Yesterday’s NYT had an article about the rise of Japan’s very own Tea Party.  It profiles the rise of the Zaitokukai, or the Citizens Group That Will Not Forgive Special Privileges for Koreans in Japan.  In comparison to old-line rightist groups this movement is known as the Net right, as they are organized via the Internet and come together for demonstrations.  The article focused on their protest last December at an elementary school for ethnic Koreans.  This year they also picketed theaters showing the documentary The Cove, which they perceive to be anti-Japanese.  The group is led by a 38-year old man who insists that foreigners have caused Japan to go in the wrong direction (members even harassed some Westerners for wearing Halloween costumes!).  The far right writes them off as amateur attention seekers, but nevertheless this is a disturbing trend.

In WSJ coverage this morning, there is discussion of how a majority of the Japanese populace is still supporting PM Naoto Kan despite economic and political troubles.  On September 14 there will be a DPJ internal vote, and at this time Kan will be challenged by party rival Ichiro Ozawa.  Should Ozawa win, he would become the third prime minister since the DPJ took power in September [and] the seventh national leader in less than four years.  He resigned as a top party official in June due to a campaign finance scandal, but is said to have close ties to opposition parties which could help strengthen the DPJ.

In order to remedy the soaring yen, Kan met today with central bank officials and plans to unveil a new economic stimulus package tomorrow.  The Bank of Japan plans to introduce their own stimulus proposals in the next few days.  In the Kyodo News poll featured in this article, 52% of respondents said the most immediate tasks for the DPJ are jump-starting the economy and securing employment.  Indeed, the Zaitokukai’s success has largely been attributed to the country’s economic decline, and the 9000 person group consists primarily of young males who bounce from job to job, feel disenfranchised and are looking for someone to blame.  A quote from a 37-year old member appeals, “Japan has a shrinking pie.  Should we be sharing it with foreigners at a time when Japanese are suffering?”

Japanese Heritage Night at Citi Field, Friday, Aug. 27.

 By JQ Magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.

Move over, Matsui.

The New York Mets will hold its first-ever Japanese Heritage Night at Citi Field on Friday, Aug. 27 against the Houston Astros, with discounted ticket rates available for all family and friends of the Japanese community.

Pre-game entertainment includes taiko drumming by acclaimed troupe Soh Daiko; a traditional Obon dance led by the Japanese Folk Institute of New York featuring dance participants from the Japanese heritage community and friends; the Spirit Award ceremony honoring those in baseball, the military and community service; and the national anthem sung by Japanese Hispanic American Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa.

Donna Tsufura, cofounder of Japanese Americans and Japanese in America (JAJA) and one of the organizers of Friday’s event, has contacted groups like the JET Alumni Association of New York to recruit volunteers to help publicize, assist with and participate in this special night, including the ancestor-honoring Tanko Bushi dance itself in center field. Tsufura said that this helps to fulfill JETAA NY’s mission to increase the understanding and appreciation of Japan and its people in the U.S.

Read the complete story here.

Those who missed the original Off Broadway run of the critically acclaimed play Sake with the Haiku Geisha are in for a treat. As part of its annual national conference, the JET Alumni Association’s New York chapter, with support from the Consulate-General of Japan in New York, will revive the play for a one night only performance on Friday, Aug. 13 at Manhattan’s Tinker Auditorium.

Penned by playwright Randall David Cook and featuring a cast that includes Jun Kim of Kurotama Kikaku Company, the work was debuted by the Gotham Stage Company in 2006 as an outgrowth of Sushi and Scones, an earlier one-act play written by Cook for the UK’s Dawlish Arts Festival and later produced by BBC Radio.

“Ninety percent of the play is based on true stories, and many of the lines were taken verbatim from their subjects,” explained Cook. ”The most outrageous things I dared not dream up; they happened.”

Read the full story here.

Singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada is going from exodus to hiatus.

According to a message on her homepage from Aug. 9, Hikki (as she as known to her army of fans worldwide) has wrote that following the release of this fall’s Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 album, she will take time off from her musical career effective next year.

The message finds the musician in a reflective mood, recalling the music video from her single “Automatic,” released 12 years ago when the singer was just 15 years old. She commented that since then, “part of my growth has stopped…as a person.” Hikki now intends to focus on “human activity” over “artistic activity” in the next year for an indeterminate period.

Read the full story here.

ome of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Recent news coming out of Japan has surrounded unsettling discoveries regarding its elderly population.  Last week it was revealed that Tokyo’s oldest listed man, who if alive would have been 111 last month, likely died over 30 years ago.  According to a report on CNN this morning, currently the whereabouts of about 30 Japanese centenarians are unknown.  As discussed in this coverage from Bloomberg, “the disappearance of some of Japan’s oldest citizens is raising concern that some families are bilking the nation’s pension system even as others risk being deprived of payments for the same reason — poor record keeping.”   This was a big issue back in 2007 when the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare lost millions of files related to the government-led pension system.

Besides the obvious financial implications, many aspects of this story are just plain creepy.  For example, the remains of the above man were found mummified in the house where he once lived with his daughter.  When his wife pased away six years ago, he  received about $111,000 in pension payments.  By the way, the average lifespan for Japanese men and women reached a record last year, with men living an average of 79.59 years and women 86.44 years.   The ministry says that Japanese women have the longest life expectancy in the world.

Competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi with interpreter/publicist Maggie James and attorney Mario D. Romano. (Associated Press)

Recently he interviewed two members of the cast of “The Last Airbender” movie during their promotional visit to Tokyo, asking them for their views on the “racebending” controversy surrounding their film. He also covered an insect show now running at a Tokyo museum, reviewed the manga “Otomen,” and weighed in on a couple of other movies now playing in Japan. Here are some excerpts:

“Last Airbender”

In the United States, some fans of the anime-style cartoon on which the movie is based have protested against the casting of Jackson Rathbone and Nicola Peltz, who are white, in roles the fans saw as Asian.

Asked to comment on that, Rathbone said: “I originally was a finalist for Prince Zuko [a Fire Nation role that went to Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel]. Almost a year later, I was brought back in for the character of Sokka…I think what they were really looking for was the qualities that people represent, not so much focusing on race…All these characters [in the cartoon] have so many different features, you can’t really say that they are one race…It’s a shame that people really focus on the race thing and they don’t understand that it’s a story for everyone.”

“And there are over 120 different types of people in the film,” Peltz added.

“In terms of a big-budget film, it’s the most ethnically diverse cast there’s ever been,” Rathbone agreed.

Read the rest of the interview here.

“Insects festival”

Open your window on a hot summer day and you may hear a sound that caught the ear of haiku poet Matsuo Basho in the 17th century: the voices of cicadas, seeping into the rocks. Of course, Japan today is a lot more urbanized than it was in Basho’s time, and cicadas are more likely to sing against a background of asphalt and cement. Yet year after year, the buzzing bugs never fail to show up, even in the heart of Tokyo.

Visitors to Insects Festival, an exhibition now running at the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku, Tokyo, are reminded of such persistence right away with a display of six-legged critters that live in three different Tokyo zones: mountains, fields and downtown areas.

While city-dwellers often resent sharing space with the likes of cockroaches and ants, the emphasis of this show is on seasonal outdoor insects whose diverse shapes, bright colors and occasional songs actually enhance city life…

Read the rest of the article here, or visit the exhibition’s site here.

“Otomen”

Anyone writing a graduate thesis on the presentation of gender in Japanese pop culture will find abundant material in the manga series Otomen. Readers looking for laughs will also find what they seek in Otomen, but rather less abundantly.

The main characters are a trio of high school students, with the focus on Asuka (a boy who has a name more common for girls), who is in love with Ryo (a girl who has a name more common for boys). Their would-be romance is complicated by the constant presence of their friend Juta, who tries to play cupid, but is more often a third wheel.

Asuka is the captain of the school kendo team, and is admired by everyone as a “real man.” But he is secretly an “otomen,” a boy who is into girly things, such as cute stuffed animals and delicate pastries. He is at least as skilled at cooking and sewing as he is at sports, but he keeps that side of himself hidden. Ryo is Asuka’s mirror image in that she has been raised by her socially inept father to follow in his footsteps as a martial arts champion, but she strives to put up a feminine front at school. Juta has a secret, too, as he is actually a best-selling manga artist who is using the couple as a model for his stories…

Read the full review here.

Also playing…

You can read Tom’s review of “Inception” here, and his review of “Zombieland” here.

By JQ Magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.

Since 1987, the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program has hired over 50,000 native English speakers to work at Japanese public schools, enriching ties between nations. Now, Tokyo’s new ruling political party has JET in its crosshairs in the wake of its effort to slash public spending to reduce its ballooning public debt. In a hearing last May, an 11-person panel of the Democratic Party of Japan ruled unanimously for a comprehensive examination of the program to decide whether it should be scaled back or cut entirely.

JET, an initiative of the Japanese government and run by three of its national ministries, has an annual budget of over $400 million. It was launched with the intentions of increasing grassroots internationalization in Japan, primarily through introducing foreigners to Japanese youth as schoolteachers across the country contracted for a minimum of one year. While the program does not require applicants to be licensed teachers (successful candidates team teach with the host school’s own native Japanese English instructor), they are expected to have an interest in Japan and a desire to integrate themselves in their new communities as cultural ambassadors.

Read the rest of the article here.

Additional contents below. Thanks to JQ Editor Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) for another sugoi issue. Contact Justin if you’d like to pitch or write a story for the next issue.

        CONTENTS

• Page 3……..From the Editor, Japan Local Government Center Executive Director
• Page 4……..Nippon News Blotter / Welcome Suzuki-san
• Page 5……..JETAANY Society Page by Goshippu Garu
• Page 6……..JETlog featuring Byron Nagy
• Page 6……..Samurai in New York Exhibition by Mark Brandstetter
• Page 7……..Bryan Lee O’Malley: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
• Page 8……..Nihonjin in New York featuring Noriko Hino by Stacy Smith
• Page 9……..Book Corner: Nintendo Magic by David Kowalsky
• Page 10……Nichibei Toastmasters by Pam Kavalam
• Page 11……The Funny Page
• Page 11……The Heiz Rocks On by Hugh Prysten

Wondering how JET alums give back to the community and make new connections with Japan after their work on the program is over? JQ Magazine Editor Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) has compiled a list of ten relevant articles from the past two years that exemplify the dedication of our members.

2010 May/June – Bruce Feiler interview (an author who’s probably the biggest “JET celebrity” out there. Wrote his first book about his JET experiences) by Justin Tedaldi

2010 January/February – Aaron Woolfolk interview (JET alum, first African American to direct a feature film in Japan) by Lyle Sylvander

2010 January/February – Peace Corps profile (talks with those who joined Peace Corps after the positive experience they had on JET) by Marea Pariser

2009 Fall – International Visitor Leadership Program interpreting (shows how JETs can become invaluable interpreters to continue grassroots internationalization at home) by Stacy Smith

2008 Summer – Ambassador Nishimiya interview (boosts visibility of new Japanese officials to our readers; demonstrates strong relationships between JETAA chapters and local government) by Anne Koller

2009 Spring – Hikaru Utada interview (probably the longest English-language interview with Utada out there. It was even translated into Japanese by a resourceful fan) by Justin Tedaldi

2009 Spring – JETAANY Author Showcase (names four notable JET alum authors and also stands as a unique event organized by JETAANY) by Gina Anderson and Justin Tedaldi

2009 Spring – President Sakurai of Japan Society interview (this piece examines JET’s relationship with non-profit cultural centers and  is included in Japan Society media kits) by Justin Tedaldi

2008 Fall – Anthony Bianchi interview (JET done good in Japan) by Michael Glazer

2008 Summer – George Rose interview (JET done good at home) by Stacy Smith

Comments are welcome. Spread the word!

By Justin Tedaldi, Editor (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) for JQ Magazine. Portions of this interview were originally published on Examiner.com.

Award-winning bestselling author, journalist, and—in his own words—“professional traveler” Bruce Feiler (Tochigi-ken, 1987-88) has been a writing books for nearly 20 years, the most recent of which focused on social issues and religion. Bruce’s new book, The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me, was inspired by his diagnosis with cancer two years ago. Faced with an uncertain future and concerned about his family, he asked six of his peers to form a “Council of Dads” to help guide his young daughters through their lives. JQ spoke with Feiler about the start of his writing career, which began with 1991’s Learning to Bow, an account of his time living in Japan as an English teacher on the inaugural year of the JET Program, as well as his thoughts about the program today.

You’re now cancer-free. When did you receive this prognosis, and what was your treatment like?

I was first diagnosed in July 2008, and I had osteosarcoma, which is so rare that only one hundred adults a year get it. Twenty years ago they would have cut off my leg and hoped, since there was a fifteen percent survival rate. They determined that one cocktail of chemo could be effective, and I had that. I basically had four months of chemo, a 15-hour surgery to rebuild my leg, and then four more months of chemo. So, I’ve technically been cancer-free since my surgery when they cut the tumor out of my femur. I’ve been cancer-free now for about 15 months. I’m full of hope walking forward.

Congratulations on your recovery. What was the most important things that you and your family learned by forming the Council of Dads?

I think that, first, there’s great power with sitting down with your closest friends and telling them what they mean to you. So I feel like what we did with the Council of Dads was kind of build a bridge between our family and our friends, and figure out a way to get our friends intimately involved in our children’s lives. When I asked each dad what’s the one piece of advice that you would give to our girls, I felt like we ended up with this sort of guidebook of wisdom that is not only valuable for our children, but really valuable for us and guides how we’ve been in our lives. So I feel like the life lessons we’ve learned has really been the biggest gift.

What made you want to write Learning to Bow?

 It kind of grew out of a series of letters I wrote home, of the “you’re not gonna believe what happened to me” variety. And when I went back to Savannah six months later, everywhere I went, people said, “I just loved your letters,” and I said, “Have we met?” It turned out that my grandmother had copied them, and they got passed from person to person—they went viral in the 1980s , if that’s the word—and I thought, wow, if that’s interesting to me and to these other people, I should write a book about it. It really was the sense that this story from this point of view wasn’t being told. In the 1980s, you couldn’t pick up a newspaper without reading an article about Japan or education, and the fact that here was a book that combined both, but had some sense of humor, I just think it was the right book at the right time, and I’m amazed and touched that, so many years later, for a lot of people, it’s the first book they read when they go to Japan…This was before the Internet, before e-mail, before blogs…the world seemed much bigger than it is today.

What was it like finding a publisher?

I ended up with the name of an agent who was kind of a friend of a friend, and I sent my stuff to her….I wrote a proposal, and I sold it about a month later. I mean, it doesn’t happen that way, but it happened to me. I was 24 years old. And even more amazing, here I am—21 years later—essential the only thing I’ve ever done is write books.

Have you returned to Japan since your time there as a teacher?

That’s a really good question, and the answer is no. I’ve kind of been to every place around it, but I’ve never been back to Japan. I keep looking for the right assignment, because I really want to go back and kind of write something, but I haven’t been back.

One of your more recent books, Walking the Bible, was also translated into Japanese. Has Japan been receptive to your other works?

Korea and China have been a really good market for me. I’m not convinced that Japan has been a big market for me.

What kind of outlook did you take back home with you from your time in Japan? 

People go to Japan today and they call me up, which still happens from time to time. I say the same thing that I’ve said for decades now, which is: don’t go over to Japan trying to change it, thinking that you know better. Go there trying to understand…I think that that essential way of experiencing another culture—not going in as a sort of a haughty Westerner, looking down on it—but actually jumping into the deep end, completely immersed in yourself, befriending the people, and opening yourself up to the culture. That way of living is the thing that I would take from my experience, and pass on to my daughters today.

Since coming back, what developments in Japan with JET or just the society itself have you continued to follow?

