-
Pre-Departure Orientations for New JET Participants
JET Programme Pre-Departure Orientations were held at embassies and consulates across Australia and New Zealand for new JETs.
The orientations featured informative sessions led by a consulate official, who covered key points for new participants, as well as valuable advice and Q&A sessions facilitated by JETAA (JET Alumni Association) members.
CLAIR Sydney also provided an overview of our role in the JET Programme, including the support system and training we offer for new JETs.
The new JETs will be departing for Japan between late July and early August. During their time on the JET Programme, we hope they will gain a wide range of experiences and broaden their horizons in their respective placements across the country. We also hope that, through grassroots exchanges with the Japanese people, they will serve as bridges connecting Japan with Australia and New Zealand. We wish them all a wonderful and fulfilling time in Japan.
For more details about the JET Programme, visit the JET Programme official website below:
-
On Saturday, 20 June, CLAIR Sydney travelled to Lismore, New South Wales, to participate in the Lismore Lantern Parade at the invitation of Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg.
Held annually on the Saturday closest to the winter solstice, the Lismore Lantern Parade is one of the city’s signature winter events, attracting more than 30,000 visitors each year. Together with representatives of Lismore City Council and the Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney, CLAIR Sydney carried a lantern featuring Miku-chan, the mascot of Yamato-Takada City in Nara Prefecture.
This lantern symbolizes the longstanding ties between Yamato-Takada and Lismore, whose sister-city partnership, established in 1963, was the first between Japan and Australia.
Prior to the parade, we visited the Southern Cross University Japan Centre, where we received a warm welcome from university staff and students. We also viewed an exhibition dedicated to Father Tony Glynn, a Lismore native who devoted his life to fostering friendship and understanding between Japan and Australia in the post-war period. As 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Japan and Australia, the visit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the importance of passing on the legacy of Japan–Australia friendship to future generations.
CLAIR Sydney looks forward to continuing to support sister-city relationships and broader cooperation between local governments in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
-
From 23 to 25 June, the 2026 National General Assembly (NGA) of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) was held in Canberra, bringing together more than 1,100 mayors, councillors and local government representatives from across Australia. This event featured keynote presentations and discussions on a wide range of issues facing local governments.
One of the key topics was the financial crisis affecting local government across Australia. Delegates unanimously adopted an emergency motion calling on the Australian Parliament to ensure a fairer distribution of funding by increasing untied Financial Assistance Grants, noting that the current level of funding is threatening the viability of local governments.
CLAIR Sydney hosted a booth at the venue to introduce our activities and promote two upcoming initiatives. The first is the CLAIR Forum, scheduled to be held in Sydney this December, where local government representatives from Japan, Australia and New Zealand will present case studies and exchange ideas and initiatives. The second is the Local Government Exchange and Cooperation Seminar (
https://www.jlgc.org.au/…/the-local-government…/), to be held in Goka Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, in February next year. Senior local government executives from Australia and New Zealand will attend to learn about Japan’s local government and administration.
At the Gala Dinner on the final day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a speech, highlighting the vital role local governments play in delivering the services and infrastructure Australians rely on every day, including local roads, bridges, community facilities, parks and libraries. He also emphasised the importance of continued investment in, and partnership with, local governments to build stronger communities and a better future for Australia.
Participating in the NGA provided a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of the various challenges facing local governments in Australia, while also strengthening our network with local government representatives from across the country.
-
On 1 June, we joined Burwood Council for a study session. These sessions have been held annually since 2024, making this the third exchange between our organisations.
Representatives from the JLGC Sydney Office first introduced a project being implemented in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, which is the home municipality of one of our Assistant Executive Directors. Under this project, high school students collaborate with local businesses to develop specialty products. Burwood Council participants showed particular interest in how participating businesses are selected and were eager to learn more about this aspect of the project. We then introduced Japan’s local government mascots, commonly known as yuru-chara, which play an important role in enhancing regional recognition and brand value, as well as communicating government initiatives in an accessible and engaging way. The participating Assistant Executive Directors introduced mascots from their respective local governments and organisations and explained the characters’ backgrounds, roles and activities. In response, Burwood Council participants asked a range of questions, including how mascot designs are submitted and how the final designs are selected.
Burwood Council then provided an overview of its future-oriented urban development initiatives. Located approximately 15 minutes by train from central Sydney, Burwood currently has a population of around 45,000, which is expected to double over the next decade. In anticipation of this growth, as well as the planned opening of a new metro station in 2032, the Council outlined its approach to promoting high-density urban development alongside the enhancement of high-quality public spaces. Specific initiatives include the development of a new cultural facility that will serve as a hub for arts and culture, the installation of public art, and measures to stimulate the night-time economy and create a vibrant urban environment. The Council also explained its efforts to incorporate community input into urban planning through advisory committees made up of local residents and online consultation platforms that enable broad public participation.
Following the discussion, we joined Burwood Council staff on a site visit to observe projects aimed at enhancing public spaces through public art and promoting the night-time economy. With development and revitalisation projects underway across many parts of the city, we were able to gain valuable insights into Burwood’s ongoing urban transformation.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone at Burwood Council for providing us with this valuable learning opportunity.
