Sister cities are at the heart of the Australia-Japan relationship. They help to build bridges, create new friendships and enhance mutual cultural understanding. The sister city relationship between Hobart and Yaizu began in 1977, making it one of the oldest between Australia and Japan.

At a beautiful ceremony in Hobart yesterday, @emeraldlking.bsky.social was presented with the Foreign Minister’s Commendation by Consul-General Tokuro Furuya. Dr Emerald King is a Lecturer in Humanities at @utas.edu.au and a member of the Board of the Australia-Japan Society of Tasmania.

A perfect day for admiring the MV Black Marlin and the China Zorrilla (Hull 096) on the River Derwent. I'm so proud that Incat Tasmania was able to build the world's largest electric ferry right here in Tasmania.

The City of Hobart has launched the new Climate Ready Hobart platform. Head to the website to learn more and to explore the actions that you can take to help create a zero emissions and climate resilient city. Climate Ready Hobart: www.climatereadyhobart.com.au/Home

Tasmanian Whisky Week is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Since 2016, the festival has been showcasing Tasmania’s world-famous whisky industry and the people behind the scenes that make it all possible.

Fun, games and grammar at this month's Japanese language exchange session at the State Cinema Cafe in North Hobart. A group of 21 people from Australia, China, Japan and Vietnam gathered to improve their language skills and to make new connections.

The first Taiko Master Taster Workshop with Makoto Sekine has sold out. Fortunately, a second session has been added. This is a rare opportunity to learn from one of Japan's leading taiko drummers. At the time of writing, only 15 spots are left. Book now while you still can!

The Australian Institute of International Affairs Tasmania welcomed Julia Flint this week. Julia is Crown Counsel at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Chair of the Tasmanian International Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee of Australian Red Cross.

According to this analysis by @zekehausfather.com and @carbonbrief.org, 2026 now stands a 35% chance of being the warmest year on record. The best estimate is that the average global temperature will be 1.51°C above pre-industrial levels.

Please join AIIA Tasmania for this event on Wednesday 5 August. Ray Ming-Tse Lu is Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne and oversees Taiwan's engagement across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Register here: aiiatas.glueup.com/event/5-augu...

I’ve recently completed the online microcredential on "Australia and the Indo-Pacific: Understanding our strategic connections to Asia", which is delivered by @perthusasia.bsky.social in partnership with the University of Western Australia.

Seasonal forecast models now predict a greater than 90% chance that the current El Niño event will become the strongest on record. The median prediction is that ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific will peak a full 0.8 degrees above anything that we’ve observed over the past 150 years.

It’s important that we’re guided by best practice when working with people and communities. I was therefore happy to have the opportunity to attend a training session at the Hobart Office of Australian Red Cross today.

AIIA presents this talk on Australia’s war crimes challenges. Julia Flint is Crown Counsel at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Chair of the Tasmanian International Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee of Australian Red Cross. Registrations: aiiatas.glueup.com/event/28-jul...

The newly relaunched Tasmanian International Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee of Australian Red Cross held a film screening and panel discussion at the State Cinema in Hobart last night.

Thank you to the Taiwanese Association of Tasmania for inviting me to attend a screening of A Chip Odyssey at TasTAFE last week. The documentary tells the remarkable story of how Taiwan went from zero to being the world’s leading producer of semiconductors within just a few decades.

They are pioneering the commercial cultivation of Asparagopsis, which is a native red seaweed that contains high levels of the bioactive compound bromoform. When added as a supplement to livestock feed, methane emissions by cattle can be reduced by up to 80%.

I was delighted to visit Sea Forest recently and to be given a tour by their Head of Research and Development, Masayuki Tatsumi. Founded here in Tasmania by Sam Elsom and Stephen Turner, Sea Forest aims to combat climate change by enabling sustainable approaches towards agriculture.

Today (7 July) marks the Japanese seasonal festival of Tanabata. It celebrates the one day of the year when the star-crossed lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi are able to meet. Represented in the heavens by the stars Vega and Altair, they spend the rest of the year separated by the Milky Way.

The world’s oceans are now hotter than has ever been observed at this time of year, exceeding the records previously reached during 2023 and 2024. With an El Niño event beginning in the tropical Pacific Ocean, we can expect to see further extreme weather events and increases in global temperatures.

The 2026 @lowyinstitute.bsky.social poll highlights ongoing shifts in how Australians feel about the world around them. The results reveal that a record number of people feel unsafe, with low levels of trust in the major global powers.

It may have been a cold winter's day in Hobart, but that didn't stop people from joining us for our monthly Japanese language exchange session at the State Cinema Cafe.

Together, we celebrated the past fifty years of friendship. We also made new friends and new connections that will help the Australia-Japan and Tasmania-Japan relationships to reach new heights during the years ahead.

Video messages were also delivered by the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. Cultural performances, including a fusion of didgeridoo and taiko drumming, honoured the strength of the ties between our two countries.

The evening brought together nearly 600 leading figures from across Australia and Japan, including a sizeable contingent from Tasmania. Guests were addressed by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, and the Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii.

Thank you to the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee and the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies for organising a Gala Dinner at Parliament House in Canberra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan.

Tasmania Whisky Events are hosting a Japanese whisky tasting event in Hobart. The evening will explore Japan's beautiful landscapes and the distilleries that make it one of the world's great whisky tourist destinations. Further information and tickets: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/whisky-jou...

If We’re Being Honest (Vipoo Srivilasa) Tactus (Dylan Sheridan, Sean O’Connell and Jacob Leary)

The art of Dark Mofo. Free installations and exhibitions, featuring artists from around the world, are spread throughout Hobart. In Absence (Yhonnie Scarce, Aaron Roberts and Kim Bridgland)

One of the focal points of the annual Dark Mofo festival, Dark Park has always made ingenious use of Hobart’s cityscape. This year’s festival is no exception, transforming one of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries into a floating art gallery.