About Us
- US-Japan Live Forum
Content of our activities
US-Japan Live Forum, which was inaugurated as a US/Japan student cultural
exchange project, has the complete support from the Los Angeles Unified School
District. In cooperation with the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan, this Non-Profit Organization, Live Forum Foundation USA whose headquarters are located in Los Angeles is presently calling for the participation of partner schools in Japan.
Through the utilization of our technology for broadcasting over the Internet, US-Japan Live Forum is literally a Real Time Live Forum in which Japanese and American students might debate each other. Using this method, selected host schools (The original objective was for high schools only) would broadcast live to those participating schools in both countries, and each program would deal with a specific, set theme. As a general rule, the host schools would alternate in their leadership roles in this mutual exchange between the two countries.
The language which will be used may be either English or Japanese. However, since this is the perfect opportunity to converse in the other's language, this might serve to encourage a challenge in a foreign language without concern over proficiency level. A bilingual "navigator" (moderator) will be in attendance to aid in language communication.
As a guest, each participating school will express its opinions and contribute to positive discussions regarding the topics chosen by the host school. Furthermore, the average participant who views this pattern of discussion (i.e. a student's family) will be able to transmit his or her thoughts and opinions to the host school via e-mail as well as being able to talk about the successful aspects of the project.
- The Topics
The Topics (contents of discussions), which can be current events type "hot" topics of concern to students in the United States and Japan, or those such as each others school or family and community ... those topics which are close to us in our daily lives as well as societal, cultural and historical issues which are brought to our attention through investigative announcements. It might be useful to sum up in a formal manner the benefits we derive from our Live Forum topics. However, this formality is of little importance.
- Application for Participation
At the present time, the Forum Promotional Group has completed its experimental stage with an American school model, and is now inviting the participation of Japanese partner schools.
Participation is absolutely free of charge. Contact us: liveforum@lworld.net
- Minimum Requirements for Participation
- Broadband Connection
- Computers
- DV Camera
- Audio System such as Microphone and Speaker
- Video Editing Equipment
- US-Japan Live Forum 's Observations
US-Japan Live Forum, whose ultimate goal is to raise the awareness of international exchange among our youth, is still in the process of achieving these objectives by developing positive activities as listed below:
- Although originally we began with high school students, in turn, we are now expanding to the elementary and middle school age students.
- Student Exchange Conferences - (Japanese and American Seminars and summer school collaborative production programs)
- Teacher Exchange Conferences - Such activities as research conferences to learn about new technological advances in broadcasting and (visits to) inspections of the educational IT sites.
- Through the Forum Promotional Group such activities like event planning related to education and broadcast and special program productions
- Support and Operation of The Japan/US Live Forum
US-Japan Live Forum places great importance on the students' autonomy and therefore preference is given to student driven productions as well as those which are generated by the viewers. These two types of productions are the preferred subjects which we wish to undertake. However, in order to successfully put our main project into practice, the fact is that actual on task hours of broadcast system adjustments and technical guidance are indispensable in addition to honing in on important practical broadcasting skills.
Our activities are supported financially by the organizations, groups and individuals who provide ideas, founds and contributions for specials programs and events.
Forum Promotional Group presently consists of more than twenty members in all who are both outside volunteers as well as those from the JIN (Japan International Network). Since April of 1999, when US-Japan Live Forum aired its first trial broadcast, we have continued our struggle up until this past three-point relay.
Even though we might say that these Internet broadcasts have been only a mere mouthful, content-wise without changing anything in our program production which is broadcast via satellite and is shown on TV stations, we have concluded that our most talented and essential volunteers who conduct these trial broadcasts and who are able to guide our students, are most indispensable.
Even in the most technologically advanced IT nations such as the United States, we found that we were still in uncharted waters when it came to our third live school interactive broadcast since this is the first attempt through the Los Angeles Unified School District. US-Japan Live Forum exists through the efforts and cooperation of those many volunteers who grapple with numerous difficulties and who refuse to rest even on holidays and weekends. This core is a non-profit group of volunteers, which we call our Forum Promotional Group.
- Mr. Masahiro Kimura, Representative of US-Japan Live Forum
His Profile:
After graduated from The University of Mexico (UNAM), he started to serve for the Faculty of Economics of UNAM as assistant professor. After working for Kyodo News Agency Bureau in Mexico City, he became a TV Asahi correspondent in Latin America (1978 - 1987), and worked at the foreign news desk at TV Asahi main office as well as acting as the CNN News producer. Finally, after working as in TV Asahi correspondent in Los Angeles from 1990 - 1991, he ventured out on his own and founded The Japan International Network (JIN) in 1992, which specializes in producing news and educational programs.
Mr. Kimura has written books such as "National Isolationism and the Silver Road"- The Simul Press, 1989; "The Pacific Rim Price Revolution"- The University of Mexico, 1987, published in Spanish; Chienmai University, 1992, published and translated into Thai as well as other works. Presently, as the Executive Producer of JIN, Mr. Kimura works with NHK and other private broadcasting companies which concern themselves with the earth's environment, the Native American Indian, foreign workers, historical documentaries and other various topics.
Translated into English by Tim Mathos
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