US-Japan Friendship Cup Tennis Tournament
On Sunday August 25th, 68 players and a handful of spectators gathered for our 30th US-Japan Friendship Tennis tournament. They were able to play tennis, meet new people, have good food, and enjoy the beautiful weather in Millbrae. Each round started with an introduction to a new teammate and ended with a new partnership. It was great to see people work together with so many different people and have fun while doing it.
After 9 rounds that ended with not only a tie for first, but a 3-way tie for Men’s second, we finally had our winners, who were the epitome of friendly sportsmen. The players really took the theme of a friendship tournament to heart, and regardless of scores or previous meetings, everyone was kind, friendly, and most importantly enjoyed the game. Hearing from some of the players about how the sport, the event, and the community have made a difference in their lives was truly inspiring and really showed the importance of events like this.
Founded in 1987, the purpose of the Friendship Cup Tennis Tournament is to develop a warm relationship between the people of Japan and the United States. The winner will be awarded The Consular Cup, a majestic steel chalice donated to the tournament in 1990 by the Consulate General of Japan. Lunch, gift bags, and free entry into an exciting opportunity drawing are also included–so really, everybody wins! We’re looking forward to seeing new and returning faces next year and hope to continue the spirit of the US-Japan Friendship Tennis Tournament.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Canon, the Consulate General of Japan, Costco, Harborview Restaurant & Bar, Katsura Garden, Suntory, Teraoka & Partners LLP, Tokyo Express, Trader Joe’s, Magnolia of Millbrae, Noria, Peets’ Coffee, Yayoi-Ken, and the Yonex Corporation. Thanks to everyone for their support and help for a successful and fun event.
