Job: Festival & Exhibition Director at the Center for Asian American Media
Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Job: Festival & Exhibition Director at the Center for Asian American Media
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) , the organization behind the SF International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), is looking for a festival & exhibition director to lead its public programs and film festival.
The ideal candidate is an experienced manager and programmer who has a vision for Asian American media, is highly motivated and resourceful, and brings a sense of creativity and adaptability. The position requires strong management, oral and written communications skills, as well as a breadth of knowledge and experience in film, video, or media arts, exhibitions, live events, or other public engagement programs. The Festival & Exhibitions Director is part of CAAM’s program team and a larger management team for the organization.
- Duties:
- Create artistic and overall vision and plan for year-round programming
- Work with Director of Programs on vision and goals for SFIAAFF
- Hire, train, and supervise department and specific Festival seasonal staff
- Hire & supervise program curators as needed
- Develop and manage department budget
- Event scheduling and program slotting
- Cultivate and maintain effective filmmaker & distributor relations
- Manage venue and partner organization relations and contract process
- Develop relationships with key film festivals & film industry contacts
- Contribute to development of annual Festival marketing & website plan
- Work with Development & Communications Director and Publicist to generate key press messaging and releases
- Work with Development & Communications Director to identify, solicit, and maintain sponsors for SFIAAFF and other events
Desired Qualifications:
- Demonstrated success in arts programming
- At least five years of experience in management within a non-profit or event production setting
- Strong vision and strategic thinking as well as a commitment to continuous improvement
- Notable communication ability particularly in public presentations and written communications
- Excellent organizational and project management skills
- Flexible to change and resourceful in meeting challenges
- Ability to lead and thrive in fast-paced environments, managing multiple personnel and projects
- Strong managerial skills, particularly in supervision and building effective teams
- Ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with media makers, supporters, industry representatives, and funders.
- Capacity to take initiative, build consensus and to work effectively cross-departmentally
- Deep understanding of Asian American communities and media arts field
- Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience. The position is full-time, exempt, salaried, and includes excellent benefits.
Position open until filled. First round interviews to begin mid-April. Early applications encouraged.
To apply, please send résumé, cover letter, and salary history to:
Festival & Exhibitions Director Hire
Center for Asian American Media
145 Ninth Street, Suite 350
San Francisco, CA 94103-2641
Or by email: karyin [at] asianamericanmedia [dot] org
My wonderful wife Wynne Wu passed away on April 23, 2010 after living with metastatic breast cancer for 4 years. As a result I have not been actively managing the JetWit site recently and not consistently responding to emails (though I have been forwarding job listings I’ve received on to Machiko Yasuda who has been posting them). Additionally, other JetWit contributors have been extremely helpful in keeping the site going, and for that I am greatly appreciative.
For more information about Wynne you can read her blog, which I’ve been updating, at http://wenren.wordpress.com.
-Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)
Attention Portland JETS — It’s time for Iron Chef
Uncategorized Comments Off on Attention Portland JETS — It’s time for Iron Chef
The Portland JETAA Chapter has invited us to join in their annual Iron Chef Competition!
Date: Saturday, May 15th
Time: 4pm to 8pm-ish
Location: Portland!
The Iron Chef event is a potluck event to enjoy cooking and eating Japanese food. Everyone brings Japanese food they prepared at home to compete in 3 categories: side dish, main dish, and dessert. Three judges will taste each of the dishes and then pick the best dish and runner up in each category.
This year Portland has added a Seattle vs. Portland category. We will pick one person to represent us and make a dish using this year’s ingredient, Sensei Sauce . The owner of Sensei Sauce will actually be coming by to judge our part of the competition!
Some people are planning to go just for the 15th, but others may stay overnight on Saturday. If any of you would like to stay over but don’t have somewhere to stay, let us know. Portland has generously offered to ask their members to host us.
The 15th is coming up soon!
So please email social@pnwjetaa.org ASAP if you are interested in coming.
The RSVP deadline is next Wednesday, May 12th. We are going to limit our group size to 20 people, so spots will be first come, first served.
