JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following employment opportunity through the Ontario Public Service Career website, and thought it might be of interest to former Canadian JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
With offices in Canadian Embassies in Europe, Asia and North America, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade’s International Marketing Centres are headed by people familiar with the needs of their particular market—and the business advantages Ontario can offer it. The Ministry is also an important resource for local economic development offices interested in attracting foreign investment or finding export markets.
Situated in the Canadian Embassy, a unique three-year opportunity exists with the Ministry to represent Ontario in Tokyo, Japan. Bring your strong knowledge of global economic development and trade issues to promote and project Ontario’s image for business opportunities.
In this high profile role, you will: assist in determining priorities, objectives and strategies for trade, investment and general business relations with Japan; propose to the ministry annual programming for Japan and implement as approved; network with media; provide advice to senior government and business leaders; provide high-quality intelligence on Japan; work with various ministries, levels of government, private-sector companies and organizations, and academic institutions.
Event: “Building A Successful Career – Jump Start Your Future!” (Tokyo)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following career workshop being held by CareerCross, and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
CareerCross is holding a special career development seminar, in Japanese, called “Building A Successful Career – Jump Start Your Future!” on September 9 (Wed) at Spazio 2 in Ebisu.
Best selling author, Ms. Kyoko Yukawa, along with award-winning career advisor, Tetsuya Sakabe will give a rare seminar open to the public on strategies for taking control of your career and future.
Learn how to better your communication skills, build your network, brand yourself and be one of those that are “in demand.” If your career seems stalled, this is where you are going to learn how to revitalize it.
Any JET alums planning to attend the NAFSA Regional Conference Nov. 2-5?
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Pam Kavalam (Shiga Prefecture, ’07-’09) is planning on attending the NAFSA Regional Conference (http://www.region10.nafsa.org/Region%20X%20New/Conferences_Workshops/conf2009/index.htm) in Springfield, MA from November 2-5 and would like to connect to other JET alums who are interested in going.
NAFSA (www.nafsa.org) is the professional association for international higher education administration.
If you’re interested in, or already working inm study abroad, international student advising and recruitment or international education in general, this is the conference for you. It’s a great way to network within the Boston and New York areas, learn more about the field, and attend workshops that you can put on your resume.
Contact Pam for details about registration, transportation, hotel information, volunteering and costs.
There’s a short article in the New York Times titled “Healthcare Abroad: Japan” which is part of a series that looks at healthcare systems in other countries. It briefly gets at what works well, what the weak points are and why it’s that way.
How do JETs and JET alums feel about Japanese healthcare and the points in this article? Share your thoughts by posting a comment.
See this recent post on JetWit (“JET alumni and healthcare“) for additional discussion of JET alumni and their experiences and concerns with healthcare.
Update: Turns out PBS’ Frontline did a documentary called “Sick Around the World“ which examined the healthcare systems in five countries, including Japan, which you can watch on their website here.
Academia: JET alum Christopher Hood heads Japanese Studies Centre at Cardiff University
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Thanks to Dr. Andrew Staples (Fukuoka-ken, 1996-99) (whom we learned about thanks to Eleanor Robinson (CIR Aomori-ken, 1999-2002)), JetWit has learned of another JET alum in the world of academia:
Dr. Christopher P. Hood (Aichi-ken, 1993-94) is the Director of the Cardiff Japanese Studies Centre at with is part of the Cardiff Business School at Cardiff University in the U.K.
Chris’ website does a good job of describing his background and career path as well as listing his books and other publications. Hopefully it serves as a guide and perhaps inspiration for other JET alums as well:
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Having become interested in Japan while I was at Concord College, I went on to study Japanese Studies and Business Studies at the School of East Asian Studies (University of Sheffield). Then, after a year on the JET Programme, I returned to Sheffield to do a PhD. Since August 2000, I have been a lecturer at and the Director of the Cardiff Japanese Studies Centre, part of the Cardiff Business School at Cardiff University. I am also an Associate Fellow at Chatham House.
I have also been working on a number of other projects over the past few years. For example, I was the editor of The Politics of Modern Japan, a 4 volume collection of articles on Japanese politics, published in 2008. I was also co-editor, with Prof. G. Bownas and D. Powers, of Doing Business with the Japanese, published in 2003.
My research interests relating to Japan are broad, however the central themes are relating to identity and symbolism. My doctoral research and first book, Japanese Education Reform: Nakasone’s Legacy, were on education reforms in Japan and the influence of Prime Minister Nakasone.
My next project was on the shinkansen (‘bullet train’), looking at the ways in which it both reflects aspects of Japanese society and the ways in which it has influenced Japanese society. This book, Shinkansen – From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan, was published originally in 2006, with a paperback version published in 2007.
I am currently writing a book about the Japan Airlines flight JL123 crash in 1985. Although the book, Dealing with Disaster in Japan: Japanese and Global Responses to the Flight JL123 Crash, due to be published in 2011, will discuss the reasons for the crash, it will primarily be looking at what can be learnt about Japanese, and to some extent global, society by looking at what happened following the crash.
After this I am planning a book which will bring together my research to date as well as including some new material based on further fieldwork which has been ongoing for the past couple of years. This book will be looking at identity within Japan using several topics (education, attitudes to city mergers, attitudes to natural and man-made disasters, and attitudes to the development of the shinkansen network) as case studies.
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To learn more about Chris and his publications, go to the following links:
- Chris’ website: http://www.hood-online.co.uk/index.php
- Chris’ books and other publications: http://www.hood-online.co.uk/publications/
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You may have read recently about Eleanor Robinson (CIR Aomori-ken, 1999-2002) and her work with the new Doshisha Global MBA Program which begins in September. Thanks to Eleanor, we’ve also learned about another JET alum, Dr. Andrew Staples (Fukuoka-ken, 1996-99), who is a Special Visiting Professor at Doshisha Business School with a number of published writings that should be of interest to the JET alumni community.
Here’s more about Andrew and his career path so far:
JetWit: We understand your work has been published. Can you tell us what and where?
Andrew: I’ve published a few times with Palgrave in the Asian Business Series including the chapter in the new textbook (we are in the process of making PowerPoint slides to accompany the book, which has been selling well), a chapter in an edited volume titled Emerging Multiplicity, and my own single authored text published last year, Responses to Regionalism, which was based on my PhD thesis.
Publications by Andrew Staples:
- Asian Business and Management: Theory, Practice and Perspectives (see chapter 4)
- Responses to Regionalism in East Asia – Chapter titled “Japanese Production Networks in the Automotive Sector”
- Emerging Multiplicity – Integration and Responsiveness in Asian Business Development
JetWit: What was your path from JET to academics?
A: I was an ALT for two years in a senior high in Fukuoka prefecture before becoming the ALT prefectural coordinator in Fukuoka City for the final year. After JET I enrolled at the School of East Asian Studies (SEAS), University of Sheffield, U.K. to study for an MSc in East Asian Business (1999-2000). I funded this, by the way, with my pension and tax refund and a bit of university English teaching here and there, which is something other JETs could consider doing. Read More
Starting in September, Doshisha University in Kyoto will begin offering its Global MBA Program through its Graduate School of Business at Doshisha University in Kyoto. And JET alum Eleanor Robinson (CIR Aomori-ken, 1999-2002) is actively involved in the administration of the program.
After leaving the JET Programme in 2002, Eleanor Robinson studied International Relations at Kyoto University with a focus on the history of Anglo-Japanese relations. She is still in the process of completing her PhD thesis while also currently working full-time as an administrator for the Graduate School of Business at Doshisha University in Kyoto. Her job is to translate documents, assist international students and a range of other tasks. Eleanor notes that all of the classes on the Global MBA will be in English with an “Asia focus” and the program has a student cohort of 23 people from all over the world.
Links:
- Doshisha’s Global MBA – http://gmba.doshisha.ac.jp/
- Eleanor’s blog about her research and other work at Doshisha University: http://eleanorinjapan.wordpress.com/
- JetWit Study Program Page (listing all graduate and other programs of study we know of that might be of interest to JETs and JET alums): http://jetwit.com/wordpress/graduate-school/
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(Originally posted on April 28, 2009.)
Here’s your chance to help JetWit. Just share a comment on this post saying what you like about JetWit. (Or email your comment to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com and I’ll post it.)
Thanks for your help and yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Update: Thanks to everyone who has posted comments so far!
Job: In-House Translator at Nikko Asset Management (Tokyo)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following in-house translation opportunity through the Honyaku E <> J Mailing List and thought it might be of interest to former JETs. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Nikko Asset Management is currently looking for a J to E translator (native English) to work full time in-house at their Tokyo HQ location. Material to be translated includes analyst reports, formal letters, articles, contracts and ad hoc documents.
They are seeking an eager and forward-thinking professional. Prior finance translation experience is not necessary, but it is important to be interested in finance, writing, and language; to be experienced in translation in any industry; and to be a quick learner. The compensation is about 6 million yen base plus bonus.
Interview selection will be based on resumes and writing samples. Interested parties should e-mail their resume and a writing sample directly to Ken Cogger, or to the Nikko Asset Management careers e-mail address to apply. The first interview will also include a brief translation test. Note that Nikko Asset Management is NOT currently seeking freelance translators.
