Taking part in the unveiling of sister-city gifts at the Convention Center were (from left): Chris Concepcion, assistant general manager, Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA); Doane Liu, executive director, City Tourism Department; Dilpreet Sidhu, deputy mayor, Mayor’s Office of International Affairs; Mayor Karen Bass; Teruko Weinberg, chairwoman of Los Angeles-Nagoya Sister City Affiliation (LANSCA); Kosei Murota, consul general of Japan in Los Angeles; Tom Gilmore, board chair, Sister Cities of Los Angeles (SCOLA).
On June 24, the Japanese Heritage in L.A. Celebration, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, brought together civic, cultural, and community leaders to celebrate the relocation of treasured gifts from Nagoya from Los Angeles City Hall to their new home, where they will continue to be enjoyed by residents and visitors from around the world.
The artifacts are the Mikoshi Shinto Shrine, presented to the City of Los Angeles in 1960 to commemorate the establishment of the Los Angeles-Nagoya sister-city relationship; the Puppet Float (Dashi Karakuri), presented during Nisei Week in 1989; and the Nagoya Clock, gifted in 1994.
The event celebrated the enduring friendship between the sister cities of Los Angeles and Nagoya and reaffirmed the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening international relationships.
With Los Angeles City Tourism Department Executive Director Doane Liu serving as master of ceremonies, welcome remarks were delivered by Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Tim McOsker (15th District), Consul General Kosei Murota of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, Los Angeles-Nagoya Sister City Affiliation (LANSCA) Chair Teruko Weinberg, Sister Cities of Los Angeles Board Chair Tom Gilmore, and Department of Cultural Affairs Assistant General Manager Chris Concepcion.
“As Los Angeles’ oldest sister city of 67 years, Nagoya holds a special place in our city’s history,” said Bass. “For decades, this partnership has connected residents across the Pacific through cultural exchange, education, and friendship. Today, we celebrate not only these beautifully restored and meaningful gifts from Nagoya, but also our enduring partnership with Japan and the Japanese American community.”
“We are honored that the Convention Center is home to these remarkable works of art, which beautify our facility and will help us attract more visitors,” said Liu. “Our team worked meticulously to ensure these gifts are beautifully displayed to enrich the cultural experience for the millions of visitors we welcome to our venue every year.”
Liu highlighted the contributions of the Japanese and Japanese American communities, noting that their rich cultural heritage, businesses, civic leadership, and long-standing ties continue to strengthen Los Angeles and enrich its economy. He also shared that tourism from Japan has increased by approximately 3%, with interest in Los Angeles boosted in part by the popularity of the Dodgers and their Japanese players.
“These gifts from Nagoya are enduring symbols of the friendship, cultural exchange, and the longstanding partnership between our two cities,” said Daniel Tarica, general manager of Department of Cultural Affairs. “By highlighting these works, we are reminded that art acts as a powerful bridge – one that transcends borders, strengthens international relationships, and continues to connect communities across generations.”
Representing LANSCA, Weinberg thanked Bass, Concepcion, the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs team led by An Tran, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the City of Los Angeles for ensuring these treasured gifts from Nagoya remain publicly accessible. She noted that the museum-quality pieces reflect how deeply Nagoya values its sister-city relationship with Los Angeles.
Reflecting on the exhibit’s significance, Weinberg observed that while much of today’s culture is expressed through software and artificial intelligence, these gifts represent something enduring. “You see the product of human hands — guided by skilled craftspeople who spent years mastering the Japanese tradition of monozukuri, the art of making things.”
She expressed hope that the exhibit will inspire visitors to appreciate Nagoya’s rich heritage of craftsmanship and encourage them to experience that culture first-hand by visiting the city.
The event featured a traditional drum performance by L.A. Taiko Ichiza and concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling the restored artifacts in their new home.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers shared a common vision of expanding cultural, educational, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between Los Angeles and Nagoya. As visitors pass through the Convention Center, these treasures will serve not only as beautiful works of art but also as lasting symbols of friendship, cultural understanding, and the enduring bond between the people of Los Angeles and Nagoya.