Sister Cities Association of Springfield, Illinois

Join Our Cultural Exchange

The Sister Cities Association of Springfield, Illinois is committed to fostering citizen diplomacy and mutual cultural understanding. Engage with us to explore opportunities for friendship and collaboration across borders.

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At The Sister Cities Association of Springfield, Illinois, our mission is to connect Springfield with its sister cities—Ashikaga, Japan; Killarney, Ireland; Jining, China; and San Pedro, Mexico. We focus on cultural exchange, promoting understanding, and creating lasting friendships through various programs and initiatives.

Our Purpose

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Become part of something bigger by joining a delegation

Join us on an exciting journey with our Sister Cities! Be a part of a Student Delegation or an Adult Delegation to participate in seeing new and old friends in our sister cities. Discover new cultures and friendships the way. Don't miss out on this chance to broaden your horizons!

Student Delegation

Students can join a trip to one of our Sister Cities.

Chaperone or Host

Chaperone a Student Delegation, or host a visitor from one of our Sister Cities.

Adult Delegation

Join us for an enriching trip to one of our Sister Cities. Be a part of Citizen Diplomacy directly, and experience new cultures.

Get Involved With Us

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Please join us for a night of food and fun at @izumirotary Izumi Rotary Sushi Bar and Restaurant in Springfield! From 2:00pm to 6:00pm on Wednesday, June 10, a portion of your bill will be going to support the travel of our high school student delegates to Ashikaga, Japan. We are excited to see you there!

Our citizen delegation had some amazing last nights in Ashikaga! Some of them spent the day touring a public school, shopping, exploring nature and temples, going to museums and festivals, and making amazing memories! Thank you to our Ashikaga host families for these very special memories!! #ThankYouAshikaga #SCAS #Springfield #culturalexchangeadventure #sistercity #Friendship #SisterCity #SquadGoals #ashikaga #beautifuldestinations #SpringfieldIL #SpringfieldIl

Scenes from the citizen delegation’s visit to Nikko National Park! Beautiful 😍 #beautifuldestinations #SCAS #ashikaga #SisterCity #culturalexchangeadventure #ThankYouAshikaga #SquadGoals #Friendship #Springfield #sistercity

Our friends in Ashikaga arranged for the citizens delegation to visit a tomato processing plant! We learned so much about Ashikaga’s agriculture there! #agriculturelife #SisterCity #SCAS #ashikaga #SpringfieldIL #culturalexchangeadventure

Our group was lucky enough to wear kimonos and visit the Ashikaga Gakko—the oldest school in Japan! How awesome!! #ashikaga #SisterCity #Friendship #SquadGoals #culturalexchangeadventure #Springfield #ThankYouAshikaga #SpringfieldIL #SCAS #kimono #ashikagagakko

The citizens delegation also had some fun at Orihime shrine! As these photos demonstrate, the citizens are making a lot of wonderful new friends in Ashikaga! #ashikaga #culturalexchangeadventure #SpringfieldIL #SisterCity #SpringfieldIl #SCAS #Springfield #Friendship #SquadGoals #sistercity #ThankYouAshikaga

Thank you so much to Ashikaga’s Mayor Hayakawa and Superintendent Oshima for inviting our citizens delegation to visit city hall yesterday!

Thank you to our friends in Ashikaga for the very warm welcome yesterday! Our Citizens Delegation can’t wait to explore your beautiful city over the next few days!! #AshikagaJapan #SCAIL #FriendshipAcrossBorders #SisterCities #SisterCitiesAssociationOfSpringfield #GlobalCitizen #CulturalExchange #Ashikaga #GlobalFriendship #culturalexchangeadventure #ashikaga

The citizen’s delegation had another amazing day in Tokyo! They went to Asakusa and then explored various areas in Tokyo! #GlobalFriendship #Ashikaga #FriendshipAcrossBorders #CulturalExchange #SisterCitiesAssociationOfSpringfield #SCAIL #GlobalCitizen #SisterCities #AshikagaJapan

Our board member Ric is a member of the Ashikaga Citizen’s Delegation this year and he took these incredible photos! Wow 🤩🤩 #SCAIL #FriendshipAcrossBorders #JapaneseCulture #Japan #Ashikaga #GlobalFriendship #CulturalExchange #SisterCitiesAssociationOfSpringfield #CulturalExchange #GlobalCitizen #adventureseeker

Our adult delegation to Ashikaga landed safely and had an exciting day in Tokyo—visiting the imperial gardens, trying new foods, and seeing old friends! Keep following along to hear more about their adventures this week! #adventureseeker #SisterCities #CulturalExchange #Japan #Ashikaga #AshikagaJapan #GlobalCitizen #SCAIL #SisterCitiesAssociationOfSpringfield #GlobalFriendship #FriendshipAcrossBorders #JapaneseCulture

Join us for a fun-filled evening at the Sister Cities Association of Springfield Trivia Game Night fundraiser on April 10!

🧠✨ Test your knowledge with exciting trivia rounds
🎲🎨 Enjoy interactive activities for kids, teens, and adults
🌎🤝 Celebrate global cultures and community connections
🏆🎁 Prizes, laughter, and fun for all ages!

