Jul 5

MSNBC story and article feature volunteerAKITA and other JET volunteers

Earthquake Tsunami, Interview/Profile, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Video, Volunteer Comments Off on MSNBC story and article feature volunteerAKITA and other JET volunteers

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Just saw this MSNBC video and article by NBC News correspondent Ian Williams that mentions JET and volunteerAKITA founder Paul Yoo as well as several other volunteers who seem to be JETs along with the good work being done by All Hands Volunteers.  The article was posted to the Pacific Northwest JETAA Facebook group today.

“Young Americans take center stage in Japan tsunami cleanup”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43637669/

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


Jun 23

Free one-week stay for Tohoku JET alums interested in helping out former communities

Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, Jobs, Local Government, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Volunteer Add Comment (2)

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I saw the below on the Pacific Northwest JETAA yahoo group, and apparently the Chicago Consulate has sent this out as well.  MoFA and JNTO are willing to fly Tohoku JET alums back to Japan for a week for any JET alums willing to play a role in helping out their former communities and then help spread word of what they saw and experienced after their trip.

This sounds like a great opportunity for any Tohoku JET alums who can make time to do this.  And a great opportunity for the JET alumni community to really help out Japan in a very concrete way.

Details are below.  And you may get (or have already received) an email from your JETAA chapter or local consulate.  There were also two attachments–guidelines and an application form–that I wasn’t able to access for some reason.  If interested, hopefully you can get the documents from your consulate.

Minasan ganbatte kudasai.

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This message is being posted on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Tourism Agency

DEADLINE for applications to be received by the Consulate-General of Japan:  July 11, 2011

INVITATION PROGRAM OF JET ALUMNI TO DISASTER STRICKEN AREAS IN TOHOKU:

  • One week stay to take place within the period of July – September 2011
  • Transportation to Japan & per diem provided.

Conditions for application:

2.   CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

(1)    No limit of ages and sexes.

(2)   To have a work experience for two years or more either as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) or as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in local governments in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture or Sendai City.

(3)   To be able to contact directly by themselves with a school and a local government where they were assigned.

(4)   To be accepted by the organization for which the participants worked as a JET, and to be able to arrange with the organization some exchange activities.

(5)   To be able to travel without an escort from their arrival to their departure from Japan.

(6)   To send out the information such as their experiences of the stay in Japan this time and their impressions from foreign visitors’ viewpoints by various measures including contributions of articles to the mass media, blogs, homepages, facebooks.

(7)   To consent interviews by Japanese and foreign medias, in case they are  arranged during their stay

For full details & required form, see attached documents.

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Additional eligibility stipulation for Fukushima-ken applicants:

For any former Fukushima JETs, who are considering applying for the previously posted “Special Invitation Program” for JETAA to re-visit their CO’s to report on the post-disaster situation, special consideration is being taken regarding personal safety.

In respect for the official US guidelines of an 80 km radius from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, applications for former Fukushima JETs will only be accepted for areas beyond the US recommended safety zone.


Jun 22

Iwate International Association calls for ideas for events to help kids in disaster hit areas

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Recently posted to the Grassroots Aid for Iwate Facebook group by Hazuki Hiraga:

The Iwate International Association (IAA) is calling for ideas for events geared toward the kids in the disaster hit areas. Many of the teachers in those areas have noted that the kids are (understandably) more reserved than before, and still require a lot of care and support. But, they have also commented that ALTs have been playing an important role in making the kids smile when they stop by the schools to visit and chat.

One idea that the IAA has is organizing an English camp for kids (middle school to high school) from these areas this August, during the kids’ summer holidays. The tentative date proposed is August 5-11, 2011.

If you would be willing to help organize and/or travel to Iwate this summer to take part in the English camp, please post your thoughts on this page or send me an e-mail. The sooner the better as August is only two months away. It would be nice if some former Iwate JETs and other former non-JET Iwateans could gather to help out. I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in those summer English camps organized by some of the schools, so would love to hear what kind of sessions were held. Of course the IAA is open to hearing other event proposals as well.

The IAA has also mentioned that they are considering setting up a fund (including a paypal account) where people can donate money that would go toward organizing and running programs such as English camps for kids from the disaster hit areas, so if you are unable to travel to Iwate this time, you can make a contribution in other ways.


Jun 22

Volunteers needed: JETwit mapping project

Cultural Outreach, Japan Fix, Japan Local, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on Volunteers needed: JETwit mapping project

I’m working on a JETwit mapping project and need some volunteers to input some JET-relevant info and examples to see how it works and get a sense of how people will use it.

