Apr 14

Japan Writers Conference seeks presenters

Events, Notable JET Alums, Volunteer, Writers Hokkaido, Japan writers conference, JET Program, Otaru Comments Off on Japan Writers Conference seeks presenters

Posted by Tom Baker

The 12th annual Japan Writer’s Conference will be held this year in Hokkaido, a new location for the event. The organizers are now seeking writers to give presentations on the weekend of Oct. 13-14 at Otaru University of Commerce in Otaru, Hokkaido. If you are a writer and would like to participate, contact details appear at the bottom of this post.

Each year, the Japan Writers Conference attracts English-language writers in a variety of genres and fields to share ideas on the art, craft and business of writing. And each year, a significant number of past and present JETs take part. These have included anthologist Suzanne Kamata, textbook author Todd Jay Leonard, travel writer Victoria Vlisides, short story writer Claire Dawn-Marie Gittens, novelists Benjamin Martin, Percival Constantine and Holly Thompson (the last of whom came to Japan in connection with the pre-JET MEF program), and journalists Elaine Lies and Tom Baker (the latter of whom wrote this post).

Past presenters have also included Australian poet David Gibley, “Slumdog Millionaire” novelist Vikas Swarup, “Cash Crash Jubilee” novelist Eli K.P. William, young-adult author Margi Preus, horror author Thersa Matsuura, and memoirist Leza Lowitz. The 2017 edition of “The Best American Mystery Stories,” edited by John Sandford, features a story by Karen McGee, who hosted the 2017 event in Tokyo. The host of this year’s event will be travel writer and textbook author Shawn Clankie.

Representatives of literary journals such as The Font and Cha have participated in past years, as have representatives of publishers including Fine Line Press and Isobar Press.

Run entirely by volunteers, the Japan Writers Conference is a free event open to all. Details on this year’s event can be found at http://www.japanwritersconference.org.

Writers interested in making a presentation at the 2018 conference are asked to contact organizer John Gribble at gribblej@gol.com. The deadline for presentation proposals is June 1.

Apr 14

TED JETs: Bruce Feiler on “Agile programming — for your family”

Notable JET Alums, TED JETs agile programming, Bruce Feiler Comments Off on TED JETs: Bruce Feiler on “Agile programming — for your family”

Posted by Tom Baker

JETs tend to be interesting people. After all, every single one of them has voluntarily relocated to a different country at least once. It’s not surprising that many of them have also had other interesting experiences, some of which lead to insights that they end up sharing in TED talks.

This post begins an occasional series on current or former JETs who have given TED talks. To kick things off, here is Tochigi Prefecture JET alum Bruce Feiler speaking about “Agile programming — for your family.”

Apr 14

Job: Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic volunteers

Jobs, Volunteer 2020 Olympics, Olympic volunteer, Paralympic volunteer, Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Paralympics Comments Off on Job: Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic volunteers

Posted by Tom Baker

Job Title: Volunteers (multiple categories)
Posted by: Tokyo 2020 organizing committee
Location: Tokyo and environs

“More than 110,000 volunteer roles in total are expected as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. This number includes 80,000 roles for Games Volunteers, 30,000 roles for City Volunteers recruited by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and a number of volunteer opportunities through other local municipalities…

“Games volunteers will be directly involved in assisting Games’ operations before, during and after the Tokyo 2020 Games, and will be expected to play an active role in helping to create a positive and exciting atmosphere, thus contributing to the overall success of the Games.

“It is essential that we involve a diverse range of people working towards the realisation of a successful Games, regardless of age, gender, nationality or the presence or absence of an impairment.”

