My Clearwater
Fall 05
Clearwater Celebrates 60 Years of Sister Cities
Zenkoji Temple, Nagano City – Founded in the seventh century and home to the first Buddha statue brought to Japan, Zenkoji Temple is one of
the most popular and important temples in the country.
For 60 years, Clearwater has enjoyed a Sister Cities
relationship with Nagano, Japan, a city located in the
center of Honshu island and a two-hour train ride
from Tokyo. The connection began in 1959, when
Mayor Itaru Kurashima came to the United States searching
for a city with similar economic and community needs.
Upon arriving in Clearwater, he saw the great potential of
a shared bond between the two cities; both attract large
numbers of tourists each year, Nagano with its mountains
and Clearwater’s award-winning beaches.
The partnership quickly developed into a mutual exchange
program aimed at developing new friendships, sharing ideas
and cultivating business partnerships. Annual exchanges
began with middle and high school students and continue to
this day.
In 1983, the Pinellas County school board and the city
of Clearwater joined efforts to start the teacher exchange
program. This program sends two teachers for one month
each summer to live with a Japanese homestay family and
teach English and American culture at several schools
around Nagano City; Nagano then sends its own teacher
in October. These mutually beneficial exchanges have had
an extremely positive impact in promoting and nurturing
cross-cultural relations in educational and community
arenas, resulting in long-lasting friendships and a deeper
understanding and appreciation for our respective cultures
and the bonds that connect us as one.
This year, the cities will participate in an official exchange
to celebrate the program’s 60th anniversary. In October, a
delegation of the city council, city manager and community
leaders will travel to Nagano, where they will meet with
elected officials and officers of tourism and commerce to
share ideas and strategies that will sustain both cities into the
next 60 years of friendship.
Seeking Homestay Hosts
Has your family considered hosting an international
student or teacher? The city of Clearwater is always
seeking new host families to provide a positive experience
for our visitors, ensuring that the exchange program
runs smoothly for years to come. Depending upon the
exchange schedule, hosting can be as short as a few days
or as long as two weeks. Prospective hosts must complete
a homestay family application and a background check.
Host families are expected to plan for their guest to have
transportation to and from exchange activities according
to a pre-planned schedule. If you or someone you know
is interested in hosting a future exchange guest, contact
Christopher Hubbard at 562-4067 or christopher.hubbard@
myclearwater.com.