Saginaw City – United States of America

In 1961, Tokushima City established its first sister city relationship.

Saginaw City is located in the north-east, Great Lakes section of the United States in the state of Michigan. It is located in the central-eastern part of the state and has a population of about 60,000 people. The word “Saginaw” is said to mean “place of the outlet” in the language of the indigenous people of the area. Just as Saginaw’s meaning states, the city has 4 large rivers, including the Saginaw River, which all merge and flow into the Saginaw Bay.

An agricultural exchange student was sent to Saginaw City and became very close with his host family during his stay in the city. After the student returned to Japan, the idea of starting a sister city relationship with Saginaw City was proposed as a amicable connection with the city continued. In the summer of 1961, after a friend of the original host family became the mayor of Saginaw City, this idea become a reality, and on that same year on December 23rd, the Tokushima City Council adopted Saginaw City as a sister city.