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Position Title: Senior Performance Management Advisor
Position Grade: G-13
Reports To: Senior Director, International Operations
Location: Washington, D.C.

About World Learning
The International Development & Exchange Programs of World Learning has an immediate opening for a Senior Performance Management Advisor. World Learning is a 78-year-old global non-profit with operations in 77 countries. Through its award-winning international education programs – The Experiment in International Living, the SIT Graduate Institute and SIT Study Abroad – World Learning fosters global citizenship by connecting over 3,000 young ambassadors annually across cultural differences and social barriers. Through its International Development & Exchange Programs, World Learning practices what it teaches, undertaking community-driven international development, training and exchange projects in sixteen countries. For more information visit www.worldlearning.org

Click ‘Read More’ for job details and requirements

General Description:
The World Learning Sr. Performance Management Specialist assists the organization’s international development & exchange programs and staff in being accountable to donors, constituents and stakeholders, by providing technical M&E leadership at several levels. At the IDEP project level, the Sr. Performance Management Specialist develops monitoring and evaluation strategies and protocols for specific technical sectors and projects within them, and leads the effort to document progress, effectiveness and impact for donor reporting requirements, for use in new project design, and in articulating program models. Organizationally, the Sr. Performance Management Specialist develops indicators and prepares reports on overall IDEP project progress and impact that are congruent with World Learning and IDEP strategic plans, and the organization’s mission. The Sr. Performance Management Specialist will have experience in the evaluation sector and in the field of international development, and will be knowledgeable about results frameworks, project monitoring plans, common indicators (e.g., USAID), indicators for special USG programs (e.g., PEPFAR, DOL), and donor M&E and reporting requirements, especially U.S. federal funders.

The Sr. Performance Management Specialist will work primarily with IDEP program development and program implementation home office and field staff, and will also coordinate organizational-level activities with other staff responsible for monitoring, evaluation, planning and/or communicating program results. The Sr. Performance Management Specialist is expected to stay current with evolving monitoring and evaluation trends in international development and to participate with other practitioners in forums or working groups on monitoring and evaluation.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Design

2. Monitoring

3. Evaluation

Required Qualifications:

Contact:
To apply, email resume and cover letter stating current salary information to: recruitment at worldlearning dot org with “Sr. Performance Management Advisor” specified in the subject heading. Cover letters without salary information will not be considered. Permanent U.S. work authorization required. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply soonest possible. Position open until filled. Only finalist candidates will be contacted.

A wacky article from the WSJ about overnight trips between otaku and their virtual lovers to the seaside area of Atami, not far from Tokyo.  Local business such as yakiniku (pictured right) and dessert shops are catering to this new clientele with special menus and promotional products, adding a bit of economic stimulus to this past its heyday region.  Hotels will often charge for two (for up to $500!) despite the fact that half of the couple is virtual, and the men gladly pay.  An Only in Japan story that I hope will be taken in context!

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Company: Japanese logistic company

Job Title: Customer Service

Employment type: Long-term temp position

Job Description: We are currently looking for a person to fulfill customer service position at export division of logistic company near JFK. The main responsibility of this position will be telephone calls, arrangement of pick-ups, and booking for airline etc. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUTE BY YOUR OWN CAR.

Salary: ~$15/hr

Requirements:

Location: Near JFK, NY

Contact: If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your resume to Shion Hoshino (Quick USA, Inc.) hoshino at 919usa dot com

In a rather brilliantly creative move, James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Order of Odd-Fish, has developed a classroom guide for the novel which is intended to be used by school teachers in class with their students.

In James’ own words:

Some schools have put The Order of Odd-Fish on their reading lists. That’s great!

So I’ve put together a classroom guide for Odd-Fish. It’s 44 pages of discussion questions, lesson plans, and projects. It also features Odd-Fish fan art by enthusiastic readers—art that was featured in our Odd-Fish gallery show in Chicago in April 2010.

This curriculum does the strangeness of the book justice, I think. Aside from the chapter-by-chapter worksheets, there are also activities such as inventing your own Odd-Fish specialty, writing your own articles for the Eldritch Snitch, researching Japanese rituals that inspired the Odd-Fish festivals, baking avant-garde pies, creating urk-ack music, and inventing one’s own Eldritch City mythologies.

It’s also gateway to other fields of study. The knights of the Odd-Fish are, after all, scholars as well as warriors. This curriculum touches on topics as disparate as cockroach anatomy, Shinto and Hindu mythology, the KGB, Wikipedia, foppery, real-life historical eccentrics, and more.

