2009 JET Programme Essay Contest
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In case you haven’t recently checked the CLAIR website, here is the official announcement about the 17th Annual JET Programme Essay Competition. This year’s submissions are due by Friday, March 13, 2009. This annual contest is open to both current and former JETs.
Shannon Rochelle Quinn
JETAA USA Country Rep 2006-2009
Prizes (tentative, based on last year)
- Japanese Language Division
Grand Jury Prize \ 100,000 (1 entry)
Prize for Excellence \ 50,000 (1 entry)
Honourary Mention \ 10,000 (3 entries)
- Foreign Language Division
Grand Jury Prize \ 100,000 (1 entry)
Prize for Excellence \ 50,000 (1 entry)
Honourary Mention \ 10,000 (3 entries)
(Click “Read More” for details) Read More
Omedetou!
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Omedetou gozaimashita to JETAA NY Secretary Meredith Wutz who’s had a rather big week.
- Her fantasy football team, Machine Gun Kelly, defeated Takashi Daito’s Hamamatsu Eel-Dogs by 0.7 points after trailing by 45 points going into the Monday night game to win the first ever JETAA NY Fantasy Football League, consisting of 5 JET alums and 5 football-loving members from CLAIR New York, and…
- She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Kiyora Linda, on December 18. :-)
Me-ri Kurisumasu!
Job listings from JETAA NY
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Here are a few recent job listings from the JETAA NY Jobs and Careers page.
- Sales & Marketing Associate Needed for Gallery/Showroom
- Manager or Director of Human Resources
- Assistant Program Director – Broadcasting
- Freelance Japanese – English Translator and/or Copy Writer Needed
JETAA Chapter Beat 12.17.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…
- Japanese Language Workshops at JASW – Starting Monday, January 12, Japan-America Society’s Japanese Language School Winter Semester begins. Free first year membership for JETAA-DC members.
- Holiday Happy Hour – Friday, December 19th, 7:00 at 5 Seasons Brewing. Join JETAASE for some holiday spirit and spirts.
- Raise funds for Leukemia! – Support Ingrid Garcia-Galinat in her marathon goal to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team on March 29, 2009.
- Yukiko Shimo Exhibition: Today’s Top Woodblock Print Artist in Japan – Dec 2nd – Jan 31, check out woodblock prints at the Roswell Teahouse & Gallery.
- JETAANC Video Volunteers – December 15th – 19th. In preparation for an upcoming Shinenkai video, JETAANC is looking for people to come and talk about their JET experience on camera.
- The Totoro Forest Project (Dec 6 – Jan 18) – Exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum based on Hayao Miyazaki’s most celebrated film Tonari no Totoro.
JETAA Texoma
- Returning JET Reception – Saturday, January 24, join recently returned JET participants at the Consulate for some sushi-rolling and other food oriented activities.
- Chinese Urban Art Show – Dec 12, 2008 – Dec 20, 2009 at the BLVD Gallery in Belltown. Check out some asian art, fascinating and, best of all, free.
- Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association Holiday Party – Sunday, December 21, 4:00 to 8:00 at the Pt Edwards Club House. It’s potluck, so don’t forget the food!
- Christmas Carols – Saturday, December 20th, 5:30 at Cowra Japanese Garden. Celebrate the holiday with song and candlelight.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
JETAA Pacific Northwest Career Day Notes
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From Shun Endo, PNW’s Treasurer & Web Guy, who posted the notes on the JETAA PNW website:
Career Day was a very successful event, bringing in many motivated participants, solid speakers, and even vendors from several companies. Many people stayed until the end, and went afterwards for drinks and comradery. The content of the speeches was very helpful, and it covered a broad range of topics. As promised, we have the notes to the speeches, as well as resources to the information given!
Thanks again to Steven Pascal-Joiner of Idealist.org , and Rob Uy from Microsoft HR, and the panel speakers for their respective insights. They were: Amy Fenning , Amanda Wolfman , Keith Nitta , David Sandler , Megan Bernard , Rob Uy , Matt Austin , Steven Pascal-Joiner. Thanks to Ben for moderating the discussion.
