Job: Japanese autoparts manufacturer seeks interpreters plus other duties
Jobs 
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via Quick USA. 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.
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Job Position: Interpreter
Job Details:
A Japanese automotive parts manufacturing company is seeking interpreter from beginning of January 2011 till August or September, depending on the project.
Interpreting should be conducted from Japanese into English and from English into Japanese.
Your main duties will be interpreting; however, at times when interpreting is not necessary, other duties will be assigned such as administrative, accounting, IT, or other work depending on your skills.
Must have at least business level of Japanese and English, and interpreting work experience, related experience in the automobile industry are a big plus!
Candidates who do not currently live in the US are also welcome to apply.
Contact:
Mayuko Ozawa
Recruiting Consultant
Quick USA, Inc.
212-692-0063
www.919usa.com
Message from JETAA International Chair Shree Kurlekar
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The following is the text of an e-mail sent out to the JETAA chapter representatives listserve by newly elected JETAA International Chair Shree Kurlekar (Shiga-ken, 2005-07). With Shree’s permission, we’re re-posting a slightly edited version here on JetWit for the benefit of the JET alumni community. For more information about JETAA International, you can visit the website at http://jetalumni.org.
Greetings members of the JET alumni community,
My name is Shree Kurlekar and I was elected Chair of JETAA International at the JETAAI meeting October 1-3 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Here’s a list of what will be covered below:
1. Introduction to me and the new JETAAI Board
2. The Future of JET and JETAA
3. 2010-11 Action Plan for Country Representatives
*******************
JET ROI: Japan Times readers respond to Debito Arudou’s “Don’t Blame JET for Japan’s Poor English”
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Back in September the Japan Times ran a column by Debito Arudou titled “Don’t Blame JET for Japan’s Poor English.” The article defended JET against criticism of non-improving English test scores. But it also waded into some generalizations that prompted some thoughtful responses. (Thanks to CLAIR-NY’s Matt Gillam for the heads up.)
Click here to see all of the responses.
The final word on JET, for now
Arudou misses the mark
Debito Arudou’s recent article on the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme (Just Be Cause, Sept. 7) and many of the responses which followed (Have Your Say, Oct. 12):
I do agree that there are some systemic challenges educators must attempt to overcome in order to provide these kids with the English education they deserve. But Mr. Arudou’s arguments are so simultaneously inflammatory and reductive that I cannot believe a reputable publication would venture to publish them.
He is right to have concerns about the very real institutionalized handicaps in the Japanese educational system, but his ideas are so ill-articulated (“Group psychosis?” Are you kidding?) and, frankly, ignorant that I fear the real problems (and solutions) become lost in the muck.
The article itself misses the opportunity to shed light on what is actually happening in Japanese schools. Mr. Arudou is right to worry that cutting the program and withdrawing the significant foreign presence in Japan might be counter- productive, but I do not believe that that is because the Japanese are suffering from “eigo psychosis,” whatever that means. The “problems” are institutionalized at this point — a reflection of the greater cultural conflict Japan faces as it strives to look forward while staying rooted in history and tradition.
The push/pull between The Way Things Have Always Been Done and Read More
JET ROI: Shukan NY Seikatsu article on JETAANY Welcome Back Reception quotes Jim Gannon
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Below is a copy of an article from Shukan NY Seikatsu (Weekly NY Life) about the JETAANY Welcome Back Reception held on November 6. The article includes some quotes from James Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94) (Executive Director of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA), author of the July 3 “JET on the Chopping Block,” and one of the newest members of the JETAANY Board of Directors) that appeared in the November 5 op-ed written by James along with Michael Auslin (Director of Japan Studies at the American Enterprise Institute) and Paige Cottingham-Streater (Deputy Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation).
The article is titled, “JET Program as a bridge between the US and Japan: An alumni event held in New York City.” It talks about the JET Program alumni event welcoming 23 new returnees who worked as ALTs or CIRs via the JET Program and who recently returned to the New York area. The article says that approximately 110 guests in total attended the event. And Ambassador Nishimiya encouraged the new returnees in his speech saying, “I hope you will continue to do your part building bridges between the people of Japan and the United States.” The article also introduces Mr. James Gannon as a JET alumnus and quotes from the Asahi Shimbun op-ed: “The JET Program is a ‘triumph of soft power’ in the US-Japan relations in the grassroots level.” (Thanks to Noriko Furuhata of the Consulate General of Japan in New York for help with the translation.)
Life After the B.O.E.: Autograph
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Life After the B.O.E. is a comic series about the JET experience by David Namisato (Aomori-ken, 2002-2004), a professional illustrator currently living in Toronto.