Download the guide for free here. And of course, I always enjoy visiting schools, either in person or by Skype.

Go pester your teachers now! I’m doing this for you, people!

And in JetWit’s opinion, while the novel is in the young adult category, it’s also one of the funniest books you’ll ever read as an adult.  To read more JetWit posts about James, click here.  And watch the below video to see James doing an extremely dramatic reading from the book at last year’s JET Alumni Author Showcase in New York:

JS of Northern California

JAS of Pennsylvania

• Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival — Enjoy traditional Asian music, dance and food, as well as arts and crafts at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival. JASP will have a booth there demonstrating traditional Japanese wrapping cloth techniques (furoshiki). Learn how to wrap and carry a water bottle, make a waist pouch and more.
  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 18
  • Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Place: South Side Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh
  • For more information, click here.

JAS of Greater Austin

• Nihon-to: The Swords of Japan — Come and learn all about Japanese swords from Frank Tomicek, a member of the Austin Kendo Doshikai and Japanese Sword Society of the United States, as well as a long time collector of Japanese swords.
  • Date: Monday, Sept. 13
  • Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Place: 1701 Toomey Road, Casa de Luz Auditorium (1F), Austin
  • For more information, click here.

Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Cetnar Meadows the info.

Job Summary:
Performs general administrative functions to support the efficient and professional operation of the organization. Primary areas of responsibility include: maintaining membership records; providing administrative support for programs and events; updating the society’s website; fielding public inquiries; performing basic accounting functions; providing meeting support; and performing general office work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Maintains the Society’s membership records, ensuring that records are accurate and current, including: sending renewal notices, processing payments, maintaining database, updating online directory
• Provides administrative support for programs and events, including: creating online registration pages, tracking advance registration, making travel arrangements, preparing mailings, producing printed pieces

• Provides administrative support for annual Sun & Star Legacy Award Dinner and Silent Auction, including correspondence, mailings, donor and auction records, and event registration
• Updates the society’s website
• Performs basic accounting functions, including: managing the credit card processing system, preparing bank deposits, processing checks, sending invoices, monitoring accounts receivable
• Provides administrative support for Board of Directors and committee meetings, including scheduling meetings, sending notices, tracking replies, ordering food, preparing handouts
• Answers the telephone and manages the society’s general e-mailbox
• Fields inquiries from the public for Japan-related information and resources
• Processes mail and maintains postage
• Purchases and maintains office supplies
• Serves as liaison to tech support, vendors, service providers
• May perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:
• High school diploma or GED (two years college or equivalent work experience preferred)
• Minimum two years’ related work experience or formal secretarial/administrative assistant training
• Excellent computer skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Outlook necessary; Access, and Quickbooks desirable; experience with website maintenance
• Accurate and detail-oriented
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relations skills
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Fluency and accuracy in English language essential, both oral and written
• Experience with event planning and teamwork a plus
• Japan-related interest and experience a plus

Work environment & physical demands:
20 hours per week
Small office and small staff, close work environment
May be stressful at times in relation to event deadlines

Disclaimer statements:
May perform other duties as assigned
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.

Please submit resume and cover letter to Anna McFarland, Executive Director, at anna@jasdfw.org.

CLICK HERE to sign up for the JET Alumni Non-Profit Group on LinkedIn.  (Or just do a search for it on LinkedIn.)

Domo arigatou Arisa-sama!

Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.  He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill.  For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.

Anyone see Kore-eda Hirokazu’s 「誰も知らない」(Dare-mo Shiranai), the movie about the mother who abandons her four children in a Tokyo apartment?  I thought of that movie when I learned that 4/10 law graduates over the last forty years are neither practicing lawyers nor judges.  What happened to them?  Did they land on their feet?  If you’re going to law school will you end up like them?  Found out more here.

Via the JETAA Student Services Google Group

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Brandeis University is looking for a Department Coordinator. This person provides office support for the staff of the ISSO and serves as the front line contact and information resource for all clients of the ISSO, including students, faculty, scholars, staff, family members, visitors, and others who seek the services of the ISSO either in person, by phone, or via email.

Examples of Key Responsibilities:

- Responsible for greeting all visitors to the ISSO and answering the ISSO main phone line.  Also responsible for reading/maintenance of the ISSO office email account. Maintains office calendar for professional staff in scheduling student/scholar appointments and coordinating schedule of office meetings.

