I arrived in Japan for the first time on Anzac Day, 25 April 2001. I thought it was quite ironic that a 2nd world war commemoration should see me into the land of those who, in years past, were the enemy. It was an irrelevant thought, though.

Whilst sitting on that plane, the relevant thoughts ranged from feelings of anticipation, expectation and rehearsing phrases and gestures, to coming to the realization that I was on a one way trip to what may as well have been another planet. And in many ways, I wasn't wrong.

I found Japan a captivating, fascinating, colourful, quaint and challenging world. It was full of friendly helpful people, but it was also a place where you could feel culturally and linguistically isolated. And bringing this all together was an effort on both sides to act a bit as each other's cultures dictate. So I, and all exchange staff (before and since), was knowledgeable and diligent about greetings and public behaviour, and the Japanese were very forgiving and aspired to being more casual in their formal interactions with me.

Obu City and the Obu International Association (OIA)arranged a luxurious home to live in, in a prestigious suburb (the Toorak of Obu if you know Melbourne), and a little pink car called a Vitz to get lost in. That happened often enough - worth a chapter in itself.

To know people in Japan is the only way to experience Japan. That's why Port Phillip's staff exchange program is so successful - over three months, you do get to know people, their routines and what's important to them.

Social interaction introduces you to lots of great beer (made from rice), memorable partying and delicious food, though the slimy raw liver dish challenged my stomach muscles and the mochi rice dough challenged those in my jaw.

The Obu council workplace was a joy to be part of, though somewhat regimented and regularized. I know that everyone made great and genuine efforts to help me, honour me and make Obu my hometown for a while, as did the many community members I met and worked with on activities and events.

My greatest joy in 2001 was working with the 50 or 60 people who participated in the Sister Cities Choir project, my main deliverable for the three month stay. These were the 43 singers who hung in for the whole 11 weeks of rehearsal and did the final gig with me at the annual Obu Choral Festival; a bunch of Obu council staff who did one thing or another; and Kodo Sensei, my project saviour who helped me give the 43 singers enough to meet not only their own musical expectations, but to also meet mine. That's another story worth a chapter though.

I'm heartened that the Sister City Singers continue to meet as a regularly rehearsing and performing community choir several years on. Many of the original members came to Melbourne in 2003 to celebrate the 10 th anniversary of the Obu-Port Phillip sister city relationship. This turned into quite a reunion, with tears of joy and connection in many eyes, including mine. In 2005 the choir performed at the Aichi World Expo in Nagoya. Their repertoire included our signature tune, the 'Sister City Song', for which I wrote the lyrics. I feel quite proud about that.

Japan captured my heart in many ways. The place, the manner of the people and the daily routine were like a meditation to be part of.

Since that first interplanetary journey, Japan has become a standard overseas destination for me and have been there twice since. My experience of the place remains the same, and I am ever thankful that I have friends there, including a couple of very close ones, and that I will always have someone to visit, an old work team to say hello to, often a place to stay, and a portal to participating in Japanese society whenever I am there.

For that and for the singers, I'm ever thankful I was chosen for the staff exchange program to Obu.

Verne Krastins was the second Staff Exchange Program participant from the City of Port Phillip to the City of Obu in 2001.