Via Matthew Holmes who is at Interac’s headquarters:
Thank you all of you for sharing information and really helping to keep us updated at Interac HQ. We are working round the clock trying to contact everybody and also give news to relatives by phone, email, facebook and via the various Embassies. We have really appreciated your responses and help with contacting various people on the ground.
Please take care everyone and please tell any Interac teachers, if they have not already done so, to contact Interac . They can do so 24/7.
contact@interac.co.jp
We are all taking turns to do shifts in the office and we will continue to try and get through to everybody. We will be providing instructions and further advice over the next 24 hours.
All those in the middle of this tragedy are in our thoughts and prayers.
Matthew
Request for contact from all New Zealand JETs
Earthquake Tsunami, Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Request for contact from all New Zealand JETs
Via former New Zealand JETAA President Katie McTeigue, who says the Embassy of Japan wants to hear from everyone:
As you are aware the recent earthquake has potentially affected many New Zealand JETS particularly those in the Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori regions. If you have any information on JETS in these areas please forward details to Mr. Ato. (takashi.ato@mofa.go.jp).
KYODO NEWS URGENT CALL FOR UPDATES IN QUAKE AND TSUNAMI-HIT AREAS
Earthquake Tsunami, Uncategorized Comments Off on KYODO NEWS URGENT CALL FOR UPDATES IN QUAKE AND TSUNAMI-HIT AREAS
Via JET JET alum Jody Godoy (Fukui-ken) who is a Kyodo News reporter:
KYODO NEWS URGENT CALL FOR UPDATES IN QUAKE AND TSUNAMI-HIT AREAS
How are foreign residents in your area doing? Is anyone unaccounted for? Did anyone sustain injuries? Are people at shelters?
Any updates are appreciated! Please pass this information on to anyone who may have information. Feel free to append other helpful links.
Please call the following numbers with updates only. I’m sorry but we cannot field questions. Or please e-mail me at jody.godoy@kyodonews.jp
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Kyodo News Tokyo 03-6252-8306
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Emergency line if you cannot get thru above 03-3574-7693
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English speaking line (The others should be able to speak to you in English also) 03-6252-8314
JET alum Washington Post reporter seeks contacts with relatives in Sendai
Article/Journalism, Earthquake Tsunami, Writers Comments Off on JET alum Washington Post reporter seeks contacts with relatives in Sendai
Via JETAA DC:
Hi all — I’m a Washington Post reporter and former JET (Hiroshima ’02) looking for any local dc-area connections to the quake for a story on local reaction. In particular seeking anyone who might have relatives in the Sendai region or any of you who were based there for JET and have friends/former colleagues there that you are trying to reach. We are on an immediate deadline, so please email me asap with a contact phone number if you have such a story to share.
Domo,
David Nakamura
nakamurad [at] washpost.com
National AJET Statement regarding Japan earthquake/tsunami
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National AJET Statement regarding Japan earthquake/tsunami
March 12, 2011
On March 11, 2011 a large earthquake of a magnitude of 8.8 hit northern Japan, causing huge fires, landslides, radiation leaks, and widespread infrastructure damage as well as generating tsunamis in several regions. A broad area has been affected by these disasters, and problems vary from region to region. For up-to-date information, check news sources that are local to the region in which your family member or friend resides.
National AJET, as a representative body of JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) participants in Japan, would like to provide possible avenues for communication or relief efforts to people who are concerned across the globe, as well as in Japan.
It is important to stay calm, not panic and be mindful that due to power outages and lack of telecommunications, it may take time to get through to anyone affected.
If you are searching for family or friends in the affected areas, first check this list of American and Canadian JET participants whose safety has been confirmed.
To reach JETs directly, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are proving to be the most effective means of communication as phone lines are busy or down. Also, if someone you know does not have access to communication systems, please communicate on their behalf. Read More
Pre-dawn 6.0 earthquake in Nagano and Niigata Prefectures
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Japan Times has a Kyodo News service report of a 6.0 earthquake in Nagano and Niigata:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110312x1.html
Two powerful earthquakes hit an inland area northwest of Tokyo early Saturday, each measuring 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Nagano Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The agency did not issue a tsunami warning. The 3:59 a.m. and 4:32 a.m. quakes, with preliminary magnitudes of 6.6 and 5.8 respectively, hit areas including Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, which is far from the Pacific coastal area jolted by a magnitude 8.8 quake the previous day.
The focus of both predawn quakes was in central Niigata at a depth of 10 kilometers, the agency said.
The first quake measured lower 6 in Niigata but Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it was continuing to operate its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in the prefecture.
Niigata police said they have received a report of mudslide in Tokamachi city as well as avalanches in Tokamachi and Tsunan town, following the early morning quakes.
New JETAA New York Officers elected
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on New JETAA New York Officers elected
The 2011-2012 Executive Officers are:
President – Monica Yuki (Saitama-ken, 2002-04)
Vice President – Kendall Murano (Saitama-ken, 2004-06)
Treasurer – Kelly Nixon (with Matt Leichter as understudy)
Secretary – Pamela Kavalam (Shiga-ken, 2007-09) (with Douglas Laventure providing additional support in the area of PR)
Canadians in Japan in need of assistance
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Via JETAA Canada Country Rep Jamiena Shah:
Canadians in Japan in need of assistance, contact Embassy in Tokyo at 81-35412-6200 or DFAIT Emergency Centre collect at 613 996 8885
Canadians in Japan, Asia Pacific region in need of assistance can contact DFAIT Emergency Centre at sos@international.gc.ca.
JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Yumi Tanaka of the New York Peace Film Festival
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See ‘A Thousand Cranes’ at the New York Peace Film Festival March 12-13. (Daiei Motion Picture Co.)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). For more Japanese culture, visit his Examiner.com page here.
Manhattan’s Upper East Side kicks off the weekend with the 4th Annual New York Peace Film Festival, which promotes a deeper understanding of international relations from films and presentations worldwide. Saturday focuses on the devastation of the atomic bomb, beginning with the 1958 Japanese film A Thousand Cranes, the story of young Hiroshima bomb victim Sadako Sasaki. JQ caught up with Yumi Tanaka, the festival’s co-founder and executive producer, for this exclusive interview.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Japan and came to the States to attend college. Upon graduation, I landed a job and remained in the country. When I moved to NYC for a job, I also started taking an acting class. I thought it will help me at business meetings when I have to do a presentation. I loved theater since I was a child. My first experience was with the Takarazuka Revue at the age of three with my father. I studied theater, as literature helped me taking these acting classes, and I was recommended to do a stand-up comedy workshop then. That’s how I started doing stand-up comedy while holding a real job. Then, I pursued the entertainment industry. I took serious acting classes from a teacher who had taught many famous comedians like Ray Romano, and the list goes on.
It was 9/11 that changed my life. I wanted to do something more meaningful instead of being onstage at smelly comedy club to make drunks laugh. In 2005, I met a Hiroshima survivor visiting New York for an NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] conference. He told me his life story; how he was hiding as a hibakusha [atomic bomb survivor] for a long time. Then, he said, “Hibakusha are getting older. If we all die, the, there’s no people who carry on to tell our stories.” That was the moment. I thought I could use my knowledge and experiences with theater to tell their story.
In 2006, I met Jonathan Fluck, who used to run children’s theater for over 20 years. He had just produced a poetry performance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A mutual friend introduced us. Although Jonathan had never been to both cities, his passion towards nuclear abolition was in sync. So we started the New York Peace Film Festival in 2007, and we’ve held one every year except 2009 due to the bad economy.
Photos of the earthquake and tsunami
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Photos that capture a lot of what’s been going on: http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/03/earthquake-in-japan/100022/
Watch NHK earthquake/tsunami coverate streaming live online via CNN
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Just found that you can watch NHK online live via CNN at this link: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream3&hpt=T1
Fukushima JET’s earthquake video
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Former JETAA DC President Michelle Spezzacatena shared the below link to earthquake footage in Fukushima from a JET friend who is living in Koriyama City, about 100km from the epicenter of the earthquake apparently.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-569437
Japan Tsunami
Uncategorized Comments Off on Japan Tsunami
I just woke up and am seeing news and footage of the tsunami in Japan, apparently centered in Sendai. I’m paying attention to Facebook updates by other JET alum friends.
Hoping everyone is ok. Please feel free to post comments, updates or other useful information here to the extent it’s helpful.
There’s already a Google Person Finder for the Japan 2011 Earthquake posted here: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
Here’s the latest Google News search for “Japan tsunami”: http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=japan+tsunami
Additional info that may be helpful:
Google crisis responses in English
http://www.google.co.jp/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html
For foreigners in Japan- News on the quake on NHK Radio 963,
in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French
10 tips for earthquake safety
http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/lfe/bou_topic/jisin/point10eng.htm
Job: Two part-time positions with The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, (NYC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Two part-time positions with The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, (NYC)
via The Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for either of these positions, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, the preeminent literary arts nonprofit dedicated to excellent literature of Asian American descent, is looking for two energetic individuals looking to make their mark on the literary culture of New York. Our ideal applicants are entrepreneurial self-starters capable of creating and implementing plans in an unstructured environment.
We are hiring for two positions: a Development Associate to fundraise for our socially progressive programs and a Program Director to help us put together our quirky yet curated literary events series.
Part-Time Development Associate:
This position will consist of developing new earned income initiatives and contribution tracking systems with the Executive Director. Previous development experience preferred. Click the following link for more details: Development Associate
Part-Time Program Director:
This position is ideal for a highly ambitious, organized individual who would like to build curatorial experience in a collegial, socially progressive arts center. Click the following link for more details: Program Director
Job: Sales Representative at Japanese NPO – Needed ASAP! (NY)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Sales Representative at Japanese NPO – Needed ASAP! (NY)
via Pasona. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Sales Representative at Japanese NPO – Needed ASAP! (NY)
Job Details:
Japanese NPO in NY is looking for Sales Representative. ASAP!
Promote Investment to Japan :
Search companies in the designated area who’re interested in making investment to starting business in Japan and support such companies to establish their subsidiaries in Japan .
Target industries: Retails, Service industries. (Non-Japanese Companies)
Business Travel: About once a month.
Qualifications:
How to apply:
If you are interested in this position, please contact at mtakemura@pasona.com.
