About Our Program
Since 1972, the Heart of America Japan-America Society and the city of Kansas City, Missouri have engaged in a Sister City Program with the beautiful city of Kurashiki, Japan. Since 1981, our members have helped sponsor almost 80 American high school students in a summer homestay program in Kurashiki. These “Student Ambassadors” have studied the Japanese language and are well qualified to represent the Japan-America Society.
Applications for the July 2024 program are no longer being accepted. The program committee is currently reviewing applications received for this summer's program.
If you’re interested in applying for the Student Ambassador Program next summer, please return to this page after January 1, 2025. In the meantime, please email any questions you have about the program to hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com.
You can read about our 2023 Student Ambassadors' experiences in their post-trip essays below.
Nigel Barrett Essay Aidan Joyce Essay Caleb Morris Essay
Nigel Barrett, Aidan Joyce, and Caleb Morris
2023 Student Ambassadors to Kurashiki, Okayama - Japan