Jan 7

JET alum Bruce Feiler set to publish latest book: The Secrets of Happy Families

Books, Celebrity, LifeAfterJET, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on JET alum Bruce Feiler set to publish latest book: The Secrets of Happy Families

The latest from JET alum Bruce Feiler (Tochigi-ken, 1989-90), author of Learning to Bow, The Council of Dads, and, most recently, The Secrets of Happy Family, as well as several books on the Middle East including Walking the Bible, Abrahamand Where God Was Born.  To read prior columns, please click here.

In a few weeks Harper Collins will publish Bruce’s new book, THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES:  Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More.

From Bruce:  “Like many people we know, my wife, Linda, and I felt squeezed between aging parents and rising children.  So over several years, I set out to find the smartest ideas and cutting-edge techniques to make our family happier.  Avoiding the usual “experts,” I sought out creative minds from Silicon Valley to the set of “Modern Family” to the country’s top negotiators, asked what they were doing with the families, then tested their ideas at home with Linda and our girls.  Some of these solutions failed, but many more improved our lives deeply and brought us all a lot closer.”

The book will be excerpted in the New York Times and appear on the cover of PARADE.  Bruce will be featured on Good Morning America, Katie Couric, and other shows.  Bruce will also be touring around the country.

There will also be an event in NYC at the Barnes & Noble on 86^th Street on the East Side on February 20.  (Stay tuned for a JETAANY announcement about going to the event followed by a happy hour.)

Learn more here:  http://amzn.to/QwQxP5.

For more regular updates, follow Bruce on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/brucefeilerauthor.

And Twitter:  www.twitter.com/brucefeiler.

Jan 7

LifeAfterJET: JET alum makes Korean gay rights public service announcement video

LifeAfterJET, Video Comments Off on LifeAfterJET: JET alum makes Korean gay rights public service announcement video

Patrick Lee (also known as Pat Leezy, Nagasaki-ken, 2010-2012) specializes in videography. His videos can be seen on his Youtube Channel. He can be contacted through Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s another interesting video Patrick recently wrote/produced/directed/edited while in Seoul. It’s a gay rights public service announcement set in Seoul. He also had the video translated in 5 different languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French). Click the Closed Captioning “CC” button to choose the language on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMywAnbMHKY

Jan 4

Job: Consulate General of Japan in Chicago, Technology and Information Coordinator

Jobs, Uncategorized Chicago, consulate general Comments Off on Job: Consulate General of Japan in Chicago, Technology and Information Coordinator

Via JETAA Chicago. 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: Technology and Information Coordinator- Japan Information Center
Posted by: Consulate General of Japan at Chicago
Type: PT/FT Contract Position
Location: New York, NY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A

Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Japan Information Center
1) Edit and manage all content on the Consulate’s English website
2) Write, edit, and publish a monthly e-mail newsletter detailing Japan-related events in the Consulate’s 10-state jurisdiction
3) Coordinate the Consulate’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter
4) Assist organizing cultural events and Japan-related presentations to local schools
5) Draft speeches/remarks for Consul General and other staff
6) General office responsibilities, including assisting for conferences/receptions and supporting other staff members as need arises Read More

Jan 3

WIT Life #224: 明けましておめでとうございます！

Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #224: 明けましておめでとうございます！

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.

Happy 巳年 (hebi doshi, or year of the snake)!  In Japan there are 15.2 million people who were born in the year of the snake, making them either 年男 or 年女 (toshi otoko/onna).  Not sure what the numbers are here in the States, but Chinese astrology says that we’re likely to see significant developments in the area of science and technology this year.  According to astrology.com, “Research and development are apt to flourish, making 2013 a very special year for scientists and scholars.  The snake is a great sign, a positive one, with energy that can help us face all of the challenges ahead of us.”  Also, the snake (which has the alternate kanji of 蛇, as shown in the image) is said to be the yin to last year’s dragon (辰, tatsu or 龍, ryu) yang.

