WIT Life #329: Japan-Related Films for Your Weekend
Events, Film, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers 
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Written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03), WIT Life is a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s Japanese news, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.
This week the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) hosted the premiere of the 2018 documentary 3100: Run and Become from director Sanjay Rawal. It showcases the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race which takes place in Queens every summer. This elite competition requires participants to run this unbelievable distance within 52 days, which means averaging at least 60 miles per day. Competitors come from all over the world, and some have run it as many as 14 times. Rawal also intersperses stories of other amazing distance challenges, such as a member of the Navaho Nation running 110 miles across the desert in memory of his father’s struggles when young, the Gaolo-San Bushmen running in pursuit of their prey and as part of their lifestyle, and the Tendai-shu monks of Mt. Hiei in Japan who carry out a practice of walking to attain enlightenment.
Spiritual training via walking is called 回峰行 (kaihōgyō), and the monks on Mt. Hiei carry out a version that takes place over 1000 days during a seven-year retreat period, called 千日回峰行 (sennichi kaihōgyō). During this time, the monk must remove himself from all family ties and other worldly distractions. Since this tradition began in 1885, only 50 plus monks have finished this quest, most in their 30s and the oldest in his 60s. The film tells the story of the monk Gyoman-san who is midway through his journey, and examines his mental state as he attempts to accomplish this major feat. He describes a point where you no longer Read More
Job: Administrative Assistant – Embassy of Japan (Washington, DC)
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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.
Job Title: Administrative Assistant
Posted by: Embassy of Japan
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time
The Embassy of Japan is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented individual for the position of Administrative Assistant. This individual is primarily responsible for managing the schedules and activities of diplomats in the Defense Section. Please see below for a detailed listing of responsibilities.
The Embassy offers group health insurance coverage, paid vacation and sick leave. Working hours are 9:00 am – 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, with lunch time receptionist duty once a month and the occasional weeknight and/or weekend event (paid overtime). Salary is commensurate with experience. The minimum monthly base salary for this position is $3,000 USD.
Please note: Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. green card holder. Screening will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Successful candidates will be required to submit their background check information.
Job: Translator – Jeenie (Remote)
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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.
Job Title: Translator
Posted by: Jeenie
Location: Remote
Contract: Part-Time
Here’s a part-time job sent directly from the company:
Jeenie is a mobile app that connects travelers on demand via video/audio with LIVE linguists who can help them with language and cultural issues (think “Uber” for languages). Linguists can sign up at absolutely no cost and then decide how much, how often and where they would like to work. It all takes place in cashless transactions, worldwide, 24/7, via smartphone. More information is at www.Jeenie.com.
We have significant opportunities for Japanese speakers to earn extra income right now, and we think JET alumni would be ideal candidates for providing services on our platform. They can work on their own schedule from home (or almost anywhere) and get paid for their valuable language skills. We would be delighted to welcome them to our community of Language Jeenies!
Attached is a soft copy of the flyer “Become a Jeenie Linguist”.
***If anyone does work with Jeenie, please contact us at <jetwit@jetwit.com> as we’d love to hear about your experience with them.***
Job: Foreign Affairs Specialist – Office of International Science and Engineering (Alexandria, VA, USA)
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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.
Job Title: Foreign Affairs Specialist
Posted by: Office of International Science and Engineering
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a JET-relevant job passed along to us:
This position is located in the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE), within the Office of the Director (OD). This incumbent will serve as the Foreign Affairs Specialist on the Country and Regions team and will manage the East Asia Pacific region. The specialist is a recognized expert within NSF on issues related to the intersection of U.S. science and foreign policy as they pertain to China and the East Asia and Pacific region.
More Information and Application Process: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/512259300
Job: Program Manager – Columbia Business School (New York, NY)
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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.
Job Title: Program Manager, Center on Japanese Economy and Business
Posted by: Columbia Business School
Location: New York, NY
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JET alum, Amber Liang (Kochi-ken) for passing along the following job opening:
Reporting to the Director for Administration, the Program Manager is responsible for managing events for the Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB), particularly in providing executive level assistance to the Director for Administration. The incumbent implements policies and procedures to reach operational goals; and works closely with all levels of the University Faculty, administrators and external constituents, as appropriate.
Responsibilities:
- Manages projects for the CJEB Visiting Fellows Program and works closely with ISSO regarding the processing of visa applications, reviewing supporting documentation with ISSO and ensures compliance with all University policies and procedures. In conjunction with the Financial Planning Office and the Administrative Director, responsible for processing invoices and follows up on payment. Manage fellows’ monthly seminar and presentation coaching sessions as well as oversees the overall processes related to the fellows’ first day arrival.
