Yaizu, Japan (1977)
Hobart's sister city relationship with Yaizu is our city's longest and most enduring international relationship. The Hobart–Yaizu sister city relationship was formalised in 1977, making it Australia's sixth oldest Japan–Australia sister city.
The origins of this relationship began with the tuna fishing fleets from Yaizu harbouring in Hobart during the 1960s and 1970s. The regular and long visits from the fishermen generated both business and personal connections between Hobart and Yaizu. Yaizu's Mayor Mr Hattori, hoping to capitalise on the positive relationships, sent a letter to the then Hobart Lord Mayor, Alderman Doug Plaister. During a visit to Yaizu in the mid 1970s to hold discussions regarding establishing the friendship agreement, Lord Mayor Plaister met his future wife, Fumiko. Hobart became Mrs Fumiko Plaister's new home and she has been, and continues to be, a driving force in building and sustaining the relationship.
In recent years, the relationship has flourished with engagement focused predominantly around cultural and educational goals facilitated by regular student exchange programs.
Learn more about Yaizu in the below video.
2022 Hobart Yaizu 45th anniversary
45 years of friendship, and the sharing of cultures, ideas and knowledge. Look back on the Hobart and Yaizu’s 45 years of Sister City relationship in the below video
Japan's Children's Day
Children's Day originates from Japan and has been set aside as a national holiday on 5 May each year since 1948, to celebrate children. The event pays respect and honours children's strengths and personalities and grants wishes of health and happiness. The event is now celebrated by many countries worldwide, including Australia.
In May 2019 Hobart ran its first Japan's Children's Day celebration in partnership with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and has run the event each year since. The free public event includes beautiful traditional Koinobori (windsocks) alongside a colourful array handmade by local school children, displayed throughout the Japanese Gardens.
More information can be found on the Japan's Children's Day Celebration page.
2020 New Lines of Sight
Thirty years of cultural student exchanges between Hobart and Yaizu in Japan were celebrated with an art project that reflected on a shared vision of the future.
Created by community artist Sara Wright and exchange students from Yaizu and their host students from Mt Carmel College, New Lines of Sight, displayed on the City’s Soap Box Billboards, was a creative consideration navigating bias and sharing cultural perspectives. The result was a collective dreaming for the future: a global society of friendship, reciprocity and peace.
2020 New Lines of Sight - Sandra Soccol
New Lines of Sight project page
2017 Hobart Yaizu 40th anniversary celebrations
February 2017 marked the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship. A number of celebratory events were organised and included a martial arts demonstration, Origami, Kimono and Yukata displays, Taiko drum demonstrations, an official celebratory dinner and a tree planting ceremony (Japanese Flowering Cherry - Prunus serrulata ‘Ukon’) in the Japanese garden of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
2017 40th Anniversary - Alastair Bett
2017 40th Anniversary - Alastair Bett
2017 40th Anniversary Alastair Bett
2017 40th Anniversary tree planting Australian Royal Botanical Gardens - Rosie Hastie
A delegation of Aldermen, Council officers and community members also visited Yaizu in August 2017 to take part in reciprocal celebrations that included the naming ceremony of 'Hobart Street' a formal dinner highlighting local creative talent and attendance at the annual Aru Matsuri Festival.
2017 Aru Matsuri Festival - Phillip Holliday
Student exchange program
The student exchange program initiated in 1989 is a much-anticipated event for both participating Hobart and Yaizu students, families and schools.
Yaizu student's home-stay, with students and families from Hobart's host schools, provide visiting students with insights into both Tasmanian school and family life. During the visits, students and families develop meaningful and often enduring relationships. The City of Hobart provide organisational support to this program, working with the schools in both Yaizu and Hobart and fostering the necessary link to the Yaizu government.
Most years, students from Hobart travel to Yaizu to enjoy a similar experience of being hosted by families and attending school.
Hobart and Yaizu students, schools and families regard the student exchange program as a highly valuable experience stimulating a deeper commitment and engagement in language studies, further education, cultural curiosity, understanding, tolerance and fostering future opportunities in employment, travel and friendships.
Other activities
The City of Hobart and Yaizu City have worked together on a range of activities including: