Event: Third Annual Japan Writers Conference
Career, Events, Networking, Uncategorized, Writers 
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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:
Do you wonder what’s the best way to get your ESL textbook into print and to market? Or how you can have your poem catch an editor’s attention? What’s the best way to get that rough draft novel smoothed out and readable? Why is an abstract such a big deal? How do different translators approach a Japanese text? Or more simply, where are the others who share your interest in the written word?
Possible answers to those and almost any other question one might have about writing, editing, translating, and publishing will be offered up at the Third Annual Japan Writers Conference. This year’s Conference will take place on the weekend of October 17th and 18 on the campus of Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in Kyoto.
More than thirty writers, journalists, editors, translators, film makers and other wordsmiths will offer up their expertise in fifty-minute presentations, filling both days. And what is perhaps most remarkable is the event is completely free and open to all who want to attend. The Conference is a completely volunteer event.
Among those scheduled to present are novelist and children’s book author Holly Thompson, author/anthologist Hillel Wright, columnist Arudou Debito, literary translator Juliet Winters Carpenter, journalist Eric Johnston, article writer John Spiri, and poet Jane Joritz-Nakagawa. Novelist and diplomat Vikas Swarup has also agreed to appear. There are also plans for various writing groups and organizations to hold special meetings to introduce themselves to prospective members. And there will be a gathering for all attendees and presenters at a local restaurant on Saturday evening.
According to Juliet Carpenter, whose school is hosting this year’s conference, the Imadegawa campus of Doshisha Women’s College, across from the Gosho, is “a terrific location, easily accessible. We have a very nice campus that has a brand-new building with state-of-the- art ‘bells and whistles,’ and some beautiful Meiji-era Registered Cultural Property buildings, nicely preserved.”
Although the Conference takes place in Japan and has a decidedly Japanese focus, it will be a predominantly English-language event. It is also an international affair, with presenters from Canada, the US, China, India and other nations. While some of the presenters are Japan residents, others are short-term visitors and will provide a more global perspective on the writing life.
Complete information about the Third Annual Japan Writers Conference can be had at:
Job: HPLC Column Sales (NYC, midtown)
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HPLC Column Sales (Midtown)
A Japanese HPLC column manufacturer seeks a motivated individual to fill their sales position. The main job responsibility is to expand and develop their business in North, Central, and South America by determining and executing detailed sales action plans under the directions of Company’s strategy and Sales/Marketing Manager. This is an entry level position. Read More
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/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.
Big news for expecting parents. Going into effect today in Japan (October 1), child care costs will be borne directly by hospitals. Previously pregnant women would have to pay the one-time delivery/child rearing costs up front and later received 380,000 yen back, but now it will be directly paid by the hospitals at a 40,000 yen increase of 420,000 yen . This was initially proposed in Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: Yen Rises, the Japanese React
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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.
Some of the biggest economic news in Japan, besides the stock and job markets, is always the exchange rate. When the yen gets stronger against the dollar, big Japanese exporters always worry. Their prices become relatively more expensive in other countries, and with that comes a drop in sales.
The newspapers this morning each reported on the reaction to the increase in the yen to 88 yen per dollar. The Asahi focused on this as a headline in their newspaper, where as the Nikkei and Yomiuri decided to list it as second page news.
Asahi It Went Up! Cried Farmers and Factory Workers Alike The Yen, on the morning of the 28th rose to…
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Pacific Northwest JETAA Opportunities Forum and Networking Expo – Oct 17
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Hot off the presses from the Pacific Northwest JETAA yahoogroup:
Dear PNWJETAA Members & Friends of PNWJETAA,
SAVE THE DATE for TRANSITIONS 2009!!! – REGISTER TODAY!!! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th
“TRANSITIONS: PNWJETAA Opportunities Forum & Networking Expo” is BACK!
The Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association in Cooperation with the Consulate-General of Japan at Seattle and local businesses and educational institutions is proud to present it annual fall career and opportunities event! In conjunction with the recent return of JETs, who have just completed their contracts in Japan, PNWJETAA is putting together a great program open to all PNWJETAA Members & Friends of PNWJETAA!
