Former Mayor Blake Inscore will be the guest speaker at a Sister Cities International Summit in Japan, September 16-19.
“It’s the last big push for tourism,” retorted Inscore.
The list of cities totals 90 communities attending is long and storied. As guest speaker, Inscore will have the opportunity to relate the special relation ship Crescent City enjoys with Rikuzentakata following the deadly tsunami of 2011. The Japanese barnacled-covered boat called the Kamome drifted across the vast Pacific Ocean and landed on the Del Norte coastline in 2018, student volunteers cleaned up the Kamome and outreach between Del Norte and the Japanese consulate in San Francisco was established to return the little vessel to its forever home.
Efforts to establish a sister- city relationship ensued to present day.
World Expo 2025 is a six- month event that began in April and concludes in October.
Led by Kamome Foundation president, Del Norte Sheriff Bill Steven and Hallie DeArman. Who were part of the original delegation which visited Rikuzentakata, the duo will be part of 27 member delegation from Del Norte County.
Funding for the event is provided by a Federal Sister city grant.
Foundation president Steven credited the Kamome and Tsunami event, none of all the good will would have taken place.”