LIMA, Oh (WLIO) – The cherry blossoms may not have been in full bloom, but the fun was at the annual Lima Sister Cities Association’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
The festival took place at Lima’s Japanese garden, where nine Japanese cherry trees were planted as a gift from Lima’s sister city, Harima-Cho. The Lima Sister Cities Association hosts the festival to honor the gift and recognize the cultural exchange between the two cities. There was music from the J-Art Band, activities and games for people to try. This year marks 25 years of that relationship, which continues to grow stronger between Lima and Harima-Cho.
“Well, we're very proud of our volunteers, of the hard work that everyone has put into it, and there have been some turnovers. We have a new mayor. They have a new mayor in Harima-Cho. So, we've had official visits to meet the new administrations. It's all been so good, and it's just been growing our relationships. We go to Japan, we meet old friends, and we make new ones," said Sandra Liechty of the Lima Sister Cities Association.
This summer, another Sister Cities delegation of students and adults will head to Japan for a cultural trip. They will also attend the World Expo, which will take place in Japan during their visit.
