Jul 15

Job: Customer Services and Support Assistant – Walk Japan (Oita, Japan)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Customer Services and Support Assistant
Posted by: Walk Japan
Location: Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita Prefecture, Japan
Contract: Full Time

We are a fast growing company requiring candidates with excellent communication skills in both English and Japanese. They must be enthusiast, motivated, able to work in a team as well as independently and enjoy a challenge. This position is particularly suited to those looking to improve their Japanese language skills as the office language is Japanese. www.walkjapan.com 

  • Full-time support services based role which will mainly involve communicating with booked customers via Email and telephone in English, supporting and working with operations staff and tour leaders. The role has the potential to become diverse or you may be required to help out in other areas of the business if needed. 
  • This particular role will be based in our operations office in Kunisaki but will include travel to our other offices as well as opportunities to join the tours from time to time. 
  • Working between the hours of 9am ~ 10pm, Monday to Saturday on a shift/rotation basis of 8 ~ 9 hours a day, five days a week, within a team of approximately 6 ~ 7 people based in various locations. 
  • Probationary salary is from JPY150,000 depending on experience. Salary increases after this will depend on performance.  
  • Computer skills are required (Mac) as well as strong English written skills and intermediate Japanese. 
  • Applicants must live in Japan and hold a drivers license or be able to get one. Holding a working visa is preferred but not essential as sponsorship is available through the company.

Application Process: Please send resume along with cover letter to Naomi Addyman at naddyman@walkjapan.com  If you would like further details, please feel free to contact and ask.


Jul 14

Job: Clerk for Consular Section – Houston Consulate (Texas, USA)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Clerk for Consular Section
Posted by: Houston Consulate 
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Contract: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday Friday 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Providing assistance to Japanese nationals who are in trouble and need consular assistance
  • Conducting tasks related to security
  • Gathering information on issues related to the Consular/ Security Section
  • Assist with visa service
  • Assist with Japanese passport service
  • Assist with Japanese citizenship service (birth, marriage, divorce, nationality, etc.)
  • Assist with Japanese election service
  • Assist other sections of the Consulate as required
  • Other consular duties and assisting the diplomats with day-to-day work.

Required Qualifications:

  • US Citizen or US permanent residency holders
  • English Language Fluency is required and Japanese Language Fluency is preferable.
  • Strong organizational, administrative, and communication skills
  • Ability to work autonomously or as part of a team
  • Must be proficient in computer skills such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet, and Emails.
  • Must be able to take business trips and work overtime.

To Apply: Interested candidates should mail, fax, or e-mail their resume, passport, a valid US visa or a valid US permanent resident card (Green card) and cover letter to Consular Section. (Please be informed that we won’t be returning your resume) (Fax: (713) 651-7822, E-mail: cgj.joboffer.ryoji@ho.mofa.go.jp).

Deadline for submission is Wednesday July 20, 2016. Please do not call with regard to your application status.


Jul 8

JQ Magazine: Nippon in New York — Studio Ghibli, JAPAN CUTS, Hotei, ‘Takarazuka CHICAGO,’ Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Visit his Examiner.com Japanese culture page here for related stories.

After you’ve seen the outdoor fireworks, enjoy some summer events in the cool indoors, whether it’s catching one of the dozens films premiering at Japan Society’s annual festival, or enjoying anything from traditional theater to the latest pop sensation.

This month’s highlights include: 

Courtesy of Japanculture-nyc.com

Courtesy of Japanculture-nyc.com

Various dates beginning July 6

Studio Ghibli Summer Festival

Village East Cinema, 181-189 Second Avenue

$10, $15 

This month, Village East Cinema presents four films from the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki! Every Wednesday and Thursday from July 6 through July 28 offers a chance to enjoy some Japan’s greatest and most influential animated films on the big screen. The morning screenings are English dubbed versions, while the evening screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles. July’s selections include Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke.

Courtesy of Lincolncenterfestival.org

Courtesy of Lincolncenterfestival.org

July 13-17

Kanze Noh Theatre

Rose Theater, Broadway at West 60th Street, 5F

$30-$125 

In the enigmatic Japanese dramas of Noh, ancient stories from classical Japanese literature and oral traditions come to life in a sublime, ritualized blend of poetry, music, drama, and dance. The divide between the natural and supernatural is bridged as spirits and humans interact in a world rife with symbolism. The nearly 700-year-old dramatic form—known to many for its highly stylized masks and elegantly simple set featuring a single pine tree—is one of the world’s oldest continuously performed genres of performance art and was recently designated an “Intangible Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO. Kiyokazu Kanze—the 26th Grand Master of the Kanze School and a descendent of the founder of Noh—brings the profound lyricism and aesthetic elegance of this ancient dramatic art form to New York as part of this year’s Lincoln Center Festival. A special lecture and demonstration by Kiyokazu Kanze will be held July 12 at Japan Society; click here for more info and tickets.

