Sister city relationship with Akkeshi

A sister city relationship between the City of Clarence and the City of Akkeshi in Japan was formalised on 9 February 1982. Student exchange and official visits to Clarence and Akkeshi have regularly occurred in both cities as a basis of cultural and educational exchange and understanding.

The sister city relationship between Clarence and Akkeshi is based on historical and geographical grounds. Historically the association is linked to the whaling ship Lady Rowena ex Clarence which was put ashore at Kiritappu for supplies in 1831. However, if this is not accepted in the records for “first” or “earliest”, Clarence can claim that on 16 April 1850 a whaling ship, the Eamont, registered in Hobart, was wrecked two kilometres off Mabiro Beach, Akkeshi. The thirty-two man crew was rescued by the people of Akkeshi and cared for until they could be repatriated back to Australia. This is believed to be one of the earliest Australia-Japan links.

Geographically Akkeshi and Clarence have many similarities. Both are located on the 43rd parallel and both have a close affinity with surrounding waterways.

Akkeshi is located on the northern island of Japan while Clarence is located in the southernmost state of Australia and both have close associations with ships, fishing and aquaculture.

The Japanese writer Masako Endo, who researched early links between Australia and Japan, was asked by the City of Akkeshi to explore possible twin sister links when she visited Tasmanian in 1979.

The relationship was formalised with the signing of a sister-city agreement at a special meeting of the Clarence City Council attended by the Mayor of Akkeshi on 9 February 1982.

Find out more about the City of Akkeshi on their website www.akkeshi-town.jp

Sponsorship of Clarence school visits to Akkeshi

We offer sponsorship for schools in Clarence to travel to Clarence’s sister city of Akkeshi.

The sponsorship provides a basis for continued cultural exchange between the Clarence and Akkeshi school communities and encourages the development of sister schools.

To find out more about our sponsorship program for Clarence schools to visit Akkeshi, read the Sponsorship of Clarence School Visits to Akkeshi Policy and Framework.

History of the sister city relationship

There have been many regular exchanges and visits since the sister-city agreement was made in 1982. These include:

Educational Exchanges

  • September 2025 – educational exchange visit by 23 students and 3 teachers from Rose Bay High School and Rosny College to Akkeshi, supported by the “Sponsorship of Clarence School Visits to Akkeshi Program”.
  • March 2025 – Educational exchange visit by 10 students and 3 members of the Akkeshi Board of Education to City of Clarence and Rose Bay High School.
  • March 2018 – Educational exchange visit by 10 students and 3 members of the Akkeshi Board of Education to Rose Bay High School.
  • April 2016 – Educational exchange visit by Rose Bay High School students to Akkeshi, supported by the “Sponsorship of Clarence School Visits to Akkeshi Program”.
  • March 2016 – Educational exchange with 13 students and 3 staff from Akkeshi to Rose Bay High School.
  • 2008 – the delegation of 20 students and 3 staff from Rose Bay High School visited Akkeshi, supported by the “Sponsorship of Clarence School Visits to Akkeshi Program”.
  • 2006 – the members of the Iris Club of Akkeshi accompanied a group of junior high school students to visit Clarence. The students were hosted by families from MacKillop College.
  • 2004 – the delegation comprising three members of the Iris Club of Akkeshi, a schoolteacher, and eight children visited Clarence for a week-long stay that included attendance at local schools.
  • 2002 – celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the sister city agreement between Akkeshi and Clarence. It was the tenth occasion which members of the Iris Club of Akkeshi, accompanied by schoolchildren from Akkeshi, visited Clarence.

Council and mayoral delegations

  • 2014 – visit by the Mayor of Akkeshi, Mr Yasushi Wakasa, to Clarence to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the sister city relationship.
  • 2013 – the delegation of five aldermen led by the Mayor of Clarence travelled to Akkeshi.
  • 2010 – the Clarence City Council delegation visited Akkeshi.
  • 2003 – the Clarence City Council delegation visited Akkeshi to mark the 21-year anniversary of the sister city agreement.

Anniversaries and cultural exchanges

  • 2012 – Clarence and Akkeshi celebrated their 30 year anniversary of the sister city agreement
    (due to the 2011 tsunami, major celebrations were delayed until 2014).
  • 2006 – the “Australia–Japan Year of Exchange” coincided with a photographic exchange between Akkeshi and Clarence, with an exhibition held at the Schoolhouse Gallery, Rosny Farm.

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