Let’s Talk Japan Podcast: The History of the Most Famous Cherry Trees Outside of Japan
Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Let’s Talk Japan Podcast: The History of the Most Famous Cherry Trees Outside of Japan
Ever wonder how 3700+ cherry trees ended up at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.? Check out Episode 7 of the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast in iTunes or by clicking on the link below to hear D.C.’s unofficial cherry blossom expert, Ambassador John Malott, speak on the subject.
http://www.letstalkjapan.com/007-the-most-famous-cherry-blossoms-outside-of-japan/
Happy Hanami!
JETAA Australia, New Zealand chapters collaborate towards JETAA Oceania
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA Australia, New Zealand chapters collaborate towards JETAA Oceania
I noticed on the JETAA New South Wales Facebook group that JETAA chapters in Australia and New Zealand decided to emphasize a more regional collaboration. This sounds a bit like what’s been going on between JETAA USA and Canada chapters, and there’s even been some mention here and there about the possibility of more collaboration between JETAA UK and the North American chapters. Here the info from the JETAA New South Wales email list:
“One of the main outcomes of the 2012 JETAA Regional Conference was a decision to create a combined logo for all JETAA chapters in Australia and New Zealand.”
“All JETAA members are invited to vote for their preferred logo by emailing their name and preferred image (number 1-5) to jetaanzrep [at] gmail.com. Alternatively, you can vote on the JETAA Oceania Facebook page: JETAA Oceania Logo Poll”
“Voting closes on Thursday 11 April, so get in quick!”
Link to JETAA Oceania Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/192391273441/
Job: New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) Job Announcements
Jobs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Job: New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) Job Announcements
Via New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
————————————————————————————————————
Position: Academic Director
Posted by: NYU-SCPS American Language Institute Tokyo Center
Type: Full-time
Location: N/A
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Company Information:
New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) seeks a talented and experienced professional to serve as an energetic, creative, and entrepreneurial academic director to lead its new American Language Institute (ALI) center in Tokyo, Japan, which is scheduled to open in October 2013. Identifying and securing an academic director for the center is the highest managerial priority as the plans for this NYU-SCPS global initiative move from conceptual to development and implementation phases.
In establishing the ALI Tokyo Center, NYU-SCPS is working with Nichii Gakkan, a leading Japanese health care and education provider. NYU-SCPS in New York City will oversee all academic aspects of the program including, but not limited to, curriculum and course content; instructor recruitment, selection, training, scheduling, and supervision; as well as assisting in the marketing of those programs in Japan. The academic director will also ensure that NYU-SCPS ALI Tokyo educational practices conform to NYU-SCPS standards. Nichii Gakkan will employ the academic director and instructors and handle the management, logistics, and operation of the Tokyo Center. Read More
Job: Actus- Night Auditor (Midtown, NY)
Jobs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Job: Actus- Night Auditor (Midtown, NY)
Via Actus Consulting. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
————————————————————————————————————
** Note: If you apply, please indicate that you learned of the listing via JETwit.**
Position: Night Auditor
Posted by: Actus Consulting
Type: Full-time
Location: Midtown, NY
Salary: $18~/hr
Start Date: N/A
Company Information:
The hotel is a boutique property located in the historic Murray Hill district, effortlessly blending traditional Asian hospitality and contemporary convenience. Guests can enjoy museum-quality artwork in the public areas and guestrooms, and nightly world-class jazz entertainment. Serene guestrooms and suites are spacious and comfortable offering spectacular City views, luxurious accommodations, posh amenities and sound-proof windows for a relaxing and revitalizing stay.
http://www.bullhornreach.com/job/801880_hotelhospitality-night-auditor-new-york-ny
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Be familiar with all Front Office, Reservations, PBX, Concierge policies and procedures: Register and check-out guests: Assist the Night Manager and Assistant Front Office Managers in controlling room inventory, maximizing occupancy, revenue and average rate: Handle reservation inquiries and bookings during the absence of a Reservationist: Perform Bucket check, nightly audit and Close-of-Day, file back-up: other supportive duties as needed. Reading, writing & oral proficiency in the English language. Read More
JETAA Singapore announces new Board
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA Singapore announces new Board
Via JETAA Singapore’s website:
“Thanks for your votes at AGM/Elections. We are pleased to present the 6 elected members of JETAA SG Board 2013-2014!”
