***************

Todd Van Horne (Wakayama-ken, Tanabe-shi, 2004-08) is an inbound tourism specialist based in Wakayama Prefecture. He is Operations Manager for Kumano Adventures, a company started by fellow JET alum Giuliana Alfinito (Wakayama-ken, 2017-18), who also previously served as President of the New England JETAA chapter and as a Country Representative for JETAA USA.

I was an ALT in Tanabe City, Wakayama, from 2004 to 2008. It was my 2^nd time in Japan and I was a little older than most of the other ALTs. I didn’t have so many shared interests with the JET social world around me, so I found myself spending time with a small group of friends exploring the area, cooking, and studying the language hard on my own.

My placement itself was difficult, sometimes unpleasant, for reasons that probably wouldn’t surprise other JET alumni. In fact, I had my resignation letter typed and translated, and was about to turn it in after recontracting, when suddenly on that day we were assigned a new supervisor. The new supervisor was just as disconnected but much less unpleasant. With my growing independence thanks to improving language ability and understanding of bureaucracy, I could rely less on colleagues I preferred not to depend on. That growing independence was the reason I was able to stay for 4 years. It’s still very strange to me that the life I have now pivoted on that day’s “I’ll see how today goes.”

Outside of work, I became increasingly interested in fermented foods and helped my wife grow and teach her cooking class business. 

After JET, the plan was to move to the U.S. for a couple of years and then return to Japan. We did exactly that, only to move back just one month before the 2011 tsunami. Like nearly everyone we knew at the time, we struggled during that time. Finally we got our restaurant open, focusing on fully handmade food served with homemade pickles, miso, and sprouted brown rice. 

We ignored the naysayers who said you shouldn’t work with your spouse … and paid the price. We had a restaurant, a baby, an immediate family member in failing health, and more. To say it was a tough time is a vast understatement. For a few years I felt like the guy in movies clawing at ice from underwater, trying to find a way out.

A combination of circumstances led to an introduction to a local company, and although I wasn’t looking to be employed, it was the most practical option for a few years. I’m glad I did it, but I would never, ever repeat it. Although staying with the restaurant wasn’t an option at the time, my only keen regret about these 20+ years is that I’m not producing and selling my food and products anymore. 

Becoming a parent changed things again. After my daughter was born, I developed a strong interest in the psychology and theory of parenting, likely influenced by my years in education. I separated from my ex-wife, quit that job, and found myself with the space to be the kind of father I wanted to be. My somewhat frustrated interest in education was rocked when I started raising my daughter. It was like a light bulb turning on, to coin a phrase. I began coaching Japanese parents in raising bilingual children, with a lot of parenting philosophy mixed in. It was meaningful work, and was aligned with my values and interests. I randomly met an old friend in a supermarket around that time and recall saying, “I’ve been through the f****** ringer but I’m so happy to be where I am.”

Around that time, a former JET coworker introduced me to Giuliana, who had been a JET in nearby Shingu City from 2017–2018. We hadn’t crossed paths before, unsurprising, given that I was working six days a week during her year on JET. I started helping her informally with operational challenges for her small travel startup Kumano Adventures, and over the course of a year or two, that collaboration deepened. When an opportunity came up to apply for a tourism promotion grant, we decided to partner.

In 2025, we both quit our other jobs and committed fully to Kumano Adventures.

Running a tour business in rural Japan is loads of fun but feels Sisyphean at the same time. I love connecting with local suppliers who are eager to try new ideas, and seeing what we can create together. With so many inbound tourists, sometimes I feel like we’re passing on earning opportunities too often. But our end goal is to create systems that help rural Japan, while making a living. The challenge is being creative and persistent, but also patient in balance, while finding where our vision overlaps with what the consumer base is actually looking for.

One project that feels especially full-circle for me is our Taiko Retreat. During my JET years, I played in the local taiko group for four years. Separately, the partner of another local ALT, Carrie, also began playing and teaching taiko here and has continued ever since. Carrie later reached out about creating a taiko event back in the place where they were placed for JET, and that conversation eventually became the Taiko Retreat.

