Japan Society presents Kazuko Shiraishi, the “Allen Ginsberg” of Japan, Friday, Jan. 30, 6:30pm
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Interesting upcoming event at Japan Society in NYC:
JAPAN SOCIETY PRESENTS THE “ALLEN GINSBERG OF JAPAN,” WHO READS FROM NEW WORK, ACCOMPANIED BY LIVE JAZZ
My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi
Friday, January 30, 2009, 6:30 pm at Japan Society
New York, NY – Japan Society presents an intimate evening with one of Japan’s foremost poets, Kazuko Shiraishi, in conjunction with the recent English-language collection of her poetry, My Floating Mother, City. Shiraishi, a pioneer in jazz-poetry collaboration, is joined by trumpeter Itaru Oki for a special live performance, and partakes in a discussion and Q&A moderated by Forrest Gander, author and Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Brown University. My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi takes place Friday, January 30 at 6:30 pm and is followed by a reception. Read More
Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06), JETAA NY’s webmaster and a grad student in NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, will be presenting his interactive music interface, the head(banger)
phones, at the Interactive Telecommunications Winter Show at NYU this
Wednesday and Thursday nights (tonight and tomorrow night). So drop in to take a look. (721 Broadway, 4th Fl – just east of Washington Sq Park)
The show features a variety of interactive sights, sounds and physical
objects created by student artists. The show is FREE and open to the
public. No need to RSVP. Just show up any time during the 2 nights.
http://itp.nyu.edu/shows/winter2008/
Dec. 17th & 18th from 5pm to 9pm
@ 721 Broadway, 4th Fl
Lee-Sean AKA JETAANY.org Webmaster
http://leesean.net
JETAA Chapter Beat 12.17.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…
- Japanese Language Workshops at JASW – Starting Monday, January 12, Japan-America Society’s Japanese Language School Winter Semester begins. Free first year membership for JETAA-DC members.
- Holiday Happy Hour – Friday, December 19th, 7:00 at 5 Seasons Brewing. Join JETAASE for some holiday spirit and spirts.
- Raise funds for Leukemia! – Support Ingrid Garcia-Galinat in her marathon goal to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team on March 29, 2009.
- Yukiko Shimo Exhibition: Today’s Top Woodblock Print Artist in Japan – Dec 2nd – Jan 31, check out woodblock prints at the Roswell Teahouse & Gallery.
- JETAANC Video Volunteers – December 15th – 19th. In preparation for an upcoming Shinenkai video, JETAANC is looking for people to come and talk about their JET experience on camera.
- The Totoro Forest Project (Dec 6 – Jan 18) – Exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum based on Hayao Miyazaki’s most celebrated film Tonari no Totoro.
JETAA Texoma
- Returning JET Reception – Saturday, January 24, join recently returned JET participants at the Consulate for some sushi-rolling and other food oriented activities.
- Chinese Urban Art Show – Dec 12, 2008 – Dec 20, 2009 at the BLVD Gallery in Belltown. Check out some asian art, fascinating and, best of all, free.
- Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association Holiday Party – Sunday, December 21, 4:00 to 8:00 at the Pt Edwards Club House. It’s potluck, so don’t forget the food!
- Christmas Carols – Saturday, December 20th, 5:30 at Cowra Japanese Garden. Celebrate the holiday with song and candlelight.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
JETAA Pacific Northwest Career Day Notes
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From Shun Endo, PNW’s Treasurer & Web Guy, who posted the notes on the JETAA PNW website:
Career Day was a very successful event, bringing in many motivated participants, solid speakers, and even vendors from several companies. Many people stayed until the end, and went afterwards for drinks and comradery. The content of the speeches was very helpful, and it covered a broad range of topics. As promised, we have the notes to the speeches, as well as resources to the information given!
Thanks again to Steven Pascal-Joiner of Idealist.org , and Rob Uy from Microsoft HR, and the panel speakers for their respective insights. They were: Amy Fenning , Amanda Wolfman , Keith Nitta , David Sandler , Megan Bernard , Rob Uy , Matt Austin , Steven Pascal-Joiner. Thanks to Ben for moderating the discussion.
Here are the links:
Rob Uy Speech Notes
Steven Pascal Joiner Speech Notes
Idealist.org Presentation by Steven (PDF of E-book, and links to different topics covered by Steven)
JETAA NY Book Club Update
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JETAA NY Book Club co-reviver Michael Glazer writes:
JETAA NY successfully kicked off its New York book club last Wednesday night, Dec. 10. The group discussed Murakami Ryu’s Akutagawa Prize-winning novel Almost Transparent Blue.
