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The Host Town Initiative for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

［January 2019］
The Host Town Initiative for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

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As you may know, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Tokyo and other Japanese cities between July and September 2020. The Japanese people are proud to be hosting this pinnacle event for all athletes. We are also looking forward to welcoming athletes and people from all over the world and together with the visitors, enjoy the largest sporting event in the world.

As the host of this special event, Japan has been implementing the Host Town Initiative across the country ahead of the Games. The Host Town Initiative is a project implemented by the Government of Japan, where Japanese local governments can register themselves as a host town for Olympics and Paralympics delegations. Once registered as a host town, prefectures and municipalities will welcome athletes and people from partner countries participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and conduct exchange activities in the fields of sports, culture, economics, and so on with their partner countries. The host towns will also support their partner countries’ teams to ensure they perform greatly during the Tokyo 2020 Games. Additionally, as the people of the host towns extend their warm hospitality to their guests, they will also have opportunities to be involved in various exciting exchange activities with the athletes and people from their partner countries.

The Host Town Initiative is beneficial to everyone. From the Olympians and Paralympians’ perspective, they will be cheered on by locals from their host towns during the Tokyo 2020 Games, and be welcomed with different sports workshops and cultural events held by the people of their host towns before or after the Tokyo 2020 Games. Some host towns may even host pre-game training camps for their guests. As for the people of the partner countries, the host towns may invite guests from their partner countries to visit and learn about each other’s culture, or conduct student exchange activities to promote mutual understanding. All of these activities may hopefully lead to the participation in mutual festivals or events from the people of both the host towns and partner countries.

As of 28 Dec 2018, there have been 288 host towns registered across Japan. There are 14 host towns whose partner country is Australia, and 12 host towns whose partner country is New Zealand. Please click on the following link to see the list of the registered host towns as of 2 Nov 2018: (https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/tokyo2020_suishin_honbu/hosttown_suisin/pdf/document4.pdf).

The number of the host towns has been increasing gradually and is expected to continue to increase in future. Please click on the following link to find information on the Host Town Initiative, and updates to the registered host town list: (https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/tokyo2020_suishin_honbu/hosttown_suisin/index_e.html).

Some of the host towns have sister city or friendship city relationships with Australia and New Zealand. If your city or organisation has any connections with any of the host towns for Australia or New Zealand, it may be an excellent opportunity to further develop these existing ties. If your city or organisation considers initiating a new sister city or friendship city relationship, it might be a good idea to seek the possibilities of achieving this with the host towns for Australia or New Zealand.

The Japanese people welcomes Australians and New Zealanders to the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes that the host towns’ ties with Australia and New Zealand will be further strengthened through the many anticipated people interactions sparked by the Host Town Initiative.

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  •  The Sydney Marathon, a sister marathon of the Nagoya City Marathon, was held on 29–30 August. Two runners from Nagoya took on different challenges, with one running the 5km mini marathon and the other completing the full 42km marathon.
     
    CLAIR Sydney supported the runners on the day and also coordinated their courtesy visit to the City of Sydney after the event.
     
     
    Last year marked the 45th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Nagoya and Sydney. During the visit, the runners presented a letter from the Mayor of Nagoya expressing hopes for an even stronger friendship between the two cities.
    They also met with City of Sydney councillors Cr Robert Kok and Cr Lyndon Gannon, both of whom had previously visited Nagoya.
     
     
     
    We hope exchanges such as these will continue to deepen the long-standing ties between Nagoya and Sydney in the years ahead. Congratulations to both runners on their amazing achievements!
    CLAIR Sydney supports a wide range of activities by Japanese local governments in Australia and New Zealand. Please feel free to contact us if we can assist with your activities in the region.
  • On Saturday, 26 September, the Executive Director of CLAIR Sydney attended a commemorative event held in Nelson, New Zealand, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Nelson City and Miyazu City in Kyoto Prefecture. The Director attended at the invitation of the Nelson-Miyazu Sister City Association and Nelson City Council.
     
     
    The relationship between the two cities began in 1974, when a Japanese parliamentary goodwill delegation led by Mr Shigesaburo Maeo, then Speaker of the House of Representatives and a native of Miyazu, made an official visit to New Zealand. During the visit, the delegation travelled to Nelson, the hometown of Sir Stanley Whitehead, then Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament. The two cities share geographical similarities, with Nelson’s sandspit resembling Miyazu’s Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s three most scenic views. In addition to this geographical similarity, they also share similar climates, natural environments and industries. With the support and mediation of the parliamentary speakers of both countries, a sister city agreement was formally concluded in 1976.
     