'Bakuman' © 2015 TOHO  Amuse  DENTSU  SHUEISHA  Victor  KDDI  GYAO  Crescendo  NIPPAN  JR Kikaku  LINE © Tsugumi Oba, Takeshi Obata  SHUEISHA All Rights Reserved.

‘Bakuman’ © 2015 TOHO Amuse DENTSU SHUEISHA Victor KDDI GYAO Crescendo NIPPAN JR Kikaku LINE © Tsugumi Oba, Takeshi Obata SHUEISHA All Rights Reserved.

July 14-24

JAPAN CUTS 2016

Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street

$10-$20 (single screenings)

North America’s largest festival of new Japanese film returns for its 10th anniversary edition, offering eleven days of impossible-to-see-anywhere-else screenings of the best new movies made in and around Japan with special guest filmmakers and stars, post-screening Q&As, parties, giveaways and much more. With special guests such as Lily Franky, Atsuko Maeda and Sion Sono, this year’s festival guest list is the largest in history, and includes directors, stars, producers and more. Make sure to also check out this year’s expanded DOCUMENTARY FOCUS and EXPERIMENTAL SPOTLIGHT sections. Venture out of the mainstream to discover new work by some of Japan’s most vital and interesting nonfiction and avant-garde practitioners. The experimental lineup is dedicated to animation, offering vibrant short-form alternatives to the ubiquitous anime for which Japan is so famous.

Read More


Jul 8

Job: Education Programs Specialist – General Assembly (Seattle, Washington)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Education Programs Specialist
Posted by: General Assembly
Location: Seattle, Washington
Contract: Full-Time

Recently voted Fast Company’s #1 Most Innovative Company in Education and #28 Most Innovative Company in the world, General Assembly is a venture backed, post Series D, NYC-based startup in our fifth year. General Assembly transforms thinkers into creators through education and opportunities in technology, business, and design. We offer classes, workshops, long-form courses, and events in worldwide markets including New York where we are headquartered, Atlanta, Austin, Denver, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, San Francisco, Singapore, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Melbourne and Washington DC..  We also partner with Fortune 500 companies to spur innovation through increased digital fluency and more effective approaches to collaboration.

At General Assembly, we are creating a global community of individuals empowered to pursue work they love, by offering full-time immersive programs, long-form courses, and classes and workshops on the most relevant skills of the 21st century – from web development and user experience design, to data science, product management and digital marketing.

General Assembly’s educational offerings include part-time and full-time accelerated courses taught by top practitioners. These courses give students the knowledge and best practices they need to learn a new skill or to advance in their existing discipline by diving into emerging or advanced topics in technology, design, and business.   We’ve seen tremendous demand for these programs, and we need smart, capable, agile people who can help us run new and better courses.

The Education Programs Specialist will be responsible for managing the General Assembly Part-Time courses and coaching our team of Part-Time instructors. The Specialist will have a key role in running multiple processes for each course, including:

Read More


Jul 6

Job: Administration Section (Building & Property Management) – Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (NY, USA)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Administration Section (Building & Property Management)
Posted by: Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
Location: New York, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Full-time local staff.  Monday through Friday.  7 hrs 45 mins/day. Three months probation period required. Two years thereafter with possible extension.  

Responsibilities:

  • Assist in coordinating logistics for special events, conferences, meetings, briefings, receptions, and other official functions
  • Overall building and property management for the Residences and Office
  • Order official supplies for the Residence and Office(Assistant)
  • Draft documents in English (Fluency in  English required)
  • Administrative work with regard to the service and lease contracts for the office building(assistant)
  • Manage official mobile and office phones
  • Management/maintenance and set up official AV / computer equipment(Assistant)
  • Answer phone calls
  • Assist in any other duties as requested

Required Status: Candidates must be US citizen or non-US citizen currently with a legal status that allows him/her to stay for an extended period, preferably on permanent basis, and legally work in the US.

Requirements:

  • Experience and knowledge of building and property management required.
  • Excellent English writing and verbal communications skills, computer skills, typing skills (60wpm minimum) are required
  • Japanese language skills and cultural familiarity preferred
  • College degree required
  • Basic knowledge of the United Nations and diplomacy preferred

Job Location: The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations – Administration Section (866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 230 New York, NY 10017)

Salary: Commensurate with applicant’s work experience. 

Application Process: If interested, please send a cover letter and resume by post or e-mail (1968-aki.iai-gol@mofa.go.jp and naoto.higo@mofa.go.jp) by July 20, 2016 to the below address (please specify which job you’re applying for).

