San Jose-Okayama Sister Cities (SJOSC) is the official community committee recognized by the City of San Jose in working with the City of Okayama, Japan and the City of San Jose, CA, USA. We were formed in 2015 by a group of local all volunteer community members. Some are Executive Directors of other organizations, some have their own businesses, some are government representatives and University representatives. We are working toward activities to celebrate the 60th Anniversary in 2017 of our SJ-Okayama relationship, existent since 1957, by the citizen diplomacy movement begun by USA President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.
Forever in our hearts is former US Secretary of Commerce under US President William Jefferson Clinton and former US Secretary of Transportation under US President George W. Bush, Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. Norm was always in support of the sister city relationship and honored us being our Honorary Chair. He will remain so as his legacy serves to remind us of what this is all about.
New Honorary Advisor: Shin Koyamada, Koyamada International Foundation
Native son of Okayama, Japan. An Actor, A Producer, A Martial Artist, A philanthropist, A husband and father.
Shin has been in support of the San Jose-Okayama Sister Cities for a long time. He and his wife, Nia Lyte, were emcees for the 60th Anniversary Cultural Exchange Performances at the Hammer Theater in San Jose attended by local Silicon Valley residents and officials and 115 citizens, business people, government officials and former exchange students from Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. We are pleased and privileged to have him!
Our logo was created by Board of Directors member, Ryan Kawamoto and approved by the Board of Directors of SJOSC.
CA Corp #3831952
His happi coat reflects both San Jose City and Okayama City logos
He loves the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park because it was modeled after Korakuen in Okayama which is one of the three great landscape gardens in Japan!
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