The Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) is proud to be the Hawaii-region Liaison Office for the Asian-Pacific Children's Convention (APCC), an annual global leadership program held in Fukuoka, Japan for over 200 students from over 40 regions throughout Asia and the Pacific. JASH has been the coordinating office for the APCC since 2003.
Typically held in mid-July, JASH sends a small delegation of 10 or 11-year-old Junior Ambassadors (JAs) to Fukuoka, Japan to interact with over 200 other student peers from over 40 countries and regions at the Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention. They also participate in a home-stay where they experience living with a Japanese family in Fukuoka. Our delegation is accompanied by an adult chaperone, who has also passed a selective screening and interview process. JAs may also be eligible to travel back to Fukuoka as young adults as part of the APCC's Peace Ambassador program.
To prepare for the program, our JAs and chaperone learn about Japan and the Pacific through a series of mandatory weekend workshops. These workshops prepare our delegation for their international journey, helping them build the skills they'll need to represent our islands as Hawaii's Junior Ambassadors.
The APCC program provides the actual experience for students to travel to Japan and reinforce the concept of Different Perspectives introduced and taught in our Japan-in-a-Suitcase programs. The life skills learned through this program— including cross-cultural understanding, multilingual communication, leadership, and teamwork— foster our Junior Ambassadors as the next generation of Nichibei Leaders.
Please note that the Application Packet requires a principal's signature as well as written recommendations from two teachers.
The application and information about the 37th Annual APCC program can be found online at https://www.jashawaii.org/education/apcc. The application must be received by JASH no later than Monday, January 20, 2025. Applications may be mailed, faxed, or submitted online at https://bit.ly/apcc-apps2025. Should you have questions, please contact JASH Educational Programs Coordinator Saki Honma at shonma@jashawaii.org or 808-524-4450.
