[ 日本語 ]

(Photo) Early summer in the Southern Hemisphere, with purple jacaranda blossoms in bloom across Adelaide.

In December 2025, TSUDA Yuichi, Deputy Director General of the JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), visited Australia. This visit coincided with the commemorative period known as "Hayabusa2 Week", which covers December 3 when (in 2014) Hayabusa2 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center, and December 6, when the capsule carrying samples from asteroid Ryugu successfully returned to Earth in 2020 in the Woomera Prohibited Area of Australia. At this meaningful milestone, the visit provided an opportunity both to reflect on the journey of the Hayabusa2 mission and to look ahead to the current state of Japan-Australia cooperation in space science and exploration in the era of the upcoming Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission.

Beneath the expansive summer sky of the Southern Hemisphere, and later under the Southern Cross, the conversations that unfolded were not merely ceremonial. They formed part of a continuum of trust and cooperation built steadily over many years. This journey celebrated the past while quietly reaffirming a shared resolve for the future.

Adelaide ｜ Dialogue on Japan-Australia Space Cooperation

In Adelaide, Deputy Director General Tsuda, together with members of the local Japanese business community, visited Mr. Campbell Pegg, Space Director of the South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC). The Woomera Prohibited Area, where the Hayabusa2 capsule landed, is located within South Australia.

Mr. Pegg outlined South Australia's initiatives in the space industry. In response, Deputy Director General Tsuda and other Japanese participants engaged in active discussions on international exchange in space science with MMX in view, as well as Japan-Australia cooperation aimed at promoting industry and entrepreneurship through space-related activities.

(Left) With Mr. Campbell Pegg, Space Director of SASIC, and members of the local Japanese community. (Right) The University of Adelaide campus near the Australian Space Agency (ASA).

Adelaide ｜ Public Lecture: "Mission Possible: Space Collaborations"

At the public event "Mission Possible: Space Collaborations", hosted by the Australian Space Agency (ASA) and co-organized by JAXA and the Australia-Japan Foundation, Deputy Director General Tsuda spoke about the journey of the Hayabusa2 mission, from its original concept through capsule landing and the recovery of the Ryugu samples. Framed by this narrative, he also introduced the story that continues into the MMX mission, outlining the present state of Japan-Australia space cooperation.

The achievements of a spacecraft do not end in laboratories or control rooms alone. How they are received by society, and how they are passed on to the next generation, is equally important. In this sense, the time devoted to public dialogue at this event carried particular significance.

The success of one mission opens the door to the next challenge. How far can science extend its reach through cooperation that transcends national borders? The lecture was not merely a review of past achievements, but a moment that posed questions directed toward the future.

Scenes from the public lecture.

(Left) With speakers and Ms. Natsuko Ogawa, Director of the Australia-Japan Foundation, in front of the Ryugu sample display at the Australian Space Discovery Centre (ASDC). (Right) With Mr. Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency.

(Left) Ryugu samples displayed alongside a model of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. (Right) A microscopic close-up of the Ryugu sample.

X posts from the opening ceremony of the public exhibition:

https://x.com/ISAS_JAXA_EN/status/1988595007075520552
https://x.com/ISAS_JAXA_EN/status/1986660401355051364
https://x.com/ISAS_JAXA_EN/status/1977941602606916023

Melbourne ｜ Lecture for the Japanese Community

Early summer in Melbourne. A clear blue sky spread over the city as it prepared for Christmas.

Leaving Adelaide, Deputy Director General Tsuda traveled to Melbourne, where early summer coincides with the Christmas season. A lecture was held for the local Japanese community. Sharing the milestone of the fifth anniversary of Hayabusa2 with Japanese residents and corporate representatives in Australia, Deputy Director General Tsuda spoke about the challenges and achievements of the Hayabusa2 mission, as well as the significance of future international cooperation, including MMX.

Although space science and exploration are highly specialized fields, the lecture resonated across generations and backgrounds. The venue was filled with a calm yet palpable sense of engagement. For those living far from Japan, the story of space exploration also served as a window through which they could reconnect with their homeland. The shared moment left a quiet and impression.

Members of the Japanese community in Australia listening attentively in a warm, relaxed atmosphere, followed by a group photo at the conclusion.

Melbourne ｜ Mission Possible: "Space × Art" and Related Events

At the "Space × Art" event, where Deputy Director General Tsuda delivered a keynote address, the intersection of science and culture was presented as a central theme. The inspiration and questions born from space science and exploration resonate not only with researchers but also with the imagination of artists and creators.

