About Us

Finding President Eisenhower's idea of a "people-to-people movement" to be to his liking, in 1961, the Mayor of Fukuoka chose Oakland as one possible sister city candidate. Mayor Abe met with the Mayor of Oakland during the September 1961 Japan-America Conference of Mayors and Chambers of Commerce Presidents. A Sister City Committee was established as a result of that meeting, and the sister city relationship was formalized a year later. Read about our past presidents.

About Oakland, California

Nestled between the San Francisco Bay and the coastal hills, Oakland's got it all: balmy temperatures hovering in the 60s, world-class arts and entertainment, top-flight restaurants and hotels, and an abundance of recreation. What's more, prices are among the most reasonable in the area. Oakland is a modern-day boomtown with a rich cultural heritage. Once home to Ohlone tribe of Native Americans, Mexican rancheros, and gold seekers, it's now a haven for high tech and dot-coms. It's also one of the nation's most ethnically integrated cities: Oaklanders speak more than 100 languages and dialects. Leisure and business travelers alike enjoy its proximity to San Francisco, Wine Country, and Silicon Valley.