Murakami’s provocative novel fueled an energetic, funny, sometimes tense and stimulating exchange of ideas while we snacked on pizza and drank oolong tea. The two-hour conversation ranged in topic from talking about ethnic stereotypes to bug eating, the US military in Japan, The Doors, Japanese escapism and Admiral Perry’s black ships as the group tried to figure out if Blue is literary genius or pop culture trash.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 21 at 7pm, and we will discuss Miyamoto Teru’s novel Kinshu. You can find the book online at bn.com and amazon.com. Contact Michael Glazer or Jessica Langbein for more information.
Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2007-08) is part of a yosa-koi dance group that is taking part in another Japan Arts Matsuri (JAM) function on December 23rd at the Knitting Factory. The last one they did in Greenpoint, Brooklyn was very well received and a huge success. In Kirsten’s own words:
“JAM brings Japanese dancers, musicians, martial artists, comedians from around the city under one roof. The atmosphere is that of a traditional Japanese matsuri, complete with taiko and akachochin. The one in Greenpoint even had oden! I know it’s a little inconvenient in the middle of the week, but it’s totally worth it if you miss the way Japan throws a festival.”
Japan Arts Matsuri (JAM) 2008
Tuesday, December 23rd.
Doors open 6 PM. The entire event lasts until 2 AM; Advance Tickets: $10/ $15 at the door
Knitting Factory
74 Leonard Street, New York, NY Tel: (212) 219-3132 Directions: 1 or 9 to Franklin OR St. A,C, E at Canal.
NHK live broadcast and free synthetic ice skating today at 4pm
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Kind of last second but….JET alum Marea Pariser (who is an associate producer for NHK in NY) sent me this last night, which I finally have time to post:
We’ll be broadcasting live from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 11, for the NHK morning news. Because of the 14-hour time difference, we’ll go live at 4:15 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. (Japan time that will be 6:15 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. Friday). It will air on NHK’s “Ohayo Nippon.”
We’ll be reporting live from AMNH’s new Polar Rink, which is an outdoor skating rink made from synthetic ice. It’s good for the environment and it complements the Museum’s current Climate Change exhibit. There’s a good chance of rain tomorrow, but our live broadcast goes on-air rain or shine. We’re looking for people (who can ice skate!) who are available at either 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. — or at both times — to appear as an “ice skater” on our broadcast. Free ice skating! No close-up shots, just in the background. We’re especially interested in children ice skaters. Could you pass the word along? If anyone is interested or available could you ask them to contact me at the details below for more information?
FYI-Location: American Museum of Natural History, Polar Rink, which can be accessed from 79th Street and Columbus Avenue.
Web site: http://www.amnh.org/
JETAA Book Clubs – 3’s a magic number
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After some initial research, I’ve so far found three JETAA book clubs out there:
JETAA NY – just being revied by Michael Glazer and Jessica Langbein after a hiatus of a few years. Having its first gathering this Wednesday evening (still time to rsvp!)
JETAA Northern California – same story, but with Melissa Chan playing the role of Michael and Jessica
JETAA Portland – Run by Lynnette Yasuda for the last 2 years, and with lots of success and fun.
I knew about NY and Northern California, but I just learned about Portland after getting a nice e-mail from Lynette who shared the following sentiment:
I think one of the best parts of the JETAA book club is that through the books we read, it sparks such interesting conversations about our own JET experiences in Japan – and I think that is what sets it apart from other book clubs. It’s very “natsukashi” if you know what I mean :)
Any other JETAA book clubs out there? Let us know by posting a comment or by emailing jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com. Yoroshiku!
A nice JET idea
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Remember all the nice things people in Japan did for you on JET? Some JET alums in the Seattle area have come up with a way to spread the karma to international students in the U.S. An idea that very much lends itself to being replicated if anyone in other chapters is interested. Read More
JETAA Ongaku Connection Update
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The JETAA Ongaku Connection Group (a new JET alum group formed recently by JET alums Adren Hart and Justin Tedaldi) has some events coming up. For more info, visit and/or join the Google Group at http://groups.google.com/group/jetaa-ongaku-connection.
A few highlights:
- MUCC – Free tickets available through the Ongaku Connection group – “In town for one night only,
Ibaraki-ken’s finest will hit the Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Sunday, December 7.” - NIPPON JAZZ NYC – Jazz Holiday Jam Session w/ Okaru Lovelace
Sunday, December 7th @ 8pm – 11:00pm; Blue Owl Cocktail Lounge; 196 Second Ave. (on 12th St.); Cover: $5 (This is a monthly show put together every month by Adren Hart.)
