Job: Japanese Language Instructor (DC) 03.17.12
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Via JETAA-DC Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97).
____________________________________________________________
Position: Japanese Language Instructor
Posted by: Global Language Translation, Inc.
Type: Full-time
Location: Arlington, VA
Salary: NA
Start date: NA
Contact Info: patricia@gltcenter. com
Responsibilities:
• Provide basic, intermediate and advanced language instruction to U.S. government and other personnel. Assist with evaluation of students and provide academic counseling. About half the time will be spent in classroom instruction and other half preparing for class and related duties. Class size is small, 1 — 8 students at the same level.
• Full time (40 hours/week). Monday through Friday, 7:15 AM — 4:00 PM.
• Required Experience: Native speaker of the target language. Educated in target language through secondary school. Read More
Huffington Post article by Rikuzentakata JET alum Sarah Ruddy
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Former Rikuzentakata JET Sarah Ruddy, a web producer for New York Magazine, was recently by Huffington Post to write an article in connection with the one-year anniversary of the 3/11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. (On a side note, I noticed that Sarah mentions another JET alum in the article, author/humor writer Will Ferguson who wrote Hitching Rides With Buddha among other books.)
View from where Sarah's desk used to be in the Board of Education in Rikuzentakata
Here’s the article:
After The Tohoku Earthquake: ‘I Gave Up My Family For Dead’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-ruddy/after-the-tohoku-earthqua_b_1335092.html#s770689
Here’s an excerpt:
My decision to go back was not about whether I should but how soon I could. I was determined to do whatever I could to help. I was often asked if I was afraid of another earthquake and tsunami occurring or how the radiation would effect me. There are plenty of dangers in the world that we can’t predict or prevent. They shouldn’t stop us from experiencing life.
I ended up going last November, seven months after the tsunami hit. I was welcomed by friends and generously offered a place to stay. I heard their stories of that day and the seven months that followed. The improvements made in that time were incredible.
I volunteered in Rikuzentakata and Ofunato, the city immediately north, and returned to my former schools to help out with classes. The people I volunteered with were from all over Japan, including students who were on break, retired couples who had free time and curious people who wondered how anyone could have survived. I spent long hours digging through fields of sediment and debris.
International Educator magazine article remembers Monty and Taylor
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Thanks to JETAA Music City’s Terry Vo (Kumamoto-ken, 2007-09) and JETAA Northern California’s Peter Weber (Saitama-ken, 2004-07) (both of whom work as JET Coordinators at their local Consulates) for sharing this excellent International Educator magazine article (“Overcoming Chaos“)about the various ways the Tohoku disaster affected a variety of international education programs, including the JET Program. The writer does a nice job of capturing the spirit and essence of Monty Dickson and Taylor Anderson towards the end of the article, and what we lost when we lost them.
Here’s the link to the article (PDF): http://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/ie_marapr12_japan.pdf
Notably, the article also quotes JET alum Kate Maruyama who is the Japan programs manager for CET Academic Programs in Washington, D.C. And it indicates that Ashley Mar, the UC Santa Barbara biology student who happened to be studying abroad at Tohoku Biology University on 3/11 and was required to return to the U.S. despite her desire to stay, is now applying for the JET Program.
Job:Postings from Idealist.org 3.15.12
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Via Idealist.org. Posted by Geneva Marie (Niigata-ken 2008-09) Geneva is a contributor to both JETwit and JETAANY. Geneva is on a continuous (epic) search for Japanese -related jobs in the United States.
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Summer Quest Japanese Instructors Needed
Posted by: Harlem Education Activities Fund
Type: Part-time/Contract
Location: New York City, NY
Salary: Competitive
Start date: Training – May/June 2012, Start/End date: July 9th – August 10th, 2012
Summer Quest is seeking Japanese instructors for a summer Japanese language immersion program. Minimum 3 years teaching experience. B.A. in Education, Japanese or related field (M.A. preferred).
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/hdDWSwd89XNp/
Homestay Manager
Posted by: AYUSA International
Type: Temporary/Contract
Location: San Francisco, CA
Salary: DOE
Start date: Contract position is February 15 to August 31
AYUSA International is seeking a weekend Homestay Manager to coordinate homestay programs for Japanese high school students attending the University of California, Berkeley. Position also requires the supervising of a homestay coordinator staff. No previous experience required.
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/SSxKCwk6NMfP/
Homestay Coordinator
Posted by: AYUSA International
Type: Temporary/Contract
Location: San Francisco, CA
Salary: DOE
Start date: Contract position is February 15 to August 31
AYUSA International is seeking individuals to recruit host families for Japanese exchange students. No previous experience required.
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/bzpPxk9xWKMD/
Jobs: Writer Translator and Web Designer (London, UK) 03.15.12
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Thanks to Jet Alumn Dipika Soni for forwarding these two JET relevant openings in the UK.
Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97).
____________________________________________________________
Position: Writer/ Translator
Posted by: Cross Media
Type: Part-time (possible full-time)
Location: London, UK
Salary: Provided on application
Start date: NA
Contact Info:
Responsibilities:
– To translate Japanese to English texts for internal use and for external use on websites/print
media
– To write original content for external use on websites/print media
– To proofread and edit English documents for internal and external use
– To plan and manage newsletter, website and social media content
We are initially offering this as a part time but a full time position may be offered to the right person.
Please send your CV, two samples of writing, and two samples of Japanese to English translation (including the original text), as well as any visa details if relevant to Ms. Mary Moreton mary@eat-japan.com with Writer/Translator in the title. Read More
Justin’s Japan: Interview with Jin Akanishi on ‘Japonicana’ and His American Tour
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"The word ‘Japonicana’ comes from Japan, America and Spain. The ‘a’ sound is for the females, so my album is a girl. There’s more than one genre—dance, pop, hip-hop, and R&B. It’s like my baby, because I created it from scratch." (Courtesy of PLAN C Agency)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Visit his Examiner.com page here for related stories.
In his native Japan, Jin Akanishi is a superstar. Since his early teens, he’s achieved fame as a pop idol, singer-songwriter (with the groups KAT-TUN and LANDS), actor, and radio host. After launching a successful American tour in 2010 to sold out (and screaming) crowds, Jin is back in the U.S. supporting his hotly anticipated English-language debut album, Japonicana. Released earlier this month, the disc features production by Grammy Award-nominated trio the Stereotypes (Far East Movement, Ne-Yo) and platinum hit maker Static Revenger (Madonna, Shakira).
Jin takes Manhattan at New York’s Best Buy Theater tonight (March 15) and hits San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom on March 17. In this exclusive interview, I spoke with the 27-year-old about the tour, the making of the album, his love for hip-hop, and hanging out with Justin Bieber.
How would you describe the new album?
The word “Japonicana” comes from Japan, America and Spain. The “a” sound is for the females, so my album is a girl. There’s more than one genre—dance, pop, hip-hop, and R&B. It’s like my baby, because I created it from scratch.
How has the tour been going?
It’s really great. The crowds are great, good energy, dancers, and a lot of drinks (laughs).
What can fans expect at the shows this time? What’s different?
It’s a totally different concert. Everything’s different.
Is there a highlight you can tell us about?
Crazy lights and dancing. All the songs are from Japonicana.
You mentioned that the title represents all the places that influence you—Japan, America and Spain. How have they influenced you?
I’m Japanese, obviously. And America, my mom loves American music and used to listen to it when I was little. I kind of grew up with it. My best friend’s mom is Spanish, and she taught me a lot about the culture. So that’s how I got influenced.
For the complete story, click here.
March Issue of “AJET Connect”
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Check out this month’s edition of AJET Connect! The current edition features stories about what JETs have been doing to make a difference since the 3.11 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, travel experiences of various JETs and this month’s Life After JET section focuses on a JET alum from California, Sylbeth Kennedy, who joined the US Foreign Service.
Visit the AJET website or view/ download the pdf HERE.
Via the JNY-Japanese New Yorker Facebook group.
Return on JET-vestment: Fukushima JET alums help bring Fukushima youth taiko group to DC for Cherry Blossom Festival
Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on Return on JET-vestment: Fukushima JET alums help bring Fukushima youth taiko group to DC for Cherry Blossom Festival
The Fukushima Taiko Drummers meet U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John V. Roos, before they head to D.C. in April.
****************
JETAA DC members Michelle Spezzacatena (Fukushima-ken, Kawamata-cho, 2002-05) and Darryl Wharton-Rigby (Fukushima-ken, Kawamata-cho, 2005-07) were both teachers in the town of Kawamata in Fukushima Prefecture. Michelle was there from 2002-2005 and overlapped one week with Darryl, who was there from 2005-2007. Thanks to the magic of Facebook they were able to keep in contact throughout the years. After the earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster, Darryl and Michelle were talking about how they could help their Japanese hometown. The idea of bringing the taiko group to DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival was born out of those discussions. (Editor’s note: In addition to Michelle’s work on this project, she also serves on the JETAA USA Fund Committee and previously served as JETAA DC President.)
In Michelle’s words: “We brought the idea to the Japan America Society in DC who immediately fell in love with it too. Thanks to the generous financial support of the US Japan council, the project was fully funded. We have been working with Anna Cable (USJC), Ambassador Malott (JASW), JET alum Marc Hitzig (JASW), Shigeko Bork (former Kawamata resident now living in DC) and Masako Mori (Diet member from Fukushima) on the project. Darryl and I are the co-coordinators and have been doing most of the heavy lifting. We are also officially part of the TOMODACHI Initiative.”
