2025 San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association High School Student Ambassador Program Application (Deadline: 11:59 pm, Monday, 4/7/25)

The San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association is proud to offer an opportunity of a lifetime to two high school students in San Francisco through our annual High School Student Ambassador Program. This program is funded with the support of corporate sponsors and individual donors in the San Francisco Bay Area, including former participants of the program and their families.

PURPOSE: To enable two San Francisco high school students to gain an understanding of the people and culture of Japan through the practical experience of living with Japanese families in our sister city of Osaka, Japan, and to serve as Student Ambassadors for the City of San Francisco.

REQUIREMENTS: Applicant must be a high school student (9th, 10th, or 11th grade student) in the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 school year, either residing in and/or attending a public or private high school in San Francisco. Unfortunately, due to some post-trip obligations that can only be completed in San Francisco in Fall 2025, no graduating seniors (Class of 2025) are eligible to apply.

There are no language requirements to apply; however, it is highly preferred that the student has a basic knowledge of conversational Japanese. Successful applicants must conduct him/herself appropriately as Student Ambassadors while in Japan.

A "Student Ambassador" is expected to perform the following duties:

. Holding the position of Student Ambassador for a period of one year.

. Being a role model and leader, maintaining respectful and professional character at all times.

. Serving as a spokesperson and promoting awareness of the sister city relationship and the Student Ambassador Program through participation in events and activities around the San Francisco Bay Area.

. Coordinating activities not only on behalf of the SF-Osaka Sister City Association, but also in collaboration/partnership with other organizations.

Mandatory requirements include participating in:

  • Orientation & a send-off luncheon prior to the trip.

  • Events and activities arranged while in Osaka.

  • Post-trip in-person oral presentation.

  • Orientation for next year's Student Ambassadors.

  • A minimum of 10 service hours (or 2-3 events) for the year.

AWARDS:    Two students will be awarded round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Osaka. The students will be guests of host families in Osaka and will participate in family-oriented activities during their stay. The two students and their families will also be awarded free membership to the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association for one year.

DATES:    Duration of three weeks, to be confirmed at a later date, scheduled between late June to late July.

APPLICATION:    Submit a (1) online application, (2) a consent form signed by both parent and student, and (3) an essay on the following topic.  

This year, for 6 months, April 13-October 13, Osaka will host Expo 2025, a global event that occurs only every 5 years, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Go to the Expo 2025 website and explore the “Official Participants’ Pavilions” that showcase the 160+ countries participating in the event. Develop a proposal for a San Francisco booth at the USA Pavilion that includes (1) a tourist destination display, (2) a live performance, and (3) a signature food. Please share as much of your background as possible in responding to this essay prompt.

The essay must be no more than 500 words and double-spaced with the name of the applicant and school clearly indicated on all pages. Scan and email your (1) essay and (2) consent form to: sfosakasistercityassociation@gmail.com. Please scan using a scanner at your school or an app on your smartphone which converts documents into a PDF. Photos of your application pages will NOT be accepted. If you have any questions, please email the Program Chair Dr. Emily Murase, emurase@japantowntaskforce.org, with a copy to Executive Director, Misako Sack at msack@mofo.com. 

All applications MUST be received by 11:59 pm on Monday, April 7, 2025. Receipt confirmation will be sent by email; if you do not hear from us, please email the Program Chair and Executive Director, emails above, to ensure our receipt of your application. Late applications will NOT be considered. 

INTERVIEWS: Those who are selected for an in-person interview will be contacted about their scheduled interview times via email. Unfortunately, interviews CANNOT be scheduled outside of the times below, so please plan accordingly. The two final scholarship winners will be announced a few days following the interview.

All interviews will be conducted in San Francisco Japantown as follows:

Wednesday, April 23, 5:30-7 pm

Friday, April 25. 5-7 pm. 

For questions, please contact Dr. Emily Murase, emurase@japantowntaskforce.org.


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Email *
FIrst Name
 *
Last Name
 *
Cell phone number (xxx)xxx-xxx *
Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY) *
Name of Your High School  *
Current Grade (unfortunately, current seniors are ineligible) *
Please provide the names and e-mail addresses of two teachers who know you well for reference. You should let them know you are applying to this program and that they may be contacted about you.
 *
Please briefly state your favorite school subject and why. (100 words max) *
Please list your extra-curricular activities. *
Please list your honors, achievements, scholarships, and awards.
 *
Please list your hobbies and special interests.
 *
Please list your volunteer activities. If none, state "none."
 *
Are you currently learning Japanese as a foreign language? *
If yes, where/how are you learning Japanese? What is your fluency level (beginner/intermediate/advanced)? If no, skip.
Have you visited Japan in the past?  *
If yes, how old were you at that time, when did you visit, and for how long was your visit? If no, skip. 

ESSAY (no more than 500 words). This year, for 6 months, April 13-October 13, Osaka will host Expo 2025, a global event that occurs only every 5 years, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Go to the Expo 2025 website and explore the “Official Participants’ Pavilions” that showcase the 160+ countries participating in the event. Develop a proposal for a San Francisco booth at the USA Pavilion that includes (1) a tourist destination display, (2) a live performance, and (3) a signature food. Please share as much of your background as possible in responding to this essay prompt.


 *
How many words is your essay? Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer word count functions. Max. 500. *
Not all candidates will be interviewed. Final interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, April 23 and Friday, April 25 ONLY. Please indicate your FULL availability that day for a 15-minute interview at a San Francisco Japantown location. Check ALL TIMES you can come in for an interview. Be sure to account for travel time here. We will do our best to accommodate your preferred schedule. Late arrivals may have to wait until all other interviews are completed to be interviewed. Those who are selected for the interview will be contacted about their scheduled time via email no later than Monday, April 14.  *
YES
NO
MAYBE
WED, 4/23, 5:30 pm
WED, 4/23, 5:45 pm
WED 4/23, 6 pm
WED, 4/23, 6:15 pm
WED, 4/23, 6:30 pm
WED, 4/23, 6:45 pm
FRI, 4/25, 5 pm
FRI, 4/25, 5:15 pm
FRI, 4/25, 5:30 pm
FRI, 4/25, 5:45 pm
FRI, 4/25, 6 pm
FRI, 4/25, 6:15 pm
FRI, 4/25, 6:30 pm
Fri, 4/25, 6:45 pm
I have completed a Consent Form with my signature and a signature from my parent/guardian. Download form here. I will email a scan of the signed consent form to  sfosakasistercityassociation@gmail.com. *
A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.
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