WIT Life #148: Mikarimba
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
On Friday night I had the opportunity to see the performance of marimbist Mika Yoshida at Carnegie Hall. The program was entitled “Mikarimba Madness” and also featured drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Eddie Gomez, as well as the participation of special father/son guests clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and pianist Peter John Stoltzman. During the night Yoshida wore a wide range of expressions on her face from fierce to completely content, as she both Read More
JETAA Northern California Rajio Taiso – TOMORROW!
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Hi everyone!
Just a reminder that we will be meeting at 11:00am tomorrow morning for some Rajio Taiso!
JETAANC is kicking off the new year with some good, ole Rajio Taiso! Back in August 2010 at the JETAA National Conference, delegates came up with the great idea of filming JET alumni around the world practicing the long time favorite, Rajio Taiso. This infamous Japanese calisthenics routine is performed daily and at special sporting events, like an undoukai! What a better way to show how JET alumni are still connected to Japanese culture! Who could forget that piano music and voice counting out each movement?
JETAA USA asked all chapters to film themselves doing rajio taiso in front of a landmark and we thought that having the Golden Gate Bridge and SF cityscape in the background would be perfect! So we’re headed to the Marin Headlands!
When: Saturday, January 8 from 11am-12pm
Where: Marin Headlands, Conzelman Road at Kirby Cove (map)
All are welcome to join! Even if you’re a little bit rusty, we will practice the routine a few times before filming, so come on out!
To get a better idea of what we’re doing, here’s the video that our friends at JETAA Portland made (http://www.facebook.com/l/c5af5k7y9RlwljjtpZ4o9Iq06xA;www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqGUsHusnWE).
See you there!
~Melissa Chan
JETAANC Media Coordinator
books@jetaanc.org
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last night I attended the shinnenkai for New York’s very own Battenkai, or group for Kyushu people (Batten comes from Kyushu-ben and means but, and kai means gathering). There are several kenjinkai or prefectural groups here in the city, but Kyushu has this joint group instead of individual ones for each prefecture. I have been attending their events since two summers ago, and it is always a diverse mix of people. You can find accountants, jazz singers, lawyers, graphic designers and karate instructors, all of whom have interesting stories to share.
Battenkai gatherings always include some form of entertainment, and last night’s was no exception. It featured several different acts to welcome the new year. First we were regaled by a beautiful shamisen performance by Read More
JETAA DC Film Festival: How was it?
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On December 3 and December 5, JETAADC held its first ever JETAA DC Film Festival. And they did it in style at the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute. Here’s a write-up of the event courtesy of JETAADC.
In an attempt to increase awareness of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program and to showcase Japanese or Japan-related films to American audiences, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Washington, DC (JETAADC) partnered with the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution to screen two films from December 3-5, Linda Linda Linda and The Harimaya Bridge.
On Friday, December 3, JETAADC showed Linda Linda Linda, a quirky comedy about a band of four girls and their rehearsals leading up to their talent show performance during school festival. Prior to the film, JETAADC Vice President Nick Harling provided some opening remarks, discussing the JET Program, JETAADC, and adding a bit of context to the film. Approximately 130 people attended the show on December 3, and after the film, about 40 audience members congregated at a local bar to continue discussing the film and Japanese culture.
On Sunday, December 5, JETAADC and the Freer Gallery screened The Harimaya Bridge, written and directed by Aaron Woolfolk, a JET alum from Kochi-ken. The film follows an American man who must travel to rural Japan to claim some important items belonging to his late son, from whom he was estranged. While there, he learns several secrets his son left behind. Mr. Woolfolk attended the screening, which drew over 200 people from the greater DC metro area, including representatives from local media. After the film, Mr. Woolfolk responded to questions from the audience regarding his inspiration for the film, the process of making the film, and what it was like working in Japan, both as a teacher and a filmmaker. About 50% stayed for the Q & A.
Afterwards, Mr. Woolfolk said, “It was a special honor to have the film shown at the Smithsonian Institution, and I am especially grateful to JETAADC for playing a pivotal role in making that happen. Moreover, spending time with the DC alumni before and after the screening reminded me how very fortunate and proud I am to be a part of the JET community.”
JETAADC President Maurice Maloney added, “JETAADC was honored to have Aaron Woolfolk and The Harimaya Bridge as part of our film series. In two and a half hours at the Freer Gallery, the film, along with Aaron’s discussion, conveyed the JET experience to a broader audience than we could have reached in months.”
