In 1978, Hutchinson had a Sister City relationship with Tainan, Taiwan, but over the years that relationship fizzled out with little fanfare or notice. Last year, City of Hutchinson officials were part of a delegation that visited Japan, and now city officials hope to develop a new Sister City relationship with Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Representatives from the Greater Wichita Partnership, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas State Department of Commerce, and Hutchinson City Manager Enrico Villegas were part of that group. “We met with Japanese business representatives, and basically said, ‘Why not come to Kansas? Here’s everything that we have to offer,’” Villegas said, adding that the delegation also met with the chief executive officer of Takako, which has its U.S. location in Hutchinson. A similar trip in the past resulted in manufacturing company Takako opening a plant in Hutchinson, he said.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune
