Welcome to the Huntington Beach Sister City Association
About the Huntington Beach Sister City Program
Huntington Beach Sister City Association
The Sister City Association of Huntington Beach is a nonprofit volunteer organization which supports programs of international goodwill. The Sister City movement is an outgrowth of President Dwight Eisenhower's People to People concept created in 1956.
A Sister City relationship was initiated between the City of Huntington Beach and Anjo, Japan in 1982 and is dedicated to maintaining a rich tradition of friendship and cultural exchange. The City of Huntington Beach is currently in the process of adopting additional Sister City relationships in the near future.
Student Ambassador Exchange Program
For over 40 years the HB Sister City Association has hosted a delegation of students from our Sister City in Anjo, Japan and sent a delegation of high school students who live in the HBUHSD boundary to experience life in Japan through a two week reciprocal exchange Students from Anjo come to experience life in Huntington Beach and then our students traveling to Anjo to experience their life and culture. Many cultural and fun activities are enjoyed; lifetime friendships are formed, and the experience has made a dramatic impact on many students' lives. High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who either live in Huntington Beach or attend one of the six Huntington Beach Union High School District schools are eligible. This opportunity for cultural exchange is life changing!
Adult Cultural Exchange Program
The Sister City ideology promotes the idea that it's the interaction of people--not governments--of different countries and diverse cultures that can put the world on the path to enduring peace. Over the last 40 years many Anjo adult delegations have visited Huntington Beach and a number of Huntington Beach individuals and organized groups of local citizens have visited Anjo. In October 2018 a delegation of 33 Huntington Beach residents travel to Anjo lead by Mayor Barbara Delgleize.
In addition, every year we select an Adult volunteer to Chaperone our student delegation. If you are interested in serving as a Chaperone to Anjo, Japan, please submit the application below:
OC Cherry Blossom Festival - TENTATIVE FOR 2025 - DATE TBT
In 2013 the Huntington Beach Cherry Blossom festival was created by one of our student ambassadors as her Girl Scout Gold Award project after realizing the program was in jeopardy due to a lack of funding.
The OC Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually on the 2nd weekend in March in Huntington Central Park beneath our beautiful Cherry Blossom trees and features Japanese music, dance, cultural exhibits, art, crafts, and has become known for it's delicious Japanese food offerings! Attendance at the 2018 Festival (the last Festival prior to COVID) was reported to be 70,000 and welcomed a delegation all the way from Japan! Don't miss this amazing family event and the beautiful Night Market where our Cherry Blossom Trees will light up the night sky!!
Please visit www.occbfest.com for more information
We hope to see you at Central Park this Spring!
Donate to the Huntington Beach Sister City program
Your support and contributions will enable us to continue the Sister City mission of bringing people together for cultural exchange and the 40 year tradition of student exchange with our Sister City of Anjo, Japan. Thank you for making a difference!
