Walla Walla Unveils Statue Celebrating 50-Year Sister City Friendship

The bronze statues of Dekansho dancers symbolize the enduring bond between Walla Walla and Tambasasayama, Japan.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 5:08am

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The Walla Walla-Tambasasayama Sister City Committee unveiled two bronze statues of Dekansho dancers on the Friendship Bridge in downtown Walla Walla, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between the two cities. The statues, created by local artist Jeffrey J. Hill and cast by T. Hunter Bronze, depict a man and woman dressed in traditional yukatas with bamboo designs, representing the Dekansho Festival held annually in Tambasasayama.

Why it matters

The statue unveiling marks a significant milestone in the long-standing sister city partnership between Walla Walla and Tambasasayama, which has fostered cultural exchange, mutual respect, and friendship over the past five decades. The statues provide a permanent public symbol of this bond, inviting all who pass by to join in the circle of community.

The details

The Dekansho dancer statues were the final phase of the Friendship Bridge Project, which was delayed due to the pandemic. The statues were inspired by a visit years ago by Sister City Committee Vice Chair Mai Harada and Secretary Barbara Noel, who measured the dimensions of the Dekansho dance statues in Tambasasayama while holding umbrellas in the rain. Local artist Jeffrey J. Hill created the original clay models, which were then cast in bronze by T. Hunter Bronze.

  • The statue unveiling took place on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • The sister city relationship between Walla Walla and Tambasasayama was established in 1972 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The players

Mai Harada

Vice Chair of the Walla Walla-Tambasasayama Sister City Committee.

Barbara Noel

Secretary of the Walla Walla-Tambasasayama Sister City Committee Board.

Sonja Gooding

Chairman of the Walla Walla-Tambasasayama Sister City Committee.

Mika Means

A Walla Walla resident who is hosting an exchange student from Tambasasayama.

Jeffrey J. Hill

The local artist who created the original clay models of the Dekansho dancer statues.

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What they’re saying

“We were holding umbrellas and measuring the statues in the rain. Maybe we looked very strange. Everyone driving by looked at us and probably thought, 'What are those two doing?' But Barbara didn't care. She was smiling and looking at the future.”

— Mai Harada, Sister City Committee Vice Chair

“May this stand as a lasting reminder of the bond between Walla Walla and Tambasasayama that continues to be built on shared art, history, mutual respect, cultural exchange, and friendship.”

— Barbara Noel, Sister City Committee Board Secretary

“It's a dance that doesn't work with just one. It takes a community. For over 50 years, Walla Walla and Tambasasayama have been in that circle together. This bridge was dedicated to our golden anniversary. But a bridge without people is just a path. By placing these dancers here, we see that this path is alive. We are inviting everyone who passes over these waters to join us in our circle.”

— Sonja Gooding, Sister City Committee Chairman

What’s next

The Walla Walla-Tambasasayama Sister City Committee plans to continue the annual high school cultural exchange program, with Walla Walla students traveling to Japan this fall.

The takeaway

The statue unveiling in Walla Walla symbolizes the enduring friendship and cultural exchange between the city and its sister city in Japan, demonstrating how shared traditions and community connections can transcend borders and foster lasting international partnerships.