Roland Kelts and young fans at Keio Academy Digital Media Creation program
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Over the weekend we mentioned that Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, gave a talk for the students in the Keio Academy of New York Japanese-English Bilingual Summer Program in Purchase, NY in connection with a two-week Digital Media Creation program. (Additional speakers in the program include Michael Arias, director of “ANIMATRIX” and “Tekkonkinkreet,” Shoji Kawamuri, animation director and mechanical designer and Yuji Nunokawa, CEO of animation producer Pierrot Co., Ltd.)
Here are a couple nice photos from the event:
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This past Thursday evening, Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, gave a talk for the students in the Keio Academy of New York Japanese-English Bilingual Summer Program in Purchase, NY in connection with a two-week Digital Media Creation program.
Additional speakers in the program include Michael Arias, director of “ANIMATRIX” and “Tekkonkinkreet,” Shoji Kawamuri, animation director and mechanical designer and Yuji Nunokawa, CEO of animation producer Pierrot Co., Ltd.
International education: Houston Community College Has Global Appeal
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A significant number of JET alumni are working in, or interested in working in, the field of international education programs, also sometimes referred to as student services. With that in mind, here’s a good written and radio piece from NPR’s Weekend Edition titled “Houston Community College Has Global Appeal.” The piece delves into a trend of community colleges reaching out to international students and even setting up school outposts in foreign countries, partly as a way to recruit.
For any JET alumni interested in getting into the field of international education programs, it’s worth being aware that there may be some great opportunities available at the small college level.
JET-oriented scholarships?
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Can anyone recommend any scholarships (or organizations/institutions that are good sources of scholarships) that might appeal to JETs/JET alums in addition to the ones listed below? If so, please post in the comments section, or feel free to e-mail directly to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com. We’ll make a more complete list available after getting responses.
- Monbusho
- Monterey Institute
- McGill MBA
- JAIMS (Japan-America Institute of Management Science)
- Temple University Japan campus MBA
- JLGC summer in Japan
Update:
- Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships http://www.rotary.org (Thanks to Shannon Quinn, former JETAA Pacific Northwest President, former JETAA USA Country Rep and currently the ALT Advisor to MEXT in Tokyo.)
Update #2:
A few more scholarships, thanks to Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999), Associate Director at the Donald Keene Center on Japanese Culture at Columbia University.
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Japan Foundation — grants for Ph.D. studies, short-term research, Japan-related organizations who need funding for Arts & Culture or Japanese Studies projects:
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Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Translation Prize (administered through Columbia University’s Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture):
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Shicho Fellowship for Graduate Study in Japan (adminstered through Columbia University’s Donald Keene Center of Japanese of Japanese Culture; only open to Columbia U grad students):
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National Endowment for the Humanities (Fellowships: Advanced Social Science Research on Japan):
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Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (fellowship program, creative artists’ program, etc.):
Thanks to Noriko Furuhata, the JET Liason at the Consulate General of Japan in New York, for letting me know about another JET alum professor:
- David Leheny, Professor of Japanese Studies at Princeton University, who has two books published:
His info has been added to the JetWit Library in both the Academic as well as Authors/Books sections.
Update: The latest from Professor Michael Auslin
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Here’s the latest from JET alum Michael Auslin, a professor of Japanese history and politics and currently the Director of Japanese Studies for the American Enterprise Institute in D.C.
- The Rise of China: Essays on the Future Competition – Edited by Gary J. Schmitt, with contributions from Michael Auslin, Dan Blumenthal, Ellen Bork, Nicholas Eberstadt, Robert Kagan, Schmitt, and Ashley J. Tellis; April 2009; Contributors to this volume challenge the prevailing benign view of China’s rise and analyze what the United States and its allies might do in the arenas of foreign and defense affairs to meet the challenges posed by China’s increased political, economic, and military power.
