WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Kudos to 22-year old tennis pro Kei Nishikori for being the first Japanese man in 80 years to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open!  Unfortunately, once there he was vanquished in straight sets by Scot Andy Murray, but his impressive showing in his previous five-set win over France’s Jo-Wilfred Tsonga bumps his world ranking up to 20 from 26.

Nishikori, who currently lives and trains in Florida, is known as “Air Kei” for his leaping groundstrokes.  I can attest to the fact that watching his play is thrilling.  A few years ago I caught a match of his at the US Open that turned into a nail-biting five-setter, and was hooked.

Here’s hoping he can build on this impressive showing in Australia and have further success in 2012!

I recently received an email newsletter from acclaimed Japanese food writer Elizabeth Andoh regarding her newest book project, 希望 (Kibo or “Brimming With Hope”).  It will be released on February 28th and features recipes and stories from the Tohoku area, where last year’s earthquake and tsunami hit.  Andoh wanted to do her part to help the region recover, and the creation of this book is what she came up with (click on the link below for purchase information).  This March, she also plans to launch a new website called Kibo cooking which will be dedicated to Tohoku cookery.  See below for a description of Andoh’s project in her own words.

It is HOPE… fused with, and fueled by, resolve.

Dogged determination.

It is a BOOK… a culinary tribute to Japan’s Tohoku.

Recipes and stories: to comfort, to share.

On the afternoon of March 11, 2011, triple disaster – earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident – assaulted Japan’s northeastern corridor, the Tohoku region, and to a lesser extent the Kanto Plains area that includes Tokyo and its environs. In the hours, days, and weeks that followed, the enormity of the toll became painfully clear. There was unprecedented loss of life, personal injury and property damage, entire communities and industries had been wiped out. Surreal.

Like many Tokyo residents who had been personally spared serious loss, I wondered what I could do. In the post-disaster barrage of media coverage, I found the plight of evacuees particularly poignant. Uprooted and transplanted to shelters far removed from their home, I wondered how traditional Tohoku culture could be preserved in the Diaspora.

I wanted to soothe survivors with comfort foods, help Tohoku residents prepare familiar dishes in unfamiliar places. By writing a book that celebrated the Tohoku’s culinary culture I thought to help preserve the region’s rich heritage while nourish the morale of displaced residents. By writing in English I could reach a wide, global readership enabling them to share in the pleasures of the Tohoku table while supporting recovery efforts through the purchase of KIBŌ. My publisher, Ten Speed Press, has pledged with me, to donate a portion of proceeds to Japan’s rebuilding and renewal efforts.

希望を持って、頑張ります

KIBŌ wo motte, gambarimasu

Brimming with hope, pushing forward…

ちょっと遅くなりましたが、明けましておめでとうございます！ I hope that your 2012 has gotten off to a good start, and that the year of the dragon is a fortuitous one for everyone.

I’m down in DC with a new group of International Visitors invited by the State Department to study U.S. energy policy.  In light of the Fukushima accident nuclear is obviously a big focus, but we are also looking at renewable energy options like solar and wind (as well as geothermal which will take us to a plant on the Big Island of Hawaii!).  As part of our cultural activities outside of the professional program, the other night we attended Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center where a Japanese artist was featured.

Her name is Yoko K. and she hails from Nagano, and she is an electronic musician, producer, engineer and vocalist.  I was not very familiar with that genre of music, but her performance kept me entertained throughout.  She incorporates various tools in her sound creation, and you can see the basis of her classical training in piano from the age of 3.  I particularly liked her bilingual and often humorous lyrics, especially from the song “Laptop on Top of Your Lap” (“I want to be a laptop on top of your lap”).

This song was from her 2nd album “Heaven’s Library”, which is available on iTunes and worth a listen if you are a fan of electronic music or looking to be introduced to it.  We got to chat with Yoko after the concert, and she was super personable and eager to discuss her music.  I look forward to following her continued success!

