HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 11-04-2025 Item No. 3 Toyokawa Sister City delegation_Written CommunicationsCC 11-04-2025
Item #3
Presentation from
Toyokawa Sister City
delegation
Written Communications
From:alysa sakkas
To:Public Comments
Subject:11/4/25 written report for item 1 ceremonial item
Date:Tuesday, November 4, 2025 3:41:52 PM
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This is for tonight’s ceremonial item 1.
Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities, Inc. is the nonprofit that nurtures the relationship with
Cupertino‘s sister city, Toyokawa, Japan in partnership with the City of Cupertino.
Each year we host a student cultural exchange. We requested time at a city council meeting for
the students to give a report to city council. We feel this is an important part of the student
program to share their experience representing Cupertino, including the opportunity to practice
public speaking lifeskills.
Our organization was additionally requested to give a report to city council. Due to the
amount of time allocated, there is insufficient time to do more than an abbreviated
student presentation.
We would like to submit the following written report addendum.
In 2025, CTSC executed much of our typical programming for the year:
- Conducted a successful student exchange program sending 16 students and 3
CUSD chaperones to Japan
- Conducted the Cupertino Cherry Blossom festival, which honors our sister city
relationship, and shares Japanese arts and culture with the community. A video
summary of the event is being produced that will promote the 2026 cherry blossom
festival and will be viewable on our YouTube channel in the near future.
- Held a (6th annual) Community Bell Ringing for World Peace event in August, which
grows larger each year and renews our commitment to world, peace, and observes
the anniversary of the bombing of Toyokawa, Japan during World War II
-Participation in various community activities such as the Silicon Valley Fall Festival, the
California Japan Sister Cities, Network of Northern California, and Japanese Consulate
activities
In additional some notable activities unique to this year:
a) We sponsored a candidate in the Northern CA Cherry Blossom Queen program
that mentors young women in leadership skills. Our candidate happened to be
Cupertino resident, Nanami Sumimoto.
b) We participated in the Mayor’s initiative "Cupertino Stories" event. We produced a
short history of our organization that can be viewed at this link on our YouTube
channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQZ3X7QMpao&t=8s
c) We enjoyed a significant special milestone this year in having a third-
generation family member of one the families in Japan participate in our exchange
program.
d) We represented the community at the District 5 welcome ceremony of the new Consul
General of Japan in San Francisco.
We look forward to continuing our work and thank the City of Cupertino for its support
of our programming.
Respectfully submitted,
Alysa Sakkas, President
Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities, Incorporated