Friendship Bridge celebrates 50 years of sister cities alliance

WALLA WALLA - The Walla Walla – Tambasasayama Sister City Committee will unveil two bronze statues of Japanese Dekansho dancers on Saturday, March 21, at 4 p.m. on the Friendship Bridge in downtown Walla Walla. A delegation of Tambasasayama high school students and chaperones, in Walla Walla for a week-long cultural exchange, will be present for the unveiling.

This marks the completion of the Friendship Bridge Project, celebrating the 50th Anniversary (1972-2022) of the Walla Walla and Tambasasayama alliance. After COVID-19 delays, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in 2023 when the Spokane Street Bridge was renamed Friendship Bridge. 

The three-foot sculptures by Jeffrey J. Hill are representations of the life-size originals in Tambasasyama. The statues honor the Dekansho dance and song, which have been recognized as official Japanese cultural heritage, known throughout Japan but specific to Tambasasayama. A popular annual Dekansho Festival is held in mid-August near the Tambasasayama Castle site.

The Friendship Bridge Project, envisioned by long-time board secretary Barbara Noel, is a powerful tribute to the lasting bond between Walla Walla and Tambasasayama. More than just a physical crossing, the Bridge stands as a lasting symbol of the friendship and cultural exchange that unite the two communities for generations to come.