Carrie is a dance teacher with a strong focus on physical health and incorporates concepts like godai, the five elements of Eastern philosophy, into her teaching. From my perspective, Carrie’s work emphasizes authenticity at both the personal and student levels while creating a space where people can express themselves honestly. We hope this becomes a recurring event.

For former JETs, there’s something familiar about returning to rural Japan not as a teacher, but as a participant, already knowing how to perceive the pause, open your senses, be thoughtful about your response. As a small way of welcoming that community, we offer a 10% discount for former JET participants.

Recently my friend invited me to his Thanksgiving gathering. During dinner he looked at me and said, “You don’t seem jaded about your time here.” Well … I’m glad that’s my vibe!

Although life’s difficulties never disappear, things are easier for me here now than they’ve ever been. My time in this region started with JET but I wouldn’t really call it a foundation. It was just another experience that had good and bad times, and was part of the path to now.

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here. 

The events of the month ahead promise to be as rich and full as autumn itself—brisk and colorful, with a dash of unpredictability. 

This month’s highlights include:

Now through November 30

ONE PIECE x MERCER LABS

Mercer Labs, 21 Dey Street

From $55

Since its debut more than a quarter century ago, One Piece has grown into a franchise that currently spans 15 feature films, multiple video games, a trading card game, and a continually expanding catalog of licensed merchandise and location-based entertainment. This all-new exhibition spans 11 rooms at Mercer Labs and is based on the Land of Wano Arc from the One Piece anime series. “We’re thrilled to partner with Mercer Labs to create ONE PIECE x MERCER LABS and bring this cutting-edge immersive One Piece experience to fans in New York City,” said Lisa Yamatoya, Senior Director and Head of Marketing at Toei Animation Inc. “For over 25 years, One Piece has delighted audiences worldwide through the imaginative storytelling and colorful characters created by Eiichiro Oda. This exhibition offers fans and newcomers alike a rare opportunity to step inside the world of One Piece and experience it in an entirely new way.” Join the Straw Hat Crew and step aboard the Thousand Sunny and meet the future King of the Pirates!

Saturday, November 1, 4:00 p.m.

Godzilla in Context: 70 Years of Monster History

Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street

$15-$20

The original Godzilla film was first released on Nov 3, 1954, and this date is now remembered each year as “Godzilla Day,” paying tribute to the birth of Japan’s most famous monster. In honor of this year’s Godzilla Day, Japan Society will host author Steve Ryfle (70 Years of Godzilla) for a special anniversary talk.

Read More

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here. 

In the dog days of summer, it’s best to escape the heat in a place that’s cozy and cool. For those into both cutting-edge and classic anime, this month offers a diverse trio of theatrical revivals—all in the comfort of indoor air conditioning.

This month’s highlights include: 

August 1-2, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder – OUT THERE Album Release Show

Sony Hall, 145 West 45th Street

From $45

Since Hiromi’s debut album Another Mind (2003), the world-renowned pianist’s sound has evolved with every release, erasing the lines between jazz and classical, composition and improvisation. This special intimate performance celebrates the release of OUT THERE, Hiromi’s 13th studio full-length album. Born in Hamamatsu, Japan, Hiromi began studying piano when she was six years old. When she was 17, Chick Corea invited her to play with him at a Tokyo concert. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was mentored by jazz legend Ahmad Jamal. A prolific artist, she has also recorded the soundtrack to Blue Giant, an animated feature film based on the popular manga. Hiromi is a perennial favorite on DownBeat’s Annual Critics and Readers Poll, and has performed at the world’s finest jazz festivals, including Montreux, Umbria, North Sea, Newport, and Monterey. Her work has been celebrated by media including the New York Times, NPR and NPR Music, and the Washington Post, and she was a featured performer at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony in 2021.

