［October 2018］
One of the Potential Future Concepts of Sister City Relationships and Friendship City Relationships in the World

Posted on Jun.10, 2020 by admin

At CLAIR, we have found several cases of Japanese sister city relationships and friendship city relationships that involve collaborative efforts for finding solutions to both:

-larger structural or international concerns that go beyond the scope of any single local government or nation to solve independently and

-social or local challenges requiring a grass-roots approach.

A prime example is Yokosuka’s sister city relationships with four cities in Australia, France, the UK, and the US. These relationships are a recipient of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award, which is awarded to those organisations that have achieved excellent international exchange relationships with one another. Yokosuka City is actively working to further awareness and sharing of the concept of “Fair Trade” with its sister cities. The concept of Fair Trade is most effectively achieved through collaborative efforts on an international scale. The sister city network is a potentially effective method of furthering awareness about worthy causes such as Fair Trade among governments, organizations and citizens in a way that extends beyond national borders.

Another example is Bunkyo’s sister city relationship with Kaiserslautern in Germany, also a Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Award recipient. When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in 2011, Bunkyo Ward assisted Kaiserslautern City in donating relief funds to a third party, a damaged local government region. To reciprocate, when Kaiserslautern city was under strain to support a large number of refugees, Bunkyo citizens donated to the city’s refugee support facilities.

Mihara’s friendship city relationship with Palmerston North in New Zealand is another strong example of collaborative efforts for common local problems. Both cities have suffered from many earthquakes and floods in the past. They started an exchange program between staff responsible for natural disaster crisis management, so that the departments can learn from one another and collaborate on methods for improving their services.

I believe it is essential for us, the human race, to take stock of our current situation and explore our options, and responsibilities for the future. In order to cope with global scales issues effectively, nations must cooperate with one another; and within that nation, the federal, state and local level government bodies, enterprises, NPOs, and NGOs must cooperate with each other.

Local governments often know best the concerns of their residents and can identify regional solutions for regional problems that may not be benefited by a national approach. Because societies are rapidly changing in complex ways, it is important that local governments go beyond both domestic and national borders to collaborate with other similarly-challenged regions. It is also essential that local governments effectively communicate the results of such collaborative efforts to future generations, so that this wisdom isn’t lost over time.

If these steps can be taken, there is a potential for sister city relationships and friendship city relationships to achieve even more than what we have seen so far. It can lead to a real cooperative partnership between local governments, where solutions to common challenges are found through strong communication and collaboration, and the benefits are passed directly on to the community. I believe that the examples described above all reflect this goal and I hope that their successes can encourage and inspire you in your own efforts towards globalization, healthy international relations and socio-economic problems solving. CLAIR Sydney will continue to support these future-oriented exchange activities between sister cities and friendship cities.

Posted in From the Executive Director

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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.
On 24 May, the Japan Festival 2026 was held in the City of Whitehorse, located approximately 15 km east of Melbourne.

Around 100 booths and stalls lined the venue, offering Japanese goods and crafts as well as Japanese cuisine such as sushi and okonomiyaki. Visitors could also enjoy cultural activities including origami and shogi (Japanese chess). There were also a variety of stage performances, including taiko drumming, the Soran Bushi folk dance, and Tsugaru shamisen music, as well as kimono and cosplay contests. According to the organisers, the festival attracted approximately 5,500 visitors.

CLAIR Sydney also hosted a booth, promoting the attractions of regions across Japan through tourism brochures and other materials. Among the visitors to our booth were people planning cruise trips to Japan, as well as others who said they had visited the country more than ten times, reflecting the enduring appeal of Japan as a travel destination. We also spoke to visitors who had started learning Japanese after their travels and were hoping to move there in the future, highlighting a strong interest in Japanese culture and way of life.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the City of Whitehorse and Matsudo City in Chiba Prefecture. It is the longest-running Japan–Australia sister-city relationship in the state of Victoria. As part of the exchange program, the venue also displayed letters with hand-drawn illustrations created by residents of Matsudo , offering visitors a glimpse into the strong bond between the two cities.
On Tuesday, 12 May, the Australia-Japan Society of NSW (AJS-NSW) held an awards ceremony to recognise outstanding achievement in Japanese-related studies. Certificates were presented to seven students, each nominated by a university across the Sydney metropolitan area.

