Kumi Matsumoto, left, and Noriko Furuhata, right, from the consulate with JET alumni Monica Yuki and Shree Kurlerkar at the 92nd Street Y Street Festival. (Photo courtesy of Monica Yuki)

By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.

For over two decades, the Consulate-General of Japan in New York has led the way in scouting, screening and sending young Americans to Japan for work opportunities under the government initiative known as the JET Program. But the consulate also plays an active role by working with the program’s returnees in the JET Alumni Association of America’s New York chapter (of which this writer is also a member) to continue advancing Japanese culture in America through numerous events and activities.

“I have been working on the JET Program as program coordinator for the past four years, and my most enjoyable moments doing this job have always related to JETAA NY,” said Noriko Furuhata of CGJ. “The wonderful members of JETAA NY give me their continued support on selection interviews, pre-departure orientations, recruiting and career forums, and more. I have always been very impressed with their enthusiasm promoting the JET Program and Japan-related events and activities.”

The members, whom Furuhata calls “true ambassadors for U.S.-Japan relations,” serve as good citizens and are keen to keep their connection to Japan strong while also doubling as a source to CGJ for alumni news. Steven Horowitz is JETAA NY’s professional outreach and development chair and a board member as well as the founder of JetWit.com, an online resource for the JET community.

“The consulate has been very instrumental in helping us communicate with the Japanese press,” he said. “Especially with regard to demonstrating the return on investment that JET and JETAA has and continues to provide to Japan. For the JETAA National Conference in New York this past August, they encouraged Japanese media to attend, which gave JET alumni chapter representatives a chance to share their views and experiences.”

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