Here are the links:
Rob Uy Speech Notes
Steven Pascal Joiner Speech Notes
Idealist.org Presentation by Steven (PDF of E-book, and links to different topics covered by Steven)
JETAA NY Book Club Update
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JETAA NY Book Club co-reviver Michael Glazer writes:
JETAA NY successfully kicked off its New York book club last Wednesday night, Dec. 10. The group discussed Murakami Ryu’s Akutagawa Prize-winning novel Almost Transparent Blue.
Murakami’s provocative novel fueled an energetic, funny, sometimes tense and stimulating exchange of ideas while we snacked on pizza and drank oolong tea. The two-hour conversation ranged in topic from talking about ethnic stereotypes to bug eating, the US military in Japan, The Doors, Japanese escapism and Admiral Perry’s black ships as the group tried to figure out if Blue is literary genius or pop culture trash.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 21 at 7pm, and we will discuss Miyamoto Teru’s novel Kinshu. You can find the book online at bn.com and amazon.com. Contact Michael Glazer or Jessica Langbein for more information.
From a JETAA Pacific Northwest email about Kevin Kajitani (Hyogo-ken, 2006-07) who has created Japanese Accelerator, a new online Japanese study method for keeping your Japanese skills up. He’s offering a special discount to JET alums who want to try it out.
Research Proven Japanese Conversation Training System
Japanese Accelerator, presented by Speekit, is a unique Japanese language education tool specifically designed for Japanese. It’s method has been proven through University research to significantly improve your overall conversational fluency by putting you inside real, everyday conversations.
Japanese Accelerator will take you beyond simply “learning” the Japanese language and help you to truly *acquire* it. To learn more about Japanese Accelerator, visit us as www.JapaneseAcceler ator.com
If you are a JETAA members, you can save more than 50% off the normal price of Japanese Accelerator. Get full, unlimited access to Japanese Accelerator and it’s growing library of content for a one-time fee of just $29.
To get in on this great deal, go to: www.JapaneseAcceler ator.com/ jetaa-sign- up Read More
JETAA Chapter Beat 12.10.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…
- Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) – Got any Japanese friends who want to volunteer to spread Japan awareness? JOI is seeking outgoing, energetic Japanese nationals interested in joining this program to volunteer.
- South Bay Nomikai/Dinner – Friday, December 12th, 7:00 or 7:30 at Gochi. Last event of the year, so be sure to join in.
- 9th Japanese Discussion Group – Saturday, December 13th join in the discussion about “What is Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan” moderated by Nobuko Oshima.
- The Obama Administration and US-Japan Relations – Wednesday, December 10th at 6:00. Lecture by Dr. T.J. Pempel of the University of California, Berkeley and Mr. Ben Self of Stanford’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center.
- The Totoro Forest Project (Dec. 6 – Jan. 18)
– Exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum based on Hayao Miyazaki’s most celebrated film Tonari no Totoro.
- Monthly Pub Night at FLUID – Wednesday, December 10. Pushed back a bit, but not forgotten is Fluid night. Nothing like a pint to celebrate the comin’ ‘olidays!
- Vocalist Jazz Audition at Jazz Alley – Monday, March 23 audition with the Seattle Kobe Sister City Association (SKSCA) to be selected to perform in Kobe, Japan at the kobe Jazz Queen Vocalist Contest in May. Start practicing now and be ready for March.
- Fun and Gaming – Looking to fight some holiday loneliness? Join JETAAPNW for some games, puzzles, movies, etc over in Kirkland. A chance to meet some new people and make some international friends.
- Bounenkai! – Tuesday, December 16th 6:30 at Issian. Join in to forget the year and have a hand at some trivia and prizes.
- Bounenkai! – Friday, December 12th at 7:30.
- Movember – Don’t forget to check out this great charity for moustaches and the fight against depression and prostate cancer.
- Christmas Carols – Saturday, December 20th, 5:30 at Cowra Japanese Garden. Celebrate the holiday with song and candlelight.
- Bounenkai! – Sunday, December 14th, 6:00 at Tono Sushi.
