Notable JET alums: Bruce Feiler comments on anti-Islam protests on CNN
Celebrity, Notable JET Alums, Video 
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Bruce Feiler (Tochigi-ken, 1987-88), author of Learning to Bow as well as several very thoughtful books on the topic of religion including Walking the Bible, was recently a guest on CNN discussing current anti-Islam sentiment with Anderson Cooper. Click here to read more posts about Bruce Feiler on JetWit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-pVfz8UbZU
A recent column from The Japan Times by Debito Arudou (not a JET or JET alum) that does a nice job of addressing the oft-heard (and rather misleading) charge that JET has not led to improvement in English scores in Japan: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20100907ad.html
It has a bit of snark and falls into some generalizations, but the underlying point as well as the thoughtful analysis are spot on and greatly appreciated here on JetWit.
JET ROI: Japan Times readers respond to recent article on JET
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From The Japan Times, definitely worth a read:
- “Readers offer their thoughts on jettisoning JET” – http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20100907hs.html
Here are links to related JetWit posts with:
- The original Japan Times article by Eric Johnston: http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/07/27/jet-roi-japan-times-article-on-debate-over-jet-program/
- A Japan Times article based on JETAA’s press release following the JETAA USA National Conference in August: http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/08/17/jet-roi-japan-times-article-jets-press-to-keep-program-intact/
- Christiana Aretta’s “100 English Dreams”: http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/07/31/jet-roi-100-english-dreams-a-jet-project-by-christiana-aretta/
Job: Bilingual (Japanese and English) Translator/Interpreter
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Job posting via Thad Johnson (Hyogo-ken, 2000-01), President of Consultant Solutions, Inc (CSI). 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 Introduction
If you miss interacting in Japanese daily and enjoy being in a dynamic bi-cultural work environment this could be just the fit for you. We’ll pick up two people in the next couple of months, one based in KY and one based in MS. Here’s an overview of the position but feel free to contact me directly for details (see end of post for contact details).
Overview
We’re looking for a detail-oriented, bilingual (Japanese and English) translator/interpreter with excellent communication skills to provide support to Japanese management in an automotive environment. In this position, you will translate documents, such as engineering memos, e-mails and meeting notes, and will also serve as an interpreter at meetings and on conference calls. You will be a vital link in the management chain, providing support to busy executives in a fast-paced environment. You may also be called upon for personal support issues such as assisting Japanese executives in procuring emergency health care, transportation, and accommodations.
Consultant Solutions, Inc. will provide training and a support network that includes translators with experience in the field. We will also consider relocation and/or visa support for the right candidate.
Click ‘Read More’ for job details and requirements
JET ROI: JETAA Rajio Taiso
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JETAA Portland is getting ready to make a video of a group of its members doing NHK Rajio Taiso (radio exercises) in Portland’s Japanese Gardens on September 8. And it’s hoping to inspire other JET Alumni chapters to do the same in front of their respective landmarks. The goal is to aggregate all of the videos into one big video that shows JET alumni doing Rajio Taiso all over the U.S. and, preferably, the world.
While the idea takes a lighthearted approach, it will also help symbolically demonstrate to Japan’s population how JET alumni everywhere are and have been promoting and spreading Japanese culture around the world.
For more information, or to submit your own video, you can contact JETAA Portland’s webmaster Bob Schnyder at webmaster@jetaaportland.com or go to: http://www.jetaaportland.com/community-events/rajio-taiso-portland-japanese-gardens/
And if you have no idea what Rajio Taiso is (or you just need a little dose of natsukashii) here’s a video:
WIT Life #122: Gaijin food and smile rankings
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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.
Today’s news did a special investigation on the favorite foods of foreigners visiting Japan. The results were displayed in an easy-to-read pie chart which showed soba/udon at the top with 20%, sushi and yakitori tied for 18%, ramen at 13%, okonomiyaki at 9% and 22% for other. The average total amount of money spent on food per day was 3352 yen (about $40 at today’s exchange rate of 84.125 yen to the dollar), thanks to cheap, filling meals like a serving of yakisoba for 200 yen at a local matsuri. With lodging for 2500 yen per night at a hostel, this allows for a pretty cheap stay in Japan despite the current 円高 (endaka or strong yen).
