Kagoshima, Japan
Manchester and Kagoshima signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018. The Memorandum focuses on:
- youth exchange,
- education,
- culture; and
- our shared industrial heritage.
In 1865, nineteen Japanese students came to the UK to learn about western society and technologies. They came from the Satsuma region - the present-day Kagoshima Prefecture. Three of them came to Manchester and Oldham to see the manufacturing technologies that were transforming Britain.
During their stay, they learned about commerce and industry. They brought textile machinery and spindles back to Japan for its first modern cotton spinning mill. Some engineers from Manchester and Oldham even went to Kagoshima to set up the equipment and the mill for them.
This inspired the Japanese Industrial Revolution. Godai Tomoatsu, the leader of these Satsuma students, became one of the most famous pioneer entrepreneurs in Japan. He set up the Osaka Chamber of Commerce - still one of the biggest Chambers of Commerce in the world.
Highlights:
- Regular youth sport exchange, primarily focused on football.