Following the presentation ceremony, each award recipient delivered a speech, some in Japanese, reflecting on what inspired them to begin studying the language, its appeal, , the challenges they encountered during their studies, and their future aspirations. Their stories varied widely, ranging from students who began learning the language with the dream of working for a Japanese game company to those whose exchange experiences at Japanese universities enabled them to build friendships with people from around the world.

Many of the students reflected on how learning Japanese had expanded their horizons and future possibilities and expressed their hope to continue taking on new challenges connected to Japan, including working or living there in the future.

Learning and mastering a language other than one’s mother tongue is never easy. We were deeply moved by the speeches of these students, who spoke passionately about maintaining their connection with Japan even after graduation.

CLAIR Sydney will continue to work closely with Japanese language education institutions and related organisations, further strengthening people-to-people exchanges through Japanese language and culture, and contributing to the ongoing development of Japan-Australia relations.
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Nagoya City, located in central Japan, is the political, economic, and cultural hub of the Chubu region, and is home to more than 2.3 million people. Positioned between Tokyo and Osaka, and with a major Shinkansen stop, the city offers excellent access from all parts of the country. This year, Nagoya will host two major international sporting events: the 20th Asia Games, Asia’s largest festival of peace and sports, in September, followed by the 5th Asia Para Games, the region’s biggest comprehensive sports event for athletes with disabilities, in October.

This region has long thrived as a centre of high-quality, skill-intensive manufacturing. Anchored by Toyota, one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers, the area has developed a dense concentration of automotive industries, making it one of Japan’s most prominent industrial hubs. Nagoya Port further strengthens this position, serving as a key gateway for Japan’s trade and boasting the highest cargo volume of any port in the country.Nagoya also has deep historical significance.

The city is known as the birthplace of many influential warlords who shaped Japanese history. Its most iconic landmark, Nagoya Castle, stands as a symbol of this heritage. The castle’s golden ‘Kinshachi’, the shimmering tiger‑headed carp ornaments adorning its roof, gleam brilliantly against the blue sky, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.

Nagoya’s vibrant food culture is one of its major attractions. Known collectively as Nagoya Meshi, the local cuisine features distinctive dishes such as hitsumabushi, miso katsu, and tebasaki, flavours that draw visitors from near and far.

The city is also gaining popularity as a tourist’s destination. Ghibli Park, which opened in 2022, brings the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli to life and has quickly become a favourite spot for visitors from Japan and abroad. In addition, the World Cosplay Summit, held annually in Nagoya, is a flagship event celebrating Japanese subculture and attracts passionate fans from around the world.

Nagoya City established a sister city relationship with Sydney, Australia, in 1980, and 2025 marked the 45th anniversary of this partnership. Over the years, the two cities have engaged in a wide range of exchanges, including high school student exchange programs, marathon exchanges, plant exchanges and book exchanges. One of the most active exchanges has been between their sister zoos, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya and Taronga Zoo, in Sydney. The koalas sent from Sydney have become beloved residents of Higashiyama Zoo, cherished by citizens as a symbolic link between the two cities.

Looking ahead, both cities hope to further deepen mutual understanding and friendship among their citizens, strengthening their bond for the next 50, 100 years, and well beyond.
With this issue, the CLAIR Sydney Newsletter proudly reached the milestone of its 200th edition.

CLAIR Sydney was established in October 1994 as CLAIR’s sixth overseas office. Its over 30 years’ history is the result of the dedication and hard work of every staff member who has contributed to the operation of the Sydney office, approximately 120 in total, who have come from Japan to serve here, as well as our local staff who have continuously supported our work.

The first issue of the newsletter was published in June 1995, one year after the office opened. In its early years, the newsletter was issued roughly every three months. However, from mid2012, it shifted to a more frequent publication schedule, and in recent years the newsletter has expanded to as many as 15 issues annually.

Reaching this 200th issue milestone would not have been possible without the support of our readers, as well as the many contributors who have assisted us with planning, writing, and the provision of valuable information. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to you all.

Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on delivering content that supports our readers’ professional work and reflects their interests. Our aim is to provide timely and accessible information on the activities of local governments across Japan, while also highlighting the diverse attractions and unique characteristics of regions throughout the country. We welcome contributions to the newsletter anytime, so please feel free to get in touch with us.

Current members of CLAIR Sydney (April 2026)