Oct 5

Return to Tohoku: “Don’t Speak, Just Move On” by Audrey Shiomi

Article/Journalism, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Volunteer, Writers Comments Off on Return to Tohoku: “Don’t Speak, Just Move On” by Audrey Shiomi

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The following is a personal essay by Audrey Shiomi (CIR Miyagi-ken, Sendai-shi, 1999-2001). Through generous sponsorship by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she spent a week in September visiting her former residence in Sendai City, one of the areas affected by the March 11 earthquake. In lieu of volunteering in disaster-stricken regions, she spent each day meeting with friends and former coworkers to listen to their stories.

Click here to read other Return To Tohoku updates on JETwit.  You can also check the JETAA USA website post (“JET Alums Return to Tohoku”) for additional information. 

Don’t Speak, Just Move On

By Audrey Shiomi (CIR Miyagi-ken, Sendai-shi, 1999-2001)

I couldn’t believe how normal it all felt to spend each day hanging out with old friends in Sendai. They hardly talked about what had happened six months ago, and if they did, they were calm, reflective and grateful. They didn’t suffer the way they did in the north, along the Pacific coast.

Within city limits, homes were damaged and people were left without running water, electricity and heat soon after the earthquake. It was late winter, and they had no clue when things they’d taken for granted—warmth, hot food and information—would be readily available. The minute it looked like a market was about to re-open, people formed long lines out the door.  Luckily, by Day 5, water and electricity had been restored.

Now, six months later, my friends are with me, laughing, drinking and eating like there’s no tomorrow. We were doing everything but dwelling on March 11 and for good reasons. For one, it was simply time to more forward. For another, talking about your own situation made it seem like you were complaining about it, and—as my friend explained—the only people who are socially allowed to lament are those whose loved ones died in the tsunami.

Another reason few people talk about the events of March is that if someone were to mention they temporarily fled the prefecture after the nuclear reactor meltdown, they’d face the silent scorn of their peers. For some, leaving town was a logical safety measure. For others, leaving town was the moral equivalent of abandoning your family.  It’s these opposing schools of thought that make it difficult to openly talk to one another. “It’s like in the U.S. where people don’t bring up religion,” said one Japanese friend. “People don’t talk about certain parts of their experiences after the disaster.”

So instead of dwelling in the past, my friends have no option but to move forward. For many of them, March 11 instilled a newfound reason for living. Many have taken up new hobbies and started traveling more. My friend, Nanae, has been making a living by holding private cooking classes at her home. March 11 fueled her to hold more classes. The way she sees it, she’s lucky to be alive, so not living life would be like besmirching the memory of all those who’d died.

I’m glad my friends have emerged from this tragedy with their heads held high. It would have been a sad reunion if they’d greeted me with distressed tears. If they’d told me, “Take me back to the U.S. with you!” I would have stowed them all away in my suitcase. But, no, instead we’re able to share a drink, enjoy great izakaya food and laugh about old times.

That’s the Japan I know.


Oct 5

JET Alum Author Beat 10.05.11

Article/Journalism, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, JET Alum Author Beat, JQ Magazine, Notable JET Alums, Writers , , , , Comments Off on JET Alum Author Beat 10.05.11

 

JET Alum Author Beat is a new feature by Ling Tran (Saga-ken, 2009-11) intended to keep readers informed of what various JET alum authors are up to.  Contact Ling at jetwit [at] jetwit.com if you’d like to see something included in upcoming posts. She is also interested in providing exposure for aspiring authors/writers among alumni and current JETs – excerpts and updates are all welcome. 

  • Sam Baldwin Ono (Fukui-ken, 2004-06) hails from the UK and made a life altering decision when he decided to move to Fukui-ken through the JET Program. The quiet facade of inaka Japan gradually revealed its colorful nature, eventually leading Sam to share stories and insights in For Fukui’s Sake: Two years in rural Japan. Whether for reference (newbie JETs, holla!), nostaliga, or reflection – ESID aside – this book is available electronically. If you want to be notified of its hard copy release, click here. Visit the website For Fukui’s Sake  for details. (Fukui t-shirts are also available for purchase.)
  • Cartoonist Lars Martinson (Fukuoka-ken, 2003-06) has been busily settling into his new home and  schedule in Kameoka, Kyoto. He managed to fit in a brief post after a short hiatus. Eager followers can see how he is doing here – more substantial updates to come!


