Job: Staff Assistant – Brown University’s Office of International Programs (RI)
Jobs 
Comments Off on Job: Staff Assistant – Brown University’s Office of International Programs (RI)
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 Assistant
Posted by: Brown University’s Office of International Programs
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Contract: Part-Time
Founded in 1764, Brown is a leading institution for education, discovery, and global intellectual progress as well as one of the largest employers in Rhode Island. Working at Brown brings more than just a paycheck and generous benefits; it offers an opportunity to contribute to a greater good. Join us in supporting the pursuit of knowledge and individual growth that defines higher education and enriches our community.
This part-time, ten month position is responsible during the busiest times of the year for responding to general student inquiries and assisting students with Brown and Alternative program selection and admission processes; as well as answering student questions about policies and procedures. The position also provides general administrative support for department operations, including advertising OIP events, booking rooms, scheduling meetings, producing office database reports, and processing paperwork for Brown credit approval. This position will require work during the academic year (25 to 30 hours per week), with 2 months off during the summer.
JET Talks: George Rose – Baseball and the US-Japan Relationship
Career, Celebrity, LifeAfterJET, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting, Video Comments Off on JET Talks: George Rose – Baseball and the US-Japan Relationship
************
What do people do after JET? Here’s one great example.
On November 16, JETAA DC held the latest in their JET Talks series with a talk by JET alum George Rose (Fukushima-ken, 1989-91), former interpreter for Hideki Irabu and current Director of Pacific Rim Operations for the New York Yankees, not to mention former JETAA NY President.
Here’s a video of the talk. (Thanks to JETAA DC Vice-President Joy Young for passing this on!) Many great anecdotes including one about interpreting for Hideki Matsui on the Regis and Kathy Show. Plus, did you know that George played a role in helping the Yankees sign Masahiro Tanaka? Watch and enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuA3cbHacfw
Job: High School Teacher – Kyoto Gakuen High School (Japan)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: High School Teacher – Kyoto Gakuen High School (Japan)
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: High School Teacher
Posted by: Kyoto Gakuen High School
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Contract: Full-Time (Renewable one-year contract beginning April 1, 2016)
Candidate will be working in the Kokusai program, and will be expected to work in a team environment creating resources and managing curriculum. Teaching, and administrative duties including homeroom duties. The candidate may be asked to travel to schools in England and Canada accompanying students. Candidates must be willing to come to Kyoto for the interview. Applicants must currently reside in Japan.
Salary: 3,600,000 yen/year
Hours: 40 working hours/week; 18 contact hours/week; Monday through Friday from 8:20 AM to 5:20 PM.
Benefits
- Paid holidays
- Transportation allowance
- Paid vacation
- Sponsorship available
Required Qualifications
- Proper visa
- BA degree
- At least three years high school teaching experience
Preferred Qualifications
- MA degree
- TESL/TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification
- Teaching license
- JLPT 3 Japanese ability
Application Process: Please submit a CV/resume, letter of introduction, and photo via email to Nordic Lafdal at lafdal@kyotogakuen.ed.jp
Job: Copy editor at The Japan News (Tokyo)
Uncategorized Comments Off on Job: Copy editor at The Japan News (Tokyo)
Posted by Tom Baker (Chiba 1989-91), who works at The Japan News.
The following notice appeared on the front page of this morning’s Japan News:
To reinforce our team ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, The Japan News is now seeking a full-time rewriter/page editor.
Essential requirements are native-level English and basic Japanese language skills, an undergraduate or higher degree, and proper visa and resident status in Japan. The starting date is Jan. 1, 2016. Please e-mail your resume and a cover letter explaining why you want the job, along with a scanned copy of your visa, to
jncopy2015@yomiuri.com
by Nov. 21. Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview and written exam by the end of November. No telephone calls are accepted.Speech
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.
Event: Employing JETs Seminar
Posted by: JET Alumni Association UK
Location: Swedenborg Hall, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH (Closest Underground: Holborn)
Date: December 9, 2015 from 18:00 to 20:00 pm
Wanting to work in Japan related employment? Just returned from JET, or been back a while but looking for a career change?
Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR London) will hold a Employing JETs’ Seminar, which is an opportunity for former JETs looking to work in Japan related employment in the UK. The event will be on 9th December at Swedenborg Hall, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH (Closest Underground: Holborn).