866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 230 New York, NY 10017

Attention: Mr.Watanabe, Mr. Higo, Administration Section


Jul 3

Job: Research Analyst – Mitsubishi Corporation (New York, USA)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Research Analyst (Strategy & Development)
Posted by: Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)
Location: New York, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) (MCA)/Strategy & Development (SDD) maintains a key corporate planning function, coordinating directly with the company’s senior management team, Mitsubishi Corporation in Tokyo, Mitsubishi Corporation’s Group companies in North America, business group management and other Corporate Staff divisions. SDD aims to ensure the company’s management plans and strategy are implemented effectively, that timely and insightful research is compiled relating to business, industry & political trends, and consolidated group management is strengthened.

The Research Analyst will report to the Chief Administration Officer/General Manager, and support SDD’s research and other key corporate planning functions.

The Research Analyst is responsible for supporting managers through providing research on a number of key topics through monitoring and analyzing periodicals, on-line resources, academic and government papers, consultant reports and think tank reports. The Research Analyst will also periodically attend various seminars and conferences related to research topics to gather information and build a professional network. There will also be a requirement for the Research Analyst to support SDD’s corporate planning function coordination functions. Read More


Jul 2

Event: Global Teaching Dialogue – The U.S. Department of State (Washington, DC)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Global Teaching Dialogue
Posted by: The U.S. Department of State
Location: Washington, DC

The U.S. Department of State invites K-12 teachers to the Global Teaching Dialogue on July 11, 2016, at the George C Marshall Center (21st and C Streets, NW), U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The event is FREE but attendees arrange their own travel and accommodation.

Come learn about U.S. Department of State fellowship programs for teachers and hear from alumni who have participated in them. Hear from State Department advisors about their foreign policy work. Diplomatic simulations on global issues and other resources will be available through the U.S. Diplomacy Center at the Department of State, in advance of its anticipated opening in 2018. K-12 teachers and others will share strategies and materials to integrate innovative global content into different subject areas on issues ranging from the environment to public health to global citizenship to world literature, and more!

Participate in a resource fair and learn about organizations that can help you bring the world to your classroom, school and community.

Special guest Shanna Peeples, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, will reflect on her travel to the Middle East, China, and Peru.

More information will be available soon. To register click here.

*All teachers will receive a certificate for 3 hours of training to present to their educational authority for potential CEU credit.


Jun 30

JETAA Chapter Beat for July 2016

Ryan Hata (Tottori-Ken, 2014-Present) AJET National Council Director of Alumni RelationsRyan is in his second year on the AJET National Council and first as the Director of Alumni Relations. He works alongside Rachel Brisson (AJET National Council Director of Alumni Resources ) and members of JETAA International (JETAA-I) to strengthen the relationship between former JETs, current JETs, and Japan. Ryan helps to keep you up to date with JETAA events around the world. If you have a specific event that you would like promote, please do not hesitate to contact him by email at ryan.hata@ajet.net or his Linkedin profile. 

In many parts of Japan, July=rainy season. However, in other parts of the northern hemisphere there is pristine weather for outdoor events such as picnics and hiking. Unfortunately, it’s a bit cooler for our friends in the southern hemisphere. For more information on what events are being held across the JETAA community, continue reading on.

1. JETAAUK

Pre-departure Meetup

When: July 2nd, afternoon
Where: Nottingham

The JETAA Pre-Departure Meetups organised by the JET Alumni Association of the UK are separate and very different from the one run by the Embassy of Japan. They are optional and meant to facilitate discussion on (almost) any aspect of the JET experience: from preparation and expectations, issues you may encounter, making the most of the experience, being family of a JET, and the options available to you after JET (like JETAA!).

They are casual meetups, usually over food/drink. Everything discussed is held privately within the JET alumni family. So please come to any/all of these events.

ginza-nottingham-10-585x28011

 

(Photo credit yuppee.com)

 

2. JETAA NSW

JETAA NSW 2016 JET Pre-departure orientation

When: July 2nd, 3 pm-4 pm AEST
Where: Sydney 

~ Call for past JETs to share their experiences ~

It’s that time of year again, and 2016’s new JETs will be leaving next month from Sydney. With this in mind, we invite past JETs to share their knowledge and experience (particularly recent experience from the last 2-3 years) with our JETlings, at our Pre-departure Orientation. It’s a great way to get involved and give back to the Programme! Our event will be Saturday, 2 July (yep, election day) from 3 pm or 4 pm onwards.

If you’d like to help, please email us at info@jetaansw.org

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3. JETAA Ottawa

Sempai-Kohai Pub Night

When: July 3rd, 4:15 EDT
Where: Earl of Sussex-431 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9M6

Description: Meet the newest crop of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed outgoing JETs and pass on some of your hard-earned sempai wisdom about life and teaching in Japan. The JETs will be heading to the pub after the end of two-day pre-departure orientation and we’ll be staying as long as people want to stay! One of our most popular events of the year and a really useful get together for nervous JETs. Please don’t miss it! RSVP to events@jetaaottawa.ca so we reserve enough space for everyone.

