Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as art, film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she offers some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

Earlier this month I had the amazing opportunity to work with the legendary actor Koji Yakusho when his newest work PERFECT DAYS premiered at the New York Film Festival. The film was helmed by German director Wim Wenders, who shot it over the course of 16 days in Tokyo. Wenders co-wrote the screenplay with the film’s producer Takuma Takasaki, who I had the honor of interpreting for during the festival.

The film’s backdrop is The Tokyo Toilet, a public works project featuring 17 public toilets throughout Shibuya designed by world renowned creators. Yakusho plays a cleaner of these toilets named Hirayama, a man who leads a simple life. His days consist of an early morning commute to work with a soundtrack of nostalgic music, enjoying a soak at the public bath, having a simple meal before returning home and reading before bed. Hirayama has a flip phone and no Internet access, but he is content with his existence. The unexpected arrival of his niece shakes up his routine, and during their time together we learn more about his background.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Assistant Professor of Instruction in Japanese
Posted by: University of Texas
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thank you to our friends at the American Association of Teachers of Japanese for this Job Posting.

Description

The Department of Asian Studies at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Japanese language, beginning Fall semester 2024. This full-time, non-tenure-track position carries the possibility of annual renewal, contingent upon job performance, the continued needs of the department, and availability of program funding. In Fall 2024-Spring 2025, the successful candidate will be expected to teach first- and second-year Japanese courses with an average of 12 contact hours per week. On renewal, future course assignments may vary.

Located at the flagship campus of The University of Texas System, our department offers a congenial and exciting context for teaching and research in the languages and cultures of East Asia. In addition to working closely with students in our department, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to participate fully in the rich intellectual life of The University of Texas at Austin.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Local StFull-Time Instructor of Japanese
Posted by: Kanazawa Institute of Technology
Location: Kanazawa, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Thank you to our friends at the American Association of Teachers of Japanese for this Job Posting.

The Foundation Programs at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Ishikawa, Japan seeks a full-time instructor who can teach Japanese as a foreign language to English-speaking college students.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Teach up to 12 100-minute classes per week (Whether Japanese or English will vary based on the needs of the school. Japanese courses are only offered/primarily offered during the spring semester. Applicants will teach Japanese courses during the spring semester and English courses during the fall semester.)
2. Contribute to course planning and materials development
3. Participate in and help administer extra-curricular activities
4. Attend staff meetings and employee functions

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Secretary to the Consul-General of Japan
Posted by: Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Jonathan Contrades (Saga-ken, 2012-2017) for passing along the following job opening.

The Secretary to the Consul-General is the point of contact for anyone interacting with the head-of-mission. As an executive assistant, you will manage the Consul-General’s schedule, facilitate communication between the Consul-General with local staff as well as outside organizations, and take part in office operations as needed. The Secretary to the Consul-General is also active in the consulate’s security section, working with the security consul to assess security risks and concerns within our area.

Application Process: For more information and to apply, please click here –  https://www.nashville.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00689.html

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Local Staff – Political & General Affairs Division
Posted by: Consulate General of Japan in New York
Location: Greensboro, NC and Lexington, KY, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Roy Harrison (Saitama-ken, 2004-2007) for passing along the following job opening.

You’ll provide daily communication/interpretation support to engineers at a
leading automotive manufacturing facility during visits from Japan for equipment installation. You’ll assist with the translation of written and verbal correspondence to facilitate achieving project goals. You’ll be the conduit connecting US engineering teams to their Japanese counterparts. This project will provide you with professional opportunities to fine-tune your skills across several areas, including:

• Learning automotive-specific terms
• Managing in-person small and large group interpretation projects in an industrial setting
• Managing teleconference interpretation projects between engineers based across the US and Japan.
• Translating emails, memos, manuals, training, budgets, specification packages, and other automotive manufacturing-related documents

Application Process: To apply, please email rharrison@csi-ky.com

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Local Staff – Political & General Affairs Division
Posted by: Consulate General of Japan in New York
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Joseph Meringolo (Fukushima-ken, 2014-2017) for passing along the following job opening.

The Political Division closely monitors U.S. domestic and foreign policy. On the domestic side, we place particular emphasis on the following states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and Puerto Rico. The General Division coordinates with all other divisions on different issues arising from the activities of the Consulate General of Japan.

