Beyond the Oct. 10 main event, however, the musicians and guests from Tlaquepaque made the most of their week in Springfield. Tierra Mojada performed at four Springfield public schools. The guests visited local attractions, did plenty of shopping, had lake time in Kimberling City, spent time with generous host families and caught up with friendships developed over the 22-year sister-city relationship

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When people move to a new place, whether it’s in the same town, state, country, or even a completely different part of the world, they likely conduct extensive research and planning before making the move. What’s the weather like? What are the restaurant and café options? Is there a good public transport system? Or, maybe some things about economics and businesses. One of the best ways to learn about a new place is probably to ask someone who lives or has lived there. Actually visiting the destination and spending some time would also give a good idea of what life will be like. Knowing about the new place is something everyone probably does before moving, and that’s exactly what I did. I knew and talked to people from the town. I even visited the town and spent 10 days. I visited various places, spoke with many people, and saw a lot of things. I became confident and felt ready to move, turning a new page in my book to begin a new chapter of my life. Yet, when I actually moved, I felt lonely, left out of the world, and unsure of what I could do to improve my situation. This is how I started my life in Springfield, just about 10 and a half years ago.

SSCA has always been a critical part of my life in Springfield, serving as a lifesaving community that not only helped me decide to stay in town but also taught me how to contribute to the community through cultural exchanges. Without the Annual Membership Celebration of 2015, which happened to be held just a week after I arrived in Springfield, I would have ditched my passion for academics and gone back to Japan. Without meeting people who are a part of the community and participating in their dedication to learning and spreading cultures from sister cities, I could not have realized how uniquely different yet full of colors the cultures of Japan, Mexico, and the United States are. Without actively participating in the cultural exchange programs to visit sister cities, I could not have gained insight into how cultural exchanges broaden one’s perspectives through diverse values and multicultural experiences. Without the experiences I gained through participation in SSCA events and programs, I would not be who I am today.

Taking a new step could be both exciting and worrisome, as people often don’t know what awaits them. It could bring unforeseen challenges one has never imagined facing, but what comes after should always be rewarding in their life. The 39-year relationship with Isesaki and the 22-year relationship with Tlaquepaque signify a long-lasting friendship, with more years of cultural exchanges and involvement of more people to come. As I am about to turn a new page in my book, I aim to uphold my commitment to this important cause, but also encourage more people to become cultural ambassadors, reaching out and influencing the community for greater causes.

Yudai Sanada is returning to Isesaki, Japan, after 10 years in the U.S., but will continue to participate with SSCA.  

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Dillstrom will perform from 7-10 p.m., Aug. 21, at Tie & Timber Beer Co., 1451 E. Cherry St., in Springfield’s Rountree neighborhood. There is no cover charge for the show. All donations will help Dillstrom raise funds for the trip to Japan in late September. The SSCA funds half of each year’s traveling musician expenses; the artist agrees to cover the other half of this year’s $4,200 cost of the 10-day trip to Sister City Isesaki and other cities and points of interest.

A college-level math educator, Dillstrom performs American classics on his own and is a member of the retro-romantic trio, The Paper Moons. Each year, SSCA selects a music ambassador to travel with the citizen group and perform at Isesaki’s City Festival and other venues such as schools. Springfield has enjoyed its sister-city relationship with Isesaki for 39 years.

“I am deeply honored to represent my Springfield community on the trip of a lifetime,” Dillstrom said.

Anyone interested in supporting this international music opportunity can make a tax-deductible contribution to SSCA’s Traveling Musician Fund.

“We want to express our appreciation to Tie & Timber for hosting this event for SSCA and we are excited to share Joe’s storytelling through music with our friends in Isesaki,” SSCA Executive Director Lisa Bakerink said.

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Stories of family members and photos or drawings of family pets. Favorite characters from Japanese anime shows. Familiarity with sushi and ramen.

Those are some of the themes running through the first set of letters heading from Springfield Public School middle schoolers to Isesaki, Japan, junior high students participating in a new penpal project.

Yes, penpals – a nostalgic throwback to earlier times, even though these letters are typed in a mutually agreed font (Comic Sans) for easier understanding by English-language learners.

The project is the brainchild of Lorena Costa Pinheiro, an assistant language teacher at Isesaki Uehasu Junior High School, and her supervising English teacher. They wanted new ways to enhance English language grammar and textbook lessons. Lorena reached out to SSCA Executive Director Lisa Bakerink, who connected her with SSCA board member Rachel Love-Jones, SPS Opportunity & Access Curriculum Coordinator.

