Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as art, film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she offers some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

Last week was the first in office for Japan’s new Prime Minister, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He’s a member of the Liberal Democratic Party but not part of former PM Shinzo Abe’s faction, and his anti-Abenomics proposals like raising taxes and curtailing spending have ruffled some feathers in the party. Ishiba is looking to dissolve Parliament’s lower (but more powerful) house Wednesday ahead of the general election on October 27. In this election the LDP is expected to retain its majority allowing Ishiba to stay on as PM, though opposition parties are expected to pick up seats due to recent LDP political funding scandals.

In cultural news, last month’s Emmy’s gave the Japanese show Shogun a record-breaking 18 wins for its first season. In addition to outstanding drama and directing awards, Anna Sawai became the first Asian actor to win Lead Actress in a Drama Series and her co-star Hiroyuki Sanada took Lead Actor (I personally believe Tadanobu Asano, who was nominated in the supporting actor category for his role as the deliciously demented Yabushige, was robbed). Sawai was also selected for TIME100 NEXT 2024, and Sanada wrote her a lovely tribute in the magazine.

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Ashley Davis is a former CIR for Matsushima and Otsu (2019-2022). She is currently living in Chiba Prefecture after working post-JET in the tourism sector in Japan.

It’s funny how much little moments can matter and butterfly out to unexpected connections. As I face an unexpected difficulty with my employment situation, I find myself looking back on the positive moments of my life including how important one’s community is.

One of my tasks as the CIR for Otsu City would be to assist foreigners coming in for municipal paperwork.

There was a Venezuelan couple who would often come into city hall and ask for me as they were having a child throughout my tenure. One day, I was conversing with one of them to pass the time while we waited to be called for paperwork. It might not seem like much, but we got on the topic of naming conventions. As an American, is Andrea a more masculine or feminine name? Growing up in the USA during the 90s, I would say feminine. Conversely, I was informed this can be a masculine name in Spanish speaking countries.

Later, I was looking into my family tree for one reason or another. I know that Americans are said to have a unique relationship with our familial roots, but we all came from somewhere, and my family never really documented stuff on one side. I never saw a picture or knew anything about my paternal great grandfather. I knew my father did not really have any records or details either. However, I realized that sometime after immigrating from Sicily around the Great Depression that my great grandfather had angelized his name – it was originally Andrea.

Thanks to this couple leading to this realization, I was able to find documentation showing my great grandfather moving to Michigan to work in engineering. Not only did this governmental paperwork include his name and occupation, it also included an old photo of him. I passed this onto my father, and I like to think it helped him get some closure.

So, my advice to all JETs is to continue to listen to people even if what they are saying might not always seem important to you at the time. You never know what might happen.

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here. 

As the summer days fade into fall colors, the weeks ahead are shaping up with these exciting events, ready to be enjoyed all through Halloween.

This month’s highlights include:

Oct. 2 & 6

Mobile Suit Gundam

Various theaters

Various prices

Iconic Events Releasing and Bandai/Namco this month bring the original trilogy of Gundam movies to the big screen! In Universal Century year 0078, the space colony Side 3 declares itself the Principality of Zeon and launches a war of independence against the Earth Federation. Eight months have passed since the war entered a deadlock. Learning of a secret plot by the Federation Forces, the Zeon Forces launch reconnaissance followed by an attack against Side 7. A young boy by the name of Amuro gets wrapped up in the war, and by coincidence ends up piloting the mobile suit Gundam and defeating the enemy. The Federation’s White Base, having lost its proper crew in the battle, escapes from Side 7 with forces still in training and civilians both. Presented in Japanese with English subtitles.

Oct. 3-5

National Bunraku Theater

Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street

$55-$72 (waitlist for Oct. 4-5 only, click here for details)

The National Theatre makes its triumphant arrival with bunraku theater in New York City for the first time in 32 years! Witness a stunning production of traditional Japanese puppet theater, with two quintessential climaxes from bunraku repertoire: Date Musume Koi no Higanoko (Oshichi, the Greengrocer’s Daughter) and Sonezaki Shinju (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki). Known for its globally influential three-person puppet manipulation technique invented in the mid-18th century, bunraku has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Featuring scenography by Kazuo Oga, art director for many classic Studio Ghibli anime such as My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke, this performance offers Americans a rare opportunity to glimpse the rich culture not only of bunraku, but of Japan’s second-largest city ahead of Expo 2025, held in Osaka. A pre-performance lecture on bunraku led by Hunter College Professor Claudia Orenstein begins one hour before each evening performance. Performed in Japanese with English supertitles.

Opens Oct. 4

Look Back

Various theaters

Various prices

This heart-wrenching story is the stunning feature-length directorial debut from Kiyotaka Oshiyama that will leave you in tears and inspire you to chase your own artistic dreams. Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing. Based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man), Look Back captures the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Adjunct Lecturer for “Culture and Cuisine in Japan”
Posted by: CIEE Kyoto
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Michele Fujii (Shiga 2010-2013, 2010-2013) for passing along the following job opening.

CIEE Kyoto is seeking faculty to teach a course on Culture and Cuisine in Spring 2025. Students will be university undergraduate students from the United States. Courses will be taught in English on site in downtown Kyoto.

