Mar 10

Job: Program Officer, Global Policy Programs at Asia Society (DC)

Via Idealist.org. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12)Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Program Officer
Type: Full-time

Overview:

Asia Society, a prestigious, global, educational, and cultural non-profit seeks a Program Officer to develop and implement policy related public activities in Washington as Asia Society launches a new Asia Society Policy Institute. The PO manages the Society’s public events In Washington. The PO also tracks developments related to Asia Society’s priority issues and assists in developing and implementing strategies to promote the organization’s policy work in Washington. Read More


Mar 10

WIT Life #263: Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami 3-year anniversary

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.

Today in Japan (where it is already March 11) marks three years since the earthquake/tsunami hit the Tohoku region.  In a nationally televised news conference to commemorate the anniversary, Prime Minister Abe talked about the children who have lived their whole lives only knowing their home as a disaster-stricken area, saying he wanted to invite as many of them as possible to the 2020 Olympics as a “symbol of reconstruction.”  Over the last three years recovery has taken place, though not at a pace as fast as some would like.  The news this morning reported that out of the “reconstruction housing” that is to be built in the affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, only 3% has been completed.  Many of the over 267,000 evacuees are living in temporary housing that has become more permanent than temporary.

In terms of what can be done to help, many speak of the necessity of implementing not only one-time events, but sustainable activities that will serve as a source of both economic and psychological sustenance.  Experts on a recent Japanese political talk show agreed that the goal should not be returning the region to what it once was, some even lamenting oft-used terms such as “reconstruction assistance” and “affected area.”  They claim that these ways of thinking are not a basis for moving forward, but looking back.  They encourage those who want to help to focus their efforts on Read More


Mar 10

Donate for Tohoku on March 11 and Make Your Support TWICE As Effective!

2x4-Vertical3/11 Update:  FYI, the 24 hour deadline for Global Giving to match donations to the Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund and other 3/11 initiatives has been lifted, and they will continue to match JET contributions until matching funds run out. So JETs/alums can continue to double their donations!

*Link to the Global Giving Matching Page:  http://www.globalgiving.org/leaderboards/japan-matching-2014/ to see how much various groups are raising.

*Link to the JETAA USA Event Page:  https://www.facebook.com/jetaausa

*The link to donate has been added!

Put this on your calendar!  

JETAA USA is supporting the Taylor Anderson Memorial Foundation for a 24 hour donation drive that starts when the clock strikes midnight in Japan on March 11. And GlobalGiving has offered to match these donations.

This is a great opportunity to show our ongoing support for Tohoku by going to the Global Giving website on March 11th to make a donation during the matching grant period.

Online donation drive

Donation websitehttp://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/jets-rally-for-tohoku/

Starts: 12:00 midnight Japan time on 3/11 (11 am EST, March 10; 8 am PST, etc)

Ends: 11:59 p.m. Japan time on 3/11 (10:59 am EST on March 10)

Background

Three years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the devastation in Tohoku has largely faded from the news. However, so much remains to be done for the survivors and TAMF has been partnering with a number of organizations in Japan to provide relief and help the people of Tohoku build a strong and vibrant future.

Smile Together IshinomakiTAMF has provided funding to the following projects:

  • Living Dreams: Tohoku Kids Project

  • Hope for Tomorrow

  • JET Micro Grants

  • Taylor Anderson Reading Corners

  • Taylor Sendai YMCA Scholarships

  • Exchange Programs

For more information on TAMF, please go to http://www.taylorandersonmemorialfund.org/, their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/taylorandersonmemorialfund, or watch the NHK interview with Jeanne and Andy at https://vimeo.com/86637051.

JETAA USA is proud to partner with TAMF to carry on the support JETs and JET alumni have shown for Japan and the people of Tohoku ever since March 2011.

Caroline Kennedy visiting Miyagi Prefecture

Details:

All donations up to $1,000 per individual donor made to the Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund on March 11th Japan time will be matched by Global Giving through their Japan Match Global Giving program. (Global Giving will charge a 15% facilitation fee to cover their costs, which donors may choose to cover if they wish so that their full donation amount goes to TAMF. See the page for details.)

We are also very happy to see Ambassador Kennedy giving her backing to their mission, as well.  For coverage of her recent trip to Ishinomaki and visit to Mangokuura Elementary School, where Taylor taught, please check out the article at http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/recovery/AJ201311250099.


Mar 10


Here’s a link to the latest AJET eConnect News including election results for AJET National Council and Block Representatives:
 http://ajet.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/t/41D89C9C8F5BDDC3/F3775150656FF295C9C291422E3DE149

AJETlogo

And, fyi, here are the current election results:

Congratulations to the newly elected members of the 2014-2015 AJET National Council!

