Sister City - Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Since 1968, Seward has had a sister-city relationship with Obihiro, Japan. Obihiro is located on the northern island of Hokkaido. This relationship began during the tenure of then-Seward Mayor Bob Richardson and Yasuhiko Ohsono. Seward and Obihiro have exchanged students each year since 1973. Seward presents the city of Obihiro, Japan with an Alaskan Gold Pan as a Mayor's Trophy for their annual Heigen Festival, and Obihiro, Japan presents Seward with many Fourth of July Mt. Marathon trophies and a Silver Salmon Derby trophy each year. In the early years, Seward gifted Obihiro with a live Alaskan moose, that held residence in their zoo for many years.

Every year we participate in a Student Exchange. Students from Obihiro are flown from Obihiro to Tokyo to Fairbanks, then to Seward where they meet a City Staff that picks them up from the airport and drives them to Seward to have Welcome Party and meet their homestay hosts that are locals here in Seward. After Obihiro Students visit Seward, the Seward Students are flown to Tokyo (along with the Obihiro Students that are returning back to Obihiro) to the Obihiro Airport where they meet with their homestay hosts. They stay in homes of Japanese citizens in the community. They share stories, learn their cultural ways, experience the food culture, and other activities.

The exchange timeframe is end of July to mid-August for both Obihiro and Seward Students.

Sister City Student Exchange Program Application 2025 - Application - Due Date April 4, 2025

If you are interested in being a host family, please contact the City Clerk's Office.

2024 Student Exchange between Obihiro, Japan and Seward, Alaska  

The Obihiro students and Seward students exchanged cities to build a stronger relationship with each other where they had a wonderful experience teaching each other different experiences and learning cultural differences.  See the links below of pictures of the exchanges and what the students participated in.

2024 Sister City Student Exchange to Obihiro

2024 Sister City Student Exchange to Seward

55th Anniversary Adult Delegation between Obihiro, Japan and Seward, Alaska

The year 2023 marked the 55th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Seward, Alaska and Obihiro, Japan.  In honor of this anniversary, a group of citizens was chosen to visit Seward, Alaska, along with Obihiro’s City Officials and Mayor. Then in October, Council Members Robert Barnwell and Randy Wells, City Manager Kat Sorensen, Deputy City Clerk Jodi Kurtz and Karen Cooper McLoughlin and along with citizens from Seward traveled to Obihiro and visited their wonderful city. Both adult groups enjoyed learning about different cultures and experienced new adventures.  Click below on the links of some pictures and slideshow of the adventures.

Obihiro, Japan Citizens and City Officials to Seward, Alaska Photos

Seward, Alaska Citizens and Staff to Obihiro, Japan Photos

Port City - Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Seward also has a sister-Port City relationship with Kushiro, Japan, also located on the northern island of Hokkaido. Officials from Kushiro have also participated in delegation exchanges over the years. We have had this relationship since about 1982. Seward sends an Alaskan Gold Pan for the "Best Seamanship award" to the winner of the yacht race at their annual Port Festival.

In 2024 at the time of the Obihiro Student Exchange, we had the opportunity to travel to Kushiro, Japan for a day trip, rode the train to Kushiro, met with City Officials who took us to the Port of Kushiro, Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, and to City Hall. Please view the pictures in the link below to see the adventures the students got to experience.

2024 Student Exchange to Obihiro – Day in Kushiro, Japan

Friendship City - Yeosu City, South Korea

Seward has a friendship Sister-City relationship with Yeosu City, South Korea. Delegations have traveled back and forth. Most interactions and meetings revolve around trade, commerce and strengthening the relationship bond.  We look forward to more interaction and collaboration with this great city in the near future.

History on Sister City Exchanges

Sister City History

Res1967-666 Declaring Sister Cities

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