     
    On the day of the event, a Cherry Blossom Festival was held at the Miyazu Japanese Garden in Nelson, attended by sister city representatives from both cities, including the Miyazu delegation led by Mayor Masafumi Kizaki and City Council Chair Tomiyoshi Matsuura. At the opening ceremony, His Excellency Makoto Osawa, Ambassador of Japan to New Zealand, presented a certificate of commendation to the Nelson-Miyazu Sister City Association in recognition of its longstanding contributions to exchanges between the two cities.
    The festival featured taiko drumming and choral performances of Japanese songs by Nelson residents, creating a warm and festive atmosphere throughout the day. As New Zealand enters spring while Japan moves into autumn, the cherry blossoms had just begun to bloom at the time of the event, adding a beautiful touch of colour to this significant 50-year milestone. The festival was made possible through the dedicated efforts of many people, including Ms Linley Smith, Chair of the Nelson-Miyazu Sister City Association. It was a heartwarming and memorable event that reflected the passion and commitment of those who have supported the relationship between the two cities over many years.
     
     
    In the evening, Nelson City Council hosted a commemorative dinner. Attendees from both cities reflected on the achievements and enduring friendship built through exchanges over the past half century, and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their relationship in the years ahead. Among the Miyazu delegation was an English teacher who had previously stayed with Nelson’s current Mayor, Nick Smith, as part of a sister city exchange program. This example highlighted how people-to-people exchanges, particularly those involving younger generations, can both equip participants to carry international exchange forward and have a profound impact on their lives. These connections form an important foundation for the ongoing relationship between the two cities.
     
    At a time of growing global uncertainty, this event was a valuable reminder of the importance of people-to-people connections, which lie at the heart of sister city relationships and other exchanges between local governments. We would like to express our sincere respect and gratitude to all those who have contributed to the friendship between Nelson and Miyazu over the years. We hope that this relationship will continue to flourish, be passed on to future generations and grow even stronger in the future.
  •  The South West Japan Festival was held in Bunbury, Western Australia, over a two week period from 7 to 20 September.
    The festival has been held annually since 2018 to celebrate the sister city relationship between Setagaya City, Tokyo, and Bunbury. This year, a variety of events were held in Bunbury and the surrounding region, including sushi making workshops, screenings of films about Japanese culture, and exchange activities with visiting Japanese high school students.
     
     
     
    CLAIR Sydney participated in Bunbury Matsuri Day, the festival’s flagship event and grand finale, where we hosted a booth alongside members of the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) Western Australia Chapter, showcasing tourist destinations and local government initiatives from across Japan.
     
    The strong interest in Japan was evident throughout the event, with several visitors travelling approximately 3 hours by car from Perth to attend. Following the event, the Floating Lantern Ceremony provided a memorable conclusion, with lanterns decorated with Japanese flags and cherry blossom motifs illuminating the river, reflecting the deep affection for Japan within the local community.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CLAIR Sydney will continue to promote the attractions and initiatives of local communities throughout Japan through participation in events such as these.
     
     
  • On Sunday, 20 September, CLAIR Sydney hosted a booth at Japan and Friends Day 2026, held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Organised by the Japanese Society of Gold Coast, the event gave us an opportunity to showcase the many attractions of destinations across Japan.
     
     Many visitors stopped by our booth to ask for recommendations for their next trip to Japan. Some also shared what they love about Japan’s beaches and how they differ from those on the Gold Coast. It was wonderful to meet so many people whose travels had deepened their appreciation for Japan’s nature, food and traditional culture.
     
     
     
     
    CLAIR Sydney looks forward to continuing to share the diverse attractions of destinations across Japan with people in Australia and New Zealand through events like this.
    Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and we hope to see you again!
     
     
     
     
     
  • On Sunday, 13 September, the JCS Japan Festival in Chatswood 2026 was held in Chatswood, in Northern Sydney. The event was organised by the Japan Club of Sydney (JCS).
     
     
     
    Attendees enjoyed Japanese culture through Japanese food stalls and hands-on experiences such as sumi-e ink painting and origami, as well as taiko and karate performances. According to the organiser, approximately 5,000 people attended the event, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the day.
     
     
    CLAIR Sydney hosted a booth showcasing tourist destinations and unique attractions of regions across Japan, including destinations beyond the well-known “Golden Route”. We also held a ring toss game for visitors who followed our Instagram account or completed a survey about their travel experiences in Japan. The activity was enjoyed by visitors of all ages, from young children to adults. Our booth welcomed a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, giving them an opportunity to discover the diverse attractions of Japan.
     
    We hope this event helped more people discover the many attractions of regions across Japan and inspired them to explore destinations beyond Japan’s best-known tourist spots in the future. Thank you to everyone who visited our booth!
  •  On Wednesday, 9 September, a farewell reception was held in Campbelltown, New South Wales, for a student delegation visiting Koshigaya City in Saitama Prefecture, Campbelltown’s sister city, later this month.
    At the reception, the students performed “I Am Australian”, a widely loved song inspired by Australia’s history and culture, as well as the Japanese song “Kaeru no Uta” (“The Frog Song”). The students had reportedly been practicing enthusiastically in preparation for their exchange with the people of Koshigaya, and their hard work was clearly reflected in their lively performances.
     
