Japanese English
Mr Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture of Japan, began his official visit in Melbourne on 10 July, where he was greeted by the Governor of Victoria, the Hon Alex Chernov AO QC.
<Parliament House>
This is his first official visit to Victoria which has been a sister-state of Aichi Prefecture since 1980. The purpose of the visit is to consolidate and further develop the Aichi-Victoria relationship in various fields including business and cultural exchanges.
Governor Ohmura and five personnel from Aichi prefecture first visited Parliament House in Melbourne. They were greeted by local senators outside the building and then given a tour of the inside.
While the Hon Mr. Bruce Atkinson, the President of the Legislative Council welcomed Governor Ohmura by giving him a cowboy hat, Governor Ohmura gave him the Tokonameyaki ceramic bowls, a specialty of Tokoname city in Aichi prefecture, in return.
<The gift from the Hon Bruce Atkinson>
<Governor Ohmura gave Tokonameyaki ceramic bowls in return>
They moved on to Government House and met with Victoria’s Governor, the Hon Alex Chernov AO QC. After the meeting, Governor Ohmura signed the memorandum related to art and culture with the Hon Mr. Peter Ryan, the acting Premier of Victoria. They agreed to continue to be more involved in art and culture activities and to exchange information on events and training, by holding exhibition, movie screening, stage performances and workshop.
<Meeting with the Hon Alex Chernov AO QC at Government House>
<The Hon Perer Ryan and Governor Ohmura signed the memorandum on cultural exchange>
Governor Ohmura and his team are scheduled to stay in Melbourne until 12 July to visit AAMI Park and Jetstar’s head office. They will then head off to Sydney.
Story and photos: Masatoshi Sato
