Feb 22

JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine (JQ) Interviews JetWit

jetwit1From the 2009 Winter Issue of JQ, the JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine:

JetWit.com:  Taking the JET Alumni Community to Another Level

After spending the last several years growing the JETAA NY Quarterly newsletter into a full-fledged alumni magazine, Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) began focusing his efforts on JetWit.com last fall.  JQ caught up with Steven to learn more and see how he’s doing.


JETAANY Quarterly:  Hey, what is a JetWit, anyway?

It’s just “JET” plus the acronym for “Writers Interpreters and Translators.” I started the WIT e-mail group last May to find more writers for the JET alum publications and also to help freelance translators find more work opportunities. I wanted to create a sort of public face for the WIT group to be able to do these things on a more consistent basis. I also wanted to create an online archive of newsletter articles that editors from other JETAA chapters could easily access and copy and paste for their own chapter newsletters.

JQ:  Then why does JetWit look like an elephant?

[Laughs] I knew I wanted a Japanese-style mascot, so I went to graphic designer and Web developer Zi Mei (Saitama-ken, 2002-05) because I’d seen some of the excellent characters he created on his site (sugarcloud.com). I told him I wanted a cute little furry animal, and he somehow he came back with an elephant that he named A.J. which I love anyway. Read More


Feb 21

From the 2009 Winter Issue of JQ, the JETAA NY quarterly magazine:

A JET Alum’s Experience Makes its Way to the Stage:  JQ Catches Up With Playwright Randall David Cook

By Lyle Sylvander (Yokohama-shi, 2001-02)

Three years ago, the Gotham Stage Company produced the terrific play Sake with the Haiku Geisha by JET alum Randall David Cook (Fukui-ken, 1991-93). The entire evening consisted of five one-act vignettes, all involving cross-cultural conflict among expatriates in Japan. As I noted in my review for JQ at the time, what made the play so successful was its exploration of the psychological issues confronting the main characters.

At first glance, Randall David Cook does not fit the profile of the typical playwright. As a human resources specialist with an international MBA, he was working in a corporate capacity at Newsweek magazine when two random events set him on a play writing course.

“I was dissatisfied with most of the new plays I was seeing at the time,” Cook says in his native South Carolina accent. “I kept insisting that I could do better, and one of my friends set me up on the challenge. At the same time, I was heartbroken over a relationship that had just ended and writing seemed like a good way for me to channel my emotions into a more productive pursuit.” Read More


Feb 19

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/indexohb.cgi?AREA=03

Kinokuniya BookWeb USA Announces New Upgraded Service

Book Web USA has been upgraded and combined into one to serve both West and East Coasts.
*You can now search for a title in all eight US Kinokuniya locations at one time.
*Items which are not currently available through our Web service will receive faster back order delivery response.
*Orders totaling $100 or more will receive free shipping.

For more details please refer to the help function in the Bookweb information section.

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BookWeb U.S.A.リニューアル・オープン
米国紀伊國屋書店BookWebがひとつになってリニューアルしました。
*お探しの本を北米紀伊國屋8店舗の在庫から一発検索
*WEB取り寄せサービスにて在庫の無い商品も素早く入手
*$100以上まとめてご注文いただくと送料無料に

詳しくはヘルプ機能のBookwebご利用案内をご覧ください。


Feb 19

Writing Opportunity: JetWit Japan Society Round-up

JetWit is seeking someone to write a new periodic feature called “Japan Society Round-up.”  The feature will be similar to JETAA Chapter Beat in that it will give a listing of events going on at various Japan Societies around the U.S. (and even elsewhere).

Please send an e-mail to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com if interested.  (This is an upaid gig.  Well, unless you can also find an advertiser for it. :-)


Feb 18

Japan Society (NY) presents KRAZY! (March 13 to June 14) – Reduced ticket price

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KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games

KRAZY! (March 13-June 14) now contains a whopping 200 objects; we’ve reduced the ticket price from $12 to $10 ($8 students/seniors and FREE for children under 16); on the weekends we will hold back-to-back screenings of 7 full-length anime films in our 262-seat theater free to ticket-holders, and patrons will be able to sit and play the featured video games (including a console table Pac-Man) as well as browse hundreds of manga comic book titles.

See the full details below:

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Pac-Man, Paprika, Super Mario, and Afro Samurai: Welcome to New York!

Japan Society Gallery Celebrates the Japanese Art Forms of Anime, Manga, and Video Games in Spring 2009

New York, NY — Once considered the preserve of an insular youth culture, within the last decade Japanese animated cartoons (anime), comics and illustrated narratives (manga), and interactive video games have migrated into the mainstream, with reverberations both high and low. In a first for New York City, Japan Society explores this phenomenon in KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games from March 13 through June 14, 2009. Read More


Feb 17

Job: In-house Counsel (NY)

An in-house counsel job (i.e., NY licensed attorneys only) that pays up to $250K.  Contact Meg Seki Director, Japanese Bilingual Division

Access Staffing 360 Lexington Ave., 8th fl. New York, NY 10017  www.accessstaffing.com

Title: In House Counsel

Required Skills:

  • Licensed Attorney (NY)
  • Experience with a Japanese Company or Japanese Clients.
  • Knowledge of Japanese culture
  • Japanese skills are not required.

