Remarks by Consul-General Sobashima at Japan School Excursion Seminar 2012 in Melbourne
Mr Yukio Yamashita, JNTO’s Executive Director for Australia,
Participants from the local governments who have come all the way from Japan,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express my appreciation to the organizer JNTO, the supporters, including JLTAV and the Department of Education and Early Childhood of Victoria, and the participants, for their contributions to this Japan School Excursion Seminar, on Friday night.I apologize for the delayed start of this seminar, for I am responsible for that. Because of the football match today, the traffic was very heavy, and I became its victim.
Now, my main message is that “Japan is open for more business, travel and study.”
I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to express our utmost gratitude to the Government and people of Australia for their sincere sympathy and massive support after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami last year. Now the affected areas are firmly on their way to recovery, and Japan as a whole is fully open for
business, travel and study.
As you may be aware, Australia has more than 100 sister-city/sister-state arrangements with Japan, larger than those with any other countries, to which Victoria contributes 19.There are also many sister-school arrangements between Japan and Australia. I hear that about 100 schools in Victoria have sister-school relationship with
Japanese schools.
Japanese is the most learned foreign language in Australia.
Under these circumstances, school excursions to Japan should be further encouraged, as they will help Australian students improve their Japanese language skills, better
appreciate Japanese society and culture, and perhaps nurture their friendship with the people they meet in Japan.
The same effects are expected on the teachers and families involved. These will consolidate the bases for further development of the overall relationship between Australia and Japan, which I and the Government of Japan welcome.
Today we have participants from the following prefectures and cities of Japan: Hiroshima Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, Sakai City, Nara Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Tokyo Metropolis, and Iwate Prefecture, among other visitors.
Aren’t they sufficient choices for you?
Thus, I believe that this seminar will provide a very good opportunity for Victorian schools to appreciate the availability of their possible excursions to Japan.
I hope that all participants will take full advantage of this seminar. Thank you.