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*Event image from Deviant Art – One Piece Kampai

4. JETAA Singapore

海の日 Beach Clean-up

When: July 6th, 9:30 am- 12 pm SGT
Where: Meet at Pasir Ris MRT, move to Pasir Ris Park

18 July is 海の日, Marine Day in Japan. To commemorate the importance of the ocean to our tiny island of Singapore, JETAA Sg will be holding a Beach Clean-Up activity at Pasir Ris Beach! Join us for to do your part for the environment. Friends and family are welcomed too!

Date: 6 Jul, Wed (Public Holiday)
Meeting time: 9:30am at Pasir Ris MRT

Programme:
9:30am Meet at Pasir Ris MRT, move to Pasir Ris Park
10:00am: Briefing
10:10 – 11:30 am: Beach Clean-up
11:30am: Debrief
11:45am: End of activity / Lunch at 5 Drunken Rabbits (*Lunch is not provided for by JETAA)

Things to note:
– Please wear comfortable footwear and attire.
– Please bring sufficient drinking water.
– In the event of rain or PSI >100, the event will be cancelled. You will be informed via SMS by 8:00am.

Please note that there is a limit on the number of participants, so do sign up early! Thank you and see yaaa!

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(Photo credit snakku.com)

5. JETAANC

San Francisco Networking Nomikai

When: July 7th, 6 pm-7:30 pm PST
Where: Crystal Jade San Francisco-4 Embarcadero Ctr, Ste 1, San Francisco, California 94111

Join alumni and friends at our San Francisco Networking Nomikai (happy hour)! Crystal Jade has great happy hour specials and if it’s nice out come find us on the back terrace with beautiful views of the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge!

Come out, make new friends, and catch up with old ones. This is a great chance to do some networking in a fun, casual setting. Everyone is welcome!

Look for alumni with red JETAANC lanyards. Or print out this mini JETAANC table sign so people can find you! Just fold in half and then fold the bottom of each side into a base to make a standing “triangle”:
http://bit.ly/Xedg5s

JETAANC’s SF Networking Nomikais are held on the first Thursday of every month, so mark your calendar!

**Please drink responsibly.**

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6. JETAA Wellington 

Drinks and Karaoke Catch-up

When: July 8th, 7 pm NZST
Where: Fork and Brewer-20A Bond Street, Wellington, New Zealand 6011

It’s been a while since JETAA Wellington has caught up, so how about we do that? Come out for some nibbles, some social drinks, and maybe even some karaoke to remind you of the times in Japan that you once had…

At the moment the proposal is this: we catch up at a bar (possibly Fork and Brewer on Bond Street), chat a bit and have some drinks, and then if we’re in the mood we can head to karaoke at somewhere like K-Zone. I’m open to ideas, and we can change things up depending on what’s popular.

Feel free to bring along anyone and everyone that might be interested – the more the merrier. Hope to hear from some of you soon!

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7. JETAA Canberra

Trivia Night Fundraiser 

When: July 9th, 6:30 pm AEST
Where: St Peter’s Church Hall, Watling Place, Weston

It’s time again for our annual Trivia Night and on Saturday 9 July we will be fundraising for the Tohoku Youth Program. The Program is organised by our friends at The Australia-Japan Society (ACT) and aims to help, in some small way, the young Japanese who lost their parents in the disastrous earthquake and tsunami on 11th March 2011. All money raised on the night will be donated to the Tohoku Youth Program.

Our comperes for the night will be the inimitable Parker Brothers, Keith and Ken, and the questions will be a mix of Japan and Australia focused, so everyone will have a chance. All are welcome and we have arranged some great prizes direct from Japan, and have full range of side games and entertainment planned.

Where: St Peter’s Church Hall, Watling Place, Weston Creek
Date: Saturday 9 July 2016
Time: Doors open at 6:30pm and trivia starts at 7pm (sharp!)
Price: Entry by donation ($15 minimum). Please bring along plenty of gold coins for games and challenges
RSVP: Spaces are limited so get in early to avoid disappointment. Book a table of 8 or let us know that you’re happy to join a table on the night by emailing social.coordinator@jetaacanberra.org (special prize from Japan for the first 20 to register)
Food & Drink (BYO): Feel free to bring along dinner or order a pizza delivery on the night. Japanese snacks, and soft drinks, will be available for purchase. We ask that attendees bringing along alcoholic drinks make a $5 ‘corkage’ donation for use of the fridge

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8. JETAA NOLA

Summer Taikai

When: July 9th, 7:30/8:30 pm- 10 pm CDT
Where: Sector 6 – 612 Distributors Row, New Orleans, LA 70123

Summertime in Louisiana calls for more indoor activities which is why Sector 6 is the perfect place to stay indoors and catch some air. Other than the signature large trampolines, Sector 6 includes a range of features like the rope forest, monkey bridge, tire swings and the FOAM PIT OF DEATH! Note: At 9:00 pm the venue becomes 15+. Please let us know if you will be bringing any children under 15 years of age to the event.

