Mid-Week Intermission Friend Edition: Kristie Bryant with Austin Oita Sister City Committee
A huge Japanese festival is about to take over the Long Center on Sunday and we couldn’t be more excited. Seriously, just take a look at this schedule of events! For months we’ve been looking forward to the #OitaATX Japan Summer Festival, presented by the Austin Oita Sister City Committee, and with so much to take in on the day we knew we had to dig in. We sat down with Kristie Bryant, Chairperson of AOSCC and Austin Sister Cities International to learn more about Oita, Japan, Austin’s sister city relationships, and more about the festival.
Kristie Bryant + Austin Oita Sister City Committee
Long Center: Welcome to Mid-Week Intermission!
We usually ask people for a song to go with their interview — does anything come to mind?
Kristie Bryant with AOSCC:
匹田大智(Taichi Hikida)-Marcelo Miyamoto
(A modern-rock shamisen Japanese guitarist from Oita who will be performing at the Festival. Kristie talks more about the artist later on.)
LC: You are a part of the Austin Oita Sister City Committee, and we’re betting a lot of people don’t know what that is. Can you explain what a Sister City is and how Austin and Oita became paired?
KB: President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Sister Cities program in 1956 after WWII to foster bonds between people from different communities around the world. He thought that if people from different countries could appreciate their differences, they would be less likely to go to war with each other. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected officials of each entity sign off on an agreement to become Sister Cities.
Austin and Oita, Japan, became Sister Cities in 1990. At that time, there were business interests developing between Oita and Austin, and several people had a strong relationship with Oita University and the University of Texas at Austin. There were also semiconductor factories starting up in both cities and a marathon running culture. Through those connections, a Sister City interest formed.
The Austin-Oita Sister City Committee is a non-profit board that oversees the relationship with Oita, Japan. We are all volunteers in Austin. The City of Oita oversees the Japanese side of the relationship.
LC: And what’s your background and role with the Sister City Committee?
KB: I first became involved with the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee when I was a student at UT in the 1990s. I was majoring in international business and also studying Japanese. When my family moved back to Austin from Houston, I became active with the committee again. I am the Chairperson of both AOSCC and Austin Sister Cities International. Austin has 13 sister cities around the world.
- Adelaide, Australia
- Angers, France
- Gwangmyeong, Korea
- Koblenz, Germany
- London Borough of Hackney, UK
- Lima, Peru
- Maseru, Lesotho
- Oita, Japan
- Pune, India
- Saltillo, Mexico
- Taichung, Taiwan
- Xishuangbanna, China
LC: Our building has been BUZZING about the #OitaATX Japan Summer Festival coming up on September 22. Can you tell us how it took shape and a little about what festival activities will take place?
KB: This year will be the ninth time that we have held the festival and we started planning the 2024 festival early this year. Summer festivals are a tradition in Japan. We decided to hold our festival in September after school started and the weather is a bit cooler. Students from APU, Asia Pacific University, are in Austin at UT from September so they are able to take part in the festival. It takes a lot of effort from committee volunteers as we propose and research entertainers and activities.
We were fortunate this year to receive a generous grant from the City of Austin Economic Development, which allowed us to move to a larger venue — the Long Center. We will have entertainment on two stages, including two featured entertainers from Oita: a modern-rock shamisen Japanese guitarist and a performer showcasing Japanese shodo calligraphy. We also will have JPOP, sumo, a tea ceremony, a kimono fashion show, Japanese martial arts, doing business in Japan seminar, a talk on Japanese gardening, and an artisan and festival market place. There will also be numerous hands-on activities for kids and Japanese food and drink.
LC: A quick aside: one thing our staff is anxious to find out about — if this festival is happening here… do Austin festivals happen in Oita??
KB: Pre-COVID, Oita held an “Austin Festival” for school kids and on November 17, Oita will host an American Festival and have an Austin booth there.
Several Austin musicians have had the opportunity to perform at the Oita Yumeiro Music Festival in Japan, largely facilitated by Austin’s Sister City relationship with Oita.
- Gina Chavez has performed at the festival multiple times.
- Project ATX6, a group that sends Austin musicians to international festivals, also brought several artists to Oita. In 2017, participants included Mobley, Otis Wilkins, Little Mazarn, Lindsey Verrill, Acey Monaro, Corey Baum, and Sisi Berry of Torino Black.
- In 2018, I went with Ethan Azarian, Lindsey Verrill, and Jeff Johnston to the festival.
LC: Looking at the festival lineup, there’s so much to experience — from calligraphy to Japanese drumming, martial arts, and even gardening like you described — what do you think is the cultural impact of celebrating our Sister Cities in this way?
KB: First, it encourages the average Austin citizen to “travel” the world without leaving Austin. It allows people to experience the rich traditions and arts of Japan right here in Austin. By bringing these elements together, it helps bridge the gap between different cultures, fostering a deeper understanding and connection. It also highlights the global ties Austin has through its Sister Cities, creating a sense of community and shared experience across borders. This kind of cultural exchange strengthens relationships and brings diversity to the forefront in a meaningful way.
LC: What do you hope that folks take away from the Festival?
KB: I hope that people leave the festival with a sense of connection to another culture and a deeper appreciation for the rich traditions that our Sister City relationships bring to Austin. Whether it’s experiencing Japanese art forms like calligraphy, the rhythm of traditional drumming, or the beauty of a Japanese garden, I want attendees to feel inspired and enriched. It’s about opening up to new experiences, fostering cross-cultural friendships, and realizing how these global relationships make our own community more diverse and vibrant. Ideally, people will leave feeling like they’ve traveled without leaving home, gaining insight and joy from these cultural exchanges.
LC: Once the Festival is over, how can folks experience Oita all year round or follow along with what the city is up to?
KB: Even after the Festival, there are several ways to experience Oita throughout the year. The Austin-Oita Sister City Committee (AOSCC) hosts various events that celebrate Japanese culture, includng an upcoming art exhibit at the Dougherty Arts Center. You can stay connected by following AOSCC’s website, newsletter, and social media, or attending our events like the OitaATX Festival, which happens annually and brings Oita’s cultural highlights to Austin.
In addition to events throughout the year, a great way to stay connected with Oita and other international communities is by attending the Austin Sister Cities International Passport to the World Festival on November 16 at the downtown library. This festival showcases the rich cultural diversity of Austin’s 13 Sister Cities, including Oita, and offers a chance to experience global cultures through performances and interactive activities. It’s a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the ongoing cultural exchange and learn more about Austin’s international relationships.
LC: Any teasers about the fest that you can leave us with while we wait for September 22?
KB: I’m really excited about what’s in store for the festival, especially the performance by the shamisen rocker! It’s going to be a unique blend of a traditional Japanese instrument with a modern twist that I can’t wait to experience. For those interested in kimono, “Nanairo Kimono Dressing” is teaming up with talented kimono dressers, including a master from Kyoto, for an unforgettable kimono show. They are presenting the Junihitoe, a stunning formal court dress from over 1,000 years ago, to the Austin public for the very first time! Chikage Windler, Adela Uchida, and Trevor Scott will be emcees. Council Member Chito Vela, Judge Aurora Martinez Jones, and the Consul General of Japan Naganuma will preside over the festival. It’s shaping up to be a day full of surprises and immersive cultural experiences, so stay tuned for an unforgettable event on September 22!
Thanks, Kristie!
The #OitaATX Japan Summer Festival takes place inside the Long Center on Sunday, September 22, from 11am – 4pm and is an all-ages event. Tickets are $20-$25. See their festival schedule for a full list of food & market vendors, performances, and activities!