Details of the position can be found at https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/News_2023-10-04_job.html

Application Process: Submit resume and cover letter to kyujin-political@ny.mofa.go.jp

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: KCJS Postdoctoral Fellow
Posted by: Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Thank you to our friends at the American Association of Teachers of Japanese for this Job Posting.

About the Program: The Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies is searching for a KCJS Postdoctoral Fellow for the academic year 2024-25, with the possibility of extension. Based at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, KCJS is an undergraduate study abroad program governed by a consortium of thirteen American universities and administered by the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement at Columbia University.

About the Position: The KCJS Fellow is expected to engage in their own research and teach one course each semester in Kyoto. One course should be in the fellow’s own field of interest, while the second should be a broad introductory survey of Japanese civilization. Such a survey may be provided with a particular disciplinary emphasis, such as art, religion, literature or cultural studies. Both courses should be designed to appeal to a wide range of majors and take full advantage of KCJS’s location, preferably encompassing local excursions, hands-on demonstrations, and/or observations. 

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Assistant Instructional Professor, Japanese Studies
Posted by: University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, FL, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thank you to our friends at the American Association of Teachers of Japanese for this Job Posting.

Application Deadline: Nov 3

Education/Instructional
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Florida invites applications for the position of Assistant Instructional Professor in Japanese language and culture to begin August 16, 2024. This is a full-time, renewable, nine-month non-tenure accruing position.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful applicant will 

a) contribute to the development and teaching of Japanese language and culture courses (including online); 

b) contribute to a robust undergraduate major in Japanese language and culture by collaborating with colleagues to ensure smooth articulation across the levels of language instruction and by participating in course design and creation; 

c) provide extracurricular support of the program through service that includes placement testing, weekly language tables, and other activities relating to extracurricular Japanese language use. The typical teaching assignment for a lecturer is three courses per semester.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Library Applications Specialist
Posted by: University of Colorado Boulder, University Libraries
Location: Boulder, CO, USA/Hybrid
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to Adam Lisbon (Hyogo-ken, 2004-2007) for passing along the following job opening.

University Libraries encourages applications for a Library Applications Specialist! The Specialist is responsible for the system administration, support, and technical stewardship of the university’s library services platform (LSP) and related products, application support of the Libraries’ interlibrary loan system, and other library-specific software and hardware applications serving both patrons and employees of the Libraries. The desired candidate will be committed to fostering a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive environment for students, staff, and faculty and excel in collaboration, maintaining and cultivating good working relationships and mutual understanding through prompt and effective communication.

Application Process: For more information and to apply, please click here – https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=52256

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Assistant Professor of Japanese
Posted by: Utah State University
Location: Logan, UT, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thank you to our friends at the American Association of Teachers of Japanese for this Job Posting.

Advertised Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits

Review start date: Immediate, continues until filled

Job start date: July 1, 2024

Committee Chair: Ann Roemer

Committee Members: Atsuko Neely, John Neely,  Claudia Schwabe, and Elena Taylor

Overview and Description:

Department of World Languages and Cultures (WLC) at Utah State University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Japanese.

For this teaching-centered faculty position, we seek to hire an individual with experience in teaching, research and  professional practice.  This position is located on the Logan campus, but will also provide instructional support to USU’s statewide students and campuses. The individual will report to the WLC department head. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024. Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

• Teaching a full range of classes in Japanese  (3/3 class load);
• Service for the department, college, and university;
• Mentoring students inside and outside regular teaching hours.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Assistant Professor of Japanese Language and Literature
Posted by: Oberlin College
Location: Oberlin, OH, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thank you to our friends at the American Association of Teachers of Japanese for this Job Posting.

Details: The Program on East Asian Studies at Oberlin College invites applications for a full-time / tenure track faculty position in the College of Arts and Sciences in Premodern Japanese Language and Literature with a preferred subfield in Digital Humanities. Initial appointment to this position will be for a term of four years, beginning in Fall 2024 and will carry the rank of Assistant Professor.

The Program on East Asian Studies stands out within a liberal arts context for its faculty expertise in all three major regional areas: China, Korea and Japan. East Asian Studies at Oberlin College is one of the oldest interdisciplinary programs in the U.S. that offers five years of Chinese and four years of Japanese language instruction.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Paper Selection Committee Member
Posted by: Embassy of Japan in Ottawa
Location: Canada
Contract: Full-Time; No Visa Sponsorship

The Embassy of Japan is hiring for the (four) positions of JET Programme Paper Selection Committee Member. This is a full-time two-month contract at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa. The successful candidate will play an important role in the processing and evaluation of applications from across Canada for the JET Programme, a long-running international programme run by the government of Japan.

