JETAA British Columbia Newsletter – September 2012
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The latest issue of the JETAABC Newsletter is now available. In this “Food Issue”, they talk about making Chicken Namban, preparing bentos for lunch in a reasonable amount of time, fermenting your own natto, eating locally-produced food, checking out various izakaya restaurants in Vancouver, and much more!
- PDF (25Mb): http://www.jetaabc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/NewsletterV17N2.pdf
- Online viewer version on Issuu.com at http://issuu.com/jetaabc/docs/newsletterv17n2
JET Author Beat: Current Okinawa JET debuts with new book “Samurai Awakening”
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Benjamin Martin is a fifth-year JET ALT in Okinawa Prefecture. He spent three years on Kitadaito Island, a place of 12 sq km and 550 people before moving across the prefecture to another island called Kumejima. His debut novel Samurai Awakening is out now on online retailers and hits bookstores October 10, 2012. Benjamin competes in Okinawan Sumo, is co-host of FM Kumejima’s weekly Haisai English radio program, writes the blog More Things Japanese and serves as an occasional plaything for elementary school students.
About Samurai Awakening and Benjamin Martin
Samurai Awakening is a Young Adult fantasy that takes place in Japan. I began writing it as a way to bring aspects of Japanese culture to young westernersas a compliment to what we do on JET. Overall, it’s a fun read with aspects of Japanese mythology derived from The Kojiki and a healthy dose of real Japan as seen during my time teaching kindergarten through junior high. Here’s the official description:
Benjamin Martin (Okinawa-ken), author of Samurai Awakening
David Matthews is having a particularly bad day, after an especially bad month. His first weeks as an exchange student in Japan have left him homesick and misunderstood by nearly everyone around him, even his host family! Beaten down by a month of loneliness and bullies at school, a fateful invitation to the local Shinto shrine sends David on a path no foreigner has experienced before.
After awakening with a newfound ability to speak Japanese, David learns the members of the Matsumoto family are far more than just traditional sword smiths. They are the keepers of ancient secrets, and a task set upon them by the first Emperor- to train new Jitsugen Samurai, protectors of Japan.
When more strange things begin happening to David, he discovers his future is tied to a Japanese god within him, and that to be a Jitsugen Samurai holds consequences he may not survive. With his new family, friends, and a reluctant ally, David must fight against dangers far closer than any of them realize. As students disappear, David must overcome his past, and accept a new and uncertain future in time to stop the lurking darkness threatening Japan.Why Write?
I started writing as a way to share my experience on JET. My photography and writing skills have grown in tandem since I began my blog More Things Japanese in 2010. I had read Sir Basil Hall Chamberlain’s Things Japanese at the University of Arizona, and wanted to recreate it for today. It became a way to share the unique aspects of Japan I see every day with the world.
The two projects complement each other. The blog lets me focus on non-fiction without having to worry about huge amounts of research. I can simply share what I see, while my novels provide a chance to explore the question, “What if The Kojiki is more than mythology?”
JET has been an amazing experience, and writing gives me a chance to give back and continue to promote the ideals of cultural exchange. I left the US for Japan with a degree in Business and an interest in Japan. Now I have found just how amazing this country can be, and learned a lot about myself I had not known before.
Join the Awakening.
Enter to win a free copy of Samurai Awakening. http://morethingsjapanese.com/samurai-awakening-is-here/ Contest ends 10/10/2012. Alternately you can support my blog and novel by purchasing a copy from your favorite bookstore or online vendor. Thank you!
JET Alum Author Beat: Nicholas Klar’s “My Mother is a Tractor” now free on Kindle for a limited time
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JET alum Nicholas Klar’s (Niigata-ken, Omi-machi (now Itoigawa-shi), 1995-97) My Mother is a Tractor: A Life in Rural Japan, originally published in 2006, is now available for free on Kindle for the next couple days. Click here for more details.
Here’s some more info about the book:
Less than six months after chucking in his management job to take up teaching Nicholas Klar finds himself on the JET Program and a plane to Japan – ending up as an ALT teaching English in Omi (now Itoigawa City) in the far reaches of rural Niigata prefecture.
Never one to be taken too seriously he spends two years far beyond the beaten tourist path in often carousing encounters with Elvis impersonators, love hotels, toilets, train schedules, cults, hostess girls, freezing weather, the local garbage-man and postal workers, plus the recording of a bizarre incident where a cow apparently falls out of the sky.