 

 


Oct 4

Les Pumps: Japan-inspired Shoe Art

Art, Art & Design Observer Comments Off on Les Pumps: Japan-inspired Shoe Art

by Lee-Sean Huang (ALT, Oita-ken, 2003-06). Lee-Sean is an artist, designer and educator based in New York City. He is the webmaster of JetWit and JETAANY. His new Art & Design Observer series features profiles art, design, and culture with a Japanese flavor.

Les Pumps is a collection of handmade art by the Barcelona-based Brazilian artist Caio de Paula Marques that uses vintage women’s shoes as 3D canvases.  Caio decorates the shoes with hand-painted details and applies old manga art as a collage. The first Les Pumps collection is called “Sakura Vintage,” and Caio cites Japan as a major influence for his creative work.  Are there any JET visual artists out there whose work has been influenced by Japan?  Let us know in the comments, and we can feature your work here on JetWit.

According to the artist:

Les Pumps was born out of the need of creating an artistic project, in a more old fashion way, that involved manual crafts and to have a little break from using mainly digital tools as I have done as a graphic designer in the past years.

So in the search for interesting structures, aiming to work in a three dimensional way, and being a shoe lover myself, such fetishistic object of the feminine world seemed the perfect canvas for my art work.

Many hours have been put into each pair, from the investigation and purchase of the shoes, through which I´ve learned a great deal (now I can tell the difference between a pair of pumps from a pair of stilettos) and the many steps of execution till the final piece is ready, an average of 15 hours is needed.

For my first collection, the main motif has been SAKURA (meaning cherry blossom) so full of symbolism in Japan, reflecting the great interest I’ve always had towards this country and its culture ever since I can remember.

Perhaps the most innovating about this collection has been the use of COLLAGE, technique that allows the creations of different contexts and in this case, also recycles other artist’s works, which also relates to the concept of Vintage. Once more, the Nipponic culture is present as the paper I use is actually from 80’s manga.

VINTAGE SHOES have been my choice, as they convey history and strengthen the artistic value and the concept of uniqueness.


Oct 4

JETAA Music City to host it’s first Nihongo Dake Dinner!

Cultural Outreach, Events, Food & Drink, JETAA Chapters, Language Study, Networking, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on JETAA Music City to host it’s first Nihongo Dake Dinner!

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Thanks to JETAA Music City President (and Arkansas Cherry Blossom Princess) Terry Vo (Kumamoto-ken, 2007-09) for the heads up:

Join us for a Japanese-Style Potluck on October 4, 2011. Come mingle, eat, drink, and be merry! This event is open to our Friends of JET Alum as well so please feel free to invite your family and friends! Please bring either your favorite Dish, Dessert or Beverage!

RSVP DEADLINE: September 30 to Leah atvp@jetaamc.org

Location: 1812 Cahal Avenue, Nashville TN 37206″


Oct 4

Job searching advice from JETAA Tokyo

Career, JETAA Chapters, Jobs Comments Off on Job searching advice from JETAA Tokyo

Via JETAA Tokyo’s Career Digest:


Oct 4

Return to Tohoku Update 10.04.11

Article/Journalism, Blogs, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Writers Comments Off on Return to Tohoku Update 10.04.11

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Here are updates from a few more of the 20 Tohoku region JET alumni selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to return to their town to both engage in volunteer efforts and also help document and share what’s going on there.

 

Click here to read other Return To Tohoku updates on JETwit.  You can also check the JETAA USA website post (“JET Alums Return to Tohoku”) for additional information. 


Oct 3

JQ Magazine: Japan Society Launches Beer Revolution

Article/Journalism, Events, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Japan Society Launches Beer Revolution

Green Tea IPA, one of over 20 beers ready for tasting at Japan Society's Beer Revolution event Oct. 5. (Courtesy Baird Brewery)

By Vlad Baranenko (Saitama-ken, 2000-02) for JQ magazine. Vlad is an avid photographer.

With an exploding market for craft beer here in the U.S., Japan’s contribution to the industry, known domestically as ji bīru (地ビール), has seen tremendous growth over the past 17 years.

On Oct. 5, beer buffs and those who simply enjoy an occasional cold pint alike will get an opportunity to sample from at least 20 kinds of beer at New York’s Japan Society‘s “Japan’s Beer Revolution: The Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Japanese Craft Brewing.”

