By Jack McDonough, 2021 prospective JET

If you’re a fan of anime, manga, or light novels, then chances are you’ve heard of the genre “Isekai.” Isekai, meaning another world, is a genre that features a character, usually from Earth, getting transported to another world, which is usually a standard fantasy world akin to Lord of the Rings. In most cases, the heroes of these stories find out they have hidden powers and are the only ones who can save the new world to which they’ve been transported. These heroes are usually men and are surrounded by beautiful women who have no agency. Re:Zero subverts those expectations and delivers to its audience Subaru Natsuki: a weak nerd from Japan. 

Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World is an anime adaptation of the light novel Ri:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu by Tappei Nagatsuki, where seventeen-year-old Subaru Natsuki is transported to the nation of Lugunica one evening after leaving a convenience store. Subaru, a recluse and avid reader of Isekais, is ecstatic when he realizes he’s been “Isekai-ed” into a world of mages, knights, and nobility. He meets a beautiful, half-elf mage (who will remain unnamed in this review due to spoilers).  His enthusiasm turns to horror when he finds out that, unlike other Isekai heroes, no dormant powers are awakened in him; his only power is that, upon death, time rewinds to the moment he arrived in Lugunica. Not only does he find out that he has this power after being murdered, he learns that magic renders him unable to speak about his ability. 

At first, I thought that Re:Zero was interesting, but nothing worth writing about. After watching half of the first season, it dawned on me that this anime was the perfect blend of horror, mystery, and adventure that requires you to binge the whole series. Subaru’s ability to rewind time by dying fleshes out the story by allowing the audience to see what-if scenarios that otherwise would be inaccessible. In these other timelines, almost every character that appears on-screen dies in some gruesome way, often multiple times, before Subaru finds a way to save them from their demise.

 Another one of Re:Zero’s strong points is the nation of Lugunica, which transforms from a seemingly simple place to one of interesting lore and complex political issues that every character has a stake in. Characters that received 5-10 minutes of screen time in season one turn out to be major players with rich backstories in season two, showcasing Nagatsuki’s thorough world-building and attention to detail. The way Nagatsuki builds Subaru from an annoying, selfish, and sexist boy into a caring and heroic man is masterful. There’s also a bevy of plot twists to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat and plenty of awesome fight scenes to behold. Couple this with quality animation and an amazing soundtrack and you’ve got something worth writing about. 

Should you watch Re:Zero? Yes. Right now. This show is a classic case of “more than meets the eye.” What starts out as a simple fantasy, turns out to be a must-watch nightmare. You’ll love and hate every second of Subaru’s torturous struggle to save the lives of his new friends and understand the mysteries of his new world; this Isekai. 

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

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Position: Director, Richard U. Light Fellowship Program
Posted by: Yale University
Location: New Haven, CT, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Here’s a job received directly from the institution:

Yale University is looking for a new Director of the Richard U. Light Fellowship Program at Yale’s Center for International and Professional Experience.

The Office of Fellowships and Funding in the Center for International and Professional Experience at Yale University is seeking a highly organized, student-focused individual with exceptional supervisory, communication, data management and stewardship skills to direct the Richard U. Light Fellowship Program (RUL) and advise on and manage competitions for other internal and national fellowships.

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Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as art, film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she offers some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

Japan’s COVID-19 situation continues to worsen, and the state of emergency declaration for Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures has been extended through mid-June. Okinawa in particular has shown high case numbers as of late. And yet the Olympics are still scheduled to proceed without a hitch?…Meanwhile, here in the U.S. we are slowly coming out of our quarantine slumber and rejoining the real world. Last weekend’s warm temperatures allowed my partner and I to discover a great Japanese cafe during a walk.

This spot is 969 NYC Coffee, opened by owner/chef Mitsumine Oda in 2016. He worked in the past for a Tokyo company, but he hated being a salaryman under someone else’s direction. Sick of long hours and in search of independence, he decided to quit and strike out on his own in the U.S. Oda first worked at a sushi cafe in Manhattan for three years, where he earned enough money to buy a house for himself and his sister and mother, who had also immigrated and became citizens.

969 NYC Coffee’s menu features a variety of onigiri, ramen, sushi and other Japanese food faves. Don’t be fooled by the name, as it also has an extensive menu of non-coffee drinks, especially matcha options. We got a smattering of delicious dishes, starting with onigirazu, a sandwich with rice instead of bread and wrapped in seaweed (I tried this for the first time and found it to be very filling!). We enjoyed the two types of Hiroshima fried oyster (カキ or kaki), adorned with avocado and a slice of American cheese, and fried mackerel (アジ or aji), also with avocado as well as a spicy mayo sauce. Rounding out our meal were seaweed salads and luxurious coconut milk matcha lattes (made with matcha from Japan, Oda noted.)

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************By Makoto Shirai, secretary, Japan-Insights Research Institute (Non-profit organization in Tokyo)

Dear Friends,

Have you heard of the story behind Meiji Jingu Shrine?

Let me introduce an essay from Japan-Insights archives.

