Consul General Otsuki’s Visit to Crescent City and Del Norte County
2026/4/23
Discussion with Mayor Wright and Mayor Sasaki
Group photo with Mayor Wright and Mayor Sasaki
On Friday, April 17, Consul General Otsuki attended Crescent City’s Kamome Festival, which celebrates the signing of the sister city agreement between Rikuzentakata, Crescent City, and Del Norte County.
Consul General Otsuki joined Rikuzentakata Mayor Taku Sasaki in a meeting with Crescent City Mayor Isaiah Wright, Crescent City City Manager Eric Wier, and Del Norte Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Harris, where they discussed the future of their sister city relationship.
Consul General Otsuki also attended the Taste of Japan reception hosted by the Kamome Foundation, a non-profit organization that organizes sister city initiatives between the two regions, and gave remarks to offer the Consulate’s support and encourage the further development of the bonds between their communities. During the dinner party, Kyohei and Riho Kikuchi, performers from Rikuzentakata, played traditional Japanese shamisen and performed exquisite dances in kimono.
Crescent City and Del Norte County signed a sister city agreement with Rikuzentakata in 2018 after Kamome, a small boat used by Takata High School students for maritime science before the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami set it adrift in 2011, traversed the Pacific Ocean and eventually washed ashore on the coast of Crescent City in 2013. Rikuzentakata has been committed to deepening the relationship in various aspects such as disaster preparedness, economic and cultural exchange, and related topics, leading to its award of the Local Government International Exchage Commendation by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in 2026.
Consul General Otsuki joined Rikuzentakata Mayor Taku Sasaki in a meeting with Crescent City Mayor Isaiah Wright, Crescent City City Manager Eric Wier, and Del Norte Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Harris, where they discussed the future of their sister city relationship.
Consul General Otsuki also attended the Taste of Japan reception hosted by the Kamome Foundation, a non-profit organization that organizes sister city initiatives between the two regions, and gave remarks to offer the Consulate’s support and encourage the further development of the bonds between their communities. During the dinner party, Kyohei and Riho Kikuchi, performers from Rikuzentakata, played traditional Japanese shamisen and performed exquisite dances in kimono.
Crescent City and Del Norte County signed a sister city agreement with Rikuzentakata in 2018 after Kamome, a small boat used by Takata High School students for maritime science before the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami set it adrift in 2011, traversed the Pacific Ocean and eventually washed ashore on the coast of Crescent City in 2013. Rikuzentakata has been committed to deepening the relationship in various aspects such as disaster preparedness, economic and cultural exchange, and related topics, leading to its award of the Local Government International Exchage Commendation by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in 2026.
Group photo with Superintendent Harris and Bill Steven, co-founder of the Kamome Foundation
CG Otsuki delivering remarks at the Kamome Festival’s Taste of Japan event
Shamisen performance by Mr. Kikuchi
Dance performance by Ms. Kikuchi