I think that if you look back to the origins of the JET Program, it grew out of a philosophy: We need to educate and open Japan up to the West. Prime Minister Nakasone had an original idea of putting foreigners into the culture. That was something that was very awkward at the time, and many of the Japanese people that I knew who had spent time abroad and come back home were misfits at home, I would say. And I think that Japan is much humbler now than it was in the 1980s. I think that the world is much smaller than it was…with the Internet and technology and business, everybody’s more integrated. So I think that Japan still lags behind, but compared to where we were in the 1980s, that Japanese people are much defter at integrating with the West than they were then. So in that regard, I think the JET Program, with all of its false start problems that it’s had over the years, has actually helped play a role there.

What advice would you give to this year’s new JET recruits?

Don’t get caught up in the Westerner ghetto. Plunge yourself as deep into Japanese culture as you can, learn as much as you can, and then come back and share your experiences with those who haven’t been, who aren’t able to do that. You are pioneers, but you will be most effective if you really step out of your comfort zone, really go deep, then be sure to come back and tell us what you’ve seen.

Have you ever referred someone to the program?

No, I don’t tend to hear…I know a lot of people have read Learning to Bow in colleges, so I know that it has inspired [people], and every now and then I’ll see something on the Internet or a blog on somebody who has been inspired to do the JET Program because of Learning to Bow, but I don’t get sought out by a lot of people.

Does the Japanese government ever ask you for advice or to speak about it?

That’s a good question, and the answer is no. Right when I was first published, the Japanese government was particularly interested and kind of summoned me to the embassy, but I don’t do that much talking about Japan…I’m not really a professional Japan person. I’m a professional traveler and Japan’s a big part of my life, but I don’t really excel as a kind of expert on Japanese culture, which I’m really not.

How does it feel to be known as the most notable or accomplished alumnus to come out of JET?

I think that it’s an incredible honor, and I like what it communicates to the JET community, which is that you can go from your experience as a JET into whatever you want to do. If you want to go into Japanese business, if you want to go into education, if you want to go into media, if you want to go into anything, this is a stepping stone to making whatever dream you have come true, so I think that’s the message…I’ve written nine books, I’ve had four near-types of sellers, and I have this stature, but I didn’t have it then; I was just a guy writing letters home, and I just had this dream. So I think it’s a way to communicate to young people who are confident and bold enough to go off deep into another culture early in their lives—it is a great message to them that you can go from there to whatever platform you want.

Have you thought about writing another book about Japan?

Sure, I would like in my life to go back and revisit that. I mean, we’re coming up on twenty-five years since I was living and working in Tochigi-ken, and I would love the opportunity to go back, walk those streets, seek out friends, maybe some of those students, and use that as a prism to talk about how Japan has changed in the last quarter century. I think that would be a great privilege, and if anybody reading this wants to send me on assignment, I’m ready to accept.

When JET has its 25th anniversary, they’ll probably be looking for keynote speakers…

Oh, I’d love to do that, that would be a great thrill…I have to say, I was [recently] on the cover of a big magazine here, USA Weekend, and one of the first people to write me was someone I knew in Tochigi-ken in 1987.

Looking back on Learning to Bow, is there anything you’d like to change or add to the book?

[Laughs] Yeah…I’ve written eight books since then, so I hope that I’ve learned a few tricks of the trade since then. But you know what? [quotes the book’s opening line] “I dropped my pants and felt a rush of cool wind against my legs”…when I wrote that, I really kind of felt like, wow, this is a really natural thing, I like writing stories like this…I’m sure the overwriting and the bad ideas and the sloppy sentences and some of the awkwardness is there. I don’t think I would change anything in the book off the top of my head. I think what I would change is, I didn’t go to Japan attempting to write a book, so I have lived my life slightly differently having written that book. I found out I was very good at describing scenes and places that I was at, even if it had been a while. I was less good in dialogue and in conversation, so I think in subsequent experiences in my life, I’ve written down snippets of conversation so you kind of capture people’s real voices. That’s the one thing that I would have done differently, but that was before the book.

It’s great that you were able to get a sense of your skills through your experiences there. What was your best and worst memory of Japan?

I’ll say my best memory was climbing Mt. Fuji, and the worst memory was…trying to fit my feet into the free giveaway slippers at Japanese schools.

Yeah, those are tough.

[Laughs] I haven’t thought about that in a long time.

What’s next for Bruce Feiler?

I don’t know…I’m actually sitting here at what looks like a Hollywood auction shaping up for The Council of Dads, and I guess my first priority is to keep myself healthy and be around for my girls, and to keep finding ways to travel and to tell stories.

Visit Bruce’s homepage at http://brucefeiler.com.

Watch an interview with Bruce and his wife Linda from the Today show at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/36823506#36823506.

JET Filmmaker/JQ subscriber Aaron Woolfolk at the New York premiere of his film ‘The Harimaya Bridge,’ December 2009

By Lyle Sylvander (Yokohama-shi, 2001-02) for JQ Magazine

Most JETs enjoy telling tales about the cities they lived in. But it’s a select few who take the extra step of making movies that actually take place in them. JETAA Southern California’s Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken, 1992-93) is the writer and director of The Harimaya Bridge, which received a theatrical release in Japan last year and premiered in New York’s Upper West Side in December as part of the African Disapora Film Festival.

The film stars Ben Guillory as Daniel, an American man who travels from San Francisco to Kochi after his estranged son—who works as an assistant English teacher—Mickey (Victor Grant) dies in a traffic accident. There, Daniel’s own prejudices spark rows with his Japanese hosts and daughter-in-law Noriko (Saki Takaoka) as he discovers secrets his son left behind. The film will receive a wider release in the U.S. for spring 2010, and JQ talked with Aaron about the making of the film.

How did you get involved with JET?

During my senior year in college, I ran into a couple of friends who were on their way to pick up an application for the JET Program. I had nothing to do when I saw them, so I tagged along. I had never heard of the program before, but it definitely intrigued me. I had always wanted to experience another culture firsthand, and thought the best way to do that would be to live in that culture, rather than merely visiting it for a limited time.

How did you decide to be a filmmaker?

I was always a storyteller, even at a young age. I also had a practical side to me and when it came time to decide on a career, I briefly considered law school, but the storyteller side of me won out and I applied to film school. I got in to Columbia’s MFA program, and I’ve never looked back. I found the decision to be very liberating and know that I’m much happier now than if I had gone to law school.

Are there any Japanese filmmakers who have influenced your work?

Yes, definitely. As a teenager I discovered many foreign directors I admired, including Japanese directors—particularly Ozu, Mizoguchi, Itami and Kurosawa—and they’ve all had an impact on my work in positive ways. In particular, The Harimaya Bridge is a kind of homage to Kurosawa’s Ikiru, which is my favorite fi lm of all time.

Can you talk about the genesis of The Harimaya Bridge and how the film came together?

I first started writing The Harimaya Bridge in film school but knew that it would be difficult for a first-time filmmaker like me to convince people I could make a feature film in Japan. So I made two short films in Japan—a comedy called Eki and a drama called Kuroi Hitsuji. These shorts had successful showings at film festivals and I won a few directing awards, which made the idea of me making a feature film in Japan more viable.

Then I won a development grant funded by Disney and offered through Danny Glover’s theater company in L.A. Danny’s star power lent support for the film but it was ultimately producer Ko Mori who helped pull all the necessary elements together. He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and his passion and integrity really kept the whole thing together during the fi nancing process. In the end, there were three major backers—Eleven Arts, Ko’s company, based in the U.S.; Toei, a Japanese distributor; and SSD, a Korean company.

The film received a theatrical release in Japan last summer. How was it received?

The film’s reception has been uniformly positive. Audiences love the characters and story, and really appreciate the fact that it was made by someone who actually lived in Japan. I purposely wanted to avoid many of the clichés found in American films about foreign places, particularly the arrogance and sense of superiority with which they denigrate foreign cultures. So, the Japanese audiences I talked to were impressed by my portrayal of Japan’s culture and people. In fact, some audience members were surprised that it was directed by a non-Japanese person. Also, a lot of JETs and JET alums in Japan were really enthusiastic in their response to the fi lm, which really made me happy.

