Jul 14

New website for JETAA New South Wales (formerly JETAA Sydney)

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Posted by Eden Law to the JETAA New South Wales (formerly JETAA Sydney) Facebook group:

So, at long last, we’ve redesigned our website, and it comes with a brand-spanking new URL: www.jetaansw.org (it was www.sydneyjetaa.org before). There will be a lot of cross-promotion and sharing of information between our Facebook Group and our website, including some content that’s exclusive only to either.

We’d love to hear what you think and suggestions about what you’d like to see in the future. Thanks!

Jul 11

USJBF selects JET alum Laurel Lukaszewski for new “Strengthening the JETAA USA Network” initiative

JETAA Chapters, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Press Release, Return on JET-vestment, Video Comments Off on USJBF selects JET alum Laurel Lukaszewski for new “Strengthening the JETAA USA Network” initiative

Laurel Lukaszewski (Kagoshima-ken, 1990-1992)

Remember the job listing for  the Part-time Project Director with the US-Japan Bridging Foundation (USJBF) to support JETAA USA growth?  The USJBF has announced that it has selected Laurel Lukaszewski (ALT Kagoshima-ken, 1990-92) for the position for its new initiative “Strengthening the JETAA Network and Connecting Next Generation Leaders.”

Shojiki ni itte, it’s hard to imagine anyone better suited for the role.  Laurel has maintained a strong connection with Japan and the Japan-US community since here time on the JET Program by previously serving on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS), as the Executive Director for the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C, and as a Program Director of the Japan-America Society in Seattle.  She currently lives in Washington, D.C. where she actively participates on the Board of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and JETAADC.  You can see her in this panel discussion with fellow JET alums Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94) and Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, Inuyama-shi, 1988-89) from the 2011 JETAA National Conference in D.C.

Laurel (who is also a sculptor–see her work here) officially started working Tuesday, July 9.  Here is the official announcement from the USJBF:

July 11, 2013

The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation (USJBF), is pleased to announce that Laurel Lukaszewski has been hired as Project Director for its new initiative “Strengthening the JETAA Network and Connecting Next Generation Leaders.” Funded by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), the purpose of the project is to build infrastructure in support of the Japan-Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association, United States of America (JETAA USA) and enhance its impact promoting U.S.-Japan relations.

Laurel is an alumna of the JET Programme (Kagoshima-ken, 1990-1992) and has a solid understanding of U.S.-Japan relations, the U.S.-Japan community and how nonprofit and membership organizations are governed and run. After completing the JET Programme and receiving an M.A. in Asian Studies, Laurel embarked on a nine-year career with the Japan-America Societies in Seattle and Washington, D.C.. In 2005, Laurel left her position as ED of the JASW to pursue a career as an artist. She has maintained her ties to the JET Programme and U.S.-Japan community by serving as an active member of the JET Application Review and Interview committees for over thirteen years. Laurel served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS), and has been on the National Cherry Blossom Festival Board of Directors since 2002. Paige Cottingham-Streater, Executive Director of the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation said, “Laurel is a valuable addition to our team and will bring a unique understanding about the JET community and its potential to promote a strong U.S.-Japan relationship.”

The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, awards scholarships to U.S. undergraduate students to study for one semester or academic year in Japan. The Foundation grows global leaders to help prepare America’s young people to assume future leadership roles in business, education, international and public affairs and other professions.

URL:  http://www.bridgingfoundation.org/news/new-project-director-to-facilitate-jetaa-capacity-building

Jul 2

Sister City Ties Ep #1: ALTs of the JET Program

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 Eliot Honda (Ehime-ken, 2009-2012) has started a unique video series on Sister City Ties in which he interviews current and former JETs:

Jun 29

Job: Liquor Sales for Japanese trading company (Bergen County, NJ)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Liquor Sales for Japanese trading company (Bergen County, NJ)

Thanks to JET alum Stacy Smith for putting this company in touch with me when they indicated they wanted to reach out to the JET alum community to try and fill this JET-relevant position.  If you apply, please make sure to mention that you learned of the listing via JETwit.

New York Mutual Trading Company is an importer and distributor of Japanese food, sake, and kitchenware located in New Jersey. We have been looking for the sales position who will be asked to increase sake/liquor sales in East Coast. Here is the descriptions:

Jun 26

Job: CFR 2014–2015 International Affairs Fellowship in Japan, sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd.

