~ Photo and Article by Hobart City Council ~
In November 2013 the Mayor of Yaizu, Hobart’s sister city in Japan, Mr Hiromichi Nakano visited Hobart, Tasmania and attended the 2013 Myer Hobart Christmas Pageant.
The Hobart-Yaizu Sister City Committee and local schools participated in the pageant carrying a custom built Omikoshi (portable shrine) which had been constructed by Hobart high school students for this special event.
This was Mr. Nakano’s first visit to Hobart since being elected as Yaizu Mayor in November 2012.
Over the three days of the visit, the Mayor and his accompanying Yaizu City staff visited the City of Hobart’s Tip Shop and new Waste Management Centre, toured Cascade Brewery and did some shopping at Salamanca Market.
After a meeting with the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Damon Thomas, both Mayors listened to stories from eight Hobart students who participated in the student exchange trip to Yaizu that took place in October 2013.
Alderman Thomas said “This vibrant and ongoing relationship is enriched by students and the community visiting each other’s countries and helps to develop an understanding of another culture and language”.
The City of Hobart and Yaizu City have developed a strong sister city relationship over the past 35 years. One ongoing initiative between the sister cities is the annual student exchange which has taken place over the past 24 years and has involved hundreds of students. Visitors from Yaizu, City of Hobart staff and the Yaizu-Hobart Friendship Association also worked together to participate in the 2012/2013 Taste of Tasmania Festival.
Image courtesy of Eric Graudins
