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JET ProgrammeVideo Contest Award Ceremony
MC:Andnow,somethingwe’veallbeenwaitingfor.TheawardsceremonyfortheJETProgrammeVideoContest,
heldtocelebratethe30thanniversaryoftheProgramme.
TheJETProgrammeVideoContest,oneoftheeventsheldincelebratingthe30thanniversaryoftheProgramme,
adoptedthetheme,‘JETParticipantsIntroducingtheCharmsofJapan’sLocalRegions’.Theaimistopromotethe
charmsandappealofJapan’slocalcommunitiesasdiscoveredthroughtheeyesofpeoplecomingfromothercultures
intheformofvideos.
For thiscontest,entrieswere solicited twice, forautumn/winterandspring/summer.For theautumn/winter
contest,50videoswereentered;thenanother57videoswereenteredinthespring/summercontest,foratotalof
107videosfromvariouspartsofJapan.
Theenteredworkswerescreenedcarefullybyapanelofsevenjudgesactiveinvariousfields,headedbyMitsuko
Okamoto,Professor intheGraduateSchoolofFilmandNewMedia, TokyoUniversityoftheArts.Theychose
tenoutstandingworksforawards,includingfourworksfortheBestofSeasonAwards,oneeachfortheBestIdea
Award,PRAward,andMostVotedVideoAward,twoSpecialJudges’Awards,andoneFirstPrize.
ThecontestwashonouredtoreceivesponsorshipcooperationbyNipponTravelAgencyCo.,Ltd.,KinkiNippon
TouristCo.,Ltd.,TokioMarine&NichidoFireInsuranceCo.,Ltd.,andKeioPlazaHotel.
Let’sbeginwiththeBestofSeasonAwards.Onevideowasselectedforeachseason,astheworkmostfittingour
impressionsofthatseason.
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First letmeintroducetheawardpresenter.Presentingtheseawards is TadahikoFujihara,mayorofKawakami
VillageinNaganoPrefecture,andasthechairmanoftheNationalAssociationofTownsandVillagesrepresentsthe
townsandvillagesinJapan.Mr.Fujihara,pleasecometothestage.Winnersoftheseawardsreceiveacertificate,
medal,andotherprizes.AndnowforthewinnersoftheBestofSeasonAwards.
Therearefourawardwinners.First isSarahLaverty,for ‘KaguraintheShimaneHighlands’.Ms.Laverty,please
cometothestage.
NextisArumJung,forthework,‘DefinitelyMoreFuninHiroshima’.Ms.Jung,pleasecometothestage.
NextisDanaNyberg,for‘Nishiizu,MyLittleSunsetTownbytheSea’.Ms.Nyberg,pleasecometothestage.
Andfinally,AaronJones,for‘SenrinoMichimoIppoYori(Littlebylittle,onegoesfar)’.Mr.Jones,pleasecometo
thestage.
AndsothesearethefourwinnersoftheBestofSeasonAwards.NowMr.Fujiharawillhandouttheawards.
HewillpresentthefirstawardtoSarahLaverty.
Mr. Fujihara:Congratulations!
MC:Congratulations!Couldyousayafewwordsonyourreceiptofthisaward?
Ms. Laverty :Thiswasaworkfromtheheart,madewiththecooperationofmanypeople.Ihopeitconveysevena
littleofmyfeelingstowardthetownofIinaninShimanePrefecture.Thankyousomuch.
MC:Thankyou!OurnextBestofSeasonawardwinnerisArumJung.
Mr. Fujihara:Congratulations!
MC:Congratulations!Pleasesayafewwords.
Ms. Jung :Thankyouverymuch!Iamtrulygratefultoreceivesuchawonderfulawardonthissignificantoccasion
ofthe30thanniversaryoftheJETProgramme.TherearesomanygoodthingsaboutHiroshima,andIwanttogo
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ondoingthebestIcantoletpeopleknowaboutthem.IalsoplanondiscoveringthemanycharmsofJapan,both
theenjoyable,andthedeliciousthings.Thankyouverymuch!
MC:Thankyou!AndthenextBestofSeasonawardwinnerisDanaNyberg.
Mr. Fujihara:Congratulations!
MC:Congratulations!Couldweaskyoutosayafewwords?
Ms. Nyberg:Thankyouforthisaward.I’mverypleasedthatasmalltownlikeNishiizucouldwinandbenoticed
insuchalargescopeofacontest.ButNishiizuisalsooneofthemanysmalltownsinJapanthataresufferingfrom
depopulation.SoIwouldreallyliketothankthekindpeopleandstudentsofNishiizu,andalsothegovernment
officials,andthetourismindustrythatbroughtthiswholecontest together,becauseI thinkit’s throughsmall
opportunitieslikethis,andsmallefforts,thatwecantrytohelpJapanwiththisreallylargeproblemthattheyhave.
