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Members of a delegation from Corning's sister city of Kakegawa, Japan, perform Sunday during a gathering at Craig Park in Painted Post.

JEFF MURRAY / STAFF PHOTO

Japanese students see ‘real America’ in Corning

Group of 22 explores Southern Tier, N.Y. state

By Jeff Murray

jdmurray@gannett.com

PAINTED POST --- Shun Matsamoto was looking forward to his first trip to Corning, but it wasn’t what he expected.
Matsamoto was among 22 students and adult chaperones from Corning’s sister of Kakegwa, Japan, who spent the last several days visiting Corning and other locations.
The reality didn’t fit the preconceived notion, Matsamoto said through an interpreter.
“I expected it to be lots of people and crowded,” said Matsamoto, 15. “I was surprised to see that it’s more laid back, and less people.”
This is the 21st year that the Corning Sister City Association has hosted a group from Kakegawa.
Each year, a different group of youths and adults gets to experience everything Corning and New York state have to offer, said program coordinator Ben Fimlail.
“Thursday, they had a reunion at the Patterson Inn. Friday they made a day trip to Niagara Falls and old Fort Niagara,” Fimlail said, “There was a small pool party for the kids on Saturday. They will be going to New York City (today.)”
The visit wrapped up with a cookout and other activities Sunday at Craig Park in Painted Post.
“The best times we had were in Corning,” said Takuto Takayanagi, 18. “Corning is the best place. You can meet a lot of friendly people here.”
The visit was also enlightening for Hideki Hada, principal at Osuka Middle School. It provided a valuable education all around, Hada said.
“It’s important that experience and see what America is really like, not just what they see on TV,” he said. “People that go to Kakegawa and students that come here end up liking the other country and learning about it. Getting to know the real America is extremely important.”