Justin’s Japan: Interview with Yoshiki of X Japan on the Band’s Madison Square Garden Debut
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“At an X Japan show, we create a show with the audience—it’s not ‘the band is performing and the audience is just watching,’ so we create the show together. We’re going to try to make Madison Square Garden like a huge club.” (Courtesy of ID PR)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
For Yoshiki Hayashi, this Saturday (Oct. 11) will go down in J-rock history, as one of the biggest bands in Asia makes their debut at Madison Square Garden. Formed over 30 years ago, X Japan first gained notoriety in the mid-’80s by ushering in the visual kei movement, a style that continues to evolve through other Japanese megastars like L’Arc~en~Ciel (who headlined the World’s Most Famous Arena themselves in 2012).
At the center of it all is X Japan’s founding member, Yoshiki. An equally talented songwriter, heavy metal drummer and classical pianist, he is both the heart and soul of X Japan, and, having lived in Los Angeles for two decades, the ideal mouthpiece for the band’s American tours, which started with a bang in 2010 at Lollapalooza and included a sold-out gig at New York’s now-defunct Roseland Ballroom.
In this exclusive, expansive interview, I spoke with Yoshiki about how the group’s original hopes to play the Garden in 2008 were dashed by personal health and management troubles, his favorite, anime, manga and X Japan songs, and his experience working with legends like Stan Lee, KISS, and the Emperor of Japan.
How did this concert for Madison Square Garden come together? I know there were plans to do this in 2008; can you talk about this history?
Our band reunited around the year 2008. We did our reunion concert in Tokyo Dome, three days or so, I think. At that time, we were also thinking of performing [shows] outside of Japan, and Madison Square Garden was one or two of [the ideas]. But for some reason they didn’t happen, so since then, that venue was always in our minds. A few years ago, we decided to try schedule Madison Square Garden. I think we were kind of confirmed last year.
It’s a long road.
Yes. Well, considering that X Japan was not doing anything—I mean, the band broke up around the end of 1997, so when we reunited we had almost 10 years of a break. We started doing a bunch of arena shows, and then we started touring the world when we went to 16 countries or so. Considering this, the [last] six or seven years have been tours [laughs].
Are there plans for X Japan to play any other concerts for the remainder of the year?
Not now. We just announced our shows in Japan, this place called Yokohama Arena, so we [performed] there Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. It’s kind of like a prelude to Madison Square Garden and a kickoff to [that] show, about 10 days before that. As of now, Madison Square Garden is the only American show, but [depending] on how it goes, we may start another world tour. We’re just talking about it right this moment.
For the complete story, click here.
Job: Texas Tech Univ. – Engineering Study Abroad Advisor
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Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Texas Tech University and the International Engineering Programs Office for the Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE) is looking for a dynamic and dedicated professional for our Unit Coordinator-Engineering Study Abroad Advisor position.
The Unit Coordinator reports to the director of International programs for the WCOE. This position supports the WCOE’s International Experience Initiative; launched in Fall 2013 all engineering students at TTU are required to have an international experience as part of their degree requirements. This position will support the WCOE in this endeavor and requires a great deal of cooperation, both across campus and with international institutions.
Responsibilities are as follows: Read More
Job: George Washington Univ. – Program Coordinator, International & Academic Initiatives
Jobs Comments Off on Job: George Washington Univ. – Program Coordinator, International & Academic Initiatives
Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Description Summary:
The Program Coordinator reports to the Director of International and Academic Initiatives and provides services and programs including individual study abroad advising, international education programming, support and programming for international students, coordinating the U.S. Foreign Policy Summer Program, and managing the Elliott School Language Proficiency Requirement and Exams.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 0-2 years of relevant professional experience. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Job: Study Abroad Program Coordinator – Northwestern University International Program Development Office
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Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Summary:
The Study Abroad Program Coordinator for the Office of International Program Development promotes
and coordinates study abroad program activities for assigned IPD study abroad programs. This
includes managing student recruitment, advising, application, enrollment, and predeparture
orientation; global program operations; program budgets and accounting; and program assessment
and evaluation. Read More
Job: Global Education Advisor (Middle East & Africa), Georgetown University
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Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
The Office of Global Education at Georgetown University in Washington, DC is currently seeking applications for the position of Global Education Advisor.
