McMinnville welcomed 12 residents from its sister city of Mikawa, Japan last week for the first time since a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit in March 2011 causing the Sister Cities exchange program for junior high students to be put on hold. “Last year was the first year that was interrupted due to the earthquake and tsunami,” said organizer Melany Crothers. Sister Cities has allowed McMinnville’s and Mikawa’s youth to explore Japanese and American cultures during a short stay with a host family since 1993.