2011
March 31
Focus: Education
“One Book, One Osaka”
The Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, in collaboration with the City of Osaka brought the One Book, One Osaka project to Jonathan Burr Elementary on March 31, 2011, to highlight the long-standing relationship between the two sister cities and how this relationship has facilitated the exchange of ideas. The City of Osaka developed their literacy program based on Chicago’s successful model of One Book, One Chicago, which this fall will be celebrating 10 years of bringing Chicagoans together through a common book.
This year, Osaka chose The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carl, which was read to a kindergarten class at Burr in Japanese. Burr is a CPS Magnet Cluster School where every student studies Japanese as a foreign language. At Burr, not only are the students reading Japanese versions of English books, they have been writing letters to those children affected by the recent earthquake in Japan. The letters are currently displayed at the school.
April 1
Focus: Humanitarian
The Osaka and Humanitarian Committees of Chicago Sister Cities International hosted a Japan Earthquake Relief Fundraiser in the Chicago Cultural Center to raise much needed funds for those devastated by earthquakes and related tsunami in Japan. Mayor Richard M. Daley, Governor Quinn and U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin served as Honorary Chairs for the event. In one evening, CSCI raised over $42,000 to help support the American Red Cross' earthquake relief efforts in Japan.
June
Wesbury Leadership Award
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago honored Chicago Sister Cities International with a Wesbury Leadership Award for our generous third party fundraising efforts in response to international disasters, specifically this past year for Pakistan and Japan. The American Red Cross gives the Wesbury Award annually at their Annual Meeting to recognize individual, organization and media partners whose efforts enhance the visibility of the local Red Cross and help them deliver services and messages of health, safety and preparedness to all communities. The American Red Cross will award Chicago Sister Cities International in the Community Partner category this year.
October 1-9
Focus: Social Services
Ten interdisciplinary social service professionals from Chicago met in Osaka to visit sites and dialogue with Japanese professionals about their culture and best practices in the areas of child welfare, elder welfare, disabilities both mental and physical, and other social challenges. The exchange concluded with a one day workshop where delegates presented on their exchange experience by comparing best practices and cultures.
A project organized by the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, Osaka City Council of Social Welfare and the City of Osaka.
October 9
Focus: Culture
The Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, in partnership with the City of Osaka Office in Chicago, hosted a Chicago Marathon cheering station.
2010
April 25-27
Focus: Government
Mr. Koichi Kawamura, Director of International Promotion, participated in the Richard J. Daley Global Cities Forum as a representative of the City of Osaka.
August 20
Focus: Technology and Education
Through the initiative of Professor Kuboi of the Osaka University San Francisco Center, the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International co-hosted, “Where Does Human Intelligence Come From?,” a seminar that featured Dr. Minoru Asada. The lecture drew upon his background as a pioneer in researching the emergence of intelligence and its development through the utilization of robotics.
August 23 & 26
Focus: Cultural
As part of this year's 5th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival at Millennium Park, Miyuki Sato and Taihei Rokumoto Eastwood proudly carried the flag of Japan in the opening ceremony parade of flags. Osaka was also represented at the Festival by a Japanese Paper Fan activity that was led by the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society as part of the Festival’s Cultural Corner.
September 3-23
Focus: Education
Ms. Aya Sasai, winner of the annual Chicago-Osaka speech contest, traveled to Chicago as part of an on-going reciprocal exchange. During her stay, Ms. Sasai visited various Chicago landmarks and had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Richard M. Daley.
September 10
Focus: Environment
Ms. Chiaki Yoneoka of the City of Osaka’s Environment Bureau met with City of Chicago, Department of Environment Deputy Commissioner Aaron Durnbaugh and the Environmental Program Manager for Chicago Public Schools, Ms. Suzanne Carlson. Ms. Yoneoka toured the Chicago Center for Green Technology and learned more about the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3), CCGT, Greencorps Chicago, and Chicago Public Schools environmental achievements.
September 11-18
Focus: Social Services
The Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International has successfully concluded the first Asian Social Services Exchange with Osaka, Japan. The focus of the program was to bridge cultural and national boundaries and address social challenges of the youth and the elderly including the disabled.
2009
June 13
Focus: Culture
Chicago Sister Cities and the Osaka Committee celebrated their 35th anniversary of their established relationship. However, they were also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the city of Osaka Chicago Branch.