Combining humour, wonder and a good deal of eclectic research the author veritably crams his pages chock-full of tales of culture shock, humorous anecdotes and insights, reflections upon his own life and cultural baggage, strange facts, plus cultural incongruities and marvels. He inevitably falls in with a motley crew of acquaintances along the way and revealed are many of the personalities he encounters – both Japanese and foreigners.
My Mother is a Tractor is rollicking, fact-filled ride through the Land of the Rising Sun that will both amuse and inform.
Job: Regulatory Affairs Specialist (Japanese language) (Bloomington, IN)
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Thanks to former JETAA Minnesota officer Errol Packard for sharing this JET-relevant job listing.
Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Posted by: Cook Medical
Type: Full-time
Location: Bloomington, IN
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Job Description:
The Regulatory Affairs Specialist responsibilities are narrowly focused to a specific country and/or region in which the Specialist has proficient language skills (reading/writing/speaking). The Regulatory Specialist helps develop regulatory strategies, obtain and maintain approval, and serve as a communication liaison between the Cook manufacturer and the Cook International Local Office and/or Cook Distributor. Read More
Job: Japanese Chamber of Commerce: Administrative Coordinator (NY)
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Thanks to Heather Tomoyasu (Ibaraki-ken, 2004-06), who currently works for the JCCIC, for sharing this opening. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Administrative Coordinator
Posted by: Japanese Chamber of Commerce
Type: PT/FT Contract Position
Location: New York, NY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (JCCI) is seeking a qualified candidate for the part-time position of Administrative Coordinator from October through mid-December, switching to full-time from mid-December through March. There is a possibly that this position will surpass 5-months or lead to regular full-time employment. Successful candidates must be professional, service-oriented and able to handle a variety of duties. Experience working in Japan or at a Japanese company is a must, as are native-level English fluency and computer proficiency. Candidates with a business background are strongly preferred. Japanese language ability is a plus, but not required. Read More
JETAA DC Summer 2012 Newsletter
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The JETAA DC Summer 2012 Newsletter has just been published. Here’s the link: http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/7247642/324117872/name/JETAADC+Summer+Newsletter.pdf
Here’s a note from JETAA DC Newsletter Editor Sarah Howe:
Hi everyone,
I’m Sarah Howe, your new JETAADC newsletter chairperson. A lot of JET alums have been busy this summer, and you can read all about it in the attached summer newsletter! If you’re doing something Japan-related that you’d like people to know about, please consider submitting an article to the fall newsletter. We’d love to read your stories!
Sarah
Job: Postings from Idealist.org 9.18.12
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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. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Senior Desktop Support Technician
Posted by: Asia Society
Type: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: Competitive
Application Deadline: Not Specified
Asia Society is seeking a Senior Desktop Support Technician responsible for all aspects of the operations relating to installed and anticipated computer hardware, networked systems and data communications technologies. College degree and 4-5 years related work experience preferred. Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge and SQL a plus. A+ Certification and/or Microsoft Certification (MCP) required.
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/tF3TxdJxKj74/
Gallery Officer
Posted by: Japan Society
Type: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: DOE
Application Deadline: Not Specified
The Japan Society is seeking a Gallery Officer to assist the Gallery Director in organizing exhibitions, with current and new gallery initiatives, and liaise for touring exhibitions and exhibitions co-organized with other institutions. Bachelors degree and a minimum of 3 to 5 years of related administrative experience in art and patron relations, required.
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/kcTsk4d4M2Jd/
Hiroshima JET’s “The Wide Island View” is back in action
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From The Wide Island View, the JET Program Webzine of Hiroshima Prefecture:
Greetings!
Hello everyone and welcome to the first Wide Island View email for 2012!
After a long hiatus, WIV is back in action! We have an enthusiastic new team and we are all very excited about bringing you lots of interesting stories over the year. Apologies if today’s email seems a little large – we promise to update you more regularly in the future!
How are the new jobs going? How are you coping with the summer heat? In the interest of helping you feel better in the intensity of Japanese summer, we have had a summer focus on many of our articles this August.
First up, for those of you that struggle to eat in this heat, or are not sure what you can eat in this new country full of kanji, Emily has written you an article on eating, Eating to Keep Cool and Energized During Japanese Summer (or, Centuries of Advice on How Not to Become a Melted Slug). Thanks to Emily’s article I have discovered tasty tofu soumen. I hope you discover something new too!
