By Vlad Baranenko (Saitama-ken, 2000-02) for JQ magazine. Photos by JYP Entertainment, Sarah Waxberg.

On February 20, the sensational K-pop group TWICE lit up UBS Arena for the second of three sold-out performances in Belmont, New York. The eight members in attendance, along with backup dancers and a live band, transformed the 19,000-seater into a party of lasers, dynamic light effects, and voices that has mesmerized fans of all ages around the world. This writer was fortunate enough to have been invited to witness the spectacle firsthand, enjoying a spellbinding 30-song extravaganza ahead of the group’s tenth anniversary this fall.

Before diving into the concert, it’s noteworthy to mention a bit about the group. Formed in 2015 under JYP Entertainment, TWICE debuted as a nine-member girl group — Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu — and quickly rose to prominence with catchy and energetic hits that became their calling card. Early singles like “CHEER UP” established their blend of bubbly pop melodies and sharp choreography, and later releases like “FANCY” and “Feel Special” showed everyone the group’s evolution. In just the last few years, TWICE have hit their share of milestones: In 2023 they became the first female K-pop group to headline major U.S. stadiums, selling out shows at SoFi Stadium and MetLife Stadium, and last year they made history again as the first K-pop girl group to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago. Their English-language single “The Feels” broke into the Billboard Hot 100, and 2024’s mini-album With YOU-th became their first to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Their most recent full-length album, THIS IS FOR, also debuted in the Top 10.

This wasn’t my first time seeing a girl group perform at a major U.S. venue, and I wasn’t expecting the crowd to be any different from the likes of J-pop fans or Hatsune Miku, but I must admit that this mix felt different. Somehow, the teenagers and older fans well into their 30s seemed more mature, dressed in a stylish manner that I wasn’t used to. Needless to say, I later discovered that the outfits many fans adorned were a tribute to the style of the group’s music videos. Multiple people wore the iconic red crochet bonnet, the style associated with TWICE’s “THIS IS FOR” music video. High cut pink fur boots were also abundant, featured in the group’s performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (another first for a K-pop group). 

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Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as art, film, food and language. She also shares her interpreting adventures and the interesting things she has encountered in the course of her work.

The frigid, snow-filled winter here in NY looks to be reaching an end, with warmer temps forecast for next week and 春分の日 (shunbun no hi or spring equinox) around the bend. Since I’ve last written a lot has been going in the world to say the least, but I figured I’d stick to the more light-hearted topic of 桜 (sakura or cherry blossoms).

I had a business trip in Japan last month, so was very happy to have the chance to visit for the first time in three years. I knew it was too early to see the sakura in bloom, but I did see some beautiful pink and white 梅の花 (ume no hana or plum blossoms, which is also the name of my favorite tofu restaurant in Japan). I was hoping that despite the lack of cherry blossoms that sakura-flavored sweets might be available, and boy were they! MUJI alone boasts a lineup of 14 sakura-themed treats this year, ranging from scones and cheesecake to manju and mochi to tea and lattes. I have to admit there was a special sakura section in my suitcase reserved for these goodies.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Local Staff, Economic Division
Posted by: Consulate General of Japan in New York
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Joseph Meringolo (Fukushima-ken, 2014-2017) for passing along the following job opening.

Description:
The Consulate General of Japan in New York is currently seeking to hire a local employee in the Economic Division. To apply, please submit the required documents (see below) to the e-mail address below by March 23, 2026. For more details, please see the recruitment guide below.

Duties:
– Communicating and supporting relationships with government and corporate contacts, including arranging and/or participating in meetings and reporting results clearly
– Daily research on Japanese business issues and U.S. economic conditions
– Writing and editing public statements by the Consulate
– Responding to telephone and e-mail inquiries from the general public related to matters under the jurisdiction of the Economic Division

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By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.

Stay warm this winter with some hot local events, from showcases that will transport you to another time and place, a clutch of debut screenings, and live events you won’t want to miss.

This month’s highlights include:

March 2-3, 7:00 p.m.

