Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) is a freelance writer with a focus on food. You can read more of her writing at TravelingTastebuds.blogspot.com.
For about a year I was holed up in my apartment writing articles I would never allow people to read. I only shared my work in large anonymous or protected forums like writing contests or classes. My work needed to be out there, but I wasn’t ready to stand behind it.
But now it’s time for me to take a step out into public as a writer and I feel like I’m stepping in front of a batting machine. On the first anniversary of my writing career, I am jello soft and unprepared for the inevitable criticism that lies ahead. People are actually reading my blog and I write two regular columns accessible to anyone with internet access. On the web, everything is open for comment and I fear the next snide remark or disagreement with my opinions will break me.
I need some quick advice about building backbone from some of you veterans out there because the balls are flying and I can only bob and weave for so long. To all seasoned writers, bloggers, authors and artists did this happen to you and how did you deal with it?
Help out Devon and other JET alum writers by posting your comments below. Yoroshiku!
JET Alum Business Beat: Yvonne Thurman starts Dolly Bella Bakery
Advice, Career, Food & Drink, Interview/Profile, Uncategorized, Website 
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Yvonne Thurman (Kagoshima-ken, 1994-95), former JETAA NY President, recently left her position as Director of the Columbia Business School’s Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB) to start her own baked goods business, Dolly Bella Bakery (www.dollybellabakery.com). Read below as she explains what led her down this path and how it’s all going.
I have enjoyed my career at Columbia Business School , directing its Center on Japanese Economy and Business with Professor Hugh Patrick. After 10 years of working there, I was searching in the corporate sector for business development positions but couldn’t find something that really excited me. So I pushed myself to think outside of the box, and really took a good look at my strengths and skills, work experience and education, and analyzed what I really enjoyed doing.
I was fixated on keeping my career in the international organization/international business arena, but I had to explore all options. I had solid management skills, a degree in finance and business, international experience (same as so many…but wait!)…liked boating as a hobby…loved baking. Hmm. I started to put all that together. Read More
Japan’s Financial Crisis and Its Parallels to U.S. Experience
Academic, Advice, Books, Japan Trends, Uncategorized Comments Off on Japan’s Financial Crisis and Its Parallels to U.S. Experience
Japan’s Financial Crisis and Its Parallels to U.S. Experience, edited by Adam S. Posen and Ryoichi Mikitani
Has anyone out there read this book? If so, care to share your thoughts on the premise by posting a comment?
Thunderbird Grads?
Advice, Career, Graduate School Comments Off on Thunderbird Grads?
I saw on the JETAA Pacific Northwest e-mail list that a JET alum is looking for perspectives and advice from other JET alums about Thunderbird School of Global Management’s program. If you graduated from Thunderbird, please feel free to get in touch with me if you’d like to talk to the JET alum. Or go ahead and post your comments below.
Translation “checking” question and answers
Advice, Career, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Translation “checking” question and answers
A Japanese native-speaker recently asked about rates for “checking” a translation. She was translating a resume and references for a client and her husband (an English native-speaker) was going to check her translation. The client asked how much she charges for checking, and she wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
JetWit put the “checking” question out to the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group and received the below responses. Feel free to post additional thoughts/advice in the comments section below:
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I wouldn’t charge less than 50% of my rate to translate the piece in the first place since, frankly, checking is a huge pain in the ass.
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Editing is typically 30-40% of your translating rate.
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Is the question about a Quality Manager or translation quality control type of position? Are they asking for one project or as a full-time job? Depending on that, the rates will be different. However, it is best to keep in mind that quality managers for translation companies usually don’t get paid very well, even though it’s a lot of tedious work!
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I usually charge 10 yen per word. This may seem like a lot, but the work usually involves a lot of retranslation. Checking can mean that you are supposed to confirm the contents. If the translation is poor, it can be a nightmare.
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Growing Pains: A freelancer’s follow-up – by Devon Brown
Advice, Blogs, Career, Food & Drink, Writers Comments Off on Growing Pains: A freelancer’s follow-up – by Devon Brown
Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) is a freelance writer with a focus on food. You can read more of her writing at TravelingTastebuds.blogspot.com.
In a recent post titled “Growing Pains”, she sought some perspective on the business of freelance writing. In a subsequent JetWit post, we aggregated the responses of writers in the JET alum community in response to Devon’s question. Below she shares her new perspective:
Growing Pains: A follow up on an over edited piece by a newbie freelance writer
The jury is in and it seems I’ll just have to man up.
The freelance writing world can be a cold hard place and the fact that I’m getting paid and will have a byline in a national mag is going to have to be consolation for my hurt ego. The rational part of me knows that magazines have their own voice and until I’m so big and famous that they’re willing to pay me $5 for every single word I type, I’m gonna have to deal.
Thank you to everyone who offered up some insight. I heard of some horror stories that I hope to never experience myself.
On the upside, I did get a final PDF of my piece. Seeing it in print was awesome!
QUESTION
In a recent post on her blog travelingtastebuds.blogspot.com (“Growing Pains“) Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) describes a situation where she submitted a travel writing piece to an editor (her first hit with a national publication) only to see a published version that looked rather different than what she submitted, in rhythm and voice.