Position Summary:
The Global Education Advisor (GEA) advises 90-120 students on academically appropriate study abroad opportunities for a portfolio of programs in the Middle East and Africa (non-French-speaking). The GEA assists students with the application and selection process and acts as the primary liaison with exchange and partner institutions in his/her designated region regarding student support and service. The GEA serves as a resource for curricular deans regarding academic questions for universities within his/her region. The GEA maintains responsibility for program management and fiscal oversight of programs in his/her region. The GEA organizes recruitment and cross-cultural programming for overseas programs, communicates with overseas contacts and partner institutions, and resolves curricular issues in cooperation with students and their curricular deans. The GEA coordinates all OGE marketing and outreach, manages the awarding of all OGE scholarship funds for semester study abroad students, and coordinates student diversity and inclusion programming initiatives for OGE with the intention of diversifying GU’s education abroad population.
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Job: International Admissions Representative – Schiller Int’l Univ. (FL)
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Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position Summary
the International Admissions Representative positively contributes to the day-to-day international admissions activities required to meet the annual international undergraduate and graduate student enrollment goals.
The International Admissions Representative is expected to contribute to the continuing success of international admissions at Schiller International University by working on all aspects of the international admissions process. This includes activities such as developing leads and working with prospective students through the entire admissions process; developing relationships with other organizations in the U.S. and abroad; creating and editing marketing materials; evaluating ROI for strategic recruiting initiatives and working with international agents.
Job: Application processing staff – JET Office (D.C.)
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Via JETAA DC Google Group. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-2014), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Application processing staff
Posted by: JET Office
Location: Washington D.C.
Type: Full-time
Overview:
The 2015 JET Program application period has begun and we expect another busy fall. Last year several thousand applications were received and we need your help! Each year, the JET Program Office Application Processing Staff is a mix of JET alumni and Japanese citizens. It’s the most hectic time of year for the JET Office but we always have fun reminiscing about our JET days while we sort through the thousands of applications. It’s also a great opportunity to practice Japanese while you work, as we usually have several native Japanese speakers who work with us.
This is a great opportunity for new JET returnees who have not yet found full-time work and are looking to meet new people. For other JET alumni – even if you are already employed, if your job allows you to work part-time, working either the morning or afternoon shift only IS an option!
Japanese citizens and FOJs (Friends of JET) living in the DC area: we’d love for you to join us as well, so please let us know if you’re interested. We will need application processing staff this year from late-October through early-January 2015. Read More
Job: Outreach Coordinator – Sasakawa Peace Foundation (D.C.)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Outreach Coordinator – Sasakawa Peace Foundation (D.C.)
Via Idealist. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-2014), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Outreach Coordinator
Posted by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
Location: Washington D.C.
Type: Full-time
Overview:
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA is a 501c3 non-profit located in Washington, DC involved in U.S.-Japan relations, providing conferences and seminars, think tank analysis, people-to-people exchanges and coordination of high-level dialogue between the two countries through our in-house and collaborative programs. Read More
Job: Study Abroad Advisor at The University of Alabama
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Study Abroad Advisor at The University of Alabama
Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
The Education Abroad office, part of the Capstone International Center, at The University of Alabama seeks an Overseas Study Academic Advisor. The advisor is responsible for promoting credit-bearing study abroad programs to students and faculty, advising and supporting students prior to, during and after their study abroad experience, and administering select study abroad programs. This position also works with incoming exchange students and partner institutions.
If you are interested, please apply via the posting on UA’s website and look for Job No: 498345 (http://staffjobs.ua.edu/?job=498345). The application closes on October 8th, 2014.
Job: Associate Fellow, U.S.-Japan Security and Foreign Policy Program (D.C.)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Associate Fellow, U.S.-Japan Security and Foreign Policy Program (D.C.)
Via Idealist. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-2014), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Associate Fellow, U.S.-Japan Security and Foreign Policy Program
Posted by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
Location: Washington D.C.
