By Suzanne Bhagan (Tottori Prefecture, 2014-2015) Suzanne is a freelance writer originally from Trinidad and Tobago. You can connect with her on Linkedin.
Hey, everyone! It’s already past the middle of September and there’s a national holiday (Autumnal Equinox Day on 23 September) coming up. Here’s what’s going on in Japan’s JET community this week and the next!
Oirase Shimoda Matsuri
When: 23 September – 24 September
Where: Oirase Town, Aomori Prefecture
Snap the “living dolls” that ride the giant floats during the Shimoda Festival in Oirase!
When: 30 September
Where: Minamiaso, Kumamoto Prefecture
Pack a tent. It’s party time on the side of the world’s largest caldera for the first ever Kuma Fest!
Whitewater rafting in Japan
Hiroshima AJET’s Annual Whitewater Rafting Trip
When: 29 September – 1 October
Where: Yoshino River, Kochi Prefecture
Block 9 peeps, get your paddles ready! Hiroshima AJET is hosting its yearly whitewater rafting in Shikoku.
When: 30 September
Where: Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture
September can be tough with classes, speech contests, and sports day so rustle up a team and head to the MAJET Trivia Night! It’s also a potluck so bring something yummy to share!
Howl’s Moving Castle
When: 24 September
Where: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture
At this sesh, Hyogo JET’s Book Club will dissect Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. P.S. it isn’t considered cheating if you can’t finish the book and only watch the movie instead.
Kagawa AJET Moon Viewing and Party
When: 23 September
Where: Marugame Castle, Kagawa Prefecture
Forget yesterday’s eclipse. Kagawa AJET hosts a moon viewing party at Marugame Castle for the autumnal equinox! Take a tour of the castle, picnic, and enjoy the scenery!
When: 30 September
Where: Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture
Get your drink on at the first ever Kamaishi Wine Festival! It takes place during the Kamaishi Magokoro Food Festival and the Rugby World Cup 2019 Fan Zone Rehearsal Event so drink up, eat up, and join in a game of street rugby!
Lake Biwa
When: 30 September – 1 October
Where: Maibara, Shiga Prefecture
Get ready for a legendary weekend of mad views and copious amounts of Pocari Sweat as Shiga AJETs cycle 150 km (93 miles) around Lake Biwa!
When: 30 September
Where: Nakagami, Okinawa Prefecture
An exciting night of dance performances: hip hop, belly dance, tribal fusion belly dance, jazz dance, popping, flamenco, and more!
Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: TOEFL Course Preparation Teacher
Posted by: UTP High Schools
Location: West Islip, NY
Contract: Part-Time
Thanks to former JETAANY Vice President Kathryn Piper for passing along this opening from a friend of hers who is the Director of Academic Development at UTP High Schools.
https://longisland.craigslist.
org/edu/6304935070.html(Apply by hitting the “Reply” button at the top of the job listing on the Craigslist page.)
Posted by Cori M. Hallock (Hokkaido 2007-2008)
In response to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) established the JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON FUND. Gifts to the Fund will be donated to local Houston charities supporting recovery efforts.
JASH created the fund in response to an outpouring of concern from Japan over the severity of flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. JASH’s website states:
Houston,
You were there for us in 2011 to assist people and communities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. You also came to our aid in 2016 as we responded to the Kumamoto Earthquake.
Now, we are here to support you. JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON.
The Fund will serve as the focal point of support received from Japan and from friends of the U.S.-Japan relationship. All contributions will be utilized to support trusted local Houston charities with five-star ratings on Charity Navigator.
You can donate by check, wire transfer, or credit card through the JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON FUND page. More information is available in English and Japanese on the fund page.
Hurricane Harvey hit Houston on August 30th, 2017 causing severe flooding and damage to thousands of homes. For updates on JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON relief efforts, follow the JASH Facebook page.
Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Resident Faculty (Dormitory Supervisor) for Girl’s Residence Hall
Posted by: Keio Academy of New York
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a job received directly from the institution:
We have a new opening position that is a Full-Time Resident Faculty (Dormitory Supervisor) for Girl’s Residence Hall at Keio Academy of New York. I really appreciate if you would post the attachment to your relevant networks. Potential applicants should email their resumes and cover letters to somu@keio.edu. Contact information: somu@keio.edu
POSITION: Full-Time Resident Faculty (Dormitory Supervisor) for Girl’s Residence Hall
QUALIFICATION: Must have bachelor’s degree. Must reside on campus. Several years of experience at educational institutions preferred. Education background is a plus.
