Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society

The goals of the Society are as follows: to promote world peace and encourage a better understanding between the Japanese and American peoples, to perpetuate the story of John Manjiro and Captain Whitfield, whose historical friendship provided the impetus for the Sister City Agreement and to foster interaction between Fairhaven/New Bedford and Tosashimizu related to education and youth exchanges; the arts, culture and sports; business and industry; public administration; and tourism.

The purpose of the society is to provide an organizational framework within which individuals, institutions, schools, community groups, industry and commercial organizations, and the public sector will collaborate in an effective manner to promote and enhance the Sister City relationship established between Fairhaven/New Bedford and Tosashimizu, Japan on December 2, 1987. This purpose is educational and cultural. The society was established in 1987 under the name of Fairhaven/New Bedford - Tosashimizu Sister City Committee and was changed to Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society in 2008.