Visit David’s website at www.namisato.org.
Turn Your JET Experience into Someone’s Dissertation
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Teru Iwanaga, a student at Nagasaki University, is working on a graduation thesis about the plight of the ALT. He’s heard the common complaints about native speakers being used as tape recorders and the like, and is interested in investigating whether or not the average ALT’s work situation has improved or not in the last 20 years.
Please contact him at teru.iwanaga@yahoo.com to fill out a very short questionnaire and help him with his research!
Job: English Teacher at Ez Communications (Nagano)
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Via naganojet yahoo group:
Ez Communications, one of the few foreign-owned and operated schools in Matsumoto, has a teaching position available from early-mid December for adult classes ranging from friendly chatting lessons to business and test-taking classes.
Candidates must be/have:
- Reliable and committed to teaching
- Experienced in teaching conversational and business classes for adults
- Friendly and enjoy communicating with others
- A valid Japanese driver’s license
Ez Comm offers:
- A full-time salary of 260,000 yen
- Visa sponsorship
- Training and teacher development and feedback
- Assistance in finding a place to live
Interested parties should send a resume, picture, and cover letter to trevorralph@ezcomm.biz. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted soon for an interview.
JET Program mentioned by PM Kan in meeting with President Obama
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According to some recent article in the Japanese press, Prime Minister Naoto Kan mentioned the JET Programme in his meeting with Obama, reaffirming the program’s importance.
This is of course a significant statement about the importance of the JET Program to Japan.
Here are two articles:
- Japan Today (English): http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/kan-obama-discuss-rare-earths-other-clean-energy
- Chunichi Shinbun (Japanese): http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010111301000669.html
Here are some highlights from the Japan Today article:
Kan also told Obama that he aims to enhance bilateral exchanges between the two countries to include a wide range of people in five years.
The initiatives include sending young Japanese teachers and interns to the United States, as well as implementing such programs as promoting collaboration on education and two-way exchanges among universities in Japan and the United States, the officials said.
Kan also expressed concern about the declining number of Japanese students studying in the United States and voiced his intention to work more on this problem.
He also reaffirmed the importance of existing efforts, including the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, the officials said.
JETAA DC Film Festival – Dec 3 and 5
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Via Mack Maloney, President of JETAA DC:
JETAA DC will be holding a film festival at the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute the weekend of December 3-5.
1. Friday, December 3 @ 7pm is “Linda Linda Linda.”
The film follows four girls as they prepare their band for their final school festival. Accompanied by a great soundtrack, this film is funny, poignant, and will certainly have you longing for your school festival (and a karaoke box).
2. Sunday, December 5 @ 2pm is “The Harimaya Bridge,” written and directed by JET alum Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken) who will be in attendance.
Filmed in Kochi Prefecture, “The Harimaya Bridge” is a drama about an American man who must travel to rural Japan to claim some important items belonging to his late son, from whom he was estranged. While there, he learns several secrets his son left behind. Mr. Woolfolk will be in attendance during the screening and will stay to answer questions about his craft and his experiences. Come see a film the Los Angeles Times calls “a unique, complex, consciousness-raising accomplishment,” and Derek Kester of the San Francisco Examiner labels one of the best films of the year.
WIT Life #136: Asian affairs
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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.
By now President Obama has returned from his longest overseas trip since taking office, where he made stops in India, Indonesia, Korea and Japan. In Japan he took part in the Asian-Pacific Economic Consortium (APEC) held in Yokohama, pictured here with Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his wife Nobuko this weekend.
However, for Japan the focus of the event was relations with China in light of renewed tensions between the two countries due to the leak of a video of a September collision between Japanese coast guard vessels and a Chinese fishing boat. The footage was taken near Read More
Job: Designer at Japan Typeset & Design (Palatine, IL)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Designer at Japan Typeset & Design (Palatine, IL)
via Jet alum Cat Ro. 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.
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Job Position:
Designers – Japan Typeset & Design, Inc. seeks Designer for Palatine, IL.
Requirements:
Must speak, read and write Japanese.
Masters +2 years experience, or equivalent required.
Experience with the following is a must:
Contact:
Send your resume to: info@japantypset.com, Eiichi Nishino, 847-991-2669.
Job: Translator required for project at law firm (NY)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Translator required for project at law firm (NY)
Posting from Jet alum Ariel Shearman, via a mailing list for lawyers and paralegals who speak and read Japanese. 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.
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Job Position: Translator (Japanese to English)
Job Details:
Searching for Japanese/English language translators for a long term assignment with a major law firm in NY city, USA. The translation project is about a products liability litigation in the auto industry. The position will pay $60/our +OT, for 50-60 hours per week. It is expected to start ASAP and last until the end of this year, and possibly into the 1st or 2nd quarter of next year.