- LOOKING FOR A JOB?
- CONSIDERING A CHANGE IN CAREER PATH?
- INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY?
- SEEKING TO SHARE YOUR SKILLS AND ENERGY FOR A GREAT CAUSE?
- CONSIDERING GRAD SCHOOL?
THEN YOU NEED TO ATTEND: TRANSITIONS 2009: Opportunities Forum & Networking Expo!
ON-LINE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, SO REGISTER HERE: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEpYWE9tajBIUG5PTS1jckd1aVE5OWc6MA
This year’s program will include:
- Opportunities Forum:
o Key note speakers who will address the current job market & grad school options
o Panel (based on needs of those who register, this may break into 2 separate panels) with information & advice for:
§ Getting into the job market
§ Volunteering to serve the community & broaden your social & professional networking circles
§ Strategies on how to use your JET experience when applying to grad school
- Networking Expo – Connect with a variety of organizations including:
o Local Companies
o Educational Institutions
o Community Service Groups
o J-LINK Businesses (J-Link is comprised of companies & organizations owned by or endorsed by PNWJETAA Members)
WHEN – Saturday, October 17th, Noon – 5:30 pm
WHERE – Kirkland, WA
ATTIRE – Dress for Success!
COST – $5 for JET Program Alumni who are registered with PNWJETAA* / $10 for Friends of JETs (FOJs) & Guests
Further event details will be provided to those who register for Transitions 2009.
Thanks to a tweet from Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), I just read the news that Yoshito Usui, the creator of Crayon Shinchan, died after falling off of a cliff. Apparently he was taking photos in Nagano and must have slipped.
Here’s the article: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090922a2.html
This is very sad news. I learned Japanese thanks to Crayon Shinchan. No joke. When I went on JET, I subscribed to Manga-Jin, a now defunct magazine that would do line-by-line explanations of manga. It was studying from an issue of Manga-Jin one day that introduced me to Crayon Shinchan.
I was hooked, and I proceeded to buy ever new Crayon Shinchan book I could find. The relatively simple language combined with use of furigana plus the appealingly crude humor that also inadvertently explained a lot of Japanese social dynamics was exactly what I was seeking in those pre-Internet days of JET.
The news of Usui’s death reminded me that I had a sort of fantasy (long since forgotten) where I would track down Usui-san and thank him and let him know how influential he was in my Japanese language study.
Well, that opportunity no longer exists. But if anyone else wants to share any thoughts or memories about their experience with Crayon Shinchan, feel free to post below.
Job: Bilingual IT specialist (Deerfield, IL)
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Thanks to Bianca Jarvis (CIR Kyoto-shi, 2002-05), the Outreach Coordinator at the Japan Information Center, Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, for passing along this job listing:
Bilingual IT specialist
6 month contract, located in Deerfield, IL. Interviews will be conducted on-site very soon. The rate is in the $20-$25/hr rate.
Requirements:
************ Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: Prime Minister Hatoyama Leaves Japan for the First Time
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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.
In early September Prime Minister Hatoyama and his party the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) won a historic election. For the first time since the second world war, the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) is no longer in power, and the DPJ is now in the driver seat in the Japanese government. How things will change, and what this means for Japanese diplomacy, has yet to be seen.
Prime Minister Hatoyama left Japan with his wife last night for the United States, and for the G20 summit. Each Japanese newspaper reported something different about what policies and goals the Prime Minister would have on his first diplomatic mission.
Asahi “Prime Minister Hatoyama Leaves for the U.S. for his Speech at the G20” The Asahi describes in their first paragraph how the Prime Minister sees this trip to the U.S. as…
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Learning Kanji – Beginner Concepts and Simple Strategies
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The Japanese 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
The most daunting yet fulfilling to learn alphabet in Japanese is Kanji. Kanji literally means “Chinese character,” because literally the alphabet derived from Chinese characters. In English, it’s similar in that the roman alphabet came from Latin, however Japanese Kanji words and Chinese words are actually quite similar. So much so that Japanese speakers can look at a Chinese newspaper or book and get at least a general understanding of what’s going on, I myself could do a job search in Chinese without ever learning how to speak a word of the language. Unlike learning latin however, Kanji is central to the Japanese language and must be learned if a Japanese language learner is to attain any form of reading fluency. This article will touch on some basics of learning Kanji, and hopefully get readers started in the right direction to learn Kanji efficiently.
