Japan Education Culture Center Inc. (JECC), non-profit organization for the charitable and educational cultural missions between the regional communities of the United States and Japan was established in Virginia in 1980 and formally incorporated in 1985. It was to foster the lasting friendship and goodwill between the people of Japan and the United States through the people-to-people international exchanges. Since then, JECC Inc. has been involved in many educational and cultural exchange programs with enthusiastic support and collaborations from the local communities, public school systems, higher educational institutions, municipal governments and volunteer organizations both in Japan and the USA. Some such examples are art exchanges, music exchanges, educational exchanges, martial arts and sport exchanges, youth conferences and youth summit for peace and understanding, mayoral conferences, volunteer conferences, sister city exchanges, teacher conferences and educational exchanges, technical municipal staff exchanges, sister university exchanges, sister school exchanges, garden park exchanges, Peace Monument project, Peace Trees planting project, World Peace Monument project, international seminars and conferences, international martial arts demonstration events and conferences, artistic exhibits, historic exhibits of archives, youth artistic exhibits, conference for the people with disabilities, science and robotic projects for the university students, trade and economic and commerce opportunities, musical performing artists concert projects in Japan, and JECC intended to promote vigorously the viable platforms for the people to people exchanges. These exchanges have encompassed wide ranges of opportunities for both inbound and outbound visitations and relevant travel projects. JECC has tirelessly facilitated many of these exchanges to become instrumental bridge for many people to connect and develop the lasting friendship. Promotion of mutual understanding and friendship for all nations has been the major objectives for JECC, and the JECC board members and their volunteers have been very active in more than four decades to achieve excellence in the various people to people international exchange activities.

JECC works cooperatively with the Norfolk Sister Cities Association and the Virginia Beach Sister Cities Association and collaborates with public school districts, universities, state agencies, municipal governments and community organizations. JECC is essentially a community volunteer organization that promotes the long-sustaining international goodwill and friendship between the people of Japan and the United States.

Virginia Beach Cherry Blossom Festival Vivaldi Spring at Virginia Beach’s Red Wing Park  (video)

A birds-eye view of 200 Yoshino cherry trees in peak bloom at Virginia Beach’s Red Wing Park, a special gift from JECC Inc. and DNBK International Division in 2005 in honor of Bushin Kan Dojo of America.

In 2005, the annual cherry blossom festival in the Red Wing Park began in the celebration of sister cities.

Vivaldi’s “Spring” is performed by "Symphonicity", an all-volunteer orchestra in Hampton Roads, Va., featuring violinist Megan Van Gomple.

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