JQ Magazine: Book Review – ‘Dreams of Love, Etc.’ from ‘Monkey Business Volume 3’
Article/Journalism, Books, Reviews, Roland Kelts 
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“Most striking about this piece is how astute Kawakami is in capturing not only the loneliness and boredom of daily life, but the paradox of how absurd life is and how, ultimately, it’s also really no big deal.” (A Public Space)
By Sharona Moskowitz (Fukuoka-ken, 2000-01) for JQ magazine. Sharona is interested in fresh, new voices in fiction and creative nonfiction.
In the latest issue of contemporary Japanese literature anthology Monkey Business Volume 3, Japanese novelist Mieko Kawakami writes of roses, post-earthquake malaise and a friendship that never quite consummates.
We first encounter the narrator, who inexplicably calls herself Bianca, as she stands on her porch tending to her bed of roses.
By her own admission, Bianca’s days are filled with nothing—“I don’t work. I’m not pregnant. I don’t watch TV. I don’t read books. Come to think of it, I do absolutely nothing.” What she is, however, is a wife—a loaded title for a Japanese woman with its implications of duty and decorum. Yet she wants more—much more. What exactly, she isn’t quite sure.
Stuck in the doldrums of her daily existence, she thinks and rethinks the simplest decisions, her inner monologue playing out like T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” (“Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?”) What little volition she has is spent on tending to her plants, a hobby she developed after the earthquake, perhaps as an outlet for her nurturing tendencies, or, more likely, as a reminder that life was returning to normal after the shaker and its ensuing chaos.
Job: Writer/Editor for Ishida Taiseisha (Tokyo)
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A nice JET-relevant listing received directly from the company. 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: Communications Coordinator
Type: Full-Time
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Salary: At least JYP 3,000,000 (dependent on skills and experience)
Overview:
Ishida Taiseisha Inc. is seeking a talented individual for writing/editing duties in its Tokyo office. The successful applicant will be responsible for creating high-quality B2B content for a leading international automaker. She or he will be comfortable writing everything from entertaining vignettes to in-depth feature articles exploring business practices in the automotive industry for a global audience.
The position also includes some international/domestic travel and supporting colleagues in translation projects and copy quality checks. Read More
Job: Student Exchange Program Manager (Seattle)
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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: Student Exchange Program Manager
Posted by: States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (S4-H) – Posted by Idealist
Location: Seattle, Washington
Type: Full Time
Starting Date: December 9, 2013
Overview:
The Program Manager is responsible to implement all aspects of one or more of S4-H’s exchange programs (Short-term Inbound and/or Outbound) to ensure quality program execution. This position reports directly to the President in a small office environment (currently 4 staff members total) and is expected to be able to work independently. The ideal candidate is one who believes in the value of international student exchange and is passionate about enhancing global citizenship and cultural understanding.
Job: Writer/Translator for RocketNews24 English (Online)
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See below for a very interesting writer/translator work opportunity from Michelle Lynn Dinh (Shimane-ken, Chibu-mura, 2010 – 2013), the editor for RocketNews24 English, a website specializing in quirky news from Japan and Asia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Writer/Translator
Posted by: RocketNews24 English
Type: Freelance
Salary: Calculated on a per article basis + incentive
Overview:
RocketNews24 English is looking to hire a few talented writers to help them grow! Thanks to a lot of hard work and its awesome readers, RockNews24 English is currently making plans to expand its website and increase our daily output. To this end, the site is looking for a couple of talented writers to join the team.
Requirements:
be creative individuals who write regularly.
enjoy keeping up to date with current events, trends and pop culture.
speak/read Japanese well (equivalent to JLPT N2 or better)
be able to produce five or more articles per week
Applicants from all over the world are welcome. They are also looking for speakers of Chinese, Korean or other Asian languages.
Application Instructions:
(If you apply, make sure to indicate that you learned of the listing via JETwit.)
