Happy New Year!

It was my third time to see in the New Year in Sydney. New Year on Sydney Harbour is certainly very different to how I used to spend New Year growing up in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, but the sense of optimism that seems to come with this time of year is very familiar. There is something that makes people look forward, reflecting on what the New Year might bring and thinking about what they would like to do or achieve.

My office shares this optimism as we look forward to the year ahead. While Japan and Australia do not agree on everything, we have a very strong, cooperative and friendly relationship which continues to grow. Some days this is made especially clear to me.

One such day was 27 November 2009. During the day, I attended the ‘Australia & Japan Economic Outlook Conference’. In my speech, I noted that during the Global Financial Crisis, despite the downturn in Japan, Australian exports to Japan actually increased by 50% during the period from July 2008 to June 2009, and that there has also been a new wave of Japanese investment in Australia. Later at a reception that evening, I farewelled 84 students and 9 educators from NSW who were selected as part of the Japan East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth Program (JENESYS–said ’Genesis’ ) which was created in 2007. The NSW participants were part of a group of 240 students and 24 educators chosen from across Australia to visit Japan for two weeks during December 2009.

In mid-December when the HSC results were announced, it was wonderful to see the names of several students who appear to be permanent residents or of Japanese descent among the top achievers. Their achievements are the result of great personal effort, but from my office’s perspective, we hope that these young people will go on to use their skills and knowledge and contribute to Australian society in many areas, and we also hope that they will help to further deepen the relationship between Japan and Australia. The Consulate will continue to do all it can to support permanent residents and Japanese language education for children.

Next month, the annual Summer Festival in Sydney will be held on Saturday 6 February at Darling Harbour. I hope that many of you will be able to come and join us.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a happy and prosperous year for 2010.

Nobuhito Hobo
Consul-General of Japan in Sydney