Photograph of tea for sale in Sayama, Japan

Pictured here are a variety of teas for sale at a tea shop 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. Tea is enjoyed both as an everyday drink and as part of formal tea ceremonies.

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.