Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association

Founded in 1963

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MISSION STATEMENT
“To create rapport between the cities by exchanging cultural, civic and educational ideas and issues and to promote better understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan.”

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Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia Visits Yokkaichi, Japan - October 2017

by Tyler Curley, Legislative Deputy, Office of Mayor Garcia

From October 16-21, 2017, Mayor Robert Garcia and I participated in a trade mission to Asia with leadership from the Port of Long Beach, including Harbor Board President Lou Anne Bynum, Executive Director Mario Cordero, Chief Commercial Officer Noel Hacegaba, Harbor Board Chief of Staff Richard Jordan and Director of Business Development Don Snyder. We visited Port customers in Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, before heading to Yokkaichi for an official meeting with Mayor Tomohiro Mori and other City officials.

On Thursday, October 19, we traveled from Tokyo to Nagoya via train and were greeted at the Nagoya train station by Yasumasa Ohno of Yokkaichi’s Secretarial Division and two of his colleagues. From there, we went by bus to Yokkaichi. It was great to see the countryside and get a quick tour of Yokkaichi prior to our meeting with the mayor.

When we arrived at Yokkaichi City Hall, dozens of City employees welcomed us in the lobby, and Mayor Garcia was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Once upstairs in the Secretarial Division Reception Room, we met with Mayor Mori, the Deputy Mayor, the Director of Policy Promotion and the Manager of the Secretarial Division. The table was set with brochures and information about the city and port, and we were served local green tea. The setup was stunning, and the tea was excellent!

Following brief introductions from both sides of the table, the mayors had an engaging discussion. Topics included their similar interests, their reasons for getting involved in public service and elected office, as well as the 55th anniversary of the Long Beach-Yokkaichi sister city relationship. Both mayors are 39 years old and have a passion for economic development, education and civic innovation.

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (1)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (2)

After this discussion, the mayors formally exchanged gifts, and Mayor Garcia officially invited Mayor Mori to visit Long Beach next year for the 55th anniversary celebration.

The next morning, on Friday, October 20, Mayor Garcia, Board President Bynum and I met with leadership from the Yokkaichi Neighborhood Association. They shared information about the association and the impressive work they have done helping graduate over 700 youth and adults from their leadership programs. Mayor Garcia was inspired by the conversation and asked many engaging questions to learn how to create stronger ties between our communities through leadership exchanges.

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (9)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (10)

After our fruitful meeting about neighborhood leadership and local economic development, we learned more about international trade at the Yokkaichi Port. We were all impressed by the interactive public spaces at the port headquarters, where dozens of youth were learning about the importance of the port as an economic engine for the city. Mayor Garcia was so inspired that he hopes to incorporate more accessible information in Long Beach’s new Civic Center buildings. It was a great opportunity for the Port of Long Beach leadership to learn about the organizational structure and business focus of the Yokkaichi Port.

Our boat cruise around the port was also educational. We got to see firsthand the port layout and design, and the tour guides gave us background information about the main customers and industries that import and export through Yokkaichi.

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (11)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (3)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (4)

Once our meeting with Mayor Mori and Yokkaichi City officials ended, Yasu had arranged for our delegation to experience a traditional tea ceremony. We were bused to a local Shisuian teahouse to drink green tea and learn from the tea masters about their lives, the importance of tea in Japanese culture and the history of teahouses in Yokkaichi. Once again, the tea was excellent, the hosts were exceptionally gracious and the setting was beautiful.

Aside from meeting with Mayor Mori, Mayor Garcia was particularly interested in planting a tree while in Yokkaichi. Yasu arranged for us to have a memorial tree planting ceremony following the port tour, so we headed to Long Beach Gardens where we were greeted by Mayor Mori and a crowd of City officials. Hopefully the tree will grow and flourish over the years, just as our sister city relationship has.

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (12)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (13)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (5)

The next stop on our tour of Yokkaichi was the Miyako Hotel, to check in and get much-needed rest before dinner. After some downtime, we were invited to a formal welcome dinner banquet hosted by Mayor Mori. Also present were the Deputy Chairman of the City Assembly, the President of Port Promotion Association, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Director of the Municipal Hospital and the Director of Policy Promotion. The mayors toasted to the longstanding sister city relationship, and over dinner they discussed the importance of strengthening the partnership between Long Beach and Yokkaichi.

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (6)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (7)

Of course, while we were at Long Beach Gardens, we were excited to learn about the vibrant history of the Long Beach-Yokkaichi partnership. We got to see up close the oil pump gifted to Yokkaichi in 1965 to commemorate the sister city relationship.

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (14)
2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (15)

The final stop on our tour of Yokkaichi was a marvelous informal lunch back at the Miyako Hotel. It was a great way to end the trip, and it demonstrated the generosity of Mayor Mori, Yokkaichi city and especially Yasu, who helped coordinate the trip. We cannot wait to show them the same level of hospitality when they visit next year for the 55th anniversary of the Long Beach- Yokkaichi sister city relationship!

 

 

During the dinner, we enjoyed music from two Yokkaichi-based musicians, playing a Japanese harp and flute. Not only did they entertain us with traditional Japanese songs but they also played a couple familiar classics like “Let It Be” from The Beatles. What a spectacular way to end our first evening in Yokkaichi!

2017 Mayor Garcia in Yokkaichi (8)