By Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)

Just wanted to share that I had a really terrific dinner the other night at Kajitsu (www.kajitsunyc.com), a new and very unique Japanese restaurant on E. 9th Street in NYC, thanks to professional translator Jamie Graves (Saitama-ken, 2002-03) who not only waits tables in the intimate establishment but also translates the menu and other texts for Kajitsu and interprets for important clients.

Kajitu's Chef Masato Nishihara

Jamie, who specializes in translations relating to food and cooking, explained to me a few months ago at a JETAA NY gathering that he was working at a restaurant that specializes in shojin cuisine, which as a non-foodie I can best describe as a sort of high-end, vegan kaiseki.  The chef, Masato Nishihara,  had worked at Kitcho, a very prestigious kaiseki cuisine restaurant in Kyoto before coming to New York to open Kajitsu.

I can’t remember exactly what I ate, but each course did really blow me away in terms of both flavors and creativity.  Plus the soba dipping noodles may be the best in NYC.  The menu changes every month, so apparently a number of regulars come back each month to sample the new menu.

The fare is not inexpensive.  But it’s well worth it if you have a special occasion to celebrate (which I did!)  Especially if you get a seat at the counter where you can watch Chef Nishihara prepare each course right front of you, including his zen-like tea ceremony approach to making the macha at the end of the meal.  (According to Jamie, all chefs at Kitcho must study tea ceremony.)

From the March "Spring" menu: Clear Soup with Sticky Rice Ball Mugwort, Rice Crackers.

Here’s a little additional background on Kajitsu from it’s website:

Kajitsu – “Fine Day”
Kajitsu means “fine day”, or “day of celebration” in Japanese. We have chosen the name Kajitsu hoping that a visit here will always be a special occasion for our guests.

Shojin Cuisine
Shojin cuisine refers to a type of vegetarian cooking that originates in Zen Buddhism. Even though it does not use meat or fish, shojin is regarded as the foundation of all Japanese cuisine, especially kaiseki, the Japanese version of haute cuisine.

If you decide you have your own special occasion, make sure to say hi to Jamie and ask him all of your questions about the restaurant and the food.  There’s lots to tell and lots to learn.

Kajitsu (www.kajitsunyc.com) is on E. 9th St between 1st Ave & Avenue A in New York City.

The February 2010 edition of JapanInfo is now available online.  JapanInfo is published by the Consulate General of Japan in New York/Japan Information Center and is a great source of info for Japan-related things going on in New York and the surrounding area.

Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community for another edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.

JETAA Hawaii

• Honolulu Festival Volunteers Needed – The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii is looking for volunteers for the 16th Annual Honolulu Festival on Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14th at the Hawaii Convention Center. The JCCH Booth will feature Make-n-Take Hachimaki, a gift shop and a membership information table.
• Awa Odori Dance Festival at UH Manoa – Monday, March 15th, 10:30 to 11:45 at the UH Manoa’s Campus Center Grand Ballroom. Check out this wonderful dance festival as it comes to Hawaii.
• Kujira Hike – Sunday, March 21st, 9:30 at Kujira. Enjoy the sun with a “Let’s Enjoying Kujira” Hike, followed by lunch at Kona Brewing Co. in Koko Marina Center.

JETAA Western Australia

• Annual General Meeting(AGM) – Friday, March 12th, 6:00 at Bar 138. Take a look back on the events of the year and look forward to what is ahead for JETAAWA at this year’s AGM.
• Quiz Night – Tuesday, March 30th, 6:30 at UWA Tavern. Win prizes and make new friends as you test your knowledge at this year’s Quiz Night.
• Kaiwa – Thursday, March 11th, 5:30 at 43 Below. Practice Japanese with old friends and some tasty snacks.