Graphic novelist Lars Martinson seeks funding for comic book about East Asian calligraphy
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JET alum Lars Martinson, author of the graphic novel Tonoharu: Part 1, is not only currently studying East Asian calligraphy in Ehime-ken, he wants to write a comic book about his experience. And he’s in the process of seeking funding to help make this happen.
If you’ve seen Tonoharu: Part 1, you know that “comic book” barely does justice to Lars’ sophisticated and detailed drawing style. And having won a Monbusho Scholarship to help him fund the production of Tonoharu: Part 1, Lars knows a thing or two about getting funding (as further demonstrated in a previous blog post titled “How to Apply for a Monbusho Scholarship“).
That said, it’s never easy getting funding and income as an artist/illustrator. (See, e.g., Lars’ recent post on adapting his drawing style for professional and practical purposes.) So if anyone can provide any assistance or leads to help Lars with funding, please feel free to get in touch with him at blog [at] larsmartinson [dot] com.
For information about Lars, you can read his blog at http://larsmartinson.com. You can also read a nice article about Lars from the Winter 2008 “Digital Media” Issue of the JETAA NY Newsletter, written by Alexei Esikoff (Fukushima-ken, 2001-02).
This past Thursday evening, Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, gave a talk for the students in the Keio Academy of New York Japanese-English Bilingual Summer Program in Purchase, NY in connection with a two-week Digital Media Creation program.
Additional speakers in the program include Michael Arias, director of “ANIMATRIX” and “Tekkonkinkreet,” Shoji Kawamuri, animation director and mechanical designer and Yuji Nunokawa, CEO of animation producer Pierrot Co., Ltd.
James Scanlon-Canegata returned from JET last year and, in addition to pursuing research on religious studies, he’s also started working as a professional translator. Recently, after taking a freelance job from a large translation company, he learned that he was expected to use translation software to aid his work. This led him to the honyaku Google group to seek advice and perspective on the software issue.
JetWit thought it would be interesting to hear what James has learned so far and share it for the benefit of the JET and JET alum community. Read on for his experience so far:
I was also completely unaware that translators used any kind of translation software when I first started thinking about doing it. I have a friend who does English-Portuguese translation and I first found out from her that this is something most professional translators use. When I did my first paid translation I just worked on Word and excel and it was very slow-going and tedious at some points. That’s when I started to wonder if translation software could help move things along.
I have a Mac and so I tried a couple of free translation programs that I saw recommended on online forums. I ended up feeling mostly confused about, well, everything. But specifically, I had the most trouble with the actual interface of the applications. The program would isolate a small area to be translated automatically and the idea is that you would go along and translate the parts until you’re through. But, with Japanese of course you have to start from the tail-end of the sentence and translate backwards a lot of times and it seemed like the application just wasn’t programmed for that type of translation. The same would go with sets of sentences where the meaning just won’t come out right if it is translated into English word-for-word in its original order. The program also seemed to break sentences up into seemingly random segments without any regard for periods or commas or common sense (on terms of a Japanese-English translation type of common sense).
This may just be because I’m an inexperienced translator, but my theory was that the software was geared Read More
With healthcare legislation front and center in the U.S. and many JETs set to leave the womb of JET life, not to mention the tough job market and high unemployment rate, I thought this might be a good time to ask the JET and JET alum community (and not just the U.S.):
How are you feeling about health insurance and healthcare these days?
Do you have it?
Are you worried about it?
What are your options?
What challenges or problems have you faced or do you expect to face?
Post your comments here for the benefit of the JET alumni and Friend of JET community.
Yoroshiku.
Event: “Behavioral Selling – Getting inside your Client’s Brain!” (Tokyo)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following career workshop being held by CareerCross, and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Are you selling at your maximum potential? Do you wonder why you turn some prospects “on” and some “off”? How much more sales could you make if you could better understand your prospects/clients, their strengths & weaknesses and how they react?
People are different, and buy for different reasons. A salesperson that understands Behavioral Selling knows how to recognize behavioral styles, adapts accordingly, and closes more sales!
CareerCross is proud to offer Dr. David Sweet’s popular Half-Day interactive workshop “Behavioral Selling – Getting Inside Your Client’s Brain!” At this workshop, you will learn the styles to which you naturally sell well and which are costing you sales. By improving your understanding of buyer motivation and client needs, you will improve their trust in you leading to increased success.
International education: Houston Community College Has Global Appeal
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A significant number of JET alumni are working in, or interested in working in, the field of international education programs, also sometimes referred to as student services. With that in mind, here’s a good written and radio piece from NPR’s Weekend Edition titled “Houston Community College Has Global Appeal.” The piece delves into a trend of community colleges reaching out to international students and even setting up school outposts in foreign countries, partly as a way to recruit.
For any JET alumni interested in getting into the field of international education programs, it’s worth being aware that there may be some great opportunities available at the small college level.