The role:

• Working with a team to review and evaluate high-volume candidate applications from across Canada for the 2023-2024 JET Programme
• Reading and evaluating essays and reference letters, filing documents
• Using a computer to enter and retrieve candidate information

Application Process: For more information and to apply, please click here – https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/2023_shared_images/2023%20-%20JET%20PSC%20Job%20Description%20Draft.pdf

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: JET Programme Assistant
Posted by: Embassy of Japan in Ottawa
Location: Canada
Contract: Full-Time; No Visa Sponsorship

The Embassy of Japan is hiring for the position of JET Programme Assistant. This is a full-time, three month contract at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa. The successful candidate will play an important role in the processing and
evaluation of applications from across Canada for the JET Programme, a long-running international programme run by the government of Japan.

The Role:

• Working with the National JET Coordinator to oversee the processing and evaluation of high-volume JET applications by the Paper Selection Committee
• Responding to inquiries from JET applicants and the public
• Using a computer to enter and retrieve candidate information
• Keeping track of document flow
• Assisting with other tasks relating to the JET Programme as needed

Application Process: For more information and to apply, please click her e – https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/2023_shared_images/2023%20-%20JET%20Assistant%20-%20Job%20Description%20Draft.pdf

Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Assistant Professor in Japanese Studies – Tenure System
Posted by: Michigan State University
Location: East Lansing, MI, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Position Summary:

The Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures (LiLaC) seeks a tenure system assistant professor of Japanese minority and/or gender studies. This is a nine-month, academic year position beginning August 16, 2024, with a course load of four courses per academic year. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to teaching and research that foregrounds the diversity of Japanese cultural experiences, particularly those of marginalized and/or underexamined groups in Japan. Potential research foci include but are not restricted to the literary, cultural and/or linguistic practices of resident (Zainichi) Korean, resident Chinese, Okinawan, burakumin and/or the Japanese diaspora.

Other possible topics include those related to gender, disability, or LGBTQI experiences within Japanese contexts. Period of specialization is open, and applications are welcome from candidates with a PhD in Japanese literary studies, cultural studies, linguistics, or a related field.

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

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Position: Researcher
Posted by: Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) San Francisco
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Contract: Full-Time; No Visa Sponsorship

Thanks to JET alumna, Amy Rowland (Fukui-ken, 2019-2021) for passing along the following job opening.

Description:

• Write reports for Japanese companies regularly. Reports are included in short version and long version.
• Tokyo Headquarters and Director of Research JETRO San Francisco will determine the KPI of articles and research reports to be written by Researcher of JETRO San Francisco. KPI will be changed every fiscal year. Topic of reports will be decided, discussing with supervisor. Gather information by checking media and press releases, using database and joining seminars, events, exhibitions for example. Develop charts containing analysis and data, conduct interviews, and do translations on as needed basis. Occasionally, need to go out and go on business trip.
• Support to conduct survey projects. JETRO will conduct some survey projects annually. Need to communicate with not only supervisor in JETRO San Francisco but also other JETRO offices in USA, Tokyo head quarter and external contacts.
• Check reports written by other staffs at JETRO San Francisco and contractors.
• Plan, manage or attend seminars, research groups or lectures, and develop drafts for presentation materials and speeches. Occasionally, join the meetings with JETRO San Francisco’s clients.
• Regarding various internal or external inquiries, provide appropriate responses independently for simple inquiries, and respond to advanced matters by consulting with superiors.
• Manage JETRO San Francisco’s social media and newsletter for Japanese companies.
• Provide administrative support and assistance in making internal documents related research work and scheduling meetings and supporting making appointments, handling incoming calls and other outside inquiries. Occasionally, maintain correspondence with external contacts. Join internal meeting.

Application Process: For more information and to apply, please click here – https://www.jetro.go.jp/ext_images/usa/JobListing/JETRO_SF_Researcher_Oct2023_rev.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3HAUaurfR8U5R07jqj8ypEr7XANgedBxkjLOyWIzhUFk4UqZx1hS0vHLI