6B
Date: June 17, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John La Rock, Community Services Director
By: Monica Harte, Cultural Arts Manager | [email protected] Subject: Community Services – Introduction of Torrance Students Participating in 2025 Sister City Student Cultural Exchange Program with Kashiwa, Japan. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council introduce the students from Kashiwa, Japan as part of the Sister City Student Cultural Exchange Program.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
Since 1973 the City of Torrance has enjoyed a tremendous relationship with our Sister City, Kashiwa, Japan. One of the goals of the Sister City program is to provide citizens in both countries an opportunity to discover each other’s cultures and promote international friendship. Torrance Sister City Association (TSCA) continues to help realize this goal that provides activities to foster understanding and respect for cultural diversity. In 1974, TSCA launched a student exchange program with Kashiwa providing Torrance students an opportunity to travel to Kashiwa, Japan for three weeks and, subsequently, Kashiwa students an opportunity to travel to Torrance for three weeks. The students are housed with local families in both cities, providing an opportunity to cultivate life-long friendships and gain insights into each other’s traditions and lifestyles. The cultural and educational ties between the two cities promote a spirit of collaboration and cooperation.
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