Japanese Friends

A delegation of city officials from Springfield’s Japanese sister city, Isesaki, arrived in Springfield on Nov. 7. Along with historic City Hall, the delegation was scheduled to attend a Nov. 10 tree-planting ceremony at the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. The event commemorated Isesaki’s $17,000 gift to help Springfield replant areas of the garden damaged in last winter’s ice storm. The visitors, led by Hiroshi Kaneko, above center, Isesaki International Relations Association vice president, stayed with host families and left Nov. 11.