JETAA NY Karaoke tonight
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For anyone who can’t make the Quarterly Development Meeting tonight (or just likes karaoke with the JET crowd), there’s a karaoke gathering tonight starting around 9pm following the Development meeting.
Location: Sing Sing on St Marks St (between 2nd & 3rd Aves)
Cost: $19/person for 2 hrs
Time: After the Meeting ends around 9pm, for about 2 hours
Kinokuniya (NY) to host George Hirose – Night Light – Fri. Dec 5
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Kinokuniya Book Store (6th Ave between 40th & 41st Sts.) will be hosting the George Hirose: Night Light – Images from Japan, New York exhibit from December 5-30, with a special reception and book signing on Friday, December 5 from 5:30-8:00 p.m.
The reception will also feature a live performance of traditional Okinawan music by KOSSAN (who plays for the popular and exuberant chindon band HappyFunSmile for which George has done photography work and is a big fan.)
NDD (Nihongo Dake Dinner) Southern Cali Style
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From JETAA Southern California. (Not that you’re going to fly in to LA just for the event, but I think it’s interesting to see how different chapters do their versions of the nihongo dake dinner.)
It’s time for another NDD! For those not familiar with the NDD (Nihongo Dake Dinner = Japanese Only Dinner), it’s a chance to meet up and practice your great Japanese ability. But whatever your ability, all levels of Japanese are welcome. Whew! We will start with a potluck dinner at about 6pm, and continue with fun and games ’till the early morn!
The NDD will be on Dec 6th in San Gabriel. Co-President Christine Chow has volunteered her house for the event, so let’s thank her with a great genki turnout. For those coming from afar, or for those who drink a little too much, she welcomes anyone who would like to stay over to do so. Directions will be provided to those who RSVP.
To RSVP, please reply to jim /atto/ jetaasc /dotto/ org with NDD RSVP in the subject, and note:
-What food you will bring for the potluck (salad/appetizer, entree, dessert); your city/ken’s “famous” dish is most welcome!
-2 interesting things about your home/host prefecture in Japan
-Your favorite J-music singer/group
-If you are interested in carpooling and where you’ll be coming from
Hope to see you there! NDD de aimashou!!
Jim Smith, ’08-09 JETAASC Co-President
P.S. This is NOT the bonenkai. Details for that are coming!
JETAA Philly Mud Shack Social Night – Photos!
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The JETAA Philly subchapter Mud Shack Social Night on Saturday, November 15 was a big hit! Subchapter rep Renay Loper reports, “”We painted pottery, made jewelry, enjoyed some Japanese food, traded JET stories, and laughed the night away! Everyone was excited that the Philly group was re-awakening! Based on the feedback – even from those who couldn’t make it – I am already looking forward to our next event!”
To be in the loop on future Philly events, just e-mail PhillyRep atto jetaany dotto org
JETAA Chapter Beat – 11.24.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JETAA community…
Texoma (aka JETAA Chapter 9)
* Friday, November 28th — Beaver’s BBQ – Come support a local legend-in-the-making at Beaver’s BBQ around 7pm.
* November 1, 2008 — December 17, 2008 Madame Kawakita, ongoing film series
Cinema Japan: A Wreath for Madame Kawakita ($5.50 – 9.50 per movie)
– Friday, November 28 — 8:40 p.m. Her Brother
Kon Ichikawa’s powerful family drama, set in the Taisho era, with virtuoso performances by Kinuyo Tanaka and Keiko Kishi
– Saturday, November 29 — 5:00 p.m. Zigeunerweisen
Seijun Suzuki weds surrealism to ghost story to evoke the late 1920s in Japan as a period of changing mores akin to Weimar Germany.
– Sunday, November 30 — 3:00 p.m. Tora-san’s Sunrise and Sunset
A Japanese populist classic from Yoji Yamada’s Tora-san series. Our bumbling proletarian hero has adventures in the Tokyo suburbs and in the arts.
Check out the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive for more dates!
* Saturday, December 6 — Nihongo Dake Dinner. Time and place TBA
* Saturday, December 13 — JETAASC Bonenkai. Time and place TBA
* Saturday, December 6 — 2008 JETAA Portland Bonenkai.
Time: 6:30 p.m., Location: Bush Garden, Cost: $12 per person.
Join JETAA Portland’s end of the year party. Make sure you bring a gift for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Bring your unwanted or most hilarious omiyage from Japan (ike a dancing Pocari Sweat can). One of our most attended events of the year, reserve your spot now. Seating limited!
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
