(To be held on December 6, 2025 / Japan time)
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Yokohama City and Vancouver City, Canada, an online exchange event titled "Let's Get to Know Our Sister City Vancouver! Connecting with the World from Yokohama" was held on December 6, 2025.
On that day,High school students studying in Canada through the Yokohama City Study Abroad Support Program, UBC students (UBC Japan Association), and Ayano Enomoto from our organization (member of the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce/working professional). The event was attended by many participants, and lively discussions took place regarding multicultural understanding and studying abroad.
■ Event Overview
- Date and timeDecember 6, 2025 (Saturday) 10:00-11:00 (Japan Standard Time)
*Local Vancouver time: Friday, December 5th, 17:00-18:00 - format:online
- In-person attendance12 people from Yokohama City Kanazawa Zoo
- Online participation: 33 participants including general attendees from Yokohama City and JCCOC members.
- Moderator: Takehiko Imai, Policy and General Affairs Division, International Affairs Bureau, Yokohama City
■ Speakers
- Ayano Enomoto (Member of the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce / Working Professional)
- UBCStudent (UBC Japan Association）
- High school students studying abroad in Canada through the Yokohama City Study Abroad Support Program
■ Event Report
Ayano Enomoto, JCCOC member
Introducing the "charms of Vancouver" and "differences between Japan and Canada."
Enomoto-san,
- Characteristics of the city of Vancouver
- The concept of multicultural coexistence
- Green initiatives
This will be introduced with photographs,
"It's important to understand the differences, find your strengths, and take initiative." He sent this message to the students.
Also, from the participants
"What preparations are necessary to work in Canada in the future?"
In response to that question,
- Understand and accept the other person's values.
- “The culture of "reading between the lines" doesn't work here, so you have to express your thoughts yourself.
- The most important thing in learning English is the experience of meeting and conversing with people.
They gave me some specific advice.
■ From the Q&A session
We received a variety of questions from the online participants.
Q. How do I make friends in Canada?
Q. What shocked you as a Japanese person?
Q. What can Yokohama be proud of on a global scale?
Enomoto-san,
Yokohama, as an international port city, has a history of "accepting different cultures."
We should share the unique characteristics of this region, where diverse cultures coexist, such as Yamate, Motomachi, and Chinatown, with the world.He said.
<Message from Ms. Enomoto, who took the stage>
I feel incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to speak here on this special occasion of the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Yokohama and Vancouver, and to be a part of this celebration of the friendly relationship between the city where I was born and the city where I currently live.
I was greatly inspired by hearing from students who have strong aspirations for the future. I hope that this time has provided participants with new insights and served as a catalyst for taking a step towards the future. I will utilize this experience when conducting online classes in Japanese schools in the future.
<Message from the organizers>
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Yokohama and Vancouver, the first part of the event featured an online exchange between Yokohama and Vancouver. Ms. Ayano Enomoto, a resident of Vancouver, spoke about Canada's environmental initiatives and working there. University students from UBC and high school students studying abroad through Yokohama City's "Supporting Youth Aiming for the World" program (study abroad expense grants) shared their experiences, differences from Japan, and how they themselves have changed. The event was very well received by the participants.
Part two consisted of a tour of the totem poles and bighorn sheep donated by Vancouver, held at the Yokohama Kanazawa Zoo for attendees at the venue. The Yokohama International Affairs Bureau will continue to promote initiatives to deepen friendly exchanges and raise awareness of Vancouver.
Yokohama City Hall, International Affairs Bureau, Policy and General Affairs Division
Manager, Europe and the Americas
Tomoko Kawashima
■ summary
This online exchange was a fitting occasion for the 60th anniversary of our sister city relationship, providing a learning opportunity that transcended generations and cultures. Participating high school students commented that they "want to engage with other countries more" and that their "values have broadened."
The Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce will continue to promote next-generation international exchange between Yokohama and Vancouver, and deepen cooperation between the two cities.
*The materials presented by Ms. Enomoto at the online networking event can be downloaded from the link below.