The 30 years anniversary of the JET Programme will be celebrated in 2016, and with an increasing focus on post JET links in business and citizens diplomacy this event will explain how JETs use their experience for work, with speeches from companies who employ people who have been on the JET Programme, as well as former JETs employed by them. This is also an excellent opportunity for JETs to network with representatives of Japanese business in the UK.
Companies attending include: Marubeni, Mitsui, Shinsei International, Japan England Insurers, Chubu Electric Power, Nomura International and others.
If you wish to attend this free event, please apply by email to mailbox@jlgc.org.uk with your name, title, current role and where and when you were on JET by Friday November 27th. Spaces are limited and will be on a first come first served basis.
Job: Legal Assistant – Children’s Law Center (DC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Legal Assistant – Children’s Law Center (DC)
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: Legal Assistant
Posted by: Children’s Law Center
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time
Children’s Law Center fights so every District child can grow up with a loving family, good health and a quality education. Judges, pediatricians and families turn to us to be the voice for children who are abused or neglected, who aren’t learning in school, or who have health problems that can’t be solved by medicine alone. With 100 staff and hundreds of pro bono lawyers, we reach 1 out of every 8 children in DC’s poorest neighborhoods – more than 5,000 children and families each year. And, we multiply this impact by advocating for city-wide solutions that benefit all children. Learn more at childrenslawcenter.org.
In a nutshell, you will be a dependable administrative cornerstone supporting program activities, managing critical, regular tasks and growing into new projects as your skills and interests take you, while gaining exposure to the legal field. Major responsibilities include project management; tracking and compiling program and financial data for management reports; coordination of the transfer of closed case files; tracking and supporting the fulfillment of contract deliverables; and providing administrative support to CLC Directors.
Job: International Learning Program Coordinator – Stetson University (FL)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: International Learning Program Coordinator – Stetson University (FL)
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: International Learning Program Coordinator
Posted by: Stetson University
Location: DeLand, Florida
Contract: Full-Time
The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning at Stetson University is a professional position involving the development, planning, and implementation of programs at Stetson University in support of the University’s international learning goals.
Under the general direction of the Director of International Learning, the International Learning Program Coordinator is responsible for supporting the advancement of global learning initiatives including faculty-led programs such as Study Abroad and other Study Away programs, and international student and alumni development. The Program Coordinator will also be a key member of the WORLD Center staff and will contribute to the implementation of a robust Strategic Plan for international learning at Stetson University.
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.
Event: 2015 Boston Career Forum
Posted by: Mitsubishi Corporation
Location: Boston, MA
Date: November 20, 2015 (Company seminars begin at 10:00AM)
For almost thirty years the Boston Career Forum has been the standard in Japanese-English bilingual recruitment. As a rare and exceptional opportunity to connect directly with top industry players, students and working professionals alike attend the event to discover exciting new fields and launch fulfilling careers through full-time and internship positions.
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) will be joining the Boston Career Forum 2015, and plans to hold information sessions specifically for former JET participants on November 20th. They have several former JET participants currently working in a variety of fields across their network, including Human Resources, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Public Relations, Security Trade Control, Global Strategy, Legal, Chemicals Trading, and Global Environment and Infrastructure.
You can learn more about what they do at Mitsubishi Corporation by clicking here.
To join one of their information sessions on November 20th, please pre-register for the Boston Career Forum at the links below.
- Sign up at Career Forum Net (operator of the Boston Career Forum) by clicking here.
- Register for the Boston Career Forum by clicking here.
When you have registered, please look for their company booth at the Career Forum on November 20th. Please note that the objective of these sessions is to share information about Mitsubishi Corporation and are an opportunity for you to share information about your career goals with them.
Mitsubishi Corporation recruits staff based on the specific business needs of each office and subsidiary as they arise. At the information sessions, they will not be interviewing for any specific positions. However, going forward, they would like to keep in touch with capable, highly-motivated ex-JETs in case any suitable positions come up.
“100 Yen Love” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Film Comments Off on “100 Yen Love” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Eden Law (Fukushima-ken ALT 2010-2011) reviews “100 Yen Love”, a character-driven drama about the beautiful losers of life, you and me, baby.
Mama said knock you out
A film with indie sensibilities, 100 Yen Love is a slow-burn treat, a small-town drama that may not seem to have much to offer like its protagonist, but it’s the little things about this film that prove to be the most satisfying. Already saddled with a string of awards, director Take Masaharu’s film is Japan’s official entry into the foreign-language category in this year’s Oscars.
