Nihon Univeristy's Newcastle campus would be the catalyst for more Japanese educational institutions to establish themselves in Australia, Japanese ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki believes.
Mr Suzuki attended the official opening of the prestigious university's Newcastle Campus - its first outside of Japan - on Thursday.
"I hope Nihon University will not only be a catalyst for other Japanese universities but also for Australian universities to expand their footprint into Japan to encourage competitiveness in the higher education and science sector," Mr Suzuki said.
"Australia's relationship with Japan has never been stronger. Like Nihon, Newcastle has also embarked on a new era of growth in fields like renewable energy and hydrogen and the students who come here will benefit from that."
Also present at the historic ceremony held in the former Newcastle Courthouse was Nihon University president Shinichro Ohnuki along with newly arrived staff and students.
They were welcomed by the Awabakal community, University of Newcastle, federal, state and civic representatives.
Nihon University is a privately run institution with about 75,000 undergraduates.
It bought the historic court building in 2017 for $6.6 million and embarked on a $49 million transformation of the 1890s courthouse precinct.
The project included two new four-storey buildings on either side of the 1890s court house, including classrooms, a residential building and a cafeteria.
Building work finished in September 2021, but the Japanese government continued discouraging universities from sending students overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic until this year.
The Newcastle campus will function as a "hub for international mutual exchange programs between Australian and Japanese students promoting and understanding Japanese culture".
The first cohort of 16 Tokyo-based Nihon students arrived in Newcastle in February to test the campus, which can cater for up to 100 students on three-month rotations.
University of Newcastle has signed a collaboration agreement with Nihon which has resulted in academic visits and a cross-cultural "buddy" program also involving the University of Waikato.
University of Newcastle's law faculty will use the original courtrooms for mock trials as part of a memorandum agreement with Nihon.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the campus would build on Newcastle's 40 year sister city relationship with the Japanese City of Ube.
"It is truly an honour and a privilege to have Nihon University here in Newcastle," she said.
"It strengthens the depth of the relationship that began 40 years ago ...it is those deep cultural bonds that really tie us, not just in industry, but in those lifelong friendships that have been formed."
The restored courthouse building will be open for public tours during heritage events and festivals.
Japanese architect practice Azusa Sekkei worked with local firm ARCH to design the campus, incorporating elements of traditional and contemporary Japanese architecture.
The minimalist features of the new structure are designed to complement the heritage building by creating a contrast between the old and new.
