Media Forum - Kansai Window：portal site of Kansai information

Forums are held with the attendance of overseas journalists and celebrities. The charm of Kansai is transmitted inside and outside Japan while exchanging international information.

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The 'Asia Pacific Journalists' Forum' was first held in November 1995 in conjunction with the informal APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit hosted by Osaka. Journalists from all over the Asia-Pacific region were invited for the purpose of promoting cross-border exchange among journalists and enhancing the international dissemination of information.
In 2000, the forum was renamed as the “Journalists’ Forum for the 21st Century,” thereafter providing us with opportunities to receive valuable proposals from journalists from within and outside Japan. In response to the diversification of media, the forum was renamed again in 2008 to become the “Media Forum,” with the aim of communicating the attractiveness of the Kansai region through various media. The Media Forum has been serving as a venue for us to receive opinions and proposals from people involved in various ways in disseminating information.

Name

Media Forum 2009 (The 15th)

Theme

Rediscovery of Japanese Culture
- From the Viewpoint of Foreigners Working Actively in Kansai -

Purpose

   In the past, foreign countries showed interest in Japan predominantly in relation to economic issues. In recent years, however, Japanese culture has increasingly gained attention from around the world. Japanese pop culture, such as manga and anime, has come to be admired as “cool.” Japanese traditional performing arts, such as kabuki and bunraku, have been receiving acclaim overseas. Amid growing consciousness about health concerns, Japanese cuisine also has been gaining popularity abroad.
   From even before the emergence of this “Cool Japan” phenomenon, many foreigners living in and outside Japan have long been passionately involved in Japanese culture and pursuing its allure. Many foreigners have rediscovered a special attractiveness in things taken for granted or even forgotten by the Japanese. Based on their firsthand experience, some of them are actively communicating to the public the allure of Japanese culture.
   The Kansai region is considered the capital of Japanese culture, where Japan’s long traditions are still alive. Blessed with abundant nature, the region possesses numerous cultural assets such as ancient capitals and temples.
   The purpose of this Media Forum is to help boost Kansai’s ability to disseminate information by learning from lectures and discussion on Japanese culture, presented from the viewpoint of foreigners working actively in Kansai.

Time & Date

13:30 to 16:30, Wed., November 11, 2009
(reception afterwards)

Venue

SAKURA Room, International House, Osaka, 8-2-6 Uehonmachi, Tennoji-ku, Osaka

Contents

■	Opening Address
		Fumio Ikeuchi (President of the Kansai Press Club )
■	Presentation by Panelists / Panel Discussion
	*	Panel Discussion
		•	Panelists
			Aidan O’Connor (Food Journalist / Adjunct Instructor, Osaka University)
			Silvain Kyokusai Guignard (Professor, International Department, Osaka Gakuin University / Chikuzen Biwa Player)
			Jessica Bauwens Sugimoto (Associate Professor, Faculty of Manga, Kyoto Seika University)
			Brad Towle (International Tourism Promotion & Development Director, Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau)
		•	Coordinator
			Atsuo Kusu (Announcer, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation)

Organized by

The Kansai Press Club
KIPPO (Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office, Organization of Kansai Unity)
Osaka International House Foundation

Supported by

Osaka Prefectural Government
Osaka Municipal Government

Participants

130 individuals, including journalists from Kansai, public relations officers from self-governing bodies, corporations and private organizations, consulate staff in Kansai, and the general public via open invitations.

Contact

KIPPO ( Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office, Organization of Kansai Unity )
c/o Osaka International Conference Center 11F,
5-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0005, JAPAN
Tel: (+81) 6-4803-5551
Fax: (+81) 6-4803-0570

2008

“Kansai as a Staging Ground for Communication via Films”

Keynote Lecture:	‘A Splendid Darkness : Films from the West’ HAMAMURA, Jun (Radio Parsonality / Film Critic)
Panel discussion:	Domestic / overseas image media personnel

2007

“Leading the Era of International Exchange - Foreign Residents share their thoughts on conveying Kansai to the World”

