Jobs: Grant Writers and Managers – Asia Society (NY)
Jobs 
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Via The Foundation Center. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97).
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Job Positions: Grants Writers and Managers: Arts & Culture (2 openings)
Posted by: Asia Society
Position: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml?id=290300011
Job Description:
Asia Society, a prestigious, global, educational and cultural non-profit seeks 2 Grants Writers and Managers: Arts & Culture (Code FY 1230) and Policy & Education (Code 1231).
They will be integral members of the Asia Society’s External Affairs Department and work with the Director of Institutional Relations & Program Support on all fundraising activities including grants from foundations and government agencies, in the areas of arts and culture and of Asia Society’s policy institute and education, respectively.
Responsibilities:
– Work closely with the Director to collaborate with the Society’s program staff in Cultural Programs (1230) or Business and Policy, and Education (1231) to research and understand the financial needs of the
institution and of individual programs; communicate grant opportunities and develop ideas for grant
submissions;
– Work as assigned on proposals in additional areas, when necessary.
– Write and prepare proposals, budgets and applications for support from foundations and government
agencies;
– Research and identify new foundation and government prospects to plan strategies to approach them; Read More
Justin’s Japan: Interview with Sake Evangelist/JET Alum John Gauntner
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“It was not one big thing but rather a million coincidences that led me to apply for the JET Program. I never, ever imagined I would stay here very long, much less 24 years (and counting)!” (Courtesy of John Gauntner)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Known as the Sake Guy or the Sake Evangelist, John Gauntner (Kanagawa-ken, 1988-89) is the world’s leading non-Japanese authority on the nation’s signature beverage, penning numerous books on the subject and touring the world with his popular seminars and speaking engagements.
An Ohio native who currently resides in Kamakura, Gauntner returns to America next week to anchor Rice & Water: The Building Blocks of Premium Sake, this year’s annual sake lecture and tasting at New York’s Japan Society on June 19. The Evangelist will introduce the importance of rice and water in sake brewing, and a special sake tasting reception with more than 30 kinds of premium sake will follow.
It actually was the result of countless coincidences. I did not plan it, really. I just got interested in sake, and after drinking with a friend that worked at the The Japan Times, he asked me to write a piece for them. That led to a column, which led to a book, which led to another. I got involved in the industry so I could study more and that led to my involvement in export and education. I didn’t really choose this path; it chose me.
What attracted you to Japan originally, and how did you get the opportunity to first go there?
Again, I have to say that it was not one big thing but rather a million coincidences that led me to apply for the JET Program. I never, ever imagined I would stay here very long, much less 24 years (and counting)!
As a participant in the early days of the JET Program, what things about Japan and its people do you feel have changed for the better since then?
I was in Kanagawa and participated in JET for two years, ’88 and ’89. But I have been here the whole time, and the changes have taken place so gradually it is hard for me to see them. Certainly, though, a familiarity with people from other countries has changed—for the better!
For the complete story, click here.
Justin’s Japan: Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa Salute 25 Years of Metal Gear at Uniqlo NYC
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Hideo Kojima, director of the Metal Gear video game series, at Uniqlo 34th Street store in Manhattan, June 9, 2012. (Justin Tedaldi)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Japanese retail clothing giant Uniqlo is commemorating a quarter century of Metal Gear—the classic Konami stealth video game series—with a new line of 10 exclusive UT Metal Gear 25th Anniversary T-shirts. On June 8 and 9, series director and game designer Hideo Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa made a special appearance at two off Uniqlo’s New York stores with for a special autograph session to commemorate a quarter century of Solid Snake, Big Boss and the eponymous bipedal tank that started it all.
“There were over 2,000 people who attended the UNIQLO Metal Gear event at both Fifth Avenue and 34th Street,” according to Mary Lawton, a spokesperson for Uniqlo. “This is our second event with Metal Gear and we are always thrilled at the level of support we receive from the Konami team as well as the loyal fans of Metal Gear.”
Kojima has made previous appearances at Uniqlo New York’s Soho flagship store in 2008 and 2010.
Fans attending the event who made a $30 store purchase were allowed to have one game-related item signed by Kojima and Shinkawa. Most of the items were related to the Metal Gear Solid series, which began in 1998 on the Sony PlayStation console. (The original Metal Gear was released in the U.S. a decade earlier for the Nintendo Entertainment System.) Most of the fans in attendance were American, attributing to the international influence and success of the Japanese-created game series.
For the complete story, click here.
JapanLocal: Tottori JET Anthony Lieven’s latest Misasa video – June 2012
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Tottori JET Anthony Lieven has been creating new videos each month as part of a project that introduces his JET town of Misasa to the world. With Anthony’s permission, here is his latest video:
“Hello everyone ! Here is my new video ! For this third monthly video (June) I filmed friends while they where enjoying Misasa ! We had a lot of fun !”
http://vimeo.com/43906925
Job: Postings from Idealist.org 6.11.12
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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. Hire me! :-)
International Program Coordinator
Posted by: Northwest Student Exchange
Type: Full-time
Location: Seattle, WA
Salary: DOE
Start Date: ASAP
NSE is seeking a candidate to coordinate NWSE High School Exchange Programs with Latin America, Spain, and France. Experience living, studying and/or working abroad as well as experience working with youth and diverse groups of people, required. 4 year degree preferred.
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/ppc9ZswtbZMD/
Job: Tokyo On-Site Coordinator (temp) – FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
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Thanks to Jet alum Emily Golan for sharing this very JET relevant summer position. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97).
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*** FYI, the deadline is Friday, June 15, 2012 ***
Position: On Site Coordinator
Posted by: Ayusa Study Abroad
Type: Full-time temp.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Salary: 1,200 USD
Overview:
Ayusa Study Abroad, part of Intrax Cultural Exchange, is a premier study abroad organization that has assisted more than 60,000 students from around the world to live and study, in the U.S and overseas. We are currently seeking a responsible, dynamic, dependable self-starter for an On Site Coordinator Position for our high school summer cultural exploration program in Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2012 – August 4, 2012.
The position of the On Site Coordinator directly impacts our participants’ experience and in the larger scope can change lives around the world – a role that offers personal rewards. In this position, the successful candidate will support high school students as they navigate their overseas experience. We are looking for a highly energetic and responsible individual who can perform the following duties for our summer program:
On-site and Pre-Departure Support:
•Assist in program preparations prior to start date, approximately 20 hours
•Escort students on international flights to and from Tokyo, Narita, including airport assistance as
needed
•Participate in pre-departure orientation in the U.S. via webinar
•Conduct arrival orientation in Tokyo in conjunction with our Tokyo staff, focusing on safety,
cultural adjustment, Ayusa support and program rules and regulations
•Provide student support throughout the duration of the program 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
•Be available for regular meetings with students and provide individual support as necessary
including for natural parents
•Facilitate effective communication between students, faculty and on-site staff
•Assist with the mediation of conflicts between students or between students and local on-site staff
if necessary Read More
Students from Taylor and Monty’s high schools to visit the US
Earthquake Tsunami Comments Off on Students from Taylor and Monty’s high schools to visit the US
The below article appeared recently in the US-based Japanese language newspaper Frontline. Thanks to a helpful, bilingual JETwit supporter for sharing this and providing a summary in English:
“It basically says that 1,000 high school kids from 40 schools in the US will visit Japan in three groups from June 10th to the end of July. The group will include students from Taylor and Monty’s alma maters. They will do volunteer work in Tohoku and will visit Ishinomaki and Rikuzentakata (you can see the reference to Taylor, Monty, & JET in the third paragraph). The three main groups will evidently break up into smaller groups of 25 while in Japan and will move around among visits to places like temporary housing and volunteer work sites, and they are planning to visit Fukushima-ken to conduct radiation testing on newly harvested produce (that’s really interesting). They will also visit Kobe to see the recovery there from the Hanshin earthquake.”
★ 米高校生ら1000人、被災地へ 10日から訪日、交流
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東日本大震災からの復興に取り組む日本の姿を自分の目で確かめようと、米国の高校生ら約1000人が10日から７月下旬にかけ、３グループに分かれて訪日する。それぞれ約２週間滞在し、岩手、宮城、福島、茨城４県でのボランティア活動などを通じて被災地の人々と交流を深める。国際交流基金が主催する招待プログラムの一環。2005年の大型ハリケーン「カトリーナ」など、過去に自然災害に見舞われた地域を含む全米の40校が参加者を送り出す。外国青年招致事業（JETプログラム）で訪日中に震災の犠牲となった英語指導助手テイラー・アンダーソンさん＝当時（24）、バージニア州出身＝と、モンゴメリー・ディクソンさん＝同（26）、アラスカ州出身＝の出身校の生徒も訪日し、２人の赴任先だった宮城県石巻市と岩手県陸前高田市を訪れる予定。参加者は25人単位で行動。一部は岩手県久慈市で仮設住宅を訪問し、震災当時や避難生活の話を聞く。宮城県気仙沼市で津波被害を受けた海岸を地元ボランティアとともに清掃したり、福島県天栄村を訪れ収穫した農作物の放射線量を測定したりすることも計画されている。全ての参加者は神戸市にも足を運び、阪神大震災から復興を遂げた街の様子も視察する。（共同）
Press Release: The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) Entrepreneurship Task Force and others Announce a Strategic Partnership to Bring Innovation, Recovery to the Tohoku Region.
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Thanks to JET alum Andrew McCarthy for sharing this information:
For Immediate Release
The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) Entrepreneurship Task Force, SunBridge Global Venture Habitat and Venture Generation, Tokyo Announce a Strategic Partnership to Bring Innovation, Recovery to the Tohoku Region.
The partnership launched at an April 25 event at Stanford University supports entrepreneurs with game-changing ideas for the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Leaders of this new initiative hope to breathe new life into the region by empowering entrepreneurs to rebuild the region in smart and innovative ways that will make it globally competitive. Read More
Job: World Languages Coordinator (Atlanta, GA)
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Thanks to JET alum Jessica Cook (who works for the Consulate in Atlanta) for sharing this JET relevant opening. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97).
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Position: World Languages Coordinator
Posted by: Atlanta Public Schools
Type: Full-time
Location: Atlanta, GA
Salary: N/A
Closing date: 06/13/2012
https://aps.taleo.net/careersection/all_jobs2/jobdetail.ftl?job=216580&src=JB-10120
Overview:
The World Languages Coordinator provides leadership and coordination for planning, implementation, and assessment of curriculum/instructional initiatives related to improvements in the ESOL and Foreign Languages Programs; The coordinator ensures compliance with all State and Federal Laws and State Department of Education Rules and Regulations. The World Languages Coordinator provides leadership and coordination for planning, implementation, and assessment of curriculum/instructional initiatives related to improvements in K-12 Foreign Language Program. This position reports to the Director for Curriculum and Instruction.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Administration and Organization:
- Ensure the implementation of the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards into the ESOL and Foreign Language Programs
- Provide leadership and coordinates the development of a comprehensive K-12 ESOL curriculum including knowledge of WIDA standards and assessments
- Coordinate the selection of instructional materials, supplies, technology, equipment, and textbooks needed to support the implementation of the ESOL curriculum
- Develops and manages a District-level budget and the Title III grant budget
- Plan, organize, supervise, and evaluate all activities and program functions, personnel, and physical resources of the ESOL department
- Direct the multifaceted services, programs, and activities of the ESOL department
- Direct the completion of multiple reports as mandated by the state DOE
- Develop short-term and long-term goals for the ESOL department
- Collaborate with and/or supports schools, other offices, departments, and non-school agencies to accomplish the ESOL department’s mission Read More
WIT Life #204: Enka Sensation Jero
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WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
I never thought I would say this, but last night I was captivated by the strains of enka. However this was not your typical enka, it was this style of Japanese music performed by none other than Pittsburgh-born singer Jero. This 30-year old celebrity in Japan learned enka thanks to his maternal Japanese grandmother. As early as five he began singing ballads to entertain her, and from this young age he had a dream of becoming an enka singer. He has achieved this success in spades, debuting with his hit single 「海雪」 (Umiyuki, or Ocean Snow) four years ago. He went on to create numerous other hits, including an original one dedicated to his mother who raised him on her own.
