In Japanese, kakehashi means "building bridges." The KAKEHASHI Project is a government-funded grassroots exchange program designed to foster mutual understanding by bringing groups of North Americans to Japan for meaningful, immersive, and customized cultural experiences.

​

In 2024, the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) partnered with the Japanese Embassy and the Kakehashi Program to send two of our Cherry Blossom Delegates to participate in this unique opportunity. The 2022 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen, Sarah Eustace, and 2023 Runner-Up Carlisle Cooper were selected to represent NCSS in the program.

​

Looking ahead to 2025, the Kakehashi Program will send four NCSS delegates on a 10-day cultural and educational trip to Japan. The chosen delegates include:

​

Inuri Abeysekara (2024 VT Delegate) – essay winner from the 2024 program
Shannon Maharajh ( 2024 FL Delegate)
Morgan Johnson (2024 PA Delegate)
Alexandra Evers (2024 RI Delegate)

​

These young women will continue the mission of building international bridges through cultural exchange, leadership, and friendship.