Apr 14

Report on the Invitation Programme for JET Alumni to Disaster Stricken Areas in Tohoku

Earthquake Tsunami, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism Comments Off on Report on the Invitation Programme for JET Alumni to Disaster Stricken Areas in Tohoku

Below is the text of the report on the Invitation Program for JET Alumni to Disaster Stricken Areas in Tohoku (aka Return to Tohoku) where MOFA assesses the results and impact of the program. A very interesting read! Twenty JET alumni who had previously worked in Tohoku were selected from a pool of over 60 applicants to spend a week pursuing their proposed itineraries. Each participant was also asked to write about their experience in various media and formats.

  • Click here for a PDF version of the report (which contains some images and graphs that I wasn’t able to copy over from the Word version).
  • Click here to read some of the participants’ “Return to Tohoku” blog posts that appeared on JETwit.

A few interesting highlights from the report:

  • Number of participants broken down by home country: U.S.: 9; Australia: 4; China: 4; Canada: 2; U.K.: 1
  • Number of participants broken down by place visited: Iwate: 7; Miyagi: 6; Fukushima: 6; Sendai-City: 1

Comment on JETAA from the Conclusions section of the report:

[T]he recruitment of participants was conducted through the JETAA regional Chapters, and thus it was confirmed once more that in being able to obtain active cooperation from each of the JETAA regional chapters, JETAA is an instrumental cooperator in implementing Japan’s diplomatic policies and measures.

Sample feedback from one of the host organizations:

School Planning Section, Board of Education, City of Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture

This program was a very welcome one indeed. Not only did the former JET Programme participant succeed in interacting with his former students, but he also brought with him from the U.S. a thousand origami cranes and messages of encouragement, by which we knew that other countries are supporting the people affected by the disaster. The participant sent out information on his web page and elsewhere regarding the culture of the city of Ninohe and regarding Kunohe Castle and he also provided advice concerning how to interact with participants from overseas. The participant was proficient in Japanese and arranged his schedule by himself using Japanese and we appreciate the fact that no burdens were placed upon the host side.

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Click “Read More” to read the full report below.

Report on the Invitation Programme for JET Alumni
to Disaster Stricken Areas in Tohoku Read More


Apr 10

JETAA Southern California fundraiser aids Smile Kids Japan efforts to support children orphaned by 3/11 disaster

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Via JETAA Southern California:

THANKS to everyone who came to the JETAASC fundraiser to benefit orphans of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami!!  Your efforts helped to raise over $800 for Smile Kids Japan, the organization founded by JET alum Mike Maher-King (Fukui-ken, 2006-11).  The support is heartfelt and the cause is completely a result of JET Program Participants’ efforts.  If you wanted to come but could not make it, you can read more about Smile Kids Japan and how to donate here.

 


Apr 6

New JETAA USA Country Representatives Announced

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Via Jessyca Wilcox, one of JETAA USA’s three outgoing Country Representatives. This was originally posted by Jessyca to the JETAA USA email list:

As my second year as JETAA US Country Representative comes to a close I wanted to thank all of you for your support and participation in the JETAA community. It has been an absolute joy and incredibly fulfilling experience to serve in this way. I think the goals that got accomplished and the initiatives that were put into place have all been great successes.

Although I am stepping down as Country Rep, with the establishment of the new JETAA USA Bylaws, we will have a JETAA USA Board of Advisors as of this year. I am hoping to continue to work on projects and initiatives in that capacity. I will be turning over my email address to one of the incoming Country Reps tomorrow. As I am still interested in working on JETAA projects, please use my work email address to contact me from hereon out: jet.program.denver@gmail.com If we establish email addresses for our Board of Advisors, I will certainly update you.

The incoming US Country Reps are as follows:

The talents and skill sets these women bring to the organization will be extremely beneficial to the organization! Outgoing Country Reps are ensuring that the transition goes smoothly and are assisting in the appointment of the newly established JETAA USA Advisory Board. Outgoing Country Representatives are:

(They intend to retire to a remote beach in the Pacific islands where drinks with umbrellas in them are plentiful.)

Thank you again for all your support and I look forward to continuing to work with you all in my capacity as a member of the JETAA USA Board of Advisors.

Best,

Jessyca Wilcox
JETAA USA Country Representative (outgoing)
www.jetaausa.com


Apr 2

volunteerAKITA’s Paul Yoo recognized for National Volunteer Week by Beliefnet.com

Earthquake Tsunami, Notable JET Alums, Volunteer Comments Off on volunteerAKITA’s Paul Yoo recognized for National Volunteer Week by Beliefnet.com

In honor of National Volunteer Week, Beliefnet.com has nominated volunteerAKITA’s Paul Yoo for April’s Most Inspiring of the Month for Paul’s work with The Fruit Tree Project and other Tohoku relief work.

Go to the link below to vote for Paul.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Most-Inspiring-of-the-Month/April/Nominees.aspx?p=2


Mar 31

Article: Yamabushi Onsen Yupoka in Tsuruoka

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JETAA Philadelphia Subchapter rep Rashaad Jorden wrote the following article for the Japan Tourist website (a great example of JETs helping to promote “local” tourism for Japan):

Yamabushi Onsen Yupoka in Tsuruoka:  A place to relax (and more) after climbing Mount Haguro
By Rashaad Jorden     March 31, 2012

Most people feel tired after climbing Mount Haguro, one of the Three Mountains of Dewa (also known as Dewa Sanzan). However, a short drive away, Haguro (the village where Mount Haguro is located) offers a nice place where you can relax your body and mind—and have a beer or two.

Yamabushi Onsen Yupoka—better known as simply Yupoka—is a popular gathering spot for locals and some yamabushi, Japan’s mountain ascetics, who come to Dewa Sanzan to embark on a mountain pilgrimage and venerate their deities.

Yupoka is an insider’s tip as there is no mention of the place in the English-language tourism brochure of Haguro but those who find it will be treated to a majestic setting for a dip in hot water, which is what most people come to Yupoka for.

CLICK HERE to read the full article.


Mar 29

Perspectives: “A Glass Half Full: Japan’s Disaster Response at One Year” by James Gannon

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The below article by Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94), Executive Director of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA), appeared originally on Smart Assets:  The New York Philanthropy Blog. 

“A Glass Half Full:  Japan’s Disaster Response at One Year”

http://blog.philanthropynewyork.org/2012/03/27/a-glass-half-full-japans-disaster-response-at-one-year/

Here’s an excerpt:

One constant refrain in the disaster zone is the need for more effective mental health interventions. Women who lost family members, men who are ashamed that they can no longer support their families, and children traumatized by the disaster are all grappling with psychological trauma. In response, numerous Japanese nonprofits have established salons and other kokoro no kea (literally, “caring for the heart”) programs to give survivors opportunities to socialize, but these tend be rudimentary in nature, with little input from experienced mental health professionals, and they often fail to engage people at risk who are unlikely to seek out support on their own. Overseas funders can make a difference by encouraging and supporting more specialized and nuanced approaches.

Greater support is also needed for economic revitalization. A number of innovative programs have been launched to jumpstart local economies. In Kamaishi, for instance, the Fuji Social Welfare Council has started renting food trucks to unemployed chefs who lost their restaurants so they can get back on their feet. The trucks also help stimulate economic activity by gathering where new shops are opening in order to attract local residents. Meanwhile, numerous groups are pioneering new methods for small donor support of fisheries and oyster farmers in return for promised portions of future harvests. However, these efforts are only a drop in the bucket, and much greater investment is required.

A third area where funding from the United States and elsewhere can have a particularly significant impact is non-governmental organization (NGO) capacity building. Hundreds of small nonprofits have been established in the wake of the disaster, and while many will eventually fail, others have the potential to prosper and produce the next generation of Japan’s nonprofit leaders. However, the nonprofit sector can only live up to its potential if it becomes more professionalized and if the infrastructure that supports it is strengthened.


Mar 29

Taylor Anderson honored at MLB opening day game in Tokyo

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Major League Baseball honored Taylor Anderson and several other tsunami relief heroes at it’s opening day game between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s held in Tokyo on March 28. Taylor’s parents, Andy and Jean, were in attendance, and Andy threw out the first pitch.

Here’s a really nice article from the Major League Baseball website:  “Tsunami Relief Heroes Honored at Opener” (Well worth reading for a variety of reasons including the stories about the other heroes. Below is a quote.)

Anderson didn’t know if he could summon the strength to get the ball to home plate, so he looked down at that pink phone.

“I had Taylor’s cell phone and her straps … because they remind me of her, and when I think about her, I feel stronger, so I was able to get the ball in there,” Anderson said. “That’s what I thought about: Taylor.”