This week I attended the Japan Society’s member screening of Norwegian Wood, the film version of this Haruki Murakami novel.  I haven’t read the book, but the movie was quite moving.  It takes place in the late 1960′s with student riots as a backdrop.  It is a love story centering on the university student Toru Watanabe, who is torn between his first love from his hometown, Naoko, and a new women he meets at school, Midori.  His relationship with Naoko is complicated as their mutual best friend (and Naoko’s boyfriend) committed suicide when they were in high school.  They share this bond, but it is also the source of Naoko’s mental instability.  Midori is a bit of a brighter character, though her life has been overshadowed by family members’ untimely deaths.  The film is quite tender in its exploration of these relationships and the direction Toru’s future will take.

The movie was made in 2010 by the French-Vietnamese director Anh Hung Tran, who was on hand at the screening along with Rinko Kikuchi who plays Naoko (pictured above with Kenichi Matsuyama who plays Toru).  They offered some behind the scenes stories, such as how Tran didn’t see Kikuchi as being right for the role but was overcome by her persuasion and powerful audition.  One poignant anecdote he shared was of a night when Kikuchi asked him, “Why is it that when I cry during a scene, it feels more real than when I cry in real life?” to which he answered, “Because you are an artist.  And to an artist, expression is more real than experience.”  This exchange captures Kikuchi’s artistic process and offers insight into her poetic performance.  I had the opportunity to interview her the following day, and found her to be both down to earth and impressive in her approach to the craft.

Norwegian Wood will be coming to the IFC Center on January 6, and my Kikuchi article will be in the February issue of Chopsticks magazine so keep your eyes peeled!

At Kyoto’s Kiyomizu Temple, 今年の漢字 (kotoshi no kanji), or the kanji of the year was just announced to be 絆 (kizuna) or bonds between people.  According to the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society, the rationale behind its selection by the based on ideas from the public was that in a disaster-ridden year that brought a nation closer together, kizuna best reflects the events of 2011.  These bonds include those among family members, friends and neighbors, as well as refers to support from abroad.  It was chosen with the hope that the world will continue to coalesce to help restore Japan.

As for how this year’s お正月 (oshougatsu) nine months after the disaster will be spent, it seems as if most people are being low-key and staying close to home due to 3-11.  Many are still in mourning for the lives that were lost, and this probably will continue until the one-year anniversary next year.  People aren’t even sure what to write on their new year’s cards, as the typical 新年おめでとう (shinnen omedetou) or “Happy New Year!” may not be appropriate.  Below are some suggestions (in Japanese) for what to write on 年賀状 (nengajou) to those in the disaster area.

祝いの語を使わない例

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Time truly flies, as I can’t believe it has been so long since I’ve been here.  At any rate, tadaima!

Although almost nine months have passed since the earthquake/tsunami in Fukushima, and I am glad to say that the recoverｙ effort is still on people’s minds.  Last night I went to the Artist Showcase and Fundraiser for Japan held at Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki’s Residence. The event featured a reception honoring a visiting Fukushima prefectural government delegation to New York, along with artwork (some from JET alumni!) available for silent auction purchase.

Ambassador Hiroki offered his comments, and a representative of the Fukushima prefectural governor read a letter from him on his behalf.  On display were Fukushima goods, and guests partook of Fukushima sake as well as local culinary offerings such as delicious rice and peaches.  The filled to capacity crowd seemed to enjoy themselves and were glad to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to the ongoing struggle to restore normalcy in Fukushima.

For those who weren’t able to attend last night but feel like they want to do something to help the cause, there is an event tonight in Union Square being held by the Blue Sky Project, a group of young Fukushima enterpreneurs, with backing from the New York Fukushima Prefectural Association.  For details, please see the press release below and hope to see you all there!

New York, NY – November 25, 2011 – Members of Young Entrepreneurs Group in various regions of Fukushima, Japan formed and established a group called “Blue Sky Project” and will be in New York to raise their spirit of rebuilding their hometown after experiencing the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami followed by ill-fated Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster. New York is the aspiration for Fukushima that the city also has experienced September 11th, and has been recovering financially and mentally from the tragedy. Fukushima has been suffering from financial damages and harmful reputation from radiation scare even after 8 ½ months later. In order to overcome the negative images and views towards Fukushima, the members of “Blue Sky Project” and its supporters of New Yorkers will conduct the event: Support Fukushima Candle Night.

