Mar 28

Japan Society Round-up 03.28.11: Disaster relief funds set up by Japan America Societies

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Japan Society Round-up

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In addition to the many fundraising events planned by Japan America Societies around the country, numerous funds have been set up to collect donations for Japan’s disaster relief. This list of funds (organized alphabetically by city/state) was compiled by JET alum Gail Meadows (ALT, Hiroshima-shi 2007-10). If you know of a fund set up by a Japan America Society that is not listed here, please leave it in the comments. Thanks!

JAS of Greater Austin

JASGA has created a disaster relief fund to collect donations for organizations involved directly with relief efforts in the northeastern area of Japan. Donations can be made online here. Alternatively, checks can be sent to Japan-America Society of Greater Austin PO Box 9276 Austin, TX 78766. Please make checks payable to the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin and be sure to write Earthquake-Tsunami Relief Fund in the memo field.

JS of Boston

JSB partnered with the Boston Foundation and the Fish Family Foundation to create a new Japanese Disaster Relief Fund-Boston. Donations to this fund are now being accepted online at www.japanesedisasterrelieffund.org. This fund was established with an initial leadership grant of $100,000 from Atsuko and Lawrence Fish, who have also pledged to cover all administrative costs of the fund. This will make it possible for 100 percent of contributions to go directly to Japanese disaster victims and to the organizations working on the ground in Tohoku to help the people who need it most. For more information, click here.

JAS of Southern California

JASSCA has established the 2011 Japan Relief Fund. All donations will be forwarded to experienced non-governmental disaster relief agencies in Japan that have a proven track record of emergency humanitarian relief and restoration and development of destroyed areas. To donate, visit their website here.

JAS of Northern California

JASNC created the JSNC Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund and pledges that 100 percent of contributions will be provided to Give2Asia, a highly regarded San Francisco-based philanthropy, to support relief efforts. Give2Asia will channel 95 percent of all funds received to Japanese NGOs working on the ground, with the remaining 5 percent funding Give2Aisa’s own work coordinating with and supporting those NGOs. Currently Give2Asia — in consultation with its advisor Japan NPO Network — is formulating relief plans with Second Harvest Japan and Shanti Volunteer Association. It is also in discussions with: Japanese Emergency NGOs (JEN), Saigai Volunteer Katsudo Shien Project Kaigi, Rescue Stock Yard, and Niigata Saigai (Disaster Volunteer Network). To donate, go here: http://give2asia.org/japansociety.

JAS of Chicago

The Japan America Society of Chicago is currently accepting donations for the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. All proceeds will go directly to the Japanese Red Cross. To donate online, click here.

Mar 28

AJET: Guide to Organising Food and Supply Drives

Earthquake Tsunami, Volunteer

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AJET recently put up a good Facebook post on a “Guide to Organising Food and Supply Drives.”

Mar 28

Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) Update: 03.28.11

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Notable JET Alums, Volunteer

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The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) has been an excellent source of updates via the earthquake section of its website as well as its Facebook page. The kind of info you’re likely not getting from CNN or network news. Notably, JET alum James Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94) is the Director of JCIE/USA’s New York office. Here’s the latest update:

Weekend News – http://www.jcie.org/earthquakeupdate.html

JEN and others report that more relief supplies are reaching those in need, while a recent AMDA survey shows a rise in suspected Influenza cases.
AAR Japan searched for a senior daycare center by foot in Yamamoto-cho (Miyagi Pref). Only a sign was left and word finally reache…d them that they had lost 3 of their staff members.

Also: JCIE has updated its Timeline through March 25 (http://www.jcie.org/earthquakeupdate.html). Relief supplies, especially medical, are still in high demand two weeks after the ‘Quake & Tsunami. However, NGO’s are also able to reach more and more people in need.

Click here for some images from Recovery & Relief efforts.

Mar 28

Job: Part-time Project Manager for Japan/America Society of Kentucky

Jobs

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Posted by Gail Meadows (ALT, Hiroshima-shi 2007-10). If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit.

The Japan/America Society of Kentucky (JASK) is hiring a part-time project manager. Application deadline is April 15, 2011. The position is for 20 to 25 hours per week, schedule negotiable.

Job Qualifications:

Experience with managing events and programs (i.e., two or more years experience organizing events)
Top-notch business communication skills (preference will be given for bilingual ability)
Excellent organizational skills and project follow-through
Strong interest in Japan/America friendship and building valuable programs for the Japan/America community in Kentucky

Job Duties:

Take full responsibility for some of JASK’s ongoing programs under the supervision of the executive director
Assist Executive Director with website development, membership recruitment, and new program development
Contact members regarding program and event participation
Assist with office management as-needed (mailings, record-keeping, etc.)

To fill out an application form, click here.

Mar 28

Job: Two new postings from JETAA NY

Jobs

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via JETAA NY. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.

