Montebello-Ashiya Sister City Association (MASCA) 2026 Student Ambassadors Maximus “Max” Almeida and Daniel Nagata arrived in Ashiya City in Hyogo Prefecture on July 19 to begin their three-week stay with host families. They will be immersed in Ashiya society, culture, customs and daily life.
Max and Daniel were chosen by the MASCA selection committee after the members reviewed their applications and interviewed the students and their parents.
Max will be a junior at Schurr High School in Montebello, enjoys engineering and history classes and will be taking U.S. history, language and calculus Advanced Placement classes. He’s in the gaming and the engineering pathway clubs and he likes the freedom to try new things including to learn to drive and other languages. Max’s hobbies include drawing, listening to music, hanging out with friends and family, and playing video games.
While in Ashiya he wants to sightsee, is eager to have meals with the host families, and to try takoyaki.
“I value the relationship with the Ashiya citizens as it bonds our two cities for 65 years now,” he said. “And as I have lived in Montebello my whole life it is a special and a welcoming community. I can’t wait to learn more about Ashiya city and your culture.”
Daniel recently graduated from Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel, where he was ASB senior vice president, captain of the varsity cross country team and member of the varsity basketball and track and field teams. This fall he will attend Loyola Marymount University, where he will major in film and media studies and minor in international relations. He enjoys creating video projects for his various social media platforms, traveling and spending time with friends.
Daniel shared, “Serving as a MASCA ambassador is my way of giving back to my hometown as I hope to get more involved with the city.”
In Ashiya, Daniel is “eager to engage in meaningful discussions with local government officials and connect with students of Ashiya.” He wants to try authentic Kobe beef, nagashi somen noodles, and kushikatsu deep-fried skewered meats.
Meanwhile, Ashiya Cosmopolitan Association’s (ACA) 2026 Student Ambassadors Amane Ushida and Taiga Enatsu will arrive in Montebello on July 26 and will live with Montebello host families until they depart three weeks later on Aug. 17.
Amane is a first-year student at Kobe High School. In middle school she was Student Council president and vice president of the English Speaking Society (ESS). She enjoys being with friends, going on family trips with her parents and twin brother, and watching sports.
“I love watching sports so I’d like to go to a ballpark and visit Disney with friends I’ll meet there,” she said. “I’d also love to see the beautiful scenery in Montebello. I can’t wait to meet you! Since I’ve never been the continental United States, I’d like to learn more about the people there and their culture and traditions.”
Taiga is in his second year in high school and likes to work out, hang out with friends on the weekends, plays many sports, and as a recent hobby enjoys watching sports on TV and on YouTube. He has had international interactions, making many friends from several countries while gaining English language skills, yet has never been to the U.S.
He is excited about coming to Montebello but “at the same time, I am nervous about my English,” Taiga commented. “While we stay in Montebello, I would like to watch a Los Angeles Dodgers game at the stadium. I want to have English talks with you, your family, and many people in Montebello. I can’t wait to eat American grills or BBQ at least once!
“Finally, and most importantly, I am looking forward to American culture and daily life. Thank you for hosting me. Can’t wait to see you! See you then!”
The ACA student ambassadors will tour Montebello City Hall, the police and fire departments, be presented at a City Council meeting, visit sites in Montebello bearing the Ashiya name, and tour Little Tokyo, just to name a few activities.
The MASCA and ACA ambassadors will be in the Nisei Week Grand Parade on Aug. 16.
MASCA Host Ambassadors Miya Espinoza and Felix Rodriguez will accompany Amane and Taiga during the three weeks in Montebello.
The four ambassadors will be formally introduced to the community at the welcome potluck on July 27 at 6 p.m. at the Montebello City Hall, 1600 W. Beverly Blvd. The event is open to the public, and guests are invited to bring a dish to share.
MASCA and ACA’s celebration of the 65th anniversary of sister-city ties kicked off in April when a 29-member Ashiya citizens delegation, including Mayor Ryosuke Takashima, visited Montebello for five days of hospitality, cultural exchange, and activities in the city and in Los Angeles.
This November, a similarly sized MASCA delegation will travel to Ashiya to continue the anniversary celebration.
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. The local program began in 1964 and two pairs of students have been exchanged nearly every summer since.
MASCA is a nonprofit community organization and donations are welcome. For information on MASCA and the activities planned for the ACA student ambassadors, including the Sayonara Luncheon on Aug. 15 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, contact Emma Duran, MASCA president, at (562) 477-0260 or emmadelgado0219@gmail.com.