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Last year I spoke to former JET Mary Moreton about her experiences in Japan and her current role working for one of the largest Japan-related events in the UK, HYPER JAPAN! After a hugely successful run last summer, HYPER JAPAN is back this week for more culture, cuisine and cool!

Starting tomorrow (Friday 24th February) and running till Sunday 26th, HYPER JAPAN promises to chase away all those winter blues!

Highlights this year include:
Sushi Awards 2012: UK Sushi Roll Championship
Eat-Japan SAKE AWARDS: Top Brewery Taste-Off
Natsuko Aso Live
Olympic Judo Champion Maki Tsukada
Cosplay, Street fashion, UK Kawaii star of the year and much much more!

For more details please check out the official website at http://hyperjapan.co.uk/

Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London as is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, writing and translation.

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It’s not surprising that London has changed a lot during the years I’ve been away in Japan. Being the “most populous municipality in the European Union”, rapid development, modernization and globalization are to be expected. However, it still throws me of guard when my British friends now drop ‘katsu-don’, ‘kirin beer’, and ‘kawaii’ into everyday conversation. I know those words weren’t part of my vocabulary before I took off for my life as an ALT!

For a recently returned expat like me, it is a huge comfort to see Japanese culture so widely embraced in my home city.  Which is why I was particularly excited to hear about HYPER JAPAN, a three day event promoting all the different aspects of Japanese culture that make it so appealing to us in the west. Determined to get my ‘Japan-fix’ to fight off the homesickness, I applied for a volunteer position and was delighted to discover one of the Hyper Japan team, Mary Moreton, was a fellow ex-JET. Not one to miss a chance to share JET stories, Mary kindly agreed to meet me one soggy London afternoon.

Hi Mary, sorry for dragging you out in this! Could you start by telling me a bit about your time on JET – why you applied, where you were based?

I was a CIR in Aomori City CIR from 2002 – 2005. I studied Classical Japanese Literature at University, which was a really interesting course that I enjoyed a lot, but not necessarily a degree that could lead straight to a clear career path. I wasn’t interested in working in say finance in the city like many of my friends, and I had spent time in Japan before (I did a year out in Osaka), so I decided to apply for JET.

How did you find Aomori compared to your experience of living in Osaka? I would imagine it to be quite different!

Yes, it was completely different to my previous experience of living in the city. I remember in my first week, there was another girl from UK who was based at the kencho, and we decided to meet up and explore one day. We walked around for about 10 minutes until we realised there really wasn’t much to see! It was totally different from my experiences of urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe.

What did you do after JET?

After returning from JET, my first job was as a PA for the European director of a Japanese electronics company where I was working in a mainly Japanese environment. Even though I had left Japan, during my working day, things weren’t too different. Although I felt that my unique point was my Japanese ability, I did not necessarily want to restrict myself to working for Japanese companies. I then went on to work for a British based Insurance broker. I worked in their Japanese department, so I was still using Japanese but not working in a completely Japanese environment as I had been used to. I had always been interested in translation, so in addition to working, I decided to do a part-time MA in translation. In the end I had to quit my job to focus on my dissertation in the last term.

With my MA finished I then decided to do freelance translation and signed up with several Japanese agencies. Not all of them gave regular work, and there were certain areas of translation (technical) that I couldn’t do, but after settling into a good relationship with a few coordinators, I managed to find my niche. Through that I did some work for the Sushi Awards, which led to my current position with Cross Media. Once again I am working as the only native English speaker in a Japanese company, but I enjoy it a lot as I get to promote all the things I love about Japanese culture and cuisine, and share it with a whole new audience.

Could you tell us a bit about the background of Hyper Japan?

The Eat-Japan Sushi Awards have been around for a few years. Japanese food is a lot more popular now in the UK than when I left in 2002 to go to Japan. Now there are so many places around where you can try Japanese food, and there is a lot more scope to promote it – which is where the idea for the sushi awards came from.

Japanese anime, manga and games have always had a fanbase in the UK and the rest of Europe, and there is a large Japan Expo held in Paris which mainly focuses on these aspects of Japanese culture.

I think most people think that Japan is cool, but not necessarily for just one thing. There are separate events to cater for cosplay, anime, and sushi fans, however there wasn’t anything that brought all these together – which what Hyper Japan attempts to do. In the same way that people who live in Japan experience the old and the modern co-existing harmoniously (you could find a Shinto shrine next door to a pachinko parlor), Hyper Japan aims to showcase both the contemporary and classic sides of Japanese culture under one roof.

To read the rest of the interview, click ‘Read More’.

So what can people expect for their ticket?

Hyper Japan hosts a mix of large, well-known companies (such as Nintento), and smaller-businesses/entrepreneurs and community based groups, so as well as the corporate presence we also aim to encourage a ‘roots-up’ cultural experience. The event is unique in the way that has a wide scope, bringing together people who share a common interest that is Japan, whether they are Japanese companies or British people. There will be lots of freebies, food/drink tasting, shopping and you will also be lending a hand to the people and regions affected by the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake as 10% of all net ticket revenue will be donated to the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund.

I believe that last year (2010) was the first ever Hyper Japan. What is different about the event this year, and what new additions can returning attendees expect?

Last year the event was quite focused on sub-cultural groups (Lolita, street fashion, cosplay), but we were surprised by the amount of people who came that were not part of those groups. This year we have expanded the food and drink area, and also introduced more traditional elements, such as kimono dressing and wagashi making. We also have the Japanese Media Arts Festival joining us to showcase Japanese films and film-makers, a Maid Cafe dinning experience, sake cocktail seminars, and performances including traditional taiko.