If interested in helping (it should only take a few minutes), e-mail me at jetwit [at] jetwit.com and I’ll send you further instructions.

Yoroshiku!

-Steven


Jun 20

Auckland JETAA’s Ganbare Japan event raises over $2,500

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Via Emily Duncan’s Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Idea Exchange via the Auckland JETAA GanbareJapan site:

The Auckland JET Alumni Association (Auckland JETAA) would like to thank everyone who attended the Ganbare Japan Charity Dinner held on 11 June, 2011, exactly three months after Japan was hit by one of the worst disasters in recent history. Thanks to your support, the evening was a complete sell-out and we were able to raise $2550.70 for the Japan Red Cross!

We’d like to say a special thank you to all those who made the evening a night to remember – our guest speaker from Sendai, Kaleb Urike, our talented violinist, Nick Jones, our MC, Linton Rathgen, AV extraordinaire, Dima Ivanov, organiser Krystal Lynes, Consul General Mr Ishida, and Mr Kawakami from CLAIR, Sydney. We’d also like to thank Limon Restaurant and Lion Nathan Breweries for their support.

The Auckland JETAA endeavors to do as much as possible to help our friends in Japan. If you are able to assist us in some way, or if you are interested in attending future charity events, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we look forward to seeing you at future fundraisers,

Auckland JETAA

http://aucklandjetaa.org/


Jun 15

MEF Bruce Rutledge article on CNN: Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement

Article/Journalism, Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Trends, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Writers Comments Off on MEF Bruce Rutledge article on CNN: Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement

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MEF Bruce Rutledge, founder of Seattle-based independent book publisher Chin Music Press and editor of Ibuki magazine, has an article on CNN GO titled:

“Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement: Harajuku’s colorful street-styles used to combat the quake crisis.”

 


Jun 15

Memo to JET alums: Please mention JET in your bios and profiles!

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I’ve come across a number of bios and profiles of established JET alums in recent months, usually on their company or organization’s website or on LinkedIn.  And I’ve noticed many do not specifically mention JET.

They might say they worked or taught English in Aichi Prefecture or were an ALT in Osaka, but no mention of JET.  I realize that specifically mentioning JET is not appropriate in every bio and profile.  But if your work relates to Japan or to education (and in many cases even if it doesn’t), I want to suggest that it would be a beneficial to us as a community and to the JET Program as well to make a point of mentioning JET.

In addition to the fact that the JET Program enjoys an excellent reputation, it’s also important to let the world know that we’re out there.  It’s kind of like that “Canadians:  They walk among us” bit from the movie Canadian Bacon.  There are JETs everywhere, but you may not always be aware of it.

The more we’re aware of how many of us are out there and where we are, the stronger the community and the network becomes, the greater the positive visibility for JET and the more likelihood that the JET Program and JET alumni community continue to play a unique and positive role for Japan in the future.

Just one more small thing you can do to help improve Return On JET-vestment (aka JET ROI).

Update 6/16/11: Jennifer Jakubowski of cross-cultural consulting firm Bridges To Japan got in touch to say that after seeing this post she updated her profile to mention the JET Program.

Update 6/15/11:  Good example – JETwit and JETAANY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) makes a point of mentioning the JET Program in his bio for Purpose.com.


Jun 14

Japan Times article on Iwate CIR Amanda Krips

Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Japan Times article on Iwate CIR Amanda Krips

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Thanks to Fukui JET Mike Maher-King for forwarding on this Japan Times article about Iwate CIR Amanda Krips.

JET coordinator finds Iwate spirit contagious

By SETSUKO KAMIYA
Staff writer
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110615f1.html

MORIOKA, Iwate Pref. — Iwate Prefecture’s coast suffered some of the most severe damage in the March 11 quake and towering tsunami, where more than 4,500 people have been confirmed killed and 2,700 are still missing.

But only about two hours by car inland, Morioka, the prefecture’s capital, was barely damaged by the 9-magnitude temblor. Residents only had to deal with a two-day power outage and a gas and supply shortage that lasted a few weeks, according to Amanda Krips, 24, an American who works for the prefectural government.

“Sometimes it makes it difficult to believe there is a total destruction only two hours away,” said Krips, who is on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program and serves as coordinator of international relations for the prefecture.

Iwate has one of the fewest numbers of JETs. In addition to three coordinators, including Krips, there were 21 assistant language teachers this year. But the tsunami took the life of one of them, Monty Dickson. The 26-year-old from Alaska perished in Rikuzentakata where he taught English to elementary and junior high school students.

