The former Prisoner-Of-War campsite, where the sad history had been carved during the World War II, revived as the Peace Memorial Park.  From Australia, five ex-POWs, their families, and bereaved families of ex-POWs, who had died right at this place, were present at the ceremony.  Also the Japanese bereaved families of the eight executed guards were attended.

A year after the opening ceremony of the Park, twenty-two members of the Society traveled down to Australia, meeting again in Sydney those who were present at the ceremony.  Afterwards we visited Canberra and Cowra, which has the history of the Great Breakout.

Thanks to Nara Japan Australia Society, which organized a homestay program, two members from Joetsu participated in it and toured around in Australia for two weeks.  Another two and Rod at West Pennant Hills traveled in his car to Cowra from Sydney.  All of them joined to attend the International Youth Forum there.

The twelve people, including schoolchildren, from Molong visited Joetsu as part of an exchange tour to Japan.  The impressions of those who welcomed and were welcomed.

Three essays written by Mr. Hiroshi Matsuhashi, a high school student, Ms. Katsura Kobayashi, a member of the Society, and Mrs. Yoko Ishizuka, who has visited Australia five times, are here.

Mrs. Ishizuka and I accompanied Mayor and visited Sydney, Cowra, and Canberra.

Two Yokos' essays here--"My Seventh Visit to Australia" and "My First Homestay Experience."

Mr. & Mrs. Ishizuka attended the premieres of the film, The Railroad of Love, held in Canberra and Sydney.

Twelve Australians visited Joetsu first time in five years after the Opening Ceremony. We welcomed them, this time, as our friends. 

Five of our members visited Australia in 2000.

Helen and her Party's Visit to Naoetsu
 (13-15 April, 2001) 

Six people, including the grandchildren of the late LT./COL. A. Robertson, visited the Park and later on the British Commonwealth War Cemetery in Hodogaya, Yokohama.

Seven BMX riders from Australian and New Zealand had a chance to stay at our members' home.

Neil & Owen's Visit to Joetsu
 (15-16 April, 2002) 

Neil and Owen, two ex-POWs in Nagasaki, visited Joetsu. Why Joetsu? Details are in the article. 

Visit Australia in 2002
 (19 - 27 October, 2002) 

Given a chance to reciprocate Neil and his party's visit in Joetsu described above, four members from Joetsu visited Perth and Sydney.

Corina, Welcome to Naoetsu
 (13 February, 2003) 

First time since 2001, when Helen and her party visited Joetsu, another grandchild of an ex-POW came to pay a brief visit.

(15 August, 2004)

(Uploaded in 2004)

Mr. Toshiro Abe, a member of our Society contributed his article about Ms. Katherine Thomson's visit to the Park.

My first volunteer experience was to support the Cambodian coach and players. This event gave me the joy of serving international exchange programs as a volunteer.

My experience to participate in the Nagano Olympic Games as a volunteer is here.

Mr. Matsuhashi, a high school student who had joined the homestay program in Australia for three weeks, and Miss Danni Henderson, an exchange student from Australia, talked about their interesting experiences in the two countries.  In addition to them, Mr. Alan Lansdowne, an assistant language teacher from UK, spoke about comparison of the language teaching professions in the UK and Japan.

I had an opportunity to talk about my international exchange experiences at the Volunteer Academy hosted by Joetsu City.  Its theme is: "Is knowledge of foreign languages necessary for international exchange volunteers?"

My essay about my experience of studying in US, originally written for JASJ newsletter, is here.