By Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)

Just wanted to share that I had a really terrific dinner the other night at Kajitsu (www.kajitsunyc.com), a new and very unique Japanese restaurant on E. 9th Street in NYC, thanks to professional translator Jamie Graves (Saitama-ken, 2002-03) who not only waits tables in the intimate establishment but also translates the menu and other texts for Kajitsu and interprets for important clients.

Jamie, who specializes in translations relating to food and cooking, explained to me a few months ago at a JETAA NY gathering that he was working at a restaurant that specializes in shojin cuisine, which as a non-foodie I can best describe as a sort of high-end, vegan kaiseki.  The chef, Masato Nishihara,  had worked at Kitcho, a very prestigious kaiseki cuisine restaurant in Kyoto before coming to New York to open Kajitsu.

I can’t remember exactly what I ate, but each course did really blow me away in terms of both flavors and creativity.  Plus the soba dipping noodles may be the best in NYC.  The menu changes every month, so apparently a number of regulars come back each month to sample the new menu.

The fare is not inexpensive.  But it’s well worth it if you have a special occasion to celebrate (which I did!)  Especially if you get a seat at the counter where you can watch Chef Nishihara prepare each course right front of you, including his zen-like tea ceremony approach to making the macha at the end of the meal.  (According to Jamie, all chefs at Kitcho must study tea ceremony.)

Here’s a little additional background on Kajitsu from it’s website:

Kajitsu – “Fine Day”
Kajitsu means “fine day”, or “day of celebration” in Japanese. We have chosen the name Kajitsu hoping that a visit here will always be a special occasion for our guests.

Shojin Cuisine
Shojin cuisine refers to a type of vegetarian cooking that originates in Zen Buddhism. Even though it does not use meat or fish, shojin is regarded as the foundation of all Japanese cuisine, especially kaiseki, the Japanese version of haute cuisine.

If you decide you have your own special occasion, make sure to say hi to Jamie and ask him all of your questions about the restaurant and the food.  There’s lots to tell and lots to learn.

Kajitsu (www.kajitsunyc.com) is on E. 9th St between 1st Ave & Avenue A in New York City.

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Dear Dr. Muse:

I feel conflicted about what I should do about my job and what the right career option is.  J.D. in D.C.

Dear J.D.:      
The word “should” always signals to me that some inner dialogue may be preventing you from doing or determining what you really want. The following exercise assists you with figuring out what you are tolerating in your life, why, and how to eliminate some situations that may be draining you. This may give you some free time to spend on more peaceful projects.
 
Day 1: Schedule about 15 distraction-free minutes with a pen and some paper.  Take a few pieces of paper and fold them in half. 

a/     On top of the lefthand colum of one piece of paper, write: I Should….
Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and then write every and any thought that pops into your head answering that question.  Do not think into the answer, just write the thought.
 
b/     On another piece of paper, on the top of the lefthand column write: I want…
Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and then write every and any thought that pops into your head answering that question.  Do not think into the answer, just write the thought.

c/     Now, repeat this exercise on another sheet of paper and write on the top of the lefthand column: I am Tolerating…..
 
 Set these pages aside for another day to analyze.

Day 2 : The next part of this exercise will take some time to analyze your lists.  For the “shoulds” list, over the next few weeks, you are going to evaluate three at a time on this list.  Take some time to answer the following questions for each should:
         
*why is this a should?
*who says I should do this?
*what would happen if I did not do it?
*who would I be without this should on my list?
*what would I rather do instead?
On a blank piece of paper write out three restatements for your “Shoulds” that assert what you would rather have.  For example, rather than ‘I should be a lawyer,’ you may decide to write, ‘I prefer work where I am creative,” or “I am an opera singer.”  Write something that affirms what you want.
 
As for toleartions, do the same thing. Pick three on your list each week and ask yourself why you are tolerating this and what would your life look like if you did not tolerate it anymore.  Then, on a separate piece of paper, rewrite the toleration to be something you do want.
 
Finally, the “I want” column is for you to keep in your journal or bookmark.  Every few months, refer to this list to assess whether your wants have changed, or to inspire you on a course of action to take to get you closer to what you want.  What you think you want today and what you start to create later may surprise you!
 
As you can see from these columns, career choices overlap with other areas of our life.  By paying attention to our thoughts and our present life even outside of work, we can aseemble the bigger puzzle pieces of our life into a picture we enjoy.

Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals.  You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.

He also writes about movies. Here is his review of “The Hurt Locker,” which just opened in Japan and has been nominated for several Academy Awards (the results of which will be revealed very soon):

“If I’m gonna die, I want to die comfortable,” U.S. Army Sgt. William James says as he shucks off his hot and bulky bomb-disposal suit. Then he bends over the open trunk of a car in an alley beside a freshly evacuated U.N. office building in Baghdad and begins to run his eyes and fingers over a tangle of wires connected to a large collection of bombs.

Why is he doing it?

In The Hurt Locker, a movie that has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, including best picture, “why” is just one of the implicit yet ever-present questions…

Read the rest of the review here.

Casting Call for Japanese Mini-Series: In March, Japanese TV producers will hold auditions in Seattle for a couple of minor roles in a mini-series to be broadcast in Japan. Shooting is scheduled for May 16 in Seattle. The drama follows a Japanese American family from their immigration to the United States, through hardships during World War II, to their lives today.

Audition Dates: March 8 (Mon.) and March 9 (Tues.)
Union Status: This is a non-union job.

Shoot Date: May 16 (Sun.) in Seattle, subject to change
Role: Japanese American Boy
Age: 15-17
Skill: English speaking, conversational Japanese a plus
Role: Japanese American Girl
Age: 12-15
Skill: English speaking, conversational Japanese a plus
Please send your resume and headshots and indicate which date you are available to audition.
Email photos and information to jaminitv@gmail.com

Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games.  You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.