- Assists with planning and implementation of all office activities, including the arrangement of facilities and services for office functions and programs, oversees appropriate program advertising, making travel/conference arrangements for staff as needed. Participates in weekly ISSO staff meetings.  Coordinates publication of ISSOnews, the office electronic newsletter.

- Coordinates the ISSO Host Programs:  the International Undergraduate Student Open Doors Host Family Program and the International Graduate Student Peer Host Program; including advertising/selection of host families/host students, matching of new students to hosts, and coordination of programming for both Host Programs (including welcome dinners and events during the academic year).

For more information on the ISSO, please visit our website at http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/

Job posting by Lauren Sethney (Niigata-shi CIR, 2000-2003).  Lauren serves as the Program Director at the Japan-America Society in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Via the Golf Channel

Title: Freelance English>Japanese Translator (work from home)

Reports to: Director of International Operations Japan

Overview: Freelance translator will create a typed Japanese translation script of Golf Channel’s English language programming. Translation scripts must be broadcast quality in a ready-to-read format for Japanese voice talent.

Job Responsibilities:

• Translate all programming material from English to Japanese
• Type Japanese translations with time code in Microsoft Word
• Proofread and e-mail voice over-ready Japanese translation scripts

Minimum Requirements:

• Native Japanese ability (Tokyo Standard, reading, writing, speaking)
• Near-native English (reading, writing, speaking)
• English to Japanese translation experience; broadcast translation experience preferred
• Excellent knowledge of the game of golf and its vernacular
• Experience with Japanese OS and word processing (Microsoft)
• Ability to work with tight deadlines
• Weekly commitment preferred

Qualified candidates should apply directly to Debra Conrad at dconrad@golfchannel.com

Yesterday’s NYT had an article about the rise of Japan’s very own Tea Party.  It profiles the rise of the Zaitokukai, or the Citizens Group That Will Not Forgive Special Privileges for Koreans in Japan.  In comparison to old-line rightist groups this movement is known as the Net right, as they are organized via the Internet and come together for demonstrations.  The article focused on their protest last December at an elementary school for ethnic Koreans.  This year they also picketed theaters showing the documentary The Cove, which they perceive to be anti-Japanese.  The group is led by a 38-year old man who insists that foreigners have caused Japan to go in the wrong direction (members even harassed some Westerners for wearing Halloween costumes!).  The far right writes them off as amateur attention seekers, but nevertheless this is a disturbing trend.

In WSJ coverage this morning, there is discussion of how a majority of the Japanese populace is still supporting PM Naoto Kan despite economic and political troubles.  On September 14 there will be a DPJ internal vote, and at this time Kan will be challenged by party rival Ichiro Ozawa.  Should Ozawa win, he would become the third prime minister since the DPJ took power in September [and] the seventh national leader in less than four years.  He resigned as a top party official in June due to a campaign finance scandal, but is said to have close ties to opposition parties which could help strengthen the DPJ.

In order to remedy the soaring yen, Kan met today with central bank officials and plans to unveil a new economic stimulus package tomorrow.  The Bank of Japan plans to introduce their own stimulus proposals in the next few days.  In the Kyodo News poll featured in this article, 52% of respondents said the most immediate tasks for the DPJ are jump-starting the economy and securing employment.  Indeed, the Zaitokukai’s success has largely been attributed to the country’s economic decline, and the 9000 person group consists primarily of young males who bounce from job to job, feel disenfranchised and are looking for someone to blame.  A quote from a 37-year old member appeals, “Japan has a shrinking pie.  Should we be sharing it with foreigners at a time when Japanese are suffering?”

Joto Sake LLC is one of the leading artisanal Japanese sake importers in the U.S.  Founded in January, 2005, the company has built an excellent reputation for its highly selective portfolio and its strong marketing and sales support.  The company is now hiring a sales manager for Los Angeles.  The job can be divided into two areas of responsibility—1) field sales, hand-selling and account management, and 2) distributor and territory management.

