Kanie Japan and Marion Illinois joined together on March 26, 2010, to become Sister Cities. Great effort was put into the "twinning" of Marion and Kanie, and a great deal of effort still goes on today to keep it alive in order to bring understanding of our cultures, to enhance the esteem our respective citizens have for one another, and to encourage cooperation through interchange in many fields including industry.

Representatives from Kanie have visited Marion in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and another visit recently was held March 25-29, 2017. Marion has sent representatives to Kanie in 2010 and 2014.

On the upcoming visit, 12 students and six adults made the journey from Kanie Japan to Marion. 

The sponsors for the 2017 Sister City visit were:

• City of Marion
• Marion Chamber of Commerce
• Visit SI
• AISIN
• Black Diamond Harley Davidson
• Commercial Janitorial Services
• Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation
• Shawn Vincelette