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The story behind Idaho Falls’ 45-year friendship with this Japanese village
Posted
August 9, 2026
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735
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August 9, 2026
735
36
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5.03%
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1:00:16Now Playing#eastidahonews #itsworthmentioning #sistercities
More than a decade after the end of World War II, President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded Sister Cities International, a program aimed at promoting peace, cultural understanding, educational exchanges, and economic cooperation.
It was 1956. The war came to an end in 1945 after the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, but American hostility towards the Japanese remained.
The five-star general — who was given unprecedented command of all Allied forces during World War II — believed that personal connections between ordinary citizens could help prevent future conflicts.
Idaho Falls and Tokai-Mura, Japan, have been Sister Cities since 1981.
As of 2026, the two cities are celebrating 45 years of friendship. They have exchanged visitors through the years. A student delegation from Tokai-Mura recently completed a 10-day trip to the Idaho Falls area.
This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” we’re taking a look at the history of the Sister City program in Idaho Falls and the decades of hostility that existed for decades after the war. Rett Nelson is joined by two guests — the first is Laura Combs, president of the Idaho Falls Sister Cities Youth program. She will discuss the city’s long association with Tokai-Mura, how it started and how she came to Idaho Falls and got involved in the program.
Then, Jon Ochi, a longtime Idaho Falls resident of Japanese descent, speaks with Rett Nelson about his father, Fred Ochi. Fred lived in Idaho Falls during World War II. Jon shares some of his dad’s experiences and what life was like for the Japanese community.
This is a piece of local history you won’t find in the history books. It’s a fascinating discussion you don’t want to miss!
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