The event I attended took place at Japan Society and was entitled “Let’s Enka! with Jero.” It began with an interview where Jero shared how his childhood dream had became a reality, including how at one point he contemplated Read More
JapanLocal: Promotional Video for JET alum book “For Fukui’s Sake”
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Below is a promotional video for the book For Fukui’s Sake: Two Year’s In Rural Japan by JET alum Sam Baldwin (Fukui-ken, 2004-06) (who also created the video). The video does a great job of capturing the images and essence Fukui through Sam’s eyes. Read more about Sam in the book review Tim Martin (Fukui-ken, 2006-08) did for JQ magazine.
JapanLocal: Tokyo Moves Video
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Patrick Lee (also known as Pat Leezy) is a current 2nd year JET in Nagasaki-ken who specializes in videography. His videos can be seen on his Youtube Channel. He can be contacted through Facebook and Twitter.
Tokyo is a city of contrasts. Its towering skyscrapers and neon-lit nights suggest a modern metropolis ceaselessly advancing into its future. Yet Japan’s capital visibly prides itself on its rich heritage, preserving various historical landmarks throughout the city. Pat spent a week this past April during cherry blossom week exploring this delicate relationship with his point-and-shoot camera.
JQ Magazine: App Review – Japanese Flash and Rikai Browser
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"The best study materials are ones that are easy to pick up and make a habit of using. It’s also important that they’re easy to use after being neglected for a while. Both Japanese Flash and Rikai Browser pass that test." (Courtesy of Long Weekend LLC)
By Jarrad Skinner (Toyama-ken, 2007-2011) for JQ magazine. Jarrad is a game design student. He’s rediscovering New York by going to lectures, comedy shows, meetups, concerts, bars, restaurants, and by skipping subway rides for long walks whenever possible. You can find him sleeping on the LIRR.
It’s June. That means six months until the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test in December, so it’s a good time to take a look at goals and study materials and get crackin’. Long Weekend LLC has two iOS apps, Japanese Flash and the Rikai Browser, which may help.
JET alum Mark Makdad (Toyama-ken, 2005-06), Long Weekend’s director and co-founder, explains what sets their apps apart: “We took the dictionary approach but added on two important things: an SRS algorithm to show you words you’d already looked up and saved to a custom set, and 150+ sets of useful and/or interesting words pre-loaded so people can just study vocabulary relevant to their situation,” he says. “For example, there’s a ‘Drinking Words’ set–if you’re going out to an izakaya with Japanese friends for the first time, you’ll probably want to learn a few ahead of time!”
Learning Japanese has become much easier in the past five years. When I started JET in 2007 and began studying Japanese, I used a ragtag paper pocket dictionary that my predecessor had left on my desk. It got me through a lot but not without a lot of tedious fumbling, and I was envious of my fellow JETs with their fancy electronic dictionaries. Those fancy electronic dictionaries are really expensive, though. It wasn’t until the middle of my third year on JET that I upgraded from my not-so-sturdy pocket dictionary. I had gotten an iPhone and immediately put the free dictionary Kotoba! on it. This was not a minor thing, but a cause of a marked improvement in my quality of life as a JET.