We’re really excited about the competition and hope many of you will come too!
Interview with Author Bruce Feiler
Uncategorized Comments Off on Interview with Author Bruce Feiler
JQ Magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) spoke with JET alum and Learning to Bow author Bruce Feiler (Tochigi-ken, 1987-88), who will be appearing tonight at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side to promote his new book The Council of Dads. (Visit Examiner.com for complete details.) The full-length interview will appear in the next issue of JQ, out later this month.
What made you want to write Learning to Bow?
It kind of grew out of a series of letters I wrote home of the “you’re not gonna believe what happened to me” variety. And when I went back to Savannah six months later, everywhere I went, people said, “I just loved your letters,” and I said, “Have we met?” It turned out that my grandmother had copied them, and they got passed from person to person—they went viral in the 1980s, if that’s the word—and I thought, wow, if that’s interesting to me and to these other people, I should write a book about it. It really was the sense that this story from this point of view wasn’t being told. In the 1980s, you couldn’t pick up a newspaper without reading an article about Japan or education, and the fact that here was a book that combined both, but had some sense of humor, I just think it was the right book at the right time, and I’m amazed and touched that, so many years later, for a lot of people, it’s the first book they read when they go to Japan…This was before the Internet, before e-mail, before blogs. The world seemed much bigger than it is today.
Have you returned to Japan since your time there as a teacher?
That’s a really good question, and the answer is no. I’ve kind of been to every place around it, but I’ve never been back to Japan. I keep looking for the right assignment, because I really want to go back and kind of write something, but I haven’t been back.
What kind of outlook did you take back home with you from your time in Japan?
People go to Japan today and they call me up, which still happens from time to time. I say the same thing that I’ve said for decades now, which is: don’t go over to Japan trying to change it, thinking that you know better. Go there trying to understand. I think that that essential way of experiencing another culture is by not going in as a sort of a haughty Westerner, looking down on it, but actually jumping into the deep end, completely immersed in yourself, befriending the people, and opening yourself up to the culture. That way of living is the thing that I would take from my experience, and pass on to my daughters today.
Have you thought about writing another book about Japan?
Sure, I would like in my life to go back and revisit that. I mean, we’re coming up on 25 years since I was living and working in Tochigi, and I would love the opportunity to go back, walk those streets, seek out friends, maybe some of those students, and use that as a prism to talk about how Japan has changed in the last quarter-century. I think that would be a great privilege, and if anybody reading this wants to send me on assignment, I’m ready to accept.
What was your best and worst memory of Japan?
I’d say my best memory was climbing Mt. Fuji, and the worst memory was…trying to fit my feet into the free giveaway slippers at Japanese schools.
Yeah, those are tough.
[Laughs] I haven’t thought about that in a long time.
JQ Magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) sums up the weekend-long annual event in Brooklyn. Originally published for Examiner.com.
“Today is a perfect kickoff for the historic months to come,” said New York’s Ambassador and Consul General of Japan Shinichi Nishimiya at the top of the 29th annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden held the weekend of May 1 and 2. The historic months the ambassador referred to reach back 150 years, when a samurai envoy marched down Broadway in 1860 as part of the first Japanese diplomatic mission to the U.S. and Japan, which will be reenacted in June to celebrate the occasion.
For Japanese, springtime means hanami, a custom associated with enjoying the beauty of sakura (cherry blossoms), typically as part of an outdoor party in flower-viewing spots across Japan. While BBG’s sakura were already past their peak bloom before the event due to unseasonably warm weather, tens of thousands of people were still expected to attend over the weekend, according to Kate Blumm, BBG’s communications manager.
The dozens of performances, cultural exhibitions, art displays, and foods on tap at Sakura Matsuri—not to mention the brilliantly sunny weather—more than compensated for the lack of pink on the trees. After remarks from other speakers including Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, New York’s own Soh Daiko taiko drum ensemble hit the Cherry Esplanade Stage for a surging performance, followed later by classical and Okinawan dance, a martial arts demonstration by World Seido Karate, and a samurai drama representing the more traditional facets of Japan.