We established that some of the key needs of U.S. sister cities are the ability to communicate in Japanese and familiarity with and ability to navigate the Japanese culture, which are key ingredients for helping to grow, re-inspire, or create those relationships. This, as you are likely well aware, is the exact skill set we, as JET alumni, possess.

While JETAA has not yet established any formal relationship yet with SCI, JETAA is very much looking forward to working with them more closely in the future.  But in the meantime, JETAA has begun to lay necessary groundwork to enable the JET alumni network and community to begin providing support when ready.

This has now been created in the form of the JETAA USA Sister Cities/ States JET Initiative (thanks to a lot of behind the scenes work by Jessyca Wilcox). Click the link  (or read further down) for more background about this project and the tools that will enable JETAA chapters to get started. Simply connecting your JETAA chapter with your Japanese counterpart is valuable in and of itself! It demonstrates to local governments in Japan one more way that the JET alumni community is eager to provide “Return on JET-vestment” to our adopted home country.

“JET Sister Cities Initiative is Ready to Roll!”

http://www.jetaausa.com/featured-posts/jet-sister-cities-initiative-is-ready-to-roll/

The primary goal of this project is to help local JETAA chapters connect and coordinate with their Japanese sister cities/prefectures to grow those relationships and bring value to our counterparts in Japan.

As part of the effort to create stronger ties between JET alumni and their communities in Japan and to enhance the value of the JET Program to its users there, we have established the Sister City Initiative. JETAA USA is working with Sister Cities International to strengthen our partnership and effectiveness. This system can also be applied to visits and activities between the two entities (not only sister city type relationships).

JET alums possess many of the skills (language, cultural navigation, professional acumen etc.) that are needed to support and grow these cross-cultural community relationships. Local Japanese governments are interested in developing and maintaining communications with JET alumni and cooperating on projects which benefit or promote their Japanese communities. The Sister City Initiative gives local governments tangible connections with JETs after they depart Japan and provides return on investment for the JET Program. JETAA USA is in a position where we can create high impact results through some targeted work.

Get Started:

1. Identify your chapter’s sister cities/states:

• JETAA USA/ Sister States- US Country Reps created this database which lists US JETAA chapters and their Japanese sister prefecture counterparts.
• Sister City Directory- This is managed by Sister Cities International and is a more comprehensive list of US- Japan relationships.

2. Initiate contact:

• Contact Request Form- This internal request gets submitted to CLAIR NY and US CRs who will start the process of connecting the JETAA chapter and appropriate Japanese counterpart.

3. Establish relationships and communication channels:

• Offer your JETAA chapter as a resource. The opportunity for projects and connections is as varied as each sister city/prefecture relationship. Simply making your JETAA community available is valuable in and of itself as it acknowledges and offers our community to the local governments in a way we have not done before.
• Advertise any projects/connections that come out of these efforts. Put them on your websites and inform the CRs, so we can promote them on the national website as well as with CLAIR and local governments in Japan.

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

This weekend’s NYT featured two interesting Japan articles in the magazine and Sunday Styles section.  The former features the country’s living cultural treasure novelist Haruki Murakami, whom the article’s author spends time with in Tokyo to dissect his newest book 1Q84 as well as his older works.

The latter article discusses the popularity of 八重歯 (yaeba), or double teeth that look that fangs (aka “snaggleteeth”).  Apparently this fashion calls not for perfect smiles, but unstraight teeth.  Women are asking dentists to affix plastic fronts to their real teeth to create artificial yaeba, as shown here in the picture.

Upon asking two young Japanese women who were visiting the city about yaeba, they said it was the first they had heard of it.  I’ll see what further informal surveys reveal about whether this is a real trend, or just something being sensationalized by the media.

It’s official. Soumusho (Ministry of Internal Affairs) sees great value in the JET alumni community being organized and identifiable by prefecture and would like to see such groups formed and put to better use. This according to an announcement that came through the official bureaucratic news source (iJAMP). (See very unofficial translation summary below.)

