JETAA Chicago to host JETAA US national conference August 21-23
Books, JETAA Chapters, Writers 
Comments Off on JETAA Chicago to host JETAA US national conference August 21-23
***********************
This just in from JETAA USA Country Reps Ryan Hart, Randall Crowder and Shreek Kurlekar:
Hello JETAAers, On behalf of US-7 JETAA Chicago and JETAA USA, we are pleased to officially announce that the 2009 US National Conference will be held in Chicago over August 21-23. Emi Fukuda, President of US-7, and the rest of the Chicago chapter are working very hard to make the preparations for a wonderful conference. We all owe Chicago our gratitude and a big collective otsukare sama de gozaimasu on behalf of JETAA USA!
- Here’s the link for conference info on the JETAA Wiki site (Betcha didn’t know there was a JETAA Wiki site, deshou.): http://jetaa.wikidot.com/2009-national-conference
- To read the latest version of the JETAA Chicago Newsletter put out by Editor Elizabeth Friedman (Shimane-ken, 2003-04), go here: http://www.chicago.jetalumni.org/files/8fc7cc5351c8126b6bc4dd416e79939d-12.html
- Notably, Chicago is the home chapter of some great JET alum writers, including James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, and poet James Shea, author of Star in the Eye.
JETAA DC Book Club to meet in SpaWorld
Books, JETAA Chapters Comments Off on JETAA DC Book Club to meet in SpaWorld
Check this out. The JETAA DC Book Club is not only reading a book about Japanese baths for its next meeting (Getting Wet: Adventures in the Japanese Bath by Eric Talmadge), it’s actually planning on holding the discussion at SpaWorld, the Korean spa chain that has a location in the D.C. area.
According to JETAA DC book club organizer Daniel Knowlton:
It’s a great non-fiction tour of the public baths and hot springs around Japan – their history and their culture – told through personal anecdotes of an American who has lived in Japan for 20+ years straight. For those who loved the public baths, it will bring up fond memories, and for those who haven’t, you still have the chance to try out an Asian-style bath here in the DC area…
…Because we’re meeting at Spa World to talk about the book! This place is the real deal. It’s run by a Korean family, and they’ve done the Asian-style bathing just right. That means gender-separated baths with no clothes allowed! After you bathe, you can put on Spa World’s yellow pj’s and try out the many sauna rooms. The common room also has lounging chairs, free wireless internet, snacks, and drinks.
Please RSVP to Dan by June 21st if you want to go.
Date: Sunday, June 28th
Time: Morning-ish
Price: $35 (gets you in to all rooms/baths, and lets you stay for 24 hours!)
SPA World website: http://www.spaworldusa.com/index.html
This is actually the old, PDF version of The Wide Island View. Click this image to go to the new website and prepare to be suitably impressed.
Hiroshima-ken’s Gail Cetnar Meadows and Joshua Zimmerman have announced the launch of Wide Island View, their super-sweet online prefectural newsletter (though “newsletter” doesn’t really do justice to what they’ve put together).
Featured articles include:
- Diving with Sharks in Palau
- JetWit.com: Bringing the JET alumni community together
- Fukuyama Let’s Film Festival 2009
- Homemade Sanuki Udon Recipe
- A Night of Pachinko
- And much much more.
To put it in perspective, when A.J. the JetWit mascot goes to bed at night, this is what he dreams about. :-)
Keep up the good work, Hiroshimites (or whatever the proper term is)!
Job: Japanese models for stroller ad (NYC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Japanese models for stroller ad (NYC)
Forwarded to me via an email group called Quentins Friends:
Hello Q-Fs!
I am casting for a commercial print advertisement.
I am looking for the following Japanese characters:
-Female Japanese “Mother”, 25-35 years
-Male Japanese “Father” 30-40 year
-Japanese babies, 6-12 months-(MALE & FEMALE)
All models will be paid industry standard rates, see below:
-Rate for adult talent: $1,000
-Rate for babies: $125 per hour, $750 usage bonus if used in final ad. Read More
Over 400 hits again
Uncategorized Comments Off on Over 400 hits again
JetWit went over 400 hits for the day again yesterday as traffic continues to consistently grow on the site. Chotto jiman, I know. Just wanted to share that.