Bring your family, invite your friends, and come ready to play! Whether you’re a trivia champion or just looking for a great night out, there’s something for everyone.

📅 Don’t miss out — we can’t wait to see you there!

#TriviaNight #FamilyFun #SisterCities #CommunityEvent

Attention Springfield area high school students and families! We are accepting applications for our 2026 student delegation to Ashikaga, Japan, taking place this June. We will be hosting the following information sessions where interested students and families can join us to learn more about this year's student delegation to Ashikaga. We hope to see you there!

Please apply here: https://www.scasil.org/delegation-application

#springfieldil #sistercities #springfieldtoashikaga #visitjapan #Summer2026

"When you fold, the ritual and the act of creation is more important than the final result. When your hands are busy your heart is serene" - credited to Akira Yoshizawa, the grandfather of modern origami

Over the years students and chaperones from Japan have been kind enough to share the gift of origami with us. From flower bouquets to penguins "on ice", each crease and fold denotes the thoughtfulness that went into these beautiful gifts and lessons.

This is the heart of #SisterCities, learning and appreciating other cultures and being good global citizens. We're excited for the upcoming opportunities 2026 will bring to continue connecting around the globe!

#SisterCity #SCAIL #ThrowbackThursday #CulturalExchange #GlobalCitizen #SpringfieldIL #Ashikaga #Japan #Origami #SisterCities #AshikagaJapan #SisterCitiesAssociationOfSpringfield

This year marks the 162nd anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. This speech was given on November 19, 18th. This soeech, given during the Civil War, speaks of liberty, equality, and preserving the union. Sister Cities has a long history of recognizing this historic event both in Springfield, IL and in our sister city of Ashikaga, Japan.

#SisterCities #Japan #SpringfieldIl #Ashikaga #CulturalExchange #GettysburgAddress #AbrahamLincoln

🍜🌎 🍣 Food has a language all its own — and it always says “welcome!” Here’s to the meals that unite our Sister Cities! 🥧🥟🍙#FriendshipAcrossBorders #GlobalFriendship #CulturalExchange #SisterCities #SCAS

Goodbyes are always bittersweet, but we are so grateful for the new friends we made during this trip!

#FriendshipAcrossBorders #Ashikaga #SpringfieldIL #GlobalFriendship #Springfield #Japan #Friendship #SCAS #SisterCity #SisterCities #CulturalExchange

We had so many fun adventures with the delegation, including trips to the library and to an ice cream shop!

#CulturalExchange #SCAS #Japan #Springfield #Ashikaga #SisterCity #SisterCities #SpringfieldIL #GlobalFriendship #Friendship #FriendshipAcrossBorders

For those who missed the Gettysburg Address performances by the delegates, here is a compilation of them! Their hard work definitely shows in these clips! #sistercities #japan #springfieldil #globalfriendship #culturalexchange #gettysburg #lincoln

The delegation from Ashikaga got to see all the best Lincoln sites around Springfield! What’s your favorite museum here?

#SisterCity #AshikagaJapan #Japan #SisterCities #Friendship #SpringfieldIL #CulturalExchange #GlobalCitizen #SCAS #Springfield #GlobalFriendship #FriendshipAcrossBorders #Ashikaga

#SquadGoals

No better way to enjoy traveling and learning about other countries and cultures than with friends!! That can be friends you have known since childhood or friends you made during the trip!!! Over the years we have made many friends and formed lifelong connections. That's one of the things that makes this program so great!! 🫱🏾‍🫲🏿🌍✈️🇨🇳🇮🇪🇲🇽🇯🇵

#SisterCity #SisterCities #ThrowbackThursday #TwinningCity #FriendshipCity #AshikagaJapan #JinningCityChina #KillarneyIreland #SanPedroMexico #Japan #Ireland #Mexico #China #Friendship #Share

It's Fall Y'all!!! Over the years we have had a blast introducing delegates to crisp weather, beautiful (but early) sunsets, hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin carving and other forms of traditional fall fun!! 🍂🎃🍁

#SisterCity #SCAIL #ThrowbackThursday #CulturalExchange #GlobalCitizen #SpringfieldIL

In honor of our newest Sister City, Jining City, China, we're highlighting one of China's oldest traditions, the Chung Yeung Festival which took place yesterday!

Chung Yeung Festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar – which is why it is sometimes also referred to as the Double Ninth Festival. It is one of China’s most traditional festivals, having been referenced in writing since before the Eastern Han period (AD 25), dating back to as early as the Warring States era.

As the story goes, the tradition of Chung Yeung began when a Han dynasty man was advised by a prophet or master to bring chrysanthemum wine and food, and climb a mountain with his family on the ninth day of the ninth month. After spending the day as instructed, the man returned home to find all the villagers and his livestock dead. If he had not climbed the mountain, his entire family would have perished too. Since then, Chinese people have followed the custom of climbing up the mountains, or being on higher ground during Chung Yeung to avoid ill fortune.

Keeping with the origins legend, it has become customary to go hiking or climb a mountain during this festival. Additionally people also celebrate Chung Yeung by visiting the graves of their ancestors to offer burnt offerings, enjoy picnics and fly kites. They believe that as the kites fly away, bad luck also leaves the earth.

