What's New: After a busy Spring, PSSCA is now shifting our attention to our 2 big Fall events.

The first is our Annual Barbeque, to be held this year on Saturday, September 6 at 12 Noon. We will be at Mt. Tabor Park, site B again this year. There is no charge for members or invited guests. Please come join us! Map of Mt. Tabor Park

Our other event is Festival Japan on 27-28 September. This popular event is co-sponsored by JASO and Uwajimaya and will once again be held in the parking lot at Uwajimaya in Beaverton. PSSCA has participated in this event for many years and we always have a good time. By popular demand we are bringing back the Sapporo Style Corn that was such a hit last year. Please stop by and see us!

Also, check out the Touring Hokkaido video in the Photo Gallery section. Hokkaido has amazing variety and this video gives the viewer a quick look at all Hokkaido has to offer.

Welcome
Welcome to the home page for the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Association. We are located in beautiful Portland, OR, home to a vibrant and thriving Japanese community. Our relationship with Sapporo started in 1959 and is Portland's longest running Sister City relationship. We are celebrating our 49th year and are looking forward to many more years of friendship and cooperation.

Sapporo is located on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Sapporo and Portland are similar in size, geography, and citizens' attitude toward open spaces and a clean environment. Through our relationship with Sapporo, thousands of Portland children and adults are exposed to Japanese culture by group affiliations and special events.

An active all-volunteer organization, PSSCA has been the recipient of many awards over the years. Some of the most recent are:

• Readers Digest Foundation Award for outstanding Sister City programs (6 times)


• Japan Foreign Minister's Commendation - 2004


• Portland Mayor's Spirit Award - 2004

Our recent 45th Anniversary celebration was huge success in both cities, with official delegations traveling to the Sister city for a week-long celebration. PSSCA hosted approximately 60 Sapporo citizens in June, 2004 for a series of special events, visits with businesses and civic leaders, and a picnic attended by several hundred people. A delegation from Portland visited Sapporo in February, 2005 lead by Portland Mayor Tom Potter and his wife. Our delegation of 40+ enjoyed 5 days of special events, headlined by the opening ceremonies of the world famous Sapporo Snow Festival. Both groups had an excellent experience in the Sister city and plans are already underway for the 50th Anniversary coming up in 2009. There will be many local activities and opportunities to visit our Sister City.

We hope you spend some time looking around our site and learning more about this special relationship.