Translation of the article on the reaffirmaton of sister city affiliation in the City Bulletin, issue 8/2004, page 2


International exchange that connects to the future

Reaffirmation of sister city affiliation between Kahoku and Messkirch, Germany


On July 6, 2004, the ceremonial signature of the sister city affiliation contract with Messkirch City in Germany took place by which Kahoku officially adopted the exchange that had existed for 19 years with the former town of Unoke.

After an explanation of the past and the intended future exchange, Mayor Aburano of Kahoku and Mayor Zwick of Messkirch signed the Japanese and German versions of the treaty.

Mayor Aburano saluted by saying he intended to "further deepen the exchange and strive for the cultivation of human resources with a rich international sense," and Mayor Zwick said he felt, "honoured to become the sister city of Kahoku after the merger."

The former town of Unoke and the City of Messkirch are linked by being the birthplaces of the world-renowned philosophers Nishida Kitaro and Martin Heidegger, and started their sister city affiliation in 1985.

In time for the 20th anniversary celebration of sister city affiliation that will be held in Messkirch next year, the implementation of a Nishida Kitaro corner in the Heidegger museum is scheduled to take place.

The sister city exchange policies are as follows:


Policies of sister city exchange between Kahoku and Messkirch

1. Sister City Exchange
The conventional sister city exchange operations will be continued.
(1) The exchange by sending off and accepting youths will be continued.
(2) The Adult Exchange Program will be continued.

2. Museum Exchange
An exchange between the Ishikawa Nishida Kitaro Museum of Philosophy and the Martin Heidegger Museum will be initiated.
(1) The exchange of materials concerning Nishida Kitaro and Martin Heidegger will be put into effect and a mutual exhibition corner will be implemented in the other museum.
(2) The homepages of the two museums will be interlinked.

3. 20th Anniversary of Sister City Affiliation Festivities (the 10th Anniversary of Sister City Affiliation Festivities were held in Unoke)
The festivities will be held in Messkirch in 2005.

4. About the Hosting of International Philosophy Symposia
A philosophy symposium will be held in Kahoku in 2005 and both cities will host such symposia alternately.


Introduction to the City of Messkirch

In the 800 years up until the end of the 19th century, through successive generations, Messkirch was ruled by powerful noble families. The name Messkirch originates from "mass church". Messkirch has a 1,200 year history as a worship place, but it was not until 1261 that the town received its name.

Messkirch's elevation is 624 m (2047 ft) above sea level and it attracts many tourists as it also is at the base of an arterial road from the baroque period. The 8,700 population consists of 6,000 people in the city itself and the people in the eight surrounding villages that have belonged to Messkirch for 28 years.
In downtown Messkirch there is the 200-year-old castle garden, a place of recreation for the citizens that is surrounded by beautiful green linden trees.

Many nationwide and Europe-wide famous theologians, composers, painters, writers, scientists and philosophers emanated from Messkirch and the surrounding area in the past 400 years. Among them is the philosopher Martin Heidegger whose name is known all over the world.

Population About 8700 people
Location Located in Southern Germany in close proximity to Switzerland at an elevation of 624 meters (2047 ft) above sea level
Famous places Messkirch Castle
Renaissance-style castle built in 1557
The park in front of Messkirch Castle (castle garden)
A place of recreation with over 200 year old linden trees
St. Martin Church
Late Gothic style built in 1526

Martin Heidegger's birthplace and Martin Heidegger Museum
The birthplace is located in front of the church, the museum was established in the castle in 2002 in the course of castle renovation

City Office
Built at the end of the 19th century in Neo-Renaissance style
Famous places in the area Danube valley, Lake Constance, Black Forest, Hohenzollern Castle
Famous people Martin Heidegger, philosopher (1889-1976)
Conradin Kreutzer, composer (1780-1849)
Abraham a Santa Clara, clergyman
Count von Zimmern, Editor of the Zimmern Chronicle
Hofmann Sisters, popular singers


