The Japan-Alaska Friendship Video Campaign Submissions / 日アラスカ友好ビデオ・キャンペーン応募作品

The Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage conducted the Japan-Alaska Friendship Video Campaign from December 1, 2020 to March 5, 2021, and received submissions from Anchorage/Chitose, Seward, Kenai, Ketchikan, Homer, Teshio, and Obihiro. We recently announced the awards on our website, and are now excited to post all of the video links and their descriptions (please see below). Video topics ranged from aurora tourism to reunions, student-exchange programs, Japanese snowball fights, and more. We hope that many residents of Alaska and Japan can enjoy these videos, and further deepen the Japan-Alaska friendship. Thank you for watching!

アンカレジ日本領事事務所は、2020年12月1日から2021年3月5日まで「日アラスカ友好ビデオ・キャンペーン」を実施し、アンカレッジ・千歳市、スワード、ケナイ、ケチカン、ホーマー、天塩町、帯広市からビデオ作品の応募がありました。 先日、当事務所Webサイトで受賞者の発表を行いましたが、今回は全ての作品のビデオリンク及び概要説明を掲載できることをうれしく思います（以下を御参照下さい）。
ビデオ作品のトピックはオーロラ観光から久々の再会、学生交換プログラム、（日本から学んだ）雪合戦などに及びました。 アラスカと日本の多くの皆様がこれらのビデオを鑑賞し、日本とアラスカの友情が更に深まることを願っております。 御鑑賞頂き、ありがとうございます！
 

 

Teshio town Four seasons By: 天塩町 地域おこし協力隊 Teshio Town Area Revitalization Cooperation Party   This collection of photos set to music showcases Teshio’s beauty through four seasons. From views of the island Rishirifuji to impressive fireworks in the summer—this video captures the rhythm of one year in Teshio.	Always Kangeiko in Alaska： オーロラの大地で稽古する By: Masa Ando, Alaska Kendo Club   The leader of the Alaska Kendo Club shows impressive demonstrations of the sport of kendo. He also talks about the high skill level of many Alaskans as well as the great community that has been formed right here in Alaska
Yukigassen, Seward Alaska By: Parks and Recreation for the City of Seward   (Honorable Mention) A group of people from Seward get together and play 'yukigassen' (a snowball fight) according to official Japanese rules. This video shows the structure and basic strategies of a real ‘yukigassen’ match. The music and video clips do a doing a great job of capturing its intensity!	Japan and Alaska-A Friendship Made to Last  By: Jacob Lee Roberts and Robert McGinnis (Honorable Mention) Created by two Kenai College students, this video answers a question that many Japanese people often wonder: what is it like in Alaska? Using excellent ariel images of the Kenai Peninsula, these two students talk about life in Alaska, while also discussing how they came to love Japanese culture, and their hopes for the future.
Over 30 Years of FriendshipKetchikan Gero Kanayama By: Archie Inoncillo   (Honorable Mention) This video, created by a Kanayama teacher who taught in Japan for one year, shows footage of their sister city relationship from back in the 1980’s, and also footage of more recent exchanges. It is an eye-opening view into the rich history of exchanges between Ketchikan, Gero, and Kanayama.	アラスカ生活紹介ビデオ By: Aki Fujita   With pictures and short clips of different seasons in Alaska, this video captures the beauty of nature and wildlife around Anchorage. It also shows stills and short videos of the stunning Northern Lights, taken from Fairbanks.
Japan Train Travels 1 By: Bruce Jaffa   A family takes a trip from Tokyo down to Kyushu, and stops at many great destinations along the ways. Through photographs, this video tells the story of their first unforgettable adventure to Japan.	Moving With Seward Towards a Bright Future 明るい未来へ スワードと共に進む  By: Obihiro City Hall    (1 st Place) Japanese high school girls from Obihiro participate in an exchange program in Seward, and later reflect on their experiences. The video goes through their favorite memories and the lasting impact that this exchange made on each of them. It also covers an exchange of Seward high school boys traveling to Obihiro.
Sisters and Sea Messages By: Stevie Drescher and Matt Steffy  (2 nd Place) Residents of Homer talk about how Japanese glass buoys wash up on beaches near Homer, and how these treasured items make them feel more connected to their sister city Teshio. The video includes stunning images of Homer and interesting information about the history of these glass buoys.	Lasting Friendship Between Alaska and Japan Through Sister City Relationships  By: Hiroko Harada   (3rd Place) This video details the history of the Anchorage-Chitose relationship. Through interviews, it also tells the moving story of a former Chitose Little League player and the former Anchorage Baseball Exchange Team coach, and their reunion in Alaska years later.
Natsukashi (Nostalgia) By: Explore Fairbanks (Consular Office Award) Two men who were involved in the Itadori-North Pole exchange, one American and one Japanese, tell their respective stories of discovering Japan and discovering Alaska. Using old photos from cultural exchange programs, this video gives a real sense of change and growth over time for both of the interviewees.