“Japan One Year Later” video by JET alum Owen Rojek
Earthquake Tsunami, Return on JET-vestment, Video 
Comments Off on “Japan One Year Later” video by JET alum Owen Rojek
A short video by JET alum Owen Rojek:
Loss of a JET: Michael Matts
JETs in the News Comments Off on Loss of a JET: Michael Matts
I was saddened to see in the March 3, 2012 issue of the JETAA Southern California Newsletter that Osaka JET Michael Hennessy Matts recently died. Here’s the text:
“JETAASC regrets to inform you of the death of Michael Hennessy Matts, an ALT serving in Osaka. A memorial service was held for Matts in Tucson on February 25th. Please follow the link for his full obituary and ways to help his family after his tragic death.”
From the obituary (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=michael-hennessey-matts&pid=155921357):
Michael Hennessey Matts
| Visit Guest Book
Please feel free to share thoughts in the comments section of this post or in the Guest Book for the obituary.
JETAA Auckland sends message of support to the town of Tomioka in Fukushima
Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA Auckland sends message of support to the town of Tomioka in Fukushima
Thank you to JETAA Auckland Liaison Officer Jo McCarthy for sharing the following:
This video, made by JETAA Auckland, is a message of support for the town of Tomioka (in Fukushima Prefecture) with which Auckland has a friendship agreement.
JET Alumni Freelancers Career Panel (NYC)
Career, Networking Comments Off on JET Alumni Freelancers Career Panel (NYC)
Originally posted to the JETAANY website:
http://jetaany.org/2012/02/22/35-jet-alumni-freelancers-career-panel/
Are you freelancing? Thinking about freelancing? Want to meet and hear from other JET alum freelancers? Then join us for the first ever JET Alum Freelancers Career Panel! We know it’s a tough economy out there, and many of us are now freelancing, whether by design or involuntarily. It’s high time to get together, talk about it, learn from each other and help each other out.
When: Monday, March 5, 6:30pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Japan Local Government Center (aka CLAIR NY) – 3 Park Avenue, 20th Floor (34th & Park, entrance on southeast corner)
RSVP to: Steven Horowitz – stevenwaseda [at] jetwit.com (Please feel free to tell me a little more about yourself, your situation, and what you might be looking for.)
Note: Drinks and light snacks will be provided. (But feel free to bring your own food and to eat during the panel)
The Panel:
Moderator: Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) – Steven is the founder of the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group that evolved in JETwit. In addition to being a full-time grant writer, he is also does freelance writing for law firms, has done work for the Ford Foundation, and is the creator of the Bankruptcy Bill cartoon series. (http://stevenwaseda.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
************
Pretty amazing and I assume extremely unusual tale captured by the Japan Times (and forwarded to me by former JETAANY President and current JETAA USA Country Rep Megan Miller (Hyogo-ken). On one hand, it sounds like a combination of cultural differences plus some people with bad ethical judgment. On the other hand, perhaps it’s indicative of some of the financial pressures affecting small (or relatively small) towns in the current economy in Japan.
Teacher outfoxes board, exposes bid to fleece JETs
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120228a1.html
By PATRICK BUDMAR
English teachers on the JET program are often faced with the bittersweet moment when they realize their contract is ending and they will soon be returning to their home country.
However, for one former JET teacher, that moment turned out to be a poisonously sour one as he became embroiled in a conflict with the board of education (BOE) that employed him. Read More
Letters from Japanese school children in Fukushima
Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami Comments Off on Letters from Japanese school children in Fukushima
Shared originally by Sydney-based JET alum Eden Law and subsequently on JETAA Sydney Facebook Group by JETAA Sydney President Sharon Van Etten:
“In October 2011, we invited the people of Sydney to write messages of support, which we then sent on to my schools in Japan. In a very pleasant surprise, the teacher I worked with at one of the schools, Kimura-sensei, collected responses from her students and sent them back. Thanks very much to you all who contributed, no matter how small.”
