Toowoomba Welcomes Students from Japanese Sister City for 10th Study Tour Visit

Toowoomba has officially welcomed 24 students and a teacher from Mishima High School in Takatsuki, Japan, as part of a long-standing Sister City study exchange program.

A special Mayoral reception was held at Toowoomba City Hall to mark the occasion-celebrating the 10th visit by Mishima High School since the program began in 2012. The visiting group, which also includes tour representative Mr Kenji Baba, will be in the region until August 1.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald, along with fellow Councillors, greeted the students-aged 15 to 18-and warmly acknowledged the continued partnership between Toowoomba and Takatsuki, a relationship that dates back to its establishment in November 1991.

"On behalf of Council and our community, I extend a warm welcome to Australia's Garden City," Mayor McDonald said. "This milestone visit is a testament to the enduring ties between our two cities, built through shared experiences in education, culture, sport, and commerce."

The group is being hosted by Centenary Heights State High School, with support from the Australia Japan Study Programme. Representatives Susan Dodt, Shuko Ince and Satomi Thomsen attended the reception on behalf of the program, which has now seen 263 students take part in the exchange tours over the past 12 years.

Mayor McDonald praised the efforts of the host school and families for their role in the program's success.

"The real strength of this exchange lies in the personal connections formed between students, schools and families," he said. "These visits provide a unique opportunity to develop language skills and cultural understanding in a real-world setting."

Study Toowoomba Chair Peter Homan also welcomed the group, encouraging them to immerse themselves in everything Toowoomba and the surrounding region has to offer.

During their stay, the visiting students will participate in daily school life at Centenary Heights SHS, alongside designated student hosts. They will also engage in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and explore subjects including agriculture, art, Indigenous studies, Australian culture and local cuisine.

Takatsuki, with a population of 355,000, is located between Osaka and Kyoto on Japan's main island of Honshu. Its long-standing connection with Toowoomba continues to thrive through meaningful educational and cultural exchanges such as this.