Gladstone hosts Saiki City Mayor to mark 30 years of friendship
Published on 27 July 2026
Gladstone Regional Council proudly welcomes Mayor Kuniko Tomitaka and an official delegation from Saiki City, Japan, this week (27-31 July) as the two cities celebrate the 30th anniversary of their Sister City relationship.
The visit marks the first official face-to-face delegation between the two cities since 2019 and celebrates three decades of friendship, cultural exchange and community connections since the Sister City Agreement was signed in 1996.
IMAGE: Saiki City Mayor Yuichi Sato and Gladstone City Mayor Peter Corones - 4 Sept 1996
Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said this friendship has grown into a genuine connection between the two cities.
“Over the past 30 years, students, host families, volunteers and community groups have built friendships that have made this partnership something really special,” Mayor Burnett said.
“It's those personal connections that have kept our relationship strong, even when we couldn't visit each other in person due to covid-related travel restrictions.”
The delegation's itinerary includes a civic reception, tours of key Council facilities including the Disaster Coordination Centre, meetings with community representatives, cultural activities, and opportunities to connect with local students and host families.
IMAGE: Official opening of the Yūjō Bonsai House on 26 October 2025.
The visit will also include an official anniversary dinner and tour of the Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens, where Mayor Tomitaka will plant a tree and see several lasting symbols of the Sister City relationship, including the Japanese Tea House, the Yūjō Bonsai House and the Mirai-ba (Leaves of the Future) Exotic Plant Room, named by Mayor Tomitaka.
The official visit will conclude with a community farewell barbecue, recognising the contributions of host families, volunteers including the Saiki Sister City Advisory Committee and students who have helped maintain this long-standing friendship.
IMAGE: Japanese Tea House at Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens.
Mayor Tomitaka, elected in 2025, has identified education, childhood development and disaster resilience among her key priorities, creating new opportunities for both cities to learn from one another.
Mayor Burnett said the visit also provides an opportunity to look ahead to the future of the partnership.
“It will be fantastic to reflect on everything we have achieved together during the past 30 years, but as equally as exciting will be identifying new opportunities to grow a stronger friendship in the years to come,” he said.
Click here to learn more about our Sister City relationship with Saiki City.
TOP IMAGE: Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett and Saiki City Mayor Kuniko Tomitaka.