JETAA Northern California

• East Bay Nomikai Happy Hour – Thursday, March 18th, 6:00 at the Trappist. This week’s event will have samples of over 25 rotating taps and over 160 bottles of Belgian and other specialty brews, so don’t miss it.
• Joshikai – Thursday, March 18th, 6:00 at Postrio. The next meeting of Joshikai, for women with an interest in Japan, will be a fun networking and girl talk event, with a chance to practice some Japanese as well.
• Book Club Date Change – Thursday, March 25th at 6:30. Book Club has been pushed back one week, so mark your calendars.
• Kabuki Club – Saturday, March 27th, 2:00 at the Rockridge Library in Oakland. JETAANC is forming a new Kabuki Club and the first meeting is in two weeks, so check it out if you’re interested in Kabuki theater or just want to try something new.

JETAA D.C.

• J-Lunch – Friday, March 12th, 12:00 at Thai Kingdom. Come share your love of Japan over lunch with others in the DC area.
• 2010 JETAADC Rally Scavenger Hunt – Saturday, March 20th, 1:00 at Shaw/Howard University Metro Station. Join JET alumni and friends for this year’s scavenger hunt rally around DC. Prizes and the title Rally Champion are up for grabs, so don’t miss out.
• Nihongo Dake Happy Hour – Tuesday, March 23, 6:00 at Cafe Citron. Practice your Japanese and have a fun night out with the gang at JETAADC.
• 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival Volunteers Needed – The National Building Museum is looking for JET alumni volunteers to help with the yukata dress-up station at the Cherry Blossom Festival’s Opening Day Kickoff on Saturday, March 27th.

JETAA Chicago

• Wisconsin Subchapter 4th Quarter Meeting – Friday, March 12th, 6:00 at Perkins Restaurant.
• Yakiniku White Day – Sunday, March 14th, 6:00 at San Soo Gab San. Celebrate the Japanese holiday of White Day with yakiniku.

JETAA Texoma

• Ikebana Workshop – Saturday, March 20th, 1:00 at the Tachibana School in Houston. Mrs. Laverl Daily of the Tachibana School of Ikebana will be sharing her experience and knowledge of Japanese flower arrangement.

JETAA Southern California

• Shunbun Hike – Sunday, March 21st, 11:00 to 1:00 at the Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary. Celebrate the Spring Equinox with an enjoyable hike through the Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary. Be sure to bring water and sunscreen and lunch if you want to picnic afterwards.
• Scavenger Hunt – Saturday, March 13th, 3:00 at Oiwake Restaurant. Join JETAASC’s annual scavenger hunt around Los Angeles, followed by dinner in little Tokyo at 6:00.
• Superbowl Hike Rescheduled – Sunday, March 14th, 9:30 to 1:00 at the Greek Theatre.

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

There is a bit of a controversy brewing over implementation of one aspect of the DPJ’s Manifesto.  This is the proposal of free tuition for high schools currently being debated in the Diet.  Students have to pay to attend high school as Japanese education is only compulsory through junior high.  The question here is whether North Korean schools in Japan (of which there are 10 and where about 2,000 students of both North Korean and South Korean nationality are enrolled) should be similarly subsidized considering that Japan imposes economic sanctions on North Korea and in light of the yet unresolved abduction issue.

PM Hatoyama is waffling on this issue, with him initially making a statement favoring their exclusion but lately saying the government was undecided.  He declared there is a need to set solid criteria to determine if the schools offer curricula equivalent to those at Japanese schools.  New Komeito and other political parties have supported including them as part of the proposal, on the basis that diplomatic concerns should not interfere with children’s education.  An editorial in today’s Mainichi Daily News argues that: “These students, born and raised in Japan, have been and will be members of Japanese society.  The free tuition measures, as with the child allowance program, are based on the principle that society as a whole should bring up children.”  Stay tuned to see how these political pressures play out

In other Japanese news, Forbes just released its annual list of world-wide billionaires, and this year 22 Japanese made the list, 5 more than last year.  The highest ranking one was #76 Tadashi Yanai, whose wealth was estimated at 680 billion yen or 6 billion dollars.   He is the 60-year old founder and president of Fast Retailing, of which Uniqlo is a subsidiary.  Japan is said to have 30% less billionaires than last year, faring slightly better than their neighbor South Korea who lost 2/3 of theirs.

Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options.  Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com.  She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com

Dear Dr. Muse:

I feel conflicted about what I should do about my job and what the right career option is.  J.D. in D.C.

