Japanese students farewelled on 60th Anniversary

Published on 08 August 2023

Lismore City Council last night hosted a farewell dinner for the Yamato Takada exchange students, which held extra significance with the dinner also marking the 60th anniversary of Lismore’s Sister-City relationship with the Japanese City.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg, the Mayor of Yamato Takada, Taizo Horiuchi, and the Consulate-General of Japan, Mr Shinichi Murata, participated in a live video cross to celebrate the anniversary. 

Mayor Krieg said the relationship with our sister-city Yamato Takada has never been stronger. 

“It was a delight to host the Japanese student's farewell dinner and 60th-anniversary to acknowledge the strength and history of the relationship and thank the visiting students and those who hosted them while in Lismore,” he said. 

Mr Murata said the relationship could not be underestimated. 

“This is the most significant and successful sister city relationship between Australia and Japan," he said. 

As part of the farewell celebrations, the Japanese students performed a traditional Japanese dance dating back 1000 years.

Also in attendance at last night's dinner were the students from Lismore who will participate in the return student exchange program to Yamato Takada in September. 

Mayor Krieg said he was excited for the students and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they will have.

"I look forward to hearing from our local students on their return from the beautiful city of Yamato Takada, and I thank the Japanese host families who will be looking after them in advance," he said. 

Council established a Sister City relationship with Yamato Takada on 7 August 1963 through the efforts of Father Tony Glynn.  

Father Glynn, who had been working in Yamato Takada, collaborated with businesses in his hometown of Lismore to raise funds to construct a kindergarten in Yamato Takada. Through this collaboration, the Sister City relationship developed.