James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, has a strangely compelling post on his blog asking readers to help him write the ending to the first book he ever wrote–The Strange Ship.

[A]s a lark, back in November I posted The Strange Ship, the first book I ever wrote (I was seven years old). I mentioned I had written a sequel. Some of the students in Mrs. Vivian’s fifth grade class asked me to put it online. My pleasure!

In The Strange Ship, two nameless space explorers called “moneymen” and their trusty droid 5-0-6 stumbled upon a strange ship full of monsters (including the giants Carziperes, Diploziperes, and Zarzit). The moneymen then proceeded to blow up the ship by making all the monsters simultaneously sneeze.

Clearly a sequel was required, to tie up all those loose ends. So let me take you back to March 13, 1981-almost exactly 28 years ago-and The Strange Ship: Part II.

However, I must warn you-the last couple pages are, tragically, missing! The story breaks off right in the middle of the climax! But America, my carelessness is your opportunity. I propose a contest. Draw / write YOUR OWN ending to The Strange Ship: Part II and send it to me! Let’s make the deadline April 15, 2009. I’ll post the new endings right here on this blog, and there will be prizes!

Click here to read the full post and experience the wonderful drawings in their entirety.

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Click here to vote for Suzette Simon (Tochigi-ken) (aka “The Subway Comic“) to be one of the entrants in Caroline’s “March Madness.”  (Here’s the full voting URL address:  http://www.like2laugh.com/comics/comedian.php?ent=-%20Suzette%20Simon%20-)

“March Madness” hosted by Caroline’s Comedy Club is one of NYC’s most challenging and fun comedy competitions. It’s 64 comics going head to head for comedy glory! However, to win it, she’s got to get in it.  So help Suzette out by voting her in.   (You can vote OFTEN but only once a day.)

The deadline is Sunday, March 1.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Learn more about Suzette at her website:  http://www.subwaycomic.com/ and by watching this NY1 feature on her.

JET Alum Suzette Brown (Tochigi-ken), a casting producer, shared the following two casting calls:

1.  PURSUIT OF HEALTH

Currently seeking men and women from a variety of ethnicities, ages and Tri-State area locations for a health series for the web for a major online provider.    This is not scripted.  Casting for real stories.

The topic is staying healthy and the series is hosted by two health experts.   We’re looking to feature people with 2 types of health stories – inspirations and interventions.    With interventions, we’re looking for people with a real life health issue (nothing major) that our host helps to resolve.   With inspirations, we will showcase various people who will share their tips and show us how they remain healthy (e.g. a dancer who has to nurse her aches and pains so she can dance her next show, a singer tells how she nurses a sore throat, etc).

I’d love to find someone who uses Japanese remedies to stay healthy.

Compensation is $200 for a half day shoot to tell your story.   Must be available on March 7 to audition.  Please respond with a blurb on your own unique strategy for staying well or tell us what your health issue is.   You can email: Read More

Writer and artist Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, 2003-05) recently submitted the below entry for the manga contest sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a contest which I’m guessing ties in with Prime Minister Taro Aso’s “manga diplomacy” (explained in more detail in NPR’s 10/3/08 interview with Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99).  I encourage everyone to take look at Meredith’s wonderful work that pays homage to the JET Program as well as to the world of manga.  (Suggestion:  Click the button at the bottom of the video player to expand the screen so you can read the dialogue.)

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Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has reviewed all haiku submissions containing the designated word “pop“ for Haiku Challenge #3 and has selected a winner to receive a free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime:  From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle.

Says Roland:  “As a half-Japanese drummer and writer, I can’t resist finding a paradiddle and bubble-blowing carp in a haiku. Congratulations, Julie Matysik–and thanks to all for stellar contributions.”

THE WINNER

A paradiddle.

The sticks connect, pop, bounce,

like koi blowing bubbles.

–Julie Matysik (Yamanashi-ken, 2006-07)

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Click “Read More” to read the rest of the haiku submissions…
Read More

In case you haven’t recently checked the CLAIR website, here is the official announcement about the 17th Annual JET Programme Essay Competition.  This year’s submissions are due by Friday, March 13, 2009.  This annual contest is open to both current and former JETs.