Dear J.D.:      
The word “should” always signals to me that some inner dialogue may be preventing you from doing or determining what you really want. The following exercise assists you with figuring out what you are tolerating in your life, why, and how to eliminate some situations that may be draining you. This may give you some free time to spend on more peaceful projects.
 
Day 1: Schedule about 15 distraction-free minutes with a pen and some paper.  Take a few pieces of paper and fold them in half. 

a/     On top of the lefthand colum of one piece of paper, write: I Should….
Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and then write every and any thought that pops into your head answering that question.  Do not think into the answer, just write the thought.
 
b/     On another piece of paper, on the top of the lefthand column write: I want…
Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and then write every and any thought that pops into your head answering that question.  Do not think into the answer, just write the thought.

c/     Now, repeat this exercise on another sheet of paper and write on the top of the lefthand column: I am Tolerating…..
 
 Set these pages aside for another day to analyze.

Day 2 : The next part of this exercise will take some time to analyze your lists.  For the “shoulds” list, over the next few weeks, you are going to evaluate three at a time on this list.  Take some time to answer the following questions for each should:
         
*why is this a should?
*who says I should do this?
*what would happen if I did not do it?
*who would I be without this should on my list?
*what would I rather do instead?
On a blank piece of paper write out three restatements for your “Shoulds” that assert what you would rather have.  For example, rather than ‘I should be a lawyer,’ you may decide to write, ‘I prefer work where I am creative,” or “I am an opera singer.”  Write something that affirms what you want.
 
As for toleartions, do the same thing. Pick three on your list each week and ask yourself why you are tolerating this and what would your life look like if you did not tolerate it anymore.  Then, on a separate piece of paper, rewrite the toleration to be something you do want.
 
Finally, the “I want” column is for you to keep in your journal or bookmark.  Every few months, refer to this list to assess whether your wants have changed, or to inspire you on a course of action to take to get you closer to what you want.  What you think you want today and what you start to create later may surprise you!
 
As you can see from these columns, career choices overlap with other areas of our life.  By paying attention to our thoughts and our present life even outside of work, we can aseemble the bigger puzzle pieces of our life into a picture we enjoy.

Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals.  You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.

Sakura Educational Exchange USA, a nonprofit international student exchange organization in Rockville, Maryland is seeking an English instructor and a cultural assistant for its short-term English-language summer program for Japanese high school exchange students.  The program starts at the beginning of May.

ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR:

• Teach conversational English to groups of 14-16 Japanese high school students who are participating in a short-term (2 week) study abroad program
• Follow set experiential, theme-based curriculum provided by SEE-USA
• Enthusiastic, hands-on teaching style required!
• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Education, ESL or related field
• Interest in working with high school age international students
• Flexibility; Openness and sensitivity to cultural differences
• Prior ESL teaching experience required

CULTURAL ASSISTANT:

• Help to set up SEE-USA temporary office at program site and prepare all rooms
• Participate in orientation/training sessions before students arrive
• Manage his/her assigned group of 10-15 Japanese High School students
• Participate with the students in all study abroad activities including outings, school visits, sports, special events, volunteer projects, English/communication games, meals, etc.
• Initiate conversations, songs and games in English with the students
• Study and follow the schedule and assigned activities to your fullest ability
• Contribute with an energetic spirit and outgoing attitude with a focused direction

HOW TO APPLY: Click here to read more detailed online descriptions, salary and start/end date information for the instructor and assistant positions.  Send your resume and cover letter to

Stephanie Libonati,

Program Manager
Sakura Educational Exchange USA

Digital Music Operations Coordinator

ROLES:

• managing and conducting the receipt, handling, transformation, and ingestion of Japan-based content (with Japanese characters)
• ensuring Japan-based content providers receive excellent service
• engaging with Japan-based content providers to ensure their content goes into saleable distribution in a timely and high quality manner

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be fluent in written and spoken Japanese
• Must be willing to work a staggered schedule (noon or early afternoon start time – exact time can be negotiated)
• Familiarity with managing product flow in a manufacturing operation – maximizing efficiency, reducing cycle time, maintaining quality, etc.
• Experienced working in a production environment and proven success in achieving efficiency and throughput goals.
• Strong technical aptitude and expertise with MS Office tools including MS-Excel & MS-Access. Experience with SQL a plus.
• Familiarity with common digital formats and digital transmission methods such as FTP and SFTP
• Experience working with major record label operations a plus
• 2 years of strong analytical skills and project management experience
• 4 year degree required

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online here.