While previously held back by government regulation, Japan’s microbreweries took off in 1994, and have since been experimenting with a variety of traditional ingredients such as ginger and oysters to create rich and complex flavors to replace the standard lagers in order to satisfy local taste palettes. Since many of the beers are produced in age old sake breweries, the Japanese had no trouble adapting Western methods to manufacture a product whose quality would no doubt impress even the pickiest connoisseurs of Belgian brew.

Read More


Oct 3

JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Author/JET Alum James Kennedy on the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival

Article/Journalism, Books, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Author/JET Alum James Kennedy on the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival

"As for how being on JET has influenced my writing—definitely, a lot of the fantastical world in my book 'The Order of Odd-Fish' is inspired by what I saw and experienced in Japan." (Courtesy of James Kennedy)

 

By Renay Loper (Iwate-ken, 2006-07) for JQ magazine. Renay is a freelance writer and Associate Program Officer at the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership. Visit her blog at Atlas in Her Hand.

James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Order of Odd-Fish, will be curating the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the New York Public Library on Nov. 5 and with the Harold Washington Library in Chicago on Nov. 16.

Named after John Newbery (thought to be the founding father of children’s literature), the Newbery Award is considered the highest regarded honor given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature, and the American Library Association has awarded it every year since 1922. James took a moment to tell us a little about the festival, curating, and his path as an author.

What is the premise of the festival?

[It is a contest, or challenge of sorts] open to anyone, to make a video that compresses the story of a Newbery Medal (or Honor)-winning book into 90 seconds or less. No book trailers! It has to be the entire story. For it turns out that any book, no matter how worthy and somber, becomes pleasingly ludicrous when compressed into 90 seconds. The goal is comedy.

In a previous JETwit posting, you mentioned three award winners who wrote about Japan and the Japanese that no one has tackled yet. Why do you think that is?

Only because the books aren’t as famous—people are naturally inspired to make movies of books they’ve already read and loved. Everyone has heard of Newbery Medal winners like A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, or Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.

The three Japan-related books that won Newbery Medals or Honors—Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, and Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun by Rhoda Blumberg—are just not as well-known, and so it’s less likely someone would be moved to make a video. Their oversight is your opportunity! (To make it more interesting, you could even do it in Japanese and add subtitles!)

If you had to give one word of advice to entrants, what would it be?

Don’t merely recap the book. Transform the story! Either in style or substance. Some great examples of successful 90-Second Newbery entries are this full-scale musical version of The 21 Balloons, or this shadow puppet version of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

As I mention in the contest rules, it’s fun to switch up the genre style, like doing Charlotte’s Web in the nightmarish style of David Lynch’s Eraserhead. Or even cross two Newbery books: how about the rodents of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh fight their counterparts in The Tale of Despereaux? Rat fights make for gripping cinema! Basically, make it funny. The deadline for entries is Oct. 17.

Read More


Oct 3

WIT Life #181: Volunteer interpreter in Tohoku

Earthquake Tsunami, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #181: Volunteer interpreter in Tohoku

WITLife 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.

For those want to help out with Japan’s recovery effort and have Japanese language skills, here’s a great way.  Please see below message regarding details of a 6-week volunteer interpreting opportunity in the disaster area, and contact Laura/Jiella directly if you are interested.  For those who want to help but aren’t able to make it over, think about picking up the new Travel Guide to Aid Japan.  It features some fabulous sites in Japan, some of which you might not be aware, written up by an interesting mix of celebrity contributors.  All proceeds from its sales (minus expenses) will be donated to the Japan Red Cross for use toward disaster recovery efforts.

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Dear all,

Many of you have heard of the group All Hands Volunteers, an American
NGO that has been working in Ofunato and Rikusentakata in Iwate
Prefecture doing tsunami relief since right after the March 11
disaster.  This is an amazing organization that harnesses the power of
volunteers in disaster response.  For those of you who were on the
USJLP Japan trip this year, you heard about them in my presentation.

Spencer and I were up in Ofunato again last weekend volunteering with
All Hands and we continue to be very impressed – there were over 90
Japanese and international volunteers working together to clear
highway ditches and rice field drainage systems, to clean and retouch
damaged photographs, and to remove damaged materials from homes
devastated by the tsunami.  This organization has made a huge
difference to the people of Ofunato and Rikusentakata, and there were
posters all over town thanking All Hands for their efforts.

