Here’s a unique and compelling short documentary–an academic non-profit venture–by JET alum Janak Bhimani (who has been studying at the Keio Graduate School of Media Design after hosting an online Japanese TV show in New York a few years ago) made with some of his Keio classmates. The film is about Tohoku post 3.11 from the point of view of the people who took photographs and was shown at a special session of the 2011 Tokyo International Film Festival.  It was originally shown in 4K (which was part of Janak’s research).

Here’s the link:  http://vimeo.com/31093347

lenses + landscapes from KMD 4KNarrative on Vimeo.

Janak says feel free to share with others as they’d like to get it shown in more places in Japan and elsewhere.

Photos aren’t tagged, but two of the JETs pictured are Jane Suh and Kat Sheu in photos 69, 70 and 72.  Also apparently the people in photo #40 are JETs.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.255169677832666.81687.200831479933153&type=1

Here’s text accompanying the photos from the BCCJ:

“From July 15-18 we travelled back to Ishinomaki, this time to support Peaceboat’s recovery activities as well as follow up with key contacts we met in June. We also had the opportunity to meet a politician from Miyagi Prefecture and the Japanese Ambassador to the USA.”

“Standing as a complement to larger relief and recovery organisations, the BCCJ will continue to work with the people of Tohoku to build an ever-expanding open network of supporters that will allow us to boost the rejuvenation of north eastern Japan.”

“Setsuden,” or conserving electricity, has become a huge buzzword in Japan as the weather heats up and many nuclear power plants remain shut down. Many businesses have put up signs explaining their own setsuden activities and asking the public to join in.

Recently I have been been photographing setsuden signs around the Tokyo area for my blog.

Some of the signs are very simple and functional, like the message seen here on a closed escalator at a train station, which simply says, “Setsuden-chuu.”

Others are clever pieces of writing and/or graphic design.

I have a gallery of signs here, as well as explanations of my picks for the best-designed sign here and the best slogan here.

WE ARE HERE – Little voice and art 311 JAPAN is an exhibition of messages from Japanese children of areas affected by the disaster as well as photos of the area.  The exhibition is being held at the AIGA Gallery in New York on 22nd St and 5th Avenue in Manhattan from today through May 20.  They are also collecting messages from visitors to those children.

Assistance project for East Japan Disaster

WE ARE HERE – Little voice and art 311 JAPAN

3.11, 2011  PM 2:46:18

The disastrous earthquake and the nuclear threat that we had never experienced in the history inflicted a deep wound on the Japanese society and our mind.  Under the circumstances, we focus on the children about to take their first step, and a photographer.  The exhibition “Global Message Relay” will deliver a document of our life and society in devastation worldwide.  through the linked heart and energy of children and the photographer, with our sincere request for your social and psychological support.

■ schedule

May 16th    11:00 – 17:00 (18:00 – 20:00 Reception)

17th    11:00 – 18:00

18th    11:00 – 18:00

19th    11:00 – 18:00

20th    11:00 – 15:00

■place     AIGA Gallery

164 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010

■contents

1.   Global Message Relay

There are many children who tend to become greatly ill because of the unprecedented disaster experiences. With hope to ease as much as possible worries and feelings of such children’s minds by free expression with pictures and words and at the same time to show the world the real situation where the children are placed, I visited schools and refugees in the areas suffering from various types disasters such as the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident and asked the children to draw pictures and write messages on Japanese paper with the theme of “words that they want to express and tomorrow that they want to draw.”

2.   Photo exhibition

“The Day and After – Memory of ONAGAWA”

The photo exhibition by Mayumi Suzuki, the daughter of Sasaki Photo Studio located in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture where is enormously suffered from tsunami. Her father has not found since the earthquake. Suzuki succeeded her father as photographer and photographs the devastating sceneries and the process of rehabilitation of Onagawa.

50 to 100 photographs will be selected for this exhibition.

