Foreign Exchange

The seeds of Shelbyville's sister-city relationship with Kambara were planted when Ryobi Die Casting U.S.A. officials saw a need for cultural exchange in 1986. A joint city-chamber of commerce trade mission to Japan prepared the ground for fruition of the program, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 1998.

Although the sister cities' emphasis has been cultural exchanges, especially for students, Shelbyville has profited with six Japanese businesses and two joint ventures locating in Shelbyville since Ryobi came to town. Hundreds of jobs have been created, which helped drop unemployment rates more than 10 percent during the past decade.

The city of about 15,000 sits on Suruga Bay, about 200 miles southwest of Tokyo and within sight of Mount Fujiyama. Much of Kambara's industry is derived from the sea, but it also has a large aluminum smelting plant and a thriving food processing industry.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, Kambara asked Shelbyville to send a large group with as many students as possible. The 46-member delegation that made the weeklong trip in July 1998 was the largest Shelbyville had sent.

Giving of gifts, both personal and official, has been an important part in building the sister-city relationship. Kambara officials have planted a tree inside a little park set aside for Shelbyville, with gifts brought back from the United States over the years.

Shelbyville mementos for the anniversary trip included special scrapbooks, a homemade quilt highlighted with the city's special sites, a hickory bench and a Shelbyville city flag. These gifts were presented to Kambara officials and residents on July 6, 1998, during a ceremony at Kinrosha Taiku Center. More than 300 people attended the celebration of the cities' ties.