The third “Online Youth Forum” meeting
2022/11/26
On November 18 (Alaska time), the 3rd "Online Youth Forum" was held with a total of 31 participants. The breakdown was 14 high school and university students, 11 observers (teachers, sister city coordinators, family members, etc.), 1 interpreter living in Chitose city, 1 lecturer, and 4 staff members from the Consular Office (Mr. Aniya, Consul Komatsu, and Ms. Suzuki-Hovey, Mr. Holayter) participated. This time there was a large attendance from Homer High School.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Aniya welcomed the participants, introduced office staff members and interpreter, and then introduced Ms. Miyuki Yazaki, the speaker of the 3rd Forum. Ms. Yazaki is a professional counselor and Chairperson of the Anchorage Japanese School Board. Ms. Yazaki, utilizing visual documents, provided details on treatment programs for young people with mental health and substance abuse problems, gave an introduction of the the organization’s team she belongs to, and gave an explanation about the projects the team has been working on recently. After the lecture, attendees asked if there was any prejudice against young people with mental health issues, if the situation in Alaska was more serious than in other states, if it was possible for young people to participate in work as volunteers, and if there were young people with issues similar to “hikikomori (shut-in)” syndrome in Japan.
During the Free Discussion," Mr. Holayter, staff member, used photographs and introduced some local Anchorage area Festivals, such as the costume ski jumping competition and a mushroom festival.
After that, three videos were introduced as examples of entries for "The Presentation" an event to be held on March 3, 2023. Mr. Aniya mentioned that he plans to announce participation guidelines and prizes for "The Presentation" in December.
Click here for details on the "Online Youth Forum" and here for details on "The Presentation".
Students who wish to participate in the next forum, please contact the Consular Office email (pubcul-ak@se.mofa.go.jp). After receiving your request email, we will send you the Zoom invitation and the agenda of the forum a few days before the event.
We are looking forward to your participation!
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Aniya welcomed the participants, introduced office staff members and interpreter, and then introduced Ms. Miyuki Yazaki, the speaker of the 3rd Forum. Ms. Yazaki is a professional counselor and Chairperson of the Anchorage Japanese School Board. Ms. Yazaki, utilizing visual documents, provided details on treatment programs for young people with mental health and substance abuse problems, gave an introduction of the the organization’s team she belongs to, and gave an explanation about the projects the team has been working on recently. After the lecture, attendees asked if there was any prejudice against young people with mental health issues, if the situation in Alaska was more serious than in other states, if it was possible for young people to participate in work as volunteers, and if there were young people with issues similar to “hikikomori (shut-in)” syndrome in Japan.
During the Free Discussion," Mr. Holayter, staff member, used photographs and introduced some local Anchorage area Festivals, such as the costume ski jumping competition and a mushroom festival.
After that, three videos were introduced as examples of entries for "The Presentation" an event to be held on March 3, 2023. Mr. Aniya mentioned that he plans to announce participation guidelines and prizes for "The Presentation" in December.
Click here for details on the "Online Youth Forum" and here for details on "The Presentation".
Students who wish to participate in the next forum, please contact the Consular Office email (pubcul-ak@se.mofa.go.jp). After receiving your request email, we will send you the Zoom invitation and the agenda of the forum a few days before the event.
We are looking forward to your participation!