She wonders: Is this normal or typical? Or is this just what she should expect?
JetWit.com put the question to JET alumni in the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group.
Click “Read More” to read their responses. Read More
A JET alum e-mailed me with an interesting question about electronic dictionaries. Please post responses below for the benefit of others (or feel free to e-mail your response to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.)
My trusty stand-by for 5 years died. I had a Cannon IDX-9700. Do you know of any place [in the U.S.] where I can buy one and what model to recommend now? I’m looking for something originally in Japanese- I’ve found that was better for Kanji, but maybe things have changed now.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jobs in China?
Advice, Career, Japan Trends, Jobs Comments Off on Jobs in China?
I recently returned from a trip to China, and it occurred to me that China felt in many ways like Japan felt to me when I was there in the early 90s: Modernized, but also somewhat untamed and pregnant with opportunity. A good amount of structure, but also a sense that it’s not all figured out yet either.
With that in mind, I was wondering if some segment of the JET alumni community is now turning to China for job opportunities? If so, let me know or post a comment below on your thoughts or experience.
Meanwhile, I noticed a China jobs site called China Splash (http://www.chinasplash.com/index.html). I’m sure there are others, but figured I’d at least share the one I’m aware of.
Career advice from the WSJ’s Elizabeth Garone (Saga-ken, 1993-95)
Advice, Article/Journalism, Career, Interview/Profile, Writers Comments Off on Career advice from the WSJ’s Elizabeth Garone (Saga-ken, 1993-95)
It turns out there’s a JET alum writing a career advice column for the Wall Street Journal. Check out the latest column from Elizabeth Garone (Saga-ken, Omachi-cho, 1993-95) at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122874945537188153.html#articleTabs_comments.
It also turns out that she is a freelance journalist with more than a decade of writing for publications that have included Business Week, The Washington Post, Money Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Her specialties are technology, education (specifically SAT and test prep), human interest and children.
You can learn more about Elizabeth through her website at www.garone.com or through her LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/lizgarone
I just found about a blog by JET alum Aaron Madlon-Kay (CIR Ehime-ken, 2006-08) that seems to do a good job of addressing translation issues. (e.g., this post on Romanizing Japanese Addresses, this one on Translating Place Names, and this one on an attempt to translate into Japanese from English.)
Definitely a resource that other JET alums, especially other translators and those of you interested in getting into translation, might want to check out. Wish I had found it sooner, but glad to have it the JetWit orbit now.
In response to the previous post about “going back to Japan,” I received a nice email from a JET alum with a bunch of sites that are good for finding jobs in Japan. I’ve also posted them on the Professional Profiles/Job Resources page.
FINDING JOBS IN JAPAN
- Interac – http://www.interac.co.jp/recruit/
- GaijinPot: http://www.gaijinpot.com/
- E-Central: http://www.ecentral.jp/index.php?l=e
- Jobs In Japan: http://jobsinjapan.com/
- Japn Times Jobs: http://job.japantimes.com/index_e.php
- Temp Staff Universal: http://www.tempstaff.co.jp/universal/eng/index.html
- Japan Guide Jobs: http://jobs.japan-guide.com/job_search.php
- Tokyo Metropolis Jobs: http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyojobsemployment/1.1.inc.htm
- Japanzine Jobs: http://jobs.seekjapan.jp/jobs
Feel free to email any others to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
A recently returned JET alum recently asked for suggestions on recruiting firms or other channels for “getting back to Japan.” Since my sense is that the US job market is making that an increasing trend among returning JETs, I wanted to put the question out to the JET alum community.
The only option I can think of off the top of my head is Interac, which had a recent post on JetWit.
Do you have suggestions for recruiting firms or other decent options for “getting back to Japan?” Post a comment below or send an email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Jobs in the hospitality industry in Japan?
Advice, Career, JETAA Chapters, Networking Comments Off on Jobs in the hospitality industry in Japan?
The below question and response recently appeared on the LinkedIn group “Official Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and Alumni Association (JETAA).” (Names of the alumni are intentionally not included.)
Question: Topic: Companies to look at for hospitality/tourism or entertainment related jobs in Japan
I recently had interviews with Bandai and Konami but didn’t get moved onto the next round in both cases. However, I realized I’d really like to work at a gaming/entertainment company. If that doesn’t come through, then I’d like to try and work at a hotel or similar establishment. If anyone has ideas for companies/hotels where I could apply to work for in Japan please let me know.
Response: If you are not to concerned about salary you could check out the adventures here: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/working-at-japanese-ski-resorts.html
(Seems like it is more for the experience, rather than the earning potential.)
By the way, I also used to work in the games biz back in Vancouver, and I have visited quite a few studios here as well. One thing I can tell you is that the atmosphere is really different. Whereas you might expect really fun, creative work places with free Starbucks and foosball (a la North American experience), the Japanese reality is excessive overtime and Akihabara-style people who don’t get out much. I would probably go for the ski resort…