August 3, 10, 17, 24, 2:00-4:00 p.m. 

Koji Workshop: Exploring Koji & Amazake

Brooklyn Beauty/Fashion Labo, 300 7th Street (Brooklyn)

$45 (kids free)

Bread, coffee, cheese, chocolate…the wisdom of fermentation has given us not only flavorful foods, but also natural ways to preserve them. Let’s explore one example from Far East Asia called “Koji” and see how beautifully it blends with Western daily life. Hakko-an will present its recipes—and you’re welcome to bring anything you’d like to add, so you can explore and create your own Koji Smoothie! After the exploration, you’ll get to take some Koji home for trying it out at home. All kids are welcome free to join the adventure!

August 10-12

Grave of the Fireflies

Various theaters

Various prices

As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies. This is the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, two children born at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and now cast adrift in a world that lacks not the care to shelter them, but simply the resources. Forced to fend for themselves in the aftermath of fires that swept entire cities from the face of the earth, their doomed struggle is both a tribute to the human spirit and the stuff of nightmares. Beautiful, yet at times brutal and horrifying. Based on the retellings of survivor Nosaka Akiyuki and directed by Isao Takahata (co-founder, with Hayao Miyazaki, of Japan’s legendary Studio Ghibli). Grave of the Fireflies has been universally hailed as an artistic and emotional tour de force. Now digitally remastered and restored, it is one of the rare films that truly deserves to be called a masterpiece.

Read More

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here. 

Spring has sprung in the Big Apple, and that means one thing: a new season of sounds, colors, and spectacular performing arts to match the blossoming sakura trees throughout the city.

This month’s highlights include: 

Friday, April 4, 8:00 p.m.

Kenshi Yonezu 2025 World Tour / JUNK

Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Avenue

From $175

Kenshi Yonezu, the brains behind the theme songs of popular anime such as Chainsaw Man and the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli film The Boy and the Heron, makes his Radio City Music Hall debut! After gaining success with Vocaloid music under the stage name Hachi, Kenshi Yonezu began producing under his real name in 2012. In addition to music, he has attracted attention for his album cover illustrations and video productions. The video for his hit single “Lemon,” the long-running theme song for the TV series Unnatural, is the most-viewed music video in Japan, and topped Billboard Japan’s year-end charts for two consecutive years, leaving a mark on music history both in Japan and abroad. His newest single “Plazma” is the official theme song to the latest installment in the iconic Gundam franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-. Available everywhere now, the track features electrifying vocals from Yonezu alongside high-tempo synths and electronic rhythms to match the vibrant universe of the mecha and their epic space battles.

April 2-20

In the Pinku: The Return of Roman Porno

Metrograph, 7 Ludlow Street

$17

lIn 1971, facing flagging attendance thanks to competition from television and the specter of bankruptcy, the venerable studio Nikkatsu, the oldest in Japan, remembered the ancient wisdom that “Sex sells”—thus was the Roman Porno line born. Playing alongside the cheaper, independently produced so-called “pink films,” Roman Porno were often more than just salacious—though they were, of course, plenty salacious—for as long as their makers served up the obligatory naked flesh and softcore idylls, they were left free to throw in all the formal flourishes, experimental performances, radical politics, and morbid psychology they so desired. From the ’70s heyday of the Roman Porno to more recent works by Sion Sono and Akihiko Shiota, this six-film series, accompanying a run of Love Hotel, Shinji Somai’s lone venture into Roman Porno, is a trip to the exhilarating intersection of art and smut.

