Since the devastation caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Australia has shown tremendous support to the Tohoku region (in the north-eastern part of Japan). Then-Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was the first foreign leader to visit the region and Australia provided much support through food aid packages, donations and relief teams on the ground when it was needed most. Since 2011, the Australia-Japan Foundation has provided nearly $1 million in grant funds to Tohoku, particularly to community-driven activities.
Australia and Japan have forged even stronger, more resilient friendships through ongoing projects including one that provides Japanese students from Minami Sanriku a chance to broaden their perspectives and develop meaningful connections with Australia through a homestay and study program. You can read about the students’ motivations for visiting Australia in their essays here.
Australia has also provided support through projects such as a mobile library and a playground for children from Iwate who were forced to relocate after the disaster through the Australia-Japan Foundation. The Australia-Japan Foundation has been assisting the communities of the Tohoku region to recover from the devastation of the earthquake/tsunami of 11 March 2011. This remains one of the Foundation’s priority areas. Read more about the Reconstruction Initiative.
This cooperation was multifaceted, and included the Australian Government, Australian business, regional authorities, and community groups.
Australia is Japan's friend and partner, and will always remain so. Below are a number of projects the Australian Embassy Tokyo have been involved in.
Projects by Year
March 2023 - Ambassador-designate visits Fukushima
On 11 March 2023, Ambassador Designate Hayhurst attended the ceremony in Fukushima to commemorate twelve years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. On this occasion, the Ambassador met with Fukushima Governor Uchibori and Fukushima Mayor Kohata to hear about the reconstruction of Fukushima in the years since the disaster. He also visited Fukushima University, which has a long-standing relationship with Australia’s Queensland University.
November 2022 - Chargé d’affaires visit to Minami Sanriku
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In November 2022, Chargé d’affaires Peter Roberts visited Minami Sanriku, Miyagi. Mr Roberts worked in the initial response in March 2011 along with the Australian Search and Rescue team that was deployed to Minami Sanriku. This was his first visit to the town in eleven years, and observed the completion of the rebuilt town.
November 2022 - Australian Jazz Musicians visit Iwate Schools
Australian musicians Marty Hicks and Marty Holoubek conducted music workshops with students and teachers at Omoto primary and junior high schools and Noda junior high school in Iwate prefecture in November 2022. This is the 11th time that the Embassy worked with the Iwate Cultural Promotion Agency to send messages of support through music to the people in Iwate who suffered from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
June 2022 - Deputy Prime Minister meets the Mayor of Minami Sanriku
In June 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles MP met with Mayor Jin Sato of Minami Sanriku and Managing Director of Lendlease Japan Mr Andrew Gauci at the Australian Embassy. Minami Sanriku is a town in Miyagi Prefecture that was devastated in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. Soon after this disaster occurred, Australia deployed a search and rescue team to Japan, and worked in Minami Sanriku to assist with the recovery effort. Mayor Sato led the town’s recovery and reconstruction from the disaster and Lendlease Japan was heavily involved in assisting with Tohoku region’s recovery, and ever since has supported the town during its reconstruction efforts.
January 2022 - Certificate of Appreciation to AJF and ANZCCJ
Mayor Jin Sato of Minami Sanriku visited the Embassy and presented the Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) and the ANZCCJ with certificates of appreciation for both organisations’ long-term support towards the town’s reconstruction efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March 2011. Ten years and ten months have passed since the disaster. Following the dispatch of the 🇦🇺 Urban search and rescue team to this area , and a visit by then PM Julia Gillard, Australia has forged a deep relationship with Minami Sanriku.
The AJF supported projects through their Reconstruction initiative, including projects supporting the children of Minami Sanriku to visit Australia from 2012, and other cultural projects with the town. The ANZCCJ was instrumental in organising trips to Minami Sanriku by volunteers from the Australian expat community to assist with the recovery effort.
Ms HK Yu, Deputy Head of Mission, warmly welcomed Mayor Sato, and accepted the certificate on behalf of the AJF. Ms Melanie Brock, Chair-Emeritus and Mr Tim Barnstable, Vice Chair accepted the certificate for ANZCCJ. Melanie is also a former AJF board member who led the support for the AJF’s Reconstruction Initiative.
July 2021 - Australian Jazz Musicians visited Iwate Schools
Australian jazz musicians Marty Holoubek and Marty Hicks ran workshops with students in Iwate Prefecture in the early July 2021. Australian musicians began conducting workshops in the region after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. This is the 10th workshop tour and shows the enduring bond forged by music.
March 2021 – 10th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
On 11 March 2021, Australian Embassy and Australian business community representatives attended the tenth memorial service for the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Minami Sanriku, Miyagi. Ms HK Yu PSM, Deputy Head of Mission, attended with Mr Brett Cooper, Minister (Commercial), Mr Trevor Holloway AOM, Osaka Consul-General, Ms Ikuko Kohara, Mr Masayasu Yoshimoto and Ms Melanie Brock, ANZCCJ Chair Emeritus. Ms Yu was posted to Japan at the time of the earthquake. Mr Cooper and Mr Holloway worked on the ground with the Australian rescue team in the initial aftermath of the disaster. Mr Yoshimoto is a driver at the Embassy who drove consular teams to the affected area soon after the disaster, receiving an Order of Australia for his work in 2012. The representatives also visited ‘Koala House’, the lifelong learning centre which was established in 2013 by ANZ bank.