Job Description: Read More


Feb 17

JETAA Chapter Beat 2.17.09

Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…010200d012

JETAA Northern California

  • JETAANC vs. Japan Society Victory Cup Tournament! – Saturday, February 21st, 6:30 at Serra Bowl join in the first ever JETAANC vs. Japan Society of Northern California Victory Cup Tournament. The first event is bowling, so sign up and throw some rocks.
  • March Book Club – Miyuki Miyabe’s All She was Worth is the topic of next month’s book club, so start reading and be ready to discuss. Date and time to be announced.
  • Japanese Discussion Group – Saturday, February 21st, 3:00. The topic of this month’s lecture will be Organ Transplant/Brain Death by Yuka Yokota, chairman of the Japan Nursing Student Association. Come listen in and share your thoughts. Location to be announced.
  • East Bay Nomikai Happy Hour! – Thursday, February 19th, 6:00 at Thalassa in Berkeley. It’s the third Thursday of the month and that means it’s time for some fun, drinks and friends.

JETAA Texoma

  • Happy Hour! – Tuesday, February 24th, 6:30 at the Ragin Cajun Restaurant. Don’t miss this night of fun on the bayou! Bring the kids and catch up with old friends.

JETAA New York

  • Japan-A-Mania! – Saturday, February 28th. JETAA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NY and NY de Volunteer is hosting a day of Japanese culture and activities for NYC kids. Help out and share your love of Japan with the kids.
  • Happy Hour – Thursday, February 19th, 6:00 at The Snug. Relax and chat with friends old and new at this month’s happy hour.

JETAA Pacific Northwestjypg-logo-5-copy

  • Japan Young Professional Group Lecture – Tuesday, February 17th. The topic will be “Overcoming Intercultural Challenges to Entrepreneurship” by Dr. Ryo Kubota, President and CEO of Acucela Inc. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion about working in both Japan and the U.S.
  • International Trade Reception – Wednesday, February 25th, 5:30 at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia. Meet Governor Christine Gregoire and members of the state legislature at this year’s International Trade Reception.
  • ZEN: Japanese Film and Lecture Series – February 26th and February 28th at University of Washington and Seattle University(respectively). Come see the story of legendary Zen Master Dogen on screen and join the discussion of his life and the film.

JETAA Canberra

  • JETAA Oceania Logo Competition – JETAA Oceania is looking for logos. Help promote the JET Programme and embrace your creative side. Entries due by March 1st, 2009.
  • Japanese Architecture Lecturetkyo-01Tuesday, February 24th, 5:30 at the James O Fairfax Theatre at the National Gallery of Australia. Paul Noritaka Tange of the Tange Institute is giving a lecture on the work of his father, noted architect Kenzo Tange and his influence on modern Japanese Architecture.
  • O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, February 25th, 5:30 at the Holy Grail in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.

JETAA D.C.

  • Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership(CAPAL) Happy Hour – Wednesday, February 18, 6:00 at Gazuza. Join in and make some professional contacts or just some new friends at CAPAL.
  • Karaoke Night Out – Friday, February 20th, 9:30 at Cafe Japone. Sing and laugh with your friends at JETAA DC.

What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.


Feb 14

NPR’s Studio360 Features Bankruptcy Haiku by Steven Horowitz

Bankruptcy Bill is a cartoon created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall.  To see more strips as well as original bankruptcy haiku, go to bankruptcybill.wordpress.com.

Listen to one of Bankruptcy Bill’s haiku read on the “Haiku-ing It To The Man” feature on NPR’s Studio360.  (Starts with about 1:31 left in the feature.)

Here’s the story lead from the Studio360 website:

Haiku-ing It to the Man

A few weeks ago we asked listeners to submit original haiku inspired by the state of the economy. Dozens poured in: our own unscientific proof that the financial crisis is a boon for creativity. Here are some of our favorites. (http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2009/02/13)


Feb 12

The JetWit Business Model?

“What is the JetWit business model?” some of you may have wondered.

Shoujiki ni itte, JetWit isn’t earning any income as of yet per se at the moment technically speaking (with the exception from a one-time paid ad placed by Interac).

But that doesn’t mean that JetWit doesn’t want to, or can’t, earn any income.  The site and community is certainly providing value in various ways, including helping a number of people to find work opportunities.  It has access to terrific writing and translating talent.  And given that JET alumni chapters are primarily focused on their own regions, JetWit is essentially the only channel for reaching JET alumni (i.e., a targeted audience of educated, Japan-savvy types) all across the U.S. as well as abroad.

