student exchange program has established life-long friendships, and many of the students have maintained relationships with their host families, including visiting again.
Delray Beach Brings Together Two of its Sister Cities: In 2002, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the official Sister Cities bond between Delray Beach and Miyazu, Sister Cities of Delray Beach hosted a Conference. This Conference brought together a 16-member delegation from Delray Beach’s sister city of Moshi, Tanzania, and a 12-member delegation from its sister city of Miyazu, Japan. This culture-sharing allowed two Sister Cities of Delray Beach relations to meet. Following the conference, Miyazu assisted Moshi in acquiring buses and other vehicles for their city. In attendance from Japan were Miyazu Mayor Toshio Tokuda, President of their Friendship Committee Sumiko Kurita, Chamber of Commerce Head Mr. Imani, Speaker of City Commissioners Kazuhiko Kimura, and eight other city employees and Miyazu citizens. Part of the Tanzania delegation included Lord Mayor Lucas Tarimo of Moshi, Tanzania, Kjell Bergh, Honorary Consul General, Tanzania, Maria Nhambu-Bergh and other prominent members of the delegation. Representatives for Delray Beach were Mayor David Schmidt, Sister Cities President Charlotte Durante, Sister Cities of Delray Beach members Bob Barcinski, James and Chieko Mihori, Ngozi and Rhonda Mensah, Chamber President Bill Wood, and other Delray Beach City Commissioners. Other officials and citizens included Officer Tony Durante, a fluent Japanese speaker aiding the translations.
Sister Cities of Delray Beach Meets with a Descendant of George Morikami in Japan: In June 2024, Sister Cities of Delray Beach Student Ambassadors, along with Board Members Tony Durante and Nancy King, met with Aiko Morikami, the grand-niece of George Morikami. George Morikami is the “human link” between the Sister Cities relationship between Delray Beach and Miyazu.