Attending the Oita Japan Festival and Hosting the Foreign Minister’s Commendation Ceremony for Ms. Kristie Bryant
2025/9/25
Consul General Naganuma and award recipient, Ms. Bryant
Video message from Oita Mayor Adachi
From left: Judge Martinez Jones, Mr. Duchen, Consul General Naganuma, Ms. Bryant, Mayor Watson, Ms. Fuentes
On September 20, 2025, Consul General Naganuma attended the Oita Japan Summer Festival held at the Long Center in Austin. During the festival, he led a ceremony to confer the Foreign Minister’s Commendation.
Ms. Kristie Bryant, the organizer of the festival, serves as chair of the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee and president of Austin International Sister Cities. In recognition of her many contributions to promoting exchange between Oita and Austin, she was awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation.
The ceremony was attended by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, District Judge Aurora Martinez Jones, and City Council Members Vanessa Fuentes and Marc Duchen. In his speech, Consul General Naganuma celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Austin-Oita sister city relationship, praised Ms. Bryant’s achievements, and emphasized that sister city exchanges form the foundation of Japan-U.S. relations. He further expressed Japan’s continuing commitment to support the friendship between the two cities. Mayor Watson conveyed his gratitude for the Japanese government’s recognition of Ms. Bryant’s contributions. In a video message, Oita Mayor Shinya Adachi expressed his appreciation for Ms. Bryant’s efforts in maintaining and promoting the friendship between the two cities, and he shared his anticipation of welcoming Austin City Council members, Sister City Committee members, and other stakeholders to the 35th anniversary celebration in Oita this October.
Ms. Kristie Bryant, the organizer of the festival, serves as chair of the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee and president of Austin International Sister Cities. In recognition of her many contributions to promoting exchange between Oita and Austin, she was awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation.
The ceremony was attended by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, District Judge Aurora Martinez Jones, and City Council Members Vanessa Fuentes and Marc Duchen. In his speech, Consul General Naganuma celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Austin-Oita sister city relationship, praised Ms. Bryant’s achievements, and emphasized that sister city exchanges form the foundation of Japan-U.S. relations. He further expressed Japan’s continuing commitment to support the friendship between the two cities. Mayor Watson conveyed his gratitude for the Japanese government’s recognition of Ms. Bryant’s contributions. In a video message, Oita Mayor Shinya Adachi expressed his appreciation for Ms. Bryant’s efforts in maintaining and promoting the friendship between the two cities, and he shared his anticipation of welcoming Austin City Council members, Sister City Committee members, and other stakeholders to the 35th anniversary celebration in Oita this October.
Paper plane
Matcha making workshop
Seminar co-hosted by JETRO and GAACC
The festival included many performances and demonstrations of live music, dance performances, and Japanese martial arts. It also offered Japanese cultural experiences like calligraphy, origami, and tea ceremony. Additionally Japanese food was on sale, and various seminars took place. Consul General Naganuma participated in the “Doing Business With Japan” seminar co-hosted by JETRO and the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC), where he introduced Japanese investment in Texas.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Houston will continue to support and cooperate in sister city exchange initiatives.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Houston will continue to support and cooperate in sister city exchange initiatives.