Upcoming Anniversary Celebration

(STILLWATER, OKLA • Oct. 10, 2010) — There have been some nice articles in the News-Press and on Stillwater’s channel 23 about our upcoming 25th anniversary with Kameoka and the publicity has been much appreciated. In view of the publicity about our twenty-five year sister cities affiliation with Kameoka and our celebration at the Stillwater Public Library on October 17, this week’s Kameoka Corner will focus on the city which we’ve been affiliated with for the past quarter century, Kameoka. The old castle town, almost completely surrounded by mountains straddles the Hozu River. Like Stillwater, Kameoka which is almost due west
of us, enjoys four beautiful seasons. The temperature during the winter rarely falls below about 28 or 29 degrees,  but it’s very humid and usually feels much colder than the actual temperature Most winters there are several five and six-inch snowfalls which are very pretty with the snow stuck to everything. But the snow doesn’t stay on the ground very long and by about mid-March signs of spring are in the air. In spring there’s an abundance of cherry blossoms and azaleas, some even growing wild along the Hozu River. During the spring hundreds of acres of rice seedlings are planted and as they grow toward maturity they provide an incredibly beautiful green landscape visible throughout Kameoka during the summer. Almost every morning during the late spring and early summer, the city is enveloped in a very heavy fog and during the same general period people are awakened almost every morning by the cawing of dozens of ravens. The summers are usually hot and humid. As summer gives way to fall the rice fields turn golden yellow just before harvest and the fall foliage displays its dazzling colors. Huge saucer size chrysanthemums can be seen on people’s doorsteps or in their gardens, the leaves of the gingko trees and other trees turn bright yellow, but the star of the fall show are the Japanese maples that turn almost fire engine red. It’s a spectacular sight! Rice harvest will soon be completed, people in Kameoka are preparing for the Kameoka Fall Festival and along with us will celebrate our 25th anniversary as sister cities.