Investigations Specialist

ROLES:

• Candidates will be responsible for a wide range of duties related to the investigation and elimination of online eCommerce risk.  Ideal applicants will have experience in the eCommerce payments space, risk and fraud investigations, previous trust and safety experience, and experience succeeding in a customer-driven workplace.
• Knowledge of Japanese bank systems will be a plus.
• All candidates will be analytical and capable of succeeding in a fast-paced team environment with minimal supervision.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills, including the ability to recognize non-obvious patterns.
• Prior knowledge of the fraud or risk investigations
• Excellent team player capable of learning and sharing knowledge in global team environment.
• Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality and data security standards
• 24/7/365 availability, including willingness to work on weekends, and outside of the “standard” work day.
• Experience in payments & banking domain is strongly preferred.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online here.

HOW TO APPLY:

In letters of application, candidates should discuss their interest in teaching in an undergraduate liberal-arts environment that emphasizes close student-faculty interaction and values diversity.

Review will start immediately until position is filled.

Send cover letter, CV, and names of three references to Professor Jin Feng, Japanese Search, Department of Chinese and Japanese, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50112-169 [e-mail:ChineseJapaneseSearch@grinnell.edu; (641) 269-4803; Fax (641) 269-4953].

This job listing came from the Association of Teachers of Japanese.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• native or near native fluency in Japanese
• good command of English
• demonstrated excellence in teaching Japanese, preferably at the college level in the U.S.
• commitment to language teaching and curriculum innovation
• college degree required, MA desirable

ROLES:

• Japanese language instruction at the 1st-year level
• curriculum-related activities

HOW TO APPLY:
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
To facilitate the application process, applications can be submitted by e-mail to kiyomi.kagawa@tufts.edu.

Letter of Application, CV, and two letters of recommendation should be sent directly to:

Kiyomi Kagawa, Language Coordinator, Program in Japanese

Department of German, Russian and Asian Languages and Literatures

Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

This job opening came from The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles website and the Association of Teachers of Japanese website.

DUTIES:

• Helping maintain the region’s web editorial calendar.
• Preparing, packaging and adapting content for the web.
• Ensuring that web content is optimized for search engines.
• Creating and publishing graphics, multimedia, video, and audio content.
• Coordinating and contributing to blogs and other social media.
• Ensuring that content complies with the Bank’s web standards.
• Publishing content to the region’s sites, using the Bank’s content management system.
• Compiling and publishing reports on metrics.
• Composing newsletters and managing distribution of e-mail alerts
• Helping implement adoption and maintenance of online tools (contacts management, others)
• Liaising with technical web teams: Running performance tests on websites, reporting on bugs, following up on fixes
• Archiving content.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in interactive communications, journalism, marketing or other related field; two years’ experience working on the web.
• Excellent written and spoken command of English.
• Experience working with content management systems, html, and Photoshop.
• Strong writing skills; able to produce clear, concise, and web-friendly content.
• Familiarity with search engine optimization and web marketing and metrics.
• Experience creating multimedia and interactive content (such as slideshows, videos, and timelines).
• Demonstrated understanding of social media communications principles and other web 2.0 technologies.
• Good time-management skills and eye for detail.
• High level of initiative, judgment, and decisiveness in accomplishing tasks. Proven ability to work independently.
• Ability to work capably under stress and to juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
• Experience working on cross-functional teams.
• Strong diplomatic, interpersonal, and teamwork skills; sensitivity to working in a multicultural environment.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply online here.  Must be resident in a member state country.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about our program I strongly recommend that you visit our webpage, http://gmba.doshisha.ac.jp/ , where you can find more details about course content and structure, video interviews with faculty and students, online business seminars and much more.