Speaking of feminine/masculine elements, two recent articles in the New York Times focus on women’s issues in Japan.  The first marks the passing of Beate Gordon, “who almost single-handedly wrote women’s rights into the [Japanese] Constitution.”  She was the last living member of the American team that wrote Japan’s postwar constitution, and had served as Read More

Jan 1

Akita Global Network Newsletter – Vol 6

Japan Local, Local Government, Travel/Tourism Comments Off on Akita Global Network Newsletter – Vol 6

Thanks to Akita Prefecture for sending out the latest volume of its Akita Global Network Newsletter:

We’ve just published the latest Akita Global Network newsletter,vol.6.  You can read here:

http://www.pref.akita.lg.jp/www/genre/0000000000000/1286429964066/index.html

Please share it with your family and friends.  Have a nice holidays!

Dec 28

JQ Magazine: Same-sama, Party of One

Anecdote Article, Article/Journalism, I'll Make It Myself, JQ Magazine, Rice Cooker Chronicles Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Same-sama, Party of One

“We’re gonna need a bigger shopping cart.” (Leah Zoller)

By Leah Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, 2009-11) for JQ magazine. Leah lives in Kanazawa, where she works as a writer and web administrator for The Art of Travel. In her spare time, she writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan and curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles on JETwit.com.

I live and work not too far from Omicho Market, and as a result, I see a lot of “Kanazawa’s Kitchen” and its back alleys in all seasons. I particularly like passing through in winter when the crabs are set outside the fish sellers’ stalls in the morning, the steam rising off their Styrofoam crates like a cloud in the cold air.

According to my coworkers, Omicho Market was once narrow and dirty, the way one expects a fish market to be. Since being renovated, Omicho, with its wide paths, incense to cover up the scent of fish, and ice blocks to relieve the summer heat, really fits with the tone and charm of our little city on the sea. Of course, the site is popular with tourists, but locals—myself included—actually shop there, since the variety and price of produce and seafood is often better than it is at the supermarkets. Every visit there is like a culinary adventure to me: What will be on sale today? Will the price of persimmons have dropped? What new squash varieties are the farms in the Noto growing?

Even Omicho, whose weaving roads I know like the back of my hand, has its surprises. One weekend in early winter (and winter comes early to Kanazawa), my husband and I were walking past one of the market’s side entrances when something caught my eye. I couldn’t quite process what I was seeing at first—was that a person was lying on the ground in front of one of the restaurants?

The figure on the ground was about my height, but slowly the realization that it wasn’t a person sank in. No, it wasn’t a person at all—it was a dead shark.

Read More

Dec 28

Job: Japanese Translator – Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products (Bowling Green, KY)

Jobs, Uncategorized automotive, KY, translator Comments Off on Job: Japanese Translator – Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products (Bowling Green, KY)

Via JETAA Music City (Nashville). 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: Japanese Translator
Posted by: Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products
Type: N/A
Location: Bowling Green, KY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A

Overview:
International auto parts company seeks a part-time Japanese translator, preferably with prior manufacturing experience. This is an on-site, temporary position. We are willing to consider an internship for the right candidate.

Qualifications:
•Native fluency in English
•Minimum Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2 or equivalent.
•Advanced skills with Microsoft Office applications.
•College degree is highly desirable.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending a resume to humanresources@kobeal.com
http://www.kobeal.com/home.html

Dec 28

Job: [JET] NY Times Travel Show Volunteer Opprtunity

Jobs, Uncategorized consulate general, NY, Volunteer Comments Off on Job: [JET] NY Times Travel Show Volunteer Opprtunity

Thanks to Noriko Furuhata, JET coordinator at the NY consulate. 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: Volunteers
Posted by: The Consulate General of Japan in New York
Type: N/A
Location: N/A
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A

Overview:
This year, the Consulate is doing a “Yoroi (traditional samurai armor) try-on.” We will encourage visitors to try on a set of samurai armor and take photos. We would like to have some “genki” JET alumni to help out at our booth. Please see below for the details:

Date:
Saturday, January 19 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Sunday, January 20 from 11:00am to 3:00pm

Venue:
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
(11th avenue between 34th and 38th streets)

3 volunteers are needed each day. If interested, please e-mail the Consulate with the following information by Thursday, January 10.

