On Feb. 20, “Iwaki Note (FUKUSHIMA VOICE)” was shown at the University of Bonn in Germany. The students and teachers at the University of Bonn and local people came to see the movie. Three student directors, Okazaki, Sasaki and Santo traveled to Germany and held a discussion style talk event with the viewers after the showing.
Each of the student directors spoke about their thoughts on Japan after the catastrophic earthquake, something that they are able to feel only because they shot the movie. The screening was carried out with English subtitles and the discussion was conducted in both German and Japanese. The exchanges were so lively that there was not enough time. A comment from the floor included that they were glad to see a side of the situation in Japan, which they were unable to see through the media. As another opportunity to show the movie abroad was offered, we were able to sense signs that the movie is being conveyed and spreading.
Thank you very much to everyone at the University of Bonn who organized the screening of the movie, to everyone who gave us support, and to all the people in Germany who came to see the movie!
(Sasaki, 3rd Year at School of Art & Design)

On Mar. 8, “Iwaki Note (FUKUSHIMA VOICE) x City of Creativity” was held at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture. The screenings were carried out twice a day (with Japanese subtitles), in the morning and in the afternoon, and after the screening, “Fukushima-na! (Green Vegetables)”, a collaborative event with the farmers of Iwaki, who were in the movie, was held. Many people from in and out of Kanazawa city came to the venue, and the movie was seen by 36 people in the morning and 34 people in the afternoon.
After the screenings, the student directors, Chiba, Kinusa Suzuki and Tachibana, each spoke about what was on their minds. I spoke about my thoughts in planning the screening in Kanazawa and asked the viewers to feel the creativity of the people who live in the disaster-stricken areas.
At the “Fukushima-na! (Green Vegetables)” event after the screenings, a tasting party of foods made in collaboration with the farmers of Iwaki, who appeared in the movie, was held. The visitors, while they enjoyed tasting the foods, also actively engaged in conversation with the student directors and exchanged views and comments. Of the things the visitors mentioned, the following left an impression, “Watching the smiles and positive words of the people of Iwaki who appeared in the interviews, in fact, gave me courage. I wish you the best and keep working hard so that the catastrophic earthquake won’t fade into oblivion”. It was 4 years ago today that the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. I would like us all to continue our efforts to show the movie, “Iwaki Note (FUKUSHIMA VOICE)”, in many parts of the country and around the world.
I would like to thank everyone at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art who agreed to co-host the screening, the members of the local staff who helped us, and the people of Ishikawa prefecture who came to the screening!
(Tachibana, 3rd Year at School of Art & Design)

“Iwaki Note (FUKUSHIMA VOICE)” will be shown at the Iwaki Performing Arts Center, Alios, on Feb. 1, Sunday, as a part of the program, “Iwaki Town Development and Reconstruction Symposium: Regional Revitalization by the Young Generation”. The student directors will also be on stage for the talk session. Since anyone is welcome to attend, please take this opportunity to attend both the symposium and screening. (Iida)

Date & Time: Feb. 1, 2015, 10:50 to 16:30
(Screening of “Iwaki Note (FUKUSHIMA VOICE)” scheduled to start at 11:00)
Venue: Iwaki Performing Arts Center, Alios, Small Theater
Free of Charge
Host: University of Tsukuba. Sponsor: Iwaki/Fukushima Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
>>Click here for details of Symposium.

“Iwaki Note (FUKUSHIMA VOICE)” will be shown at the University of Bonn, Germany, in February. The student directors will fly to Germany for the screening. A screening event is being planned so that many people, including students majoring in Japanese studies at the University of Bonn as well as ordinary Bonn citizens, would be able to take part.
Ahead of the overseas screening, there will be a screening of the movie with English subtitles and a discussion session at the University of Tsukuba German-Japanese Youth Leaders Exchange Meeting. Please take this opportunity to take part, as anyone is welcome to attend. (Iida)
Date & Time: Jan. 26 (Monday), 18:15〜
Venue: Student Commons, Presentation Room (Area 1, A203, Next to Soup Factory)
Free of Charge
Host: University of Tsukuba German-Japanese Youth Leaders Exchange Meeting (Baumkuchener Verein)
Co-Host: University of Tsukuba Creative Reconstruction Project, College of Comparative Cultures, University of Tsukuba-European Office in Bonn.
>>Click here for Baumkuchener Verein Website.