Become a Japantown Silver Navigator!

The San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association is proud to offer an opportunity of a lifetime to two San Francisco high school students through our annual High School Student Ambassador Program.

PURPOSE: To enable two San Francisco high school students to gain an understanding of the people and culture of Japan through the practical experience of living with Japanese families in our sister city of Osaka, Japan, and to serve as Student Ambassadors for the City of San Francisco.

REQUIREMENTS: Applicant must be a high school student (9th, 10th, or 11th grade student) in the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 school year, either residing in and/or attending a public or private high school in San Francisco. There are no language requirements to apply; however, it is highly preferred that the student has a basic knowledge of conversational Japanese. Unfortunately, due to some post-trip obligations that can only be completed in San Francisco in Fall 2024, no graduating seniors (Class of 2024) are eligible to apply.

AWARDS: Two students will be awarded round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Osaka. The students will be guests of host families in Osaka and will participate in family-oriented activities during their stay. The two students and their families will also be awarded free membership to the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association for one year.

DATES:    Duration of three weeks, scheduled for mid-June to early July (to be confirmed).

APPLICATION: Submit a completed application form.

DEADLINE: All applications must be received by 11:59 pm, Monday, April 15. Some students will be just returning from Spring Break. We urge you to plan ahead in completing the application and not wait until the last minute. Late applications will NOT be considered.  

INTERVIEW: After a review of applications, finalists will be invited to a 15-minute interview. All final interviews will be scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, April 19 at a San Francisco Japantown location. You will be asked to complete your availability on that day in the application below. However, not all candidates will be interviewed. Those who are selected for the interview will be contacted about their scheduled time via email no later than noon on Thursday, April 18.

The two final scholarship winners will be announced a few days following the interview. Deadline is 11:59 pm on Monday, April 15. Apply here.

April JTF MEETINGS: For agendas and Zoom links, go to the JTF website. All meetings are open to the public.　　

JTF各委員会の4月定例ミーティングの開催日と時間のお知らせです。議題内容やZoomリンク等は、JTF website からどうぞ

• Mon, 4/8, 5:30-6:30 pm: Ad-Hoc Japan Center Malls Technical Committee

• Thurs, 4/11, 6-8 pm: Land Use & Transportation Committee

• Mon, 4/15, 5:30-7 pm: Cultural Heritage Sustainability Committee

• Wed, 4/17, 6-8 pm: Full Board Meeting

• Tues, 4/23, 5-6 pm: Peace Plaza Committee

SAVE THE DATES FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:
下記のイベントにもぜひご参加ください：

• Sat, 3/30, 12N-3 pm: Free Easter Egg Decorating @ Paper Tree. Free, but donations welcome. [Paper Tree]

• Sat, 3/30, 1-4 pm: “Celebrating JTown Peace Plaza” Performance - SF Taiko Dojo, Sayonara Picnic Band + Jtown Hip Hop Experience @ Peace Plaza. Free. [Steve Nakajo/Japan Center Malls]

• Sun, 3/31, 1-4 pm: “Celebrating JTown Peace Plaza” Performance with Kotobuki Taiko, Cross Wind Band, JTown Ukes, Jest Jammin’ Band @ Peace Plaza. Free. [Steve Nakajo/Japan Center Malls]

• Tues, 4/2, 6 pm: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (in-person; location TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development]

• Sat, 4/6, 1-4 pm: “Our Community Our Pride” Performances @ Peace Plaza [Nihonmachi Street Fair]

• Through Sat, 4/6, 12n-4 pm, Tues-Fri: “Reflecting on Ruth Asawa and the Garden of Remembrance” exhibit @ SF State University, gallery.sfsu.edu

• Sun, 4/7, 1-4 pm: “Celebrating JTown Peace Plaza” Performance - Opening by Jiten Daiko, Jtown Jazz Session with Bands by Akira Tana, Bob Kenmotsu, Paul Yonemura @ Peace Plaza. Free. [Steve Nakajo/Japan Center Malls]

• Wed, 4/10, 6 pm: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (in-person; location TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development]

• Sat-Sun, 4/13-14: SF Cherry Blossom Festival 

• Sat-Sun: 4/13-14: Davis Cherry Blossom Festival 

• Wed, 4/17: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (virtual; link TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development]

• Fri, 4/19, 5-7 pm: Unveiling of New Mural @ Hotel Enso [Hotel Enso, Mission Arts 415]

• Sat-Sun, 4/20-21: SF Cherry Blossom Festival 

• Sat, 4/20, 6 pm: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (in-person; location TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development]

• Sat, 4/20: Japanese Students Union Matsuri @ Santa Clara University 

• Sun, 4/21: San Jose Nikkei Matsuri 

• Thurs, 4/25: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (virtual; link TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development]

• Thurs, 4/25, 5-6 pm:  SFUSD Virtual Town Hall About Resource Alignment/School Closures. 

• Fri, 4/26, 12n - 4 pm: Dedication of Rev. Cecil Williams & Janice MirikitaniMural Dedication @ Glide [Glide Memorial Church]

• Sat, 4/27, 2 pm: Peace Plaza Renovation Project Groundbreaking Ceremony @ Peace Plaza. Free. [JTF/JCD, Rec & Park Dept]

• Sat-Sun, 4/27-28: Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival 

• Thurs, 5/16, 5-6:30 pm: Assemblymember Phil Ting’s State Budget Town Hall @ Argonne Elementary School.

• Sat, 6/22: 12th Annual Soy & Tofu Festival @ Event Center, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough [Nichi Bei News]

Photo credits: JTF staff, official event, organization websites, social media sites.