City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release HONOLULU — The City and County of Honolulu and Shonai, Japan, officially signed a Friendship City Agreement today during a ceremony at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, celebrating the long-standing bond between the two communities and their shared commitment to promoting educational, cultural, and economic exchange. Honolulu Mayor… Continue reading November 3, 2025 – City signs Friendship City Agreement with Shonai, Japan
The Principal and International Office director from Kanto Daiichi School in Edogawa-ku (Sister City with Honolulu since 2020) visited Chief of Staff Andy Sugg on September 24, 2025. Kanto Daiichi has 2,500 students (8th, 9th, 10th grades). They are building a program with Island Pacific Academy in Kapolei that will be launched in 2026. They… Continue reading September 24, 2025 – Kanto Daiichi School (Edogawa-ku) visits Chief of Staff
14 students from Edogawa-ku, a district of Tokyo, visited the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts as part of a cultural exchange. The students asked pertinent questions about how to be a good traveler, how to respect the culture you’re coming to learn about, and how to spread the word once you are back… Continue reading August 14, 2025 – Edogawa Wings of Youth delegation
City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release HIROSHIMA, Japan – Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Wednesday joined hundreds of international representatives and thousands of Japanese citizens at the Hiroshima Peace Park for a solemn ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony is… Continue reading August 6, 2025 – Mayor Blangiardi attends Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
City and County of Honolulu Official Press Release TOKYO, JAPAN — Mayor Rick Blangiardi began his first international Sister City visit as mayor on Friday with a full slate of meetings at the Shibuya City Office and a guided tour of the historic Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine located in the heart of the Tokyo… Continue reading August 1, 2025 – Mayor Blangiardi visits Shibuya City Office, Meiji Jingu on first day in Japan
Chief of Staff Andy Sugg had the pleasure to represent Mayor Blangiardi in a courtesy visit from Mayor Hashimoto of Sakaimachi. The two of them discussed tourism trends in Hawaiʻi and how sectors like government travel and the number of Japanese and Canadian tourists are still declining. Mayor Hashimoto mentioned several opportunities for collaboration such… Continue reading June 6, 2025 – Mayor Hashimoto of Sakaimachi visits Honolulu Hale
Chief of Staff Andy Sugg had the pleasure to meet with Vice Mayor Kaoru Matsuzawa of Shibuya. They are standing in Honolulu Hale in front of the ‘Umeke Lā‘au created by Artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer. Vice Mayor Matsuzawa updated Chief of Staff Sugg on all of Shibuya’s future initiatives with Honolulu, including an exciting Hawaii-Japanese… Continue reading May 2, 2025 – Vice Mayor of Shibuya meets Chief of Staff in Honolulu Hale
Kurashiki, Kojima, and Tamashima Jaycees visited Honolulu Hale to meet with Chief of Staff Andy Sugg. They have a 40 year relationship with the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce. They visited Honolulu in 2024 and the HJJCC visited to Kurashiki, Kojima, and Tamashima in the Fall to continue to strengthen the bonds between their… Continue reading April 3, 2025 – Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce and their Kurashiki, Kojima and Tamashima Jaycee sister chapters
The Honolulu Junior Japanese Chamber of Commerce alongside their Kobe Jaycee sister chapter visited Honolulu Hale and met with Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram and Executive Director of MOCA Kaʻili Trask O’Connell. The delegation consisted of Heather Furutani (HJJCC President), Jennifer Ezaki (HJJCC VP of International Relations), Aya Kamine (Kobe JCI President), and 20 Kobe… Continue reading March 14, 2025 – Visit of the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce and their Kobe Sister Chapter
Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram and Kaʻili Trask O’Connell Executive Director of MOCA met with Mayor Saito of Edogawa who was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Yumiba, Chair Shinichi, Vice Chair Kubota and Councilmember Fukumoto. Mayor Saito highlighted the exciting activities and initiatives that have occurred since the 2022 Sister City agreement between Honolulu and Edogawa.… Continue reading March 7, 2025 – Mayor Saito from Edogawa visits Honolulu Hale