Recruitment will officially begin in mid-September. Meanwhile, detailed information, including descriptions of multiple job categories, is available at https://tokyo2020.org/en/get-involved/volunteer/about/

Apr 10

JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Jazz Musician Meg Okura

Art, Article/Journalism, Interview/Profile, JQ Magazine, Music Comments Off on JQ Magazine: JQ&A with Jazz Musician Meg Okura

“Japanese people are open and unafraid of owning music from other cultures. It’s a uniquely Japanese thing to embrace arts from other cultures and perform them at a high level.” (Taka Harkness)

By Allen Wan (Ishikawa-ken, 1990-92) for JQ magazine. Allen works as a foreign correspondent in Shanghai. He is also a lecturer in the executive MBA program at Jiao Tong University and currently serves as president of the Shanghai Foreign Correspondents Club. Allen would like to get in touch with other JET alumni in Shanghai who are interested in setting up a JETAA chapter.

Tokyo native Meg Okura defies convention. While forging a prolific career in music since graduating from Juilliard in the ’90s (working with the likes of Diana Krall and David Bowie to name a few), this Grammy-nominated jazz violinist continues reaching out to new audiences through her “world chamber jazz” that could mean anything from performing the erhu with her Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble or big band music from Japanese and Jewish composers.

As part of the NPO Trio, Okura recently released Live at the Stone, a collaboration with husband Sam Newsome (soprano saxophone) and Jean-Michel Pilc (piano) that creates a unique sound with hints of familiar melodies including well-known Yiddish songs and even excerpts of John Coltrane. Arriving May 13 is IMA IMA, Okura’s latest studio effort. A reflection on motherhood featuring the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble and trumpeter Tom Harrell, this new material will be showcased in an intimate live performance at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York on Aug. 20.

In this exclusive interview, Okura discusses her inspirations and also tackles taboo topics like whether the music industry needs its own #MeToo movement and the difficulty of making a living as a musical artist in the age of the internet.

You are known for your eclectic music, getting inspiration from jazz, pop, and all the way to 19th century Yiddish music. Is that a concerted effort to avoid being typecast in any particular genre?

I create music that is true to myself. Different types of music reveal themselves to me whether it sounds like Ose Shalom, J.S. Bach, Piazzolla, Coltrane or even YMO. I just welcome what comes to me. But don’t get me wrong, I am a firm proponent of straight-ahead jazz. I am a jazz musician first and foremost, but I also used to perform Brahms and Ravel, and have toured with Michael Brecker as well as many Jewish bands. So I just stay true to myself and try to accept my whole history and different life experiences.

Has being born and raised in Japan influenced your musical style? Why learn the erhu and not the shamisen, for instance?

Japanese people are open and unafraid of owning music from other cultures. For example, I am very unapologetic about learning the erhu, jazz, and Judaism—things that obviously belong to races, cultures, and traditions different from my own. It’s a uniquely Japanese thing to embrace arts from other cultures and perform them at a high level.

What got you hooked on Yiddish music, and did your husband have any influence on that?

Do you know that I have a big band called J-Orchestra? We play music by Jewish and Japanese composers including works by yours truly, who is both Jewish and Japanese. Not only am I a Jew but I have also studied German and Hebrew, so I always felt connected to the Yiddish melodies—minor melodies with major chords. I always cry every time I play “Oyfn Pripetchik.” My husband, Sam Newsome, on the other hand, is not Jewish. So he is not familiar with these melodies at all, and it works out beautifully keeping our music making fresh and unique.

Read More

Apr 6

Job: Bilingual Production Coordinator – Capcom (San Francisco, CA, USA)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Bilingual Production Coordinator – Capcom (San Francisco, CA, USA)

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

Job Title: Bilingual Production Coordinator 
Posted by: Capcom
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Contract: Temporary to RFT

Thanks to JET alum Laura Jacob (Chiba-ken) for the following job opening at her company:

https://uscareers-capcom.icims.com/jobs/2312/bilingual-production-coordinator/job

Position Summary

Capcom is looking for a Translator/Production Coordinator with a passion for video games to join our team. We’re a dedicated, hard-working group that loves what we do and loves the brands we get to work on.

