Ambassador Suzuki’s Official Visit to Thursday and Friday Islands
2025/10/2
Ambassador Suzuki made an official visit to Thursday and Friday Islands on the 14th and 15th of August. On Thursday Island he met with Torres Shire Council representatives, Mayor, Ms. Elsie Seriat OAM and Deputy Mayor, Mr. Toshio Nakata, as well as president of the Thursday Island Wakayama Prefecture Community, Ms. Rhonda Shibasaki, and many other members of the community.
In the second half of the 19th century many Japanese pearl divers lived on Thursday Island. On this official visit, Ambassador Suzuki engaged in discussions with community members towards increasing people-to-people exchange activities and further deepening Japan and Australia’s friendship, while looking back on the historic Japan-Australia relationship ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan next year.
The Ambassador also attended a memorial ceremony on Thursday Island on the 15th, and laid a wreath in remembrance of the Japanese people and those with Japanese roots who passed away on the island.
In the second half of the 19th century many Japanese pearl divers lived on Thursday Island. On this official visit, Ambassador Suzuki engaged in discussions with community members towards increasing people-to-people exchange activities and further deepening Japan and Australia’s friendship, while looking back on the historic Japan-Australia relationship ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan next year.
The Ambassador also attended a memorial ceremony on Thursday Island on the 15th, and laid a wreath in remembrance of the Japanese people and those with Japanese roots who passed away on the island.