Provisional applications

We welcome provisional applications from potential candidates as an initial step towards the formal application process. Simply submit your CV/resume and a personal statement outlining your motivation for applying to the Global MBA by email at your earliest convenience. These documents will be reviewed by faculty members who will pass on their comments within a week. This is an opportunity for potential candidates to confirm their eligibility and suitability for the program. There is no cost for this provisional application.

Funding opportunities

I should also like to draw your attention to the generous funding opportunities that we are offering for 2010 entry including two full MEXT scholarships (full fee waiver, monthly stipend and return flights) and a range of monthly stipends. Full details can be found on our webpage but please be aware that only applications received by the March 31^st deadline can be considered for this funding.

Visit us

If you are in or near Kyoto, why not call in and see us? We are delighted to meet with applicants and to show them around our facilities. During normal teaching periods we are also more than happy to introduce you to current students and faculty. Please contact the office directly should you wish to arrange a visit.

Any questions?

Feel free to contact us at anytime should you have any questions or queries related to the course and the applications process.

Finally

As a JET alumnus I can fully appreciate what it means to be contemplating the end of your time on the program and what your next step will be. The Global MBA offers an excellent bridge to your future career and will equip you will the knowledge, skills, network and intellectual framework expected and required of twenty-first century global businesspeople. I look forward to receiving your application.
With best wishes,

Dr. A. Staples
Global MBA
Doshisha Business School
astaples@mail.doshisha.ac.jp

http://godzillahaiku.tumblr.com

He also writes about movies. Here is his review of “The Hurt Locker,” which just opened in Japan and has been nominated for several Academy Awards (the results of which will be revealed very soon):

“If I’m gonna die, I want to die comfortable,” U.S. Army Sgt. William James says as he shucks off his hot and bulky bomb-disposal suit. Then he bends over the open trunk of a car in an alley beside a freshly evacuated U.N. office building in Baghdad and begins to run his eyes and fingers over a tangle of wires connected to a large collection of bombs.

Why is he doing it?

In The Hurt Locker, a movie that has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, including best picture, “why” is just one of the implicit yet ever-present questions…

Read the rest of the review here.

The group I was interpreting for this time returned to Japan yesterday, and I have been enjoying the last destination on our program: Hawaii!  After a week of surf and sun I can’t say that I am particularly looking forward to leaving, but I suppose all good things must come to an end.  One stop I knew I had to make while here was Kansai Yamato, a mochi maker located in the Ala Moana mall.  It’s fun to watch them make and pack the mochi before your eyes at their small stall.  Like the stores profiled in my recent writeup about wagashi in LA’s Little Tokyo, this establishment also has some pretty funky mochi flavors.  When I went today, I counted 12 atypical varieties in addition to the standard ohagi, sakura mochi, kinako mochi, etc.

Some of the more unusual types were mango, honeydew and Hawaii gentei Kona coffee daifuku, but I wasn’t brave enough to try any of those.  Instead I stuck with some of my favorites (see picture clockwise from top right): chocolate peanut butter, Oreo, peanut butter and Okinawa sweet potato.  I first tried the chocolate peanut butter, as I was envisioning the mochi version of Reeses.  There were plenty of chocolate chips but not enough peanut butter for me.  However, the pure peanut butter mochi was out of this world!  It contained crunchy peanut butter, and was far superior to either of the LA versions.  Not having had enough of a chocolate fix, I next went for the Oreo.  The creme filling taste was achieved by what seemed to be white chocolate chips, and meshed nicely with what I believe was actual Oreo crumbs mixed in the mochi.

Before you start worrying about me having gone into sugar shock on the floor of the mall, let me assure you that I was too full to even attempt the sweet potato mochi.  I’m sure it will be delicious when I enjoy it on the plane on the way home.  They were all four to a pack and cost $3.99 plus tax, except for the chocolate peanut butter which only came with three in a pack (took the picture after I tried one) and cost $3.79.  Kansai Yamato doesn’t accept credit cards, so when visiting make sure you have enough cash to satisfy your craving!