The Translator/Production Coordinator will assist the Associate Producer to facilitate internal and external communication regarding both game production and marketing tasks. Specific tasks include the translation of e-mails, documents, and materials as well as providing interpretation services during video conferences and face to face meetings. Translation and interpretation are provided in both directions (i.e. – Japanese to English and English to Japanese). Read More

Apr 6

Job: Japanese Bilingual Analyst – Apex Systems (Austin, TX)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Japanese Bilingual Analyst – Apex Systems (Austin, TX)

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

Job Title: Japanese Bilingual Analyst
Posted by: Apex Systems (Recruiter)
Location: Austin, TX
Contract: 1-year contract; $18.50/hour

Thanks to JET alumna Rebecca Chen (Akita-ken) for passing along this job opportunity:

Our client is looking for eager candidates to join their team to work on a large-scale data editing project. The team will be receiving large amounts of data from various outside sources and you will be responsible for editing, cleanup and overall accuracy. Attention to detail and ability to follow guidelines and project protocol will be crucial for the success of the project.

Japanese Bilingual Data Analyst

Job Description

• Gather data through web research
• Validate and edit existing data (including spatial data) using internal OS X app. This involves following guidelines from manager but also applying good judgement/analytical skills
• Meet with peer group at least once a week to discuss difficulties with researching/validating/editing data and ways to improve processes and OS X app
• Review the work of others in peer group to ensure quality & consistency

Qualifications:

• Must have strong analytical & be quick to understand new concepts
• Must maintain positive attitude and attention to detail when doing repetitive tasks
• Fluency in the Japanese language is required
• No previous experience required, role-specific training will be given

For more information or to apply, contact:
Skyler Seligman  |  Technical Recruiter  | Apex Systems
Overlook II Suite 200
4870 Sadler Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Office: 804-545-7723  |  Fax: 804-545-7701
sseligman@apexsystems.com  |  www.apexsystemsinc.com

Apr 4

Job: Private Tutoring; Liberal Arts Class Teacher – お迎えシスター (Greater Tokyo Area, Japan)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Private Tutoring; Liberal Arts Class Teacher – お迎えシスター (Greater Tokyo Area, Japan)

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

Job Title: Private Tutoring; Liberal Arts Class Teacher
Posted by: お迎えシスター
Location: Greater Tokyo Area, Japan
Contract: Full Time

This job position was sent directly from the company:

Website: https://omsister.com/

Job

• Private tutoring for kids from 5 to 15 years old
• Liberal arts class teacher for elementary school aged children

Qualifications

• Able to speak English or other languages
• Good with children
• Can work for more than half a year
• ¥2000~/hour(Includes transportation fee)
• Tutors training program/year

Recruitment Process

1. Apply
2. Interview
3. Results notified
4. Contract

Please fill out the form: https://omsister.com/sister/

Apr 3

JETAA Chapter Beats April 2018

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JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by A

JET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)

1. JETAA SC

Tokyo City Cup and Family Fun Day

When: Sunday, April 8th

Time: 10:30 – 17:00

Where: Santa Anita Park, 285 Huntington Dr, Arcadia, California 91007

Tickets: http://www.tokyocitycup.com

The Tokyo City Cup, won last year by HARD ACES, is the sole graded stakes race named for a major city outside the United States. Free Tokyo City Cup T-shirt and Japanese Towel for the first 1, 000 patrons and more gifts for fans who complete a survey at your drawing tables are available. The Tokyo City Cup Game will be held and splendid prize will be given to the winner. The website also provides more information about the specific event schedule. Gates open at Santa Anita at 10:30 a.m., with the first post at 12:30 p.m.

The Japan Family Day features Japanese cultural exhibitions, booths such as Karate (Japanese martial arts), Sado (tea ceremony), Shodo (calligraphy), Kendo (Japanese swordsmanship), Origami (paper folding), Anime and stage shows like Min-yo (Japanese fold song), Sumo (Japanese-style wrestling), Ryuku Buyo (Okinawa Traditional Dance), Tsugaru Shamisen (Three stringed Japanese guitar) and Taiko (a special Japanese Drum Performance).

You can enjoy various Japanese food booths such as sushi, curry, okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pizza), Japanese Tea, Japanese BBQ, Onigiri (rice ball) and Japanese bakery. At the beer garden, Japanese beer will be served.