Thankyou!
MC:AndthefinalBestofSeasonawardwinnerisAaronJones.
Mr. Fujihara:Congratulations!
MC:Congratulations!Mr.Jones,couldyousayafewwords?
Mr. Jones :I’mgratefultoreceivethiswonderfulaward.AsI’msureyoucantellfromwatchingthevideo,Ireally
loveJapan,Oita,andthecityofKitsukiwhereIlive.Imadethevideointhehopeofconveyingthatlove.Iamvery
gladforthechancetotakepartintheJETProgramme.Thankyousomuch!
MC:Thankyou!CongratulationsonceagaintoallfourwinnersoftheBestofSeasonAwards.
NowIwonder,Mr.Fujihara,ifwecouldaskyoutogiveusyourthoughtsaboutthisvideocontest.
Mr. Fujihara:Iwashighly impressedwithhowthefourwinnerscantruly identifythemselveswithJapanese
people,andhaveperhapsevencapturedmomentsthataJapanesepersonwouldhavemissed,seizingthechanceto
createthesegreatvideos.PeopleofJapanwhoseethemwillappreciatethewonderfulimages,andIhopethevideos
willbeusedtoshowtherestoftheworldwhatJapanhastooffer.Thankyouverymuch!
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MC:Thankyou,Mr.Fujihara.Congratulationstoeachofthewinners.
UpnextistheBestIdeaAward.Thisawardisgiventoaninnovativeworkthatusesthevideomediumcreatively.
Letmeintroducetheawardpresenter,Mr.ShinichiAida,whoisrepresentingthecitiesinJapan.He’sthemayorof
MoriyaCityinIbarakiPrefecture,andadvisortotheJapanAssociationofCityMayors.Mr.Aida,pleasecometo
thestage.Thewinnerofthisawardwillreceiveacertificate,medal,andotherprizes.
AndnowforthewinneroftheBestIdeaAward.TheWinneroftheBestIdeaAwardisSooyoungPark.Herworkis,
‘AGourmetTourofAomori’.Congratulations!Pleasecometothestage.
Mr.Aidawillpresenttheaward.Mr.Aida,please.TheWinneroftheBestIdeaAward,SooyoungPark.
Mr. Aida :Congratulations!
MC:Congratulations!Pleasesayafewwordsonreceiptofthisaward.
Ms. Park :Iamveryhappytoreceivethisaward.Iwishtoexpressmyheartfelt thanks.AomoriPrefecture is
famousasanapple-growingregion,butithasmanyotherfooddelightsbesidesitsapples.Imadethevideobecause
IwantedtointroducetheseandIhopeitwillinspiremanypeopletovisitAomori.Thankyouverymuch!
MC:Thankyou!CongratulationsonceagaintoSooyoungParkforwinningtheBestIdeaAward.
NextisthePRAward.Thisawardisgiventoaworkthatisespeciallyeffectiveatconveyingtheappealofalocal
region.ThewinnerofthePRAwardwillreceiveacertificate,medal,andotherprizes.
AnnouncingthewinnerofthePRAward.ThePRAwardgoestoEmilyRoseEisemann,forherwork,‘Tanegashima
ThisisOurisland’.Congratulations!Ms.Eisemann,pleasecometothestage.I’dalsoliketoaskMr.Yoshimura,
Directorof InternationalAffairsDivision, TourismPromotionand InternationalExchangeBureau in the
KagoshimaPrefecturalGovernment,tocometothestage.
ThisawardwillalsobepresentedbyMr.Aida.ThewinnerofthePRAward,EmilyRoseEisemann.
Mr. Aida :Congratulations!
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MC:Congratulations!Ms.Eisemann,couldyoupleasesayafewwordsonreceiptofthisaward?
Ms. Eisemann:IwishtoexpressmyappreciationtoCLAIRandtheotherministriesheretoday,notonlyforthis
awardbutforprovidingmewiththeopportunitytosupportmyselfandmyfamilythroughtheJETProgramme.I
wouldalsoliketothanktheothercontestantsofthevideocontest,manyofwhomhaveskillandtalentsthatleave
mehumbled.MostofallIwouldliketothankthepeopleofTanegashimaIslandwhodedicatedtheirtimeand
supporttothecreationofthisvideo.Ifthere’sanythingthatI’mmostproudoftonight,it’sthatIcantrytogive
somethingbacktothecommunitythathasgivenmesomuch.Sothisisforthem,thisisformystudents,whomI
lovewhentheyarebeingbrilliant,andwhentheyarebeingthemselvesanddrivingmeupthewall.Andlastly,this
isformymother,whomadeallthingspossible.Thankyou.
