May 15

Felissimo House: Japan Brand – Pop Up Shop – May 18-30

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Thanks to Tara Hohenberger (Nara-ken, 2001-03) (PR & Events Coordinator for Felissimo Design House) for sharing  information about some cool upcoming events:

May 13

Update: The latest from Professor Michael Auslin

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Here’s the latest from JET alum Michael Auslin, a professor of Japanese history and politics and currently the Director of Japanese Studies for the American Enterprise Institute in D.C.

• The Rise of China: Essays on the Future Competition – Edited by Gary J. Schmitt, with contributions from Michael Auslin, Dan Blumenthal, Ellen Bork, Nicholas Eberstadt, Robert Kagan, Schmitt, and Ashley J. Tellis; April 2009;  Contributors to this volume challenge the prevailing benign view of China’s rise and analyze what the United States and its allies might do in the arenas of foreign and defense affairs to meet the challenges posed by China’s increased political, economic, and military power.

• Obama’s Hundred-Day Scorecard on Asia Policy

Japan
Grade: B

One step forward, two steps back. Secretary Clinton’s trip to Japan as the first stop on her diplomatic voyage was an important symbolic gesture to reassure Tokyo that Washington still values it as its key Asian ally and a proactive attempt to reengage Japan. However, the U.S. failure to make clear its commitment to defending Japanese territory prior to North Korea’s missile launch, compounded by its inability or unwillingness to secure a new resolution punishing Pyongyang’s provocation–the United States ultimately codrafted a presidential statement with the Chinese–left Japan feeling isolated. Furthermore, Tokyo and Washington face potentially troublesome days ahead fulfilling long-standing alliance agreements to restructure forces. Symbolic gestures will be no substitute for a firm working relationship built on shared interests.

—Michael Auslin

May 13

Japanese culture trends in NYC

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Many of us are now aware that modern Japanese culture has essentially turned New York City into New York-ku, with Pocky and Pretz widely available, new ramen shops and izakayas popping up every week and Japanese hair salons throughout the city.  And of course you can’t swing a Kinokuniya bag without hitting a Japanese style karaoke bar.

But yesterday alone I noticed yet three more examples of Japanese culture–perceived as so impentrable by much of the world–penetrating further into New York-ku:

• City Bakery’s (3 W. 18th St) baked goods now all seem to have Japanese subtitles on the little signs sticking out from the muffins and other items.

• Opening of the Japanese Culinary Center (the “Other JCC,” as New York Magazine calls it) on 711 Third Ave. (entrance on 45th St. between Second and Third aves.) nymtc.com

• Gamar Jobat, a Japanese silent comedy duo (i.e, manzai) currently performing at the New Victory Theater (https://secure.newvictory.org/newvictory/tickets/production.aspx?PID=767&emailsource=GAMAR1212)

Have other examples to share?  Post a comment or send an e-mail to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com.

May 12

WIT Life #38: 婚活・離活

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

When I was in Japan back in March, a topic that was on everyone’s minds (or at least those of my single friends) was 婚活 (konkatsu), the idea of pursuing a marriage partner in the same way you would look for a job.  The flip side of the coin is the companion term 離活 (rikatsu), referring to rikon katsudou or similar efforts regarding divorce.  In keeping with the times, new dramas this spring season revolve around these themes.  In the interest of anthropological research as well as satisfying my Japanese drama addiction, I checked out 「婚カツ！」 and 「コンカツ・リカツ」 .

The former stars SMAP member Masahiro Nakai as Kuniki Amamiya, a 34-year old who Read More

May 1

Roland Kelts on Sakura-Con: Yomiuri column and podcast

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Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has a recent Daily Yomiuri column on his experience at Sakura-Con in Seattle in April.  You can also listen to a podcast about the event in which he’s interviewed.

Apr 28

WIT Life #37: Creative Commercialization

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

Since the recent shattering of the boy band’s SMAP’s clean-cut image with the arrest of member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (34) on public indecency charges, the fallout has been pretty well contained.  Kusanagi held a press conference on the 25th to apologize, and his agency has suspended all his activities indefinitely and declared a ban on alcohol for him.  Apparently the famous Johnny’s jimusho is advising all of its high-profile clients to be mindful of their celebrity status when they are out for a night on the town and drinking is involved.  SMAP fans are worried that Read More

Apr 23

NYTimes: Japan offers to pay foreign workers to go home

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One step back for Japan, according to this NY Times article titled “Japan Pays Foreign Workers to Go Home.”

Are there any JETs out there who have run into this process or have friends who have been affected?  Feel free to post a comment.

In my case, I lived in Kariya-shi on JET in the early 90s, right next to Toyota-shi.  My area was the heart of the auto manufacturing industry in Japan–I was told my town had the largest Brazilian population in Japan (though I’ve since heard other people say the same thing about their towns).  So this article definitely hits close to (JET) home.

That said, Jiro Kawasaki, a senior LDP lawmaker and former health minister, comes across as a bit of a reactionary nut job who may simply be representing a minority opinion.  He unfortunately is in a position to make something happen.   Although, they’re not forcing anyone to leave.  It’s simply an option.  Of course, it’s an insulting and short-sighted option that’s garnering a lot of publicity.  And perhaps that was Kawasaki’s real goal–a publicity stunt that lets his supporters know that he’s Momotaro the Peach Boy doing his job to “protect” the good Japanese people and send the foreign devils home.

Several other Japanese experts are quoted in the article pointing out how offensive and short-sighted the idea is, further supporting the notion that this kind of xenophobia is not a majority viewpoint.   And I have to say it’s refreshing to read an article in a U.S. paper including such strongly opinionated quotes from Japanese people.  Additionally, the Japanese government has actually been making efforts in recent years to help provide support and training to foreign workers that have been losing their jobs, so Kawasaki’s plan may be more of a renegade effort that is occasionally part of modern democracies.

