Machu Picchu, a World Heritage site in Peru, has been paired with Otama, a village in Fukushima Prefecture, in the first instance of the Inca citadel signing such an agreement.
The two municipalities held a signing ceremony at the site Monday, with the attendance of Toshikazu Oshiyama, head of Otama, and Machu Picchu Mayor Delman David Gayoso Garcia, along with residents of the two villages.
Machu Picchu has been receiving requests from municipalities around the world to sign friendship agreements, but chose Otama in honor of Yokichi Nouchi (1895-1969), who emigrated from Otama to Peru in the early 20th century and contributed to the development of tourism in Machu Picchu.
Otama hopes to promote itself by producing Peruvian agricultural items and offering educational exchange programs.
Machu Picchu is a historic sanctuary located more than 2,400 meters above sea level northwest of Cuzco, which served as the capital of the Inca Empire in the 15th and 16th century. It is popular among tourists for its dramatic mountain landscape.