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Welcome to Hyogo

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World Masters Games, an International Multi-sport Event for Lifetime Sports

The World Masters Games (WMG) is an international multi-sport athletic competition for lifetime sports that anyone over the age of 30 can participate in. The first event was held in Toronto in 1985. Since then, it has been held every four years around the world, with a total of 170,000 sports enthusiasts participating. The latest Games (the 9th hosting) took place in Auckland, New Zealand in 2017 and was attended by about 30,000 people from all over the world.

Held in Asia for the First Time! Participate in the WMG 2021 Kansai and enjoy Hyogo Prefecture!

Competition Period: The new dates are being discussed between the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) and the WMG 2021 Organising Committee

Hyogo Prefecture is composed of various areas ranging from big cities to rural areas and remote islands, and has a variety of climates and natural features. Visitors can enjoy various leisure activities such as swimming, skiing, and hot springs, as well as seasonal foods. The prefecture is divided into 5 unique regions: Settsu (Kobe/Hanshin), Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji, where you can enjoy the unique nature, history, and culture of each region.

The 10th WMG tournament will be held in the Kansai region, which includes Hyogo Prefecture! This is the first time that the Games is held in Asia. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been postponed again, and the new dates are being discussed between IMGA and the WMG 2021 Kansai Organising Committee. Organisers aim to attract 50,000 participants, of which 30,000 from Japan and 20,000 from abroad. WMG2021 Kansai has 35 official competitions and 59 events in total. Of these, 11 competitions and 15 events are held in Hyogo Prefecture.

Competitions in Hyogo Prefecture

・Canoe (Polo): Shiso City　

・Orienteering (Forest): Yabu City, Kami Town, Kamikawa Town

・Swimming (Water Polo and Artistic Swimming): Amagasaki City

・Taekwondo: Himeji City　 

・Tennis: Miki City/Kasai City　

・Beach Volleyball: Minamiawaji City　

・Shooting (Clay): Okayama City

・Athletics (Racewalking), Baseball, Basketball, Table Tennis, Swimming (Diving and Swimming), Orienteering (Sprint): Kobe City

The Games is an opportunity where many participants and volunteers can interact through the competitions and events. With the competitions being held across a vast region, participants can make the most of the unique aspect of the 10th Games and enjoy sports tourism by doing some sightseeing between competitions. Participants from overseas can purchase a cost-effective Wide Area Pass that gives them unlimited rail travel in the hosting areas for a week, so that they can enjoy various attractions of the Kansai region, including Hyogo Prefecture. We sincerely look forward to seeing you at the Games!

For information on the holding of the World Masters Games 2021 Kansai, please see the link to the Organising Committee’s official website below.

https://wmg2021.jp/en/

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  • 2023/2024 CLAIR Forum 

    Theme: Disaster Management and Resilience

    Disaster Management is essential for local governments as it helps save lives, protect properties, build resilience, and ensure the overall well-being and stability of communities in the face of disasters such as natural disasters and epidemic outbreaks. And it has become more important than ever in recent years. In the 2024 CLAIR Forum, presented by CLAIR Sydney and UTS, we  explored the practices of prevention, response, and recovery to disasters in local governments in Australia and Japan. We also reflected on new ways of thinking about and building resilient communities, built and natural environments, economies and governments. 

    Date:  11 March,2024 (Monday)
    Time: 1:00pm to 5:00pm 
    Venue: The Japan Foundation, Sydney – Seminar Room （Hybrid）

    Speakers

    – Tomoyuki Takemura (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

    Provided an overview of recent disaster occurrences in Japan such as the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the role of administrative organisations (national, prefectural, and municipal) during disasters, and the updated information on the status of the support system established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

    – Reiko Kunisaki (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Fukuoka Prefectural Government)

    Described the recent heavy rain disasters in Fukuoka, efforts in supporting evacuees requiring assistance (including training on municipal guidance, operation of evacuation centres, and creation of individual evacuation plans) in collaboration with local governments and partners.

    – Kana Tsujiwaki (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Wakayama Prefectural Government)

    Touched upon the anecdote of Goryo Hamaguchi, a native of Wakayama, which led to the establishment of “World Tsunami Day.” Also explained distinctive disaster countermeasures in Wakayama, such as setting safety levels for evacuation destinations, the “Dokodemo Stand” mobile gas station, and mobile disaster prevention education.

    – Nicole Parsons (Manager Regional Resilience Programs, Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation)

    The presentation highlighted collaborative efforts with local governments and partners in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region to reduce disaster risks, including enhancing infrastructure resilience, improving access to geographic data, and developing environmental monitoring and early warning systems.

    – Shinnosuke Matsumoto (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Ichihara city council)

    Discussed disaster response in his city, the response system during disasters, types and conditions for opening evacuation centres, and examples of efforts in adapting to changes in operating the centres during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    – Hideaki Ota(Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Odawara city council)

    Provided an overview of medical services during disasters in Japan, focusing on the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), including the outline, process, and roles of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and disaster base hospitals. Presented examples, including Odawara City Hospital’s dispatch of DMAT to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

    – Tommaso Briscese (General Manager, Burwood Council) & Miriam Wassef（Executive Manager, Place Management and Communications Burwood Council）

    Presented Burwood Council’s response to and recovery efforts for COVID-19, including care for the community, financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises for economic recovery, and events to promote human interaction that were reduced following the outbreak.

     

    The Q&A session allowed for exchanges of many questions and opinions among participants. Carol Mills concluded the forum, reflecting on the discussions.

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  • 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.

    During the joint training, the athletes deepened their connections, and in the competition, the Fukuoka swimmers achieved remarkable success, earning numerous medals.
     
    The visit is based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2023 between the Fukuoka Prefecture, the Fukuoka Swimming Association, and Swimming NSW. CLAIR Sydney received a request from Fukuoka Prefecture to assist them with their activities and accompanied them during some parts of their visit.
     
    We will continue to support and deepen exchanges in the field of sports between Fukuoka Prefecture and NSW.
    To all the athletes, coaches, and accompanying staffs, Otsukaresamadeshita!
     
     
     
     
     
     

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.
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  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

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  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.