Should you want to escape the heat, check out Charly’s article on Jinseki-kougen. This is the first in an inaka series that will focus on parts of the prefectures that are off the tourist trail. If escaping to the cool mountains sounds like something you would enjoy, readWelcome to Jinseki-kougen. Or just let the pictures persuade you.
If Jinseki is too far away, or you have checked out Jinseki and can’t wait for some more inaka, try Akiota-cho for size. Before she left, Harriet kindly spilled all the secrets Read More
Crash Japan: Million Cranes for Japan
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Via Crash Japan, Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97):
We at CRASH Japan are launching an exciting international campaign: “Million Cranes for Japan“. The “Million Cranes for Japan” Campaign invites you to volunteer your time by participating with others in the making of origami cranes. Then give the cranes to family and friends for a donation, 100 yen or 1 dollar each, and give the money to CRASH to support the vision.
Is there still a need to help Japan?
Soon after the great earthquake on March 11, 2011, CRASH Japan began working to deliver aid and bring hope to survivors in Tohoku. Thanks to an amazing response from Christians in Japan and around the world, CRASH planted five bases in Tohoku and has mobilized almost three thousand volunteers since the disaster! God has used thousands of people like you to bless Japan.
Yet today many survivors are still alone, living in fear and without hope. We have the opportunity to continue to make a huge impact in Tohoku by sending volunteers — Christian volunteers who tend to emotional and spiritual needs by bringing the love of Jesus Christ. Volunteer activities include performing concerts, serving food, playing with children, cleaning, and giving hand massages. Volunteers often have opportunities to share the gospel with survivors. Read More
Nagasaki JET alumni meet Nagasaki Governor and Assembly members together with Nagasaki Group in New York
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Via the Japan Local Government Center blog:
(Click link above to see photos.)
In early September, Four Nagasaki JET alumni participated in an exchange meeting with a delegation from Nagasaki Prefecture (led by the incumbent Governor Nakamura) and the Nagasaki Association in New York (New York Batten-kai).
In the first part, Nagasaki residents in New York and the alumni spoke of their ideas and opinions about how to revitalize Nagasaki Prefecture. The alumni proposed the promotion of eco-tourism, making the most of the newly introduced Shinkansen, etc. The Governor, assembly members including the Assembly Speaker Mr. Watanabe and other prefecture officials listened to them earnestly.
After that, they happily spoke with each other about their memories of JET life in Nagasaki and so on.
September 17th, 2012
Counselor / Deputy Executive Director, Hotaka Kawasaki
JETAA: Rocky Mountain JETs Come Out For The Kids
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Via the Japan Local Government Center blog:
The Rocky Mountain JETAA chapter has been busy with two recent events helping out their various Colorado sister cities.
Fujiyoshida, in Yamanashi-ken, and Colorado Springs just celebrated their 50th anniversary in early August, so RMJETAA mobilized their Colorado Springs and Denver JET alumni to participate in the festivities in Colorado Springs and be available to assist with translating, interpreting, and other duties for the 70 visitors from Japan. One main place they helped out was the family event held at America the Beautiful Park on August 4th. Because many JET alumni from Colorado Springs were placed in Fujiyoshida as ALTs and CIRs, the celebration was a great chance for friends and acquaintances on both sides to get together again and reminisce about old times spent together in Japan. As part of the celebration, Mayor Horiuchi of Fujiyoshida and the students presented a check to Colorado Springs for $11,415, raised by the citizens of Fujiyoshida to help their sister city recover from the recent devastating wildfires there. Although Fujiyoshida now directly contracts with Colorado Springs for private CIRs it was wonderful that they could still draw on the resources of their former ties to the JET Program.
Click JLGC link for the full blog post in English.
クリックJLGC リンク 日本語 ブログ.
Job: Translator/Interpreter -CSI (Georgetown, KY)
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Thanks to JETAA Bluegrass Subchapter Rep Roy Harrison, who also works for CSI (a JET alum-owned company), for sharing this job listing. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***
Position: Japanese-English Translator/Interpreter
Posted by: CSI
Type: Workshop
Location: Georgetown, KY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
We’re looking for a Japanese-English translator/interpreter to join our growing team. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that high-quality translations and interpretations in a deadline-driven environment are delivered to our customers. Your work within our team will breakdown large projects and juggle multiple tasks with competing priorities. Our ideal candidate is familiar with MS-Office and Trados software, flexibly adapts to stressful situations, and is experienced in translating technical material.