He also writes about food. Here is a recent article about a food science exhibition currently running at Tokyo’s Miraikan museum. The latter half of the story focuses in on the scientific-culinary concept of umami, often called the“fifth taste”:

How many calories are there in a 500-milliliter bottle of a zero-calorie soft drink? If you guessed zero, you might be right. But the correct answer could be as high as 24. This is one of the many fun facts visitors can learn at “It’s a Tasty World–Food Science Now,” an exhibition running through March 22 at the Miraikan science museum in Odaiba, Tokyo. Under Japanese law, according to a display debunking food myths at the show, a drink is “zero calorie” as long as it has less than five calories per 100 milliliters. (A note on vocabulary: A “calorie” and a “kilocalorie” are the same thing.)

Other displays include sniffable containers of food scents, which you can mix to create new aromas; videos of food processing factories, where plump onions comically pirouette on industrial peelers; and a glowing green tank of euglena, a photosynthetic microorganism seen as a promising future food source. Too bad its Japanese name, midori mushi–green bug–isn’t exactly appetizing….

Read the rest of the article here.

Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games.  You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.

He also writes about movies. Here is his interview with stop-motion animator Henry Selick, whose film “Coraline” is a nominee for best animated feature in the Academy Awards to be presented on March 7:

When the nominees for best animated feature film are read out at the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood next month, there will be one computer-graphic animated film (Up), two traditional 2-D animated films (The Princess and the Frog and The Secret of Kells) and two stop-motion films (Fantastic Mr. Fox and Coraline).

“I feel very lucky to have lived long enough to still be making films in this era,” Coraline director Henry Selick told The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo last week. His two previous features, Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and James and the Giant Peach (1996) came out before the Oscars introduced an animated feature category in 2001.

Coraline has already won several other prizes, including an Annie animation award for Japanese production designer Tadahiro Uesugi.

Coraline, based on a novel by Neil Gaiman, is the story of a young girl who discovers a secret passage to an alternate universe where all the things that annoy her in the real world have been changed. But like a gingerbread house in a fairy tale, this seemingly delightful place turns out to be a trap from which she must escape.

Read the rest of the article here.

Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games.  You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.

Here is his latest video game review, of “Uncharted” and “Uncharted 2” which Sony recently released as a box set in Japan:

My pal Nate is such a great guy that he keeps hanging out with me despite the fact that I’ve gotten him killed hundreds of times, usually by explosions, gunfire or plunges from cliffs. It’s a good thing he’s made out of pixels, or this relationship would be a lot harder on both of us.

Digital though he may be, Nathan Drake, the lead character in the Sony PlayStation 3 video games Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2007) and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), is so lifelike and likeable that it is not unusual for players to think of him as someone who really exists.

The two games, re-released Feb. 18 as a 7,980 yen box set, are swashbuckling adventures from the Indiana Jones school in which our hero and a few friends hunt for treasure in exotic locales while fighting off gangsters and pirates who are also after the loot. And also as in Jones’ world, events take a paranormal turn once the treasure is uncovered…

Read the rest of the review here.

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Dear Dr. Muse:

I don’t have time for all these creative exercises you post and I can’t afford to leave my current job, what can I do? B.B., Texas

Dear B.B.:                                      

A common lament even from people who love their current jobs is that they want more time but cannot give up their current income level .  Your question may involve several underlying issues.  First, ensure you have accurate information regarding your current financial situation.  Do you have a budget and understand exactly how much money you need to live responsibly now and in the future?  Understanding your money now empowers you so that life does not force you to understand it later [with harsher consequences, usually].  The internet offers many resources for self education on this topic.

This information allows you to strategically plan for a job search or transition and aim higher for salary and job satisfaction.  Also, pay attention and be responsible for the words you choose to characterize your life.  If you find yourself stating you cannot afford something, an internal alarm should sound.  We can afford the things in life we truly need and want; we allocate our resources—time and money—toward what we value.  Finally, evaluate whether this statement hinders you from having what you want and challenge its veracity.

A second issue concerns the scarce resource of time.  If you operate from a premise that you can make more money but not time, you may assess your life differently.  What would you like time for?  How do you currently spend your time in a day?  Can you adjust something and make time to plan a change in your life?  Again, we spend our money and time on what we value, so what we really want we find a way.  If you really do want time to plan and do these things, you will find time.  If not, then investigate other ways to shift your thinking around your current job.

Finally, this type of question often arises when people are stressed and in “survival” mode.  During times like this, it may be helpful to first assess your lifestyle and health before embarking on big changes.  Get enough sleep, exercise, and choose to take care of your health so you have a clear mind and energy to do the things you want.  I hope this was helpful.

If you want to expand on any of these areas, email me with questions.

Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals.  You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games.  You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.

Here is his latest manga review, of Ooku by Fumi Yoshinaga:

With its shrinking population, chronically depressed birthrate and rising average age, Japan is fated for major social changes in the fairly near future. How that will play out remains to be seen, but Fumi Yoshinaga’s manga series Ooku: The Inner Chamber is an example of how popular art can tap into real-world social anxieties.

Ooku is set in an alternate-history Japan that also faces a demographic crisis, but of a different type. In the 1630s, a mysterious epidemic called Redface Pox kills 75 percent of Japan’s men, while leaving women physically unharmed.

The disease lingers, the gender imbalance never rights itself, and Japanese society comes to resemble a colony of bees or ants, in which the large female majority does every kind of work while the male minority are seen as delicate creatures valued only for their “seed.”

With women forced to share the limited supply of men, the institution of marriage largely disappears, as only a rich woman can keep a husband all to herself. The wealthiest and most powerful woman of all is the shogun, who keeps a crowded male harem in the innermost chambers–the Ooku–of Edo Castle…

Read the rest of the review here.

If you’ve been following Toyota’s problems of late, then you may have also noticed JET alum Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, popping up a lot as a commentator.

He recently appeared on ABC’s World News Tonight.  And even more recently he was commissioned to write an op-ed for the Christian Science Monitor to clarify some of the vast cultural misreadings evident in the Congressional Toyota/Toyoda hearings.