Jobs Comments Off on Job: CFR 2014–2015 International Affairs Fellowship in Japan, sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd.

Posted at the request of the Council on Foreign Relations:

CFR 2014–2015 International Affairs Fellowship in Japan, sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd.

Program

Founded in 1997, the International Affairs Fellowship in Japan (IAF-J), sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd., seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the rising generations of leaders in the United States and Japan. The program provides a selected group of mid-career U.S. citizens the opportunity to expand their professional horizons by spending a period of research or other professional activity in Japan. Fellows are drawn from academia, business, government, media, NGOs, and think tanks. In cooperation with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the program’s sponsor, Hitachi, Ltd., assists fellows in finding suitable host organizations in Japan. CFR awards approximately three to five fellowships annually.

Eligibility Read More

Jun 26

BBC: Fukushima schools rebuild after disaster

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It would be interesting to hear any comments or perspectives from Fukushima JETs or alums about what they describe in this BBC article.  (Thanks to Eden Law of JETAA New South Wales for posting it to their Facebook group.)

Fukushima’s Schools Rebuild After Disaster

“How do you re-build an education system destroyed by a disaster? The OECD’s Andreas Schleicher describes the efforts in Japan, two years after the nuclear accident in Fukushima.”

Link to full article:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21576192

Jun 25

Job: Oberlin Shansi – Campus and Outreach Coordinator

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Oberlin Shansi – Campus and Outreach Coordinator

A great international education exchange job opening at a really terrific organization:

Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association

Jun 24

Jobs: 4 JET-relevant openings at CSI (Kentucky and Nagoya)

Jobs Comments Off on Jobs: 4 JET-relevant openings at CSI (Kentucky and Nagoya)

See this JETwit article for more info about CSI:  https://jetwit.com/wordpress/2011/02/21/jet-alums-run-thriving-translationconsulting-business-in-kentucky/

1.  Bilingual Legal Translator/Interpreter (Japanese-English)

We’re looking for a motivated, bilingual translator/interpreter with in-depth legal knowledge and excellent communication skills to provide support in our legal department. Read More

Jun 23

Job: Senior Film Program Officer at Japan Society (NY)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Senior Film Program Officer at Japan Society (NY)

Via the Japan Society website:

SENIOR FILM PROGRAM OFFICER

http://japansociety.org/content.cfm/employment

Under the direction of the Artistic Director, and working closely with outside consultants and/or guest curators, the Senior Film Program Officer will be responsible for the implementation of year-round film programs at the Japan Society, which includes: program planning, print booking, overall management of film/video screening, budgeting and fundraising and financial tracking, marketing, promotion and outreach. Responsibilities also include: identifying high-profile film directors and actors to bring to the Society’s film screening events, handling public and professional inquiries related to the Society’s Film Program, supervising a part-time Film program staff member and interns/volunteers, and working with other programming area for special events.

Qualifications Read More

Jun 23

Job: Director of Education at Japan Society (NY)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Director of Education at Japan Society (NY)

Via the Japan Society website:

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

http://japansociety.org/content.cfm/employment

Reporting to the President, the Director of Education oversees all aspects of Japan Society’s Education Program. Key programs include the recently launched Japan Society Junior Fellows Student Exchange Program and Going Global, a social networking program connecting students in Japan, the United States, and additional nations, as well as a rich suite of professional development programs, online curriculum development, and student and family programs. The Director is responsible for all aspects of the program, including fundraising. The position requires travel to Japan and extensive communication with Japanese partners. For more details regarding the Education Program, please visithttps://www.japansociety.org/page/programs/education_family.

Essential duties include:

Read More

Jun 21

JET alum finds culinary success with Ramen Shop in Oakland, CA

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Thanks to JETAA Northern California Vice-President Mark Frey (Kumamoto-ken, 2002-06) for sharing the following:

At our JETAA Northern California Oakland Ramen Nite tonight, I found out that Jerry (“JJ”) Jaksich, one of the owners/chefs of Ramen Shop, was a JET! (possibly Ebestsu, Hokkaido)

Ramen Shop is getting a ton of buzz in the Bay Area because three alumni of the legendary Chez Panisse started the restaurant. Wait times for table are often an hour. Here are some recent articles about Jerry and Ramen Shop:

