Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin on Friday welcomed a 27-member delegation from Kochi, Japan, as part of the Sister Cities program.
The delegation, which includes Mayor Seiya Okazaki and junior city chamber of commerce members, will stay until Sunday, visiting various places in the San Joaquin Valley.
The sister-city relationship between Kochi and Fresno began in 1965, according to Judie Brown, who has been organizing the cultural exchanges between the cities for the past 18 years and was also honored for her service during Friday's ceremony.
Akira Fukui, right foreground, president of the Kochi-Fresno Sister City Committee, points out details in a gift to the city of Fresno as Mayor Seiya Okazaki, left, and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin hold the banner for those gathered at Fresno City Hall on Friday afternoon.
Judie Brown, right, is surprised by a certificate presented to her by Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin honoring her service as chair of the program.
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