We attend one of Sydney’s best-loved food festivals “Bankstown Bites” on 9 August. This annual food festival focused on Japanese cuisine this year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Bankstown and Suita (Osaka prefecture).
At the main stage, Japanese renowned chef Mr Raita Noda demonstrated the preparation of a 35kg tuna, then in the Sister City Celebration booth he cooked three types of tuna-sushi with an explanation about tuna and Japanese cuisine. Visitors enjoyed the sushi with Japanese sake which was also served by one of the event’s exhibitors. Visitors also enjoyed having a look at many Japanese cuisine-themed photographs and Japanese kimonos displayed in the booth. The photos were sent from Suita for this occasion and the Kimonos have been gifted during the 25-year relationship.
In July, members of State Emergency Service Bankstown office visited Suita to learn about Disaster Prevention and Rescue Service in Japan. They deepened exchange through a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Suita and homestay. We supported the Bankstown Bite and SES visit to Suita as a contact-point between both parties.
From the 3rd to the 13th of December, eight selected swimmers from the Fukuoka Swimming Association visited NSW, where they participated in joint training sessions with a local school and competed in the 2024-25 Speedo NSW Senior State Age Championships.
