The San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association helps "build bridges of friendship and commerce between these two vital centers of culture and finance.

Its programs support individual and civic exchanges that foster better understanding and appreciation between citizens on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

A Selection of Previous Sister City Association
& Community Events

Highlights from 2005

Sister City entrant in 2005 Osaka Half Marathon WINS!

2005 Scholarship Winners Announced!
Alex Safronov (SI) and Agnes Choi (Lincoln HS)

Highlights from 2004

October 5th High School Exchange Students Welcome Back Luncheon

Osaka-San Francisco Sister City Association Speech Contest Winner

Ms. Yuka Iseri is the winner of the Osaka-San Francisco Sister City Association's speech contest. She will be coming to San Francisco this summer. Her speech - "Perception Gaps".

May 24th - Annual General Meeting of Members - Meeting Highlights:

• Largest attendance to date at City Hall
• Recognition of Representatives from of Various Organizations
• Recognition of Special Guests, including Christopher Phipps who ran in this year's Osaka Half-Marathon
• Review of 2003-2004 Event Highlights
• Appointment of Directors & Re-election of Current Board Members
• Introduction of officers
• Treasurer’s report
• Introduction of New Members
• Remarks by The Honorable Makoto Yamanaka, new Japanese Consul in San Francisco
• Japanese lunch catered by Sanraku Restaurant

April 28 - Luncheon to welcome Consul General Makoto Yamanaka and Mrs. Yamanaka. The Sister City Association joined more than twenty community organizations to welcome the new Japanese Consul General, Makoto Yamanaka, and his wife to San Francisco. Thank you to everyone who joined us in organizing more than two tables at this event.

Cherry Blossom Festival: During the weekend of April 17-18, The Sister City Association participated at the 2004 Cherry Blossom Festival with a booth in the Japan Pavilion, Radisson Miyako Hotel

San Francisco Runner Invited to Osaka

March 17th - Farewell Banquet for Consul General and Mrs. Shigeru Nakamura

March 25th - Press Preview for 2004 Cherry Blossom Festival
Peace Plaza, Japantown, Noon

April 1st - Welcome Reception for Mayor Gavin Newsom, Introduction of new Consul Genera, Makoto Yamanaka.

Previous Events in 2003

2003 High School Exchange Students were welcomed back at a special lunch on October 17th.

Sept. 19, 2003: The Association hosted a luncheon at Tommy Toys to welcome three Osaka City Assemblymen, Messrs. Ashitaka, Oouchi, and Yanagimoto, led by Mr. Shindo, a member of Osaka City Council who served as President of the Osaka City Council in 2002-2003. They visited San Francisco Sept. 16-20 for a municipal-level governance study trip sponsored by the U.S. State Department, American Consulate in Osaka and Kansai American Center.

Large Group Attends May 20th - Annual General Meeting - Highlights

• Theme was "The 150th Anniversary of Perry's Opening of Japan."
• Guest of Honor and Speaker: Consul General Shigeru Nakamura
• Guest Historian: Professor Uldize Kruze, Assistant Professor of History (Asian Studies), University of San Francisco.
• SF runner who participated in 2003 Osaka City Half Marathon and came in 9th attended.
• New members were welcomed.
• New Board and Executive Committee appointees were announced.

Cherry Blossom Festival: Thanks to volunteers, the Association actively participated in the Japan Pavillion again this year.

Volunteers: Allen Okamoto, Dick Heggie, Marius Starkey, Steve Doi, Mae Tai. Scholarship winners also participated: Jennie Tung-1994 winner, Tenley Harrison-1989 winner, Melissa Allen-2001 winner, and Emiko Fujita-2002 winner.

Events - 2001

Events - 2000

Events through the Years