Fukushima JET alums Michelle Spezzacatena (2002-05) and Darryl Wharton-Rigby (2005-07)
“The students will be here from April 7-17 and they have a jam packed schedule. We will be doing a homestay program, they will be performing at numerous locations including the National Cherry Blossom Parade/Sakura Matsuri/Kennedy Center, we will be sightseeing and hopefully we’ll be doing a meet and greet with the new Orioles player, Wada-san and a Orioles/Yankees game day performance at Orioles Park. Darryl and I are excited to be with them the entire time they’ll be in the US.”
Michelle adds: “NHK Japan is also working on a piece on Darryl and I in the context of what JETs are doing to help Japan after the earthquake. They have been following us around to different events and will be for another two weeks. The piece will run on NHK Japan’s News9 broadcase during the first week of April when the anchor is doing the show live from DC. They will also try to do an English version to show on NHK World.”
*********
Below is a press release about the taiko group’s upcoming performance at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michelle Spezzacatena- michellespezzacatena@gmail.com
STUDENT TAIKO GROUP FROM FUKUSHIMA INVITED TO NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
JETAA Singapore announces new board
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Via the JETAA Singapore website:
JETAA SG Election Committee 2012 is pleased to present to you JETAA SG 2012-2013 new board members who will officialy take over from the the current board with effect from 1 April 2012! Thank you to all the voters for your support!
Tohoku tourism promotion video
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Thanks to JETAA Sydney’s Sharon Van Etten for sharing this video via JETAA Sydney’s Facebook group, titled “Colorful Emotions” (sassuga Japanese marketing style), put out as part of a Tohoku tourism promotional campaign:
(I would’ve posted the video, but they disabled the embed code for some reason.)
JET alum journalist Graham Shelby’s latest article on Fukushima 03.11.12
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Graham Shelby (Fukushima-ken, Ishikawa-shi, 1994-97) has published a thoughtful piece on Fukushima, this one on Kentucky news site, Kentucky.com, in addition to previous radio and written pieces he has done for NPR and other news outlets.
“Quake, tsunami a year ago refreshed Kentuckian’s memories of time in Japan”
By Graham Shelby – contributing write
Posted: 12:00 AM on March 11, 2012
Twenty-three years old and eager to get out of my hometown, I left Lexington for Japan. In the summer of 1994, I took a job teaching English in Ishikawa, a small town surrounded by rice fields and forested hills in Fukushima Prefecture, about 100 miles north of Tokyo.
Click here to read the full article: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/11/2104978/quake-tsunami-a-year-ago-refreshed.html#storylink=misearch
The MUD Project: Update from Colin Rennie 03.13.12
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An update from The MUD Project, an ongoing Tohoku relief effort organized by JET alum Colin Rennie (CIR Yamagata-ken, 2007-10). Click here to see previous updates by Colin on YouTube:
March 13, 2012
March 11, 2012
Justin’s Japan: New York Marches Into Spring with Gagaku, Kabuki Masters
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Nishizaki Emino, left, and Bando Kotoji, right, perform at Japan Society's Kabuki Dance March 29-31. (Toshio Kiyofuji)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Visit his Japanese culture page on Examiner.com here for related stories.
As winter gives way to spring, New York will host special performances of the traditional Japanese performing arts of gagaku and kabuki for a modern audience.
At Highline Ballroom on March 28 is Hideki Togi with Iwao Furusawa. Known as the flame keeper of gagaku (ancient Japanese court music), Togi embodies a proud 1,400-year legacy. Furusawa is a multi-award-winning violinist who has collaborated with Togi for over 15 years, drawing 20,000 people every year in their joint annual national tour. The music drawn from different streams of tradition—Togi from the East and Furusawa from the West—transcends the boundaries of music and art.
As part of its Sakura — Spring Renews, Beauty Blooms festivities (which mark the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees from the Land of the Rising Sun to New York and Washington), Japan Society will host three nights of Kabuki Dance from March 29-31. Led by master dancer Bando Kotoji and a dozen other performers to the accompaniment of live music, visitors will be treated to the elegant and refined art form of nihon buyo, centuries-old Japanese dance.
Using traditional kabuki dance techniques while incorporating the individual expression associated with Western “high-art,” nihon buyo performers have built a repertoire that now consists of popular sections from famous kabuki plays as well as pieces inspired by classical noh plays and old folk tales. They have also integrated musical elements from kabuki and bunraku such as shamisen and storytelling chanters.
Kameoka Diaries #7 by Lars Martinson
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Lars Martinson (Fukuoka-ken 2003-2006), author of the graphic novels Tonoharu: Part Two andTonoharu: Part 1, has just just published the latest edition of his new cartoon series called“Kameoka Diaries“ about his return to teaching English, this time in Kameoka, Kyoto.
Click here to read the Kameoka Diaries #7.
http://larsmartinson.com/kameoka-diaries-7/
