Japanes group visits Iowa

Sixteen young leaders from Japan will go on a bus tour of Iowa over the next few days, visiting historic sites and movie backdrops. The guests are from Yamanashi, Japan — Iowa’s sister-state. Jean Lloyd-Jones of Iowa City will lead the group to stops at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, the Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids and the Mesquakie Settlement near Tama.Lloyd-Jones says the goal is to show the Japanese visitors the racial diversity present in the state.The group will tour the Bridges of Madison County and the Field of Dreams, too. The five-day Iowa history course will include a stop at Terrace Hill in Des Moines. The group will stay at hotels in Council Bluffs and Cedar Rapids, and will stay in Iowans’ homes at the other stops.