The Consul-General of Japan in Sydney's Newsletter - Past Issues
No. 3 Darwin and Japan - November 29, 2019
Soon after arriving in Sydney, I visited Darwin from 17 to 19 November. The Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney has jurisdiction over New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Japan has deep connections with the Northern Territory, and last year in November, Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo visited Darwin. In addition to the Summit Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Prime Minister Abe attended the ceremony to mark the start of full operations at the Ichthys LNG project and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph War Memorial.
Courtesy call with Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran, Administrator of the Northern Territory
Being my first official visit since assuming my post as Consul-General, I paid courtesy calls on Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AO, Administrator of the Northern Territory (equivalent to state governor), the Hon. Michael Gunner MLA, Chief Minister of the NT (equivalent to state premier), and The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor Mr Kon Vatskalis, Lord Mayor of Darwin, to introduce myself. We exchanged views about working to further strengthen NT-Japan ties.
Laying flowers at the Darwin Cenotaph War Memorial
Soon after the outbreak of the Pacific War during World War II, Darwin was bombed by the Imperial Japanese Army 64 times between February 1942 and November 1943. In total there were 97 bombing raids over northern Australia which killed more than 260 Allied military personnel and civilians. Prior to these raids, in January 1942, the Japanese I-124 submarine was sunk during a mission off Darwin, and all 80 crew onboard perished. I laid flowers at both memorials as Prime Minister Abe did last year.
Darwin Memorial Uniting Church adorned with crosses donated by Fujita Salvage
After WWII, the salvage contract for removing wreckage to clear shipping channels in Darwin Harbour was awarded to a Japanese company, Fujita Salvage, which undertook the work from 1959 to 1961. The CEO of the company, Mr Ryugo Fujita, strove for reconciliation between Japan and Australia, and when the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church was established in 1960, Mr Fujita donated 77 crosses made of metal salvaged from the wreckage. The inspiration for the crosses came from the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament which teaches to “forgive the sinner seventy-seven times”. In 2017, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin, from their hometown in Japan, Mr Fujita’s family brought over their headstone, which was made from a propeller of a salvaged vessel, and donated it to the church. Contact and mutual visits between the Fujita Family and the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church have continued to the present day. In many places throughout the church, you can see explanatory panels and historical materials explaining the Bombing of Darwin and the history of reconciliation.
Receiving a briefing from the General Manager Northern Territory of INPEX
Times change. The Ichthys LNG Project has begun and is building new connections in Darwin with Japan. INPEX gained exploration rights in 1998, and in 2012 the final investment decision was made. In 2018, in the presence of Prime Ministers Abe and Morrison, the ceremony to mark the start of full operations at the Ichthys LNG project was held. The project represents a $US40 billion investment, which is a record-breaking investment led by a Japanese company. INPEX is not only responsible for the first large-scale LNG project by a Japanese company, it is also providing about 7% of Japan’s annual LNG imports. On 15 November 2019, the 100th shipment of LNG was surpassed, and production is progressing smoothly. The project will have an operational life of 40 years and deliver significant economic benefits and employment locally. Furthermore, INPEX is making efforts to contribute to the local community, as can be seen in the establishment last August of its Reconciliation Action Plan with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
From here on, the aim is to promote further diversification of industries. Japanese company Nissui is working with local company Sea Farms to develop Project Sea Dragon to farm prawns. Working with the Territory Government, the possibility of utilizing renewable energy within the field of agriculture is also being studied. I would like to support these positive developments.
With Ms Yumiko Shaw, President of the Australian Japanese Association of the Northern Territory
While in Darwin, I met with the Australian Japanese Association of the Northern Territory (AJANT) and learnt about their activities. AJANT is run by both Australians and Japanese to strengthen ties between our two countries. Every year, the Association organizes a Japanese festival, a Children’s Day event and the Japanese Film Festival, among other activities. In 2017, AJANT gained the support of the Australian Government to erect the commemorative plaque for the I-124 submarine mentioned above. I was impressed by how actively AJANT promotes its activities through online media, including video and all major social media channels.
When it comes to Japanese language education, there are more than 4,500 learners in the Northern Territory - proportionally well above the average in Australia. The Consulate is keen to support AJANT’s activities which help promote Japanese culture and foster stronger exchange between Australia and Japan.
Courtesy call with the Hon. Michael Gunner MLA, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Next year will mark 75 years since the end of World War II. Taking this opportunity, I intend to work to deepen understanding of the ravages of war and the history of reconciliation in the Northern Territory and Japan. To that end, I would like to do all I can to build on the outcomes of Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Darwin last year and increase the momentum of our ever developing ties.
I would greatly appreciate your ongoing cooperation and support.
Japan-Australia Summit Meeting in Darwin (16 November 2018)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/ocn/au/page3e_000964.html
The Fujita Salvage Story – a symbol of peace and reconciliation
https://dtsc.nt.gov.au/news/2016/salvage-and-salvation-the-fujita-salvage-story-a-symbol-of-peace-and-reconciliation
Ichthys LNG Project
https://www.inpex.com.au/our-projects/ichthys-lng-project/
Australian Japanese Association of the Northern Territory
https://www.ajant.org/