Please send your resume, Japanese and English, and translations (see #2 below) to recruit @ en.rocketnews24.com
1）Please write the following IN JAPANESE in your e-mail.
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Name：
Age：
Address：
Motivation for applying：
E-mail address：
Telephone number：
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※Please write『英訳ライタースタッフ応募／氏名』for the subject.
※Please attach a picture of yourself with your resume.
2）Please translate the following two articles and submit them with your resume
1. ■普通じゃない！神戸北野で異人館を改装した『スターバックス』に行ってきた
2. Please write an original piece that you think would be a good fit for RocketNews24. This could be a loose translation of an article from a foreign language website, a short piece introducing something neat you found on the net or your own personal opinion or anecdotal piece based on your experiences in Japan and Asia.
Only accepted applicants will be notified of the results.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, RocketNews24 is a Japanese-language news blog. Since their humble launch in 2008, they’ve built a massive fan base by reporting the interesting, strange and random—much of it brought over from the English-speaking world.
Job: Communications Coordinator at Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University (NY)
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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: Communications Coordinator
Type: Temp w/ Possible Full-Time Future
Overview:
“The Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University is in search of a creative, organized, and marketing-savvy professional to join our team and coordinate our overall communications. The ideal candidate must be comfortable implementing a 360 degree approach to communications, which includes, but not limited to: social, digital, & print media; public relations & press outreach; and strategic advertising.” Read More
Job: Writer/Translator for RocketNews24 English (Online)
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This is a re-post of a previously listed position. They found some good candidates but are looking for more! Except Michelle wants to make clear that applicants can be located anywhere, i.e., you don’t have to be in Japan to do it.
See below for a very interesting writer/translator work opportunity from Michelle Lynn Dinh (Shimane-ken, Chibu-mura, 2010 – 2013), the editor for RocketNews24 English, a website specializing in quirky news from Japan and Asia. 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: Writer/Translator
Posted by: RocketNews24 English
Type: Freelance
Salary: Calculated on a per article basis + incentive
Overview:
RocketNews24 English is looking to hire a few talented writers to help them grow! Thanks to a lot of hard work and its awesome readers, RockNews24 English is currently making plans to expand its website and increase our daily output. To this end, the site is looking for a couple of talented writers to join the team.
Requirements:
- be creative individuals who write regularly.
- enjoy keeping up to date with current events, trends and pop culture.
- speak/read Japanese well (equivalent to JLPT N2 or better)
- be able to produce five or more articles per week
They are also looking for speakers of Chinese, Korean or other Asian languages. Read More
【RocketNews24】Ninja life skills: 7 tips to make learning Japanese that little bit easier
Article/Journalism, Language Study, Writers Comments Off on 【RocketNews24】Ninja life skills: 7 tips to make learning Japanese that little bit easier
Posted by Michelle Lynn Dinh (Shimane-ken, Chibu-mura, 2010–13), editor and writer for RocketNews24. The following article was written by Philip Kendall (Fukushima-ken, Shirakawa-shi, 2006–11), senior editor and writer for RocketNews24, a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.
Despite its apparent difficulty, Japanese is fast becoming one of the world’s most desirable languages to learn, with more and more Westerners studying it every day. Eventually, though, we all hit a wall with our studies and feel like we’re not making any progress. The books you threw yourself into with such enthusiasm start to become a chore to open, the army of kanji characters you have yet to study stare back at you with mocking disdain, and despite all the hours you put in you still can’t quite keep up with that anime you were determined to watch without subtitles. It happens to the best of us, but there are ways to break out of this rut, not to mention rekindle that love for studying Japanese, or any other language for that matter.
So today we’d like to bring you our short list of tips and tricks for boosting your Japanese language ability and make studying less of a chore. The following is a combination of both tips and experiences of foreigners who have achieved varying degrees of fluency in the language and our combined knowledge. It’s by no means the final word in language study, but give some of these a try and we’re sure you’ll be surprised at how quickly your Japanese proficiency improves.
