Students in the Auburn and Kent school districts who are in the ninth grade, or about to enter ninth grade, can learn about the culture of Japan firsthand, by becoming a student ambassador through the Kent-Auburn-Tamba Sister Cities Committee.

The organization works to cultivate exchange relationships between students on both sides of the Pacific, through home stays during the summer.

The application deadline is Jan. 31.

Request applications by sending e-mails to coshiro@hotmail.

Organizers are encouraging students and their families to familiarize themselves with the program through the organization’s Web site, at www.katsistercity.org.

In addition, the group will be having an open house meeting Tuesday at Auburn Mountainview High School, 28900 124th Ave. SE. in Auburn.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m., and anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Interested students should bring a parent with them to the meeting. Questions will be answered and paperwork administered at the meeting.

For more information about the program please contact Carol Oshiro at coshiro@hotmail.com.

The Kent-Auburn-Tamba Sister Cities Committee also works on a variety of other programs, including: one-year high school exchanges; people-to-people, recreational, cultural and business exchanges.