But Sakura Matsuri sported more than just time-honored acts. “We’ve ramped up the anime, J-pop, and manga sort of things,” said Blumm, noting that organizers have “been drawing a completely new crowd since we started J-Lounge. It’s been a big hit.” Located in BBG’s Osborne Garden, J-Lounge became a Mecca for young people with an interest in more contemporary Japanese pop culture. In addition to its manga and anime artist alley, other showcases included anime stand-up comedy, music and dance performances, and a guest appearance by Pokémon voice actress Veronica Taylor, who gave voice to characters created by Brooklyn-based graphic novel artist Misato Rocks!
“For me, it’s all about the contrasts,” explained Blumm, observing Sakura Matsuri’s blend of old and new. “Being immersed in a spectrum of cultural elements, the patrons become part of the festivities.” The most obvious example of this was the multitude of visitors engaging in cosplay, or costume play, a performance art of dressing in elaborate costumes (typically designed by the cosplayer) inspired by characters in Japanese popular fiction.
Cosplay began in Japan, but now enjoys a devoted following among young Americans, usually at anime and comic book conventions. The fact that more cosplayers have been popping up at Japan-themed gatherings like Sakura Matsuri was not lost on BBG: some of J-Lounge’s top attractions included “high tea” for lady cosplayers, a performance by artist/singer Mario Bueno, and the “Iron Cosplay” competition.
“We do this about two to three times a year,” said attendee Michelle Kwon, who with her two friends resembled characters from the anime and manga series Lucky Star, about a group of pastel-haired schoolgirls. “It’s great being able to recognize other characters that we like from animation. We’ve taken probably hundreds of pictures today.”
Some cosplayers were able to draw crowds of their own based on their costumes. Attendee Ferdinand Garcia and his three friends went as a Naruto-inspired ninja warrior clan, and received an unusual photo request from a patron: “We posed for a lady from Albania who was carrying this fish around with her,” Garcia said. “She wanted to take pictures of this fish in all these different places.”
Some criticized the cultural mash-up, Attendee Natsumi Onodera from Tokyo said the event was “not traditional, so I’m afraid non-Japanese people might misunderstand the culture.” Her friend Sachie Hayashida from Fukuoka was blunter: “There’s no Japanese people here,” she said. Both of them are currently studying abroad in New York, and were invited to Sakura Matsuri by one of the performers.
Brooklyn resident Kate Russell, a first-time visitor, enjoyed the variety between kimono and cosplay.
“It was great. I liked the classic cultural events and ceremonies, but also the modern, like seeing all the characters,” she said. “I will come again next year, because I want to see the cherry blossoms.”
For a full schedule and list of performers and events, visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s website.
Job: Various positions at a tech company in Maryland
Uncategorized Comments Off on Job: Various positions at a tech company in Maryland
Sales/Marketing Specialist – for an international bio-chemistry technology company in Rockville, MD ($40K-45K).
DUTIES:
Taking orders
explaining the purpose of specific bio-chem product to clients
visit and communicate with clients in both English and Japanese
go on business trips to Europe and Asia.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Fluent English
Excellent Japanese
good communication skill, chemistry or biology related BS degree
working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NEEDED.
Strategic Policy Manager – for a major Japanese energy-related company in Arlington, VA ($80K ~ ).
Duties: Responsible for company’s future direction and management as a team.
Req:
MBA degree
fluent in English,
business level Japanese
business experience in Japan or with Japanese company
more than 10 years of experience in management and policy making
familiarity with strategies for an international company to grow in the US.
HR Operations/ Employee Relations Specialist – for a major Japanese
energy-related company in Arlington, VA ($50K ~ ). Duties: Responsible
for creating, modifying and implementing company’s HR policies and
regulations. Responsible for international employee relation. Req: HR
degree or certifications, fluent in English, business level Japanese,
business experience in Japan or with Japanese company, more than 5 years
of experience in the field, and familiarity with federal and state (VA)
regulation is a MUST.
Project Manager – for a major Japanese energy-related company in Arlington, VA ($50K ~ ).
Duties: Responsible for managing full lifecycle of various projects.
Responsible for analyyzing costing result errors.
Req: BA or MBA in Business, fluent in English, business level Japanese, business experience in Japan or with Japanese company, more
than 5 years of experience in the field.
Translator– for a major Japanese energy-related company in Arlington, VA
($33K-$37K).
Duties: technical translation, general office work, and soon
Req: must be Japanese/English Bilingual
Office Administrator – for a major Japanese energy-related company in
Arlington, VA ($33k-$35K)
Duties: general office work, some translation work
Req: business level Japanese is a must
Interested in these or other Japan related job openings? Contact Interesse International at dc@ iiicareer.com or call us at 571-384-7117! There’s more on our website as well: www.iiicareer. com
Call for volunteer interpreters for atomic bomb survivors
Uncategorized Comments Off on Call for volunteer interpreters for atomic bomb survivors
My friend Yumi needs some volunteer interpreters for candle vigil events to be held this weekend for a group of visiting atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha). They have been brought here to share their experiences with NYC high school students. She said it would be less interpreting and more like assisting, and ideally she hopes to have one volunteer per hibakusha at the following events:
Time: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm (could be early but definitely we need early on)
Need: 5 people
To learn more about this wonderful annual project, go to: http://hibakushastories.org/. To offer your services, please contact Yumi below:
YUMI TANAKA （タナカ有美）
917-692-2210
yumicomic@gmail.com
SCBWI Tokyo Translation Day 2010: Bringing Japanese Children’s Books to the World
Uncategorized Comments Off on SCBWI Tokyo Translation Day 2010: Bringing Japanese Children’s Books to the World
Author Suzanne Kamata (Tokushima-ken, 1988-90) who also serves as the Publicity Assistant for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, shared the following:
“A day of presentations, critiques, and conversation for published and pre-published translators of Japanese children’s literature (picture books through young adult) into English.”
Date: June 12, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Place: Yokohama International School, 2F Pauli Bldg
Fee: Advance Registration 3,000 yen SCBWI and SWET members; 4,000 yen non-members. At the door 4,000 yen SCBWI and SWET members; 5,000 yen non-members.
For details, see: www.scbwi.jp
Includes:
– “Once upon a Picture Book Translation,” with Arthur Binard, translator and author
– “The Making of the Moribito Books, Young Adult Fantasy Novels in Translation,” with Cathy Hirano, translator, and Cheryl Klein, senior editor at Arthur A. Levine Books
– “Paths to Publication of Japanese Children’s Books in English Translation,” with Binard, Hirano, Klein, and expert representatives from Japanese publishing: Akiko Beppu, Editorial Director, Kaisei-sha Publishing Company; Rei Uemura, Chief Editor of Children’s Books, Tokuma Shoten; and Yurika Yoshida, President and CEO of Japan Foreign Rights Centre.
Plus a workshop led by Cathy Hirano:
“Translation of Japanese Children’s Books in Three Age Categories”
Advance registrations and translations of short texts for the workshop must be received by Saturday, May 15, 2010. To register and request workshop texts, send an email to info@scbwi.jp
This event will be in English. Complete event announcement online:
www.scbwi.jp/events.htm#td
K-DOC: Korean Classes in New York City
Uncategorized Comments Off on K-DOC: Korean Classes in New York City
Korean Classes Online are recurring features 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 Japanese, Chinese, and Korean language learning options.
Korean Class listing can be found at: Korean Classes NYC OR Korean Classes Online OR Korean Classes LA
Congratulations on choosing to learn the Korean language! In New York City, there’s a variety of Korean classes offered from a variety of institutions. This article tries to address the right way to choose your Korean class, along with the advantages of learning Korean over some competing languages.