Here’s are links to two photos of Andy Anderson throwing out the first pitch:  http://www.47news.jp/photo/395455.php and http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120328-00000831-yom-base.view-000

Here’s a link to an article on the Nikkan Sports website (in Japanese):  http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/news/f-bb-tp2-20120328-924778.html

 


Mar 22

JET alum keynotes Japan ICU Foundation Sake Tasting and Japan Relief Fundraiser in New York

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GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF SAKE TASTING & FUNDRAISER in New York City

By JET alum Mark Flanigan

JET alum Mark Flanigan (center) with colleagues from the Japan ICU Foundation at the March 5 Fundraising event (Photo: Lawrence Tsuyuki)

The Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) hosted a special Sake Tasting & Fundraiser at the Penn Club in New York City on Monday, March 5 to help raise funds for International Christian University’s (ICU) ongoing relief and rebuilding efforts after the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.

Over 100 esteemed guests from the US, Japan and many other countries came for the evening in support of this charitable event, which was organized by JICUF Program Director Tara DeWorsop. JET Alumnus Mark Flanigan, a current ICU Rotary International Peace Fellow, gave a short keynote presentation describing the variety of ways in which ICU has been supporting the recovery efforts. These include a new joint-psychological relief program in Sendai, continuing student volunteer efforts and the Earthquake Tuition Waiver Fund. Read More


Mar 22

Taylor Anderson Remembered by Many

Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, JETs in the News, Return on JET-vestment, Video Comments Off on Taylor Anderson Remembered by Many

Via the JETAA USA website:

The Anderson Family, who has done so much to further Taylor’s vision of bridging the US and Japan, participated in a memorial service at Taylor’s alma mater, Randolph Macon College. The memorial was covered by both NHK World and the local CBS news station in Virginia. Ambassador Fujisaki was also in attendance as a speaker for the event.

To see the media coverage click below:

Additionally, here are some links to coverage gathered by a friend of the Andersons and forwarded by Andy:

  • Article on the Randolph-Macon college website about the event.
  • March 8, 2012:  WCVE-FM (NPR) local NPR correspondent Dan Rosenthal interviewed national NPR correspondent Yuki Noguchi for a preview of the Taylor Anderson/Japan Foundation lecture.  You can listen to the interview by clicking anniversary.
  • March 13, 2012:  The Asahi Shimbun (Japanese newspaper) sent a reporter to the lecture and also covered a pre-lecture news conference held by R-MC.  You can read the article by clicking on Asahi Shimbun.
  • March 12, 2012:  NHK World Japanese Television sent a reporter to campus several times to interview the Andersons (Taylor’s parents) as well as the March 11 lecture. You can watch the story by clicking on NHK.  Note:  This story is only available for viewing through this weekend.

March 12, 2012:  Here is a look at some local coverage:



Mar 20

Book launch: JET alum David Namisato’s “Life After the B.O.E.”

Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Events, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Writers Add Comment (1)

Davids_Book_Launch_1

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Thanks to Lindsay Tsuji for this write-up and thanks to Nadine Bukhman for the photos.

A chilly Toronto’s eve didn’t stop friends and fans of one artistically inclined JET alum from dropping by the Goodfellas Gallery in Toronto to celebrate the launch of his new book Life After the B.O.E. JETAA Toronto’s David Namisato (Aomori-ken CIR, 2002-04) was the cause of some serious hurrah on February 8.

Most JETs are no stranger to David’s comics. Started back in 2005, they chronicle the ins and outs of what life is like as a foreigner on the JET Programme. The enkais, the onsens, the team teaching…it’s all in there. Read More


Mar 16

Huffington Post article by Rikuzentakata JET alum Sarah Ruddy

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Former Rikuzentakata JET Sarah Ruddy, a web producer for New York Magazine, was recently  by Huffington Post to write an article in connection with the one-year anniversary of the 3/11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. (On a side note, I noticed that Sarah mentions another JET alum in the article, author/humor writer Will Ferguson who wrote Hitching Rides With Buddha among other books.)

View from where Sarah's desk used to be in the Board of Education in Rikuzentakata

Here’s the article:

After The Tohoku Earthquake: ‘I Gave Up My Family For Dead’

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-ruddy/after-the-tohoku-earthqua_b_1335092.html#s770689

Here’s an excerpt:

My decision to go back was not about whether I should but how soon I could. I was determined to do whatever I could to help. I was often asked if I was afraid of another earthquake and tsunami occurring or how the radiation would effect me. There are plenty of dangers in the world that we can’t predict or prevent. They shouldn’t stop us from experiencing life.

I ended up going last November, seven months after the tsunami hit. I was welcomed by friends and generously offered a place to stay. I heard their stories of that day and the seven months that followed. The improvements made in that time were incredible.

I volunteered in Rikuzentakata and Ofunato, the city immediately north, and returned to my former schools to help out with classes. The people I volunteered with were from all over Japan, including students who were on break, retired couples who had free time and curious people who wondered how anyone could have survived. I spent long hours digging through fields of sediment and debris.


