San Jose Okayama Sister Cities

Thanks to the Friends of the JFG, PRNS JFG staff and admin and Councilwoman Maya Esparza for making it happen!

No more barbed wire fencing. No more thinking about the internment camps when you walk in. Just a serene, calm, peaceful entrance to a collaborative friendship of effort and ideas away from the cares of the world. Eco-system forward thinking will continue in all efforts to sustain and maintain our symbols of world peace and friendship here in the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park, San Jose, CA.

Whether you are or were politically inclined or disinclined, the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shocking. The Sister City program of Citizen Diplomacy is about understanding between cultures, peaceful discussion and friendship. We deplore violence and hope for peace, not only between our cities and nations, but within our cities and nations.

Just in! – The garden color has changed from pink toward summer hues of red and purple. Take a look below: (photos courtesy of John Pivetti, Jr.-Gardener, Japanese Friendship Garden)

DEADLINE: June 5, 2022
If you are a middle school or high school student in San Jose or neighboring cities that would like to participate in an exciting virtual exchange with students in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, just fill out our online application before the deadline date (June 5, 2022)!

Do you have an interest in learning about other cultures, an interest in anime, life as a student in Japan, sister cities, the Japanese language, or just want to try a new experience?
This is for you!
Apply now! is https://forms.gle/Hjwr17kGkRYayAkL
Semi finalists and Finalists will be notified via email (see dates on flyer)

Photos by John Pivetti, Gardener (Japanese Friendship Garden, PRNS, City of San Jose, CA)

Photos by John Pivetti (PRNS Gardener)

Our friends, the Koyamada Foundation, has been responding to disaster relief crises around the world since 2011 and the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. We have collaborated with the Koyamada Foundation in the San Jose-Okayama Sister Cities relationship and the Young Professionals Forums across 6 sister city (USA/Japan) which were presented in a report through CULCON Japan and CULCON USA to the President’s Office of the USA and the Prime Minister’s Office in Japan.

In the last few days, the situation in the Ukraine merited attention. With friends and citizens to unite and donate to the effort, KIF is working with those on the ground to get immediate aid to refugees.
https://kifglobal.org/what/issue/disaster/