HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 97-4648, by Representatives Dunn, D. Schmidt, Thompson, Schoesler, Tokuda, Kenney, Constantine, Cooper, Doumit, Ogden, Cody, H. Sommers, Dunshee, Conway and Veloria

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture have shared an active sister-state relationship for thirty-four years, the longest such relationship in the United States; and

      WHEREAS, Several communities in the State of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture have active sister community relationships, including:  Auburn and Kasuga; Kent and Kaibara; Kittitas County and Sanda City; Olympia and Yashiro; Pullman and Kasai City; Renton and Nishiwaki; Seattle and Kobe; Sequim and Yamasaki; Spokane and Nishinomiya; and Walla Walla and Sasayama; and

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture Legislative Friendship Committee was founded three years ago by the Washington State Legislature to foster a continued exchange of friendship and information between our two legislative bodies; and

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture sister-state relationship has resulted in cultural changes, including sister-school relationships, such as that of Olympia High School and Yashiro High School, the social science teacher exchange program, and other faculty and student exchange programs that have benefited both of our regions; and

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture sister-state relationship has resulted in the opening of the Hyogo Cultural Center in Seattle, the Washington Village housing project in Sanda City, the sister-port relationship between the Port of Seattle and the Port of Kobe, and The Evergreen State College-Kobe College (Kobe Shodai) exchange relationship; all of which foster valuable business ties between our regions; and

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture sister-state relationship has resulted in cultural exchanges including:  The formation of the Hyogo Cultural Center in Seattle, arts exchanges between the Washington State Arts Commission and the Hyogo Prefectural Cultural Association, the Youth Tree Exchange, and the New Leader State Employee Exchange Program, that have enriched the cultures of both the State of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture; and

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture sister-state relationship has formed an alliance of camaraderie in many areas, such as natural disaster commonalities, including recently and most specifically the volcanic eruptions of Great Hanshin-Awani and Mt. St. Helens;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives receive and honor the delegation of Hyogo legislators to the State of Washington; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Governor Toshitami Kaihara; Mr. Toshihiro Murakam, Speaker of the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly; Mr. Isami Hirazawa, President of the Japan-America Friendship League of Hyogo Prefectural Assembly; and to Mr. Takeo Tarahata of the Hyogo Cultural Center located in Seattle.

          I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4648 adopted by the House of Representatives

                              April 4, 1997.

                     ________________________________

                      Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk