Feb 28

Job search: By city and by language

JET alum and Interesse employee Helen Godfrey just shared a new feature that her company offers that makes it easy to look for job listings by city and by language.

Take it for a test ride and see if you find it helpful:  http://www.iiicareer.com/applicant/en/jobsearch_america.php


Feb 28

Volunteer Opportunity: New York de Volunteer

NY de Volunteer will be starting up its Japanese after school program again on March 6th and would like to invite JET alumni volunteers to come and speak to the kids about Japan.  More information here: http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/afterschool/index_e.html

The next program will be:

J. Hood Wright Recreation Center, 351 Fort Washington Avenue, New York,  NY 10033, Located in J Hood Wright Park

Cross Streets: West 174th Street & Fort Washington Avenue

Subway: A line “175th Street Station”

Map: http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/afterschool/images/map_jhoodwright.jpg

Date: June 12th

Time: 3:30-5:30Speech time: about 20 minutes, between 4:00-4:40.

Most of the kids over there are from Dominican Republic, so we’d love to have any Spanish speakers.

If interested, contact Noriko Hino at noriko /at/ nydevolunteer /dot/ org


Feb 27

Job: Foreign Language Instructur (English) (Japan)

Via JETAA Northern California’s job/career email list:

Position: Foreign Language Instructor (English)

Field of Specialization: Native English Speaker with BA or BS degree, Preferably TEFL/TESL or a related discipline

Subjects to Teach: General English for K to 12 students and professionals with an emphasis on improving scores on English proficiency examinations such as TOEFL and TOIEC. Read More


Feb 27

Daily Yomiuri: Roland Kelts comments on Haruki Murakami’s Israel speech

In a special column in today’s Daily Yomiuri (Haruki Murakami:  Japan’s 21st-Century Cultural Ambassador), Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, comments on Haruki Murakami’s speech regarding his recent acceptance of a literary award in Israel.

Roland also has a new “Soft Power/Hard Truths” column out today, this one titled Cosplayers a breath of fresh air for D.C.

Also, here are upcoming speaking dates in NY for Roland:


Feb 27

Via JETAA Chicago:

STAR IN THE EYE- POETRY BOOK RELEASE

James Shea, a former ALT and Monbukagakusho research student, published his first book of poetry in November of last year. The book is entitled Star in the Eye and is available on amazon.com.  It has won the 2008 Fence Modern Poets Series Prize and was also named as one of the “Favorite Books of 2008” by the Chicago Sun Times. For more information, please visit the following link:   http://www.amazon. com/Star- Eye-James- Shea/dp/19342001 4X

To see a list of all JET alumni authors that of whom JetWit is aware, go to the “Authors” section in the JetWit “Library.”   https://jetwit.com/wordpress/library/authorsbooks/


Feb 26

Roland Kelts upcoming appearances: Pasadena, CA, Hobart College and NYC

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For the West Coast JET set out there, Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, will be speaking this Sunday, March 1, at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena.  Full details here:  http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/calendar/calendar-next.htm

And for the Upstate NYers, on March 4 Roland will be at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  Full details here:  http://www.hws.edu/academics/fisher_center/fc_events.aspx#09s_kelts

And a reminder for the East Coast Elitist JET Alumni community that on Sunday, March 22 Roland will take part in the first ever JET Alumni Author Showcase, along with James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), Robert Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04) and Randall David Cook (Fukui-ken, 1991-93).  (Space is limited.  RSVP to authors at jetaany dot org.)

*To rsvp via the event listing on Facebook, just click:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=56484206967&ref=nf


Feb 25

Chopsticks New York magazine update

Make sure to check out JET alum contributions to Chopsticks New York each month!  The February issue has the following from Stacy Smith:

This curry-themed (“New Comfort Food from Japan”) issue also features veteran writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999) in her regular Ask the Beauty Guru column, and introduces new Chopsticks JET alum contributor Lisa Birzen in her interview with Yuka Sato and restaurant review of Bibim Bar!


Feb 25

JapanInfo e-Newsletter – February 2009

The February 2009 edition of JapanInfo is now available online.  JapanInfo is published by the Consulate General of Japan in New York/Japan Information Center and is a great source of info for Japan-related things going on in New York and the surrounding area.

Highlights include:


Feb 25

JET alum and NY-based Japanese band otaku Ilya Blokh is going to this show on Thursday night and welcomes anyone else who’s interested to join him.

Bloody Panda – A doom band from NYC with a Japanese female vocalist @ Santo’s Party House (96 Lafayette St in Manhattan), 2/26, 7pm.

BLOODY PANDA
Driven by the mournful, melodic vocals of Japanese frontwoman Yoshiko Ohara, Bloody Panda’s transcendent sound finds its roots in the dirge-like power of Swans, the amplifier-worshipping textures of Earth, and the ethereal tension of Skepticism, as well as in various traditional styles from around the globe. The band synthesizes its esoteric influences into focused, powerful, anthemic songs, hailed by Decibel Magazine as “Khanate-caliber doom metal” and by CMJ New Music Monthly as “New York microtonal funeral doom”.

See their MySpace page here:  http://www.myspace.com/bdpanda


Feb 25

JQ Magazine: Winter 2009 “New Issue” of JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine Now Online!

jetaa_winter_2009_cover***********

Otsukare sama deshita to Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02), the new editor of JQ, JETAA NY’s Quarterly Magazine, for putting out the first issue of the Magazine.  And what an amazing issue it is.

Go to http://jetaany.org/magazine to see the issue online.

Here’s the table of contents:

WINTER 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Page 3…..Letter From the Editor
  • Page 4…..Nippon News Blotter
  • Page 5…..JETAAnnouncements
  • Page 6…..East Meets West
  • Page 7…..Nihonjin in New York Featuring the JLGC by Junko Ishikawa
  • Page 8…..JETlog by Sean Sakamoto
  • Page 9…..JetWit.com Q&A with Steven Horowitz
  • Page 9…..Catching Up with Randall David Cook by Lyle Sylvander
  • Page 10…Youth for Understanding by Sylvia Pertzborn
  • Page 11…Theatre Review: Shogun Macbeth / John Briggs Q&A by Olivia Nilsson and Adren Hart
  • Page 12…Speakit LLC: Kevin Kajitani Interview by Junko Ishikawa
  • Page 13…Jero: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 14…Joost!: Japanese TV on Your PC by Rick Ambrosio
  • Page 15…Film Review: Sukiyaki Western Django by Elizabeth Wanic
  • Page 16…An Inside Look at Japan Airlines by Kelly Nixon
  • Page 17…Japan Society’s Best of Tora-san Series by Matt Matysik
  • Page 18…Chip Kidd Talks Bat-Manga! by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 19…Book Corner: Natsuo Kirino’s Real World by David Kowalsky
  • Page 19…Restaurant Spotlight: Wajima by Allen Wan
  • Page 20…Adventures in SwirlySwirlDates by Rick Ambrosio and Nicole Bongiorno
  • Page 21…Yosakoi Dance Project by Kirsten Phillips
  • Page 22…The Tale of Eric and Ozawa by Rick Ambrosio
  • Page 23…Top 14 List / Next Issue / Sponsors Index

Feb 24

Help JET alum Suzette Simon get into the Caroline’s Comedy Competition

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Click here to vote for Suzette Simon (Tochigi-ken) (aka “The Subway Comic“) to be one of the entrants in Caroline’sMarch Madness.”  (Here’s the full voting URL address:  http://www.like2laugh.com/comics/comedian.php?ent=-%20Suzette%20Simon%20-)

March Madness” hosted by Caroline’s Comedy Club is one of NYC’s most challenging and fun comedy competitions. It’s 64 comics going head to head for comedy glory! However, to win it, she’s got to get in it.  So help Suzette out by voting her in.   (You can vote OFTEN but only once a day.)

The deadline is Sunday, March 1.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Learn more about Suzette at her website:  http://www.subwaycomic.com/ and by watching this NY1 feature on her.


Feb 24

JETAA Chapter Beat 2.24.09

Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…18japan1

JETAA Southern California

  • Phoenix Matsuri – This past weekend the JETAASC Arizona Subchapter was out enjoying the annual Japan-related Phoenix Matsuri, which included parades and an Udon demonstration. Be on the lookout for more upcoming events with JETAASC Arizona!

JETAA Florida

  • Tampa Happami – Saturday, March 7th, 2:00 to 4:00 at Kate Jackson park in Hyde Park. Florida’s own version of Hanami with snacks and sun. Rounding off the day is some Karaoke fun at night, so don’t miss it.
  • Haru Natsukashii Dinner – Saturday, March 21st, 6:00 at Koume Restaurant. Food, games and prizes to ring in the coming spring. Be sure to join in.

JETAA New York

  • Japan-A-Mania! – Saturday, February 28th. JETAA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NY and NY de Volunteer is hosting a day of Japanese culture and activities for NYC kids. Help out and share your love of Japan with the kids.
  • JETAANY Quarterly Meeting – Thursday, March 5th, 6:30 to 8:30 at the Japan Local Government Center.

JETAA Northern Californiatahoewinter

  • Ski Bus – Day Trup to Tahoe – Saturday, March 7th, pickup at 6:00 A.M., locations to be decided. Spend the day on the slopes with JETAANC. Let’s skiing!
  • Japan Society Year Ahead Part II Discussion – New Youth Culture in Japan – Thursday, February 26th, 6:00 at the Variety Preview Room. Learn about the effect of popular culture on Japan’s youth and what it means for the future.
  • Biographies of Non-Eminent Monks: Situating Contemporary Japanese Buddhist Priests Discussion – Thursday, February 26th, 5:00 at IEAS Conference Room. Discuss the often overlooked lives of Japanese Buddhist Monks and their place in society.

JETAA D.C.

  • JASW Sushi Making Workshop – Sunday, March 8th, at Maneki Neko Restaurant. Workshop A begins at 10:00, Workshop B begins at 1:00. Come learn how to make perfect sushi rice, flawless maki rolls and some nicely shaped nigiri sushi with Chef Tao.
  • JASW Discussion: Comparing US & Japan Litigation Processes – Thursday, March 5th there will be a discussion about US and Japanese litigation laws. Do not miss the conversation about this interesting subject.
  • Nihongo Dake Brunch – Sunday, March 1st, 11:00 at the Penn Quarter Teaism. Brush up on your Japanese and catch up with friends.

JETAA Canberra

  • JETAA Oceania Logo Competition – JETAA Oceania is looking for logos. Help promote the JET Programme and embrace your creative side. Entries due by March 1st, 2009.
  • Japanese Architecture Lecture – Tuesday, February 24th, 5:30 at the James O Fairfax Theatre at the National Gallery of Australia. Paul Noritaka Tange of the Tange Institute is giving a lecture on the work of his father, noted architect Kenzo Tange and his influence on modern Japanese Architecture.
  • O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, February 25th, 5:30 at the Holy Grail in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.

What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.


Feb 23

Musubi: A Sushi Iteration

spam-sushi1 Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) is a freelance writer with a focus on food.  You can read more of her writing at TravelingTastebuds.blogspot.com.

America is a wonderful place and I have to thank Alex Russel and his guest post for introducing me to an American snack original: musubi. Hawaii is known for mixing and melding multiple cultures to create something that is uniquely Hawaiian and Spam musubi is a crown jewel in this tradition. Made with spam, the ubiquitous canned ham brought to the islands by World War II soldiers, musubi proves to be a hearty snack worthy of the President of the United States. You can take Obama out of Hawaii, but…

Click Here for the rest of the story


Feb 23

Casting for two TV shows

JET Alum Suzette Brown (Tochigi-ken), a casting producer, shared the following two casting calls:

1.  PURSUIT OF HEALTH

Currently seeking men and women from a variety of ethnicities, ages and Tri-State area locations for a health series for the web for a major online provider.    This is not scripted.  Casting for real stories.

The topic is staying healthy and the series is hosted by two health experts.   We’re looking to feature people with 2 types of health stories – inspirations and interventions.    With interventions, we’re looking for people with a real life health issue (nothing major) that our host helps to resolve.   With inspirations, we will showcase various people who will share their tips and show us how they remain healthy (e.g. a dancer who has to nurse her aches and pains so she can dance her next show, a singer tells how she nurses a sore throat, etc).

I’d love to find someone who uses Japanese remedies to stay healthy.

Compensation is $200 for a half day shoot to tell your story.   Must be available on March 7 to audition.  Please respond with a blurb on your own unique strategy for staying well or tell us what your health issue is.   You can email: Read More


Feb 23

Soft Power, Hard Truths: From Akihabara to Katsucon

The latest Soft Power, Hard Truths Daily Yomiuri column from Roland Kelts (author of Japanamerica) in which he describes taking his Tokyo U. students on a field trip to Akihabara (i.e., the heart of otaku culture) reflecting on their reactions.


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