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.”

In 2007 former Yokkaichi Mayor Tetsuo Inoue proposed that a delegation of Long Beach students travel to Yokkaichi to discuss environmental problems and solutions with students from Japan and China in cooperation with the Port of Long Beach and other environmental groups. 

Each summer four high school students (ages 15-17)  and a chaperone from Long Beach take part in this annual environmental summit.

Expenses, including round-trip airfare, are the responsibility of the students and chaperone.  All applicants must have a current passport and have no visible tattoos.

Please contact Mike Vaughn @ mikevaughn1997@gmail.com or 562-592-9350 with any questions.
 

2025 Environmental Summit Program
Applications are no longer being accepted.

Watch this website in early 2026 for applications
to the Environmental Summit in Yokkaichi, Japan.

2024 Environmental Summit Team

The 2024 Environmental Summit consisted of Chaperone Yao Sue and high school students Elijah Badgett, Alana-Jain-Feder, Olivia Gallardo, and Danny Hao.

The students left Long Beach on July 28, 2024 and stayed at the International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT).  Each team member had his/her own dorm room and enjoyed daily meals while interacting and studying with student teams from Tianjin, China and Yokkaichi City.

The theme this year was: “Towards Nature Positive - Let’s think about biodiversity.”

Between studies, the teams were able to have some fun, such as touring the 2,000 year-old Ise Shrine, visiting an aquarium, and attending the Yokkaichi Festival.

At the end of the week, each team gave a presentation on their findings and solutions to environmental issues.