Jun 6

Monkey Majik JET alum rocker and Ambassador Fried deliver Canadian beef to Tagajo, Miyagi

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Thanks to JETAA Ottawa President Lisa Malin for sharing this:

Brief English summary of Japanese article below:

Canada’s Ambassador to Japan Jonathan T. Fried delivered a load of Canadian beef to Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture along with Maynard Plant (Aomori-ken, 1997-2000) and one other member of Monkey Majik (a four-person Canadian-Japanese band based in Sendai and Tagajo). The beef  was served atop locally grown Hitomebore rice to make steeki-don for 1,000 people living in shelters in Tagajo.  The Ambassador’s aim was to help residents get their strength back after everything they’ve been through, and it appears to have been the first meat many had enjoyed for quite awhile.

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(Japanese article)

宮城〕

Jun 6

Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (June 2011)

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The June 2011 issue of the Sake World e-newsletter by JET alum and the leading non-Japanese sake expert in the world, John Gauntner (a.k.a. “The Sake Guy”), is now available online.

Go to John’s Sake World website for more information as well:  www.sake-world.com

May 14

Smile Kids Japan’s Mike Maher-King to speak at TEDxTokyo

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Mike Maher-King (Fukui), founder of Smile Kids Japan, will be one of the speakers at TEDxTokyo:  Entering the Unknown on Saturday, May 21 at Miraikan Tokyo.

Here’s some background on Mike from the TEDxTokyo website which does a nice job summarizing some of the good work he’s been doing since the Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami:

Mike Maher-King
Network Organizer, Fundraiser and Catalyst

Channeling good intentions is tougher than it looks, but Michael Maher King seems to possess the knack. The young British founder and CEO of Smile Kids Japan—which has now joined Living Dreams—was a teacher in Fukui when his wife informed him that some of their students were orphans. In May 2008, they started up Smile Kids to lend their time, skills and care to Fukui’s orphanages.

The March 11 Tohoku disaster broadened the group’s focus and ambitions. Working alongside the Living Dreams NPO, Michael is now taking their network concept to 18 orphanages in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima through the Smiles and Dreams: Tohoku Kids’ Project. They plan to set up regular fun and interactive volunteer visits, distribute donated items, and spark long-term projects that cover everything from computers to mentoring to scholarships. Michael hopes to go nationwide and help Japan’s other orphans shape their own destinies.

And here’s the event description from the TEDxTokyo website:

Join us
The entire event will be streamed live here on:

• May 21st from 9am JST
• May 20th from 8pm EDT

Join us for all of the talks as they happen, and exclusive backstage interviews.

On Saturday May 21st from 9am JST (Friday May 20th from 8pm EDT) the curtain will rise on our third annual event, Entering the Unknown, which is set to be bigger and better than ever as we bring together an even wider range of speakers and participants to share ideas and inspiration.

In the wake of the devastating March 11th earthquake and subsequent tsunami & radiation menace, we abruptly altered our focus to explore practical and inventive ways of rebuilding and renewing Japan, and uplifting the spirits of its people.

Over 30 speakers and 300 participants will be joining us at Tokyo’s iconic Miraikan, with thousands more around the world watching on the day via our bilingual live streams, whilst taking part through our social media channels.

We invite you to be a part of this special event – put the date in your diary, follow our latest updates on Twitter, and join us here live from Tokyo on the day as we Enter the Unknown.

View the full program here »

May 11

JET alum John Gauntner enlightens, entertains Japan Society audience

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Last night was Japan Society of New York’s Anual Sake Tasting:  Back to Basics event with a lecture by JET alum John Gauntner (Kanagawa-ken) (aka “The Sake Guy”), now the leading sake educator in the world, followed by a sake tasting (and mingling) with about 20 sake exporters from all over Japan.  I attended with professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) (who writes the WIT Life posts on JETwit) and we had a terrific time, learning the basics of sake, running into Tomoko Okuno of Japan Society as well as Alma Jennings (Fukushima-ken, 2008-10) who was volunteering at the event, and of course finally getting to meet John in person.

John will be lecturing at similar events over the next few days in Boston, Toronto and several other cities in North America.  So keep your eyes out and, if you attend, make sure to say hi and let him know you’re a JET alum as well.

Thanks to Japan Society for putting on a great event!

Stacy Smith (CIR Kumamoto, 2000-03) and John Gauntner (Kanagawa)

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Sake tasting: JET alums Stacy Smith, Alma Jennings and Steven Horowitz sample sake with Kensuke Shichida, President of Saga Prefecture-based Tenzan Sake Brewery

May 9

Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (May 2011)

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The May 2011 issue of the Sake World e-newsletter by JET alum and the leading non-Japanese sake expert in the world, John Gauntner (a.k.a. “The Sake Guy”), is now available online.