Rachel and SPS Gifted Education Director Lenae Lazzelle decided to take the opportunity to Central High School’s Scholars program for gifted students in grades 5-7 and the WINGS gifted program. Based on the school-year schedules in Springfield and Isesaki, all the teachers decided that Springfield students would write the first group of

letters, with Isesaki students responding in early fall and another exchange in late fall and spring 2026.

All told, Springfield students wrote 153 letters to Isesaki, where students will work on their English skills by reading and responding to the letters. “The letters are very sweet,” Rachel says. “They include things like ‘I can’t believe I’m writing to someone in another country.’ A lot of the students were excited to share what they know about Japanese culture.”

Lorena says learning English can be exhausting at times for Isesaki students. “I hope they have fun and enjoy communicating in English. I want to make sure that talking or writing in English and being interested in life abroad ceases to be a foreign concept and becomes a new acquired interest.

“I want to make sure they stay true to their genuine curiosity,” she added. “They are very enthusiastic children, so I am sure they have a lot of interesting questions.”

Both teachers say they appreciate how the nearly 40-year-old sister cities connection made a smooth runway to launch the project. They each cited the assistance of Yudai Sanada, an Isesaki resident who came to Springfield to study at Missouri State University and works with SSCA to support the relationship with Isesaki.

“I do hope it brings greater cross-cultural understanding,” Rachel says. “I hope it builds a bridge and creates interest when students are directly involved in the exchange, not just watching it. I love the idea of a pipeline.”

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Springfield, MO – The Springfield Sister Cities Association has selected musician Joe Dillstrom to represent Springfield with his American-inspired musical influences in country and western, blues, jazz and roots at sister city Isesaki, Japan’s annual festival.

As SSCA’s ambassador and cultural representative, Dillstrom will perform in late September at the annual Isesaki Festival, which also includes a large parade and a spectacular dance show featuring some 1,000 people dancing together. Dillstrom will have the opportunity to stay with a local family, attend official ceremonies and visit several other cities with the full travel delegation.

The native Springfield singer-songwriter says he is influenced by the timelessness of the classic American genres he performs. He also is a member of The Paper Moons, a retro romantic trio that performs at weddings and other events. A graduate of Missouri State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics, Dillstrom has taught at Drury University, Ozarks Tech and MSU.

“As a university mathematics educator and as a regional musician I live between two worlds, and what they share in common is informed by their deep-rooted traditions in the Ozarks – community, fellowship, and a celebration of life,” Dillstrom says. “It is the blessing of a lifetime to represent the city that has given so much meaning to my life in our sister city of Isesaki.”

SSCA Executive Director Lisa Bakerink said Dillstrom will be a strong ambassador for Springfield with his talent and commitment to enriching SSCA’s mission of peace through people through his music.

“This is one of the most important and long-standing cultural exchanges of our nearly 40-year relationship with Isesaki,” Bakerink said. “We will be proud to see Joe represent our city, our country and our musical heritage in Isesaki this fall.”

Sister Cities supports a portion of Dillstrom’s trip costs and helps fundraise the remaining expenses. Dillstrom plans several performances this summer to raise money for his part of the trip expense. Visit peacethroughpeople.org/joe for upcoming show announcements; donors also can make tax-deductible contributions to support travel expenses. Learn more about Dillstrom’s music at:
his website, YouTube and Facebook pages.

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This year’s dates and performers are:

• 2 p.m., Sunday, May 4: Johnnie Angelia King & Blues Connection showcase the Springfield singer and performer’s powerful vocals in rhythm and blues.
• 2 p.m., Sunday, May 11: Sisters Maddi Warren and Alli Butler, influenced by their Stone County roots, have a sound described as gritty, mountain and soulful.
• 2 p.m., Sunday, May 18: Three national dulcimer champs – Joe Collins, Ilace Mears and David Wilson – will bring some friends, too, for traditional folk and Celtic music.

The Springfield Sister Cities Association hosts the free concerts at the Peace Through People Pavilion in the park’s Kay Cummins Finnie Memorial Dogwood Garden, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. Those attending are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. In case of rain, the shows will be moved into the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center.

Food trucks will be onsite, along with beer and wine for sale. Organizers encourage a suggested donation of $10; this year’s proceeds are designated for universal access enhancements at the park.