*All donations will go to the disaster relief in Japan through “HOPE OF CHILDREN”

*This exhibition will travel to Taipei, Paris, or any other countries in future.

Produce   Hug Japan

Producer    Satoshi Nakagawa (CEO, tripod Design Co.LTD)

Sponsor    Benesse Corporation　“Assist Children’s Future Project”

The Hug Japan Project is a nonprofit social-design initiative that, based on the concept of universal design, aims to provide solid, long-term support to all people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. By creating a network not just within Japan but across the globe, the project aims to provide ongoing assistance through creative and practical works, such as art and design. In this way, we hope to support the future of all cities and people affected while respecting the value of each person who was impacted by the natural disaster.

Chief Originator   Satoshi Nakagawa (CEO, tripod Design Co.LTD)

Co Originator       Kazunari Matoba (Corporate Senior Vice President of Benesse Corporation, General Manager of Assist Children’s Future Project)

Planning, Administration　Benesse Corporation　“Assist Children’s Future Project”

tripod Design Co,LTD

Web : http://hugjapan.jp

Mail : info@hugjapan.jp

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

JETAA Tokyo member Wes Cheek is planning on visiting the Tohoku region beginning Friday for a photojournalism assignment. He has expressed an interest in trying to get in touch with JETs who may have been displaced by the recent earthquake/tsunami.  Additionally, Wes welcomes contact from any family or friends of JETs in Tohoku who would like him to try and get in touch with JETs.

• To contact Wes, you can e-mail Ed Snook at career [at] jetaa-tokyo.org.
• For updates on Wes and more information about his trip, go to Wes’ blog where you can find details and updates about his trip.

 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.

The JETAA Toronto photo exhibit, entitled ‘shin‘ for the Japanese symbol for “new,” is our way of marking the start of a decade.

What symbolizes shin?

Perhaps it’s a picture that sums up the way everything felt new to you in Japan when you first arrived. A festival, a ritual, a small cultural difference. Or perhaps it’s a Japan-inspired photo taken back home in Canada that shows the old in a new light.

Selected works will be exhibited March 6 at the Gladstone Art Bar, where we will also have a deejay spinning tracks throughout the night.

Come join us as we celebrate the memories of our time in Japan and enjoy the good music. Drinks will be available on site.    

Date: Saturday March 6, 2010 
Event: Shin Photo Exhibit: Japan-inspired works by former JET’s
Location: Gladstone Art Bar, 1214 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, Canada  See map
Website:  Toronto JETAA Homepage http://toronto.jetaa.ca/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26
Time: 7 p.m. until the bar’s closing time  Cost: $5 entrance fee

Thanks to a post on the JETAA Texoma (Chapter 9) yahoogroup, just found out about JET alum Taylor Chapman, a professional photographer who has a new book out titled People of the 21st Century:  A Portrait of Japanese Society.  Additionally, Taylor has a book signing coming up in Houston, TX.  (Details below.)  Meanwhile, if you know of any other JET alums out there with published books, by all means let JetWit know and we’ll post about it here to let everyone know.

Here’s the info from JETAA Texoma:

Hi All,

I am excited to let you know about a book signing by photographer and JET alumnus Taylor Chapman that will take place at the River Oaks Bookstore on Friday, November 27 from 5pm-7pm. Taylor would love to have folks stop by to say hello, even if you haven’t bought his book.

Taylor Chapman spent the last two years living in Kumamoto, Japan with the JET Program, teaching English at a local high school. As his Japanese proficiency grew, he became increasingly fascinated by Japan’s distinctive culture, and decided to embark on a unique photographic project to document Japanese society.

Having pursued photography for ten years now, including extensive study at Yale University, Chapman developed a specific methodology, adapted from a 1930′s German photographer’ s approach. He classified all members of Japanese society by their occupations and societal roles, and set out to create a portrait of Japanese society as a whole by photographing as many of its component parts–in other words, these individuals- – as possible in their natural environments.

