Presenters wanted for 2016 Japan Writers Conference
Books, Events, Networking, Writers 
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Posted by Tom Baker (Chiba, 1989-91), a writer and editor in Tokyo and a regular Japan Writers Conference participant.
The Japan Writers Conference is a free annual event for English-langauge writers in a variety of fields. It is held each autumn in a different part of Japan. The event attracts a fair number of JETs and JET alumni, and this year’s event, at Tokushima University on October 29-30, will be hosted by a former JET, the author and anthologist Suzanne Kamata (Tokushima, 1988-90).
The organizers are looking for writers, translators, editors, agents and publishers to give presentations at this year’s event. For those interested in presenting or simply attending, the remainder of this post contains practical information taken verbatim from an official announcment:
About the site, Suzanne writes, “Although off the beaten path, Tokushima University is reasonably accessible. It’s about an hour and a half by bus from Kobe (all buses on the way to Tokushima station make a stop in front of the university), and a short bus ride from the Awa Odori Airport. Tokushima, a city with a rich literary heritage, is settled on the banks of the Yoshino River. We’ve got nature and culture (both traditional, such as Japan’s largest Bon festival, Awa Odori, indigo dyeing, bunraku puppetry and pottery-making, and modern, as in J-pop, anime and manga).
“The conference will be held in Tokushima University’s brand new Glocal Building.”
She also says there are plenty of hotels nearby in the station area.
So mark your diaries, calendars, smartphones or whatever it is you use to keep track of things, and plan to join us. As the event shapes up, we will keep you posted.
This is also our first call for presentation proposals. All published writers, translators, editors, agents and publishers who would like to lead a session are invited to submit proposals. We especially encourage proposals from new submitters. One of the strengths of the Conference has been variety, and the best way to foster variety is to have new presenters each year.
Those who have presented at past conferences are (of course) welcome to submit new proposals. But please, in the words of Ezra Pound, “Make it new.”
Please forward this to any friend or colleague who might be interested. If you know someone the conference organizers might approach–either living in Japan or planning to visit Japan next autumn–send us your suggestion. If you have contact information, that would be a great help.
Detailed information follows, but briefly, a proposal needs to include a brief bio, including some publication credits, the type of presentation you wish to make, a title, a summary of 50 words, a longer abstract (150 words) and any special requests you might have. Standard sessions are fifty minutes long, but if you have something special in mind, please let us know and we will accommodate if possible.
Presentations on all genres and all aspects of writing and publishing are welcome. The deadline for presentation proposals is Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
As in the past, the Conference will be free and open to all who wish to attend. This is possible because all the presenters and organizing staff volunteer their time and talent, and the use of the site is donated by the host. As a result, the Conference cannot offer any payment, reimbursement, lodging, or help in securing visas or travel permits. So please don’t ask.
Proposal Guidelines
When planning your JWC proposal, keep your audience in mind. Your listeners will be writers and others (translators, editors, publishers, and agents) concerned with creating publishable writing. While teaching, literary studies and private self-expression are certainly worthy activities, they are not the focus of this Conference. Ask yourself as a writer or other word professional these questions:
What information do I have which could be useful to others?
What writing, rewriting, editing, or marketing techniques have worked for me or others I know?
What topic would make for a lively and enlightening discussion?
What publishing or other professional opportunities do I know about?
What will an attendee take away from my fifty-minute session that he or she will find worthwhile?
You may submit more than one proposal.
The only qualification one needs to be a presenter is to have published. This does not mean that you need to have published a lot or in some high-profile journal. Your book (if you have a book) does not have to be on a best seller list. You do not have to have won any awards or to have appeared on TV. You simply need to have written, edited, translated, or otherwise worked on a piece of writing which has made it to the public eye. That is, published.
Proposal Deadline and Format
Using the following format, please send your ideas for a presentation by June 1, 2015. Send your proposal in the body of an email (no attachments) to both these addresses:
gribblej@gol.com
bernmulvey_1@yahoo.co.jp
In your subject line give your name, “JWC,” and the date.