Ichiko (Ando Sakura) is a slacker – directionless at the ripe old age of 32 with little prospects and mooching off her accommodating parents in an unremarkable and plain town that could be set anywhere in Japan. She barely expends energy on anything, almost incomprehensible in her speech, and neglectful of her appearance, wearing slept-in clothes, her face half-covered by unruly hair with long-grown-out roots, shuffling in a stooped posture to the local convenience store for late night junk food and manga. However, she is forced to leave home after an altercation with her antagonistic sister, and to support herself by working at a dead-end job at the same convenience store she used to frequent. Along the way, she enters into an awkward, maybe-romance with a taciturn and brusque man from the local boxing gym that her workmates call “Banana Man” (Arai Hirofumi), because of his odd habit of buying massive amounts of bananas. For the first time, Ichiko has to rely on herself in dealing with all the trials of being an adult, and they can be very, very brutal indeed.
To describe 100 Yen Love simply, you could call it an inspirational, transformative story through the genre of sports – boxing, in this case, as Ichiko, finding focus for the first time in her life, transforms from a loser to a lean, powerful athlete. And yes, there is the usual training montage of a zero-to-hero, helped along by a rock-out soundtrack that was shamelessly enjoyable and inspirational, though the film meanders for quite a while before reaching this part. But Ichiko’s journey doesn’t feel like a cliche – Ando, in her role, really did an amazing job – bringing a muscularity to her role (apparently Ando did actually trained at a local boxing gym in her teens), and truly inhabiting Ichiko, growing bolder and more confident in her mannerisms and stature. At first an unwilling participant in the course of her own life, she finally takes control, not for any lofty message or plot-driven ideals, but because she needed to.
As mentioned, there is satisfaction in the small things in this film – the background is populated by a cast of quirky characters who provide humour and humanity to the general greyness of the film, although some characters are harder to stomach than others. Like the climatic boxing match that Ichiko finally enters into, the film is not beautiful to watch, but will reward the patient viewer who sticks with it to see what happens next. Sometimes the small things can be just as epic and satisfying.
“Bakuman” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Uncategorized Comments Off on “Bakuman” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Rafael Villadiego (Nagasaki-ken 2010-2013) writes reviews “Bakuman”.
From the manga makers of Deathnote.
Friendship, struggle, triumph!
Armed with this eponymous mantra and the indomitable seishun spirit, prepare to jump into this contemporary boys-own adventure based on a manga about making a manga.
The story of two accidental high school friends who form an unlikely writer/illustrator comic combo and embark on an epic quest to fulfil a lifelong dream they had no idea they shared – to have their creative collaboration published in the legendary Shonen Jump comic magazine.
Courtesy of the same creative team responsible for the undisputed suspense classic, “Deathnote” – Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi – Bakuman channels all the hallmarks of a runaway bestseller but with a quirky, comedic bent and a decidedly lighter feel. There are still definitive moments of emotion and rare insight, but there is far more humour and levity this time around that keeps the pacing breezy and fun.
The story follow talented but reluctant artist Moritaka Mashiro – Satoh Takeru – who is haunted by the untimely loss his uncle – a famous manga-ka – who passed away during his childhood. Left traumatised by the experience of seeing his uncle brought low by the realities of an unrelenting schedule and an unforgiving audience, he is reluctant to reveal his burgeoning artistic talents. Enter Takagi Akito, an aspiring writer, who discovers Moritaka’s notebook filled with idle drawings of his unrequited love. While Moritaka initially rebuffs Takagi’s advances, he is eventually dragged into the undertaking after a dramatic encounter with his high school crush – Komatsu Nana – in which they both reveal their feelings and dreams for the future. Each third year junior high school students on the cusp of adulthood, they encapsulate that mix of innocent naivete and exuberant optimism with aplomb.
And so, mix in this dash of high school romance and youthful promises – easily and earnestly made, but remarkably difficult to keep when confronted with the realities of the “real world”, and you have all the hallmarks of a seishun classic, with a twist. Set in the fast-paced world of serialised manga, the pressure to meet deadlines and the rigour of catering to impossible reader expectations, eventually takes its toll on our dynamic duo. But during the journey they are aided by an understanding editor and a colourful collection of other artists pursuing the same dream, who each teach them invaluable lessons along the way.
