Junior B Division Winning Essay

2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange Essay Rebecca Howie
9 Green
A feature article will appear to commemorate the 2006
Australia-Japan Year of Exchange in Australian
papers. What kind of topics would you like to include
in this article and why
As two countries that indeed hold a strong relationship with each other and are of
great importance in our world today, there are many things that I would like to know
and understand about Australia, Japan and their friendship as we enter 2006, the
Australia-Japan Year of Exchange. If this was done through a means that reaches all
people, young and old, such as a feature article in Australian papers, I would like to
include various topics that not only inform us, but also help us to gain a greater
understanding of our alliance with Japan, its importance and how we, as a community,
can contribute to and experience this.
The word exchange is defined ten different ways in the Oxford Dictionary, therefore
one of the first things that I would want to see included in the feature article is what
exactly the Year of Exchange means, what it aims to achieve and why it is occurring.
Is it a cultural exchange Is it a student exchange Is it a goods exchange Is it all of
the above And why is 2006 the Year of Exchange Through exchange in such areas
as society, culture, arts, politics, business, education, technology and tourism, and
government and non-government organised events, the Year of Exchange will aim to
increase the relationship between the people and cultures of Japan and Australia from
January through to December 2006. It is to commemorate and celebrate three major
past events - the first Japanese consulate being established in Australia in 1896, the
establishment of the Australia-Japan Foundation in 1976 and, most importantly, the
signing by Japan and Australia of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation also
in 1976. It is vital that we know these facts as we cannot even begin to take part in or
enjoy events commemorating these things if we do not know what it is that we are
celebrating.
A brief explanation of the logo and what it signifies would
also be helpful, as it no doubt would be featured
extensively throughout the celebrations. It is an easily
recognised logo, however a relatively complex one as well.
It shows a yellow stipple in the shape of an A and a red
Asian brushstroke in the shape of a J intertwined to symbolize the combination of two
cultures. Though an apt choice of emblem for the Year of Exchange, it is one that
makes much more sense once explained, and I would think it important and
appreciated if this was included in the feature article.
It is equally as important that we are aware of the history of the relationship between
Japan and Australia and how it has developed, as we celebrate and try to deepen its
existence. The friendship between Japan and Australia is an old one and over the
years has grown from being primarily a trade partnership to what it is now –
something excellent, that includes culture, trade, politics, sister cities, sister schools,
even sister radio stations, university partnerships and, especially in 2006, exchange.
Understanding how Japan and Australia’s friendship was strained during the harsh
times of World War II and then how it recovered through the mutual trade of goods,
for example cars, machinery and rubber products to Australia and wool, beef and coal
to Japan, is a significant reason for the rapid increase in their relationship in the post-

2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange Essay Rebecca Howie
9 Green
war period. Both countries have bilaterally signed 18 existing agreements and, in the
last 50 years, there have been 10 Japanese prime ministerial visits to Australia and 20
Australian prime ministerial visits to Japan. Whether it be represented by something
as simple as a timeline or as a detailed piece of writing in the feature article, it is a
topic that I would like to include so that we would know where both countries have
been and where they are now, and to help us to commemorate where the friendship
has gone and where it is going.
The events that will take place to celebrate the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange and
how the people of Australia are involved or can get involved are definitely things that
I would like to include in the article. This celebration of exchange of culture is
meaningless if the people of Australia cannot get involved and be part of it, as it is
mostly about the people of each country experiencing the other’s culture; however, if
it was publicised in the feature article, people would find out about the events taking
place and think to take part. These events will include performances of the traditional
music of Japan, collaboration of Australian and Japanese popular music, Japanese
garden creation, bonsai, tea ceremony, cooking and origami presentations, Japanese
martial arts demonstrations, competitions, student study tours, the continuation of the
Australia-Japan Relations Essay Contest, exchanges between museums and art
galleries, the celebration of 19 sister city anniversaries, symposiums, forums, tourism
seminars, Japanese technology exhibitions and many more ideas have been proposed.
Already this year, the Japan Junior Golf Club of Sydney has hosted an Australia-
Japan Friendship Junior Golf Championship in light of next year’s celebrations and to
“…celebrate the relationship between Australia and Japan since WWII and to
promote junior sport between Australia and Japan.” (http://www.pga.org.au/default.as
pxs=juniorseventdisplay&eid=1102) Every person in Australia can take part and
they have a whole year to do so – although, they must be informed of the events
before this can occur.
On the other hand, I would not only like to include what events are proceeding in
Australia, but also what events will take place in Japan. This is a celebration of the
friendship and cooperation of two nations, not just one, and I, along with the people of
Australia, would like to know that this is not just a unilateral commemoration. This
would also provide us with an insight into their culture and how they will celebrate
this anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation differently to us.
Finally, there are some important questions that I believe should be answered in the
feature article – why should this be commemorated, why should we bother, and why
is it important that we do We are a curious generation and we do appreciate
responses to the questions that can sometimes be very complicated and difficult to
answer; however, such questions help us to understand our world today and, in this
situation, understand why international relations are of such value and importance, not
just politically, but also culturally and socially. Trade is, of course, one of the most
crucial points of Australia-Japan relations, although, so too is the impact both
countries have had on the other’s society, culture, people and way of life. This
exchange is what helps our nations to grow and is why we should commemorate
something as crucial as the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
– this should and would need to be explained in the article for the benefit of each and
every one of the people in Australia who asks these questions.

2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange Essay Rebecca Howie
9 Green
Knowledge is power, and here, the knowledge we would gain from these topics being
included in a feature article to commemorate the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange
would give us great power - to not only understand the relationship and friendship
between Japan and Australia and each other’s culture, but ultimately the power to
enjoy and get involved, as only the people can truly make it a celebration.
Exact Word Count: 1,231 Words
Bibliography:
- Logo Unveiled (2005) [Internet] Available:
http://www.japan.org.au/Logo%20Launch.htm (13/8/2005)
- Downer, Alexander (1997). ‘Natural Partners’ – Australia and Japan: Past,
Present and Future [Internet] Available:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/media/speeches/foreign/1997/downer_ajrs.html
(13/08/2005)
- Japan-Australia Relations (2005) [Internet] Available:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/australia/ (13/08/2005)
- Australia-Japan Friendship Junior Golf Championship (2005) [Internet]
Available:
http://www.pga.org.au/default.aspxs=juniorseventdisplay&eid=1102
(13/08/2005)
- Japan Country Brief – May 2005 (2005) [Internet] Available:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/japan/japan_brief_bilateral.html (13/08/2005)
- Seeking Ideas and Proposals for the 2006 YOE (2005) Available:
http://www.japan.org.au/Ideas_&_Proposals.htm (14/08/2005)
- 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange (2005) Available:
http://www.japan.org.au/2006_Exchange_Year.htm (13/08/2005)