In the body of the email, give:
1. Your name (or names)
2. Contact information (email, telephone. These remain confidential.)
3. Your publications (Need not be complete, but give names of journals and genre for short pieces; title, publisher and date for books; venues and dates for plays, and so on)
4. Title of presentation. (20 words or less)
5. Type of presentation (short lecture with Q&A, craft workshop, panel discussion, reading with Q&A, etc.)
6. Short summary of the presentation (50 words or less)
7. Abstract of the presentation (150 words or less)
8. Personal and professional biography (50 words or less. Make mention of your publications, as this will be part of the Conference program)
9. Anything else, such as special equipment needs or questions.
Your proposal doesn’t have to be a “finished” document to submit. There will be time to shape and polish your ideas for a presentation. But there is a set number of session slots available and if you are interested in having one of them, please let us know soon. Again, the deadline is June 1, 2016.
John Gribble
Bern Mulvey
Co Co-ordinators,
2016 Japan Writers Conference
Job: English Teacher – Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School (Japan)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: English Teacher
Posted by: Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Contract: Full-time; 1-year contract
Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School in Sapporo, Hokkaido seeks an English teacher to join our school from October 2015. The school is a public 6-year (middle/high combined) school, and is a candidate IB MYP school (Middle Years Program, International Baccalaureate).
Teachers will be employed from April by the Sapporo City Board of Education for 1-year contracts with pay, bonuses commensurate to experience and similar to that of a Japanese teacher.
The successful applicant will plan student-centred English lessons and collaborate with the English staff. You will teach classes in the same capacity as a Japanese teacher and participate in meetings and school events.
Required Qualifications
- Functional level of Japanese (N2-N1 level)
- Experience teaching English to children in a school setting
Preferred Qualifications
- A teaching qualification (TESOL or otherwise)
- Experience with the IB Programme
- Experience planning and conducting own lessons
- Willingness to be part of Japanese school life (teachers are not responsible for after- school club activities)
- Experience in using iPads, tablets or other technology in an educational setting
Application Process: All interested candidates should email benjamin.gibb@sapporo-c.ed.jp with a resume and cover letter.
Job: Staff Reporter – The Asahi Shimbun (D.C.)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Staff Reporter (Defense/Foreign Affairs)
Posted by: The Asahi Shimbun
Location: Washington, D.C.
Contract: Full-time
The Asahi Shimbun is Japan’s leading national daily newspaper. Based in Tokyo, it has a circulation of nearly seven million. Its North American bureaus are located in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferable). Background in foreign affairs and domestic politics is highly desirable. Interest in East Asia preferred. Japanese language is preferred but not required.
Description
Duties include assisting our Washington-based correspondents with articles by conducting thorough background research, attending Pentagon press briefings, gathering news and views, arranging interviews, and closely following developments in the area of defense, foreign affairs and politics. Some administrative support, such as transcribing interviews and other assignments, is also required.
Some domestic travel may be required. This is a reporting position with no article-writing or byline opportunities. Compensation includes overtime pay, excellent medical/dental benefits, commuting expenses, and 401(k). Position will be available immediately.
Application Procedure
Please email cover letter and resume. No clips or phone calls, please.
Contact Information
Hiring Manager
The Asahi Shimbun
National Press Building
Washington, D.C. 20045
AsahiDC@asahiam.com
5 Jobs in International Education
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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.
(1) Education Abroad Advisor Position Opening at the Univ. of North Carolina Wilmington
· Advise and support students on education abroad programs including inquiry, application processing, reentry, and academic articulations.
· Liaise with academic department internship coordinators, create international internship resources, and advise students about international internship and other applied learning opportunities.
· Maintain and support online database for education abroad participation and initiatives.
· Assist with outreach and promotion of education abroad opportunities.
· Conduct site visits to partner institutions and program sites abroad.
· Ability to work effectively with faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, staff, and off-campus community members (i.e. parents).
Minimum Requirements:
· A master’s degree or its academic equivalent.
· Experience living, working, or studying abroad.
· Two years’ professional experience working in education abroad for higher education.
· Experience advising higher education students on education abroad offerings.
· Experience with management and maintenance of an online database system.
· Excellent command of the English language, written and oral, and effective interpersonal communication skills, including sensitivity and diplomacy in dealing with people from numerous countries and cultures.
· Detail-oriented and able to work independently without direct supervision.
