Woman in Sayama, Japan preparing green tea

This photograph shows a Japanese woman preparing tea during a formal tea ceremony. Members of the 2009 Worthington mayoral delegation to Sayama, Japan, participated in the ceremony.

The tea ceremony is an important part of Japanese cultural heritage. Hosts serve matcha, or specially grown green tea prepared from powder, following a highly choreographed series of steps. The ceremony takes place in silence, and is meant to offer a time of tranquility and contemplation to participants.

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 observed 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 and businesses, along with sightseeing and cultural events.