The bearer of the invitation to Denver from Takayama was Tomatsu Murayama of the Japan Times, Tokyo. The invitation from Mayor Sinchiro Iwamoto of Takayama, on July 22, 1960, was to commemorate the centennial of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce, and because of similar geographical similarities. The City of Takayama (high mountain) thereby became Denver’s (Mile High) sister city with a formal proclamation by former Mayor Dick Batterton. Takayama City has chosen Denver as its peacetime partner to create a closer relationship of mutual understanding and good will.

At this time Takayama’s population was around 10,000, while Denver’s was over the half-million mark. This disparity was disappointing to many of the Japanese-American community, who had been planning a similar tie with the famous and historical city of Nara, Japan.

Upon receiving the invitation from Mayor Iwamoto of Takayama, Mayor Batterton contacted Mrs. Ben Stapleton of Denver (of the People-to-People Corporation) for suggestions regarding the finalization of the relationship with Takayama. Mrs. Elizabeth Rose, Chairman of the Colorado Council for UNESCO was invited to return the invitation and to go to Japan to finalize the Sister City affiliation.

Since that time, Denver and Takayama have participated in a wide variety of exchanges, including high school students, business people, the 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons (for which a national award was received), many visits and celebrations commemorating this program since 1960. Besides these many and varied activities, one of the highlights of 1994 was the joint concert of 70 members of the Takayama Wind Orchestra with the Denver Municipal Band, which was held at George Washington High School, and emphasized the fact that “music is an international language.” (A 1994 national award)

These cities enjoy the warmth and friendship of many years of participation in the Sister Cities program. The Takayama Park is located at Cherry Creek Drive North.