[Sister-City Exchange] Visit of a Delegation from Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, to Denver and Participation in the "Parade of Lights” (December 7th, 2024)

From December 5th to 10th, a delegation from Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, which has a sister-city relationship with Denver, visited Denver and other cities in Colorado. The delegation included representatives of the Takayama-Denver Friendship Association, teachers and students from Takayama Technical High School, an official of the Takayama City Hall, and others.

On the evening of December 7th, the 50th “Parade of Lights” was held in Denver, in which Takayama City participated as a sister city. The model of the Takayama Festival float, which was given to Denver by Takayama City in 1964 and recently restored by students of Takayama Technical High School, was brilliantly lit up and paraded through the city of Denver with a group dressed in traditional Japanese clothes, attracting many citizens who gathered along the way. The Takayama float’s procession was covered by local media, which you can see in the following link:

On December 9th, the delegation paid a courtesy call to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. In the evening of the same day, Consul-General Okajima hosted a reception for the Takayama delegation and Denver sister-city officials.

This visit deepened the long-standing sister-city relationship between Takayama and Denver. We hope the relationship between the two cities continues to flourish.