As the prefectural advisor for JETs in Iwate, Krips contacted her colleagues soon after the earthquake. Although she had phone numbers and email addresses, checking updates on Facebook was the fastest way to confirm their condition, she said. “Even if they didn’t have access (to the Internet) they could call their parents who would post on the wall.”

In about four days, a worried Krips was able to confirm the safety of all the JETs except Dickson. “He became the only person who we haven’t heard from. So after about a week I figured that it’s probably not going to be good news,” she said. Dickson’s body was found about a month later.

“It was difficult to know that someone I had known in person had died,” Krips said.

She went with her supervisor to Rikuzentakata for the first time when Dickson was found. “That was the first time I saw what happened, the extent of the tragedy. About 6 km from the coast I started to see debris on the riverside. You get into Rikuzentakata and nothing’s there. Basically destroyed. That was really hard to see,” she said.

Dealing with what happened and the radiation scare has been difficult and stressful to many, but Krips said the JETs didn’t panic and reacted in a reasonable manner. A few returned to their home countries for spring break but are back and teaching at their assigned schools, she said.

Many will finish their contract in August and new replacements will arrive. “The situation is fine here; there’s nothing to worry about. We’ll try our best to assure them that they are safe,” said Krips, who has another year in Iwate.

Having spent a year in Kyoto as a college student, Krips, originally from New Jersey, said that although Kyoto was a magical time, she likes Morioka much better, even after the quake.

“People here take a little bit longer to get past their shyness (than people in the Kansai region), but they are nice and genuine, and they’re pretty strong people. That’s what made living here so wonderful.”

Krips observed that people have been stoic about the tragedy. “I haven’t seen anyone curse nature. It happened, so we have to deal with it. I haven’t talked with very many people, but I think a lot of them have the purpose of rebuilding now.

“Everybody is working hard. They have smiles and they don’t complain or anything,” she said.

Krips has done a lot of translation of incoming letters of condolence from other countries sent directly to the prefecture. “I don’t think I can do very much for the reconstruction, but anything I can do to help relations between Iwate and people from other countries that might want to help, I’ll do my best with that,” she said.


Jun 14

JET Alum Launches Cross-Cultural Business Consulting and Training Service

Cultural Outreach, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on JET Alum Launches Cross-Cultural Business Consulting and Training Service

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Jennifer Jakubowski (Hokkaido, 1995-97), founder of Bridges To Japan

JET alum Jennifer Jakubowski (Hokkaido, 1995-97) has launched Bridges To Japan, a cross-cultural business consulting and training firm.

Jennifer has been engaged in Japanese-American cross-cultural business consulting and training for a number of years, including work for the Nagano Winter Olympic Committee and cross-cultural training for numerous Japanese and American executives.  She is also the author of Executive Guide to Japan:  The ABCs of Japanese Culture & Business Etiquette.

For more information:


Jun 9

JETAA NY joint event with Kyushu association

Cultural Outreach, Events, Japan Local, JETAA Chapters, Networking, Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on JETAA NY joint event with Kyushu association

Last night JETAA New York joined with New York Battenkai, a New York-based association for Japanese ex-pats from Kyushu, for a unique happy hour at Nightengales (2nd Ave & 13th St) and another example of JETAA chapters supporting prefecture and local government efforts.  (Translation Note:  “Batten,” it was explained, is connecting phrase unique to Kyushu dialect.)

As New York is home to many other similar prefecture associations, perhaps this could end up serving as a model for future JETAA Chapter-Prefectural Association events.


Jun 5

Japan Local: JET blog on Aomori sightseeing

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Here’s a really nice JET blog on sight seeing in the Tsugaru region of Aomori by Aomori JETs Emma Sayers, Mike Moses and Kelly Isom: 

Let’s Go Tsugaru:  http://letsgotsugaru.blogspot.com.

*If you’re aware of any other JET blogs about sightseeing and tourism in Japan, please let us know at jetwit [at] jetwit.com.  Yoroshiku.


Jun 2

Local Japan: Prefecture Tourism Links

Japan Local, Local Government, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Uncategorized Comments Off on Local Japan: Prefecture Tourism Links

 

Here are the results of the “Local Japan Prefecture Tourism Websites Project.”

Reminder: One of the purposes of the project is to help increase the “Return on JET-vestment” for Japan by helping to promote tourism to Japan, especially to more local and regional areas.  JETwit also intends to use this list so it can hyperlink to prefectures when mentioned in future JETwit posts.  (e.g., “Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94)”)

How you can help further:

  • Build the list: If you’re aware of any additional links that might be helpful–e.g., a blog (especially by JETs) or sites for a region or a city or a town–feel free to post in the comments section or e-mail to jetwit [at] jetwit.com and I’ll add them to the appropriate section.
  • Tell readers one reason why someone should visit your (former) region/prefecture/city

*Note:  Where prefectures didn’t have their own tourism website or English language info guide, I’ve used the Japan National Tourist Organization’s (JNTO) reference page for that prefecture.

