Penrith and Fujieda
- 20years -

2004
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
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Perth and Kagoshima
- 30years -

Expo Inspires Friendship Ties
Japanese Teachers in Australia also play key role

Queensland is all the more interested in Japan, and boasts a high demand for Japanese language education. Osaka, which shares friendship ties with Queensland, is assisting Japanese language education through a training program for teachers.

At first glance, Osaka and Queensland seem an unlikely match, but in fact they both have been successful host cities for the WORLD EXPO. EXPO '70 in Osaka followed the footsteps of the Tokyo Olympics as an event that characterized the prosperity and rapid development of post-war Japan in the Showa period. Queensland's capital Brisbane underwent a remarkable facelift for EXPO '88, and was transformed into a modern metropolis. Southbank Parklands, which sits on the site used for EXPO '88, is a popular afternoon spot for tourists who are able to enjoy the beautiful sunset across the river. Although Osaka and Queensland have shared ties since Osaka hosted the Pan-Pacific Local Government Leaders Conference in 1983, a formal friendship agreement was made at EXPO in Brisbane. Mutual bonds have since been strengthened through exchange activities developed to meet the needs of both cities.

Queensland has great hopes for the affect exchange activities will have on trade and investment. In 1999 the Queensland state government set up an office in the new ‘Rinkuu Town' international business centre that overlooks Kansai International Airport. Realising the aims of the economic support document signed in 1998 to commemorate 10 years of this sister city relationship; this office was the first to be established by the Australian government outside of Tokyo. The Osaka office organised many visits for the International Business Organisation of Osaka to Queensland last year, as well as many other business talks.

Osaka prefecture has equal expectations for youth exchange programs. Several hundred students have visited their fellow sister city as participants in the annual Osaka International Boys and Girls Choral Festival, home stays and other programs.

The ‘Guest Teacher Program' is another unique example. Japanese language teachers from Queensland visit Osaka for 2-6 months, where they teach English at schools and take part in international exchange activities whilst undertaking courses in Japanese education. This project undoubtedly has many benefits. Kathy Hanson, a Gold Coast primary school teacher who teaches Japanese, took part last year. She was worried that her own Japanese skills had dropped, as she usually has very few chances to listen and speak ‘real-life' Japanese, but after two or three weeks in Japan she says the Japanese that had ‘lay dormant somewhere' all came back to her again. Kathy regained confidence in her language skills by having to use Japanese everyday. She also developed new teaching techniques through her own Japanese lessons at the Japanese language school in Osaka.

Kathy says that her days on the guest teacher program were filled with excitement, as she experienced the Japanese culture and lifestyle first-hand. This program has also brightened the lives of many people in Osaka, who are very appreciative for the opportunity to take part. This program is certainly a model example of ‘mutually worthwhile exchanges' to which Osaka and Queensland both aspire.

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