Another good post from Greg at TheDigitalists.com, this one on why Twitter and Facebook are effective for small businesses, but not yet for large companies. And what they might want to do about it.
http://thedigitalists.com/2009/06/12/social-networks-missed-opportunity/#comment-205
(Also references the really yummy Salted Caramel Pretzel ice cream at General Greene’s in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.)
Wide Island View: The latest from Hiroshima JET-land
Article/Journalism, Writers 
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Gail Cetnar Meadows says there are some great new stories now posted on the Wide Island View… Takarazuka theater, Traveling to South Korea, Nikujaga recipe. Check it out!
The Wide Island View is the kakkouii online newsletter for AJET Hiroshima-ken, started by current JETs Gail Cetnar Meadows and Joshua Zimmerman.
Roland Kelts column on conversation with Haruki Murakami
Article/Journalism, Blogs, Books, Celebrity, Roland Kelts, Writers Comments Off on Roland Kelts column on conversation with Haruki Murakami
Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has a short “JapanamericanEyes” column posted on Trannet.co.jp titled “Surfacing with Strength: Haruki Murakami at 60.”
Japan-U.S. business consultant and blogger Yvonne Burton (also a good friend of JetWit) has a good recent post on the likely new U.S. ambassador to Japan–John V. Roos:
There is to be a new kind of ambassador in Tokyo! I just read in the Japan Times that John V. Roos, a Silicon Valley attorney, has been designated as ambassador by President Obama and in my opinion, he is just what Japan-US business needs. But many seem to disagree. Why?
The nay-sayers say he isn’t the usual politico. I say that is a good thing. They say that his appointment means the new presidency is treating Japan as less than important. I say not so.
New conditions call for new solutions
In times like these when the old standards are not working (and that is putting it mildly), it is time to create something new.
How can a successful lawyer who (CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article.)
Roland Kelts update
Article/Journalism, Blogs, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Japan Trends, Roland Kelts, Writers Comments Off on Roland Kelts update
Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has been keeping busy. JetWit just hasn’t been able to keep up. So here are some recent highlights:
- A recent Daily Yomiuri SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column about a symposium on the state of the anime/manga industry and some of the challenges it faces, which you can see on 3:00 A.M. Magazine. The column touches on the shifting market as well as the unsustainable nature of the way anime/manga workers are compensated.
- Giving a speech at book-signing event in Kyoto next weekend as part of a Creative Writing Lecture Series. (A good event for any JETs or JET alums in the area! If you go, say hi to Roland and feel free to report back to JetWit on the event.)
- Japanamerica is now available on Kindle!
An interesting job opportunity in Japan from JET alum Miguel Gervais (Saitama-ken, 2000-03):
Hello,
My name is Miguel Gervais and I’m a former JET (Saitama-ken, Fukaya City, 2000-03). After my tenure on the JET Programme, I opened my own eikaiwa school and currently teach 45-50 students. Between these classes and various corporate contracts, I’ve reached the limit to my individual school’s growth. I’d now like to partner with one other enterprising person to grow the M.L.C.英会話 brand further. We are looking for the following:
Eikaiwa Manager
M.L.C.英会話 is looking for an experienced English Teacher to own and operate an independent branch school in Saitama or Gunma.
The ideal candidate will meet the following criteria:
1- Be a Native Speaker of English with at least 3 years of teaching experience in Japan.
2- Have at least a 3kyu JLPT or equivalent language skills.
Please send your resume and cover letter to MLCeikaiwa [at] gmail [dot] com. Describe your work-ethic, your aspirations and detail any management experience.
Bankruptcy Bill #16 – GM First Day Hearings
Blogs, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Humor, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on Bankruptcy Bill #16 – GM First Day Hearings
Bankruptcy Bill is a cartoon created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall. To see more strips as well as original bankruptcy haiku, go to bankruptcybill.us.
Job: Entertainment company seeks bilingual exec personal asst. (NYC)
Jobs, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Job: Entertainment company seeks bilingual exec personal asst. (NYC)
From speaking with Jenna at Forrest Solutions, this sounds like a pretty cool job:
Entertainment company in NYC looking for a bilingual English/Japanese Executive Personal Assistant to support company Chairman.
Job Description
Senior level experienced personal and business executive assistant needed for high-profile Chairman of vertically-integrated, Rock and Roll media/entertainment company. This position requires a candidate that has experience as a Personal Assistant to a high profile individual as well as is bilingual English/Japanese. Individuals must thrive in an extremely fast-paced environment, while keeping a cool head among complete chaos. Candidate must be able to handle long hours and fast-paced work environment, and must be on call 24/7. Read More
This just off the Facebook status update wire:
Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), the Toronto-based author of the rhyming children’s novel Zorgamazoo, has confessed to caving in to Twitter. To follow him, go to: http://twitter.com/rpweston
Hikaru Utada: The Complete JQ Interview
By Justin Tedaldi, Editor (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02)
(Originally Published May 2009 in JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) magazine, the official quarterly publication of JETAA NY (http://jetaany.org/magazine)
It was perfect timing. Back in January, Hikaru Utada, the New York-born recording phenomenon who before she was out of her teens notched three of Japan’s top ten bestselling albums (including number one), was back in town working on a new album for the U.S., and JQ spent a full hour with Hikki to talk of many things, including her new disc This is the One, which hit stores in May.