Job Responsibilities:
1. Prepare full written translations from Japanese to English.
2. Prepare summary written translations from Japanese to English.
3. QC translations from translation vendors.
4. Provide oral translations while sitting side-by-side with associates reviewing documents.
Contact:
If you are interested in the project and could fit for the job descriptions, please contact Mimi Yamazaki mimi@sutekiny.com.
Job: On-Site (JPN) Translators Needed *URGENT*
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via Honyaku listserve. 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.
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Job Position: On-Site Japanese to English Translator
Job Details:
We have a current project in Tokyo with a prominent international Law Firm where we are supplying on-site Japanese translators and Japanese Bilingual individuals to assist on a document review (Japanese). The work MUST be done on-site (Minato-ku). We are looking for 3 additional professional Japanese translators to work on this project. It is expected to last from now until at least the end of 2010 (potentially longer).
Requirements (Translators) Three independent contractors:
Contact:
Alejandro Gonzalez
TransPerfect Translations
www.legal.transperfect.com
Tel: +1 415.615.9191 x2588
If qualified and interested please send your CV in English to agonzalez@transperfect.com and include the phone number where you can best be reached at before 10:30AM (Tokyo time) this week.
Interview with Competitive Eater Takeru Kobayashi
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Justin with Kobayashi and Friend of JET Sarah Goebel.
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.
Takeru “The Tsunami” Kobayashi is a three-time Guinness World Record holder for competitive eating. He burst on the American scene in 2001 at Coney Island’s annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing 50 dogs in 12 minutes, doubling the previous record. Kobayashi went on to win the contest six consecutive times while shattering other gastronomic records around the world.
After a shocking arrest and subsequent dismissal of charges in July at this year’s Nathan’s event, Kobayashi returned to the stage last night at the Japan Arts Matsuri in Brooklyn for another challenge: to become the world’s fastest 12-inch pizza eater. While he fell less than 20 seconds short of the 1:45 record (saying afterward that the pie was softer than he anticipated), there was no doubt among the crowd that the champ will give it another try in the near future. Hours before taking the stage, I spoke with Kobayashi through his interpreter Emiko Watanabe for this rare English language interview.
What kind of training does one have to do to be the world’s fastest pizza eater?
I had to practice how to use a knife and fork, because I have to use it for this challenge. That was the main thing.
That’s interesting. Most people don’t use a knife and fork to eat a pizza.
It would be much easier if I was allowed to use my hands instead. So it’s going to be a little harder.
What’s your favorite kind of pizza?
Pizza Margherita.
How are things after July 4th? Do you find that you’re more popular and recognized in New York from people on the street?
[laughs] I think so; I feel that I’m more recognized than before. I was famous before as a six-time champion [at the Nathan’s contest], but after Independence Day this year, people think I’m more interesting and have humor, so people notice me a lot more than before.
Where do you live in New York?
Manhattan.
Many celebrities in America are known for their talent, but personality is also important. Are you making more efforts to do things like learn English to become a bigger celebrity here?
I started going to an English school last month.
What kinds of things do your fans ask when they recognize you?
They don’t really ask anything, but they do ask to take a picture with me.
Any memorable encounters?
I met this fan who didn’t recognize me at first. She was an African American lady, and when she first spoke to me, she just thought I was a cool or cute Japanese guy. We talked, but then she recognized who I was, saying, “Oh my God! Oh my God!” It turns out that she was scrapbooking all of my articles from Independence Day, and the reason she did that is because she thought I was cute. When she realized that I was the same person, she went out of control screaming.
Click here to read the rest of the interview.
Via Dan Dooher (Akita-ken, 2006-10):
After reading your most recent JetWit Diary post, I wanted to share with you something Akita Prefecture has just recently started:
The Prefecture’s International Affairs Division is trying to reconnect Akita JET alumni and study abroad students with the prefecture via a bi-monthly newsletter called, “Akita Global Network.”
In the International Affairs Division’s own words:
“The project hopes to reach people who have left Akita to both maintain connections to Akita and elevate overseas awareness of our prefecture. We are planning to issue “Akita Global Network Newsletter” bi-monthly. Please enjoy it with your friends and family.”
If there are other former JET alums out there from Akita interested in receiving this pdf newsletter, please contact the International Affairs Division at: kokusaika@pref.akita.lg.jp
The newsletter welcomes submissions from alumni as well.
Dan also wondered if any other prefectures are doing something similar. If you are aware of any similar efforts, please email jetwit@jetwit.com. Yoroshiku!
