The seven boys and seven girls from Nanao were paired with 14 members of the Monterey High School cross country team and stayed in their homes throughout the visit. The week marked the first half of a reciprocal exchange that will continue when the Monterey students travel to Nanao later this year.
The visitors received their first introduction to Monterey shortly after arriving at Monterey High School, walking with their hosts to Sister City Park and gathering for photographs beside the sign honoring Nanao — a fitting beginning for a week devoted to bringing the cities' 30-year relationship to life for a new generation.
Former Monterey mayor and longtime Monterey High School coach Dan Albert Sr., who welcomed the students at a community reception at Colton Hall, reflected on that history. “The relationship with Nanao was started over 30 years ago by a group of businessmen, then grew to include many relationships between the two cities. Now, a new relationship is starting between Monterey High School and Nanao High School. Many memories and friendships are beginning to form. Thank you, Coach Jordan, for all of your efforts to make this happen.”
At Monterey High, the Nanao students spent two half-days shadowing their host students and experiencing an American high school firsthand. They also visited Seaside Middle School, where they helped Level 2 Japanese students practice the language through games and structured conversations, giving local students a rare opportunity to use their Japanese with native speakers their own age.
Running provided a common language throughout the week. The 28 exchange participants ran from Monterey to Asilomar State Beach for a bonfire with members of the Pacific Grove Middle School cross country team, complete with hot dogs and s'mores.
Another morning began with a run along the Monterey Bay Recreation Trail followed by breakfast provided by Fleet Feet Monterey. Later that day, Fleet Feet and ASICS surprised members of both teams with generous runner kits that included running shoes, shirts, shorts, and socks.
For Monterey High cross country captain Juha, one of the biggest surprises was how quickly the language barrier seemed to disappear. “I was really worried about communicating with the Japanese students, but it was not a problem at all. They understood pretty much everything I said, and I understood them very well, too. I was surprised by how little we used the translator.”
Juha hosted Nanao student Ayu and said the homestay became one of the highlights of the experience. “Ayu and I learned a lot about each other's cultures, and it was so much fun to make a connection despite the differences in language and culture. I'm so glad I got to meet such nice people and become close friends with them.”
On Saturday, approximately 100 members of the educational, running, Sister City, and Japanese-American communities gathered at historic Colton Hall for a reception honoring the visitors. Albert welcomed the students, and Tacos by the Bay provided lunch.
Saturday evening and Sunday were deliberately left open for students to experience life with their host families. Families planned their own adventures, including visits to redwood forests, amusement parks, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, San Francisco, and other destinations around Northern California.
The exchange also emphasized the responsibility the two coastal communities share for their natural environments. On Monday morning, the Monterey and Nanao students worked alongside California State Parks staff at Asilomar, nurturing native plant species and removing invasive plants from the historic conference grounds. After school, they returned to running, tackli ng hill repeats at historic Lower Presidio Park — followed by popsicles.
Tuesday brought together many of the themes of the exchange during a day devoted to Monterey's history and its relationship with the ocean.
Students walked Cannery Row and received a guided tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium that included a behind-the-scenes look at the internationally recognized aquarium. They then visited the JACL Heritage Museum, where curator and historian Tim Thomas shared stories of the powerful influence Japanese immigrants had on the fishing industry and the development of the Monterey Peninsula.
The Monterey portion of the exchange concluded Tuesday evening with a pizza party at Gianni's Pizza attended by all 50 members of the Monterey High School cross country team, giving the entire team an opportunity to celebrate the friendships formed during the week and bid the visitors farewell.
Before returning home, the Nanao group spent Wednesday exploring San Francisco, including Golden Gate Park, a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, lunch at the Presidio, and dinner at Pier 39.
The exchange comes at a particularly meaningful moment in the relationship between Monterey and Nanao. The cities have been Sister Cities since 1995, and Nanao and the surrounding Noto Peninsula continue to recover from the devastating January 2024 earthquake. Both communities are historic coastal cities whose identities have been shaped by fishing, tourism, and their relationship with the sea.
Although running created the initial connection, the project was designed to accomplish something larger: to give young people an opportunity to experience another culture not simply as tourists, but as teammates, classmates, family members, volunteers, and friends.
All expenses for participating students are being covered by the project, ensuring that the opportunity is available regardless of a family's financial circumstances. Major funding has been provided by the Ito Foundation U.S.A.
The friendships formed in Monterey will soon continue on the other side of the Pacific. Later this year, the 14 Monterey High School runners will travel to Nanao, reunite with their exchange partners, stay with Japanese families, attend school, run with their Nanao teammates, and experience the community their new friends call home.
The Monterey–Nanao Cross Country Exchange Project includes 28 student-athletes — seven boys and seven girls from each country — along with their coaches, families, schools, and community partners. Through the exchange, a 30-year relationship between two cities is becoming something personal for a new generation.
Media Contact:
Peter Jordan
Monterey-Nanao Cross Country Exchange Project
408-309-9280
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