The Tokyo 2020 games, in midst of an unprecedented pandemic has come to an end.
Oversea tourists were banned, while most matches were held with little or no spectators, and athletes and officials were limited to travelling between their stadiums and hotel. For the people of Japan, the "interaction" with foreign visitors which they had hoped for, were kept to a minimum.
The "Light up Host Town Project", an initiative by the Japanese local government, a first of its kind in the Olympic history, was a project to engage the partnered countries through exchange activities in the fields of sports, culture and economics.
Registered as a host town for Australia, Kamaishi city, Iwate Japan has been engaging in various cultural exchange activities with Australia, since 2017.
"To show our appreciation of the support received over the years, and to show the recovery of our town, Kamaishi city chose Australia for the ARIGATO host town project" says Sawako Fumoto, an organizer of the project.
The connection between Kamaishi city and Australia, goes back a decade ago, when the city was hit by a monster tsunami during the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. Wallabies back-rower, Scott Fardy who at the time was playing for the Japanese club, Kamaishi Seawave, declined the embassy offer to fly home, and instead helped the town with the recovery process.
Scott Fardy at Kosano Elementry School, Kamaishi, Iwate Japan 2018 Source: KAMAISHISHI
As part of the initiative, number of activities were held since 2017 to introduce Australian culture to the city, such as the exchange program between Australian and Japanese elementary schools, tag rugby exchange, and events showcasing Australian culture, from sports to food, to music.
Scott Fardy revisited the town in 2019, to participate in various cultural exchanges as part of the host town project, which included rugby workshop with high school students and Onigiri (rice ball) making using local rice and ingredients.
As part of host town project, primary school children enjoyed rugby exchange. Source: KAMAISHISHI
"For the people of Kamaishi, Fardy-san is a hero" Ms Fumoto spoke to SBS Japanese.
Scott Fardy who currently plays with the Irish Leinster, have announced retirement at the end of this season, and will be moving to Japan, to step into a coaching role at Green Rockets Tokatsu, in Chiba prefecture.
"Japan is so pleased to have him back, but we are little disappointed that he didn't come back to Kamaishi" says Ms Fumoto.
Although the host town project had planned to invite athletes and officials to their town during the Tokyo Games, due to the pandemic, organizers were pushed into online interaction, such as the "KOALA CAMP" where an online exchange was made between Kamaishi and people of Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. The town also participated in the pilot Tomodachi 2020 project, an educational exchange, initiated by the Australian Olympic Committee.
Scott Fardy engaged in Onigiri making using local rice and ingredients. 2019 Source: KAMAISHISHI
"The city was very disappointed, that we could not personally interact with the Australian athletes, but we still cheered on from TV and online"
Ms Fumoto says, the relationship between Kamaishi city and Australia will continue beyond the Tokyo games.
"We hope to continue our exchange program with Australia, with particular focus on children. We want our leaders of the future to look at the world with wider perspective"
"I hope that the children will want to go to Australia when they grow up"
"We strongly encourage program like this for Brisbane 2032. We were not only able to learn more about the partnered country, it encouraged us to cheer for another country other than our own. And most of all, we were able to make the visitors feel more welcomed to the country"
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