Perhaps not directly JET-relevant, but this NYTimes article about Zach Brooks and his blog Midtown Lunch (http://midtownlunch.com/) is a great model for how to use a blog to create your own job.
He used to write reviews of restaurants in NY. Then he realized there was a different kind of need–shared by people in a concentrated area who tend to have disposable income–and he filled it, using just a camera and a blog.
JQ Magazine’s Spring 2009 “Utada Issue” Now Available Online!
Article/Journalism, Celebrity, Interview/Profile, JQ Magazine, Music, Roland Kelts, Writers Comments Off on JQ Magazine’s Spring 2009 “Utada Issue” Now Available Online!
The Spring 2009 Issue of JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) Magazine is now available online at http://jetaany.org/magazine/.
O-tsuakare sama deshita to Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for all his hard work in putting out another outstanding issue, this one featuring a one-on-one interview he did with Hikaru Utada in New York.
Tanjo!! JQ‘s Spring 2009 Utada Issue is Here!
- What do an Oscar-winner, a celebrated ambassador-turned-president, an international author summit and one of the best-selling singer-songwriters the Eastern Hemisphere’s ever seen have in common? That’s right! They all (I heard) turned down Conan O’Brien to appear in the new issue of JETAANY’s quarterly magazine JQ!
- Months in the making but well worth the wait, our new issue also features our newly elected officers, Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a you-are-there piece on the Tokyo Marathon that you’re guaranteed to learn a thing or to from, and interviews with an Off-Broadway star, community honchos, noted authors and local JETs-made-good in both Japan and beyond.
- And how’s this for a main course: for the first time ever our feature interview was too long for the print issue, so we’ve posted the complete 13-page interview with Hikaru Utada at the handy link below. Whether you’re a Hikki-mania or just want to read what might be the most in-depth interview she’s ever done in English, we’ve got you covered. It all happens in the new issue of JQ. Dozo and enjoy!
SPRING 2009 ISSUE – click to download PDF
(Click Here to Read the Complete Hikaru Utada Interview)
Editor: Justin Tedaldi – magazine@jetaany.org
SPRING 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Page 3…..Letter From the Editor / Letter From the Country Rep
- Page 4…..Nippon News Blotter / JQ National Photo Contest Winners
- Page 5…..Comings & Goings – New Officers and JLGC Changes
- Page 6…..JETAANY Author Showcase by Gina Anderson and Justin Tedaldi
- Page 6…..TAIKOPROJECT in Philly by Renay Loper
- Page 7…..Japan Society’s New President Motoatsu Sakurai by Justin Tedaldi
- Page 8…..JETlog featuring Ed Thompson (Chiba-shi CIR, 1994-97)
- Page 9…..STOMP New York’s Yako Miyamoto by Liz Wanic
- Page 10…Running the Tokyo Marathon by Stacy Smith
- Page 11…Nihonjin in NY – Featuring Noriko Furuhata of the CGJ by Rick Ambrosio
- Page 11…Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Page 13…Hikaru Utada: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
- Page 14…Adren Hart’s ConnectForce Productions Jazzes Up NY by Matt Matysik
- Page 15…JETAActivity Photos
- Page 16…An Animated Talk with Japanamerica Author Roland Kelts By Larry Heiman
- Page 17…Destination Nippon: JNTO and Kintetsu International by Sylvia Pertzborn
- Page 18…New York-Tokyo Founder Taeko Baba by Marea Pariser
- Page 19…Film Review: Departures by Lyle Sylvander
- Page 19…Book Corner: Shutting Out the Sun by David Kowalsky
- Page 20…Shutting Out the Sun Author Michael Zielenziger Q&A by Kelly Nixon
- Page 21…Awaji Puppet Theater at Japan Society by Beata Wilk
- Page 23…Top 14 List / Life After the B.O.E. / Let’s Make Chirashi!
- Major domo to (from left) Anson Mau, Kayoko & Rob Werner, Marea Pariser, Louie Reyes, Joe Marucheck, Justin Tedaldi, Steven Horowitz, Laura Pollak, Stacy Smith, and (off camera) Nancy Ikehara and Peter Mallik for pitching in to mail out the Utada Issue.
Via JETAA Southern California:
JET Alum Movie Premieres in Japan: “The Harimaya Bridge”, starring Danny Glover , Harry Lennix, Misa Shimizu, JET Alum Mike Coleman, and more!
Synopsis: After the sudden death of his estranged son, an English Language teacher in rural Kochi prefecture, an American man must go there to claim some important family items. While there, he discovers some secrets his son left behind. The Harimaya Bridge takes place in Kochi, Shikoku, where traditional customs remain strong and the ancient bridge of the title still exists. The bridge is a fitting metaphor for the film, which addresses the connections-and conflicts-between past and present, fathers and sons, insiders and outsiders, Japanese and Americans.
Directed by JET Alum Aaron Woolfolk, with supporting cast consisting of: Margaret Avery (The Color Purple), Viola Davis (Doubt), Harry Lennix (Ray, The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Reloaded), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon series, Dreamgirls), Ben Guillory (The Color Purple, Maid to Order, The Tuskegee Airmen), Misa Shimizu (The Eel/ Palm d’Or – Cannes Film Festival, 1997), Saki Takaoka (A Long Walk/Best Picture – Toronto Int’l Film Festival, 2006), Julius Tennon (Dazed and Confused, Small Soldiers, Lonesome Dove)
Coverage: http://nagoya.usconsulate.gov/wwwhn-20090121-aw.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0902982/
http://www.e-fccj.com/node/4473
JET alum Aaron Woolfolk (right) on the set of "The Harimaya Bridge"
Calling JETAA UK
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on Calling JETAA UK
JetWit is seeking a writer or two (or even three or four) to do occasional posts that have a UK/Euro focus.
Topics could be upcoming or recent JET alum events or gatherings, job search experiences or advice, keeping an eye out for appropriate job listings, sharing career perspectives, readjustment, where to get your Japan fix in various locales, restaurant or film reviews, or just post-JET life in general.
If you’re interested in working on the effort to make sure that JetWit is not so NorthAmerica-centric, please get in touch with Steven to chat over email or perhaps Skype.
Oh (JETAA) Canada!
JETAA Chapters, Uncategorized Comments Off on Oh (JETAA) Canada!
I just had a great time in Toronto this past weekend (May 29-31) where I had the honour (Americans: please note spelling) of being invited to be the keynote speaker for the JETAA Canada National Conference.
Here’s what I have to report:
- I think the speech went well and resonated with the chapter reps, especially on the themes of creating structures and motivation to get more JET alums to self-identify and view themselves as part of the JET alumni community. (Full text of speech available here.)
- Several people told me they were familiar with JetWit but didn’t really get what it was all about and how it could be helpful until they heard me talk about it and provide the background and context.
- People seem to be much nicer in Canada. From the hostess at the trendy Panorama bar where we gathered the first night even to the personal search I had to go through at airport security. (Did I mention that my suitcase was already on the baggage carousel by the time I got to the baggage claim area upon arrival? First time ever in my life that’s happened.)
- JETAA Toronto did a fantastic job of hosting, thanks to the hard work of Conference Organizer Amy Schindler, JETAA Canada Country Rep Gloria Ma, JETAA Toronto Co-chairs Natalie Bey and Glen Morales, Website & Communications Chair Darryl Young, Website Support (and professional illustrator) David Namisato, Treasurer Sonia Cheng and many others.
- A number of chapters, especially in the less populated areas of Canada, are struggling with ways to keep their membership lists above a certain level (which they need for continued financial support from CLAIR) due to some evolving new requirements on who can be counted as a member. (So if you’re a JET alum in, e.g., Saskatchewan, and not on a chapter list, please get in touch with your chapter!)
- The main street in Toronto is called Bloor Street, which sounds funny if you keep saying it over and over.
- JETAA Toronto recently hosted a successful event featuring the work of JET alumni artists. A great idea to try and replicate in other chapters. Actually, it would be really nice if someone wanted to start a Facebook or Google group for JET alumni artists. If you do this, get in touch and I’ll help get the word out. There are a lot of good ones out there.
- I learned of two more JET alumni academics/authors: Alison Gabriele (linguistics) and Karen Healey (literature). (Thanks to linguistics grad student and JETAA Montreal chapter rep Moti Lieberman for sharing the info. Moti, by the way, also offered to write a piece for JetWit on where to go in Montreal to get your “Japan fix.” Part of the idea is that any JET alums planning on moving to Montreal will stumble on the article and then know to get in touch with the JETAA chapter there. If anyone else wants to write a “Japan fix” piece for wherever you are, please feel free to get in touch. It would be great to have a whole series of these.)
- I had a wonderful informal walking tour of Toronto with Robert Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), author of Zorgamazoo (which just won an E.B. White Honour given to the 4 best “read-aloud” books).
All of which is to say, if you’re ever invited to attend the JETAA Canada National Conference, by all means take them up on it.
And lastly, thanks to everyone from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa and elsewhere for your hospitality and for allowing me to join the conference. It was a terrific experience and is already leading to more cross-chapter collaboration and communication.
-Steven
JETAA DC seeks Newsletter Editor
Uncategorized Comments Off on JETAA DC seeks Newsletter Editor
Via JETAA DC:
According to former JETAA DC Newsletter Coordinator Abby McBain, who is now the JET Liaison at the Consulate General of Japan in Miami, the JETAA Newsletter Coordinator position is still open.
She notes that it’s a particularly great opportunity for anyone looking for a way to use or improve their desktop publishing skills. [Ed. note: As the former JETAA NY Newsletter Editor, I can vouch for this.] Abby mentions that she had a lot of fun designing and putting together the Spring issue of The Sakura Times, and it was very helpful to be able to show a mock-up fo the issue when she interviewed for her current position at the Consulate. She said she was told after getting the job as JET coordinator that the interviewers were particularly impressed with the newsletter and it was definitely a factor in her being chosen.
Tsumari, serving as a newsletter editor is a great way to build a portfolio of your work and demonstrate your skills.
The returnee newsletter issue for JETAA DC needs to be compiled soon. It would be great if someone can step up to to take on the full reins and keep the newsletter going.
If interested, please contact Abby at ASAP.
JetWit is cho-beri excited that Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) has been invited to serve as the keynote speaker for the JETAA Canada National Conference this weekend in Toronto.
The national conference, which is being hosted by JETAA Toronto, is an opportunity for officers from Canada’s JETAA chapters to get together, brainstorm, exchange information, discuss the nitty-gritty of grant-in-aid funding and by-laws and form relationships that will help lay the groundwork for future generations of JET alumni in Canada and elsewhere.
Speaking of which, JetWit’s own Canadian roots have blossomed in recent months thanks to Toronto native Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08), a translator currently living in Japan who has been posting job listings on JetWit as well as events and updates from the Canadian JETAA-sphere.
In his speech, Steven (Horowitz) will be discussing the topics of communication and cross-chapter collaboration and afterwards possibly also trying out the wonderful sport of curling. (Is that still in season in late May?)
New JETAA NY Twitter Feed
JETAA Chapters Comments Off on New JETAA NY Twitter Feed
JETAA NY now has an official Twitter feed.
- Here’s the link: http://twitter.com/jetaany
Here’s the RSS feed (which is also now in the sidebar of JetWit): http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/42224409.rss
Update: JETAA NY’s official Tweeter is JET alum Janelle Jimenez. If you have anything you want her to send out to the JETAANY-sphere via Twitter, just send an e-mail to her at tweeter [at] jetaany [dot] org.
By Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2005-08)
Don’t be such an Aso.
I should really fucking stop reading the articles on Japan Today. Simply because the comments crack me up. A majority of them are incredibly hateful, but the vapid self-righteous immaturity just makes me lose my shit.
So Aso, with superhuman speed, rescinded his statement about having kids as an “obligation” he has fulfilled. Smooth, Aso. Could you imagine Obama stumbling over that pitfall? There’d be rioting in the streets and then the Dixie Chicks would get involved…
Admittedly, using such terms to describe reproduction is a bit harsh, especially for a politician. No woman wants to hear about her uterus placed under any guideline, especially by their supreme leader. This is not the Third Reich, after all. Politicians are icons and the populace look to icons as shining paragons who watch their mouths– or at least have their mouths watched for them. Bless Koizumi for being a politician divorced with scattered spawn– a hipster, long-haired, Elvis-loving fuck. I miss him and have a crush on him in the same way any normal person might yearn for Jean-Luc (Picard, that is.)
Sorry, I digress… Read More