Akira Yamaoka with Special Guest Raj Ramayya

Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place

From $41

Acclaimed composer Akira Yamaoka, best known for his haunting and emotional soundtracks to the Silent Hill video game and film series, has announced his first-ever U.S. tour. This pair of highly anticipated NYC dates will bring Yamaoka’s iconic music to life through an immersive live performance experience, blending atmospheric soundscapes, visual storytelling, and the chilling beauty that defined a generation of psychological horror. Opening each night on the tour will be Raj Ramayya, the internationally acclaimed singer, composer, and lyricist known for his work on Cowboy Bebop, Resident Evil, and collaborations with Yoko Kanno. Together, they create a sound that blurs the line between digital isolation and human connection, a haunting and immersive experience that will come to life. Accompanied by a full band, each performance will transport audiences into the world of Yamaoka’s sonic imagination.

Friday, March 6, 6:00 p.m.

The Ozu Diaries

Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street

$12 members, $14 students/seniors, $16 nonmemembers

During his lifetime, director Yasujiro Ozu maintained a trove of personal diaries that reveal a remarkably intimate side of the legendary filmmaker. Pulling from essays, home movies, archival photos, and recollections of Ozu-gumi (Ozu staff/collaborators) like Kogo Noda and Kinuyo Tanaka, The Ozu Diaries attempts to unmask the mystique surrounding Ozu’s persona. With fascinating anecdotes—such as Ozu hearing a rumor that Setsuko Hara could not act prior to working with her—and contributions by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Wim Wenders, The Ozu Diaries offers a glimpse of one of cinema’s greatest masters, an auto portrait told through his own words.

9:00 p.m.

Late Autumn

$8 members, $14 students/seniors, $16 nonmemembers

35mm presentation! A crowning achievement from Yasujiro Ozu’s late period, Late Autumn—like Good Morning and Floating Weeds before it—reworks the plot of an earlier production: 1949’s Late Spring. Setsuko Hara, no longer the ebullient ingénue, plays the part of serene and composed widow Akiko whose daughter Ayako (Yoko Tsukasa) becomes the unwitting subject of an orchestrated matchmaking. However, the setup does not go according to plan when Ayako outright refuses marriage. Featuring a delightfully feisty Mariko Okada and the soft-spoken, doe-eyed Keiji Sada as secondary players, this Agfacolor comedy is an Ozu melodrama par excellence—observant, witty, and unrelentingly tragic in the face of life’s vicissitudes. Get 25% off when you purchase a ticket for The Ozu Diaries and Late Autumn in the same transaction ($8 off non-members / $5 off for members).

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Sales Engineer (Sales Representative)
Posted by: Quick USA
Location: Plano, TX, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Carlos Medina (Oita, 2019-2022) for passing along the following job opening.

A Japanese Manufacturing company is currently looking for a full time, fully onsite Sales Engineer ( Sales Representative) to join their Plano, TX location.

The ideal candidate will drive new business growth, manage key accounts, provide technical sales support, and share market insights to strengthen brand presence and support continuous improvement. This is also an entry level position, so candidates with existing engineering and/or sales experience are ideal, but candidates with no prior experience in these fields but interested are encouraged to apply.

Japanese proficiency, although a very big plus, is not required. DOE and skills, the pay range for this opportunity will be between 55k-80k with great benefits.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Corporate Services Associate
Posted by: Aflac International
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Okung Obang (Kochi, 2019-2021) for passing along the following job opening.

This position supports communication among the Company’s important internal (groupwide) and external stakeholders. We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Corporate Services Associate to support cross-functional corporate operations. The ideal candidate is bilingual – English (native) and Japanese (business level) – who possesses excellent English writing skills and is adept at creating visually compelling, easy-to-understand presentation materials in a cross-cultural context. The ideal candidate will be sensitive to business protocols, manage multiple priorities, and adapt quickly in a dynamic environment according to the Company’s Core Values.

Application Process: For more information and to apply, please email – sato_w[at]aflac.co.jp

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Program Coordinator, Bing Overseas Studies Program
Posted by: Stanford Global
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Stanford University for passing along the following job opening.