Note: John will be lecturing tomorrow night at the Japan Society in New York.

In this issue:

• Greetings
• Smooth’em or Let’em?
• Announcements and Events: Sake Professional Course in NYC
• Did you Know?
• Sake Basics
• Sake Education Central

May 4

JET alum sake expert John Gauntner to lecture at Japan Society Sake Tasting next Tuesday

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JET alum John Gauntner (aka “The Sake Guy”) will be lecturing on “Hot or cold?” at Japan Society of New York’s Annual Sake Tasting next Tuesday, May 10 at 6:30pm.  John is considered the leading non-Japanese expert on sake in the world.

Apr 6

Roland Kelts helps launch debut issue of “MONKEY BUSINESS: New Voices from Japan” with April/May events in NYC

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Via Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica and the contributing editor for MONKEY BUSINESS:  New Voices from Japan:

A Letter from A Public Space (Brooklyn-based literary publication):

A Public Space Literary Projects announces the debut issue of MONKEY BUSINESS: New Voices from Japan, with April/May launch events in New York City.

New York City, New York, April 4, 2011—A Public Space (APS) announces publication of the first annual English language edition of Monkey Business: New Voices from Japan (MB), supported by a generous grant from the Nippon Foundation. Three launch programs in New York City in late April and early May will bring together authors, translators and editors from Japan and the US for this first-of-its-kind trans-cultural literary event. Twenty-five percent of all MB sales will go toward the Nippon Foundation/CANPAN Northeastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.

Monkey Business is a Tokyo-based Japanese literary magazine founded in 2008 by award-winning translator, scholar, editor and author Motoyuki Shibata. One of Japan’s best known and most highly regarded translators of American fiction, Shibata has won numerous accolades, most recently the 2010 Japan Translation Cultural Prize for his translation of Thomas Pynchon’s Mason & Dixon, and has introduced to Japanese readers works by Paul Auster, Steven Millhauser, Rebecca Brown, Stuart Dybek and Steve Erickson, among others.

Shibata, who was interviewed in the first issue of APS, modeled MB in part on the Brooklyn literary journal. Founded in 2006 by editor Brigid Hughes, A Public Space is devoted to cutting-edge literature—not just from American contributors, but by writers and artists spanning the globe. Each issue presents a portfolio that explores an international literary scene. The debut issue of APS featured a portfolio from Japan, curated and edited by author Roland Kelts (Japanamerica) and MB founder Shibata, and featuring contributions from Haruki Murakami, Yoko Ogawa, Kazushige Abe and others. Issue 1 was praised by readers in the US and Japan and has long been sold out.”
Read More

Apr 4

Event: JET alum author Roland Kelts to speak in London April 14

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Attention JETAA UK! Join Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, at The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in London on Thursday, April 14 for a talk on “Pop culture from a Multipolar Japan.”  Talk is 4-5 pm followed by drinks reception to 6pm.

Note:  If you plan on attending, please register for the event at http://www.dajf.org.uk/events/booking-form

Mar 31

Anthony Bianchi back in Brooklyn for “Xaverian High School Japan Benefit Concert” tonight

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Just heard from JET alum, Brooklyn native and current Inuyama City Councilman Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, Inuyama-shi) that he’s back in New York for a very short stay in order to attend his alma mater Xaverian High School‘s “Japan Benefit Concert” tonight (Thursday, March 31).

Anthony notes that any JET alums around are welcome to come.  [Ed. Note:  Sorry for the short notice.  I wasn’t able to post this until 4:21 pm and it starts at 7:00 pm.]

Start time:  7:00 pm

Location:  Xaverian High School, 71st St & Shore Road in Brooklyn

Cost:  $10

Mar 22

Sake Dictionary iPhone app unveiled by JET alum John Gauntner (“The Sake Guy”)

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Via JET alum John Gauntner (a.k.a. “The Sake Guy”):

Get your copy of The Sake Dictionary iPhone app for $0.99:  http://itunes.com/apps/ sakedictionary

In John’s words:

“The Sake Dictionary is a concise little package of all the terms you might ever come across when dealing with sake. Almost 200 of them – including sake grades, rice variety names, seasonal sake terms, special varieties, rare types,　post-brewing processing words and the myriad terms used in sake　production – many of which are not even familiar to the average Japanese　person on the street – are listed up here with concise, useful and clear definitions and the written Japanese version as well. And now, with the new audio component, you can listen and learn just how to pronounce those terms properly. Start to toss around Japanese sake terms like you were raised knowing them! Gain a level of familiarity hitherto unimaginable! Avoid frustrating paralysis when faced with a sake-related purchase!”

