About

Our story

San Mateo, California and Toyonaka, Japan became sister cities in 1963, part of the People to People movement started by President Eisenhower to build friendship between nations one community at a time. The San Mateo Sister City Association was formed to promote good relations, educate, and build bonds between our two cultures, starting with our youth.

Since then, hundreds of young players, students, musicians, host families and volunteers have crossed the Pacific in both directions through our baseball, softball, band and high school ambassador exchanges.

The Sister City Association is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by the San Mateo City Council and our community.

Milestones

1963: San Mateo and Toyonaka become sister cities

1979: First youth baseball exchange

2013: 50th anniversary of the sister city friendship

2018: First girls softball team travels to Toyonaka

2021: Exchange paused due to COVID

2023: 60th anniversary. The team is honored by the San Mateo City Council and visits the Consulate General of Japan in SF

July 2025: An official San Mateo delegation, including the Mayor, City Manager, Deputy City Clerk, students and chaperones, visits Toyonaka to mark the 60th anniversary, alongside Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

March 2026: San Mateo welcomes Youth Ambassadors from Toyonaka, who visit local schools, civic facilities and families

Our partners

The sister city relationship is an official partnership between the City of San Mateo and the City of Toyonaka. It is part of the city itself: Toyonaka donated elements of the Japanese Garden in San Mateo's Central Park as a lasting symbol of our friendship.

City of San Mateo, Sister City page: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/2853/Sister-City 

City of Toyonaka official website (in Japanese): http://www.city.toyonaka.osaka.jp/ 

Board of Directors

Yoko Anderson
Derek Bahamondes
Jan Busa
John DiMatteo
Anthony Gomez
Anne Harris
Danny Harris
Steve Katayama
Allison Mejasich
George Musante
Aya Otsuka
Carolyn Shavel
Larry Weyer
Brian Yoshino

San Mateo City Clerk's Office Liaisons
Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
Chantal Eaton, Deputy City Clerk

Contact

Email: smsistercity@gmail.com

Mail: P.O. Box 729, San Mateo, CA 94401

Facebook and Instagram: @smsistercity