(LtoR) Anne Tan, Nathalie Ng, Sheryna Yip, Tee Yiting, Eugene Neubronner, Wong Hung Shane
For the JET who has everything: The Tokyo History Over Time Puzzle
Cultural Outreach, Local Government, Travel/Tourism Comments Off on For the JET who has everything: The Tokyo History Over Time Puzzle
Originally posted to the Pacific Northwest JETAA Facebook group by Sabrina Holliday Carlin:
“For the JET who has everything…$40 at Snapdoodle Toys in Kenmore!””
Life After JET: Teaching perspective from Kevin Stein
Blogs, Career, LifeAfterJET, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on Life After JET: Teaching perspective from Kevin Stein
A great post about teaching from “The Other Things Matter,” a great blog by Osaka-based ESL teacher Kevin Stein. Kevin is also the author of the article “Even a Native Speaker Stops Sometimes: Helping Japanese Learners to Understand What is Said.”
As many flavors of failure…
I came over to Japan for my first English language teaching job on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. It was 14 years ago. I was living way out in the countryside and always looked forward to our big prefectural trainings. At that time, the program directors gathered up the assistant language teachers twice a year and plunked us all down in a hot-spring hotel for three days. During those trainings, I first learned how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet as a tool for pronunciation work. I learned about how to help students adjust to ambiguity in the language classroom (something I recently revisited thanks to the spring issue of The English Connection). And oddly (or perhaps not oddly at all), I met John Fanselow for the first time. He gave a lecture on partial information which has stayed more than partially with me for over a dozen years.
I also remember one more presentation from the first training I attended. It was only thirty minutes or so long. It was given by a very unassuming high school teacher from Japan. He wore a short-sleeved cream colored button-down shirt with a brown necktie. He stood at the front of the room and started telling us about his bullet-train ride into the conference. He hadn’t brought much cash with him, so he bought a cheap Japanese lunch-box before getting on the train. He put his luggage and Japanese lunch-box on the rack above his seat, nodded to the business man sitting next to him, and then promptly took a nap.
When he woke up, he felt a little hungry, so he pulled down his lunch box. He was pleased to find that, even though it was a cheap lunch-box, it was filled with all sorts of strips of beef, some fatty tuna, and quail eggs. He was particularly happy about the quail eggs as they were his favorite. About half way through eating his lunch-box, the businessman next to him also woke up from a nap, stood up, and took down his own lunch-box. But as soon as the businessman opened the lunch-box up, he seemed to get very angry. The presenter said, “I wasn’t sure why he was angry. I guessed that maybe he was disappointed in his lunch-box. It wasn’t as nice as mine. It was the kind with sausages, not steak. Fried fish, not sushi. I felt very bad for him.” Then the presenter started laughing. A real solid laugh that, I think, made everyone else in the room want to laugh as well. “In fact, I was feeling bad for him when he turned to me and said….
Click here to read the full post on Kevin’s blog.
Job: International Marketing Coordinator (Kyoto)
Jobs, Travel/Tourism, Uncategorized Comments Off on Job: International Marketing Coordinator (Kyoto)
Thanks to JET alum James Kent for sharing this posting. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
————————————————————————————————————
Position: International Marketing Coordinator
Posted by: Kyoto Convention Bureau
Type: Full-time
Location: Kyoto, JP
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
Are you an expert in international marketing? Do you have a passion for Kyoto? Do you have a proven record of growing global networks?
Kyoto Convention Bureau is recruiting an International Marketing Coordinator to strengthen Kyoto’s position as destination of choice for global meetings, conferences, incentive travel and like business events. This person will be responsible for creating promotional materials & professional bids; conducting sales presentations & promotional seminars; representing Kyoto at trade shows; growing global sales & marketing networks; and much, much more.
The ideal candidate will be looking to further their career in marketing, will be a native English speaker with business level or above competency in Japanese. You should have an interest in meetings/conventions/business events coupled with a passion for Kyoto. Competency with Windows, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and email is essential. A valid visa allowing work in Japan is required.
Interested candidates are invited to send a full resume / CV in English and “rirekisho” in Japanese with photograph to the address in the linked PDF.
Deadline for applications is Sunday 14th April 2013.
Please see the linked pdf for a full overview of the job, conditions, and contact details for enquiries.
2013 JET Memorial Invitation Program (Deadline April 17th)
Academic, Uncategorized Comments Off on 2013 JET Memorial Invitation Program (Deadline April 17th)
Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97). Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
————————————————————————————————————
** This opportunity is actually for high school students, but I thought it was worth sharing with the JETwit Jobs group. – Steven**
Program Overview:
A reminder that the 2013 JET Memorial Invitation Program (JET-MIP) deadline is Wednesday, April 17. Please let any high school students you know who may be interested in applying. The exchange program, now in its third year, was created to honor the memory of the two JETs who lost their lives in the 3/11 disaster.
