AMHERST — Six Amherst Regional Middle School students had a unique experience for Halloween, trick-or-treating alongside a half-dozen peers from Amherst’s sister city in Kanegasaki, Japan.

“It has been so much fun,” said Elaina Bust, a seventh grader whose family has been hosting Kokomi Oikawa during her three-day visit to town.

Having pizza and carrots for lunch in the cafeteria on Friday, the dozen students got another opportunity to spend time together and learn more about each other.

Bust, who dressed as an evil clown for Halloween, said she and Oikawa dropped by Wildwood Elementary School before arriving at the middle school, and hopes to show her around downtown and possibly do some shopping.

For seventh grader Sandy Brackenridge, who has visited both Osaka and Tokyo in Japan with her family, and whose grandmother speaks some Japanese, it was natural to offer to host student Tomoka Sawada.

“I also thought it would be fun,” Brackenridge said, who went trick-or-treating as a ghost. “My Mom also said hello in ‘Japanese,’ and other stuff.”

Welcoming celebration

Before meeting the middle school students they would be shadowing, and their host families, the Kanegasaki visitors participated in a welcoming celebration at Town Hall Thursday afternoon, bringing together town and school officials for the first visit from Amherst’s sister city in five years.

Rita Takahashi, who is staying with Gigi Garcia-Roma’s family, told those assembled that she is using her time in the United States, which began with a two-day tour of Washington, D.C., to hone her English skills and learn more about the United States.

“Because I want to write English and see foreign cultures, and use them in the future,” Takahashi said, speaking in English.

“Thank you for inviting us from Kanegasaki. We look forward to spending time with you for the next few days,” she said.

The visit marks a tentative resumption of exchanges that began in 1988, five years before the two towns began a formal sister-city relationship. Last December, a virtual conference call between municipal leaders in both towns marked the 30th anniversary with a proclamation signed in both Japanese and English.

Between 1989 and 2019, under the International Friendship Association created by a former Kanegasaki mayor, middle school students would visit nearly annually, while for many years Amherst students would return, though Amherst has not sent students in 20 years for two main reasons, that Japanese is not taught in the public schools and worry over equity and whether all students can afford the trip.

Takahashi speaking in English is an illustration of what Kazuhito Chiba, who chairs Kanegasaki’s board of education, touts as a place of both English education for students and giving them a global perspective by the time they graduate high school.

Chiba wants the exchanges to continue.

“Over the years there have been over 540 students from Kanegasaki who have participated in the program, so far,” Chiba said, speaking in Japanese through interpreter Daniel DeGrasse.

Amherst Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman also spoke about the welcoming atmosphere for the visitors. “I hope you have the best day ever,” Herman said.

Herman said she is also committed to pushing for resuming the exchange. “I am excited about when Amherst will be able to send students to have a true exchange of cultures,” Herman said.

“You are adventurous to take this trip from the other side of the world to America and Amherst,” said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.

Town Council President Lynn Griesmer spoke about bridging a 6,427-mile gap between the towns, while state Rep. Mindy Domb said that by traveling across oceans, the students are building friendship and understanding differences.

Should exchanges resume, Bust said she would love the opportunity to travel to Kanegasaki.

“I think it would be super cool to go to Japan next year,” Bust said.

That feeling about traveling abroad was shared by middle schooler Galileo Nikosi, whose family is hosting Taichi Matsumoto. Nikosi said he heard about the program over the school loudspeaker and then told his mother.

In addition to trick-or-treating, Nikosi and Matsumoto read Japanese books and played soccer.

Those coordinating the host families, Rachel Hickman, the school’s adjustment counselor, and Lucas Correa-Covert, the school’s seventh grade guidance counselor, said they hope resources can be found to make it a true exchange for the students.

Middle school student Asher Gordon said his family was hosting Kashu Sato.

“I thought it would be fun, and it was very fun,” said Gordon, who dressed up as Groucho Marx for Halloween, even if others thought he was Charlie Chaplin.

Gordon said there were no challenges in communication. “I would like to learn a little bit of Japanese, but he’s good at English,” Gordon said.

Before the celebration concluded and the students met for the first time, each of the Kanegasaki students used their English skills to offer a presentation about their community, and the places they should see when in the Japanese city.

Matsumoto talked about Chiba Coffee, a cafe that serves American scones. “This shop is very beautiful. Please visit Chiba Coffee,” he said.

Kanegasaki’s farm fields were discussed by Oikawa, and the fresh milk produced there. “Agriculture is flourishing in Kanegasaki,” she said.

Kuina Chiba, who stayed with Amelia Morse’s family, referenced the samurai residences that still stand and their unique roofs and floors. “Samurai House is a place where you can feel Japanese culture,” she said.

Kanegasaki’s Toyota factory provides employment for Sato’s parents, as well as many automobiles being produced on its assembly line. “Do you drive a Toyota?” he said.

Finally, Takahashi described the hot springs, where people can stay overnight and be rejuvenated, and Sawada itinerary should the junior high school, which has about 400 students and where practice chorus.

“We enjoy singing,” she said. “Welcome to Kanegasaki Junior High School. Thank you.”

Bockelman complimented the Kanegasaki students on their bravery to do presentations in English. “Your English is excellent,” Bockelman said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.