On January 25, the Enmanji Temple Memorial Hall hosted the traditional Sister City Friendship Dinner, an event that unites the community in friendship with Sebastopol's sister cities: Chyhyryn (Ukraine) and Takeo (Japan).
This year's event was special because it celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Sister Cities partnership. As part of the cultural exchange, the guests presented their traditional dishes - Japanese sushi and Ukrainian borscht, which were complemented by a rich cultural program.
The Ukrainian dance ensemble Zoloti Maky and the traditional Japanese drumming group Sonoma County Taiko performed for the guests.
Among the guests were Consul of Ukraine Yevhen Drobot and Deputy Consul of Japan Takeshi Ishihara, who emphasized the importance of international friendship and solidarity.
Sebastopol's cooperation with Chyhyryn dates back to 1993, but after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this friendship took on a new meaning. The Sebastopol community has been active in supporting Ukraine by raising funds for displaced people and funding medical and educational initiatives.
The event was made possible by the support of Exchange Bank, Birkenstock Village, Pacific Market, Community Market, Andy's Produce Market and many others.
Many prizes were raffled off and donations were collected during the event to continue funding important initiatives.
Author: Danylo Pievchev