Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
Sistered with Newport News, Virginia, USA since 1982 The partnership between Neyagawa and Newport News was established in 1982 and has thrived since its inception. Neyagawa is located in the Osaka Prefecture, Japan. While significantly smaller in area at only 9.27 square miles, Neyagawa boasts a similar population to Newport News. The city sits on the banks of the Yodo River and begins as a flat green plain that gives way to an industrial and residential skyline which reaches to the Ikoma Mountains. The city takes its name from the Neya River that runs through its center. In Japan, the Neyagawa International Exchange and Friendship Association (NIEFA) oversees the relationship with Newport News. Visit their website SCNN's Neyagawa Committee meets regularly to plan incoming and outgoing exchanges and to organize community events. New members are always welcome to join! |
|
|
The message from Neyagawa Mayor Hirose (below) thanks hosts for welcoming the 2024 delegates and encourages Newport News citizens to visit Japan this fall as part of the official reciprocal exchange program now in it's 42nd year!
|
The Legend of "Hachikazuki Hime" (The bowl bearer)
|
Long, long ago, in Neya of the country Kawachi, there lived an extremely wealthy man named Sanetaka Fujiwara. The people there all called him "The Millionaire of Neya." His only worry was that he wasn't blessed with any children. He continued to pray to Kan-non, the goddess of Mercy, at Hatsuse Temple (Hase Temple) in the country of Yamato for a child, and finally was blessed with a baby girl. "Hatsuse", as the little princess was named, was completely adorable, and the family lived in perfect happiness.
When the beautiful young princess was 14 years old, her mother fell ill. Before her death, she put a huge bowl on her daughter’s head to cover her beauty and protect her. From this day forward, the princess became known as, "the Princess Carrying a Bowl on Her Head” or Hachikazuki Hime. Later, the princess’ father remarried and she was sent away by her stepmother. In despair, she threw herself into the Yodo River in an attempt to drown herself, but the huge bowl on her head floated. No matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn't sink. At that time, a third ranking lieutenant general, Yamakage was passing by the river. He rescued her and took her back with him to his mansion. She was given work there as the bath house attendant. Here, the fourth son of the lieutenant general, Saisho, proposes marriage to her. His mother opposed the marriage and tries to get rid of her with a "competition of wives" conducted against the wives of the other three sons. The day before the competition takes place, the bowl on her head suddenly comes off, and her beauty radiates. Riches and treasures also poured out of the bowl. Hachikazuki proves more elegant and graceful than any other princess, and also purer in heart than all others. The two are married with the people's blessings, and lived happily ever after. |
Neyagawa City’s mascot, "Hachikazuki-chan" is the image of Princess Hachikazuki soaring in the sky, holding a rose, the flower of the city, and riding on a petal of a cherry blossom, the official tree of Neyagawa. The image is based on the local folk tale "Princess Hachikazuki". 
|
Previous Exchanges
|
While the COVID-19 Pandemic impacted Sister Cities' in-person exchanges, the Sister City partnership was kept alive and well due to numerous Zoom calls and on-line programs. |
|
|
Check out the amazing video below of Newport News' 2018 Delegation of 11 adults & 7 youth. |
Sister Cities is a "Reciprocal" Exchange Program. We count our community members to "host" incoming international delegations. "Homestay" hosts are the backbone of our organization. Above is the "thank you" recorded by NIEFA's 2013 Neyagawa Delegation. |
|
Newport News delegates enjoy amazing experiences during exchanges to Japan! |
|
Neyagawa Mayor |
|
|
|
Review the "Crash Course" from the 2018 delegation. |
