Since 1979, we have fostered international friendship between the United States and Japan

The Salinas-Ichikikushikino Sister City Association was established in 1979 to build a bridge between all of the citizens of Salinas, California and Ichikikushikino, Japan.  One of the goals of The Association was to create an outstanding annual summer student scholarship exchange program. Since 1987, The Association has sent students biennially to Ichikikushikino. Exceptionally conscientious, responsible, and mature students from all economic and ethnic backgrounds in the Greater Salinas and North County areas are actively encouraged to apply.  While in Japan, the students stay with local families, attend school, meet with civic and youth leaders, and share ideas, culture, and goodwill.

Students living in Salinas are sent to the city of Ichikikushikino every other year to experience Japanese culture and customs. Students also experience other major cities in Japan, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.

Students from Ichikikushikino are also accepted every other year to experience American culture through homestays in order to not only strengthen student relationships with their respective homestay families, but to also create a foundation for the development of future Student Ambassador groups by experiencing Salinas.

While in California, the Student Ambassadors from Japan experience local locations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and the Steinbeck House.