MC:CongratulationsonceagaintoMs.EisemannforwinningthePRAward.
Thisvideois fulloftheattractionsof TanegashimainKagoshima.Mr.Yoshimura,asDirectorofInternational
AffairsDivisionoftheKagoshimaPrefecturalGovernment,whatisyourimpressionsofthiswork.
Mr. Yoshimura :First, it isagreathonourthatthevideofromMs.Eisemann’sfromKagoshimaPrefecturewas
chosen for thePRAward.Asyouwereable tosee,herwork introduces thepeople,daily life,andcultureof
Tanegashimawithjusttherighttempo.Iheardthatinmakingthisvideo,shereceivedthecooperationofthelocal
people,herfriends,andherstudents,allofwhomjoinedincreatingittogether.Ibelievethisperfectlyshowsthe
JETspiritofcontributingtotheinternationalisationoflocalcommunities.
Asthevideoshows, Tanegashimais locatedontheKuroshio,theJapanCurrent,whichovertimehasbrought
manydifferentpeopleandthingstotheislandaswellassendingthemtootherplaces.Inthe16thcentury,for
example,ashipfromPortugaldriftedtotheislandandbroughtthetechnologyoffirearmstoJapan.Ibelievethis
helpedtheadvanceofdomesticunityofJapanandbroughtusastepclosertomodernization.Historyalsotellsus
thatFranciscoXavier,whobroughtChristianitytoJapan,stoppedinTanegashimaonhis journeybacktoIndia
followinghismissionaryworkhere.Morerecently, the islandbecamehometothe TanegashimaSpaceCenter,
whichhasbeencalledthemostbeautifulsuchfacilityintheworld.LastweektheH-IIALaunchVehicleNo.31
successfullyliftedoffforspacefromthisCenter.
Insuchways,Tanegashimaisalsoaplaceforinternationalexchange,withallkindsofthingsarrivingfromallover
theworld,whilealsosendingthingswidelyincludingtoouterspace.IhopethatintroducingTanegashimawilllead
toevengreaterglobalexchange.It’sthatbeautifulaplace.Itisalsofullofattractionsfortourists.Ihopeeveryone
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willmakeoneopportunitytovisitTanegashima.It’sjustrightformakingastoponthewaybackfromtheGoto
Islands.Pleasecomeseeusatleastonetime.Thankyou!
MC:Thankyouverymuch.Mr.Yoshimura,ifyouhadtonamethemostfascinatingaspectofTanegashima,what
wouldthatbe?
Mr. Yoshimura:I’dhavetosayit’stheland,thepeople,andthefood.
Ms. Eisemann:It’safantasticisland;it’sgot,aswasmentioned,arocketcenter;it’sasurfingcenter;andthemost
amazingthingtomeisthatit’suniqueevenwithinJapan,it’sgotaBohemiantypeofculture,withthemusicand
thesurfing;anditintegratesquitewellwithitstraditionalagriculturalcultureaswell.
Mr. Yoshimura:Pleasevisitus!
MC:Iseethatithasmanydifferentattractions.Everyoneshoulddefinitelygothere.Thankyou!Thankyou,Ms.
EmilyRoseEisemann,andMr.Yoshimura.Congratulations!
Nowlet’smoveontotheMostVotedVideoAward.Thisawardisgiventotheworkthatreceivedthemostvotes
fromviewersinthegeneralpublic.ThewinneroftheMostVotedVideoAwardwillreceiveacertificate,medal,and
otherprizes.
Announcingthewinnerof theMostVotedVideoAward. TheMostVotedVideoAwardgoes toMs.Rochelle
Mighty.Thetitleofherworkis,‘THISISJAPAN’.Congratulations!Pleasecometothestage,Ms.Mighty.
Congratulations!ThisawardwillalsobepresentedbyMr.Aida.ThewinneroftheMostVotedVideoAward,Ms.
RochelleMighty.
Mr. Aida:Congratulations!
MC:Ms.Mighty,wewouldlikeyoutosayafewwordsonreceivingtheMostVotedVideoAward.
Ms. Mighty:AstheTokyoOlympicsdrawcloser,millionsofpeoplefromaroundtheworldareusingvideosto
learnmoreaboutJapan.Thousandsofpeopleviewedmyvideo,sothiswasagoodchanceformetoshowcaseJapan
whiledoingwhatI love.I’dliketothankGod,I’dliketothanktheJETProgramme,myhusbandMichael,and
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otherfamilyandfriendswhomadethispossible.Thankyou.