There will also be a charity focused area to raise awareness and support for the disaster-affected Tohoku region. This will feature a photography exhibition about the tsunami, and a charity raffle with some great prizes.

That all sounds amazing! Lastly, how can people get involved with Hyper Japan?

Hyper Japan is always on the look-out for volunteer bloggers/writers to contribute to the website. At the moment we are heavily focused on the event, but we will go back to being an information site on all things Japan and are looking for writers to get involved with their specific areas of interest. People interested in writing articles, even just about their experience of life in Japan, or anyone interested in photography, illustration are encouraged to get in touch. At this stage, unfortunately we cannot pay contributors, but we aim to develop the website further so that it becomes a platform to showcase creative work related to Japan.

Specifically for the event we are looking for anyone who would like to volunteer as a photographer, writer/translator. This would suit people who would like to build up their portfolio/work-experience and we are happy to credit people with their work and write references. Please contact the press office at press@hyperjapan.co.uk if you are interested in volunteering.

HYPER JAPAN will be held on Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July at Olympia 2, London. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the website, and kids under ten go free.

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Featured Article:

Spotlight On…. Tim Anderson, Masterchef 2011 Champion

Other articles this month:

IRO IRO – Japan, in Colour
Films at the Embassy: Waterboys
Japan at the Barbican, Summer 2011
HYPER JAPAN 2011: THE UK’S BIGGEST J-CULTURE EVENT
Japan’s First Railway: colour woodblock prints from the 1870s
Tohoku University – Back on Course
Charity bazaar held at Ambassador’s residence
Memorial Service at Wesminster Abbey
Embassy hosts 15th Summer Reunion for Peace and Friendship
The swords are out at the 2011 Nihongo Cup
Birmingham Royal Ballet triumphs in Japan

Subscribe:

To subscribe to the Embassy of Japan in the UK webmagazine, please email webmagazine@ld.mofa.go.jp with the subject ‘subscribe’.

If interested in helping (it should only take a few minutes), e-mail me at jetwit [at] jetwit.com and I’ll send you further instructions.

Yoroshiku!

-Steven

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I first posted about T-shitsu and their fantastic designs aimed especially for gai-jin in December last year. Since then the response from members of the JET and JET alum community has been very positive, and the base of returning customers is constantly growing.

This is completely down to the unique omoshiroi designs, high-quality shirts and general high standard of service provided by the T-shitsu team. I can’t rave about these shirts enough!

Currently, our friends at T-shitsu.com are half way through revealing their eagerly anticipated Black Collection.

The Black Collection consists of 8 new designs, one of which is revealed every Sunday, May through June, and we have been given an exclusive sneak preview of this week’s new design especially for JETWit readers….

Ta da!!!

To update you on other recent activities, T-shitsu were very active in wake of the Tohoku eathquake/tsunami disaster in terms of fundraising and encouraging donations. They even designed their own t-shirt to raise money and awareness, called Tohoku Tears, a wonderful design that was distributed through their partner website at Sweatshop Union.

The Tokoku Tears shirt was extremely popular and all shirts sold out in A WEEK! In total the shirt raised an outstanding 300,000 yen. Since then all other designs in the ‘rebuild’ collection have also sold out, but if there are plans to re-release them we will be sure to let you know.

There will be further new releases on T-shitsu.com once The Black Collection finishes, and present designs will be made available in a wider selection of colours. There will also be further promotions and competitions, all of which will be advertised through the T-shitsu Facebook site. Make sure you sign up for all the latest info, and it’s also a great way to contact the designers with your feedback and suggestions for shirts.

Please do post any comments/suggestions about the shirts, in particular any JET-related shirt ideas, and please do inform the T-shitsu team that you heard about them through JETWit if you place any orders. Check back for more updates soon!

 
Have a suggestion for a future JetWit Fashion Beat post? E-mail dipika [at] jetwit.com.

Click Here to find out more information about the show.

Posted by Sam Frank, an ALT who taught English in Hiraizumi-Cho, Iwate Prefecture from 2002-2004 and worked in Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture as a JET from 2004-2006. He currently manages the New York Division of UnRated Magazine and works as a Project Manager/Web Producer at Arrow Root Media.

'GANTZ' world premiere is Jan. 20 in the U.S. (Courtesy of Nikkatsu)

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. 

GANTZ, a new sci-fi film from Japan, is making its international world premiere at 325 U.S. movie theaters (including three in New York City) in an exclusive one-night event on Thursday, Jan. 20. Based on the long-running manga and anime series originally created by Hiroya Oku, GANTZ stars two of Japan’s biggest leading actors, Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City), who will both participate in an special live interview exclusive to this event.

Presented by NCM Fathom and New People, in association with Dark Horse Comics, GANTZ tells the story of childhood friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, who are accidentally killed while trying to save another man’s life. Rather than find themselves in the hereafter, however, they awaken in a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb they come to know as “GANTZ.” Along with similar abductees, they are provided with equipment and weaponry and manipulated into playing a kind of game in which they are sent back out to the greater world to do battle with alien beings, all while never quite knowing whether this game is an illusion or their new reality.

Click here for the rest of the article.

Goku and the DBZ gang are now streaming online. (Courtesy of FUNimation/Toei Animation Co., Ltd.)

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. 

U.S.-based FUNimation Entertainment and Toei Animation Co., Ltd. have teamed up to present Japan’s evergreen animated series Dragon Ball Z at Hulu.com, North America’s online leader for streaming TV shows and film in North America.

