JQ Magazine: Manga Review — ‘Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan’
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“If you enjoy or are interested in manga, history and yokai, or if you appreciate excellent works such as Barefoot Gen and Maus, then Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan and the rest of the series is a must-read.” (Drawn and Quarterly)
By Julio Perez Jr. (Kyoto-shi, 2011-13) for JQ magazine. A bibliophile, writer, translator, and graduate from Columbia University, Julio is currently seeking opportunities with publications in New York. You can follow his enthusiasm for Japan, literature, and board gaming on Twitter @brittlejules.
Shigeru Mizuki is a world-famous manga artist and writer best known for his work on yokai, which deals with Japanese ghosts, monsters and supernatural stories. He is the creator of Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro, his most famous work about yokai, and he is also well known and respected in Japan for his autobiographical work about growing up and serving as as a soldier in World War II-era Japan. He created a well researched historical and autobiographical manga about the Showa period which received the Kodansha Manga Award in 1990 and is now being published in English by Drawn and Quarterly. The first of four volumes, Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan, was translated by JET alum Zack Davisson (Nara-ken, 2001-04; Osaka-shi, 2004-06) and released last November. (For more on Davisson, read our exclusive JQ interview with him here.)
This illustrated history of Japan is praised for its accuracy in portraying the atrocities of the Japanese military during the Pacific War while also showing how the Japanese people themselves suffered on the home front. At 91 years old today, Mizuki has given us a complete and accurate account of an entire age that few alive today remember and that the rest never knew firsthand. The story is an important and valuable resource meant for generations of people who have not experienced the chaos of war and the despair of starvation. The manga is very much meant to educate the next generation of Japanese children about the controversial and darker parts of their history and to serve as a cautionary tale to remember in times of peace. It does not sugarcoat anything, and gives great insight into the tensions between Japan and China, North and South Korea, and other countries in Asia that persist today.
Kyodo News “JET Alumni” series: Jenson Deokiesingh (Toyama)
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News agency Kyodo News has recently been publishing monthly articles written by JET alumni who were appointed in rural areas of Japan, as part of promotion for the JET Programme. Below is the English version of the column from December 2013. Posted by Celine Castex (Chiba-ken, 2006-11), currently programme coordinator at CLAIR Tokyo.
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I am reminded that my love story was very much a mutual one and I fondly think, “In life we meet, only to part, so we can meet again.”
Untitled
I have always loved Yayoi Kusama. There’s an unexplainable magic and unorthodox beauty about her signature polka dot patterns. I had seen compelling images of her kaleidoscopic, “Love is Calling,” installation designed specifically for the Mori Art Museum’s 10th Anniversary Exhibition and immediately knew I had to see it.
On September 1st, my last day in Japan and ironically the last day of the “All You Need Is Love” exhibition, I went searching for Kusama to bid her a final farewell.
As I meandered from one provocative exhibit to another, I found myself riveted to the entrance of the section, “Losing Love”. Written on the stark white wall, in simple black text, were the words: Great love stories are often about the encounter with and subsequent loss of loved ones. I stood there, in a trance, repeating these words, over and over, until they became deeply etched in my memory.
A film of tear glazed my dark brown eyes; wedged in my throat was a painful lump; and my heart slowly crumbled with each excruciating beat it gave. The inevitable truth I was desperately trying to avoid was now blinding me in a sobering reality. My life as a JET, my Japanese love story, was irrefutably over.
On Friday, October 18th, I had my first job interview since returning to my vibrant and colourful country of Trinidad and Tobago. Truthfully, the interview was going terribly. A frightening combination of nerves and adrenaline had left me uncharacteristically inarticulate. I was about to cite it as one for the history books, when the interviewer inquisitively said, “Please tell me about your experience on the JET Programme.”
That one sentence was all I needed to give me the confidence I had momentarily lost. With an inescapable smile imprinted on my face, I gleefully declared that living and working in Japan have been incontrovertibly the best experience of my life thus far. And, it truly was.
My first years in Toyama are as vivid and clear as Toyama’s spring mountain waters. The hot embarrassment pulsating through my body as I wished the staff after a long day’s work “Gochisousama deshita (Thank you for the feast)” instead of the customary “Otsukaresama deshita (Thank you for your hard work)” still turns my brown cheeks rouge. Excitedly waking up early in the morning for my first school photo, wearing my best suit, whistling as I biked to work, and then having a crow defecate on my new suit still brings me uncontrollable laughter. Taking a lunch break at the school’s garden, reading Haruki Murakami’s “Sputnik Sweetheart” and then being stung by a several caterpillars still gives me chills. However, crazily running into the staff room, shouting, “Itai! Abunai! Itai! (Pain! Dangerous! Pain!)”, and having my vice principal heroically take the school’s vacuum to vacuum my back change those shudders into immeasurable smiles. Read More
JETAA British Columbia Newsletter – December 2013
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The latest issue of the JETAABC (JETAA British Columbia) Newsletter is now available. In this issue, they talk about a road trip in rural Hokkaido, the JETAA Canada Conference held in Montreal, the Sempai Program mentorship for new JETs, and much more!