MC:I’djustliketoaskyou,ifImay,howyoucametothinkaboutcomingtoJapan.
Ms. Mighty:Actually,myfriend,shecamebeforemeandshesaidJapanwasagreatculturalexperience.Andso
far,she’sbeenright.I’mreallyenjoyingJapansofar.
MC:CouldyoutelluswhatJapanesefoodyouespeciallylike?
Ms. Mighty:Ooh,that’sdifficult.Iwouldsayyakisoba.It’seasytomakeathome,too.
MC:Soyoumakeityourself?
Ms. Mighty :Yes,that’sright.
MC:Doyoudrinksake?
Ms. Mighty :Idon’tdrinkitoften,butyes,IlikeplumsakefromNiigata.
MC :Finally,pleasetelluswhatyoufindappealingaboutJapan.
Ms. Mighty :Themostinteresting,Iwouldsay,arethefestivals.Ireally,reallyenjoyJapanesefestivals.
MC :Thankyou!Congratulations,Ms.RochelleMighty,onwinningtheMostVotedVideoAward.
Mr.Aida,couldweaskyoutogiveusyourthoughtsaboutthevideocontest?
Mr. Aida :Firstofall,thevideothatwontheBestIdeaAwardintroducessomedelicious-lookinglocalfoodsof
Aomori,butImyselfhaveneverhadachancetoeatSenbei-jiruorShiru-yakisoba.I’ddefinitelyliketotrythem.I
thoughtsheresearchedtheplacethoroughlyandproducedawonderfulvideo.AsforthewinnerofthePRAward,I
thoughtshemadeagreatefforttobecomeapartofTanegashima.Iwasalsoimpressedbyhowwellsheengagesin
thenight-timesociallife.Herchoosingnottoshowherstudentsinthevideoclearlyshowshowmuchshetreasures
themandlooksoutfortheirinterests.
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IfImayaddapersonalnote,I feelaconnectionto Tanegashima,asIbelievethere isacompanytherecalled
Ichimaru;isthatright?AndtheheadofthehospitalmyfamilyrunsisalsoMr.Ichimaru.Heisarelativeofthe
familyoperatingthatcompany.‘THISISJAPAN’isaworkthatdidagreatjobofshowingtheappealofJapan.For
anyoneseeingthatvideo,IfeltthatitreallydistilsallthebeautyofJapan.Thankyousincerelyforshowingallthose
wonderfulthingsofJapan.Ihopeyouwillcontinuewithyourefforts.Thankyouverymuch.
MC :Thankyou,Mr.Aida.
NextwegototheSpecialJudges’Awards.
Oftheworksenteredinthiscontest,thereweremanyquiteexcellentvideosbesidesthosebeingawardedtoday,and
thejudgesstronglywishedtogiverecognitiontootherworks,aswell,soitwasdecidedtocreatethisadditional
categorytheSpecialJudges’Awards.
Letmeintroducetheawardpresenter.TheseawardswillbepresentedbyMitsukoOkamoto,whoheadedthereview
panelfortheJETProgrammeVideoContest.SheisaProfessorintheGraduateSchoolofFilmandNewMedia,
TokyoUniversityoftheArts.Ms.Okamoto,please.Winnersoftheseawardsreceiveacertificate,medal,andother
prizes.
AndnowforthewinnersoftheSpecialJudges’Awards.Therearetwowinnersoftheseawards.ThefirstisAmanda
Wayama,forherwork,‘TheKotatsuTrainofIwate’.Congratulations!Ms.Wayama,pleasecometothestage.
ThesecondawardgoestoEdouardBrena,forhiswork,‘TonneruwoNukerutoSokowaHarenoKunideatta’.
Congratulations!Mr.Brena,couldyoualsopleasecometothestage?
Ms.Okamotowillpresenttheawards.Ms.Okamoto,please.ASpecialJudges’AwardwillbepresentedfirsttoMs.
AmandaWayama.
Ms. Okamoto:Congratulations!
MC :Congratulations!LetusaskMs.Wayamatosayafewwords.
Ms. Wayama :I’mfeelingreallynervous.Iamtrulygratefulforthiswonderfulaward.IfirstcametoIwateseven
yearsagoasaCIR[CoordinatorforInternationalRelations]ontheJETProgramme.Mylifechangeddramatically
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asaresult.WhentheGreatEastJapanEarthquakeof3.11hit, Japan, Tohoku,andIwatePrefecturesuffered
enormousdamage.Nonetheless,eventhoughtheroadtorecoveryisstillverylong,thepeoplewhowerevictims
ofthedisasterarethekindofpeoplewhowillcontinuetoworkhardtowardthatrecovery,whilenotforgettingto
smile.That’swhatIwantedtoconveyinthevideo.Thankyousomuch!
