If you’ve ever visited one of the BTSCC's events, at some point or another you may have spotted a tiny, cheerful character representing our sister city in Japan. His name is Toppy (とっぴー)—and he has quite a story to tell! Who Is Toppy? Toppy is the official mascot of Tondabayashi, Japan, Bethlehem’s sister city in Osaka Prefecture. He was born on April 1, 2010, as part of Tondabayashi’s 60th anniversary celebrations, and his design was chosen from 485 entries submitted during

When many people think of tea, they often picture a mug with a simple, translucent bag of dried leaves steeped for a few minutes before enjoying with a good book. But the culture surrounding Japanese tea makes it much more than just a beverage—it's the heart of a centuries-old cultural tradition centered on mindfulness, hospitality, and human connection. Known as Chadō (茶道) or Chanoyu (茶の湯)—literally "The Way of Tea"—the Japanese tea ceremony is a carefully choreographed prac

Have you ever dreamt of traveling to Japan for the first time and ordering dinner from a ramen shop, navigating the famous public transport system using basic grammar, or simply understanding common phrases you hear in your favorite anime? Learning Japanese may seem intimidating at first, but it doesn't have to be! The Bethlehem-Tondabayashi Sister City Commission (BTSCC) is excited to invite learners of all levels to join our FREE monthly virtual Japanese lessons, held via G