Photographs depicting daily life taken by amateur photographers in Hachinohe, Japan will be on display starting Nov. 29 at the Performing Arts and Event Center as part of “Hidden Gems: Sister City 25th Anniversary Photo Exhibit.”

An anniversary celebration between the two cities on different continents, the exhibit was created to show photographs of things not obvious to the naked eye, but that are daily routines, traditions or places that are valuable in the eyes of each resident.

“These places hold the history of countless people, where, like sediment, their stories are accumulated and passed on,” said Angelica Wang, coordinator for internal relations for Hachinohe City Hall, in a press release from the city of Federal Way. “In this way, there is no place that is quite the same as the next, and each place has its unique aura and charm.”

The Federal Way Arts Commission will host a ceremony from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the PAEC to kick off the opening of the week-long exhibit.

“The Arts Commission is pleased to have helped facilitate this exchange between sister cities using photography to promote greater understanding between us,” Arts Commission member Dan Hershman said in the release. “We are especially pleased to be involved in a real cultural exchange between the citizens of our two cities outside of the usual official channels of city officials and their representatives. This is an event for everyone to share in.”

Thirty photos taken by high school students from Federal Way Public Schools will be given to a delegation from Hachinohe as part of a one-day photography workshop scheduled for Dec. 3 at the PAEC.

The city of Federal Way and Federal Way Public Schools worked with Hachinohe City Hall to plan the exhibit and workshop over a three-month span.

“This exhibit is a great chance to showcase in pictures what makes Federal Way such a great place to live, play and work, and we’re grateful to the talented photography scholars within Federal Way Public Schools for providing that opportunity,” Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell said. “We are also excited to show for our residents a glimpse of life in Hachinohe.”

Thirty photos from each city will be selected for exhibition during the grand reopening of the Hachinohe City Museum of Art, for a Japanese audience. In turn, a delegation from Hachinohe will be bringing with it 90 photos to Federal Way to display as part of the week-long display at the PAEC.

“Our student body is rich in diversity and culture, with scholars from all over the world,” FWPS Superintendent Tammy Campbell said. “This photo exhibit highlights the power of cultural exchange and allows our scholars to share their talents and insights with the communities of Federal Way and Hachinohe, Japan.”