MC :Thankyou.IwouldalsoliketoaskMs.WayamawhyyouchoseJapan,andwhatyouseeastheattractionsof
Japan.
Ms. Wayama :Likemanyothers,therewasPokémonwhenIwasyoung,andIgotintoanimeandtheso-called
subculturalaspectsofJapan,soIdecidedtostudyJapanese.AtfirstIcametoJapantostudy,butIwantedtowork
inJapan,whichledmetoseekemploymentthroughtheJETProgramme.
MC:WhatdoyoulikebestaboutJapan,orfindmostappealing?
Ms. Wayama :OfcoursethatwouldbeIwate,andespeciallythebeautyofnatureinIwatePrefecture.Thecoastis
absolutelygorgeous.There’saplacecalledJodogahamawhichhasreallygreatscenicbeauty.Pleasecomeandvisit
thereatleastonce.
MC:Thankyouverymuch.
ThesecondwinnerofaSpecialJudges’AwardisEdouardBrena.
Ms. Okamoto:Congratulations!
MC :Congratulations!Couldyousayafewwordsonreceivingthisaward?
Mr. Brena :I’malsofeelingquitenervous!Itgivesmegreatjoytoreceivesuchanawardonthisoccasion.Iwould
liketoexpressmyappreciationfirsttomycolleagues,whoworkedsohardwithmetopresenttheattractionsof
TakahashiCity.Thankyouverymuch.ThecityofTakahashiinOkayamaPrefecture,towhichIwasassigned,is
anevenmorewonderfulplacethancouldbeconveyedinthisvideo.Ihopeyouwilldefinitelyvisit.Thepeopleof
Takahashihavemanydifferentinterestsandawillingnesstotakeonchallenges.IstronglybelieveTakahashiwill
advancetoabrightfuture.IintendtocontinueactingasabridgebetweenJapanandmyhomecountry,France,for
bothFranceandofTakahashi.Thankyouverymuch.
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MC:Thankyou.Mr.Brena,couldyoutellushowyouhappenedtochooseJapan?
Mr. Brena :Maybeit’sbecauseIgrewupwatchingGhiblifilms.
MC :Soyoulikeanime.
Mr. Brena :That’sright,Ilikeanime.
MC :SohaveyouseenalotofanimealsowhileyouareinJapan?
Mr. Brena :SincecomingtoJapan,myworkhaskeptmebusy,withlittletimetowatchthem.
MC:Well,Ihopeyouwillbeabletowatchmanyanimeinthefuture.Thankyou,andcongratulations!Let’shear
anotherroundofapplauseforthetwowinnersoftheSpecialJudges’Awards.
Iwouldnowlike toaskMs.Okamoto,headof thereviewpanel, forher thoughtsonthisvideocontest.Ms.
Okamoto,please.
Ms. Okamoto :IamMitsukoOkamoto,headofthereviewpanelforthiscontest.Firstofall,onbehalfofthe
reviewpanel,Iwouldliketoofferheartfeltcongratulationsandthankstothosewhoenteredworks intheJET
ProgrammeVideoContest,totheawardwinners,andtoallthosewhohelpedwiththisevent.
Forthiscontest107videoswereenteredoverthecourseofoneyear.Allthejudgesweresurprisedatthediversityof
themesandatthehighqualityoftheimages.Nomatterwhichofthemwechosefortheawards,allofthemwould
havebeendeservinganyoftheawards,butwenonethelessnarrowedthewinnersdowntothosereceivingawards
heretoday.
Bytheway,ifyouwilljustindulgemeforamoment,Itookituponmyself,basedonmyownhumbleopinionby
listeningtotheviewsoftheotherjudges,topickthethreemostcommonmotifsthatweretakenupintheJET
Programvideos.I’dliketoannouncethesenow.Amotifisthesubjectinthecaseofadrawing,orinthecaseofa
video,thesubjectorthemecovered.Ithoughtthatbysharingthisbestthreelistwithyou,Icouldgiveyouahintat
thekindsofthingsthatinteresttheJETProgrammeparticipants.
Firstisnumberthree.WhatdoyousupposewasthethirdmostcommonmotifintheJETVideoContest?Number
three is fireworks.Fireworksarenotall thatunusual,beingseenthroughouttheworld.Asyouknow,however,
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fireworksarereallyfamousinJapanasasummertradition,andJapanisaplacewheremanyeventstakeplaceto
markeachofthefourseasons.ThisissomethingthattheparticipantsintheJETProgramverybeautifullycaptured
intheirvideos.