I know you want to talk about the new album and the single.
The song…
I heard it about two and half weeks ago, as I think I was already on the e-mail list from when your last English album came out.
Oh, right, right, right.
So we go way back. Ten years ago I found out about First Love when I studying Japanese as an undergraduate…
Oh, wow.
It’s amazing to be here now talking about it.
I’m humbled [laughs]. Read More
Where do you get your “Japan fix”?
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on Where do you get your “Japan fix”?
This is a call out to JET alumni in chapters everywhere about where you get your “Japan fix,” i.e., where you go in your town or region to feel connected with Japan, whether through food, karaoke, cultural activities or interacting with Japanese people.
The goal is to end up with a collection of “Japan fix” articles from different JET alumni chapters and from JET alumni in different cities and towns throughout the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia and anywhere else. (Well, except in Japan, where you get your Japan fix pretty much every day.)
The purpose is to aid JET alums who live or are planning to move to a certain area. A great way to know where to go for things Japanese in your new home town. And a great way to use our collective JET alum brains to help each other out.
JETAA Montreal is already working on the first one. If you want to write one for your chapter, subchapter, town, state, province, etc., feel free to get in touch. Or just write it and email it to Steven at jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com and put “Japan Fix” in the subject heading.
Yoroshiku and gambarimashou!
The June 2009 issue of the Sake World E-mail Newsletter by JET alum and leading sake expert John Gauntner (aka “The Sake Guy”) is now available online. In this issue:
- The Kome Khronicles
- moto-i in Minneapolis
- Did you Know?
- Sake Professional Course
- Sake Events
- Learn More About Sake eBooks
- Odds-n-Ends
For more information about John and about sake, go to his website at: http://www.sake-world.com
Jobs: Several from international companies
Jobs Comments Off on Jobs: Several from international companies
A nice woman named Deborah Yo has shared the following job listings, all with international companies, after seeing an introductory message about JetWit that we posted on the LinkedIn group バイリンガルのためのJob Market News! According to her LinkedIn profile, Deborah is a graduate of Thunderbird School of Global Management and also studied at Kyoto Daikgaku in Japan. (FYI, yes, we noticed that the job listings all mention a preferred age. While that may not be kosher in the U.S., please bear in mind that JetWit is just the messenger and is sharing the info as received.)
“I came across some interesting positions in the Tokyo area and would like to share. Below are a few selected sample of positions. Please e-mail to deborah@global.t-bird.edu if you are interested and bilingual English/Japanese in the business level.”
Company: Global consumer goods Company
Position: Product/Brand Manager
Location: Tokyo
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Age: Up to late 30’s preferred
Requirement: Solid Marketing background in either Retail or consumer Goods
Company: Global Consumer Goods Company
Position: Legal Counsel
Location: Tokyo
Salary: 12-15 million yen Age: Flexible 25-45
Description: Assist Senior Counsel in overseeing the legal aspects of the activities including contracts and other commercial matters, supervision of litigation and compliance matters, compliance with laws applicable to the company’s operations, corporate governance, and monitoring of relevant legislative and regulatory developments. Read More
Latest sign the apocalypse is upon us…
Japan Trends Comments Off on Latest sign the apocalypse is upon us…
I just heard from Shannon Quinn, former JETAA USA Country Rep and former JETAA Pacific Northwest president, that green tea Diet Coke is set to hit the shelves on Monday. And that shiso Pepsi is due on the market soon!
If anyone tries these products, please post a comment here and let us know how it is.
JETAA South Carolina Sub-chapter sets up Facebook group
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA South Carolina Sub-chapter sets up Facebook group
JETAA South Carolina Sub-Chapter rep Daniel Stone (Saitama-ken, 2004-07) has set up a JETAA South Carolina Sub-Chapter Facebook Group. A great way to connect with the JET alumni community for any JET alums in the South Carolina area or with South Carolina connections, or any JET alums or current JETs who are planning on moving to South Carolina.
Daniel has been doing a great job at getting the JET alumni community moving in South Carolina along with great support from the growing JETAA Southeast chapter based in Atlanta. CLAIR and MOFA made a big push at last year’s JETAA USA Conference hosted by JETAA Pacific Northwest in Seattle to encourage the formation of subchapters and invite subchapter reps to attend the conference. And South Carolina is one of a number of examples where the subchapter movement is really starting to flourish.
Speaking of which, if you’re involved in a subchapter in your area and want to let the JET alum community know more about it, just send an email to Steven at jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com.
