New CompoClay Lanterns at Torii Gate at Lake Merritt

Posted August 14th, 2012 in Announcements, Events 

Click here to view photos of the new lanterns on CompoClay’s Flickr page.

This year, the city of Oakland, CA and Fukuoka, Japan celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing a Sister City relationship with events here in Oakland August 17-20, including the Dedication of 10 Japanese Lanterns in The Gardens at Lake Merritt.

Please join us this  Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 8:30a at Torii Gate at Lake Merritt for the unveiling and dedication of the 10 new Japanese lanterns.   This event is free and open to the public.

These 10 commissioned Japanese lanterns, copied from the lantern design at “Kashii Shrine” in Fukuoka and made entirely out of eco-friendly CompoClay, is financially supported by local citizens, businesses and organizations.

There will also be a dedication of a “Yoshino Cherry Tree.”  This tree commemorates the Centennial of Japan’s gift of 3000 cherry trees to the U.S. in 1912 and is donated by the Japanese people, through the Hon. Hiroshi Inomata, Japanese Consul General in SF. It is donated to the citizens of Oakland in recognition of the strong ties that symbolize the eternal friendship between the U.S. and Japan.

We hope to see you there.  Download the complete list of OFSCA events here -  OFSCA 50th Anniversary Schedule of Events.

About the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association 50th Anniversary

In 1962 the city of Oakland formed a sister city relationship with Fukuoka, Japan. On the heels of World War II, then-President Eisenhower encouraged these connections to foster international understanding and harmony between cities and nations.  Fukuoka, Japan’s new 38-year-old mayor, the Hon. Soichiro Takashima leads a delegation of 30 officials and citizens to Oakland.  To celebrate this milestone and what it represents, Oakland is pulling out the stops with four days of celebratory events, showing off our city and sharing it with the delegation from Fukuoka. And they’re inviting the public to join in the fun.

For more information, please visit the OFSCA website at www.oakland-fukuoka.org.   Emails can be directed to info@oakland-fukuoka.org or call (510) 638-7276.