The Sister Cities organization traces its roots to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1956 “People to people citizens’ diplomacy initiative”. Today sister cities organizations engage in a vast array of mutually beneficial, innovated and meaningful projects and exchanges. In December 2006, the Rio Vista Sister Cities Association was founded as an apolitical, community supported organization, funded through memberships and donations.

For many years, Village Tobishima, Japan junior high school students, educators and Village officials have included Rio Vista as part of their Overseas Studies Program. Through education programs and home stay their program fosters a global perspective in their youth. During these annual visits, similarities between our communities were identified. A relationship as Sister Cities was proposed, agreed upon, and in April 2007, was formalized with a signing ceremony in Japan.

The foundation for this relationship is:

Home stay program for middle school students; cultural exchanges; and agriculture, business, industrial Interchange.