July 27
Focus: Government
Ms. Yuka Katashima, Osaka English Speech Contest Winner
September 4
Focus: Culture
The Osaka Committee in conjunction with Chicago Sister Cities International held the Osaka Garden Anime Night. It featured episodes of Kimba, the white lion and a short documentary and a short documentary on the life and works of Osaka Born Tezuka Osamu.
October 14
Dr. Ogawa Yoshinari from Osaka City General Hospital participated in the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium: Sister Cities Medical Initiative.
October 18
Focus: Environment
The Osaka Vice Mayor, Takashi Kashiwagi participated in the rededication ceremony of the Osaka Japanese Garden in Jackson Park. This was done in honor of the 35th anniversary of Osaka's relationship with Chicago Sister Cities International.
November
Eighteen students and the Vice Principal from Osaka High School visited Walter Payton College Prep.
Japan Student Night: A Welcome to Chicago Reception
2008
February 11
Focus: Culture
The Osaka Committee hosted a Jazz Social at Andy's Jazz Club, featuring a performance by Committee Member Yoko Noge.
June 20
The Osaka Committee, with help from gracious sponsors, hosted the 35th anniversary of the Chicago-Osaka partnership. The reception was held at Trump Tower.
September
Ryoko Omine, winner of the annual Chicago-Osaka speech contest, visited Chicago.
September 1-3
Leo Melamed, Chairman Emeritus of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), visited Osaka to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Nikkei 225 Stock Index opening at the CME.
September 6
Focus: Culture
The Osaka Committee hosted a screening of "Kimba, the White Lion" at the Osaka Garden in Jackson Park.
October 6-8
Focus: Culture
Bunraku, one of Japan’s best known and most highly prized traditional performing arts, came to the Midwest in October. The internationally acclaimed national Bunraku Theater is the most authentic puppet troupe from Osaka that came to America for its first major tour in 15 years. The two hour performance presented two classic masterworks: Oshichi’s Burning Love and Miracle at the Tsubosaka Kannon Temple.
October 18
Focus: Culture
The rededication of the Osaka Japanese Garden in Jackson Park was in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Osaka and Chicago. Vice Mayor Takashi Kashiwagi of Osaka and a delegation was in Chicago to participate in the ceremony.
November 29
Focus: Culture
The Osaka Committee hosted their second annual end of the year Bonenkai Party. Proceeds benefited the educational and cultural programs of the Osaka Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program.
2006
February 10
Focus: Culture
The Japan America Society of Chicago and the Chicago Sister Cities International Program’s Osaka Committee enjoyed an evening of jazz performed by Yoko Noge, Co-chair of the Osaka Committee at Andy’s Jazz Club.
June
Focus: Sister School Exchange
In cooperation with City of Osaka Chicago Office, Walter Payton College Prep sent a group of students in June to Osaka City High School for sister school exchange program. A special ceremony was held to send the students off at O’Hare. Carol Kimmel, education subcommittee chair was the champion of this initiative.
June
Focus: Culture
Benihana was featured as a food vendor in the Chicago Sister Cities International Festival on Daley Plaza.
July 12
Focus: Culture
The Osaka and China Committees of CSCIP met for picnic dinner at the Skyline Stage at Navy Pier for a special performance of Cirque Shanghai, an assemblage of some of the finest acrobats in China. 30 people attended the event.
Focus: Sports
Welcomed and provided gifts to high school judo wrestlers from Japan at the mayors press room and provided a tour of the Mayors office.
September 6-28
Focus: Education
Miss. Siyuan Wang, the English speech contest winner from Osaka came to Chicago and spent three weeks. She was hosted by a student from Walter Payton College Prep thanks to Carol Kimmel, chair of Education Subcommittee. Miss Wang delivered the letter from Mayor Seki of Osaka to Mayor Daley.
November 30
Bonenkai Celebration
This is the end of year get-together for the committee members and friends at Ra Sushi.
December 2-8
A delegation of Osaka City Council members Yasuo Machiba, VP of the Osaka City Council, and Mikio Kanda, Manager, General Affairs, Economic Department, City of Osaka, visited Chicago. The delegation examined Chicago’s best practices on engaging larger companies in investing in the city to improve the economy.
1973
Chicago and Osaka signed a sister cities agreement.