• Toyota and trust: Was the Akio Toyoda apology lost in translation? Stung by Toyota recalls, Toyoda had to convey sincerity – and bridge the gulf in communication styles between Japan and America. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0225/Toyota-and-trust-Was-the-Akio-Toyoda-apology-lost-in-translation

• Roland is also quoted in this AP article on Toyota:  “Toyota President Battles Crisis in Family Company“ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/02/19/toyota_president_battles_crisis_in_family_company/?page=full

And addressed the topic of Toyota in an interesting way in his recent Daily Yomiuri column on The Super Bowl, Toyota, Anime and Hollywood:

• SOFT POWER, HARD TRUTHS / Anime must eventually transcend Japan ‘national’ brand http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20100219TDY11003.htm

And if you’re looking for commentary on non-Toyota topics, then you can listen to Roland’s recent appearance on NPR discussing a wild relic of Japanese popular culture, a viral video of Japanese ‘Jazz Opera,’ produced in 1986 by Tamori, the great comedian:

• http://www.theworld.org/2010/02/17/japanese-jazz-opera/

Via JETAA DC President Michelle Spezzacatena:

Mansfield Fellowship in Japan

Federal employees with a strong career interest in issues of importance to the U.S.-Japan relationship now have the opportunity to apply for a Mike Mansfield Fellowship.

During the two-year program, Fellows spend a year working full-time in Japanese government offices, preceded by a year of full-time rigorous language and area studies training in the United States. After completing the program, Fellows return to their U.S. agencies with proficiency in Japanese and practical, firsthand experience with Japan and its government that enables them to contribute to their agencies’ Japan-related work.

For more information about the Fellowships, information sessions in Washington, D.C., and application guidelines, please visit www.mansfieldfdn.org or contact Ms. Sara Seavey, Program Assistant, Mansfield Fellowship Program at 202-347-1994 or sseavey@mansfieldfdn.org.

Application deadline:  April 1, 2010.

The Mansfield Fellowship Program is administered by The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as grantor.

The Nihongo Dake Dinner is one of the few regular Japanese events in New York City designed to bring both Japanese and non-native Japanese speakers together. Currently run by Jon Hills for JETAANY (http://jetaany.org/), he’s also the founder of Hills Learning (http://www.hillslearning.com), a language school based in Grand Central, New York City.

The event usually numbers around 20 people, and is designed to be half Japanese, half non-native Japanese speakers. The Japanese participants come from all industries and backgrounds, from JETRO and JLGC to Mitsui and Nomura. There are also Japanese who are artists, recruiters, volunteers and students.

The past event held at the Congee Restaurant in Chinatown was a mix of languages, intimacy and fun. As mentioned before, the typical attendance for the Nihongo Dake Dinners is about 20, quite a number for a Japanese language speaking event in New York. This past event only housed 7 people, pushing all participants to try their Japanese skills and get to know each other a little better. Also thanks to our Chinese American participant Ann, we had Chinese translation when ordering and handling the bill.

If you’re involved in the JET organization please be open to signing up for future Nihongo Dake Dinners. If you know someone from JET and would like to go as a friend of JET, it’s also possible to attend. Japanese people who would like to meet English native speakers who have an interest in Japanese are also encouraged to attend. As one of the best Japanese Events in New York City, it’s an event that can’t be missed!

*****

A request from WITLife writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03):

My friend Ryoko is looking to get some information for a college classmate who is hoping to spend a short time in Tokyo studying Japanese.  Can anyone help out with the following questions?  If so, please contact her at sr960002 [at] gmail.com.  Thank you and yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

1) Do you have any suggestions for safe, short-term apartment leases/rentals in Tokyo? Or any idea of how to search for one?

2) Also, do you have any suggestions for good Japanese language immersion programs in Tokyo? (The kind where you stay in the country/program for 1-3 months.)

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Over the past couple of weeks, a few different readers have emailed with questions related to finding the “creative spark” or inspiration for finding their passion in life through work.  Here is another creative task that may help, inspired by the highly recommended book “The Artist’s Way,” by Julia Cameron.

Task 1:  Collect magazines of different types that you can cut up. One afternoon or evening, listening to music or watching a movie, skim through the magazines and without judgment, purely on attraction only, cut out any words or images that appeal to you for any reason.  Do not analyze the selection, but instead enjoy the sensory aspects of the images or words that appeal to you. Take all your cutouts and place them into a shoe box, folder, or envelope for another task later.

Task 2 [different day]:  Reread your paragraph and list from the exercise of February 15, 2010. [If you did not do that exercise, you can still proceed with this activity]  Then, gather the following materials: a poster board of any size; some glue; scissors; and your shoebox or envelope of magazine words/images from Task 1.  Lay everything out on a table or work space, and while listening to some good music or during some quiet time, make a collage of all these words and images.

 Task 3 [different day]:  Take some time to really look at your collage and reflect on what it tells you about what inspires you, what you like, and the type of work/profession you would enjoy right now.  What story does the collage tell about how you want to show up/be perceived in your profession?  Take time to journal  all the thoughts and feelings that arise in a stream-of-consciousness way while looking at your collage.  You may wish to do this over a period of time as new ideas and expression bubble to the surface of your mind.  May you be pleasantly be surprised at what is revealed to you about your dreams and desires. 

Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals.  You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.

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

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.

I just started an assignment as an interpreter for a delegation of young political leaders from Japan, divided about evenly between members of the LDP and the DPJ as well as one journalist.  Over our first dinner tonight it was interesting to hear their respective viewpoints regarding various issues, especially ones that are personal to them.  For example, one DPJ rep and one LDP rep were having a friendly debate regarding day care.  Both of these men have wives who work and 3-year old daughters, and as they live in the Tokyo area child care options are limited.  There are not enough facilities to meet current needs, and those that exist are deluged by requests leading to long waiting lists.