This survey marked a shift from the popularity of more upscale foods like sushi to more everyday dishes like noodles. Many foreigners interviewed attributed their interest in ramen to Read More
JET Alum Video: Eigo Noto – a new perspective
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I found this JET-made parody video (which I’ve since found out was made by Lena Franco (Okayama-ken, 2008-10)) after seeing it posted on a fellow JET alum’s Facebook status:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQrfiJ2WFeQ
And one more cute and fun video by Lena titled “Souljia Boy” which is a compilation of video clips where she taught students the dance that goes with the tune:
http://www.youtube.com/user/francol86
Job: Program Associate, GSM
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Job posting via wlid-jobs 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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Position Title: Program Associate, GSM
Grade: G-5
Reports to: Program Director, GSM
Location: Washington, D.C.
Click ‘Read More’ for job details and requirements
JETAA Chapter Beat 9.3.10
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community for another edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.
- Tampa Subchapter Tsudoi – Friday, September 3rd, 7:00 at Panera Bread in the Brandon Mall. The Tampa Subchapter will be hosting their monthly Tsudoi, an informal time for anyone interested in Japanese and Japanese culture.
- Networking Event and Happy Hour- Wednesday, September 8th, 6:30 at Gordon Biersch. Enjoy the last long weekend of summer with friends old and new.
- J-Lunch – Friday, September 10th, 12:00 at Thai Kingdom. Come share your love of Japan over lunch with others in the DC area.
- General Meeting – Monday, September 13th, 6:30 at the Embassy of Japan. See old friends, meet new members and discuss upcoming and past events at the next JETAADC business meeting.
- Happy Hour – Friday, September 3rd, 6:00 at Kushibar. Old alums and new are invited to share a laugh or two over a drink at this month’s Happy Hour event.
- Aki Matsuri – Saturday and Sunday, September 11th & 12th at Bellevue College. The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is co-sponsoring this year’s Japanese Fall Festival. Celebrate Japanese culture and history with performances, tea ceremony and over 75 different exhibits.
- KaiWA – Thursday September 9th and 23rd, 5:30 at 43 Below. Practice Japanese with old friends and some tasty snacks.
- Table for Two Happy Hour Event – Friday, September 10th, 5:00 at the Purple Onion. Japanese entrepreneur Masa Kogure is coming to SF to talk about his non-profit organization called “Table for Two,” which strives to help solve the issue of global food imbalance will be holding a informational event.
- Cedar Point Trip – Saturday, September 25th JETAA Great Lakes is loading up the cars and heading off to Cedar Point for a day of fun in the outdoors.
- General Meeting – Thursday, September 9th, 6:00 at Uno’s Chicago Grill in Harvard Square. Come share in the discussion about the future of NEJETAA.
- Book Club Meeting – Thursday, September 9th, 7:00 in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. This month’s selection is Natuso Kirino’s “Out.” Start reading now so you can contribute to the discussion.
- Samurai Sword Fighting Class – Saturday, September 11th, 2:00 to 4:00 at 440 Studios 4A. Samurai performer Yoshi Amao will be leading a special class on Samurai Sword Fighting, going over a variety of basic techniques with the class. Don’t miss this one of a kind experience.
- Clash of the Baseball Titans – Ichiro vs. Matsui – Friday, September 10th, at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Come out for a day at the ballpark to see the Angels take on the Seattle Mariners, followed by fireworks after the game.
- JETAA Golf Classic – Saturday, September 11th, 1:00 at Monterey Park Golf Course. Dust off the clubs and show your skills on the links for a friendly JETAA golf get together.
- Camping in Michigan – Saturday, September 18th thru Sunday September 19th in Van Buren State Park on Lake Michigan. JETAA Chicago is packing the car, setting up the tents and spending the weekend at the lake. Spend Saturday on the beach, followed by a cookout complete with ghost stories and marsh mellows.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just contact Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
Structural Unemployment Plagues U.S. Legal Sector
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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules. He operates his own blog, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States. He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill. For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.
I’ve read how young adults in Japan are sometimes criticized for being lazily unemployed and living with their parents. I don’t know how common or fair that depiction is, but it’s out there. Economists’ term for this phenomenon is “structural unemployment.” Guess what awaits the U.S. legal profession?