· Ability to work effectively with faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, staff, and off-campus community members. (i.e. parents)
· Willingness to periodically travel domestically and internationally.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
· Experience thriving in a fast-paced work environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
· Experience advising higher education students on education abroad offerings in Africa, the Middle East, or continental Europe.
· Proficiency in the following computer tools and applications:
o Database management software, such as Terra Dotta
o SharePoint
o Contribute
o InDesign
o Select Survey
o Adobe Acrobat Professional
· A record of active participation in appropriate organizations (such as NAFSA, Forum on Education Abroad, EAIE, and their state and regional affiliates).
· Proficiency in a foreign language.
Job: Online IT English Language Sensei – Lang-8 (Japan or Remote)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Online IT English Language Sensei
Posted by: Lang-8
Location: Tokyo, Japan OR Remote
Contract: Varies
Lang-8, Inc, the makers of Lang-8.com and HiNative.com, two of the largest social networks for language and cultural exchange on the web, are releasing a new English language course for IT businessmen. We’re still very much a startup here at Lang-8, and we’re looking for Senseis to help us give English education the startup treatment here in Japan. If you’re interested in tech, language, and connecting with people from around the world, we hope you’ll drop us a line.
We’re looking for young professionals with either experience or a strong interest in the IT industry. Teaching experience and Japanese language skills are also pluses.
Requirements:
- Native English speaker
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Punctual and Reliable
- Flexible availability
- Basic knowledge of computers and smartphones
Conditions:
- Rate: ¥1500 – ¥2500 / hour (Based on experience)
- Ideally teachers will be available for at least a short amount of time daily, M – F
We really think that the best way to learn a language is through continual output and feedback from native speakers of your target language. This is a flexible position that has the potential to be as much (or as little) work as you are available for.
Application: If you’re interested, please say hello at support@hinative.com. If you live nearby in Tokyo (Ebisu) and just want to stop by to hear more about HiNative and Lang-8, drink some free coffee, or just chat about languages and tech, we’d still love to hear from you!
Job: Nonprofit Manager – Japan Center for International Exchange (NY)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Nonprofit Manager
Posted by: Japan Center for International Exchange
Location: New York City, New York
Contract: Full-Time
The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) is a leading nonprofit organization in the field of US-Japan relations that conducts exchanges, dialogues, and study projects involving policymakers and policy researchers from both sides of the Pacific. JCIE/USA is seeking a full-time manager for its 8-person office in New York City who will report to the executive director. The job requires considerable flexibility and organization, and the duties are wide-ranging, including hands-on management of office operations as well as work on individual programs.
Responsibilities:
- Financial management
- Overseeing accounting system and processes
- Preparing budgets and financial reports; managing reporting for annual audit, etc.
- Assist with financial budgeting, reporting, and information-sharing with JCIE’s Tokyo office
- Nonprofit management
- Assist with overall operations of the organization
- Involvement with grantwriting, fundraising, etc., as needed
- Administer day-to-day office operations, including benefits/human resources
- Program support
- Help run exchanges and other programs as needed
- Occasional event organizing
Required Qualifications:
- Interest in nonprofit management, international affairs, and US-Japan relations
- Previous experience in financial management, preferably with knowledge of nonprofit finances
- English fluency necessary, Japanese language skills a strong plus
- Strong organizational skills
- Work permission necessary
Desired Qualifications
- Experience working in a bicultural office environment, cultural sensitivity, and an understanding of Japanese business practices
- Strong writing skill
Application Process: Please email cover letter and resume to Ms. Kiyoko Shiromasa at info@jcie.org.
JETAA Chapter Beat February 2nd 2016
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Ashlie O’Neill (Hyogo-Ken, 2013-Present) AJET National Council Vice Chair and Director of Alumni Relations. Ashlie is in her second year on the AJET National Council as the Director of Alumni Relations. She works alongside Ryan Hata (National AJET Director of Alumni Resources ) and members of JETAA to strengthen the relationship between former JETs, current JETs and Japan. Please feel free to contact her email at ashlie.oneill@ajet.net or her Linkedin profile. Ashlie helps to keep you up up to date with JETAA happenings around the world.