As part of the Manifesto, the DPJ has proposed the implementation of a 子供手当て (kodomo teate) of 26,000 yen per month to provide financial aid to those who have a child.  The LDP, on the other hand, does not advocate this and thinks this money should instead be put toward Read More

Call for Japan-related actors,

Tea Leaf Theatre (www.tealeaftheatre.com) will be hosting some workshops to explore Japanese theatre.

We are looking for actors who has some sort of connection to Japan or has an interest in the culture.

The aim of these workshops is to explore how Japanese theatre skills can be transformed into British theatre context. These workshops will stretch your skills and enable you to look at acting from a different perspective.

Tea Leaf Theatre is a London-based theatre company. Our aim is to bring together the East and West through modern theatrical media such as physicality, projected images, and live music (think Theatre de Complicite).

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you any payment at this stage. However, you will not only gain some Japanese traditional theatre techniques but also learn how to use them for your day to day acting requirements. (i.e., Auditions)

There’s no long term commitment required, you simply need to attend one or two day workshop over a period of time. Each session will focus on one element of Japanese theatre for you to explore.

There will be several sessions over this year. So if you are interested to be involved in this project, please send your CV, headshot, and a short description about your relation to Japan; to tealeaftheatre@gmail.com. We will send you further information on when they are going to happen.

Thanks for your help.

Tanroh Ishida

Artistic Director of Tea Leaf Theatre

tealeaftheatre@gmail.com / 077 9154 1749

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.

An interesting article this week in Slate analyzed the intricacies of the Japanese bow and its various gradations.  It was in reference to the apology by Toyota President Akio Toyoda at a press conference last week regarding the company’s massive vehicle recall.  His chosen bow was a keirei, or 30-degree tilt to show respect, though some say he should have opted for a saikeirei, or full 45- to 90-degree bow intended to show the greatest veneration or humility.

With the amount of damage control that Toyota needs at this point, perhaps it is true that Toyoda should have overshot with a deeper bow.  However, critics were likely placated by yesterday’s news that Toyoda will testify before Congress regarding the recalls, something he had previously said he had no intention of doing.  The threat of being subpoenaed by investigators seemed to have persuaded him to accept the formal invitation issued by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that followed an informal one.  It remains to be seen how reassuring his testimony will be to the American public.

The Chinese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com).

Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Chinese, Japanese and Korean language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.

The buzz language in New York City these days is Chinese. Whenever you speak with someone about new business opportunities China will usually enter into the conversation. But is Learning Chinese really worth it? In a bilingual world where Chinese people are moving to New York City, you would think just a trusted in house translator would suffice for companies doing business in China. This article will argue that at least learning the basics of Chinese can jump start your business and give you the edge when winning contracts in the competitive Chinese market.

Quick Impressions Are Everything So you’re going to sit down with a Chinese business and attempt to negotiate a contract with them. Of course the thing they care about most is their bottom line, and how much it will cost to do business with you. But let’s say your prices are relatively similiar to your competitors…

Click here for the rest of the article, including other Chinese language and culture articles

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Dear Dr. Muse:

I am ready for a career change, but I have no idea what I really want to do.  My current job is one that personality and career aptitude tests said I would be good at, but I am still not in love with my job. Any ideas?  Cindy B. in New Jersey.

Dear Cindy B:

 A vocation calls to us because of our experience, skills, and education; an avocation, however, calls to us from a deeper place.  Sometimes we need a stable vocation to allow us to pay the bills and fulfill our obligations.  If you feel restless and yearn for more, and if your discontent does not relate to some imbalance in other areas of your life [see other Dr. Muse posts related to this topic], then perhaps it is time to identify the ember of your avocation and fan it to a fire.  The following two tasks may help you:

Task 1: Pick 4 jobs from your past and your very first job.. On the blank pages of your journal, draw 5 big circles with some space between [you may need several pages] .  Above the circle, label the job. Then, for each job, inside the circle write 3 to 4 things about that particular job that you liked–e.g., projects; people; environment; anything.  On the outside of the circle, write 3 to 4 things about that job that you did not like.  Next, in a different color ink, go back and write inside the circle how you felt AT the job. Take your time to think and feel the whole experience of your past jobs.

Task 2 [different day]: Take out your circles of past jobs.  On a single sheet of paper write a list all the items you wrote inside the circles.

When you are finished, take a moment to read through the list of all the things you liked about the past jobs.  Then, reflecting on this list, write a paragraph describing as many details about the characteristics of the job/environment you like.  Add anything else to this paragraph about the profession, such as your ideal day, the ideal coworkers, and ideal environment.  This should provide the template for your avocation and you can analyze your current choice or potential choices against this template.  The task is aimed at starting the process for exploration, and I wish you a happy journey on this adventure!

Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals.  You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Via the Philanthropy News Digest Jobs Alert:

Development Associate
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml?id=166700052

Noguchi Museum (Long Island City, New York)
http://www.noguchi.org/

Founded by internationally renowned Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, The Noguchi Museum is the first museum in America to be established by a living artist for the display of his own work. When Noguchi opened the Museum to the public in 1985, he established The Isamu Noguchi Foundation, Inc. to manage it. In February 2004, the Museum and the Foundation were consolidated into a single entity, The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, receiving a 501(c)(3) public charity status from the IRS. An extremely dedicated Board and staff are committed to the aesthetic that Noguchi articulated through his expansive body of work represented in the Museum and to extending his reach through exhibitions and public and educational programs.

In 2004, the Development Office was established to solicit, for the first time, support on a continuous basis from individuals, corporations and foundations, and to build upon the government support that the Museum had received throughout the years. Over the past five and a half years, the Museum has launched a comprehensive development plan and has successfully met and exceeded its fundraising goals. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum seeks a Development Associate to assist in furthering the Museum’s campaigns to raise foundation, corporation, government, and individual support. The Development Associate reports to the Director of Development.