JQ Magazine: 2013 JETAA National Conference in Minneapolis Recap
Article/Journalism, Earthquake Tsunami, Events, JETAA Chapters, JQ Magazine, Return on JET-vestment, Sister City Comments Off on JQ Magazine: 2013 JETAA National Conference in Minneapolis Recap
JETAA USA National Conference participants in Minneapolis with former Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale, Sept. 26, 2013. (Courtesy of Yeu-Li Huang)
By Yeu-Li Huang (Yamanashi-ken, 2007-2010) for JQ magazine. Yeu-Li is the current chapter secretary of the JET Alumni Association of the Southeast (JETAASE).
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The JET Alumni Association of Minnesota (JETAAMN) hosted this year’s USA National Conference from Sept. 26-29 with assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Attendees included delegates from all 19 JETAA USA chapters, as well as representatives from CLAIR, MOFA, and the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago.
Each national conference spotlights particular challenges facing the JETAA community. This year was no different, as critical topics included continuation of the JETAA national initiatives, common issues facing JETAA chapters, membership outreach, and collaboration between JETAA chapters and other Japan-related organizations.
Thursday, Sept. 26
The conference got underway with an evening reception at the restaurant Crave, featuring former Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale as a special guest. A native Minnesotan, Mondale was also the U.S. ambassador to Japan from 1993-96. In his speech, Mr. Mondale praised the work that the JET Program has done in building personal relationships between Japan and the U.S., and called for “JETers” to continue fostering those ties.
Posted by Gemma Villanueva (Fukushima 2008-11). She is the editor for the JETAA Ottawa Newsletter.
Message from the JET Desk:
The Embassy of Japan requires Paper Selection Committee Members to help select the 2013-2014 JET Programme candidates.
Paper Selection Committee members review and evaluate submitted applications according to criteria determined by the JET Desk and assist with other administrative duties required. The period of employment will begin on November 14, 2013 and end on January 14, 2014 (excluding weekends and Embassy holidays). Hours of work will be from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa. Remuneration will be disclosed to successful candidates.
The ability to work full-time during this period is preferred. Please submit your resume with a cover letter in English to Sadaf Taqvi before 5:00 p.m. on October 28th, 2013 by email to sadaf.taqvi@ot.mofa.go.jp.
• Strong command of English
• Experience in administrative duties
• The ability to work on a team
• Understanding of the working culture in Japan
• Canadian citizen or permanent resident
We thank all candidates for their interest. However, only those candidates whose skills and experiences best match the requirements of the position will be contacted.
Job posting also on the Embassy of Japan’s website: http://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/
Job: U.S. Dept of State’s English Language Fellow Program application
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Thanks to JET Alum Tammy Wik, Recruitment Coordinator for this program. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki–shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: English Language Fellow
Posted by: The U.S. Dept of State
Type: N/A
Location: N/A
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The U.S. Dept of State’s English Language Fellow Program application for Academic Year 2014-2015 is now OPEN!
http://www.elfellowprogram.org/elf/
The U.S. Dept of State’s English Language Fellow Program application for Academic Year 2014-2015 is now open
Three Pieces of Exciting News:
– No minimum amount of language teaching required anymore! (Two years is still preferred, but this is great for recent grads.)
– Fellowship stipend has increased from $25,000 –> $30,000 (plus basic living and misc. expenses are still paid)
– $5,000 dependent allowance has been added!
Note: JET alum Tammy Wik, who is the Recruitment Coordinator for this program, posted this to the JETAA Northern California LinkedIn group, and also added: “My best advice is always to apply early — you can roll over your application to future years if something comes up more, but if you’re not in the pool early, you might miss out on being matched to a great project.”
Job: Recruiter at Morgan McKinley (Tokyo)
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Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki–shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Recruitment Researcher
Posted by: Morgan McKinley
Type: N/A
Location: Tokyo
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
Are you looking for a career in recruitment? Are you ambitious and target driven with an interest in the recruitment industry? If so, Morgan McKinley Tokyo currently has opportunities for graduate calibre individuals who would like to develop a long term career within recruitment.
We currently have open vacancies for 2013 but will also have opportunities in 2014 so are keen to speak to any interested candidates.
As a Global Professional Recruitment Consultancy, Morgan McKinley connects specialist talent with leading employers (primarily Fortune 500 companies) across multiple industries and disciplines. Since 1988, the company has enjoyed significant growth year-on-year and today employs over 500 people throughout its 19 offices in 10 countries. Read More
Registration Open: Transitions 2013
Networking, Uncategorized Comments Off on Registration Open: Transitions 2013
Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki–shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: N/A
Posted by: N/A
Type: N/A
Location: N/A
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR ALL JETAA AND NON JETAA MEMBERS
The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the JET Alumni Association will be hosting its annual fall event, “Transitions 2013: Opportunities Forum & Networking Expo”. While this event is primarily produced for our members, we welcome anyone from the community at large who are interested in joining the conversation. If you are new to the Northwest, curious about pursuing a graduate degree, looking to switch careers, or recently returned from Japan, Transitions is an event you won’t want to miss.
Transitions seeks to provide a place and space for people to exchange ideas and business cards. There will be keynote speeches on HR, the non-profit sector, and LinkedIn, round-table discussions on pursuing higher education and careers, and a special topics presentation on personal finance. There will also be a panel discussion session followed by a Networking Expo with a variety of local organizations, companies, and universities. Read More
Job: Consultant for Boyd & Moore Executive Search (Tokyo)
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Originally posted on the JET Programme linkedin group. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki–shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Consultant
Posted by: Boyd & Moore Executive Search
Type: N/A
Location: Tokyo
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
So you’ve come to Japan via the JET program and you’re ready to move on from teaching, now what?
Your JET experience should have helped develop in you certain skills that are readily transferable to a variety of different careers. Your time management, cultural awareness, and communicative abilities (verbal and non-verbal) are only a few examples that immediately stand out. The main draw-back is that you have not been working in an office (business) environment and many employers are hesitant to take a chance on your cultural fit or ramp-up time at their organizations. This generally means that (1) they do not understand how your JET experience could benefit them and (2) they may not have an effective training program. When you consider a number of the organizations who are interested in hiring JET veterans, you will also notice that the pay is not all that great. Read More
Study: Rotary Scholarship – MA in Peace Studies
Academic, Uncategorized Comments Off on Study: Rotary Scholarship – MA in Peace Studies
Thanks to JET Alum author Nic Klar for sharing this information. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki–shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: N/A
Posted by: The Rotary Peace Fellowship
Type: Academic
Location: N/A
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
Looking to get back to Japan and earn a funded MA in Peace Studies? The Rotary Peace Fellowship might be for you! One of the partnering institutions is ICU in Tokyo. Click the link to learn more:
https://www.rotary.org/en/peace-fellowships
Job: Openings at the Social Science Research Council (Brooklyn, NY)
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Thanks to JETAANY’s New Jersey Subchapter Rep Fernando Rojas for sharing these openings at the Social Science Research Council where he works. Posted by Kim ‘Kay’ Monroe (Miyazaki–shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
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Position: Several openings
Posted by: Social Science Research Council
Type: N/A
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) employs a diverse workforce in the United States at our headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, as well as internationally. Benefits include health, dental, vision, disability, life, and gym reimbursement; pension plan and tax savings programs; and generous vacation and sick leave. Student loan and tuition reimbursement are available for all full-time staff, and provisions are made for professional staff to continue their development as professional social scientists.
In addition, the Council offers a wide range of internship opportunities to current, recent, or returning students. Most internships are unpaid or carry small stipends.
We encourage you to apply for the specific openings that have been listed and summarized below. Be sure to follow the link to more detailed information on necessary qualifications, employment terms, and application procedures. Read More