All candidates should complete the National Japanese Exam by April 10, which is a requirement to apply. If you have any questions, please make sure to contact the 2013 JET-MIP Coordinator at the link below.
JET-MIP will provide 32 high school students with the opportunity to visit Japan for two weeks, with a focus on the Tohoku region, to participate in exchanges with Japanese students, see the current condition of recovery in the region, and to act as symbolic bridges to enhance the goodwill between Japan and the United States.
Inspiring essays written by past participants about their experiences on the program can be found here:
2012 JET-MIP (Year 2)
2011 JET-MIP (Year 1)
2013 JET-MIP website:
http://www.jflalc.org/jle-jet-mip.html
JETAANY announces new Executive Board
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAANY announces new Executive Board
2013 JETAA New York Executive Board
President – Monica Yuki
Vice President – Pamela Kavalam
Secretary – Wendy Ikemoto
Treasurer – Tommy Zhou
Membership – Ann Chow
WIT Life #229: Shaking things up
Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #229: Shaking things up
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 together with her own observations.
This week the New York Times has had a host of articles about recent economic, business and political decisions in Japan. One that came out today discusses the efforts of Haruhiko Kuroda, the new Bank of Japan governor, to drastically change Japan’s economic policy in order to escape the deflation that has plagued the country for an extended period of time. He will attempt to achieve this by doubling the amount of money in circulation and bringing annual inflation to about 2 percent. However, some experts question whether monetary policy alone can end Japan’s deflation, as the country has other deflationary pressures like an aging/shrinking population and heavy regulations burdening the economy. A certain result from these new policies will be a weakening of the yen, which is a boon for Japanese exporters.
Another article talks about the changes the Japanese Cabinet has proposed in regard to Read More
I’ll Make It Myself!: What I Ate in Nagano, Day 1: On the Road to Yudanaka Onsen
Blogs, Food & Drink, I'll Make It Myself, Writers Comments Off on I’ll Make It Myself!: What I Ate in Nagano, Day 1: On the Road to Yudanaka Onsen
L.M. Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) is the editor of The Ishikawa JET Kitchen: Cooking in Japan Without a Fight. A writer and web administrator for The Art of Travel, ze also writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan, and curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles, a series of essays by JETs and JET alumni on the theme of cooking/eating and being alone in Japan, and The JET Alumni Culinary Group in LinkedIn.
New Rice Cooker Chronicles submissions always welcome. Just e-mail it to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
Craft beer wasn’t the only delicious thing I had on my trip to Nagano. Let’s recap!
Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Sakura Matsuri and More
Article/Journalism, Events, Justin's Japan Comments Off on Justin’s Japan: Nippon in New York – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Sakura Matsuri and More
J-pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu makes her Big Apple debut at the Best Buy Theater April 14.
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Spring has sprung in the Big Apple, and that means one thing: a new season of sounds, colors, and spectacular performing arts to match the blossoming sakura trees throughout the city.
This month’s highlights include:
April 5-6
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center Theatre 2, 199 Chambers Street
$50 general admission, $15 students (use discount code STU at Smarttix page)
A story of courage and personnel sacrifice of an American doctor and the Japanese medical staff who risked their lives following the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, Hikobae is a fictionalized story based on recorded interviews with physicians and nurses from Soma City Hospital, a medical center in the Fukushima evacuation zone. Supported by the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, proceeds from the production will benefit the Momo-Kaki Orphan Fund, which supports children who lost their parents in the disaster. The theater piece will be performed in English and Japanese, with subtitles projected behind the actors.
April 5-14
BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Avenue
$13 adults, $9 children and matinees, $8 members
Part of BAMcinématek. For nearly three decades, the films of Hayao Miyazaki and the company he founded, Studio Ghibli, have revolutionized the art of animation. Miyazaki’s indelible style—which weds the uncanniness of Lewis Carroll and the epic grandeur of Akira Kurosawa—stands as a testament to the beauty and imaginative power of hand-drawn animation, conjuring richly realized worlds replete with mystical spirits and shot through with an abiding concern for the relationship between humans and nature. All films directed by Hayao Miyazaki and in 35mm.
Sunday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.