Maloney added, “In light of discussed budget cuts to the JET Programme and JET Alumni Associations across the globe, it is more important than ever for JET Alumni Associations to showcase the breadth of their alumni and the positive effects they have on their communities.”
Click “Read More” to see photos from the event, courtesy of JETAADC.
Calling all Kyushu JET alums and fans of Kyushu!
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People from different parts of Japan who reside here in NYC have r
espective 県人会 (kenjinkai) or associations of people from a certain prefecture. Last year I decided to look for the Kumamoto Kenjinkai, and found out that we are part of the larger island-wide Battenkai for Kyushu-jin. I was hesitant to go since I wasn’t technically from Kyushu (even though I consider Kumamoto my home in Japan), but I was welcomed with open arms. The group is looking to get some new attendees, and would like to offer an open invitation to its upcoming shinnenkai (see below for details)! For those who want to read the original message in Japanese, please click here. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
We are beginning 2011 with a shinnenkai to mark the Year of the Rabbit! This exciting event will feature laughter yoga, a shamisen performance and a fabulous raffle. Please join us for this fun night!
★ Open to anyone born in or who has connections to Kyushu, as well as those interested in this region.
Date: January 5, 2011 (Tuesday)
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Japanese American Association of New York (15 W. 44th Street (11th floor)
Cost: Adult = $35, Student = $20, 11 and younger free (includes food/drinks; pay in cash on day of)
☆Please click here to sign up! (This page is in Japanese, and it asks you to put your name in the first column, your phone number/email address in the next, and in the third column a password of your choice that will enable you to change your entry should you need to. When you are done with all that, click the gray button in the last column that says 登録する (touroku suru) or register. Please feel free to leave me a note below if you have any trouble! Stacy Smith, Kumamoto ’00-’03)
From JET alum Rosa Sobrino who is a producer for a Japanese morning show in NY:
“Live Japanese TV News program looking for some awesome volunteers to participate as extras on Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 2:30p.m.-5:30p.m. in Brooklyn. We will be introducing a local stunt school and would like to ask some people who can do basic exercise to come. If you are interested, please contact Rosa anytime at 917-755-0955 asap.”
WIT Life #139: 60′s Japan film festival
Events, Film, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #139: 60′s Japan film festival
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
On Friday night I attended a free screening of the movie Yearning, which was being shown as part of the Japanese Cinema 1960’s film series at Asia Society. This organization is co-sponsoring the event along with Japan Foundation, and they have been offering complimentary tickets to the five films that were being shown over a span of a little over a month. You had to sign up ahead of time by indicating which film you wanted tickets for and officially you could only pick one, but when I went there was a stand-by line so if you go early on the day of the show you are likely to get in even without tickets.
Although Yearning was the English title of the movie, it came from the Japanese title of 乱れる (midareru), literally meaning Read More
WIT Life #138: Kaikai and Kiki Thanksgiving Parade Debut
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! And for those of you are who are on the Japanese calender, I hope you had a relaxing 勤労感謝の日（kinrou kansha no hi or Labor Thanksgiving Day) this past Tuesday. Though there is no turkey or cranberry sauce on this Japanese holiday, it resembles our Thanksgiving in that it is an occasion to commemorate labor and production and give one another thanks.
This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has a new addition from Japan, balloons of artist Takashi Murakami’s Kiki and Kaikai creations. They are following in the footsteps of Read More
Japan Foundation NY Newsletter (Nov 18, 2010)
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NEWS FROM THE JAPAN FOUNDATION NEW YORK AND CGP
//// VOL. 9: November 18, 2010 ////
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CGP Grant Program (Deadline: December 1)
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This is a reminder that the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership’s (CGP) Intellectual Exchange program open competition deadline is December 1, 2010.
[ http://cgp.org/index.php?option=section&id=3 ]
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JAILA: “An Evening of Japanese Jazz” in Jamaica (Nov 27-Dec 1)
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As part of the Japanese Arts in Latin America (JAILA) program, the Japan Foundation, New York will dispatch flutist YUKARI and pianist Ms. Eri Yamamoto to Jamaica to give a concert and workshop to local audiences and music students. They will be performing their own compositions as well as well-known Japanese songs in a jazz style. They will also be joined by local musicians for collaborative performance.
About YUKARI: [ http://www.yukariflute.com/Site/Welcome.html ]
About Ms. Eri Yamamoto: [ http://www.eriyamamoto.com/ ]
[ http://www.jfny.org/arts_and_culture/jaila.html ]
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Call for JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture Applicants
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We are accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture. This grant aims to support projects that will further
understanding of Japanese arts and culture. Applicants must be from the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains.