Monday, April 7, 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder: One Night Special Performance

Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 West Third Street 

Limited availability

Since Hiromi’s debut album Another Mind (2003), the world-renowned pianist’s sound has evolved with every release, erasing the lines between jazz and classical, composition and improvisation. This special intimate performance celebrates the release of Out There, Hiromi’s 13th studio full-length album. Born in Hamamatsu, Japan, Hiromi began studying piano when she was six years old. When she was 17, Chick Corea invited her to play with him at a Tokyo concert. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was mentored by jazz legend Ahmad Jamal. A prolific artist, she has also recorded the soundtrack to Blue Giant, an animated feature film based on the popular manga. Hiromi is a perennial favorite on DownBeat’s Annual Critics and Readers Poll, and has performed at the world’s finest jazz festivals, including Montreux, Umbria, North Sea, Newport, and Monterey. Her work has been celebrated by media including the New York Times, NPR and NPR Music, and the Washington Post, and she was a featured performer at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony in 2021.

Read More

Chapter Beats November, 2018

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)

1. JETAA Rocky Mountain

Colorado & Wyoming Japanese Speech Contest

Where: First Baptist Church of Denver 1373 Grant St. Denver, CO 80203When:  Saturday, November 10 @ 9:30 AM – 3 PM Co-sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver and the Japan America Society of Colorado, the annual Colorado/Wyoming Japanese language speech contest in coming up on November 10th and JETAA Rocky Mountain has been asked to have a few JETs come and talk about the JET Program. We need two JETs for the morning to set up a table and talk about how awesome their JET experience was. Around noon, the afternoon shift will begin and all four JETs will be treated to free Bento boxes courtesy of the Colorado Japanese Language Education Association (CJLEA). The Afternoon JETs will staff our table AND give a 15 minute talk and Q&A. Bring anything you like from your JET experience. Letters from students, and of course photos, really help get people excited about the JET program when they see all the amazing things we get to do and connections we made with our local communities back in Japan. And of course, JET Alumni are welcome to attend and socialize. The members of CJLEA have been incredibly supportive of the JET program and JETAARM. They are Japanese language teachers after all!

 

 

2. JETAA NY

JETAA NY Fall Photo Walk

DATE:       Saturday, November 3^rd

TIME:        12:00 – 14:00 EDT

 

 

PLACE:    Central Park

5 Av to Central Park W, 59 St to 110 St,

New York, New York 10022

Details

Join us for a casual stroll through Central Park while taking some beautiful pictures of the fall colors. Bring your camera / smartphone / Polaroid and let’s capture the signs of the season. Afterwards, we can show off our new pictures over coffee/tea/snacks.

More details including meeting location to come!

Questions? Contact Andy at community[at]community[dot]org

 

 

3. JETAA NY / Carnegie Mellon University – Heinz College

Carnegie Mellon University is a strategic partner of JETAA and are offering opportunities for JET Alumni to learn more about the master’s programs offered at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. 

Their partnership guarantees a 30% minimum scholarship award when JETAA alumni enroll in one of their master’s programs.

Prospective graduate students from a wide spectrum of majors and backgrounds will be interested in learning more about our highly ranked master’s degree programs in Information Systems & Management, Public Policy & Management, and Arts & Entertainment Industry Management.

Please find more information about their Fall Visitation Weekend below:

 

• Our Fall Visitation Weekend will take place on Friday, November 9^th and Saturday, November 10^th. Attendees will meet faculty, administrators, and current students to learn about our curriculum, career development, internship opportunities, scholarships, the city of Pittsburgh, and much more. Your students and alumni are eligible for up to a $250.00 travel stipend to attend.  Follow this link to Register.

 

• We will be hosting Online Information Sessions throughout the fall semester.  Learn about our master’s programs without leaving your desk!  Each session includes a presentation by the admissions team and features the program director and/or current students. For the upcoming schedule of live events, or to view a recorded session, CLICK HERE

 

• Members of the Heinz College attend conferences, graduate school fairs and other events around the country. We hope you can meet us on the road! Check our Travel Schedule

 

• Prospective students may also schedule a campus visit or connect with a student.

