JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi talks Hatsune Miku on FCI's "Today's Eye" segment. (Courtesy Fujisankei Communications International)
JQ magazine editor/Japanese Culture Examiner Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) was recently interviewed by Fujisankei (FCI) News on Japan’s virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku for their “Today’s Eye” segment broadcast this week on Japanese TV!
Miku is the star of Toyota’s summer Corolla ad campaign in the U.S., and earlier this month performed to massive crowds at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre and the San Diego Comic-Con! Check out the video here or click on the image for Justin’s comments.
Direct link: www.fujisankei.com/video_library/event/hatsunemiku.html
Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London as is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, writing and translation.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Over four months have passed since the The Great East Japan Earthquake and coverage of the relief efforts is rarely featured in the news here in the UK. However, as we know the recovery process is far from over. Raising awareness is vital to encourage the continuing support and help for those in the affected region.
Angus Miyaji, founder of the charity Seven Beach Aid, has worked with photographer Christina Aiton to bring a charity photo exhibition titled ‘Yet I Still Dare to Hope‘ to Hyper Japan 2011. The exhibition explores hope and rebuilding in the wake of the Japan earthquake.
“This exhibition offers a unique insight into the lives of 14 normal people from a small Japanese town, offering a chance for people living in the UK to get to know these people who were living a modest life until their lives were turned upside down. This exhibit is not about sorrow, but about hope. It’s about rebuilding. It’s about the future.”
Angus Miyaji – Seven Beach Aid
Alongside the sushi, cool gizmos and crazy cosplay outfits, visitors to this year’s Hyper Japan event will be able to see and respond to the stories of ordinary Japanese families from the tsunami-affected town of Shichigahama, through an intimate collection of photographs taken by local resident Christina Aiton.
Yet I Still Dare to Hope explores how 14 families in the northeastern Japanese town of Shichigahama, one of the areas hit hardest by the March 11 tsunami, are rebuilding their lives after the destruction.
Visitors will be able to leave messages of support that will be shared directly with the townspeople, encouraging those that have been directly affected and letting them know that they are not alone in the face of such a difficult time. There will also be able opportunity to donate and purchase charity goods for the benefit of residents of Shichigahama and Miyagi Prefecture.
Yet I Still Dare To Hope uses still photography accompanied by narratives from each survivor and features items from the disaster-hit area in order to convey the terrifying truth of humankind’s fragile existence, while exploring the subject of hope as the community begins the process of rebuilding their lives from the tragedy.
The exhibition has been organised by disaster relief organisations:
Tohoku Earthquake Relief Project London
(http://terp-london.co.uk/)
Seven Beach Aid
(http://sevenbeachaid.org/en-GB/)
Donations:
We are so thankful for all the generous support we are receiving towards this Photo Exhibition. The exhibition is entirely funded by donations. The expenses for the exhibition include the cost of printing photos & mounting, renting exhibition supplies, printing promotional leaflets, posters & booklets, postage of having items from the Japan sent to the UK etc). We are a couple hundred pounds away from our target and would appreciate any financial contribution if you would like to support us!
For individuals (credit / debit card, paypal)
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SLHLVZWQM75BE
Company Sponsors (credit / debit card, paypal)
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9M6ATGB3EXENJ
For more details about visiting the exhibition at Hyper Japan 2011:
http://www.hyperjapan.co.uk/
Via Scarlett Orork. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London and is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, translation, or other fields.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***
Job Position: ESL Tutors needed for Japanese learners on Skype
Job Details:
My name is Scarlett and I live in Wilmington, NC. I own a small business that is growing quite rapidly called Hello English.us. I give English conversation classes to people in Japan on Skype. Currently, I have around 230 students. I have about 15 current tutors but it is not near enough. I have over 700 classes that are prepaid.
I am in need of teachers or tutors who would like to earn extra money. One of my teachers has just been accepted into the JET program. He found it invaluable to work here in a small way to prepare for what was coming in Japan. I also think that this might be very helpful for Jet Alumni’s re-acclimating themselves to America.
Here is more information about the positions: http://www.onlineeikaiwa.jp/eslteachers.html
I am looking for in excess of 40 more teachers/tutors.
Job: Abe Fellowship and Abe Fellowship for Journalists
Jobs 
Comments Off on Job: Abe Fellowship and Abe Fellowship for Journalists
Via JET alum Fernando Rojas who is the Fellowship Assistant for the Abe Fellowship at SSR. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London and is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, translation, or other fields.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***
Job Position: Abe Fellowship and Abe Fellowship for Journalists
Job Details:
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) announce the annual Abe Fellowship competition. The Abe Fellowship is designed to encourage international multidisciplinary research on topics of pressing global concern. The Abe Fellowship Program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long-range importance and who are willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network built around such topics.
Read More
Job: Associate Director of International Program Programs (Chicago)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Associate Director of International Program Programs (Chicago)
Via JET alum Kat Barnas. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London and is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, translation, or other fields.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***
Job Position: Associate Director of International Program Programs
Job Details:
The Associate Director of International Programs is responsible for administering international programs and opportunities offered through Chicago Booth. This position involves significant student contact, marketing and recruiting student participation, advising students on program options and promoting other international opportunities as appropriate.
Read More
WIT Life #176: 悪人
Events, Film, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #176: 悪人
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 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.
First off a huge OMEDETOU to the Japanese women’s soccer team for winning the World Cup over the weekend! I watched the game with the Japanese delegation I have just begun interpreting for, and needless to say it made our night. The victory has been a nice boost of encouragement for the country, and is something all of its citizens can take pride in.
The Japan Cuts film festival at Japan Society is going strong in its second and final week, and in my next few entries I hope to discuss some of the great movies I’ve been seeing. But today I’d like to talk about another interesting film that made its New York premiere when it was screened last week as part of the Nippon Eiga series sponsored by ANA. It was 悪人 (Akunin) or Villain, and featured the two amazing actors Satoshi Tsumabuki (as the villain) and Eri Fukatsu (as the woman who falls in love with him). It was directed by Sang-il Lee who also made Hula Girls, another movie that was screened as part of ANA’s series a few years back.
Fukatsu received the Best Actress award at the Montreal World Film Festival last year for playing this role, a worthy performance. She and Tsumabuki always have great chemistry (I loved them in Read More
A New York Times article today titled “Radiation-Tainted Beef Spreads Through Japan’s Markets” paints a worrisome picture of the radiation situation in Japan. Or does it?
It’s hard for JET alums outside of Japan to know what to think all the time. I suppose it’s just as hard for JETs in Japan to know what to think. But you guys have to actually do–or not do–something about it. So I thought it might be helpful to get a sense of how much or little the radiation issue is affecting the lives of JETs (and JET alums) in Japan.
How are JETs in Japan reacting? Are you worried? Is the NY Times article too alarmist? Are you changing eating and travel behaviors in any way?
Please share any thoughts in the comments section, or e-mail them to jetwit [at] jetwit.com if you prefer to post anonymously.
Thanks.
Ishinomaki 2.0
Earthquake Tsunami Comments Off on Ishinomaki 2.0
Via the Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Idea Exchange Facebook group started by Atlanta-based JET Emily Duncan. My Japanese isn’t good enough to quickly figure out the gist of it or even who created it. But it seemed compelling enough to merit sharing. Please feel free to post any comments or thoughts about the site for the benefit of other readers.
Fundraising: JETAA Sydney Trivia Night Fundraiser for Japan
Earthquake Tsunami, Events, Fundraising, JETAA Chapters Comments Off on Fundraising: JETAA Sydney Trivia Night Fundraiser for Japan
JETAA Trivia and Fundraiser for Japan
Come along this Saturday night to the 2011 JETAA trivia night. Bring you friends, meet new people and test your knowledge of all things Japanese and Australian as you compete for a range of great prizes.
This year’s trivia night will be an extra special event, with all proceeds raised on the night being donated to the Red Cross (Japan) Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal.
Time: 6:30pm, Saturday 23 July
(Questions commence at 7pm sharp so arrive by 6:30pm to get your team organised!)
Place: Parkview Hotel, 178-180 Mitchell Road, Alexandria
(The closest station is Erskineville, and there is lots of parking near the venue)
Entry: $20 per person (Includes catering and you can purchase drinks at the bar)
Please RSVP by Thursday via the Sydney JETAA Facebook group or email sydney@jetalumni.org so we can confirm numbers for catering.
Thanks to Matt Gillam of CLAIR NY for forwarding this on.
ペットボトルのボートで琵琶湖を横断したダスティ・ウイットマンさん（右）とロキシィ・ボロウスカさん＝大津市今堅田３丁目の真野浜
Apparently two Shiga JETs covered the two kilometers between Moriyama and Otsu in a little over an hour to raise approximately300,000 yen. Based on the katakana, I believe their names are Dusty Wittman and Roxy Borowska. (Thanks to Katie Jardine for the name correction!)
2011年7月16日21時46分
ペットボトル船で琵琶湖横断 震災孤児への募金呼びかけ
東日本大震災で親を失った震災孤児への募金を呼びかけようと、滋賀県内の高校に勤務する外国語指導助手（ＡＬＴ）の２人が１６日、ペットボトル８１５本を使った長さ約２メートルのボートで琵琶湖を横断した。
挑戦したのは米国出身のダスティ・ウイットマンさん（３０）と英国出身のロキシィ・ボロウスカさん（２６）。守山市から対岸の大津市まで約２キロを １時間 余りで横断した。米国では募金を求める「本気度」をパフォーマンスで示すことが多いといい、ＡＬＴの仲間や高校生らとペットボトルを集めて準備。２人は 「大好きな日本の子どものため、思いを行動で示したかった」と話す。
２人は３日から募金サイト（http://ilovenihon.com/）などで義援金を募り、国内外から約３０万円が寄せられているという。ボロウスカさんは「地元の人も一緒に盛り上げてくれてうれしかった。今後も支援を訴えていきたい」と話す。
New group: JET Alum Health Professionals
Career, Networking Comments Off on New group: JET Alum Health Professionals
After meeting Portland-based mental health counselor and JETAA Portland officer Roy Huggins (Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi) at the JETAA USA Conference in D.C. this past weekend and realizing there were two other attendees who are also health professionals (JETAA Texoma’s Chieko Rothengass and Dennis Li are both researchers), we thought it might make sense to create a …..
JET Alum Health Professionals Group on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/e/ai06o5-gqax67os-a/vgh/4008893/
So if you’re a therapist, a doctor, a nurse, a researcher, a nutritionist or in any other line of work (or aspire to be) that has some connection to health, please join!
Also a reminder that there are a whole host of other JET Alum LinkedIn groups to join (e.g., law, policy & government, MEFs, media professionals, etc.) as well as the JET alum LinkedIn groups by prefecture.
JETAA USA Conference a big success in DC
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA USA Conference a big success in DC
Major props to JETAA DC for putting on an extremely substantive and energizing JETAA USA National Conference–just what we all needed in a very challenging year.
More details and info to come when I have time to gather thoughts and info and get them posted.
“Thank You” from the Women’s World Cup Champions Japan
Earthquake Tsunami Comments Off on “Thank You” from the Women’s World Cup Champions Japan
Justin’s Japan: Lincoln Center Festival Premieres ‘Temple of the Golden Pavilion’
Article/Journalism, Events, Justin's Japan Comments Off on Justin’s Japan: Lincoln Center Festival Premieres ‘Temple of the Golden Pavilion’
J-pop singer Go Morita stars in director Amon Miyamoto's stage adaptation of 'The Temple of the Golden Pavilion' for the Lincoln Center Festival July 21-24. (Miow Hirota)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his page here for related stories.
On Thursday (July 21), this year’s edition of the Lincoln Center Festival will present the U.S. theatrical premiere of director Amon Miyamoto’s The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, based on Kinkakuji, the celebrated 1956 novel by Japan’s storied 20th century writer Yukio Mishima.
With a script co-written by Miyamoto and playwright Chihiro Ito, the play will run through July 24 at Columbus Center’s elegant Rose Theater.The Temple of the Golden Pavilion is a stunning tale of the power of beauty and its corruption of the mind of a young monk, Mizoguchi, who becomes obsessed with beauty’s destruction. This groundbreaking work paints an intensely personal picture of Japan in the crucible of the Second World War.
A native of Tokyo and the artistic director of the new Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama, Miyamoto hosted a special lecture last month at New York’s Japan Society. He made his Lincoln Center Festivaldebut in 2002 with a memorable production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Pacific Overtures at Avery Fisher Hall, which moved on to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and a Broadway revival from 2004 to 2005.
For the complete story, click here.
JQ Magazine: Film Review – ‘Sword of Desperation’ and ‘The Last Ronin’ at JAPAN CUTS 2011
Article/Journalism, Film, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Film Review – ‘Sword of Desperation’ and ‘The Last Ronin’ at JAPAN CUTS 2011
A scene from 'Sword of Desperation,' screened in New York last week as part of the JAPAN CUTS film festival. (Courtesy of Japan Society)
By Paul Benson (Fukui-ken, 2006-08) for JQ magazine. Paul is a New York-based freelance translator who has handled assignments ranging from securities law to cookbooks.
This past week I had the pleasure of seeing two films in Japan Society’s annual JAPAN CUTS film festival. The festival runs from July 7-21, with 32 films (nearly all of them premieres). I was instantly drawn to JAPAN CUTS’ only two jidaigeki 時代劇 samurai films in the series, Sword of Desperation 「必死剣鳥刺し」 and The Last Ronin 「最後の忠臣蔵」. The films were wonderful, and I encourage you to seek them out.
Sword of Desperation (2010, dir. Hideyuki Hirayama) is a poised and powerful film of feudal intrigues and expert swordsmen, a fine addition to the chanbara チャンバラ (“sword-fighting”) genre. Set in the Edo Period (1600-1868), Sword of Desperation has all the genre’s usual devices: a gradual build-up to an outburst of action, an alienated master swordsman, and conflicts of duty and heart.
The film’s first half beautifully establishes the circumstances, characters and their relationships. Etsushi Toyokawa plays the character Sanzaemon Kanemi, a master swordsman, who serves the daimyo Tabu Ukyō (Jun Murakami). At the start of the film (set three years ago), Kanemi murders his master’s favorite concubine, Lady Renko (Megumi Seki), just after the annual spring Noh performance. It soon becomes clear that Kanemi acted to stop Lady Renko from further manipulating the daimyo and damaging the domain’s administration. Kanemi is given a light sentence—a year of house arrest and a meager pay decrease—and he is allowed to return to service afterward. Yet, he soon finds himself losing his wife Mutsue (Naho Toda), faced with the affections of his niece, and lost in the intrigues of others, a situation to which blood is the only way out.
While the pacing of the film might feel disjointed and sluggish to the unfamiliar, anyone acquainted with the chanbara genre is in for a treat. The previous two chanbara films I’ve seen are When the Last Sword Is Drawn 「壬生義士伝」 (2003, dir. Yōjirō Takita) and Sword of Doom 「大菩薩峠」 (1966, dir. Kihachi Okamoto). These didn’t disappoint, and neither does Sword of Desperation. The film has beautiful sets and scenery, a simple but moving plot, and a great twist at the end.
