Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities Celebrate Third-Generation Exchange
The Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities program celebrated a significant milestone on October 3, 2023, with the arrival of the third generation of the Imaizumi family as part of its student exchange initiative. Yakumo Imaizumi, a high school student from Toyokawa, joins a delegation of homestay visitors nearly 40 years after his father, Fumiaki Imaizumi, first participated as a student delegate in 1986. This family connection underscores the enduring legacy of the sister city relationship between Cupertino, California, and Toyokawa, Japan.
The welcome dinner held for Yakumo and his fellow Japanese students marked a moment of reflection and celebration for the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities organization. Virgil Klein, a long-standing committee member, expressed the deep familial bonds that have developed over the years. “For us, when members of the Imaizumi family visit Cupertino, it is like having members of our own family here,” he stated. Klein, along with his wife Trish, hosted Tokuyoshi Imaizumi, Yakumo’s grandfather, during his visit decades ago.
Building Cultural Connections
Since its establishment in 1978, the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities organization has played a crucial role in fostering cultural exchange and community ties. The nonprofit organization collaborates closely with the City of Cupertino to facilitate these exchanges, which have resulted in numerous friendships and increased cultural understanding. Currently, the organization boasts more than 40 active members and volunteers dedicated to organizing various events, including Cupertino’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which supports the student exchange program financially.
Each year, the program enables 16 Cupertino students and three chaperones to travel to Toyokawa, while a visiting delegation is welcomed into local homes. The exchanges are designed to create lasting connections, much like those exemplified by the Imaizumi family. “These exchanges truly blossom into lasting connections between our two cities,” Trish Klein remarked, highlighting the personal relationships that have developed over time.
The Klein family has maintained a close relationship with the Imaizumi family, with numerous visits exchanged over the years. “When members of the Imaizumi family visit us, it is like having members of our own family together,” Virgil Klein noted. This sentiment encapsulates the essence of the sister city program, which extends beyond mere international friendship to form familial bonds that transcend cultural barriers.
A Legacy of Friendship
The impact of the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities program reaches far beyond the immediate exchanges. As the years have passed, many families from Cupertino have developed meaningful relationships with their Japanese counterparts. This ongoing interaction contributes to a broader understanding of each culture, fostering goodwill and cooperation between the two communities.
As Yakumo Imaizumi embarks on this journey, he follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, continuing a family tradition that embodies the spirit of the sister city exchange. The program not only serves as a platform for educational and cultural experiences but also as a testament to the lasting influence of community ties.
The Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities organization remains committed to nurturing these connections and ensuring that future generations can experience the richness of this cultural exchange. Through events like the Cherry Blossom Festival and ongoing homestay programs, the organization is dedicated to promoting understanding and friendship across oceans, ensuring that the legacy of the Imaizumi family, and many others like them, will continue to thrive.
