JETAA Chapter Beat 18th March 2013
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Welcome to JETAA Chapter Beat. Theodore Genba Bigby (Yamagata 2008-12) walks you through some of the highlights from JET alumni associations across the globe. Genba currently serves as the JETAA UK Webmaster and on the JETAA Midlands committee.
Although JETAA Chapter Beat has been absent recently, the hearts of JET alumni have been going strong. Let’s take a look at some highlights for the next four weeks.
2012-2013 JETAA Tokyo Mentor Program
Kanto
JETAA Tokyo have announced that they intended to run a mentor programme with the aim of developing the careers of local alumni. As part of the programme, which is currently under way, alumni are offered the opportunity to be mentored by experienced alumni who have successfully established themselves as working professionals in the Tokyo area. It is hoped that this personal advice and insight will prove valuable to the development of their careers.
Mentees can expect the following resources:
- Monthly contact with their mentor through face-to-face meetings, telephone, Skype, Facebook or email (although mentees are responsible for initiating contact).
- Advice and suggestions on researching career opportunities in the Tokyo area.
- Feedback on job search materials (résumé, rirekisho, letters of recommendation, etc).
- If possible, attendance to the JETAA Tokyo Mentor Program Kick-off and the Program Finale.
Although internships are not officially offered as a part of the initiative, there is an opportunity for mentors and mentees to discuss future opportunities on a personal basis. This is an extremely interesting project and if it proves to be successful, it may be replicated by other chapters across the globe.
Middle Tennessee Anime Convention (MTAC)
Friday 29th March 2013, 12am – Monday 1st April, 12am
Nashville, Tennessee
During this year’s MTAC, the JET Programme will be hosting its own table! People wishing to volunteer are urged to contact John Gale, JET Program Coordinator at the Consulate-General of Japan, jet@nv.mofa.go.jp or 615-340-4300. It would be a great opportunity to connect with the many university students who are expected to attend who have a strong interest in Japan. Why not come down and tell them about your experiences in Japan whilst enjoying the largest anime convention in Tennessee?
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival
23rd March 2013, 10 am
Nashville, Tennessee
See here for more information: http://nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org/
Why not get down to the 2013 Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival? JETAAMC are also looking for volunteers to staff the table and speak to the public about their JET experience. To volunteer, please contact John Gale at jet@nv.mofa.go.jp. It must be noted that this event is imminent, so even if you can’t volunteer, please show some support!
Spring Hike to Breakneck Ridge
14th April 2013
Beacon, New York
http://jetaany.org/2013/03/15/spring-hike-breakneck-ridge/
JETAA NY at Breakneck Ridge.
If you’re tired of being cooped up all winter, why not have a nice relaxing walk along Breakneck Ridge? Reliably reported to be the best hike in the Tristate area, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of New York state.
“While no advanced hiking skill is needed, please note that the first part of this hike is strenuous with some rock scrambling. Please wear shoes with a good tread and comfortable clothing. We will be going very slowly and spotting each other.”
See the link above for details.
April Book Club: The Hare with the Amber Eyes
16th April 2013 – 7 pm – 9 pm
Flatiron Building, New York, New York
http://jetaany.org/2013/02/27/416-april-book-club-hare-amber-eyes/
Written by Edmund de Waal, April’s book will be The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance. Meeting on the 14th floor of the iconic Flatiron building, this is a must.
Registration is required in order to attend this event, so please click on the link above and follow the instructions.
Midlands Meetup
13th April 2013 12:30pm
Woktastic, Birmingham, Midlands
http://www.jetaa.org.uk/events/jetaa-midlands-meetup/
JETAA Midlands is now in the process of re-invigorating the group. Starting with this initial meeting, they are inviting not only alumni, but friends of Japan with a view to starting regular meetings and establishing a new committee.
March Networking Mixer
27th March, 5:00pm – 7:30pm
St. Paul, Minnesota
Be sure not to miss this great chance to network with other alumni. This session will be held at Barrio Tequila Bar. Don’t forget to bring your meishi !
Social Evening
5th April 2013 7:30pm
The Basement Bar, Edinburgh, Scotland
JETAA Scotland is starts its monthly social meetings again this April and continue on the first Friday of every month. All comers are welcome!
