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These two youth orchestras are amazingly different and amazingly good. They will each share their repertoire, led by their own conductors, but also will join forces and share the stage for two pieces.

Sixty eight young musicians from Okayama will be in San Jose for this event. And the San Jose Youth Symphony, fresh off their tour of Europe this summer and their summer camp, will delight you with their musicality and expertise.

Making this even more memorable is the tribute to peace between nations that this concert represents during this 60th Anniversary year of the establishment of the Sister City relationship between San Jose, CA and Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, on the 72nd anniversary of the nuclear bombing of the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima is sister cities with Honolulu, HI. The bombing took place on Aug 6, 1945.

In the current era of unrest in the world, we want to celebrate the good things that the youth of the world can bring towards a peaceful and beautiful future.

Tickets available online (Hammer Theatre Box Office)
$5

Tickets

Kibigaku is the composite art with music and dance, which was founded by Yoshihide Kishimoto, a Gagaku musician of former Okayama domain in 1872. Kibigaku was performed when Munetada Shrine in Omoto, Okayama City was built. And since then, Kibigaku has been the official ritual music of Kurozumikyo (a type of Japanese religion).

Gagaku was made up of music and dance of Asian countries and those of ancient Japan. Its base was established in around the 10^th century and has been passed on until now in various ways. Gagaku has been performed as the music for the court and religious ceremonies.

In 1968 Patti McLoughlin (now Patti Brady), spent more than six weeks as a student visiting our Sister City, Okayama, Japan. She lived with two families a total of 5 weeks and stayed with three other families. The visit left an indelible impression on her which she would like to share with all of you. The delegation arriving in San Jose in just a few days will include a contingent of former exchange students from Okayama, host parents of exchange students that went from San Jose to Okayama and their friends. Many private reunions will be held. Many memories revisited and many new friends made. This is an important part of the citizen-to-citizen relationship that Sister Cities is all about.

The public is welcome to attend the Flag raising at San Jose City Hall, 2pm, Friday, 4/21

Patti’s words from 1968 follow:

“During my 3 months in Japan I visited Tokyo, Nikko, Kobe, Yokohama, Hiroshima Nara and other interesting sights What did I like most? Well, the answer is the people. The people in Okayama (and for that matter everywhere we went) gave us their friendship and their love.  On the streets, in the little towns, the beach and at all our talks they listened with interest and sincere friendship in mind. They made me feel welcome, at home and they let me become a part of their everyday life. Through this they have contributed to the understanding of our two nations. Although we are different in many aspects we can still live happily side-by-side productively and helping one another. That fact it is possible could prove to everyone we can have brotherhood. To me the road to brotherhood lies in the understanding of the ideas, the customs and the cultures of our foreign neighbors – sister city relationships prove this!”

April 22, 2017 Saturday

SJSU Hammer Theater-60th anniversary performances
“From ancient traditional music and dance, to sister city traditions perpetuated by young wadaiko drummers from Japan, to contemporary music and professional hip hop performances, this is an evening to learn, to experience and to lift the spirit.”

$3 children under 12 years
$5 Students 13-20yrs and Seniors 65yrs +
$8 Adult

http://tinyurl.com/60thPerformances

Doors open 6:30pm Show starts 7:00pm
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April 23, 2017 Sunday
Ticket sales end Monday 4/17/17

At the Rotary Summit Center from 6:30pm
Featuring flutist Ray Furuta. Ray will be traveling to Okayama in October 2017 to participate in the annual music festival as an official representative of the City of San Jose, CA

Ticket link: http://tinyurl.com/60thFarewellDinner

Tickets $95 per person

60th Anniversary logo design and banner design by Tamiko Rast.
Flyer design by Ryan Kawamoto.

Be the first to buy your tickets for these great events!

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Hammer Theater Performance <=tickets!

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We’re LIVE! Click on the link – Ticket prices for this show are deliberately set low so EVERYBODY can attend – and can even bring a neighbor or two! Bring the kids, bring the grandparents! It’s a night not to be missed!

APRIL 22, 2017   Doors Open at 6:30pm  Show starts at 7pm

LIVE Performances-Ticket link

What do these performers have in common?
They will all be performing at the Hammer Theater o April 22, 2017!

“From ancient traditional music and dance to our sister city traditions perpetuated by young wadaiko drummers from Japan to contemporary music and professional hip hop performances, this is an evening to learn, to exoerience and lift the spirit.”

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Presented by the San Jose-Okayama Sister Cities, 501c(3) non-profit organization. This production is supported, in part, by the City of San Jose and  The Office of Cultural Affairs.

These performers will be a part of the line-up of performers for the Hammer Theater April 22, 2017!

This traditional form was specialized in Okayama and is usually performed at the major Shrine, Kibitsuhiko Shrine in Okayama, Japan.

We, in San Jose/Silicon Valley, will have a chance to see them live – performing at the Hammer Theater!

We are in discussion to bring the artist and performer, Saori Kanda, from Okayama. Check out the promotional video for her performance scheduled at Kibitsuhiko Shrine in Okayama on March 27.

We need funding to bring this amazing artist and performer from Okayama to perform at San Jose on April 22nd. Please consider donating. This is an opportunity to be involved in the San Jose-Okayama sister cities celebration!

Donate here! (https://www.gofundme.com/Okayama60th)

This statue was given to the City of San Jose, CA from Okayama City, Japan in 1993.

It stands, looking out across the sea (San Carlos Street). You can visit it by noting that it’s around the corner from the entrance to the Center for Performing Arts in Guadalupe Park, just off the corner of Almaden Boulevard.

There are many versions of the folktale. This is one of them: Momotaro Folk Tale (the version told to children)

We are currently working on a special presentation of the origin legend from which this folktale began. Look for announcements here about the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the San Jose-Okayama Sister City relationship in 2017 in San Jose!

Thank you to Mr. Joe Jedges, International Affairs Manager for the City of San Jose,  for the great photograph!