September 13, 2022
City Council
DATE: September 13, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Nathaniel Bates
Subject:
Acknowledgement of the Contributions of Mr. Yasuhiko
Aoki to the Richmond-Shimada Friendship
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
The City Council appointed Mr. Yasuhiko to the Richmond- Shimada Friendship Commission in 1988.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Mr. Yasuhiko “Yas” Aoki was a longstanding member of
the Richmond-Shimada Friendship Commission. Mr. Aoki
passed away on December 31, 2021.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a Letter of Condolences; and
ACKNOWLEDGE the contributions of Mr. Yasuhiko Aoki
to the Richmond-Shimada Friendship and commission.
City Council Office (Councilmember Nathaniel Bates –
620-6743).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond entered into a Sister City relationship in 1961, with Shimada, Japan to promote better understanding among nations through a people-to-people AGENDA
REPORT
September 13, 2022
program, instituted in 1956 by President Eisenhower and subsequently endorsed by President Kennedy.
The Richmond-Shimada Friendship Commission was established by Resolution 8337 in 1964, for the purpose of initiating and conducting approved exchange activities with organizations, groups, and citizens of Shimada to further the economic and cultural understanding and development between the citizens of Shimada, Japan and Richmond, California.
Mr. Yasuhiko Aoki was one of the longstanding members appointed to the commission.
Mr. Aoki along with three other members were grandfathered in and was not subject to term limits due to their continued engagement and contribution to the program.
Mr. and Mrs. Aoki were instrumental in assisting in the planning and facilitation of delegations to and from Shimada, Japan. Most recently, they were intricately involved in the annual application, selection process, and preparation of local youth ambassadors selected to represent Richmond during a four-week youth exchange with Shimada, Japan. Mr. Aoki attended the monthly commission meetings regularly until the pandemic halted in person meetings.
After 30 plus years of service to the relationship, Mr. Aoki passed away on December 31, 2022. In partnership with the commission and counterparts in Shimada, Japan, Councilmember Bates, who serves as the city council liaison to the commission, would like the attached Letter of Condolences included in the official record of the Richmond City Council as a gesture of respect and appreciation.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Letter of Condolences