Messages for Japanaroo

I am delighted to welcome the first Japanaroo festival to Sydney, celebrating Japanese culture and the deep friendship between Japan and Australia.

Coming just weeks after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japanaroo provides the opportunity to enjoy a range of Japan-related performances, cultural experiences and business events over the 10-day festival.

NSW and Japan have built a strong relationship underpinned by strong cultural, people-to-people and economic ties. We are excited that this association continues to grow and we look forward to opportunities for continued cooperation.

Initiatives like this help to revitalise cultural and business activities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and I congratulate the Embassy of Japan in Australia and the Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney on bringing this event to life.

I would also like to thank the Japanese community in NSW for your contribution to our State’s success and harmonious multicultural society.

I hope you enjoy the first Japanaroo and I wish all the best to everyone involved.

Japan and Australia have moved beyond its traditional ‘complementary economic relationship’ and our two countries are now ‘Special Strategic Partners’ who share basic values and strategic interests with bilateral cooperation encompassing a broad range of areas, from politics and security to people-to-people exchange.

At the very foundation of our relationship is the mutual trust we have built up over decades and grass-roots level exchange as represented by the 107 sister city agreements between Japan and Australia. Each year here in Canberra, we come together to celebrate sister city relations between Canberra and Nara with the Canberra- Nara Candle Festival. At a local level in Japan, internationalisation is progressing thanks to the large number of young Aussies participating on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and contributing to cultural exchange and foreign language education in their communities.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many large scale events were postponed or cancelled last year. However, right now athletes from around the world, including from Australia are putting their hard work into practice as they vie for gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

And so there is no better time to hold Japanaroo 2021 and introduce all things Japan to the people of Australia than right now when all eyes are on Tokyo. I have no doubt that the return of cultural exchange events such as Japanaroo 2021 will become a symbol of how we overcame the threat of COVID-19.

Japanaroo 2021 is an event made possible thanks to a wide range of collaboration between our two countries. It is my sincere hope that the Japanaroo initiative will expand even further together with the ever deepening relationship between Japan and Australia.

Congratulations on holding Japanaroo 2021 and best wishes for a successful event.

What value does Japan have in Australia? As I go about my work and life here in Sydney, I have come to feel that there are two significant points.

First, Japan plays an integral part in Australian multiculturalism, enriching lives and bringing enjoyment to people in Australia through Japanese cuisine and culture.

Second, Japan contributes to job creation and business innovation in Australia by leveraging its particular strengths, for the benefit of both Japan and Australia’s development.

In order to realise these values, our ever strengthening ties of trust gained through mutual exchange are essential.

Japanaroo is an initiative under a publicprivate partnership to further promote Japan’s contribution to multiculturalism and job creation in Australia as well as Japan-Australia exchange.

Japanaroo 2021 is being held as the very first activity of this initiative. With the support and participation of many organisations engaged in Japan-Australia relations, more than 50 events are taking place.

Since last year, COVID-19 has made international travel very difficult. However, in Australia, there is a large Japanese community, and by using online tools, it is possible for us to “bring Japan to Australia”.

Please take this opportunity to discover “Japan at your doorstep”!

I hope that Japanaroo 2021 will be a chance for more people to know about Japan’s wideranging contributions to Australia and the importance of Japan-Australia exchange.

It is my heartfelt wish that, once travel resumes between Japan and Australia, Japanaroo 2021 leads to a dramatic development in exchange and business between our two countries.