The fifteenth one is on Emperor Meiji by Dr. Ewa Rutkowska.

https://topics.japan-insights.jp/Public/pdf/japan-insights_jp/topics/JIN_SymbolOfModernJapan.pdf

Please share this expert’s experience!

Japan-Insights is a nonprofit open database compiled by leading experts in Japanese studies. The posts present a broad range of historical and contemporary topics that encourage visitors to engage with the real Japan through immersive experiences. Follow the Facebook page and website to learn about and share these insights from around the country!”

#japan #japaneseculture #Meiji

Last week on the Krewe of Japan Podcast…

Did you know Japan has 4 seasons? In this episode, Doug & Jenn take you on an audio journey through Japan’s four seasons. From the top cultural events and natural phenomena that you must see, to the weather and must try seasonal food and drinks, this episode if perfect for those reminiscing about their last trip and those planning their future one.

This week on the Krewe of Japan Podcast…

Enjoy studying Japanese and want to work in an industry where you can apply those skills? How do you even get into translation and localization? The Krewe has you covered. Doug & Jenn chat with another Jenn: Jenn O’Donnell, a localization director in the game industry based out of Japan. Jenn shares her career path, some challenges she had to overcome, and how Twitter played an interesting role in her journey to becoming a video game localizer.

The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!

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

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Position: Senior Manager, Community Marketing
Posted by: Crunchyroll 
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks again to JET alumnus, Kyle Cardine (Hyogo-ken, 2013-2016) for sharing the following opening at his company:

Who We Are

We’re a cast of characters working to shine a spotlight on anime. Crunchyroll is an international business focused on creating both online and offline experiences for fans through content (licensed, co-produced, originals, distribution), merchandise, events, gaming, news, and more. Visit our About Us pages for more information about our collection of brands.

Crunchyroll COVID-19 Hiring Status

Crunchyroll employees are currently working from home, and we are still conducting remote interviews and hiring during this time. This role is expected to start remotely, and we’ll work closely with you as we understand every person has unique circumstances.

Location: San Francisco

Our headquarters is located in downtown San Francisco, where our group of cross-functional experts assemble to create experiences for our passionate communities.

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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.

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Position: International Relations Specialist
Posted by: Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation
Location: Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
Contract: Part-Time

Here’s a job received directly from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation:

Application Process: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/hpcf/nyusatsu/koboshiryo_R030520.html

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

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Position: Associate Associate or Senior Associate
Posted by: Asia Group, LLC
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to JET alumna, Melanie Berry (Gunman-ken, 2013-2015) for sharing the following job opening with her company:

The Asia Group’s Washington, DC office is looking for either an Associate or Senior Associate.

This would be a nice fit for someone with a strong background in Japanese politics and international relations, as well as expertise in the regulatory, business, and macroeconomic environments in Japan.

More Information and Application Process: The full description is here: https://theasiagroup.com/careers/

Please share if you know any HR professionals working at Japanese companies.

Kasia from Ikigai Connections will be promoting the benefits of job seekers who have been on JET to companies in the US, and will be explaining what it means to have lived/worked overseas, what the JLPT is, how “fluent” is misconstrued, and why they need you.

The free webinar is on June 9 (Wed) 5-6 PM EST and is sponsored by the Pacific Tango Group.

Details/registration: https://bit.ly/3f2wSGk.

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

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Position: Associate Director, Global Programs
Posted by: NYU
Location: New York, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Here’s a job that was passed along to us by a JET alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous. They have no direct connection to this position and can’t speak about the job, but wanted to share with the greater JET alumni community:

Provides leadership and executes 30+ graduate, faculty-led global programs in multiple countries, responsible for spearheading ongoing development of policies, systems, and standards. Supervises and develops one full-time and one or more student employees. Helps full-time staff to cultivate student worker management skills. Supports strategic planning, emergency response, implementation, and assessment of international academic programs.

Works closely with unit leadership of various campus stakeholders including: registrar, public safety, graduate admissions, academic affairs, experiential learning, faculty affairs, IT, and global partners to deliver study abroad programming, develop new initiatives, and measure success. Manages program budgets and communications.

Application Process:
https://uscareers-nyu.icims.com/jobs/7952/associate-director%2c-global-programs/job?hub=10&mobile=false&width=960&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false&jan1offset=-300&jun1offset=-240

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

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Position: Administrative Assistant
Posted by: Go Go Curry
Location: Long Island City, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Here’s a job passed along to us by a JET alumna who would like to remain anonymous:

The below document is a posting for Go Go Curry. The person will work out of a WeWork in Long Island City.

Application Process: If interested, please contact hiring@gogocurryamerica.com.

Please join The Japan Foundation, New York for a talk with Steve Alpert, former head of Studio Ghibli’s international division about introducing Studio Ghibli to the world!

About this event 

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki can now be considered household names around the world, but it wasn’t always that way. In the early days of global distribution with 1997’s Princess Mononoke, major companies like Disney and Miramax were reluctant to take risks on a then-largely unknown animation studio. Various dramas took place between the unbending integrity of Miyazaki and those companies while deciding how to “westernize” the very Japanese style of Ghibli works. 