Yesterday (Jan. 15), FUNimation began streaming the series’ first 15 episodes via Hulu, the official Dragon Ball Z website (www.dragonballz.com) in addition to www.dragonballzkai.com, www.funimation.com.

FUNimation will offer its professionally-produced, uncut, English-tracked and English-subtitled adaptations of the massively successful series beginning with the first episode as well as other chapters of the Dragon Ball franchise: Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Z Kai.

Click here for the rest of the story.

If you read the previous Japan Fix:  Tampa post, then you know of some quality JET-recommended places in Tampa to get your Japan Fix on.   It turns out, however, there’s more to tell and Tampa is even Japanese-ier than previously thought.  You just have to know where to look.  (In our case, we were forced to look because the places listed in the previous Japan Fix:  Tampa post happened to be closed this past Monday thanks to the holidays.)

So read on for Japan Fix:  Tampa (Part 2):

Japanese Food

I Ai Sushi (as in, “I love sushi”) is a cozy Japanese restaurant with an izakaya section on their menu tucked away in a shopping mall on 33614 W. Waters Ave. that also features a Marshalls (aka America’s “Ito Yokado”) and an Albertsons.  Perhaps the Japanese-iest touch of all is their business card which, in true Japanese fashion, includes a crude yet cute map of the mall with an arrow pointing to where the restaurant is located. 

I had the good fortune to go with St. Petersburg native, uber-foodie and fellow alum Lily Lam (Kagawa-ken, 2004-09) who heard about the place from a friend whose mother happens to be Japanese.  (Notably, Lily actually lives and works in San Francisco these days.  We only got in touch when she responded for the JET-Sister City List Project and, in the course of e-mailing, we realized we would both be in the Tampa-St. Pete area for Christmas.)

I Ai Sushi is owned by a Japanese couple who hail from Osaka and opened the restaurant about 3 years ago.  Tasteful Japanese art on the walls is accented with a Hello Kitty clock as well as autographed photos of several Japanese ballplayers who have eaten there. 

We started with a bottle of warm sake.  And perhaps the nicest thing about the sake was that rather than present us with a long list of detailed descriptions of sakes from all over Japan, they just brought us some decent sake.  Somehow I found this lack of choice to be reassuringly natsukashii.  (Remember lunch in your junior high schools?)

From the izakaya menu we ordered gyoza (savory and yummy), kinpira gobo (which had a surprising and tasty kick to it), maguro yama kake (mountain potato with tuna sashimi–not commonly found in most U.S. Japanese restaurants) and, from the specials menu that night, shishamo, which are small, batter-fried and very pregnant fish.  According to Lily, this was a common feature of her school lunches.  Somehow I made it all this time without ever being aware of their existence, due most likely to the fact that I’ve spent most of my life avoiding fish.  However, given my vow this year to make efforts to expand my palate, I took a couple bites.  Right in the belly.  And you know, it wasn’t so bad.  Especially with a little lemon on it.  (Lily noted that in her school lunches, there was no fried batter and no lemon.  Just rubbery pregnant fish.)

These, of course, were just the warmup dishes, the mood setters.  Because in the chilly (by Florida standards) 40 degree evening, we quickly discovered that the menu also featured various forms of nabe including sukiyaki, which we both ordered.  They let us cook it right at our table.  The beef was Japanese-thin and nicely marbled.  The veggies were exactly what they were supposed to be.  And the broth had that sweet-salty flavor that brought back memories of my first sukiyaki experience on a cold day in a friend’s unheated home gathered round a kotatsu with school colleagues.

I knew enough to request a couple raw eggs (since American health codes prohibit restaurants from offering raw eggs on their menu).  And we were in business chowing down and exchanging stories of JET days past. 

And for a final Japanese touch, they brought us (un-ordered) a dessert of grapes, hand-whipped cream and choux creme/シュークリームfilled with vanilla ice cream all on a plate.  A very nice finish to the meal.

With our bellies full of washoku and a bit of nihonshu, it was of course time for….

Karaoke

After searching Google Maps and Yelp on our iPhones, it was determined that the best karaoke options would be Korean noreban (i.e., karaoke box)  joints.  Tampa Karaoke was the obvious choice, but one Yelp review mentioned something about gero in one of the rooms.  So first we checked out One Family Korean Restaurant and Karaoke on 7030 West Hillsborough Ave.  It was a bit hard to find at first along the commercial strip, but sure enough there was a Korean market, restaurant and karaoke place all in one warehouse-like looking building.  Unfortunately for us they were all closed.

Tampa Karaoke it would be.  And it was actually not so bad.  Slick, chi-chi, high class and newly renovated are all words I would not use to describe the establishment.  But the young Korean-American guy at the desk was very friendly.  And the price was right at $25 per hour for a room.  It’s also worth noting that this is a BYOB place (like Bar Toto in Korea Town in NYC), which is great if you happen to know about it in advance (which we didn’t).

We asked if there were Japanese songs in the books and were told that indeed there were.  We eventually found them, however they were organized by song title only which made it a bit hard to search.  That inconvenience, however, was mooted by the fact that we could only find 2 or 3 songs that we actually knew.  And we decided to fault that partly to our own limited J-Pop knowledge and partly to Tampa Karaoke’s limited selection.

