SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) posted the following message on social media July 2:

“Last week I joined my fellow co-chairs Sen. Josh Newman and Sen. Dave Cortese to launch the California-Japan Legislative Forum. This forum will enhance cooperation between the legislatures of California and Japan in addressing shared priorities such as fighting climate change, developing clean energy, and fostering innovation between the world’s third- and fifth-largest economies.

“Thank you, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and members of the Senate and Assembly for joining us to celebrate the establishment of the forum.

“Thank you Consul General (Yo) Osumi from the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, Consul General (Kenko) Sone from Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, and Councillor Iwao Horii of the National Diet of Japan for your partnership and support for the forum.”

Horii has deep ties to California, having been instrumental in launching the Seante’s ongoing series of policy trips to Japan. He is also a founding member of the Japan-California Parliamentary Friendship League of the Diet’s House of Councillors.

A celebratory launch event was held on June 24, attended by representatives from the Japan Society of Northern California, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, U.S.-Japan Council, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

As part of the event, members of the Redwood Kyudojo demonstrated traditional Ogasawara-ryu archery with the three co-chairs.

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