Sister city delegation to strengthen ties

Posted on October 1, 2026

For the first time since 2018, a Central Highlands Regional Council delegation will journey to Japan to strengthen its historic 33-year international sister city relationship with Ichinoseki City.

Mayor Janice Moriarty and Cr Gillian Wilkins leave this week to officially represent council on the privately funded trip.

‘Council’s sister city relationship with Ichinoseki is a valued friendship and international partnership that has grown with the student cultural exchange each year since 1993,’ Mayor Moriarty said.

‘The purpose for this trip is to extend our cultural relationship to promote Central Highlands business, industry, tourism and economic opportunities while in Ichinoseki and Tokyo.

‘So far meetings in Tokyo are organised with representatives of JFE steel and Nippon Steel Trading (Japanese joint venture steel companies) who operate in this region as well as a meeting with the Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner through the assistance from the Consulate-General Japan office in Brisbane.’

The delegation is a reciprocal visit following an official invitation from Ichinoseki City, whose Mayor, Mr Yoshihito Sato, and Chairman, Mr Nobuyuki Katsuura, visited the Central Highlands in 2024 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship and renew the agreement.

‘While visiting Ichinoseki City Hall, we have been invited to make presentations and participate in panel discussions to share information about the Central Highlands region and aspects of council,’ Mayor Moriarty said.

‘In exchange, Ichinoseki City are preparing to share information about their disaster management, waste management, economy and future aspirations to develop their region.

‘While aiming to build economic opportunities, it is important for us to ensure the longevity of our annual sister city exchange program, which has given hundreds of high school students from across the Central Highlands life-changing global perspectives and experiences.’ 

For more information on the history of the region’s international ties, visit the Central Highlands Regional Council Sister City Page.