Getting into specifics, I was able to find “Kampai” (Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi) and “Kimi Ga Iru Dake” (Kome Kome Club).  But no ”Ashita Ga Aru” or “Banzai” or any other songs by Ulfuls (aka Japan’s answer to Hootie and the Blowfish).  Lily, meanwhile, found “Sakura” (Kobukuro), a well-known sappy graduation song as well as “Life is a Boat” (Rie Fu).  (Though she regretted not finding “Tegami” by Angela Aki.)  Sore demo, we ended on a good note with that Japanese standard, “Take Me Home Country Road” (Jo-n Den-ba).

We realize there is more Japan to explore in the Tampa-St. Pete’s area.  But it may just have to wait until next Christmas.  However, given that I’m currently “stuck” in Florida due to the Blizzard of 2010 and can’t get a flight back to NYC until Sunday, January 2, I’ve decided to head east in search of more JET-ventures.  So stay tuned for….

Japan Fix:  Del Ray Beach & Miami!

Tell us where JETs should go in your area to get their Japan Fix. E-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

Minamoto Kitchoan's origami Christmas tree. (Courtesy of Yasushi Sasaki/Two Rivers Associates)

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.

Minamoto Kitchoan, the Midtown Japanese wagashi (confectionery) shop with over 150 locations worldwide, is currently sporting a Christmas tree made up of 3,000 origami cranes, or orizuru.

According to store management, “The orizurus symbolize peace. They were made by kindergarten and elementary students in Japan and sent to New York as a tribute to the WTC Visitor Center.” This special Christmas tree was unveiled earlier this month at Minamoto Kitchoan’s Fifth Avenue store in the heart of Manhattan.

“We’ve decided to create an orizuru Christmas Tree in remembrance of tragic events of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001,” management explains. “Each orizuru comes with heartfelt hopes for peace.”

This sweet gesture is complemented by Minamoto Kitchoan’s own mission, which management says is to expand their business to every country in the world so that all can further experience and understand the beauty of Japanese culture through traditional Japanese wagashi, whether it’s Fukuwatshi Senbei (Japanese style vanilla cream filled cookie), the savory Benihana Ringo (apple cinnamon flavored bean jelly), or the delectable Kurizutsumi (red Bean paste and large piece of chestnut wrapped and baked in pie crust, topped with black sesame).

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Kathy Laubach (CIR Kumamoto-ken, 2003-06) originally hails from Montana but recently re-located to San Francisco and agreed to share how she’s been getting her Japan Fix there so far.

I have to admit that I simple feel too fresh back to write a worthy piece on my Japan Fix in San Francisco…. Montana was so long ago, which also makes that a challenge! I have found that my main sources of warding off Japan homesickness are skyping/emailing friends there and, mainly, tracking their lives on Facebook. I’ve also managed to meet a few Japanese folks in the area which has been helpful for the adjustment.

One place that makes the top of my still short but notable Bay Area Secrets Japanese list, however, is Umami. The menu boasts two of my weaknesses (as in addictions) – sushi and ice cream – in an upbeat, modern atmosphere. Plenty of items for sharing and the wait staff is confident making suggestions and ordering on behalf of patrons’ wanting to spend more time in conversation than deliberating over menu choices. Fairly expansive and fun cocktail list, with sake as well (Was driving, so not too familiar with the beverages. Would like to stop in for Happy Hour sometime though.)

Umami staff got good marks, too, for doing a good job of accounting for 好き／嫌い and アレルギ. The ice cream I referred to isn’t any ordinary/extraordinary 抹茶 variety, per se, but the dessert menu incorporates a cookie dough wrapped ice cream roll with delectable toppings. Attractive to the eye and as well as stimulating to the taste buds! Also noteworthy is the Japanese language lesson audio system in the トイレ!

I guess you could say I am a fan. I’d like to sit at the bar sometime and see if it offers that same visual satisfaction as often felt when doing so in Japan.

(Kathy added that she would soon be attending her first JETAA Northern California gathering, another great way to get your Japan Fix.)

Have something to add to Japan Fix:  San Francisco?  Want to share how you get your Japan Fix in your corner of the world?  Add a comment to this post or e-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

This edition of Japan Fix actually happened when I emailed JETAA Florida’s Tampa Subchapter rep John McGee (Nagano-ken, 2004-05) to let him know that I would be visiting family in Tampa over Christmas and asked him for the most authentic Japanese experiences in the Tampa area, i.e., where the JET alums go.  What he wrote back was perfect for Japan Fix.

1.  Yoko’s Japanese Restaurant is in South Tampa (3217 South McDill Ave.) It’s owned by the mother of a JET from years ago. (http://www.yokosrestaurant.com/Pages/about.htm)

2.  Kaisen Sushi in Northdale. (http://kaisensushitampa.com/) (14841 North Dale Mabry Highway) This is owned by a locally famous character…he’s a bit of a rocker and a good sushi chef. He made some waves when Hideki Matsui’s press guy asked if he would rent the place out for Matsui to make an appearance since he’d heard about the place and wanted to try it. But he told them that Matsui was welcome to eat, but he wouldn’t shut out his regulars on one of his best nights because they would keep coming back while Matsui would only be there once.

3. Wasabi Japanese Steak & Sushi in New Tampa. (http://www.japanesesteakandsushi.com/) (19601 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard)  This is a Japanese owned steakhouse with sushi.  The owner is Fumi Doi. He hosted one of our Tampagumi Pre-Departure Q&A’s for new JETs and is a likely sponsor for Tampa Natsumatsuri in 2011.  (Apparently his wife encouraged him to sponsor the matsuri when she saw our sad little hand-cranked kakigori maker.) It’s definitely the fanciest and most expensive of the three I’ve mentioned.

