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Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association

Founded in 1963

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.”

OUR FOUR PROGRAMS

Trio Exchange Program (One Teacher and Two Students)

Every other year one Teacher and 2 High School Students (known as Trio) are selected to serve as ambassadors to the host city, either Yokkaichi or Long Beach, in late July for a 20-day cultural exchange tour. Note: Round-trip airfare to Japan will be the responsibility of each student and teacher.

A teacher and two students from Yokkaichi will arrive in Long Beach on July 21, 2025.

WANTED! SIX HOST FAMILIES!

HOST 2 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ONE TEACHER FROM YOKKAICHI
JULY 21 - AUGUST 8, 2025

Long Beach will be receiving a teacher and two students from Yokkaichi in July 2025.
We are seeking three families to host each trio member between 7/21-7/29 (or 7/30)
and three families to host each trio member between 7/29 (or 7/30) - 8/8.
LEARN MORE.

Evironmental Summit Program (Annual) - Four HS Students and One Chaperone

Each summer 4 students and 1 chaperone from Long Beach are selected to participate in an environment study program with students from Yokkaichi and Tianjin, China. The 7-day study program takes place at the International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT) in Yokkaich. Note: Round-trip airfare to Japan will be the responsibility of each student and chaperone. LEARN MORE.

Applications to the 2025 Environmental Summit Program are now closed.

Watch this website for Applications in early 2026.

YEF Program (Yokkaichi English Fellows (Annual - Paid Position)

Would you like to teach in Yokkaichi, Japan in a paid position?

This very successful program provides an opportunity for LBUSD teachers or Cal State Long Beach graduates to serve for two years as assistant language teachers at the elementary and middle school levels in Yokkaichi, Japan. Fluency in Japanese is not required.

LEARN MORE.

Applications to the 2025 YEF Program are now closed.

Watch this website for Applications in early 2026.

School Partnership Partnership (Ongoing)

Three Long Beach middle schools have established “Sister School” relationships with junior high schools in Yokkaichi. Their exchanges have included videos, letters, Zoom chats, kanji lessons, artwork, and student profiles. LEARN MORE.

Events

60th Anniversary Celebrations in Long Beach and Yokkaichi Cities

Since its inception in 1963, Long Beach and Yokkaichi, Japan have enjoyed a friendship as Sister Cities. Long Beach celebrated the 60th Anniversary relationship in August 2023 (See video on YouTube) and Yokkaichi held anniversary festivities in November 2023.
Read about the Long Beach and Yokkaichi City anniversaries.

Media

Kizuna - 50th Anniversary Booklet

READ “Kizuna, The Bonds Beyond the Ocean,” a book published by Yokkaichi to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City association. This beautiful book begins in 1963 and chronicles the programs (with photos of past Trio, YEFs, and Environmental Summit delegate) and events celebrated between our two cities.

Congratulations to former Yokkaichi Mayor Toshiyuki Tanaka and his dedicated, hardworking staff who worked for months compiling historical photos and documents to create this memorable book.

Press-Telegram Article

Read the August 2023
Press-Telegram Newspaper article about the Long Beach Yokkaichi Sister City Association Programs

Everything You Need to Know About Yokkaichi

Read Everything You Need to Know About Yokkaichi Includes:
     “Must Eats!”
     “Specialty Goods and Traditional Crafts”
     “Gifts from Yokkaichi”
     “Yokkaichi at Night”
     “Must-Visit Spots””

Join Us / Questions?

JOIN US
Read more on our Contact Us page
or DOWNLOAD our Membership Application below:
LBYSCA MEMBERSHIP FORM.
Please complete the form after you have downloaded it to your PC.

Contact Mike Vaughn with questions at
mikevaughn1997@gmail.com or call 562-592-9350.
LEARN MORE.

Questions about this Website?
Contact
Aki Vaughn at akivaughn95@gmail.com.

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