Photograph of a green tea field in Sayama, Japan

This photograph shows a green tea farm field in Sayama, Japan. The photo was taken during the 2009 mayoral delegation to Sayama, which is Worthington’s sister city.

Sayama is famous for its green tea, which is celebrated in an annual November festival. Fields of tea bushes grow throughout the city, interspersed with homes and businesses. The city also grows a number of other crops, including taro, burdock, spinach and rice.

Worthington and Sayama have been sister cities since 1999, and through the years have exchanged dozens of delegations, including groups of city officials, residents and school groups. The 2009 mayoral delegation celebrated ten years of the sister-city relationship. During exchanges between the two cities, delegations typically tour a variety of destinations including city offices, schools, libraries, businesses and more.