This month, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia, where both Australia and Japan will be competing. I wish the best of luck to both teams. I believe through communicating while having fun with one another, sports exchange is one of the most important international exchanges to take place around the world.
Japan will host for the first time the Rugby World Cup in 2019, and Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tokyo 2020. Moreover, the Kansai World Masters Games will be held in 2021 in the Kansai region.
In terms of the Rugby World Cup, Australia and New Zealand are both strong teams in rugby. On the other hand, Japan’s national team is struggling to improve their ability. I am actually really looking forward to watching a possible match of the Japanese national team playing against the Wallabies or the All Blacks.
Other types of sports exchange include, for example, winter sports such as skiing and skating in January or February in Japan. At the same time, in Australia and New Zealand, we can enjoy summer sports such as surfing and golf. Thanks to this sort of healthy competitive spirit, I believe sports-based exchange has the potential to foster sister city relationships and further business opportunities.
As an example, sports exchange through rugby between Japan and other countries gives Japanese students opportunities to learn both English and rugby skills at the same time while they are being coached by players from Australia and New Zealand. Sports exchange also deepens sister city relationship like the one between Wellington and Sakai City, in which Sakai City dispatched a rugby school delegation to its sister city Wellington.
Japanese people are eager to host these international sports events and we welcome people from overseas, especially our friends, Australians and New Zealanders!
Katsunori Kamibo
Director
