JASH Special: Message from the Mayor of Nagaoka City Commemorating Pearl Harbor

Dear Members and Friends of JASH,

This week, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. We remember all those who served; all those who were lost; and all those whose lives were forever changed. We honor the legacy of the Japanese Americans who served our country in the face of prejudice. And we come together as a community to build, repair, and strengthen our relationships at home and abroad in pursuit of world peace.

Today, we share with our JASH ʻOhana a special message from the City of Nagaoka to the City and County of Honolulu. Although he was unable to travel to Honolulu for the December 7 memorial events, Mayor Isoda reiterated Nagaoka’s commitment to our sister city relationship, sharing how the two cities have continued pursuing peace-building activities despite the challenges created by the pandemic.

Honolulu and Nagaoka have been sister cities since 2012. The two cities have had a complicated history; Nagaoka was the birthplace of Japanese Navy Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto—the commander who unwillingly led the Pearl Harbor attack—and the city was also heavily bombed during the war. However, the cities have worked hard to establish educational, cultural, and peace-making exchanges, paving the path for reconciliation.

Mahalo to the Nagaoka International Exchange Association for sharing this video with us.