Follow @AustraliaInJPN on Twitter
Australian Embassy to recognise Odawara City as the first partner of the AUS+RALLY sports diplomacy campaign
Australian Ambassador Richard Court AC presented a certificate to Mayor Mr Kenichi Kato from Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture as the first official partner of the AUS+RALLY campaign, an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative in Japan in 2019-2020. The Australian Embassy Tokyo welcomed the Mayor to a ceremony to celebrate the city on Wednesday 12 June, marking 100 days to the opening of the Rugby World Cup 2019.
Odawara City will provide a training base for the Wallabies leading up to the Rugby World Cup 2019, and for the Australian Rugby Sevens teams ahead of the 2020 Olympics. The city has enjoyed a strong connection with Australia for nearly 30 years through an annual reciprocal language and cultural student exchange with Northern Beaches Council where Former Manly Council formed a Friendship City Agreement with Odawara in 1991.
Launched in April 2019 in partnership with Rugby Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia, the AUS+RALLY sports diplomacy initiative celebrates Team Australia in Japan in 2019 and 2020. AUS+RALLY brings together new and existing sports diplomacy activities through a communications and events program. The program is intended to support Japan’s hosting of the world’s greatest sporting events and their important legacy.
AUS+RALLY sports diplomacy campaign website launches
The website reports on Australian sports teams’ activities across Japan, features host towns and organisations advancing the relationship between Australia and Japan, and introducing Australia’s proud sport culture. The Embassy invites Japanese local governments and organisations to join the AUS+RALLY campaign through the website.
24 June 2019
Latest News and Events
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – Joint media release – New opportunities for Australia-Japan aviation
The number of flights airlines can operate between Australia and Tokyo Haneda Airport will triple after Australia and Japan expanded their air services arrangements.
2 September 2019
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for the Environment – Joint media release – Japan withdraws from the International Whaling Convention
While the Australian Government welcomes the end of whaling in the Southern Ocean, we are disappointed that Japan has withdrawn from the Convention and is resuming commercial whaling. We continue to urge Japan to return to the Convention and the Commission as a matter of priority.
2 July 2019
Prime Minister media release - Global step forward on terror content crackdown
Global leaders have raised the bar for social media companies in the fight to crackdown on sharing terrorist content.
29 June 2019
Prime Minister media release - Visit to Japan
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will travel to Japan from 27 to 30 June for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Osaka.
27 June 2019
Prime Minister speech - "Where We Live" Asialink Bloomberg Address
26 June 2019
ANZAC Day Commemorations in Japan
Members & friends of the Australian and New Zealand communities in Japan are invited to join ANZAC Day commemorations at Yokohama’s Hodogaya Commonwealth War Cemetery from 9.00-9.50am Thursday 25 April 2019.
11 April 2019
AUS+RALLY Launches! Team Australia ready for 2019 and 2020 in Japan!
Ambassador Richard Court AC launched the AUS+RALLY sports diplomacy initiative with Wallabies Head Coach Mr Michael Cheika, Olympic gold-medal-winning swimmer Ms Leisel Jones OAM, Paralympic gold-medal-winning para-canoeist Mr Curtis McGrath OAM and Japan’s Minister for Reconstruction H.E. Mr Hiromichi Watanabe.
3 April 2019
