Rochester Mayor Malik Evans welcomes Japanese delegation to celebrate 30 years of Sister Cities partnership with Hamamatsu

Rochester, New York – Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans welcomed a delegation from Hamamatsu, Japan, to City Hall on Thursday to celebrate three decades of friendship between the two cities and renew their commitment to expanding cooperation in business, education, culture and technology.

The visit marked the 30th anniversary of the Rochester-Hamamatsu Sister Cities relationship, which began in 1996 and has continued to connect the two communities through international exchanges and shared interests.

Hamamatsu Mayor Yusuke Nakano led the Japanese delegation during the visit, which included meetings with Rochester officials and participation in the International Sister Cities of Rochester Annual Reception.

Evans and Nakano met with members of the delegation Thursday afternoon before attending the reception, where the two mayors took part in a ceremonial re-signing of the Sister Cities agreement.

The ceremony recognized the relationship established three decades ago while highlighting plans to develop new opportunities for residents, educational institutions and businesses in both cities.

“It is an honor to welcome Mayor Nakano and the Hamamatsu delegation to Rochester as we celebrate 30 years of friendship between our cities,” said Mayor Evans. “This recommitment builds on our shared history and opens the door to new partnerships in business, education, culture and innovation that will create lasting opportunities for both communities.”

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Although Rochester and Hamamatsu are located thousands of miles apart, the cities share several important economic and academic interests.

Hamamatsu is known as a major Japanese center for photonics, optics and medical research. The city also has a strong manufacturing industry, particularly in the automotive and musical instrument sectors.

Its growing photonics industry, often described as the “Photon Valley” economy, includes Hamamatsu Photonics, a company specializing in advanced optical technologies.

Several internationally recognized manufacturers, including Yamaha, Kawai, Suzuki and Honda, also reflect Hamamatsu’s importance in music and industrial production.

Rochester has its own established strengths in optics and photonics, along with higher education, healthcare, medical research and the arts.

These similarities were among the main subjects discussed during the Japanese delegation’s visit, with officials exploring ways to create stronger connections between businesses, universities and research organizations.

Particular attention was given to potential cooperation in optics, photonics, medical research and music, industries that play important roles in both communities.

Another major topic involved preparations for a future Rochester delegation to visit Hamamatsu.

City officials discussed organizing a trip by 2028 or 2029 that would bring together representatives from Rochester’s business, education, music, cultural and tourism sectors.

The proposed visit would provide opportunities to strengthen existing relationships while exploring additional partnerships between organizations and institutions in the two cities.
Cultural exchanges were also identified as an important part of future cooperation, helping residents learn more about each other’s communities while supporting broader economic and educational goals.

Beyond business and cultural partnerships, the discussions addressed challenges affecting both cities.

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Officials exchanged ideas about encouraging young people to remain in their communities after completing high school or college, improving quality of life and responding to the needs of aging populations.

These conversations reflected an effort to use the Sister Cities partnership not only to celebrate cultural connections but also to share approaches to common local challenges.

International Sister Cities of Rochester continues to support the city’s international relationships through volunteer-led programs involving education, culture, civic engagement and economic exchange.

The organization’s work helps maintain connections between Rochester and its partner cities around the world.

Thirty years after Rochester and Hamamatsu first established their partnership, the latest visit and ceremonial agreement reaffirmed their intention to continue working together.

With potential new partnerships and a future delegation visit under discussion, both cities are looking to build on their longstanding relationship through practical cooperation in the years ahead.