Outside of food, perhaps, the best way to get your Japan Fix in Tampa may be to simply attend the Tampa Tsudoi Japanese language meet-up which meets the first Friday of every month from 7pm to 8pm at the Panera in the Brandon Town Center Mall.

Tell us where JETs should go in your area to get their Japan Fix. E-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

How do you get your Japan fix wherever you live? Write it down and send it to me at gail [at] jetwit.com for the entertainment and benefit of the JET alum community.

Having called Hiroshima home for three years, my husband and I knew we’d miss our old neighborhood haunts when we returned to the U.S., especially our favorite okonomiyaki joint. There, our weekly visits made us such familiar faces that the cooks greeted us by name when we walked in and we even had our own stools at the bar a la Norm from Cheers. I didn’t hold out any hope of finding an okonomiyaki-ya back in the sticks of Ohio, but now that we’ve relocated, the search is on.

Whether or not I find it, though, I at least know that there are a number of stores in our area that carry a decent selection of Japanese goods, which means I can always cook our favorite Japanese dishes at home. While searching for the local Japanese markets around our new town, I stumbled upon a blog post on my favorite Japanese cooking blog, JustHungry.com. The author of this blog had compiled a wonderful reader-contributed list of Japanese groceries and stores across the U.S. The list is categorized by state, so you can just scroll through to find something close to you. Thanks to her I’ve discovered a selection of Japanese food items in a grocery store just a short hop from my house, where I found my latest Japan fix: a shelf bearing at least half a dozen flavors of ラムネ. Ah, natsukashii!!

How do you get your Japan fix where you live? Send it to me at gail [at] jetwit.com and I’ll post it on JetWit!

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The 46th Chicago International Film Festival is currently under way, screening 150 films from 50 countries. First held in 1964, the festival founded by Michael Kutza is one of the oldest of its kind in North America. This year the following Japanese films are being showcased, with cultural support provided by The Japan Foundation.

ABACUS AND SWORD / BUSHI NO KAKEIBO
Director: Yoshimitsu Morita
Reimagining the classic samurai picture, this quiet, elegant drama follows the Inoyama family as they serve their lord not with the sword but with the abacus. With a sense of honor as exacting as any warrior’s and a rigorous ethic of honesty even in the midst of dire poverty, Naoyuki Inoyama (nicknamed “the Mad Abacus” by his rivals) distinguishes himself as a hero for the approaching modern age.

BIG TITS ZOMBIE / KYONYŪ DRAGON
Director: Takao Nakano
A campy, raucous crowd-pleaser that is definitely not for the whole family, this 3-D spectacle pits brassy strippers against a horde of the undead, which the ladies unwittingly revive by reading aloud from an ancient tome. They must battle one of their own in addition to the brain eaters when goth stripper Maria hatches her own ambitious plans to become Queen of the Dead.

CATERPILLAR / KYATAPIRÂ
Director: Kôji Wakamatsu
Horribly maimed while fighting on the Japanese front in China during WWII, a Japanese lieutenant returns home a war hero. But his loss of limbs has not made him any less of a brute, especially to his wife. Required to satisfy his every need, she feels her anger quietly boiling over. Based on a short story that was banned for its extreme subject matter, Caterpillar is a howl of rage against blindness to the atrocities of war.

GOLDEN SLUMBER / GÔRUDEN SURAMBÂ
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura
In this seriocomic conspiracy thriller, affable deliveryman Aoyagi unwittingly becomes the prime suspect in a hunt for the assassin of the prime minister. As he runs from the authorities and the news media eats up every scrap of incriminating evidence, Aoyagi finds a little help from his friends, including his college sweetheart and a crazy but cheerful youth who’s wanted for serial murder. Together, this motley crew will help Aoyagi navigate the strangest, scariest 24 hours of his life.

SWORD OF DESPERATION / HISSHIKEN TORISASHI
Director: Hideyuki Hirayama
The expert swordsman Kanemi Sanzaemon is a man of principle, first and foremost. His decisive, violent handling of high-level corruption in the court of the local feudal lord landed him in solitary confinement for two years. He has now been released, with one caveat he cannot comprehend: He must serve as bodyguard to the lord he betrayed. This thrilling, masterfully stylized tale of honor combines classic samurai action with a taut story of intrigue and betrayal.

The festival runs from October 7th till the 21st. For a complete schedule and more info visit http://chicagofilmfestival.com/ or call 312-332-FILM.

 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. 

The year 2010 is an auspicious one for New York and Japan. Fifty years ago, Gotham became Tokyo’s first sister city, and 150 years ago this month, a samurai envoy paraded down Broadway after clinching diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Nippon.

To celebrate that distinguished day, tributary events here in New York have included the annual Japan Day @ Central Park on June 6 which recreated the original samurai procession, a special lighting of the Empire State Building on June 16 to commemorate the actual anniversary date, and now, the Museum of the City of New York’s exhibition Samurai in New York: The First Japanese Delegation, 1860, on view from June 25 through October 11, with a special gallery tour on Saturday, June 26 hosted by project director Kathleen Benson, Yuko Suzuki of the Consulate General of Japan and Eric Campbell of the consulate’s Japan Information Center.

Read the rest of the article here.

 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. 

It’s the return of a modern tradition as Japan Day @ Central Park 2010 hits the East Meadow Sunday. With an array of free family-friendly and traditional activities, samplings of popular cuisine and powerful stage performances featuring entertainers from Tokyo and New York, this year’s festivities are expected to top the estimated 45,000 New Yorkers drawn to last year’s Japan Day. 

