Berkeley-Sakai 50th Sister City Anniversary
2017/5/2
From April 20-22, Mayor Osami Takeyama and City Council Chairman Mamoru Yoshikawa led a delegation from Sakai, Japan, to Berkeley, California, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the two cities’ sister city relationship.
Several events were held in honor of the historic milestone, including a joint statement signing by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and Sakai Mayor Takeyama; a display of local Sakai products as part of an exhibition at the Berkeley Art Center; a tea ceremony and koto/jazz concert by Shirley Muramoto, Brian Mitsuhiro Wong and the Murasaki Ensemble at the UC Botanical Garden; and finally, a performance by Tatsumaki Taiko alongside a premium sake tasting hosted by Takara Sake USA. Over 100 Berkeley citizens joined each of these events to celebrate their anniversary.
Consul General Yamada attended the event at the UC Botanical Garden and awarded his Commendation to the Berkeley-Sakai Sister City Association (BSA) for their long-standing contributions to California-Japan relations through sister city activities with Sakai.
Several events were held in honor of the historic milestone, including a joint statement signing by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and Sakai Mayor Takeyama; a display of local Sakai products as part of an exhibition at the Berkeley Art Center; a tea ceremony and koto/jazz concert by Shirley Muramoto, Brian Mitsuhiro Wong and the Murasaki Ensemble at the UC Botanical Garden; and finally, a performance by Tatsumaki Taiko alongside a premium sake tasting hosted by Takara Sake USA. Over 100 Berkeley citizens joined each of these events to celebrate their anniversary.
Consul General Yamada attended the event at the UC Botanical Garden and awarded his Commendation to the Berkeley-Sakai Sister City Association (BSA) for their long-standing contributions to California-Japan relations through sister city activities with Sakai.
Mayor Arreguin and Mayor Takeyama displaying the joint statement
City Council Chairman Yoshikawa giving some brief remarks
Local products from Sakai
Consul General Yamada posing with BSA President Gary Gibson (left) and Berkeley Mayor Arreguin (center)
Consul General Yamada awarding his Commendation to the BSA (from left to right: Consul General Yamada, BSA President Gibson, BSA Board Member Juri Komendant, Sakai-Berkeley Association Director Hisahiko Masaki)