 

 

4. JETAA Ottawa

Sign-up for Networking & Welcome Back Reception on November 14

 

Sign-up for invitations to Networking & Welcome Back Reception co-hosted with the Embassy of Japan is now available! Please click the button below to signal your interest and reserve a slot on the invite list. The annual Networking & Welcome Back Reception is on November 14. Co-hosted by the Ambassador of Japan to Canada and JETAA Ottawa, this evening event includes welcoming back the newly returned JETs in style, an excellent networking opportunity, and great Japanese food. If those interested, there is also a career fair with Japanese companies in Canada planned for prior to the reception itself. Date: Wednesday, October 14 A limited number of invitations will be made available to JET alumni on a first come, first served basis. We are working to give as many JET alumni the chance to participate in this event as we can, but we cannot confirm that all members who fill out the form at the link will get an invitation. We appreciate your interest and understanding.

 

Sign-up Form

 

 

 

5. JETAA SC

Nihongo Dake Dinner (NDD)

Save the Date! November 10th will be another great opportunity to catch up with alumni while also brushing up on those Japanese skills. Don’t worry if you’re Japanese isn’t perfect because all levels are welcome! Come as you are and enjoy some good food. More details about location will be coming in future newsletters and on our FB page.

 

6. JETAA Cape Town

Japanese Film Festival, Cape Town

DATE:        2^nd – 4^th November

VENUE:     V&A Nouveau

PRICE:      Free

The Japanese Film Festival is one of the oldest foreign film festivals in South Africa and has been continuing every year since 1994. Free screenings at V&A Nouveau 2 – 4 November, check it out!

 

7. JETAA UK

JLPT Bootcamp Retreat

Date	16th November 2018 – 18th November 2018
Time	Friday evening, All day saturday, and return to Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon
Price	£300

An weekend of Japanese lessons, meals, games, films and fun at Gorton House (a short drive from Edinburgh)

The weekend aims to be immersive – i.e. we’ll be conversing in Japanese as much as possible, even whilst eating and socialising! However, the emphasis is on fun for ALL LEVELS, so don’t let the immersive aspect scare you! This will be about practising the skills you have in a relaxed atmosphere outside lessons, should you want to.

This retreat is run by JETAA members and and supported by JETAA funds to keep the cost as low as possible for attendees.

More information and register your interest at : https://nihongoscotland.com/index.php/jlpt-bootcamp-language-retreat/

 

 

8. JETAA Prairies

JETAA Prairies Japan Trivia and Networking Night

Date:          Saturday, December 1^st

Time:                   18:00 – 22:00 UTC

Venue:       Garbonzo’s Pizza Pub

471 Portage Avenue, Unit 2,

Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E3

Do you like trivia? Are you knowledgeable about Japan? Do you want to test your knowledge in a fun environment? Are you a Japanese national who loves trivia? Are you a current university student who is thinking of applying for the JET Programme?

This event is OPEN TO ALL who are interested in Japanese culture (and not just JET alumni). We will ask questions from a variety of topics including (but not limited to) Japanese history, pop culture, sports, news, geography, and film. Questions will be answered in a team/table format. Don’t worry if you don’t have a team: we will create the teams.

To reserve your spot(s), please send your rsvp (name and number of guests) to rsvp@jetaaprairies.ca by Friday, November 16th, 2018.

 

 

9. JETAA ABC

DATE:        Saturday, November 17^th

TIME:         14:00 – 20:00 PST

VENUE:     A-maze-ing Laughter

Morton Park, 1800 Morton Ave,

Vancouver, BC V6G加拿大, Vancouver

Please RSVP with the following Link by November 14th, 2018

(https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ts_7OBkoK33jJ0nO9TUu2-6D1yAl5PuuHmka1wgZrNI)

Come out and join us for an epic downtown-wide scavenger hunt! The JETAABC Amazing Race 2018 will be a video/photo scavenger hunt where participants compete in teams of 2 to 4. Friends of JET alumni are welcome to join!

The theme of our Amazing Race will involve Japanese culture and its history in downtown Vancouver: since the beginning to the present day.

On the day of, you will receive A Hit List of Tasks for which the locations and methods will range widely but can primarily be performed within downtown. For each completed task, teams will be awarded points of varying degrees – depending on difficulty of the task. The teams with the highest points at the end wins! The race itself will run from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. We will be meeting at the A-Maze-ing Laughter Statues near Stanley Park at 2:00 for to start the race at 2:30pm sharp!

From 6:00pm to 8:00pm, an after-party will be held and all participants are encouraged to come. We will be showcasing the goods of our photo hunt as well as announcing the winners of our competition over food and drinks. If you cannot make it for the Race itself, we highly recommend that you join us for the after-party!

More details of the event to come!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ian Fan at ian@jetaabc.ca.

 

 

10. National AJET

ATTENTION JET ALUMNI

An exciting opportunity for bilingual Japanese speakers to make extra income has been shared with National Ajet. Please see details below.

 

Jeenie^TM is a mobile app that connects travellers on demand via video/audio with LIVE linguists who can help them with language and cultural issues (think “Uber” for languages). Linguists can sign up at absolutely no cost and then decide how much, how often and where they would like to work. It all takes place in cashless transactions, worldwide, 24/7, via smartphone. More information is at www.Jeenie.com.

 

We have significant opportunities for Japanese speakers to earn extra income right now, and we think JET alumni would be ideal candidates for providing services on our platform. They can work on their own schedule from home (or almost anywhere) and get paid for their valuable language skills. We would be delighted to welcome them to our community of Language Jeenies!

 

 

 

By Aubrey Keene (Hokkaido, 2004-06) for JQ magazine. Aubrey moved to New Jersey from Kentucky to complete a master’s degree in Asian studies from Seton Hall University. This is her first article for JQ.

On Saturday, February 3, the New York Adventure Club offered participants a private tea ceremony demonstration at the Urasenke Chanoyu Center of New York (UCC) in Manhattan. Nearly two dozen participants from the area attended to have their first experience with this iconic Japanese cultural tradition.

Experiences like this are not unique for members of the New York Adventure Club. The group, formed in 2013 by CEO and founder Corey William Schneider, was an effort, he explains, “to get my friends to join me on my random weekend adventures around the city.” For more than a year and a half prior, Schneider had been exploring the city on his own as part of what he calls a “mini-early life crisis” that triggered a desire to do more fulfilling activities in his free time. By founding the group on Facebook, Schneider hoped he could get others to join him: he quickly discovered his idea was a hit when over 100 people showed up for the first event. The group now boasts more than 9,000 members, with activities ranging from trapeze classes to tours of Grant’s Tomb to tea tastings happening almost every day of the week.

On a chilly Upper East Side afternoon, participants gathered in the lobby of the UCC for an introduction by their chado, or way of tea, master Yoshihiro Terazono, who gave an overview of the 140-year old building. Originally a horse carriage house later refitted as an art studio for Mark Rothko, the UCC purchased the building in 1980 and spent two years transforming the space into a tea ceremony center. It now houses three tatami mat rooms of various sizes where students come and practice throughout the week. Each room opens to an outdoor space of a garden area with a view of the windows three stories above. The aesthetics successfully evoked the image of a tea house in Kyoto, the birthplace of Urasenke.

Read More

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

Every August, fireworks masters from across Japan compete in an impressive music and pyrotechnics show at the All-Japan National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) along the Omono River in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the event. Click HERE to read MORE.

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

The Tohoku Rokkon (“Six Souls”) Festival is a two-day event where you can see six major Tohoku area summer festivals (one from each prefecture) all in one place!

It was created to encourage the revival of the Tohoku area after the Great East Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011. This year marks the sixth and final year of the event. It will be held in Aomori City from June 25-26, 2016.

Click HERE to read MORE.

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

Inakadate Village (Aomori Prefecture), the pioneer of rice field art, will be holding a Winter Rice Field Art event this February 2016 in collaboration with internationally renowned snow artist Simon Beck, who creates geometrical artworks by walking across/around fields of snow in snow shoes.  He has traveled all over the world creating snow art works, but this will be his first work in Japan.