- “Managing Relations with Korea and Asia: An Agenda for the Obama Administration” Lecture – Wednesday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m. Presentation and Luncheon brought to you by The Korea Society.
- Happy Hour – Thursday, December 11th, 6:00 at 18th Amendment. Don’t miss the last Happy Hour of the year with the DC Alums.
- Bounenkai! – Saturday, December 13th, 6:00 at Koume Japanese Restaurant. Come celebrate the end of the year with JETAA Florida.
- Loss of a JET Alum – Some tragic news comes to us from JET Southeast chapter that Jody Brooks, Chiba-ken 2003-05, passed away on October 11. Donations are being collected by Friends of Washington Park(FoWP) in lieu of flowers, and the goal is raise fund to hold an annual community even in Jody’s honor. The event will be held in the park and will do what Jody did best – bring people together.
- Raise funds for Leukemia!
– Ingrid Garcia-Galinat is training to participate in her first half-marathon-13.1 miles for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team on March 29, 2009 to raise money for blood cancer awareness. Donate and help the cause today! - Yukiko Shimo Exhibition: Today’s Top Woodblock Print Artist in Japan – December 2nd through January 31. Check out these fascinating and inspired woodblock prints at the Roswell Teahouse & Gallery.
- Triangle Taiko Performance – Saturday, December 13th, 5:00 at Pullen Park. Come listen to the performance and see the park as it is decorated into a winter wonderland from Dec. 10 through Dec 14th.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
JETAA Book Clubs – 3’s a magic number
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After some initial research, I’ve so far found three JETAA book clubs out there:
JETAA NY – just being revied by Michael Glazer and Jessica Langbein after a hiatus of a few years. Having its first gathering this Wednesday evening (still time to rsvp!)
JETAA Northern California – same story, but with Melissa Chan playing the role of Michael and Jessica
JETAA Portland – Run by Lynnette Yasuda for the last 2 years, and with lots of success and fun.
I knew about NY and Northern California, but I just learned about Portland after getting a nice e-mail from Lynette who shared the following sentiment:
I think one of the best parts of the JETAA book club is that through the books we read, it sparks such interesting conversations about our own JET experiences in Japan – and I think that is what sets it apart from other book clubs. It’s very “natsukashi” if you know what I mean :)
Any other JETAA book clubs out there? Let us know by posting a comment or by emailing jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com. Yoroshiku!
A nice JET idea
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Remember all the nice things people in Japan did for you on JET? Some JET alums in the Seattle area have come up with a way to spread the karma to international students in the U.S. An idea that very much lends itself to being replicated if anyone in other chapters is interested. Read More
Japan Outreach Initiative Program
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From the JETAA Chicago webletter. Apparently there’s a sort of reverse JET Program going on:
Do you know any Japanese citizens who would like to work in the United States promoting Japanese culture? If so, please forward this information to them!
Accepting Applications to the Japan Outreach Initiative Program. Deadline: January 7, 2009
JOI is seeking outgoing, energetic Japanese nationals interested in joining the program (a monthly stipend is provided, see www.laurasian.org/joi for more details about the program and other financial support). Read More
JETAA Ongaku Connection Update
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The JETAA Ongaku Connection Group (a new JET alum group formed recently by JET alums Adren Hart and Justin Tedaldi) has some events coming up. For more info, visit and/or join the Google Group at http://groups.google.com/group/jetaa-ongaku-connection.
A few highlights:
- MUCC – Free tickets available through the Ongaku Connection group – “In town for one night only,
Ibaraki-ken’s finest will hit the Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Sunday, December 7.” - NIPPON JAZZ NYC – Jazz Holiday Jam Session w/ Okaru Lovelace
Sunday, December 7th @ 8pm – 11:00pm; Blue Owl Cocktail Lounge; 196 Second Ave. (on 12th St.); Cover: $5 (This is a monthly show put together every month by Adren Hart.)
JETAA Chapter Beat – 12.01.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET community…
- Sunday, December 14 – Bonnenkai. 6:00 p.m. at Tono Sushi, $20 for JETs and $25 for everyone else.