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150696938927889.456662.675007888&type=3
Submissions sought for JET-organized Toyama Film Festival
Film, Japan Local, Video Comments Off on Submissions sought for JET-organized Toyama Film Festival
Jonathan Dao, the current ALT PA for Toyama Prefecture, is organizing a fundraiser for Make a Wish Japan, Hokuriku and shared the below information and rather entertaining video:
Love movies? Well, we are pleased to announce the first-ever Toyama Film Festival— and in consequence, the CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS. You’ll have three categories to choose from (or maybe you’ll even submit an entry for each):
Movie Trailers/Commercials (1 minute)
Keep it short and sweet. Spoof an existing product or showcase your own!
Karaoke/Music Videos (5 minutes)
We’re all aware of those unforgettable videos that play along when you’re belting out your favorite tune. Think you can do better? Think you can do worse?
Any musicians looking to self-promote are free to submit a little something-something of their own as well.
Short Films (5 minutes)
Give yourself the ultimate challenge of churning out a five minute flick. You’ll just have to watch your pacing. Then again, you could always submit a scene from a longer piece of work. Let the audience watch your ending first? You could be the next Tarantino!
RULES:
There is no submission fee
Anyone and everyone is free to participate
Entries must be in either English or Japanese (subtitles are appreciated, but not necessary)
Participants may submit as many entries as they like*
Entries are DUE APRIL 14TH for review
We’re in the process of securing the venue, but the tentative date for viewing said entries will be Saturday, May 19th. Ticket prices will be only 500 yen, with all proceeds going to Make a Wish Japan, Hokuriku.
For any questions, comments, or troubleshooting concerns, feel free to contact Jonathan Dao at johnnys.second.opinion@gmail.com
Stay tuned right here at facebook.com/ToyamaFilmFest for more!
AJET Survey for JETs and JET alumni
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Via JETAA USA (via AJET):
JETwit says: JETs and JET alumni, please take the Survey!
Re-posted: 25 Feb 2012 12 PM EST
AJET allows you to voice the changes you want. We compile reports based on these surveys and present them to the Japanese ministries who run the JET Programme.
The focus of the spring 2012 survey is “The Acquisition of Japanese Culture and Language by JET Programme Participants”. AJET is requesting input from both JETs and JET alums. for the JET alum survey, see below:
Through this survey and subsequent report, AJET will examine the development of Japanese cultural and linguistic understanding by JET participants during their time on the Programme and how this knowledge impacted their experiences following their time on JET. For just a few minutes of your time, you can help give meaningful feedback about your experiences on the JET Programme that will be relayed to CLAIR and the three ministries that oversee JET at the Opinion Exchange in May. As an exchange programme, JET is reciprocal. Tell us if/how your Japanese has improved or how you have become involved in your community. What have you learned on JET?
Kameoka Diaries #6 by Lars Martinson
Cartoon/Illustration, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on Kameoka Diaries #6 by Lars Martinson
Lars Martinson (Fukuoka-ken 2003-2006), author of the graphic novels Tonoharu: Part Two andTonoharu: Part 1, has just just published the latest edition of his new cartoon series called“Kameoka Diaries“ about his return to teaching English, this time in Kameoka, Kyoto.
Click here to read the Kameoka Diaries #6.
http://larsmartinson.com/kameoka-diaries-6/
Tohoku – The Meme
Earthquake Tsunami, Volunteer Comments Off on Tohoku – The Meme
The below was created by Jamie El-Banna (Design), Dean Newcombe (Photos), and Sabine Taras Thompson (Photos) (all ex-pats who have been volunteering in Tohoku) and shared with me by JET alum Colin Rennie (founder of Tohoku relief effort The MUD Project) who is in the midst of a six-month volunteer stay in Tohoku.
