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Clearwater reschedules Nagano delegation; student exchanges adjusted and business meetings added
Summary
City staff and Clearwater Sister Cities advisory board said the official delegation trip to Nagano, Japan was rescheduled to July 20–30; Nagano’s reciprocal visit is on hold until its 70th anniversary, and high school student exchanges are deferred to summer 2026. The trip will include school and business meetings, including talks with Daiso.
The Clearwater Sister Cities advisory board heard that the official delegation trip from Clearwater to Nagano, Japan has been rescheduled to July 20–30 after an October 2024 visit was canceled because of a hurricane.
Advisory board members and staff said the itinerary was shortened and refocused on Nagano. "The delegation will now spend 3 and a half days in Nagano visiting schools, government offices, local businesses, and key historical sites," Amber Bryce, arts and cultural affairs manager for the City of Clearwater, told the board.
Why it matters: the trip mixes cultural and economic outreach. Bryce said the delegation will include meetings in Tokyo with Japanese companies interested in Clearwater, and specifically named Daiso as one company that has expressed interest in expansion. Those business meetings are scheduled to run alongside school and cultural visits.
Board members described practical changes and local benefits. Bryce said the Kanazawa stop was removed from the itinerary and that city officials, council members and invited nonprofit board members will travel; guests who bring companions ("plus ones") will pay their own travel costs. "It is recommended that everyone going on the trip review the advisory board meeting from last July, which includes a presentation covering the cultural norms, etiquette, helpful tips, and traveling to Japan," Bryce said.
The board also discussed how the rescheduling affected reciprocal and student exchanges. Bryce told the group that, "due to the continued decline of the yen" and an upcoming election in Nagano, "the city of Nagano has decided to cancel their reciprocal trip to Clearwater, and they will not be resuming that trip until the seventieth anniversary. So potentially another 4 to 5 years before they come to Clearwater, unfortunately." That means no official Nagano delegation to Clearwater in the near term.
Stephanie Chill, president of the Clearwater Sister Cities nonprofit and director of international exchanges, reviewed recent student activity and next steps. She reported that a March 2025 middle school exchange did occur and that "we had 8 students, and 2 chaperones go over." The group visited Zenkoji Temple during a day in Nagano and later attended the World Expo in Osaka; the Florida Wakayama Association and Wakayama Prefecture hosted additional school visits and homestays.
Because Nagano could not host both the official delegation and the usual high school exchange this year, the high school student exchange was canceled for 2025 and is expected to resume in summer 2026; applications are expected to open in the fall, according to staff. Board members said the nonprofit’s experience and relationships in Japan will help the delegation and student exchanges when travel resumes.
Board members emphasized the economic angle of the trip and the value of having advisory board members who have recent travel experience in Japan attend and assist the delegation. The board did not adopt any new travel policy or budget at the meeting.
Looking ahead: staff advised travelers to review prior advisory‑board materials and cultural briefings before departure. The city will report details of business meetings and any formal agreements after the delegation returns.
