During the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel has been difficult, when not impossible. Along with being inconvenient, it has limited the ability to conduct normal cultural exchanges, particularly for educational purposes. One of the nations that is not currently accepting most travelers from the U.S. is Japan, but Japan remains one of Alaska’s most significant economic partners, all the more reason why a cross-cultural relationship between Alaska and Japan is important.
To support continuing such exchanges despite the hinderances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage is accepting entries during their Japan-Alaska Friendship Video Campaign. The application period started on the first of December, ending on February 26. The contest is open to residents of cities in Alaska that have sister-cities in Japan.
Video submissions should aim to energize sister-city relationships between Alaska and Japan with original videos from residents or cultural groups within sister-cities. The theme is “Lasting Friendship,” and videos should showcase what makes sister-city relationships so important: the aspects of life on the Kenai that you consider to be special, worth sharing with friends in Japan.
The Kenai Peninsula is home to more Japanese sister-cities than any other borough in the state. Kenai is partnered with Akita, Homer with Teshio, and Seward with Obihiro.
Michael Hughes of the Consular Office says that videos only need to celebrate what makes your community special, no professional effects required: “I think a lot of people look at this and think it’d be interesting to make a video. I think the number one barrier for people to understand is that you do not have to be a professional videographer to make this. Just do your best and we’d be happy to see it.”
A full list of submission guidelines can be found online. Essentially, share the best of your community, upload it to YouTube, and their guideline list explains the rest.
No details are yet available regarding what the prizes will be, but Hughes said they will be “good prizes.” The primary aim is to celebrate a continued cultural exchange with Japan, but the office reminded KSRM News that this is a proper contest – so expect prizes that are worthwhile.