Speakingofseasons,thevideo ‘SenrinoMichimoIppoYori’beautifullyportrayedthefourseasonsofKitsuki
CityinOitaPrefecture.‘TanegashimaThisisOurIsland’likewisedidagreatjobofshowingthebeautyofnature
onTanegashimaIsland.‘THISISJAPAN’wasexcellentinshowingthefestivalsheldinspring,summer,falland
winter.
Next,numbertwo.Whatdoyousupposewasthesecondmostcommonlydepictedmotif?Theansweris,festivals
andtraditionalevents.We’veseenmanyvideosheretoday,soI’msureyouhavecometoseehowtheparticipants
intheJETProgrammeVideoContestarereallypartoftheircommunitiesandhaverecordedindetailthefestivals
andtraditionalevents takingplace there.Amongthese, theEkinKabuki traditionstillpreserved inAkaoka,
KochiPrefecture,isprobablyonemostJapanesehaveneverheardof,butithasbeendepictedwithgreatcareasa
documentary.Thenthereis‘KaguraintheShimaneHighlands’,showingtheKaguratraditionkeptaliveinIinan,
Shimane.Theseandothervideoshavecapturedvaluableimagesmostofusnormallydonotgettosee.
Andfinally,what isthemotifmostcommonlyseenofthosetakenupbyJETparticipants?Thoseofyouinthe
audience, ifyouyourselfweretomakeavideo,thinkaboutwhatyouwouldmost liketocapture.Whatdoyou
thinkisnumberone?I’mgoingtotellyou,OK? Thenumberonemotif takenupbyJETparticipants is...the
peopleofJapan.Asyoucantellfromhavingseensomanyvideos,thepeoplelivingineachtown,forexample,in
‘Nishiizu,MyLittleSunsetTownbytheSea’,andtheexpressionsonthefacesofchildrenplaying,sofulloflife,are
sobeautiful,aren’tthey?
Also,inthevideothatwonaSpecialJudges’Award,‘TheKotatsuTrainofIwate’,theexpressionofthepeopleof
IwateastheybravelytrytoovercometheGreatEastJapanEarthquake,arereallywonderful.
OneotherworkwaschosenforaSpecialJudges’Award,‘TonneruwoNukerutoSokowaHarenoKunideatta’.
Thisistheoneabout TakahashiCityinOkayama.Whatmademelaughthemostwasthatduringtheday,the
streetsaremostlyquiet;butatfestivaltime,forsomereasoneveryonecomesout.Thevideoclearlyshowsthelives
ofpeoplewhohaveadeeploveoffestivals,andtheninpreparationforthefestival,thepeoplefromthecityhalland
variousothersareseenpracticingtheirdanceswithalltheirheart.Ithinkthewayhewasabletogetupclosetothe
peopleandcapturethesekindsofmomentsproducedareallywonderfulresult.Soweweretrulyimpressedbythe
waythevideossucceededindepictingpeople’slivessovividly.
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Ibelieveitshowstheimportanceofcommunicationbetweenpeople,andthatmorethananyothermemories,the
connectionsbuiltbetweenonepersonandanotherarewhatremainstrongestinourhearts.Atthesametime,the
participantsinthisvideocontestshowedusverypowerfullysomethingsthatweJapaneseneedtovalueandcherish.
Thankyousomuchforthis.
Finally,nowthatwehavesomanyoftheconcernedpeopleassembledheretoday,Iwould liketoconcludeby
makingoneproposal.Thisyear,thevideocontestattracted107entries.That’snotsuchasurprisingnumberforone
year,butifthispaceweretocontinuefortenyears,thenumberwouldreach1,000videos.In20yearsitwouldbe
2,000,andasthisisthe30thanniversaryoftheprogram,in30yearsitwouldreach3,000videos.Ithinkarchiving
thesevideoswouldbeaverybigdeal.
Imaginethis,forexample.OnamapofJapan,youdecidewhereyouwanttogo,saytheGotoIslandsofNagasaki,
andwhenyouclickonthatregion,youcanseeworksaboutthatplaceenteredinthevideocontest.Wheneveryou
clickonsomeplace,youcanseevideosaboutthatplace.What’smore,whatyouseeisnotsimplyatravelguide
video,butimagesthatwerecapturedbypeoplelikeyouwhohavebecomerootedinthecommunity.Imaginebeing
abletocalltheseupontheinternet.Ibelieveitwouldbecomethatkindofreallyinvaluablearchive.Soalongwith
theJETProgramme,Itrulyhopethevideocontestwillgoonforanother20yearsor30years,enablingwonderful
imagesofJapantocontinuebeingusedasaresource.