The film is an unabashedly commercial endeavour. A walking billboard for “Shonen Jump” and the countless manga it has produced over the years, it unashamedly targets a specific demographic and aims to captilise on this existing and eager audience of manga readers. While these numbers are inevitably declining, the film takes pains to point out that at its peak it comprised a tremendous percentage of the Japanese population. It is no surprise then that the producers aim to recapture this nostalgic spirit by freely referencing the classics of the genre and aim to live out the Shonen Jump slogan writ large. There is even a point in the film where the characters break the fourth wall and point out their own self-referential corniness.
But if you have ever harboured secret dreams of becoming a manga-ka or have fond childhood memories of trawling through old Shonen Jump magazines to peruse cult classics such as Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, or Bakuman, then this film will stir something in you, long thought lost, but only forgotten. A collective recollection of the exuberance of youth, the importance of friendship the struggle to succeed when everyone else doubts you, and the ultimate elation of triumph upon achieving your goal. An at-times-clumsy but earnest reminder to follow your dreams at all cost.
Watch this film if…
…you are looking for an invitation to recapture your youth, raise your fist and jump up high, as you scream “friendship, struggle, triumph!” At the top of your lungs…
Quick Notes:
– The film is based off the manga “Bakuman” by Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi.
– The duo are also responsible for the manga classic “Deathnote”.
JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘The Inland Sea’
Article/Journalism, Books, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘The Inland Sea’
“Richie’s acerbic humor and wit are coupled with lush scenery and descriptions, offering an intoxicating and wry getaway.” (Stone Bridge Press)
By Alexis Agliano Sanborn (Shimane-ken, 2009-11) for JQ magazine. Alexis is a graduate of Harvard University’s Regional Studies-East Asia (RSEA) program, and currently works as a program coordinator at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute of NYU School of Law.
The Inland Sea by the late Donald Richie is a legendary book in the Japan field. For many, it’s their first foray into the culture. Following Richie as he sets sail across the Seto Naikai, the body of water which spans between the islands of Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu, The Inland Sea chronicles Richie’s quest for authenticity and escape. There, among the hamlets and fishing villages which dot the coastline, he paints for the readers a sun-drenched and hazy seascape; encapsulating his journeys into a memoir, history, and travel book all at once.
Originally written in the early sixties, published in 1971 and subsequently reprinted over the years, the newest edition by Stone Bridge Press deserves a place of honor on your bookshelf—and in your mind. Richie’s acerbic humor and wit are coupled with lush scenery and descriptions, offering an intoxicating and wry getaway. The book is a solid combination of sardonic and sublime. Written as a series of essays, it’s easy to thumb through the pages, find a spot at random, and pick up at a new leg of the journey with Richie—just as he catches a boat with the tide.
This edition also features photographs by Yoichi Midorikawa, the Japanese photographer renowned for his black and white photographs which highlight the scenic, if not austere, beauty of Japan. These images complement the narrative, helping to conjure up a sense of lonely nostalgia. Despite the wonder of the world Richie paints for us, it is one where undercurrents follow mercurial moods as the author mulls on life, Japanese society, and the ever-worshiped god of “progress.” The first sentence to the book sets the tone: “Kobe, from where I have just come, is indication enough of Japan’s sad future.”
Justin’s Japan: ‘You Look Yummy!’
Article/Journalism, Books, Justin's Japan, Reviews Comments Off on Justin’s Japan: ‘You Look Yummy!’
Click image to read story
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.
For parents of little ones not quite ready for Jurassic World comes You Look Yummy!, a children’s book by Tatsuya Miyanishi and newly published in English by Museyon.
The story of a fearsome Tyrannosaurus (the star of 11 other bestselling titles written by the author) and the baby Ankylosaurus he grows attached to (the tot believes his “daddy” names him “Yummy” after he’s hatched), You Look Yummy!, teaches valuable lessons about the bonds between a parent and child, and how those bonds can remain strong despite mistaken identity.
Museyon
As “father” and “son” grow close, the Ankylosaurus mimics the T-Rex in ramming mountains, cutting down trees and roaring (complete with his own muted sound effects). When the day comes for them to part, readers will be touched by what unfolds.
Children will be instantly attracted to Miyanishi’s illustrations. Throughout its pages, there are artistic touches like a white sky, coloring outside the edges to make the images pop, and hash marks for the dinos that serve as texture 101. Especially effective are scenes of a night sky jam-packed with stars and dotted with some exaggeratedly large ones (think Christmas tree). The result is something that feels like it could have been drawn by a child, but is secretly the work of a seasoned artist—after all, the Tyrannosaurus is a dead ringer for Godzilla.