Shannon Rochelle Quinn
JETAA USA Country Rep 2006-2009

Prizes (tentative, based on last year)

Japanese Language Division

Grand Jury Prize \ 100,000 (1 entry)
Prize for Excellence \ 50,000 (1 entry)
Honourary Mention \ 10,000 (3 entries)

Foreign Language Division

Grand Jury Prize \ 100,000 (1 entry)
Prize for Excellence \ 50,000 (1 entry)
Honourary Mention \ 10,000 (3 entries)

(Click “Read More” for details) Read More

Deadline:  Thursday, January 8, before 5:00p.m. EST

Welcome to the JetWit Haiku Challenge! The challenge is to submit one or more haiku using the designated word.  The best haiku submitted wins the prize.

This challenge is courtesy of Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica:  How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S., published by Palgrave Macmillan. You can also follow Roland on his blog japanamerica.blogspot.com.

• Designated word:  “Pop” (you must use this word in your haiku; multiple submissions welcome)
  

• Deadline:  Thursday, January 8, before 5:00p.m. EST
  
• Prize:  Free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime:  From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle mailed to you.
• Form: Haiku are typically 5-7-5 and have a seasonal reference.  (Though the form actually has a fair amount of flexibility.)
• E-mail responses to:  jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com

Welcome to the JetWit Haiku Challenge! The challenge is to submit one or more haiku using the designated word.  The best haiku submitted wins the prize.

This challenge is courtesy of Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica:  How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S., published by Palgrave Macmillan. You can also follow Roland on his blog japanamerica.blogspot.com.

• Designated word:  “Pop” (you must use this word in your haiku; multiple submissions welcome)
  

• Deadline:  Thursday, January 8, before 5:00p.m. EST
  
• Prize:  Free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime:  From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle mailed to you.
• Form: Haiku are typically 5-7-5 and have a seasonal reference.  (Though the form actually has a fair amount of flexibility.)
• E-mail responses to:  jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com

Welcome to the JetWit Haiku Challenge! The challenge is to submit one or more haiku using the designated word.  The best haiku submitted wins the prize.

This challenge is courtesy of Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica:  How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S., published by Palgrave Macmillan. You can also follow Roland on his blog japanamerica.blogspot.com.

• Designated word:  “Pop” (you must use this word in your haiku; multiple submissions welcome)
  

• Deadline:  Thursday, January 8, before 5:00p.m. EST
  
• Prize:  Free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime:  From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle mailed to you.
• Form: Haiku are typically 5-7-5 and have a seasonal reference.  (Though the form actually has a fair amount of flexibility.)
• E-mail responses to:  jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com

Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), author of Zorgamazoo, has reviewed all haiku submissions containing the designated word “prose“ for Haiku Challenge #2 and has selected a winner to receive a free copy of his book. Read on for his decision and rationale.

Following in the footsteps of James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), I feel obliged to assemble a short-list of honourable mentions.  I make no claims, however, as to having any insightfulness when it comes to properly appreciating haiku…

Second runner-up, for its tenderness and topicality (’tis the season, after all), we have Justin Tedaldi’s entry:

The gift was thoughtful
The letter’s prose delightful
Happy holidays

–Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02)

First runner-up, for it’s gritty natural realism, is Alexei Esikoff’s ode to the grim weather of the Midwest:

The temperature drops
Buried under slushy prose
Minneapolis

–Alexei Esikoff (Fukushima-ken, 2001-02)

Finally, the winner this week is Meredith Hodges-Boos (who had an honourable mention in the previous contest, incidentally). Her haiku appeals to my love of word play — and even manages a nifty metaphor in the meantime. Congrats, Meredith!

Take roses with ‘P’s
Mix in the ordinary
Watch word gardens grow

–Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, 2003-05)

Click “Read More” to see the other haiku submitted.

Read More

Translators Mini-Challenge is a new arbitrarily recurring feature presented by professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999).