Onceagain,congratulationstoallofthosewhotookpartinthevideocontest.Andthankyouverymuch.
MC:Thankyou,Ms.Okamoto.
Andnowfinally, it’stimetoannouncethewinneroftheFirstPrize.ThewinneroftheFirstPrizewillreceivea
certificate,medal,andotherprizes.
Andnowfortheannouncement.ThewinneroftheFirstPrizeisAlexanderBarnett.Thetitleofthewinningentry
is,‘EkinKabukiFestival,AkaokaJapan’.Congratulations!
Let’snowwatchtheFirstPrizework,‘EkinKabukiFestival,AkaokaJapan’,byAlexanderBarnett.
(ShowingofFirstPrizewinningvideo)
MC:WehavejustseentheFirstPrizework,‘EkinKabukiFestival,AkaokaJapan’,byAlexanderBarnett.
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Letmeintroducethepresenterofthisaward.TheawardwillbepresentedbyKeijiYamada,PresidentoftheCouncil
ofLocalAuthorities forInternationalRelations(CLAIR),GovernorofKyotoPrefecture,andPresidentof the
NationalGovernors’Association.Mr.Yamada,andFirstPrizewinnerAlexanderBarnett,pleasecometothestage.
Andnowfortheawardceremony.Mr.Yamadawillpresenttheaward.Mr.Yamada,please.Thefirstprizewinner,
AlexanderBarnett.
Mr. Yamada :ThecertificatefortheFirstPrize.ToAlexanderBarnett.Iherebypresentyouwiththiscertificatein
recognitionofyourFirstPrizeworkintheJETProgrammeVideoContesthostedbyCLAIR.November7,2016,
PresidentoftheCouncilofLocalAuthoritiesforInternationalRelations,KeijiYamada.Congratulations!
MC :Congratulations!IwouldnowliketoasktheFirstPrizewinner,AlexanderBarnett,tosayafewwordson
receivingthisaward.Mr.Barnett,please.
Mr. Barnett :ThanksfirstofalltoJET,CLAIR,andtheothersinvolvedinputtingonthisvideocontest,forthis
award.Ithinkitwasagreatideatoholdavideocontesttocommemoratethe30thanniversaryoftheJETProgram.
Videoissuchapowerfulandalsoaccessibletoolforustoallshareourstoriesandourculture.Ithinktellingstories
issoimportantforthis.Ourexperiences,ourmemoriesofourlivesareconstantlyreinforced,evenvalidated,by
thestoriesthatwesharewithoneanother.IhopewiththisEkinKabukistoryIwasabletocapturethecommunity
spiritattheheartoftheBentenzaTheater,andalsotheJETparticipantsinKochiPrefecture,Japan.
RecentlyIhavegonebacktoworkingasafreelancevideoeditor.Ifanyoneintheaudienceneedstohaveavideo
made,I’msureyouknowwhomtocontact.(laughs)
Finally, toDavidCrowtherandMayuHosoda,whocooperatedinmakingthisvideo,andtothepeopleofthe
BentenzaTheater,Otsukaresama,andKanpai!Thankyouverymuch.
MC :Thankyou.Mr.Barnett,whatisonethingthatyoufindappealingaboutJapan.Whatdoyoulikeabout
Japan,orfindfascinating?
Mr. Barnett :Aplace?
MC :Aplace,orafood,whateveryoulike.
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Mr. Barnett :IworkedfortwoyearsasaJETProgrammeALT[AssistantLanguageTeacher]inKochiPrefecture.I
livedinthecityofShimantoinKochi.Ithinkit’sagreatplace.IespeciallylikethefamousfoodsfromtheShimanto
River,likerivershrimpandaosanoritempura,andofcoursethemostfamousfoodofKochiPrefecture,Katsuono
tataki.Ithinkthesearereallytasty.
MC :Thankyou.IfImayaskonemorequestion,howdidyoucometochooseJapan?
Mr. Barnett :Actually,IhadtheexperienceofahomestayinNagoyawhenIwas17.Ilivedtherefor10weeks.
WhileIwasthere,ImetanAmericanALTatNagoyaKitaHighSchool.ShetoldmeabouttheJETProgramme.
FromthattimeIbecameinterestedinreturningtoJapanoneday.
MC :Soyouwereabletofulfilthatwish.Thankyouverymuch.ThatwasAlexanderBarnett.Congratulations!
Mr. Barnett :Thankyouverymuch.
