Job: Recruitment Consultant (Tokyo)
Jobs 
Comments Off on Job: Recruitment Consultant (Tokyo)
via Actus Consulting Group. 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: Recruitment Consultant, Tokyo
Job Details:
What makes a Recruitment Consultant at this agency different from any other recruiter or head hunter?
Requirements:
We can offer you:
If you are a great communicator, a hard worker, an ambitious person who loves working in Japan, and if you like to see excellent financial rewards for your efforts and achievements, you have the qualities they look for!
About the company:
Established in Tokyo in 1999, this company is a quality-driven executive recruitment company, specializing in the IT, Finance, Accountancy, Human Resources, SCM, Engineering and Sales & Marketing markets. The essence of this company is best expressed in their dedication to teamwork, constant self-improvement, excellence and ethics in the way we work with our clients and candidates, and a strong sense of fun and camaraderie.
If this sounds like the kind of organization you would like to work for, please apply!
How to apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter as an MS Word attachment to moya@actus-usa.com to apply. Make sure to mention in your email to what position you are applying.
Job: Japanese/English Bilingual Sales Assistant in NYC (temp to possibly hire)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Japanese/English Bilingual Sales Assistant in NYC (temp to possibly hire)
via Actus Consulting Group. 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: Japanese/English Bilingual Sales Assistant in NYC (temp to possibly hire)
Job Details:
The New York office of a Japanese trading company specializing in Iron and Steel (Ferrous) products seeks an assistant to the company President who is responsible for all the business activities in this small office of currently 3 staff (President, Accountant and Logistics Coordinator).
The job includes not only secretarial duties such as managing phone calls and emails for the President, preparation of various reports to be submitted to their HQ in Japan or presentation materials, arranging business trips for the President, etc., but supportive duties to the President from the every aspects of their business. He/She who fills this position will be expected to learn about the company’s business, clients, markets, reporting duties, and more. It will be a great chance for those who are interested in learning global business.
No prior experience necessary but welcome. Must be able to communicate in Japanese at Business level at least verbally. Business-level (or more advanced) English language skills both verbally and in writing, good PC skills required. Must have bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics or related field. Some knowledge of Accountancy will be very helpful.
The job starts as a full-time temp assignment but there is a big possibility to be hired as a permanent employee depending on your performance. The hourly wage while temping will be around $16. (Negotiation may be possible depending on your experience.) Business hours are 9am to 5pm with an hour of unpaid lunch break, Mon through Fri.
How to apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter as an MS Word attachment to moya@actus-usa.com to apply. Make sure to mention in your email to what position you are applying.
Job: Executive Director at Japan America Society (Seattle)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Executive Director at Japan America Society (Seattle)
via Japan-America Society of the State of Washington (JAS). 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: Executive Director at the Japan America Society of the State of Washington
Job Details:
Responsibilities of the Executive Director include the following:
Overall Direction of the Society: Managing the office and initiating and leading the annual and multi-year strategic business and program planning process in close collaboration with the Board and Executive Committee for their review and approval. Upholds and models the mission statement, values, vision, and community tradition of the Society, modeling a high degree of accountability.
Financial and Budget: Initiating and leading the fund development efforts, financial management, and annual budgeting process in close collaboration with the Board and Executive and Finance Committees for their review and approval.
Program Development and Implementation: Initiating and leading interesting and innovative programs. This includes identifying prospective program offerings, recruiting speakers, arranging venues and maximizing attendance. The Executive Director collaborates with the Program Committee and executes program plans. The three major standing annual fund development programs include the annual meeting, golf tournament and the holiday celebration and auction.
Membership Recruitment/Retention: Initiating and implementing membership recruitment and retention strategies. The Executive Director collaborates with the Membership Committee in being responsible for recruiting new and retaining existing members.
Management and Administration: Managing an office of three staff in a collegial and supportive environment. Models accountability and ensures all staff is held to the highest level of performance.
For more details click “Read More”.
Job: Program Director at Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Program Director at Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth
via Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth. 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: Program Director at Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth
Job Details:
The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth is seeking a fulltime Program Director to plan and implement programs about Japan and the U.S.-Japan relationship. Additional responsibilities include managing the society’s membership program and promoting the organization and its programs to the community.
Click here for a detailed job description and required qualifications
How to apply:
To apply, send cover letter and resume to Anna McFarland, Executive Director, at anna@jasdfw.org.
Job: Researcher for Japanese Energy Association (Washington, D.C.)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Researcher for Japanese Energy Association (Washington, D.C.)
via International Access Corporation. 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: Researcher
Job Details:
Researcher required for prestigious Japanese energy association located in Washington, D.C. Bachelors Degree required, Masters desirable. Candidate will monitor and report on U.S. energy/regulatory/policy issues and will develop written descriptions of Japanese energy industry issues for the U.S. market. Familiarity with Japanese language and culture not required but desirable. Requires Word, Excel, PowerPoint and wide experience with Internet-based research. $40,000 annually with fully-paid health/dental/life insurance, 401(k), profitshare plan, very generous holidays and dynamic, international working environment.
Salary: $40,000
Start Date: Jan 3, 2011
Requirements: Bachelors Degree minimum; Masters’ Degree desirable
How to apply:
Send your resume together with a COVER LETTER to:
Elizabeth McCarthy IAC, 1015 18th St. Suite 504, Washington D.C. 20036
Jobs: Kyoto Consortium of Japanese Studies Professors needed
Jobs Comments Off on Jobs: Kyoto Consortium of Japanese Studies Professors needed
Via Shinpai Deshou, an online resource to help Japanese Studies majors figure out how to make a living doing what they love:
The Kyoto Consortium of Japanese Studies is looking to fill two professor positions, one for the upcoming academic year and one for the next. The deadline date for the 2011-12 application is JANUARY 3, 2011; for 2013-14, the deadline is FEBRUARY 18, 2011 . The full job announcement in all its glory can be found here.
Report: “Reinvigorating US-Japan Policy Dialogue and Study” and implications for JET
Academic, Article/Journalism, Japan Trends, JetWit Diary, Return on JET-vestment, Writers Comments Off on Report: “Reinvigorating US-Japan Policy Dialogue and Study” and implications for JET
There’s a very JET-relevant report just published by the Japan Center for International Exchange titled “Reinvigorating US-Japan Dialogue and Study.” (Notably, JET alum Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94), Executive Director for the US office of JCIE, was involved in the drafting of the report.)
Though the report only mentions the JET Program once (on page 33 of the report), it’s clear that the still largely untapped resource that is the JET alumni community of over 50,000 worldwide (25,000+ in the US) has the potential and the ability to play a significant role in US-Japan relations going forward given the decline in energy and resources devoted to US-Japan policy dialogue and study cited in the report.
The gist of the report is that “the institutional base of US-Japan policy dialogue and study has started to erode in recent years.” However, the report also “finds fertile ground to deepen bilateral dialogue and better leverage the extensive human networks that have developed between the two societies.”
The main obstacles to reversing this trend appear to be:
- a shrinking institutional base for US-Japan relations and failure to fully take advantage of available resources (e.g., the JET alum community);
- reduced funds available in Japan to support these activities (due in a large part to a down economy); and
- to some extent, increased interest in and focus on China
As JET alums, the above trends may be beyond our control. But we are a big part of that extensive human network that needs to be leveraged. And regardless of the obstacles, the ball is in our court to be part of the solution. Tough times call for innovative solutions.
Gambarimashou.
Justin’s Japan: Interview with ‘Fried Chicken and Sushi’ Cartoonist/JET Alum Khalid Birdsong: Part 1 of 2
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By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
Cartoonist/JET alum Khalid Birdsong. (Courtesy of K. Birdsong)
Cartoonist and teacher Khalid Birdsong lived in Japan for two years working as an assistant English teacher on the JET Program. Last spring he launched the original webcomic Fried Chicken and Sushi, which is published twice a week and based loosely on his real-life experiences in Japan, mining the cross-cultural humor that living abroad provides.
