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Japanese students taste Fremantle culture

TWO teenagers from the Japanese city of Yokosuka landed in Fremantle last weekend as part of a two-week Sister City visit to Fremantle.

Akane Nakayama (16) and Aya Watanabe (18) are being hosted by families from Fremantle’s Arts, Culture and Events Advisory Committee.

Their visit is part of Fremantle’s Sister City relationship with Yokosuka, which was established in 1979 to help foster global goodwill and friendship. 

Village Art Market Co-ordinator Kylie Wheatley is arranging the girl’s schedule. For the first week she has organised a busy schedule of sight-seeing tailored to suit the interest of the girls, with some iconic Fremantle experiences thrown in.

It will include fish and chips at Fremantle Harbour, an art walk through the City, a wander around the Maritime Museum, afternoon tea with elected members and a spot of shopping in Perth.
  
The visitors will spend the second week attending classes at John Curtin College of the Arts where some of their host families are students. 

The girls say that they look forward to learning about Australian culture and practicing the language. In addition, they hope to share some of their unique food and culture with their hosts.

Ms Wheatley said the visit was a great opportunity for the young people to have a glimpse of a very different way of life.

“This gives the girls the opportunity to come here and look at our art and our culture and take back with them some strong impression of the Australian way of life,” Ms Wheatley said. 

“The concept of a Sister City is to develop friendships, understanding and mutual respect across countries and cultures and this visit is a big step toward achieving just that.”      
 

Photo shows: Students Aya Watanabe (left) and Akane Nakayama sightseeing with  Kylie Wheatley in Fremantle.

For more information contact Kylie Wheatley on 0405 307 129.