Specific responsibilities:

• Work with and assist Director of Development to draft proposals, letters, reports, and other fundraising materials;
• Coordinate the production and mailing of annual appeals;
• Oversee the Museum’s membership program;
• Manage the donor database (Raiser’s Edge), which includes processing gifts and acknowledgements, and generating reports and solicitation lists;
• Identify and research donors and prospects;
• Assist in organizing the Museum’s annual gala benefit and donor cultivation events;
• Perform general administrative duties as needed.

Read More

Adventures of a Stealth Gaijin

By Ann Chow (ALT, Hyogo-ken, 2007-2009), a New York City-based JET alum currently seeking copy editing/proofreading/production editing jobs in news or book publishing.  Email jetwit [at] jetwit.com if you would like to get in touch with her.

E is for Elementary School

E is for elementary school.

Elementary school in Japan is for students between the ages of 6-12, and they are easily spotted by the backpacks, called randoseru, that they carry. Sometimes, they wear sailor uniforms. Sometimes, they don’t. My students didn’t.

When I first arrived in Japan, the BoE I worked for told me I would be working at 2 junior high schools and 3 elementary schools. It was pretty standard for the ALTs working in my town, and I had no complaints except that one of my elementary schools was clear across town, 35 minutes or so by bike, and I wasn’t the ALT who lived closest to it.

Sometime in December of my first year there, I was told I would have to visit another elementary school. There was already another ALT who visited, but the teachers wanted extra lessons, so they added me on to the roster. On my first visit to that school, I was running late because I realized the main entrance to the school wasn’t on the main road, but on a back street behind the sports field and a construction site for new housing. It really didn’t help that they were Read More

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

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options. Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Dear Dr. Muse:

Based on the question from N.H. in Long Island [January 30, 2010 Post], we are creating a series of exercises aimed at getting “unstuck” in a job or life.  Based on the previous exercise of the Rating System, let’s revisit the eight areas of evaluation:

What three areas have the most priority or importance to you for the next three months?  Using the logical, analytical, problem-solving side of the brain you will create an Action Plan. By processing backwards, in your journal, write the steps that it would take to lead you from where you want to be to where you are now. This is like planning a party or event where you have the end in mind. Try to get engrossed in the details because each little step leads you closer to what you want.

Now, looking at your Action Plan details, on a new sheet of paper, and processing backward from the end result, assign a deadline in three months for the first few specific tasks.  For instance, in three months time, you wish to move one or two steps forward on the Action Plan.  Determine what discrete tasks you need to do each month for the next three months to get there. Then, for this first month, break down the steps into weekly goals.  Finally, with this upcoming week, set three tasks to complete toward this week’s goal.

Create an Action Plan for the three areas of the Rating System you determined a priority for the next three months.

Most importantly, spend time each week evaluating your weekly progress and establishing goals for the week ahead, all with your three-month goal in mind.  This work-in-progress requires recalibration.  Some weeks you may get ahead of your goals, and other weeks you may feel you lag behind.  In truth, you continue to make progress, so enjoy the adventure!

Every few months, revisit the Rating System and create new Action Plans.  While working on the foundation areas of your life, you allow more creative inspiration and energy to move you out of a place of feeling “stuck.”

Stay tuned for the next Dr. Muse post where I’ll answer other life/career change questions.

Language Weaver is seeking Japanese-English bilinguals to work on a short job this Wednesday or Thursday. They must be able to read both Japanese and English, and be fluent native or near-native English speakers. The job will take about 4 hours, working through an online portal on a flexible schedule, with training by phone. They will work as independent consultants, not employees. Since the total pay is under the federal limit, it will not be reported to the IRS.

The task is to skim 200 sentences that were translated from Japanese into English by a computer, and rate the quality of the translation on a 5-point scale. The sentences are on general news topics that don’t require any special vocabulary. The consultant can be an undergraduate, graduate, senior citizen, someone’s spouse, or whatever — so long as they can read both Japanese and English fluently, and aren’t tied up with midterms this week.

The pay for the job will be $90 a person. People who are interested in the job should contact Michael Potts at 310-437-7300 extension 244, or mpotts@languageweaver.com. He is available both days and evenings.

Benjamin Davis (ALT Chiba-ken, 2006-07, CIR/PA Chiba Kencho, 2007-09) is a freelance writer/researcher, translator, renaissance man and jack-of-all-trades based in rural Chiba-ken.  He can be contacted at davis.benjamin.j@gmail.com and is always on the lookout for new and interesting projects.

“Setsubun, Bean-tossing, and the Old Japanese Calendar”

This February 3rd, when he gets home from work, my friend Mr. Watanabe will be chased out of his own house, by his own children, who will shout at him and throw dried beans in his face.

No, this is not some clever new trick on the children’s part to get back at him for enforcing their bedtimes. On the contrary, it will be something he planned in concert with them days earlier. He himself will be wearing a demon mask, his wife will be encouraging the children on in the background, and the shouts in question will be repeated cries of “Demons out, fortune in!”

You see, this bean-throwing and shouting is actually an ancient Japanese tradition called “Setsubun” (節分). It is a ritual whose objective is to chase out the malevolent spirits that may have built up like dust bunnies in the dark corners of the house over the year and invite in good fortune for the coming year.

To make the experience more symbolically tangible, a male member of the house may dress up as Read More

Via naganojet yahoo group:

Ez Communications, one of the few foreign-owned and operated schools in Matsumoto, is looking for a full-time teacher starting on the first of April. The position available focuses mainly on pre-school kids and uses a storybook curriculum.  Some junior high school and adult classes are offered as well.

Ez Communications offers an initial salary of 250,000 yen, assistance in finding a place to life, and visa sponsorship. They are looking (ideally) for a teacher who already lives in Japan, has a driver’s license, and enjoys teaching children.

Interested parties should send their resume and contact information to trevorralph@ezcomm.biz. Successful candidates will be contacted.

Lloyd Staffing is looking for a full-time bilingual marketing assistant for a New York City firm.

