Video Koshien 2019

Winners of 2019 Video Koshien

Theme: Friendship

Grand Prize: Toho High School (Tokyo)

It was so unique and original to express friendship through hip-hop music. The concept and their ability to express it, along with their dance skills and storyline made this video great. (Kyoko Shimomura/ Advisor, Culture Vision Japan Foundation Inc.)

 

Using music and dance unique to the youth, the video presented friendship in an original style. Amazing concept and presentation skills! (Hiroyuki Takai/ Board of Director, JCAW Foundation, Inc.; General Manager, Washington office, Sumitomo Corp of Americas)

JAPAN

2nd Place: Keisen Jogakuen High School (Tokyo)

I could really feel the students enjoying high school life from the video. I can also tell that they are studying English very hard. (Kenji Ono/ Director, Office of the promotion of foreign language education bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Japan)

 

It was very fun to hear honest thoughts about what friendship is from different types of students. I was able to understand from this video that there are infinite definitions of friendship. (Takehiro Shimada/ Minister for Communications and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Japan, Washington, DC)

U.S.

1st Place: Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology (Virginia)

By interviewing people and showing many different aspects of school, it made me feel like I was part of the group. (Kenji Ono/ Director, Office of the Promotion of Foreign Language Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Japan)

 

Baking a cake together on the path to friendship and gathering ingredients of friendship from different groups was very creative. I was impressed by their high level of Japanese as well. (Danielle Reed/ Senior Program Director, S&R Foundation)

2nd Place: Elkhorn High School (Nebraska)

Great use of clips from all over school and nice integration of teachers. Great production! (Daniel Tani/ Director of Foundation Grants, United States-Japan Foundation)

 

It was a unique idea to use everyday scenes from school life and narrating over it. The last part where two teachers express what friendship is in English would make a great educational material for Japanese students! (Misako Ito/ Secretary-General, CULCON)

Judges (in alphabetical order)

 

  • Misako Ito/ Secretary-General, CULCON
  • Kenji Ono/ Director, Office of the promotion of foreign language education bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Japan
  • Danielle Reed/ Senior Program Director, S&R Foundation
  • Takehiro Shimada/ Minister for Communications and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Japan, Washington, DC
  • Kyoko Shimomura/ Advisor, Culture Vision Japan Foundation Inc.
  • Hiroyuki Takai/ Board of Director, JCAW Foundation, Inc.; General Manager, Washington office, Sumitomo Corp of Americas
  • Daniel Tani/ Director of Foundation Grants, United States-Japan Foundation