Miami, Florida - City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, joined by Kagoshima Mayor Hiroyuki Mori and his delegation, will hold a tree planting ceremony to celebrate the restoration of the Ichimura Miami-Japan Garden on Friday July 25, 2008 from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail.

The two-day visit marks the 18th year of the Miami-Kagoshima Sister Cities relationship and its continuing growth and expansion.  This year's visit aims to explore environmental interests shared by Miami and Kagoshima as well as educational exchanges for students and business opportunities for our cruise lines and other local businesses.

Kagoshima has an estimated population of about 605,650 and is located on the shores of Kinko Bay on the southern tip of Kyushu, one of Japan's four main islands. For more information on the Sister Cities relationship, please visit
www.miamigov.com/mic/pages/SisterCities/Kagoshima.asp or www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/kagoshima.html.

WHO: Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, City of Miami elected officials, Kagoshima Mayor Hiroyuki Mori, Consul General of Japan in Miami Hiroshi Yamaguchi, members of the Kagoshima mayoral delegation, Wings of Youth program exchange students and City of Miami representatives

WHAT: Ichimura Miami-Japan Garden Tree Planting Ceremony

WHEN: Friday, July 25, 2008 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Jungle Island 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail
Miami, Florida