MC :Andthatendstheawardsceremonyforprize-winningworks.Iwouldliketoaskeachoftheaward-winners
andthepresenterstocomeonstageonemoretime.Pleasegivethemallaroundofapplause.
MC :Andnow,wewillconcludetoday’seventswithremarksbyKeijiYamada,PresidentoftheCouncilofLocal
AuthoritiesforInternationalRelations(CLAIR).Pleasegiveusyourimpressionsofthevideocontest,andanoverall
assessmentoftheJETProgramme30thAnniversaryCommemorativeCeremony.
Mr. Yamada :Todaywehavecelebratedthe30thanniversaryoftheJETProgram,followedbytheannouncement
ofaccomplishmentsandthevideocontest.Theseeventshave,Ibelieve,shownusmuchaboutthe30-yearhistory
andthegreatnessoftheJETProgrammethathascontinuedforthesethirtyyears.
ThefinalworkwesawinthevideocontestwasaboutEkinKabukiinthetownofAkaoka,KochiPrefecture.This
videotrulyprobedintotheessentialsofwhatfeels liketheinnermostplaceinJapan.Havingactuallyworkedin
Kochi,IwasfamiliarwithAkaoka. Theyhaveafestival there,calledDorome,wheretheparticipantsdrinkup
largebottlesofsake.EvenforKochi,it’saplacethatgoesallout.Todaywewereabletoenjoyapresentationofthe
attractionsofthisbeautifulpartofKochibysomeonewhospenttimethere.Alltheotherswerealsoveryfinevideos
intheirownway.
Thisissaidtobeanageofregionalrevitalization.Whatkindofpeopledoesittaketorevitalizeacommunity?As
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thesayinggoes,wakamono,bakamono,yosomono,literally, ‘youngpeople,fools,andoutsiders’.It’struethatif
thereissomeonewillingtopursueathingevenifthoughtafoolorsimple,andanoutsidercomesalongandaddsa
differentpointofview,andthenyoungpeoplefollow,theywillbeabletomakeacommunitycomealiveoncemore,
whichistherealitybehindthissaying.ThepeopleintheJETProgrammedoinfactcometocommunitiesinthe
roleofoutsiders.Besidesthis,however,theparticipantshavebuiltstrongtieswiththelocals,andhavecreatedthese
videosoutof loveforthecommunity.Forthoseofuswhomanagelocalmunicipalitiesthatareworkingtoward
regionalrevitalization,Ifeelthatthisvideocontesthasshownusthethingsweneedtopaymostattentionto,focus
on,andtreatasimportant.
AsMs.Okamotonotedearlier,whilewetendtothinkoftourismintermsofplacesliketemplesandshrines,or
variousartobjects,themostimportanttourismassetwehavetogettouriststoseeisthepeopleofJapan.Thisis
somethingtheentrantsinthevideocontestclearlygrasped,anditshowsinthekindsofimagestheycapturedfor
us.BycontinuingtocompileanarchiveofthesevideosalongwiththehistoryofJET,IfeeltheJETProgramme
willadvancefurtherinthefuturethatliesahead.
Inconclusion, Iwould like to saya fewwordsabout today’s festivitiesasawhole.Aswemarkedour30th
anniversarywewerehonouredwith thepresenceof Their ImperialHighnessesCrownPrinceNaruhitoand
CrownPrincessMasako.Inaddition,threeMinistersinhighlyimportantpositionstooktimefromthebusyDiet
proceedingstooffertheircongratulatorywordstous.Thepresenceofthesedignitariesatthe30yearanniversary
oftheJETProgrammeshowsclearlyjusthowimportanttheprogrammehasbeen.Nonetheless,wewillneedto
advancetheprogrammeevenfurthergoingforward.Andthattrulymeansperson-to-personties.
Inthatsense,thereceptioncomingupnextmaybeanimportantpartoftheJETProgramme30-yearcelebration.
Atthereception, ifweareable, lookingbackatthe30yearsofhistory,tostrengthenourperson-to-personties
sothatwegoaheadwiththeJETProgramforthenextten,twenty,andthirtyyears,sharingthesamehopesand
desires,thatwillbethegreatestwaytoconcludetoday’sevent.SoIwouldliketoaskyoutoattendthereception,
whilealsooncemoreexpressingmyappreciationtoallofyouwhoarecarryingontheJETProgramme.Andwith
that,Iendmyremarks.Thankyouallverymuchforcomingtoday.
MC:Thankyouverymuch.Andcongratulationsonceagaintoeachofthewinners.Let’sheararoundofapplause
foralloftoday’sawardwinners.Congratulations!
Andwiththat,weconcludetheJETProgramme30thAnniversaryCommemorativeCeremony.