2 Japan cities "marry" to combine specialties

MATSUE, Japan - The mayor of Izumo (C), Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, acts as a go-between in the "marriage" of two cities - Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, known for dried bonito flakes, and Wakkanai, Hokkaido, known for dried kelp - as "man-and-wife cities" on Feb. 19, 2014, in an effort to promote each other's specialties and revitalize local economic activity. A signing ceremony involving Izumo Mayor Hideto Nagaoka, Makurazaki Mayor Tadashi Kamisono (L) and Wakkanai Mayor Hiroshi Kudo (R) was held at the city hall in Izumo, home to Izumo Taisha, a Shinto shrine which many visit in hopes of making a good match.