Kanazawa's Sister Cities

Central Market

Date of sister city agreement: March 20, 1967
Population: 1,500,000
Area: 497 square kilometers

PORTO ALEGRE
Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, is located by the Great Guaiba Lake. Its hills, parks, squares, and sidewalks change colors with each of the four well-defined seasons. Hot and humid during the summer, the temperature sometimes goes below zero in the winter. The history of Porto Alegre dates back to 1752, when a group of 60 couples from the Portugese Azores Islands began building huts by the Guaiba Lake. Later, Germans came to settle in the region and the city developed commercially, with factories and extensive agriculture. Due to its vast pastures, present-day Porto Alegre produces tobacco and raises much livestock. It is also home to other successful industries such as foodstuff, wool, and metal-working. Porto Alegre is the third-ranking Brazilian city in international trade. LACADOR, a bronze statue representing the "gaucho" farmer dressed up in his typical work clothes, serves as a welcome symbol for all the city's visitors and sunset over the Guaiba is the pride and joy of the gauchos. Open doors and warm welcomes are the oldest customs in the land which is called Porto Alegre, "Happy Harbor."

Exchange Activities

visits from sister city delegations to each of the cities
visits from a Porto Alegre Samba group to Kanazawa
exchanging presents, such as the gift of the "gaucho"
statue
exchanging books
holding amity games between the youth soccer teams
of both cities
sending groups to perform taiko (Japanese drum),
kendo (Japanese fencing), and Japanese folk songs
in Porto Alegre

Youth soccer teams from both cities enjoying a game

Click to enter the site of Porto Alegre city!