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Ballarat and Inagawa are celebrating 30 years since they signed a Sister City agreement. 

The Inagawa delegation includes Mayor of Inagawa Choji Fukuda and members of the Inagawa delegation. The delegation will visit Ballarat for three days.   

Ballarat and Inagawa have enjoyed a Sister City relationship for 30 years. The purpose of the agreement was to organise and facilitate educational and cultural exchanges, as well as to investigate economic development opportunities between the two municipalities. 

The historic link was based on the rich gold mining deposits found in Ballarat, and the extensive silver ore deposits located in the Inagawa-cho region.  

Since the signing of the relationship in 1988, a civic delegation has taken place every five years, alternating between Ballarat and Inagawa. 

The relationship involves various exchanges of officials, students, teachers and City of Ballarat staff and Councillors. Many schools, community groups, organisations and individuals have benefited culturally from Ballarat’s relationship with Japan over 30 years.  

Key activities and commitments include:  

• Japanese Speech Contests  

• In-bound Junior High School delegations  

• Assistant Language Teacher appointments  

• Japanese Art and Cultural Competitions 

• Reciprocal Officer Exchanges 

Today’s community celebration will be attended by former City of Ballarat Mayors Neil Steinman and Wanda Chapman, responsible for the Sister City alliance in 1988. 

It will feature musical performances by Inagawa delegate Shunsuke Tada, and Ballarat students Marcus Govan, who will both play a marimba on loan from Ballarat Grammar. 

The City is proud to collaborate with the Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA) for this event. 

The Mayors and delegates will also inspect the 30th anniversary photographic exhibition and BOAA exhibits on site.