If you’re looking for a job in Miyazaki city and you like teaching both Junior High School and High School, then this is the job for you. Miyazaki Gakuen is a private High School located in the heart of Miyazaki City. The job starts in September and no teaching license is required.

Requirements:
-Bachelor’s Degree
-Be a native English speaker
-Conversational Japanese skills
-Prior teaching experience is a plus

Salary is around $3,000 a month. Paid vacation includes 10 days of nenkyu and one week of spring vacation, a month long summer break, and a week of winter break. This job requires you to work two Saturdays a month (first and third Saturday from 8:20 to 12:15). Weekend hours will be awarded with nenkyu.

Interested parties should contact Ernesto Salinas at ernestosalinas@hotmail.com

JET alum Beth Hillman reports that last month’s Joshikai author event gathered 40 people.  This month they’re doing a happy hour!  See below:

女子会3月会!  Next Joshikai – Thursday, March 18

For the next Joshikai gathering, we’ll be meeting for an evening of networking and girl talk at Postrio, a unique and stylish downtown bar. 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、
2月11日のイベントは沢山の方に参加していただきました。ありがとうございました。3月の会合は18日にダウンタンのおとなバーPostrioで行います。日本人女性のJunさんがマネージャーを勤められているPrescott Hotel内にある落ち着いた雰囲気のバーです。Postrioに頼んでバーのMEZZANINEのラウンジを確保してありますのでゆっくり皆さん座って話せると思います。ＨＡＰＰＹＨＯＵＲは7時まで延長です！

今回は特にゲストスピーカーの方はいません。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！皆様お誘いあわせの上どしどしお越し下さい。（やっぱり今回も男子禁制です。）

Date: 3/18, 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

There’s no need to RSVP, but feel free to send us any questions or comments.

We’re also on Twitter (http://twitter.com/joshikaisf)!

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators presents

Friday, April 2, 2010

Details, Details: The Snap, Crackle, and Pop of Good Writing with author Jane Kurtz

Time:    Friday, April 2, 2010, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Place:                 Tokyo Women’s Plaza, Conference Room 1 (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:                    1,000 yen SCBWI members; 1,500 yen nonmembers

Reservations:  Contact info@scbwi.jp by Thursday, April 1, 2010

This event will be in English.

American novelist John Gardner called details the lifeblood of fiction. Many an editor has said the absolute key to a piece of writing she fell in love with was its voice…but what creates the “voice” of a piece other than its distinct details? Award-winning author Jane Kurtz will give ten keys for coaxing vivid, shimmering, gripping details into our drafts and will show why certain mistakes around details are the kiss of death for any piece of writing. Q&A will follow the talk.

Jane Kurtz spent most of her childhood in Ethiopia—and now travels the world talking about writing, reading, and the magic of books. Her recent speaking has taken her to all but eleven of the U.S. states, Europe, the Persian Gulf, Indonesia, Cambodia, India, Romania, and East and West Africa. School Library Journal called Jane Kurtz a “superb storyteller.” Her books have gathered accolades, starred reviews, and awards. Since 1994, she has published twenty-nine books: nonfiction books, professional books for teachers, picture books, and novels for young readers that draw on her own childhood memories of growing up in Ethiopia as well as surviving the Red River flood of 1997. Jane has taught writing at the elementary, secondary, and university levels and is currently on the faculty of the MFA in children’s and young adult literature out of Vermont College. Her passion for books and reading and her love of Ethiopia came together in Ethiopia Reads, an organization that is establishing the free libraries for children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Yohannes Gebregeorgis, one of CNN’s Top Ten Heroes (www.ethiopiareads.org). For more on Jane Kurtz visit www.janekurtz.com.

www.scbwi.jp    info@scbwi.jp

Audition Dates: March 8 (Mon.) and March 9 (Tues.)
Union Status: This is a non-union job.

Shoot Date: May 16 (Sun.) in Seattle, subject to change
Role: Japanese American Boy
Age: 15-17
Skill: English speaking, conversational Japanese a plus
Role: Japanese American Girl
Age: 12-15
Skill: English speaking, conversational Japanese a plus
Please send your resume and headshots and indicate which date you are available to audition.
Email photos and information to jaminitv@gmail.com