For more information, please visit at www.tokyocitycup.com .

2. JETAA NC

Furusato Vision Project

Calling all JET Alumni who were in EASTERN JAPAN during their JET time! The Furusato Vision Project is back! This is an opportunity for you to go back to your JET Placement, visit places you have strong connections with and reconnect with your community!

CLAIR and local governments that employ JET Participants are implementing the ‘JET Furusato Vision Project’. By exploring opportunities to use JET alumni in globalisation and local revitalisation activities, CLAIR and the local governments of Japan hope to further expand the potential of the JET Programme widely both in Japan and abroad.

JET alumni who participate in this project will return to their former places of employment on the JET Programme, visiting places and people they had strong connections with and reconnecting with the community. More importantly, participants will develop and implement their own ‘Vision Plan’ that utilises the skills and connections they acquired after JET to make new contributions to their former community in areas such as Tourism Promotion, Economic Exchange, Educational Exchange, Culture and Arts Exchange, Grassroots Exchange, Current JET Participant Career Support, or some other project to deepen the community’s ties to the world.

Applications close April 9th. For more information, visit http://www.jetprogramme.org/en/furusatovisionproject/

3. JETAA UK

Jr Managers Program (JMP)/Bosch Japan / Presentation and interview

Date: 20th – 22nd April

Time: 09:00 – 18:00

Price: ₤0

Location: London or online

Company: BOSCH Japan

Requirement: Work experience: 0 – 5 years

Language: Japanese (business) and English (business)

The Junior Managers Program prepares highly qualified young professionals in a practically orientated way to assume management responsibility. It is based on an individual program design, diverse further training opportunities, and an established mentoring system with experienced top managers.

https:www.business-paradigm.com/bpc/consul_event_bosch.html

4. JETAA NE (New England USA)

Japan Festival

When: April 29th

Where: Boston Common

Time: 10:00 – 18:00

Happy Spring, NEJETAA Members!

This year’s Japan Festival will be held on Sunday, April 29th from 10:00 – 18:00 at Boston Common. Like years prior, we are looking for JET Alumni to help staff our table and help spread the word and answer questions about JET. This is a great chance to give back, have some fun, and help ensure JET’s success in the future!

Please follow this link if you wish to sign up as a volunteer: https://goo.gl/forms/piGDOGeGa6cswDoY2

For more information about the event itself, visit the official Japan Festival Boston Website: http://www.japanfestivalboston.org/

We hope to see you there!!

5. JETAA Portland

Fuji to Hood

Date: Saturday, April 21st

Time: 12pm – 4pm

Place: The Bindery Annex and

Culmination Brewing

2117 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97232

Portland and Japan collaboration festival “Fuji to Hood” is a beer festival featuring ten Japanese breweries (and one cidery) collaborating with eleven of Portland’s finest brewers/cidermakers on original recipes using select Japanese ingredients. Presented by Culmination Brewing and supported by the Japan-America Society of Oregon, the Fuji to Hood beer festival also features Sake from SakeOne, ramen from Marukin Ramen and sushi from Bamboo Sushi, plus Japanese Taiko drumming groups and arts with partial proceeds going to benefit JASO. Beer, Ramen, Sushi and Sake come together in Portland on April 21st, 2018.

For more information go to https://fujitohood.com

6. JETAA Music City

Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival

Date: April 14th

Time:

Cherry Blossom Walk: 09:45

Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival: 10:00 – 17:00

Place: 1 Public Square, Nashville, TN 37201

JETAA MC participates every spring in the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival by staffing a JET Program booth and giving a lecture about “My Life in Japan.” Potential JET applicants and newly selected JETs are encouraged to stop by the booth to get direct information about JET from someone who has been there. There’s also plenty of great stories in the “My Life in Japan” lecture.