Review/overview of Ramen Shop:
http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/diningout/article/Ramen-Shop-a-hot-spot-in-Oakland-4301369.php

Interview with Jerry about his “ramen epiphany” experience in Japan:
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2012/09/06/ramen-shop-guys-talk-epic-bowls-japan-experiences-and-local-ramen/

A newsletter with an interview Jerry did with a local izakaya master in 2007, while on JET I assume (scroll down):
http://www.city.ebetsu.hokkaido.jp/kokusai/files/Everyday%20Ebetsu%20No.3.pdf

Blog about the Japanese noodle maker they use:
http://umamimart.com/2012/10/richmen-ramen-shops-noodle-making-machine-from-japan/

Jun 10

New: JET Programme official Facebook page

JETAA Chapters Comments Off on New: JET Programme official Facebook page

Via CLAIR:

The Department of JET Programme Management has recently created an official JET Programme Facebook page. The Facebook page is mainly used to assist in the dissemination of JET Programme-related information to current JET participants and contracting organisations, but we would also like to encourage JET alumni to view and like the page. The URL for the page is:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/JET-Programme/219440938121634

Jun 10

CLAIR’s JET Streams Newsletter 06.07.13

JETAA Chapters, Local Government Comments Off on CLAIR’s JET Streams Newsletter 06.07.13

Via CLAIR:

Please find below a link to the online version of the JET Streams newsletter. JET Streams is distributed to all JET alumni who request it and have registered an email address with CLAIR.

http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/former/jetstreams12-13.html

May 31

JETAA USA Disaster Relief Fund Update – 06.01.13

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Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94), Executive Director of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) and a member of the JETAA USA Disaster Relief Fund Committee, was recently in Tohoku for work and shared the following update regarding one of the projects that JETAA USA helped fund:

Jim says he met with Kodomo no Empowerment Iwate (click here for their Facebook page) and also had a chance to talk with two representatives of the Rikuzentakata Board of Education and learned:

• The BOE and many people in the prefecture see the Manabi-no-heya project we supported as a crucial element of the town’s recovery, and the Ministry of Education has selected it as a model project for introduction around the country.
• They currently have 206 students enrolled in Rikuzentakata alone, and have expanded to Kamaishi, Ofunato, Miyako, and other affected cities, adjusting the program to fit local circumstances.
• The big news they were happy about was that one of the students from the tutoring program was just ranked #1 out of 600 on the Rikuzentakata high school entrance exams.
• The Ministry of Education and private source have provided funding for the project that is many multiples of JETAA USA’s, but the organizers and the city officials all credit JETAA-USA as providing the seed money to help get this off the ground.

Here’s a news video about the project (in Japanese – if someone wants to post a summary in some form that would be great, btw):

Photo #1:  From Kodomo no Empowerment’s gathering of their Rikuzentakata program managers (senior tutors), on Saturday. They got together to discuss how to improve the program, discuss student management issues, etc. The fact that they were sacrificing an entire Saturday for this shows just how committed they are. The person standing is Iwate Prefectural University Professor Katsuhiko Yamamoto, who heads Kodomo no Empowerment.

Photo #2:  A student named Masako who was a student in the Otsuchi program, which is held in a temporary housing unit. She is showing off her desk where she had been studying English. She just enrolled in Nagoya College of Foreign Languages, an extraordinary triumph for a student from a small town like this. She seems to be taking some time to volunteer now with a development NGO in the Philippines in order to give back and also to brush up her English.

May 31

JET alum Roland Kelts column in Time Magazine on Japan’s Identity Crisis and Right-Wing Rhetoric

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A thought provoking article by JET alum author and writer Roland Kelts(Osaka-shi, 1998-99) from the current issue of Time Magazine.

The Identity Crisis That Lurks Behind Japan’s Right-Wing Rhetoric

Here’s a quote:

“Japan is a country whose identity has been bowdlerized, hollowed out by a dream of Western dominance that no longer exists. It may make sense to see its recent surge in nationalism as a dumbed-down version of Japanese adolescence. This is a country spun around by its own single-minded pursuit of progress, and it has no idea who it’s supposed to be today.”

Here’s a link to the full article:  http://world.time.com/2013/05/31/the-identity-crisis-that-lurks-behind-japans-right-wing-rhetoric/