Sister City Summer Exchanges Strengthen Burbank’s Bonds with Ota, Japan and Incheon, Korea

Burbank, CA (August 25, 2026) – The City of Burbank and the Burbank Sister City Committee (BSCC) proudly celebrate the successful completion of the 2026 Summer Student Exchange Program, which brought Burbank students to Incheon, Korea, and welcomed students from Ota, Japan to Burbank this summer. Plans are now underway for the recruitment for delegates and chaperones for the 2026/27 program.

Burbank student delegates traveled to Incheon in July, where they explored the city, learned about Korean culture and innovation, and connected with local students. Highlights included visits to the Smart City Center, Incheon Ara High School, Peace Observatory, and Gwangjang Market.

Dante Gutierrez, a John Burroughs High School student and Burbank delegate, shared his experience at the August 11 City Council Meeting. “This trip showed me that a Sister City connection is way more than just a formal agreement. It is the high-tech innovations we can learn from, the classroom barriers we break through, and the lifelong friendships that are built between Burbank and Incheon.”

Back in Burbank, BSCC welcomed 10 students and two chaperones from Ota, Japan for a two-week cultural exchange featuring homestays with Burbank families, tours of City Hall and local landmarks, visits to Warner Bros. Studios, Universal Studios and JPL, and cultural and recreational activities throughout Burbank and Los Angeles. The delegation also visited John Burroughs High School, attended a Dodgers game, and participated in activities at the Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center, McCambridge Pool, and with Burbank Pickleball Ambassadors.

The Ota visit also included an opportunity for Mayor Masanobu Hozumi and a small delegation of Ota City staff to meet with Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi and discuss shared interests, including transportation, economic development, and cultural arts.

For decades, BSCC has worked to build international connections through cultural programs and student exchanges. This summer’s exchanges with Incheon and Ota demonstrate Burbank’s continued commitment to fostering global friendships, cultural understanding, and meaningful opportunities for local students.

Applications Open for 2026–2027 Student Exchange Program
The BSCC is now recruiting high school students and families for the 2026/27 Sister City Student Exchange Program. Applicants must be Burbank residents enrolled in grades 9–12 at the time of application.

Student delegates and their parents are required to attend monthly planning meetings from January through July 2027 in preparation for traveling to Ota, Japan, and hosting students from Incheon, Korea, in Burbank next summer.

Upcoming Student Delegate Recruitment Meetings:

• Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. — Virtual 
• Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. — Buena Vista Branch Library 
• Monday, October 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. — Buena Vista Branch Library 

Student delegate applications are due Thursday, October 29, 2026, and may be delivered to Burbank Central Library, 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502.

The Committee is also seeking two adult chaperones, age 25 or older, to accompany the student delegation. Chaperone applications are due October 2, 2026.

Community members can also get involved by serving on the BSCC Board, hosting visiting students during the summer, or learning more about future student exchange opportunities. BSCC meetings are generally held on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Buena Vista Branch Library.

To learn more about the Burbank Sister City Committee and access student delegate and chaperone applications, visit www.BurbankSisterCity.org.

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