Contact Hours: 45

Remuneration: 400,000 JPY

Transportation Stipend: 15,000 JPY

Teaching location: Shijo Karasuma (3-minutes from station)

Class Size: 5 – 15 students

Class Dates: Mondays/Wednesdays OR Tuesdays/Thursdays

Program Dates: January 23 – May 9, 2025

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position:  Associate Program Officer (Japanese Language Education Program Coordinator)
Posted by: The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
Location: Hybrid/Los Angeles, CA, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Megan Murata (Yamaguchi, Hofu, 2019 – 2022) for passing along the following job opening.

Description:
1. Coordinate grant programs related to the Japanese language education in the U.S.
2. Networking/collaborating in both Japanese and English with foreign language educators, teachers’ associations, and school
administrators (K‐16 institutions and heritage language schools, etc.), mainly with the Japanese language education field.
3. Plan and coordinate Japanese language related events and projects.
4. Research and collect information related to the field of Japanese language education.
5. Promote and enhance awareness of JFLA grants and projects. Create program materials and publications.
(e.g. newsletters, fliers, SNS posts, and webpages, etc.)
6. English‐Japanese/Japanese‐English translation and proofreading
7. Perform other related duties/responsibilities assigned by Director or Deputy Director

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Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as art, film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she offers some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

Happy early fall everyone! I can’t believe that six months have passed since my latest entry, but time seems to have a way of doing that. Last night I had the chance to check out the film Tokyo Cowboy starring actor Arata Iura. I was struck by Iura when I saw him in his first leading role in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s 1998 film After Life, (Japanese title: ワンダフルライフ or wandafuru raifu) which is second only to Defending Your Life as my favorite movie about what happens when we die.

Tokyo Cowboy is directed by Marc Marriott and written by Dave Boyle and Ayako Fujitani, who also produced and stars in the film as Iura’s boss and love interest. The fish out of water story is reminiscent of Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest Evil Does Not Exist, with a city slicker trying to change the ways of rural folk. Iura’s character businessman Hideki goes to visit the Montana cattle ranch his Japanese company owns. Developers plan to buy out this underperforming ranch, but Hideki has an idea to save it by raising wagyu. However, upon arrival he realizes this will be much more difficult to achieve than he initially thought.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: English Japanese bilingual Interpreter/Assistant
Posted by: Japanese Construction Company
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA, USA
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to A Japanese Construction Company in Manhattan Beach, CA for passing along the following job opening.

The right candidate will help various departments smoothen communications between English & Japanese staff.

Proficient Japanese & English skills are required and prior experience as an interpreter or assistant is desirable, but not necessarily required, so JET’s with N2 level of Japanese or higher and willing to learn about real estate are encouraged to apply.

Other duties for this position include the following:

• Assist in translation of a variety of documents, emails, etc.
• Provide Administrative support to the team such as scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements and organizing files.
• Handling incoming calls from customers both in English & Japanese
• Other tasks as needed.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Outside Sales Representative
Posted by: Pasona North America
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Lauren Tanaka (Osaka, 2017-2020) for passing along the following job opening.

This position of Outside Sales representative is responsible for developing relationships with customers and growing accounts in their assigned territory through the promotion and selling of the company’s products to commercial.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates and determine sales distribution by establishing sales market, quotas, and goals.
• Reviews production schedules and determine sales potential and inventory requirements to manage current and new customers.
• Develops marketing strategy aligned with established objectives, market characteristics and cost factors.
• Develops and direct marketing activities to promote products in coordination.
• Attends food shows to generate new sales leads.
• Customer service – handles customer inquiries by phone or email. Resolves customers complaints by investigating problems; developing solutions; preparing reports; making recommendations to management.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Boarding Assistant in Boy’s Residence Hall
Posted by: Keio Academy of New York
Location: Purchase, NY, USA
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Keio Academy of New York for passing along the following job opening.

Description:

• Ensure to provide the save environment for the Residence Hall.
• Ensure that students follow daily schedule and the Residence Hall policies set by the school.
• Provide support and supervision for students during non-academic hours. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, manning the dormitory offices to handle requests and questions from students, supervising house sports practice/club activities/library hours/evening study hours/dining hall, and coordinating with nurse to care for sick students.
• Be available to students, as necessary, to support their personal, educational and academic needs.
• Review and confirm multiple forms submitted by parents and students.
• Answer questions and concerns from parents. Back-up Head of House when they are off-duty.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Travel Consultant (Japan Specialist)
Posted by: Inside Travel Group
Location: Remote/Hybrid, Broomfield, CO, USA
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Inside Travel Group for passing along the following job opening.

As a Travel Consultant, you will use your extensive understanding of Japan to create unforgettable cultural adventures for our clients. Exceptional time management, confidence, communication, and organisation are a must for efficiently prioritizing tasks and providing top-notch service for both new clients and ongoing bookings. High performance will be rewarded with sales and customer service-based commission, along with regular familiarisation trips to our destination countries to enhance your knowledge.