In his last six months in Japan, Chapman went out shooting almost every single day, ending up with an archive of thousands of pictures spanning hundreds of individuals and social roles. Included are bakers and butchers, salarymen and snack bar girls, farmers and fishermen, teachers and students.

In July, he held an exhibition of his work in Japan; this Thanksgiving, he’ll be having a book release/signing party at the River Oaks Bookstore in Houston (across the street from Lamar High School, next to Baskin Robbins). Please come! There will be wine and hors d’oeuvres from 5 to 7.

The book (there are mini and deluxe editions available in-store and online:  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/950612 makes a great Christmas present.  But please feel free to just drop by, say hi, and have a glass of wine– the author is happy just to share his work and his love of Japan, and there’s no need to buy anything.

If you’d like to get a feel for the work in the book, here are some of the images posted online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31959446@N07/sets/72157622321556815/

Finally, for any comments or questions, feel free to contact the author at taylor.c.chapman [/at/] gmail [/dot/] com.

The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan beginning in June, and Aaron was involved in a five-week promotional tour in Japan for the film.  What is it like for a former JET to go on a five-week promotional tour in Japan?  Well, Aaron captured much of it in photographs available on Facebook along with informative and entertaining captions.  (FYI, you don’t need to have an account to view the pictures.)

Here’s the link:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=124235&id=833564815&l=9d23bf0eb9

And here’s Aaron’s intro commentary on the photos along with a couple samples of what you’ll see:

Five weeks in Japan in May and June of 2009, traveling all around the country doing promotion in the run-up to the June 13th nationwide opening of “The Harimaya Bridge.” Most days were spent doing loads of media interviews and promotional appearances. This here is just a small sampling, as I wasn’t able to come anywhere close to capturing everything with a camera. It was hectic and exhausting…but talking to the media and connecting with audiences only reaffirmed my desire to live my life telling stories via film, television and theater. :-)

*******

Teams (in no particular order):

1. JETAA New York
2. Japan Local Government Center (JLGC) + Consulate General of Japan in New York (i.e., the parent organizations of JETAA)
3. Columbia’s Center on Japanese Economy & Business (ably managed by Jennifer Olayon)
4. Kintetsu
5. Mitsubishi (featuring Zack Ferguson)
6. Docomo
7. QUICK USA
8. TV Japan (starring Scott & Keiko Hiniker :-)

Dozo shyashin wo mite kudasai!

http://www.columbia.edu/~fl104/Softball

Via JETAA DC:

Greetings JETAA DC members!

We are proud to announce plans to hold a JETAA photo exhibit entitled, “Japan Through Our Eyes: Photographs by JET Program Participants,” which will be held at the Embassy of Japan’s Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC) this December. This exhibit will highlight the works of current and former participants as a way to celebrate Japan and give JET Program participants an outlet for sharing their favorite memories of their time on the JET Program.

The objective of “Japan Through Our Eyes: Photographs by JET Program Participants” is to educate the public about Japan via the eyes of current and former JET participants.

To make this possible, we need YOUR photo submissions! We are now accepting photographs taken in Japan. Full submission guidelines are listed below. Make sure to send your photos by September 12th in order to be considered!

This exhibit is coordinated by JETAA DC, JICC, the JET Program office at the Embassy of Japan, and the Center for Professional Exchange (CEPEX).

I’m very excited that we’ve been given the opportunity to exhibit our photography at the Embassy of Japan.  Let’s show the DC area our images from Japan!  I look forward to seeing everyone’s submissions.

With best wishes,

Heather McDonald
Ad Hoc Chair
jetaadc_photos [at] yahoo.com

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

NOTE 1: Please limit your submission to no more than 3 photos.

NOTE 2: By entering your submission you are deemed to have accepted Terms and Conditions provided in the Group Rules, below.