Successful candidates may be granted up to $5,000 for projects conducted in the 14 Southern and 12 Midwestern states, and up to $2,000 for all other states.
[ http://www.jfny.org/arts_and_culture/smallgrant.html ]
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CGP US-Japan Journalism Fellowship Program
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10 graduate journalism students from across the US will embark on a 13-day study-tour of Japan starting on November 20, 2010. This second cohort of students, along with Emerson College and CGP staff, will visit Tokyo, Okinawa, Kobe and other cities during their stay in Japan.
[ http://journalism.indiana.edu/news/bomersback-headed-to-japan-as-postgrad-fellow/ ]
[ http://www.merrill.umd.edu/deadline/index.php/2010/11/10/two-merrill-graduate-students-receive-fellowships-for-travel-to-japan/ ]
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JETAA DC Film Festival – Dec 3 and 5
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Via Mack Maloney, President of JETAA DC:
JETAA DC will be holding a film festival at the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute the weekend of December 3-5.
1. Friday, December 3 @ 7pm is “Linda Linda Linda.”
The film follows four girls as they prepare their band for their final school festival. Accompanied by a great soundtrack, this film is funny, poignant, and will certainly have you longing for your school festival (and a karaoke box).
2. Sunday, December 5 @ 2pm is “The Harimaya Bridge,” written and directed by JET alum Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken) who will be in attendance.
Filmed in Kochi Prefecture, “The Harimaya Bridge” is a drama about an American man who must travel to rural Japan to claim some important items belonging to his late son, from whom he was estranged. While there, he learns several secrets his son left behind. Mr. Woolfolk will be in attendance during the screening and will stay to answer questions about his craft and his experiences. Come see a film the Los Angeles Times calls “a unique, complex, consciousness-raising accomplishment,” and Derek Kester of the San Francisco Examiner labels one of the best films of the year.
Interview with Competitive Eater Takeru Kobayashi
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Justin with Kobayashi and Friend of JET Sarah Goebel.
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.
Takeru “The Tsunami” Kobayashi is a three-time Guinness World Record holder for competitive eating. He burst on the American scene in 2001 at Coney Island’s annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing 50 dogs in 12 minutes, doubling the previous record. Kobayashi went on to win the contest six consecutive times while shattering other gastronomic records around the world.
After a shocking arrest and subsequent dismissal of charges in July at this year’s Nathan’s event, Kobayashi returned to the stage last night at the Japan Arts Matsuri in Brooklyn for another challenge: to become the world’s fastest 12-inch pizza eater. While he fell less than 20 seconds short of the 1:45 record (saying afterward that the pie was softer than he anticipated), there was no doubt among the crowd that the champ will give it another try in the near future. Hours before taking the stage, I spoke with Kobayashi through his interpreter Emiko Watanabe for this rare English language interview.
What kind of training does one have to do to be the world’s fastest pizza eater?
I had to practice how to use a knife and fork, because I have to use it for this challenge. That was the main thing.
That’s interesting. Most people don’t use a knife and fork to eat a pizza.
It would be much easier if I was allowed to use my hands instead. So it’s going to be a little harder.
What’s your favorite kind of pizza?
Pizza Margherita.
How are things after July 4th? Do you find that you’re more popular and recognized in New York from people on the street?
[laughs] I think so; I feel that I’m more recognized than before. I was famous before as a six-time champion [at the Nathan’s contest], but after Independence Day this year, people think I’m more interesting and have humor, so people notice me a lot more than before.
Where do you live in New York?
Manhattan.
Many celebrities in America are known for their talent, but personality is also important. Are you making more efforts to do things like learn English to become a bigger celebrity here?
I started going to an English school last month.
What kinds of things do your fans ask when they recognize you?
They don’t really ask anything, but they do ask to take a picture with me.
Any memorable encounters?
I met this fan who didn’t recognize me at first. She was an African American lady, and when she first spoke to me, she just thought I was a cool or cute Japanese guy. We talked, but then she recognized who I was, saying, “Oh my God! Oh my God!” It turns out that she was scrapbooking all of my articles from Independence Day, and the reason she did that is because she thought I was cute. When she realized that I was the same person, she went out of control screaming.
Click here to read the rest of the interview.