Continuing in the custom of previous years, the day kicks off with the four-mile Japan Run mini-marathon at 8 a.m., followed by the Japanese Day Festival in the East Meadow at 10 a.m. with the unveiling of all activity tents and the main stage show. The year 2010 is especially promising—it marks the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese diplomatic mission to New York—and there will be special activities to celebrate this historic milestone.

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I just returned from 3 years on JET in Nagasaki, and am living back in Missoula. Just wondering if there are any ex-JETs in the area. If so, I’d love to hear from you and maybe meet up for lunch or a Missoula microbrew.

Looking forward to hearing back from you,

Pat Hauge (Nagasaki 2006-2009)  pbh406 [/at/] yahoo [/dot/] com

JetWit followed up with Pat to find out how life is out there and how he gets his “Japan fix.”  Here’s Pat’s response:

I have recently returned home after a long 3 years in Japan so I’m still working on satisfying my “Montana fix”. Though I guess the biggest thing I miss at this point would be sashimi.I lived on a small fishing island off the coast of Nagasaki ken where the raw fish was as dank as you could find. There are a couple decent Japanese restaurants here in Missoula, Sushi Hana and Nara, which both have dollar sushi night’s. They’ll never really compare, but I guess they do give me that weekly fix.  There are quite a few Japanese college students here in town at the University of Montana, so I have a chance to practice my Japanese and hear some eeeeee’s, or sugoooi’s which makes me feel not quite as far away from the rising sun.

Although living in Japan on JET was an amazing experience, I am actually quite happy being back in Missoula, Montana (even though it was -10 degrees Fahrenheit in early October last week) where I just bought a house and am beginning a career as a financial planner.

If anyone is in the area I’d love to get together, chat about Japan, grab a pint of beer, or eat some dollar sushi, so hit me up!

cheers,

Pat

Great article from the Isshoni London website run by JET alum Vanessa Villalobos (who is also the Communications Officer for JETAA UK).

There’s a welcome lull in frenetic London life over August… time to enjoy some of the finer things in life: food, music and the great outdoors.

If you, like I am, are counting down the days to the Japan Matsuri at Spitalfields this September 19th, you should indulge in a little Japanese cultural exploration over the summer!

1. EAT FOR FREE AT TOKYO CITY

I know! I couldn’t believe it either! Simply book your table in advance at Tokyo City Japanese Restaurant near Bank on any Tuesday in August, anytime from 11.30am to 10pm at night. A tasty offer too good to miss, you simply pay a £2.50 service charge and the cost of drinks you order.

City workers can feast for free on everything from handmade sushi and sashimi to bento boxes filled with Japanese classics, plus other traditional Japanese dishes, and help Tokyo City celebrate their 10th birthday and the launch of their new August menu.

Tokyo City is at 46 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7AY

Call 020 7726 0308 and quote the Tokyo City offer when you book.

2. DISCOVER CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE MUSIC

You’ll be pleased to hear Tsuru Sushi plays host to new Japanese music the last Wednesday of every month! Their 100% Genki events showcase Japanese musical and performance talent.

The events have been running for one year on the last Wednesday of each month, and attract a diverse crowd from the Japanese and local communities. Performers are also diverse, ranging from Wataru Kousaka, a sanshin player, to contemporary electronic composer Anchorsong and many others.

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Japan Fix: South Carolina

By Daniel J. Stone (Saitama-ken, 2004-07), JETAA South Carolina Subchapter Rep

After spending seven years In San Diego and Los Angeles followed by three years in the metro Tokyo area, the decision to return to my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina with my wife who hails from Tokyo was a bit naïve when I look back to when we first returned to “America’s Bible Belt” in 2007.

Despite the geographic location, demographics and the overall facts that South Carolina is a small and rural state, one can get their “Japan Fix”, if they know where to look.

CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
The International Center of the Upstate (ICU), located at the Greenville City Hall building, is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting cross-cultural understanding among local and international residents of Upstate South Carolina. It was here where my wife and I went to learn of where to go and what to do in the area’s international community. One of the first things I did was volunteer at ICU’s English conversation group where a group of Japanese spouses attended the weekly session.

Another group which was helpful was the Japan America Association of South Carolina based in Greenville. Through this group I was able to network with Japanese expatriates working at various companies in the area and like-minded Americans.

Lastly, there is the good ‘ol JETAA group based in Atlanta. It was through here that I met other JET alums in the area.

GROCERY & FOOD SHOPPING
The Tanpopo, aka “Dandelion”, located at the corner of Pelham Road and Highway 14 is a Japanese grocery store sourcing most of their products from Nishimoto Trading and JFC. My wife goes there for gyoza, shumai, yakisoba, natto, curry, ginger and frozen maguro. There is just enough to scratch one’s “Japanese itch” in between visits to Atlanta’s or Charlotte’s Asian communities.

At the bustling Woodruff Road area is the organic food products outlet, Whole Foods Market. Fresh home grown Japanese vegetables, bottles of the Itoen brand green and oolong bottle teas, cooking and drinking sake, and edamame can be bought here. Also on Woodruff Road is the club store chain, Costco Wholesale, which saved me on more than one occasion when I was living in Japan. At Costco, we usually get the salmon and Itoen green tea bag packs.