STARTING DATE: Immediately
COMPENSATION: Salary commensurate with education and experience. Health Insurance and 403B Pension Plan benefits will be provided after three month probation period.
DEADLINE: Applications will be considered in order of arrival, until the position is filled.
職種:女子寮寮監(専任)
応募資格:大卒以上。本学院寮内に居住できる方。教育関係従事者,教育関連専攻の方歓 迎。
勤務開始日:至急
待遇:経験・能力等を考慮の上,本学院規定により決定。3 ヶ月の試用期間後,健康保険 および確定拠出年金制度あり。
締め切り日:採用が決定次第終了。
Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Full-Time/Part-Time Instructor/Teacher/Tutor
Posted by: Axiom Learning
Location: California (Los Altos, Menlo Park); Massachusetts (Chestnut Hill, Concord, Harvard Square, Newton, Wellesley); New York (Manhattan); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contract: Full-Time/Part-Time
Here’s a job received directly from the company:
Axiom Learning: Innovate. Instruct. Inspire.
Axiom Learning strives to be a catalyst for educational change globally. We are an innovative, early stage company; a hub for smart, idealistic people aspiring to unleash the greatness in every child. Our customized, 1-on-1 instruction is designed to empower students of various ages to find happiness and success in all aspects of their lives.
We are growing rapidly and looking for the most passionate team members to join us!
Axiom needs instructors to serve as both faculty members and innovators in our global mission as we help students overcome learning challenges, provide a fresh perspective to education, and work to open our own micro-schools. Instructors will design and apply creative lesson plans in traditional and non-traditional subjects, while also supporting unique learners. Additionally, they will work on projects from increasing our efforts to reach more underprivileged communities to developing new Axiom branches and services.
Through these projects, instructors should expect many opportunities for growth and promotion. Axiom values leveraging our team members’ strengths and interests. We incubate our employees’ distinct talents by allowing them to apply and develop their extraordinary skills. As we open more centers, we are looking to promote educational and center directors from within.
Check out our website to learn more about who we are and what we do!
Join the Axiom Family
Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Assistant Producer (TV News/FNN Department)
Posted by: Fujisankei Communications International Inc.
Location: Washington, D.C. (No Visa Support)
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to pre-JET alum Peter Gold (Fukui-ken) for the following job opening:
SUMMARY
To research and cover political and economic news in Washington DC as well as news taking place in North, Central, and South America that would be of interest to the Japanese viewers living in Japan. The position will require research on current events, develop ideas for news segments (“kikaku”), and on-site coverage. The ideal candidate will speak native-level English, conversational Japanese, and have 3-5 years of relevant experience or background. The candidate must be able to adapt their lifestyle to the news cycle, and travel frequently.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Keep up with current events in both Americas and Japan by scouring news media and researching a wide range of sources. Present topics that may be of interest to the Japanese viewers, whether the news involves Japanese individuals, has an effect on Japan, or topics that are similar to events taking place in Japan. Report news from location, which could be anywhere in the North, Central, or South America. Arrange business trip, including flight, lodging, rides, and interviews.
Other Skills
Speak native-level English, conversational Japanese. Strong commitment to the news lifestyle. Thrives in a team-oriented environment. Strong organizational, communication, and research skills. Reliable and punctual. Ability to use a hand-held camera a plus.
Essential Physical Requirements
Able to work irregular hours to accommodate developing news; ability to work overtime and weekends on a short notice; be willing to travel frequently. The job may require candidates to travel to inhospitable areas, such as the aftermath of natural disasters.
Please email cover letter and resume to fujitvwdc@gmail.com. No phone calls, please.
(Updated to correct location 9.9.17)
Job: Associate Producer – NHK General Bureau for America (Manhattan, NY, USA)
Jobs 
Comments Off on Job: Associate Producer – NHK General Bureau for America (Manhattan, NY, USA)
Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Associate Producer
Posted by: NHK General Bureau for America (NHK GBA)
Location: Manhattan, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a job received directly from the company:
NHK General Bureau for America (NHK GBA) is seeking a full-time Associate Producer to join our news team in North America. The Associate Producer will assist NHK GBA correspondents with all aspects of news production duties including but not limited to: Conducting research for general, business and breaking news stories;
- Conducting research for general, business and breaking news stories;
- Pitching story ideas for feature news stories;
- Arranging and coordinating on-location filming, interviews and travel logistics;
- Traveling for domestic and international newsgathering location work, including breaking news situations;
- Preparing and reporting in English for “NHK World” (NHK’s international news service in English);
This position will start as soon as possible. You must be able to come for an in-person interview.
