Muroto, Japan
Muroto is a city at the southern end of a triangular peninsula on the Japanese island of Shikoku. This similarity with Port Lincoln, and others including population, major industries (aquaculture and agriculture), and latitude/longitude, encouraged the City of Muroto to pursue a Friendship Agreement with Port Lincoln; the original document was signed in March 1991.
In 1992, it was agreed that a bi-annual cultural exchange for student/community members be the best way to uphold the agreement. Each April, a delegation of Port Lincoln citizens (students and accompanying adults) travel to Muroto; in August, a similar delegation from Muroto visits Port Lincoln. Delegates in both cities enjoy the immersive experience of homestay accommodation.
In 2016, we celebrated twenty-five years of friendship, fifty exchanges and more than 700 people travelling between the two cities.
The Port Lincoln Muroto Friendship Group, operating under a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Port Lincoln, manages the Muroto Exchange program. This small committee of local volunteers arrange the annual visits to Japan and the itinerary and hosting arrangements for our Muroto visitors in August.
For more information about Muroto, visit www.jnto.go.jp/eng/regional/kochi/murotomisaki.html.
For more information about the Port Lincoln Muroto Friendship Group, visit www.portlincolnmuroto.org.au/.
Banner image: As part of the 25 year celebrations in Port Lincoln in 2017, Takashi Nakajima, Shoji Hashimoto and Mayor Bruce Green at the time re-enacted the 1991 signing of the Friendship Agreement.
Need more information
If you have any questions or would like more information regarding our international relations, please contact:
City of Port Lincoln
Executive Assistant
9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 8621 2325
Email: plcc@plcc.sa.gov.au