First of all, why learn Korean? There is a much smaller percentage of people that speak Korean than say Japanese or Chinese. Also, isn’t Korean a difficult language to learn?
The Korean language, first of all, has by far an easier alphabet to learn than…
Temporary Gig: Full-Time Translation for Convention Linkage (Oita, Japan)
Uncategorized Comments Off on Temporary Gig: Full-Time Translation for Convention Linkage (Oita, Japan)
Convention Linkage is looking for a full-time translator from May 1st to March 31st, 2010 in Beppu, Oita. The translator would work 5 times a week, normal work hours in the Beppu International Convention Center for that 11 month period.
Employer: Convention Linkage
Period: Temporary Position from May 1st 2010 to March 31st 2011
ROLES: Helping with operations of, and translations for the following-
1. APEC Growth Strategy High Level Roundtable
2. Football Conference Event
3. B-Con Plaza Administration
4. B-Con Plaza Facilities Management
5. B-Con Plaza Operations
6. International and National Conferences
Salary: 1000yen/ hour
(For monthly calculation:
1000yen x 8hours x approx. 20.5days= APROX. 164,000yen)
Transportation Fees: Up to 10,000yen
Insurance: Enrollment in Social Insurance and Pension Plan
QUALIFICATIONS：
- Japanese and foreign language proficiency
- computer skills
HOW TO APPLY:
http://www.oitaroudoukyoku.go.jp/contents.php?id=200867
Read More
Job:Office Manager/Administrative Assistant at U.S.-Japan Council – Washington, DC
Jobs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Job:Office Manager/Administrative Assistant at U.S.-Japan Council – Washington, DC
USJC Office Manager/Administrative Assistant – Washington, DC
ROLES:
The Office Manager/Administrative Assistant will be an integral part of a small staff team in a new nonprofit membership organization focused on U.S.-Japan relations. The position will have primary responsibility for Council office administrative operations including bookkeeping, office management, organizational support for the President and Board members and some program support. The position requires an individual who is flexible, able to multi-task and prioritize, proactive, well-organized, able to plan and meet deadlines and comfortable working independently and as part of a team. The duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Administrative: approximately 80%
- Office Management & Administrative Support:
- Maintain office calendar, schedule conference calls and Board and Committee meetings, provide scheduling and logistical support as needed for Council events.
- Screen calls and email inquiries, including fielding and responding to general information requests.
- Order supplies, and manage IT and other office equipment. Liaison with office vendors.
- Filing: Establish and maintain filing system for vendor billing accounts, funder reports and records and office administration. Organize and maintain office filing system (electronic and hard copy).
- Assist in ensuring Council’s compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Help maintain relevant permits, licenses and certifications.
- Assist with travel arrangements and handle other logistical matters as requested.
- As needed, draft correspondence and other documents.
- Help recruit and supervise interns.
- Provide some Board and Member-related support
- Accounting:
- Accounting: Enter vender billing and prepare checks; enter bank deposit information using QuickBooks system. Track spending, pay bills.
- Payroll: Maintain filing system of records of employee time sheets.
- Database:
- Responsible for maintaining funder database, providing support for fundraising (data entry and assisting with bulk mailing) and grant preparation activities, as required. Coordinate with LA-based Program Director on data entry and maintenance of membership lists.
- Programs: approximately 20%
- Assist with programs and events.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Applicants with an interest in U.S.-Japan and Asia relations and Japanese language ability (written, oral) are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Experience working with nonprofit organizations is helpful
- familiarity with QuickBooks (non-profit edition preferred), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and Salesforce.com and other databases, payroll (Paychex), budget, filing and office organizing systems.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to hr@usjapancouncil.org
This job posting came from Idealist.
Any JET alums working in International Development?
Uncategorized Comments Off on Any JET alums working in International Development?
I’m looking for JET alumni who have experience in the field of international development.
Please contact me at sboegema [at] gmail.com to let me know:
-Where you work and what you do
-If you have time to be interviewed for a JetWit series on careers in international development
-If you’d be willing to be contacted by fellow alums seeking career advice and perspective on the international development scene
Thanks a bunch!
