The longstanding Sister City relationship between Gladstone Regional Council and Saiki City, Japan, reached a significant milestone in 2026, with the two communities celebrating 30 years of friendship, cultural exchange and shared connection.
To mark the 30th anniversary, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett, Gladstone Regional Council and the local community welcomed a delegation from Saiki City in July 2026.
The delegation was led by Saiki Mayor Kuniko Tomitaka and included Saiki City Council representatives Kyo Sugahara (Secretary to the Mayor, Mayor’s Office and Public Relations Division); Takatoshi Fukuda (Assistant Director, Connecting Communities Division); Hiroaki Kamikawa (Assistant Chief General, Connecting Communities Division); and Kate Alessia Maccarone (Coordinator for International Relations, Connecting Communities Division).
The delegation was also joined by a group of Saiki students who travelled to the Gladstone region to experience local schools, community life, culture and industry, and to build connections with young people and the wider Gladstone community.
The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on three decades of connection between Saiki and Gladstone, while also strengthening the relationship for future generations.
【Connecting through education and young people】
A key focus of the visit was providing opportunities for the Saiki students to connect with young people in the Gladstone region.
The students participated in visits to Chanel College, Tannum Sands State School and Tannum Sands State High School, giving them the opportunity to experience Australian education and meet local students. The school visits encouraged cultural exchange, with students sharing their experiences of life and education in Japan and Australia.
The students also stayed with local host families in Tannum Sands, providing a valuable opportunity to experience everyday Australian family and community life.
For the young participants, the visit was about much more than sightseeing. It created friendships, encouraged cross-cultural understanding and demonstrated how international relationships can have a lasting impact at a personal level.
【Showcasing the Gladstone region】
The delegation also experienced some of the diverse opportunities and attractions that make the Gladstone region unique.
The program included visits to Awoonga Dam, CQUniversity, local schools, the Gladstone Region Art Gallery and Museum (GRAGM), the Gladstone Library and local industry.
A regional industry tour provided the Saiki delegation with an insight into Gladstone’s economic strengths and industrial landscape, while visits to local cultural facilities showcased the region’s creative and community assets. The program also included opportunities to experience the local environment, including visits around Tannum Sands and the coastline.
【Strengthening economic and civic connections】
The anniversary visit also provided an opportunity to strengthen connections beyond cultural exchange.
A Trade and Investment Round Table brought together representatives to discuss opportunities for economic and business connections between Gladstone and Saiki.
The Saiki delegation also met with local representatives and experienced a range of Gladstone facilities and community initiatives, reinforcing the broader value of the Sister City relationship.
These activities highlighted how the relationship has the potential to support not only cultural and educational exchange, but also future collaboration across business, investment, tourism and community development.
【Sharing culture and community】
Cultural exchange was an important part of the visit, with the delegation experiencing local arts, community activities and Australian traditions.
A cultural burn, visits to the Gladstone Region Art Gallery and Museum and community activities provided opportunities for the delegation to learn more about the region’s history, culture and identity.
The visit also included a farewell barbecue at Millennium Esplanade, bringing together the delegation, local students, host families, Council representatives and members of the community.
These informal moments were an important part of the program, allowing relationships to develop beyond the formal itinerary.
【Looking to the next 30 years】
The 30th anniversary visit was an opportunity to celebrate the history of the Saiki–Gladstone relationship while looking towards its future.
Since the Sister City relationship commenced in 1996, generations of residents, students, volunteers, community organisations and local government representatives have contributed to maintaining the connection between the two cities. The 2026 delegation demonstrated that the relationship continues to provide meaningful opportunities for cultural understanding, education, friendship and collaboration.
Most importantly, the visit placed young people at the centre of the anniversary celebrations, helping to ensure that the friendship between Saiki and Gladstone continues to grow.
As the two communities look towards the next chapter, the 30th anniversary provides a strong foundation for renewed student exchanges, cultural programs, community partnerships and opportunities for people from Saiki and Gladstone to learn from one another.
Thirty years of friendship is a significant achievement – and the connections created through this visit will help shape the next 30 years of the Saiki–Gladstone Sister City relationship.
My name is Dashiel Baker. I’m a second-year Arts student at UNSW studying Politics & International Relations and Japanese. I’ve been self-studying Japanese for about six years now, on and off, and that study led me to CLAIR. I recently completed an internship at CLAIR Sydney through my university’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, and so I thought it would be useful to briefly document my experience.
Over the last two months, two days a week, I primarily did bilingual policy research in English and Japanese on topics ranging from busking laws to the minimum wage to homelessness. But my main project was comparing the NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program with Japan’s compact-city planning framework (ricchi tekiseika keikaku). Far more interesting than it sounds; Japan is planning its cities inward because there will soon be too few people to keep the outskirts running, whereas NSW is rezoning around its stations because there are too many people and nowhere to put them. Opposite problems, and yet, both arrived at more or less the same answer.
Aside from that, a particular highlight was getting the opportunity to deliver an orientation briefing in Japanese to a group of visiting Japanese middle school students. Two months earlier, I’m almost certain, I would have been far too nervous to even attempt something of the sort. What I’ll carry with me most, though, is the office environment itself. I won’t name anyone in particular because that would mean having to name everyone. But our weekly one-on-one discussions meant I got the chance to know everyone properly, and not just those I worked with directly.
