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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.