The students arrived in Australia before being bused to Cowra for a day of schooling at St Raphael’s Catholic School and a weekend of fun in the Central West.

The Shiroishi City Mayor sent the students along with a message from the city thanking the school for hosting the students.

“Principal Michael Gallagher it is my great pleasure to have our junior high school students to visit your school,” the message read.

“It is a very fruitful and important opportunity for young people to share our cultures.

“I firmly believe that this valuable experience will serve as a wonderful memory that will last for a lifetime, and will foster and strengthen the bond between our two countries,” the message read.

As well as the message from Shiroishi City’s Mayor the students gave a personal message of thanks to their Australian peers for hosting them.

St Raphael’s Principal, Michael Gallagher, admired the students who visited for their courage to come to another country.

“I think what I have heard is just absolutely extraordinary, being in another country speaking to a crowd of people, in a language other then your own takes courage,” he said.

“I applaud that, it is just a wonderfully rich thing to do and it is quite exciting.”