Mayor Gonzales joined Councilmember Campos; Consul General of Japan Makoto Yamanaka; Vice Chair of Okayama City Council Tadashi Kusonoki and others at the Japanese Friendship Garden for the lower gate unveiling on Tuesday evening, May 11, 2004.  Okayama donated  $24,000 to San Jose on the 40th anniversary of  their connection as Sister Cities. The money was donated to enhance this Japanese Friendship Garden located at Kelley Park in District 5.

Mayor Gonzales spoke at the ribbon cutting, "...When the Japanese Friendship Garden opened nearly 40 years ago, the garden represented a lasting relationship between our cities.  The garden is a symbol of our friendship for nearly five decades.  The people of Okayama contributed a gift to our City to build this beautiful gate and now the community will be able to benefit for many years to come, thank you."