For more information, visit www.museyon.com.
“Kakekomi” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Film Comments Off on “Kakekomi” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Eden Law (Fukushima-ken ALT 2010-2011) reviews “Kakekomi”, a historical comedy drama set in 19th century Japan, about kakekomi, women who seek divorce from abusive husbands by fleeing to a temple sanctuary. And yes, I did say comedy, along with the drama.
Sisters are doing it for themselves
A light, historical comedy-drama set in mid-19th century Japan, kakekomi refers to the sole method by which women in feudal Japan could legally divorce their husbands, by seeking refuge in a temple for a period of time, after which the marriage would be declared null and void by law. In this time period, Edo (now modern-day Tokyo) groans under the severe austerity and moral reforms imposed by a puritanical government that seeks to outlaw all corrupting pleasures and foreign influences, such as Christianity, western medicine, entertainment (both traditional and foreign) and ironically, sushi. Even the use of colour in print is considered subversive, as a character complains about the unexciting and plain novels available for sale.
Two women, meeting by chance on a dark night on a lonely road, journey to Tokei-ji in order to become kakekomi – Jogo (Toda Erika), who seeks to escape from an abusive marriage, and O-Gin (Mitsushima Hikari), a beautiful and refined concubine whose reasons for leaving are not clear. They are assessed by the administrators of a local inn for their suitability, aided by the wise Genbei (Kiki Kirin). Also seeking refuge at the inn, is Genbei’s nephew Nakamura Shinjiro (Oizumi Yo), an idealistic and eccentric student of medicine with ambitions to be a writer. Over two years, the temple, its inhabitants and the local inn have to contend with various issues and problems, including dissatisfied husbands seeking the return of their wives.
An adaptation of the novel Tokeiji Hanadayori by Hisashi Inoue, Kakekomi moves at a brisk pace, juggling several story lines with a large cast of characters. Considering a rather confusing first part, where subplot introductions and dialogue whizz past at dizzying speed (testing one’s ability to speed-read the subtitles), the film surprisingly manages to tie all the strands together fairly well, although there is a bit of deus ex used in the resolution of some of these. Incredibly, director Harada Masato made a four-hour version before merciless editing it down to about 2.5 hours, which helps explain the sometimes disjointed and out-of-place feel of certain scenes, with some secondary characters being little more than a slightly caricaturised plot device. This doesn’t mean however that Kakekomi is unenjoyable – thanks in large part to the great cast. Oizumi’s rubbery-faced Shinjiro, is a highly endearing goofball, who deftly manages to balance comedy and seriousness. Toda, as Jogo, is fantastic to watch as her character grows in confidence and strength throughout the film. Special mention goes to Hizuki Hana who plays the Tokeiji’s Abbess, a living embodiment of the phrase “an iron fist in a velvet glove” – managing to be hilarious and terrifying at the same time.
Apart from bursting at the edges with plots, the film is also crammed with both the visual and aural delights. The cinematography is gorgeous, filmed on location in an actual centuries-old temple complex, and the passing of the seasons and time is impossibly picturesque – and that opening shot of raindrops falling onto a carpet of moss, creating tiny pits over time, is just poetry. Those with a love of period costume will drool over the historically accurate costumes and sets, faithfully reproduced. The characters also sing a lot of songs – the film is not a musical by any means, but it gives a rich depiction of culture that the conservative government is trying to suppress as being decadent. Kakekomi might not really have an agenda other than a desire to entertain, but there is a strong message about censorship and resistance to change, and most of all, about the benefits of empowerment, especially of its female characters, who are just as strong and capable as – sometimes even more than – the men. Kakekomi is definitely engaging and well worth watching, and I would love to check out the full-length director’s cut if it ever comes out on DVD (at least then I can hit the pause button to read the subtitles in full).
10 Jobs in International Education
Jobs Comments Off on 10 Jobs in International Education
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) (MA) Entry Level Opening – Admissions Advisor Position at Spanish Studies Abroad
> Specializing in academic and cultural travel programming in Spanish speaking countries.