Birdsong now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, whom he met in Japan, and baby daughter. He plans to visit Japan next year, which he feels will inspire even more stories. I spoke with the artist about his time on JET, life as a teacher, and the future of his creation.
Where did you grow up, and what is your history with comics?
I guess I’d call Atlanta, Georgia, home—that’s where I’ve spent most of my life. I’ve traveled quite a bit. I’ve lived in several countries—in Nigeria, Germany, the Bahamas and also Japan. So I’ve kind of had that international view of things. I’ve always enjoyed reading comics no matter where I might be living. I’ve always liked to draw them, but I didn’t really read American comics until I was in middle school. Mainly, I would read Asterix and the European comics, and I’d watch a lot of animation. But I’d still draw my own comics and make up my own characters and do my own comic books and then sell them for a quarter to my friends; people always knew me as the comic book kid. So I just kept it going—even in college, I went to Howard University in Washington, D.C., and I studied graphic design and illustration there. Everything I learned, I tried to bring it back into comics and cartooning. I also did T-shirt designs, and did some freelancing for a couple of years on my own, which meant that I was freelance working, but I was also a security guard, and I was waiting tables, and all the other things that you do. And I just fell into teaching art in elementary school, and I’ve been teaching ever since. I really, really love it. It’s great.
How did you get hooked on Japanese culture?
I think like most people in high school, at least when I was in high school in the early ’90s, it was this brand new thing, when trying to look at Japanese animation when you didn’t have a translation and watching stuff you couldn’t understand with friends—and trying to read any certain comics that you could get your hands on—it was something new and exciting. I just always thought, “Boy, it must be interesting to actually live in Japan; that must be something amazing to do.” But I never thought I would really ever do it. I was just interested in the art and language. Even in college, same thing—it became more prevalent. I would enjoy more and more anime and manga, along with American comics. So I think that’s what really started me off. I was drawing comics, but I was still drawing in an American-type cartoony style. I didn’t have that quote-unquote manga style, but that’s what kind of started me into it. And then I started thinking what it would be like to live over there once I started actually teaching art.
That’s when you discovered the JET Program?
Yeah, when I was teaching art, I guess I had this feeling—I was in my mid-20s, and I just thought it would be nice. Me and my friend Jason, who’s actually the J in the Fried Chicken and Sushi comic—we both talked about going to Japan just to visit just for a couple of weeks. And so we tried to plan a trip, but we didn’t have the money and all this—didn’t quite happen. And then, he actually found out about the JET Program online, and then I looked into it, too, and we said, “We should try to apply, let’s do it.” I was already teaching [in the U.S.], so we applied, and I went through the, whatever, nine-month span of time that it takes to go through everything, and I made it in and he didn’t, and it really was not cool; it really hurt us both. But he’s a good friend, so he said, “You need to go on ahead and do it,” and so I did.
So the relationship between the two characters in the comic is based on real life.
It is. A lot of what I’m telling in the comic is based on truth in my life, but there are things that I may change or over exaggerate or add on as time goes by, as Karl’s character develops and becomes more of his own character and individual, and the same with J. So there’ll be things that I make up, but I try to keep as much of it as I can based on some of my real experiences—I think people can tell what comes from truth and real experience.
So you’re saying you didn’t have a talking tanuki spirit haunting you?
[laughs] That’s great! You know, the thing with that is, in real life I really do have a very overactive imagination. You might have known some Japanese when you went over there, but for me, I really didn’t. I listened to some CDs and studied some basic greetings and everything, so when I was there I had no idea what anyone was saying. I would just get lost in my own imagination, and there were tons of stories going on in my head and all this—I would imagine things moving around that weren’t moving around. So no, I didn’t have a tanuki, but I wanted to have something that would represent that state of craziness I was in, where I’m there but also kind of detached from it all.
Because of budget woes, there’s been talk of the Japanese government trimming or potentially cutting the JET Program altogether. As a JET alum, what are your thoughts on the value and benefits of the program from your own experiences?
I think that for me, it was great to be able to travel to another country and to get international experience as a teacher and teach English and be able to travel in a place where I never thought I would and learn a new language, so that is very valuable for me. I think that even though people argue, saying that maybe having a native speaker in the classroom is not that all that important for Japanese people, I think that it’s still great for them to have someone from another country, because I feel that Japanese people don’t really get a chance to really experience or talk to or have someone that’s not Japanese around them typically. So I think it’s a great way for them to not just learn about other cultures and what’s around them, not to mention English, but in terms of international relations I think it’s a really great program for that.
And the work you’re doing now is an extension of those ideals.
I totally agree, it’s really great. It challenges stereotypes, and I wish we could have more of it instead of cutting it down.
Click here for the rest of the interview.
From JET alum Rosa Sobrino who is a producer for a Japanese morning show in NY:
“Live Japanese TV News program looking for some awesome volunteers to participate as extras on Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 2:30p.m.-5:30p.m. in Brooklyn. We will be introducing a local stunt school and would like to ask some people who can do basic exercise to come. If you are interested, please contact Rosa anytime at 917-755-0955 asap.”
Justin’s Japan: Michael Jackson Covers J-pop Classic on New Album
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'Michael' hits stores Dec. 14. (Sony Music)
By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
According to Billboard, Yellow Magic Orchestra’s 1979 electropop smash “Behind the Mask” will appear on Michael, the first posthumous album from the late recording megastar Michael Jackson.
Penned by YMO’s Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto with Chris Mosdell, “Behind the Mask” was first brought to Jackson’s attention by legendary producer Quincy Jones during the Thriller sessions in the early ’80s. The King of Pop cut the Japanese group’s song, adding an extra melody line and additional lyrics. Legal battles barred it from making the album, and the tune languished in the vaults until now.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Joshua Small is a First Year JET currently living in Ikaruga-cho, Nara-ken and has been chronicling his experience on his blog Snorlax87.
I recently went to my school’s Bon Enkai to celebrate the end of the fall term! It was amaaaaaaaazing!
A brief preface: The definition of “enkai” is merely “party; banquet” but it is also what greases the wheels of social communication in Japanese culture. The enkai is usually a work party with a lot of drinking.
My school’s enkai was held at a major shrine in the city of Kashihara. Kashihara is the 2nd largest city in Nara, with Nara City being it’s largest.
Given the terrible weather conditions, Storm and I received a ride from S-Sensei to the enkai. After we arrived, we were told to pick a table number out of a box to determine where we would sit for the dinner. I thought I was being funny when I did the ol’ “reach my hand into the mysterious box and pretend like something grabbed it” routine, but apparently my humor doesn’t reach across borders sometimes. Storm and I pulled different table numbers, so we wouldn’t be sitting together. After we pulled our number we were given scratch lottery tickets. We were also told not to scratch them until the enkai starts…
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the post.
http://snorlax87.blogspot.com/
JETAA Chapter sites with JetWit Links
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA Chapter sites with JetWit Links
A.J. the JetWit Elephant
Just want to quickly thank the below chapters for including a link to JetWit on their sites. Our goal is to have all JETAA Chapters to include a link to JetWit. And if they want, also have an image of A.J., the JetWit mascot (who was created by web and graphic designer Zi Mei (Saitama-ken, 2002-05) Click here to read about A.J.’s background and origins).
- JETAA UK: http://www.jetaa.org.uk/links (BTW, if you ever plan a trip to London, take a look at JapaneseLondon.com which is run by JET alum Vanessa Villalobos)
- JETAA Southern California: http://www.jetaasc.org/ (Including image of A.J.)
- JETAA South Island, New Zealand: http://www.southisland.jetalumni.org/information_links/information_links.htm (Including image of A.J.)
