The Governor of Shiga Prefecture, Taizo Mikazuki, is ready to go to Michigan in September 2026 to strengthen the long-standing sister state relationship that each areas share as they strategy the sixtieth anniversary of their connection in 2028. The alliance, established in 1968 on account of a standard hyperlink to Lake Biwa in Shiga and the Great Lakes in Michigan, would be the focus of Mikazuki’s go to.
Throughout almost 60 years, the connection has expanded past environmental similarities to embody schooling, tradition, financial system, and environmental domains, affecting greater than 11,000 people by way of quite a few change applications. Prominent amongst these initiatives are the highschool pupil change program and reciprocal visits of friendship delegations.
A pivotal second occurred in September 2025 when Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer visited Shiga Prefecture, marking her as the primary worldwide dignitary to handle the Shiga Prefectural Assembly corridor and reaffirming the enduring connections between the areas.
Mikazuki’s Michigan itinerary features a go to to Marquette City, linked as a sister metropolis to Higashiomi City in Shiga. He will meet locals who’ve regularly supported the change efforts between the 2 cities. Additionally, Mikazuki will partake in Michigan’s famend Mackinac Bridge Walk with Governor Whitmer, providing a platform for the governors to deliberate on the way forward for the sister state relationship.
While in Detroit, Governor Mikazuki will discover strategic alliances by visiting ‘Michigan Central,’ a newly established heart for innovation uniting business, academia, and authorities to advertise collaboration. The initiative symbolizes the development of Shiga and Michigan’s relationship into new sectors like startups, human useful resource growth, and regional revitalization.
As each entities strategy the sixtieth anniversary of their sister state relationship, Shiga Prefecture goals to transition their change program right into a sustainable mannequin for future generations, fostering a broader cooperative relationship constructed on a shared historical past and mutual pursuits.