JET alum Nick Harling starts “Let’s Talk Japan” podcasts
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A great idea just started by former JETAA DC Vice-President Nick Harling (Mie-ken, 2001-03):
Dear JET Alumni,
I want to let you know about a new project that I recently started in an effort to engage my long-held interest in Japan – The Let’s Talk Japan Podcast.
Up until last spring, I volunteered as Vice-President of the JET Alumni Association in Washington, DC, and through that experience I met many people with interesting Japan-related jobs and life experiences. After two years in that capacity, it was time to move on to something new, and last fall I decided that that something would be a podcast.
My first episode appeared in iTunes on January 1st of this year. Topics covered so far have include the JET Program application process, the mission of the Sister Cities International and Kizuna Across Cultures organizations, and discussions with an atomic bomb survivor and an expert on Japanese baseball. Whenever possible, I will also highlight the contributions JET alumni are making in their home countries.
If you are interested in checking it out, you can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. If you like the podcast, feel free to leave a positive rating. You can also interact with the podcast at www.letstalkjapan.com, through Facebook, or on Twitter @letstalkjapan.
I hope you enjoy the podcast, and I welcome your feedback.
Nick Harling
Mie-Ken 2001-03
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Recent posts from Let’s Talk Japan Podcast:
002 The JET Program Application Process
003 Sister Cities International
006 Banzai Babe Ruth Author Robert K. Fitts
Actus Job: Sales Associate at Japanese Trading Firm (Somerset, NJ)
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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.
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****Note: Please make sure to mention that you learned of the opening via JETwit if you apply.***
Position: Sales Associate at Japanese Trading Firm
Posted by: Actus Consulting
Type: Full-time
Location: Somerset, NJ
Salary: $45K + Commission
Start Date: N/A
Company Information:
Leading provider of “total solutions” for companies around the world. Offer broad expertise in logistics, financing, R&D, marketing and introducing products into proven and established sales channels. Read More
Job: Japan Fisheries Manager
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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.
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Position: Japan Fisheries Manager
Posted by: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Type: Full-time
Location: London, UK
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) works to safeguard the world’s seafood supply by promoting the best environmental choice, and is recognised internationally as a groundbreaking and credible solution to the serious environmental problem of overfishing.
The Japan Fisheries Manager is responsible for contributing to these overarching aims and objectives and works in collaboration with the other members of the regional and international teams to deliver a more focussed approach of key targets. Read More
New JET Alum Parenting Blog: “US-JAPAN FAM”
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Heather Wilson Tomoyasu (ALT Ibaraki-ken, 2004-06), previously Manager of Public Relations at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, is now a newly established stay-at-home mom blogging in Brooklyn on her site US-Japan Fam to hopefully compile the ultimate resource for Japanese-American cross cultural families, delving into the matters of raising children bilingually, bi-culturally, and bi-racially in the Big Apple.
The first 8 entries are up and ready to roll:
A Little about Me and the Blog: find out more about me and my family (yes, I met my husband at a gay bar, WHAT??), and my plans for the blog.
Marathon of a Birth: discussing my 50 hour labor, natural birth (no meds – YIKES), and the whacked out medical system that billed $25K on a 36-hour hospital stay!
Back to Work – To Go or Not to Go, a New Mother’s Dilemma: you guessed it, this one is all about maternity leave, comparing the US system to that of Japan and a few other countries, and what went into my decision to stay at home.
My Roommate is a Grunter and Poops his Pants: about co-sleeping (same room or same bed) with your children
Sleep Training: Am I the Trainee or the Trainer?: how we got our little one on the Babywise schedule and I’m back to a heavenly 6+ hour consecutive nighttime sleep again!!
Shoot ‘Em Up: The Vaccination Debate: a bit controversial, but in the end you just gotta be informed and make the right decision for your family!
Baby Wearin’ & Stroller Struttin’: I weigh the pros and cons of different ways to get your baby around the city!
What They Don’t Tell You to Expect When You’re Expecting (And Afterward): a hilarious list I compiled for moms and dads alike!
Comments on entries are always appreciated, and guest bloggers are welcome to use the contact form on the blog site to submit ideas!
JETwit note: CLICK HERE to join the JET Alumni Parents group on Facebook.