February is a big month for JETAA chapters around the world , with many of them hosting elections for the next JETAA councils and representatives. However, that does not stop JETAA chapters from holding some really great events too! Let’s have a look at some of the events happening this month.
Shinnenkai 2016 @ Grand Central Restaurant & Bowling Lounge
When: February 18th, 7-10pm
Where: Grand Central Restaurant & Bowling Lounge (808 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR 97232)
It may already be February, but it isn’t really the new year until you’ve celebrated it with JETAA Portland! This year JETAA Portland are bringing you a Shinnenkai full of food, fun, and games for the whole family. Join them at Grand Central Restaurant & Bowling Lounge for a casual evening of tacos and bowling as they celebrate the year of the monkey. 明けましておめでとう!
When: February 13th, 5-7pm
Where: Ottawa Curling Club ,440 O’Connor St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1W4
Curling, the king of sports! Come and enjoy casual, beginner-friendly curling at the Ottawa Curling Club. You don’t need any experience or equipment to have a nice time! JETAA Ottawa has reserved two sheets of ice as well as instruction for the first half hour.
When: February 7th, 8:45-12pm PST
Where:859 E Sierra Madre Ave, Glendora, CA 91741
Want to go hiking ? This is a pretty easy 1.5 mile hike, but then the last part definitely gets your heart rate up. It’s about 1 1/4 hours to the top and about an hour down, depending on how much time the group spends taking breaks. It’s a good hike with great views from the top.
If you would like to go please RSVP on the JETAASC Facebook page.
JETAANC Volunteer Nite for Berkeley-Sakai Sister City Association!
Berkeley-Sakai Sister City Association needs our help! Come enjoy some pizza and beer and learn how you can assist their efforts to re-establish their student exchange programs and prepare for their 50th Anniversary in 2017.
**Register here:
http://
JET alumni and friends have helped revitalize U.S.-Japan sister city groups across the Bay Area and now we are turning our attention to Berkeley-Sakai! What they are trying to do is at the heart of the grassroots exchange mission of the JET Program and so it is naturally close to our hearts.
When: February 18th, 6:30-8:30pm PST
Where: Jupiter, 2181 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley,California 94704
Celebrate 2016 with drinks and nibbles at Space Academy on St Asaph Street. Anyone/everyone welcome for casual conversation in English or Japanese. It is a great place to meet new people and practice your language (or just hang out). JETAA South Island are looking forward to seeing lots of new and old faces!
When: February 2nd, 5:30pm ~
Where: Space Academy, 371 St Asaph Street, Christchurch, New Zealand 8011
Shinnekai and talk on the ‘other’ side of Japan
JETAA Hawaii is pleased to announce that for it’s 2016 Shinnenkai, that they will be hosting a presentation on the “other” side of Japan — organized crime (aka Yakuza) and its effect on Japan’s government, business and financial worlds, and society-at-large.
The speaker will be US Marine Colonel Grant Newsham, a senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo. Colonel Newsham lived in Japan for 20 years, and worked as a US diplomat and military officer, and in the investment banking and high-tech industries.
RSVP to jetaahawaii@gmail.com by Tuesday, February 2, 2016
When: February 5th,6-8pm
Where: Box Jelly Co-working space, 07 Kamani St, Honolulu, HI 96813
Job: Educational Director – Aozora Gakuen Preschool (NY)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Educational Director
Posted by: Aozora Gakuen Preschool
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Contract: Full-Time
Brooklyn Aozora Gakuen (Blue Sky Preschool) is a bilingual Japanese daycare / preschool in Brooklyn, founded in 2012. We provide a balanced Japanese-English early childhood education for children living in the multicultural, progressive urban environment of New York City. Our emphasis is not only on teaching the children Japanese values, morals and spirit, but also on instilling a world perspective through activities derived from American and international cultures.This year, Aozora Gakuen is in an exciting phase of growth as it evolves from a residential-based group family daycare to a center-based preschool with more classes and students.