Kobayashi Headlines New York’s Annual Japan Arts Matsuri
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Eating champ Takeru Kobayashi competes at JAM 2010 Nov. 13. (Courtesy of Rei Miura/NPO American Dream Japanese Network)
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.
“Ultimate Food Fighter” Takeru Kobayashi returns to eat another day to break a new Guinness World Record as the special guest of the 8th Annual Amnet New York Japan Arts Matsuri this weekend at Java Street Hall in Brooklyn. While traditional Japanese matsuri, or festivals, occur in the summer, this year’s edition of JAM will sport some of today’s best, most energetic Japanese performing artists working in New York. With the entire event will be aired live worldwide via Ustream, JAM will beat the drum for Japan and Japanese culture through art and entertainment. New Yorkers know Kobayashi primarily as the six-time winner of the Nathan’s International July 4 Hot Dog Eating Contest, but on Saturday he will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the quickest time for downing a 12-inch pizza.
Sunday, Japanese singer-songwriter Senri Oe will perform piano with his own jazz trio, featuring Semar on bass and Joe Abams on drums. This year, JAM expects to draw a two-day total of over 800 ardent fans of Japanese arts. Over the two days, the popular “Talent Night” will feature nearly two dozen up-and-coming singers, dancers, musicians and other performers who successfully made the cut before JAM’s judges. Brooklyn-based Japanese drum group Taiko Masala is one of the performers poised to bring Japan a bit closer to the borough, and an audience participation dance demonstration by Yosakoi Dance Project 10tecomai (featuring JETAANY member/JetWit contributor Kirsten Phillips) is guaranteed to raise the roof.
For the complete story, click here.
Talking Bra (Yes, a Talking Bra) to Stimulate Japanese Tourism
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"Welcome to Japan": Electronic buttons running down the centre of the garment triggers audio greetings in English, Chinese and Korean. (AFP)
Courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald.
As Japan hosts a Asia-Pacific summit this week, a women’s underwear maker on Wednesday unveiled a bra that is meant to lift spirits as well as bust lines and support the country’s tourism sector.
Triumph Japan showcased its bustier-style “Welcome to Japan! Bra” that it said was inspired by a tour guide’s uniform, features a display for images of sightseeing spots and can greet visitors in three languages.
A row of three electronic push buttons running down the centre of the garment triggers audio greetings in English, Chinese and Korean.
“Furthermore, tour guide flags are inserted on each side of the bra,” the company said. “When not used to guide tourists, the flags act as side stays, providing good support and creating an attractive bust line.”
Read the complete story (with video!!) here.
WIT Life #135: Marathon mania
Events, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #135: Marathon mania
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
We are in the heart of marathon season, a favorite time of year for runners such as myself. I have to admit that I love the sport enough to attempt to do two marathons in a row, the Marine Corps Marathon in DC last weekend and the NYC Marathon this weekend. It will be a first but hopefully my body is up to the challenge!
The running culture has always been huge in Japan, and with the establishment of the Tokyo Marathon in 2007 the number of runners further swelled. Although I have gotten into the marathon every year since its start (and run all but one), most of my Japanese friends Read More
JETAA DC Career & Graduate School Forum – Monday Nov 8 & Wed Nov 10
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The Career & Graduate School Forum sponsored by JETAADC, the Embassy of Japan and CLAIR New York, will take place on Monday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 10 at the National Academy of Public Administration in Washington, DC (Chinatown). Whether you are a JET Alumni, Friend of a JET, or work at an organization that has hired JETs in the past – all are welcome to attend and participate in the Career Forum.
Please visit the Event Homepage for more information and to RSVP! ( http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=mpyot6dab&oeidk=a07e31ooteo0117d03a)
- Monday, November 8th, 2010
Resume-Writing Workshop with Beth Colley
This two-hour workshop will cover how to build out your resume, with specific focus on the JET Program for both Careers and Graduate School.
- Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Panel Discussion: “Careers and Graduate School after JET”
Networking Reception to follow from 7PM to 9PM.
Food, wine, beer, and other refreshments will be served. We are actively seeking out companies or organizations that hire JET Alumni to participate. If you or someone at your company is interested in attending, please contact Leigh Ann at outreach.dc@jetalumni.org. If you are not a JET Alumni but receiving this message, please sign up as a Non-Member (FOJ) and receive a $5.00 discount off the standard registration fee!
- Registration
JETAADC* Member: $10 (for both events), $5 for one event
JETAADC Non-Member (FOJs): $15 (for both events), $10 for one event
*All JETAA Members may register at JETAADC Member price listed above.
