Sister City Program

Leavenworth's sister cities are Omi Hachiman, Japan, and Wagga Wagga, Australia. Sister Cities International was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower with the intent of promoting peace through cultural exchange.

The Sister City Board, along with the Leavenworth Convention and Visitors Bureau, coordinates many Sister City events and activities.

Wagga Wagga, Australia

Wagga Wagga is a major city in the Riverina Region of New South Wales, with 58,000 residents and has been our Sister-City since July 31, 1962. It lies on the Murrumbidgee River and is home to the Kapooka Army Recruit Training Base and Royal Australian Air Force Base.  However, unlike cities in the U.S., Wagga Wagga covers a vast territory and includes a number of smaller cities called shires.  Covering such a large territory the city council is made up of 15 elected counselors.  The name, "Wagga" comes from Wiradjuri Aboriginal language meaning "crow." The name translates as "the place of many crows."  In August 2019, the City of Wagga Wagga dropped the definition of 'crow' and adopted the city's Aboriginal meaning as 'dance and celebrations'. 

Wagga Wagga has sent many young women, winners of the "Miss Wagga Wagga" and "Miss Community Princess" to visit Leavenworth every few years as part of our Sister City tradition. The Miss Wagga Wagga Quest, as it is officially called, is steeped in history as it began in 1948 and has evolved  into a community leadership competition for young women and is one of Australia's longest running community service awards.  The entrants of the Miss Wagga Wagga Quest have raised over 2 million dollars, all of which has been distributed to local charities and community organizations.    

Omi Hachiman, Japan

The Sister/Brother City relationship between Leavenworth and Omi Hachiman, Japan, is a unique and cherished bond that officially began on May 24, 1997. But its roots reach back nearly a century earlier, to 1905, when William Merrell Vories—a native of Leavenworth—journeyed to Japan with a passion for teaching and service.

Vories arrived in the Omi Hachiman region as a Christian missionary, but his impact would extend far beyond spiritual guidance. He became a visionary architect, poet, writer, and entrepreneur. His legacy includes the founding of the Omi Mission, which established a school, a hospital, and a company that would go on to produce the well-known product Mentholatum.

Over the years, Vories designed numerous buildings across Japan, many of which are still in use today. His influence endures through the Omi Brotherhood, a thriving organization that continues his mission. Today, it is active in cosmetics and skincare, pharmaceutical products, property management, healthcare, publishing, and Christian ministry.

Vories fully embraced his adopted homeland, marrying, settling in Japan permanently, and becoming a naturalized citizen. His remarkable story is preserved and celebrated at the Vories memorial Hall museum in Omi Hachiman.

To honor this enduring connection, the Omi Brotherhood sends a delegation to Leavenworth every few years, where members engage with the local community and visit the birthplace of Mr. Vories.

Nestled in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture, Omi Hachiman is home to a population of approximately 81,730 residents. The city remains a living testament to the shared history and enduring friendship between our two communities.