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Council About Our Sister City Mobara

Our Sister City

Mobara City, Japan

On 25 May 2002, Mobara City and the City of Salisbury formalised an agreement to promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development. The signing of the Sister Cities Agreement concluded four years of negotiations and is an ongoing representation of the desire to build strong and lasting friendships.

In October 2024, Mayor Gillian Aldridge and Mobara City Mayor Atushi Ichihara committed to maintaining the Sister City agreement into the future.

Sister Cities

Established after World War II, the purpose of a sister cities movement was to create familiarity links between different communities throughout the world. Through these increased connections, feelings of appreciation, camaraderie and goodwill are achieved. Sister Cities are not about making money, but about enhancing the community for the benefit of future leaders. The Agreement between The City of Salisbury and Mobara City enables the exchange of friendship, culture and information between two totally different environments that have enough similarities, common goals and interests to maintain such a connection, benefiting not only the larger community but individual relationships across both cultures.

About Mobara City

Mobara City is located in the Chiba Prefecture, some 70km by train from Tokyo and is very close to the Pacific Ocean, making it a popular place in the summer. As at September 2010, Mobara had a population of 92,449 and a land area of 100 km2 compared with Salisbury's 130,000 and 160 km2. Like Salisbury, it is situated near the coast on a flat plain which is subject to periodic flooding problems and, like Salisbury, it has developed from a largely agricultural community to an area attractive to industry. Futaba Corporation, a major manufacturer of radio-controlled models and toys, is headquartered there. The two cities also share the same longitude and have the same degrees of latitude both north and south of the equator.

Student Exchange programs

Since 2003 students and teachers from schools in Mobara City have visited the City of Salisbury. Hosted by local families and schools, the students and teachers visit local attractions and participate in school life at local schools. Local students and teachers visit City of Salisbury sister city Mobara City, Japan. Hosted by local families and schools, the students and teachers visit local attractions and participate in school life at local schools.

Baseball Exchange - Salisbury City Reds

This is the official Salisbury Sister City exchange program. All members must be residents of Salisbury or members of the Northern Districts Baseball Club. To date 22 players from Northern Districts, five from Golden Grove Central Districts and three from Playford City have taken part in the exchange program. Many others participate when the Japanese teams visit Salisbury.

Strategic and International Partnerships Sub-Committee

The specific objectives of the Sub Committee are to:

Advance Economic Development

  • Review and explore strategic and international relations opportunities that will enhance Salisbury's economy through improved business, trade, tourism links, and investment attraction;
  • Advise Council relating to international relation’s policy, strategy, current issues or trends; and
  • Promote the City of Salisbury and the potential for increasing tourism, trade and investment.

Increase Knowledge Exchanges

  • Identify opportunities for the City of Salisbury to encourage knowledge transfer across economic, community, cultural and environmental themes; and
  • Develop activities that facilitate educational development and knowledge transfer such as student exchange, teacher exchange, citizen exchange, cultural and sporting exchange, community involvement, and hosting international delegations which support the economic development of the city.

Contact the City of Salisbury on (08) 8406 8222 for more information.