DUTIES:

• Provide administrative support to Marketing Department of Downtown NYC firm, reporting to VP of Marketing.
• Candidate will get involved in client relations having direct contact with clients.
• Will assist with prospect lists, database work, marketing reports, planning events, purchasing supplies, and more.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ideal candidate will have proficiency in Word and Excel.
• Must be proficient in communicating in both English and Japanese languages.
• Must be able to speak, read and write in both languages.
• 1-3 years administrative experience.

For immediate consideration, please call Barbara Cohen Farber, Executive Director at 631-777-7600 ext 778. Or email your resume to bcohenfarber@ lloydstaffing. com

International Access Corporation is looking for an Administrative Assistant in Washington D.C.

DUTIES:

• Support position with a Japanese transportation association.
• Requires excellent English communication and writing skills
• Some Japanese language or cultural exposure to Japan is desirable.
• Planning Washington D.C. seminars and study groups as well as general office support.
• Word, Excel required; PowerPoint, Quicken desired
• Bilingual English/Japanese
• Salary Range: $37,000

HOW TO APPLY:
Please send resume WITH COVER LETTER to Elizabeth McCarthy - mccarthy@iacdc.com

Position includes FULL health insurance, dental and life insurance, 401(k) and proftsharing plan, generous vacation and holidays. Stimulating international office in downtown D.C. near two Metro stops.

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

Joshikai SF:  A new meet-up for Japanese women and women connected to Japan

The Chinese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com).

Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Chinese, Japanese and Korean language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.

Congratulations on choosing to learn the new buzz language in New York City, Chinese. When learning Chinese it’s important to first learn the pronunciation of the language. Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, with 4 tones that can change and distinguish the meaning of words. It’s important to become familiar with the tones in the beginning, mastering the tones will take time and energy with a trained teacher. Don’t worry though, Cantonese has 7 tones, and Vietnamese has 9 tones, so comparatively learning Mandarin should seem quite easy!

When learning Mandarin we’ll use the word “ma.” Ma can mean four different things, depending on which tone you pronounce it with. Without further ado, here’s the tones you’ll use when pronouncing Mandarin…

Click here for the rest of the article, including other Chinese language and culture articles

The latest from JET alum Michael Auslin, a professor of Japanese history and politics and currently the Director of Japanese Studies for the American Enterprise Institute in D.C.  This one part of The AEI Outlook Series.

The U.S.-Japan Alliance:  Relic of a By-gone Era?

http://www.aei.org/outlook/100929

by JET alum Michael Auslin

The U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation was signed in Washington, D.C., fifty years ago this month. Few alliances last half a century. The fact that this one has is a testament to its strength, but it is also the result of East Asia’s failure to develop stable political and security relationships in the decades after World War II. It also reflects Japan’s postwar political realities and the choices successive Japanese governments made to maintain the country’s largely pacifist global role. Yet, the pressures on the alliance today raise questions about how well it can adapt to changes inside Japan, the United States, and throughout Asia. If the alliance is to survive, how should it change to best serve the evolving national interests of Japan and the United States?

Key points in this Outlook:

* The U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation has helped maintain peace in Asia for the past fifty years.

* Security-related issues regarding North Korea’s nuclear-weapons program and China’s growing military raise important political questions for the future of the alliance.

* Today, the Obama and Hatoyama administrations must decide if they view the alliance as a key element in their security strategies or as an outdated relic of a bygone era.

To read the whole paper, go here:  http://www.aei.org/outlook/100929

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 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 travels currently bring me to Rochester, NY, and this morning at the local museum and science center I encountered an unexpected aspect of grassroots exchange between Japan and America.  My Japanese guests and I met with Mr. George McIntosh, Director of Collections, and headed down into the vault to get a closer look at the Japanese Ambassador Doll housed there.  Her name is Tamako and she hails from Nagasaki Prefecture, and she was part of a gift from Japan in return for nearly 13,000 friendship dolls sent over in early 1927 by the Committee on World Friendship Among Children. 

This committee was formed by Dr. Sidney Gulick in 1926 as a reaction to restrictive American Read More

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 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.

Interesting intersection of American pop culture and Japanese culture on two back-to-back episodes of 30 Rock last night.  In the first one, James Franco (who manages to be amazing in everything he does) playing himself talks of his knowledge of “moe” before whipping out his very own body pillow girlfriend Kimiko.  In a later scene the morning after he and Liz spend the night together, they both emerge in their pajamas, him holding Kimiko.   This strange threesome freaks out Liz’s cousin who is staying at her place.

In the next episode, Frank refers to a high frequency sound used in Japan to chase away kids loitering in front of conbini, and then uses it on Jenna.  I have never heard of this tactic being employed in Japan, anyone else?

From the Japan Society of New York

Born to Russian Jewish parents in Tokyo in 1931, Isaac Shapiro grew up in the shadows of war torn Japan. Mr. Shapiro, who went on to become a prominent Manhattan attorney and president of Japan Society, shares his fascinating tale of his Russian/Jewish/Chinese/Japanese childhood in wartime Japan.

Moderated by Rabbi Marvin Tokayer, Honorary Lifetime Rabbi, Jewish Community of Japan.
Followed by a book signing.

DATE Thursday, January 14 6:30 PM
LOCATION
This program will be held at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 (at First Avenue).
Tickets:
$11/$7 Members, seniors & students

Buy Tickets Online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.

From the Japan Society of New York:

The only manager in baseball history to lead a team to both the Japan Series and the World Series, Bobby Valentine discusses his experiences as one of the most successful baseball managers in the world. Valentine led the Chiba Lotte Marines to the Japan Series championship in 2005, their first title since 1974. Valentine also managed the Mets to the post season in consecutive years for the first time in club’s history in 1999 and 2000. To the vocal disappointment of fans in Japan, Valentine completed his tenure in Japan in 2009, and now serves as a baseball analyst for ESPN, as well as the owner of Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Café in Stamford, CT.