- JETAA Sydney: http://www.sydneyjetaa.org/index.php?pg=7 (Under “JET Programme and Related Organizations”)
- Pacific Northwest JETAA: http://www.pnwjetaa.org/?p=1057 (A full-on blog post about JetWit!)
- JETAA New England: http://www.nejetaa.com/index.php?option=com_weblinks&view=category&id=35%3Ajetaa&Itemid=48
- Music City: Tweeted about the JET-Tourist Tally Project. Chapter website coming soon.
Also, a reminder that all content on JetWit may be used by JETAA chapters and any other official JET-related organizations (e.g., AJET) on their websites, in their emails & newsletters, etc. No permission necessary. Just copy and paste. (Or link. Whatever makes your job easiest.)
Special thanks to Sam Lederer (Shizuoka-ken, 2005-07) for gathering the info. If your chapter has a link to JetWit, e-mail sam [at] jetwit.com and let us know.
WIT Life #141: 今年の漢字
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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.
The end of the year is upon is, which means that it is time for 今年の漢字 (kotoshi no kanji) or the kanji of the year. It is selected by popular ballot and is supposed to represent the events of 2009. The announcement was made this weekend at Kyoto’s Kiyomizu Temple, and the winner with 14,537 votes was 暑 (sho) or hot. According to Daily Sun, the reason this character was chosen was due to average temperatures this summer hitting historical highs (and many people getting heat stroke as a result) and for the 33 Chilean miners who survived the mine’s hot conditions.
This year had the most cumulative votes ever with 285,406, and the 2nd and 3rd place picks were Read More
Job: Senior Program Coordinator (8 months), Center on Japanese Economy and Business
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Senior Program Coordinator (8 months), Center on Japanese Economy and Business
via Columbia University. 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: Senior Program Coordinator, Center on Japanese Economy and Business
Job Details:
***Position start date around January 10, 2011***
The Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB) at Columbia Business School seeks a strong candidate for an 8 month temporary position to cover a team member on leave.
Reporting to the Director of Administration of the Center on Japanese Economy and Business, the Senior Program Coordinator is responsible for administering the Center’s finances and budget, handling correspondence and transactions with corporate sponsors and supporting the directors and associate directors in their functions. The employee will assist in the organization of programs and events held by the Center.
Responsibilities:
1. Financial administration, including preparation and reconciliation of all revenue and expenses; coordinate all incoming funds for Corporate Sponsorship program, endowment and gifts; preparation and maintenance of budget; preparation of all grant financial reports and any other financial projections.
2. In consultation with the Academic and Administrative Director, development of budgets for Center events and research projects.
3. Handling of paperwork of temporary staff of the Center and student interns. Processing of expense reports for staff and affiliated
faculty.
4. Support of visiting fellows, scholars, and other affiliates, which may include the administrative processing of paperwork for visas and housing.
5. Help maintain all Center publications including website, promotional brochures, annual report, and event reports.
6. Helping to organize and implement the Center’s annual international conferences in Tokyo, including the development of program agenda and budget, correspondence with participants and attendees, coordination with cosponsoring organizations, publicity efforts, and compilation of related program materials.
7. Administrative support of ongoing academic and research projects as necessary.
How to apply:
For more details, and for how to apply, go to https://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1292045175857
Job: Japanese Translators (Cleveland, Chicago, DC, NYC or Southfield, Mich.)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Japanese Translators (Cleveland, Chicago, DC, NYC or Southfield, Mich.)
via JET alum Gail Cetnar Meadows (Hiroshima-shi 2007-10).
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
Job Position: Kelly Law Registry seeks translators to translate Japanese documents into English.
Job Details: Kelly Law Registry is currently seeking resumes from individuals who have a strong ability to translate Japanese documents into English. Candidates must be available to work able to work on site at the client’s location for the next 1-2 months in either Southfield (Michigan), New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, or Washington, DC. Candidates may also need to travel to Southfield for a few days of training. Candidates should be comfortable working with the computer and possess a strong attention to detail.
For more information and to apply, click here.
