TJF’s “Lives of Japanese High School Students: Photo and Message Contest,” held from fiscal 1997 to 2006, introduced young people in Japan and overseas to the everyday lives and thinking of Japanese high school students as revealed through their own words and photographs. To commemorate the contest’s tenth anniversary, TJF hosted the “Focus on Japan 2007” photo and exchange program for high school students around the world in August 2007. In this program, eight Japanese and foreign high school students were divided into four groups. The groups visited Miyagi, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima to create photo essays of the lives and lifestyles of people who live there. Here are their photo essays, member profiles and some behind-the-scenes shots and stories about the students and people who helped make the program possible.
Focus on Japan 2007
| Term | Friday, 3 August to Saturday, 11 August 2007 (9 days) |
| Itinerary | 3 August (Fri): Gather in Tokyo 4 August (Sat): Introductions; orientation; welcome party 5-9 August (Sun-Thu): Four teams visit assigned locations, take photographs, and compile a photo essay 10 August (Fri): Photo essay presentations; farewell party 11 August (Sat): Farewell; depart Tokyo for home |
| Participants | 16 high school students, 8 from Japan and 8 from overseas (2 each from China and Korea, 1 each from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) |
| Photography assignment locations | Miyagi, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima |
| Organizer | The Japan Forum |
| Auspices | Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Association of Prefectural Boards of Education Superintendents The All-Japan Association of Photographic Societies National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan The Asahi Shimbun Company All Japan Senior High School Cultural Federation |
| Sponsors | Kodansha Ltd. Toppan Printing Co.,Ltd. Nikon Imaging Japan, Inc. Joho Center Publishing Co.,Ltd. |
| Grant | Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition ‘70 The Japan Foundation |
| Collaboration | Shiogama High School Photography Club Wako High School Photography Club Kogei High School Photography Research Club Shobara Kakuchi Senior High School Photography Club |
| Project Advisor | Ke Yue (Representative, “Tokyo Shiten” Internet Broadcasting Site) |
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