-
～Grand Prize – ¥500,000～
SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN for the 15th Annual Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest!
（Deadline: August 31st）
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The 15th edition of the Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest is now officially accepting entries – including the special ‘U-15 Youth Manga Artist Prize’ for entrants aged 15 and under. The contest is open to artists worldwide and submissions are accepted in any language!
This year’s theme is ‘Clothing’.
Entries will be accepted until Monday August 31st (JST).
The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash prize of ¥500,000, and selected artists will be invited to Tottori Prefecture for the award ceremony. Winning works will be compiled into a professionally published collection. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this prestigious international celebration of comic art – get your entries in before the deadline!
-
The latest issue of our correspondence is released.
View this correspondence in PDF.
-
Newsletter No.201
-
Ehime Prefecture is located along Japan’s Seto Inland Sea and is home to approximately 1.27 million people. It is known for its warm climate and outstanding scenic beauty, along with its long history of citrus cultivation. The prefecture is made up of many islands, with the unique landscape of the Seto Inland Sea spreading throughout. In recent years, Ehime has become increasingly popular as a tourist destination, welcoming many domestic and international visitors all year round.
In 2027, Ehime Prefecture will host “Velo-city,” an international bicycle conference, for the first time in Japan. Velo-city is one of the largest academic conferences, bringing bicycle companies, researchers, and experts together from around the world. While discussing various topics including tourism, safety, and urban planning, participants can enjoy the cityscape of Matsuyama through a bicycle parade and will also be able to visit other parts of the prefecture via ‘technical visits’ (explained below).
In recent years, Ehime Prefecture has become one of the leading centers of bicycle culture in Japan. Many local residents begin riding bicycles at a very young age, and the majority of high school students commute to school by bike. Furthermore, the prefecture boasts Japan’s highest helmet-wearing rate, demonstrating strong safety awareness throughout the community. This well-established environment, which allows people of all ages to use bicycles safely on a daily basis, positions Ehime Prefecture as a center of Japan’s bicycle culture.
Technical visits are guided tours that allow participants to explore various locations throughout the prefecture during Velo-city, featuring multiple courses with different themes. There is a course to learn about the infrastructure and scenery of the “Shimanami Kaido,” Japan’s representative maritime cycling route; a course to study safety education initiatives in schools by observing Japan’s typical morning school commute; and a course to experience the “Henro,” a pilgrimage to Buddhist temples, by bicycle. By participating in these technical visits and experiencing the local atmosphere, participants can gain valuable insights into the prefecture’s bicycle policies firsthand.
On the second day (Wednesday, 26 May 2027), a spectacular bicycle parade will fill the city center. While showcasing the prefecture’s appeal as an international model bicycle city, the event will provide a chance for all participants to experience and share how bicycles act as a catalyst for regional revitalisation, bringing new possibilities for future urban space allocation, health, a sense of purpose in life, and friendship.
During the four-day event, approximately 80 plenary breakout sessions will be held at the venue, with discussions centered around key themes and priorities. The conference program content will be determined by selecting proposals submitted during the abstract submission period, which begins in September. To encourage active exchange of diverse perspectives, Ehime welcomes a large number of submissions. Participants are invited to apply and help make this event a success.
-
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony recognising outstanding achievement in Japanese-related studies, hosted by the Australia-Japan Society of NSW (AJS-NSW).
On the day
, certificates were presented to seven outstanding students nominated by seven universities[1] in the Greater Sydney region, and each recipient delivered a speech.
All of the award recipients shared reflections along similar lines, such as: “Thanks to studying Japanese, I’ve had incredible experiences, like studying at a Japanese university through an exchange program and making friends from diverse backgrounds, that have truly changed my life.” Another common sentiment was: “Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a career related to Japan or possibly live there in the future, so I will continue to work hard to achieve these goals.”
Learning and mastering a language other than one’s mother tongue is by no means an easy task. First and foremost, I would like to express my deep respect to the award recipients for their dedicated commitment to studying Japanese.
I am also delighted that their language studies have sparked such a strong interest in Japan and a genuine desire to deepen their understanding. I was deeply impressed by their determination to maintain a connection with Japan long after graduation.
On a personal note, I moved to Sydney last July, my first time living abroad, and I must admit that I still find speaking English challenging at times. However, seeing the dedication of the award recipients has inspired me to renew my own efforts. By conversing and connecting with others in English, I hope to further deepen my understanding of the local people, culture, and values in this region.
[1] The seven universities were Macquarie University, The University of Newcastle, University of New England, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), The University of New South Wales (UNSW), The University of Sydney, and Western Sydney University.
-
On Thursday, 21 May, representatives from Yamagata City, who came to Australia to exhibit at the Snow Travel Expo held in Melbourne and Sydney, paid a visit to CLAIR Sydney Office.
During their visit, we outlined the role of our office and provided an overview of Australia’s society and economy, as well as the current state of inbound tourism to Japan.
This led to an engaging discussion on the differences in industry structure between Japan and Australia and recent trends in inbound tourism.
CLAIR Sydney also supports a wide range of initiatives undertaken by Japanese local governments in Australia and New Zealand. If you require assistance with your activities, please feel free to contact us.
