Kizuku Matsunaga will conduct a series of cultural exchange activities to communities in eastern Montana next week, the Kumamoto Plaza said Friday.

Matsunaga, director of Helena-based Kumamoto Plaza, which represents the Kumamoto Prefecture in the sister-state partnership between Montana and Japan, will travel to Harlowton, Roundup, Jordon, Circle, Sidney and Wolf Point during next week's tour.

During the outreach tour, the Matsunaga family will visit local schools to give demonstrations on origami, traditional Japanese tea-ceremonies, and Japanese language. The Matsunaga family will also give presentations about Kumamoto to several local civic organizations.

"This is a great opportunity for Montanans participate in a cultural learning experience in their own backyards," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "I encourage everyone to learn about our friends in Kumamoto and share some of our Montana hospitality."

In 1982, at the urging of then U.S. Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield, the state signed a formal sister-state agreement calling for the exchange of information, ideas, and people in the fields of education, government, culture, and social relations.

The following year, the Montana Legislature passed a joint resolution endorsing Montana's sister relationship with the Kumamoto Prefecture. The prefecture has dispatched a staff member to live in Montana and promote cultural, education and business exchanges ever since.

"My family and I look forward to sharing Kumamoto's culture and traditions with communities in eastern Montana," said Matsunaga. "Our sister-state relationship has allowed the people of Kumamoto and Montana to learn and grow together and I am proud to help foster this cultural connection in the future."