NHK is Japan’s largest and sole public broadcasting network nationwide and worldwide. NHK GBA is based in Manhattan, New York, and covers news in North and South America for NHK’s various news and documentary programs.
NHK’s URL: http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/koho-e.htm and http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
Basic Qualifications:
- Must show a strong interest in broadcast journalism, especially related to business and breaking news;
- Be able to work under deadline pressure;
- Be a resourceful, outgoing self-starter;
- Have good communication skills;
- Be willing to travel;
- Language: Fluent English required, Japanese and Spanish preferred.
- Microsoft OFFICE skills
How To Apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to jobs@nhkny.com. Clips and portfolio are welcome; kindly refrain from phone inquiries.
JQ Magazine: Nippon in New York — Collision: Brooklyn, ‘Four Nights of Dream,’ The Joy of Sake
Article/Journalism, Events, Film, Food & Drink, JQ Magazine, Music Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Nippon in New York — Collision: Brooklyn, ‘Four Nights of Dream,’ The Joy of Sake
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe–shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
As the summer winds fade into fall colors, the weeks ahead are shaping up with these exciting events, ready to be enjoyed after Labor Day.
This month’s highlights include:
Courtesy of Nipponclub.org
Friday, Sept. 8, 6:45 p.m.
The Nippon Club, 145 West 57th Street
$70, $60 members
The Nippon Club will present “Sake Social 2017″, featuring a sake tasting with 14 different “Kuramoto” (sake brewers) from Japan, on 9/8 (Fri). From Fukui to Yamaguchi, each Kuramoto will bring 2 types of Sake to the event, so you can enjoy 28 types of Sake and Chef Yasuoka’s tasty appetizers. For RSVP and more info, call Mita-san at (212) 581-2223 or email info@nipponclub.org.
Courtesy of Residentadvisor.net
Friday, Sept. 8, 8:00 p.m.
Lot 45, 411 Troutman Street (Brooklyn)
$20 advance, $30 at the door
Collision is a cross-cultural event that aims to expose Japan’s underground music and culture to cities across the globe by curating lineups of Japanese and local artists (seven acts in all). With the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics on the horizon, organizers hope to introduce Japan’s unique subcultures to the millennials of the U.S. and contribute to the attraction and brand of the country, while supporting local creatives and businesses.
Illustration by Ben Warren and David O’Nyon, copyright Japan Society
Sept. 13, 15-16, 7:30 p.m.
Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
$55, $45 Japan Society members
A frustrated samurai. An unwieldy herd of pigs. A mysterious murder. A woman’s dying wish. Four surreal stories from Japanese author Natsume Soseki’s (1867-1916) Ten Nights of Dream come to life in Four Nights of Dream (2008), a contemporary chamber opera that traverses the subconscious through colorful melodies and piercing emotions. For this new production, New York vocalists and Tokyo instrumentalists come together to perform within a spellbinding and ever-morphing set. Performed in English.
Justin’s Japan: LUCKYRICE and The Joy of Sake
Article/Journalism, Events, Food & Drink, Justin's Japan Comments Off on Justin’s Japan: LUCKYRICE and The Joy of Sake
Click image to view article
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Shukan NY Seikatsu. Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
Autumn in New York is the season for delectable dishes, and this month has two unmissable events on the calendar.
First comes the annual LUCKYRICE New York Feast at Mandarin Oriental on September 22. Founded by Danielle Chang in 2010, this eagerly awaited event will once again showcase the city’s most enticing Asian food experiences, along with avant-garde spots, fine dining establishments and local superstar mom and pop shops. Tradition becomes progressive in this mash-up of culinary cuisines, with drinks provided by Asahi Beer and Suntory Whisky (for even more LUCKYRICE, check out their EPIC-urean Asian Feast hosted by BD Wong at Capitale on October 14).
Turning the spotlight to sake, returning for its 12th annual celebration in New York City is The Joy of Sake. The world’s largest sake tasting event outside of Japan comes to Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea on September 27, featuring a record 400 premium labels from every part of Japan and sake appetizers from 16 of New York’s finest restaurants, including Momofuku, Sakagura and SushiSamba.
While current statistics show that sake is losing ground to beer in Japan, it continues to make inroads in the U.S., especially among drink-savvy New Yorkers.