Executive Council
Chair, Sandy Cheng
Vice Chair, Xan Wetherall
Treasurer, Aaron Gilling

CIR Representative
Rochelle Zheng

Block Representatives
Block 1, Pending
Block 2, Matthew Headland
Block 3, Chris Low
Block 4, Patrick Loyer
Block 5, Derek Gumb
Block 6, Ashlie O’Neill
Block 7, Kevin Chen
Block 8, Casey McGarraugh
Block 9, Dustin Reimar
Block 10, Emily Maitland
Block 11, Tka Tyne

You can see the official resultshere on AJET.net.


Mar 9
Sunrise over Iwaki: A local pre-dawn commemorative service took place on March 8, 2014, which included taiko performances and ended with the sunrise over the Pacific. (Alexandrea “Xan” Wetherall)

Sunrise over Iwaki: A local pre-dawn commemorative service took place on March 8, 2014, which included taiko performances and ended with the sunrise over the beach near Shinmaikohama Park. (Alexandrea “Xan” Wetherall)

 

 

By Eden Law (Fukushima-ken, 2010-11) for JQ magazine. Eden lived and worked in the core city of Iwaki on JET, and he is a current committee member of JETAA NSW, based in Sydney, Australia.  

Introduction

It’s been three years since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. While the rest of the world, and arguably, the rest of Japan, has moved on, communities all along the east and north coast continue to endure and deal with the continuing legacy and consequences of that event, especially those displaced from the exclusion zone around TEPCO’s Daiichi plant.

The JET Programme continues to operate, with the government previously announcing plans to double the number of participants over three years. JETs continue to live and work in Tohoku, including JETs who were there before the earthquake, joined later by those placed after 2011. This article will examine the experiences and viewpoints of JETs who continue to work and live in Tohoku, in particular, those living in Iwaki, Fukushima, a city just past the the southern edge of the nuclear exclusion zone. Three years on, they will relate what they’ve seen and observed in their neighbourhood and the city. In addition, the viewpoints of two local Japanese residents will also be included, one from a retired member of a suburb in which evacuees have been housed; and a Japanese English teacher and mother of two.

Before the earthquake, Iwaki was one of the biggest rural cities in Fukushima, with a thriving fishing and farming industry, popular with tourists who come for its natural beauty and well-known beaches. A region rich in history from the Nara period (and prehistory, with its own dinosaur and fossil museums), it also has a famous theme park called the Spa Resort Hawaiians (made famous by the 2006 award-winning film Hula Girls) as well as the Aquamarine Fukushima aquarium. A mere 2.5 hours away from Tokyo by express train, it also supports a large JET community, ideal for those wanting to experience a rural pace with easy access to the bright lights of Tokyo. As a JET placement, it was arguably one of the best places to be.

Read More


Mar 8

harryHere’s a link to the official post on the CULCON website:  http://culcon.jusfc.gov/news/harry-hill-becomes-chairman-of-u-s-culcon

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the U.S. CULCON Panel are pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chairman, Mr. Harry A. Hill.

Mr. Hill, a native of New York City, has served as President and CEO of Oak Lawn Marketing, a branding and media company that owns Shop Japan, the largest infomercial brand in Japan, since 2006. He brings with him a wealth of experience related to educational and cultural exchange and entrepreneurship, having lived and worked in Japan for nearly thirty years.  Mr. Hill served as a participant on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme and its precursor program, the Monbusho English Fellows from 1987-1990 in Gifu Prefecture, where he created a strong network of individuals and government officials who would later help him in building his professional career.   His extensive professional experience includes founding H&R Consultants, a leading lease providing and relocation service in Tokyo and Nagoya.  In addition, Mr. Hill has been actively involved in numerous charitable and non-profit organizations, including the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, where he has been a member of the Tokyo Advisory Committee and long-time sponsor of its scholarship program.  “Mr. Hill will be an asset to the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and CULCON, bringing strong leadership experience as a successful entrepreneur, and a deep passion for strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship through educational and cultural exchange,” says Executive Director Paige Cottingham-Streater.  Mr. Hill’s expertise on Japan and cross-cultural communication skills will further advance the Commission and CULCON’s efforts to invest in Japanese and American studies, people-to-people exchanges and artistic and cultural initiatives.

Mr. Hill succeeds Read More


Mar 7

Student Delegates Sought for Upcoming Japan-America Student Conference (Deadline March 31)

This isn’t for JET alums per se. But if you know anyone who might be interested, it’s a great way to help support the future of Japan-US relations. Please note the March 31 application deadline.