Field sales responsibilities include:
•    Creating and constantly updating a target list of accounts: constantly re-prioritizing this list
•    Identifying the buyer for each account, making contact and booking sales calls, conducting sales calls and closing the sale by making new placements, reprinting menus and booking staff trainings
•    Growing our business in our accounts: increasing number of placements, adding by-the-glass pours, running waitstaff incentives, doing staff trainings and developing other promotions that drive volume
•    Actively managing pricing to ensure competitive positioning of our products

Distributor and territory management responsibilities include:
•    Communicating our business goals to senior management
•    Updating management about our goals, successes and difficulties, on a monthly and yearly basis
•    Identifying opportunities by geography and channel
•    Developing programs and support materials which are tailored to specific goals
•    Educating all sales teams about our company, our products and our business goals
•    Creating incentives that activate the sales teams
•    Working-with distributor sales people in the field, especially in the accounts in which they are strongest

Candidates should have the following qualifications:
•    Solid track record in sales, preferably in the food and beverage
•    Highly-driven, self-motivated personality
•    Ability to manage one’s time and work on one’s own
•    Passion for food and beverage, specifically sake and Japanese food
•    B.A. degree or higher
•    Fluency in English and Japanese: at least business-level in both
•    Strong knowledge of the LA area

Compensation
•    Compensation is very lean to start; there is a step program from training to selling to exceeding goals; sales managers are given expense budgets and health insurance after 3 months.
•    Please send resumes to Henry Sidel at hsidel@jotosake.com
•    Our website is www.jotosake.com

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a college degree in a related area;
• Strong analytical skills; the ability through questioning and informal research to understand the feasibility and implications of submitted proposals;
• Desire to think creatively, explore new ideas, and develop new networks to foster innovative program ideas and funding initiatives;
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English;
• Strong organizational skills, keen attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Understanding of contemporary Japan; experience living in Japan and proficiency in the Japanese language, including translating ability, preferred.

• Review and assess letters of inquiry and proposals, draft recommendations, and related materials;
• Communicate with grantees and grant-seekers through written correspondence, meetings, and site visits;
• Monitor on-going grants using a database program to ensure timely payments and follow-up of outstanding issues;
• Research fields to identify and monitor trends, new models, and new initiatives.

• Explore creative ideas and develop new networks to foster innovative program ideas and funding initiatives;
• Participant in the development and implementation of a public relations strategy;
• Coordinate in-house events such as roundtables, seminars, and outreach events;
• Carry out other logistical and administrative duties as assigned by the Program Director and senior management;
• Assist in the proof reading of English documents.

“Thanks to Mark Frauenfelder’s writeup about Tonoharu: Part One on Boing Boing, the book has made it into Amazon.com’s Top Ten Bestselling Graphic Novels today!”

Here’s the link to the review:  http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/27/tonoharu-excellent-g.html

Here’s a quote from the review:

“Published in 2008, and a winner of the prestigious Xeric Award, Tonoharu is a story of isolation, frustration, and mystery, with just the right amount of black humor to keep it from being depressing.”

For fans awaiting the next installment, Tonoharu:  Part 2 is due out in December.

JET alum Rob Cornilles

JET alum Robert Cornilles won the Republican primary for Congress in Oregon’s 1st District and will be running against incumbent Democrat David Wu this November 2010.

Rob is also the founder and CEO of Game Face, a successful sports marketing company with a client list that includes the Chicago Bulls, Miami Dolphins, Boston Celtics, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

For more information about Rob and his campaign, you can visit his website at www.cornillesforcongress.com.

The role primarily involves taking jobs that have been sent to the JetWit Jobs Google Group and making sure they also get posted to the JetWit site in a timely manner.  You’re also welcome to find additional job listings that might be of interest to JET alums and post them on the site as well.

Knowledge of WordPress is helpful.  (If you don’t know how to use it, then I’ll explain it to you–a good chance to learn a new skill.)

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

CLICK HERE to see the group and join.

My current travels bring me to Los Angeles, so a trip to Little Tokyo (aka 小東京 or sho Tokyo) was in order.  My first stop was Mikawaya, a (cash-only) sweets shop located in the Japanese village.  As you can see in the picture on the right, they have a colorful selection of mochi.  The top row features fruity and exotic flavors ranging from strawberry, orange, pineapple, melon and blueberry to coconut and chocolate.  They offer bite-sized samples (and let you try as many as you want!), and I enjoyed the coconut and the strawberry.

However, when it came to buying some mochi to take home I decided to stick to familiar favorites.  I opted to go for one each of the peanut butter and taro ($1.15 each), pictured on the left.   The peanut butter on the inside of the former is fairly granular, and its thick mochi outside makes for a substantial snack.  The taro mochi was of the perfect sweetness, and it made me miss the various forms in which you can find this taste in Hawaii.