For the second episode of our special “Studio Ghibli series,” we will take a closer look at the early days of Ghibli’s global distribution which were crucial to setting the tone for many subsequent releases of Miyazaki’s works. This event will be moderated by Dr. Rayna Denison who will also be giving us a short presentation about Studio Ghibli’s marketing strategies, and will also be joined by Mr. Steve Alpert who was the “resident foreigner” in the offices of Ghibli and its parent company Tokuma Shoten as the head of the international division for 15 years.

Mr. Alpert joined Studio Ghibli in 1996, one year prior to the release of Princess Mononoke in Japan and played a central role when Miyazaki’s films were starting to take off in international markets. His main role was to sell the international rights to the studio’s films and products, but also served as an intermediate between Miyazaki and distributors, helping to protect Ghibli’s works at the front line in the process of localization. In practice, he was also closely involved with everything from public relations to the translation of the films into English. He even helped as a voice actor and character reference for the louche spy Castorp in The Wind Rises! 

In this session, Mr. Alpert and Dr. Denison will discuss how Studio Ghibli created its current international presence and share some of the behind the scenes at Studio Ghibli as described in Mr. Alpert’s book, Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man.  

The discussion will be followed by a live Q&A. If you have any questions about the localization of Studio Ghibli’s works, and the inner workings of the studio, now is your chance to ask the experts! Please ask your question when you register for the event via Eventbrite. Live commentary will also be enabled on the YouTube stream, so you can participate in the Q&A session on-air as well. 

This is a FREE event. Registrants will receive the link to the stream via email. 

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Eventbrite Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ep8-exporting-studio-ghibli-the-road-to-worldwide-recognition-registration-152406713583 

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

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Position: PYP Coordinator
Posted by: Enishi International School
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Contract: Full-Time; Contract

Thanks to JET alumnus, Alex Jones (Niigata-ken, 2016-2018) for passing the following job opening at his school:

Thank you for your interest in working at Enishi International School (EIS). EIS enjoys an excellent reputation for being a great school, a warm and welcoming community, and a rewarding place to work. We are interested in excellent teachers who are passionate about education and are willing and able to contribute to school and student life in a wide variety of ways.

EIS have an outstanding faculty who provide a safe, nurturing environment for students to learn in, foster intellectual rigor and independent thinking, and promote high standards, collegiality and an extremely strong sense of community. EIS value candidates who exhibit a passion for teaching, who have experience with students from diverse backgrounds, whose pursuit of professional development is keen and ongoing, and whose academic background and teaching experience are directly relevant to the position.

Contract Length: 1 year

Number of Vacancies: 1

Student Level: Elementary

Eligible Candidates: Licensed Teacher

Requirements:

• Education Required: Bachelor
• Minimum Teaching Experience: 3 years of teaching experience
• Major: Primary education or other related majors
• Required Certificates:Teaching Credential/LicenseTESL/TEFL Certificate

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in the academic field related to the position applied
• Teacher certification from a recognized institution
• High level of fluency in English – including in writing
• At least 3 years experience in the classroom at the school level (primary or secondary) relevant to the position applied for preferably in an IB, multicultural, or international context
• Experience in inquiry-based curriculum
• Willingness to work for at least 3 years at EIS

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Join the U.S. JET Programme Alumni Association (USJETAA) and JETAA Western Japan for this upcoming event.

Becoming a Life Coach
May 24, 2021 at 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET
Japan Time: May 25th at 8 am

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcu-spjMvG9E9FEycUK1GkZWy5-SLd6U

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/24691713708797

Life coach? That’s a profession? Really?!? I’ve never heard of it! Perhaps you’ve heard of a life coach but aren’t quite sure exactly what it entails. Or maybe this is truly your first time. Join USJETAA and JET alum Jeff Singal who will kick off this event with a brief background on his journey from being a JET in Mie (1995-1997) to how he learned about life coaching as a profession and why and how he decided to enter this profession. We’ll cover how to become a life coach and what a life coach does, and much, much more. This event is brought to you by USJETAA and JETAA Western Japan.

The webinar is partially supported by CLAIR and the Japan Foundation CGP.

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

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Position: Partner Approvals Coordinator
Posted by: Crunchyroll
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to JET alumnus, Kyle Cardine (Hyogo-ken, 2013-2016) for sharing the following opening at his company:

Crunchyroll

We’re a cast of characters working to shine a spotlight on anime. Crunchyroll is an international business focused on creating both online and offline experiences for fans through content (licensed, co-produced, originals, distribution), merchandise, events, gaming, news, and more. Visit our About Us pages for more information about our collection of brands.

About The Team

The Partner Services team is the window to Japan and our licensors form whom we license the majority of our content from. Our goal is to ensure partner’s requests are being met and our content is being promoted in an appropriate manner. We work very closely with our partners and colleagues in Japan, trafficking both assets and communications, to maintain licensor relationships. 

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