This past winter holiday, 20 Japanese high school students visited Southern California as part of Honda's 2016 Tomodachi Cultural Exchange Program. The students, whose experience was documented in a recently released video from Honda, visited local schools, hospitals, and cultural institutions.
The Tomodachi (which means friendship) program was originally in response to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami as a way to create bonds of friendship between Japanese and American Youth. "The hope for the TOMODACHI generation is that they have a good understanding of why relationships between the United State and Japan are so important," said Henry Ota, director, U.S.-Japan Council.
The highlight of the experience was the student's participation in the 2016 Rose Parade Presented by Honda. Student's rode on Honda's "Nature's Hope" float which featured many elements of Japanese and American national parks. Along the route, the students played music with an American high school marching band, and interacted with parade goers.
"The TOMODACHI Honda Cultural Exchange Initiative is an extension of our belief in The Power of Dreams," said Steve Morikawa, vice president, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility for American Honda. "Not only will these students experience cultural exchange while they're here in the United States, but they will carry forward what they've learned back to Japan and throughout the rest of their lives."
