60th Anniversary 2022-2023
Oakland-Fukuoka 60th Anniversary Celebration
Since 1962, Oakland, California, USA and Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan have been official sister cities.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the many community members who have contributed to the 60th Anniversary. Thank you as well to all of the community members who have joined OFSCA as host families, student delegates, and supporters of our community & youth exchange programs over the decades.
Purchase a 60th Anniversary T-Shirt by Eric Murphy
Friend of OFSCA and Oakland artist Eric Murphy designed a 60th Anniversary t-shirt celebrating the Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City Relationship. The shirts are still available for purchase via 2042 Gallery in sizes S through 4XL in various styles.
Website: www.2042gallery.com
Instagram: instagram.com/2042gallery
Email: eric.aioakland@gmail.com
Left: Former Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf with Eric Murphy
Right: Fukuoka Mayor Sōichirō Takashima and Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
Learn more about supporting a new public mosaic mural project.
Join Our Public Events
Learn about our 60th anniversary events.
Support our 60th Anniversary activities with a donation
The support of our community is critical to making these grassroots citizen exchange events a reality. Thank you to everyone who has donated to make these events a reality in 2022!
Thank you for your generous support of the 60th Anniversary Celebration!!
60th Anniversary Celebration Event
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at the Gardens at Lake Merritt
Mural Unveiling Ceremony Program
Welcome
Gary Tominaga, OFSCA President
Jaclyn Funasaki, OFSCA Director & Master of Ceremonies
Speakers
Valerie Lee, OFSCA Director
JJ Kotler, OFSCA Director & Mural Project Lead
Prathana Pandey, OFSCA Member & Student Leader of Mural Project
Brittany Nakamura, OFSCA Director, Bridge Club President & Mural Design Committee Member on behalf of Fukuoka-Oakland Friendship Association
Peter Bowyer, OFSCA Garden Liaison
Rachel Rodi & Guy Fuerte, Mosaic Mural Artists
Jay van Arsdale & Jason Forster, Frame Craftsmen
Yoshito Ito, Chairperson, Fukuoka City Council
Hajime "Jimmy" Kishimori, Acting Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
Sōichirō Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City, Japan
Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland, California
RIBBON CUTTING & MURAL UNVEILING (Lakeside Gardens)
Reverend Harry Gyoukyou Bridge, Buddhist Church of Oakland
OFSCA OFFICERS & DIRECTORS, 2021-2023
President – Gary Tominaga*
First Vice President – Ed Bantilan
Second Vice President – Valerie Lee*
Treasurer – Liane Higashiuchi Scott*
Recording Secretary – Jason Lambert*
Aiko Dahan
Andrew Esterline*
Mark Frey*
Jaclyn Funasaki*
JJ Kotler*
Jason Lambert*
Valerie Lee*
Julie Miller*
Jennifer Murawski*
Brittany Nakamura*
Linda Nakamura*
Michael Rose
Joseph Samaniego
Paul Shimotake*
Susan Svensson*
Becky Taylor
Gary Tominaga*
Dan Westerlin
*60th Anniversary Planning Committee
Planning Committee Co-Chairs: Jaclyn Funasaki, Mark Frey, JJ Kotler
FUKUOKA CITY DELEGATIONS
FUKUOKA MAYORAL DELEGATION
Sōichirō Takashima - Mayor
Kazuhiro Kubota - Executive Director International Affairs Dept
Seiichi Koga - Director International Relations Section
Akitoshi Nakato - Chief International Relations Section