- PDF: http://www.jetaabc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/NewsletterV18N2.pdf
- Online viewer version on Issuu.com at http://issuu.com/jetaabc/docs/newsletterv18n2
Job: Admin Assistant at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN (NYC)
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Position: Administrative Assistant
Posted By: Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN (Social Section)
Location: New York City
Overview:
The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations is seeking an Administrative Assistant in the Social Section at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
1) Draft and prepare letters and diplomatic correspondence
2) Assist in logistics/protocol for conferences, meetings, briefings, receptions, and other official functions
3) Edit English in both official/unofficial documents
4) Manage appointment schedules for the section, visiting diplomats, and VIPs
5) Attend meetings/conferences at UN as necessary
6) Respond to inquiries
7) Assist other officers and staff in the section when needed Read More
JQ Magazine: Hark! The Herald KFC
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Good tidings we bring for you and your kin /
Good tidings for chicken and a happy new year. (Jarrad Skinner)
By Jarrad Skinner (Toyama-ken, 2007-11) for JQ magazine. Jarrad is an instructional designer for interactive online courses in the mental health field. Otherwise, he’s obsessed with game design, comedy, and hip-hop. After being born on Long Island, educated in Manhattan, and confused in Japan, he lives in Brooklyn. You can find him on the dance floor.
It’s Christmas Eve and KFC is out of chicken. This can’t be life. We didn’t make reservations, so we can’t have any chicken. It’s one thing to walk into KFC on Christmas Eve to get a bucket of greasy poultry parts, but it’s a whole other indignity to be told you can’t have any. Biscuits and sides will have to do.
As many of you probably already know, KFC pulled off some kind of unholy cross-cultural coup to convince a good portion of Japan that KFC and Christmas go together like peanut butter and jelly. Well, that is, if you’re American, PB&J go together naturally. And that’s really the point that I had to stubbornly learn again and again in Japan: nothing naturally goes with anything. We make it up as we go and then get used to our inventions. We become so used to them, we call them natural or traditional or don’t call them anything at all because we take them for granted like pizza with tuna fish topping.
If there’s one thing we take for granted more than readily available pairings of foods, it’s family. You might be a jackass today, but you expect family to be there tomorrow anyway. And if there’s one message that’s been drilled into our heads by the seasonal onslaught of holiday songs and shows, it’s “Go home to your family!” Every memory of every sitcom holiday special featuring some selfish oaf learning the lesson that the real present at Christmas is family reminds me that as the holidays approach in Japan I feel…unnatural.
【RocketNews24】10 little-known rules for eating Japanese food
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Michelle Lynn Dinh (Shimane-ken, Chibu-mura, 2010–13) is an editor and writer for RocketNews24, a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.
Japanese food, called washoku in Japan, has just been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, but you didn’t need an official declaration to know that sushi and tempura are absolutely delicious. But while enjoying Japanese food, have you ever mixed wasabi and soy sauce as a dip for your sushi? Or how about using your bowl as a chopstick rest? If so, you’ve committed an etiquette faux pas. Take a look at our list of 10 little-known rules for eating Japanese food and save yourself some embarrassment while enjoying a traditional Japanese meal.
Job: Senior Admissions Counselor, Summer Programs Abroad- Syracuse University (NY)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Senior Admissions Counselor, Summer Programs Abroad
Posted by: Syracuse University
Location: Syracuse, NY
Type: full-time
Salary: $36,000 to $39,000
Overview:
- Work with Assistant Director for Summer Programs at SU Abroad to implement more than 40 summer programs.
- Has lead responsibility for developing budgets.
- Manage admissions process and student services.
- Ensure coverage for on-campus recruitment, efficient application and post-acceptance processing, including preparation and timely distribution of program information and pre-departure materials, visa processing, registration, financial aid and billing functions for over 600 applicants and more than 400 participating SU and non-SU students.
Job: Disney International College Program Coordinator (Montclair, NJ)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Disney International College Program Coordinator
Posted by: Disney International College Program (DICP) at Montclair State University
Location: Montclair, NJ
Type: part-time hourly position (approximately 20 hours per week) $15-18 per hour, commensurate with experience.
Overview:
Under the supervision of the Director of International Services, with indirect reporting to the Director of Study Abroad, perform visa and logistical tasks associated with the Disney International College Program (DICP) at Montclair State University. The DICP hosts approximately 200 students per year from China for a short term program at MSU followed by an internship at Walt Disney World in Florida. The Disney Program Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the J1 visa process for these students as well as all logistics for their stay in Montclair. The Disney Program Coordinator will also provide general support to International Services programs.
Job: Short-Term Abroad Program Assistant- George Washington University (Washington DC)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Study Abroad Operations Assistant
Posted by: George Washington University
Location: Washington DC
Type: short-term, full-time (M-F 9-5)
Overview:
Founded in 1821, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia, to include ten academic units, with a full-time equivalent enrollment of a little over 20,000 students and approximately 11,000 full-time and part-time employees (faculty and staff). The George Washington University is a community dedicated to learning, communication, respect, service and teamwork. As one of the largest private employers in the District of Columbia, the university seeks employees who support the teaching, research, and public service mission of the university.
