Sannohe Town in Aomori Prefecture is located in the southeastern part of Aomori Prefecture, bordering Iwate Prefecture and Akita Prefecture and has a population of approximately 9,000. It is a town with history, culture, and rich in nature, celebrating 133 years since its establishment. The main industry in Sannohe Town is agriculture, and the area is thriving in the cultivation of rice and fruit trees such as apples.
The ruins of Sannohe Castle is a symbol of Sannohe Town, the castle was the residence of the Sannohe Nanbu family. It was designated as a national historic site in March 2022, and is also a famous place for cherry blossoms. The Sannohe Spring Festival is held in the spring, and the Sannohe Autumn Festival is held in autumn, with floats made by each neighborhood association parading around.
In addition, it is the hometown of the late Mr. Noboru Baba, a cartoonist from this town. A town development initiative utilising Mr. Baba’s work “Eleven Hungry Cats”, stone statues and information guides with the characters as motifs are installed throughout the town to welcome visitors. If you have the opportunity, please come and visit.
Regarding the relationship between Australia and Sannohe Town, in July 2001, a sister city agreement was signed with Tamworth, New South Wales. Their relations started in 1970 with the exchange between the Tamworth and Sannohe Rotary clubs. In January 2023, a delegation of five people, including the mayor of Sannohe Town, visited Tamworth and had the opportunity to interact.
We will continue to cherish the exchange between Australia and Tamworth, and hope to further deepen relations.
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.
