Oct 21

Video: NHK covers JETAA International Conference in Tokyo and JETAA fundraising efforts

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Here’s a link to a 1.5 minute NHK news story (video) about the JETAA International Conference just held in Tokyo.  The story also references the approximately $500,000 raised for earthquake relief by JET Alumni Association chapters around the world.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20111021/t10013420671000.html

The video includes a brief interview with Akita JET Paul Yoo, founder of volunteerAKITA and The Fruitree Project, who attended the conference.  Also visible in some of the shots are JETAA International Chair Shree Kurlekar (Shiga-ken) and JETAA USA Country Reps Megan Miller (Hyogo-ken) and Jessyca Wilcox (Hokkaido).  (Those are the people I recognized.  If you recognize others, please post in the comments section.)

The JETAA International Conference attendees are also scheduled to participate in a JET-led volunteer trip to Rikuzentakata this weekend.

Here’s the NHK article that accompanies the video:

外国語指導助手ら 被災地支援強化

10月21日 15時37分

Oct 17

Media coverage of various JETAA chapter fundraising efforts – all in one place!

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Thanks to JETAA USA Country Representative Jessyca Wilcox for gathering this information in connection with an upcoming announcement regarding the JETAA USA Fund:

Oct 9

JET alum George Rose quoted in NYT feature on Hideki Irabu

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George Rose with Hideki Irabu

JET alum George Rose (Fukushima-ken, 1989-91), former interpreter for Hideki Irabu as well as former JETAA NY President, is quoted in a Sunday, October 9 feature article “Irabu Got Lost on the Way Back“) in the New York Times about Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu who recently committed suicide.  The article gives the impression that George was one of the few U.S. baseball colleagues who actually got to know Irabu personally.

Below is a link to the full article along with the quotes by George:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/sports/baseball/hideki-irabu-got-lost-on-the-road-back.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=hideki%20irabu&st=cse

“When I saw him last summer, he told me he was having a midlife crisis,” said George Rose, who befriended Irabu when he worked for two years as his interpreter on the Yankees. Rose then repeated what had been a kind of conventional wisdom about the Irabu: he had a big heart, but could be his own worst enemy.

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JET alum George Rose with Derek Jeter at the 1998 World Series.

“He was kind of searching for what to do next,” said George Rose, his old interpreter, “and he never did.”

For additional background on George, here’s a link to a 2008 JETAANY Newsletter interview with George Rose (“Pride of the Yankees:  Far East Edition“) by Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2002-03).

Oct 8

Secretary of State Clinton speech lauds JET Program and JET Alumni, talks about Monty Dickson and Taylor Anderson

Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Video Add Comment (2)

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In a speech on October 7 at the U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauded the JET Programme for its vital grassroots relationship building, cited the JET alumni community’s role in raising money for earthquake/tsunami relief and cited Monty Dickson and Taylor Anderson as models of the kind of cross-cultural exchange that is so important to successful relationships between countries and cultures.

Here is a link to Secretary of State Clinton’s speech on the State Department’s website along with a video.  http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/10/175151.htm

Below are a few excerpts followed by the full text of the speech.

“More than 35,000 people have participated in exchange programs sponsored by our two governments, programs like the Fulbright and the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, known as JET.”

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“[A]lthough these ties have already benefited both of our nations, they are not self-sustaining. We have to continue to invest in them.”

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“The American people are proud to count Japan among our closest friends. I recently heard the story of an Alaskan named Monty Dickson who taught English at Yonesaki Elementary School as part of the JET program. While in Japan, Monty came to love Japanese poetry, and on the morning of March 11th, he had translated a poem by Shiba Ryotaro into English, and it read: “There’s nothing as beautiful as dedicating one’s life for a cause.” And just a few hours after writing those words, Monty Dickson was swept away in the tsunami. In fact, both of the Americans who died that day, Monty and Taylor Anderson, were teachers in the JET program. Their lives and their cause are part of the fabric of the friendship that we now share. The Dicksons, the Andersons, and the entire extended family of JET alumni have been working to help the communities that both Monty and Taylor lived in and grew to love.”

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“The U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of a system in the Asia Pacific that has underwritten peace, stability, and prosperity for decades. And the close connections built by the Monty Dicksons and the Taylor Andersons and the U.S.-Japan Councils, those are the foundations that not only keep the cornerstones strong but keep building higher and higher.”

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Sep 26

Coverage of Anderson family visit to Ishinomaki and dedication of “Taylor’s Library”

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Thanks to Andy Anderson, father of Taylor Anderson, for sharing this information:

• NHK coverage:  “Bereaved Parents Bond” – http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/movie/findex_japan.html (Though my computer is telling me “Missing Plug-in” which is preventing me from watching the video.  If you get it to work on your computer, please share any helpful comments.)

• Translations of various Japanese newspaper articles, provided by a friend for the Andersons:

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Daily Yomiuri

An American Teacher Falls Victim to the Tsunami

Our Daughter’s Best-Loved Books to Her Students

Family of the Deceased Donates to Ishinomaki

The family of Taylor Anderson (then 24), an American woman engaged in English language instruction at elementary schools in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture before falling victim to the tsunami, visited Mangokuura Elementary School in Ishinomaki on the sixth and presented the school with 40 books. Anderson’s father, Andy (54) addressed 60 students saying, “Find your dreams and live. That is what my daughter did.”

The woman of whom he spoke was Virginia-native assistant language teacher Taylor Anderson. Anderson came to Japan in 2008 and taught English at elementary schools in Ishinomaki City. On the day of the earthquake, she watched over the school children from Mangokuura Elementary to see that they had evacuated before heading back for home. She was swallowed up by the tsunami waves.

Donated on the sixth was a collection dubbed “Taylor’s Library,” 40 volumes in total. Anderson’s personal favorites were included in the collection, which was purchased using money from a fund established by the surviving parents and Anderson’s alma mater.

At the dedication ceremony held at Mangokuura Elementary, Andy shared memories from Taylor’s childhood. “Once she started reading, she wouldn’t stop. She read and expanded her imagination.” He also shared the power of reading that brought her dream of becoming a bridge connecting Japan and America to fruition.

Kaito Hikiji (12), a student representative who expressed thanks to Andy and family in English, said, “Ms. Anderson told us about Harry Potter, and it was easy to feel close to her. We will think of these books as Ms. Anderson and treat them with care.”

The family plans to donate books in succession to each of the six schools at which Anderson taught.

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(Not sure which publication this is from.)

“Find your dreams and live.”

An Expression of Love through Books

Surviving Family of the American ALT who Fell Victim to the Earthquake Disaster Donates Picture Books

The family of Taylor Anderson (then 24, U.S.), the Ishinomaki City assistant language teacher (ALT) who perished in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, donated books Anderson read as a child to a local elementary school as “Taylor’s Library” on the sixth of this month.

In attendance at the dedication ceremony held at Mangokuura Elementary School in Ishinomaki City were 64 sixth-grade students (then fifth graders) who had class with Anderson on the day of the earthquake. Father Andy (53) greeted them saying, “It will make us so happy if you will read these books, find your dreams, and live on.”

“Ms. Anderson was nice. I want to read these books with care,” said Moeka Abe (12), a student of Anderson’s.

Donated were approximately 40 volumes comprising children’s literature and picture books newly-purchased by Andy and family. The books are now kept on a bookshelf built by local carpenter Shinichi Endo, who currently resides in temporary housing in Higashi Matsushima City. Endou lost his three children to the tsunami. His eldest son and second daughter were both students of Anderson.

“I built the bookshelf while picturing Ms. Anderson’s cheerful spirit. I felt that this job was my opportunity to start looking forward in life,” he explained.

Anderson first came to Japan in 2008. Besides Mangoku Elementary, she instructed students in English at one kindergarten and a total of six elementary and junior high schools in Ishinomaki City. “Taylor’s Library” will also be donated to these institutions.

On the day of the earthquake, Anderson saw that the students from Mangoku Elementary evacuated to nearby Mangoku Junior High and was on her way home on her bicycle when she was swept away by the tsunami.

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Asahi Shimbun

Students of our Daughter: Learn English through Books

“She loved to read as a child. I hope that you will all find your dreams in these books, too.” On the sixth, the family of Taylor Anderson (then 24), the American assistant language teacher who passed away in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture on the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, visited Mangokuura Elementary School where their daughter had taught and presented the school with 40 English-language books and a bookshelf. They have named it “Taylor’s Library.”

On the day of the earthquake, Anderson, along with other faculty, saw that the children had evacuated, and upon parting with them was hit by the tsunami.

“Had she lived, she would have been working for the people of Ishinomaki.” Anderson’s father, Andy (53), who resides in the state of Virginia, decided to donate books to the kindergarten and elementary and junior high schools—seven institutions in total—where his daughter taught.

The students who had class with Anderson on that fateful day greeted Andy and his wife, Jean (53), in English, saying, “Taylor’s class was fun. It made us like English.” Jean shared that her heart was warmed at the chance to stand in the place where her daughter once stood.

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Sep 15

JET alum returns to Minamisanriku with charity funds

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Jen Wang (Miyagi, 2008-09) created the alias “Hibari-sensei” for her Japanese pop culture blog, Gaijin Teacher Otaku, after her students called her by the name of a character she cosplayed. She also writes for J-music website Purple SKY.

Canon Purdy (Miyagi, 2008-10) made headlines when Today‘s Ann Curry found tracked her down after the earthquake and tsunami hit Minamisanriku, where she was visiting former students. She then started up Save Miyagi to help the students she had once taught. NBC Bay Area did a follow-up report on her trip back to Minamisanriku in late August, where she handed over the 300 thousand yen (roughly $3500) she raised to the board of education.

Photo from the Save Miyagi blog

Sep 13

Return to Tohoku: Round-up 09.13.11

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Here are updates from a few more of the 20 Tohoku region JET alumni selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to return to their town to both engage in volunteer efforts and also help document and share what’s going on there.

• Alan Mockridge (Iwate-ken, Ohtsuchi-shi), originally from the UK and now based in Santa Clara, CA, has started a blog in preparation for his upcoming trip to Tohoku.  www.alanmockridge.com  Alan reports that his town of Ohtsuchi “was completely destroyed by earthquake, tsunami & fire on 3/11. As you can imagine, after 17 years its been a bit of a challenge to reconnect with my old school but I’ve managed it & will depart on 19th Sep. until 27th.”

• James Foley will be blogging about his visit at  jamesafoley.com.

• Brent Stirling (Fukushima-ken, Fukushima-shi, 2006-10) – “Still Alive, Just Really Busy” – Brent, based in Ottawa, writes about getting ready for his upcoming Tohoku visit and includes some of the recent media coverage about him.

You can also check the JETAA USA website post (“JET Alums Return to Tohoku”) for additional information.

Sep 13

CBC News Article on the MOFA/JET Alum “Return to Tohoku” Program

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Here’s a link to a nice article on Canada’s CBC News website titled, “Repairing Japan’s image, one teacher at a time:  20 former teachers return to view progress in Japan six months after the earthquake and tsunami.” (By Amber Hildebrandt)

“Japan is employing an unusual method in its attempt to rejuvenate its faltering international image after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated the country exactly six months ago on March 11.

It comes in the form of a petite, brunette teacher from Canada: Tanya Gardecky, 25, of Aurora, Ont.

Or rather in the form of 20 foreigners from around the world who once taught English in the devastated regions and now have gone back, on Japan’s dime, to view the progress for themselves.

Each was once a teacher with the government-funded JET Programme and taught in the public school system.”

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article

Sep 7

Anderson family and Ishinomaki honor Taylor Anderson with reading corner

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From the Kahoku Online Network:

震災で犠牲の米国人ＡＬＴ　志文庫に託す　遺族が絵本寄贈

http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/09/20110907t15011.htm

東日本大震災で亡くなった宮城県石巻市の女性外国語指導助手（ＡＬＴ）テイラー・アンダーソンさん＝当時（２４）、米国出身＝の遺族が６日、アンダーソンさんが子ども時代に読んだ本を「テイラー文庫」として市内の小中学校などに寄贈した。
同市万石浦小で行われた贈呈式には、震災当日に授業を受けた６年生（当時５年生）６４人が出席。父親のアンディさん（５３）が「本を読んで、夢を持って生きてくれたら幸せです」とあいさつした。授業を受けた阿部萌香さん（１２）は「先生は優しかった。本は大切に読みたい」と話した。
寄贈されたのは、アンディさんらが新たに購入した英語の児童文学や絵本など約４０冊。東松島市の仮設住宅で暮らす地元の木工作家遠藤伸一さん（４２）が製作した本棚に収められている。
遠藤さんは子ども３人を津波で失い、長男と次女の２人が同市渡波小でアンダーソンさんの指導を受けていた。
遠藤さんは「明るく、元気なアンダーソンさんをイメージして作った。この仕事を機に、自分も前を向いて生きていこうと思った」と話した。
アンダーソンさんは２００８年に来日し、石巻市では万石浦小のほか、市内の幼稚園１カ所と小中学校計５校で英語を指導。「テイラー文庫」はこれらの幼稚園、小中学校にも寄贈される。
アンダーソンさんは震災当日、万石浦小から近くの万石浦中に児童を避難させた後、自転車で帰宅する途中に津波にのまれたとみられている。

2011年09月07日水曜日

And here’s a very rough summary in English:

“American ALT, lost in the disaster, is memorialized in a library; Family donates picture books”

The reading corner / library contains copies of books that Taylor read growing up. The dedication ceremony was held at Mangokuura Elementary, with 64 of Taylor’s former 5th grade students attending. There are 40 books in the shelves, which were built by Endo-san, a woodworker who lost his three children to the tsunami – two of whom were Taylor’s students at Watanoha Elementary School. Endo-san said that he built the shelves thinking about how bright and genki Taylor was, and that this project helped him to move forward with his own life, too. Andy Anderson told the students that he will be happy if they read books and hold on to their dreams in life.