What are your future plans?

I’m currently working on a comedy-drama that takes place in the American South called Summer SOULstice, and also a drama called Dream I Have, which is inspired by a true story about a Japanese man who dreams of opening a jazz club in New Orleans. In terms of my hopes for a career, ideally I’d like to go back and forth between making intimate dramas and big Hollywood movies. Ang Lee and Christopher Nolan both have the type of career I’d like to emulate.

For more info and future screenings, visit www.theharimayabridge.com and www.facebook.com/pages/The-Harimaya-Bridge/222376906581?ref=ts.

Lisa Reitmeier and B.J. Whetstine of the Peace Corps at the World AIDS Day panel

By Marea Pariser (Kagoshima-ken, 2003-04) for JQ Magazine

What comes to mind when you think of the Peace Corps? Is it the image of young, daring humanitarians performing HIV/AIDS work across Africa? Or how about the ambitious environmentalist who flocks to third-world Latin America to build aqueducts in the locals’ backyards? Sure, we all know the stereotype—adventurous, somewhat-experienced travelers willing to spend two years out in the bush roughing it with the locals as a result of their passion to see the world and underlying desire to help others.

Perhaps we’ve thought about the opportunity for ourselves. And it’s likely that we all know at least one person who’s a current or returned Peace Corps volunteer. What probably doesn’t come to mind, though, regarding this nearly 50-year-old program—founded in 1961 by the Kennedy administration—is the image of native English speakers flying abroad to teach English as a second language to locals in over 70 countries where the Peace Corps has presence.

Sound familiar? It should.

And recruiters at the Peace Corps New York Regional Office hope that it’s this familiarity that will lure promising JET alumni across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania (the region’s territory) into their office for an interview, which is part of the yearlong application process.

“We really have to reach out to organizations that have a like interest such as ours with respect to people interested in teaching and interested in an international focus,” said Peace Corps New York Regional Manager Vincent Wickes from his office on Varick Street in Greenwich Village. “And certainly, JET represents that.”

Wickes said education makes up the largest component of current Peace Corps programs overseas with 36 percent of volunteer jobs taking place in the classroom, from preschool to college-level instruction. It’s the greatest area of need “as identified by the countries asking for Peace Corps assistance,” with a majority of the jobs in ESL, according to a Peace Corps brochure given to JQ last December. In fact, it’s in more demand than health and HIV/AIDS work, which trails in second at 22 percent of all overseas programs.

It’s not surprising, then, that the largest presence of Peace Corps volunteer positions is in Africa. However, Wickes and his staff of eight recruiters want applicants to know that there’s a whole world out there beyond Africa that needs help.

“A lot of people see the Peace Corps experience as being so reflective of what Africa provides… But we have people serving in Eastern Europe and people serving in countries that are very developed,” Wickes said. “I mean Bulgaria as an example. They’re serving in environments, which are not so much what you and I might call developing countries, … but they have a lot of areas that are underdeveloped and that’s where we’re needed.“

B.J. Whetstine is an example of that. A Peace Corps recruiter in the New York office since late 2008, Whetstine served as a university English teacher in Guizhou Province, in Southwest China, from 2006 to 2008 with his wife. While his primary job was teaching English, Whetstine said he did promote HIV/AIDS awareness around his town: “Pretty much every Peace Corps volunteer, regardless of what their primary assignment is. does HIV and AIDS awareness work.”

For Whetstine, that meant spearheading a campaign at his university, where a group of about 200 student volunteers worked together to promote HIV/AIDS awareness. He said his biggest project was for World AIDS Day, when his group of student volunteers spent three months making thousands of AIDS ribbons, each woven in a traditional Chinese knot pattern, which were passed out on campus and around town. As a recruiter, Whetstine remains enthusiastic about teaching English in Asia and appreciates the similarities his experience on the Peace Corps has with the JET Program.

“I have a good friend who did the JET Program and loved it,” Whetstine said. “I had always wanted to do it myself, but ended up teaching English in China with the Peace Corps.”

The friend he’s referring to is William Childress, a fellow returnee who served in a nearby town in Southwest China. Whetstine said the two became close friends and traveled together with their wives throughout Asia during vacations (Peace Corps volunteers get 48 vacation days over two years).

“I think the experience William had in Japan—both through teaching and just living in a pretty homogeneous Japanese community—really prepared him for what he faced in China,” Whetstine said. “Because a lot of the things he said were the same. He stood out; he’s not Asian. So people took notice of that and since he was a JET [prior to Peace Corps], he had gotten used to it.”

In fact, Whetstine said his friend’s JET experience proved to be beneficial in more ways than just preparing for cultural immersion; he feels it opened the door to a new dialogue.

“In China there are a lot of preconceived notions about Japan,” Whetstine said. “There’s still a lot of friction there since World War II. And so William was bringing a pretty unique perspective to China….He lived in Japan so he could talk about what real Japanese people were like.”

Whetstine added that his friend’s time in Japan helped him learn Chinese, as he was already “familiar with a lot of the characters.”

Like the JET Program, Peace Corps volunteers sent to China are placed in educational institutions to teach ESL. Unlike JET, though, most of the programs in rural China are at the university level.

“There’s a huge teacher shortage in China right now,” Whetstine said. “We’re going in and teaching basically at teachers’ colleges. So the idea is that the [students] who go to those schools will go on and become teachers in middle and elementary schools.”

 Whetstine said most JET alumni already qualify for a teaching position in the Peace Corps: an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject and at least six months of teaching or tutoring experience in English, literacy or English as a second language.

Such teaching experience will be useful for any facet of the Peace Corps, Wickes said. “Truthfully, the educational program constitutes about 36 percent of the total volunteers, but ultimately most of the volunteers who serve will end up in some type of capacity where they’re teaching.

“And that may not be in a classroom, but it’s teaching health education, or teaching business advising.” 

Such was the case for returned Peace Corps volunteer Lisa Reitmeier, who is now, along with Whetstine, one of Wicke’s eight regional recruiters. 

While Reitmeier served as a health volunteer in a rural community in Africa’s Burkina Faso from 2002 to 2004. Caring for patients suffering from elephantitis, malaria and HIV, she said education was a large part of her service.

“When I left Burkina I had obviously done a lot of health education and so when I came back to America I decided I wanted to teach in high-needs schools. And I worked at a high school in the South Bronx for three years before having this job.”

Teaching in the South Bronx, she said, “was way harder than two years in the Peace Corps… I can easily recruit Peace Corps volunteers. I’d have a harder time recruiting teachers to teaching in high-needs schools.”

Education is such a strong point for the Peace Corps that the organization offers scholarships, assistantships, college credit and stipends to those volunteers seeking graduate school opportunities.

The Peace Corps has partnered with both Master’s International, a program that allows participants to start their graduate degrees on campus then serve overseas with the Peace Corps (while earning academic credit), then return to school to finish their graduate work; and Fellows/USA, which awards returned volunteers with financial benefits like reduced tuition, assistantships and stipends to over 45 participating graduate schools upon completion of the Peace Corps.

Reitmeier completed her Master’s in education at Columbia University with the Fellows/USA program.

When asked about the best part of her Peace Corps experience, she said it was “definitely the relationships that I made with the people in my community. My best friend at the time was 24 years old, she was the third wife of her husband and she had never stepped foot inside a school. She had had four kids, two of whom had died. I mean we just had nothing in common. But we were really best friends… It was a really wonderful experience to be in a relationship with people who just came from a totally different viewpoint in everything.”

It’s this interaction, Wickes says, that makes the program two years in length.

“Really, if you’re there on a short-term basis you’re a tourist. And we’re not tourists,” Wickes said. “We’re there really as a part of their culture.”            

Peace Corps’ New York Regional Office is located at 201 Varick Street in Manhattan. For more info, visit peacecorps.gov.

Of course a nomikai is the official way to end the three-week journey. Otsukaresama IVs!

By Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2002-03) for JQ Magazine

Since becoming a freelance Japanese translator/interpreter/writer, one of the opportunities that I have enjoyed the most has been interpreting for the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). IVLP is an exchange program designed to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through carefully designed visits that reflect the participants’ (the titular IVs) professional interests and to support U.S. foreign policy goals. For IVs, it involves meeting professional counterparts and learning to appreciate America’s ethnic, cultural, political and socioeconomic diversity. 

IVs are established or potential foreign opinion makers in government, public policy, media, education, labor, the arts and other key fields, and after being nominated by someone they are selected by American embassies abroad. Since the program’s inception in 1940, there have been over 140,000 participants (about 5,000 each year), including 290 current and former heads of government such as Tony Blair and several Japanese prime ministers.

However, here in the States all IVs are considered “honorary Americans.” This means that no matter what their rank is back home, during the program everyone is of equal status. This takes quite a bit of pressure off the lowly interpreter (who of course has hopes of being fondly remembered when her former participants go on to become big shots!).

Although different in nature, IVLP makes me feel like I’m continuing the work I did on JET in a new realm. As a coordinator for international relations (CIR) at Kumamoto City Hall, I was involved with our sister city San Antonio, and would guide Texan groups as well as other visitors during their stay. I also interpreted at various international events, thereby serving as both a linguistic and cultural bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. In my current role as an IVLP interpreter I also perform these dual functions, so I often think back to my JET days and how they helped bring me to where I am today.   

I began this work a year ago, and have completed six assignments since then. The themes have ranged from disaster prevention to female entrepreneurship to prison management, and IVs have come from all walks of life (lawyers, professors, shachos, civil servants, etc.) as well as locations ranging from Shimane to Hokkaido. The programs are typically three weeks in duration, kicked off by a week in D.C. and concluded with a short stay on the West Coast.

In between, there are stops in three or so cities that are selected with the purpose of incorporating geographic diversity (like with JET, IVs can submit the destinations they desire). They meet with groups like federal, state and local government agencies, NPOs and corporations, and are also able to visit with average Americans through something called Home Hospitality. This involves having a meal at someone’s house or going out to dinner with the family at a local restaurant. If requested, one-night homestays can also be arranged in one of the cities.

As an interpreter, this is one of the most fulfilling jobs I have. As three weeks on the road is admittedly a long haul and the program is not just 9 to 5, it is not for everyone. However, the IVs are encouraged to get out and explore on their own as much as possible, allowing them to make their own discoveries and give the interpreter a much-needed break. For someone who loves traveling as much as I do, this kind of work is ideal. I feel extremely lucky to be able to go all around the country, meeting many kinds of people and seeing new places that I would not have had the opportunity to be exposed to otherwise. It’s a bonus to take IVs to places as amazing as the Grand Canyon and Frank Lloyd Wright houses across the country!

Professionally, with a different theme each time there is extensive preparation and research that must take place before the assignment even begins. In this way, I’m able to develop a solid base of new Japanese and English vocabulary which at the start may not be familiar, but becomes like second nature by the end. I come away with a significant awareness of an area that mostly was previously unknown. Especially in the beginning of the program, I often spend nights preparing for the next day’s meetings, making me feel like I’m back in school! However, this time around the payoff is greater than a high test grade; I am facilitating both professional communication and informal exchange to enhance the IVs’ experience. After my time with the prison management group, they teased me that I’m probably the only person who can give bilingual lectures on both countries’ prison systems who’s also had firsthand experience at such infamous federal and state correctional facilities as Leavenworth and San Quentin!

One of my favorite aspects of my chosen profession is learning about a wide variety of topics and interacting with different people, making me a perfect fit for IVLP. This program is a use of taxpayer dollars that few people know about, but I think it’s a wonderful example of grassroots international exchange (sound familiar?) and soft power that will benefit America’s future relationship with the world. I just received word that the theme of my next IVLP assignment is human trafficking, which promises another exciting trip and the chance to delve into a completely new field.

For more on the International Visitor Leadership Program, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/ivlp.html.

Read Stacy’s WITLife columns at http://jetwit.com/wordpress/category/wit-life.

Anne with Ambassador Nishimiya (photo by Noriko Furuhata)

 By Anne Koller (Fukuoka-ken, 2002-2004) for JQ Magazine

Having been spotted at various local Japan events, JETs were curious to know more about the new Consul General Shinichi Nishimiya.  JQ talked with Ambassador Nishimiya to find out his plans for the consulate in New York and how JETAANY can help.

How are you and your family adapting to New York life?  What has been the hardest part about living in the city and the most satisfying?  What do you miss the most about our beloved Nippon?

We are adapting very well.  The hardest part has been the weather.  Nobody told us that NY weather is this unstable and unpredictable. [Jokingly] I have been told that there is no spring or fall between the long hot summer and a long, cold winter: then how do you describe what we have now? There is no spring or fall and how do you describe what we are in now? The most satisfying part of living in New York for my wife and I is meeting people.  Everyone has been very welcoming and kind.  I miss ramen!  There are ramen shops everywhere in Japan and they are always open.  You can go to places in New York, but it isn’t the same.  I do think the lack of eating ramen has allowed me to live a healthier life here which my wife is certainly happy about [laughs]. 

I have heard of your spectacular English abilities from various JETs.  When did you start English and what are some secrets you could give to better grasp the language and perhaps culture?

This boils down to curiosity and working hard, which of course is not what everyone wants to hear {laughs}.  Most people interested in languages will say that cramming doesn’t work.  The key is to learn and study from actual experience by picking up phrases from native speakers and using them.  When you hit a wall, which sometimes happens, don’t give up. I know that bridging two languages is difficult but also rewarding.  The intricacies and differences between languages are what make learning them interesting.  Words that don’t translate have always fascinated me.  In Japanese, for example, we have “Gambatte,” “Hisashiburi,” and “Shikataganai/shyoganai” which are difficult, if not impossible, to translate in English.  In English, you have “Identity” which doesn’t truly translate in Japanese, our latest version “Jikodoitsusei” does not fully capture its meaning.   

However, adapting to another culture in an organizational or business situation is a tougher question.  I would suggest learning the ropes from colleagues and teachers daily which will help form a base to build on instead of just plunging in.  Immersing yourself in the culture is very important and many JETs have accomplished this by experiencing taiko, ikebana, and other Japanese activities to adapt easier.  Most importantly, people are unique and it is important for them to have the psychological room to enjoy each other’s differences.

What are your hobbies and when do you find the time to enjoy them?

Fly fishing.  I started during my tenure in the UK and have enjoyed it ever since.  I have already been to the Croton River in Westchester, NY and have planned an upcoming trip to the famous Catskills to try the waters there.  When you are a fly fisher you find and make time to do it.

What made you decide to work in diplomacy and foreign affairs?  What advice would you give for any JETs who are interested in pursuing a career in the foreign service?

It was actually by accident.  As a student at the University of Tokyo I was interested in International Relations and pursing an academic life.  The moment of truth was when I failed the post-graduation exam into a Masters program and decided to work in the public sector in foreign affairs. The advice I would give to JETs interested in public affairs or the foreign service is not a general recommendation but more of a specific mindset. Firstly, be ambitious.  As the historically famous William Smith Clarke, who was involved in the opening of Hokkaido University, said “boys be ambitious.”  Secondly, as I am a “relativist” I would advise people to always see things both in perspective and proportion.  For example, many people focus on the shrinking size of Japan but forget that the size of its economy is still one of the largest in the world, much larger than China.  Thirdly, in all careers, be engaged with the real world and learn as much as possible.

After serving in various Japanese embassies in Moscow, London and Beijing, what is the main difference between Japan’s relationship with the US, UK, Russia and China? 

People sometimes forget that Japan and the US are officially allies and great friends.  Opinion polls conducted in both countries consistently show that we like and trust each other.  In Japanese polls that ask “Which country do you like the most?” the US is always # 1 scoring around 75%. The Foreign Ministry conducts polls every year with Gallup and Japan is always a top trust-worthy ally; 80% for the general public and over 90% with experts.  The basis for this is the “grass roots” friendship found between everyday people and the interest in each other’s culture.  The relationship between Japan and the US cannot be found anywhere else.

As for the UK and Japan, we have many things in common.  We are both tea lovers and island countries on the edge of huge countries.  From my vantage point, Japan has looked and will continue to look towards the UK model in terms of International politics and also its alliance with the US as a model to consider.

Russia is a very important neighbor of Japan.  There is huge room for us to develop more neighbourly relations and work together on mutually beneficial issues together.  The Northern Territory issue is still pending, however. The good news is that it is a rare case in which both sides acknowledge that the territorial issue is there, unresolved, and must be resolved  Although it is taking a long time to come to a mutually agreeable resolution, both governments are eager to resolve the issue.

China is the most important neighbour of Japan and both sides need and should have even more friendly relations.  This is coming at the government level, helped by the expansion of trade and people to people exchanges and travels.  This will position both countries favourably and is fundamental to smoother relationships between Japan and China.

What are the key issues that you will address as Ambassador of Japan in New York? What organizations in New York will be essential to engage to improve Japan-American relations and increase awareness about Japanese culture in New York?

That depends on how long my government keeps me here {he laughs}.  My main goal is to consolidate existing friendships between various groups in New York and bring groups together.  I believe the consulate will be better off if we strive to strengthen the network among stakeholders of Japan.  For example, JET is a prestigious and successful program that exposes people to Japanese culture.  Roughly speaking, there are around 50,000 JET Alumni in the world and around half of them are from the US.  This means that 1 in every 10,000 Americans is a JET Alumni and 1 in 2500 families has a JET.  We hope that through contact with the JETAANY chapter we can work together and capitalize on our mutual interest in each other. 

Additionally, Japanese businesses have a strong linkage with the U.S. thanks to the thriving economic relations, and the consulate appreciates the support given to Japanese activities.  Japan Day @Central Park for example, would not have been possible without the strong business support we received.  I think that when the fun factor gets bigger, it provides a good vehicle for stakeholders and businesses to get together.   

It is natural and healthy to have a series of stakeholders in the U.S. who we can collaborate with to improve Japan-U.S. relations even more.  This will be essential to developing a horizontal network instead of through a vertical approach with the Consulate just maintaining relations with the respective groups.   

How will the economic crisis affect the number of foreign workers in Japan and most importantly the JET programme? 

JETs are very welcome in Japan and the JET Programme remains strong.  The challenge is that the local and central government fund JETs which can be expensive especially during these difficult times.  However, structurally I see no changes and don’t think JETs have anything to fear.  Also, with the Monbukagakusho’s ambitious 2011 timeline to establish English classes in elementary schools there will be a big need for JETs. I foresee the number of JETs accepted increasing in the near future.

What expectations do you have for JETAANY and is there anything you would suggest we encompass in the year 2009?

Actually, there is.  I would like not only JETAANY, but other organizations in New York to come together on a specific project.  The consulate organizes school caravan visits where Japanese volunteers go to local schools.  It is a half day introduction to Japanese culture through sharing various Japanese arts, such as origami, Shuji, etc. with students.  Up until now the consulate has done this on their own but I would love to partner with JETAANY to make it even more successful.  JETAANY has many resources and would be better positioned to do the job.  All of you have learned to be more adaptable and would be great examples for the students to learn from and share Japan culture with.

How has Japan changed when it comes to embracing diversity in the workplace and how do you think the future looks for more women and minorities to work as public figures and leaders in Japan?

My sense is that women are making strides in the workforce and that trend is not reversible.  Although this may be slower in Japan than other countries, there is a steady increase of more female workers in top and leadership positions.  It is an issue that Japan has consistently faced but is hoping to change.  More and more women and minorities are making a name for themselves in the economic pages of newspapers and through mergers and acquisitions of companies.  I don’t foresee any set back for women and minorities in the future but the question for Japan will be of pace and timing.

For more on Ambassador Nishimiya, visit www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/a/03.html.

For a summary of the 2009 U.S. Image of Japan Study opinion poll, visit www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/5/1191907_1134.html.

By Justin Tedaldi, Editor (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) for JQ Magazine

 It was perfect timing. Back in January, Hikaru Utada, the New York-born recording phenomenon who before she was out of her teens notched three of Japan’s top ten bestselling albums (including Number One), was back in town working on a new album for the U.S., and JQ spent a full hour with Hikki to talk of many things, including her new disc This is the One, which hit stores in May.

I know you want to talk about the new album and the single.

The song…

I heard it about two and half weeks ago, as I think I was already on the e-mail list from when your last English album came out.

Oh, right, right, right.

So we go way back. Ten years ago I found out about First Love when I studying Japanese as an undergraduate…

Oh, wow.

It’s amazing to be here now talking about it.

I’m humbled [laughs].

Follow link here: http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2009/06/08/jq-interview-with-hikaru-utada-by-justin-tedaldi

Japan Society President Motoatsu Sakuri (photo by Ken Levinson)

By Justin Tedaldi, Editor (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) for JQ Magazine

Even century-old organizations can find new ways to change. In April, New York’s Consul General of Japan Motoatsu Sakurai became the first Japanese president of the city’s esteemed Japan Society. JQ talked with President Sakurai (who has graciously hosted JET gatherings at his home numerous times over the years) shortly after his inauguration to ask about his new plans and ideas for the future.

How did become the new president of Japan Society? Did you campaign, or were you appointed directly by their board of directors?

I have long been an admirer of Japan Society, its mission and its programs. In fact, I served as member of Japan Society’s Board of Directors from 2003 until my appointment as Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York, after which I became an Honorary Director. Towards the end of my term as Ambassador, when former president Richard J. Wood was looking to retire, the Society’s board approached me to see if I had interest in the position. As my first venture into the nonprofit sector, leading this venerable 102-year old organization seemed like—and now is—an exciting new challenge.

You previously served as Consul General of Japan in New York, and president of both Mitsubishi International Corporation, USA and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New York. What kinds of skills developed from those positions do you think will be key as you begin your tenure at Japan Society?

In both the public and private sectors, you need to pay attention to the people you are serving. That is most important, I think. At Japan Society we have to be mindful of the bottom line, resourceful, and constantly building a better product. Everything one does in good business. At the same time, there is a diplomatic core to what we do in terms of building relationships, whether funders and partners who support our wide range of programs, or world leaders who participate in our endeavor.

Regarding your platform, what things will you do for Japan Society, and where do you see it in five years?

I did not come to Japan Society with any fixed ideas. I have made a point to meet with all staff to learn about the Society, and to listen to our stakeholders, including board members. I would like to continue the great work Japan Society has accomplished for over 100 years. To foster a constructive, resonant and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan remains our goal.

Japan Society has historically been a place to network–one-on-one and with groups of varying disciplines. Looking ahead, we need to better engage an international audience through new technologies as well as maximize our physical space—the five-story Junzo Yoshimura-designed building that houses our art gallery, 262 seat auditorium, language center, boutique shop and 4 floors of administrative offices.

More broadly speaking, we have entered a new era of U.S.-Japan relations. The bilateral relationship has grown very complex in the global sphere—one could even say it is now multilateral. Therefore, the work of Japan Society has become increasingly multifaceted.

What are some of your favorite events that you’ve attended at Japan Society in the past?

I have attended so many outstanding events in recent years, it is very hard to select just a few (also, I should mention, Japan Society presents over 100 events every year.) I enjoy the performances we present—from the traditional noh theater we had outdoors to cutting-edge contemporary dance that defies description. We mount three exhibitions every year that are extraordinarily beautiful, varied and unlike anything you will see at the major museums in the New York, from 12^th century zen figure paintings to incredible modern bamboo sculptures. Currently, KRAZY!, an exhibition of manga, anime and video games–art forms having a huge influence on American youth culture, has drawn record crowds to our Gallery. I enjoy attending our family programs where children of all ages and nationalities learn about Japanese customs. Our corporate programming is exceptionally appealing to business leaders and policy makers. We were honored recently to welcome the Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa. If you were there, you would have seen me in the first row taking notes. I believe it is never too late to learn something new!