PLEASE SUBMIT both a CV (in English) and 職務経歴書 (in Japanese).

The Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) at Stanford University is seeking qualified candidates for the Program Coordinator role at Stanford in Kyoto, Japan

About Stanford University and BOSP Japan

Stanford University is one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions. Our mission is to educate future leaders and promote interdisciplinary, world-class research and teaching. A key aspect of this is to provide serious international educational opportunities to our students. Sustaining and developing these rich offerings is an intensely creative, rewarding, and challenging project. For more information about Stanford in Kyoto, please click HERE.

Position Summary

The Program Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the administration of a range of academic and experiential projects and programs aimed at enhancing learning opportunities for students, and for maintaining the technology used in the Stanford Japan Center. This position reports to the Program Director in Kyoto.

In this role, your primary duties and responsibilities will include:

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Sales Representative
Posted by: PASONA North America
Location: Novi, MI, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to JAMES WILLIAMS (Hyogo, 2008-2012) for passing along the following job opening via PASONA North America.

About the Company

A globally recognized automotive supplier specializing in plastic injection-molded components and decorative trim systems is seeking a Sales Representative to support its Michigan office.

With strong product knowledge and awareness of industry trends, the Sales Representative will develop new business opportunities, communicate directly with clients and prospects, understand their operational needs, and recommend solutions that maximize value.

This role is primarily desk-based and centers on communication between customers and the Illinois manufacturing plant. The position works closely with a bilingual team that includes Japanese expatriates, so comfort in a cross-cultural environment is important.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Sales Rep.
Posted by: Interesse International Inc.
Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Seiko Maruyama for passing along the following job opening via Interesse International Inc.

This position is in charge of sales for the US (Midwest with some exceptions), Canada and Mexico as well as certain other English speaking countries worldwide where assistance is needed.

Essential Job Functions:
1. Primary Job Function
-Maintains open and friendly communication with all existing clients. Meet as needed.
-Build customer base of existing products through research and cold calls.
-Obtain information on new products from our parents company’s worldwide locations. Produce list of
potential customers and contact.
-Contribute analytical information to enable completion of budget forecasting.
-Review monthly P&L to monitor profit margins and determine if price increases need to be made and where savings can occur.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Chinese-English Bilingual Sales Representative
Posted by: Quick USA
Location: Austin, Texas or Houston, Texas
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Carlos Medina (Oita, 2019-2022) for passing along the following job opening.

A Japanese Food company is currently looking for a full time, fully onsite, Chinese-English Outside Sales Representative to join either Austin, TX or Houston, TX location.

The Sales Representative will drive sales growth by meeting targets, managing customer relationships, processing orders accurately, coordinating with internal teams, ensuring timely payments and deliveries, and representing the company at meetings and events while following company policies.

DOE and skills, the pay range for this position would be between the 45k-55k mark and it comes with great benefits.

Although previous sales experience is a plus, it is not required as this could be considered an entry level position.

If the candidate doesn’t have previous sales experience, any sort of prior food service related experience or supermarket experience would be a very big plus ( Super market cashier, line cook, server, barista etc)

The one required qualification is fluency in both English and Chinese.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Travel Consultant (Japan Specialist)
Posted by: Inside Travel Group
Location: Broomfield, CO, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Austin Weber, who works for Inside Travel Group for passing along the following job opening.

As a Travel Consultant, you will use your extensive understanding of Japan to create unforgettable cultural adventures for our clients. Exceptional time management, confidence, communication, and organisation are a must for efficiently prioritizing tasks and providing top-notch service for both new clients and ongoing bookings. High performance will be rewarded with sales and customer service-based commission, along with regular familiarisation trips to our destination countries to enhance your knowledge.

What You Will be Doing:

• Consult with customers to identify their individual holiday requirements.
• Create high-quality tailor-made itineraries based on customer requirements.
• Work to achieve individual and team sales targets.
• Co-ordinate all aspects of the customer booking to ensure successful delivery of trip.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: International Programs Coordinator
Posted by: Stanford Law School
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Kiki Shen (Tokyo, 2017-2020) for passing along the following job opening.

