Messages from the Consuls General of Japan in Northern and Southern California

Message from the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco

January 11, 2022

Dear California-Japan Sister City Friends,

My name is KAWAMURA Hiroshi, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for actively engaging in citizen diplomacy for the sake of maintaining dynamic relations between the state of California and Japan.

Sister city relationships have many positive impacts on the people on both sides, especially on the younger generation. They help build grassroots relations and cooperation between people across different communities and countries. Such enduring friendships between our people are essential to our bilateral relationship.

It is indeed regrettable that in-person exchanges are not possible right now, but I have been inspired by many stories of virtual exchanges occurring in their place. I hope everyone can use this time to connect with their sister cities in Japan virtually and let them know that you are still thinking about them.

In these trying times, it is more important than ever that we in the California- Japan sister cities community demonstrate the beautiful bridges that exist between our communities and our countries. I am confident we will overcome these challenges and be able to look forward enthusiastically to what the future holds. The Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco stands ready to work together with all of you in this endeavor.

Warmly,

KAWAMURA Hiroshi
Consul General of Japan in San Francisco

Message from the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles

January 31, 2022

As Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, it is my very great fortune to be able to live and work in a region where the Japan-US relationship is strong, and where the history of our relationship is deep. Furthermore, it is truly not an overstatement to say that sister city relationships have greatly contributed to the foundation of that strong connection between our countries.

Grassroots exchanges between people are important, because they are a great way to learn about other cultures firsthand. This is where sister city relationships are invaluable, for the opportunities and possibilities they create. Many tours, homestays and other people-to-people exchanges have been carried out by sister cities. People who are involved with sister city activities often speak very fondly of their experiences and the lifelong friendships that resulted.

So it is wonderful to learn more about the activities and efforts of sister cities in my jurisdiction that have done an amazing job deepening relationships for all of these years. I extend my appreciation to all of you who have worked to establish, maintain and strengthen ties between Japan and the U.S. I wish all the best for the cities involved and their long lasting friendship with their sister cities on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. At their core, sister city relationships are about bringing people together and developing fruitful interchanges that contribute to a vibrant global community.

The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles will continue to support sister city relationships, and we look forward to working with California-Japan Sister Cities Network for many years to come.

Sincerely,

MUTO Akira
Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles