Keiko Shimakura and Jacinda Riveria draw together Wednesday at Pinckney School, 810 W. Sixth St. Students from Hiratsuka, Japan, Lawrence's sister city, marked their first visit to a U.S. school at Pinckney after arriving in Lawrence on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It’s the meeting of East and West.

A group of children from Lawrence’s sister city, Hiratsuka, Japan, are in town visiting as part of an exchange program.

“We hope that it fosters a better understanding of different cultures,” said trip coordinator Cathy Hilliard. “We have had a lot of good luck with kids that have gone over and had a wonderful experience both ways.”

The 18 Japanese students spent time this morning with elementary students at Pinckney School during the Boys and Girls Club summer program.

Students from Lawrence usually visit Japan in June, while school is still in session, but this is the first time the Japanese students have gone into an American school.

“The Japanese kids were really excited about the possibility of coming to see what the elementary kids are doing for the summer,” Hilliard said.

The kids played games, did arts and crafts and made and ate pizzas.

And it was exposure to a new culture for the Lawrence natives.

“We learned what they eat, like sushi and lo mein,” said Alexis Mumford, 11. “I thought it was great to see them because their style of what they wore.”

The Japanese kids said they are hoping to take great memories of their trip back to Japan. They said Lawrence was hot and dry, had fewer mountains than Japan, and had a lot of corn fields. Hiratsuka is about 30 miles from Tokyo.

And they noted that everyone was very nice to them.

Any Lawrence middle or high school student can apply to go to Japan. Based on their experiences today, some are ready for it.

“I would like to see how different they are,” Alexis said.

Eliana Seidener, 8, is a few years away from the trip but would like to see Japan.

“I just want to learn about the different experiences they have,” Eliana said.

The Japanese group also stopped by City Hall, where they met Commissioner Boog Highberger. The students are staying with families around Lawrence.

And Hilliard is hoping the kids make some connections.

“It’s been really wonderful to see those friendships blossom into later years where they’re still contacting each other and sharing their lives across the ocean,” she said. “It’s been a neat experience.”