- Tuesday, December 2nd – Konwakai business meeting on “How to address conflicts between American upper management and Japanese headquarters.” 6:10 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Consuate General of Japan.
- Friday, December 5th – Happy Hour at Daisy Buchanan’s.
- Saturday, December 6th – An outing to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts(MFA) and dinner at Sake Japanese. Join the JASM (Japan America Society of Maine) at 2:00 p.m. for a look around the MFA. $15.00 entry fee for the museum.
- Tuesday, December 16th – JETAA Monthly Meeting
- Every Thursday Free Japanese Class
- Thursday, December 4th – PNWJETAA Executive Advisory Group meeting. 6:00 p.m. at Wann Izakaya.
- Saturday, December 6 – Bonnenkai. 6:30 p.m. at Bush Garden. $12 per person. Bring a gift to participate in the White Elephant Gift Exchange. RSVP as seating is limited.
- Sunday, December 21 – Sing for Christmas Service at the Christ United Presbyterian Church(CUPC) Choir. Practices on Dec. 5, 12, and 19th at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, December 13th – Bonnenkai. 7:00 p.m. at the Wakatay Restaurant. $10 for JET Alums, $15 for Friends of the JET Program. Bring a wrapped gift (value $10-15) to participate in the “White Elephant” gift exchange.
- Tuesday, December 2nd – Informal Pub Supper with Ambassador Ebihara. 7:00 p.m. at The Penderel’s Oak. £10 for members of the Japan Society and JETAA.
- Wednesday, December 3rd – Annual Chapter Meeting followed by food. 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Japan Local Government Centre.
- Friday, December 12 – Bonnenkai. 7:30 p.m. $20 for JETAA Members and JALTs, $55 for all others. Drinks not included. RSVP as seats will be limited.
- Movember – Ewan Morris, one of the JETAA Canberra committee members is participating in Movember this year and has asked JETAA members to support him. Movember is an organization to raise money for awareness of men’s health issues – namely depression and prostate cancer – through the lovely art of moustache growing. Click to donate to a good cause.
- Tuesday, December 2nd – Free public workshop entitled Japan’s Gateway to the West: The Nagasaki Foreign Settlement 1859-1941 by Professor Brian Burke-Gaffney. 5:00 p.m. at the National Library of Australia(NLA), Ferguson Room, 1st Floor.
- Wednesday, January 28th – Kodo “One Earth Tour” Taiko concert at the Orpheum Theatre. 8:00 p.m. From now until December 31st there is a special 15% discount on tickets when you order online using the code ODAIKO
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
Jobs in the hospitality industry in Japan?
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The below question and response recently appeared on the LinkedIn group “Official Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and Alumni Association (JETAA).” (Names of the alumni are intentionally not included.)
Question: Topic: Companies to look at for hospitality/tourism or entertainment related jobs in Japan
I recently had interviews with Bandai and Konami but didn’t get moved onto the next round in both cases. However, I realized I’d really like to work at a gaming/entertainment company. If that doesn’t come through, then I’d like to try and work at a hotel or similar establishment. If anyone has ideas for companies/hotels where I could apply to work for in Japan please let me know.
Response: If you are not to concerned about salary you could check out the adventures here: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/working-at-japanese-ski-resorts.html
(Seems like it is more for the experience, rather than the earning potential.)
By the way, I also used to work in the games biz back in Vancouver, and I have visited quite a few studios here as well. One thing I can tell you is that the atmosphere is really different. Whereas you might expect really fun, creative work places with free Starbucks and foosball (a la North American experience), the Japanese reality is excessive overtime and Akihabara-style people who don’t get out much. I would probably go for the ski resort…
JETAA British Columbia Newsletter Seeks Articles
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Call for articles for the next JETAA British Columbia Winter Newsletter.
We always welcome new contributors to submit an article related to your life after JET such as in career, travel, education, recipes, or Japan related stories.
If you would like to share something with other Alumni in the newsletter please send your stories to us. Contact Philippe at newsletter /atto/ jetaabc /dotto/ ca
The deadline for submission is Wednesday, December 10th! Thanks!