The International Programs Coordinator is the chief administrator for six graduate degree programs (JSM, JSD and LLM), the primary resource for students and program applicants, and the go-to person for questions and issues related to these programs. In this role you are also responsible for the Visiting Scholar program and the Global Quarter Program.

This position reports directly to the Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid with additional reporting to the Associate Dean for Advanced Degree Programs and the Associate Dean for Global Programs. Additionally, the International Programs Coordinator will take direction from the faculty member in charge of each of the graduate degree programs and the Global Quarter Program.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Japanese Bilingual Freight Forwarding Coordinator
Posted by: Quick USA
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Carlos (Oita, 2019-2022) for passing along the following job opening via Quick USA.

A Japanese Logistics company is currently looking for a full time, fully onsite Japanese Bilingual Freight Forwarding Coordinator to join their Elk Grove Village, IL location.

This position is responsible for coordinating international freight forwarding operations, including air and ocean shipments, import/export procedures, customer service, and documentation. The role works closely with customers, contractors, and internal teams to ensure smooth and timely logistics operations.

DOE and skill, the pay range for this position would be between the 48k-50k mark. It also includes greater benefits. Prior experience in logistics is a plus, but Japanese bilingual candidates with no industry experience are encouraged to apply as well.

Your essential duties would include the following:

• Coordinate international air and ocean freight shipments from booking through final delivery
• Handle export and import operations, including booking, transportation arrangements, arrival notices, and delivery coordination
• Prepare and manage shipping, customs, and transportation documentation for import/export entries
• Provide quotations and issue invoices related to freight services
• Communicate with customers, contractors, carriers, and internal teams to ensure accurate and timely service
• Monitor shipment status, resolve issues, and provide regular updates to customers
• Negotiate freight rates and coordinate packing dimensions, weights, and routing details
• Maintain accurate records and process data within internal logistics systems

Please consider the following qualifications:

• Experience in logistics, transportation, or freight forwarding operations preferred
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Business-level proficiency in both English and Japanese
• Basic computer skills (email, data entry, documentation processing)
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Basic math skills and familiarity with domestic and international geography preferred

Application Process: Please send your resume to carlos [at] 919usa [dot] com

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here. 

Stay warm this winter with some hot local events, from live showcases that will transport you to another time and place, a clutch of wide release screenings, and a live K-pop performance you won’t want to miss.

This month’s highlights include:

Opens Thursday, Feb. 5

Kokuho

Angelika Film Center New York, 18 West Houston Street

$19

This historic hit broke a 22-year-old record in late November, becoming the highest-grossing live-action film of all time in Japan with over 12.3 million tickets sold to date, surpassing $111 million USD. In December, it was shortlisted for two Oscar categories — Best International Feature, in addition to Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, Kikuo decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. Across decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals, as each pushes to become the greatest living Kabuki master. Directed by Sang-il Lee (Hula Girls). Written by Satoko Okudera (Wolf Children) and Shûichi Yoshida (original novel). Starring Ryo Yoshizawa (Kingdom), Ryusei Yokohama (Your Eyes Tell) and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai).

Opens Friday, Feb. 6

Scarlet

Various theaters

Various prices

Includes special IMAX screenings! From visionary Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about Scarlet, a medieval-era, sword fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the Otherworld that exists somewhere between life and death, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage. When confronted again by her father’s killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge? “As we witness heartbreaking conflicts around the world, I believe that finding love and choosing to live together in unity is what will lead us towards something better. That’s why I want to share this new film with the world — now more than ever,” explains director Hosoda.

