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As the Japan-American Society of Dallas/Fort Worth's website points out, "Dallas and Sendai became International Friendship Cities in August 1997, when Mayor Ron Kirk and Mayor Hajimu Fujii signed a formal agreement in Sendai." Which is why, shortly after the 8.9-magnitude quake and tsunami struck off the shore of that city, Mayor Dwaine Caraway sent to his counterpart, Mayor Emiko Okuyama, the letter of condolence you'll find on the other side. Writes Caraway: "Everyone in our city is watching the events unfold in your country with great sadness at the destruction, but we are praying for hope and strength for your city and your nation in the days ahead."
Chris Heinbaugh also reminds, in an accompanying release:
In recent years Dallas, in conjunction with the World Affairs Council and the Japan American Society of Dallas, has sent a pair of runners to participate in the Sendai International Half Marathon. In 2007, Mayor Laura Miller accompanied the runners.
Since '97, several council members have also visited Sendai: Max Wells, Don Hicks, Steve Salazar, Barbara Mallory Caraway, Ed Oakley, Mark Housewright and Pauline Medrano.
And: Our own Danny Hurley sends word that SMU's Dedman College Dean William Tsutsui -- who we mentioned last summer -- is in Tokyo at this very moment, blogging here about what's happening there.
Keep the Dallas Observer Free... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Dallas with no paywalls.
