Event Reports 2020

2021/2/15
日本語

Brisbane Bandits Pep Rally



On Monday, 21 December Consul-General TANAKA attended a pep rally for Mr NAKAMURA Masaru, who has signed to play for the Brisbane Bandits Pro Baseball team for the 2020/2021 season. Mr NAKAMURA is a former pro player for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, and wrapped up a 10 year career in Japan to join the Australian Baseball League this year. He has overcome many hurdles, studying to improve his English during the lockdown and training for his COVID-delayed debut, to represent both Japan and Brisbane and further strengthen ties between our two countries.

We wish Mr NAKAMURA all the best during his time in Brisbane, and will be cheering on the Brisbane Bandits this season!
 

Commemoration service aboard the HMAS Diamantina

 


On Sunday 25 October, Consul General TANAKA and Consul HAYAKAWA attended a service at the Queensland Maritime Museum to commemorate the 75-year anniversary of the end of World War II. 

This commemoration, which had been postponed from the original VP date of August 15 due to COVID-19, was conducted aboard the HMAS Diamantina, one of only two remaining ships in the world where surrender signings between Japan and the allied forces in the pacific were held. They were invited to join this ceremony on the ship’s quarterdeck where the historical signings took place at Nauru and Ocean Island 75 years ago.

The Consul General spoke on reconciliation before laying a wreath. He emphasized the importance of remembering and honouring those lives lost while appreciating how far the Australia-Japan relationship has come. In this new chapter in history, our relationship has developed into one of peace and prosperity which is now recognised as a so-called special strategic partnership.

We were honoured to be a part of this service held by the Queensland Maritime Museum, which has played an important role in commemorating history through events such as these, and through the preservation of the HMAS Diamantina.

You can watch the ceremony online on the Queensland Maritime Museum Youtube page here: https://youtu.be/TVFD9KO2C8c 
 

Visit to the University of Southern Queensland's Japanese Garden in Toowoomba


On October 6, Consul-General TANAKA and Consul NARITA visited the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. They enjoyed touring the University’s Japanese garden “寿楽園” (Ju Raku En) with Professor Geraldine Mackenzie, Vice-Chancellor of USQ.

Ju Raku En is one of Australia's largest and most traditionally designed Japanese gardens, located on the USQ campus and jointly managed with Toowoomba Regional Council. Its design emphasises the use of rocks, and features 230 species of Japanese and Australian native plants, including cherry blossoms that bloom during the annual Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Opened in 1989, it has long been a symbol of friendship between Japan and Australia. Toowoomba formalised its sister city agreement with Takatsuki city, Osaka in 1991, but the two cities had worked together to develop the gardens even before that. We look forward to a continued strong relationship between Queensland and Japan for many years to come.

How about making your next trip to Toowoomba to experience this beautiful Japanese atmosphere, enjoyed by many local families and visitors?


Virtual Trade Mission Japan


Consul-General Mr TANAKA joined The Honourable Mark Furner MP, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, and Dr Elizabeth Woods, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, in participating in a virtual trade mission to Japan. The first of its kind, the mission served to re-affirm the strong agricultural and trade relationship between Queensland and Japan, and support Queensland agri-food producers and exporters.

The mission included an Iron Chef style cook-off between the Consul-General and Minister Furner featuring winter harvest Queensland produce, and a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Retractable Roof Greenhouse at the QLD government’s Ayr Research Facility. It was a great opportunity to celebrate locally grown food and learn more about the research and development being conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in partnership with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Although the pandemic has impacted the ability to travel between Japan and Australia, we are pleased to be able to support the Queensland-Japan relationship through new avenues such as this.

Obon Ceremony on Thursday Island 


On August 15 Consul HAYAKAWA Naohiro visited Thursday Island to participate in this year’s Obon memorial service at the Japanese monument in the Thursday Island cemetery. Mr HAYAKAWA joined Councillor Vonda Malone of the Torres Shire, Rev. James Wilson of the Jodoshu Buddhist sect in Brisbane and the Japanese community to commemorate those buried there. Thursday Island has a long history with Japan, beginning with Japanese pearl shell divers who first arrived in 1878. Thousands of Japanese lived, worked and died on the island, and there are more than 700 graves of Japanese people in the cemetery. Today, Thursday Island has an international Friendship City Agreement with the town of Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, where many of those Japanese workers came from.

Kabocha exports to Japan

 
On July 8, Consul-General TANAKA celebrated the first export of Kabocha pumpkins from QLD with the Minister for Agricultural Industries Development and Fisheries, The Hon. Mark Furner MP, and Director/Owner Manager of Qualipac Farm, Troy Qualischefski at the farm in Darling Downs. Qualipac farm has been developing Kabocha pumpkins for the Japanese market for 3 years, and the first shipment from the farm recently arrived in Japan to be sold at supermarkets in Chiba and Saitama Prefectures near Tokyo.

Kabocha Pumpkins are a staple in Japanese traditional cuisine and BBQ, and this market represents more potential opportunities for exporting QLD's delicious agricultural produce. Yet another example of great cooperation and a strong relationship between Queensland and Japan!

View more: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1469083523298728

Kobe-Brisbane Sister-City 35th Anniversary


In 2020 Kobe and Brisbane celebrate 35 years of strong ties through their Sister-City relationship.

Since the agreement was signed on 16 July 1985, both cities have worked to strengthen relations through a range of initiatives such as education and sporting exchanges, as well as civic, cultural and business activities. There are also plans for Kobe City to play host to the Australian Paralympic team as part of their training in the lead up to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, to be held in 2021.

The cities have supported each other during times of need, including the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe and the 2011 Brisbane Floods, and despite COVID-19, we look forward to seeing the relationship between these two port cities continue to florish for years to come.

2020 Spring Conferment of Decoration

On 29 April, 2020 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2020 Spring Imperial Decorations. Mr Ross James McConachie is among those recipients and, in recognition of his contributions to promoting inter-regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Australia, he will receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
SERVICE: Contributed to promoting inter-regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Australia
NAME: Ross James McConachie
MAJOR TITLE: Former President, Australia-Japan Society - Queensland Inc.
NATIONALITY: Australian
ADDRESS: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
 
Mr McConachie joined the Australia-Japan Society-Queensland (AJS-Q) Inc. in 1988, and has served as an AJS-Q committee member for over 25 years. In his time as AJS-Q Vice-Present (2002-2007), and President (2007-2012), Mr McConachie initiated several projects, including AJS-Q’s annual careers seminar, and their web-based communications strategy, to promote goodwill between Japan and Australia and thus make Japan’s presence much more familiar in Queensland and in Australia. He also contributed greatly to the reinvigoration of the Kobe-Brisbane Sister City relationship, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, facilitating the first trade missions between the two cities.

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