Taylor Anderson/Japan Foundation Lecture to be hosted by Randolph-Macon College on 3/11
Earthquake Tsunami, Events Comments Off on Taylor Anderson/Japan Foundation Lecture to be hosted by Randolph-Macon College on 3/11
Thanks to Andy Anderson for sharing the following:
“Randolph-Macon College will host the Taylor Anderson/Japan Foundation Lecture, “Postscripts from Japan: Stories that Endure After the Earthquake and Tsunami,” on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in Blackwell Auditorium, R-MC Center for the Performing Arts. This lecture will commemorate the one year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake which took the life of R-MC alumna Taylor Anderson ’08.”
Taylor’s father Andy Anderson will be speaking, as will NPR’s Yuki Noguchi and Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki. Andy said it would be great to see lots of JET alumni at the event.
More details here: http://www.rmc.edu/News/12-02-10%20-%20Japan%20Commemoration%203,-d-,11.aspx
volunteerAKITA Scholarship Fund Update 02.21.12
Fundraising, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on volunteerAKITA Scholarship Fund Update 02.21.12
JET Paul Yoo, founder of volunteerAKITA, recently shared this update about fundraising for the volunteerAKITA Scholarship Fund which aims to send a boy from one of the orphanages they work with to university (the first boy from the orphanage to ever express interest in going to college):
“Hey everyone! A BIG THANKS for all the support! With all the donations that came in this week we have ￥695,461 left to raise for our scholarship fund. Please help us continue to spread the word and for more information regarding the scholarship fund please check out our website at www.volunteerakita.org or feel free to contact me anytime! (volunteerakita [at] gmail.com).”
Click here to read the previous JETwit post about Paul Yoo and the volunteerAKITA Scholarship Fund.
JETAA Southeast to hold JLPT language course in March
Career, Language Study, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on JETAA Southeast to hold JLPT language course in March
Via JETAA Southeast:
The JETAASE chapter will have a JLPT language course in March. If you are near JLPT N2 level or aspiring to be, this course is for you!
Dates:
March 5th
March 12th
March 26th
Time: 7:45pm – 9:15pm (90 minutes)
Class location: Healey Building downstairs conference room (the corner of Forsyth and Walton)
Address: 57th Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta, GA
The in-person class will be open to the first 10 participants. For those residing outside of the Atlanta area, a long distance learning option may be available. The class will be taught by Japanese language instructor Sakiko Suzuki
Please sign up at the form below if you are interested in participating.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGJxUHFWQWRJSDIxczNiYVltVHR0aWc6MQ#gid=0
Zen Monk Fights Radiation in Japan
Earthquake Tsunami Comments Off on Zen Monk Fights Radiation in Japan
Via MSNBC website: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/10/10368444-zen-monk-fights-radiation-in-japan?chromedomain=worldnews
Any JETs have experiences to share about dealing with or fighting against ongoing radiation in Japan? Have any JETs met this zen monk?
“Pray For Japan” documentary screening coming to your town
Earthquake Tsunami Comments Off on “Pray For Japan” documentary screening coming to your town
Thanks to Jessica Kennett Cork (CIR, 1997-2000, Hiroshima-ken) who works for the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta for sharing the below information about a documentary film by an American living in Japan called Pray for Japan which will be screened throughout the US March 11 and 14:
On March 11, 2011, Japan’s Tohoku coastal region was destroyed by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and devastating tsunami that followed. PRAY FOR JAPAN takes place in the devastated region of Ishinomaki, Miyagi – the largest coastal city in Tohoku with a population of over 160,000 people. Filmmaker Stu Levy – an American living in Japan – filmed the tsunami aftermath during his trips to Tohoku as a volunteer and over a period of 6 weeks, captured over 50 hours of footage.
PRAY FOR JAPAN focuses on four key perspectives of the tragedy – School, Shelter, Family, and Volunteers. With each perspective we meet victims who faced significant obstacles and fought to overcome them. Through these four vantage points, the audience is able to understand the vast ramifications of this large-scale natural disaster – and the battle these real-life heroes fought on behalf of their loved ones and their hometown.
Find a screening near you: http://prayforjapan-film.org/page/screenings
