WITvid #6: “The Ride”
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WITvid is a periodic series by Peter Weber (Saitama-ken 2004-07), the JET Program Coordinator in San Francisco.
Take a bike “ride” through the holiday streets of Tokyo with JET Alum, CJ Hoppel and his colleague Kevin Jones (joneskc7881). Both are currently working in Tokyo.
This video was made for a holiday party contest, the theme was “what you like about Tokyo.” They won two tickets to Okinawa with their subbmission The Ride.
Introducing the U.S./Japan Creative Artists’ Program
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Calling all artists – whether you’re a photographer, a puppeteer, a budding troubadour or manga comic, The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts can fund a five-month residency in Japan, through their U.S./Japan Creative Artists’ Program. Applications are due February 1st. Read on for more details:
Here’s the press release:
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission works cooperatively with the National Endowment for the Arts to sponsor the U.S/Japan Creative Artists’ Program. The program provides support for up to five outstanding contemporary and traditional artists from the United States to spend a five-month residency in Japan to pursue their individual artistic goals. The next deadline for this program is February 1, 2010.
The U.S/Japan Creative Artists’ Program is extremely competitive; applicants should have regional or national recognition and anticipate a highly rigorous review of their work. Artists should also present compelling reasons for wanting to work in Japan.
Selected artists will receive:
• A monthly stipend for living expenses and a housing supplement, as well as an allowance for professional support services
• Up to $6,000 for round trip transportation for the artist, domestic partner and/or dependent children, and a baggage/storage allowance
• A stipend for pre-departure Japanese language study in the United States
Additional information, including guidelines and the application, can be found at http://www.jusfc.gov/creativeartists.asp.
Job: Sales Associate (Atlanta, GA)
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This job listing comes from MRJapanese, a staffing firm based in Nashville, Tenn. focused on jobs in the States for Japanese companies.
We are in need of a Japanese and English speaking Salesperson who is ambitious, friendly, and outgoing. You will begin as a Sales Assistant, and as you hone your skills, you will have the opportunity to move forward into a full Sales role. Come and be a part of our winning team!
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must be bilingual in Japanese and English – oral and written
• Self-directed and diverse work mentality
• Strong customer service skills and ability to handle concerns in a quick and effective manner
• Any previous Sales experience or proficiency with Accounting software is a plus
• Local/commutable candidates preferred
• Ability to travel for business
HOW TO APPLY: Click here and contact Kiyomi Hamamoto at apply (at) mrjapanese.com
Travel Opportunity: The New Perspectives: Japan
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Shelly Namiki of the Laurasian Institution in Seattle, WA wants to let JET alums know:
We have still have space available for our summer travel program, New Perspectives: Japan. Since JET alumni are familiar with Japan and have experience working with children, we thought this could be a great opportunity for those who are available this summer. There’s more information at www.newperspectivesprogram.org. Contact Shelly with any questions at snamiki [/at/] laurasian [/dot/] org.
Groups: Joshikai San Francisco – A new meet-up for Japanese women and women connected to Japan
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The following is posted at the request of San Francisco-based JET alum Beth Hillman, who has come up with a great idea for a group:
女子力アップ！「女子会サンフランシスコ」決起集会
Are you a Japanese woman or a woman with an interest in Japan? Maybe you just moved here from Tokyo this summer and want to make new friends… Maybe you taught English in Osaka a few years ago and want to revive your rusty Japanese… Whether you are a native Japanese woman or an American (or other nationality) woman with an interest in Japan, Joshikai may be for you!
女子による女子のための女子限定ネットワークイベント「女子会サンフランシスコ」を始動しました。女子同士ならではのよさ、赤裸々な本音トークなどを楽しんで、一緒に女子力アップを目指しませんか？
We are creating a community of Japanese women and women with an interest in Japan, gathering for a monthly meet-up to make friends, share stories and learn from each other. On the second Thursday of each month, we’ll meet at a location that is chic, reasonably priced, and conveniently located (near a BART station and other public transportation) for an evening of drinks and girl talk, where our members can connect and relax over a cocktail. We’ll also have a monthly guest speaker or theme, so that we can share knowledge and empower each other.
