WHEREAS, The date of September 8, 2001, marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace with Japan signed by 49 nations in the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, In the first nationally televised event from the west coast, the Treaty of Peace restored Japan to the family of sovereign nations; and

WHEREAS, The Treaty of Peace with Japan led to a new generation of bilateral leadership with the postwar wisdom and vision to make investments that transformed California into the Golden State and that transformed Japan into a free democracy, an indispensable United States ally, and the world’s second largest economy; and

WHEREAS, The United States-Japan-affiliated community is engaged in worthy and noble efforts to commemorate the actions of nations 50 years ago that led to California’s prosperity and made it the “American Gateway to the Pacific.” This commemoration will also explore the fundamentals of United States-Japan relations and set the stage for the next 50 years of bilateral progress; and

WHEREAS, A vitally important part of this memorial project shall be to help ensure that future generations comprehend their responsibility to respect humanity and preserve world peace; and

WHEREAS, Californians have every confidence that the extraordinary bonds between Japan and the United States will only grow stronger in the years, the decades, and the new century to come; now, therefore, be it