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Mishima

BEAUTIFUL MISHIMA BY NIGHT

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This section contains information about our sister city Mishima, Japan which was formalised in 1991.

Agreements were signed in both cities by Mayors David Lean and Kichiro Okuda. The first document was signed in Mishima, Japan, coinciding with Mishima's 50th anniversary of city status. Later that evening thousands of residents lined the main street as the New Plymouth delegation led a street lantern parade.

The second signing took place in New Plymouth a few weeks later, as part of New Plymouth's 150th anniversary celebrations.

In Mishima, sister city activities are coordinated by a community group called the Mishima International Relations Association (MIRA). MIRA has an elected president and an executive committee. Return to top

Links with Mishima

There have been numerous exchanges both from and to Mishima since the sister city agreement was formalised.

Every year New Plymouth families play host to junior high students from Mishima. The students stay in local homes and experience kiwi life. The students attend local schools with their host brothers and sisters.

In 2006 the inaugural Mishima-New Plymouth teaching programme started. A teacher from New Plymouth District travels to Mishima for a four week period to observe learning and teaching practice in local schools and to interact with educational colleagues and the wider community. The teacher is home-hosted within the Mishima community.

In July 2007 the first teacher from Mishima, Mr Ryo Nakamura, arrived in New Plymouth to learn about the New Zealand education system and the Kiwi way of life. Return to top

About Mishima

Location
Mishima is located at the entrance of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, in the east of Shizuoka Prefecture, 100km south of Tokyo.

Two-thirds of the city is mountainous or hilly, with the most prominent feature Mount Fuji. Mishima is on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) rail network, less than an hour from Tokyo.

Climate
The climate is milder than much of Japan, with an annual average temperature of 15.3°C and average rainfall of 1,858 mm. In summer the humidity is very high.

Population
Around 118,800 people live in Mishima (similar to the Taranaki region) and there are about 44,480 households.

Industry
Increasingly high-technology companies are moving to Mishima where local industries include: machinery, metal producers and confectionery manufacturers.

Agriculture
Local products include: white radish, Chinese cabbage, and potatoes. Mishima is famous for its spring water, which comes from the snow of Mt Fuji.
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Commerce
Mishima has an active chamber of commerce and about 2000 retail outlets.

History of Mishima
People have lived in the Mishima area for around 5000 years. From 1185 to 1333 the Grand Shrine was built and Mishima became the public office of Izu County. From 1399 to1568 the power of the shogun declined, and their eventual defeat lead to three hundred years of peace and relative isolation. In 1941 Mishima was incorporated as a city.

Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is a short trip from Mishima. This famous conical-shaped volcano bears a striking resemblance to New Plymouth’s Mount Taranaki.