Japan ‘Sister City’ recognition: Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney greets several students from Saitama, Japan, last week during their visit to City Council chambers to recognize the 20th anniversary of Saitama’s partnership with Richmond in the Sister City program. The high school students and two teachers from Urawa Municipal High School spent a week in the Richmond area through the scholastic exchange program. The students visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Maymont, where there was a welcome ceremony in the Japanese Gardens. Saitama and four other cities in Mali, Namibia, China and England have Sister City relationships with Richmond. (Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press)