What a beautiful tradition!!!

#SisterCity #JiningCity #China #SCAS #SpringfieldIL #ChungYeungFestival #ThrowbackThursday

We love meeting and introducing delegates to elected officials across the globe (even Lincoln himself 🤣)!! Over the years Sister Cities and our delegates have had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about the unique differences and beautiful similarities between our various homes.

#ThrowbackThursday #SisterCities #AshikagaJapan #SpringfieldIL #GlobalCitizen #SisterCity #JiningCity #SanPedro #Killarney #Japan #China #Mexico #Ireland

Exchange trips always offer unique ways to immerse yourself in another's culture. A favorite among students and adults alike, is learning about Japanese calligraphy!

Calligraphy (書道, shodō: "the way of writing") is the art of writing beautifully. Most children in Japan learn calligraphy in elementary school, and it is also a popular hobby among adults. An interesting aspect of Japanese writing that carries over to calligraphy is the importance that is placed on the order in which the strokes of characters are drawn.

These pictures represent some of the many calligraphy presentations and lessons that have taken place over the years on our delegation trips!

#ThrowbackThursday #SisterCities #AshikagaJapan #SpringfieldIL #GlobalCitizen #SisterCity #Calligraphy
#JapaneseCulture #JapaneseCalligraphy

Today's #ThrowbackThursday post is dedicated to our #TwinCity of #KillarneyIreland, visited by our Mayor two years ago marking over a quarter of a center of partnership!

Regarding that visit, Killarney Today states "A friendship across the seas that has lasted well over a quarter of a century was celebrated in Killarney in this week when a delegation from Springfield in the US paid a visit. Our current Mayor visited our Twin City two years ago

Killarney first established a twinning arrangement with the capital of the State of Illinois – the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln – in 1996 and the bond has stood the test of time and is growing even stronger with every passing year.

The newly elected Mayor of Springfield, Misty Bucher, was in Killarney to introduce herself to members of the local twinning association.

As a souvenir of their first meeting, Mayor Cronin presented Mayor Butcher with a copy of Valerie O’Sullivan’s stunning book on the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks which captures, in words and pictures, the legends, the traditions, the history and the people of the mountains that surround Killarney."

#SisterCity #TwinCity #SCASIL #SpringfieldIL #Ireland #Killarney #Springfield

The activity you see today through Sister Cities, is built on a foundation started offer 25 years ago!! A snippet from an article written in 2013 gives a little background into how our organization launched!

"It all started in 1988, when Springfield was looking for a way to form relationships that extended outside the United States.

The majority of those first two years was spent laying the groundwork for Springfield’s Sister Cities chapter.

The first relationship was formed in October 1990, after Springfield schoolteacher Lynda Benoit, a Fulbright scholar, returned from Ashikaga. She convinced then-Mayor Ossie Langfelder that Springfield should make Ashikaga its “sister,” Carol Zerkle (then chair of the Ashikaga committee) said, so the two formally agreed to share the “cultural, historical, educational, governmental and economic” aspects of their communities.

The deal was sealed when the mayor of Ashikaga signed the partnership agreement in the Hall of Representatives of the Old State Capitol."

We honor our history as we continue to build our future!

#SisterCities #ThrowbackThursday #AshikagaJapan #SanPedro #SpringfieldIL #GlobalCitizen #SisterCity #Japan #SCASIL
#SanPedroMexico #Mexico

One of the best experiences of traveling globally is THE FOOD!!! Trying a new dish, seeing how a cuisine is served, experiencing a new texture or burst of flavor, making memories over a meal, it's all a component to learning about other cultures. Food and flavor can tie you to a memory from your past and we love the MANY food experiences associated with our trips over the years! Whether it's an elaborate meal made of many dishes with significant meaning or simply a unique flavor of chips we don't typically see in our home country, it's ALL an exciting part of the experience.

#ThrowbackThursday #SisterCities #AshikagaJapan #SpringfieldIL #GlobalCitizen #SisterCity #Japan #SCASIL

Come see us today at the Lincoln Land Community College Multicultural Festival! #SisterCities #SCASIL #SisterCity #GlobalCitizen #Japan #Ashikaga #Jining #china #sanpedro #killarney #FriendshipAcrossBorders #GlobalFriendship

One of the most impactful aspects of the Sister Cities program, is the ability to share our culture with others and have them share theirs with us. That applies whether it's something as large as how our government is structured or something as small as what we typically eat for breakfast! These exchange trips foster so much learning and relationship building all while creating experiences of a lifetime! Pictured here is a former host student teaching her Japanese guest student some typical American "clapping" playground rhymes!

If you're interested in learning more about our adult or student exchange programs, email us at scasil.org@gmail.com! We would love to connect with you!

#SisterCities #ThrowbackThursday #AshikagaJapan #SpringfieldIL #SCASIL #GlobalCitizen #SisterCity #Japan #SCASIL

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Sister Cities Association of Springfield, Illinois

Our Purpose

Become part of something bigger by joining a delegation

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