Newcastle is today celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Sister City declaration with Ube, Japan. 

The two cities were first partnered on 21 November 1980, as Mayor of Ube Hideo Futatsugi and Lord Mayor of Newcastle Joy Cummings came together to mark mutual friendship between the two port cities. 

Ms Cummings served as Newcastle’s and Australia’s first female Lord Mayor, and current Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes praised her initiation of the mutually-beneficial partnership.  

“It was Lord Mayor Joy Cummings’ vision, when the declaration was signed, for our two great cities to enjoy lasting friendship, good health and prosperity, and I am proud to say our Sister City ties remain as strong as ever,” Cr Nelmes said.

“While we are living through an unprecedented time due to the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 global pandemic, it is but another chapter in the history book of our Sister City relationship, as we rise together to overcome adversity as we have done in the past.

“City of Newcastle congratulates Ube City on achieving this joint milestone and looks forward to the continuation of our cities’ relationship over the years to come.”

Much like Newcastle, Ube has a strong historical association as an industrial city, with coal mining first starting in the late 17th Century. 

Since the signing of the Sister City partnership in 1980, the two cities have deepened ties through education, youth exchange, and economics.

Consul-General Kiya Masahiko, and Consul in Charge of General Affairs and Information and Culture, Shinichi Murata, were gifted a commemorative book, made by the City of Newcastle, to mark 40 years of sisterhood. 

The book, entitled Sister Cities Newcastle and Ube: celebrating 40 years, is available on loan from Newcastle libraries, and digitally.