Feb. 18, 20-21

TWICE – This Is For World Tour

UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike (Elmont)

From $74.20

For the first time, global K-pop superstars TWICE will perform in-the-round on a 360-degree stage, transforming arenas into immersive spaces where fans can experience the show from every angle Most recently, TWICE released their 4th full length album, THIS IS FOR, which debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the group’s seventh consecutive entry on the chart. The girl group also contributed to the official soundtrack for Netflix’s hit film KPop Demon Hunters. Members JEONGYEON, JIHYO, and CHAEYOUNG recorded a special version of the original track “TAKEDOWN,” featured during the film’s powerful end sequence and accompanied by exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the recording studio. Their rendition of the song went on to reach #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, while TWICE’s hit single “STRATEGY,” also included on the film’s soundtrack, achieved notable success on the Hot 100 as well. These accomplishments set the stage for TWICE’s highly anticipated 10th anniversary this October – a celebration of a decade of groundbreaking success, artistic evolution, and global impact. Members Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu will deliver their all-new production and a career-spanning setlist featuring hits like “The Feels,” “More & More,” “FANCY,” and “STRATEGY” to arenas worldwide.

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By Declan Somers, CEO of Mobal, and an Irish expat who has been living in Japan for a number of years. (Note: Mobal offers a discount to JETs and JET alumni. 50% off a voice product and 10% off any data product.) 

Most former JETs will tell you the same thing:

Japan never quite lets go of you.

You might leave your contracting organisation, your apartment key, and your bike behind-but the country stays with you. In the food you miss. In the language you half-dream in. In the quiet pull to go back, even years later.

For Tony Smith, founder of Mobal, that pull never disappeared either. But the story of Mobal- one of the most familiar mobile providers to JETs didn’t begin in Japan.

It began in Malawi.

A Holiday That Changed Everything

Tony didn’t travel to Malawi on a mission.

There was no grand plan. No charity proposal. No business model.

He was on holiday.

What he saw there, though, stayed with him. Not statistics or policy failures-but people. Families. Children. Communities living with a level of poverty that was impossible to unsee once you had seen it up close. Tony returned home and did something quietly radical.

Without telling his company, without telling his staff, he began donating Mobal’s profits to charity!!

No press release.
No mission statement.
Just a personal decision that business should do more.

Then he went further.

Rather than simply donating money, Tony started using what he knew best-business- to create viable social enterprises in Malawi. The goal wasn’t aid. It was dignity: meaningful work, local employment, and long-term sustainability in the very community he had visited.

Mobal’s Secret Mission

For years, Tony kept this to himself. Until his accountant intervened.

Pointing out that companies donating to charity could legally benefit from tax breaks, the accountant asked a very practical question:

“Why aren’t you telling anyone you’re doing this?”

That moment changed Tony’s approach and he decided to come clean. He informed his staff how profits were being used, formally embedded giving into Mobal’s mission, an founded a separate charity in the UK to distribute funds properly and transparently.

What had started as a private moral choice became a public commitment.

Japan Enters the Story (Again)

Several years later, the charity began working with international volunteers, including Japanese volunteers visiting Malawi through the JICA programme, primarily on educational projects. Then disaster struck. In 2015, catastrophic flooding displaced huge numbers of people in Southern Malawi, including children who could no longer attend school-let alone eat regularly.

Volunteers gathered to ask the simplest, hardest question:

What can we actually do right now?

Tony-who had loved Japan his entire life and had a small office in Tokyo- made an unexpected suggestion:

Why not set up a charity in Japan to help?

That idea became Seibo Japan, a registered Japanese NPO.

School Meals & SIM Cards: What’s the connection?

In February 2016, Seibo Japan and Seibo Malawi, using funds donated from Mobal together began feeding displaced schoolchildren at nursery schools in Malawi. The problem? Almost nobody in Japan knew who they were.

In the early days, Seibo Japan operated out of Mobal’s Tokyo office, sharing space- and occasionally ideas. That’s when the team noticed something else: Mobal had a really good SIM card. Perfect for foreign residents in Japan. JETs included.

In an unusual pivot twist, Seibo Japan’s two staff members became SIM salespeople. Tony promised that every sale they made would be donated to the cause.

It worked. Sales took off-helped enormously by Mobal’s presence at JET orientations at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, a setting familiar to thousands of former JETs reading this now.

What began as a workaround became a partnership.

The lines between charity and company blurred, in the best possible way.

The Power of YouTube

Then came Makoto’s stardom in 2019.