Thanks to AJET Chair Kay Makishi for pointing JASC Executive Director Yuuki Shinomiya towards JETwit.

 Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12)Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Overview:

The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is currently recruiting student delegates for the 66th Annual Conference, which will be held in the U.S. in August 2014. This student-led exchange program, initiated in 1934 by university students concerned by the breakdown of bilateral relations prior to the Second World War, JASC has evolved into a leadership training program for both Japanese and American students. Read More


Mar 7

GLOBIS University MBA for JETs (Tokyo)

Thanks to JETAA UK Chair Sarah Parsons for sharing this info.  A great transition step opportunity for current JETs.  Sarah was recently in Tokyo to speak at the After JET Conference and while there met with people from GLOBIS who made her aware of this program and that scholarships are available for JETs.  Please not the March 12 deadline.  Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12)Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Overview:

GLOBIS University in Tokyo offers a full time and part-time MBA course taught in English with opportunities for internships. This is suitable for JETs wanting to bridge the gap between their time on JET and developing professional experience as well as a transferable qualification. There are scholarships available for fees that JETs are eligible for and also possible funding for living expenses. Read More


Mar 6

【RocketNews24】The Japanese universities where graduation is one giant cosplay party【Photos】

Posted by Michelle Lynn Dinh (Shimane-ken, Chibu-mura, 2010–13), editor and writer for RocketNews24The following article was written by Fran Wrigley, writer and translator for RocketNews24, a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.

The Japanese universities where graduation is one giant cosplay party【Photos】

We’ve seen what can happen when high schools relax the rules for yearbook photos. Today, we bring you the Japanese anything-goes graduation! At the Kanazawa College of Art, graduating students can wear anything they want to the ceremony – and they certainly rise to the challenge.

The students’ epic outfits have become such a popular attraction that TV crews even turn up to find and interview the wearers of this year’s best costumes. The effort these students have put into their outfits is really something!

Read More


Mar 5

Getting Married in Japan

Posted by Benjamin Martin, a JET from 2008-2013 in Okinawa, publisher of the blog MoreThingsJapanese.com and author of Revenge of the Akuma Clan
(Tuttle).

This post is an excerpt from the original on my blog, here to help anyone in Japan who might be considering settling down. Like most people, I had no idea what I was getting into but figured the process might not be quite as straight forward as going to a local court and signing some papers… I don’t think Kume Island even has a court…

I did what most would do and googled it. The American Embassy site explains the process quite clearly for US citizens. I’m sure most other countries have similar information available for their expats. It gives all the basic information, and I went to my local town hall to confirm. Since I live in such a small community it was rather easy and quick to get everything I need, but unlike large cities the offices are not open 24/7.

The first step for Americans is filling out the Affidavit of Competency to Marry and having it translated (or translate it yourself). On a side note, the legal marriage is called nyuseki (入籍) in Japan. For me this was easy as I followed the example provided on the site above. One thing to watch out for is the part where you write your passport number and issuing local. For me it turned out to be the Department of State and not a city so I had to rewrite the form at the last-minute.

To get the forms notarized you have to make an appointment with the embassy, which are limited and cost $50.  It was a pain (though the staff were very nice) and I had to make a special trip into the mainland to do it. With the added security you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time. You can’t even get to the gate without your appointment slip so don’t forget it. With the form in hand your work is done as far as preparations go.

Getting Married

IMG_2541All you should need at the town (city) hall is your passport and the competency form (notarized English and Japanese translation). Then you can fill out the form and have your partner do the same. If your partner is Japanese they’ll need their own forms (such as family register) which they can get at their own local town or city hall. You’ll also want to decide if your partner will be changing their honseki (permanent residence) at that time or at a later date. For foreigners you just write your nationality (in Japanese).

One good piece of advice I received and will pass on here is to go a day before you actually marry to have your forms checked over (you can get them in advance). Since the day you marry is often important in Japan, you can avoid having the date of marriage delayed due to a typo and re-entered form. As a foreigner, I filled in my name in Katakana and the rest in Japanese (be careful here, especially if you have a middle name. They originally tried to talk me into writing my middle and family name together, which would mean my wife would have to go by that rather than just Martin!). My significant other filled out the form in Japanese and had to fill out a separate form to take my name. Both forms are straight forward, though there’s a section about household work. For those of us who lived alone, it’s whatever work we were doing. For my partner it was the primary work of her father and mother. It’s something the person in charge can help you answer.