Best Buy Theater, 1515 Broadway
$25, $100 VIP meet and greet
Born in 1993 in Tokyo, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu attracted attention with her individual blog, and has been active as a model in Japan. A charismatic personality that represents the youth fashion of Harajuku, her smash single “PONPONPON“—released on her debut album shortly after she finished high school—became a big hit around the world, racking up over 46 million views on YouTube to date. Receiving plenty of attention as the symbol of kawaii (or “cuteness” in Japanese), Kyary Pamyu Pamyu makes her New York concert debut as part of her ambitious 10-country “100%KPP” tour.
For the complete story, click here.
I’ll Make It Myself!: Homemade Sakura “Latte” (Sakura Steamer)
Blogs, Food & Drink, I'll Make It Myself, Writers Comments Off on I’ll Make It Myself!: Homemade Sakura “Latte” (Sakura Steamer)
L.M. Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) is the editor of The Ishikawa JET Kitchen: Cooking in Japan Without a Fight. A writer and web administrator for The Art of Travel, ze also writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan, and curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles, a series of essays by JETs and JET alumni on the theme of cooking/eating and being alone in Japan, and The JET Alumni Culinary Group in LinkedIn.
New Rice Cooker Chronicles submissions always welcome. Just e-mail it to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
Nothing heralds spring like seasonal menu changes! Starbucks’ sakura latte (henceforth not italicized) is much like the pumpkin spice latte in the US: people go crazy for it and it sells out long before sakura season is over. Or, in Kanazawa and the rest of northern Japan, before it even starts.
This year, the latte was replaced by a sakura white hot chocolate, which I really liked, but unfortunately it’s been gone for a month and the sakura only started blooming this week. Luckily, a sakura “latte” (technically it’s a steamer since there’s no coffee) is really easy to make at home. All you need is preserved edible sakura, boiling water, and milk.
CLAIR Magazine “JET Plaza” series: Dr. Mark Williams (Gunma)
Article/Journalism, LifeAfterJET, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on CLAIR Magazine “JET Plaza” series: Dr. Mark Williams (Gunma)
Each month, current and former JET participants are featured in the “JET Plaza” section of the CLAIR Forum magazine. The May 2012 edition includes an article by Dr. Mark Williams, a former British English Teachers Scheme (BETS), the forerunner to the JET Programme. Posted by Celine Castex (Chiba-ken, 2006-11), currently programme coordinator at CLAIR Tokyo.
***********
“Think of your JET experience with a long-term view. […] As time passes, you will realize that your experience left you with the desire to accomplish or attain something. Do not rush, but be patient as you seek to do so.”
After graduating from the University of Oxford with a a BA in Japanese Studies, Dr. Mark Williams (Gunma-ken, Maebashi-shi, 1979-81) came to Japan to work as a member of the British English Teachers Scheme (BETS) in Gunma Prefecture. He moved from there to California to pursue a Ph.D. in postwar Japanese literature then joined the University of Leeds, UK, as a Lecturer in Japanese, to become Professor of Japanese Studies a few years later. He has just completed a 4-year term as President of the British Association for Japanese Studies and 5 years as Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Leeds and is currently on secondment as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Akita International University, Japan.
The Japan I Came to Know
Two Years in Gunma Prefecture
I participated on the British English Teachers Scheme (BETS) Programme for two years from 1979 to 1981. The BETS Programme was proposed by Nicholas MacLean and is also known as the MacLean Scheme. In Gunma Prefecture, I worked four days per week for two years at one base school each year (Maebashi Minami Senior High School my first year and Shibukawa Girl’s Senior High School my second year). The remaining day of the work week I spent visiting senior high schools throughout the prefecture, and I can say I likely visited every senior high school in the prefecture.
At the time, team-teaching classes were not as established as now, and no matter how enthusiastic, attempts to conduct entire classes in English were unfortunately often short-lived. The classes I conducted at the school I visited on Wednesdays were rich in variety resulting in a trial-and-error approach on my behalf. The several hundred-student school body would gather at once, and I would speak to them in English about my home country England, or explain the origin of English vocabulary words or the characteristics of the English language.
I was one of only a handful of foreigner instructors in Gunma Prefecture at the time. As such, I stood out greatly and even made front-page headlines in a local newspaper. My experience began with my arrival in Japan. The principal of my school came to meet me at Narita Airport, and we traveled from there to Maebashi Station. As soon as I exited Maebashi Station, I found myself surrounded by news reporters. One of them asked about my hobbies, and I replied “I enjoy music.” The headlines of the next morning’s newspaper reported, “New foreign instructor likes to sing.”
