Toba, Japan’s Mayor Kusuichi Kida was among a delegation of two dozen people who visited Santa Barbara to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Santa Barbara-Toba Sister City partnership.

On Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens became home to three Japanese Cherry Blossom trees, donated by the City of Toba. The group spent the day touring State Street and then in the afternoon attended a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary with Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, Congresswoman Lois Capps, the Consul General of Japan Los Angeles Akira Chiba, Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter President Anthony Al-Jamie, and Santa Barbara Sister Cities Chair Takako Wakita.  In the evening, they attended a banquet at the University Club.

On Thursday, they toured the waterfront sites of Santa Barbara (Toba also has a Dolphin Fountain created by Santa Barbara artist Bud bottoms in 1989).

Santa Barbara families hosted the special guests as a way of introducing them to typical American homes, meals and living styles.