International Exchange and Sister Cities
Relations with Ikata's only overseas sister city, Red Wing, Minnesota, USA, originally began as an exchange of technical knowledge and skills between engineers at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant and Red Wing's Prairie Island plant. The two towns became official sister cities in August 1995.
Since then, Ikata has put much effort into expanding the horizons of its residents through English language education via the JET Programme, and an annual international student exchange with Red Wing. Beginning in 1995, Ikata middle school students have traveled almost yearly to Red Wing for home stays of one to two weeks, and students from Red Wing likewise come to Ikata to learn about life in rural Japan.
Ikata's high school, Misaki High School, maintains an exchange program with Australia.
Ikata has two sister cities, both of which also have nuclear power plants:
- Tomari, Hokkaidō, Japan, since February 1998
- Red Wing, Minnesota, United States, since August 1995
Read more about this topic: Ikata, Ehime
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