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DALLAS - City of Dallas residents Albert Marban and Jennifer Pope were selected by the City of Dallas and the Japan America Society of Dallas / Fort Worth to represent the city in the internationally-recognized 2024 Sendai International Half Marathon.
On Sunday, May 12, Mr. Marban and Mrs. Pope ran alongside elite runners from all over the world. Out of 10,000 competitors, Mr. Marban finished 2nd place among the Sister Cities invited and 94th overall for male runners. Mrs. Pope finished 1st among the Sister Cities invited, and 19th overall for female runners.
“Our experience at the Sendai International Half Marathon was absolutely incredible! I am forever grateful to be chosen to represent the City of Dallas. The entire week was filled with both fun and educational experiences that I will never forget. Thank you to Sendai, Dallas, the Team Dallas travel companions, and everyone who made this an experience of a lifetime,” said Mrs. Pope.
“Sendai was an excellent opportunity to grow! The beauty and kindness of the people, culture, and food from the “city of trees” highlighted the goodwill and respect I felt during our visit. I will instill these same values in my interactions with patients, friends, and neighbors in Dallas. In a time of much division and selfishness, this trip to our Friendship City of Sendai, Japan helped solidify why it is so important to be a global citizen of Dallas,” Mr. Marban said.
Dallas representatives traveled to Sendai and presented a bronze bell depicting icons of Dallas and Texas life that is now displayed outside the Sendai International Center.
There was also a great deal of municipal success between Dallas and Sendai. With the help of the Elaine Browning, past President of the Japan American Society, Macs Reynolds, Senior International Affairs Coordinator, met with executive members of Sendai City International leadership. They discussed ways to reinvigorate Dallas’s relationship with Sendai through cultural, sports, and economic exchanges in the coming years.
Dallas and Sendai have enjoyed a number of exchanges before their International Sister Agreement was officially signed in 1996. This particular trip strengthened the long-standing relationship between the cities and paved the way for future collaboration and exchange of culture and commerce.
In 2011, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japan America Society of Dallas Fort Worth collected over $187,000 from hundreds of generous donors for the Sendai Relief Fund. These funds were donated to Lions Club International to rebuild the Mori no Sato nursing facility.
For the 25th anniversary of the relationship in 2022, Mayor Kazuko Kori of Sendai was hosted by Mayor Eric Johnson at Dallas City Hall, where she gifted the City of Dallas a stone lantern made from quarry stone mined from Japan. This lantern is displayed outside the Samurai Museum in the Harwood District.
On Wednesday, June 5 the City of Dallas will recognize the Japan America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth and the Sendai Marathon runners in their many accomplishments and success in representing the City of Dallas and the strong connection between North Texas and Japan.
The City of Dallas will continue to work with the Japan America Society in Dallas / Fort Worth and its sister City Sendai to build new connections between our two cities. This trip showcased the comradery and unwavering spirit shared between Japan and the United States.
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