Shinagawa City Office Daisan-Chosha office 4th floor, 2-1-36 Hiromachi,Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0005 Japan (Map) TEL:+81-3-5742-6517 MAIL:info@sifa.or.jp
Top Page > About SIFA > About Shinagawa-ku International Friendship Association（SIFA）
Purpose of Establishment
We at Shinagawa-ku International Friendship Association (SIFA) strive to
contribute to the further development of the very lively international place of
Shinagawa City where people in this prosperous community participate in various
international exchange programs and welcome anyone from foreign countries into
their homes.
Steps for establishing SIFA
In October 1984, the sister city agreement was signed between the Mayor of
Shinagawa City and the Mayor of Portland in Maine in the United States and the
various programs were launched.
At the time the agreement was signed, the awareness in international related
matters, which were recognized as the matters of the national level, was in
the process of shifting to the regional government level, and the necessity of
a grass-roots international exchange programs was demanded.
With the idea that it is better to conduct friendship exchange programs at the
citizen's level in Shinagawa City than by administrative bodies, SIFA was
established as a private organization in March 1985.
In March 1986, SIFA changed its status as a private organization to an
incorporated foundation for the purpose of becoming organizationally and
financially stable. This allowed SIFA to expand international exchange
activities and maintains its activities by clarifying the characteristics of
the association. The association presently conducts its duties as an
incorporated foundation.
Sister Cities / City of Portland
Summary of Activities
The activities conducted by SIFA are as follows:
1.
Friendship promotions with sister city and friendship cities We send
and accept official delegation, goodwill delegation and people who attend the
meetings for exchange programs.
2.
Citizen's exchange activities with sister city and friendship cities We
send and accept youth for homestay. We also send students for English language
training, and support youth exchange programs in sports, and recommend
qualified students to study at the University of Southern Maine (USM), etc.
3.
Popularization activities for the enlightenment of international exchange
programs We hold Japanese language classes for foreign people living
and working in Shinagawa City. We also conduct English conversation classes,
flower arrangement classes, and cooking classes for both foreign people and
Japanese people living and working in Shinagawa City.
4.
Public relations and research activities We publish a bulletin titled "SIFA
News" and open our website to the public to promote our activities and to
strengthen public understanding and cooperation in our international exchange
activities.
5.
Supporting activities for individual and group exchange programs We
support people in Shinagawa City who conduct their own exchange programs. Our
support includes promoting their exchange programs with foreign people living
and working in Shinagawa City, assisting with expenses for their exchange
programs, and offering them permission to use our corporate title for their
exchange program.