Regional  Tourism Sites:

Prefecture Tourism Sites

Aichi

Akita

Aomori

Chiba

Read More


Jun 1

Shimane JETs Raise Over $21,000 USD for Tohoku Disaster Relief

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From the JETAA USA website originally posted by JETAA USA Country Rep Jessyca Wilcox:

Shimane JETs Raise Over $21,000 USD for Tohoku Disaster Relief

Shimane AJET gathered their local ALTs, CIRs and Japanese community members to join together for a charity hike. On May 15th over 60 ALTs and CIRs and 50 Japanese people took part in a sponsored “Charity Hike.”

The hike took place on Shimane’s highest mountain: Mt. Sanbe in Oda City, Shimane. It was attended by people from 14 countries: America, Ireland, France, England, Jamaica, Canada, Scotland, Kenya, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

In the weeks leading up the event particpants raised $21,023 USD (¥1,715,338) from local and international donations (via the internet). At the summit of Mt. Sanbe, the participants held a photo opportunity and called out a strong message of support for the people of Tohoku and Japan from the international community. Please see the photograph below.

In the week after the event, the money was transferred to the Japanese Red Cross (70%) and “SMILE and Dreams: Tohoku Kids Project” (30%).

Lauren Hale, a Shimane JET from Denver, CO said, “Japan has been such a great home to us all and we were so glad that we could be a part of the relief effort.  We raised over twice the amount that we had originally hoped for!”

Check out the project website for video coverage and photos: www.sanbehike.com

*Shimane JET alums (and anyone else), please don’t hesitate to post words of support for the terrific work of Shimane AJET and all involved in the comments section below.


Jun 1

Earthquake Recovery News 05.31.11

Earthquake Tsunami, Return on JET-vestment, Uncategorized, Volunteer Comments Off on Earthquake Recovery News 05.31.11

Hello, everyone! My name is Emily Duncan (Hyogo-ken, 2005-2008). Currently I live in Atlanta, Georgia and I oversee the Facebook discussion group “Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Idea Exchange.”

Originally my friend Mellissa Takeuchi (also a former Hyogo-ken ALT) and I established this group to discuss ideas which could help Japan in the aftermath of the March 11th earthquake. In the beginning this was fairly helpful, but as time went on it became increasingly obvious that the recovery story in Japan would not stay on the front pages of newspapers and websites so I decided to share news stories that I thought would be of interest to our discussion group. My hope is that these stories will inspire other people to get involved.

Originally I was at a loss as to how I would start this series of posts for JETwit. But as yesterday was Memorial Day I thought it would be best to acknowledge the hard work of the American military during Operation Tomodachi. All branches of the American military – Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines worked together to help the region affected by the earthquake and tsunami. (See more here with a nice slideshow here).

I was really proud of the initial response and would love to have one of those patches!


May 28

Japan Relief: “It Won’t Be Long Now” song and video by JET alum Shun Endo and The Liquid Now

Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Music, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Video, Volunteer Comments Off on Japan Relief: “It Won’t Be Long Now” song and video by JET alum Shun Endo and The Liquid Now

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JET alum Shun Endo (Ibaraki Prefecture, 1998-2001) (Treasurer and Webmaster for JETAA Pacific Northwest and creator instantnoodlescomics.com) and his band The Liquid Now have released a music video titled “It Won’t Be Long Now“ intended to draw attention to and help fundraise for Japan relief efforts.

 

From Shun Endo and The Liquid Now:

IT WON’T BE LONG is about overcoming the tsunami and earthquake in Northern Japan. It was a chance for us to really reflect on their struggle, and beyond. To us, the Japanese festivals encompass the beauty of the culture. We’ve experienced nothing like it. It is a time of strong community, tradition, abandon, and joy. We hope the areas affected will heal enough to enjoy themselves once again soon.

All band sales will be donated, so just donate directly to the Seattlejapanrelief.org who work with Red Cross and Peacewinds.

For a digital copy of the song, visit www.theliquidnow.com and/or email theliquidnow@gmail.com

Thank you for listening. 日本の皆さん、頑張りましょう。

The Liquid Now are a band from Seattle that is influenced by British music and Japanese culture. www.theliquidnow.com

(we hope people don’t mind us using their online photos as this is for a good cause, and we will donate anything that comes our way.)



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