A new feature this year will include a kids’ make-and-take activity tent, with a special craft planned for Mother’s Day on May 11.

On Sunday, May 18, the SSCA also will hold its annual Membership Celebration from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with cultural performers, food and drink reflecting Springfield’s Japanese and Mexican sister cities. Anyone can attend; SSCA members, including those who join that day, receive tickets for free food and beverages.

This spring and fall concert series, now in its 10th year, is organized by Ric Mayer and Linda Chorice. This year’s presenting sponsor is the Musgrave Foundation. The Gold Sponsor is Mediacom and the series also is supported by Tom Finnie, donor for the Dogwood Garden and the Peace Through People Pavilion. SSCA partners with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, the Springfield Botanical Gardens and Friends of the Garden to produce the annual series.

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The meetings will take place at:

• 5:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10
• 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 12
• 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 3

The meetings will take place at the Springfield Botanical Center at Nathanael Greene Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave. No registration is required.

The 2025 Citizens Trip is scheduled from Sept. 18-29, 2025. The cost of the trip will be about $4,600 per person, depending on airfare at the time of booking. The cost covers airfare, lodging, ground transportation, admission fee to group events and most meals along with on-site tour assistance from SSCA representatives.

Along with visiting Isesaki and attending the annual City Festival, participants will visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara and Osaka.

The post Learn about traveling to Japan with SSCA in fall 2025 appeared first on Springfield Sister Cities Association.

We are delighted to share that Yudai Sanada, who works with the SSCA on all aspects of our long-standing relationship with Isesaki, Japan, will teach an eight-week course at Missouri State University on learning Japanese language skills for travel.

The course will run on Tuesday evenings in two-hour blocks from March 25-May 13. The cost is $150. The deadline to register is 11:59 p.m., Monday, March 24. To register, visit: https://fli.missouristate.edu/languages-for-travelers.htm

The intent of the class is to build Japanese language skills for successful experiences for travelers with any language skill and level. It’s a non-credit course that will be taught in a relaxed environment with a wide range of flexibility to meet participants’ needs.

The SSCA will soon be offering informational meetings on this fall’s annual citizens’ trip to Isesaki and other areas of Japan so this is a great way to start preparing if you are interested in a future trip.

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As the new president of Springfield Sister Cities Association, I want to take a minute to share why this is such a special organization. Being an educator who focuses on cultural competence, I have seen the impact that can be made in the simple act of meeting, talking with and building a friendship with someone of a different culture through my work on campus but more importantly through study abroad experiences.

This is why SSCA’s mission of “Peace through People” really resonates with me. You could say that my connection with SSCA started in 2002, when I proposed to my wife in the Japanese Stroll Gardens.

However, my actual understanding of the organization and the impact it has on the Springfield community and our partners abroad really stems from working more closely with SSCA since 2021 as a member of the Board of Directors. In fact, I would probably have been hard pressed to mention something SSCA did beyond the Japanese Fall Festival at the time. I think my experience is not unusual in our community; we appreciate the work of SSCA, but many times don’t realize who makes it happen.

The Japanese Fall Festival has been growing consistently again after the pandemic and brought in about 20,000 participants last year. Our Cherry Blossom Kite & Piñata Festival has set records for single-day attendance at a Parks event for the last two years. We host the popular Gigs in the Garden at the Peace through People Pavilion in October and May. Every fall, performers from Mexico visit and connect with students in Springfield Public Schools, and with the public at our Taste of Tlaquepaque.

We clearly bring the culture of Isesaki, Japan, and Tlaquepaque, Mexico, to Springfield. What is likely less known is the exchange we have in those cities. Each year, we lead citizen trips to our sister cities abroad, where Springfieldians forge life-long friendships with counterparts from different countries and cultures — and that is where the magic happens! Whether it is in Springfield, Missouri, Isesaki, Japan, or Tlaquepaque, Mexico, we put into practice the idea of peace through people by facilitating the recognition of how similar we really are, and cultivating an appreciation of our differences.

Tim Robbins, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Spanish at Drury University.

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They also learned how agave is harvested to produce Mexico’s national spirit during a visit to Tequila Forteleza. While in Mexico, they attended a Chinese New Year’s Festival and also shared traditions of Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day).

These trips are personally rewarding in the way they broaden our cultural perspectives, but also an important way to further SSCA’s mission of enhancing peace through people by building and maintaining long-term friendships across our countries.

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