Stephanie Boegeman
(Akita-ken, 2006-09)
Event: 女子会3月会! Next Joshikai SF, Thurs, Apr 8 — A meetup for Japanese women and women connected to Japan (San Francisco)
Uncategorized Comments Off on Event: 女子会3月会! Next Joshikai SF, Thurs, Apr 8 — A meetup for Japanese women and women connected to Japan (San Francisco)
Here’s an invitation to the next San Francisco Joshikai: a regular bilingual meet up for the Japanese & Japanese-connected women of San Francisco, organized by JET alum Beth Hillman.
The next Joshikai event: Thursday, April 8
For the next Joshikai gathering, we’ll meet again for an evening of networking and girl talk at Postrio, a unique and stylish downtown bar. (We had a great time there this month, so we decided to keep the same location!) Mingle, chat and share stories with other women in English and / or Japanese. Any skill level of Japanese is welcome, and this will be a great opportunity to practice your Japanese and connect with women who have similar interests. They’ve extended the happy hour for us until 7 pm; specials include cocktails, beers and wine, as well as yakitori, pork belly and other bar appetizers — all starting at $4! We’ve reserved the mezzanine lounge area, so we’ll have a comfortable place to relax. Feel free to join us whenever is convenient, and bring friends!
女子会の皆 さん、
3月の会合にもたくさんの方々に来ていただきました。ありがとうございました！特に、今回の会合場所であるPrescott Hotel内Postrioは、落ち着いた雰囲気と美味しいカクテルが大好評でした。マネージャーのJunさんのご厚意でホテルツアーまでしていただきま した。Junさん貴重なお時間とおもてなし。ありがとうございました。
あんまりにもイイ感じ♪♪でしたので、次回の会合もPostrio のMezzanine Loungeで行います。お友達も誘ってどしどしお越し下さい。今回もHappy Hourが7時まで延長です！
今 回も特にゲストスピーカーの方はいませんが、ちょっとした自己紹介タイムを設けようかなとも思ってます。これやってみたい！これがお勧め！とかあれば教え てください。みんなでリラックスしながらおしゃべり、情報交換、ネットワークに花を咲かせましょう！（やっぱり今回も男子禁制です。）
Date: 4/8, Thursday
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm (With happy hour prices until 7 pm! Please come and leave at whatever time works best for you!)
Location: Postrio, 545 Post Street (on Post between Mason and Taylor, just 5 blocks from Powell BART), (415) 776-7825
http://www.postrio.com/
http://www.mychoyce.com/postrio/search
No need to RSVP, but feel free to send any questions or comments to Beth and Nobuko at joshikai.sf [at] gmail.com.
We’re also on Twitter (http://twitter.com/joshikaisf)!
Tom Baker covers the Tokyo anime fair
Uncategorized Comments Off on Tom Baker covers the Tokyo anime fair
Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. He usually writes for DYWeekend, the paper’s arts and leisure section. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
His most recent article covers last week’s Tokyo International Anime Fair, where 3-D technology was a major theme this year. Here is an excerpt:
Put on your glasses, and you’ll see better. Turn on your glasses, and you won’t believe your eyes. At the Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) 2010, held March 25-28 at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center in Koto Ward, 3-D effects were popping up all over the place. Some effects were simply good, and others were mind-blowing.
Plenty of people got to see for themselves, as total attendance was 132,492 over the four days, an increase of 2 percent over last year’s figure…
Read the rest of the article here.
WIT Life #84: 国勢調査
Anecdote Article, Article/Journalism, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life Comments Off on WIT Life #84: 国勢調査
**********************************************************************
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.
We are rapidly coming up on the deadline for the 国勢調査 (kokusei chousa) or national census, so I hope everyone has already filled in and returned their forms. Every morning during the Japanese news there are advertisements running in Japanese advocating participation in the census as one’s civic duty. Also, I have come across some interesting Japanese language print ads that I would like to share.
The one on the right shows Read More
