FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2025
Tampa Sister Cities Participates in Inaugural Japan-Tampa Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Forum
TAMPA, FL – On July 17, 2025, Tampa Sister Cities proudly participated in the first-ever Japan-Tampa Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Forum, a landmark event co-hosted by the Consulate General of Japan, USF Health’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council.
Held at the cutting-edge CAMLS facility in downtown Tampa, the event welcomed nearly 80 distinguished participants from Japan and the United States. The forum is a direct result of Mayor Jane Castor’s diplomatic visit to Japan in April 2025, and marked a pivotal step in deepening collaboration between Japan and the Tampa Bay region in healthcare and life sciences.
Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa and Mayor Bruce Rector of Clearwater were joined by Acting Consul General Fumiyo Tsuda, who delivered keynote remarks highlighting mutual demographic challenges—such as aging populations—and the opportunity for innovation through bilateral cooperation. She noted Tampa’s recent recognition as the #1 investment-friendly city in the United States by the Financial Times and Nikkei, aligning with Japan’s bold new strategy to increase foreign investment to $1 trillion by the early 2030s.
Tampa Sister Cities President Alfred Goldberg was honored with a place of distinction between Mayors Castor and Rector. “This forum is an example of citizen diplomacy at its finest,” said Goldberg. “It’s where municipal leadership, academic excellence, and international relationships converge to spark real, lasting impact.”
Dr. Yasuharu Okuda, Executive Director of CAMLS and Chairman of the Tampa Sister Cities Japan Search Committee, served as moderator for several panels, facilitating dynamic dialogue between leaders in healthcare, academia, and business. His role in both the forum and the ongoing search for a Japanese Sister City highlighted the essential connection between institutional innovation and international collaboration.
An especially exciting moment of the event was reconnecting with members of LINK-J (Life Science Innovation Network Japan), whom Goldberg first met during the recent Tampa Sister Cities delegation trip to Japan. That mission—in which the sister city delegation was led jointly by Goldberg and Dr. Okuda—focused on identifying a future Japanese Sister City for Tampa. Among those in attendance was Dr. Yoshimasa Yamamoto, PhD, of Gifu University, who expressed her hope for furthering ties between Tampa and Gujō Hachiman, a picturesque city visited during the delegation’s travels. Her warm wishes underscored the cultural, academic, and economic potential of a formalized relationship.
In addition to robust panel discussions, Japanese delegates toured USF Health CAMLS and Moffitt Cancer Center, experiencing Tampa’s growing medical district and forging new networks for future collaboration.
Tampa Sister Cities continues to advance efforts to formally establish a Sister City relationship in Japan—building bridges through innovation, diplomacy, and shared values.
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