Chizu Sawabe - Mayor’s Interpreter
Akira Takaki - Chief International Relations Section
Jack James - International Relations Section Interpreter Support
FUKUOKA CITY COUNCIL
Yoshito Ito - Chairperson, Fukuoka City Council
Shigeru Nambara - Liberal Democratic Party Councilor
Yasuo Ōhara - Liberal Democratic Party Councilor
Tae Kawakami - Komeito Party Councilor
Toshinori Ochiishi - Fukuoka Citizen’s Club Councilor
Kō Amano - Fukuoka Reiwakai Councilor
Tetsushi Fujino - Liberal Democratic Party Shin Fukuoka Councilor
Hideaki Soneda - Secretary General Fukuoka City Council Secretariat
Atsushi Miyahara - Fukuoka City Council - Director General Affairs & Secretary Sections
Tōko Nishino - Fukuoka City Council - Secretary General Affairs & Secretary Section
With Gratitude to Our 60th Anniversary Mural Donors
GOLD DONORS
SILVER DONORS
BRONZE DONORS
Edwin & Molly Bantilan
Berkeley-Sakai Sister City Association
Conradi Family
Drew Esterline
Joseph P & Martha Ely Goralka
Japan Exchange & Teaching Program Alumni & Friends
Kitazawa Seed Co
JJ & Everett Kotler
Lee-Oyama Family
The Mayer-Higashi Family – Est. 1974
McCullough's - Brad Jen Colleen Claire
Leroy & Barbara Morishita
Eric Murphy
Brittany Nakamura
Jill & Kim Nakamura
Linda & Greg Nakamura
The Joseph M Samaniego & Salud Dacumos Family
Liane & Eric Scott
Megan & Zachary Scott
Sequoyah Country Club
The Family of Jeffrey & Pamela Suda
Gary T. & Anne K. Tominaga
Union Bank
Visit Oakland
Larry & Peggy Woon
FRIENDSHIP DONORS
Laurie Callaway, Terisa Chaw & James A. Hendriksen, Kelly Chou, Mark Frey, Matthew & Nancy Fujikawa, Funasaki/Gopalan Family, Taichi Goto, Roy Ikeda, Bruce Jaffe, Jeanie Lee, Miriam & John Mangini, Leslie & Ken Morishita, Jenn Murawski, Sydney & Chip Nakamura, Bahia Simons-Lane, Spritzer-Satomi Family, Rex & Janet Takahashi, Deborah Thomas, Lauren Tran in Honor of JJ Kotler, Dan Westerlin, and Joanne & Eugene Wong
Special Thanks to Our Partners
City of Oakland:
Office of the Mayor
Public Art Advisory Committee
Côte West Wines
East Bay Regional Park District
The Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt
Fukuoka-Oakland Friendship Association (FOFA)
J. Miller Flowers and Gifts
Musashi Restaurant, Berkeley
Oakland Public Works:
Oakland Parks Recreation and Youth Development (OPYRD)
Park & Tree Services Division
Semifreddi's - Michael Rose
Visit Oakland
Timelapse Videography: Jeremy Wong*
Torii Gate Painting: MB Jessee Painting
Mosaic Design & Facilitation: Rachel Rodi & Guy Fuerte*
Japanese Woodworking Frame Craftsmen: Jay van Arsdale & Jason Forster
Project & Program Lead: JJ Kotler*
Budget & Fundraising Lead: Liane Scott
Garden Liaison & Approvals Lead, Mural Design Committee Member: Peter Bowyer*
Youth Leader & Design Committee Member: Prathana Pandey*
Bridge Club President & Design Committee Member: Brittany Nakamura*
APCC Program Manager & Design Committee Member: Linda Nakamura*
Mural Design Committee, Pebble Collection, & Mural Fabrication Volunteers*: Jessy Aguilar, Rachel Aquilina, Julia Berger, Zane Berger-Azevedo, Jimmy Chan, Mark Frey, Taichi Goto (FOFA), Liz Gregor, Violet Gregor-Alan, Samantha Hartington, Yukiko Honda (FOFA), Honomi Ijima (FOFA), Momo Kawashima (FOFA), Mona Koh (EBRPD), Everett Kotler, Ren Kotler, Barbara Luck, Aya Lux, Kylie Quinn, Gabriella Rojas, Tamiko Shibata (FOFA), Susan Svensson, Kuraha Takaishi, Paula Urtecho (EBRPD), Takanori Yoshiura (FOFA), Saki Yoneda (FOFA), Siram