You can visit our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199208063212&ref=nf
We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at: @joshikaisf
Meeting: Joshikai San Francisco: The Japan-Connected Women’s Group
Goal: To relax, have a drink and make connections with other women who are Japanese or interested in Japan
Date: Thursday, January 14th (the second Thursday of each month)
Time: 6 pm – 8:30 pm. Come and leave any time — and enjoy happy hour specials for the entire event!
Location: Amber India Restaurant, 25 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, 94103
/www.amber-india.com/SanFrancisco/
日時：１月14日木曜日午後６時-８時半
場所：Amber India Restaurant(ご好意により、イベント中はドリンク&アペタイザーがハッピーアワーの価格です。Tejiさんナマステ！）
WITvid #5: 25 years of “Last Christmas”
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WITvid is a periodic series by Peter Weber (Saitama-ken 2004-07), the JET Program Coordinator in San Francisco.
Although it’s not exactly a Japanese video, the song “Last Christmas” by the group WHAM has become very much a part of the the Japanese Christmas tradition. Celebrating its 25 Year Anniversay, please enjoy the original 1984 video (posted by ClassicXmas) below. You may notice that the video could have easily inspired a few karaoke box videos. Enjoy!
Job: Admin Assistant at Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN (NYC)
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The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (NYC) is looking for an Administrative Assistant in the Social Section to start in mid-January 2010. Japanese language skills is preferred but not required.
Deadline for applications (cover letter and resume) is Friday, 11 December 2009 by 13:00, sent to makiko-hayashi@un-japan.org with “PMJ Administrative Assistant Position” in the subject line. No phone calls.
DUTIES:
- Respond to telephone calls, both incoming and outgoing, with efficiency and professional etiquette
- Assist in logistics/protocol for conferences, meetings, briefings, receptions, and other official functions
- Draft and prepare letters and diplomatic correspondence
- Manage appointment schedules for the section, visiting diplomats and VIPs
- Research and book restaurants, hotels and airlines for reasonable prices and specials
- Receive guests as necessary
- Respond to inquiries
- Assist other officers and staff in the section when needed
Jobs: Sales & Marketing at VIZ Media (SF)
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Recession or otherwise, it seems like nothing is stopping manga from crossing the Pacific into American territory. VIZ Media of San Francisco has seven open positions in their Sales and Marketing division. Owned by three of Japan’s most powerful graphic novel and anime licensing and merchandising companies, VIZ has brought the Naruto, Detective Conan, and Hana-Kimi empires, among others to the United States, the United Kingdom, and more.
Within their sales/product marketing department, they are looking for a Director of Marketing, Magazine Sales & Marketing Associate, Marketing Manager, Retail Development Manager, Online Marketing/Social Media Manager.
They are also looking for Bilingual (Japanese-English) Contracts Administrator and a Billingual Collateral Coordinator.
Although not all jobs require Japanese language skills, interest in manga, anime, and Japanese gaming/entertainment are imperative.
For more specific job description/qualification details and application instructions, please see VIZ Media’s job page here.
Job: Reporter/Research Assistant at Yomiuri Shimbun (NYC)
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Posted by Machiko Yasuda, a senior at UCLA and Friend of JET. She is the Director of New Media at the school’s Daily Bruin newspaper and is open to additional freelance and full-time writing and editing opportunities.
The Yomiuri Shimun bureau in New York City is looking for a full-time reporter/research assistant. The candidate need not speak Japanese, but journalism experience and knowledge of markets/business industry are beneficial.
Join Media Bistro (free) to apply for this job here. Read More
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.
