By Nancy McJennett and John Cratsley
Coordinators, Concord Nanae Network
Along with bright foliage and cider doughnuts, Concord features another fall event: the annual visit of a delegation from our sister city in Nanae, Hokkaido, Japan.
Organized by the Concord Nanae Network (CNN), in cooperation with teachers and administrators at Concord-Carlisle High School and Thoreau Elementary School, Concord welcomed eight students and three adults on October 26 for a seven-day visit.
The relationship dates to 1993, when the first Japanese delegation came to Concord, and was formalized by Town Meeting in 1997, thanks to Tom Curtin, then a CCHS guidance counselor. CCHS personnel found homestays for the students and have organized their own specially focused student trips to Japan over the years.
Exchanges stopped cold during the pandemic years. With a new CCHS liaison and town support, a Japanese delegation celebrated the 25th anniversary in Concord in 2023. The festivities featured CNN volunteers, the Concord Minute Men Fife & Drum Corps, a Japanese Consulate representative, and a Zoom toast between dignitaries of both towns.
The relationship is anchored by an American in Nanae. Every two years, CNN interviews CCHS graduates (the only job requirement, along with a college degree) to be Nanae’s Coordinator of International Relations (CIR). This paid position comes with a car and an apartment. Our first CIR was Katherine Vandever in 1998; currently, Jack McCarthy, CCHS class of 2016, holds the job. The responsibilities are varied — English classes and cultural events for the community, as well as translation duties for official town communications.
Band visits have long been a highlight of the schools’ relationship. Our band first visited in 1998; Nanae’s band came in 2011. During one unforgettable visit, the bands played together at Symphony Hall. Plans for a band trip in 2026 are underway.
Partnering with the schools, CNN is responsible for homestays, community outreach, logistical support, and non-school activities for the visitors. CNN works closely with our CCHS liaison and other school and town personnel to create meaningful experiences on and off campus.
CNN, a volunteer organization supported entirely by donations, also organizes adult trips to Japan, with Nanae as a focus. We are currently planning an adult trip for June of 2025. Please contact us for more information if you are interested.
We are grateful to our host families and local interpreters — the heart of the program — and to the yearslong support of school and town officials. Thank you!