JET Alum Establishes “Tsunami Survivor Fund to Save Miyagi”
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A new effort started by Miyagi JET alum Canon Purdy:
Welcome to Save Miyagi, a non profit, unincorporated charity organization dedicated to helping Miyagi and Minamisanriku rebuild after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, 2011.
Canon Purdy and her family founded this organization after Canon was stranded without contact in the town of Minamisanriku, where she had taught English for two years before.
SaveMiyagi successfully donated to the Minamisanriku Board of Education in August (check blog for details). Our next project is sending Paper Cranes to Northern Japan to support their recovery process.
Please check out the video below or the page above, and consider getting involved.
JET alum Arthur Migliazza plays the Boogie Stomp
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Just learned about a talented JET alum musician via the Pacific Northwest JETAA Facebook group–boogie woogie and blues piano player Arthur Migliazza. Have a look and a listen:
I’ll Make It Myself: Kitchen Library – 2013.3.7
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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.
With all the cakes and analyses lately, I’ve really missed doing this series!
I’ll Make It Myself: Foodpia Land 2013
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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.
Last year, I wrote about Foodpia Land, Kanazawa’s big winter food fair, in the context of street food and food culture in Japan. This year, a bunch of my friends and I went again to celebrate a birthday, so while I’m working on posts for the last two geeky/nerdy birthday cakes I made, I thought you all might like to see some photos.
JET Alumni Meet Prime Minister Abe in D.C.
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Via the CLAIR New York (aka Japan Local Government Center) Blog:
JET Alumni Meet Prime Minister Abe in D.C. (click to see photos of the event)
On February 22nd, around 15 JET alumni were invited to the reception held by Japan’s Prime Minister Abe in Washington, D.C.
Among them were Mr. Michael Green (Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, Center for Strategic & International Studies), Mr. James Gannon (Executive Director, Japan Center for International Exchange/USA), Mr. David Boling (Deputy Executive Director, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation), Ms. Paige Cottingham-Streater (Executive Director, Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission), and Ms. Leigh Ann Mastrini (President, JETAA DC). The families of Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson were also invited.
They talked with Prime Minister Abe about various topics, including how the JET Programme has influenced their lives, and the importance of the JET Programme and other person-to-person exchanges, etc.
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JETAA – 安倍総理とJETプログラム参加経験者達が交流
2月22日、ワシントンD.C.において、訪米中の安倍総理大臣が主催するレセプションにJETプログラム参加経験者も招待され、総理と交流する機会がありました。
招待されたJETプログラム（前身のMEFプログラムを含む）関係者は、マイケル・グリーンさん（戦略国際問題研究所上級顧問・元大統領特別補佐官・静岡県）、ジェームス・ギャノンさん（米国法人日本国際交流センター所長・愛媛県）、デービッド・ボリングさん（マンスフィールド財団副事務局長・前連邦下院議員選挙候補・茨城県）、ページ・カティンガムさん（日米友好基金事務局長・三重県）、リーアン・マーストリニさん（JETAAワシントンDC支部長・兵庫県）など10数名のJETプログラム参加者と、先の東日本大震災でJETプログラム参加中に亡くなったテイラー・アンダーソンさん（宮城県石巻市）、モンゴメリー・ディクソンさん（岩手県大槌町）の御家族です。
JETプログラム関係者の席はレセプションの最前列に配置され、JETプログラムへの参加が人生に与えた影響や、JETプログラムを含む人的交流の重要性などについて、総理と会話を交わしていました。
JCIE Special Report on Giving to Japan and the Current Status
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Thanks to Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94), Executive Director of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA), for sharing this uniquely informative and eye-opening report from his organization on what’s been going on in Japan with regard to recovery and donations.
From a JET perspective, it’s very useful information as a point of reference with regard to the strength of US / Japan ties in the areas such as sister city / state, and JET alumni efforts. It also really highlights the depth of the linkage between the two countries extending beyond the security and economic relationships to the personal level connections that are, for the most part, not simply based on having a large immigrant community. Additionally, it notes the state of the nonprofit sector and volunteerism in Japan and to increasing awareness of how that sector would benefit from developing further.
