Torrance, Calif., August 8, 2024 – The City of Torrance is proud to announce the signing of a Friendship City Agreement with the City of Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, Japan today. The official signing ceremony took place at Torrance City Hall with Torrance Mayor George K. Chen and Bizen Mayor Takeshi Yoshimura. Deputy Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, Naoshige Aoshima and Vice Consul General Fukiko Nakashima were also in attendance to show their support along with many corporate citizens and community partners including the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, Japan External Trade Organization, Japan America Society of Southern California, Torrance Unified School District, and Discover Torrance.
Since arriving at Los Angeles International Airport this week, the Bizen delegation toured the City of Torrance, with stops at the American Honda Collection Hall, Downtown Torrance, Torrance Municipal Airport, Torrance Beach, Discover Torrance’s California Welcome Center at Del Amo Fashion Center, and City Hall. This significant event marks the beginning of a formal partnership aimed at fostering cultural and educational exchange, economic growth, mutual understanding, and strengthening international ties and collaboration between the two cities.
Bizen is the hometown of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto and through this new friendship, Torrance hopes to continue fostering the growing demand by the Dodger Japanese fanbase who visit Los Angeles and establishing Torrance as a destination for baseball fans everywhere. This relationship also hopes to bring increased sales tax revenue by attraction of visitors and strengthening Torrance’s position in attracting additional sports teams and new investments in advance of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Mayor Chen expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This agreement opens another chapter in our City’s history, one that further places Torrance on the global stage, emphasizes the importance of both international relations that enhances the vitality of both cities. We look forward to learning from each other, celebrating our shared heritage, and building a future together that includes culture, education, art, economics, and sports.”
Mayor Yoshimura echoed these sentiments, saying, “The City of Bizen is honored to partner with Torrance. This Friendship City Agreement symbolizes our dedication to fostering international friendship and understanding, economic growth, cultural and educational exchange and tourism. Together, we will create opportunities for our citizens to connect and grow.”
This is the City of Torrance’s fourth Friendship City Designation. The City established agreements with cities in Changhua and Tainan, both in Taiwan and the City of Hwaseong, South Korea in 2023.
Visit the City’s Office of Economic Development page to learn more about the Friendship City Program Designation. To see pictures from the Friendship City Signing Ceremony, visit the City’s Instagram @CityofTorranceCA.