Why do they care so much about this idea? Because the local governments (i.e., the prefectures) need to see the long term benefits of JET to really make it worth it for them to continue to hire JETs and to contribute funding and resources to the program. They need to see that JET alumni are supporting and contributing to longer term economic benefits in various ways. This is the concept of Local Return on JET-vestment.

Fortunately, JET alum groups by prefecture have existed for the past year thanks to LinkedIn. And many have already joined. If you have not joined one yet, I strongly encourage you to do so now. (It also couldn’t hurt to join any of the various professional JET alum LinkedIn groups as well. Or start a new one yourself if you see a field not covered.)

Here’s the unofficial translation summaries of the official communication:

Soumusho has called on the prefectures to promote the creation of JET OB networks as a resource in their internationalization and overseas business initiatives.

To encourage this, Soumusho is allowing prefectures from this year to fund travel and other expenses for alumni out of their local allocation tax revenues, and is asking prefectures to work with municipal governments.

It is further hoped that these alumni will be a source of accurate information on Japan. And there have been many instances where alumni have gotten involved in fundraising and other support for the affected areas through their deep connections to their communities in Japan.

While there have been many groups formed by alumni according to their countries of origin, schools they taught at or years on the Program, there are few instances of groups formed by prefecture and it is difficult to really say that alumni are a resource to these areas. The importance of prefecture alumni groups was pointed out at the 25th anniversary symposium, leading to the call to form prefecture-level networks.

The notice mentioned Tottori as a good example of a prefecture making the best use of its JETs, having its CIRs act as “Tottori Hometown Ambassadors”, submitting policy proposals and contributing articles to its informational magazine. It also uses its “World Tottori Fan Club” to send out information to its ALT alumni.

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Last night I had the chance to attend an event at the Modern sponsored by the Japanese beverage company Suntory, for the unveiling of their newest whiskey here in the States, Hakushu.  We first enjoyed a tasting of this offering, along with samples of favorites Yamazki and Hibiki.  Chef Gabriel Kreuther prepared an amazing menu to pair with these whiskeys, featuring such treats as foie gras and caviar.

However, for me the best part of the meal was the amazing dessert pictured here.  It may look like a bonsai creation, but down to the roots every part of it was edible.  The leaves were white chocolate, the branches a dark chocolate, and the soil a bitter chocolate.  The brown sweets on the side were gold-flecked macaroons flavored with pistachio and whiskey.  Talk about artisanship!

If this image has you missing Japanese craftsmanship, the London branch of the Japan National Tourist Organization might have the solution for you.  As this press release indicates, the Japan Tourism Agency has proposed giving away 10,000 free flights to Japan next year.  This is part of efforts to revive the domestic  tourism industry, which has taken a huge hit in the wake of March’s earthquake and tsunami.  This initiative is still subject to Japanese government approval, but if it passes hopeful travelers can apply by submitting an essay about why they deserve the free trip.  Start thinking about your pitch today!

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.

**********

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).

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

My latest International Visitor Leadership Program travels bring me to Riverside, California for the first time, host of the recent Sister Cities International conference highlighted here in JetWit.  My group and I are staying in the lovely Mission Inn (referenced in the Sister City write-up), a national historical landmark established in 1876.  Today we took part in a tour of the facility, and I was surprised to find out about its Japan connection!

Founder Frank Miller wanted to create a resort hotel for Riverside, which by the 1890s was the richest city per capita in the country due to its profitable citrus culture (the streets surrounding the inn bear names such as orange, lime and lemon, and can cause confusion if you are not clear about your citrus types!).  Miller was devoted to world peace, and assembled an annual meeting at his property in pursuit of this lofty goal.

He also traveled the world as part of this endeavor, and collected treasures from his various destinations including Japan.  The Buddha pictured here is seated in the Ho-O-kan Room, located inside the Court of the Orient which has an Eastern flair.  Story has it that Miller acquired it after the temple in Japan in which it was housed burned down.  As part of a seven-month world tour in 1934, the Japanese Prince and Princess Kaya paid a visit to this Buddha.  Photographs of this event and others commemorating the inn’s rich history adorn the walls, creating a tangible connection with the past.

On a sillier note, check out this hilarious Onion article from last month about Obama plugging Pretz.

