Buoyed by a strong relationship that belies the roughly 5,600 miles of water between them, the governments of Santa Monica and Kizugawa made official their connection this week by entering into a ceremonial partnership.
The mayors of the two municipalities met Tuesday at City Hall to sign a declaration that designates the Japanese community as a friendship city of Santa Monica.
Representatives from both cities, including several exchange students, gathered in City Council chambers to watch as dignitaries discussed the bond between the cities and shared their hopes for future collaboration and camaraderie.
The formal council resolution states that Santa Monica and Kizugawa “share similar goals of international cooperation, mutual prosperity, and world peace” and that “they believe it to be in their collective interest to broaden and strengthen ties between the two cities.”
The designation of Kizugawa as a friendship city follows a recommendation by the Santa Monica Sister City Association, which facilitates interactions between local residents and their peers around the world.
Kizugawa has not been named a sister city, which is considered a more prestigious distinction, but Mayor Tony Vazquez said Santa Monica is “in good shape” to approve such a partnership soon.
Vazquez shook hands and posed for photos with Kizugawa Mayor Noriko Kawai, who noted that the partnership between the cities has roots in an exchange program at John Adams Middle School that began in 1999. Scores of Japanese students have visited Santa Monica over the last two decades, she said.
“I am very honored to be here,” Kawai said through a translator. “We hope this relationship will continue in the future.”
The purpose of the relationship “is to increase cultural exchanges, educational opportunities, technical exchanges, for both cities, and to increase awareness of both cities,” according to the council resolution. A barbecue party has been scheduled for Friday.
“I don’t usually get to be up here with two mayors,” said council member Kevin McKeown, who served as mayor before Vazquez.
McKeown was part of a contingent on the dais that also included former Santa Monica mayors Nat Trives and Pam O’Connor as well as Santa Monica Sister City Association president Jeff Jarow.
The friendship city partnership builds on Santa Monica’s existing relationships with Fujinomiya, another Japanese city, as well as Mazatlan, Mexico; Hamm, Germany; and Cassino and Sant’Elia in Italy.
“Our world has gotten smaller,” O’Connor said, noting the advancements in technology since the start of the cities’ partnership. “I get to watch Japanese television shows on Netflix.”
Also in attendance Tuesday was Akira Chiba, the newly appointed consul general of Japan in Los Angeles. Chiba threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a recent Dodgers game.
“The good news is the ball reached the mitt,” he said. “The bad news is I still have a sore arm.”
Representatives from the offices of State Senator Ben Allen and State Assemblymember Richard Bloom presented proclamations at the ceremony.
