Fairfield-Nirasaki Sister City Program

March 11, 2021, marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake was one of the largest in recorded history, and caused a massive tsunami. The tsunami also destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant, leading to extensive evacuations of the areas affected by the leaking radiation. Japanese authorities estimate that more than 22,000 people were lost in this terrible event. Today, the Consulate-General of Japan in Sa...n Francisco presented a webinar in commemoration of the anniversary, entitled Unshakable Friendship Beyond Borders. It included a moment of silence in memory of the victims, remarks by Consul General Maeda Toru, and a review of the recovery efforts and programs developed to address the disaster then and in the years since. Our hearts go out to the thousands of people who perished, and to the many thousands more affected by the tragedy. See more

Each year, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco hosts a celebration of the Emperor’s birthday. Usually it is held in the beautiful consular residence overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. This year, the celebration went virtual, as guests joined in on Zoom to honor Emperor Naruhito on his birthday. We would like to thank the Consul General for inviting representatives of the Fairfield-Nirasaki Sister City Program to the event.

This is a Japanese government program offered each year that provides a great opportunity!

Here's a great opportunity for any of our students who are currently enrolled in college!

We might not be able to meet in person, but we can still see each other online! The City of Nirasaki arranged for a virtual get-together between Nirasaki and Fairfield students. They were able to share their hobbies, favorite foods, and quarantine experiences in chat rooms. The event ended with games planned by the Nirasaki students, who challenged the Fairfield participants on their knowledge of Japanese culture, leading to much laughter and fun!

The people of Japan and their newest prime minister face a slew of challenges coming into 2021 - not the least of which are the continuing pandemic and the postponed Olympics. This event from the Japan Society of Northern California will feature two experts from Tokyo discussing the political, economic, and security outlook for Japan and prospects for the US-Japan relationship in 2021. Price: Free! Date and Time: January 13th, 2021 @ 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) | January 14th, 202...1 @ 9:00 AM(Japan) https://paybee.io/quickpay.html

One of our past student group chaperones shared this very interesting Japanese gardening technique with us! Have you ever seen "daisugi" trees like this in Japan or elsewhere? https://www.spoon-tamago.com//daisugi-japanese-forestry-t/

It has gotten very cold in Yamanashi recently, and Mt. Fuji is now sporting a full cap of snow for the season! Thank you to Mayor Naito for this photo.

Congratulations to the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco on reaching 150 years! We are grateful for the support they have always shown our sister city program. Take a look at Consul General Maeda's comments below for some interesting facts about the SF Consulate!

This week, Japan (and the world) is observing the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (Aug. 6) and Nagasaki (Aug. 9). Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the blasts, and thousands more lived on with radiation sickness, physical wounds, and other illnesses. Each year we pause to remember this devastating event, and hope that we may never see it occur again. Grassroots connections, such as sister city relationships, are important tools in increasing cultural understanding and advocating for peace. Our student groups visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial each summer, and what they learn there stays with them for the rest of their lives. https://www.japantimes.co.jp//hiroshima-75th-atomic-bomb/

We would like to share that the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association will hold a series of virtual lectures over the next few months as part of its Japanese Living Environment program thanks to a grant provided by the Japan Foundation. To learn more and to register, click on the links below. Apprenticeship in Japan by Kathy Shaner Sunday July 19th from 10 Am to 1 PM PST https://us02web.zoom.us//tZUudO-sqzIrGtwyIXZeU_ngB6aYqWr-d... Tray Landscapes by Bob Hilvers Sunday July 19th from 2 PM to 5 PM PST https://us02web.zoom.us//tZUsf-urrjguHNEB4tfuWRd_McLIpdzb3 Introduction to Japanese Residential Architecture by Frank Chance Saturday July 25th from 10 AM - 1 PM PST https://us02web.zoom.us//tZIpce2grj8iH9Ag0XMSZxfjxJ6skOrC0 Wood Joinery Carpentry by Jay Van Arsdale Sunday August 2nd, from 2 - 5 PM PST https://us02web.zoom.us//tZMrcuCpqDosHN2zhcJPdDoLkgZJPU6eZ Making the Japanese Aesthetic Our Own by Bill Castellon Sunday September 20th, 10 AM - 1 PM PST https://us02web.zoom.us//tZYofumtrz8vHNGCxsr-ArG8gfKwtHZH5 Curating the Japanese-style Garden by Randall Lee Saturday September 26th, 10 AM -1 PM PST https://us02web.zoom.us//tZYvdemorTItGdVuSGHi0eYexn_ZROrJP

People in Japan have often worn face masks during regular flu seasons, and many have quickly adapted to wearing them during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well. If you ever wondered why Japanese people are so comfortable with masks, you might be interested to learn that they have been wearing them since the Edo period, hundreds of years ago! https://www.japantimes.co.jp//japans-history-wearing-mask/

Our final 2020 Sister City graduate is Carlie Dineen, who graduated from Rodriguez High School. Carlie visited Nirasaki as a member of the 2019 summer exchange group. She will be attending Napa Valley College in the fall while working part-time. Congratulations to all of our super students!

Today we are featuring Shreya Singh, who just graduated from Rodriguez High (the statue of the school’s Mustang mascot is behind her in the photo). Shreya was a member of our 2019 summer exchange group. She will be attending UC Davis in the fall, majoring in Art Design. Go Aggies!

Today’s featured graduate is Jane Raver, who attended Rodriguez High School. Jane is a member of the 2020 summer exchange group. Unfortunately this year’s trip has been canceled due to the pandemic, but we’re hoping they will all be able to go in 2021. Jane will be attending Solano College in the fall to earn her general education credits before transferring to a nursing program. Good luck and congratulations!

Today’s featured student is Raven Heurtelou, who just graduated from Vacaville High School. Raven was a member of the 2019 summer exchange group. She and her family were able to host one of our Japanese student guests last winter. Raven will be attending college in the fall, either in Washington state, or in California.

Artist Rana Suzuki has used chalk and blackboards to draw a picture of each of the seven elementary and middle schools run by Nirasaki City. Pictured here is Nirasaki Hokusei Elementary School, which some of our student ambassadors may have visited in the past. Mayor Naito says that the principal of this school asked the artist to draw the Wanizuka cherry blossom tree in the picture because school started late due to the pandemic this year, so the students did not get to enter school with the cherry blossoms as usual. It's amazing what chalk can do in the right hands!

We’re taking a short break this weekend as we wait for some more graduation photos; here’s a group photo of our 2019 summer exchange group as they returned home from their three weeks in Nirasaki!

Today we are recognizing Cherish Spikes, one of our 2018 summer exchange students. Cherish just graduated from Rodriguez High School, and will be attending Dominican University in San Rafael, California, where she will major in Studio Art, minoring in Humanities and Cultural Studies. She has been awarded Dominican’s Presidential Scholarship!

Isaiah Broussard-McCullar was a member of our 2019 summer exchange group. He came home from the summer trip and promptly took on our Student Coordinator position, where he assisted in arranging activities for our Japanese student guests in December, and helping with recruitment, among many other tasks. He will be attending Grambling State University in Louisiana in the fall!