​Thank you all for attending the ESJF’s workshop, Addressing the Unresolved “Comfort Women” History Through Photos and Memorials, at the 18th T4SJ conference.

I deeply appreciated all of the questions and comments that you shared at the workshop. I learned a great deal through our interactions.

Ellen’s story of the unbelievable challenges that she and Steven Whyte faced was quite empowering. Her words reminded me of the importance of collective efforts for social justice.

Thank you all for your moving messages!

I can arrange workshops at your schools for groups of teachers or classrooms of students. Please let me know a month in advance if this is of interest to you or your school so that I can have adequate time to plan.

Thank you again for spending the early part of Saturday at the ESJF’s workshop. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting every one of you.

​On October 1, 2018, on a news program, Osaka Mayor Yoshimura indicated a termination of sister-city relationship between Osaka and San Francisco. The following day, the Osaka Municipal Government said that it has sent a document to officially end its 61-year-old sister-city ties with San Francisco.[1]

On October 4, 2018, Mayor Breed released the following statement in response:[2]
“One Mayor cannot unilaterally end a relationship that exists between the people of our two cities, especially one that has existed for over sixty years. In our eyes, the Sister City relationship between San Francisco and Osaka continues today through the connection of our people, and San Francisco looks forward to strengthening the bonds that tie our two great cities together.

Japan and Japanese-Americans have a unique and rich history in San Francisco that has left a lasting and beneficial impact on our City. We are one of three cities in the nation with a Japantown neighborhood, which is an important part of what makes San Francisco a great, diverse city.

The San Francisco Comfort Woman Memorial is a symbol of the struggle faced by all women who have been, and are currently, forced to endure the horrors of enslavement and sex trafficking. These victims deserve our respect and this memorial reminds us all of events and lessons we must never forget.”

[1]https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/10/03/national/osaka-severs-sister-city-ties-san-francisco-comfort-women-statue/#.W7VMG2hKg2w

[2]https://sfmayor.org/article/statement-mayor-london-breed-sister-city-relationship-between-san-francisco-and-osaka