We are now seeking an experienced, creative and progressive-thinking educator to lead the growth of our daycare and preschool programs as the Educational Director. The ideal candidate will have a positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and be a great motivator and supervisor. The Educational Director will be responsible for the continued development and supervision of our educational approach, bilingual curriculum, community outreach, and classroom management. As Aozora Gakuen is a young and growing school, a hands on problem solver with a flexible and creative mindset will be the ideal candidate. Working closely with the Founder/Managing Director, this is an opportunity to use your talent and experience, to help build a school, loved by the students and at the heart of a thriving multi-cultural Japanese community.
Requirements
- Master Degree in early childhood education or related field of study and a State Education Department Teacher Certification
- Minimum of eight years of successful experience as a group teacher in a program for children under six years of age
- New York State Teaching Certification in Nursery – 6, K – 6, Birth – 2 or Special Education
- Excellent communication skill in both English and Japanese
- Computer skill and literacy
- Interpersonal skills
- Full-time
- Knowledge and understanding of bilingual education is preferable
Application Process: E-mail a cover letter addressing your interest and qualifications for the position, your resume and salary requirements to Miho Nishimaniwa (miho@aozoragakuen.com). Please indicate “Educational Director Position” in the subject line of email.
Job: English Teacher – Senshu Matsudo Junior High School (Japan)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: English Teacher
Posted by: Senshu Matsudo Junior and Senior High School
Location: Chiba, Japan
Contact: Full-Time; One-year renewable contract
Responsibilities: Plan curriculum, conduct meetings, work with a Japanese team teacher, and participate in school events (some on Saturdays).
Requirements: Proper visa, native English speaker, BA, two years teaching experience at the junior high or high school school level in Japan, and Word/Excel skills required. TESL/TEFL/TESOL certification preferred. SCHOOL PREFERS THAT APPLICANT CURRENTLY RESIDE IN JAPAN.
Schedule: Full-time, 40 working hours/week, 15-17 teaching/class hours/week, 5 days/week, 08:00-16:00. Salary: 330,000yen/month.
Accommodation: Not included.
Benefits: Paid holidays, paid vacation, transportation allowance, and health insurance.
Application Process: Application deadline February 23, 2016. Position begins April, 2016. Apply by postal mail or e-mail with CV/resume, photo, letters of recommendation, and passport page. Inquiries can be made by email, but please send CV/resume and other documents by post. Please contact:
Yumi Matsugaki
Senshu Matsudo Junior Senior High School
2-3621 Kamihongo, Matsudo City, Chiba, Japan 271-8585
matsugaki.yumi@senshu-u-matsudo.ed.jp
Job: Online Bilingual Language Tutor – 24/7 MyTutor (Anywhere)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Online Bilingual Language Tutor
Posted by: 24/7 MyTutor
Location: Anywhere
Contract: Varies
This is a 247 Online Tutoring Marketplace where members from all places choose their favorite lesson or service directly and cheaply through the displayed course and service lists. They can get more qualified lessons or services by choosing or buying what they much prefer through dealing directly with tutors around the world. Please click here to learn more about 24/7 MyTutor.
Position:
- Online Language Teaching Job ( English, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese ) on Skype
- Language-oriented Jobs ( Proofreading & Editing, Voice-Over, Translation, Interpretation )
We pursue bilingual tutors who can basically speak two languages and have experience in teaching language to Korean, Japanese students and more (students from other countries) on Skype or other virtual video system. Our online tutoring marketplace is at starting point, but we expect lots of tutors worldwide to create their own business and get high profits on this site.
Requirements:
- Online tutoring experience on Skype
- Interactive and positive attitude ( having ownership by managing customers and lessons)
- Reliable responsibility ( Keep on time all time for accepted lessons )
- Basic Computer and Skype Skills
Condition:
- Tutor fee is equivalent to 75% of the lesson / service fee, regardless of tutor’s experience.
- Tutors who have registered on this site should basically set their lessons and services at a base starting price of $10 ~ Max $20 per lesson/ task. Arranging the starting price is different depending on the tutor’s experience and licenses
247mytutor.net pursues that customers get the best lessons cheaply and directly and tutors get the best profits equally
Application: Submit a tutor application for by clicking here. If you have any questions, you may email admin@247mytutor.net or send a message via Skype to admin.247mytutor.
