Building bridges for peace
Who We are
Who We Are
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed his black ship into Uraga harbor (near Yokohama) and a treaty of peace and amity was signed one year later. This relationship has grown into one of the closest political, cultural, and economic relationship of our time. We continue to celebrate our ties to genuine friendship and shared values and promote the Sister City goals of world peace through better understanding.
The San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society was established in 1957 as one of the first sister cities on the west coast. The Society has sponsored numerous exchanges in the field of arts, business, culture, and education between the City of San Diego and the City of Yokohama, Japan.
Our legacy is helping the children who are our next generation to work with each other to create peace.
Dr. Thelma Press
Current Past PresidentCelebrating over 60 years of Friendship
SDYSCS Historical Timeline
October 1951.
1951 Japanese-American Pacific Coast Mayors' Conference
In 1951 San Diego Mayor, John Butler, attended the Japanese-American Pacific Coast Mayors' Conference in Tokyo. Almost immediately the city of Yokohama began making friendly overtures towards San Diego.
April 1953.
Second Japan-American Conference
After attending the Second Japan-American Conference in Seattle, Washington, Mayor Butler attended invited the Japanese delegates to extend their US visit with a trip to San Diego. 
August 1954.
Father of San Diego Sister Cities: Saburo Muraoka
San Diegan and Yokohama born, Saburo Muraoka, who volunteered to translate for the visiting Yokohama delegation in 1953 goes to Yokohama to further promote ties between the two cities. 
November 1955.
Third Japan-American Pacific Coast Mayors' Conference
Mayor Charles Dail and Port Director John Bate travel to Yokohama to attend the Conference and meet with Yokohama Mayor Hiranuma, Ryozo who announces that a snow viewing latern would be sent to San Diego. 
September 1956.
THE BIRTH OF THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE PROGRAM
President Eisenhower brings Americans representing all walks of life to Washington D.C. to attend a White House Conference on Citizen Diplomacy. This conference creates the People-To-People program. November 1956.
San Diego Zoo
Snow Viewing Lantern
The City of Yokohama's snow lantern arrives in San Diego by way of the United States Navy and is dedicated by Mayor Dail and placed in the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. 
October 1957.
San Diego-Yokohama
Sister City partnership
San Diego (United States of America) Partnership officially established on October 29, 1957. Ordinance creating the San Diego Yokohama Friendship Commission passes on March 11, 1958. March 1958.
San Diego Yokohama Friendship Commission
On March 11, 1958 under Mayor Dail the City of San Diego approved an ordinance creating the San Diego Yokohama Friendship Commission governed by a board appointed by the City Council. May 1958.
Yokohama-San Diego Friendship Committee
As part of the Port 's Centennial Celebration Yokohama conducted formal Affiliation Ceremonies commemorating the sister-city status and created the Yokohama-San Diego Friendship Committee. June 1958.
Port of Yokohama's
Centennial Celebration
A delegation of leading San Diego Citizens headed by Deputy Mayor Rossniarp in the absence of Mayor Dail who was unable to attend were honored guests at the Port of Yokohama's Centennial Celebration. July 1958.
Yokohama Friendship Bell
A symbol of eternal friendship, the bell was presented as part of the Centennial Celebration of formal relations between Japan and the United States. This gift served to mark the establishment of a sister city relationship between San Diego and Yokohama. June 1960.
Ceremonial tea house gifted to San Diego
At the conclusion of the San Diego delegation's visit to Yokohama in 1958 Yokohama announced they would be sending a Ceremonial tea house. This 10ft by 16ft Tea House would later become the House of Japan. July 1960.
House of Japan
Dedication Ceremony
The tea house was dedicated on July 31st, 1960, and became the 20th structure in the House of Pacific relations placed on a site between the house of England and Sweden. December 1960.
Donal Hord's Guardian of the Waters
The statue, a replica of the original in San Diego, is gifted to Yokohama in 1960. Created by artist Donal Hord the statue is at the center of a fountain and is surrounded by gardens in Yamashita Park. December 1960.
Yokohama Friendship Bell’s house dedication Ceremony
Dedicated on Dec. 10, 1960 the bell was tolled by Bishop Yamada of the Zen Shu Buddhist Temple. He was joined by then-Mayor Charles Dail and other civic leaders and tolled the traditional 18 strokes. July 1966.
Formation of the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society
The San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Commission is replaced by the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society, a non-profit Cultural and Educational organization. July 1968.
Mayor Charles Dail
passes away
Friend to the Sister City Society and former San Diego Mayor, Charles Dail passes away. Dail had served three terms on the San Diego City Council from 1943 to 1955 and two terms as Mayor from 1955 and 1963. March 1969.
Charles C. Dail Memorial Gate
A Meiji-style gate is donated to the city by the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society under the leadership of Will Hippen. The gate, dedicated to the former mayor, would become the anchor for the future creation of the Japanese Friendship Garden. August 1980.
Sister Cities International Conference
The San Diego Yokohama Sister City Society wins the bid to host the 1980 Sister Cities International Conference during the period of August 13 through August 17, 1980. June 1982.
25th Anniversary
California Mission bells
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the affiliation with Yokohama, a group of SDYSCS members traveled to Yokohama to present the California El Camino Mission Bells to Mayor Michikazu Saigo. June 1983.
25th Anniversary
San Diego Song
The Yokohama-San Diego Friendship Committee presents to the City of San Diego a magnificent black marble sculpture in the form of an open book on which is inscribed the words of "The San Diego Song." August 1989.
San Diego Surf Soccer Club goes to Yokohama
August 1990.
Grand opening of the Japanese Friendship Garden
June 1992.
35th Anniversary Celebration
February 2021.
San Diego-Yokohama Partnership
February 2021.
San Diego-Yokohama Partnership
640
Years of
Friendship
600
+monthly
donors
10
,5kincredible
volunteers
7850
successful
campains
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SDYSCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meet Our Volunteer Team
Euphoria Brass Band
Volunteer
Edward Park
Volunteer
Thomas Kwaka Omolo
Nurse
Jacob Parit Noomek
Nurse
Aaron Combs
Volunteer
Owen Miller
Virologist
