radio interview "Current State" wkar.org > Sister State since 1968

[originally aired Feb 14, 2014]
http://wkar.org/post/exploring-michigan-s-decades-long-relationship-japan
blurb,

In 1968, Michigan Governor George Romney signed an agreement with the governor of Shiga Prefecture, which is one of Japan’s 47 state-like territories, to create a sister state relationship. The cultural partnership between the two states is one of the longest-running in the country and is still going strong today.

Kate Simon, president of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Board, says the relationship developed because Shiga and Michigan both have great lakes...

Lake Biwa song (biwako no uta)

Traditional praise of the great freshwater lake around which Shiga prefecture takes its shape; about the surface are of Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay.

 - Riley Elementary 4th graders on the occasion of the 19th annual art exchange between St. Johns, Michigan and Konan-city, Shiga-prefecture, Japan.

art exchange 2014 - songs from Riley Elementary 4th grade

Under the direction of Ms. S. Ries at St. Johns Public Schools

Shabon-dama ('soap bubbles')

Chichipapa

Snow ('yuki' in Japanese, that is)