Type: Full-time
Overview:
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA is a 501c3 non-profit located in Washington, DC involved in U.S.-Japan relations, providing conferences and seminars, think tank analysis, people-to-people exchanges and coordination of high-level dialogue between the two countries through our in-house and collaborative programs. Read More
Job: Support and Supervision Manager – PAX
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Support and Supervision Manager – PAX
Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
PAX – Program of Academic Exchange is currently seeking a Student Support & Supervision Manager to join our high school exchange program team. This position provides support mainly to high school students participating in the U.S. Department of State YES, FLEX, and A-SMYLE sponsored scholarship programs, which provide high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations as well as students from the former Soviet Union, Serbia, and Montenegro with the opportunity to spend one academic year attending an American high school and living with an American host family. The Student Support & Supervision Manager provides support to students who are struggling with serious disciplinary issues or mental health issues or are having significant difficulty adapting to American culture or host family life.
PAX is a non-profit educational organization that provides global education and exchange opportunities for students, host families, schools, and communities to open doors, embrace cultures, and become family. PAX believes that this mission is served by providing young people with the opportunity to study abroad and live with a host family for an extended period of time. Each year approximately 1100 high school students participate in international exchange through PAX. While PAX has a global vision, the organization works one student at a time. Committed to a quality program that is small and personal, PAX works exclusively with high school exchange. PAX headquarters in Port Chester, NY are conveniently located a short walk from the Port Chester Metro-North rail station, 50 minutes from Grand Central or 15 minutes from Stamford.
*Key Responsibilities:*
Job: Fellow, U.S.-Japan Common Challenges Program (D.C.)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Fellow, U.S.-Japan Common Challenges Program (D.C.)
Via Idealist. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-2014), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Fellow, U.S. – Japan Common Challenges Program
Posted by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
Location: Washington D.C.
Type: Full-time
Overview:
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA is a 501c3 non-profit located in Washington, DC involved in U.S.-Japan relations, providing conferences and seminars, think tank analysis, people-to-people exchanges and coordination of high-level dialogue between the two countries through our in-house and collaborative programs. Read More
Job: Associate Fellow, U.S.-Japan Common Challenges Program (D.C.)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Associate Fellow, U.S.-Japan Common Challenges Program (D.C.)
Via Idealist. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-2014), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Associate Fellow, U.S. – Japan Common Challenges Program
Posted by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
Location: Washington D.C.
Type: Full-time
Overview:
Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA (SPFUSA) is a 501c3 non-profit located in Washington, DC involved in U.S.-Japan relations, providing conferences and seminars, think tank analysis, people-to-people exchanges and coordination of high-level dialogue between the two countries through our in-house and collaborative programs. Read More
Job: Sales Coordinator – TKP New York (NYC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Sales Coordinator – TKP New York (NYC)
Thanks to JETAANY’s Jennifer Jakubowski for passing this on. Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-2014), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Position: Sales Coordinator
Posted by: TKP New York
Location: New York, NY
Type: Full-time
Overview:
Job: Global Education Associate, University of Colorado Denver
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Global Education Associate, University of Colorado Denver
Posted by Sean Pavlik (Fukui-ken, 2010-12), International Programs Officer for the DC-based Congressional Study Group on Japan. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
The Office of International Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver is pleased to announce that we are hiring a Global Education Associate.
The Office of International Affairs, through its departments; international admissions, international student and scholar services, the international partnerships, and global education programs, serves the University of Colorado Downtown Denver Campus and Anschutz Medical Campus and community by facilitating the goal of promoting international education, intercultural exchange, and diversity.
This full-time, University Staff (unclassified) position will focus on enhancing administrative support for students and residents researching and studying abroad from the Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC); coordinating and implementing a portfolio of faculty-led programs across both the downtown and AMC campuses; enhancing the efficient application of IT to improve administration and services to students; providing administrative support to Global Education programs; and representing CU Denver Global Study and Semester programs to both CU and non-CU Denver students. The Associate may also assist other programs within the Office of International Affairs, and on campus and in the community, to achieve those goals.
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