On my last day I was thrown a farewell party, and at the end of it everyone stood up and made a tunnel with their arms for me to walk out through. I thought about it the entire way home.
So thank you all for your patience with my Japanese, your feedback on my mountain of drafts, and your kindness throughout.
Located in the Northern Hemisphere, Japan is now in the height of summer.
Many people may associate summers in Japan with intense heat and humidity that can be difficult to endure. Compared to Australia and New Zealand, Japan’s summer climate is generally hotter and more humid, which may not always feel as comfortable.
However, there’s so much to enjoy in Japan during the summer that you will soon forget all about the heat and humidity. Every year, vibrant festivals, energetic traditional celebrations, and spectacular fireworks displays are held across the country.
These events provide the perfect opportunity to experience the history and culture of each region, as well as the unique atmosphere of a Japanese summer.
In this article, I would like to introduce several memorable summer events that I discovered while living in different regions of Japan.
Akita Kanto Festival: Illuminating Akita’s Summer Night Skies
Located in Japan’s northern Tohoku region, Akita Prefecture is home to a traditional summer festival known as the Akita Kanto Festival, which has been celebrated for approximately 270 years.
Every year from 3 to 6 August, the streets of central Akita City are transformed after sunset as around 280 giant bamboo poles, known as kanto, fill the streets, each adorned with rows of illuminated lanterns.
Source: Akita Kanto Festival Official Site
The kanto are designed to resemble heavy stalks of rice bending under the weight of abundant grains, symbolising a bountiful harvest.
The largest poles stand up to 12 metres tall, weigh around 50 kilograms, and carry approximately 50 lanterns.
Performers, known as sashite, demonstrate extraordinary skill by balancing these towering poles on their palms, foreheads, shoulders, and hips while praying for a bountiful harvest.
The sight of nearly 10,000 golden lanterns glowing against the summer night sky is truly breathtaking, and the entire venue comes alive with energy and excitement.
Nishimonai Bon Odori: One of Japan’s Three Great Bon Dances
Also in Akita, the town of Ugo hosts the Nishimonai Bon Odori from 16 to 18 August each year.
This traditional event is said to have a history spanning more than 700 years and is regarded as one of Japan’s Three Great Bon Dances.
From dusk into the evening, dancers dressed in beautiful patchwork kimono perform graceful and elegant movements while concealing their faces with woven hats or black hoods. Unlike the lively atmosphere of typical festivals, the Nishimonai Bon Odori has a mysterious and enchanting quality. Illuminated by bonfires, the dancers seem to emerge from the darkness, creating a captivating spectacle that leaves a lasting impression on all who watch.
Source: Ugomachi Town Office
Omagari Hanabi: A Gathering Place for Fireworks Enthusiasts from Across Japan
Another highlight of Akita’s summer is the National Fireworks Competition known as Omagari Hanabi, held annually on the final Saturday of August.
Widely regarded as one of Japan’s premier fireworks events, it features spectacular displays by some of the country’s finest pyrotechnicians, selected from across the nation, who captivate the enormous crowds that gather at the venue each year. Watching the fireworks burst overhead while hearing the thunderous sound echo throughout the venue is truly an unforgettable and powerful experience.
One more unique feature of Omagari Hanabi is its daytime fireworks show, which allow spectators to enjoy colourful smoke patterns and their changing forms in the sky, something rarely seen elsewhere.
The grand finale consists of approximately 2,500 fireworks launched over about 6 minutes, synchronised with music and based on a different theme or concept each year. For me, the end of Omagari Hanabi was always when I truly felt that summer was drawing to a close.
Source: Omagari Hanabi Official Site
Abare Festival: Japan’s Wildest Festival
In Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, the Abare Festival is held annually on the first Friday and Saturday of July and is one of Japan’s most unique festivals.
With a history believed to span around 350 years, this festival is held to ward off illness and pray for the prosperity of the local community. Around 40 giant lantern floats, known as kiriko, each standing approximately 7 metres tall, parade through the town. At night, they gather in the central square and make their way around enormous bonfires.
It is believed that those who are showered by sparks from the bonfires will receive blessings.
Source: Abare Festival Official Site
As a result, the Kiriko bearers strive to bring their floats as close to the flames as possible and circle them repeatedly in search of good fortune.
The festival reaches its dramatic finale when two mikoshi (portable shrines) are thrown into the sea, rivers, and even fires, or slammed onto the ground until they are almost completely destroyed.
This extraordinary ritual stems from the belief that such acts please the deities residing within the mikoshi and allows people to deepen their connection to them.
The Abare Festival is an energetic celebration where, amid its wild and powerful displays, visitors can experience the deep-rooted history, culture, and pride of the local community.
The Magic of Japanese Summer
Many people may hesitate to visit Japan during the summer. However, as highlighted above, this season offers unique events and experiences that can only be enjoyed at this time of year. Through these festivals and celebrations, visitors can experience the distinct histories, cultures, and community spirit of different regions across Japan, making the opportunity to encounter these local traditions one of the greatest highlights of a Japanese summer.
If you have the chance to visit Japan during the summer, I highly encourage you to experience the festivals and fireworks events held across the country. They are sure to leave you with unforgettable memories that make you forget the heat and humidity, along with a deeper appreciation for the richness of Japanese culture that has been carefully preserved and passed down through generations.
