Feb 3

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Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, will be at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on Wednesday, February 11 for a screening + discussion of the animated film Grave of the Fireflies.  More details here.  (Side noteLyle Sylvander (Yokohama-shi, 2001-02) wrote an excellent and succinct review of Grave of the Fireflies for the Spring 2008 JETAAA NY Newsletter.)

BONUS:  Roland’s story on Japanese Youth Pathologies for WNYC’s Studio 360 will air on NPR nationwide as part of this coming weekend’s special Japan edition of the show.  (See the recent JetWit post on last week’s Studio360 Japan feature.)

Correction:  This post previously listed the date of the MFA event as February 9, but it has now been corrected to February 11.  Apologies for any confusion.


Jan 31



It turns out that the phone interview that JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) had scheduled with Hikaru Utada for 1pm on Friday was a mistake–they actually wanted him to do it in person!

So Justin headed out (did his boss know where he was going?) and spent an hour or so chatting away with “Hikki” and asking her various questions he had requested and collected from readers via the “Ask Hikaru a Question!” JetWit post that ran on Thursday.  Utada’s parents even showed up at the end giving Justin a chance to chat with Hikaru’s dad for a short while.

The article will run in the Spring 2009 issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine.  But there may be some recorded clips of the interview posted here on JetWit as well as on the jetaany.org sometime in the next month.

Meanwhile, JetWit web traffic spiked mightily over the last two days as a result of the Utada posting on Thursday.  It turns out that once word got out of Justin’s JETAA NY interview with Utada, a number of fans posted the item in the comments sections of several Utada-related blogs.  Make sure to read the first one below which includes an entertaining discussion among several people of good questions to ask Utada as well as whether to submit a question even though they’re not JETs.

http://hikaru.sc/showthread.php?t=2265

http://blog.utada2.net/?p=723

http://blog.utada2.net/?p=712

http://jbbs.livedoor.jp/bbs/link.cgi?url=http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2009/01/29/ask-hikaru-utada-a-question/


Jan 29


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JETAA NY Magazine Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) has apparently just landed a phone interview with Hikaru Utada to run in a future issue, and he’s looking for good questions to ask her.  E-mail responses to Justin at magazine /atto/ jetaaany /dotto/ org.

Hi everyone,

I just received an e-mail saying that Utada Hikaru will call me tomorrow (Fri. 1/30) afternoon to do an interview with JETAA NY Quarterly about her forthcoming English studio album, which will be released in the U.S. at the end of March.

I thought it would be cool to put out a request to the JET Alumni community for any questions you’d like to ask her. I’ll do my best to include as many as I can.

Please e-mail your questions to Justin Tedaldi at magazine /atto/ jetaany /dotto/ org no later than 1:00 p.m. this Friday.

Official release info for the new album appears below.  Yoroshiku! Read More


Jan 28

Japan Society: An Incisive Afternoon with Director Takashi Miike

Via Japan Society (NY):


From Gore to Westerns:
An Incisive Afternoon with Director Takashi Miike

Saturday, February 7
2:00 pm

ichi the killer
Miike’s 2001 film, Ichi the Killer.

From the gory horror of Audition (1999) to the spaghetti western parody Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) to the musical comedy The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001), Japan’s busiest film director Takashi Miike has made over 50 films in the widest range of possible genres. His razor-sharp, most absurd and yet entertaining style of filmmaking makes him one of the most distinctive directors working today, and this has brought a whole new type of international, enthusiastic, young followers to contemporary Japanese films. In this incisive afternoon, Miike will speak in depth on his filmmaking behind-the scenes.

Followed by a reception.


Takashi Miike.

Takashi Miike
Born in Osaka in 1960, Miike graduated from the Japan Academy of Moving Images in Yokohama.  After assisting directors such as Shohei Imamura and Hideo Onchi, he directed a number of Yakuza movies on video and made a theatrical feature debut with Shinjuku Triad Society in 1995.  His filmography includes more than 50 films to date, and the latest film Yatterman is being released in Japan in March.

Tickets:
$11/$7 Japan Society members, seniors & students

Purchase tickets online or call the box office at 212.715.1258.


LOCATION:
Unless noted otherwise, all programs will be held at Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street at First Avenue, NYC.

You have received this e-mail announcement based on your expressed interest in specific types of events. Updates on upcoming events will be e-mailed periodically.


This program is presented in association with Subway Cinema.
Hotel accommodations are provided by The Kitano New York.


Jan 24

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In his latest recurring column “Soft Power/Hard Truths” for the Daily Yomiuri, Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) attempts to explain the phenomenon that is Afro-Samurai.

See his column here:  http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2009/01/afro-samurai-anime-and-game-follow-soft.html


Jan 23

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).  She watches Fujisankei news in Japanese (to keep her interpreting skills sharp) and shares with us some of the interesting tidbits and trends as well as her own insights.

For many foreigners visiting Tokyo, an early morning trip to the legendary tuna auction at Tsukiji fish market is a must. However, last year the metropolitan government decided it had had enough of rowdy tourists disturbing the auctions and forbid them to enter the area during this time. Restriction began in April with the closing off of certain sections, and it escalated to complete denial of access for the one month period between December 15, 2008 and January 17, 2009. This tourist destination that receives as many as 500 visitors a day distributed flyers and put up signs in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and Russian declaring the ban.  

The reasons the conflict escalated to this point were multifold. Aside from what was cited as general gaijin rudeness, there were some actions that were particularly upsetting to the auctioneers and other employees. For example, visitors would pose Read More


Jan 22

Hello Kitty Maternity Ward?

How did Japan get beaten to the punch on this one?  Any thoughts from the JET alum (and Friends of JET) community?

Hello Kitty Maternity Ward – Yahoo! News Photos
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Hello-Kitty-Maternity-Ward-Hello-Kitty-Taipei/ss/events/lf/120608hellokittyhosp/im:/090121/481/157f0fef0bcb47f1ac31b27444cdb769/


Jan 20

Smithsonian lists “Odd-Fish” as one of notable children’s books for 2008

Kathleen Burke, who compiles an annual list of notable children’s books for the Smithsonian, included The Order of Odd-Fish, by JET alum James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06) in her 2008 list in the category for older readers.

And as a bonus, the cover of Odd-Fish is one of three covers shown, along with Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle and Aaron Blabey’s Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley.

Omedetou gozaimashita, James-san!

(Click here to see other critical praise for Odd-Fish.)


Jan 19

The Order of Odd-Fish: The Mix Tape

James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, was asked to do a fun feature on the music blog Largehearted Boy a couple weeks ago. They have a feature called “Book Notes” in which an author is invited to compile a mixtape appropriate for their book, and explain it. So he put together a kind of movie soundtrack for “The Order of Odd-Fish.” You can listen to his “Odd-Fish” mixtape, and read the explanations for his choices, here:

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2009/01/book_notes_jame_2.html


Jan 19

I just finished reading Zorgamazoo, the rhyming novel by Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04) published by Penguin Books, and want to let the JET alum community know that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The characters, the illustrations, the crazy fonts, the story and of course, the rhymes.

I know it’s not necessarily intended for people in my….um….age range.  But that didn’t take anything away from it.  It’s an extremely creative effort and I think JET alums (as well as non-JET alums) who read it will appreciate it.

(FYI, I’m not getting paid to say any of this.  Honto ni, I really was just curious and found I enjoyed it a great deal.)


Jan 17
******Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica and frequent lecturer on the topic of Japanese pop culture, was interviewed recently on Tokyo FM. Below is the link to the post on his blog (japanamerica.blogspot.com) as well as links to the interview clips.

Interviewed in New York, Aired in Tokyo, on Tokyo FM

The interview is in English, but the DJ translates in Japanese over Roland’s voice when he speaks and then expounds on her own at times.  (I think it’s a little easier to hear the English in Part 2.)

It would be great if someone out there would post an English-version summary of the interview in the comments section below.  Or perhaps one person could do a small portion and then others could add to it.

Click here for Part 1

And here for Part 2


Jan 15

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).  Recently she’s been watching the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

The famous French Michelin guide finally made its way to Tokyo last spring with a 2008 edition, and the 2009 edition came out last November. A news feature called “Michelin Phenomenon” examined how the Japanese are viewing this take on their culinary culture.

Japan’s gourmet guide with the most history is “Tokyo Ii Mise Umai Mise” (Tokyo’s Good and Delicious Restaurants), started in 1967. Written on the cover of a recent issue was the quote, “The French just don’t understand.” When the editor was asked about this assertion, he claimed, “What French and Japanese look for is different. For them the atmosphere of a restaurant is important, whereas for us it’s all about the taste.”

A new guide with a Japanese publisher came out in reaction to the Michelin guide. Its editor felt that with only a year or two of experience in Japan, it would be impossible for Read More


Jan 14

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Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has reviewed all haiku submissions containing the designated word “pop“ for Haiku Challenge #3 and has selected a winner to receive a free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime:  From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle.

Says Roland:  “As a half-Japanese drummer and writer, I can’t resist finding a paradiddle and bubble-blowing carp in a haiku. Congratulations, Julie Matysik–and thanks to all for stellar contributions.”

THE WINNER

A paradiddle.

The sticks connect, pop, bounce,

like koi blowing bubbles.

Julie Matysik (Yamanashi-ken, 2006-07)

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Click “Read More” to read the rest of the haiku submissions…
Read More


Jan 10

Japan Society presents Kazuko Shiraishi, the “Allen Ginsberg” of Japan, Friday, Jan. 30, 6:30pm

Interesting upcoming event at Japan Society in NYC:

JAPAN SOCIETY PRESENTS THE “ALLEN GINSBERG OF JAPAN,” WHO READS FROM NEW WORK, ACCOMPANIED BY LIVE JAZZ

My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi

Friday, January 30, 2009, 6:30 pm at Japan Society

New York, NY – Japan Society presents an intimate evening with one of Japan’s foremost poets, Kazuko Shiraishi, in conjunction with the recent English-language collection of her poetry, My Floating Mother, City. Shiraishi, a pioneer in jazz-poetry collaboration, is joined by trumpeter Itaru Oki for a special live performance, and partakes in a discussion and Q&A moderated by Forrest Gander, author and Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Brown University. My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi takes place Friday, January 30 at 6:30 pm and is followed by a reception. Read More


Jan 8

Ozawa and Obama: Michael Auslin comments in WSJ Asia

JET alum Michael Auslin (Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, former Professor of Japanese History at Yale University and one-time judge on Iron Chef America) has a new article in today’s Wall Street Journal Asia titled  Ozawa and Obama that analyzes the state of Japan’s economy and political situation and discusses the ways that Japan and the U.S. need to work together.


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