What: Summer Taikai at Sector6 Extreme Air Sports
When: Saturday, July 9th 2016
Time: 7:30 pm*/8:30 pm – 10:00 pm (we will have a 7:30* start if JETAA members bring children under 15 years of age)
Cost: $5.00 (PayPal link will be sent after you RSVP)
Where: Sector 6 – 612 Distributors Row, New Orleans, LA 70123
Who: JET Alumni and immediate family members
RSVP (Mandatory): http://jetaanola.weebly.com/jetaa-events.html

sector-6-1747683

(Photo credit roadtrippers.com)

9. JETAASC

Beach Party and Potluck

When: July 9th, 2:30 pm PST
Where: Dockweiler Beach (https://goo.gl/maps/ioK7CetU42K2)

Every year, we gather to do a barbecue/picnic in a park. This year, we’ve changed it up and decided to do something distinictively Californian. Please join us for a potluck and a fun day at the (Dockweiler) beach.

We’ll stay until everyone wants to go home or until we finish with the bonfire.

Since it is a potluck, please post what you are bringing on the wall.

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10. Florida JETAA

2016 Tanabata Hot Pot Party

When: July 10th, 2 pm EST
Where: Lemongrass Hot Pot-21073 Powerline Rd, Boca Raton, Florida 33433

It’s that time of year again – Tanabata’s just around the corner, which means it’s time for the FL-JETAA Tanabata party!

The Tanabata party in South Florida has been a yearly event for some time now. In the past, it was held potluck style, and members were encouraged to dress in Yukata. Last year, Bahia (FL-JETAA President) hosted it at her house, and we were able to tie some wishes to the bamboo trees she had in her yard.

This year, we unfortunately will not be able to have the potluck at someone’s house due to various circumstances. Since it’s too hot for a picnic, we’ve decided to have a Tanabata Hot Pot Party! The location is Lemongrass Hot Pot in Boca Raton. The price is about $33.00 for an all-you-can-eat array of ingredients that you can cook at your table!

Unfortunately, we will have limited space for this event. Only the first 16 people to respond will be able to join. If you would like to come, please RSVP to me as soon as possible (Private Message me!).

And remember to come in your Yukata!

Location: Lemongrass Hot Pot
21073 Powerline Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33433
Date: Sunday, July 10, 2016
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Cost: $33.00 (CASH ONLY)

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11. JETAA Portland

Sayonara BBQ

Join JETAA Portland for a BBQ as we say “sayonara” to the new JETs as they leave for Japan!

When: Sunday, July 10th
Time: 12pm – 3pm
Where: Overlook Park, Picnic Area A (1599 N Fremont St. Portland)

Please bring a side dish, dessert, or snack to share with everyone. JETAA will provide the main dishes for meat lovers and vegetarians alike!

Parents, family, and friends of JETs are all welcome to attend!

For questions and to RSVP for this event, please contact Matt Turner.
Email: matthew.turner@se.mofa.go.jp
Phone: (503) 740-4250

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12. JETAA DC

JASWDC + JETAA DC Izakaya Pub Quiz

When: July 12th, 6 pm EST
Where:  Pasara Thai (1219 Connecticut Ave, NW) (Nearest Metro:DuPont Circle | Red Line)

JASWDC and JETAADC are excited to host this year’s Summer Izakaya Pub Quiz with a Japanese spin. Test your knowledge of American and Japanese trivia! Teams  of  four  players  answer  various  questions  related  to  Japan  and  America.    Questions  will  be  read  either  in English or Japanese. But don’t worry; we will assign everybody into teams to level the playing field by spreading out  Japanese  speakers.  You  can  also  register  as  a  team  of  four  (make sure  you  have  someone  who’s fluent/advanced  in  Japanese!).

The  highest  scoring  teams  will  win  prizes!

Past  categories  include  language, Okinawan and Hawaiian history, music, Ghibli and Disney movies, and more!


