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Press Releases
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Mark your calendars for 50th Anniversary events to occur over 4 days on August – 17-20, when Fukuoka, Japan’s new 38-year-old mayor, the Hon. Soichiro Takashima leads a delegation of 30 officials and citizens to Oakland. The trip celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Oakland’s sister city relationship with his city.
Fukuoka pronounced “Fu-ku-o-kah” is Japan’s 6th largest city with a population of 1.5 million. Fukuoka is said to be the oldest city in Japan and is the nearest Japanese city to China and Korea. It is a modern city known for its universities, festivals, museums, textiles and cuisine. It is the home city of one of Japan’s 12 professional baseball teams the “Fukuoka Softbank Hawks,” which won 2011’s Japan championship series. It is the homeport of the 6th largest major container port in Japan.
The delegation will include Japanese firefighters who rushed to northern Japan after the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami and Earthquake. The disaster killed 15,861 persons with 6,107 injured, and 3,018 missing. 129,225 buildings totally collapsed. The firefighters will share and exchange disaster rescue experiences with Oakland’s disaster rescue personnel.
The Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association “OFSCA”, a volunteer nonprofit organization, is organizing the events
Becky Taylor, Co-Chair of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee for OFSCA states: “We are very excited as we approach the long-planned 4-day series of events that will take place next month. We encourage members of the public to join us at these events as we showcase Oakland and help to extend a warm welcome to our friends from Fukuoka in celebrating the historic 50th anniversary.”
The public is invited to attend events over four days to join OFSCA and the 30-person Fukuoka delegation on August 17 – August 20, 2012 with arts, social and educational programs planned. Some events are free-of-charge and some are ticketed events where RSVP’s and ticket purchases are needed. These events include:
Fri. August 17 6-8 pm: Exhibit and Reception for Artist Exchange, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 – 9th Street, 2nd Floor, Oakland Tickets: $10 pp
Sat. August 18 8-10 pm: Yoshi’s Jazz Club at Jack London Sq. Performance by 2-time Grammy Winners, American jazz band “Hiroshima” Ordering from Menu/No Host Bar Tickets: $35 pp
Sun. August 19 8:30-10:30 am: Dedication of 10 Japanese Lanterns and Yoshino Cherry Tree Lake Merritt @ Torii Gate, Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Free - open to public
Sun. August 19 1:05–4:00 pm: Oakland A’s v. Cleveland Indians Barbeque Lunch with Game Ticket - Includes pre-game barbeque/seats on-field at “Barbeque Terrace” $50 pp limited to 50 tickets on a first-come basis
Mon. August 20 8:30 am–12:15 pm: “Earthquake/Tsunami Rescue Panel” Oakland City Hall, Council Chambers, 3rd Floor. Speakers will be Fukuoka Firefighters who conducted rescue/relief efforts at the Tohoku earthquake/tsunami site, and Oakland Firefighters who will share first hand experience about their disaster rescue efforts. Free - Open to public Note: Sponsorships are welcome at $250 per business.
Mon. August 20 6–9 pm: “Gala Farewell Dinner” Sequoyah Country Club, 4550 Heafey Road, Oakland $75 per person/$125 per couple
Citizens’ Opportunity to Display Names on Public Art – Dedication of Japanese Lanterns at Lake Merritt:
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary, OFSCA is coordinating the “Japanese Lantern Project” where 10 locally and environmentally produced, 4-foot tall lanterns will be dedicated near the Torii Gate at Gardens at Lake Merritt - Lakeside Gardens on Bellevue Ave at a ceremony on Sunday, August 19.
Lantern Donation structure:
$500 per name/business – 4 names per lantern
$1000 per name/business – 2 names per lantern
$2000 per name/business – 1 name per lantern
For information on the Lantern Project and and ticket reservation email: info@oakland-fukuoka.org
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