Not only was I more willing to jump into Japanese conversations because I knew I could quickly look up a key word if I needed to, but students and teachers were more willing to try to talk with me and have deeper conversations because they knew the dictionary app was right there to help them, too. Never having to learn how to look up kanji by stroke order in a paper dictionary was also appreciated.
JETAA Northern California Pacific Bridge : Alumni Spotlight on Ryan Kimura
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JETAA Northern California’s Pacific Bridge recently interviewed Ryan Kimura (Shizuoka-ken, 2004-06) who currently serves as the Director of Programs and Community Affairs at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC).
How did you wind up in this position after JET?
After JET, I opened up a small purikura [Japanese photo booth] business, Pika Pika (www.pikapikasf.com), in Japantown’s Japan Center Kinokuniya Building. I owned, operated, and grew this business for five years before hearing about an opening at the JCCCNC for a Programs Director position. When I was a student at UC Berkeley, I interned at the JCCCNC and formed many strong relationships with the staff there, including Executive Director Paul Osaki. Additionally, managing a Japantown business and staffing a number of Japantown non-profits really motivated me into playing a larger role in the community. I decided to call Paul up, interviewed, and have been serving at the JCCCNC since May of 2011.
Seeing as we have recently passed the first anniversary of the 3/11 earthquake. I know the JCCCNC has been doing so much to support Tohoku and bring awareness to the community. Can you talk about that?
Immediately after news of the earthquake reached state-side, volunteers from all over the Japanese American community staffed an all-day, all-night telethon on NBC in the Bay Area, where we raised over 400,000 dollars. All of this money was soon after transferred to the JCCCNC-led Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Additionally, we took our efforts online and put up a Causes.com page for the fund. Our page has since received donations from over 25,000 people.
Speaking on the scale of the Japantown community, the JCCCNC has hosted numerous fundraisers for the cause. The 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival, which occurred about a month after the earthquake, had many of our staff and volunteers selling merchandise to generate money. Donation cans were located at every festival booth, and, throughout the year, many Japantown merchants used those same cans in their stores. The JCCCNC has also received money from smaller community charity events, including a lemonade stand run by kids, taiko concerts, and cultural performances.
On the February leading up to the first year anniversary, the JCCCNC flew in six Tohoku students who were studying to enter the hospitality industry at the Sendai YMCA. These students’ lives were devastated by the earthquake—they lost property, loved ones, and so much more. Some of them had not even gotten over the shock. Through the relief fund, we were able to pay for their tuition, show them around famous San Francisco hotels to enlighten them about hospitality in the West, and saturate them with American culture through homestays and preschool volunteer programs. We wanted to show donors how their money was being used, and because of the community’s generous spirit, these six students have the chance to realize their futures—to arise from tragedy and push forward.
JET alum James Kennedy curates Second Annual 90-second Newbery Film Festival
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This just in from the so-original-you-have to see/meet/read-him-to-believe-him James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Order of Odd-Fish. Make sure to watch the “Heart of a Samurai” video below–one more example of a JET alum generating interest in Japanese language and culture in ways the Japanese government could never have possibly imagined. (See explanation further below.)
Preparations for the Second Annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival are underway! The 90-Second Newbery is a film festival I curate in which filmmakers of any age are challenged to make movies that tell the story of a Newbery award-winning book in 90 seconds or less.Full details here. The deadline for video submission is October 29, 2012. Details about screenings in New York and Chicago—including special celebrity guests—below!
But first, check out the latest submission above! It’s of Margi Preus’ fantastic 2011 Newbery Honor book, Heart of a Samurai. The movie is by Alex, Amy, Izzy, Asher, and Zach from Burley Elementary in Chicago. Full disclosure: I helped with this one! And here’s our twist: we did the film in Japanese, even though the students, er, don’t know Japanese. I helped with the script and pronunciation. There are storms at sea! Whales! Burning beards! Fistfights! It’s also slightly longer than 90 seconds. Oh well. ENJOY! Read More