Thanks to JETAA Music City President (and Arkansas Cherry Blossom Princess) Terry Vo (Kumamoto-ken, 2007-09) for the heads up:

Join us for a Japanese-Style Potluck on October 4, 2011. Come mingle, eat, drink, and be merry! This event is open to our Friends of JET Alum as well so please feel free to invite your family and friends! Please bring either your favorite Dish, Dessert or Beverage!

RSVP DEADLINE: September 30 to Leah atvp@jetaamc.org

Location: 1812 Cahal Avenue, Nashville TN 37206″

For those want to help out with Japan’s recovery effort and have Japanese language skills, here’s a great way.  Please see below message regarding details of a 6-week volunteer interpreting opportunity in the disaster area, and contact Laura/Jiella directly if you are interested.  For those who want to help but aren’t able to make it over, think about picking up the new Travel Guide to Aid Japan.  It features some fabulous sites in Japan, some of which you might not be aware, written up by an interesting mix of celebrity contributors.  All proceeds from its sales (minus expenses) will be donated to the Japan Red Cross for use toward disaster recovery efforts.

———-

Dear all,

Many of you have heard of the group All Hands Volunteers, an American
NGO that has been working in Ofunato and Rikusentakata in Iwate
Prefecture doing tsunami relief since right after the March 11
disaster.  This is an amazing organization that harnesses the power of
volunteers in disaster response.  For those of you who were on the
USJLP Japan trip this year, you heard about them in my presentation.

Spencer and I were up in Ofunato again last weekend volunteering with
All Hands and we continue to be very impressed – there were over 90
Japanese and international volunteers working together to clear
highway ditches and rice field drainage systems, to clean and retouch
damaged photographs, and to remove damaged materials from homes
devastated by the tsunami.  This organization has made a huge
difference to the people of Ofunato and Rikusentakata, and there were
posters all over town thanking All Hands for their efforts.

All Hands is continuing their project in Tohoku until November 12 and
they are in urgent need of an interpreter for these next 6 weeks of
the project.

Food, lodging and a (small) salary will be provided, and this
interpreter will be heavily involved in the day to day management of
the project, alongside an American Project Director.  The interpreter
needs to speak very good English and Japanese, and will need to
relocate to Ofunato right away for the next 6 weeks.

This is a great opportunity to make a big difference and contribute to
the recovery of Japan.  Please see this link for more information
about the project: http://hands.org/projects/project-tohoku/

Please let me and Jiella Esmat (jiella@hands.org) if you or anyone you
know is interested.  Feel free to pass this around.

Thanks so much for your help,
Laura (USJLP ’11, ’12, and Board Member of All Hands Volunteers)

From: Laura Winthrop Abbot
Date: September 30, 2011 20:43:01 CDT
To: usjlp@listserve.com
Subject: [Usjlp] Interpreter needed urgently: All Hands Volunteers Project Tohoku

Hisashiburi and following the celebration of 秋分の日 (shubun no hi, or Autumnal Equinox Day) this past weekend, welcome to fall!  Commemorating the passing of the season is an editorial from this morning’s NYT, which discusses the 節電 (setsuden, or energy saving) measures the Japanese undertook this summer and their success.

Also, make sure to check out this series of setsuden posters mentioned in the article.  They were created by a community of graphic designers in response to a call to arms on Twitter.  The one pictured here is a spoof on the ubiquitous construction poster and reads, “Please save energy,” and in smaller lettering on the side, “For all of the disaster areas.”

The JPLT will be offered this year in the following locations:

• Atlanta, Georgia (Georgia State University)
• Boston, Massachusetts (Northeastern University)
• Chicago, Illinois (De Paul University, Lincoln Park)
• Fayetteville, Arkansas (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville)
• Honolulu, Hawaii (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
• Los Angeles, California (University of Southern California)
• New York, New York (Lehman College, The City University of New York)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Villanova University)
• San Francisco, California (San Francisco State University)
• Seattle, Washington (University of Washington)
• Washington, DC (Georgetown University)

“If you intend on taking the test, you must have your registration paperwork in by Sept. 30th!! This is not a postmark date, so send it quick! For more details, see The Japan Foundationwebsite.”