Omedetou gozaimashita to Joel Dechant (CIR, Kagoshima-ken, 2001-04) for winning the Translators Mini-Challenge #3.

Joel has won a copy of the Gaijin-a-Go-Go CD “Go-Go Bootcamp.”

Welcome to the JetWit Haiku Challenge! The challenge is to submit one or more haiku using the designated word.  The best haiku submitted wins the prize.

This week’s challenge will be judged by Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), author of Zorgamazoo, a “rhyming, rhythmical tale of Katrina, a girl with a big heart and an even bigger imagination” published this year by Penguin Books and available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Powells. You can also follow Robert on his blog wayofthewest.wordpress.com.

• Designated word (chosen by Rob):  “Prose” (you must use this word in your haiku; multiple submissions welcome)
  

• Deadline:  Thursday, December 18, before 5:00p.m. EST
• Prize:  Free copy of Zorgamazoo mailed to you.
• Form: Haiku are typically 5-7-5 and have a seasonal reference.  (Though the form actually has a fair amount of flexibility.)  Ultimately, Robert is the judge.  If you look at his website or read a page from his book, you’ll get a pretty quick read on his sensibilities.
• E-mail responses to:  jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com

Note:  The winner of Haiku Challenge #1 will be announced later today.  Stay tuned!

Translators Mini-Challenge is a new arbitrarily recurring feature presented by professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999).

WINNER:  JOEL DECHANT (CIR Kagoshima-ken, 2001-04)

Welcome to this week’s JetWit Translators Mini-Challenge!  The first person to respond by email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with the correct English translation of the below Japanese term will win a free Gaijin-a-Go-Go CD (Go-Go Bootcamp)!

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“Post-it notes”

ANSWER:  付箋　（ふせん）

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Stay tuned for the next Mini-Challenge!  You never know when we’ll strike again!

Translators Mini-Challenge is a new arbitrarily recurring feature presented by professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999).

Welcome to this week’s JetWit Translators Mini-Challenge!  The first person to respond by email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with the correct English translation of the below Japanese term will win a free Gaijin-a-Go-Go CD (Go-Go Bootcamp)!

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“Post-it notes”

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Stay tuned for the next Mini-Challenge!  You never know when we’ll strike again!

James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, has reviewed all haiku submissions containing the designated word “fewmets“ for Haiku Challenge #1 and has selected a winner. Read on for his decision and rationale.

I was blown away by the quality of the fewmets haiku I received. I can state with absolute conviction that these are the best haiku about fewmets that I have ever read!

First, the honorable mentions. Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, Yoshida-cho, 2003-05) wrote an appropriately grim, medieval-epic haiku that ends with a wonderfully forbidding promise of violence:

Fewmets steam on bleak
Frost-covered leaves, hunter stoops
Soon blood will melt ice

Chillingly beautiful! Worthy of Beowulf! I can almost imagine Ms. Hodges-Boos is the kind of woman who makes her own chain mail.

Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08) put a decidedly modern spin on fewmets:

The fewmets of love;
lipstick wine glass, lost overcoat . . .
painful cotton swab nurse!

Every man who has endured a gonorrhea test will find the last line poignantly evocative. Mr. Ambrosio is clearly a gentleman about town, a chap of wide and varied experiences, a man who almost certainly has chlamydia. He came very close to winning, except that the second and third lines each have one more syllable than a fastidious interpretation of the haiku form allows. As sloppy as a tart’s kiss, Mr. Ambrosio!

Finally, we come to the winner, from the talented Ilya Blokh:

A French truffle, on the
Tongue, melts, but how I was wrong
It was a fewmet

True, the first line might has one more syllable than usual, but Mr. Blokh’s brilliance trumps formal quibbles. The imagination is set giddily free. How did the poet come across this spurious truffle? On what pretext is he eating it? From what beast does this fewmet issue? What does the fewmet taste like? Mr. Blokh creates an entire world for me to inhabit.

And thither shall I now flit, to freely and sportively bombinate among the flowers of his soul.

Click “Read More” to see a couple more haiku submissions.

Read More