Job: EFL Teacher at Elementary School (Southern Japan)
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Position: EFL Teacher
Location: Kitakyushu City, Japan
Type: Full-time
Salary: $50~60,000 a Year (with TESOL Certificate and bachelor degree); $60~70,000 a Year (with MA in TESOL)
Overview:
Keiai Elementary School, a private institution and located in Kitakyushu City, would like to find highly qualified ESL teachers who complete TESOL program at US universities to work for them in Kitakyushu, Japan. Read More
WIT Life #258: Ivan Ramen debut!
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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.
The recent addition of Japanese food or 和食 (washoku) to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list is something that warmed the hearts of all of us Japanophiles out there. Although sushi gets more attention, ramen is what is considered to be Japan’s soul food and is increasing its presence here in the city at a rapid rate. I previously wrote about the impending arrival of Ivan Ramen to the New York scene, and his slurp shop has now set up camp in the new Gotham West Market. I finally had the chance to try it out the other day, and really enjoyed the meal even though I am not a huge ramen lover to begin with. My friend and I shared a bowl each of the roasted garlic mazemen and the chili eggplant mazemen (pictured here), both featuring rye noodles and minimal broth. I liked the powerful punch of the garlic version with its chicken and dashi double soup, whereas my friend preferred the milder vegetarian version.
Besides three other types of regular ramen, there are two kinds of donburi and curry rice. To hear more about Ivan Orkin and his path to becoming a ramen restauranteur, check out this profile in today’s NYT.
Job: Sales and Travel Administrator for Art of Travel (Tokyo)
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Position: Sales and Travel Administrator
Posted By: Art of Travel
Location: Tokyo
Type: Full-time
Salary: Negotiable based on experience; JPY 2.2 – 3.2 million.
Overview:
This job entails a variety of responsibilities, including planning itineraries for international visitors to Japan and for Japanese and expats traveling abroad; handling communication & mailings, translation both written and oral, assisting visitors during their stay in Japan, and more.
Job: Study Abroad Coordinator, Knox College (IL)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Study Abroad Coordinator
Posted by: Knox College
Location: Galesburg, IL
Type: full-time
Overview:
The Stellyes Center for Global Studies at Knox College invites applications for a full-time Study Abroad Coordinator (with part-time summer hours). Knox currently has three Knox-run study abroad programs, three exchange programs and more than 30 pre-approved programs around the world. Applicants for this position must have study abroad or other international travel experience, as well as experience working with college students. This is a 12-month position: 10 months are full-time and 2 summer months are half-time.
Knox College is a nationally ranked, private, residential liberal arts college of 1420 undergraduate students located in Galesburg, Illinois. Founded in 1837 by social reformers strongly opposed to slavery, Knox was one of the first colleges in the United States open to all, regardless of race, gender, and financial means. With a campus population of remarkable diversity that includes students from 48 states and 51 countries, significant representation of first-generation college students, and substantial cultural and racial-ethnic diversity, Knox is a vibrant and creative community.
Job: Study Abroad Advisor, St. Norbert College (WI)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Study Abroad Advisor
Posted by: St. Norbert College
Location: De Pere, Wisconsin
Type: full-time
Overview:
St. Norbert College has an opening for a full-time Study Abroad Advisor responsible for working closely with students in all phases of the study abroad process, including promotion and outreach, advising and selection, on-going orientation, and credit transfer. Position will prepare students for a successful immersion experience; develop opportunities for returning students, and assist in program administration, assessment, and development. Occasional evenings and weekends.
In addition, position will produce print and electronic promotional/marketing materials, perform administrative tasks (monitor e-mail, maintain databases, website, social media outlets and online application system), assist with design and implementation of pre-departure and re-entry programming initiatives, and compile data from pre-departure and re-entry surveys and additional data for program reporting.
Job: Education Abroad Advisor at University of Georgia (Athens)
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Posted by Jayme Tsutsuse (Kyoto-fu, 2013-Present), organizer of Cross-Cultural Kansai. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Education Abroad Advisor
Posted by: University of Georgia
Location: Athens, Georgia
Type: full-time
Overview:
Duties include advising students on study abroad options; disseminating information on study abroad and exchanges to students, faculty and staff, parents, and other constituencies; and supporting UGA’s emphasis on academic rigor, health and safety, and affordability of UGA students’ experiences abroad.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master’s degree, plus minimum two years experience in the field of international education
Foreign language experience - Strong written and oral communication skills, including:
- Ability to prepare and present workshops for students and faculty
- Ability to prepare promotional materials related to study abroad
- Proficiency in PC based software: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access; Background in database management and web page development preferred
- Strong organizational and administrative skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work in a professional and collegial capacity with students, administrators and faculty
- Prior study or work abroad experience; previous participation in semester or year-long study abroad program preferred; experience with event planning helpful
- Attention to detail
Preferred Qualifications:
In-country study and/or work experience of a semester or more; experience in student advising; fluency in a foreign language.
Additional Information:
Please visit the job listing for more information and to apply.
