Reps. Castro and Cuellar Host Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and Mrs. Rachel Sakai in Washington D.C. for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s Address to Congress
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus, and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a longtime member of the Caucus, welcomed Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and his wife, Mrs. Rachel Sakai, to Washington D.C. as their guests for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s address to a joint meeting of Congress. The congressmen both represent the city of San Antonio, Texas, which has maintained a sister city relationship with Kumamoto, Japan for nearly four decades.
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“Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Washington has been a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm the benefits of the U.S.-Japan alliance for both nations,” said Congressman Castro. “Judge Sakai's family was among the first Japanese Americans to settle in the Rio Grande Valley, and he has been a trailblazer for Asian American representation in Bexar County. His story is an example of the American Dream, and it was a privilege to host him and his wife Rachel as Prime Minister Kishida delivered an important message about the ties of history and friendship between the United States and Japan.”
“Congressman Castro and I were honored to invite Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and his wife, Rachel Sakai, to join us for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's joint address to Congress. Judge Sakai, a second-generation Japanese American, is a strong advocate for Bexar County and South Texas,” said Congressman Cuellar. “I am also proud to be a member of the U.S.-Japan Caucus and believe in continued robust cooperation between our two nations. Japan is a trusted trade partner with the Lone Star State, and I look forward to strengthening this relationship and growing Texas’s trade economy.”
"I want to thank Congressman Joaquin Castro and Congressman Henry Cuellar for inviting Rachel and I to this very special event and look forward to working with them in the future as Bexar County continues to increase its global reach,” said Judge Peter Sakai. “Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks reaffirmed the strong alliance between the United States and Japan. It is critical for the two nations to work together for a global economy and security. Japan is a tremendous trade partner and integral to economic development in both Texas and Bexar County. The alliance the Prime Minister and Vice President Kamala Harris referenced in their remarks supports my vision to advance economic development in Bexar County.”
Japan is the second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) job creation in Texas and one of the top import partners for the Lone Star State. To further expand U.S.-Japan collaboration at the federal level, Congressman Castro established the bipartisan U.S.-Japan Caucus in 2014 to facilitate cooperation on issues of common interest between the United States and Japan. To learn more about the U.S.-Japan Caucus, click here.
Background on Judge Peter Sakai
Judge Peter Sakai became the first Asian American executive of Bexar County, Texas in January 2023. A second-generation Japanese American, Sakai is the grandson of farmers who left Japan to build new lives in the United States. His maternal grandparents immigrated to South Texas, where they became one of the earliest Japanese families in the Rio Grande Valley. His father’s family immigrated to join the farming community in the Imperial Valley in California.
Judge Sakai’s father, Pete, was a high school student in California during the outbreak of World War II and became a victim of the Japanese internment. Growing up, Judge Sakai’s passion for justice and public service was shaped by the stories of his father’s internment and the injustices committed against Japanese Americans during World War II.
Mrs. Rachel Sakai was an educator, counselor, and administrator at Harlandale Independent School District for 32 years and retired after serving as the Director of the Gateway to College at Palo Alto College and working as a teacher/sponsor at Providence Catholic School. Now, she dedicates her time to family and her work on numerous boards, nonprofits, and charities. Together, Judge and Mrs. Sakai have two kids, George and Elizabeth, and are blessed to have two wonderful grandchildren, Jackson and Grayson.