>
> Job title: Admissions Advisor
>
> Reports to: Director of Admissions
>
> Start Date: Immediately
>
> Job Description: The Admissions Advisor is part of a two-person team overseeing applications by a designated region. Our Admissions Advisors process approximately 700 applications per year. The Advisor works with students through the admissions process from guiding initial applicants to providing pre-departure and post-program support. The Advisor works closely with the Academic Director, on-site staff, and the Institutional Relations department to ensure that all applicant needs and questions are met in a timely and accurate manner.
>
> Primary Responsibilities:
>
> – Be the main contact for applicants applying to all Spanish Studies Abroad programs
> – Conduct close monitoring of applicant progress and timely follow-up with students by phone and email
> – Properly advise applicants through our application process and our programming options
> – Manage student application files through our online database system
> – Process acceptance letters and visa materials and advise students on student visa process
> – Answer all student inquiries via email and phone
> – Work closely with on-site staff regarding applicant progress and programming details
>
>
> Required Skills:
>
> – Bachelor’s degree
> – Strong written and verbal communication skills
> – Excellent organizational and multi-tasking abilities
> – Enthusiastic and customer-focused
>
> Preferred:
>
> – Personal study abroad experience in a Spanish speaking country
> – Proficiency in the Spanish language
> – Experience working in a study abroad office
>
>
> All applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to:
>
> Erinn Kennedy
> Director of Admissions
> Spanish Studies Abroad
> 446 Main St.
> Amherst, MA 01002
> erinn.kennedy@spanishstudies.org
“Miss Hokusai” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Uncategorized Comments Off on “Miss Hokusai” – Film Review from the 19th Japanese Film Festival (Australia and New Zealand)
Eden Law (Fukushima-ken ALT 2010-2011) reviews “Miss Hokusai”, a film about the little known but just as talented daughter of Hokusai. Go out and grab your pre-school paint kit.
And you thought your Instagram pics were pretty sweet
The name Hokusai is instantly recognisable – or should be, given that his most famous work, The Great Wave Over Kanagawa, has been credited with helping give birth to impressionistic art in the 19th century. Prodigious in his output and talent, he covered a large and diverse range of subject matter, from courtesans and actors, to landscapes, ordinary life and erotica, using not just traditional Japanese methods but also experimenting with Western styles and materials. This probably explains the rather surprising and unexpected use of a modern electric guitar number that opens the film – a melding of new and traditional probably.
The story of the man as a legendary figure in art is well documented, but it has obscured other aspects of his story, such as his familial relationships. Such is the case with his daughter Oei, the “Miss Hokusai” of this movie, who not only inherited her father’s talent, but seemed to be a fascinating personality in her own right. When I say “seemed to be”, it’s because not much unfortunately is known about Oei’s life. So overshadowed is she that, apart from 10 artwork confirmed to be her work, the authorship of others are disputed, as she worked in such close partnership with her father, that their artistic output has been tightly tangled and woven, which the film expertly alludes to in several scenes.
Because of the gaps in the historical Oei’s story, a straight-out traditionally told biography would be impossible. Instead, “Miss Hokusai” is more of a collection of scenes and situations, like the historical manga “Sarusuberi” (by Sugiura Hinako) that the film is adapted from. Oei is fleshed out by her interactions with the people around her – whether it be her contemptuous treatment of “useless” men, which includes her shabby and flaky father (whom she only ever refers to by name rather than by the usual honorifics); her patient and protective love for her sightless younger sister Onao; or her clumsy and shy missteps in love (pining for one, and completely oblivious to another). All these experiences, or lack thereof, is shown to inform her ability as an artist, whether as inspiration, education or as a source of frustration (in more ways than one).
Gorgeously animated, the film pays tribute to the art and skill of the Hokusai duo, drawing from the style and palette of their work, sometimes even including some famous pieces as scenic backdrops here and there with knowing wink at the audience. 19th century Edo is stunningly brought to life, but like the floating world of the ukiyo-e that Hokusai produced, it has a dreamlike quality of another world – the film quite vividly employs some touches of supernatural effects as a poetic illustration of this point. The artistic ability of Hokusai and Oei are depicted as being mystical, the duo being basically spiritual mediums, rare individuals who can see and depict this other world for mundanes to see, from capturing the dragon’s twisting, sinewy body and gargantuan claws through the storm clouds, to vividly bringing to life the symbolism and weight of religious imagery, to inspire or terrify. Contemplative and beautiful, “Miss Hokusai” deserves widespread viewing.