For further information about the festival, visit:

http://www.nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org/

7. JETAA Auckland

Beginners Taiko Workshop

Date: Saturdays from April 28th for 5 weeks

Time: 12:00 – 14:00 UTC

(except the first Saturday (11:30 – 14:00))

Place: 7 Westech Place, Kelston, Auckland

Age: 14 +
Cost: $100
What to bring: Earplugs and water
To book: Email us at haeremai@nzjapan.net

Whether you’re looking for an introduction to Japanese drumming or are interested in joining our team*, we invite you to come along for this one of a kind experience!
Bookings are essential. Please ask us any question by fb message or by email.
*Because spaces in Haere Mai Taiko are limited, unfortunately taking a course does not guarantee you a spot in the group. Please discuss with our senior members if you wish to join.

8. JETAA Singapore

Hanami by the Bay

Date: April 7th

Time: 17:00 – 22:00 UTC+8

Place: Under the Supertree Grove (Gardens by the Bay)

[Calling Out to JETAA Members]
We are starting the year with two events: Ramen Teh Movie Night and Hanami by the Bay!

Details for Hanami by the Bay: Join us for a picnic!
Date: 7th April, Saturday
Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Under the Supertree Grove
(Directions to Gardens by the Bay: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/…/getting-here-and-parkin…)
JETAA will be providing food and some drinks. Members are welcome to bring your own drinks too.

Apart from the usual picnic on the grass patch, we will also be offering subsidised tickets to the Flower Dome on 7th April to view the Sakura Matsuri for our JETAA Members! Check out the google form for details!

Please RSVP for both events using the Google form link: https://goo.gl/forms/unE6vXXHU6f1FiWq1

RSVP deadline for movie: 2nd April (Mon)
RSVP deadline for Hanami: 4th April (Wed)

For further information go to their facebook page.

9. JETAA Pittsburg

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Musical: PJFF Centerpiece

Date: April 13th

Time: 18:30 – 21:15 EDT

Place: 4115 Butler St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201

Tickets: rowhousecinema.com

Price: $15.00

In the name of the moon, attend the Pittsburgh Premiere of the filmed version of the musical “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Musical – Le Mouvement Final”, the Centerpiece feature of the 2018 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival (4/6-4/19). This is a one night only screening.

Friday, 4/13 – 6:30pm
Tickets ($15) – http://bit.ly/SailorMusicalFri


About the Musical
——————–
Usagi Tsukino says farewell to Mamoru Chiba as he is set to leave for school in America. As Usagi says goodbye, she faints, and a super idol group called the Three Lights appear to catch her fall. Meanwhile, new enemies – the “Shadow Galactica,” are calling themselves Sailor Guardians and are aiming to steal Sailor Crystals! A mysterious young girl named Chibi-Chibi and a new group of Sailor Guardians, called the Sailor Starlights, also appear, but are they friend or foe? Can Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians stop the Shadow Galactica before it’s too late?

About the Festival
——————–
The Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival showcases new, recent, and classic Japanese films across genres, highlighting the richness and diversity of Japanese cinema.
– Feature Films: Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Your Name, Antiporno, Godzilla, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter
– One Night Only: Neko Atsume House, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon-The Musical, Wild Zero, Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend
– Schedule/Tickets/Special Events: http://jffpgh.org/
Please Note: No refunds of exchanges for special event tickets.

10. JETAA Philadelphia (Philly)

Bethlehem Sakura Matsuri

Date: 14th April

Time: 12:00 – 17:00 EDT

Place: 10 W Church St, Bethlehem, PA 18018-5827, United States

Come on up for the Bethlehem Cherry Blossom Festival! An afternoon of culture and entertainment put on by my colleagues at the Bethlehem Sister City Commission.

Attractions to include: Origami Yukata-wearing
Shodo (calligraphy) Sado (tea ceremony)
Mochi-pounding Festival foods

and more TBD!

Save the date and invite your friends. Come find us at the Garden of Serenity (an honest-to-goodness Japanese garden designed by some famous Japanese guy!) adjacent to the Bethlehem Public Library.

