Roland Kelts upcoming appearances: Pasadena, CA, Hobart College and NYC
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For the West Coast JET set out there, Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, will be speaking this Sunday, March 1, at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. Full details here: http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/calendar/calendar-next.htm
And for the Upstate NYers, on March 4 Roland will be at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Full details here: http://www.hws.edu/academics/fisher_center/fc_events.aspx#09s_kelts
And a reminder for the East Coast Elitist JET Alumni community that on Sunday, March 22 Roland will take part in the first ever JET Alumni Author Showcase, along with James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), Robert Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04) and Randall David Cook (Fukui-ken, 1991-93). (Space is limited. RSVP to authors at jetaany dot org.)
*To rsvp via the event listing on Facebook, just click: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=56484206967&ref=nf
JET alum and NY-based Japanese band otaku Ilya Blokh is going to this show on Thursday night and welcomes anyone else who’s interested to join him.
Bloody Panda – A doom band from NYC with a Japanese female vocalist @ Santo’s Party House (96 Lafayette St in Manhattan), 2/26, 7pm.
BLOODY PANDA
Driven by the mournful, melodic vocals of Japanese frontwoman Yoshiko Ohara, Bloody Panda’s transcendent sound finds its roots in the dirge-like power of Swans, the amplifier-worshipping textures of Earth, and the ethereal tension of Skepticism, as well as in various traditional styles from around the globe. The band synthesizes its esoteric influences into focused, powerful, anthemic songs, hailed by Decibel Magazine as “Khanate-caliber doom metal” and by CMJ New Music Monthly as “New York microtonal funeral doom”.See their MySpace page here: http://www.myspace.com/bdpanda
JETAA Philly: KyoDaiko
Via the JETAA Philadelphia subchapter:
On Friday, March 6, 2009 there will be what looks like an amazing and fun taiko performance taking place – cosponsored by KyoDaiko, a group in which Therese Stephen (fellow Philly JETAA member) is a member. We are hoping to support this performance as a group! Please let me know if you are interested in going, and we can hopefully arrange for a fun night out! Please see the details below… Thanks!
Renay & Natasha
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http://streettalkin.com/asian-arts-initiative-and-kyo-daiko-taikoproject/
This is to let you know Philadelphia’s first community taiko group, KyoDaiko, is co-sponsoring, with the Asian Arts Initiative, a performance by Taiko Project at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. We’d love it if you could support the event by coming, or by passing this information along to your friends and family!
Asian Arts Initiative and Kyo Daiko present TAIKOPROJECT in concert
Friday, March 6, 2009, 8 p.m. Read More
Japan Society (NY) presents KRAZY! (March 13 to June 14) – Reduced ticket price
KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games
KRAZY! (March 13-June 14) now contains a whopping 200 objects; we’ve reduced the ticket price from $12 to $10 ($8 students/seniors and FREE for children under 16); on the weekends we will hold back-to-back screenings of 7 full-length anime films in our 262-seat theater free to ticket-holders, and patrons will be able to sit and play the featured video games (including a console table Pac-Man) as well as browse hundreds of manga comic book titles.
See the full details below:
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Pac-Man, Paprika, Super Mario, and Afro Samurai: Welcome to New York!
Japan Society Gallery Celebrates the Japanese Art Forms of Anime, Manga, and Video Games in Spring 2009
New York, NY — Once considered the preserve of an insular youth culture, within the last decade Japanese animated cartoons (anime), comics and illustrated narratives (manga), and interactive video games have migrated into the mainstream, with reverberations both high and low. In a first for New York City, Japan Society explores this phenomenon in KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games from March 13 through June 14, 2009. Read More
JETAA Book Clubs: D.C. Re-born
The JETAA book clubs continue to make a comeback. JETAA DC is the most recent chapter to revive its book club, following in the footsteps of New York, Northern California and Portland.
What is your chapter’s book club reading? And did I leave any chapters out? Let us know in the comments section of this post.
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First Meeting of the Reincarnated Book Club
Hi All,
I know it is rather short notice, but I finally ironed out the details for the first meeting of the Japan themed book club.
