RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS THE PACIFIC
Washington, DC Railroad Club Joins Japanese Group in Sister Club Agreement

OSHU CITY, IWATE, JAPAN – April 25, 2009

Using their common hobby to bridge differences of language and culture, Japan Rail Modelers of Washington, DC (JRM) and Iwate Rail Modelers’ Circle (IRC) have entered into a sister club agreement. IRC president Norishiro Sato and JRM representative Matthew Davis met for a signing ceremony at the Mizusawa Regional Cultural Exchange Hall “Asupia” in Oshu City, Iwate, Japan on April 25, 2009. In addition to tying the clubs together in friendship, the agreement calls for the two groups to introduce each other at public events in their regions and exchange information about railroading in their respective nations.

Matthew Davis from JRM and Norishiro Sato from IRC sign the sister agreement. Photo courtesy of IRC.

The ceremony was attended by members of IRC, people from the community, the press, and Kenichi Yoshida, former stationmaster of Mizusawa Station. In a scene reminiscent of the “golden spike” ceremony completing the first transcontinental railroad across the U.S., models of a Japanese steam locomotive and a modern U.S. diesel locomotive faced each other in front of U.S. and Japanese flags. At 5:00 pm, the ceremony began with IRC executive officer Naoto Kodama introducing the signatories and explaining the agreement. After the signing, Mr. Davis and Mr. Sato spoke a few words and shook hands. Mr. Davis remarked that JRM was looking forward to the free exchange of information between the two groups. “Interest in passenger rail service is increasing in the U.S. now, so there’s no better time to be looking at Japan’s extensive and successful rail network.” “Today should be remembered for friendship spreading across the globe thanks to model railroading,” added Mr. Sato. JRM president Dmitry Rudnev commented by e-mail that “going on an international scale and finding new friends in the country of our inspiration is a great thing for our club.”

The Mizusawa Regional Cultural Exchange Hall “Asupia” was chosen as the ceremony site because of its connection to international cultural exchange and its proximity to a historical railroad site. It is located across the street from the birthplace of Shinpei Goto, a railroading pioneer and statesman in Japan. Goto’s strong support for wider tracks in Japan ultimately made Japan’s famous high-speed “shinkansen” bullet train system possible.

Japan Rail Modelers of Washington, DC is a group of train modelers in the Washington, DC metropolitan area that focuses on modeling Japanese rail systems. They support and encourage modeling of Japanese rail systems and provide public education about Japanese railroads. Their 72‑square‑foot portable Japanese-themed N gauge layout can be seen at model railroading shows and other events, and was most recently displayed at the Sakura Matsuri street festival during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. For more information about Japan Rail Modelers of Washington, DC, please visit http://www.japanrailmodelers.org.

Iwate Rail Modelers’ Circle is a group of train modelers and enthusiasts based in Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan. They have built several layouts for display during special events, and each year they sponsor a “Railroad Festa” in Oshu City, Iwate. For more information about Iwate Rail Modelers’ Circle, please visit http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Part/9162/.

Contact: Matthew Davis
E-mail: press@japanrailmodelers.org