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.”
Overview:
The Sister School program began in 2020-2021 as a video exchange between Nishisasagawa Jr. High in Yokkaichi and Will Rogers Middle School in Long Beach. The primary goals were to give Yokkaichi students new opportunities to practice communicating in English with age peers and to give all students opportunities to learn about cultural similarities and differences in their Sister Cities. In the group-created videos they exchanged in the first-year students talked about their schools, favorite parts of their cities and countries, hobbies and sports, favorite foods, books/movies/music/athletes, and their families. Links to those videos are below.
Yokkaichi junior high school students who participate in Sister Schools are taking English classes in school. Long Beach students do not take Japanese language classes but have a shared interest in connecting with and learning about students in Japan.
Goals and benefits of the Sister School program: (UPDATED 4/11/25)
“Sister School Program Goals and Benefits”
The Sister School program has expanded to include new partnerships. Occasionally partnerships are cancelled or paused for a year or more for various reasons. In 2024-2025 there were two active partnerships. Exchange activities now include several types of written communication, Zoom chats, individual and group created videos, and more. Program activities are different each year and across partnerships.
Participating Sister Schools and program leaders:
“Sister School Program Partners”
How It Works
Program coordinators:
Examples of Exchanges: