Roland Kelts interviewed by AnimeNewsNetwork’s Chicks-On-Anime
Article/Journalism, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Interview/Profile, Roland Kelts, Writers 
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A good (and long) interview with Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, by Bamboo and Sara (aka Chicks-On-Anime) has been posted on the AnimeNewsNetwork.
J-News Mini-Roundup: The Economic Downturn
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, founder of Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese language learning options.
The Economic Downturn and its Effects: Most Pessimistic to Most Optimistic
4 – NHK: The biggest news on economic glum came from the NHK news station today. Within the financial community the highly anticipated “Tankan Survey” done by the Bank of Japan stated record pessimism amongst company executives. 61% stated their companies were doing poorly, while only 3% stated they were doing well. This measure is the worst it’s been since the survey’s inception, about 30 years ago.
3 – Nikkei: Not to be outdone, the Nikkei then reported that bankruptcies from listed companies in 2008 had reached 45. This is the highest rate of bankruptcies since WWII. To underscore this point, the second worst year of bankruptcies in Japan was 2002, with only 22 bankruptcies.
2 – Asahi: The Asahi ran a headliner this morning about how lay offs and the economic downturn are good for some companies. Reporting from within the headquarters of a recruiting agency that hires part time workers ( a company called あず) executives were rejoicing on how this is their chance to get more recruits for part time work than ever before. They referred to the “フリーター魂” the furi-ta- or “seasonal worker” spirit!
1 – Yomiuri: The headlines at Yomiuri this morning topped the optimism radar. They made no mention of an economic downturn, but instead decided to focus on North Korea. So you’re probably expecting some kind of article regarding missile launches accidently dropping missiles on Japan? Nope, the headliner read: Kim Jong Ill’s thinness is due to dieting, he’s getting thin due to health reasons.”
Enterprise 2.0 technologies in Japanese companies?
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An interesting question was posed on a LinkedIn group called Japan Intercultural Consulting, started by Pernille Rudlin. Feel free to comment below or, on the JIC group page or directly to Pernille if you have insights to share.
Enterprise 2.0 technologies in Japanese companies
Does anyone know of a Japanese (or if not, other multinational) company that is successfully using Enterprise 2.0 technologies for internal communications – in other words Web 2.0 technology such as social networking, blogs, wikis, used inside corporations? I’m particularly interested in any usage going across national boundaries.
JETAA DC Book Club to read “An Artist of the Floating World”
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Via JETAA DC:
Hi Everyone,
JETAADC’s very own book club – with the working name of JBook – is up and running. This month we’ll be reading An Artist of the Floating
World Kazuo Ishiguro. We’ll meet on Monday, April 20 at 6:30pm at the Penn Teaism (in the downstairs area). New members are welcome! Just RSVP a little ahead of time so we know how many tables to push together.
Happy Reading,
-Dan
Saw this on the JETAA Pacific Northwest yahoogroup list and thought it was worth sharing. I’m sure there are plenty of other JET alum actors/performers out there, so feel free to share any upcoming performances via e-mail to jetwit at jetwit dot com and perhaps we can do a periodic update of what various folks are up to.
Just wanted to pass this on from Nate Maddox (Kagawa-ken 2003-2005), and (disclaimer!) good friend of mine. I saw The Underpants on Sunday, and I’ll vouch for the hilarity. All the characters are absurd, and there are some killer lines.
Yes, there are underpants in this play. No, they are not Nate’s. (And no, you probably don’t want to bring kids under 14.) But I highly recommend it, especially if you’d like to see Nate prance about in a ridiculous hat and cape.
Please go enjoy The Underpants!
-Sandra
———– (more info below) Read More
NY-based JET alum Carol Elk was in D.C. on Tuesday to see the cherry blossoms and was kind enough to share some of her hanami photos.
News: 84-year old Japanese woman foils 22-year-old burglar in Fukuoka
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Thanks to Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2005-08) for sharing proof of what JET alums already know: obaasans are not to be F*&%$ed with:
In case you missed it (or enjoyed it so much you want to relive it), below is a highlights clip from the JET Alumni Author Showcase along with clips of each of the three author readings, all of which took place March 22 in NYC. (Bonus tip: Try to picture each author teaching an English class in a Japanese high school as you watch them do their readings.)
Highlight Clips
James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish
Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.
Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), author of Zorgamazoo
Review: JET Alumni Author Showcase
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JETAANY Hosts First Author Showcase
By Gina Anderson (Nara-ken, 2003-05), former JETAA DC newsletter chair and Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02), editor of JQ (JETAA NY) Quarterly Magazine
New York City’s Holiday Inn hosted a summit for published JETs as JETAANY launched its debut JET Alumni Author Showcase on March 22. The panelists included pro writers Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), Robert Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04) and James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06). (Click here and here for photos and here for video clips.)
Drawing over 60 JET alums, friends and family, the event kicked off with some words from Akira Sugiyama, director of the Japan Information Center of the Consulate General of Japan in New York. Moderator and playwright Randall David Cook (Fukui-ken, 1991-93), creator of the critically acclaimed Off Broadway plays Sake with the Haiku Geisha and Fate’s Imagination, asked each author to share a favorite selection of their works with the crowd.
A professor at three different universities including Tokyo University, a writer and editor for two magazines and a columnist for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Kelts spoke about Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S., his non-fiction book about the eponymous subject. He began by Read More
Job: Corporate Development Associate at Japan Society (New York)
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Via Japan Society (NY):
Reporting to the Corporate Membership Manager, the Corporate Development Associate works with the Development team on corporate fundraising operations, including corporate membership, corporate sponsorship, and special events.
Responsibilities include: fielding corporate membership inquiries; assisting the Manager with mailing lists and acknowledgment letters, renewals and solicitation letters, and follow-up with lapsed members; fulfilling corporate member benefit obligations and requests, including complimentary catalogs, gallery passes, and Executive Courtesy Cards; conducting prospect research on corporations (for membership and sponsorship); helping with marketing materials in Quark and Power Point; liaising with program directors on sponsorship solicitation letters, benefits, and gift agreements; compiling and sending informational packets; assisting in tracking and updating sponsorship proposals in Raiser’s Edge; fulfilling corporate sponsor stewardship obligations, including sending exhibition catalogs and complimentary tickets; ensuring that corporate sponsors are recognized in the appropriate manner in credit lines; creating sponsorship reports; entering gifts Raiser’s Edge; drafting acknowledgment letters for cash and in-kind donations; tracking in-kind gifts; assisting in special events and working with the Special Events team; and other tasks as assigned. Read More
Job: Call for resumes of experienced translators of literary works and financial translators (Tokyo)
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Via the Honyaku Google Group:
Modis Design, a company that specializes in bilingual Japanese/English marketing, is seeking experienced translators of literary works as well as financial translators. Read below for more information. Read More
SWET: Wordsmithing in Japan seminar (Tokyo)
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SOCIETY FOR WRITERS EDITORS & TRANSLATORS (SWET) OPEN FORUM: Wordsmithing in Japan
April 21 (Tues), 2009; 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Fee: 1,000 yen for SWET members; 2,000 yen for non-members
Place: 5th Floor, Shoko Kaikan/Shohisha Senta, Shibuya
1-12-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Miyamae-zaka area; map at www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/est/shoko.html
Are you hoping to launch a career in writing, translating, copyediting, editing, English-language publishing or other work based in Japan? Where should you start? What qualifications do you need? Who can you collaborate with? How can SWET help you? What can you do for SWET?
Open to members and non-members alike, the SWET Open Forum offers an opportunity to address questions to established professionals in a variety of wordsmithing professions, as well as present requests and suggestions for SWET activities throughout the year. Take this opportunity to tap SWET resource persons on hand, sound off on questions and concerns, and enjoy a chance for informal networking and information-sharing.
The SWET members present will share their expertise in the following fields: J-E translation, editing, copyediting, proofreading, editing translations, writing, rewriting, technical writing, copywriting, design and layout.
For further information, contact SWET by email at events at swet dot jp.
Japan’s Ministry of Justice allowing Japanese nationals to sponsor same-sex partners?
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Just saw this on the Honyaku Google Group:
http://www.47news.jp/CN/200903/CN2009032601001106.html
Japan’s Ministry of Justice has apparently eliminated the column for indicating gender of the other party on 婚姻要件具備証明書 form so that Japanese nationals can now apply to sponsor their same-sex partners, providing they’ve been married in a country that legally allows same-sex marriage.
JET alum Michael Auslin to moderate panel on Asia-Pacific Maritime Security
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JET Alum Michael Auslin, Director of Japan Studies for the American Enterprise Institute, will be moderating a panel on Tuesday, April 14 at the AEI offices in Washington, D.C. titled “Are Alliances Enough: The Role of the U.S.-Japanese Alliance in Maritime Asia.” The panel is part of an all-day conference titled Protecting the Seas: Maritime Security in the Asia Pacific, America’s Interests, and Asia’s Future.
Read below for more details. Read More
I just saw this item in the JLGC Newsletter (Winter 2009), which I believe is only issued in print, and thought it might be of interest to some JET alums out there:
Japan Local Government Center (JLGC) Summer Internship Program
Inaugurated in 1992, the program extends to select students interested in Japanese local government the opportunity to spend a summer in Japan. Working side by side with local government officials in either a prefecture or municipal office, students not only gain firsthand exposure to Japanese management in the public sector but are also able to improve their Japanese language skills.
Fort-seven people have participated in this program from 1992 through 2008. JLGC extends a participation qualification to not only the graduate students but also 3rd or 4th year undergraduate students.
If you are interested in the Summer Internship in Japan, please visit the JLGC website at http://www.jlgc.org/activities.php?cid=676&s=summer%20internship.
