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A new ‘sister school’ education exchange initiative by the Osaka Prefectural Government is facilitating study tours between Australian and Osaka high schools.
Under the initiative, Osaka schools are signing partnership agreements with overseas schools. Australia is proving by far the most popular destination. As at September 2026, 22 Osaka public schools have signed agreements with Australian schools, and several have already started sending student groups to Australia for short-term study exchanges.
The Osaka Prefectural Government is now aiming to match a further 60 public schools with overseas partners. Austrade and state and territory governments will continue to support the initiative.
‘The partnership agreements are a wonderful way for Australian and Japanese students to experience a different way of teaching and learning,’ says Fumi Matsumoto, Education Business Development Manager at Austrade Osaka. ‘It also allows students to experience everyday life in another culture and, hopefully, make lifelong connections.
‘Australia’s popularity as a study destination for Japanese students will help strengthen our education ties for many years to come.’
Connecting schools in Osaka and Australia
In the lead up to Expo 2025 Osaka, the Osaka Prefectural Government launched a new education initiative to connect all 150 Osaka public high schools with schools overseas. The aim was to strengthen education ties and cultural understanding by enabling Osaka students to visit partner schools overseas.
Austrade reached out to Australian state and territory governments to put together a list of 50 potential partner schools. A series of ‘school matching’ meetings followed.
An Australia Education Seminar at the Australia Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka with Australian state and territory governments showcased Australia’s strengths in education to Osaka public school teachers.
Team Australia at the Australia Education Seminar, held at Australia Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka.
A lasting legacy
Australia made a strong impression at Expo 2025 Osaka, with Japanese institutions continuing to follow up Australian education opportunities.
In February 2026, the Osaka Prefectural Government sent a delegation to Australia to strengthen education collaboration. During the visit, the Queensland Education Minister and the Superintendent of the Osaka Board of Education signed a Letter of Intent to increase cooperation on education initiatives.
The NSW Department of Education and Plumpton High School in Sydney made a special visit to Japan to meet the Osaka Board of Education and Takatsuki Kita High School. The meeting led to the two schools signing a formal partnership agreement in May 2026.
‘Our Plumpton High School community is excited and honoured to welcome students later in 2026,’ says Tim Lloyd, Principal, Plumpton High School. ‘This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to share education, culture and develop new friends from Japan.’
In August 2026, the Osaka Prefectural Government selected Australia as a new partner for its Global Schools Program, sending 50 high school students aspiring to study at overseas universities to the University of Queensland for a 10-day program designed to support their future academic pathways in Australia.
‘Expo 2025 Osaka may be over, but its impact continues to be felt in the ongoing education initiatives and collaboration between Australia and Japan,’ says Matsumoto. ‘We look forward to supporting more schools in both countries to expand their education horizons.’
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