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March 2003 ]
IN THE NAME OF IDENTITY
A book by Amin Maalouf
Although both Amin and Nat have
written with a different audience in mind, they have much the same
message at heart.
 REACH
OUT AMERICA BECOMING GLOBAL CITIZENS
Nat says Mrs. Bush is on to something
big. Opinion on Mrs. Bush, Children, and Afghanistan
INTERNATIONAL FILM REVIEW
Promises, a powerful documentary
about Palistinian and Israeli children
HEALTHY CITIES
Len Duhl founded healthy cities
around the world creating a positive movement....
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Helping Students Arriving from Japan to
US
In the fields of health and publishing,
www.Natsays.com has created a fun health series enjoyable by both
busy adults and curious kids. The international author and illustrator
Nathalie Ishizuka writes to both busy adults and curious kids through
the eyes of an adorable penguin character. The first book in the
series, Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says, "Other," is one that can help
students arriving from Japan to the US who sometimes feel scared,
excited, and of course a bit different. Noriyasu Katano, a successful
IIP graduate, has worked hard with the author to prepare the web
promotional version www.natsays.com for his internship with the
innovative health company, Lifetrack.
Mr. Katano from IIP is a Great Success
Mr. Katano, is a great success
with the website, says Nat. He has done much through his outstanding
training to help promote health concepts both busy adults and curious
kids in difficulty.Noriyasu is benefiting from intensive training
as the previous company Nat founded promoted major Warner artists
telecom, and internet in integrated entertaining campaigns. Although
Noriyasu enjoys learning about venture capital and business development,
he especially likes promoting health with the little penguin story
Read This Before You Give Up
The characters of the book a Japanese
penguin father who teaches people how to live meaningfully, a French
penguin mother who enjoys life, and Nat which integrates the two
in the United States bring to life challenges students feel when
they encounter a new country, different ways of doing things, particularly
when they themselves start to change thanks to their experiences
abroad. One former IIP student who came to the US
to change fields from working in a fish market, to becoming a journalist,
said, “"This book really encouraged me, when I was about
to give up."
Taking Risks and Promoting Exchange
The book, about taking risks, enjoying
our differences, and being open, is meant to give a boost to those
who want to take a road less traveled. Other current IIP students
such as Michiyo Yamashita, Madoka Sugihara, and Kenichiro Otsuka,
are excited about it.They wish to promote international exchange,
by broadening their skills and learning layout, marketing, and public
relations to help the illustrated book seek a Japanese publisher.
LifeTrack, which has already published a previous book with Kodansha,is
seeking to promote health through entertainment internationally.
Yuji Igata, gives it a "thumbs up." Kei Watanabe, another
formidable former IIP student who interned in the more technical
division of LifeTrack worked on a training project that does much
to promote health and will be soon released. Chihaya Shiozawa (IIP
Fall 2001), a tremendous fan of the popular Pingu penguin and supporter,
likes the health aspect of the project, but is most excited about
the cute penguin character that stars in "other."
Giving Back to International Community
Students at IIP seemed to like
that "Other" reaches out beyond Japanese and Americans
to other cultures (there is French, German, Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian,
Russian on http://www.natsays.com/).Soon
to be translated to Chinese, and Arabic Natsays.com fits well with
the IIP philosophy of giving back to the international community
through an open mind, a respect for differences and a strong involvement
in cultural exchange.
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