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(Chiba, Japan) - The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) proudly participated in the "Kashiwa Matsuri (Festival) 2025" on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. This engagement further solidified Guam’s long-standing sister-city relationship with Kashiwa, aiming to promote regional exchange between Guam and Japan across various sectors.
The GVB delegation included representatives from the GVB Japan Team and officials from Guam headquarters: GVB Board of Director and Mayor of Sinajana, Honorable Robert Hofmann; GVB Director of Destination Development, Dee Hernandez; and GVB Senior Marketing Manager-Japan, Regina Nedlic.
During the opening ceremony, Mayor Hofmann participated in the traditional ribbon-cutting, officially launching the vibrant Kashiwa Festival. GVB also played a prominent role in the festival's main event, the parade, alongside Miss Guam 2025 Ashley Topasña. The parade featured dynamic cultural performances by Guam's Guma Tao’ Tao’ Tano, led by Vince San Nicolas, and the Guam CHamoru Dance Academy (GCDA) Guma Kinahulo Atdao Na Tano, led by Asami Nohira – one of Japan's most active cultural groups. By showcasing authentic CHamoru dances, GVB offered festival-goers a vibrant, firsthand experience of Guam’s rich cultural heritage.
"The friendship between Guam and Kashiwa is a wonderful 34-year relationship. Our student exchanges, tourism promotions, and participation in each other's events and activities is a sign of a healthy and strong partnership," stated Mayor Hofmann.
On the same day, GVB representatives joined Kashiwa Mayor Kazumi Ota for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and held a courtesy visit and meeting with representatives from the Kashiwa International Relations Association (KIRA). Discussions reviewed successful past exchanges and actively explored future collaborations for 2026. Key topics included the potential resumption of student exchange programs, the possibility of face-to-face exchanges including homestays, collaborative regional promotion through sports—such as linking GVB’s upcoming KO’KO’ Road Race 2026 with running events in Kashiwa—and continued cultural presentations of Guam at the Kashiwa Festival, dance festivals, and other local international exchange events. Notably, Guam and Kashiwa City will celebrate 35 years of friendship next year, with plans for commemorative events with the KIRA Association and other groups visiting Guam in 2026.
Moving forward, the Guam Visitors Bureau remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting exchange programs not only within the tourism sector but also across education, culture, and sports. GVB will continue to actively strengthen regional partnerships with sister and friendship cities throughout Japan, commencing with Kashiwa City. This year's Kashiwa Festival drew an estimated attendance of over 700,000 participants.
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