There are also incredible programs not immediately visible that I have discovered since coming to Japan Society. Our U.S.-Japan Innovators Network is a pioneering network of visionary Japanese and Americans working to create a better future, and our Education Program, which engages educators and students throughout New York, has created an invaluable online resource, About Japan, that helps teachers around the world teach about Japan.

Because this is for the JETAANY magazine, I should mention our Toyota Language Center. We offer 12 levels of Japanese language instruction, teacher training, and shodo calligraphy classes. Who knows, perhaps you will find me there brushing up my skills, so to speak.

In this recession, budgets are facing a tough time, especially the arts. How will this affect Japan Society?

During my first weeks at Japan Society, I was pleasantly surprised to find the organization in strong standing. We had just completed an incredibly visible centennial celebration. Programming remained robust, and staff was as diligent and deeply engaged as ever. Like every organization today, though, Japan Society is facing unprecedented challenges with resources and development. We have had to make hard decisions and cuts. By addressing the issues early, we have prepared for the difficult months ahead that will surely continue into 2010. I feel we are in a good position to maintain strong and steady programming, which has been our priority through the crisis, but the struggle is a constant right now.

The interesting thing is that while fundraising has become increasingly challenging, audiences have been growing, whether for our exhibitions, as mentioned, our family events, or for our recent Tora-san film series (which your generous writers praised a few months back). Our website traffic has even grown significantly in the past six months. I think this has as much to do with our commitment to programming as it does with people’s interest in Japan and their desire for education and entertainment in these difficult times. We are pleased we can continue to fill these needs.

What kinds of events or changes would you personally like to bring to Japan Society?

Since 1907, Japan Society has been a place of friendship, sharing, and understanding. I don’t want to change that. My job is to support our accomplished staff—highly engaged individuals who have steadily evolved Japan Society into a hub of dynamic and diverse thoughts and encounters.

There are things we can do to amplify this. We are currently looking for innovative ways to minimize cost and maximize our revenue and outreach. Are we being energy efficient? Are administrative expenses as low as they can be? Are our technologies up-to-date? Is our programming reaching and engaging the broadest audience? Have we identified new areas of exchange? Are we connecting to everyone in America that has an interest in Japan? What can Japan learn from the American perspective? These are questions we continuously pose as we address what Japan Society does.

Name some of your highlights as ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York, and what you liked best about the job.

There were many challenges to the job–dealing with bureaucracy being a surprisingly tough one–but there were many more rewards that came from serving the people. I was honored to bring business leaders from Japan to meet U.S. officials, including Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, and Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania.

During my term as Consul General, I also helped create Japan Day @ Central Park, an annual outdoor cultural festival hosted by the Japanese community in New York. The event drew some 35,000 people in 2008, involving everyone from major corporations and nonprofit organizations to individual supporters. It was humbling to be among so many Japanese, American and international friends, and to give something back to New Yorkers for their hospitably and enthusiasm.

What’s the overall impression you have of the JET Programme after meeting and working with so many JET alums?

I commented while Ambassador that the JET Programme is one of the top programs organized by the Japanese government. The mission to promote grass-roots international exchange between Japan and other nations is invaluable. The program engages thousands of people in many countries and creates an effective network for Americans interested in Japan and for Japanese living in the States. I commend the community engagement and overall training excellence the program engenders. It is no coincidence that there are four JET Programme alums on staff at Japan Society.

Besides New York, where are some of your other places in America, and why?

I lived and worked for 14 years in Washington, D.C. I raised my daughters there. It is an exceptionally international and wonderful town. The difference between it and New York is that in D.C., internationals function as foreigners. As a person from Japan you are Japanese there. In New York, everyone functions as a New Yorker. I am a New Yorker in New York. It is truly a melting pot.

Did CGJ do anything in particular for the Obama campaign, and what are your thoughts about our new president?

In government office, we are not allowed partisan work. There was no room for political activity of that kind.

Japan Society seeks to bring more Japanese arts and culture to Americans. How can we continue to promote those things to Americans who might be unfamiliar with Japanese culture?

That is a very good question. I will take it further: how do we let people know that some things they take for granted are Japanese. Sushi, manga, and sake have all become common. People may forget the rich cultural legacy that brought them to the table. This is one of the reasons Japan Society is so vital. Our programming and projects are not only great introductions to Japanese culture—sometimes even for native Japanese people—but they are invaluable means to deepen appreciation and understanding of what is uniquely Japanese.

This is a very different time from when Japan Society was founded over 100 years ago. We live in a global culture and sometimes take for granted the cultural importance of what is around us. America as we know it is just 250 years old. It moves very fast and changes quickly. Japan’s culture dates back thousands of years. It can be more reflective and reluctant to change. Between the two cultures there is still so much to discover and share. Japan Society brings this forward, focuses it and expands the process for everyone’s benefit—in the U.S., Japan and the world.

Who in your opinion are the most influential Japanese people to have a positive impact on America?

I think Japan itself has had the most impact. Everywhere you look now, you see its presence: in food, fashion, film, art, music and architecture. Some of our top baseball players are Japanese. Educators everywhere are using kamishibai and manga as teaching tools. The list goes on. People are surrounded by Japan’s influence and they are not aware of it. I want to make sure they are.

For more on President Sakurai, visit http://www.japansociety.org/content.cfm/bios#Motoatsu Sakurai.

JET alum/Inuyama city councilman Anthony Bianchi

By Michael Glazer (Chiba-ken, 1995-97) for the JETAANY Newsletter 

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn native Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, 1987-91), the first-ever North American to hold an elected position in Japan, is still going strong in his role as a city councilman in Inuyama-shi, Aichi-ken. Michael Glazer (Chiba-ken, 1995-97) recently did a recorded interview with Anthony to discuss the hot local topics, learn more about politics in Japan and get a sense of how things look across the pond. 

You have a very interesting background. How does a JET program teacher become a city council member? 

Well, I’ll try to make the story as short as possible. I studied filmmaking at New York University and I was interested in Kurasawa films and whatnot, and I was out in L.A. for a while. I came back to New York. I was working for New York City and I saw an ad in the paper about the Expo that was held in Gifu about 20 years ago. So I went over to Japan on a homestay program and decided it would be nice to try to live there for a year or so. I joined the JET pro­gram, stayed for a couple years, and decided I wanted to stay longer. 

 I was teaching, working for the Board of Education in Inuyama, and I kind of got involved in the administra­tive aspects of it. I was banging my head against a lot of brick walls and finding that I had to get in touch with the mayor and the city council people to help back up what we were doing. I finally got to a point where I got tired of complaining about things and needing other people’s help, so I decided to try and do something my­self. I ran in the election and somehow I got elected, believe it or not. 

Once you were elected into office, were there any things early on that struck you as unexpected? 

Yes, actually there were a few things in the beginning. One was that the coun­cil sessions seemed to go a little bit too smoothly for my liking. At first I thought I was missing something. That maybe people were somehow getting information through all the channels that I wasn’t quite in touch with yet. But I started to realize there’s a tendency here where, once things get to the council session, the katachi, the form is more important than the content. 

As long as the council session isn’t too rocky, everything is considered to be going well. Once proposals from the mayor or the city get to the council floor for a vote, by and large they get passed. I just felt there wasn’t enough debate about certain things. It also took me a little while to learn the procedures and learn what I could do about that myself. 

Lately I’ve been putting out more legislation and trying to cause more debate than usual. Actually, in the last council session, I caused a bit of a debate that some people didn’t care for, and it became sort of a hot topic. But these are important things that need to be discussed and not just “rubber stamped.” Some people don’t like it. But, you know, I’m from Brooklyn, so what are you going to do about it. [Said in a humorous tone.] 

So how does debate happen in Japan? 

In the U.S., there seems to be a little more debate and people giving their opinions as the leg­islative session goes on. Here, sometimes there’s a lot of back and forth, before the session starts. But once it starts, what they do is try to drag things out. Once it’s officially turned into a bill and it’s on the agenda, people don’t want to vote against it. 

You must have learned a whole lot in the process of running for office. 