If this is you, send your resume to info@csi-ky.com. EEO, competitive benefits package.
See this JETwit article for more info about CSI.
Justin’s Japan: Shinichi Nishimiya, Former Japanese Consul-General in New York, Dies in Tokyo
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File photo of Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Shinichi Nishimiya, the newly appointed Japanese ambassador to China, died today (Sept. 16) at a Tokyo hospital, government sources said. The incoming envoy previously served as the Consul-General of Japan in New York from March 2009 to the end of 2010, becoming Japan’s deputy foreign minister in charge of economic affairs prior to his new appointment.
Nishimiya, 60, collapsed near his home in Tokyo and was hospitalized on Thursday, only two days after becoming the top envoy to China. The cause of his death has yet to be known. According to Reuters, doctors were looking into the cause of death, but no other details were available. Police have ruled out the possibility of foul play.
Born in 1952, Nishimiya studied at the University of Tokyo and joined the foreign service of Japan in 1976. After working at the Embassies in Washington, D.C., Moscow and London, he served as the director of policy coordination division, Foreign Policy Bureau and as deputy director-general, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, both in Tokyo. From 2005 to 2006, he served as a as consul at the Japanese embassy in Beijing.
In his new role, Nishimiya would return to Beijing to replace Uichiro Niwa, his predecessor from the private sector, amid deterioration in bilateral ties sparked by Japan’s nationalization of the Senkaku Islands.
For the complete story, click here.
JQ Magazine: Inside the JETAA New York Book Club
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The JETAA New York Book Club with August’s selection, “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet” by David Mitchell.
By Greg Anderson, (Fukuoka-ken, 1990-92) for JQ magazine. Greg is part of the fourth class of the JET Program, which began in 1987. He is currently employed as an auditor with the U.S. Treasury Department and is a new member of the JETAA New York Book Club.
Gone are the amazing, fascinating, fast-paced days of life in Japan filled with culture shock. As JET alums, most of us are employed in vocations that have no connection to Nippon at all. Ask yourself this question: After you have successfully completed another week or day at work, what do you have to look forward to? If you’re job hunting, then you have experienced another week of success/failure, but next week holds new opportunities. If you have children, you can look forward to screaming demanding creatures that we all love but sometimes drive us crazy. If you don’t have children, you may have an annoying spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend who has never been to Japan, has no interest in Japan, and wishes that you would get over your preoccupation with it and grow up. Once a JET, always a JET!
The JET experience transforms all who participate in the program; you will never be the same again. What can you do when you miss the connection to Japan? Besides going to Sapporo Ramen (located on 152 West 49th Street), you can attend a JET book club meeting. Every other month, JET alumni and others interested in Japan get together to discuss a Japan-related book over a nice relaxing glass of wine, soda, or water (but feel free to bring your choice of beverage). It does not end there! The hors d’oeuvres provided are smashing, and at a mere two to three dollars are a better bargain than McDonald’s. Participants also have the option of bringing goodies to supplement the menu, and you never know what surprises to expect.
The book club was started about three years ago, by two enterprising JET alums, Jessica Langbein and Michael Glazer, who suggested that JETAANY should have a book club. In fact, when the club first started, the meetings were held at the home of another JET, Katrina Barnas. The genesis of the book club was neither Japan nor the JET Program, but began as a college major. Jessica was a Japanese literature major in college and as a JET alumna was seeking some literature that would pique her interest. It was suggested to her that she speak to fellow alumnus Michael, and over a cup of coffee the JETAANY Book Club was born. Facebook was used to recruit new members.
Job: JETAA Chicago Career Development Workshop (Sat, Nov 10)
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Via JETAA Chicago. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Career Development
Posted by: JETAA Chicago
Type: Workshop
Location: Chicago, IL
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
On Saturday, November 10, JETAA Chicago will host a Career Development Workshop. This event will be held at the Japan Information Center (737 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611), starting at 2:30 PM. We are lining up speakers now to talk about a range of topics, including: resume writing and explaining the value of the JET experience; job search and networking; and how to successfully interview.
The workshop will conclude with a wine & cheese networking session. More details to be announced soon. Questions? Contact Dan Martin at social@jetaachicago.com.