All Hands is continuing their project in Tohoku until November 12 and
they are in urgent need of an interpreter for these next 6 weeks of
the project.

Food, lodging and a (small) salary will be provided, and this
interpreter will be heavily involved in the day to day management of
the project, alongside an American Project Director.  The interpreter
needs to speak very good English and Japanese, and will need to
relocate to Ofunato right away for the next 6 weeks.

This is a great opportunity to make a big difference and contribute to
the recovery of Japan.  Please see this link for more information
about the project: http://hands.org/projects/project-tohoku/

Please let me and Jiella Esmat (jiella@hands.org) if you or anyone you
know is interested.  Feel free to pass this around.

Thanks so much for your help,
Laura (USJLP ’11, ’12, and Board Member of All Hands Volunteers)

From: Laura Winthrop Abbot
Date: September 30, 2011 20:43:01 CDT
To: usjlp@listserve.com
Subject: [Usjlp] Interpreter needed urgently: All Hands Volunteers Project Tohoku


Oct 3

Job: Job at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Job at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa

Via Embassy of Japan, Ottawa. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London but is interested in hearing about any Japan-related opportunities across the globe.

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***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***

Job Position: Paper Selection Committee Members

Job Details:

The Embassy of Japan requires Paper Selection Committee Members to help select the 2011-2012 JET candidates. Paper Selection Committee members review and evaluate submitted applications according to criteria determined by the JET Desk.

The period of employment will begin on November 14, 2011 and end on December 23, 2011. Hours of work will be from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa. Remuneration will be based upon experience.

The ability to work full-time during this period is preferred. However applications for part-time committee membership may also be considered.

Qualifications:

  • Strong command of English
  • Experience in administrative duties
  • The ability to work on a team
  • A JET Programme alumnus is preferred
  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume with a cover letter in English to Stephanie White before 5:00pm on October 24th, 2011 by email to jet@ot.mofa.go.jp.

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.


Oct 3

Job: Bilingual Market Research (NY)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Bilingual Market Research (NY)

Via ACTUS. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London but is interested in hearing about any Japan-related opportunities across the globe.

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***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***


Job Position: Bilingual Market Research (NY)

Job Details:

Japanese Marketing/Research Company seeks an Associate Consultant for immediate hire.

Company Information:

-Company Address: Midtown, NY
-Provides companies around the world with online marketing research
-Established in 1997. Headquartered in Japan.
-NY Office has 7 employees（Office Manager, Sales, project Manager, Administrative Staff）
-Company Size: 60~70 employees around the world (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and London)
-Annual Sales: $ 14,000,000

Your Role with the Company:

Job responsibilities include but not limited to: Manage online marketing research projects Communicate with clients and vendors in Japan and overseas Operate System, etc.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

-Must be FULLY English-Japanese Bilingual.
-Excellent Excel skills is required, Pivot Table and Vlookup Skill a big plus.
-Business hours: 9:30~6:30.

Salary: $30K~

Benefit: Medical, Dental, Vision- Company pays 100%

How to Apply:

Please forward your most recent resume and cover letter to stakeda@actus-usa.com as an MS Word attachment. Make sure to mention which position you are applying to in your cover letter. We will contact qualified candidates to have a preliminary interview. We are a Japanese staffing agency and currently searching for candidates for the above position at one of our client companies. We look forward to your application. Thank you!


Sep 30

JETs with J.D.s >> The “Flexibility” of the J.D., and so-called alternative careers

Uncategorized Comments Off on JETs with J.D.s >> The “Flexibility” of the J.D., and so-called alternative careers

Andrew McCarthy (Akita-ken, 2005-08) is a recent law school graduate who currently runs the blog JETs with J.D.s, an information source for current JET alumni law students and prospective law students for career paths and approaches within the current legal market. Coincidentally, if you are a current or prospective law student looking to contribute a little to your fellow JET community by blogging a bit, Andrew would be interested in hearing from you!

As the legal market continues to languish in the perfect storm of post-financial crisis lay-offs, globalization shifting entry-level legal work to places like India, and heat is slowly (perhaps too slowly) being applied to the legal education system to affect substantive change: law school administrations and law students alike are looking to “Alternative Careers” to be their safe harbor after graduation.

But what are the alternative career options for the J.D.?

In this entry, I give you my two yen on the subject, and hook you up with the most recent commentary out there, letting you decide for yourself.

