Both are located in the Fukushima Prefecture, which was hit with a devastating earthquake and tsunami back in 2011.

A total of 1,817 residents have since been confirmed as having died as a result of the disaster, considered as one of the worst tragedies to ever strike the region.

Following the tsunami and earthquake, the region was ravaged by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, where an accident at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant caused the release of radioactive materials as well as three nuclear meltdowns.

It is considered the largest of its kind since Chernoybl in 1986.

The Government in Japan are aiming to use the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a bid to repair the country’s image and to show they have recovered from the range of tragedies which have hit the nation in recent years.

Inawashiro, which has a population of around 15,000, has close ties with Ghana after local bacteriologist Hideyo Noguchi, a multiple Nobel Prize nominee, died in the African country while conducting research on yellow fever in 1928.

Koriyama, meanwhile, has given refuge and shelter to 8,000 people affected by the Fukushima nuclear incident and is twinned with Dutch city Brummen.

The region is still coming to terms with the effects of the disaster as it is known for its strong farming heritage, which has taken a hit due to radiation exposure.

According to the Japan Times, around 70 municipalities had applied to be a part of the scheme before the first deadline in December.

Tokyo 2020 was recently praised by the International Olympic Committee, with vice-president John Coates declaring that they “couldn’t be happier” with the state of their preparations.

“For a city that's four years out to the Games, I don't think we've ever seen a city more prepared,” the Australian said.