With so much going for it, it seems like one would have to be a baka to not have JetWit generating dollars (or yen).  Since that’s exactly the case, however, there is some comfort in realizing that much larger entities struggle with the same issue of trying to earn income while giving away something for free.  At least according to my brother Greg who has over 10 years of online marketing experience.

In his post on The Digitalists titled Free* (or, how to give away the store without giving away the store), Greg comments on Wired editor Chris Anderson’s new book Free and a possible direction the traditional model of content provider-advertiser-consumer may be shifting.

The short post is well worth a read for everyone trying to figure out how to navigate the shifting business world (which I think includes most recent JET returnees as well as numerous alums).


Feb 12

Yes they did!

Japanese TV has never been averse to using blackface, so why stop now?  Especially when presidential magic is involved.


Feb 11

Jobs: 3 Japan-related jobs in Houston area

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Three job listings from an Interesse recruiter via the JETAA Texahoma email list:

1.  Entry level position with a toy company, but requires business level Japanese. It is for a toy company.  Pay is between $30-50K.  You would be training in Japan and then working in either the US or Asia.  If you are interested, please email me your resume and reference this email and job #37209.

2.  I have a 3-4 month contract position near IAH for $10-12/hour. It is entry level. If you are interested in getting your foot in the door in a Japanese company, this might be a good opportunity. Job #37291

3. I have an entry level steel sales position near Memorial Mall. It requires Japanese language skills but that is all. Job #36546. $35-50K Read More


Feb 10

Know a Newsletter Editor: Mark Frey – JETAA Northern California

Mark Frey (Kumamoto-ken, 2002-06) has served as the Newsletter Editor for JETAA Northern California since 2007.  But how did he find himself in this position?  And what else do we know about this man who has been entrusted not only with JETAA NC’s news needs but with with responsibility for a small child as well?  JETAA Chicago’s Elizabeth Friedman (profiled in the previous edition of Know a Newsletter Editor) decided to get to the bottom of things, and this is what she learned.

Residence: Beautiful Lake Merritt neighborhood of Oakland, California

Job: Marketing Manager, MIG, Inc.

What he does all day at work: Write proposals, dream about Japan

How he found his job: Website for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (professional society for my field of work)

Job he would really like to be doing: Teaching!

First job after JET: Marketing Manager, MIG, Inc.

How he ended up as the Newsletter Editor: Was asked at a weak moment after about the 5th kanpai at a JETAA shinnenkai. Read More


Feb 9

Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) is a freelance writer with a focus on food.  You can read more of her writing at TravelingTastebuds.blogspot.com.

For about a year I was holed up in my apartment writing articles I would never allow people to read. I only shared my work in large anonymous or protected forums like writing contests or classes. My work needed to be out there, but I wasn’t ready to stand behind it.

But now it’s time for me to take a step out into public as a writer and I feel like I’m stepping in front of a batting machine. On the first anniversary of my writing career, I am jello soft and unprepared for the inevitable criticism that lies ahead. People are actually reading my blog and I write two regular columns accessible to anyone with internet access. On the web, everything is open for comment and I fear the next snide remark or disagreement with my opinions will break me.

I need some quick advice about building backbone from some of you veterans out there because the balls are flying and I can only bob and weave for so long. To all seasoned writers, bloggers, authors and artists did this happen to you and how did you deal with it?

Help out Devon and other JET alum writers by posting your comments below.  Yoroshiku!


Feb 8

Black Tokyo: Japan’s Part-timers in Full-time Trouble

The blog Black Tokyo picked up on an interesting story from the L.A. times about the state of the job market in Japan.

If you do any work that has any connection to Japan, it’s very much worth keeping track of these trends and trying to think about how they may eventually effect all of us.  Things are shifting and that means problems in the future (or present), but it also means opportunities.


Feb 7

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Just received this announcement/press release from Shannon Jowett, Director of Communications for Japan Society (NY).  Ambassador Sakurai has been very supportive of JETAA, plus he’s a real nice guy, so JetWit is a big fan:

Japan Society is pleased to announce that Ambassador Motoatsu Sakurai will be president effective Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Full details are below.

Ambassador Motoatsu Sakurai Named Japan Society President

Ambassador Sakurai with his wife

Ambassador Sakurai with his wife

First Japanese-born president to head non-profit, non-political organization

New York, NY — February 7, 2009 — Ambassador Motoatsu Sakurai will be the new president of Japan Society. The Society’s Board of Directors announced this morning that the Ambassador assumes his new leadership role April 7, 2009. Ambassador Sakurai is the Consul General of Japan in New York and is the former president of Mitsubishi International Corporation, USA. He will be the first Japanese-born president of Japan Society, now a 102-year old non-profit, non-political organization. Read More


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