By TOMOKO NAGAI and GWEN MURANAKA
RAFU STAFF WRITERS

As Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto continues to rehab in anticipation of returning to the lineup, there is one city in Southern California that is putting out the welcome mat for his hometown.

The City of Torrance announced the signing of a friendship city agreement with the City of Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, on Aug. 8.

A ceremony took place at Torrance City Hall with Torrance Mayor George Chen and Bizen Mayor Takeshi Yoshimura signing the formal agreement.

“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,” Chen said.

Bizen, a city of approximately 32,000 residents, is where Yamamoto first started playing baseball. The city is also known as the site of Shizutani School, the nation’s first public school, and the famed pottery, Bizen ware.

Besides the mayor and other city officials, 200 junior and senior high school students visited Torrance.

In an interview with The Rafu Shimpo, Yoshimura said, “It was a short five-day trip, but we were able to bring everyone from Bizen healthy and energetic during the precious summer vacation period. They experienced American culture, the history of Japanese immigrants in Los Angeles, and visited companies like Caitac, a jeans manufacturing company from Okayama that has a business here, to see how people from Okayama have successfully managed large companies in the U.S. They also visited historical facilities showing the contributions of Japanese people before and after the war, as well as modern American facilities.”

A highlight was going to a Dodger game. On their first day of the visit the Bizen kids received a special video message from Yamamoto.

“In his message, Yamamoto said that there might be hardships in coming to the U.S., but he himself is taking on the challenge, and he encouraged the children to do the same. Also, he thanked them for their cheers from Japan,” the mayor said.

This is Torrance’s fourth friendship city designation. The city established agreements with Changhua and Tainan, both in Taiwan, and Hwaseong, South Korea in 2023. Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, is Torrance’s sister city, while Menlo Park in the Bay Area is the sister city of Bizen.

Councilmember Jonathan Kaji introduced a motion in January to form friendship city agreements with Bizen and also Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Shohei Ohtani’s hometown, after the two Japanese ballplayers joined the Dodgers. He said the city has seen an Ohtani impact on the local economy.

“Looking at the stores, restaurants, hotels, Japanese baseball fans are definitely showing up and staying here during their visit to Los Angeles,” Kaji said.

Officials attending the brief ceremony included Deputy Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Naoshige Aoshima, Vice Consul General Fukiko Nakashima, Frank Eguchi, chairman of the

Japan America Society of Southern California, as well as representatives from the the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, Japan External Trade Organization, Torrance Unified School District, and Discover Torrance.

Both mayors expressed hope that the new relationship will deepen ties of friendship, cultural exchanges and economic opportunities.

“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,” Yoshimura said.

As Los Angeles gets ready for the 2028 Olympics, Chen said Torrance is an ideal location for athletics.

“In the build-up to 2028 we want them to come. That’s why I shared with Mayor Yoshimura that (we welcome) not just student exchanges but also exchange baseball exhibitions, Little League,” said Chen.

“And if their national team wants to come and acclimate and play baseball in Southern California, this would be a good place to come as a work-up to 2028 and not just baseball, but any sport.”

As symbols of their new relationship, the mayors exchanged gifts. Chen presented Yoshimura with a key to the city and a personalized Torrance jersey.
“Dodger blue,” Yoshimura said with appreciation.

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