UPDATE: Due to coronavirus concerns, we will not be sending our Student Ambassadors to Kurashiki in 2020.
Congratulations to Aidan Joyce and Nigel Barrett, who were selected to be the 2020 Student Ambassadors to Kurashiki! They will now be part of the 2021 Student Ambassador delegation. These two Rockhurst High School students will visit Kansas City, Missouri's sister city next summer. You can hear about their experiences in 2021 at our September general meeting in Loose Park. Check the event calendar for more information.
About Our Program
Since 1974, 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 and first-year college students in a summer home-stay program in Kurashiki. These “Student Ambassadors” have studied the Japanese language and are well qualified to represent the Japan-America Society.
Thank you to our 2019 Student Ambassadors who represented the Greater Kansas City area in Kurashiki, Japan -- Kansas City, Missouri's sister city! Pictured from left to right: Julie Turner, Riki Shu, Ken Drakey, and Gavin Knapton.
Want to learn about our 2019 Student Ambassadors' experiences in Kurashiki? You can get a feel for their time by reading their essays:
Julie Turner Riki Shu
Ken Drakey Gavin Knapton
Please note: If you're interested in applying to this program for next summer, please return to this page after January 1, 2021. Thanks!I
f you have questions about the program in the meantime, please contact the Student Ambassador Committee.