Register online at www.jaswdc.org by July 6, 2016. Refunds will not be given to cancellations after this date or to no shows. We do not accept applications on the day of the event.
If you have any questions, please call JASWDC at (202) 833-2210 or email info@jaswdc.org

Pasara-DC-7

(Image from kyllopattana.com)

13. JETAAUK

Pre-departure Meetup

When: July 16th, (late morning after JET orientation)
Where: London

The JETAA Pre-Departure Meetups organised by the JET Alumni Association of the UK are separate and very different from the one run by the Embassy of Japan. They are optional and meant to facilitate discussion on (almost) any aspect of the JET experience: from preparation and expectations, issues you may encounter, making the most of the experience, being family of a JET, and the options available to you after JET (like JETAA!).

They are casual meetups, usually over food/drink. Everything discussed is held privately within the JET alumni family. So please come to any/all of these events.

Soseki

 

(Image from londonplacestoeat.com)

14. JETAA Auckland

JETAA NZIFF Film 2016

When: July 16th, 11 am NZST
Where: Civic Theater-Corner Queen Street & Wellesley Street Auckland, New Zealand 1010

This year’s JETAA Auckland New Zealand International Film Festival Japanese film selection is 海よりもまだ深く < umi yorimo fukaku> – After the Storm.

By well renowned Director Kore-eda Hirokazu <Like Father, Like Son NZIFF13> and featuring some well-known faces in this beautiful slice-of-life Japanese drama – this Cannes entry is one to see, so come see it with us~

Movie is at 1pm at the Civic, JETAA is putting on a pre-screening meetup from 11am involving food! – more details to come :)

Tickets are at the Group Booking discount of $15 – invite your friends, meet other former JETs and Yets (not yet, but almost off on JET!) and other Japanofiles!

When: Sat, 16th July
Time: 11am (1pm Movie)
Place: Civic – another venue TBC
Cost: $15 (discounted from the full price ticket price of $18.50!)
Why?: It’s Film Festival time!

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Tickets to be prepurchased to be secured.
RSVP to shelleymai@gmail.com or by texting 0210436056
for payment options and for more details
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Other Japanese films advertised are the famous 1953 classic Tokyo Story, The epic 5hr Happy Hour and the Japan wrestling scene Doglegs – go check them out!

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15. Music City JETAA

New-JET Send Off

When: July 28th, Time TBD
Where: TBD

On Thursday, July 28th, JETAA will host an informal happy hour for outgoing JETs and their families on the eve of their July 30th departure for Japan. Join us to send the 2016 Cohort off in style. More information will be forthcoming on the JETAA FB Page.

16. JETAANY

JETAANY 2016 Summer Retreat

When: July 30th-July 31st 9 am-6 pm EDT
Where: Taconic Outdoor Education Center-75 Mountain Laurel Ln, Cold Spring, New York 10516

Bring yourselves. Bring your friends. Bring your kids. There’s something for everyone at the first-ever JETAANY Summer Retreat!

Activities, overnight lodging and all meals (lunch & dinner on Saturday and breakfast & lunch on Sunday) will be provided. We will be staying in 8-10 person cabins with shared bathrooms. Bus transportation (at an extra cost) can be provided if there is enough interest.

Activities include:
Hiking
Boating
Picnicking
Low Ropes Course
Campfire
Sports and Games
…and much more.

Costs:
Program Fee (with lodging): $102.50/person
Program Fee (without lodging – one day only): $51.50/person
Transportation: $10-20 each way, only if enough interest (Departing Saturday morning from NYC; Departing Sunday late afternoon from Taconic Outdoor Education Center) – Please email Amber at amberliang[at]jetaany.org by May 30th, if you are interested in transportation so we have enough time to organize.

Spaces are limited so please register if you want to secure your spot. Registration isn’t complete until you complete your payment using the Paypal button below the registration form. Registration closes on July 6th.

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Jun 29

Suzanne Kamata is a Finalist for the Half the World Global Literati Award

Author/advocate Suzanne Kamata’s (Tokushima, ’88-’90) unpublished memoir Squeaky Wheels: Travels with my Daughter by Plane, Train, Boat, Tuk-tuk, Metro and Wheelchair has been named a finalist for the initial  Half the World Global Literati Award.

Sponsored by Half the World Holdings, a woman-focused investment platform, this award intends to recognize an original story, screenplay, memoir, or novel featuring one or more female protagonists as the central character, and offering “a fresh perspective on the challenges and joys of women’s lives.”

According to research by Nicola Griffith, most major literary prizes over the past fifteen years have been awarded to works that did not have a woman at the heart of the story. This award will attempt to balance the equation. An international panel will determine the winner of the $US50,000 prize, however, anyone can vote for the People’s Choice Award until July 23. Here’s a link.