Actually, we were fairly lucky. I had some people around us who were familiar with the process who gave us some hints. We decided we should campaign by instinct. I don’t know if you’re familiar with campaigning in Japan. It’s a lot of people out there with sound trucks repeating their name over and over again and annoying catch phrases, especially on this level. We decided that we would just let people know what we wanted to do. I say “we” because this is not some­thing you really do on you own. People who decided to support me had the same kind of ideas about what was wrong with the city and what needed to be done as I did. So we just let people know what our ideas were, and we hoped that enough of them would write my name on a little piece of paper on election day and we would get a chance to do something about it. 

You mentioned a split in bunmei (civilizations) within the city council.  

It’s been really difficult to try and put our finger on how to deal with it. I don’t think there’s anything devious about it. But they really believe that up until the administration decides on the agenda you can say whatever you want. But once it’s decided, it’s your job as a council person to make sure that things get implemented and move ahead smoothly. 

But I think, if you don’t think it’s a good policy, you have to fight it until the end. And the difference is, they’re acting as a spokesman for the administration. But that’s not really our job. Our job is to be a spokesman for the people. And I think it’s better to judge every policy on its own merits all the time, every time, until the end. 

Are you seeing generational dynamics play out in Japanese politics? 

What I found that was surprising in the last city council election, seven new members were elected. I used to think I was one of the younger guys when I first got elected, but I ain’t anymore. 

But now I see even some of the younger guys still have what I like to call a kind of old fashioned way of thinking where everybody has to work in lock step, and to reach a final decision, we all have to look like we agreed on something. The thing is some of the older members aren’t that strict about doing things that way. So it’s kind of strange. It’s not really based on age. And yes, in Japan, it’s changing a little bit. Actually, the American election now is causing some interest here in the fact that, within the next month or so, they are probably going to dissolve the upper and lower house. And there’ll be an election here. And the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) is worried about the timing. 

If in the American election, Obama gets elected, that represents change. The LDP has been in power for 50 years since the end of World War II and that wouldn’t bode well for them, so they’re trying to avoid that timing. That generational as­pect– I don’t know if it’s generational aspect, or a cultural aspect — is kind of like a split in civilization. I would just say in our council we have a problem that is one of bunmei. We have two different civilizations in our city council. 

Listen to  the full podcast at  http://jetaany.org/documents/JETAA-Bianchi-Interview.mp3.

JET alum George Rose with Yankees captain Derek Jeter after winning the 1998 World Series

By Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2002-03) for the JETAANY Newsletter

JET Alum George Rose (Fukushima-ken, 1989-91) has mingled with Japanese royalty, interpreted for two baseball superstars named Hideki (Irabu and Matsui) and cur­rently heads Yankee operations in Japan. How did this New York native manage to accomplish all this in his post-JET life? The JETAANY Newsletter had a chance to talk with George about his past exploits and his present position. Here are some excerpts from Stacy, who is collabo­rating with George to lead Japanese tours during games at Yankee Stadium this summer.

What was your post-JET career path?

I was going for my MBA at Co­lumbia when I had the opportunity to become the interpreter for the new Yankee Hideki Irabu, so I took a leave of absence and worked with him from ’98-’99. When he got traded, I resume my studies and after graduation worked on Wall Street. When Hideki Matsui came over, I did a bit of interpret­ing for him such as at his opening press confer­ence. Because at the time I had my own business I wasn’t able to do this full-time, but I did help with the interview process for his interpreter. Then last year the Yankees asked if I was interested in help­ing out with the opening of their office in Tokyo, and I went over last summer.

 Can you tell us a little bit about the Yankees operations in Tokyo?

Well, it’s just me, myself and I! I work in a flex office where there are several women (one of whom is my wonderful secretary) who help out several companies in the building by answering phones, etc. My title is Director of Pacific Rim Operations and I com­prise the company. My job is half baseball opera­tions and half business development. The former involves compiling information and reading ar­ticles and sending what I gather back home. I also make sure the Japanese scout gets where he needs to be and that his reports get where they need to go. I am not qualified to be a scout, but I do supervise scout activities. The latter responsibility involves searching for sponsorships for the new stadium, particularly from the luxury sector. I’m generating business development and always looking for new ideas and opportunities. The President of the team will often ask me to check into something, so that is also one of my responsibilities. Basically I’m just keeping my ear to the ground looking for poten­tial business opportunities for the Yankees in Asia.

I can imagine the Yankees are a hot com­modity in Japan. How do people react when they find out that’s who you work for?

Yes, the fact that the Yankees are so big in Japan is what makes my job so in­ teresting and exciting. Everyone loves them! They’re one of the most well-known brands in Japan and the world, and people are especially crazy about baseball here. No matter who they are, everyone wants to talk about the Yankees! In this respect, finding sponsorship is relatively easy.

What’s been the most challenging aspect of your job?

The need to be on call 24/7. Be­cause I am communicating with ev­eryone back home, I get a lot of phone calls from NY at midnight and other late hours. Very often I have to work on their schedule. I came here with my family so in a way this can be tough. My son is two and half so I’ll see him for dinner and then go back to working once he goes to sleep. I think it’s harder for my wife because she doesn’t speak Japanese so when I am busy it can be a bit isolating for her.

 What is it like being back in Japan after all this time?

Well, it had been 19 years ago that I last lived here so it was a real hiatus! But I love being back. The people are nice and it’s an easy place to live, let alone the food being awesome! When I was in the States I spoke Japanese and worked for Japanese companies, but it is still not the same as being in Japan again and being immersed in the culture here. To tell the truth, I am really into the o-warai (comedy) TV genre and watch all those goofy TV shows. They are slapstick and stupid, but I really enjoy them. My favorite celebrity used to be Beat Takeshi, but now I’m into popular comedian Yoshio Kojima who appears in a small bathing suit saying “Sonna no kankei nee!” (“What does that matter?”). I also like Down­town. But if you think about it, o-warai talent are the same as the convenience store onigiri here. You can find new flavors every week!

Are you in touch with any JET alums?

In Tokyo I do tend to see many former JETs. For example, the other day I gave a presentation at the American Chamber of Commerce that had been orga­nized by the young professionals committee, which is headed by two former JETs. In addition, when I was done speaking, about four or five people in the audience came up to me and introduced themselves as former JETs. So you never know where they are going to appear! It’s great to have that connection.

You were one of the initial JETs when the program first started in the late ’80s. What was that like?

I was in a very small town in Fukushima and there had only been one guy there before me. Being in the countryside gives you a lot of opportunities to speak Japanese! I’m not sure what it’s like now, but at the time I was the only American. Before I went on JET I was actually a teacher at a public middle school in Brooklyn, so working in Ja­pan was my second job and I spent two years there. Japanese people are great, because as you know they invite you out all the time. I literally could have been doing something every night of the week! Back in the day, there were about 35 JETs scattered around the prefecture. But thinking about it now, we were really limited in terms of hav­ing no Internet, no cable TV, and there was barely even satellite. As a result, I watched a lot of Japanese TV, which helped my language skills. However, even though I limited my calls home to only a couple of hours a month, due to KDD’s monopoly on phone service my bill was always somewhere around $350! I chalked that up to the cost of living in Japan, but communications were few and far between compared to today.

What was it like when you returned home after finishing JET? Did JETAA exist in New York yet?

It did and I was president of the group in the early to mid-’90s. Thanks to JETAA, we all became friends after getting back home, and we did many of the same things you enjoy today like nomikai. The annual softball tournament with Japanese companies is something we started in the early ’90s! I heard JETAA finally received non-profit status. That application process was something I started back then though we weren’t officially recognized at the time. The highlight of my tenure as president was when Japan’s emperor and empress visited NY and there was a reception for them at Japan Society. About 40 JETs were invited to attend, and they held the function in the room off the lobby. I got to greet them at the door as I was President, so that was pretty thrilling. At the reception there was a por­tion called, “What Are JETs Doing Now?” and we had made a slide show for that. After the usual speeches we made a reception line which the Emperor and Empress went down and chatted individually with each person.

Read Stacy’s WITLife columns at http://jetwit.com/wordpress/category/wit-life.