CITY OF RENTON WASHINGTON

The City of Renton established a new Sister City relationship with Cuautla, Jalisco, Mexico, in August 2001.

The State of Washington and the Mexico State of Jalisco have a sister state relationship that helped lay the foundation for the bond between Renton and Cuautla.

Located in the mountainous region of southeast Jalisco, Cuautla is a small community of about 3,000 people. Fundamental to the special connection between Renton and Cuautla, are Cuautla's "Absent Sons," of which many live in or near Renton. The "Absent Sons," as they are referred to in Cuautla, are a band of greater Puget Sound Region restauranteurs who left Cuautla when they were young men, came to the United States, and opened the majority of the Mexican restaurants we patronize today: Azteca, La Fuente, La Hacienda, Las Margaritas, Mayas, Mazatlan, Tapatios, Taqueria Guaymas, and Torero's to name just a few.

This year, Renton and Nishiwaki are celebrating the 50th Anniversary (1969-2019) of our Sister City relationship.  A citizens’ delegation from Nishiwaki, Japan, will visit Renton October 16-18, 2019.  Sister city volunteers have been working in partnership with the City of Renton to plan and organize this year’s 50th anniversary activities.   Several of the delegates will stay with Renton-based host families, and remaining delegates will stay at the Renton Red Lion Hotel.  Highlights of this year’s delegation activities include:  tour and lunch at Renton Technical College, a community event at Luther’s Table, Official Ceremony and lunch at Renton City Hall, tour of the Renton Boeing Plant and shopping the Boeing Store, Nishiwaki Lane along the Cedar River, coffee and tea ceremony at Boon Boona in downtown Renton, dinner at Torero’s, Seattle-based locations such as Pike Place and Space Needle, and a farewell dinner

Contact Chris Johnson committee chairman, for more information. 

Renton's sister city relationship with Nishiwaki began in 1969 when a sister city alliance with Nishiwaki, Japan, was forged by the Renton Lions Club with support of other civic organizations to promote mutual understanding and good will between the United States and Japan.

In an effort to enhance a sister city relationship with Nishiwaki, the Renton City Council in 1994 passed a resolution establishing an official City of Renton Nishiwaki Sister City Committee. The Washington - Hyogo, Japan Sister State association strengthens the relationship between Renton and Nishiwaki.

This sister city relationship pairs two cities with strikingly similar characteristics:

• Both are located in a valley with a river running through the center of town in Hyogo, Japan
• The climates are very similar
• Both cities are industrial based
• Nishiwaki is known internationally for its production of textiles and also fly-fishing hooks.
• Nishiwaki is located near the city of Kobe, which is one of Seattle's sister cities. West of the city of Nishiwaki lies Kent's sister city, and west of there lies Auburn's sister city.
• Nishiwaki population was about 40,000, at the time of the relationship, which was comparable to Renton's.

Program Partnerships

• City of Renton
• Renton Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
• Mitsubishi
• Renton Lions Club
• Renton Technical College
• Boeing
• Torero’s Mexican Family Restaurant
• Uwajimaya
• Bernadene & Denny Dochnahl
• Dave & Barbara Reed
• Yamato Transport USA, Inc.