On 30 July 2013 at the SydneyTown Hall, students and teachers from Nagoya paid a courtesy visit to the City of Sydney. The sixteen students and two teachers, from eight Nagoya high schools visited Sydney during their summer break as part of an annual overseas training program. This two week long program aims to deepen the Sydney – Nagoya sister city relationship by offering participating students language training, a home stay experience and an opportunity to participate in local classes.
During the afternoon tea ceremony that was held for the visitors, Sydney City Councillor Robert Kok and President of the Sydney-Nagoya Sister City Committee David Butcher each gave a welcome address. In return, principal of Koyo High School Noriaki Tsugane and delegate of students Anna Yamamoto each thanked their host by giving – in English – speeches of gratitude.
Aside from this courtesy visit, Mr. Tsugane visited the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities on 23 July to meet with the organisers of the home stays. On 1 August he also visited CherrybrookHigh School, which has a long-running Japanese language program.