Lastly, the largest Asian populations in the area are the Vietnamese therefore by default; many ingredients that can’t be found at the other places mentioned can be bought at the various Vietnamese outlets in the area. The rare vegetable prevalent in Okinawa, goya, can be found at these markets.

RESTAURANTS
Located next to Tanpopo is the Japanese restaurant, Sushi Masa. This place is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in the area with the majority of the crowd being Japanese. Next, Sushi Hana, located across the Haywood Mall in Greenville is a close second in good quality and authentic Japanese cuisine. Lastly, there is Miyabi’s on Congaree Road. If you are like me and have to have sushi, these three places provide it close to the quality found in Japan. The sushi chef at Miyabi’s routinely makes a trip to the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to pick-up fresh fish flown in from New York. Other notable places are Tsunami’s and Taco Sushi (a Mexican-Japanese restaurant), and in downtown Greenville. Miyako’s and Jade’s in Spartanburg are good for those not living in Greenville.

SIGHTSEEING & LEISURE
Once a family temple in Japan, the Place of Peace at Greenville’s Furman University is part of the Asia studies program and is used to teach Japanese architecture and culture. Reconstructed in 2008, one can see an authentic Japanese temple, look inside upon appointment and be surrounded by Japan in South Carolina.

In downtown Greenville at the Hughes Main Library, there is a substantial section pertaining to Japanese language books. Also, the main library has several DVDs and VHS tapes of Japanese movies subtitled in English as well as CDs of Japanese artist such as Akiko Yano.

Daniel J. Stone (Saitama-ken, 2004-07) and his wife, Mayuko have traveled to all of Japan’s eight regions while serving on the Japan Exchange & Teaching Program from 2004-2007. Since then, they have been residing in Daniel’s home state of South Carolina where Daniel is the South Carolina Subchapter Representative. Daniel also maintains his fix on Japan by writing on the topic at his blog, Divine Wind Vault (http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com), contributing to the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta’s site, The “Official” Visit Japan Campaign Supporter’s Blog, and Sushi & Sake Magazine.

Note:

Japan Fix:  New York City

By Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2005-08), writer of the Kirsten’s World columns on JetWit

There are thousands of different angles to approach a story like this, particularly in a metropolitan city such as New York. But I’d really love to expand this topic and hear about Japan Fixes in other parts of the country, preferably those without a coast! Yes, I’m talking to you Wyoming! Hi there, Kansas City! Since Japan means something different for everyone who walks away from it, I’d really like to hear about where and how you find Japan. Whether its building a raft and fording rivers to reach that one Kaiten Sushi bar, renting your favorite Japanese language film, or simply chatting with your Japanese neighbor down the hall, tell us all about it!

Now let’s get one thing straight. I earned an admirable jones before I even lived in Japan.

I have my buddy Reiko to thank for the multitude of pre-JET Japanese obsessions I harbored before marching knee-deep into the trenches. In Nueva York, karaoke was only something I did when I was too drunk to care about the lyrics and the only songs I knew then were by Shiina Ringo. Tarako-spaghetti was novelty, not survival. I entered without ceremony. Tips were important. The sole purpose of a handkerchief was for gagging. Vending machines only offered one thing.

Although prior knowledge of Japanese custom, popular wastes of time and cuisine-abuses was a reasonably applicable methadone for the harder edges of culture shock, nothing can fully prepare you for the experience of living on Japanese soil. Everyone gets shocked in one way or another. However, once you get used to the vibe and start running with the pack, untangling yourself from that mentality can be equally as harsh. Three years of opening important doors with 失礼しますand public transportation that runs on time can really leave a mark. Also, it’s hard to say goodbye to your favorite onsen, izakaya, chuugakkou and depaato. A majority of these are difficult to revive even in facsimile here in the States unless you wanna fork over your rent check.

But for those who are blessed enough to live in or around Nueva York, there is hope.

In this town, most of what I left behind I was able to come back to. In Gotham, I would not have to drive miles to an all-encompassing AsiaMart to find my specific brand of miso paste or umeboshi. We have entire supermarkets devoted to Japan, not just a shelf. A distinction is made between Japanese food and “Japanese” food. There are no shortages of Japanese businesses, artists, cultural events, and just plain walking talking individuals to feed your soul. Nonetheless, some things you still need to hunt for.

The East Village is where you’ll predictably find many forms of Japanese crack cocaine. Decent takoyaki may be found at OTAFUKU. Yakitori and ramen (in the same place???) may be scored at VILLAGE YOKOCHO. I patronized YOKOCHO so much in college they put my face on the menu. Once upon a time there was a sweet little place called PANYA that served as a bakery but alas, it is no more. However, KYOTOFU has lessened the pain of their loss with luscious Japanese sweets of the high quality I grew accustomed to in Japan. *sob* How I do miss my Yamazaki roll kekki! *bawl* *whimper* *sniffle*

I enjoyed going to the nearby HOSHI COUP II when I required a haircut. Not only was the staff patient, understanding and knowledgeable of 7 out of 10 of my favorite Japanese bands, they seemed to have an intuitive feel for what would look good on me. Plus, they cleaned my ears while they were drying my hair and offered complimentary shoulder rubs. Just like in Japan. These days, however, I have switched to the comfort of YO-C (named for its darling Tokyoite owner, Yoshi) salon on East 5th Street for a bit more personalized experience. I go to his website sometimes just to zone out to the awesome trance he’s got embedded therein.