“In the last 10 years the amount of sake imported into New York has doubled as more and more people discover how good the premium labels can be,” says event organizer Chris Pearce. “The Joy of Sake is a celebration of the pleasures of the sake cup—and it’s also one of the best annual food and beverage events in New York.”
For more information and tickets, visit www.luckyrice.com and www.joyofsake.com.
Around Japan in 47 curries: Fukushima fire curry
Food & Drink Comments Off on Around Japan in 47 curries: Fukushima fire curry
Tom Baker (Chiba, 1989-91) is writing a 47-part series of posts on his Tokyo Tom Baker blog, in which he samples and comments on curries representing each of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Those covered so far include Kumamoto Prefecture horse meat curry and Gunma Prefecture silk mill curry. Here’s an excerpt from his 17th installment, about two spicy curries from Fukushima Prefecture.
Fukushima Prefecture has a long history of recovering from geological disasters. Some of those disasters can be remembered through local curries.
One such curry commemorates the July 15, 1888, eruption of Mt. Bandai, a volcano near the center of the prefecture. The mountain had been a smooth, Fuji-like cone before it suddenly exploded due to a buildup of underground steam. The blast – which went largely sideways rather than up, similar to the explosion of Mt. St. Helens in the United States a century later – left behind an irregularly shaped mountain with four separate peaks. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the explosion could be heard from a distance of 50 to 100 kilometers, an avalanche of debris buried five towns and 11 villages, and ash fell from the sky along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, about 90 kilometers away. At least 461 people died.
Did I say there’s a curry that commemorates this event? Perhaps I should have said there’s a curry that cashes in on it. The design on the box of “Mt. Bandai Great Eruption Curry” is not exactly reverent. But I bought it in a souvenir shop at the foot of the still-active volcano. The people who live and work in such an area are entitled to a bit of gallows humor, especially more than a century later.
The back of the box includes warnings that children, pregnant women, and those with weak stomachs or high blood pressure should eat this lava-like curry with caution, if at all. So naturally, I was expecting something super-hot…
To read the full post, including a comment on radiation, go here.
Job: Program Assistant – Japan ICU Foundation (New York, NY, USA)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Program Assistant
Posted by: Japan ICU Foundation
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JETAANY Treasurer, Fernando Rojas for sending the following job opening with his organization:
JICUF is seeking a part time Program Assistant (PA) to help with various organizational and administrative priorities. The Program Assistant will help JICUF’s three full-time staff on an as-needed basis. This may include helping to manage our grants portfolio, scholarship programs, short term international programs, and communications and fundraising efforts.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The PA’s responsibilities will include such tasks as:
- Database management
- Designing and compiling documents
- Processing and filing the mail
- Translation of correspondence/documents
- Copy editing
- Event planning
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree
- Bilingual in English and Japanese
- Knowledge and familiarity with Japanese higher education, especially ICU, a plus
- Proficiency in Google Suite products
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
COMPENSATION
The position is for 18 hours/week and the pay is $16/hour. We are flexible about work hours.
For more information or if you are interested in applying. Please go to the following website: https://www.jicuf.org/employment-opportunities/
JQ Magazine: Manga Review — ‘She and Her Cat’ and ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz — Glory of the Losers’
Article/Journalism, Books, JQ Magazine, Reviews Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Manga Review — ‘She and Her Cat’ and ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz — Glory of the Losers’
“In She and Her Cat, Shinkai does what he does best, using carefully curated imagery to set a somber tone that soothes readers into a quiet, meditative headspace.” (Vertical Comics)
By Preston Hatfield (Yamanashi–ken, 2009-10) for JQ magazine. Preston received a BA in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in Japanese at the University of California, Davis. After spending an amazing year on JET in Yamanashi, he spent a year writing and interning with book publishing companies in New York. He currently lives in Cupertino, where he continues to cover local Japan–related stories for JQ.
This season, Vertical Comics releases two notable titles. The first is She and Her Cat, a story by acclaimed animator Makoto Shinkai, the mastermind behind 5 Centimeters Per Second and Your Name. The second is Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz — Glory of the Losers, a multi-volume adventure starring everyone’s favorite fighting mecha. While very different in style, pacing, and subject matter, each title has a lot to offer its readers.
In She and Her Cat, Shinkai does what he does best, using carefully curated imagery to set a somber tone that soothes readers into a quiet, meditative headspace. From there he proceeds to unfold an understated vignette that explores adult depression. This is a timely story, our considering society’s gradual willingness to speak openly about depression and mental health more broadly.