Active discussions explored the points of contact between space, art, and society. Exhibited works included "kirie" (paper-cut art in Japanese) by a Kyoto-based artist whose sensibilities resonate with those of Indigenous Australian culture. In addition, events titled "Space × Medicine" and "Space × Law" were also held. As an attempt to convey the stories of space beyond numbers and data, this gathering left a strong impression.

Deputy Director General Tsuda delivering the keynote address at the event.

(Left) With artist MISA and participants in front of "kirie" artwork inspired by Indigenous Australian sensibilities. (Right) With Mr. Tokuro Furuya, Consul-General of Japan in Melbourne.

(Left) Participants of "Space × Art" event, including Ms. Natsuko Ogawa, Director of the Australia-Japan Foundation. (Right) Participants of "Space × Law" event, including Professor Seiji Sugita of the University of Tokyo.

Participants of "Space × Medicine" event.

Melbourne｜Reception Hosted by the Consul-General of Japan

At a reception hosted by Mr. Tokuro Furuya, Consul-General of Japan in Melbourne, representatives from space-related organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and industry from both Japan and Australia gathered.

Following opening remarks by Consul-General Furuya, addresses by Deputy Director General Tsuda and Dr. Catherine Grace, Acting General Manager of the Australian Space Agency (ASA), reflected on the shared history of Japan-Australia cooperation in space and the outlook for future collaboration. The venue became a place of warm and open exchange.

Through conversations with each participant, Deputy Director General Tsuda once again felt that Japan-Australia space cooperation is supported not only by research and technology, but also by trust built through human connections.

(Left) Deputy Director General Tsuda explaining the Hayabusa2 mission using visual materials. (Right) Dr. Catherine Grace, Acting General Manager of the Australian Space Agency, speaking on the importance of Japan-Australia international cooperation.

At the reception hosted by the Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne. Consul-General Tokuro Furuya is standing to the right of Deputy Director General Tsuda.

Melbourne｜Research Exchange and Human Resource Development

At the University of Melbourne, Deputy Director General Tsuda visited the MAG Lab and the Melbourne Space Lab, both engaged in scientific research related to space science and exploration. As one approach to strengthening collaboration with Australian space science and exploration communities through MMX, a pilot student exchange program utilizing the University of Tokyo's exchange framework is being advanced.

Discussions held between Japanese and Australian researchers did not seek immediate conclusions. Yet it is precisely the steady accumulation of such dialogue that forms the foundation for long-term international cooperation in space science and exploration.

https://sgeas.unimelb.edu.au/research/melbourne-analytical-geochemistry
→The University of Melbourne, MAG Lab

https://melbournespace.research.unimelb.edu.au/
→The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Space Lab

Dialogue between researchers from the University of Melbourne and Japanese researchers, including Deputy Director General Tsuda.

Melbourne｜Space Class at the Japanese School of Melbourne

At the Japanese School of Melbourne, space classes were held for kindergarten children, elementary school students, and junior high school students, divided into two groups according to developmental stage. Using Hayabusa2 as a central theme, Deputy Director General Tsuda spoke about the origins of space, Earth, and life, incorporating quizzes and videos. He also introduced future space exploration and the challenge of the MMX mission, which aims to explore Phobos, one of Mars' moons.

The children listened with bright, attentive eyes, engaging with topics such as spacecraft, asteroids, and the origins of Earth. Through dialogue, they learned about the excitement of exploring the unknown, the joy of making things, and the value of taking on challenges.

The stories of Hayabusa2 and MMX are not only tales of distant space but also gateways to future dreams and careers. One cannot help but hope that this space class will open doors for the children's future, planting small seeds that may one day grow.

Ms. Kobashi Sachiyo, Principal of the Japanese School of Melbourne, introducing Deputy Director General Tsuda.

Scenes from the space class.

Closing｜Under the Southern Cross

(Left) The sun setting over the sea at St Kilda, quietly bringing a day in the Southern Hemisphere to a close.　(Right) Flinders Street Station at night, its clock tower illuminated in blue, marking the end of a day in Melbourne.

Deputy Director General Tsuda's visit to Australia became a journey that quietly reaffirmed the bonds linking the past, present, and future of Japan-Australia cooperation, from Hayabusa2 to MMX.

Across Adelaide and Melbourne, dialogues unfolded in many forms: international collaboration, research exchange, human resource development, space industry, and cultural and artistic engagement. Each of these conversations, held under skies where the Southern Cross shines, will be carried forward, forming a firm foundation for the next chapter of space science and exploration.

（2026/01/16）