Keynote Lecture:	‘The Media Portrays Modern Kansai's Distinct Presence within Japan' KURODA, Isamu (Dean and Professor of Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University)
Panel discussion:	Overseas scholar, artists, editor

2006

'Relaying "Kansai Ryoku" to the World - What is Expected of the Media Today'

Keynote Lecture:	KIMURA, Masao (Freelance producer)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel

2005

'Disasters and Information for Life-Lessons from "Inamura's Bonfire (Inamura-no-Hi)" to Sumatra's Earthquake: In order to survive a disaster'

Keynote Lecture:	'Information Sharing in Times of Disasters - Lessons from Inamura's Bonfire (Inamura-no-Hi)' KIMURA, Yoshiki (Governor, Wakayama Prefecture)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, NPO officials, international organization officials

2004

'Kansai - A Perspective for Changes: Urban City Strategies in East Asia in the Era of Great Exchanges'

Keynote Lecture:	'Urban City Strategies in East Asia in the Era of Great Exchanges' YAMASHITA, Kazuhiko (President, Osaka International Convention Center)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, scholars

2003

'Kansai, Pursuing a Vision of Change - East Asian Culture Promotion via Urban Strategies'

Keynote Lecture:	'Power of Culture Revitalize Japanese Society' TERAWAKI, Ken (Director-General, Cultural Affairs Department, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, self-governing body officials

2002

'Kansai, Pursuing a Vision of Change - East Asian City Strategies Today'

Keynote Lecture:	'Time and Tide of the World-Japanese Strategies' TERASHIMA, Jitsuro (Chairman, Japan Research Institute)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, international economic organization officials, scholars

2001

'Challenges and Prospects for Attractive International Tourist Cities'

Keynote Lecture:	'Challenges and Prospects for Attractive International Tourist Cities' SATO, Yumiko (Department Director, Research Institute on Continuity and Change in Life, Suntory Limited)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, international organization officials, self-governing body officials

2000

'The Benefits the Olympic Games Bring to Host Cities - Lessons from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games'

Keynote Lecture:	'Osaka 2008 An Outline of Osaka's Olympics Plan' KIRIYAMA, Kenichi (Secretary-General, Osaka 2008 Olympic Bid Committee)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, international organization officials, self-governing body officials

1999

'Toward the 21st Century - Restudy of Sales Points for the New Kansai-Keihanshin Region'

Keynote Lecture:	'Another Japan - Kansai and Kanto' ISHIGE, Naomichi (Director-General, National Museum of Ethnology)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, scholars

1998

'The Spreading Wave of People, Things and Information of Kansai in the 21st Century - How to Apply Inherent Culture Now'

Keynote Lecture:	'Information Control - Brightness and Shadow' MINAMIDA, Midori (Professor, Osaka University of Foreign Studies)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel, scholars

1997

'Sharing Information Among the Press in a Borderless Age - What Is Required Today of News Organizations'
(Only panel discussion)

Panel discussion:

Domestic/overseas media personnel

1996

'Information Exchange Creates a New Asia-Pacific Age - What Kansai Should Be Transmitting'

Keynote Lecture:	'The Subject for Globalization and Information Exchange - Asia-Pacific Region and Kansai' INOUE, Hiroshi (Professor, Faculty of Informatics, Kansai University)
Panel discussion:	Domestic/overseas media personnel

1995

'Expectations for the Osaka APEC Meetings'
(Only panel discussion)

Panel discussion:

Domestic/overseas media personnel

KIPPO ( Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office )

c/o Osaka International Convention Center 11F, 5-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0005, Japan
Tel: (+81) 6-4803-5551 Fax: (+81) 6-4803-0570
URL: http://www.kippo.or.jp/kippo.index.html

The Kansai Press Club

Osaka International Convention Center 11F,5-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0005, Japan
Tel: (+81) 6-4803-5580 Fax: (+81) 6-4803-5670

Osaka International House Foundation

2-6 Uehonmachi 8 chome, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0001, Japan
Tel: (+81) 6-6772-5931 Fax: (+81) 6-6772-7600