“By contrast, Glory of the Losers delivers action, explosions, and braggadocio.” (Vertical Comics)
Shinkai’s protagonist, Miyu, is a sympathetic introvert who has a hard time asking for or accepting help from others, and she is also her own antagonist, a fact that will likely resonate with readers who have battled depression. One unique feature about this story, which is also at times strained, is that it is told from the perspective of the protagonist’s cat, Chobi. While some readers may feel that Shinkai could have done more with this story, it is nonetheless well told and tactfully, intelligently handled.
By contrast, Glory of the Losers delivers action, explosions, and braggadocio. Based on creator Yoshiyuki Tomino’s classic 1970s giant robot series, the story follows a common trope: In a post-apocalyptic world, humans have broken off into different factions to colonize other planets. But when a central military agency begins annexing free colonies, a small resistance rises in the name of freedom to end their tyranny. This is an enjoyable underdog story that may have particular appeal to middle and high school students.
For more information, visit www.vertical-inc.com.
2017 Japan Writers Conference coming up
Events, Networking, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on 2017 Japan Writers Conference coming up
Posted by Tom Baker (Chiba, 1989-91).
The Japan Writers Conference is a free annual event for English-language writers, held in a different part of Japan each year. In 2017, it will take place in Tokyo at the Ekoda Campus of Nihon University College of Art on Oct. 8-9, the last two days of a Japanese holiday weekend.
There will be will be about 30 presentations by published writers of fiction, poetry, memoir, travel writing and more. Several of those writers are former JETs.
JET alumnae Susan Laura Sullivan and Suzanne Kamata, for example, will give a joint presentation on editing anthologies. Sullivan is the editor of the forthcoming anthology “Women of a Certain Age,” while Kamata’s published anthologies include “Call Me Okaa-san” and “The Broken Bridge.”
Kamata will also give a presentation together with Ann Tashi Slater on creative nonfiction.
.
JET alum and textbook author Todd Jay Leonard, whose many titles include “American Traditions,” will give a lecture on “The Ever-Changing Publishing Industry,” in which he will discuss traditional versus print-on-demand publishing, followed by a Q&A session.
Poet and novelist Holly Thompson, who first came to Japan in connection with the pre-JET MEF program, will present “Writing Picture Books: Nonfiction Opportunities.” Her published works include “The Wakame Gatherers.”
For details on those and the other presentations, visit www.japanwritersconference.org or follow @JapanWritersCon on Twitter.
The Japan Writers Conference, now in its 11th year, is completely volunteer-run, and admission is free.
Job: Program Assistant – Brookings Institute (Washington, D.C.)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Program Assistant, Global Economy and Development Program
Posted by: Brookings Institute
Location: Washington, D.C.
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to former JETAANY President Yvonne Thurman-Doğruer, who works for the Brookings Institute as Director of Administration in the Global Economy and Development, for sharing this excellent opening in her department.
*************
Program Assistant
Global Economy and Development Program
https://careers-brookings.icims.com/jobs/1539/program-assistant/job
All applications must be submitted online at www.Brookings.edu
Job: Assistant Producer – Fujisankei Communications International Inc (New York, USA)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Assistant Producer (TV News/FNN Department)
Posted by: Fujisankei Communications International Inc.
Location: New York, USA (No Visa Support)
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a job received directly from the company:
SUMMARY
To research and cover news taking place in North, Central, and South America that would be of interest to the Japanese viewers living in Japan. The position will require research on current events, develop ideas for news segments (“kikaku”), and on-site coverage. The ideal candidate will speak native-level English, conversational Japanese, and have 3-5 years of relevant experience or background. The candidate must be able to adapt their lifestyle to the news cycle, and travel frequently.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Keep up with current events in both Americas and Japan by scouring news media and researching wide range of sources. Present topics that may be of interest to the Japanese viewers, whether the news involve Japanese individuals, has an effect on Japan, or topics that are similar to events taking place in Japan. Report news from location, which could be anywhere in the North, Central, or South America. Arrange business trip, including flight, lodging, rides, and interviews.
Other Skills
Speak native-level English, conversational Japanese. Strong commitment to the news lifestyle. Thrives in a team-oriented environment. Strong organizational, communication, and research skills. Reliable and punctual. Ability to use hand-held camera a plus.
Essential Physical Requirements
Able to work irregular hours to accommodate developing news; ability to work overtime and weekends on a short notice; be willing to travel frequently. The job may require candidates to travel to inhospitable areas, such as aftermath of natural disasters.
Please email cover letter and resume to maria.meyer@fci-ny.com