- Obama’s Hundred-Day Scorecard on Asia Policy
Japan
Grade: BOne step forward, two steps back. Secretary Clinton’s trip to Japan as the first stop on her diplomatic voyage was an important symbolic gesture to reassure Tokyo that Washington still values it as its key Asian ally and a proactive attempt to reengage Japan. However, the U.S. failure to make clear its commitment to defending Japanese territory prior to North Korea’s missile launch, compounded by its inability or unwillingness to secure a new resolution punishing Pyongyang’s provocation–the United States ultimately codrafted a presidential statement with the Chinese–left Japan feeling isolated. Furthermore, Tokyo and Washington face potentially troublesome days ahead fulfilling long-standing alliance agreements to restructure forces. Symbolic gestures will be no substitute for a firm working relationship built on shared interests.
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). Recently she’s been watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
When I was in Japan back in March, a topic that was on everyone’s minds (or at least those of my single friends) was 婚活 (konkatsu), 
the idea of pursuing a marriage partner in the same way you would look for a job. The flip side of the coin is the companion term 離活 (rikatsu), referring to rikon katsudou or similar efforts regarding divorce. In keeping with the times, new dramas this spring season revolve around these themes. In the interest of anthropological research as well as satisfying my Japanese drama addiction, I checked out 「婚カツ！」 and 「コンカツ・リカツ」 .
The former stars SMAP member Masahiro Nakai as Kuniki Amamiya, a 34-year old who Read More
Via JETAA Texoma (Chapter 9):
Dear Texoma JET Alumni:
The Consulate-General of Japan at Houston is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for a special Research Student Scholarship available only to past JET Program participants. Like ordinary Research Student Scholarships, this opportunity provides recipients with round-trip airfare to Japan, all tuition expenses, and a monthly allowance of 152,000 yen (approx. $1450) per month. The scholarship term will be one-and-a-half to two years, extendable if the recipient is accepted to a masters or PhD program.
To qualify, applicants must be previous JET participants, citizens of the United States, have been born on or after April 2, 1975, and should be in good health. Furthermore, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1 and April 7 or between October 1 and October 7, 2010 and have intermediate or higher level Japanese ability. Proposed fields of study should be the same or related to a field applicants studied previously.
More details can be found at: http://www.houston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/culture/page11-2.htm. The deadline for applications is June 26, 2009, so please start your applications soon. Be sure to include your JET experience on your application. If you have any questions, please contact me at 713-652-2977 x2114 or jetcoord@cgjhou. org. This is a tremendous opportunity, so we hope many of you will apply.
MEXT SCHOLARSHIPS… Get your applications in by June 8th.
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MEXT Scholarships
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) sponsors Japanese Government Scholarships to enable aspiring foreign scholars from all over the world to study in Japan. To date, some 65,000 students from approximately 160 countries and regions around the world have studied in Japan under the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship program established in 1954. As of May 1, 2005, there were 9,891 foreign students studying in Japan as Japanese government scholarship students. Japanese proficiency is not required at the time of application unless otherwise noted; however, scholarship recipients are required to take Japanese language classes in Japan.
Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles accepts application for Japanese government scholarships from candidates who are the U.S. public and reside or attend universities in Southern California and Arizona.
Applications for following Japanese government (Monbukagakusho) scholarships for 2010 are now available. Completed application must be accepted by June 8, 2009. Please note that applicants who have Japanese nationality at the time of application are not eligible.
JET Program Alumni are encouraged to apply to the Research Student Scholarship (there MAY be a scholarship available for alumni ONLY through this.)
For more information, please go to: http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/e_web/e_m05_18.htm
This article from today’s NY Times puts a positive spin on job searching in the current economic climate, pointing out how the lack of traditional Wall St. jobs for business school grads has in a sense given many of them “permission” to pursue other jobs, such as teaching, managing a jazz club, applying for the foreign service or going to rabbinical school when they might otherwise have felt pressured to go for a high-paying, high-status Wall Street job.
Dakedo, if you read between the lines, what this means is a more competitive job market for everyone including JET alums. Now, when you apply for the foreign service or Teach for America or anything else, you’re competing against MBA students and other highly-qualified people for these positions.
Sore de, it’s more important than ever to take a proactive approach to the notion of career and job search. The ground is shifting underneath us, which is scary, but also means there are new opportunities. It’s no longer enough to think of jobs as familiar fixed categories for which you send your resume and wait for a company or organization to “give” you a job. This is the time to look around, figure out what needs are out there and create your own job and your own value, especially given the tools available out there to everyone such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Etsy.com, eBay and many others. While you may or may not succeed in creating your own job or business, going through the process will open doors, teach you new skills, give you more confidence and be more likely over time to lead to new opportunities and new jobs.
In other words, we all now have permission to take risks. Ganbatte kudasai!
Via the Consulate General’s post on the JETAA British Columbia yahoogroup:
2010 MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Research Studies Scholarship
Guidelines and application forms for the 2010 MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Research Scholarship are now available. The scholarship is open to university graduates, born on or after April 2, 1975 who wish to study at a university in Japan as research students.
The deadline to apply for the scholarship is May 14, 2009.
The scholarship documents can be accessed through the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver’s website at http://www.vancouve r.ca.emb- japan.go. jp/en/culture/ mext.htm
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 604.684.5868, ext. 391 or by Email at culturalcentre [at] consuljpnvan [dot] com.
Sincerely,
Steve Chevalier
Assistant to the Consul, Cultural Affairs
************ ********* ********* ********* ******
The Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver
800-1177 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2K9
www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp
Recent publications by JET alum Michael Auslin
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Two recent publications by JET alum Michael Auslin, a professor of Japanese history and politics and currently the Director of Japanese Studies for the American Enterprise Institute in D.C.
The Sick Man of Asia
Posted Date: Monday, April 6, 2009
It might not be possible for Tokyo to maintain the type of global role it has played so far. If that happens, the world may finally understand just how vital that role was. http://www.aei.org/publication29667
Can Japan Thrive–or Survive?
Posted Date: Monday, April 6, 2009
Despite its political sclerosis, economic stagnation, and demographic worries, Japan is a resilient nation that has much to contribute to the world. http://www.aei.org/publication29666
Michael will also be moderating a panel on Tuesday, April 14 at the AEI offices in Washington, D.C. on the topic of “Are Alliances Enough: The Role of the U.S.-Japanese Alliance in Maritime Asia.” The panel is part of an all-day conference titled Protecting the Seas: Maritime Security in the Asia Pacific, America’s Interests, and Asia’s Future.
2010 Japanese Government Scholarships
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Via JETAA Pacific Northwest:
Subject: 2010 Japanese Government Scholarships
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2010 Japanese Government Scholarships
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The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is now accepting applications for the following 2010 Japanese Government Scholarships for studying in Japan.
U.S. citizens living in the states of Washington, Montana, and Northern Idaho are eligible to apply at our office.
The application forms are available on our website at: http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp
JET alum Michael Auslin to moderate panel on North Korea missile launching
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Testing the Obama Administration: Implications of a North Korean Missile Launch
Event Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2008
At this event, JET alum and AEI’s Director of Japan Studies Michael Auslin will moderate a panel that will discuss the implications of a North Korean missile launch, including how the launch will affect U.S. relations with other countries in the region, and the future of the six-party …
JET alum Michael Auslin to moderate panel on Asia-Pacific Maritime Security
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JET Alum Michael Auslin, Director of Japan Studies for the American Enterprise Institute, will be moderating a panel on Tuesday, April 14 at the AEI offices in Washington, D.C. titled “Are Alliances Enough: The Role of the U.S.-Japanese Alliance in Maritime Asia.” The panel is part of an all-day conference titled Protecting the Seas: Maritime Security in the Asia Pacific, America’s Interests, and Asia’s Future.
Read below for more details. Read More
