Delegates from Okinawa Prefecture pursue regional diplomacy with Davao City

Mr. Hisashi Shiroma, the Section Chief of Okinawa’s Peace and Subnational Diplomacy Promotion Division, paid a courtesy call to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte on Thursday, August 14, 2024, at Matina Enclaves. Joining Mr. Shiroma are Mr. Motoki Matsuoka of the Okinawa Peace and Subnational Diplomacy Promotion Division, and Mr. Michiharu Honda, Senior Researcher at the Okinawa Peace Assistance Center.

During the meeting, Mr. Shiroma explained the purpose of their visit: to conduct research on Davao City and report his findings to Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. He recalled how both cities had ties tracing back to the Commonwealth era (1935-1946) when most Japanese people who migrated to Mintal to cultivate abaca were from Okinawa. He hopes that their initial visit will soon result in Okinawa and Davao strengthening their historic ties into a sisterhood relationship.

Mr. Shiroma also informed Mayor Sebastian Duterte that they are looking into hiring highly qualified Dabawenyos to be hotel workers and caregivers in Okinawa and organizing a short cruise from the prefecture to Davao City. Following the exchange, the delegates invited Mayor Duterte; Chairperson of the SP Committee on International Relations Councilor Augusto “Javi” G. Campos III; Chairperson of the SP Committee on Tourism and Beautification, Councilor Al Ryan S. Alejandre; and DCIPC head Ms. April Marie C. Dayap to visit Okinawa.