Before diving into Kanji it’s important that the reader know…
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JetWit knows that a lot of JET alums are interested in working in the fields of international education programs and student services, so we asked future international ed expert Pam Kavalam (Shiga-ken, 2007-09) to talk to some JET alums in the field and share her conversation for the benefit of the JET alumni community:
Spotlight on University Administration
by Pam Kavalam (Shiga-ken, 2007-09)
Are you looking for a career that can utilize some of the skills you learned over in Japan- cross-cultural exchange, working with students, and (for the truly lucky) the offer to travel again? Think about working at a university- either in international exchange or student affairs. I sat down with Shannan Spisak (Kawasaki-shi, 96-98) to talk about her experience from the JET Program to higher education administration.
Tell me about your journey into the field of international education.
Shannan: After I came back from JET, I moved to New York City with a friend and worked at a private Japanese company for 2 years. I decided to switch careers to move into the international arena; the United Nations in particular interested me. I went on a number of informational interviews with fellow former JETs working in the field and they all recommended graduate school. I decided to study Peace Education and International Exchange at Teachers College, Columbia University. In order to finance my education, I took a job working as Assistant to the President of Barnard College while attending classes part-time. During the process of completing my M.A., I realized I had grown more interested in the education component of my degree than its relation to UN work. Consequently, my focus shifted towards seeking a career in international exchange in higher education.
What do you do now?
Shannan: I work at the Institute of International Education (IIE) in the Global Scholarships Division. The IIE is a 90 year-old non-profit organization that runs over 200 programs around the world, including the Fulbright. I manage three international scholarship programs through the GE Foundation and the Chubb Insurance Foundation. I organize the review and selection of applications, notify finalists, award grants, and manage special components of the scholarships such as Leadership Development Seminars and Career Workshops. I also coordinate Read More
Job: Manager of Student Services (Sophia University, Tokyo)
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A great job opportunity for job-seekers currently in Japan:
Position: Manager, Student Services for the CIEE Study Center.
CIEE is looking to hire a Manager, Student Services in our Study Center located at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. This individual is responsible for all general aspects of program operations including: student affairs and support, and general office support. This person will also be responsible for the day-to-day management of the summer program. The Manager, Student Services is responsible for ensuring the highest levels of program quality and customer satisfaction. The position includes but is not limited to the responsibilities described and is subject to change. Read More
Event: Why Haven’t They Called Me? What Happens After You Submit Your Picture Book to a Publisher?
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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:
Why Haven’t They Called Me? What Happens After You Submit your Picture Book to a Publisher
with Kerry Martin, Senior Designer, Clarion Books
Time: Saturday, September 26, 19:00-20:30; portfolio reviews 17:30-18:30
Place: Tokyo Women’s Plaza, Conference Room 2
5-53-67 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
(by the Children’s Castle and United Nations University)
For a map see www.scbwi.jp/map.htm
Fee: SCBWI members 1,000 yen; non-members 1,500 yen
Additional fee for Portfolio Review.
This event will be in English. Japanese interpretation will be available.
Private Portfolio Reviews are available from 17:30 to 18:30. Contact info@scbwi.jp to reserve your ten-minute slot. Portfolio Reviews must be paid for in advance: SCBWI members 3,500 yen; 4,000 yen non-members.
You’ve submitted your book dummy, sketches, or art samples and wonder why the phone isn’t ringing yet. Kerry Martin, Senior Designer at Clarion Books in New York City, will discuss the process of creating a picture book from initial sketch stage to the finished product, including what goes on behind the scenes while you wait for a response. Also discussed will be the dos and don’ts of sending unsolicited art samples. Private portfolio reviews will precede the discussion.