Your Name:
Email address:
Cell phone number:
JET placement location:
JET years:
JET position (ALT or CIR):

Date you can volunteer (1/19 or 1/20):

Please respond by Thursday, January 10! (Please note that the Consulate will be closed from Monday, December 31 to Thursday, January 3.)

Consulate General of Japan in New York
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
Tel: 212-418-4461
Fax: 212-371-1294
Email: jet@ny.mofa.go.jp
www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Dec 28

Job: Japanese Preschool Seeks Native Speaking Teachers (Brooklyn, NY)

Jobs, Uncategorized Brooklyn, NY, pre school Comments Off on Job: Japanese Preschool Seeks Native Speaking Teachers (Brooklyn, NY)

Thanks to LetWit Founder, Steven Horowitz. 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: Preschool Teachers
Posted by: Aozora Gakuen
Type: Part-time
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A

Overview:
Aozora Gakuen is Japanese-English bilingual preschool in Fort Green, Brooklyn and looking for teachers for the following positions that start in September.

Part time native English speaking preschool teacher

Tuesdays 2pm-6:30pm, Wednesdays 9am-2pm.

Experience of working with children 2 years old and above is essential. The school is attended by children from the ages of 2 – 4 years old with a maximum 12 children.

You should be:
-positive, creative, and self motivated individual
-full of energy, hard working, patient, and enjoys working with children
-able to maintain a safe environment for the children
-responsible and able to work well with other staff
-able to be physically active with kids
-professional, helpful, and able to communicate well with parents

Responsibilities also include:
-developing and implementing an effective and fun curriculum
-Clean up duties

Requirements:
-Three references
-Meet state licensing requirements for education level, previous experience and be over 18 years old
-a degree in early childhood development or related field equivalency degree is preferred

If you are interested please send your cover letter and resume to kaoru@aozoragakuen.com with the subject line “Preschool Teacher Candidate”.

Dec 28

Job: Delta Air Lines Flight Attendants- Japanese Speaking Qualification Required

Jobs, Uncategorized Delta Airline, Flight attendant Comments Off on Job: Delta Air Lines Flight Attendants- Japanese Speaking Qualification Required

Thanks to JET alum Jessica Cork Kennett
for sharing this opening. 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: Flight Attendants
Posted by: Delta Airlines
Type: N/A
Location: Various
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A

Summary Of Essential Job Responsibilities:
Handle emergency situations, effectively implement instructions from the flight deck & follow appropriate emergency procedures established by Delta. May serve as flight leader when needed. Provide exemplary customer service to exceed customer expectations; work independently & as part of a team. Ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Ensure passenger compliance with in-flight safety measures. Provide special assistance including stowing luggage, emergency medical aid, wheelchair assistance. Prepare/serve meals & beverages. Sell onboard liquor, headsets, duty-free items. Actively seek to ensure the safety & comfort of customers. Must maintain professional appearance & composure at all times; communicate effectively & write detailed reports pertaining to flight incidents, discrepancies. Read More

Dec 27

Jobs: Sakura Educational Exchange (DC) Job Openings

Jobs, Uncategorized intercultural exchange, Sakura Comments Off on Jobs: Sakura Educational Exchange (DC) Job Openings

Via JETAA DC. 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: MALE Cultural Assistant
Posted by: Sakura Educational Exchange USA
Type: PT/FT Contract Position
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $800 – $1,000 (total) depending on experience and responsibilities
Start Date: N/A

Overview:
Sakura Educational Exchange USA, a nonprofit international student exchange organization in Rockville, Maryland is seeking energetic, international-minded, fun-loving, dedicated people interested in working with visiting Japanese high school students in March 2013.

