Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association

Founded in 1963

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.”

A delegation from Long Beach, led by Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and included Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba; Port Commissioner Sharon Weissman; Harbor Commissioners Executive Officer Shana Espinosa; Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association (LBYSCA) President Mike Vaughn; Sister Cities of Long Beach President Susan Redfield; LB Community Engagement Deputy and Youth Liaison Montsserat Pineda; LBYSCA Board members Hiromi Takahashi, Aki Vaughn, and Jun Wallech.  Mayor Richardson was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Nina Richardson, Interim Director of International Studies at Long Beach City College, and his two daughters. 

We arrived in Nagoya, Japan on Thursday November 16^th and was met at the airport by Secretarial and International Relations Manager Mr. Tetsuji Okada and Staff Mr. Shinsaku Okuchi who escorted us to the Miyako Hotel in Yokkaichi.  When we arrived at the hotel, they were met by Assembly Speaker Ryoma Higuchi and Mrs. Higuchi, and other government members.  Hotel staff lined up in from of the hotel to escort us to their rooms.

Day one – Friday, November 17
The delegation arrived at the Yokkaichi City Hall where we were met by thirty young boys and girls waving Yokkaichi-Long Beach 60^th Anniversary flags.  Local media was also present, and we were welcomed with a strong round of applause and cheers.  Mayor Richardson was presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers which he promptly handed to Nina Richardson. As we entered City Hall, the employees lined the hallway and cheered as we passed by.

A meeting was held with Yokkaichi Mayor Tomohiro Mori, Speaker Ryoma Higuchi, and government officials.  Both mayors expressed their support for the long-standing relationship between the two cities.   Mayor Richardson presented a ceramic replica of a Key to City to Mayor Mori and Mayor Mori presented each of us a happi coat.  After photos we were given a tour of the City Hall and Assembly chambers.

A traditional Japanese lunch was enjoyed at Shiraume Classic Garden Kaiseki Shiraume, an ancient house that has been converted into a restaurant. 

Next stop was to Nishisasagawa Junior High School to visit students who are participants in a LBYSCA pen-pal program with Will Rogers Jr. High in Long Beach.  We were greeted by the principal and vice principal, Megumi Kondo, a former Trio teacher, and a gymnasium filled with teens.  The students sang a beautiful song and then presented the delegation with paper cranes in a clear box.  Mayor Richardson and Mike Vaughn made remarks to the student body and invited them all to visit Long Beach.

While we were at the school, Dr. Nina Richardson and Hiromi Takahashi visited Yokkaichi High School and Yokkaichi University to encourage students to consider Long Beach City College or Cal State Long Beach University as places to continue their education.

Later that afternoon, the delegation was hosted by Kioxia Corporation, a major company in Yokkaichi that makes advanced flash drives for computers.  The delegation, wearing protective clothing, was treated to a visit to the “clean” rooms where the flash memory drives are created. 

The final event on Friday was a welcome reception hosted by Mayor Mori and the City of Yokkaichi.  The delegation was treated to a lovely dinner and entertainment by a well-known jazz group. The highpoint of the evening was being able to meet our current YEFs who are teaching in Yokkaichi and our 2023 Yokkaichi Trio teacher and students Kazuki Ichikawa, Nao Mori, and Ako Ikoma. A special surprise was also seeing former Yokkaichi Trio teachers Megumi Kondo and Arisa Nishio.  It was a delightful evening capped off by speeches and the appearance of Konyudo, Yokkaichi’s mascot.

Day Two - Saturday, November 18
The day was kicked off with a visit to the B-1 Grand Prix Countrywide Food Festival.  This annual event is attended by vendors from all over Japan to showcase their variety of foods.  A different city is selected each year and Yokkaichi was the chosen city for the 2023 event.

After trying a variety of foods such as the delicious pork dish tentoki, the delegation visited Ajinomoto Company Foods.  This is a major company in Yokkaichi which has been making spices and food flavorings for almost 100 years.  They produce dashi which is used by almost every home in Japan and all over the world.  The delegation was shown how to shave dried bonito to make dashi.

An afternoon trip to view the fall leaves by cable car was cancelled due to windy weather.  Instead, we were treated to a delicious dinner at the upscale Shisen Chinese Restaurant in the Miyako Hotel.  After dinner, we had some time to do a little shopping.

That night we were taken to Nabana No Sato, a family-oriented theme park located in Kuwana City, next to Nagoya. The park is illuminated with 5.8 million LED lights and this year’s theme was the “Great Pyramids.” The delegation enjoyed a delicious sukiyaki dinner at the Nagashima Beer Garden Restaurant before exploring the fantastic park.  It was truly a spectacular experience!

Day Three – Sunday, November 19
The delegation was bused to Long Beach Park, a beautiful, manicured park that Yokkaichi has dedicated to Long Beach City.  The park features a replica oil derrick that Long Beach gifted to Yokkaichi in 1964, commemorative plaques and trees from past anniversary celebrations.  The city of Yokkaichi built a new playground equipment to commemorate the 60^th Anniversary.  The equipment was designed to showcase some of the aspects of Long Beach--Long Beach’s International Gateway Bridge, the Queen Mary, and In N’ Out Burger—all suggested by Okada-san and Okuchi-san who visited Long Beach in January 2023.

Kaisei High School Band opened the dedication ceremony with a wonderfully played song, “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman.  We were pleasantly surprised to see Nao Mori, one of the 2023 Trio students, as one of the musicians in the band.  After speeches were made by Mayor Mori, Speaker Higuchi, Mayor Richardson, and Mike Vaughn, an elegant ribbon cutting ceremony officially opened the playground to the public.  Mayor Richardson’s daughters were invited to be the first children to play on the new equipment.

After a tour of the park, photos and media interviews, we visited the Port of Yokkaichi for the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Yokkaichi to become sister ports.  The documents were sign by Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CEO POLB, and the President of the Port of Yokkaichi.

In the afternoon, the delegation attended a performance of a traditional Japanese lion dance at the Yokkaichi Civic Center. This was a very enjoyable experience not usually seen outside of Japan.

Last stop for the day was a visit to the Shisuian Japanese Teahouse where we were able to watch a tea ceremony and enjoy matcha tea and manju (sweet confectionary). We were also given a history of the teahouse .

Sunday night, Mayor Mori and his staff invited the delegation to a farewell dinner at a local Japanese Izakaya.  It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to exchange good wishes with our many new friends (and old ones, as well) in Yokkaichi.

Even though we had to depart our hotel at 4:30AM, the next morning to catch flights, many members of the Yokkaichi staff were on hand at the hotel to bid us farewell.

The events that were planned for the Long Beach delegation have made the Long Beach-Yokkaichi relationship stronger and better.  Mayor Mori and Mayor Richardson had the opportunity to meet each other’s families and build strong bonds with Long Beach. 

Personally, I had a wonderful time and was overwhelmed with the hospitality that we received from our friends in Yokkaichi.  During the trip, I was able to meet briefly with Yoko Kimura who was the original Yokkaichi manager of our YEF program which began in the 1980’s.  I also met with Dr. Hachisuka, Director of Yokkaichi Municipal City Hospital, regarding our Physician Exchange Program.

I look forward to developing more programs with our friends in Yokkaichi City.

Sincerely,
Mike Vaughn