Established on May 24, 1961 as one of the oldest Japan-related sister-city organizations in Southern California, the Montebello-Ashiya Sister City Association (MASCA) is observing 65 years of sister-city ties with its counterpart, Ashiya Cosmopolitan Association (ACA) in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, this year.
A long-standing tradition is for a delegation consisting of members to venture to each other’s city every five years to celebrate another milestone anniversary. On April 13, the Ashiya delegation of 29 individuals, including Mayor Ryosuke Takashima, will arrive at Los Angeles International Airport and will be greeted by energetic MASCA members to begin the five-day anniversary celebration hosted by MASCA and the City of Montebello.
Montebello Bus Lines will transport the delegation in a newly wrapped, cherry blossom-design city bus welcoming the guests and promoting the MASCA-City of Montebello partnership during their stay.
Planned for the Ashiya guests include a welcome gathering, the 65th anniversary celebration dinner, visitations with the Montebello City Council, police and fire departments, interaction at Montebello Christian School, time in Little Tokyo to learn about the historic neighborhood, meals at iconic eateries in Los Angeles, a Los Angeles Dodgers game, shopping, and the Farewell Fiesta Dinner hosted by a MASCA member.
Not only have MASCA and ACA nurtured and deepened their ties for 65 years but so have the cities of Montebello and Ashiya on many different levels. Beginning in 1959 and after two years of discussions and consultations between both cities, the Montebello delegation of City Councilmember Elaine Kirchner and Chamber of Commerce President George Driscoll and his wife arrived at Itami Airport in Osaka and were greeted by several Ashiya City officials.
Upon entering Ashiya city limits, the entourage witnessed along the main street enthusiastic Seido Junior High School students waving small flags of Japan and the U.S. Multitudes of citizens and students eagerly waiting at Ashiya City Hall greeted the American guests with much fanfare and television coverage. Yamate Elementary School’s brass band performed in the courtyard and three young girls wearing kimono presented the guests with large flower bouquets.
As the Montebello delegation entered City Hall, a hail of paper confetti rained down upon them. From a balcony on the second floor, Kirchner and the Driscolls were introduced and each delivered brief remarks. The City of Montebello flag was presented to the citizens of Ashiya.
The sister-city agreement ceremony was held at Seido Elementary School on May 24, 1961 with the document signed by Kirchner and Mayor Kiyoshi Utsumi while Mr. Driscoll served as a witness. Amongst the 250 guests was a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the governor of Hyogo Prefecture, and the U.S. consul general in Kobe City, to name just a few.
Official gifts were exchanged including the Ashiya city flag. The ceremony ended with three rounds of rousing “banzai” cheers. Entertainment included the Hyogo Prefectural Police Brass Band, the award-winning Seido Junior High School Girls Chorus, and classical Japanese buyō dance.
A tree-planting ceremony was held at Yamate Elementary School, followed by a visit to the Ashiya City Council chamber, where the delegation received official gifts for Montebello. An excursion to Ohara Marketplace to experience Japanese retail stores was enjoyed, then a drive up the scenic hills of Ashiya to Okuike Pond for leisure time at a youth hostel grounds ended the afternoon.
On their last day, the Montebello delegation spent time with the English Speaking Society at the city library, where members had the opportunity to practice their English with the Montebello guests. At the departure ceremony, a lineup of Ashiya Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts waved small flags of both countries, bidding Kirchner and the Driscolls a fond farewell.
Building long-lasting bridges across the Pacific Ocean on a local person-to-person connection has been a cornerstone of both nonprofit organizations for 65 years. This enduring relationship of deep respect, admiration, bonding, and friendship is proudly displayed in Montebello by Ashiya Park, Ashiya Garden on Ashiya Way at City Hall, and Ashiya Road.
In Ashiya there is Montebello Rose Garden, created in 1973, and the El Camino Real Friendship Bell donated by Montebello Rotary Club in 1969, both at Iwagahira Park, and Montebello Street, which was dedicated for the MASCA delegation to participate in at the 55th anniversary celebration in 2016.
MASCA members are planning its anniversary delegation journey to Ashiya this year in mid-November.
The foundation of the sister-city programs is the acclaimed Student Ambassador Program begun in 1964 and having continuously exchanged a pair of high school students every year in July-August except for times of major natural disasters in Japan (1995 and 2011) and the COVID-19 pandemic years (2021 and 2022).
Nearly 120 student ambassadors have been to the other’s city over the past six decades. The first pairs in 1964 were Edward Hamby, Tom Johnston, Tsukiko Masuda and Haruko Fukunaka. Importantly, the host family programs have embraced the student pairs for their three-week stay rotating each week.
There have also been countless host ambassadors who guide the visiting pair of ambassadors in their city and, like the visiting ambassadors, the host ambassadors are an extension of each host family, creating everlasting friendships that continue to this day.
The associations also initiated having a retired Montebello teacher work alongside English curriculum teachers at five Ashiya elementary schools for three weeks and also facilitated a one-week exchange of nurses to observe and study the similarities and differences between the nations’ healthcare system and municipal hospital in each city.
Montebello’s Greenwood Elementary School and Ashiya’s Yamate Elementary School are sister schools that conducted exchanges of student letters and artwork over the years. Residents in all capacities of both cities have ventured to the sister city and felt the legendary warm welcome.
Highlights of the student ambassadors’ stay for many decades has been the ACA student ambassadors experiencing the Nisei Week Grand Parade on the streets of Little Tokyo while waving to the crowds from a MASCA member’s convertible car, whereas in Ashiya, MASCA ambassadors, ACA host ambassadors and members attend the popular Ashiya Summer Carnival, a seaside celebration known for its spectacular fireworks show in late July.
In 1961, Montebello and Ashiya signed an international agreement as part of the “People to People Student Ambassador Program” initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Their respective sister city organizations created the Student Ambassador Program in 1964 and have been exchanging two high school students nearly every summer.
MASCA is a nonprofit community organization and membership and donations are welcome. For information about the 65th anniversary celebration for the Ashiya delegation in Montebello, contact Michael Okamura, MASCA member, at michael.okamura@hotmail.com.