Job: Freelance Writer – Bloomberg BNA (Japan)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Freelance Writer
Posted by: Bloomberg BNA
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Salary: Hourly – Based on Experience
Bloomberg BNA, a subsidiary of Bloomberg producing legal and business information, seeks a freelance correspondent in Tokyo to cover regulatory and legal news from Japan relevant to a legal audience and to multinational corporations.
Applicants must have several years reporting experience working on daily deadlines for English-language publications. Must be able to work well independently and be aggressive when it comes to pitching story ideas to numerous editors. Areas covered include tax policy, trade, environment, infrastructure, data security, finance, labor and human resources.
Qualifications required include writing on daily deadline for U.S.-based readership, proven knowledge of government and legal processes, ability to write clearly and concisely about complex topics, and a highly developed nose for news. Freelance positions offer a competitive pay rate commensurate with experience, and correspondents will be expected to file stories on a regular basis.
Please click here to apply.
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York — Kamakura, TAO, Kimono Fashions, Noh, Kyogen
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TAO Drumheart comes to NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 11-14. (Courtesy of Matt Ross Public Relations)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Stay warm this winter with some hot local events, from an exhibition that will transport you to another time, some cool late night jazz celebrating the best of two different cultures, and a fashion show and traditional performances you won’t want to miss.
This month’s highlights include:
Feb. 5-6, 11:15 p.m.
Patrick Bartley—Parallel Worlds: Japanese and American Music in the 20th Century
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Broadway and 60th Street, 5th floor
$10, $5 students (Friday); $20, $10 students (Saturday)
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Late Night Session performances feature some of jazz’s most talented up-and-comers. Following his three nights of Bix and Tram: A Retrospective held earlier in the week, Parallel Worlds offers a brief, yet insightful look at the musical relationship between Japan and America, all performed by talented young musicians. The leader of New York’s own J-MUSIC Ensemble, Bartley (who performed with Jon Batiste and Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January) will examine the important periods between the earliest recorded music (1920s-30s) and the turning point for all popular music around the world in the 1960s—a story told with jazz as its orator.
Feb. 9-May 8
Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue
$12, $10 seniors, $7 students, free for members and on Fridays 6:00-9:00 p.m.
With over thirty masterpieces from the Kamakura period (1185–1333) from private and museum collections in North America and Europe, Kamakura is the first exhibition to look beyond the aesthetics and technical achievements of these remarkable sculptures, and specifically examine the relationship between realism and the sacred empowerment of these objects. The exhibition explores how sculptures are “brought to life” or “enlivened” by the spiritual connection between exterior form, interior contents, and devotional practice, reflecting the complexity and pluralism of the period. Kamakura marks the first major loan show of Kamakura sculpture in the United States in more than thirty years.
Feb. 11-14
NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place
$45-$75
Direct from TAO’s successful, sold-out world premiere run of at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, TAO comes to tour North America. Their new show, Drumheart—making its world premiere in New York—is their newest show bringing you athletic bodies and contemporary costumes combined with explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography. directed by Amon Miyamoto (Pacific Overtures) and featuring costumes by Junko Koshino and stage design by Rumi Matsui (both Tony nominees), TAO has critics raving about their extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina. With hundreds of sold-out shows and more than six million spectators, TAO has proven that modern entertainment based on the timeless, traditional art of Japanese drumming, entertains international audiences again and again.
For the complete story, click here.
WIT Life #295: Wonder 500 Exhibition
Events, Food & Drink, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #295: Wonder 500 Exhibition
WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.
I arrived in DC yesterday to begin my first State Department interpreting assignment in a while. I’m looking forward to working with my Okinawan group as we travel across the country learning about base-hosting communities in the U.S. I hope that knowing our second half will be in San Diego/Hawaii will make surviving the brutal cold awaiting us in our next stop of Omaha, Nebraska a bit easier…
Getting to spend time in such lovely warm weather while New York is in the middle of winter is a great incentive to be on the road, but the hard part is missing out on cool stuff back home. One such event is the currently running Wonder 500, a collection of Japan’s finest goods, foods and travel experiences. This free exhibit Read More
7 Jobs in International Education
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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.
(1) Temporary_Berklee on the Road Assistant, Berklee College of Music, Boston MA
>
> *
> Under the supervision of the assistant director for global initiatives for
> Berklee on the Road (BOR) and assistant director of global initiatives for
> Berklee Latino (BL), this position will have responsibilities to support
> the daily operations of the BOR and BL application processes, and provide
> customer service and applicant advising relevant to the application process.