And on top of everything else, I can’t imagine the Japan National Tourist Organization is too happy about all of this.

Apr 23

WIT Life #36: Celebrity Scandals

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

I thought my sleepy eyes were betraying me when I turned on the tv to watch the Japanese news this morning.   The headline splayed across the screen was that popular boy band SMAP member 34-year old Tsuyoshi Kusanagi had been arrested on charges of public indecency.  Evidently he had been found naked, drunk and incoherent in a Tokyo park early this morning.

According to bystanders, some of what he was muttering was jibberish, some was in Korean (he is known for his Korean language skills and has a big following in Korea), and some were Japanese words they could make out like “baka.”  When Kusanagi was approached by a policeman, he yelled out, Read More

Apr 23

SMAP scandal

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Apparently SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi was found walking around naked in a park yelling incoherently.  I was on JET when SMAP was first starting out, so this is pretty startling and disturbing.  (Though perhaps not quite as startling as their continued popularity all these years.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/23/smap-japan-singer-police-naked-arrest

Apr 22

Bank of Japan Governor Shirakawa at Japan Society on Thursday

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This is pretty big.  Note that you can watch by webcast as well.

Apr 21

Upcoming Lectures at Japan Society (NY): Intimacy and Tourism

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I just saw that Japan Society (NY) has two particularly interesting lectures coming up.  One on the issue of intimacy in Japanese society and the other on whether Japan has failed to take advantage of a big tourism opportunity, both topics that are likely to be of interest to JET alums.

Lovesick Japan: Dana Goodyear. Stories of Intimacy from Courts to Keitai (Cell Phone) Novels Tuesday, May 5 6:30 PM Dana Goodyear, poet, journalist and the author of the New Yorker article “I ♥ Novels,” and Mark West, Nippon Life Professor of Japanese Law at the University of Michigan, discuss their latest research into this “crisis of intimacy.”  Moderated by Kenji Yoshino, The Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University. Tickets: $10 / $8 Japan Society Members / $5 Senior and Students Purchase tickets online or call the box office at 212.715.1258 Historical and Natural Tourism: Alex Kerr. Rediscovering Lost Japan Monday, May 11 6:30 PM While tourism has become the world’s largest earner of foreign exchange, famed author and Japan expert Alex Kerr argues that Japan has largely missed a great opportunity. Using examples of successful historic renovation and new approaches to managing tourist sites in both rural and urban Japan, Kerr offers an innovative vision for the future of international tourism in Japan. Tickets: $10/$8 Japan Society Members/$5 Senior & 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.

Apr 17

WIT Life #35: Hero Worship

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

A recent survey of Japanese young men regarding which famous figure they would want to become resulted in Ichiro Suzuki, Ryoma Sakamoto and Ryo Ishikawa for the top 3.  The person in the #1 slot is the most recognizable, especially now that he just broke the Japanese record for most career hits with his 3086th in yesterday’s game against the Angels (though the Mariners ultimately went on to lose).  In the stands to witness this feat was Ichiro’s bat maker (perhaps craftsman is a more appropriate term) of the past 15 years.  He was thrilled to be part of the historical moment, and expressed his desire that the next record he wants Ichiro to break is for 4000 hits.  A matsuri mood pervaded Japan in celebrating Ichiro’s feat, and in honor of his accomplishment one store created Read More

Apr 16

NYTimes: Young Japanese head to inaka for work

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Interesting article in today’s NY Times about how a lot of young Japanese adults are heading to the inaka to work on farms.  This simultaneously helps with some of the unemployment in Japan and also helps replace a lot of the aging farm workforce and perhaps even in terms of improving inefficient farming processes.

Demographic shifts also tend to have other consequences as well.  I wonder if any current JETs out there are seeing this trend first hand.  And I wonder if there might be any impact on the JET experience or even the JET Program in some way over time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/business/global/16farmer.html?emc=eta1

Apr 9

WIT Life #34: Tectonic Shift in Japan’s Big Hitters

Japan Trends, JETAA Chapters, Jobs, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life Add Comment (1)

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

Following up on the recent J-News Mini-Roundup posted on jetwit, the unemployment craze is also having an effect on the kinds of jobs new Japanese graduates want to apply for.  According to a survey by Recruit of 5810 college students and 2099 graduate students from the class of 2010, travel industries come out ahead while manufacturing jobs were left in the dust.  The financial and insurance industries also came out strong, occupying five of the top ten spots.  Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) took the top spot after being 4th last year, and in 2nd was East Japan Railway Company (JR East).  All Nippon Airways (ANA), which had claimed the top spot last year, trailed at 3rd and Mizuho Financial Group came in 4th.

The largest descents were those of Read More

Apr 7

Recent publications by JET alum Michael Auslin

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Two recent publications by JET alum Michael Auslin, a professor of Japanese history and politics and currently the Director of Japanese Studies for the American Enterprise Institute in D.C.

The Sick Man of Asia
Posted Date: Monday, April 6, 2009
It might not be possible for Tokyo to maintain the type of global role it has played so far.  If that happens, the world may finally understand just how vital that role was.  http://www.aei.org/publication29667

Can Japan Thrive–or Survive?
Posted Date: Monday, April 6, 2009
Despite its political sclerosis, economic stagnation, and demographic worries, Japan is a resilient nation that has much to contribute to the world.  http://www.aei.org/publication29666

Michael will also be moderating a panel on Tuesday, April 14 at the AEI offices in Washington, D.C. on the topic of “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.