CLAIR supports local governments that are trying to form sister city relationships. If you would like to post your local government's profile on our page listing foreign local governments that are looking for a Japanese sister city (Japanese only), you can send us the information we need using the following documents:
Japanese local governments looking for sister city relationships overseas
Here you can find out what local governments in Japan are looking for a sister city relationship. Click on the town name or scroll down to see an overview of their region.
Nagi is a town abundant with art and nature, located in northeast Okayama Prefecture in the Chugoku region of Japan, bordering Tottori Prefecture to the north. Nagi's main industries are agriculture and forestry, and the town is well-known for its Yokozen Kabuki, a form of traditional Japanese theater, in addition to the local art museum. It is also host to the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Camp Nihonbara. In order to deal with its decreasing population, in 2012 Nagi Town announced its Declaration for Childrearing Support and currently maintains a high birth rate due to the town's childrearing measures, drawing wide attention domestic and abroad.
Nagi MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Working from a base proposal by famed architect Arata Isozaki, winner of the 2019 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Nagi MOCA is made up of three installations that are both elements of the museum's structure and art works in their own right. Pushing the established conceptions of what it means to experience art, we invite you to explore the manipulation of shape and light, to take a moment to reflect and meditate.
Yokozen Kabuki (traditional Japanese theater) Continuing a rich tradition since Edo-era Japan, Nagi's Yokozen Kabuki is recognized as an important intangible folk culture asset of Okayama Prefecture. Distinctive and dramatic, kabuki has long been a Japanese icon. If you're in the area at the right time, seeing a show first-hand in Nagi is an unforgettable experience. Kabuki performances take place across the year, with the highlight show taking place in autumn over two days.
Bodaiji Ginkgo Tree The large ginkgo tree at Bodaiji Temple, nestled up in the mountainside of Mount Nagi, is recognized by the national government as a natural monument and a prefecture-wide symbol for Okayama. According to legend, the influential Buddhist reformer Honen planted the tree when he began his initiation as a monk, following his statement that 'learning begins from the roots'. 40m tall and 13m wide, the Bodaiji Ginkgo Tree is one of the Yomiuri Shimbun's Top 100 Famous Trees of Japan for good reason. Watching the passage of time for 900 years, the tree stands with an unmatched presence, all the more alive for the years it has passed.
Mount Nagi Nagi takes its name from the nearby Mt. Nagi (1255m). Affording a breathtaking view of the area from the top of the mountain and serving as a backdrop for daily life in the town below, Mt. Nagi's majestic presence draws eager trekkers all year round. Designated as a national park, Mt. Nagi is a showcase for the diversity and beauty found in Japan's changing seasons. Starting with spring's new life, the landscape turns to a brilliantly rich green in summer, which in turn sets alight with autumn colors. Culminating with snow-clad winter vistas, the mountain is a sight at any point of the year.
Nagi Beef Nagi Beef is an exceptionally high-grade wagyu beef that has found its way into fashionable restaurants around Japan. And for good reason: the breeding and care of Nagi Beef has been refined over many generations, along with the pedigree of calf to cow. Recently, Nagi Beef has been recognized at the Wagyu Beef Prize Show, coming in at 2nd place nationwide.
Nagi Vikarya Museum Built to the shape of a shell, the museum exhibits the now-extinct vikarya (bikaria), a relation to today's sea snail. Fossils from 50 different species are presented across 300 displays, and outside you can dig for actual fossils from 16 million years ago.