>
> Duties and Responsibilities
>
> *
> Perform the daily download and processing of applications for GI programs.
> *
> Perform regular maintenance of records in the FileMaker Pro database
> system, reconciling data across all departmental platforms, and providing
> reporting as requested.
> *
> Consistently monitor the BOR and BL email accounts, in consultation with
> the appropriate GI staff.
> *
> Answer inquiries about the BOR and BL programs both verbally and in writing
> using clear and professional language. For bilingual candidates, this may
> include providing English/Spanish translations as needed
> *
> Maintain a high level of communication with the supervisors to obtain
> project specifications and expectations, and provide deliverable deadlines.
> *
> The temporary assistant may be asked to instruct staff in systems and
> software use and develop instructional documentation for systems users; to
> support the office of global initiatives’ front line reception; or to
> perform other duties as assigned.
>
> Required Skills
>
> *
> Qualified candidates will have experience that shows they have strong
> interpersonal skills and are motivated, highly organized, attentive to
> detail, sensitive to confidential information, mature, and responsible.
> Additionally, candidates will have a demonstrated background in Macintosh
> desktop and cloud-based publishing tools; and systems such as Microsoft
> Word, Microsoft Excel, Filemaker Pro, and Mail.
>
> *
> Demonstrated capacity to develop & maintain effective working relationships
> with individuals & organizations reflecting a broad range of identities,
> perspectives & experiences.
>
> Languages
>
> *
> English (required) and Spanish (strongly preferred).
>
> Required Experience
>
> *
> Bachelor’s degree required. Bachelor’s of Music or knowledge of
> contemporary music preferred.
> *
> Strong proficiency with technological systems, including web-based
> interfaces and database management.
> *
> Knowledge of applications of technology in support of educational program
> development, or in a higher education or music education setting.
> *
> Strong communication skills.
> *
> Fluent written, verbal, and editing skills in English, and preferably in
> Spanish.
>
> Temp Term
>
> *
> 2016 spring semester, ending on May 31, 2016
>
> APPLICATION LINK:
>
> *
> http://berklee.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=845&company_id=16215&jobboardid=101
>
> *
> Review begins
> on a rolling basis
> and continues until the position is filled.
JQ Magazine: New York Pledges Allegiance to George Takei at Japan Society
Article/Journalism, Celebrity, Events, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: New York Pledges Allegiance to George Takei at Japan Society
George Takei (right), with moderator Kermit Roosevelt at Japan Society, New York, Jan. 2016. (Ann Chow)
By Lyle Sylvander (Yokohama-shi, 2001-02) for JQ magazine. Lyle has completed a master’s program at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and has been writing for the JET Alumni Association of New York since 2004. He is also the goalkeeper for FC Japan, a New York City-based soccer team.
On Jan. 25, George Takei participated in a talk at Japan Society in New York. Best known for playing the role of Sulu on the original Star Trek and its movie incarnations, Takei has embarked on a second career as a social rights activist. Takei’s childhood in a pair United States internment camps for people of Japanese descent during World War II provided the focus for the conversation (entitled From Barbed Wire to Broadway), which was moderated by Kermit Roosevelt, a constitutional law scholar at the University of Pennsylvania (and great-great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt). Takei is also concurrently appearing on Broadway in a musical inspired by his internment experiences called Allegiance (book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione; music and lyrics by Jay Kuo). The show, also starring Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, is playing at the Longacre Theatre through February 14.
There is no doubt that Takei’s childhood experiences formalized his worldview and search for justice. He spoke at length of his memories of being forced out of his Los Angeles home at the age of five and relocated to the Rohwer War Relocation Center for Internment in Arkansas, and later, the Tule Lake War Relocation Center in central California. Takei also put his personal experiences within a historical and political context: After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, anti-Japanese paranoia made all U.S. citizens of Japanese heritage suspect. Due process of law was completely suspended as Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes without charge or evidence. Once in the internment camps, the prisoners had to forswear loyalty to the Emperor of Japan and pledge allegiance to the United States.
