Video Koshien 2017

2017 Video Koshien Winning Videos

Theme:Our Happiness!

Japan

Grand Prize & 1st Place : Yokosuka Meiko High School (Kanagawa)

Tossing the heart around so that each student could express what made them happy was a great way to demonstrate the contest theme. (Nicholas Harling/ Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice; Host of Let’s Talk Japan; Former JET Program Assistant Language Teacher )

The use of the pillow was heart-warming and I liked how it united everyone by passing the pillow. The reminder of PEACE was powerful. (Rona Tison/ Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations, ITO EN, LTD.)

2nd Place Tie: Higashi Maizuru High School (Kyoto)

Beginning the film with LINE was original and very modern. I really enjoyed the format of introducing events by month and showing the happiness that you feel from them. (Takashi Sato/ President, San-J International, Inc.)

I really enjoyed how it introduced Japanese culture as well as things unique to the school. It was outstanding! (Shin Donowaki/ President, JCAW Foundation, Inc.; General Manager, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas/ Washington Office)

2nd Place Tie:Inagakuen Sogo High School (Saitama)

They did a nice job of creating a more dramatic video with a plot. I loved their idea of focusing on friendship. (David Janes/ Director of Foundation Grants and Assistant to the President, United States-Japan Foundation)

The simple concept was clear and relatable to all ages. The overall flow was smooth and the English was well done too. (Erika Ninoyu/ Band Director, Anchorage School District; U.S.-Japan Council TOMODACHI Emerging Leader (ELP) Alumni)

U.S.

1st Place:Stuyvesant High School (New York)

I thought it was so well done, because each student could explain what made him or her happy. It also gave an interesting picture of the students’ lives, from hanging out at Times Square to riding a bike in the snow. (Ambassador John R. Malott/ Former President, Japan-America Society of Washington DC)

I liked the use of the “time of day” to show happiness. It was a great reminder that there is someone happy 24 hours of the day. (Rona Tison/ Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations, ITO EN, LTD.)

2nd Place:Center for Global Studies (Connecticut)

The way the video starts off with a crying scene and then turn into everyone’s story on happiness was so interesting to watch. The jazz music was also cool! I liked the message that small things can make one happy. (Kyoko Shimomura/ Wife of Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)

This is a fun, creative video that cheered me up. (Greg Aurit/ Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo)

Judges (in alphabetical order)

Greg Aurit/ Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo
Shin Donowaki/ President, JCAW Foundation, Inc.; General Manager, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas/ Washington Office
Nicholas Harling/ Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice; Host of Let’s Talk Japan; Former JET Program Assistant Language Teacher
David Janes/ Director of Foundation Grants and Assistant to the President, United States-Japan Foundation
Ambassador John R. Malott/ Former President, Japan-America Society of Washington DC
Erika Ninoyu/ Band Director, Anchorage School District; U.S.-Japan Council TOMODACHI Emerging Leader (ELP) Alumni
Takashi Sato/ President, San-J International, Inc.
Kyoko Shimomura/ Wife of Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Rona Tison/ Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations, ITO EN, LTD.