Click HERE to read MORE.

A request for help with this project from JET alum Ryan McDonald (Fukushima-ken):

This is the 4th year we are trying to produce the “This Is Fukushima” calendar that we send to world leaders, media, and royalty. We’ve received thank you notes from President Jimmy Carter, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

• We take donations and use the money to produce the calendar and then pay for most of the shipping, although for the past 3 calendars the people creating out went out of pocket over $1,000 each.
• Here is a link to the current calendar in PDF form to see the style. Feel free to download it and print it out if you’d like. The actual calendars are professionally printed and look great.
  • http://www.city.koriyama.fukushima.jp/063000/koho/fromkoriyama/documents/2015tif.pdf
• This link is a write up (in Japanese) about myself and the other people producing it.
  • http://www.city.koriyama.fukushima.jp/063000/koho/fromkoriyama/02rian.html
• If you have any large photos of Fukushima please email us by October 31st this year. We prefer interesting places unique to Fukushima and not generic nature shots. We want people to say, “wow, I’d like to go see that.”

Photo criteria:

• – must have been shot in Fukushima-ken. It doesn’t matter when (so yes, pre-2011 pics are fine).
• – minimum 300dpi resolution (4000×3000 px) (or very close to it, but 72 dpi usually won’t work)
• – horizontal format is preferred
• Photos can be submitted via email to: ThisIsFukushima@gmail.com

Thanks in advance for your support!

—————————–
今日本語で :

愛する福島県の住民と以前住んでいた方へのメッセージ：

2016年の「This is Fukushima」カレンダーのために只今写真募集中！

写真の提出期限は10月31日までです。

募集する写真の基準：

〓 福島県内で撮られた写真。今年撮られた写真に限らず、もちろん2011年前に 撮られた写真でも構いません

〓 解像度の必要最小限は300dpi (4000x3000px)

〓 横向きの写真が望ましい

写真をメールで提出してください： ThisIsFukushima@gmail.com

よろしくお願いします！

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

Miss out on the Aomori Summer Festivals and don’t want to wait a whole year for your next chance to see them?

Check out the Aomori 10 City Festival in Mutsu from September 26-27th, 2015!

The Aomori 10 City Festival showcases major festivals, food, products and more from 10 cities around Aomori Prefecture: Aomori City, Hirosaki City, Hachinohe City, Kuroishi City, Goshogawara City, Towada City, Misawa City, Mutsu City, Tsugaru City, and Hirakawa City.

The must-see attraction is the Saturday night festival parade featuring Nebuta/Neputa floats, nagashi odori, etc., but you can also enjoy stage performances, appearances by mascot characters, delicious local foods and more at the event.

Click HERE to read MORE.

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

Interested in trying out local “soul foods” from all over Japan?

Then the 10th B-1 Grand Prix in Towada is the event for you!

From October 3rd-4th, 2015, sixty-two groups from across Japan will gather in Towada (Aomori Prefecture) to promote their respective cities and local “soul foods”. Enjoy soba, udon, ramen, rice bowls, curry, fried foods, grilled meats, and various other dishes originating from Hokkaido to Kyushuu and vote for your favourite group. At the end of the second day, the most popular group–as selected by attendees–will be awarded the Gold Grand Prix Prize (symbolized by giant golden chopsticks :P).

Often misunderstood as standing for “B-grade” (“B級” B-kyuu in Japanese), the “B” in “B-1” actually stands for “brand.” The goal of the B-1 Grand Prix is to revitalize cities and towns through the promotion of their respective local brands. Apart from serving delicious food, participating groups also try to demonstrate their own unique brand of hospitality through performances, etc. This is why attendees of the B-1 Grand Prix are encouraged to vote for their favourite group and not just the best dish.

So if you want to get a taste of many different cities from around Japan, come to Towada for the B-1 Grand Prix.