Here is a brief synopsis of Squeaky Wheels:

My thirteen-year-old daughter Lilia can’t walk, but she wants to travel the world. Born fourteen weeks premature, Lilia is deaf and affected by cerebral palsy. Her primary language is Japanese Sign Language, and she uses a wheelchair to get around. At the Tokushima School for the Deaf, Tokushima, Japan, which she has attended in one capacity or another since she was about two years old, she is on the special ed track, which doesn’t include English and social studies. Even so, she is wildly curious about other countries and interested in learning her mother’s native tongue. When she told me that she wanted to go to Paris, I vowed to find a way even though I didn’t have a full-time job. In SQUEAKY WHEELS, I write about my effort to open up the world at large to my daughter as her own world seems to be shrinking. As she becomes heavier and less portable in this country short of wheelchair ramps, her accessibility has decreased. However, we attempt to confront and overcome at least some of the challenges of traveling with a wheelchair. Among other things, I write about our mother-daughter trips to the art island of Naoshima in Japan’s inland sea where we sleep in a museum; to Paris – including our arguments about what to pack and what to wear, Lilia’s response to the art and food and sights of the city, accessibility to the Eiffel Tower; and to the United States where we explore the caves of Tennessee and the monuments of Washington, DC. At the same time, I struggle to overcome my fears for the future and revise my hopes and dreams for my daughter

 


Jun 26

Job: Development Associate – The Japan Society (New York, USA)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Development Associate
Posted by: The Japan Society
Location: New York City, New York
Contract: Full-Time

Established in 1907, New York’s Japan Society is an internationally recognized nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that provides access to information on Japan, offers opportunities to experience Japanese culture, and fosters sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the U.S., Japan, and East Asia.

The Development Associate (Foundation and Government Relations) provides the administrative backbone for fundraising from foundations and government agencies, ensuring the smooth operation of all aspects of Japan Society’s efforts in these areas, including research and profiles; gift processing and acknowledgement; data entry and recordkeeping; and general office work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (others may be assigned):

  • Assist the Director of Foundation and Government Relations with proposal writing (narratives, budgets, attachments)
  • Grant management tasks such as acknowledgments, processing contracts and agreements, monitoring reports.
  • Maintain data entry, record-keeping, and prospect tracking via Raiser’s Edge.
  • Help research and identify new foundations and government prospects and prepare prospect profiles in consultation with the Director of Foundation and Government Relations
  • Complete general administrative tasks, such as maintaining files.
  • Provide staffing support at various Society events, as needed

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Jun 25

Job: Enrollment Coordinator_Bard Abroad (NY)

Via Carleen Ben (Oita). Posted by Sophia Chan (Sapporo-shi, 2009-2014). If interested in more job listings, join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


 

Enrollment Coordinator, IILE

The Enrollment Coordinator reports to the Director at Bard’s Institute for International Liberal Education (IILE). This full-time, hourly position is based at Bard College in Annandale, New York.

The Enrollment Coordinator is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating application, enrollment, and pre-departure processes for participants on Bard’s numerous study abroad and exchange programs. Responsibilities include online student application processing and visa support, transcript management, travel and insurance arrangements, general student support services work, and any other tasks as necessary in order to convert applicants to program participants and guide students through the pre-departure process. In addition to working with outgoing North American students, the Enrollment Coordinator also provides occasional support for incoming students, faculty, and staff from Bard’s partner institutions and coordinates the Bard English Summer Language Intensive (BESLI) in August. Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree, prior office experience, excellent computer skills including Microsoft excel and word programs; experience with Studio Abroad online application platform is a plus. Attention to detail and ability to follow through on administrative tasks in a timely manner are essential to this position, as are excellent written and verbal communication skills. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently on a large volume of database work and be able to function as part of a team in a shared office environment.  Start date is July 1, 2016

To apply please send a cover letter, resume and the names of three references through Interfolio.com at: http://apply.interfolio.com/35342

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity.

 


Jun 23

Justin’s Japan: Lincoln Center Festival Debuts Takarazuka, Noh

Click image to view story

Click image to view issue

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Shukan NY Seikatsu. Visit his Examiner.com Japanese culture page here for related stories.

From the roots of ancient Japan to the razzle-dazzle of Broadway, this summer’s Lincoln Center Festival will feature two very unique performances.

First up from July 13-17 is Kanze Noh Theatre. Known for its highly stylized masks and elegantly simple set featuring a single pine tree, this nearly 700-year-old dramatic form is one of the world’s oldest continuously performed genres of performance art and was recently designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. A descendent of the founder of Noh, Kiyokazu Kanze and his troupe will present five different Noh dramas as well as two Kyogen, the customary comic interlude in a Noh program.

July 20-24 serves up the North American premiere of Takarazuka CHICAGO, an all-female production of the classic 1975 Tony Award–winning musical with Kander and Ebb’s classic songs—sung entirely in Japanese with English supertitles—and Bob Fosse’s iconic choreography. Formed in 1914 to attract tourists to the hot springs town that bears its name, the Takarazuka Revue has grown into a cultural phenomenon in Japan, drawing a devoted fan base of 2.5 million theatergoers annually for its adaptations of classic Western and Japanese stories, movies, and plays. Whether viewed as a sly subversion of traditionally rigid gender roles or lavish, Las Vegas-style entertainment, Takarazuka is an unforgettable theatrical experience.

For more information, visit www.lincolncenterfestival.org.


Jun 19

JQ Magazine: Manga Review — ‘The Birth of Kitaro’

"If you enjoy jaunts into the fun and mysterious realm of comics and mythology, don’t hesitate to pick up this affordable volume that offers a perfect introduction to a series that has captivated the imagination of generations." (Drawn and Quarterly)

“If you enjoy jaunts into the fun and mysterious realm of comics and mythology, don’t hesitate to pick up this affordable volume that offers a perfect introduction to a series that has captivated the imagination of generations.” (Drawn and Quarterly)

 

By Julio Perez Jr. (Kyoto-shi, 2011-13) for JQ magazine. A bibliophile, writer, translator, and graduate from Columbia University, Julio currently keeps the lights on by working at JTB USA while writing freelance in New York. Follow his enthusiasm for Japan, literature, and comic books on his blog and Twitter @brittlejules.

What has hair as sharp as needles, a tongue like a chameleon’s, and one empty eye socket to keep its father in? If you could only guess some kind of crazy monster…well, then you’re not far off!

Shigeru Mizuki’s Kitaro: The Birth of Kitaro is a manga volume collecting seven classic paranormal stories of the titular character from the 1960s. They include Kitaro’s origin, and yokai files with more information about his fascinating friends and enemies that endure in myth and pop culture. All are translated and written by none other than our very own Shigeru Mizuki expert (and JQ interviewee), Zack Davisson (Nara-ken, 2001-04; Osaka-shi, 2004-06).

But who is Kitaro? And what are yokai?

Kitaro is one of many yokai (basically a mysterious Japanese monster/spirit/phenomenon) that have been making waves across the world through movies, anime, video games and, of course, manga. Born from two other human-like yokai who were unable to raise him due to sickness, Kitaro was entrusted to the care of humans at a young age. Even while growing up, he could not disguise his heritage or hide from the adventures it would bring him.

Despite his child-like stature, Kitaro is a giant in the genre of yokai stories in Japan thanks to the brilliance of his creator, the legendary late artist Shigeru Mizuki. Since earlier this decade, Drawn and Quarterly has been a major force in publishing Mizuki’s works into English (nine books to date) and contributing to the boom in America of Mizuki’s work and yokai. You may already be familiar with his eerie adventures in Drawn and Quarterly’s first collection of Kitaro stories released in 2013 and translated by Jocelyn Allen. Beginning with this volume, and continuing in several more to come, more of Kitaro’s hijinks can be enjoyed in a format and price point friendly to all ages.

Read More


Jun 18

Job: Director of English Language Institute, College of Staten Island/CUNY

Via Carleen Ben (Oita). Posted by Sophia Chan (Sapporo-shi, 2009-2014). If interested in more job listings, join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Job opening for a 75% time Director of English Language Institute (ELI), with the option of supplementing hours and income by teaching a course in our ELI. The anticipated starting date is September, 2016.

To apply, please apply online through this link (https://www.rfcuny.org/careers/postings?pvnID=SI-1606-001218).  Only online applications through the Research Foundation/CUNY website will be accepted.

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Jun 18

Job: Independent Brand Partner – Nerium International (Varies)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, an ALT currently living in Toyota CityClick here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.


Position: Independent Brand Partner
Posted by: Nerium International
Location: Any location in Japan (or people living in US, Canada, Mexico or Korea)
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to JET alumni Pat Heard (Okinawa-ken) for this amazing opportunity to be a partner with her company:

I am a Director with a network marketing company (Nerium International) based in the US, but also operating in Canada, Mexico and Korea. On July 19th 2016 we will launch our business in Japan. This business launch is highly anticipated and has been in the planning stages for 2 years.

My company is in the anti-aging biotech industry. We produce and distribute high-end products for the skin and brain. Japan is the #2 market for skin care products in the world, and #3 market for Direct Sales. Nerium is the #1 consumer products company in the US. Our three year growth has been over 16,000%. It’s big business.

I lead the fastest growing team in my region and I’m currently looking for individuals to lead our expansion into Japan. You would be an independent brand partner, and own your own small business. Your focus would be twofold: first, bringing the products to the Japanese market (we do not sell in retail stores), and secondly, growing your own team of partners in Japan (or wherever you are located). If you have connections in Japan, and are a bright and positive individual ready to take on this challenge, I would love to connect with you and give you more information. Read More


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