1)      WHERE TO SUBMIT

A) DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS:

You can e-mail your submission to jetaadc_photos [at] yahoo.com or submit directly to Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/groups/jetaadc_photos/) by following the instructions below.

Note that once your submission is posted, you will not be able to modify it.. Therefore, please keep the following guidelines in mind when you submit your photo and label.

B) NON-DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS

If you do not have digital photos or the ability to scan photos into a computer, you may send in an 8”x10” or larger print directly to JETAA DC.  Be sure to include the caption information outlined below.  Please mail to:

Embassy of Japan
JET Program Office
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008

Photos and image files will not be returned.

2)      DEADLINE

Photos and image files must be submitted between July 10, 2009, and September 12, 2009.

3) THEMES

Photos should be in one of the following six categories. We will select one outstanding photo for each theme which will be displayed prominently among the other selected works in its category.

Teaching (ex. classroom, school festival, sports day, sports clubs, etc.)
Nature (ex. scenes of the four seasons, etc.)
Culture (ex. holidays, festivals, arts, karaoke, etc.)
Urban (ex. skyscrapers, street views, etc.)
Rural (ex. landscapes, traditional culture, agriculture, etc.)
People (ex. Harajuku girls, crowds, families, etc.)

4) FORMAT

Digital submissions: Your photo must be a high resolution JPEG (minimum of 640 x 525 pixels in dimensions with at least 300ppi). Your photo should be one that you own and have taken yourself. High-quality scans of non-digital photographs are acceptable.  300ppi is required so we can easily enlarge the photos for display.  Feel free to e-mail jetaadc_photos [at] yahoo.com if you are having trouble confirming whether or not your photo meets the requirements.

Non-digital submissions: 8”x10” or larger.

5) CAPTIONS

Include caption details to go along with your photo. Enter your caption as the “description” for your photo on Flickr.  Your caption should include the following:

§         Title of photo
§         Location of photo (city, prefecture)
§         Your Name
§         Prefecture where you participated on the JET Program
§         Years on the JET Program (ie. 2000-2002)
§         Theme (Teaching, Nature, Culture, Urban, Rural, or People)

++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++++

Rules

Terms and Conditions

1.You agree that you took the photo.

2.By participating in this call for entries, you give permission to JETAA DC to use, display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the story and photos, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or subsequently developed, for any JETAA DC purpose.

3.This permission covers use of the label and photos for advertising and promotion of the JETAA DC “Japan Through Our Eyes: Photographs by JET Program Participants” exhibit, and related websites, exhibition uses, and commercial products, including but not limited to JETAA DC publications.

4.JETAA DC will not make any payments or seek additional approval in connection with these uses.  Additionally, submissions will not be used for commercial or profit-making purposes.

5.You grant permission to JETAA DC to use your full name, if provided, in connection with the use, reproduction, publication and posting of the label, story, and photo you provide.

6.Any personal information of entrants will only be used and, where necessary, disclosed to third parties, for the purposes of running the JETAA DC “Japan Through Our Eyes: Photographs by JET Program Participants” exhibit and JETAA DC website.

7.JETAA DC will only accept submissions from former JET participants living in the DC metro area or current JET participants from DC

8.Only photos submitted through Flickr, postal mail, or email will be accepted.

9.You agree to hold harmless JETAA DC, its board, officers, and Embassy of Japan employees from any claims arising from the use, publication and posting of your label, story, or photo submission.

10.JETAA DC reserves the right to suspend the “Japan Through Our Eyes: Photographs by JET Program Participants” exhibit if deemed necessary at any time.

11. Please limit your submission to 3 images.

12. The selection committee comprises of representatives from JETAA DC, JICC, CEPEX, and the JET Program office at the Embassy of Japan. The exhibit will be judged using a points system. One winner will be selected from each of the six themes. The selection committee’s decision is final.

