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The latest issue of our correspondence is released.
View this correspondence in PDF.
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Newsletter No.201
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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The latest issue of our correspondence is released.
View this correspondence in PDF.
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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. 
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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)
Located in the Tohoku region, in the northern part of Japan, Yamagata City was established as the capital of Yamagata Prefecture on 1 April 1889. The city is surrounded on all sides by magnificent mountains, and a variety of rich resources and regional culture have been cultivated to date. 
In 1980, Yamagata City formed a sister city relationship with Swan Hill City in Victoria, Australia. Since then, the two cities have been conducting friendly exchanges. After a few years’ halt due to the pandemic, the two cities resumed mutual exchanges by residents of each other’s cities in 2024 and celebrated the 40th anniversary of their relationship. When a delegation from Swan Hill visited Yamagata City in April, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom just in time for them, and participants were able to experience the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms while eating dango – a traditional Japanese dessert – and rice balls.
They also deepened their relationship through additional activities such as Japanese flower arrangement, tea ceremony, Haiku, wearing Samurai armour, and a hot spring foot bath. Yamagata City also hosted an event – An Evening with Australian Wine – where people from the two cities met and greeted each other while enjoying a special dish of Australian lamb and carefully selected Australian wines. It was a great opportunity to strengthen the bond at the local level. 
The main exchange is the short-term school exchange program with homestays for high school students. Over 600 students from both cities have experienced daily life and the culture of each other’s city to date. Some of them even chose careers in international relations because of this experience, which shows that this program due to their sister city relationship has an important role in the education field of Yamagata City and contributes to cultivating global awareness amongst the people of Yamagata City.