What You Will be Doing:

• Consult with customers to identify their individual holiday requirements.
• Create high-quality tailor-made itineraries based on customer requirements.
• Work to achieve individual and team sales targets.
• Co-ordinate all aspects of the customer booking to ensure successful delivery of trip.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Tour Guide
Posted by: Machinovate Co. Ltd.
Location: Osaka, Japan
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Kimberly Matsuno (Niigata, 2019-2022) for passing along the following job opening.

【Job Description】
This role is ideally-suited to applicants wanting to establish a long-term career in Japan with true potential for professional growth, a varied and dynamic work environment, and key responsibilities in a leading destination management company.

This role necessitates a natural enthusiasm for life in Japan, an ability to communicate well with others (including groups and a range of nationalities), punctuality and professionalism in all aspects of your work, basic record-keeping and money handling, and a willingness to adapt to the needs, expectations, and personalities of guests, partner organizations and colleagues.

Applicants must have fluent spoken and written English, with an ability to produce high-quality written content quickly, consistently and independently for publication on our website and in printed material.
We are seeking to add to our team with a full-time position for the right candidate. Applicants living in Osaka. Experience with tour guiding in Japan or abroad is advantageous however not essential. Applicants must have fluent English and a minimum of basic to conversational Japanese.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Admissions Concierge
Posted by: Temple University, Japan Campus
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) for passing along the following job opening.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION
TUJ seeks a motivated and outgoing Admissions Concierge to support newly admitted undergraduate program students. The Admissions Concierge will focus on providing prompt and exceptional service to students from the point of admission to matriculation with a mindset of increasing the yield of admitted students and achieving a qualified and diverse student population.

The Concierge will also assist with continuing our current growth by developing new yield initiatives and assisting with recruitment activities. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and organization skills, and student recruiting and sales and/or marketing experience. Previous experience in the education sector is preferred. Some weekend and evening work will be required.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Adjunct Lecturer for Religion and Society Course
Posted by: CIEE Tokyo
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Michele Fujii (Shiga-ken, 2010-2013) for passing along the following job opening.

Who We Are

CIEE is a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization that transforms lives and builds bridges between individuals and nations through study abroad and international exchange experiences that help people develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.

Why Work With Us Are

You will change the world. CIEE builds bridges between different people, different countries, and different cultures. We help young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that bring the world together. We change lives, our alumni change the world. Be part of the change!

You will be part of a fast-paced, international, diverse, and collaborative team of professionals. CIEE operates the largest nonprofit network of study-abroad locations, with facilities and staff in 29 countries. Additionally, we help international participants from over 140 countries come to the USA each year. Committed to excellence and solving whatever problem the world throws at them, CIEE professionals work on international teams and are dedicated to advancing our 75-year-old mission to make the world a more peaceful place.

Who You Are

The Center Director of CIEE Tokyo will have the overall responsibility for the management of all aspects of the Center, overseeing the planning and delivery of all CIEE programs, recruiting, and developing the Center’s core team, and ensuring the highest levels of quality and customer satisfaction. The program portfolio is comprised of Semester, Full-year, and Short-term (Summer, January, and Custom) opportunities for pre-college, college, and post-graduate students. All CIEE programs are defined by the highest standards of educational quality, providing access to students of diverse backgrounds.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Customer Service Representative
Posted by: Quick USA
Location: Reynoldsburg, OH, USA
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Carlos Medina (Oita-ken, 2019-2022) for passing along the following job opening.

A Japanese Logistics company in the Reynoldsburg, OH area is looking for a full time Customer Service Representative to join their team to Receive and process export/import client’s shipments via truck, airline and steamship companies. Responsible for executing all functions related to the successful operation of this position and providing top notch customer service with continual improvement in mind.

This is an entry level position, so people with interest in learning the intricacies of logistics related tasks such as exporting and importing while providing excellent customer service are encouraged to apply.

The Salary range for this position would be between 40k-46k based on skills & experience.

Your main responsibilities would include the following:

1. Customer Service (include sales support)
2. To maintain existing clients which currently consists of about 60 clients.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Sake Professional
Posted by: Sake Secret
Location: Long Beach, CA, USA
Contract: Full Time

Thanks to Greg Beck (Hiroshima-ken, 2006-2011) for passing along the following job opening.

Description:Retail Sale Shop Sales and Sale Bartender

BIG NEWS SAKE LOVERS:
Sake Secret is Now Hiring!
Sake Secret is L.A. County’s ONLY Sake Specialty Shop, located in Downtown Long Beach.
Before applying, please read below:

We are looking for *Japanese-bilingual* part-time help 2-4 days a week with the potential for future full-time employment, management, and more!

Generous hourly wages based on knowledge and experience, 100% of tips from Sake Bar service, and free training and fees covered for Sake Sommelier study and certification!

The most important requirement is passion for learning, sharing, and growing Sake knowledge with our expanding community!

If you’re a native English speaker, conversational Japanese language ability is preferred. 日本人なら日常レベルの英語が最低限です。All other languages are a significant bonus! Availability to work nights and weekends preferred.

Application Process: If this sounds like you, please email a one page resume and cover letter to greg@sakesecret.com with “Professional Sake Lover” in the subject line.