Columbus City Hall hosts Japanese junior high school students

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus City Hall welcomed 18 students from Miyoshi-Minami Junior High School in Miyoshi, Japan, for a tour and a firsthand look at city government as part of the long-standing sister‑city exchange on Thursday, August 20.

Executive Assistant to the Mayor, Nancy Wagner, welcomed the group outside City Hall and led them to a conference room, where she offered a brief history of the building and introduced Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon.   

Mayor Ferdon highlighted the exchange's significance, noting the joy and energy the students brought to City Hall. 

The day featured a tour of city departments and council chambers, where students were eager to photograph the architecture and history. 

To commemorate the visit, Mayor Ferdon and Yoko Hasegawa of the Miyoshi City Board of Education exchanged gifts. The students also received gift bags filled with items from the City of Columbus, the Columbus Fire Department, and the Columbus Police Department.    

Following the tour of City Hall, the students headed to the Columbus Police Department for a behind-the-scenes visit with Lt. Skylar Berry. He explained how the department is organized and walked the group through several functions. Outside, Berry invited the kids to climb into his police cruiser and turn on the lights and sirens.   

The Miyoshi group will spend eight days in Columbus, staying with host families and continuing a tradition of cultural exchange. Along with the 18 students and Hasegawa, the delegation includes Miyoshi-Minami Junior High School Principal Hioki Mutsuchika.     

The visit continues a custom that began in 1994, when Columbus and Miyoshi formalized their sister‑city relationship.