Publication of Kansai through Kiwi eyes

The publication of Kansai through Kiwi eyes, an educational publication being rolled out during the second quarter 2007, is an example of cooperation between Japanese and New Zealanders.

Kansai through Kiwi eyes develops understandings about societies, illustrated by the interaction of New Zealanders and Japanese. Chapters are designed to assist in the teaching and learning of social studies.

The 'bite-size' chapter format is designed to assist teachers of Years nine and ten Social Studies unpack a central key idea about society and the underpinning key concepts.

The Kansai through Kiwi eyes booklet was designed to enable teachers to photocopy classroom sets of worksheets for use with film documentary chapters.

The web, DVD and booklet editions are being distributed without charge not only to assist the teaching of social studies, but also to inform the wider public. Content about place, culture, government and the economic world draw from more than 100 interviews in both countries.

Kansai through Kiwi eyes first editions were produced in 2006-2007 by the Centre for Citizenship Education, a New Zealand charitable trust,
P O Box 3978, Wellington.

The project was executed with a grant from the Osaka-based Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition (’70).

New Zealand co-sponsors included the School of Marketing and International Business from Victoria University of Wellington, Air New Zealand, Asia Pacific Economic News and the Centre for Citizenship Education.

The Kansai through Kiwi eyes website Kansai.ac.nz not only reaches the project’s primary New Zealand audience, but is also a channel of communication that can link people in Japan and New Zealand.

Trailers for the Kansai through Kiwi eyes DVD on youtube.com (search youtube.com for VisitKansai to find these trailers) also extend the reach of the 3000 DVDs being made available to the Heads of New Zealand social studies departments for year nine and ten students, other selected secondary and tertiary educators and media, the Japan Information and Cultural Centre for individual inquiries, alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme, New Zealand Japan societies, New Zealand members of Parliament and mayors, sponsors and others to whom credit is due for their contribution to the project.

The idea for the publication was in response to the call from Japan’s former Ambassador to New Zealand, Masaki Saito, for revitalisation of the bilateral relationship, and calls from Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark and former Prime Minister of Japan Junichi Koizumi for a New Level of Engagement. New Zealand trade minister Phil Goff called in 2006 for reinvigoration of the economic relationship.

During the second quarter 2007 roll out of editions of the publication the Centre for Citizenship Education, a charitable trust, will particularly welcome practical suggestions for further levels of engagement, revitalisation and reinvigoration in the relationship.

Kansai through Kiwi eyes itself includes many ideas people can directly develop, from school exchange to citizen visits, from further publication to research into forward looking aspects of the relationship. Emails, websites and other information and communication technologies, perhaps including “youtube” and “wiki”, can provide some of the channels to communicate and develop further suggestions and understanding.

Feedback is welcome on Kansai through Kiwi eyes, including on ways to enhance its distribution and use.

Find out more
Anthony Haas
Director
Centre for Citizenship Education
Mobile 0064 27 242 2301
Email: apen@xtra.co.nz

Saturday, 31 March 2007

Feedback

During the second quarter 2007 rollout period of Kansai through Kiwi eyes project we are particularly interested in the viewss of the more than 100 New Zealanders and Japanese who guided us initially - and others who wish to use this educational publication, and to assist us further in "Communicating Kansai" culture, government and economic world.

Review the www.kansai.ac.nz and Education pages of www.decisionmaker.co.nz website, and email Anthony Haas with suggested changes - and further possible further initiatives the Centre for Citizenship Education's Japan New Zealand Research Facility can join in progressing.

Please note some aspects of this Facility, and the links, are in development.

18 April 2007