Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association

Founded in 1963

City of Long Beach Logo
Yokkaichi Logo
longbeach_transparentPNG_1

MISSION STATEMENT
“To create rapport between the cities by exchanging cultural, civic,  educational ideas and issues, and to promote better understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan.”

Siter City Logo(color) Transparent

Trio Cultural Exchange Program

History

The Trio Exchange Program was established in 1964 at the request of the Mayor Wade and the City Council of Long Beach.  The Port of Long Beach accepted the financial sponsorship and the program received approval of the Mayor and City Council of Yokkaichi. Since the founding of the program, the Long Beach Unified School District has supported the program with teacher and student candidates for selection as “Goodwill Ambassadors”.

The purpose of the program is to allow two students and one teacher from the Long Beach and Yokkaichi schools to visit the reciprocal sister city on alternate years and share their culture, knowledge and experiences with their fellow students and teachers.  Typically, one male and one female student are selected.  Each trio member will spend about 10 days with one family and the final 10 days with another family.

The very first group of Long Beach Ambassadors was sent to Yokkaichi in 1966.  Upon their return they presented educational programs about their experiences to more than 6,500 students in the Long Beach schools.

2024 Trio Applications NOW AVAILABLE!

Depart LAX July 19, 2024
Return to LAX August 7, 2024
Round-trip airfare from LAX will be the responsibility
of the selected Trio members.

Please click on the forms below to download:

Student
Information and Requirements - Student
Application Form - Student
Checklist - Student

Teacher
Information and Requirements - Teacher
Application Form - Teacher
Checklist - Teacher

APPLICATIONS  ARE DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2024
 

2023 Trio from Yokkaichi

A trio from Yokkaichi, Japan, consisting of a teacher and two students, were the first to continue the Trio Program since the COVID-19 pandemic. Teacher Kazuki Ichikawa and 15-year old students Nao Mori and Ako Ikoma arrived in California on July 22. Each of the trio was intelligent, sweet, kind, and well-mannered.  They also spoke English exceptionally well which delighted the host families.

A jammed-packed itinerary from July 22 through August 9 consisted of meeting Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson; tours around Long Beach; a visit to the Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center to interact with Japanese language students; a visit to the Cypress Police Department where they were “put in jail”; and an Angels game where they saw their idol Shohei Otani hit a home run.

Many, many thanks to our host families:  Joe, Kristen, and Luke Aihara, Marybeth Murray, Mike and Aki Vaughn, and Steve, Megumi and Jun Wallech.

2023-07-23 Tanaka Farms (1)
2023-07-26 Yok Trio Little Tokyo (4)

Tanaka Farms Festival

Japanese American National Museum