Moderated by Ken Belson, The New York Times

TIME: Thursday, January 21 6:30 PM

LOCATION: This program will be held at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 (at First Avenue).

Tickets:
$15/$12 Japan Society members, seniors & students

Buy Tickets Online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.

The Chinese Doctor is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com).

Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.

Congratulations on choosing to learn the most prominent Asian language for the new decade in 2010. Learning Chinese has become the new linguistic pursuit in schools throughout NYC. Individually when networking I’ve also come to find out that businessmen, government employees, parents concerned about their children’s future, or just individuals interested in Asian language or culture have all at least discussed the possibility of learning Chinese. The possibilities with the language seem limitless, but where to start learning Chinese? What is the most efficient way of learning about the Chinese language and culture?

Learning Chinese, as with learning any Asian language, will take dedication and the ability to open your mind to a new way of thinking. Although it might seem cheaper at first, it’s not recommended to focus your efforts on learning Chinese with…

Click here for the rest of the article, including other Chinese language and culture articles

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

Today’s NYT features an interesting editorial from Joseph Nye about the Okinawa base location issue threatening this year’s 50th anniversary of the US-Japan Security Treaty.  This Harvard professor and former assistant secretary of defense coined the term “soft power,” but his article focuses on how he believes our hard power should be used in regard to this matter.  Basically he is urging us to not throw the baby away with the bath water, and advocates a more patient and strategic approach in order to prevent “a second-order issue [from threatening] our long-term strategy for East Asia.”  PM Hatoyama (who Nye describes as being “caught in a vice”) wants to push off resolving this issue until May, but we’ll see what the new year (decade!) brings.

In weather news, we are experiencing quite a cold winter and Read More

TELL, the Tokyo English Life Line, a new free, anonymous telephone counseling for English-speakers in Tokyo is looking for a full-time Fundraising, Events & Communication Coordinator in Tokyo

DUTIES:

• Responsible for managing fundraising events
• Supporting other fundraising efforts
• Recruiting and managing volunteers
• Coordinating media relations in order to enhance the financial and volunteer resources critical to the organizational health of TELL

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, send a resume and cover letter to: Jason Chare, Director of Life Line Services lifeline1@telljp.com

To learn more, click here.

After the Walkman and the Prius, Is it time for the West to adopt the Confucianism from the East?  Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US, asks that in the latest issue of AdBusters. As a part of the magazine’s Big Ideas of 2010 issue, Kelts challenges the West: “Let’s listen to our neighbors in the East. A culture that prizes quiet contemplation, self-abnegation, community and stability should not threaten us in the West. We can do better if we learn from one another. And with our entire planet threatened by extinction, we need to.”

The January 2010 issue of the Sake World E-mail Newsletter by JET alum and leading sake expert John Gauntner (aka “The Sake Guy”) is now available online.  In this issue:

Did You Know? O-toso

New Section: Sake Basics – Ginjo-shu

Guided Sakagura Tours

Sake Professional Courses in Japan: Last Call!

Holiday Gift Idea: AnnouncingThe Sake Dictionary!!!

Odds-n-Ends

Additional links:

Sake World Website
More About Us
Archive

Just want to share that on December 28, 2009, my wife Wynne and I became the parents of a bouncing baby girl named Helen (aka Mini-Wynne)!

Needless to say, this may take a toll on my ability to post on JetWit for a little while. :-)  But fortunately with the help of Stacy Smith, Jon Hills, Machiko Yasuda, Gail Meadows, Jonathan Trace, Peter Weber, Crystal Wong and others JetWit will continue to hum along in the New Year.

Here’s a photo of Helen:

And here’s a nice cartoon drawing by my friend Gideon Kendall for the Bankruptcy Bill cartoon site:

JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following opportunity through the JETAA Toronto mailing list and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Toronto area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.

Position Type: Full Time – Temporary
Location: Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan
Application Deadline: Friday, January 8th – 4:00 pm
Start Date: Monday, January 18th 2010
End Date: Monday, March 8th 2010

Position Description:

The JET Programme Assistant Coordinator will provide assistance in the winter selection process of the JET Programme.

Responsibilities:

· responding to telephone, e-mail, post and in-person inquiries from potential JET candidates
· helping maintain accurate data using MS Access/MS Excel
· preparing and creating form letters in MS Word
· helping to create and maintain interview schedules in MS Excel
· assist with logistics of JET Programme interview (scheduling, materials, on site coordination)
· maintain strict confidentiality
· liaising with organisations and institutions regarding the JET Programme
· occasionally fielding general telephone inquiries to the Japan Information Centre about Japan
· on occasion, she/he may also be asked to assist with work beyond JET

Read More

JetWit wishes you a happy and healthy New Year.

The Asia Society headquarters in New York City is looking for a Program Assistant for Global Business Development & Programs to help plan and administer the Asia Society’s global business development and programs both in the U.S. and Asia.

DUTIES:

• Assisting with agenda planning, including identification of speakers, preparation of letters, coordination of speaker participation in events
• Assisting with corporate sponsorship relationships, including identification and research on target companies. Preparation of sponsorship proposals, coordination of sponsor participation in conferences and/or study missions, tracking of sponsorships payments/receivables.
• Managing and maintaining general department trackers, lists, and databases.
• Assisting with conference and/or study mission administration, including all logistics and conference secretariat coordination.
• Assisting with conference and/or study mission documents, including maintenance of all tracking documents.
• Assisting with outreach coordination for programs, including brochure and flyer distribution in the U.S. and in Asia.
• Assisting with Asian corporate conference brochure, advertisement development, and all P.R. materials and website information/maintenance for all other business programs in Asia.
• Assisting with consultation/coordination with other areas within the Society—Communications, External Affairs, Cultural Programs & Performing Arts, Museum, Education, and Centers/Representative offices—regarding programming as required.