Dates:
Two Full Days of Orientation in Rockville, MD – TBA

• Wed. March 13, 2013 – Mon. March 25, 2013 – Full time including weekends and lodging in Gaithersbrug, MD Read More

Dec 26

I’ll Make It Myself!: Curried Cauliflower with Tuna

Blogs, Food & Drink, I'll Make It Myself, Writers cauliflower, cooking in Japan, curry, fish, Food, pescetarian, recipe, tuna, vegetables Comments Off on I’ll Make It Myself!: Curried Cauliflower with Tuna

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.

New Rice Cooker Chronicles submissions always welcome. Just e-mail it to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

I used to refer to cauliflower as “broccoli’s sad cousin.” Years of veggie trays at family functions taught me that dip does not make raw cauliflower taste good. A month of a “let’s try new vegetables” experiment in high school taught me that no amount of cheese will make me touch boiled cauliflower. (Seriously. There are some things even cheese can’t fix.)

At some point last year, everyone on the Internet seemed to having a foodgasm about using mashed cauliflower as an alternative to mashed potatoes, and as I was snarking away*, my husband revealed that he likes cauliflower.

Whoa whoa whoa. Back up there.

Click HERE to read more.

Dec 24

WIT Life #223: Return to LDP rule with Abe at the helm

Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #223: Return to LDP rule with Abe at the helm

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.

The parliamentary election in Japan two Sundays ago restored the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or 自民党) to power after three years of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 民主党) being in charge.  LDP leader and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is now the incoming Prime Minister, and current Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda resigned as head of the DPJ.  A particular focus will be the new administration’s handling of issues such as relations with China and other Asian nations (in particular the territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands), possible restarting of nuclear power plants and Japan’s energy policy (the LDP favors the nuclear option), and socioeconomic challenges (such as the low birthrate/increasingly aging population and combating deflation).

Abe is known to be a hawkish conservative, and he emphasizes both Japan’s ownership of Read More

Dec 24

“Introduction to the JET Program” video created by JET alum Eliot Honda

Cultural Outreach, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Sister City, Video Comments Off on “Introduction to the JET Program” video created by JET alum Eliot Honda

Here’s the latest video project by Hawaii-based JET Eliot Honda (Ehime-ken, Uwajima-shi), who previously created four videos about his JET town of Uwajima-shi as well as a video titled “Sister City Ties“:

Eliot says: “I finally completed the JET Program Introduction video. (Revised, hopefully audio and graphics look better.)”

http://youtu.be/3_u4ZhXNFpw

Published on Dec 23, 2012

Dec 22

JQ Magazine: Book Review – ‘Samurai Awakening’

Article/Journalism, Books, JQ Magazine, Reviews Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Book Review – ‘Samurai Awakening’

“Ultimately, Samurai Awakening is a fun read that makes you think you’re watching a movie.” (Tuttle)

By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata-ken, 2008-2010) for JQ magazine. Rashaad worked at four elementary schools and three junior high schools on JET, and taught a weekly conversion class in Haguro (his village) to adults. He completed the Tokyo Marathon in 2010, and was also a member of a taiko group in Haguro.

For those who have lived in Japan, there were probably times when nothing seemed to be going right while struggling to get adjusted to a new culture. But eventually—or maybe miraculously—things take a 180 degree turn.

Well, that happened in Samurai Awakening, Benjamin Martin‘s work of fiction for young adults. Martin—currently a fifth year Okinawa Prefecture JET—tells the story of David Matthews, an exchange student spending the year in Japan. David is frustrated and unhappy due to the fact he can’t speak Japanese well and hasn’t made any close friends. Fittingly, very early in the story, he is bloodied in a fight with students at Nakano Junior High School.

But after attending a local temple ceremony, David learns a new god has created special powers in him. He is now able to speak Japanese fluently, fight incredibly well and  turn into a cat.  However, those are not the only surprises in the book. His host family the Matsumotos, who are famous sword makers, are also keeping a secret handed down to their ancestors by the Emperor of Japan. And it is with the Matsumotos that he must work to save his host sister Rie, as wolves have taken up residence in her body.

Read More