J-News Mini Roundup: Toyota Brake Recall – Japanese Reactions to the Current Crisis
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options.
It all started on a usual family outing in California. It was there that a highway patrolman and his family were driving on the highway, when they realized the accelerator petal was stuck to the floor. After careening through the highway and eventually crashing though a guard rail, the car rolled over a few times and burst into flames.
Toyota has gotten lots of press lately for their recall of cars across America and the so called stuck accelerator problem. Americans have reacted with shock as their top quality car maker has had to recall some of the highest selling models on the American market. But how have the Japanese reacted to this?
Each Japanese newspaper today had a different take on the current crisis at Toyota, its affects on America and the overall financial health of the company.
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles
Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri: Is this the year Japan jumps the shark?
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Here’s the latest SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column in the Daily Yomiuri by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, this one whether Japan, like Fonzie in the epic sitcom Happy Days, has “jumped the shark.”
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20100122TDY11003.htm
Also, fyi, Roland is now down in Miami for the Super Bowl (his sister works for the NFL!) hanging out with his pal Pete Townsend of The Who which will be providing the halftime entertainment. Here’s the post from Roland’s blog: http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2010/02/super-bowl-in-south-beach.html
Job: Teach English in Taiwan
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The International Institute, Graduate School is currently accepting applications from certified teachers who are interested in teaching English in Taiwan from August 2010 to July 2011. This program is sponsored by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan.
Taiwan Teacher Exchange Program Benefits:
– monthly salary, health, dental, and labor insurance
– round trip airfare to Taiwan
– dormitory accommodations or a housing allowance
– Chinese language learning opportunities
Deadline for application: March 15, 2010.
For more information on the program, please follow this link to our website: here.
Colin Fink
Program Technician
International Institute
Graduate School
600 Maryland Avenue, SW Suite 320
Washington, DC 20024-2520
Phone: 202-314-3455
Fax: 202-479-6806
E-mail: Colin.Fink@graduate school.edu
WIT Life #74: Japan Society Food Forum
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last night I went to an event at Japan Society entitled “Wasabi on a Hot Dog?” which discussed the incorporation of Japanese ingredients and cooking styles into non-Japanese food. The speakers were Michael Anthony, executive chef of Gramercy Tavern, and Craig Koketsu, Executive Chef at Park Avenue Autumn/Winter, and the discussion was moderated by NYT Dining section reporter Julia Moskin. They both spoke of the importance of seasonality as a Japanese concept that they have introduced, which is said to be revolutionary but really is at the root of all cooking. It was interesting to hear about Anthony’s time training with a female chef at a French bistro in Tokyo, and of Koketsu growing up in California as a third-generation Japanese-American and how this has affected his work.
However, by far the greatest contribution of the evening was the off the cuff remarks Read More
Urgent short-term gig: Japanese Speakers Wanted For Translation Work (Los Angeles)
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Language Weaver is seeking Japanese-English bilinguals to work on a short job this Wednesday or Thursday. They must be able to read both Japanese and English, and be fluent native or near-native English speakers. The job will take about 4 hours, working through an online portal on a flexible schedule, with training by phone. They will work as independent consultants, not employees. Since the total pay is under the federal limit, it will not be reported to the IRS.
The task is to skim 200 sentences that were translated from Japanese into English by a computer, and rate the quality of the translation on a 5-point scale. The sentences are on general news topics that don’t require any special vocabulary. The consultant can be an undergraduate, graduate, senior citizen, someone’s spouse, or whatever — so long as they can read both Japanese and English fluently, and aren’t tied up with midterms this week.
The pay for the job will be $90 a person. People who are interested in the job should contact Michael Potts at 310-437-7300 extension 244, or mpotts@languageweaver.com. He is available both days and evenings.
JETAA Chapter Beat 2.3.10
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community for another edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.
- Career Workshop – *Date Change* The NEJETAA Career Workshop has been changed to the first week of March. This year’s theme is, “Marketing Yourself in a Tough Economy,” so come on out and get a leg up on that new career. Location and times to be announced. Stay tuned for further details.
- Super Bowl Hike – Sunday, February 7th, 10:00 at the Greek Theatre. Get a little fresh air and exercise before the game, and join JETAASC for a hike from the Greek Theatre to the Griffith Observatory.
- Happy Hour Show & Tell plus Karaoke – Wednesday, February 10th, 5:30 at Tajima 2. Bring 1-3 of your souvenirs from your time on JET and share them with the group. The quirkier and rarer the better.
- 2010 Member’s Retreat – Friday, February 19th through Sunday the 21st on Big Bear Mountain. Get away and hit the slopes for a weekend retreat with JETAASC.
- Nihongo Dake Dinner – Saturday, February 27th, 6:00 in San Gabriel. Dust off those rusty Japanese skills and come out for a night of food, friends and Japanese conversation.
- San Francisco Nomikai and Language Exchange – Thursday, February 4th, 6:00 at Pizza Orgasmica. GEOS is co-hosting this “all-you-can-eat” happy hour event.
- Joshikai San Francisco – Thursday, February 11th, 6:00 at Owl Tree. Joshikai is a gathering for Japanese women and womene with an interest in Japan to make friends and share stories. Author Mieko Mochizuki Swartz of “Shortchanged: A Japanese Women’s Guide to International Romance” will be giving a short talk, followed by an informal networking activity.
- Tampa Subchapter Tsudoi – Friday, February 5th, 7:00 at Panera Bread in the Brandon Towncenter Mall. The Tampa Subchapter will be hosting their monthly Tsudoi, an informal time for anyone interested in Japanese and Japanese culture.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just contact Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
Benjamin Davis (ALT Chiba-ken, 2006-07, CIR/PA Chiba Kencho, 2007-09) is a freelance writer/researcher, translator, renaissance man and jack-of-all-trades based in rural Chiba-ken. He can be contacted at davis.benjamin.j@gmail.com and is always on the lookout for new and interesting projects.
“Setsubun, Bean-tossing, and the Old Japanese Calendar”
This February 3rd, when he gets home from work, my friend Mr. Watanabe will be chased out of his own house, by his own children, who will shout at him and throw dried beans in his face.
No, this is not some clever new trick on the children’s part to get back at him for enforcing their bedtimes. On the contrary, it will be something he planned in concert with them days earlier. He himself will be wearing a demon mask, his wife will be encouraging the children on in the background, and the shouts in question will be repeated cries of “Demons out, fortune in!”
You see, this bean-throwing and shouting is actually an ancient Japanese tradition called “Setsubun” (節分). It is a ritual whose objective is to chase out the malevolent spirits that may have built up like dust bunnies in the dark corners of the house over the year and invite in good fortune for the coming year.
To make the experience more symbolically tangible, a male member of the house may dress up as Read More
Jobs: English Teacher at Ez Communications (Nagano)
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Via naganojet yahoo group:
Ez Communications, one of the few foreign-owned and operated schools in Matsumoto, is looking for a full-time teacher starting on the first of April. The position available focuses mainly on pre-school kids and uses a storybook curriculum. Some junior high school and adult classes are offered as well.
Ez Communications offers an initial salary of 250,000 yen, assistance in finding a place to life, and visa sponsorship. They are looking (ideally) for a teacher who already lives in Japan, has a driver’s license, and enjoys teaching children.
Interested parties should send their resume and contact information to trevorralph@ezcomm.biz. Successful candidates will be contacted.
Jobs: Openings for English Teachers (Nagasaki)
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Via jet-nagasaki yahoo group:
The following teaching positions are available in Sasebo, Nagasaki starting in April:
Full-time:
*ELT Position: Kyubun High School. (Monday – Friday)
Part-time:
*Nagasaki Junior College: English Conversation Teacher. (Mon-Fri 9-10:30)
*Kyubun Yochien: Teaching English to pre-school aged children. (3 hours a week)
Interested applicants should contact Luc Roberge at Nagasaki Junior College:
roberge@njc.ac.jp
0956-47-5566
Job: Japan Travel Consultant (Bristol, UK)
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Via iwateminions yahoo group:
InsideJapan Tours, an independent travel specialist based in the UK, is currently recruiting for a new travel consultant. This company has a number of ex-JETs among their staff, and they are looking to fill a vacant position in April. The position available is for a Full Time Japan Travel Consultant based at the UK Office in Bristol. InsideJapan Tours is looking for someone who has experience living and working in Japan and wants to share their passion for the country with others.
Application deadline is the 12th of February, no work visa sponsorship available. Details at:
http://www.insidejapantours.com/jobs/
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Nice to be back in chilly New York, but a bit of an adjustment after the final stop on my business trip last week being balmy LA. I always love going to this southern California destination for the chance to visit Little Tokyo! Besides great cultural institutions such as the Japanese American National Museum and the Geffen MOCA, it has delicious mochi flavors that I am yet to find here in the city. My first two stops when in town are always the sweet shops carrying these creations, Mikawaya in the Japanese village and Fugetsu-do on the main drag.
The more expansive Mikawaya carries a greater selection of mochi, including Read More
