HITACHI : High-school exchange program between Saskatoon, Canada, and Hitachi City

This program promotes international understanding and goodwill between high-school students of Japan and Canada.

The program's origins go back to December 1989, when the Saskatoon board of education asked Hitachi City to enter into an exchange scheme. The program was officially established the following April, when the Saskatoon board asked Ibaraki prefectural Taga High School to be an exchange partner.

In February 1991, 16 students arrived from Saskatoon's Marion M. Graham Collegiate, and seven Taga High School students went to Saskatoon. Under the program, as of 2000, there has been an exchange of 135 students from Marion and 176 students from Taga High.

The Japanese students' interest in understanding Canadian life and culture can be gauged from the discussion topics, which include differences in high school life, family communications, lifestyles, differences between Japan and Canada, differences in manners, and differences in the classroom.

The program is expected to continue to enhance international understanding and form a bridge of goodwill and friendship between Japan and Canada.

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