The entry, in full, is available here.

 


Sep 29

JET alum Lee-Sean Huang in Fast Company, recruiting alumni interested in design for social innovation for new MFA program

Academic, Article/Journalism, Career, Graduate School, Notable JET Alums , , , , , Comments Off on JET alum Lee-Sean Huang in Fast Company, recruiting alumni interested in design for social innovation for new MFA program

JET alum and JETwit webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, Nakatsu-shi, 2003-2006) recently appeared in the Fast Company article “An MFA Degree For Designers Who Want To Change The World” by Michael J. Coren.

So you want to change the world? Cynics may send you off to Wall Street or a white-shoe law firm. Those with gumption will look for another way. The new Master’s of Fine Arts in Design for Social Innovation has opened its doors just for them.

“We’re adamant this not be a program where people sit in a classroom and talk about how great it’s going to be when they go out and change the world,” says program chair Cheryl Heller at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, and a board member of PopTech. “It is helping designers go beyond self-expression, which is how most designers are taught, and how to put [design] into practice to create a change.”

Read the full Fast Company article here.

Lee-Sean, a faculty member in the department, is reaching out to the JET community and encouraging returning JETs and alumni to apply to the MFA Design for Social Innovation program.  The program is for applicants from a broad range of backgrounds with an interest in design and social innovation, and not just those with college degrees or prior professional experience in design.  Email leesean@purpose.com with inquiries, and apply here.  The deadline for applications is January 15, 2015 for Fall 2012 enrollment.

Photo: Lee-Sean with fellow MFA Design for Social Innovation faculty member Alessandra Orofino.


Sep 29

I’ll Make It Myself! – Mini Okara Gateaux Chocolat

Blogs, Food & Drink, I'll Make It Myself, Writers , , , , , Comments Off on I’ll Make It Myself! – Mini Okara Gateaux Chocolat

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 translator for The Art of Japan: Kanazawa and Discover Kanazawa, ze also writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan.

 Mini Okara Gateaux Chocolat

While looking for recipes the first time I bought okara, I had found several for okara gateaux. This recipe is the result of experimenting with a number of these, particularly with the amount of sugar and cocoa. The texture is quite different than a traditional chocolate gateau, but if you like desserts that have been remade with healthier ingredients (tofu, soy milk, etc.), this is bound to be a hit.

 

CLICK HERE to read the full post.


Sep 27

I’ll Make It Myself! – Aka-Zuiki Quick Pickles

Blogs, Food & Drink, I'll Make It Myself, Writers , , , , , Comments Off on I’ll Make It Myself! – Aka-Zuiki Quick Pickles

Editor’s Note:  I’ll Make It Myself is a blog about food culture and cooking for yourself in Japan by Ishikawa-based JET alum L.M. Zoller.  We’re very pleased to share selected posts on JETwit as well.

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 translator for The Art of Japan: Kanazawa and Discover Kanazawa, ze also writes I’ll Make it Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan.

Hello, JETwit! I’m pleased to introduce my food blog I’ll Make it Myself: An Expat Career Woman’s Love Affair with Things Culinary. I cover a wide range of topics on this blog, including Japanese recipes, recipes adapted for Japan, local food culture, and restaurant reviews. A little about me: I’m obsessed with kabocha and oatmeal; I go through cinnamon like a champ; and I’m constantly on the hunt for good microbrews–the darker, the better. Many of my recipes and reviewed restaurants are vegetarian-friendly, and I try to keep things fairly healthy. Today, I’m posting a recent entry about Kaga heirloom vegetables, a recipe for gorgeous, quick, and delicious Japanese-style pickles.

 

Aka-Zuiki Quick Pickles (Red-Taro-Stem Vinegar Pickles) 

Japanese food traditionally includes a lot of tsukemono (漬け物), or pickles. The first thing most Americans will think of when you say pickles is dill (cucumber) pickles that go with sandwiches; however, pickles are any vegetable that has been preserved with brining. Japanese pickles cover a wide range of base ingredients, including carrots, cucumbers, ginger, and plums; as well as a wide variety of pickling styles: salt, miso, vinegar, nuka (rice bran), and more. Some recipes call for the pickling mixture and vegetables (or fruit) to be aged overnight or for several months, but this recipe can be consumed right after cooking!

 

CLICK HERE to read the full post.


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