In 1985, Dr. Hiroyuki Hamada, Professor at Old Dominion University, organized a “Friendship” exchange visit to Miyazaki City, a port city of approximately the same population as the City of Virginia Beach, located on the southeastern coast of Japan as is Virginia Beach in the United States. The Mayor of Miyazaki City, Dr. Nagotomo, hosted the student exchange and affirmed there should be a continuing “goodwill” relation between Virginia Beach and Miyazaki City.
In 1982, Virginia Beach Mayor Oberndorf accompanied Dr. Hamada and his ODU student delegation to Miyazaki City, met with Mayor Nagatoma, and confirmed intent to establish a Sister City relationship. The relationship was adopted by both City Councils and Chartered by Sister Cities International, May 25, 1992.
Miyazaki Mayor Tsumura came to Virginia Beach with a Delegation in 1997 to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the Virginia Beach / Miyazaki City relationship. In commemoration of this Anniversary, the Miyazaki Garden, an authentic Japanese garden, was dedicated at Red Wing Park, the beginning of a beautiful asset for our City.
The Delegation was introduced to the Volunteer Council in Virginia Beach. They were so impressed by this unique “workforce” of Volunteers, serving side-by-side with paid Virginia Beach City Staff, they were convinced Miyazaki City had the same need.
Miyazaki City dedicated four blocks of their downtown area [formerly the Farmers’ Market] to create the “Virginia Beach Square” with a thirty-foot replica of the original Cape Henry, Virginia Beach, lighthouse and a park setting for their citizens.
The Miyazaki-Virginia Beach relationship has continued to flourish for more than 20 years.