Mar 4

NYT Column: Take Back the Trash by JET alum Bruce Feiler

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“Take Back the Trash“ is a thoughtful column on whether to throw out food in your refrigerator by JET alum Bruce Feiler, author of Learning to Bow, Walking the Bible and several other best-sellers including his recent book The Council of Dads:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/fashion/06ThisLife.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Feb 7

JETs in the News: Lars Martinson featured in Japan Times article on ex-pat comics

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JET alum and 'Tonoharu' creator Lars Martinson.

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JET alum/cartoonist Lars Martinson (Fukuoka-ken 2003-2006), author of the graphic novels Tonoharu: Part Two and Tonoharu:  Part 1, is the focus (along with Adam Pasion, author of the Sundogs anthologies) of a thoughtful Japan Times article by Gianni Simone on comics about Japan “that tell it like it is.”

Here’s the link to the article:  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110205a1.html

And below are a few excerpts about Martinson from the article:

The comic life of expats in Japan

Americans Lars Martinson and Adam Pasion tell it like it is with cutting-edge manga

By GIANNI SIMONE Special to The Japan Times

Tales of expat life in Japan all too often get blown out of proportion and quickly become picaresque adventures that little resemble real life.

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Luckily for us, many comic artists who have lived here seem to be more level-headed and have tackled the subject with a more realistic, no-nonsense approach.

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As the title suggests, “Tonoharu: Part Two” is not Martinson’s first foray in the field of expat comics: He self-published the first volume of this four-part saga in 2008 thanks to a grant from the prestigious Xeric Foundation.

Martinson, 33, first arrived in Japan in 2003 to work as an assistant language teacher, and spent the next three years working at a junior high school in a small town in Fukuoka Prefecture. His second stint in this country was in 2008 when he studied East Asian calligraphy under the auspices of a two-year research scholarship from the Japanese government.

Travel had played a pivotal role in his life (he had lived in Thailand and Norway as well), so when he came up with the idea of producing a graphic novel, he decided to make foreign travel a central theme.

“I planned from the start to turn my Japanese experience into a comic,” Martinson says, “even though I didn’t want it to be a mere autobiographical story. So I chose a 20-something American like me as the protagonist, but added a fictional group of eccentric expatriates living in the same rural Japanese town.”

At times living in the middle of nowhere was a challenge. Still, Martinson has no regrets about those three years spent in Kyushu.

“I’m actually a city slicker,” confesses Martinson, “and would love to live in a huge city in Japan at some point. Also, I’m sure that expat communities are awesome, but they can also separate you from the native population. When you live out in the country, you don’t have the option to just hang out with other Westerners, and this can force you to get involved in the host culture in ways you probably wouldn’t otherwise.”

Click here to read the full article:  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110205a1.html

Click here to read more JetWit posts about Lars Martinson:

Click here for Lars Martinson’s official blog/website:  http://larsmartinson.com

Feb 3

NYTimes column: “Dominating the Man Cave” by JET alum Bruce Feiler

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A thoughtful column in today’s New York Times on the topic of ESPN and man culture by JET alum Bruce Feiler, author of Learning to Bow, Walking the Bible and several other best-sellers including his recent book The Council of Dads:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/fashion/06ThisLife.html?_r=1&src=twrhp

Jan 28

JET alum Bruce Feiler’s TED talk on The Council of Dads (video)

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JET alum Bruce Feiler, author of Learning to Bow, Walking the Bible and several other best-sellers including his recent book The Council of Dads, recently spoke in connection with the TED lecture series:

Jan 12

JET Alum Anthony Bianchi to run for Lower House seat in upcoming Japan elections

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Here’s the link to the article (which is in Japanese):  http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0111/NGY201101110010.html

Below is text from the article:

衆院愛知６区補選　民主、犬山市議のアンソニー氏擁立へ

民主党の石田芳弘衆院議員（６５）の名古屋市長選立候補に伴い、４月に予定される衆院愛知６区補選に、同党が愛知県犬山市議のビアンキ・アンソニー 氏（５２）を擁立する方向となった。同党愛知６区総支部が１１日午前に開いた選挙対策会議で、候補として県連に提案することを決めた。

ビアンキ氏は米国ニューヨーク市出身。１９８９年に愛知県教育委員会の英語指導助手として来日。２００２年に日本国籍を取得して０３年に犬山市議選に立候補、最多得票で初当選した。０６年には同市長選に立候補したが、８候補中３位で落選。０７年に市議に再選された。

総支部の意向を踏まえ、県連が最終調整を進める。衆院補選への立候補について、ビアンキ氏は朝日新聞の取材に「名誉なこと。まだいろいろなステップがあるが、頑張っていきたい」と述べた。

６区補選では、０９年衆院選で落選した自民党元職の丹羽秀樹氏（３８）が立候補を準備。みんなの党も独自候補を擁立する方針だ。