You’ll need two witnesses as well (remind them to bring their seals!). If everything is in order they’ll announce everything is alright and you’ll be legally married. You will also be able to get your notice of marriage certificates sometime after that (I got mine later that day).

All in all it was not a difficult process.. but you’ll see that (or read about it in a later post). It helped that we planned ahead and communicated with the town hall.

One thing to note is that when a Japanese person marries a foreigner they are removed from their family register and become a family of one. Until they have a child they are legally their own family (unless you become a Japanese citizen which does not happen automatically). That’s a big deal in Japan.

Also, if you’re reading this and you happen to be a wedding planner/cake maker/do everything so we don’t have to er/ in Japan willing to donate (cough cough) your services… let me know!

P.S. You might note this post is a bit lacking in any info on what happened around the form signing.  Keep an eye on TBS’s Motemote99 TV show in Japan to see what really happened.


Mar 3

Job: Program Coordinator at Baruch Leadership Academy (NYC)

From JET alum Eli Cohen (Tanegashima, 2009-10).  He currently works at Baruch College (CUNY) in NYC and says they have an immediate opening for a part-time Program Coordinator (Baruch Leadership Academy).  Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12)Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Program Coordinator
Location:
NYC

Overview:

The Academy is looking for an enthusiastic and organized Program Coordinator to work closely with the Director in the development and implementation of business operations for the entire program.   The Program Coordinator will be responsible for all Academy communications both the registered and prospective students and parents.  The position requires 20-30 hours of availability per week with an immediate placement. Read More


Mar 3

Job: [Teach For Japan] Openings in Development, Recruitment, Training and Mentoring (Tokyo)

[Steve’s Note:  Some very interesting and JET-relevant job openings with Teach for Japan received directly from the organization. (The listing is in Japanese because a high level of proficiency is required to work there.) Thanks to AJET Chair Kay Makishi for putting TFJ in touch with JETwit.

A little background in English: “We currently have a small team running the program, and we hope to expand the team as our operations expand moving forward. As does Teach For America, we send full-time teachers for at least two years to the most needy schools in Japan.” Read More


Mar 1

Job: 3 Immediate Openings at CSI (Kentucky & Nagoya)

Three openings:  Bilingual Admin Professional, Japanese/English Translator-Interpreter, and English Language & Cultural Instructor, all at CSI, a JET alum owned company based in Lexington, Kentucky that has hired a number of JET alums. Posted by blogger and podcaster Jon Dao (Toyama-ken, 2009-12)Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Positions are available in Kentucky, USA and Nagoya, Japan

Consultant Solutions, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will provide training and a support network that facilitates success. We will also consider relocation and/or visa support for the right candidate. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Paid Time Off, Retirement, Insurance and other standard perks apply. Consultant Solutions, Inc. may assign candidates to a subsidiary based upon skill-sets. Read More


Mar 1

JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Cade Mosley on His Return to Japan with Rotary International

"In my experience, Japan is going through an interesting evolution these days. It's starting to take a more assertive role in international affairs and taking more of a stand for human rights, development, and peaceful relations. This also makes it a very interesting time for Westerners to be engaged in Japan more than ever before." (Courtesy of Cade Mosley)

“In my experience, Japan is going through an interesting evolution these days. It’s starting to take a more assertive role in international affairs and taking more of a stand for human rights, development, and peaceful relations. This also makes it a very interesting time for Westerners to be engaged in Japan more than ever before.” (Courtesy of Cade Mosley)

 

By Mark Flanigan (Nagasaki-ken, 2000-04) for JQ magazine. Mark is a program director at the Japan ICU Foundation in New York City and was also a Rotary Peace Fellow at ICU from 2010-12, during which time he volunteered for a tsunami relief mission in Ishinomaki after the terrible 3/11 tragedy. In addition to his JET and Rotary service, Mark has also been a U.S. Army officer, Presidential Management Fellow, Pacific Forum CSIS Young Leader, Eisaku Sato Memorial Essay Contest prize winner, and Aspen Institute Socrates Program Seminar scholar. His interests lie in international education, disaster response, and post-conflict peacebuilding. He can be contacted at mflanigan[at]jicuf.org.

Christopher Cade Mosley (Nagasaki-ken, 2000-01) is a current Rotary Peace Fellow at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo and previously served as a JET for one year. Born in Texas and raised mostly in Fort Worth, Mosley attended the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in government and philosophy. He also spent a semester abroad in Haifa, Israel and interned for Congressional House Majority Leader Dick Armey in Washington, D.C. He was also on student government for their department (Liberal Arts), chairing the committee on study abroad. In this exclusive interview, JQ caught up with Mosley to discuss his lifelong interest in politics and international affairs.