Yesterday’s NYT featured two articles relating to Japan’s financial and political situations.  The first discusses how Moody’s lowered Japan’s credit rating by one step to Aa3, the fourth-highest grade (Standard & Poor’s had brought them down to AA back in January, putting them on par with the U.S.).  The second recounts Vice President Biden’s recent trip to Japan, including a stop-off in of Tohoku.  He served as a source of encouragement to some of the survivors he met in the disaster area.

Biden’s visit came at a time of great political turmoil, as it is forecast that Prime Minister Kan will be stepping down next week.  A partywide ballot to decide a new party leader is expected on Monday, with the new leader being appointed prime minister on Tuesday.  Kan indicated his desire to remain in power until two major bills were approved by Parliament, one related to increasing government bond issuance and the other promoting renewable energy (His other condition was passing a bill on supplemental spending, which happened last month).  It is unclear how this shift in power, the 6th Japanese PM in five years, will affect the country and its recovery, but in a recent poll 75 percent of respondents said they want the next administration to stick to Mr. Kan’s policy of phasing out nuclear power.

Here’s the newest newsletter from JET alum and Inuyama City Council Member Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, Inuyama-shi, 1988-89):

***Page 1***

***Page 2***

CLICK HERE for more JETwit posts about Anthony Bianchi.

Show off your translating skills! An English translation or summary of some or all of the above would be great if any readers are up for it.  Full credit will be given!

——————————————————————

TVT Japan is responsible for providing the Japanese service of BBC World News. It is part of the TVT group of companies with headquarters in London and offices in Tokyo and Singapore. The group provides translation, versioning and post-production services to Broadcasters all over the world including BBC World News, BBC Worldwide Channels, BBC World Service, UKTV,  NBC Universal and Disney.

Position: Senior Broadcast Co-ordinator, BBC World News, Japanese Service

Location: Tokyo

Type of hire: Permanent, full-time.

Responsibilities:

As Senior Broadcast Co-ordinator you will play a vital role in ensuring the overall success of the Japanese Service of BBC World News. Reporting to the Operations Manager you will lead the team responsible for the Japanese versioning of live news and current affairs programming.

The role centres on the day to day running of the Japanese studio in Tokyo. In addition to key duties such as monitoring of Japanese audio output and operation of broadcast systems the Senior Broadcast Coordinator is responsible for investigating and reporting on broadcast issues as well as local staff coordination and financial administration.

Out of hours response for broadcast issues is required for this role.

Personal Skills:

- Bilingual Japanese/English language ability

- Excellent organisational, analytical and problem solving skills

- Superb attention to detail

- Some managerial experience or training will benefit your application

- Must be punctual and able to manage own time and conduct several tasks simultaneously and to tight deadlines

- Confident and pro-active

Knowledge and experience

- The ability to work well under pressure and using your own initiative

- Previous experience in a broadcast or other television environment will benefit your application

- Previous experience of managing a small team of people will benefit your application

- Competence with technical operations

If you would like to be part of a dynamic team within a pioneering post-production/broadcast environment please apply with a C.V. and cover letter to jobs@tvt.biz

Interesting article from today’s NYT about the government’s (mis)handling of the post-Fukushima disaster, specifically not providing information when it was available regarding potential radiation levels.  The public is now not only fearful but outraged, claiming that the government cared more about covering up than about its own citizens.  One notable aspect of the article appeared on the last page, discussing a group lawsuit being carried out by parents in a city called Koriyama by the nuclear plant.  They decided to stop listening to the government and are appealing to force Koriyama to relocate their children to a safer area.

Another highlight of the article that especially hit home for me was comparison of the government’s reaction to the current crisis to its response to a case in Minamata, Kumamoto in the 1950′s.  Because this was my prefecture on JET, I had heard about “Minamata-byo” upon arrival.  This disease is a neurological syndrome that afflicted thousands of people living in the region, caused by mercury poisoning from a nearby chemical factory’s runoff over the course of more than 30 years.  A national scandal emerged when it was revealed that bureaucrats and industry officials had colluded to protect economic growth, and decades later the company finally provided financial compensation to the victims.  Let’s hope this is not a case of history repeating itself.