Mar 16

International Educator magazine article remembers Monty and Taylor

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Thanks to JETAA Music City’s Terry Vo (Kumamoto-ken, 2007-09) and JETAA Northern California’s Peter Weber (Saitama-ken, 2004-07) (both of whom work as JET Coordinators at their local Consulates) for sharing this excellent International Educator magazine article (“Overcoming Chaos“)about the various ways the Tohoku disaster affected a variety of international education programs, including the JET Program.  The writer does a nice job of capturing the spirit and essence of Monty Dickson and Taylor Anderson towards the end of the article, and what we lost when we lost them.

Here’s the link to the article (PDF):  http://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/ie_marapr12_japan.pdf

Notably, the article also quotes JET alum Kate Maruyama who is the Japan programs manager for CET Academic Programs in Washington, D.C.  And it indicates that Ashley Mar, the UC Santa Barbara biology student who happened to be studying abroad at Tohoku Biology University on 3/11 and was required to return to the U.S. despite her desire to stay, is now applying for the JET Program.


Mar 15

March Issue of “AJET Connect”

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Check out this month’s edition of AJET Connect! The current edition features stories about what JETs have been doing to make a difference since the 3.11 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, travel experiences of various JETs and this month’s Life After JET section  focuses on a JET alum from California, Sylbeth Kennedy, who joined the US Foreign Service.

Visit the AJET website or view/ download the pdf HERE.


Mar 15

Video: “FUKUSHIMA, Never Again” trailer

Earthquake Tsunami, Video Add Comment (1)

Via the JNY-Japanese New Yorker Facebook group. 


Mar 14

Return on JET-vestment: Fukushima JET alums help bring Fukushima youth taiko group to DC for Cherry Blossom Festival

Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on Return on JET-vestment: Fukushima JET alums help bring Fukushima youth taiko group to DC for Cherry Blossom Festival

The Fukushima Taiko Drummers meet U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John V. Roos, before they head to D.C. in April.

****************

JETAA DC members Michelle Spezzacatena (Fukushima-ken, Kawamata-cho, 2002-05) and Darryl Wharton-Rigby (Fukushima-ken, Kawamata-cho, 2005-07) were both teachers in the town of Kawamata in Fukushima Prefecture. Michelle was there from 2002-2005 and overlapped one week with Darryl, who was there from 2005-2007. Thanks to the magic of Facebook they were able to keep in contact throughout the years. After the earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster, Darryl and Michelle were talking about how they could help their Japanese hometown. The idea of bringing the taiko group to DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival was born out of those discussions. (Editor’s note:  In addition to Michelle’s work on this project, she also serves on the JETAA USA Fund Committee and previously served as JETAA DC President.)

In Michelle’s words:  “We brought the idea to the Japan America Society in DC who immediately fell in love with it too. Thanks to the generous financial support of the US Japan council, the project was fully funded. We have been working with Anna Cable (USJC), Ambassador Malott (JASW), JET alum Marc Hitzig (JASW), Shigeko Bork (former Kawamata resident now living in DC) and Masako Mori (Diet member from Fukushima) on the project. Darryl and I are the co-coordinators and have been doing most of the heavy lifting. We are also officially part of the TOMODACHI Initiative.”

Fukushima JET alums Michelle Spezzacatena (2002-05) and Darryl Wharton-Rigby (2005-07)

“The students will be here from April 7-17 and they have a jam packed schedule. We will be doing a homestay program, they will be performing at numerous locations including the National Cherry Blossom Parade/Sakura Matsuri/Kennedy Center, we will be sightseeing and hopefully we’ll be doing a meet and greet with the new Orioles player, Wada-san and a Orioles/Yankees game day performance at Orioles Park. Darryl and I are excited to be with them the entire time they’ll be in the US.”

Michelle notes that CNNGo just published the first major article about the trip. A very exciting start!

CNNGo:  “Fukushima Taiko drummers Japan’s newest stateside export:  Evacuee youth group gets its show on the road for April D.C. cherry blossom festival”

Michelle adds:  “NHK Japan is also working on a piece on Darryl and I in the context of what JETs are doing to help Japan after the earthquake. They have been following us around to different events and will be for another two weeks. The piece will run on NHK Japan’s News9 broadcase during the first week of April when the anchor is doing the show live from DC. They will also try to do an English version to show on NHK World.”

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Below is a press release about the taiko group’s upcoming performance at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Michelle Spezzacatena- michellespezzacatena@gmail.com

STUDENT TAIKO GROUP FROM FUKUSHIMA INVITED TO NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Read More


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