Book: Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami– This is a collection of 24 short stories. Even if you only get chance to read a few of the stories, please join us. Read More
Roland Kelts in Boston for “Grave of Fireflies” Event Feb. 11
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Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, will be at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on Wednesday, February 11 for a screening + discussion of the animated film Grave of the Fireflies. More details here. (Side note: Lyle Sylvander (Yokohama-shi, 2001-02) wrote an excellent and succinct review of Grave of the Fireflies for the Spring 2008 JETAAA NY Newsletter.)
BONUS: Roland’s story on Japanese Youth Pathologies for WNYC’s Studio 360 will air on NPR nationwide as part of this coming weekend’s special Japan edition of the show. (See the recent JetWit post on last week’s Studio360 Japan feature.)
Correction: This post previously listed the date of the MFA event as February 9, but it has now been corrected to February 11. Apologies for any confusion.
Hofstra Marketing and International Business Career Fair
I received the below information in an e-mail. I have no connection to Hofstra, so no idea how they got in touch with me. It looks rather JET-relevant, though, so take a look if you’re in the market.
Hofstra University Frank G. Zarb School of Business
MARKETING & INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAREER FAIR
Sponsored by The Career Center at Hofstra University, Alpha Kappa Psi – The Professional Business Fraternity, The Hofstra American Marketing Association, The International Business Association, and The Advertising Club
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Student Center, Multipurpose Room
TO REGISTER FOR THE FAIR… Read More
JETAA Pacific Northwest Bounenkai Photos
JETAA Pacific Northwest recently held its bounnenkai which apparently included a trivia game contest. Photos from JETAA PNW’s Treasurer/Webmaster Shun Endo can be seen on the JETAA PNW site at the link below.
Hi Alumni,
I hope everybody is staying positive in this unstable economy. Reach out, get support, and maintain hope! You’re not alone.
I finally got around to posting the pictures that I took at the PNW JETAA Bounenkai. There are a lot of fun pictures, including a nice group shot! check them out!
http://www.pnw. jetalumni. org/?p=549
Shun
Some upcoming Japan-related music events courtesy of Adren Hart, organizer of the JETAA Ongaku Connection google group.
Jazz and Poetry Evening
My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi
http://info.japansociety.org/site/R?i=hk2e7JZ6mgiK1BYYpr3vtw..
Friday, January 30
6:30 pm
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NIPPON JAZZ NYC
February 1, 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Erika Matsuo
Blue Owl Cocktail Lounge
New York, NY
$5 cover
http://www.meetup.com/Nippon-Jazz-NYC-Meetup-Group/calendar/9445145/
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Pop the Rock Japan Music Showcase
http://www.afxakibafest.com/
April 4, 2009
University of Maryland
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Check out the J-Rock & Punk Meetup group GENKI SHOCK
Site: http://www.meetup.com/GENKI-SHOCK/
Mar. 22, 2009 – JAPAN NITE~ AUDREY BENTEN PRESENTS!!
Apr. 2, 2009 – ASOBI SEKUSU
Lend a hand for the JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine Stuff ‘n Mail
Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) is about to publish the first issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine (f/k/a the “Newsletter”) under his new tenure. Come out and help, hang with other JET alums and support a JETAA NY activity.
WHAT: JETAA NY Stuff n’ Mail for the winter 2009 “New” issue of JETAA NY Quarterly
WHERE: Japan Local Government Center, 3 Park Ave. (at 34th Street), 20F
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 4, after 6:00 p.m.
WHY: Officially, to help stuff envelopes and mail them to your fellow JETs. But also…
-To get a first-hand look at our “New” issue, now rebranded as a magazine
-To enjoy free free pizza and drinks at the JLGC’s new location
-To chill out with other JETs and take the party over to Caliente Cab Co. for an informal nomikai (488 Third Avenue and corner of 33rd Street). Margaritas and Central American beer the house specialty.
-For the truly dedicated, a chance to hear about potential assignments already planned for our next spring issue, so you can write the really cool stories!
HOW?
