Sister City Stories

The first Australia-Japan sister city affiliation was established between Lismore (NSW) and Yamatotakada (Nara Prefecture) in 1963, and a decade later the first New Zealand-Japan link between Christchurch and Kurashiki (Okayama Prefecture) was set up.

Since then, Japan's grassroots links with the two countries have grown steadily and are now numbered at 105 with Australia and 43 with New Zealand. Many an exciting and mutually beneficial exchange have evolved from these links, further bolstering our countries' friendly and favourable relationships.

The following are just some of the interesting examples among many.

Penrith and Fujieda - 20years -

2004 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Click on each to view

Perth and Kagoshima - 30years -

AUS/NZ Counterpart	JPN Counterpart	Year Established	Topic
Sydney (NSW)	Nagoya (Aichi)	1980	20th Anniversary of link coincides with Sydney Olympics
Brisbane (Qld)	Narashino (Chiba)	1998	Link inspired by migratory birds, focusing on wetland conservation
Christchurch (NZ)	Kurashiki  (Okayama)	1973	The oldest NZ-Japan sister city link looks to the next century
Devonport (Tas)	Minamata (Kumamoto)	1996	Tasmanian youth seconded to Japanese sister city for 3 years
Bathurst (NSW)	Ohkuma (Fukushima)	1991	Australian city produces a book for students in sister city
Melbourne (Vic)	Osaka (Osaka)	1978	Link between major metropolitan cities has mutual benefits
Wollongong (NSW)	Kawasaki (Kanagawa)	1988	Multi-faceted friendship flourishes between industrial cities
Victoria State	Aichi Prefecture	1980	The first State-Prefecture link in Australia
Duaringa (Qld)	Fujisawa (Iwate)	1993	Link shows strong similarities between Australian & Japanese rural areas.
Adelaide (SA)	Himeji (Hyogo)	1982	ASCA Conference 2000 highlights the many Australia-Japan sister city links.
Queensland State	Osaka Pref.	1988	Expo Inspires Friendship Ties Japanese Teachers in Australia also play key role
Canberra (ACT)	Nara (Nara)	1993	NEW CITY OF THE 21ST CENTURY AND ANCIENT CAPITAL TIES THAT BIND
Mackay (QLD)	Matsuura (Nagasaki)	1989	Cathy Freeman's Home Town Exchange Links Grow with Song of Friendship
Ballarat (VIC)	Inakawa (Hyogo)	1988	Japanese Factories Rush to Gold Mining Town Links with Japan's Silver Town help attract corporation
Broome (WA)	Taichi (Wakayama)	1981	Sister Cities tell history of Japan-Australia relations Japanese cemetery in the ‘Pearl City' of Western Australia
Lismore (NSW)	Yamatotakada (Nara)	1963	Dreams behind first sister city ties between Australia and Japan

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