十和田に愛に行こう！Towada ni ai ni ikou! Come to love Towada!

Official Website (Japanese): http://b-1towada.com/

Click HERE to learn MORE (English)

Posted by Eden Law, 2010-2011 ALT Fukushima-ken, President of JETAANSW.

As part of the drive to promote tourism to Japan (not to mention combining a long-held passion and dream), ex-JET Julius Pang introduced a Tohoku photography tour to showcase the beauty of Japan in autumn, in an area that sadly has become known for other things in recent years. Americans are especially well-suited to taking advantage of this tour package, considering how strong the US dollar is against the Australian (yes, Julius’s Australia-based company, Incredible Photo Tours, welcomes overseas clients), travel will be especially cheap, with accommodation, transport and food taken care of.

Starting from Tokyo, the tour goes to various places throughout Tohoku such as Zao Onsen, Sendai, Hiraizumi, Akita, Bandai, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Nikko, Naruko Gorge, Shirakami Sanchi, Hirosaki, Nyuto Onsen and Lake Towada. With the advantage of the inside knowledge of an ex-JET, and the expertise of a tour guide who has won awards for his photography, it’s a great tour package to consider for your next trip to Japan. Julius also has other tours, such as the Japan Classic Autumn tour, that does the classic route of Tokyo, Hakone, Himeji, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Okayama, Takamatsu, Mt Koya and Osaka.

For more information, check out the Tohoku Autumn Tour, or the Classic Autumn Tour at Incredible Photo Tours.

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

Inakadate Village (Aomori Prefecture) has a long history relating to rice. The site of an ancient rice field dating back to the mid-Yayoi Period (300 B.C.～300 A.D.), the Tareyanagi Iseki was discovered in Inakadate in 1981. This was a significant find as until its discovery, it had been believed that rice fields were not cultivated in Tohoku during the Yayoi Period. The Tareyanagi Iseki was designated a National Historic Site on April 11, 2000.

To celebrate and promote its history of rice production, Inakadate began offering rice planting experience tours. In order to make the experience more interesting, they decided to use different coloured rices to draw a picture of Mt. Iwaki with the words 弥生の里いなかだて (Yayoi no sato Inakadate) meaning “Yayoi Village Inakadate.” This was the humble beginning of rice field art–although at the time it was not referred to as “art” but simply as “rice characters” (稲文字 ine moji）.

Since its beginnings as “rice characters,” the drastic improvement in technological and artistic levels have made Inakadate’s rice art an increasingly popular site for both domestic and international tourists. It has proved so popular that in 2012, a second rice field art site was started at the Michi no Eki (Roadside Station) Inakadate “Yayoi no Sato.”

The theme for 2015’s rice field art is “Gone with the Wind” for the main site and “Star Wars” for the second site (Michi no Eki Inakadate “Yayoi no Sato”).

Click HERE to read MORE

Mel T (Aomori-ken, 2007-2012) is a Canadian living and working in Towada City, Aomori. For more information about events, sightseeing, restaurants, etc. in Towada City, and around Aomori Prefecture & Japan, visit her blog at http://towada-city.blogspot.com.

It is a hot and muggy August night, but the air is filled with energy and a sense of anticipation. Then the sounds of flutes, drums, and chanting shouts erupt as people dressed in happi coats, yukata and all manner of costume fill the street, and enormous glowing figures emerge from between the darkened buildings.

There are many festivals across Aomori Prefecture and all of Japan during the summer, but Aomori’s three biggest and most famous summer festivals are Hirosaki Neputa, Aomori Nebuta, and Goshogawara Tachineputa.

All three feature impressive night parades of neputa/nebuta–large lantern floats with images and themes drawn from Chinese or Japanese literature, history, or religion–pulled by large groups of people often dressed in special costumes and accompanied by music from flutes, drums, and hand cymbals. The groups pulling the floats also use special shouts (different for each festival) to keep both the participants and spectators energized.

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