HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-05-2014 Written CommunicationsWaltonsmith Speech — Ceremony 10-21-14
Good Afternoon Mayor Kushima, City Council President Isono, and distinguished guests and citizens of
Muko
Our Sister City group from Saratoga has come to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of our international
Sister City relationship with our friends in the wonderful City of Muko Japan. I am a former Mayor and
City Council member for the City of Saratoga. Since our present Mayor, Emily Lo, was unable to come
on this visit, I am pleased to convey the Saratoga City Council's greetings on this auspicious occasion.
The Saratoga City Council congratulates all the members of Muko/Saratoga Sister City for 30 years of
friendship and for building international peace and understanding.
Our 30 year old international Sister City relationship with your City of Muko Japan is very special. There
are many Cities in the United States that start international Sister City relationships. Most of the time
they don't last a long time. So our 30 year relationship is extraordinary. It started because my city,
Saratoga, bought a private Japanese Garden called Hakone Gardens. It was named after Hakone in
Japan. My city then discovered that Japanese gardens require a specialized and intensive care beyond
the capabilities of our City staff. Our City was not prepared for that, but a group of citizens stepped
forward to help our City. This group of citizens and the City Council then contacted and worked with Mr.
Kiyoshi Yasui, a well known Japanese architect living in Muko. Muko City Council and its citizens then
stepped forward to support Saratoga's efforts to maintain a Japanese Garden outside of Japan. These
two groups formed a strong Sister City partnership. What a wondrous, forward thinking and huge
undertaking. Then long term friendships between Muko and Saratoga citizens formed and grew. Our
children and grandchildren began making Student exchange visits in the summer time. Like any family,
time has flown by and here we are 30 years later.
Today, for some in our Saratoga group, it is their first time in Japan. For others, they have been here
many times. One of us visited Muko 30 years ago on the first visit. I am going to have him raise his hand
so we can appreciate his perseverance in this relationship. John Tauchi. We also have some grown
children or grand children in our group who are keeping the Muko/Saratoga Sister city going into the
next generation of Saratoga Sister City members. They are 4 people, Edson Gomersall, Joe and Jib
Riddle, and Karen O'Brien, my daughter. We are pleased to introduce our next generation to you in
Muko.
Before I close, I wish to let you know that the Japanese Garden in Saratoga, now Hakone Estate and
Gardens, is going strong and enhancing its beauty with continuing support and guidance from gardeners
from Japan. We are about to celebrate its Centennial Anniversary, 100 years, in 2015. We hope some
of you can visit our Garden next year.
To conclude, congratulations to all in this room who have made this 30th Anniversary of Sister Cities
possible. We hope to see you again soon in Saratoga. Thank you
Present Saratoga City Council Commendation and gift of Picture Collage to City of Muko