San Jose Okayama Sister Cities

We’ve thought about this for quite a while, but just haven’t gotten around to doing it!

We will have articles and photos about the history of the San Jose-Okayama Sister City relationship and potentially, actual reports, notes, photos or articles from people who have participated in sister city activities.

This is Shirley Muramoto, Koto artist/musician, who graciously accepted our request to perform for our 65th anniversary in 2022. The setting is the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park which is modeled after the great landscape garden (Koraku-en) behind Okayama Castle.

Happy Friday!

(October 10th! New deadline!)

Please use this link for the application!
The time for preparation for this fun exchange is getting short so apply NOW!

The theme is ‘Halloween’ this year! Share your fun with students from Okayama and Umatilla, Oregon!

For more information email: sjokayama1957@gmail.com

Okayama/San Jose/Umatilla, OR

At History San Jose!
Starts at Noon~

Enjoy a fun afternoon at History Park filled with performances in front of the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project museum and their railroad exhibit (CHCP), the Vietnamese Museum and have some quiet time strolling through the Japanese Friendship Garden. All are within a very short walking distance of each other!

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)