Encounters and moving moments that connect to the future
1985 May 2 to 5 Unoke delegation visits Messkirch (Mayor Nakai and a group of four people)
May 3 Ceremonial signature of the sister city contract between Unoke and Messkirch
1986 May 1 to 5 First visit of a Messkirch delegation to Unoke (Mayor Rauser and a group of 12 people)
1987 April 20 to 22 Kreutzer Choir visits Unoke (81 people)
1988 June 28 to July 6 Unoke delegation visits Messkirch (Mayor Miyamoto and a group of 19 people)
1989 August 1 to 9 Messkirch Cats Carnival Club attends the Unoke Town Fair (11 people)
August 21 to September 1 Unoke student group visits Messkirch (Deputy Mayor Fujimoto and a group of 20 people)
September 21 to 30 Unoke delegation attends the centenary celebration of Martin Heidegger's birth and presents a bust of Nishida to Messkirch (Mayor Miyamoto and a group of 20 people)
1991 August 21 to 30 Unoke Adult Exchange Program group and Europe Youth Exchange group visits Messkirch (10 junior high and high school students, 13 adults)
October 11 to 18 Messkirch group attends the National Sports Festival (5 people)
1992 May 1 to 10 Unoke delegation attends the 10th anniversary celebration of sister city affiliation between Messkirch and Sassenage (France) (Mayor Miyamoto and a group of six people)
October 26 to 28 Messkirch delegation attends the National Cultural Festival (Mayor Rauser and a group of four people)
1994 February 4 to 14 Unoke sports exchange group visits Messkirch and attends the Carnival (School Superintendent Kimoto and a group of 15 people)
1995 May 29 to June 6 Messkirch City and Descartes City (France) delegations visit Unoke (11 people)
Kreutzer Choir visits Unoke to celebrate the 10th sister city anniversary (30 choristers)
1996 July 8 to 16 Unoke town councillors visit Messkirch as part of their European study tour (July 12 to 13) (Mayor Miyamoto and a group of 14 people)
July 24 to August 2 Unoke student group visits Messkirch (16 junior high school students and 5 chaperones)
1997 June 7 Attendance of the 150th anniversary celebration of Kreutzer Choir formation (Hideyuki Matsumoto)
June 24 Video conference between Messkirch and Unoke
1998 February 8 to 14 Messkirch City Rengetsweiler Brass Band attends the 50th Anniversary of the formation of Unoke. Mayor Rauser becomes honorary citizen of Unoke (Mayor Rauser and a group of 20 people).
1999 July 24 to August 3 Unoke student group visits Messkirch (17 junior high school students and 4 chaperones)
2000 July 23 to 30 Messkirch student group visits Kahoku (17 junior high school students and 3 chaperones)
2001 July 13 to 23 Unoke student group visits Messkirch (School Superintendent Miyamae and a group of 10 people and nine junior high school students)
September 7 Attendance of the Messkirch Castle Renovation Completion Ceremony (Hideyuki Matsumoto)
2002 May 17 to 26 First Adult Exchange Program activity. Kahoku adult group visits Messkirch (Hideyuki Matsumoto and a group of two people)
July 12 to 20 Messkirch youth group visits Kahoku (23 youths and 2 chaperones)
2003 May 30 to June 11 Messkirch adult group visits Kahoku (second Adult Exchange Program activity) (seven people)
September 15 to 26 Unoke student group visits Messkirch (10 junior high school students and four chaperones)
September 17 to 22 Unoke delegation visits Messkirch to confirm the continuation of sister city affiliation in the future
2004 March 1 The towns of Takamatsu, Nanatsuka and Unoke merge to become Kahoku City
May 28 to June 6 Third Adult Exchange Program activity. Kahoku adult group visits Messkirch (Hideyuki Matsumoto and a group of three people)
July 6 Ceremonial signature of the sister city contract between Kahoku and Messkirch
July 3 to 9 Messkirch delegation visits Kahoku (Mayor Zwick and a group of four people)