If you’ve ever seen “A Day in the Life of a Japanese Salaryman” on YouTube, you’ve already met him-even if you didn’t know it.

👉 https://youtu.be/6tmjXp_AYg0

The video racked up 11 million views, countless comments, and international attention. What viewers didn’t realise was that Makoto wasn’t just a “salaryman”—he was deeply involved in Seibo Japan and the work happening behind the scenes.

After that, attending a JET orientation became… complicated.

Makoto couldn’t walk through the venue without being stopped for selfies, autographs, and the inevitable:

“Wait—aren’t you that guy from YouTube?”

Fast Forward to 2026

It’s now the 10th anniversary of Seibo Japan. Makoto continues to run the organisation, raising funds through donations and initiatives like Malawian coffee sales via the Warm Hearts Coffee Club.

Mobal, meanwhile, is still doing what it quietly set out to do all those years ago:

• Profits still go to charity
• Social enterprises still provide over 600 meaningful jobs
• More than 20,000 children still receive a hot school meal every day
• Education remains at the centre of everything

Today, the work at Mobal is led by Declan (formerly Makoto’s colleague at Seibo & ex–Malawi volunteer), working alongside Makoto- another example of how careers, causes, and Japan itself have a habit of pulling people back together in unexpected ways.

Good Coffee always leads to a Good Story

One of the most quietly powerful developments in Seibo Japan’s story in Japan came via coffee. Fully funded by Mobal and supported by the wonderfully generous Ataka Trading, Seibo Japan runs a non-profit Malawian coffee business that does far more than sell beans. Yes, Makoto and his team do of course sell coffee online but the real impact happens offline, in classrooms across Japan.

At the time of writing, over 40 partner schools are involved.

Seibo Japan volunteers work with students to organise Malawi coffee sales events- often as part of international studies, ethics, or global citizenship programmes. Students help plan the event, promote it, and run the sale themselves.

Along the way, they learn about:

• Fair Trade and ethical supply chains
• The difference between charity and social enterprise
• How business skills can be used for social good
• What life looks like for students their own age in Malawi

Every yen raised goes directly to charity.

And sometimes, the story doesn’t end there.

In some cases, students later travel to Malawi themselves, meeting communities, visiting schools, and seeing exactly how the funds they helped raise are used.

For anyone who once stood in front of a Japanese classroom as a JET and tried to explain “internationalisation” in real terms, this model feels instantly familiar—and quietly revolutionary.

Learn more here and reach out if you have a school to introduce!

Home

👉 https://www.charity-coffee.jp/en/

Why This Matters to JET Alumni 🇯🇵

If you’re a former JET, this story probably feels familiar.

• A life changed by living abroad
• Small decisions that snowball into something bigger
• Japan acting as a connector between people, cultures, and causes

JET alumni continue to choose Mobal not just because it works but because it aligns.

• No confusing contracts
• English-friendly support
• Japanese phone numbers without the bureaucratic headache
• And purchases that directly support education and social impact

A Little Something Extra for JET Alumni (and a Coffee Warning ☕)

Because this story has always been intertwined with the JET community, there’s a small thank-you built in.

JET alumni—and their friends and family—can receive a 50% discount on a Mobal voice SIM or eSIM using the dedicated JET Alumni discount link.

And if you’re visiting Tokyo?

You’re very welcome to visit the Seibo Japan charity office, where there’s a good chance you’ll meet Makoto himself—though fair warning: you may leave with a bag of Malawian coffee beans, sold with enthusiasm, purpose, and just a hint of mischief.

It’s not a showroom.
It’s not a pitch.
It’s simply another example of how Mobal, Seibo Japan, and the JET community continue to overlap in wonderfully human ways.

Stay Connected. Do Good. Come Back to Japan.

Mobal is proof that not all meaningful projects begin with a business plan.

Sometimes they begin with a holiday.
A moment of discomfort.
And a decision to quietly do the right thing-until it becomes impossible not to share it.

For JETs who still carry Japan with them, this is a story worth staying connected to.

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Note: Mobal offers a discount to JETs and JET alumni. 50% off a voice product and 10% off any data product.