Jun 23

JETSites: English-language JET Guide to Akita-ken

Advice, JETAA Chapters, Website Add Comment (2)

Akita_Prefecture_cities_and_townsDan Dooher, an Akita-ken ALT and who also serves as the Prefectural Advisor, recently let JetWit know about their English-language guide to Akita-ken for JETs.

http://www.akitajet.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Not sure if other prefectures have done something similar or if this is standard, but Akita-ken has put together a fantastic wiki-style site.  When you first arrive you see a map of Akita divided into cities.  Clicking on a city leads to a whole wealth of useful information for any JET (or any English-speaker for that matter) who’s planning on going there.

The left sidebar includes links to topics such as Entering JET, Financing, Travel, Health, Driving, Computers and Phones, Entertainment, Volunteer Opportunities and other extremely helpful topics.  On the right are feeds for “Latest Discussion” and “Events/Updates.”  And scrolling down leads to a Calendar as well as an Article Spotlight featuring “What is the Akita International Sumo Taikai?”  (Note: How come my prefecture didn’t have a sumo taikia?)  (Additional note: How come the internet didn’t exist when I was on JET?)

Do other prefectures have JET sites like this? (We know, for example, that Hiroshima-ken has The Wide Island View, a terrific e-zine for the JET community there, published by Gail Cetnar Meadows and Josh Zimmer.)

If so, please send the link to JetWit along with any other info and we’ll be more than happy to post it on the site for the benefit of readers.


2 comments so far...

  • Erika Leiman Said on April 26th, 2011 at 9:30 am:

    Hello
    I was an Mombusho English Fellow (prior to the program being replaced by the JET program) in Akita city. I worked for the high school prefectural division. I had an excellent year (1986 to 1987) and I had a great advisor, Mr Abe Masaki (I am somewhat unsure of his first name). I believe he was from Honjo.
    Would anyone working in the JET program in Akita know him? I wold really like to touch base and contact him after all these years.
    Thanks so much for any information you may be able to give me.

  • Owen Said on January 11th, 2012 at 1:51 am:

    Hi Erika,
    You could try posting on the Akita Message Board: http://www.akitajet.com/phpbb/
    And if you could include any more information if all, for example age or height, or distinguishable features etc
    If he is still in Yuirhonjo it should be easy enough to locate him.

Page Rank