政権交代 (seiken koutai) or “change of government,” was announced to be the winner of Japan’s 2009 Buzzword Award on December 1 (Incidentally, last year the title was won by 「アラフォー」 or “around 40 years old”). This phrase of course refers to the rise to power by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), overturning over 50 years of Liberal Democratic Party rule. Other contenders for the buzzword title were 新型インフルエンザ (shingata influenza) or “new flu” and 草食男子 (soushoku danshi) or “herbivorous men.”
Since the change in administration, Hatoyama has been dealing with 3Ks. However, this is not referring to the typical usage regarding undesirable 3K jobs that are kitsui (difficult), kitanai (dirty) and kiken (dangerous). Hatoyama’s very own 3 K’s are kenkin (contribution), keizai (economics), and kichi (military base).
The first K is in regard to a donation scandal plaguing the new Prime Minister. Prosecutors have traced Read More
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The JET alumni community already has a great reputation for writers such as Bruce Feiler, Roland Kelts and James Kennedy among others. And now we’re starting to make our mark on the world of film as well.
JET alum Aaron Woolfolk‘s film The Harimaya Bridge, starring starring Ben Guillory, Saki Takaoka, Misa Shimizu, and Danny Glover (who is also the Executive Producer), is making its New York debut on Sunday December 6 (with Q&A and cocktail reception to follow) and Sunday December 13 as part of the African Diaspora Film Festival.
(Editor’s Note: I already bought my ticket for the Dec 6 date!)
The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan beginning in June, and the response from audiences and critics was fantastic. (There was also a showing in Los Angeles back in June that a number of JETAA Southern California JET alums attended.)
The film will be showing in New York:
- Sunday, December 6 @ 5:30PM – Thalia Cinema, Symphony Space (95th & Bway) – GALA SCREENING. Followed by a Q&A with director and catered reception
- Sunday, Dec. 13 @ 7:30PM- Thalia Cinema, Symphony Space (95th & Bway)
This looks to be a big event for the JET alum community, so get your tickets now and hope to see you there.
Here’s the trailer for the film:
WITvid #4: Monkey Majik – “Change”
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WITvid is a periodic series by Peter Weber (Saitama-ken 2004-07), the JET Program Coordinator in San Francisco.
Some of you may have heard of the popular band in Japan, Monkey Majik, but did you know the lead singer, Maynard Plant (Aomori, 1997-00) is a Canadian JET Alumni! Here is their song Change with the Yoshida Brothers!
Video: Roland Kelts keynote speech at U of Missouri
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Here are two videos of Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, from a keynote speech he gave at the University of Missouri in St. Louis back in October.
In the first, he talks about the connection between manga and anime and traditional Japanese line-based aesthetics–or what Takashi Murakami now calls “Superflat”:
And in the second video, he discusses the fundamental differences between American visual iconography and Japanese sensibilities, with a reference to Pokemon in America and McDonald’s in Japan:
WIT Life #59: Winter culinary trends
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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.
Believe it or not we will be greeting the new year in about a month, and today’s news took a look at what is being forecast for お正月 (oshougatsu) 2010. Similar to last year, it is expected that in light of the dismal economic climate there will be a tendency toward 巣篭り (sugomori), literally nesting or staying close to home as opposed to going abroad or visiting one’s family. Compared to last year, there has been 30% increased sales of two-person servings of osechi ryouri. According to an osechi salesperson at a department store, this goes along with Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: Strong Yen – Japanese Reactions to their Inflated Currency
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J-News Mini-Roundup 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options.
Background: The Japanese economy has had some bad news in past weeks. The index that measures new housing starts in Japan went down 27.1% in October. The historic news that JAL is lowering their retirement payouts still rocks the news, along with institutions posting historic unbalanced budgets, including JTB and the Bank of Japan.
Usually at the forefront of bad economic news are the effects felt from a strong yen. In an export driven economy with the dollar weakening and the yen strengthening, Japanese exports continue to become more expensive when compared with their competition. The newspapers this morning reported on the yen strengthening and the reactions to it.
Asahi Prime Minister Hatoyama exclaims “We must do something quickly…”
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles
