WIT Life #320: アケオメ！
Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life 
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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 newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.
明けましておめでとうございます！ A happy new year of the dog to everyone. This post’s title (Ake ome!) is the abbreviated version of the official Japanese new year greeting (Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!). Surprisingly, two of my senpai had never heard of this colloquialism before. Perhaps I’m dating myself but I remember it being popular to say during the time I lived in Japan, though I’m not so sure about now (and maybe it wasn’t around when my older colleagues spent time in Japan).
My previous post discussed the kanji of the year (北, kita or north), and I just came across an article highlighting some of Japan’s 2017 buzzwords. Read More
JET Prefecture Round Up (January 2018)
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JET Prefecture Round Up is a mosaic of events taking place in the AJET community in Japan. Compiled by Suzanne Bhagan (Tottori Prefecture).
Happy 2018!
Regional JET and ALT New Year’s Gathering
When: 14 January
Where: Tokyo
For the first time ever, AJET is throwing a New Year’s party for all current and past participants of the JET Program as an effort to expand the network between JETs and representatives of various prefectures. Non-JETs are also welcome.
YETI Ski Trip Jan 2018 – Chiba Connection
When: 19-21 January
Where: Nagano Prefecture
This annual ski trip is hosted by YETI so feel free to invite your friends!
The mountains await!
When: 20-21 January
Where: Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata AJET invites you to their Block 2 Winter Event, the Zao Onsen Ski Trip! Join them for a weekend of skiing, snowboarding, relaxing in onsens, snow-monster appreciation, and enkais!
When: 27 January
Where: Tottori Prefecture
Okayama AJET will be holding a trip to Mount Daisen for some good old skiing/snowboarding.
BLOCK Event: Nara City Scavenger Hunt & Yamayaki!
When: 27 January
Where: Nara Prefecture
Nara AJET invites all members of Block 7 and beyond to a scavenger hunt in the city and a chance to witness fireworks and mountain burning at one of Nara’s oldest and biggest events, the Mount Wakakusa Yamayaki.
Crack open a book for the new year!
HAJET Book Club: The Lies of Locke Lamora
When: 27 January
Where: Hyogo Prefecture
Winter vacation is a good chance to catch up on books so join Hyogo AJET to discuss “The Lies of Locke Lamora” by Scott Lynch.
Job: Global Engagement Specialist – Hamline University (Saint Paul, MN, 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.
Position: Study Away, Global Engagement Specialist
Posted by: Hamline University
Location: Saint Paul, MN, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JET alum Erin Tamaki (Gifu-ken), who works at Hamline University for the following job opening with her university:
JETAA Chapter Beats January 2018
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JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present).
1) JETAA Western Japan
JETAAWJ Job hunting and business manners seminar.
The JET Alumni Association Western Japan (JETAAWJ) will be hosting a two-day job hunting and business manners seminar in Osaka City with Mori Kosan Co., Ltd., a firm that supports foreigners seeking employment in Japan. The seminar will be from 9:00 to 17:00 on January 20 (Sat.) and 21 (Sun.), 2018. Attendees will learn things like: how to write a Japanese-style resume, prepare for an interview, exchange business cards, answer phone calls in Japanese, etc.
＊The seminar participation fee is 1000 Yen.
There will also be a networking event on the night of January 20 (Sat.) from 17:30 to 19:30, with Mr. Takeo Mori, CEO of the Kansai Tourism Bureau, and guests from other organizations. ＊Participation fee for the networking dinner will be 1000 Yen to help pay for catering costs (this is separate from the seminar fee).
For those who would like to attend, please apply through the link below. A schedule with more detailed information on the seminar will be sent to applicants.
＊The seminar will be conducted in Japanese, so it recommended for participants to have at least a JLPT N3 level of Japanese or higher.
When: January 20 (SAT) & 21 (SUN)
Time: 09:00 – 17:00 (both days)
Where: Mori Bldg 4F, 1 – 4 – 11 Minamisemba Chou-ku, Osaka
More details: Contact JETAAWJ@gmail.com
2) JETAA Ottawa
The Japanese Film and Literature Society presents:
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
The Temple of the Golden Pavillion
Film and Book Description:
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is a 1985 American biographical drama film co-written and directed by Paul Schrader. The film is based on the life and work of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima (portrayed by Ken Ogata), interweaving episodes from his life with dramatizations of segments from his books The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoko’s House, and Runaway Horses. It was executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.
Movie TrailerThe Temple of the Golden Pavilion
In ‘The Temple of the Golden Pavilion’, celebrated Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima creates a haunting portrait of a young man’s obsession with idealized beauty and his destructive quest to possess it fully.
Mizoguchi, an ostracized stutterer, develops a childhood fascination with Kyoto’s famous Golden Temple. While an acolyte at the temple, he fixates on the structure’s aesthetic perfection and it becomes his one and only object of desire. But as Mizoguchi begins to perceive flaws in the temple, he determines that the only true path to beauty lies in an act of horrific violence. Based on a real incident that occurred in 1950, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion brilliantly portrays the passions and agonies of a young man in postwar Japan, bringing to the subject the erotic imagination and instinct for the dramatic moment that marked Mishima as one of the towering makers of modern fiction. With an introduction by Donald Keene; Translated from the Japanese by Ivan Morris.
Film – Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
When: Tuesday, January 16th, 2018
Where: Ottawa Public Library (120 Metcalfe St.) Basement Auditorium
Book – The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
When: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
Where: Ottawa Public Library (120 Metcalfe St.) Basement Room B125
3) New England JETTAA
NEJETAA 5th Annual Ski Trip
This year NEJETAA will host our 5th Annual Northeast Region Ski Trip from January 26th – 28th at Killington Ski Resort, the largest ski area in the eastern United States.
We will stay at the Summit Lodge. It features a pub, hot tub, etc. Complementary breakfast is also included, and it is walking distance from the Foundry, our optional restaurant destination for Saturday night.
For those who are not interested in skiing, the Killington area offers much to do. There are options for individuals to do cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities. Killington Resort is only 35 minutes from the lovely town of Woodstock, VT with many options for eating and shopping; and 20 minutes from the Long Trail Brewery.
If you plan on attending this event, please fill out the form below by Monday, December 11 for the Early Bird rate and by Friday, December 29th for the regular rate. RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your spot and the type of room you want, as both are limited. We will send payment information soon after each deadline.
Who: JET Alums & Friends of JET
When: Friday, January 26 to Sunday, January 28
Where: The Summit Lodge, Killington, VT
Early Bird Hotel Costs for two night stay : Double: [$265] per person; Quad: [$175.50] per person; Triple: (in the event that we’re short one person for a quad) [$205.33] per person (Pay by Monday, December 11)
Normal Hotel Costs for two night stay – December 29 deadline normal price: Double: [$275] per person; Quad: [$185.50] per person; Triple: (in the event that we’re short one person for a quad) [$215.33] per person (Pay by Friday, December 29)
Lift Ticket Cost: One-Day: [$62]; Two-Day: [$119}
Ski (includes poles & Helment) or Snowboard Equipment Package Rental (includes Helmet): One-Day: [$39]; Two-Day: [$68]
Deadline to fill out form: Monday, December 11th, 2017 (Early Bird – payment instructions will be emailed to you) or Friday, December 29 (Regular Rate and final day to cancel or change reservation)
If you have any questions, or would like to inquire about carpooling, email Jesse Kerstetter at social@nejetaa.com.
Please Note:
*By RSVPing for this event, you will be responsible for any costs incurred on your behalf.
**As with previous years the quad accommodations include two queen-size beds. Extra cots are not always available.
***The above prices are based on a 20+ person group rate. Therefore, the costs are subject to change if fewer than 20 people sign up (in which case, you will have an opportunity to withdraw)
Sign Up Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU0ESRFwY6YiI55VWeGJUHRCtt22UZ_CdmiztVE3xvQDsM_g/viewform?usp=sf_link
When: Friday, January 26th to Sunday, January 28th
Where: The Summit Lodge, Killington, VT
4) JETAA Florida
Annual JETAA Shinnenkai in Tampa
Join us for our annual event to welcome in the new year!
When: Sunday, January 28, 2018
Where: Tampa
Contact: Please R.S.V.P. to Michael Maloney (Toyama-ken AET ’92-’94) at maloney_m@hotmail.com for directions.
When: Sunday, January 28th, 2018
Where: Tampa
5) JETAA Pacific North West
Book Club Spring Garden
Konichiwa PNWJETAAers + friends!
Please join Book Club for the first discussion of 2018 about Spring Garden by Tomoka Shibasaki. You can find it on Amazon here. The Japan Times says: “A masterful look at loneliness and malaise in Tokyo.”
Amazon says: “Winner of the Akutagawa Prize, a sharp, photo-realistic novella of memory and thwarted hope…”
We look forward to seeing you all on January 28 at 3:00pm at Fresh Flours on Phinney Ridge.
Yay books !
When: January, 28th, 2018
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: Fresh Flours, 6015 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
6) JETAA Wellington
MEXT Japanese Study Scholarship OPEN
MEXT scholarship applications for Japanese Studies Students are now OPEN! This is a one year scholarship funded by MEXT (the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology). If you are a New Zealand citizen between 18 and 30 years old and studying Japanese at university, you may be eligible for this scholarship! Return airfares, university fees, and a monthly allowance will all be covered by the Japanese Government. Check the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand’s website for guidelines and the application forms.
When: From December 4th To February 16th, 2018
Where:
Wellington: JICC, PO Box 6340, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Christchurch: JICC, PO Box 13748, Christchurch 8141
Auckland: JICC, PO Box 3959, Auckland 1140
7) JETAA New York
JETAANY Gala
The JETAANY 30th Anniversary Gala is a celebration of the JET Program’s many years of successful grassroots exchange and its positive impact on U.S.- Japan relations. The event is a chance for JET alumni and other attendees to engage in innovative educational and cultural activities that will promote understanding and friendship between the U.S. and Japan and strengthen our local networks.
This is a formal, inter-generational night of celebration. It is important because it presents an opportunity for us to come together and commemorate, for the first time ever on this scale in New York, the significance of this program, chapter, and our experiences.
Interested in Volunteering? We Need Your Help!
GALA FAQ – CLICK HERE AND ON EACH Q TO EXPAND
VOLUNTEER FORM – GET INVOLVED WITH THE GALA
When: February 3, 2018
Time: 6:00-11:00 PM
Where: Dumbo Loft, 155 Water Street, Brookyln, NY 11201 Map.
8) JETAA Rocky Mountains
The Daruma of Making Your Network Work
We are delighted to co-host with the amazing folks at the Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) for their Young Professionals Newtorking event.
You must RSVP at:
http://www.jascolorado.org/new-events-1/darumanetworking
Already have your career sorted? Then come support those who are finding their way, and just get to know other great people in the Denver Metro area who have a connection to Japan.
When: Wednesday, January 24th, 2018
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Nighthawk Brewery, 2780 Industrial Ln, Broomfield, CO 80020
9) JETAA Minnesota
JETAAMN’s Annual Karaoke Shinnenkai
Let us say Sayonara to 2017 and celebrate the new year with some Karaoke! Pay tribute or celebrate the goods and bads of 2017 by to our favorite tunes at Do Re Mi in Eagan from 8-10pm.
We will also meet next door for a Korean dinner at 6pm.
RSVPing will guarantee you a spot for karaoke. PLEASE comment below if you are interested in attending dinner before!! Yoroshiku!!
When: Saturday, 20th January, 2018
Where: Do, Rei, Mi Karaoke Studio, 1989 Silver Bell Rd, Eagan, MN 55122
JQ Magazine: Nippon in New York — Studio Ghibli, ‘Final Fantasy’ @ 30, ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’
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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.
Start 2018 off right by heading down to your local concert hall, cinema, or arts center for some fantastic new year’s fare. Whether you enjoy movies, travel, or orchestral performances classic video games, treat yourself and catch a break from the cold.
This month’s highlights include:
GKIDS
Jan. 1-11
IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue
$15 adults, $11 children
In collaboration with GKIDS, IFC Center is pleased to present the return of this smash-hit retrospective of Japan’s famed Studio Ghibli animation house. Don’t miss your chance to see some of the greatest films of all time on the big screen! Titles include the favorites Spirited Away, Nausicaä and My Neighbor Totoro—with select screenings on 35mm prints! All films shown prior to 6 p.m. will be screened in the English-language version; evening shows will be subtitled in English. For a list of all films and dates, click here.
Mugen Noh Othello © Takuma Uchida
Jan. 11-14
Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
$35, $30 Japan Society members
Following a sold-out run of Medea in 2011, Satoshi Miyagi and his company SPAC return to New York with another literary masterpiece, Othello. Miyagi re-tells Shakespeare’s famed tragedy through noh theater’s most distinct storytelling structure, mugen noh, or a play that features a spirit. Told from the perspective of Othello’s wife Desdemona, who returns as a ghost after her death, Miyagi’s production is replete with stunning masks and costumes as well as powerful live music and chanting. Performed in Japanese with English titles. The Friday, Jan. 12 performance is followed by an artist Q&A.
Courtesy of Ffdistantworlds.com
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage), 881 Seventh Avenue
$28-$120
Distant Worlds brings its concert production to one of the world’s most famous orchestral venues. With composer Nobuo Uematsu in attendance, the Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dessoff Choirs under the direction of Grammy Award-winner Arnie Roth celebrate the 30th anniversary of Final Fantasy. These special performances feature exclusive HD video presentations from Square Enix alongside classic scores and new premieres.
