RAPID CITY, SD—Mayor Jason Salamun is proclaiming today (Monday) through next Sunday as Rapid City/Nikko City Peace Week in Rapid City, marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan and also recognizing the more than 30-year Sister Cities relationship between Rapid City and Nikko City, Japan.
Mayor Salamun will present the proclamation at Monday night’s meeting of the Rapid City Council. The presentation will include Sako Tinant of the local Nikko-Apolda Sister Cities organization. Tinant has been working with city officials to maintain the Sister Cities program locally and approached Mayor Salamun requesting a proclamation promoting the Peace Week observance.
“After visiting with the mayor, he mentioned writing a resolution for Nikko City and help reinstate the relationship with our Japanese sister city,” said Tinant. “I believe this proclamation is a wonderful and meaningful step forward, especially this year, which marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“Having a resolution can serve as a powerful message of peace and help promote greater advocacy for Sister City initiatives.”
Since 1994, Rapid City and Nikko City, Japan – and Apolda, Germany – have been designated as Sister Cities, enjoying an enriching cross-cultural relationship with periodic exchanges and events involving youth and other delegations from the two cities. In 2015, the City Council approved naming portions of Rapid Street in the downtown area as Nikko Street and Apolda Street, in recognition of the Sister Cities relationship with the Japanese and German communities. In 2020, a special bell-ringing ceremony was held outside City Hall in Rapid City to reflect on the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings. Delegations from both communities continue to visit their respective sister cities on an annual basis.
In 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower established Sister Cities International in an effort to promote and achieve peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation between peoples around the world.
“Visible proof of this long-lasting peaceful relationship between our two countries is evident in Rapid City where we have enjoyed a wonderfully enriching cross-cultural relationship with our sister city in Japan – Nikko City – since 1994,” Mayor Salamun states in the Rapid City/Nikko City Peace Week proclamation. “On the solemn anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, we recognize the efforts to promote a peaceful era of peace between the United States and Japan, and reaffirm our commitment to peace and reconciliation, reflected in a renewed commitment to our Sister Cities agreement with Nikko.”
Mayor Salamun urges Rapid City residents to utilize Rapid City/Nikko City Peace Week to reflect on the events of 80 years ago and the great strides and efforts in forging growth and understanding between the two countries and communities.