While Port Townsend welcomes nine junior high students from its sister city, Ichikawa, in southern Japan this week, the planned visit of Mutsu City students to Port Angeles has been canceled.
Mitsuo Sasaki, president of Mutsu International Relations Association, wrote Tad Price, president of the Peninsula International Relations Association, that the delegation of 10 students who were due to arrive in Port Angeles on March 30 for a sister city visit have canceled the trip.
No one was injured by the magnitude 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, Sasaki said, but a railroad and highway necessary for travel were damaged.
Although airplanes were running to Tokyo, booking at such a late date would be nearly impossible, he wrote.
Reception today in PT
A reception for the Port Townsend delegation, which arrived Saturday, will be held today at 4 p.m. on the second floor of the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
“We’ll have a welcome party and opening-up to the public for dessert and coffee at 4 p.m.,” said Catherine McNabb, sister city coordinator.
“We’ll also have a presentation by the Port Townsend Vocal Chorus.”
Both Port Angeles and Port Townsend were unsure if Japanese delegations would be able to visit after the quake.
The southern city of Ichikawa was out of the danger zone for the earthquake and tsunami.
During their visit, the students will tour the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the maritime center, Fort Worden State Park and other local attractions.
Students will be individually housed by local families.
The students will stay in Port Townsend through Thursday, when they will go to Seattle for a day before returning home to Japan.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.