A NEW website has been launched to encourage more Japanese people to visit Derbyshire.
It comes as the county marks 15 years of being twinned with Toyota City.
The link-up was signed after Toyota Motor Company chose to site its European manufacturing base at Burnaston, leading to the creation of thousands of jobs.
The aim of the website is to make it easier for Japanese people to learn about Derbyshire and to persuade them to visit.
The site is written in Japanese and sits within www.visitpeakdistrict.com.
The launch of the site is part of a number of initiatives taking place to mark the twinning anniversary.
Yesterday, a Japanese children's choir arrived in Derbyshire to perform as part of the long-standing international twinning celebration.
Toyota City Girls and Boys Choir will explore the county until Tuesday. Tonight, they will perform at County Hall, Matlock, at 6pm. The concert is free to attend and is open to the public.
County council cabinet member Joan Dixon urged people to go along.
She said: "We're delighted to welcome our friends from Toyota City to celebrate the 15th anniversary of what remains a very strong and important relationship.
"As well as vital employment and tourism links, our schools have built excellent relationships with their counterparts in Toyota City which have helped a mutual understanding of different cultures.
"We're looking forward to the performance of the Toyota City Girls' and Boys' Choir and welcome people to join us and hear them sing."
Later in the year, up to 50 members of City and County Youth Wind Band will visit Toyota City, as part of the twinning celebrations.
They will perform at venues across the city between October 29 and November 1 – including at the official twinning ceremony on the final day of their visit.
There will also be a civic twinning ceremony at County Hall, Matlock, on November 18. Delegates attending from Toyota City are expected to spend four days in Derbyshire.
Meanwhile, the county council has defended the cost of the twinning agreement – arguing that it is not a lot of money.
Referring to the cost of the 15-year anniversary events, chief executive Ian Stephenson said: "The costs associated with the events will largely be funded by Toyota Motor Company, Toyota City and individual participants.
"The costs to the county council will be in the region of £8,000."