Thanks for your time and for answering our questions, Cade! Would you please tell everyone about your time on JET?

I was a JET in 2000-01 on a long, thin island called Tsushima in Nagasaki, but physically closer to the city of Fukuoka, nestled in the strait between the cities of Pusan and Fukuoka. Tsushima is famous for a decisive sea battle Japan won against Russia in 1905 that first put Japan on the map as a world power and set its course into the 20th century. There’s a massive Russian battleship sunk just off the coast from my apartment there! (Too deep to see, though.) I taught for the second largest district, called Mitsushima, on the south end of the island.

What was your JET role?

I was an ALT at four schools in my district, spending a week in each so that I would rotate through all four in a month. I spent Monday through Thursday assisting the teacher with the lesson, usually coming up with some creative activity or role play to complement the lesson, and Fridays at our BOE.

Did you have any previous background in Asian languages and cultures?

I actually was accepted to JET while I was teaching English in Seoul, South Korea, and my friends there insisted I take the opportunity. Before Seoul, I didn’t have any experience. My whole reason for going to Seoul and applying to JET were because I had zero experience with Asia and thought it would be a good chance to get to know the region, since I was already interested in international affairs at that time.

Read More


Mar 1

Life After JET: A Rabu (Love) Story

The original article was first published in Volume 48 No.4 Summer 2013-2014 edition of Japan Reports from the Consulate-General of Japan, Sydney, and also reproduced on the JETAA NSW site. The article was written by Blair Milne (Nara-ken ALT, 2010-2012), originally from Scotland, on how he met and married a fellow JET (Carly Milne, Nara-ken ALT, 2010-2012), and finally settled with her in her hometown of Sydney, Australia, both of whom kindly gave their permission for re-publication.

Posted by Eden Law (Fukushima-ken ALT, 2010-2011), of JETAA NSW.

Japan: A Rabu (Love) Story

My name is Blair and I came from Scotland to work as a JET in Nara Prefecture for two years. Among all the fantastic opportunities that came from working on the JET Programme, I was lucky to meet my Australian wife Carly early on in my time in Japan. So after proposing during the Sakura Light Up at Nijo Castle in Kyoto, then marrying in the Old Town of Edinburgh, we have “returned” to Sydney to begin our lives after JET. In this article, I wish to reflect on my experience on the JET Programme, and the importance of maintaining links to Japan.

Firstly, I came on the JET Programme to experience living in a culture alien to my own, and to experience life on the other side of the world (and, of course, for the sushi). The things that excited me most were being able to contribute to school life, and to introduce aspects of my own culture to the school. At the same time, knowing no Japanese was a daunting prospect. In hindsight, all the initial worries were largely unwarranted. No matter how alien the language was, some form of assistance was never too far away, and common sense was a winner. From buying a train ticket to finding food in the supermarket, I took my time and tried not to be overwhelmed.

It was at a welcome BBQ for new JETs on the banks of the Totsukawa River that I first met Carly. Carly had come on the programme a year before, having studied Japanese at school then university. When Carly offered me a piece of her renkon (a Japanese vegetable), I knew we were destined to be partners in crime.

There are two senior high schools in Kashihara City: My school, Unebi, and my wife’s school, Kashihara. So when we were first spotted together, sipping coffee at Mister Donuts, I dread to think of the commotion we might have caused in the town. Certainly, grinning students became a pleasant part of life early on in our relationship. Later on, Carly and I were able to share parts of our life with our Japanese friends, from photos of our wedding, to stories about our travels around Japan. Sharing our life experience with friends in Japan was one of the best parts about being in Japan for Carly and me.

Relationships are such an integral part of being on JET, from students to colleagues to Japanese friends outside work, as well as other expats living in Japan. In many respects, it is important anywhere, but the unique situation of being on JET can add challenges: differences in language and culture can change dynamics in both obvious and subtle ways. I think for me, overcoming these differences was my biggest achievement on JET. (Apart from marrying Carly, of course!)

Now, living in Australia, I can look back fondly on everything I did in Japan, knowing I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t partaken in the JET Programme. Being in Australia for me also means learning about a new culture in much the same way as I did in Japan; new concepts like “a fair go” or Aussie Battler instead of Honne-Tatemae* and Salaryman. The smell of wattle in place of harvested rice fields, bushfires instead of typhoons, and Flat Whites instead of Frappucinos. Although I am loving life in Australia, and trying to make the most of the opportunities here, Carly and I both look forward to returning to Japan to see friends and maintain a connection to the community in which we met, and to remember all the little things about Japan that made us smile.

Blair Milne


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