13. Photos and image files must be submitted between July 10, 2009, and September 12, 2009.
Entries can be submitted online at http://www.flickr.com/groups/jetaadc_photos/, by e-mail jetaadc_photos [at] yahoo.com, or be posted as an 8”x10” or larger print to:

Embassy of Japan
JET Program Office
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008

14. Photos & image files will not be returned.

15. By entering your submission to the JETAA DC Photos Flickr group, via e-mail, or regular mail you are deemed to have accepted the above terms and conditions.

David Flynn (Osaka, 1987-88)

A little context:  David was one of the winners of the 2007 JETAA Kintestu Essay Contest and went on the free trip to Japan in December 2007 along with the other contest winners.  What made David’s perspective somewhat unique was that he was not only the only winner from the first year of the JET Program, but at the time of his trip his daughter was also a JET!

• JET photos 1987-88
• December 2007 Kintetsu JETAA Essay Winners trip (during which he visited his daughter who was in Japan as a JET)
• Pictures of Japan

**************

**************

**************

]]> http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2009/04/01/dc-cherry-blossoms/feed/ 1 http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2009/03/26/jetaa-ny-meishi-exchange-march-19-2009/ http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2009/03/26/jetaa-ny-meishi-exchange-march-19-2009/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:56:21 +0000 jetwit http://jetwit.com/wordpress/?p=4506 Thanks to JET alum Francis Lee, we now have photos–really good photos–from last Thursday’s JETAA NY Meishi Exchange networking event, which was held at Aja on 6th Ave. between 9th & 10th Sts.

Meanwhile, at the JET Alumni Author Showcase earlier today, a JET alum named Alan (I didn’t get his last name) mentioned that he’s an artist in NYC and would be interested in organizing a JET Alumni Artist Showcase one of these days.  He inquired about the best way to go about making this happen, and after additional thought my suggestion would be…

1. Someone should start a JET Alumni Art group, either on GoogleGroups or Facebook or whatever medium you prefer.
2. Let me know about it so I can post info about it on JetWit
3. Let JETAA NY and other chapters know about it so they can mention it in their announcements to their members (I can help with this part too)

JETAA Toronto is has put together a terrific event that both taps the JET alumni community’s talent and shows off the wonderful accomplishments as well.

When: Saturday, March 28 (7:30 pm)  & Sunday, March 29 (1:30 pm)

Where: Gladstone Art Bar, 1214 Queen St. W., Toronto, ONFeeling sentimental about the land of rice and the rising sun? Never been and interested in an artistic adventure?

Come join Toronto’s JET Alumni Association for our first ever art show on Saturday, March 28. The art exhibit, titled Natsukashii (Japanese for sentimental), will feature a wide range of Japan-inspired art by our talented alumni members.

Have a drink with us as you admire their creativity, listen to tunes spun by a deejay and reminisce about the good times you had teaching Japanese kids the difference between Rs and Ls.

Those not members of JETAA are also welcome.

Doors at the Gladstone Art Bar, located on 1214 Queen St. W., open at 7:30 p.m. Cover is $5.

For questions, please email Amber Hildebrandt at jetaatoronto.sports@gmail.com.

More info on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/event.php?eid=55540550813&ref=nf

Sean Sakamoto is a JET alum currently embedded in Gifu Prefecture.  The following is a post from his blog “I’d Rather Be…In Japan“.

Godzilla never looked so good. One of the joys of living in a foreign country is that I don’t take things for granted that everyone around me sees as normal. In this case, I’m talking about plastic food. Everywhere in Japan, restaurants put replicas of their dishes in the windows of their restaurants.

The first time I saw this, I thought it was hilarious. Then I was glad, because I could not actually read the menu. For me the fake food samples are really helpful. But what about Japanese people? Do the samples help you choose your dinner?

As it happens, I now live in the birthplace of the fake food replica. Gujo Hachiman is where the phony baloney, ramen, and even

Click here to read the rest of the post “Faking it in Hachiman”