FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dated: June 14, 2024
Tampa Sister Cities Holds Inaugural Exploratory Meeting Toward Establishing a Japanese Sister City
TAMPA, FL – On June 14, 2024, Tampa Sister Cities convened its first exploratory meeting focused on establishing a formal Sister City relationship with a city in Japan—a key early step in what may become one of Tampa’s most important international partnerships in East Asia.
This foundational discussion was sparked by encouragement from Consul General Kazuhiro Nakai, Japan’s senior diplomatic representative to Florida, who has voiced strong support for deepening ties between Japanese and Floridian cities. With Japanese direct investment, corporate relocations, and population growth on the rise in Florida, the meeting sought to identify initial avenues of outreach and long-term potential for civic, cultural, and economic exchange.
Attendees of the meeting included:
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Alfred Goldberg, President, Tampa Sister Cities
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Orestes Destrade, former professional baseball player and Japan Series superstar with the Saitama Seibu Lions
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Dr. Yasuharu Okuda, Executive Director, USF Health CAMLS
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Jesse Casanova, Associate Director of International Programs, USF Health
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Linman Li, Senior Vice President of Operations, Partnerships, and Development, Global Virus Network
The group held in-depth discussions regarding alignment between Tampa’s innovation economy and Japan’s global outreach efforts. Notably, the participants agreed to initiate friendly communications with two cities in Japan as potential Sister City partners:
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Tokorozawa, home of the Saitama Seibu Lions and a city with cultural and sports diplomacy potential, given Orestes Destrade’s strong connection to the community.
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Gifu, a city with which the University of South Florida maintains an established academic relationship, offering a natural entry point for collaboration in research, higher education, and healthcare.
"This was more than a brainstorming session—it was the beginning of Tampa’s active engagement with Japan on a civic level," said Alfred Goldberg, President of Tampa Sister Cities. "We’re proud to be taking deliberate steps to build bridges through culture, education, and innovation."
The meeting also explored thematic priorities for a potential Sister City relationship, including life sciences, medical training and simulation, higher education, and international diplomacy at the local level.
This early-stage initiative represents a significant milestone in Tampa Sister Cities’ mission to connect the city with strategic international partners. Future meetings will build on this momentum, as the organization works in close coordination with Japanese diplomatic channels and local institutions to foster a mutually enriching partnership.
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