Always one to comparison shop, I next made my way to (cash-only) Fugetsu-do which is found on little Tokyo’s main street (not far from my favorite restaurant in the area, Daikokuya (I went there for lunch with my current Japanese client, and she said that their hiyashi chuuka was better than any she’s had in Japan!).  I remembered that they had their own version of peanut butter mochi, which comes pre-packaged with six smaller sized mochi ($4).

They are flatter (due to less peanut butter inside) than the ones at Mikawaya, and more uniform in size.  Mikawaya’s are individually wrapped so they have more of a handmade feel than Fugetsu-do’s, which seem more processed.  We head to Santa Fe tomorrow so will taste test Fugetsu-do’s offerings on the plane on the way over!

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

• Bowling in Aiea – Saturday, August 28th, 4:45 to 7:00 at Aiea Bowl. Set em up and knock em down with JETAA Hawaii this month.

JETAA UK

• London Pub Night – Thursday, September 2nd, 6:30 at the Crane and Tortoise. Practice your Japanese, see old friends and have some authentic Japanese cuisine at this month’s Pub Night in London.

JETAA Canberra

• O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, September 1st, 6:00 at Coo Izakaya in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.
• Nara Candle Festival Volunteers Needed – As planning for the annual Nara Candle Festival continues, the search for volunteers is on for people to help before and after the festival, as well as people to work the gyoza stand. This year’s festival is happening on the 18th of September, so keep your calendars open.

JETAA Western Australia

• KaiWA – Thursday September 9th and 23rd, 5:30 at 43 Below. Practice Japanese with old friends and some tasty snacks.
• Reel Anime – Sunday, September 19th Luna Leederville is playing host to this year’s edition of Reel Anime, a mini-festival celebrating Japanese Anime. This year’s feature is entitled Summer Wars. More details to come, so stay tuned.
• Returnee’s Party – Saturday, September 25th, 6:30 at Fuji Restaurant in Vic Park. Join the official welcome of the returning JETs to JETAAWA as a longtime member or a fresh off the boat returner.

JETAA British Columbia

• Mokuyokai Hike to Joffre Lakes – Saturday, August 28th, 8:15 A.M to 8:00 P.M. at Joffre Lake. Mokuyokai is heading into the woods for a challenging hike to the emerald green alpine Joffre Lakes. Transportation is included and the trail is a sometimes steep and rocky 11km, so come prepared for a workout.
• Bonsai Class – Saturday, September 25th, 10:00 to 3:30(with a half hour break for lunch) at the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Center. Learn how to develop, transform and care for your bonsai at this informative class.

JETAA Pacific Northwest

• Anime Costume Contest – Saturday, August 28th, 6:00 to 11:00 at the Chinatown-ID Night Market. Dress in your Cartoon finest or just come out for some delicious night market treats.
• Aki Matsuri Volunteers Needed! – PNWJETAA is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s Aki Matsuri on September 11th and 12th. Do your part in helping to preserve the JET Program by helping to inform people about JET and your own experiences working and living in Japan.
• General Meeting – Wednesday, September 1st, 6:30 to 8:00 PNWJETAA is holding its September General Meeting. Topics such as event planning, volunteer opportunities and much more will be discussed, so come out and lend your voice to the future of your chapter.
• Happy Hour – Friday, September 3rd, 6:00 at Kushibar. Old alums and new are invited to share a laugh or two over a drink at this month’s Happy Hour event.

JETAA New York

• Samurai Sword Fighting Class – Saturday, September 11th, 2:00 to 4:00 at 440 Studios 4A. Samurai performer Yoshi Amao will be leading a special class on Samurai Sword Fighting, going over a variety of basic techniques with the class. Don’t miss this one of a kind experience.
• 2010 Annual JETAANY Softball Tournament – Saturday, September 18th, 9:00 at Red Hook Brooklyn. Sign up for the team or just come out as a spectator to this year’s slow pitch softball tournament.
• Book Club Meeting – Thursday, September 9th, 7:00 in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. This month’s selection is Natuso Kirino’s “Out.” Start reading now so you can contribute to the discussion.

JETAA Southern California

• Clash of the Baseball Titans – Ichiro vs. Matsui – Friday, September 10th, at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Come out for a day at the ballpark to see the Angels take on the Seattle Mariners, followed by fireworks after the game.
• JETAA Golf Classic – Saturday, September 11th, 1:00 at Monterey Park Golf Course. Dust off the clubs and show your skills on the links for a friendly JETAA golf get together.

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.

Position in Seattle: