The Sister City relationship with Springfield was established on July 18, 1986. Both cities work with the international Sister City's Association. The following activities have taken place:
Home-stay programs in which more than 95 Springfield families have participated.
A major language study program conducted on the Southwest Missouri State University campus.
Children's art and photograph exchanges between the Springfield public schools and between the Sister City's art museums.
Visits between the two Cities, with Springfield hosting both City representatives and citizens from Isesaki on numerous occasions, and private citizens visiting Isesaki through the Sister City organizations. When the Sister City relationship was established, then Mayor George Scruggs accepted the invitation of Isesaki Mayor Yusaku Shimojo to visit Isesaki and formalize the agreement. In September of 1990, Mayor Thomas J. Carlson, City Manager Tom Finnie, and School Superintendent Paul Hagerty were guests of Isesaki to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a City.
Isesaki has a population of about 120,000 as compared to Springfield's 150,000. Isesaki's population has been increasing each year, and the City is now the fifth largest in the Gumma Prefecture.
Isesaki is located in the midst of the major cities in the Gumma Prefecture, and is one of Japan's most important industrial cities.
Isesaki first developed as a textile city, and is well known for "Isesaki-meisen," or silk cloth used to make kimonos. Since 1985, heavy industry has replaced this. As it moves into more of an urban area, Isesaki is focusing on industries such as domestic electric appliances, transportation vehicles, and the food industry.
"Peace of mind" is the objective in Isesaki, and the City has heavy emphasis on the services of welfare, public security, and health.
Isesaki is a nuclear weapon-free City, by a 1986 Declaration.
A Culture Hall was opened in 1981 to encourage interest in cultural matters.
Springfield and Isesaki share many things in common, including similar industrial bases, similar conditions of harmony between tradition and modernization, and similar cultural and park-oriented environments.
Isesaki has assisted in the development of the Japanese Botanical Garden at Nathaneal Greene Park, including the donation of numerous trees and funds for the construction of the tea hut. In early 1990, Cindy Jobe, a landscape supervisor in the Springfield Parks Department, spent three months in Isesaki to learn how to care for a Japanese garden.
Kezo-ji Park is the symbol of Isesaki City. There are about 300 plus trees, 1,000 cherry trees, 5,000 azaleas, 500 alpine roses, and aquatic plants. Each blooms at a different time of the year.
In Winter, the seasonal wind called "Karakkaze" blows, but the weather is otherwise comparatively mild throughout the year.
The City is located in a flat area at the center of the Japanese island, 100 km from Tokyo. There are seven ponds as well as numerous branches of three rivers, the Hirose River, the Kasu River, and the Tone River.
The two Cities are in regular communication. Any time representatives come, tours of the selected City sites are arranged and gifts are exchanged. Donations of gifts have been received in the past from Burlington Northern, the Landers Theatre, and the Bentley House.