“KOALA CAMP” We deepened exchanges by connecting Australia-Tokyo-Kamaishi online!

On December 19, 2020, Kamaishi City participated in the “KOALA CAMP” sponsored by KOALA CAMP PROJECT.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Australia has continued to provide support to Kamaishi City, and in November 2017, Kamaishi City was registered as an “Arigato” Host Town for supporting reconstruciton with Ausutraila as its partner country, and mainly engaged in youth exchange activities. The bond between the two has been deepening year by year.

“KOALA CAMP” is scheduled to be held in earnest from spring to summer 2021. And as a pre-event, this event connected the Australian Embassy as the main studio in Tokyo with the venues of Kamaishi and Australian Satellite Points (Sydney, Hunter Valley, Gold Coast, Melbourne) online. At this event, Australian music, food, culture and sports were introduced, and enjoyed by the participants.

On the day of the event, after greetings from Jan Adams, the ambassador to Japan, and Takenori Noda, Mayor of Kamaishi, introduction of Australian animals, perfomances by jazz musicians who have supported the disaster areas, online yoga lessons, Australian Rules football experience, Australian wildflower craft experience, Australian-style barbeque, dessert cooking demonstration and Australian wine tasting, etc. It was a program that allowed participants to experience Australia through the internet.

You can see the contents of the day from the link below.
KOALA CAMP Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/koalacamp2020/

(Relationshiops between Australia and Kamaishi, Iwate)
Scott Fardy, who belonged to Kamaishi Seawaves RFC at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck in March 2011 and later became the representative of Rugby Asutralia, declined the evacuation recommendation from the Australian embassy. And as a volunteer, he and his teammates were busy loading and unloading supplies and transporting them at the relief supplies collection sites. With this opportunity, Kamaishi has been registered as an “Arigato” Host Town for Supporting Reconstruction in November 2017 with Australia as its partner country, and has been continuously interacting mainly with young people. Please take a look at the information on the Kamaishi City website and Facebook page.

Internatinal Exchange Division, Kamaishi City
https://www.city.kamaishi.iwate.jp/soshiki/bunkasports/kokusaikoryu/

Kamaishi International Connections
https://www.facebook.com/kamaishi.kokusai2019

International Exchange Division
Culture and Sports Department
Kamaishi City Government
TEL: 0193-27-5713
E-mail: kokusai@city.kamaishi.iwate.jp
(Japanese language inquiries only)

or

Office of International Affairs
Iwate Prefectural Government
TEL: 019-629-5764
Email: AB0011@pref.iwate.jp
(English or Japanese language inquiries)