US Giving for Japan Disaster Exceeds $710 Million
Record Amount for Overseas Disaster in a Developed Country
http://www.jcie.org/311recovery/usgiving3.html
Intro Paragraph: In the two years since Japan was struck by an earthquake and tsunami of apocalyptic proportions, Americans have donated $712.6 million to help with relief and recovery efforts. These figures, which come from a survey conducted by the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE), indicate that the outpouring of US giving is the largest ever for a disaster in another developed nation, and the fifth most generous US response to any disaster in history.
JET Reference: In many instances, fundraising campaigns were driven by people who had connections to Japan through overseas study or from working in the country through programs such as the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, and for others it came from their affinity for Japanese anime, sports, language, or traditional culture.
On the Non-Profit Sector in Japan: In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, a handful of American commentators with limited knowledge of Japan advised against donating because Japan is a rich country. However, they overlooked the fact that, while Japan is a rich country, its nonprofit sector is relatively poor and underfinanced. US donations ended up having an outsized impact precisely because the funding base of Japanese nonprofits has traditionally been so limited and because these nonprofit organizations play such a crucial role by performing services that government agencies cannot manage, thus filling the gaps in the disaster response.
CLICK HERE to read the full report.
Mid-South JETAA changes name to jetaaNOLA
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Originally posted to jetaaNOLA’s Facebook page by Flora Williams:
Welcome to the Facebook page for jetaaNOLA, formerly Mid-South JETAA. Any and all JET alumni living in Arkansas, Louisiana, or Mississippi, this is the group for you! Friends and supporters of Japan are also welcome!
jetaaNOLA’s mission is to help foster positive US-Japan relations, to raise awareness locally of Japan-related issues, and to support the success of the JET Program.
Here’s the new jetaaNOLA Facebook page new address: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jetaaNOLA
Job: Actus – Business Development@ Japanese Chemical Company (Westchester, NY)
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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.
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***Note: Please make sure to indicate that you learned of the listing from JETwit if you apply for the job. ***
Position: Business Development at Japanese Chemical Company
Posted by: Actus Consulting
Type: Full-time
Location: Westchester, NY
Salary: $40K (entry-level)~ 70K (some experience)
Start Date: N/A
Company Information:
- Company Address: White Plains, NY
- Well established Japanese international trading company specializing in advanced materials for various industries including, semiconductors, LEDs, Biomedical, Photovoltaics, Electronics, Adhesives, Parylene Polymers, thickening agents, and much more.
- Company founded: 1970
- Has worldwide network – Asia, Europe, and South America Read More
Job: PA to the Consul General (Edinburgh, UK)
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Via JETAA UK. 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.
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Position: PA to the Consul General
Posted by: The Consulate General of Japan
Type: Full-time
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Salary: N/A
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh is the representative office of the Japanese Government in Scotland and North East England. The Consul General is the head of office.
Applications are invited for the post of PA to the Consul General. This is a varied role within a small office. The post would suit a confident, adaptable and conscientious individual with an interest in Japan.
The ideal candidate will have:
* Excellent oral and written communication skills
* Excellent organisational skills and good attention to detail
* Good interpersonal skills
* Advanced knowledge and experience of Word, Excel and Outlook
* At least two years’ experience in a similar role
* An awareness of political and current affairs, and an understanding of Scottish and British society and culture Read More
Job: Assistant Correspondent – The Chunichi Shimbun Group (also Tokyo Shimbun) – London
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Via JETAA UK. 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.
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Position: Assistant Correspondent
Posted by: Chunichi Shimbun Group
Type: Full-time
Location: London, UK
Salary: £21,600 (plus reasonable travel up to London zone 5 and half yearly bonuses of £500)
Start Date: N/A
Overview:
The Chunichi Shimbun Group is looking to recruit an Assistant Correspondent for our European Bureau based in London. Working in a team of two Correspondents and two Assistant Correspondents, you will assist the Correspondents in preparing articles to be published in Japan and handle bureau administration.
The European Bureau covers political, economic, cultural and sports news from the UK, Northern Europe, European institutions and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The group’s newspapers, The Chunichi Shimbun and The Tokyo Shimbun, are published twice daily in Japan, in Japanese, with a readership of over 4 million.
Flexibility is essential as although you will work mainly during office hours, you will occasionally be required to work overtime. You should also be willing to travel within Read More