    Since establishing their sister-city relationship in 1984, Campbelltown and Koshigaya have maintained exchanges for more than 40 years through initiatives such as the opening of parks named after each city and organising reciprocal student exchange programmes. We would like to extend our deepest respect and appreciation to everyone who has contributed to strengthening the friendship between the two cities, and hope that the ties nurtured over many years will be passed on to future generations and continue to grow for years to come.
     

    Consul-General Yamanaka of the Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney (centre left), Cr Darcy Lound, Mayor of Campbelltown (centre right), and the student delegation.

     

    CLAIR Sydney staff at the reception with Mr Terry Cotty, President of the Campbelltown-Koshigaya Sister Cities Association (centre).

  • On Thursday, 3 September, three representatives from Obu City, Aichi Prefecture, including Deputy Mayor Yamaguchi, visited the CLAIR Sydney office during their visit trip to Australia to attend the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC 2026).
    CLAIR Sydney provided a briefing on recent developments in Australia and outlined key differences between the administrative systems of Japan and Australia.
     
     
     
     
    The delegation also shared information about Obu City’s initiatives, including its sister-city exchanges with the City of Port Phillip in Victoria. The sister-city relationship was originally established with the former City of St Kilda in November 1993, before St Kilda was amalgamated into the City of Port Phillip in June 1994.
     
     
     
     
    We hope the delegation found the visit both informative and enjoyable.
    CLAIR Sydney 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.
  •  From 9 to 11 September, CLAIR Sydney participated in the 2026 Taituarā Annual Conference in New Plymouth, New Zealand, which brought together local government professionals from across the country, including senior council executives and managers.
     
     
    As local governments face a rapidly changing environment shaped by fiscal constraints and ongoing reforms, the conference featured a forum for discussions on a wide range of topics. Through presentations, case studies, panel discussions and group workshops, participants examined effective leadership and organisational management, disaster and climate change response, and the use of artificial intelligence.
    A session titled “Strengthening communities through arts and culture” explored the role of cultural policies and events in strengthening community connections, fostering local identity and enhancing residents’ wellbeing.
     
    CLAIR Sydney will continue to follow the latest developments in local government across Australia and New Zealand and provide Japanese local governments with information and insights to support their policymaking and international activities.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Photos: Taituarā
  • From 25 to 27 August 2026, a delegation from Hyogo Prefecture, led by Vice Governor Yutaka Morimoto, visited Perth, Western Australia to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Hyogo Prefecture and Western Australia.

    During the visit, the delegation exchanged views with senior representatives of the Western Australian Government, including Premier Roger Cook, and signed a new joint statement aimed at further promoting exchanges between the two regions. As part of Hyogo Prefecture’s efforts to promote the use of hydrogen and support the transition to clean energy, the delegation also visited relevant facilities and engaged in discussions with local companies involved in the hydrogen sector.

                                                                                                                                      
     
    It is hoped that this visit will further strengthen the longstanding relationship between Hyogo Prefecture and Western Australia and contribute to the continued development of exchanges across a wide range of fields.
    A report on the visit is available on the Hyogo Prefecture International Affairs Division website (Japanese):
     
     
    CLAIR Sydney supported the delegation by assigning a staff member to accompany the visit, providing on-the-ground assistance and sharing information on current developments and local insights in Australia.
    If your organisation is seeking support for initiatives in Australia or New Zealand, please feel free to contact us.
  • From 3 to 5 September, the Global Cities New Zealand (GCNZ) Conference 2026 was held in Christchurch, New Zealand, bringing together sister city representatives from across the country and beyond.
    Christchurch is one of New Zealand’s leading international exchange cities, maintaining sister city relationships with 7 cities and regions worldwide, including Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, as well as Adelaide (Australia), Christchurch (UK) and Seattle (United States)
     
     
    Held under the theme “New Frontiers”, this year’s conference explored new possibilities for international cooperation among local governments. Discussions focused on how emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, can be utilised to share knowledge, experiences, and public service data among municipalities.
    Participants examined how such collaboration can help local governments address common challenges and improve services for their communities, moving beyond the traditional one-to-one exchanges primarily focused on people-to-people interaction and friendship.
     

    A stone lantern donated by Kurashiki City in the Bridges of Friendship Garden at the University of Canterbury

     
     
    CLAIR Sydney participated in the conference, hosting an exhibition booth to introduce our activities and initiatives. We also strengthened our connections with sister city representatives from across New Zealand, including Hiromi Morris, Emeritus President of GCNZ.
     
    Following the conference, Andrew McGeorge of the Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Committee kindly showed us around Christchurch. At the University of Canterbury, we visited the Bridges of Friendship Garden, established to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship. Within the garden stands a stone lantern donated by Kurashiki City, symbolising the longstanding friendship between the two cities and their history of exchanges since they became sister cities in 1973.
     
    Participation in the conference gave us a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the significance of sister city exchanges and explore new opportunities for international cooperation between local governments.
     

    CLAIR Sydney at the conference with a GCNZ Board member (centre) and a representative from the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand (second from right)