Sep 6

Asahi Shimbun article on Andy Anderson and his family’s efforts to support Ishinomaki

Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Interview/Profile, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on Asahi Shimbun article on Andy Anderson and his family’s efforts to support Ishinomaki

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Thanks to JET alum Mark Flanagan for sharing this article:

“Taking over a daughter’s dream to bridge Japan and U.S.”

By HIROSHI ITO / Correspondent
September 3, 2011

Andy Anderson never expected he would find himself trying to fill his daughter’s shoes by acting as a bridge between the United States and Japan.

Sep 3

Return to Tohoku: WSJ article on ex-JET’s return

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Nice article on the Wall Street Journal’s RealJapan blog titled “JET Calls in Favors in Tohoku“ about ex-JET Tanya Gardecky (Miyagi-ken, Shiogama-shi) and her return to Tohoku through the MOFA program.  Follow JETwit updates on Tanya here and follow Tanya’s ongoing blog of her experience here.

Link to the article:  http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/09/01/jet-calls-in-favors-in-tohoku/

Aug 25

Kyodo News: Anderson family to donate money for books to Ishinomaki schools

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Thanks to JETAA USA Country Rep Megan Miller (Hyogo-ken) for sharing the below article from Kyodo News:

Family of U.S. quake victim to donate money for books in Miyagi

http://callcenterinfo.tmcnet.com/news/2011/08/25/5730320.htm

TOKYO, Aug. 25 — (Kyodo) The family of an American teacher who was killed in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami will visit Japan in September to donate money for books to seven schools in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, where she taught, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

The family of Taylor Anderson, 24, who taught English at the Ishinomaki schools under the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, will donate a total of around 7 million yen to set up reading corners named after her in the libraries of the schools, according to supporters of the project.

Aug 22

Video: JETAA Ottawa Prez promotes “JETAA dogs” and Japan Festival on morning tv show

Celebrity, Cultural Outreach, Events, JETAA Chapters, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Video Comments Off on Video: JETAA Ottawa Prez promotes “JETAA dogs” and Japan Festival on morning tv show

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JETAA Ottawa President Lisa Mallin (Chiba-ken, 2006-08) does a great job on Ottawa’s Channel A morning show of promoting “JETAA dogs” (Japan-inspired hotdogs) along with the entire Ottawa Japanese Summer Festival.  Make sure to watch to the end where Lisa also helpfully informs the host that Sendai-based band Monkey Majik was started by JET alum  Maynard Plant (Aomori-ken, 1997-2000) and his brother.

Aug 21

JET alum James Kennedy reviews “Super Mario” for WSJ Book Review

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James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Order of Odd-Fish, just did a Wall Street Journal book review of SUPER MARIO, Jeff Ryan’s history of Nintendo.

In the article, James apparently also had the chance to correct some bad Japanese in his book. (Who says the JET program doesn’t teach marketable skills?)

“Errors crop up. Speculating on the name of Mario’s evil twin, Wario, Mr. Ryan claims that “in Japanese, wariu means bad.” Actually, the Japanese is warui.”

The book review was in Friday’s print WSJ, and here it is online: http://on.wsj.com/paNu5f

Aug 18

Recent JET-related articles and radio stories by JET alum journalist Graham Shelby

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Here are a few JET-related articles and radio piece written and produced in the past month by JET Alum Bluegrass Subchapter member Graham Shelby (Fukushima-ken).  (Thanks to Graham for sharing the info.)

• Graham went to Nashville at the end of July to interview some of the new JETs about to depart from the consulate there. Here’s a radio piece he produced that aired this past week on the public radio station here in Louisville.  (It’s short.)

http://www.wfpl.org/2011/08/15/audio-new-teachers-prepare-for-life-in-japan/

• Graham also put together a quick piece focusing on one of new JETs who happens to be headed to Fukushima.  It aired a few times on NPR’s national newscasts during Morning Edition on August 1.  They don’t archive the newscasts online, the newscaster’s intro sounded something like this:

“While many people are struggling to find jobs, hundreds of Americans, many of them recent college graduates, have found an employer eager to hire them – in Japan.  From member station WFPL, Graham Shelby has more.”

• Lastly,  Graham did another short piece that was Kentucky-specific that was picked up by a few stations here.http://www.wfpl.org/2011/07/30/kentuckians-prepare-for-japanese-teaching-assignments/

As Graham’s work demonstrates, there are clearly opportunities to find and tell compelling stories from the world of JETs and former JETs.  If you have any ideas, angles, upcoming events or possible outlets in mind, please feel free to contact Graham gshelby3 [at] gmail.com.