*Note: If you apply for either of these positions, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.

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Two new job postings from JETAANY:

Syracuse Weekend TESOL Teacher-Trainer

Executive Assistant (Japanese speaking)

Mar 28

Job: Bilingual Consultant (Detroit)

Jobs

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via Rochelle Kopp, Japan Intercultural Consulting. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.

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

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Job Position: Bilingual Consultant (Detroit)

Job Description:

Japan Intercultural Consulting, an international training and consulting firm focused on Japanese business, is looking to add a new member to our team in Detroit — someone who is completely fluent in Japanese and English, with experience and interest in the HR and cross-cultural communications fields.
Read More

Mar 28

Job: Planning & Marketing Support Specialist

Jobs

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via Pasona. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.

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

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Job Position: Planning & Marketing Support Specialist

Job Description:

Japanese manufacturing company in NJ is looking for Planning & Marketing Support Specialist.

Mar 27

Foxhound87: Earthquake

Uncategorized

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Joshua Small is a First Year JET currently living in Ikaruga-cho, Nara-ken and has been chronicling his experience on his blog Snorlax87.

During the month of March, there is NOTHING for me to do at school. The school seems to look the other way (or just not care) about what I do during these vacation months. Because I’ve been given no tasks or assignments, I generally spend my day watching movies on my laptop or internet surfing.

As I was watching one of the most intense movies I’ve ever seen (The Hurt Locker), I suddenly found myself swaying a little bit. I thought at first that maybe the movie was just THAT good; that it was so tense, I was actually feeling dizzy. It wasn’t until I took off my headphones that I heard we were in the middle of a small earthquake!

All the teachers were smiling and giggling. It was, after all, a REALLY small one. Even I was smiling and giggling. It was my first earthquake. I couldn’t help being excited. Nothing was broken. Nothing shifted. Everything continued as normal. When one of the teachers turned on the television to check the news, we learned of the true devastation. We watched as the news slowly trickled in. What we felt in my office was an aftershock of the large earthquake in northern Japan.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the post.

http://snorlax87.blogspot.com/

Mar 27

Fukushima perspectives by a Fukushima JET alum

Article/Journalism, Earthquake Tsunami, Writers

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Thanks to JETAA Bluegrass Subchapter rep Roy Harrison for sharing the link to the excellent article by Fukushima JET alum and journalist Graham Shelby:

“JET Alum Graham Shelby put together a piece for the Louisville Courier-Journal about the experience of watching what’s happening in Fukushima from a distance that’s much greater geographically than it is emotionally.”

“Please give it a read. You’ll likely find it echoes the feelings you’ve been having for the past two weeks.”

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011303270046

Mar 25

WIT Life #158: Charity concerts, etc. for Japan’s recovery

Events, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers

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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.

Japan’s recovery efforts continue to take place, and while it is easy to feel helpless in the face of the disaster’s aftermath we can each help out in our own small way. I would like to highlight some upcoming events that will enable you to contribute to the cause while enjoying good food and music.

First up is Dine Out for Japan Relief, a week-long event in which the 70+ participating restaurants are donating 5% of their proceeds to Japan’s tsunami recovery and relief efforts. There are many familiar Manhattan Japanese favorites like Read More

Mar 24

Miyagi Map: How your area fared

Earthquake Tsunami

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Via a post to the Miyagi JET Reunion Facebook group by William Henning:

“This [map of Miyagi] ought to give you some idea of how your area fared. Scroll down for .pfds of maps showing approx. how far the water reached along the Miyagi coast.”

See map 10 for Natori, Iwanuma, Sendai, Tagajo, Shiogama.

See map 9 for Higashi Matsushima and Ishinomaki.

See map 8 for Kitakami (Kahoku), Ogatsu, and Onagawa

See map 7 for Shizugawa and Utatsu.

Mar 24

Ibaraki Update: Socks

Earthquake Tsunami

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From a blog by Jason Kelly (not a JET). FYI, Ibaraki Prefecture was also hit hard by the earthquake but has not gotten as much attention as the harder hit areas of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima.

Into Ibaraki

March 23, 2011

We received an emergency request for socks from North Ibaraki City, hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami, and located only 73 km (45 mi) south of the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plants. We faced two questions: Was it safe to travel closer to the radiation, and could we justify using precious gasoline for such a long trip?

On the first question, we checked radiation levels for the area and found them to be eight times higher than near our base in Sano —

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post.

Mar 24

Salvation Army article about ALT who was teaching near Fukushima nuclear plant

Earthquake Tsunami, JETs in the News

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Here’s an article from the Salvation Army’s blog about an ALT named Lis Bennett (not a JET) who was teaching at a school 25 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant when the earthquake struck. She was evacuated from the area and shares some of her experience in the article.