Though once I was a devoted follower of the YOKOCHO sect, UDON WEST on 45th & Lex is where I now get my ホルモン on. I respect an izakaya that serves it up slimy and underdefined, speaks English when it feels like it and stays open a wee bit later if you’re still in your cups past last call. They do have an English menu for chrissakes, this is still America. But how can English accurately portend the ultimate mouthwatering bliss of a もつ鍋？ GUT STEW? That’s attractive.

Though you can always hit up the SUNRISE MART, DONGURI-YA, or KATAGIRI should you ever find yourself in dire need of パンコ or a gas conro, their selections vary frequently and are often limited (though KATAGIRI has an impressive dry goods section). For a truly fun experience, I recommend coughing up the bus fare to MITSUWA in Edgewater, NJ to meet a myriad of your needs. It’s a very wallet-damaging place to start missing Japan. I never go there without dropping at least $100. My hard on is severe.

If all you’re looking for are anime soundtracks/dated J-pop, look no further than Chinatown bootlegs. It’s the most cost-effective option. Failing that, KINOKUNIYA offers a wider range of more timely selections (though pricier). Last time I live in the city, there was a BOOK OFF on E. 41st that sold used or marked down Japanese CDs so check that out first before shelling out any serious yen online. Limewire has been my supplier for longer than I can say with dignity however if I truly want something, I attack AMAZON Japan or CD JAPAN like any normal person.

For those who like their Japanese music way off the beaten pop star, however, I heartily recommend this UK-based website called Far Side Music. Sample downloads available. ^_^ If you have a passion for Japanese music like I do, this site may become your new bitch. Yes, why wouldn’t they have a MySpace?

Japanese bands were once a mere roving happenstance in my part of town but if you look close enough (and attend enough JAPAN NITES), you will find more than a few recurring house acts. Now may I pimp the melodic UZUHI fronted by a man I fall just a bit more in love with every time I witness him. If all you truly seek is a decent kick in the teeth, UZUHI will more than politely oblige. HAPPY FUN SMILE is also an enjoyable outfit. Though I was initially confused by their dual embrace of cosplay and accordion playing, once I heard them cover MATSURI MAMBO and HAISAI OJIISAN, I was bought. I mean, how can you lose with a name like Happy Fun Smile???

However, some pleasures are harder to reproduce.

Once upon a time I was sitting around my countryside elementary trying to look busy when I heard a joyous music burst from the gymnasium. Were they having an unscheduled matsuri here in my little school? Was there a fire? Once my schedule of classes was completed, I was pretty much left to fend for myself. Though I was free to roam the halls at will, I tried not to make my presence too obvious as this always got a pleasing though distracting reaction from my adorable students.

Often we ALTs are left out of the loop or expected to know much more than we actually do. If there had been a fire, I’d have been the dumb chick asking: “So like, who’s KAJI and why is everyone making like such a big deal over him? Hey, do you guys smell smoke? I totally smell smoke.” Unbeknown to me, my elementary school was practicing for their Sports Festival and part of this joy was a dance known as yosa-koi.

I did not know what yosa-koi was at the time. All I heard was happy music and all I saw were happy kids! Only my two favorite things in the world! I eagerly leapt into the throng of teachers and students and did my best to jama along with the music.

I had no clue what I was doing but that’s never stopped me before.

Soon yosa-koi became my Saturday mornings. The teachers, eager to see an ALT interacting outside class with the students, found me a pair of wooden naruko and signed me up for the school’s yosa-koi team. I was thrilled though poorly coordinated. Every Saturday I faithfully showed up in the suffocating heat of our mirrorless gym and tried to learn the steps to our DON GALA FESTIVAL routine.

Yosa-koi was a profoundly good way to meet people. Not only my students but their parents and siblings, friends and grandmothers. It was something we did for fun and together. I loved it lots.

When I came home I was dubious as to whether I would ever dance yosa-koi again. I’d half-resigned myself to becoming one of those eccentric ex-ALTs who sleeps with a naruko under her pillow, sipping sho-chu on the front porch and reminiscing about the good old days when I danced that martian dance Yosa-Koi in the parade of ’08. Yesiree, I’d gaze dewy-eyed at footage of past performances on YouTube and weep into my mochi, yearning fruitlessly for any excuse to rattle them clappers again.

Unwilling to accept such a fate, I Googled “yosa-koi” and “NY” and found: 10tecomai: Yosa-Koi Dance Project.

The most I’d hoped for on this 東海岸 was some extension of a college Asia club or Japan society, an environment I didn’t exactly wish to invade. Finding even Japanese people who were into yosa-koi seemed impossible enough indeed, let alone an entire project?!?! Such an outfit demanded further investigation. To my elation, they were kind enough to let me audition and even kinder to let a 左右-challenged individual like myself join their ranks. The Japanese community in NY, such as it is, is fairly vast. Even within the miniature dynamic of 10tecomai, there are a diverse range of individuals, Japanese and non-Japanese. For me, Japan is well represented by its members. From the fast-talking Tokyoites to the barely decipherable Tohoku-factions, to ALTs who served their time, 10teco represents Japan through one common act: Stylin with naruko. Where there is music and happiness, where there is a stage or no, where there ought to be nothing to see by but beer and red lanterns, there should be 10tecomai.

When I miss Japan, I miss it less when I’m dancing yosa-koi. When I’m talking with people who yearn for onsen the same way I do. Who know to slurp noodles at the speed of light while its still hot enough to sear the roof of your mouth. Who will lend me an aburatori when I ask for one. Who laugh at my old man jokes and don’t need translation every time my Japanese goes on auto-pilot. It’s not Niigata by any means but it’s close enough.