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 bi-annual cultural exchanges for students/community members be the best way to uphold the agreement. This continues for nearly thirty years, until COVID-19 broke the cycle in 2020.
In March 2021, we celebrated three decades of friendship via a video connection with our friends in Muroto; during the online ceremony, thirty coloured tiles were placed within a one-metre-diameter mosaic artwork in each city to symbolise our thirty-year anniversary. Almost 800 people travelled between the two cities as part of the 57 exchanges during that period.
The completed mosaics were prominently installed within each community - in Port Lincoln, our mosaic can be found in front of the Nautilus Arts Centre; in Muroto, it is near the entrance to the Yasuragi building.
In 2024, a new model of cultural exchange was developed between Port Lincoln and Muroto. Student exchanges are now facilitated by the high schools within each community, with encouragement and assistance provided by both Cities. Adult exchanges - arranged by an organising committee within each city - now occur in alternate years, with adult delegates enjoying the immersive experience of homestay accommodation.
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 dedicated local volunteers arrange the cultural exchange trips to Japan, and the itinerary and hosting arrangements for our visiting Muroto delegates.
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