Kerry Martin grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Parsons School of Design, New York City, in 2001. After graduating, she worked at a design studio, a letterpress print shop, and several magazines. She has been designing children’s picture books, novels and nonfiction for young adults with Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in New York, since 2002. She travels to Japan as often as she can to visit her husband’s family in Tokyo and Yokohama.
www.scbwi.jp info@scbwi.jp
Job: Japan in the Schools Coordinator for Japan America Society (Seattle, WA)
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A great job opportunity forwarded to JetWit by by Gail Cetnar Meadows who writes the Japan America Society Round-up posts on JetWit and also serves as the Editor for Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View:
Dear Members & Friends,
We are pleased to share with everyone that the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington has been awarded a grant by the Center for Global Partnership – Japan Foundation, New York in support of our Japan in the Schools Program for the specific purpose of hiring a full-time JIS Program Coordinator for the next two years. A full grant award announcement will be made at a later date.
The reason for this email is to announce the full-time coordinator position and to ask you to forward it to anyone who might be interested in applying. All those who applied for the previously advertised part-time position have been contacted and asked to re-apply if they are interested in this full time position. The part-time position is no longer available. The application period ends September 20.
Thank you for your support and interest in the Society.
Mark Smith
Executive Director, Japan America Society of the State of Washington, 2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98121
http://www.us-japan.org/jassw
Japan in the Schools Coordinator
Job Description
The Japan in the Schools Program Coordinator has direct responsibility for the day-to-day oversight and operation of the program including the following:
• Coordinate and schedule school visits of program volunteers
• Recruit Japanese and American volunteer presenters
• Maintain the volunteer database
• Plan and manage volunteer training workshops in cooperation with experienced volunteers and workshop presenters
• Assist by attending school visits when necessary
• Track the location of program suitcases and maintain inventory of program supplies
• Promote the program to school teachers and public
Read More
Learning Japanese Conversation, as Familiar as Sony
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The Japanese 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
Japan is both a thrilling and exotic, yet familiar culture. When people hear “Japan” they think of a faraway country in the East, with Kimono’s, Anime, and Samurai. Although Japan has these culturally different aspects that make it seem exotic, they also have household names such as Sushi, Nintendo, Toyota, Panasonic, etc. Learning the Japanese language also at first might seem exotic. The grammar structure is actually quite different than English, and learning the characters and vocabulary for conversation also might seem like a daunting task. However once a student acquires some basic grammatical patterns the Japanese language can also become familiar, well almost as familiar as Sony!
Before explaining the basics of Japanese conversation a disclaimer will need to be added to this article. First of all it is not recommended to…
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Job: ESL teachers for Saudi Arabia Universities
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This is via HCC News Today
International Training Consulting Group (ITCG) is seeking qualified faculty candidates who would like to teach college-level courses in English as second language.
ESL teachers are needed for two public Saudi Arabia Universities, King Addul-Aziz University in Jeddah and Tibaah University in Al Madeenah, starting September 26, 2009.
ITCG is seeking 40 Male teachers and 30 Female teachers in Al Madeenah and 40 Female teachers and 35 Male teachers in Jeddah, with great opportunities for spouses. They require U.S. citizens and native English speakers only.
The contract includes 5 to 6 days a week with a maximum of 30 hours and options of earning extra hours in tutoring; furnished accommodation with basic utilities, plus local transportation provided from residence to work and back; and health insurance covered by employer.
ITCG will provide an airline ticket from country of residence to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) at the beginning of the contract, and a return ticket to country of residence at the end of the contract.
This is a twelve month contract with one month holiday included. The KSA entry visa will be provided by employer. The contract is for one year and can be renewed upon the acceptance of both parties. Salary range is negotiable. Saudi Arabia is a tax free country.
Requirements:
1. Bachelor Degree in English or similar with at least 1-3 years of experience or Master Degree.
2. Any of the following Certification courses will be a plus: ESL, TESL, ESOL,
TESOL, EFL, TEFL, CELTA, DELTA.
3. Middle East experience will be a great plus.
Interested candidates are advised to apply with their CV/Resume in MS-Word format and a scanned copy of their academic transcripts and ESL-related certificates.
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Email requested documents and inquiries to: Deanna.Teel@hccs.edu or call 713.718.5873.