Apr 3

Job: Digital Media Coordinator – Japan Information & Culture Center (Washington, DC)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Digital Media Coordinator – Japan Information & Culture Center (Washington, DC)

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

Job Title: Digital Media Coordinator
Posted by: Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full Time

Here’s a job received directly from the JICC, Embassy of Japan:

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/employment/dmc.html

Apr 3

JQ Magazine: Book Review — New from Tuttle (Spring 2018)

Art, Article/Journalism, Books, JQ Magazine, Reviews, Travel/Tourism Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Book Review — New from Tuttle (Spring 2018)

Tuttle Publishing

By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata–ken, 2008-10) for JQ magazine. A former head of the JETAA Philadelphia Sub–Chapter, Rashaad is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University with a master’s degree in responsible tourism management. For more on his life abroad and enthusiasm for taiko drumming, visit his blog at www.gettingpounded.wordpress.com.

Tuttle Publishing has released another selection of Japan-related books, and the following quartet includes works that touch on Japanese etiquette, language study, Okinawan history, and picturesque Kyoto.

Japan: A Guide to Traditions, Customs and Etiquette

While studying Japanese, I learned the term shikata, which is translated as the “way of doing things.” However, as the late lecturer and writer Boyé Lafayette de Mente thoroughly documents, kata represents a lot more than a translation of “form”: It is a concept present in just about every aspect of Japanese society, whether it be the business world, poetry, or sumo. In essence, kata guides the country’s etiquette.

In Japan, the process of accomplishing a goal is just as significant, if not more significant, than the actual result—a notable contrast to the West. De Mente defines kata as the “way things are supposed to be done,” and he educates readers on how the concept has shaped Japan throughout its history and the present.

The author also touches on other cultural differences between Westerners and Japanese (such as communication styles) and people reading the book will probably nod their heads in agreement as they read certain passages, such as “Foreigners can live a lifetime in Japan and not fully understand how the Japanese system works the way it does” and why Japanese often express amazement at foreigners who can utter the simplest Japanese phrase. Japan: A Guide to Traditions, Customs and Etiquette is really an exploration of the Japanese psyche.

If nothing else, you’ll be amazing at how different Japan seems from the West.

Tuttle Publishing

Beginning Japanese Kanji: Language Practice Pad

Those seeking an introduction to kanji, or just a way to brush up on them, should turn to William Matsuzaki’s work. The pad is an excellent tool for busy people: The 334 kanji it presents lends itself to a simple, one kanji-a-day memorization for those aiming to study at a relaxed pace. Furthermore, each page contains terms utilizing the featured kanji and tips on how to write its strokes.

The kanji appearing in the pad is really nothing out of the ordinary, as you’ll see them in many (if not most) materials geared toward relatively novice Japanese learners. Adding to the book’s appeal, the inclusion of spaces to write the kanji (as well as sample sentences featuring the characters) is most useful for those looking to bolster their knowledge of the language.

Read More

Apr 2

JQ Magazine: Manga Review — ‘CITY’

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“If nothing else, CITY is a reminder that big city chaos can be entertaining.” (Vertical Comics)

By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata–ken, 2008-10) for JQ magazine. A former head of the JETAA Philadelphia Sub–Chapter, Rashaad is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University with a master’s degree in responsible tourism management. For more on his life abroad and enthusiasm for taiko drumming, visit his blog at www.gettingpounded.wordpress.com.

Work often gets in the way of fun times. But if you incorporate some creativity into your life, that doesn’t have to be the case.

Enter the world of Midori Nagumo, the protagonist of the comedy manga CITY. In this first volume (which began serialization in Japan in September 2016) from creator Keiichi Arawi (Nichijou), Nagumo is a very broke college student whose landlady is constantly hounding her for money. Her roommate Niikura refuses to lend her money when she realizes what Nagumo’s true intention is.

Nagumo has to resort to other avenues to raise money, such as stealing a clay figure with the aim of selling it. But she clumsily drops the object, rendering it shattered. Crazily enough, immediately afterwards she’s offered a job at a restaurant (where the incident happens).

Our protagonist accepts the job but still has issues. It doesn’t help that her landlady has a police officer help “move” (or steal) all of her stuff so she wouldn’t escape (as the stolen items are actually collateral). In the middle of the volume, Nagumo reflects on her life, telling herself that if she could continue to have lots of happy moments, she’d be unbelievably thrilled with her life.

Read More

Apr 2

Job: Reporter/Researcher – Yomiuri Shimbun (New York City, NY)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Reporter/Researcher – Yomiuri Shimbun (New York City, NY)

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

Job Title: Reporter / Researcher
Posted by: Yomiuri Shimbun
Location: New York City, NY
Contract: Full Time

Here’s a job received directly from the newspaper:

The Yomiuri Shimbun is Japan’s largest daily newspaper. We are headquartered in Tokyo and have 26 international bureaus, three of which are in the United States: New York, Washington, and Los Angeles.

Website Japanese: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/

English-language site is: http://the-japan-news.com/

Description: Main duties involve assisting the Yomiuri’s Japanese United Nations correspondent by covering the Security Council and other UN bodies, as well as working on business news. This includes covering press briefings, tracking relevant stories, arranging and conducting interviews, doing research, coming up with story ideas, etc. Applicant may also be required to work other news areas (including business and financial markets, sports, social and political news) as the situation warrants. Some transcribing of briefings and interviews is also required. Read More

Apr 2

Job: Seeking Male/Female Voice Over Actors for Japanese Product Video (New York, NY)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Seeking Male/Female Voice Over Actors for Japanese Product Video (New York, NY)

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

Job Title: Seeking Male/Female Voice Over Actors for Japanese Product Video
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Contract

Here’s another job received directly from the company:

A multi-national Japanese technology company is seeking a Japanese voice over actor for a video that showcases a new, experimental digital service. The video is roughly two minutes long. Looking for either young adult/middle age male or female. We are based out of NYC so it would be preferable to have someone here, but not totally necessary. We will provide the script in Japanese for you to read for the voiceover recording.

Please advise if you are interested, along with your quote to matt.steiniger@isobar.com.

Thank you!

Apr 2

Job: Seeking People for Japanese Product Video (New York, NY)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Seeking People for Japanese Product Video (New York, NY)

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

Job Title: Seeking People for Japanese Product Video
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Contract

Here’s a job received directly from the company:

A multi-national Japanese technology company is seeking people of Japanese or East Asian decent to appear in a video for an experimental digital product. Talent will portray user of a service intended to inform millions of Japanese. This is a non-speaking role and no experience is necessary.

Seeking (4) people:

• (1) Female ages 20-30s
• (1) Female ages 40-50s
• (1) Male ages 30-40s
• (1) Male ages 60s+

COMMITMENT: Half day (6 hours maximum) during daylight hours

DATES: (Pending) April 12th, 13th, or 14th, 2018

LOCATION: Filming in NYC modern apartment, or at a retail location depending on the role

COMPENSATION: $100 and lunch provide

Please send your e-mail, phone number and one or more photo to matt.steiniger@isobar.com.

Thank you!

Apr 1

JQ Magazine: Nippon in New York — Sake + Rakugo, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sakura Matsuri

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By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe–shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.

Spring has sprung in the Big Apple, and that means one thing: a new season of sounds, colors, and spectacular performing arts to match the blossoming sakura trees throughout the city.

This month’s highlights include:

Courtesy of Yukiko Takahashi

Thursday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Rakugo Event: Tozaburo Yanagiya III

Brooklyn Kura, 68 34th Street (Industry City)

Free

This special set of performances is held at the first Japanese sake brewery in New York State. Born in Tokyo, Yanagiya Tozaburo became a disciple of master Rakugo performer Yanagiya Gontaro III in 1999. He was promoted to the master Shin’uchi rank, in which he himself is certified to train disciples, in 2014. Ever since, he has performed all over Japan and appeared in the ShotenRakugo show and other television programs. During his first visit to North America this spring, he has performed at the University of Toronto, LaGuardia Community College, Hunter College, New York University, and Brooklyn Kitchen. Tozaburo was awarded the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Arts Festival Newcomer Award in 2016. Tozaburo will share sake-inspired stories (while patrons can enjoy the real thing on the premises) along with a traditional story, “The Zoo.”

Tozaburo is also appearing at J-COLLABO’s Spring Festival in Park Slope on Saturday, April 7, at 3:00 p.m. For more information, click here.

Courtesy of Kazuo Miyagawa Family

April 12-28

Kazuo Miyagawa: Japan’s Greatest Cinematographer

The Museum of Modern Art, (April 12-29)

Japan Society, (April 13-28)

$13/$10 seniors and students, $9 Japan Society members

In celebration of the 110th anniversary of his birth, Japan Society presents an 11-film retrospective surveying the work of Kazuo Miyagawa (1908-1999), the most influential cinematographer of postwar Japanese cinema. Working intimately with directors like Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Kon Ichikawa on some of their most important films, Miyagawa pushed Japanese cinema to its highest artistic peaks through his lyrical, innovative and technically flawless camerawork. This career-spanning selection displays his great versatility, including major masterpieces and rarely shown titles, screening in 35mm and new digital restorations. Co-organizer The Museum of Modern Art will host repeat screenings and additional Miyagawa retrospective titles from April 12-29. Preceding the retrospective, new 4K restorations of Mizoguchi’s A Story From Chikamatsu and Sansho the Bailiff, both shot by Miyagawa, will run at Film Forum from April 6-12.

GKIDS

April 22-23, 25

The Cat Returns

E-Walk 42nd Street 13, 247 West 42nd Street / Empire 25, 234 West 42nd Street

$12.50 all ages

Part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2018! From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away, comes a charming and magical adventure that will delight the entire family. Haru is walking home after a dreary day of school when she spies a cat with a small gift box in its mouth crossing a busy street, and she jumps in front of traffic to save the cat from an oncoming truck. To her amazement, the cat gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely. But things take an even stranger turn when later than night, the King of Cats shows up at her doorstep in a feline motorcade. He showers Haru with gifts, and decrees that she shall marry the Prince and come live in the Kingdom of Cats!

Courtesy of Ryuichi Sakamoto – Coda

April 25-27

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda

Cinépolis Chelsea (4/25-26), 260 West 23rd Street

Regal Cinemas Battery Park Stadium (4/27), 102 North End Avenue

$23

From his start pioneering synth pop music with Yellow Magic Orchestra, in the late ’70s to winning an Oscar for his score for The Last Emperor in 1988, Ryuichi Sakamoto quickly established himself as one of the most original and intuitive composers of his generation. But, never content to rest on his laurels, Sakamoto’s life journey eventually led him to find musical inspiration in the unlikeliest of places: the Fukushima nuclear disaster and a personal battle with cancer, both of which gave way to a late-life shift in his artistic process. With Coda, director Stephen Nomura Schible (a co-producer on Lost in Translation) crafts a portrait of the artist as an ageless man, one who can turn the worst news into the most refined and purposeful moment of productivity in an already storied career. Shot over five years, this graceful music documentary is an elegantly observed examination of the creative process, following as Sakamoto builds from nothing the album he must assume will be his swan song. Premiere Screening features a Q&A with subject Sakamoto and Nomura Schible.

Kikuna Mishima

April 28-29, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Sakura Matsuri 2018

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Avenue

$30 adults, $25 senior and students, free for BBG members and children under 12

Billed as a dynamic two days of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture inspired by BBG’s famous collection of flowering cherry trees, organizers will once again welcome tens of thousands of visitors to its massive 52 acres, home to over 12,000 kinds of plants (and, for that weekend, nearly as many cosplayers). Enjoy food and drink, events and activities for all ages while taking in live performances from New York troupe Dancejapan with Sachiyo Ito, the BBG Parasol Society Fashion Show, NYC’s own J-pop meets jazz favorite J-MUSIC Ensemble, and the Matsuri live debuts of DJ Sashimi and Tokyo-based rock duo Bo-Peep.

Want to stay in the loop on future events? Follow Justin on Facebook and Twitter.