March 2021 - Support Our Kids ‘Tohoku Resilience’
With support from the Australia-Japan Foundation, a Japanese NGO named Support Our Kids held an event titled “Tohoku Resilience” to commemorate ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Support Our Kids has provided an Australian homestay program for Tohoku children following the disaster and their experiences were featured in the exhibition. Mr Greg Ralph, Minister-Counsellor and Mr Tom Wilson, Counsellor (Public Affairs) attended the event and laid tribute origami flowers.
February 2021 – Ambassador Adams meets with Minami Sanriku Mayor
In February 2021, Ambassador Jan Adams and Ms HK Yu, Deputy Head of Mission were honoured to welcome Mayor Jin Sato of Minami Sanriku, Miyagi to the Embassy. Mayor Sato spoke of his fond memories of Australia over the past ten years, and Ambassador Adams conveyed her appreciation to the town for their generous support and donations to Australian charities following the 2019-20 Australian bushfires.
December 2020 –Koala Camp project connecting Iwate and Australia online
On 19 December, an innovative initiative named the KOALA CAMP project, an online exchange event brought together Australia, Iwate and other parts of Japan through music, sport, food and various other activities. It also looked back on Australia’s on-going support to Tohoku following the 2011 disasters, which has included Australian musicians visiting schools in Iwate on an annual basis.
January 2020 – Bushfire donation from Minami Sanriku to Australia
Minami Sanriku, Miyagi donated 1 million Japanese yen to Australia’s NSW Rural Fire Service in response to Australia’s bushfire disaster. It was a kind gesture to support Australia in the time of need and to return the support the town received following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Ambassador Court sent a letter to Mayor Jin Sato thanking him and the town for the generous support.
September 2019 - Australian musicians continue to play for Iwate
As part of the “Australian Jazz Journey 2019” project, Australian duo Marty Holoubek & Joe Talia conducted workshops at schools in Iwate prefecture from 12-13 September. Since 2011, Australian Jazz musicians have been visiting disaster-affected schools in Iwate as part of Australian Government support to communities affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
August 2019 - Certificate of Appreciation from Minami Sanriku
Ambassador Richard Court AC was honoured to welcome Mayor Jin Sato of Minami Sanriku, Miyagi to the Embassy to present a Certificate of appreciation for support from Government, Business and Community since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The relationship with Minamisanriku began immediately following the disaster when the Urban Search and Rescue team deployed to Japan worked in the town to search for survivors. Two Embassy staff members whom at the time, worked with the rescue team were able to join on this occasion. Over eight years has passed since the disaster, and Minami Sanriku is now looking to thank the people that have supported them to rebuild and revive their town.
August 2019 - Support Our Kids Homestay Program
Six students from Tohoku region travelled to Melbourne with Australia-Japan Foundation grantee Support Our Kids. Ambassador Richard Court greeted the group prior to their departure at the Embassy. They studied at school throughout their homestay and enjoyed Melboune, visiting an AFL game and the Melboune Park!
August 2018 - Support Our Kids Homestay Program
Six inspiring students from Tohoku region travelled to Brisbane, Australia with Australia-Japan Foundation-grantee Support Our Kids. During their activity-packed two-week homestay program, the students toured the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art and enjoyed a lunch hosted by Chris Saines, AJF Board Member and Gallery Director.
March 2018 - Polyglot Theatre returns
Australia’s Polyglot Theatre returned to Minami Sanriku in March 2018. This was their fourth visit to the disaster-affected area since 2011. Working with Japan’s NPO Acchi Cocchi, Polyglot’s performer shared their unique mix of experiential, interactive and installation theatre with local children during a public performance and visits to five primary schools. Australia has been supporting reconstruction in the disaster-affected Tohoku region since 2011 and remains committed to working with Japan to help Tohoku recover. Supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation.
'Staging a recovery' - article by Rosemary Neill, The Australian
Photo: Ai Ueda
September 2017 - Monash Art Ensemble visits Iwate prefecture schools
The Paul Grabowsky Quartet made his third visit to the regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Iwate Prefecture. This year they visited a school which was affected severly by a Typhoon in 2016 in addition to two schools in Kuji area.
August 2017 - Support Our Kids Homestay Program
Six students from Tohoku region travelled to Brisbane, Australia with Australia-Japan Foundation-grantee Support Our Kids. The group experienced homestay and styding at a local school. They also presented to their host school of their experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
March 2017 - Tohoku Support Weekend
Embassy staff joined the annual Tohoku Weekend with ANZCCJ and Club Australia with over 50 participants. The group toured Minami Sanriku and were met by Mayor Jin Sato at Koala House. The group participated in the Tohoku Food Marathon on the following day in half marathon races and kids races.
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Sep 2016 - Monash Art Ensemble visits Iwate prefecture schoolsThree musicians from the Monash Art Ensemble led by Paul Grabowsky AO travelled to Iwate prefecture to perform at two schools that were affected by the 2011 Disaster. The Quartet, supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation visited two schools and had the opportunity to meet with a local jazz band and here their experiences. This is the sixth visit by Australian Jazz musicians to disaster-affected schools, and they have performed for more than 2,000 students over the course of this time. August 2016 - Support Our Kids Homestay ProgramStudents from Tohoku including four students from Minami Sanriku, Miyagi participated in the AJF-funded Support Our Kids (SOK) Homestay program in Brisbane. A send-off afternoon tea event was held at the Australian Embassy, before their departure. The kids learned from Ito-en staff the proper way to serve Japanese tea, so they could prepare for their host families during their visit. The students enjoyed a full 2 week stay in Brisbane, and were all in tears when they had to part from their host families. They all reported that this experience was a life-changing one and were determined to work hard for their dreams and the reconstruction of their towns.
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