RSVP with Justin at magazine /atto/ jetaany /dotto/ org before the end of Tuesday, Feb. 3 to ensure the right amount of pizza for all.
SEE YOU THERE!
Japan Society: An Incisive Afternoon with Director Takashi Miike
Via Japan Society (NY):
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JETAA NY Shinnenkai Photos
Last Friday, January 23, JETAA NY hosted yet another terrific shinnenkai at Naniwa, the only place in town we know of that has a big tatami room. 34 people gathered for tabehodaishabu-shabu and nabe along with nomihodai beer, sake and shochu. Old JETs, new JETs and everywhere in-between JETs were all represented. O-tsukare sama to JETAA NY Social Coordinator Monica Yuki for organizing the whole shebang. Also, special thanks to professional translator Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999) for providing yummy baked goods for everyone to take home with them.
*Special post-party treat: Seeing Cindy Hoffman looking fabulous in her gown at the nearby Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for a high-falutin’ Australia Day event.
See all of Monica’s photos here. Samples are below.
Do you know what yosa-koi is? Good for you.
Do you love nothing more than flailing about with naruko? (wooden instrument, NOT some girl’s name! ^^) Are you an aspiring performer/dancer with an interest in Japanese culture? Are you a non-performer/dancer with an interest in Japanese culture? Do you just really miss Japan and dream of becoming one of the crazy sexy cool people in this flier?
Then fantasize no more!
Hi, I’m Kirsten, a former ALT based in Niigata Prefecture 2005-2008. One of the things I missed most about my life in Japan was an awesome and energetic festival dance called yosa-koi that I used to perform together with my students. I missed it so much when I came back that I Googled “NY” and “Yosa-koi” and found 10tecomai. For a JET with raging Japan withdrawal like myself being a member of 10tecomai was like a dream come true.
Like the flier says, no dance experience is necessary. I can attest to that, folks. I have zero background in performance or dance but I quickly found this was not required. You will be expertly and patiently trained, no matter what level you are and you will have TONS of fun in the process. However, team spirit and serious dedication are an absolute must. My experience with 10tecomai has been truly rewarding and fulfilling on so many levels. I’m sad I no longer live in Japan but I am overjoyed to be a part of 10.
So come on down and try out if you fancy? It can’t hurt. Tell your friends!
[Editor’s note: Kirsten also wrote a wonderful article about the Mitsuwa department store in Edgewater, NJ for the Fall 2008 Issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Newsletter.]
Bar Great Harry – Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Reserve Night
Bar Great Harry is a bar on Smith St. in Brooklyn owned and run by JET alum Ben Wiley (CIR Fukui-ken, 2004-06), who shares the below info for anyone interested in joining. You can also see the Bar Great Harry blog here and a Fall 2007 JETAA NY Newsletter article about Ben and his bar here.
What: Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster’s Reserve Night
When: Tuesday, 01/27/09, 6PM-10PM
Where: Bar Great Harry, 280 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY
Beers:
- 2000 Monster Ale
- 2001 Saison
- 2006 Black Chocolate Stout
- 2006 Cuvee D’Achouffe
- 2008 Blast
- 2008 Flemish Gold
- 2008 Grand Cru
- 2008 Savoir Faire
- Cask of Blunderbuss Old Ale on Gravity!!!
This will be a seriously special night. The good folks from Brooklyn Brewery scoured the warehouse and found some really rare stuff for this event. A Monster Ale from 2000? A Saison from 2001? You will probably never get to try these again. Come.
Event: Japan Brand Unfolds in NYC at Felissimo Design House
Tara Hohenberger (Nara-ken, 2001-03) (PR & Events Coordinator for Felissimo Design House) has shared information for an intriguing upcoming exhibition at Felissimo Design House (10 W. 56th St. in NYC) which is featuring a collection of artisan produced products from 30 regions of Japan from Jan 25 – Feb 7, including glassware, furniture, ceramics, paper and textiles and well as lacquar and culinary ingredients.
Click “Read More” to read the full press release, or go to www.felissimo.com. Read More

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