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International partnerships

Introduction | Background | Sister cities | Friendship cities | Strategic alliance | Strategic environment | Key themes | Covec report | Brisbane | Busan | Fukuoka | Guangzhou | Hamburg | Los Angeles | Shinagawa | Tomioka | Study visits

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Shinagawa - friendship city

Background

The Auckland-Shinagawa friendship city agreement was originally signed in 1989, between Mt Roskill Borough and Shinagawa Ward in Tokyo. Auckland City Council inherited the relationship in 1993 following local government amalgamation. Auckland's relationship with Shinagawa has included tourism, education, youth and cultural initiatives.

For information about Shinagawa, visit the official Shinagawa City website in English.

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Some examples of programmes

Youth exchange

Every year, students from Shinagawa and Auckland's Lynfield College spend two weeks attending school and participating in a variety of cultural activities in each other's city.

Summer school

Every year, students from Shinagawa participate in a month long English summer school programme at Lynfield College in Auckland.

Japan tour

"Springtime in Japan" was a 14-day escorted tour of Japan, including Shinagawa, organised by Sister Cities New Zealand.

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Fifteenth anniversary of the friendship city relationship with Shinagawa

15-18 September 2008

This year marks the 15-year anniversary of the friendship city agreement between Auckland and Shinagawa, a bustling district of Japan's largest city, Tokyo.

The relationship actually dates back to 1989, when the Mt Roskill Borough Council and Shinagawa established a friendship communiqué based around education links. These links remain in place, with Mt Roskill's Lynfield College and the Shinagawa International Friendship Association running a number of ongoing education programmes.

The 15th anniversary will be celebrated in Auckland from 15-18 September, with a visit from a 45-member delegation from Shinagawa led by Mayor Hamano. The delegation will include tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arranging) and kendo (martial art) members, who will provide cultural demonstrations to local schools and retirement villages. Mayor Hamano and a group of Shinagawa City Councillors will spend their time learning about Auckland's CBD and waterfront projects, as well as investigating the new Materials Recovery Facility in Onehunga - the southern hemisphere's most advanced recycling sorting facility.

The two cities celebrated the 10th anniversary in Shinagawa in 2003 with 'Auckland Fair', a two-day showcase of New Zealand food, wine, tourism and culture.

Updated August 2008