Job: Senior Performance Management Advisor
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Job posting via wlid-jobs 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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Position Title: Senior Performance Management Advisor
Position Grade: G-13
Reports To: Senior Director, International Operations
Location: Washington, D.C.
Click ‘Read More’ for job details and requirements
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.
A wacky article from the WSJ about overnight trips between otaku and their virtual lovers to the seaside area of Atami, not far from Tokyo. Local business such as yakiniku (pictured right) and dessert shops are catering to this new clientele with special menus and promotional products, adding a bit of economic stimulus to this past its heyday region. Hotels will often charge for two (for up to $500!) despite the fact that half of the couple is virtual, and the men gladly pay. An Only in Japan story that I hope will be taken in context!
Job: Japanese logistic company, Customer Service Position (Long-term temp)
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Job posting via Quick USA, Inc. 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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Company: Japanese logistic company
Job Title: Customer Service
Employment type: Long-term temp position
Job Description: We are currently looking for a person to fulfill customer service position at export division of logistic company near JFK. The main responsibility of this position will be telephone calls, arrangement of pick-ups, and booking for airline etc. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUTE BY YOUR OWN CAR.
Salary: ~$15/hr
Requirements:
Location: Near JFK, NY
Contact: If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your resume to Shion Hoshino (Quick USA, Inc.) hoshino at 919usa dot com
JET alum James Kennedy turns “Odd-Fish” novel into school curriculum
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In a rather brilliantly creative move, James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Order of Odd-Fish, has developed a classroom guide for the novel which is intended to be used by school teachers in class with their students.
In James’ own words:
Some schools have put The Order of Odd-Fish on their reading lists. That’s great!
So I’ve put together a classroom guide for Odd-Fish. It’s 44 pages of discussion questions, lesson plans, and projects. It also features Odd-Fish fan art by enthusiastic readers—art that was featured in our Odd-Fish gallery show in Chicago in April 2010.
This curriculum does the strangeness of the book justice, I think. Aside from the chapter-by-chapter worksheets, there are also activities such as inventing your own Odd-Fish specialty, writing your own articles for the Eldritch Snitch, researching Japanese rituals that inspired the Odd-Fish festivals, baking avant-garde pies, creating urk-ack music, and inventing one’s own Eldritch City mythologies.
It’s also gateway to other fields of study. The knights of the Odd-Fish are, after all, scholars as well as warriors. This curriculum touches on topics as disparate as cockroach anatomy, Shinto and Hindu mythology, the KGB, Wikipedia, foppery, real-life historical eccentrics, and more.
Download the guide for free here. And of course, I always enjoy visiting schools, either in person or by Skype.
Go pester your teachers now! I’m doing this for you, people!
And in JetWit’s opinion, while the novel is in the young adult category, it’s also one of the funniest books you’ll ever read as an adult. To read more JetWit posts about James, click here. And watch the below video to see James doing an extremely dramatic reading from the book at last year’s JET Alumni Author Showcase in New York:
Japan America Society Roundup 9.1.10
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Gail Cetnar Meadows (Hiroshima-shi ALT 2007-10), co-founder of Hiroshima JET webzine WideIslandView.com, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of Japan America Societies…
Tea Ceremony Workshop — Learn how to make a perfect bowl of tea at this hands-on workshop. During this tea ceremony event, participants can learn about the history, cultural contents and basic principles of the tea ceremony in English.
- Date: Friday, Sept. 17
- Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Place: The Japan Society of Northern California (Conference Room),
- For more information, click here.
- Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival — Enjoy traditional Asian music, dance and food, as well as arts and crafts at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival. JASP will have a booth there demonstrating traditional Japanese wrapping cloth techniques (furoshiki). Learn how to wrap and carry a water bottle, make a waist pouch and more.
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 18
- Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Place: South Side Riverfront Park, Pittsburgh
- For more information, click here.
Nihon-to: The Swords of Japan — Come and learn all about Japanese swords from Frank Tomicek, a member of the Austin Kendo Doshikai and Japanese Sword Society of the United States, as well as a long time collector of Japanese swords.
- Date: Monday, Sept. 13
- Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
- Place: 1701 Toomey Road, Casa de Luz Auditorium (1F), Austin
- For more information, click here.
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Cetnar Meadows the info.
