2023 Northern California Sister Cities International Annual Conference
2023/11/1
Group photo
Consul General Osumi with members of the Lodi Sister City Committee
On Saturday, October 28, Consul General Osumi gave a keynote speech at the 2023 Northern California Sister Cities International (Norcal SCI) Annual Conference at the Lodi Japanese Community Hall in Lodi, California.
In his remarks, Consul General Osumi introduced himself to the attendees who came from the Bay Area, Central Valley, and beyond. He emphasized the importance of people-to-people friendships in building peace, recalling the heartwarming example of Osaka-born Kenichi Horie, the first person to sail solo and nonstop across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco. Finally, he promoted the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and expressed his hope for the future, starting with next year when California and Osaka Prefecture will celebrate their 30th anniversary as sister states. Additional speakers included Lodi City Councilmember Alan Nakanishi, SCI Interim President & CEO Ricki Garrett, Norcal SCI President Lee Guio, and California-Japan Sister Cities Network President Meg Mizutani, among others.
In his remarks, Consul General Osumi introduced himself to the attendees who came from the Bay Area, Central Valley, and beyond. He emphasized the importance of people-to-people friendships in building peace, recalling the heartwarming example of Osaka-born Kenichi Horie, the first person to sail solo and nonstop across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco. Finally, he promoted the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and expressed his hope for the future, starting with next year when California and Osaka Prefecture will celebrate their 30th anniversary as sister states. Additional speakers included Lodi City Councilmember Alan Nakanishi, SCI Interim President & CEO Ricki Garrett, Norcal SCI President Lee Guio, and California-Japan Sister Cities Network President Meg Mizutani, among others.
Lodi’s sister cities flag depicting their two sister cities of Kofu, Japan and Lodi, Italy
A display featuring pictures and clippings from the 62-year-old Lodi-Kofu relationship
