Roland Kelts latest column in Daily Yomiuri
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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
The Chopsticks NY – JET Alum Intersection
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FYI, the February issue of Chopsticks NY (The “Exploring Japan” Issue) is out and contains articles by:
Stacy Smith (CIR Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03) – Focus*Culture: Learning the Meanings Behind the Rituals of Shintoism. Stacy also translated the issue’s lead feature article on actress and calligraphy expert Yoshiko Sakuma, written by Chopsticks NY editor Noriko Komura, and wrote the unsigned “What’s New” articles (Joost, Kari Kari cookies, Anime Castle, Dainobu). (Stacy is a professional interpreter, translator and writer and also writes the WITLife series on this site.)
and
Nori Akashi (Friend of JET and Writers Interpreters Translators Group member) – Welcome to Japan: Traveling Through the Sub-Zero World by Train. (Nori is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and writes for the Japan National Tourist Organization as well as well as for freelance assignments.)
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
Japan Works Hard to Help Immigrants Find Jobs
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There’s a telling article in today’s Washington Post by frequent Japan writer Blaine Harden (not a JET alum) on efforts by the Tokyo government to help immigrant workers in Japan stay in Japan in the face of job losses and factory closures. There seems to be increasing acceptance by Japan’s policy makers that significantly increased immigration is the solution to the potential future economic crisis likely to result from Jaan’s diminshing youth population.
From a JET alumni perspective, it’s worth paying attention to this issue. How will this affect Japan in the future? What opportunities will be available? In some ways, the JET Program along with the laws in the early 1990s that allowed South Americans of Japanese descent to work in Japan are smaller version experiments with immigration. Perhaps JET alumni have some perspectives to offer and/or roles to play in the future of Japan.
Hello Kitty Maternity Ward?
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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/
Reuters: Japan’s Obama Town Parties for Inauguration
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Obama-shi in Fukui-ken, Japan is partying hardy to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Here’s today’s report from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE50J4AQ20090120
And here’s the video of their Obama-uta to get you in the mood. “La…la-la-la-la O-ba-ma!…”
Mizuho Reacts to Financial Crisis
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Mizuho Bank is making some changes at the top of their corporate heirarchy in response to the financial crisis. I had heard and read some comments that Mizuho and the Japanese financial sector’s exposure to the subprime mortgage crisis and other issues facing American banks was not as great. However, this article in FinanceAsia.com indicates Mizuho may have some significant problems, including a poorly timed investment in Merrill Lynch and losses relating to the Lehman bankruptcy, though it’s hard to gague from the article exactly how bad things are.
I share this not to turn JetWit into a financial commentary blog but just as an indicator of Japan-related trends, since the fortunes of many in the JET alumni community, and perhaps the JET Program itself, are tied to the state of the Japanese economy.
Interesting article (“Japan’s Outcasts Still Wait for Society’s Embrace”) by Norimitsu Onishi in the NYTimes today on buraku in modern Japanese society, a high ranking politician named Hiromu Nonaka who is of buraku descen, and a racist comment allegedly made two years ago by current prime minister Taro Aso.
Event: Japan Brand Unfolds in NYC at Felissimo Design House
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Tara Hohenberger (Nara-ken, 2001-03) (PR & Events Coordinator for Felissimo Design House) has shared information for an intriguing upcoming exhibition at Felissimo Design House (10 W. 56th St. in NYC) which is featuring a collection of artisan produced products from 30 regions of Japan from Jan 25 – Feb 7, including glassware, furniture, ceramics, paper and textiles and well as lacquar and culinary ingredients.
Click “Read More” to read the full press release, or go to www.felissimo.com. Read More
WIT Life #19: Michelin Phenomenon
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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 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
WIT Life #18: Kohaku 2008 Revealed
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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 the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Two weeks after the fact, but yesterday I finally had the chance to watch the NHK New Year’s
Eve music show Kohaku Uta Gassen aka Kohaku. This literally translates into “Red and White Song Battle,” referring to the fact that the genders split up into teams with women on red and men on white, and battle it out in the 
musical arena to see which sex takes honors for the year. The performers are a mix of contemporary pop stars and old-time enka singers (many with lavish costumes!), so there is a little of something for everyone. In addition to the interesting commentary provided by the host and hostess (representatives of their respective teams), several surprise guests drop by with acts of their own.
Each side present 26 songs during this four-hour spectacle, and this year 13 performers made it to Kohaku for the first time. For many singers, this is the pinnacle of their careers. The songs are judged by a 10-person panel of actors, athletes and other famous figures who offer their insight between songs. However, the ultimate decision of which team comes out on top is made by the live audience as well as viewers at home via their keitais.
An interesting first entry was that of Jero, a Pittsburgh native whose grandmother was Japanese. When he was growing up, she introduced enka to him and
NYTimes article: Seeking the Essence of Japan? Look to Germany
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JET alum David Kowalsky, a Seattle-based technical writer, alerted me to an interesting article in the NYTimes the other day: “Seeking the Essence of Japan? Look to Germany” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/movies/11stua.html?_r=1&ref=movies
Regarding the brief talk toward the end of the article about the similarities between Germany and Japan, David comments that the way Germany and Japan have dealt with their war guilt has been very different. He recommends a good book on the topic called Wages of Guilt: Memories of War in Germany and Japan by Ian Buruma. http://www.amazon.com/Wages-Guilt-Memories-Germany-Japan/dp/0452011566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231728075&sr=1-1
Side note: David also mentions that he (like me) first “discovered” Ian Buruma way back when he read the now out-of-print book Behind the mask: On sexual demons, sacred mothers, transvestites, gangsters, drifters and other Japanese cultural heroes http://www.amazon.com/Behind-mask-transvestites-gangsters-drifters/dp/0394537750/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231728470&sr=1-21.
Black Tokyo
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JETAA NY Magazine editor Justin Tedaldi recently alerted me to a great website: Black Tokyo – “Information on Japan from an Afro Perspective!” (http://www.blacktokyo.com/).
Have a look. I haven’t looked through it enough yet to see if there are any JET connections, but seems interesting and relevant enough regardless.
WIT Life #17: Coming of Age in an Insecure World
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). In her recent posts, she’s been watching the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Coming off the news that Toyota reported its first operating loss in 70 years, Japan’s other leading manufacturers are also falling victim to the high yen and global recession. Sony just announced that it will have its first profit loss in 14 years, despite the fact that it was in the black with profits of 200 billion yen in March of last year. For the business year through this March, it looks like Sony may post an operating loss of 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion). Toshiba also revealed that it will have its first operating loss in 7 years, due largely to slumping sales of its semiconductors.
However, in the midst of all this doom and gloom there was a bit of good cheer in Japan yesterday as nationwide more than 1.3 million 20-year olds celebrated Seijin no hi or Coming of Age Day. Seijinshiki (ceremonies) took place from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and this first generation of Heisei (1989~) seijin shared their hopes and fears with reporters. With a large percentage of college students, many expressed the desire to Read More
Jobs in China?
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I recently returned from a trip to China, and it occurred to me that China felt in many ways like Japan felt to me when I was there in the early 90s: Modernized, but also somewhat untamed and pregnant with opportunity. A good amount of structure, but also a sense that it’s not all figured out yet either.
With that in mind, I was wondering if some segment of the JET alumni community is now turning to China for job opportunities? If so, let me know or post a comment below on your thoughts or experience.
Meanwhile, I noticed a China jobs site called China Splash (http://www.chinasplash.com/index.html). I’m sure there are others, but figured I’d at least share the one I’m aware of.
