Isesaki officials to arrive in Springfield today

Among other stops on their tour of the area, the visitors will go to a tree-planting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. The planting will symbolize Isesaki’s commitment to its relationship with Springfield and will commemorate the city’s $17,000 gift to help Springfield replant areas of the garden damaged in last winter’s ice storm, according to a Springfield-Greene County Parks news release.

The visitors are staying with host families and will leave Sunday.

Several years have passed since a delegation of Isesaki officials visited Springfield, although a delegation of Isesaki gardeners recently came to help replant at the stroll garden.