HOW TO APPLY:

• For positions in New York, please email your cover letter and resume indicating position reference code and salary requirements to: businessjobs@asiasociety.org.
• Indicate job title in the subject line.
• Resumes without cover letters will not be accepted.
• No phone calls, please. Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.

American Apparel is looking for a well managed Japanese speaking retail operations assistant in Los Angeles. This positions principal duty is to communicate policy and procedural updates with our Japanese and Korean locations. You will also be coordinating promotions according to various holidays and seasonal shifts. A good understanding of Japanese retail business is necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communicate all retail related updates with Japanese and Korean locations

Collect feedback for new styles and promotions

Troubleshoot technical issues

Maintain records, reports and/or files

Use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Filemaker and our POS Retail Pro system to enter, access or retrieve data

Conduct weekly conference calls with Japan and KoreaREQUIREMENTS:

Fluency (written and spoken) in Japanese and English languages

Detail oriented with intermediate to advanced excel skills

Critical thinking

Negotiation ability

Positive attitude

Excellent communication skills

Good time management Read More

The Asia Foundation seeks a Marketing Coordinator to support its Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) unit in San Francisco.

The Marketing Coordinator will provide direct marketing, outreach and communications support to Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) team, including fundraising, writing and research tasks. The incumbent will manage and update CFR records in Raisers Edge database, track pertinent donor relations information and pull reports and queries as needed. In addition, the ideal candidate will conduct web-based research around potential partners, trade organizations, and other relevant sources. In conjunction with CFR Director, the Marketing Coordinator will manage day-to-day work of CFR intern(s) if applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelors degree in English, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, International Relations or a related field
• Experience: 3 years of recent professional experience in marketing, fundraising or a related field is required.  Proven experience in writing, editing, and disseminating information to a variety of target audiences is required. Proven track record in developing and executing successful outreach and stewardship plans is essential. Significant professional experience in corporate or grantmaking-foundation setting preferred.
• Other: Excellent written and oral communications skills are critical to success in this position. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is also essential. Familiarity with fundraising/database software such as Raisers Edge preferred. Ability to manage several tasks simultaneously, flexibly adapt to changes in priorities, work effectively and collaboratively under pressure, and thrive in a multi-cultural environment is essential. Proven experience in writing, editing, and disseminating information to a variety of target audiences is required. The candidate must be a self-starter who is highly creative, organized, and detail-oriented. Experience working in Asia and/or knowledge of Asian issues preferred. Experience in newsletter design, email marketing and tools, and web design is desirable.

HOW TO APPLY:

We offer excellent benefits and salary commensurate with experience.  We will only consider applicants who provide a cover letter including salary requirements along with their resume, limit their resumes to a maximum of three pages, and submit their application prior to the deadline.  Apply online here.

This posting comes from Kate (ALT, Osaka-fu, 05-08) of CET Academic Programs

CET Academic Programs is looking for a full-time Academic Director in Osaka for their new Intensive Japanese Language & Area Studies program to start in May 2009 for two years with the possibility of renewal. The director’s principal objective is to apply his/her expertise in the areas of curriculum design, pedagogy, and teaching methodology to CET’s newest program Intensive Japanese Language and Area Studies. Due to the specific goals of our program, the Academic Director must have experience with effectively addressing problems related to in situ language learning.

DUTIES:

• manages the launch and continuation of CET’s Japanese language program
• supervises instruction
• conducts teacher training (both formally and informally), and offers office hours for the Japan faculty and American students
• reports to CET’s head office, making recommendations for short-term curricular changes and long-term programmatic/structural changes
• counsels students to solve problems related to their classes, expectations, dormitories, or activities. Read More

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville is looking for a Program Coordinator to help manage JET and other cultural programs like scholarships and exchanges.  The Nashville consulate covers the five state jurisdiction of Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The deadline is January 4th.

DUTIES:
• Organizing Japanese cultural programs (i.e. Japanese cultural fairs, school/library visits)
• Promoting Japanese language and Japanese studies education (i.e. Japanese speech contests, seminars on U.S.-Japan relations)
• Assisting with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, Japanese Government Scholarship Program and other exchange programs (i.e. recruitment, interview, orientation)
• Website management

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Invested interest in, knowledge of and passion for Japan and U.S.-Japan exchanges
• Understanding of Japanese culture and intercultural communication skills (Conversational Japanese language ability and working experience in a Japanese environment desired)
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Excellent organizational, administrative and people skills
• Strong computer skills (website design and database management skills desired)
• Outgoing, flexible and creative personality

HOW TO APPLY:
Please e-mail your resume to Consul Megumi Osugi (culture@cgjnashville.org)
Deadline: January 4, 2010

The CIEE, Council on International Educational Exchange, headquartered in Portland, Maine, is looking for an enrollment manager for their Asia division.  The enrollment officer is in charge of overseeing the application process for students traveling and studying abroad, and knowledge of an Asian language and experience with education abroad are highly preferred in a candidate.

The Enrollment Officer (EO), based in the CIEE Portland office, has primary responsibilities for students between the point of application and the point of departure on the program. The EO is responsible for the review and acceptance of applicants, tracking and collection of supplementary application and predepature materials, efficiency in processing student applications, customer service to applicants, parents and study abroad advisors and maintaining the integrity of participant data in the database system. The EO also oversees the creation of participant pre-departure materials, including visa instructions, as well as their collection and dispersal to the appropriate staff people. Read More

The Consulate-General of Japan in Miami, Florida is looking for a full-time accounting assistant to join its offices from Feb. 1, 2010.

DUTIES:

• Duties include full charge bookkeeping
• Accounts payable, payroll and other duties as assigned
• Must be professional, have the ability to handle a lot of demand.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Employment Authorization
• Bi-lingual (fluent English and Japanese)

HOW TO APPLY:
Contact: Administration Office
Phone: (305) 530-9090 Fax: (305) 530-9002
Email: account1@cgjmia.org or account2@cgjmia.org

Read More