- Collaborates with the Assistant Director for Programs on event management which includes event website management; registration page, budget tracking, vendor relations, and preparing event and other promotional materials.
- Works with the Director for Administration in a number of capacities, including: preparing written documents, reports, and correspondence; liaising with other Columbia offices to promote CJEB events and maintains electronic and paper files.
- Manages and maintains the Center website by writing and editing content, photo and videos by using basic HTML. Creates and manages the Center’s newsletters.
- Manages the Center’s scholarship program by promoting the scholarships, receiving applications and managing the selection process.
- Working with the Director, Co-edits the Center’s Annual Report and other reports as needed. Performs independent research and maintains confidential files.
- Manages the overall daily operations of the Center, including office equipment, and addresses faculty, researchers and officer needs with ITG and Operations.
- Liaison with prospective students and external constituents on behalf of Program, ensuring positive and proactive communications with all levels of the organization and the larger community.
- Contributes as a pro-active team member to special projects with other staff as needed.
Job: Program Officer – Open Society Foundation (Seoul, South Korea)
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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.
Job Title: Program Officer
Posted by: Open Society Foundation
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a JET-relevant job passed along to us:
The Open Society Foundation (OSF) East Asia Program seeks a Program Officer with expertise on East Asia, with a focus on Japan. This position is based in Seoul, South Korea, and is intended for a mid-career professional with substantial work experience. The Program Officer will be a part of the Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO) team and will report to the East Asia Office representative with a focus on grant-making, strategy development, policy analysis, and advocacy efforts to promote the Program’s vision. Applications for this position are due by FRIDAY, October 19, 2018.
- Oversee the grant-making, operational & advocacy strategies for East Asia with considerable autonomy.
- Negotiate and manage grants, projects, project budgets, and contracts with diverse organizations.
- Assess the organizational capacity of partners, including an understanding of financial and administrative strength, and provide mentoring & technical assistance through long-distance support.
- Travel to relevant meetings or site visits as necessary.
- Provide critical assessment & reflection of what is working and what is not working in order to adjust programming and advocacy accordingly.
- Evaluate progress and document impact and best practices.
- Monitor and analyze political and social developments in East Asia, with a focus on Japan, and advise OSF colleagues on important developments.
- Prepare and deliver concise, targeted written reports and presentations for diverse groups, including peers, internal boards and external audiences.
- Build collaborative relationships across OSF’s geographic and thematic entities more widely as well as externally to further programmatic goals.
Job: Customer Briefing Center Program Manager – Amazon (Tokyo, Japan)
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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.
Job Title: Customer Briefing Center Program Manager
Posted by: Amazon
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JET alum, Zac Whitney (Ishikawa-ken) for the following job opening:
https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/674092/customer-briefing-center-program-manager
Special Request: Long-time JETAA officer needs help saving his home
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Kansas City, Missour-based JET alum Warren McAllen (Fukuoka-ken, 1988-92), who served for over 10 years as the JETAA Heartland chapter president, has set up a GoFundMe page to try to raise funds to save his home following his mother’s passing. Those of us who have known Warren over the years know what an amazing contributor he has been to JETAA and what a good guy he is as well as what he’s been through over the past few years. Here’s a chance to help someone who has given so much of his time and energy to the JET alumni community over the years.
https://www.gofundme.com/57c9n-save-my-home
Japanese American Community Coalition (JACC)’s August 23rd Japan Flood Relief Benefit
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On Thursday, August 23rd, JETAANY took part in a special fundraiser for flood relief efforts in Japan, featuring tastings of Japanese food and spirits. One hundred percent of net proceeds from this event went towards aid for those in western Japan who have been suffering from historic rainfalls and landslides this past summer.
Japanese-inspired hors d’oeuvres as well as premium sake, wine, and beer provided by Chef John McCarthy of OKA were available, as well as special prizes. This was a collaborative effort of many Japanese/Japanese American and Japan-related organizations in NYC with the support of the Consulate General of Japan in New York.
This was the first collaborative effort amongst the Japanese American Community Coalition’s (JACC) member organizations:
- JAA-Japanese American Association of NY
- HAA-Hoshuko Alumni Association
- JETAANY-Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association of NY
- JMSA-Japanese Medical Society of America
- USJC-U.S.-Japan Council
- NYJALC- NY Japanese American Lions Club
- JACL-NY-Japanese American Citizens League of NY
- JAJA-Japanese Americans and Japanese in America
Net proceeds went to JAA’s Japan Flood Relief Fund to be distributed to the appropriate NPOs/NGOs on the ground and we will provide updates about the organizations selected. JAA, the Japanese American Association of New York, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. This event raised over $7,000 in net proceeds, which will help Japanese survivors recover and rebuild after the July floods that took 169 lives and resulted in the evacuation of over a million people (especially in the hardest hit areas of Hiroshima, Okayama, and Ehime Prefectures).
Additional support included endorsement from the Consulate General of Japan in New York, the hospitality and cooking skills of Chef John McCarthy, donations from ITO EN Tea, World Sake Imports, Skurnik Wines, and the wonderful contributors to our raffle: Japan Society, Asia Society, The Yagi family for the Sakagura restaurant gift certificate, Hiro Sake, Sanrio, Sake Man, Simon Chiew and Yasushi Sasaki, among other generous donors.
Also, a special thank you to our amazing volunteers and Kim Hyacinthe of JETAANY for her beautiful poster design.
JETAANY was very grateful to be a key organizer of this joint fundraising effort and many thanks again for coming together as a community of New Yorkers to help communities in need in Japan and for your compassionate support! Until next time!
Job: (Japanese/English) Translator/Interpreter – Sanoh America Inc. (Findlay, OH, USA)
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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.
Job Title:b(Japanese/English) Translator/Interpreter
Posted by: Sanoh America Inc.
Location: Findlay, OH, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a job sent directly from the company:
My company, an international Japanese Tier 1 automotive supplier headquartered in Findlay, OH, is currently looking to add one more translator/interpreter to our team. This would be a good opportunity for someone with advanced Japanese (N2 or thereabouts) and English skills to enter into the translation/automotive fields. A great company with great coworkers and benefits, and a great support structure to get your feet wet while learning the terminology and developing your skills. (Of course, experienced translators/interpreters are more than welcome to apply as well!)
Inquiries or resumes may be sent to michael.holmes@sanoh-america.com.
Responsibilities:
- Translate technical documents both in Japanese and English
- Interpret in small to large company meetings
- Support any administrative tasks
- Perform other duties as assigned
Requirements:
- Must be able to read/write/speak Japanese at a business level (JLPT N2 level or equivalent)
- Able to communicate fluently in both written and verbal English
- Experience working in a Japanese office environment is a plus
JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘Perfume’s “GAME”’
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“To call Perfume’s GAME a ‘deep dive’ is both an understatement and compliment. From its very first chapter, St. Michel’s decade of experience writing about music shines.” (Bloomsbury Academic)
By Greg Beck (Hiroshima-ken, 2006-11) for JQ magazine. Greg is a writer, producer, home brewer, and Social Coordinator for JETAA Southern California and Arizona. A former news producer for Tokyo Broadcasting System in New York, he currently works freelance in Los Angeles. For more cinema reviews, follow him on Twitter at @CIRBECK #MovieReview.
If you were to ask me prior to writing this, I vaguely recalled Perfume as some heavily autotuned “girl group” from Hiroshima. Now that I have read Perfume’s GAME, all of that has changed.
Written by JET alum Patrick St. Michel (Mie-ken, 2009-11) and released earlier this year, this insightful work of nonfiction is part of a series called 33 1/3 Japan, also related to a larger, global series of short, music-based books sharing the 33 1/3 title. This book specifically goes beyond simple fandom, providing a master class on the early-to-sophomore career of the pop group Perfume, and how their album GAME would become an important influence in popular music on the international level.
To call Perfume’s GAME a “deep dive” is both understatement and compliment. From its first chapter, St. Michel’s decade of experience writing about music shines. That’s an extremely difficult task for the written word, given we perceive music using a different sense entirely. Descriptive prose does an excellent job identifying and elucidating songs and their smaller components. St. Michel starts with a modest introduction of his personal discovery of Perfume and how it helped him connect to his Japanese community, which for any JET alum should feel familiar, if not nostalgic. Next, he tells the story of the members of Perfume and their humble beginnings. Had the rest of the book been solely focused on their music, it would only be worth reading if you were already a diehard fan, but the author does much more.
JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘Japanese Cooking with Manga’
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“Japanese Cooking with Manga is an entertaining introduction to the world of Japanese food, and an approachable book for those interested in learning more about Japanese food culture.” (Tuttle Publishing)
By Alexis Agliano Sanborn (Shimane-ken, 2009-11) for JQ magazine. Alexis is a graduate of Harvard University’s Regional Studies-East Asia (RSEA) program, and currently works as a program coordinator at the U.S.-Asia Law Institute of NYU School of Law. Additionally, she is an artist and independent filmmaker, currently working on a documentary about food education in Japan entitled Nourishing Japan.
Tuttle’s latest cookbook, Japanese Cooking with Manga, captures the ethos of creating food which suits the place you live. This quirky read was written by the Gourmand Gohan team comprised of Spaniards Alexis Aldeguer and Ilaria Mauro and Japanese-living-in-Barcelona “Maiko-san,” highlighting the universal love of Japanese food and its adaptations around the globe.
Created to be part comic book and part recipe book, this is a cookbook that you “read,” filled with colorful and humorous visual explorations of preparing Japanese food. Drawn in an artistic style more reminiscent of Tintin than Totoro, the trio guides us through visuals of chopped ingredients and simmering pots culminating in the completed meal. In truth, it would be difficult to consult the book while cooking (there’s something to be said for a more traditional layout); it’s more coffee table or bedside reading. Nevertheless, readers, especially those with an appreciation for comics, will likely enjoy this book.
In addition to recipes and narrative, the writers take care to provide background information, context and history to the world of Japanese cuisine—such as the importance of seasonal ingredients, the history of sushi, or how to identify fresh fish. For anyone embarking and revisiting the world of washoku, these principles are good reminders of the foundation to the cuisine and culture.
Job: Japan Communications Coordinator – 350.org (Tokyo, Japan)
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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.
Job Title: Japan Communications Coordinator
Posted by: 350.org
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a JET-relevant job passed along to us if you’re looking to live and work in Tokyo:
The position will be for a comms lead for the 350 Japan office. A good candidate would be someone who has experience working at a Japanese media outlet.
350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries. 350.org works hard to organize in a new way—everywhere at once, using online tools to facilitate strategic offline action. We want to be a laboratory for the best ways to strengthen the climate movement and catalyze transformation around the world.
Application Process: You can find the job posting here – https://350.org/jobs/?gh_jid=1386860
Justin’s Japan: Anisong World Matsuri
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Click image to read article on page 12
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Shukan NY Seikatsu. Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
In recent years, New York has hosted concerts ranging from Japanese rock to symphonic game music at world-renowned venues like Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall. Still, the chances of a full-blown anime concert featuring a variety of the original theme song vocalists seemed remote at best.
Until now. Coming to the historic Hammerstein Ballroom on November 16-17 and running concurrently with the second annual Anime NYC convention at the Jacob Javits Center, the Anisong World Matsuri concert event will make its New York debut after acclaimed performances in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Shanghai.
The show will be open to anime fans and music lovers worldwide, with no Anime NYC admission required to attend. Special VIP ticket options allow fans to meet the performers at Anime NYC where multiple on-stage Q&As and autograph sessions will be held with the concert’s artists.
According to a press release, Anisong World Matsuri brings together the most popular Japanese singers whose songs span the most popular contemporary anime. High-profile acts include Hironobu Kageyama, the voice behind “Dragon Ball Z”’s “Cha-La Head-Cha-La”; Hiroshi Kitadani (“We Are!” from “One Piece”); TRUE (“Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans”); and Luna Haruna (“Sword Art Online,” “Fate/Zero,” “Monogatari”).
Closing the event is Morning Musume, one of the biggest Japanese girl groups of all time. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, they will appear with their current 12-member lineup to mark the final overseas performance of Haruna Iikubo, who will graduate from the group in December at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan.
“It’s our second time performing in New York. This time we will perform at Anisong World Matsuri with the legendary artist Hironobu Kageyama,” the group announced in a special message video posted online. “We are looking forward to it so much!”
For more information and tickets, visit www.anisongmatsuri.com and www.animenyc.com.
Job: Managing Director – Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA, USA)
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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.
Job Title: Managing Director, Inter-University Center (IUC)
Posted by: Stanford University
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JET alum, Jennifer Butler (Shizuoka-ken) for the following job opening at her institution:
We’re hiring! The IUC Stanford office is currently seeking to hire a Managing Director to play a key leadership role in our programs, including strategic planning, financial analysis, development, external relations, and overseeing program administration.
For more information about the position, and to apply, please visit the Stanford Careers website here: http://m.rfer.us/STANFORDcYF2yg
