Minami, Japan
The relationship with Hiwasa began with an interest by the Mayor of Hiwasa in the movement of the Loggerhead turtle, and Cairns sending a species of the turtle to the Hiwasa museum for display. The agreement was signed on 1 April 1969. A second agreement was signed with Minami on 1 October 2007.
Reciprocal visits between students and the community continue to this day. To mark the 45th anniversary of the agreement in 2014, the Mayor of Minami, Kageji Nobuyoshi, visited Cairns and attended the National Sister Cities Day celebrations. He was accompanied by Director of Minami Council, Kizato Shigeki, Head of the Board of Education, Terauchi Yasuhiro, Deputy Chairman of Minami Council, Atsuhiro Mukohyama, Councillor Terashita Hiroko, and Kawanishi Hisanobu from the General Coordination and Policy Planning Department.
Hiwasa was a town located in Kaifu District, Tokushima, Japan. On 31 March 2006 Hiwasa was merged with the town of Yuki, from Kaifu District, to form the new town of Minami. Located 50km south of Tokushima city, Minami is over 33km from east to west, and covers an area of approximately 140.8km2. It is bordered on the south-west by the Kaifu mountains and on the east by the Pacific Ocean, making Minami a scenic town surrounded by mountains and sea.
The local time of Minami is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +9 which is the 2 hours behind Cairns.
The climate of Tokushima Prefecture is relatively mild, but varies due to its north-south length of 100km. The northern area, including Tokushima City, features the warm and dry Setonaikai (inland sea) climate with annual precipitation of less than 1,500 mm. The southern area with its beautiful coastlines features the warm and wet Pacific Ocean climate. The alpine area of the Shikoku Mountains with Mount Tsturugi in the centre features the cold and wet Sea of Japan climate (mountain climate). It sometimes snows in the winter.
The population of Minami is about 6,500 (2018); Japan 126.5 million.
The first agreement with Hiwasa was signed on 1 April 1969. A second agreement was signed with Minami on 1 October 2007.
The original proclamation of 1 April 1969 reads
'The city of Cairns, Queensland Australia and the City of Hiwasa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, sincerely desire to promote mutual friendship and shall strive for sister exchanges in fields ranging from culture to commerce. Through this Agreement the two cities strive for closer friendship and understanding between the nations of Australia and Japan and believe that their efforts will contribute to the peace of the whole world. On this first day of April 1969 we pledge our cooperation as sister cities.'
The second agreement, signed on 1 October 2007, reads
'The cities of Cairns, Queensland in Australia and Minami, Tokushima Prefecture in Japan hereby signal their intent to establish lasting and friendly relationships for formally entering into a Sister City relationship.
They agree to promote economic, educational, cultural and sport exchange to generate mutual understanding and goodwill, leading to a better life for their citizens.
Through this agreement they will:
- Communicate with one another on a frequent and continual basis to strengthen their links, always responsive to the special needs and requests.
- Identify and implement projects that will provide specific, meaningful contributions to the health, welfare and prosperity of the people of Cairns and Minami.
- Regard the officials and citizens of one another's city with utmost respect, friendship and goodwill.'
- 2025 Mayor Amy Eden welcomed 11 Minami high school students and two Minami-Town Council leaders during their visit to Cairns on 8 August. Students and leaders were treated to a joint Sister City BBQ on Monday 11 August at the Esplanade with representatives from community organisations that help make this trip possible.
- 2025 Minami are participating in the Cairns Children's Festival Exhibition "Tomorrowland" due to open on 1 May 2025 at Court House Gallery. Children from three primary schools in the Minami district provided fourteen artworks which will be exhibited showing our children's view of their future.
- 2024 Mayor Amy Eden welcomed twelve Minami Year 9 high school students and two Minami-Town Council leaders during their visit to Cairns on 23 August. Council's second Japanese Sister City, Oyama were also in town that week, which mean that both Minami and Oyama students and leaders were treated to a joint Sister City BBQ on Sunday 25 August at the Esplanade. It was an opportunity to connect with each other and local community.
- 2023 Mayor Bob Manning welcomed Minami junior high students for a Morning Tea during their visit to Cairns for a week in August.
- 2019 Minami Mayoral delegation visit - Ceremonial Tree planting with Cairns Mayor Bob Manning at Centenary Lakes
- 2019 Minami students visit Cairns Regional Council in August
- 2018 Minami students visit Cairns Regional Council in August
- 2017 Students and teachers from Hiwasa Junior High School and Yuki Junior High School (Minami) visit Cairns in August.
- 2017 Mayor of Minami and several delegates visit Cairns in April, meeting with Mayor Bob Manning and attending the Anzac Day ceremony with Cairns Sister Cities Ambassador Sim Hayward.
- 2016 Cairns Sister Cities Ambassador Sim Hayward visits Minami in November.
- 2016 Minami students visit Cairns Regional Council in Cairns in August
- 2015 Minami students visit Trinity Bay High School in August
- 2014 Chair of Cairns Sister Cities Advisory visits Minami in April
- 2014 Two students from Minami travel to Cairns as part of the Youth Ambassadors Program
- 2014 Visit in July by delegation headed by Mayor of Minami, Kageji Nobuyoshi
- 2012 Minami Deputy Mayor Kazuhide Yamaji and Mr Hisanobu Kawanishi visit Cairns
- 2011 Cairns Sister Cities Advisory Committee members and Australia Japan Society members, Mr Jeff Haynes and Mrs Makoto Kamatani Haynes, visit Minami
- 2011 Minami Junior High School students visit to Cairns
- 2011 Youth Ambassadors attend program in Cairns
- 2010 Minami participates in Fibres of Life textile exhibition displayed in Cairns
- 2009 Rebecca Coxon, Trinity Anglican School student exchange visit to Minami
- 2009 Councillor Di Forsyth visited Minami for 40th Anniversary celebrations
- 2009 Minami participated in the Cairns "Face of a Sister City" photographic exhibition.
- 2008 Minami participated in "Earth Links" Ceramics Exhibition and a delegation visited Cairns.
Last Updated: 22 August 2025
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