MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo
Emi Sato, 23, Fumika Kanda, 21, are currently on a month-long exchange from Mishima, Pasadena’s sister city in Japan.

PASADENA.–Fumika Kanda sat somewhat bleary-eyed in front of her dinner Thursday evening, the effects of jet lag still lingering. Kanda, 21, and 23-year-old Emi Sato are the latest in a legacy of students who have participated in a decades-long exchange between the sister cities of Pasadena and Mishima, in Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture.

"My older brother came on this exchange five years ago and he said it was an amazing experience," Kanda said, "So I decided to apply to come myself."

Kanda is a student at Keio University in Tokyo, studying to be a professor in art philosophy and aesthetics.

Sato, a recent graduate of Seishin Sacred Heart University in Tokyo, is working her way toward becoming an English teacher at the junior and senior high school levels.

"Though I grew up in Mishima, I didn't know much about my city and its history," Sato explained. "I wanted to learn more about Mishima and also I wanted to contribute to the understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States."

Pasadena established sister city relationships with Germany and Japan shortly after World War II, to help foster understanding between former adversaries. In subsequent years, Pasadena forged partnerships with cities in Finland, Armenia and China.

The young women on this year's exchange will spend nearly a month taking English classes, meeting city officials and touring the Southern California area. While Sato has visited the U.S. before, this is Kanda's first visit. Though she has only been here since Monday, she said her first impression was a strong one. "America truly is a melting pot," she said.

Pasadena Sister City exchanges take place each summer, and new committee members and homestay families are always welcome. For more information, contact June Takenouchi at (626) 798-6479.

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