Toyota City, Japan

Derbyshire is twinned with Toyota City in Aichi Province, Japan. Japanese language site (opens in a new window).

In 1989, when Toyota Motor Company announced that it was going to open a car plant in Burnaston in Derby, very few Derbyshire residents knew of the City in Japan with the same name as the car manufacturers.

Dr Toyoda, the then head of the Worldwide Toyota Car Company said that the package put together by Derbyshire County Council was very ‘impressive’ and proved to be the lynch point for their move into the county.

In 1998, Toyota City signed a formal twinning agreement in collaboration with Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and South Derbyshire District Council forging a unique link which continues to go from strength to strength.

In 2008 we will celebrate the ten year anniversary of the twinning link, so watch this space for news on events and celebratory activities you can participate in!

Toyota City, Japan

The population of Toyota is around 400,000 at present. The city is located in the centre of Aichi Prefecture, on the largest of Japan’s four islands; Honshu.

Toyota City is famed as an ‘Automobile City’ but in addition to the prosperity of this industry, the city is blessed with abundant nature; history, culture and the youthful energy of its citizens. Cultural and government officers are now working in unison to create ‘A City of Industrial and Cultural Exchange’, to realise their image of Toyota in the 21st century.

For more information visit the Toyota City website (opens in a new window)

Exchanges

Since the signing of the twinning agreement, both countries have participated in various exchanges.

In April 2002, 22 photographers from Japan came to capture the brilliance and beauty of the Derbyshire countryside and gave us a very different take on the day to day sights that we take for granted.

A photographic record was produced to compliment our own publication ‘Derbyshire, a wonderful place to grow’ and was on display at Chesterfield Library for a fortnight. The Japanese photographers met their counterparts from the Chesterfield Photographic Society and have formed great lasting friendships.

In 2004 twenty-five Japanese gardeners joined us and were given access to gardens in our country houses as well as local English and Japanese gardens in the county.   They also visited the well dressing sites and some of the naturally beautiful countryside.

In April 2005 the link was strengthened once again when the Derbyshire Youth Jazz Orchestra had the opportunity to visit Toyota City to perform six concerts for the appreciative Japanese audience.

EXPO 2005, the World Trade Exposition was hosted by the Japanese in 2005 in Aichi Province. The popular name for it was ‘Exposition of Global Harmony’ and the theme; ‘Natures Wisdom’. The Derbyshire Youth Jazz Orchestra performed on the Expo UK day on Friday 22 April for Prince Andrew amongst others.

For more info on Expo 2005 visit www.expo2005.or.jp (opens in a new window)

In November 2007, Derbyshire County Council hosted two Japanese interns (opens in a new window) from the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). The local government officers were in Derbyshire for a week to study best practice and learn about our policies and procedures.