Jul 11

JET alum/Inuyama city councilman Anthony Bianchi

By Michael Glazer (Chiba-ken, 1995-97) for the JETAANY Newsletter 

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn native Anthony Bianchi (Aichi-ken, 1987-91), the first-ever North American to hold an elected position in Japan, is still going strong in his role as a city councilman in Inuyama-shi, Aichi-ken. Michael Glazer (Chiba-ken, 1995-97) recently did a recorded interview with Anthony to discuss the hot local topics, learn more about politics in Japan and get a sense of how things look across the pond. 

You have a very interesting background. How does a JET program teacher become a city council member? 

Well, I’ll try to make the story as short as possible. I studied filmmaking at New York University and I was interested in Kurasawa films and whatnot, and I was out in L.A. for a while. I came back to New York. I was working for New York City and I saw an ad in the paper about the Expo that was held in Gifu about 20 years ago. So I went over to Japan on a homestay program and decided it would be nice to try to live there for a year or so. I joined the JET pro­gram, stayed for a couple years, and decided I wanted to stay longer. 

Read More


Jul 11

Best of JQ: Pride of the Yankees (Far East Edition) (Summer 2008)

JET alum George Rose with Yankees captain Derek Jeter after winning the 1998 World Series

By Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2002-03) for the JETAANY Newsletter

JET Alum George Rose (Fukushima-ken, 1989-91) has mingled with Japanese royalty, interpreted for two baseball superstars named Hideki (Irabu and Matsui) and cur­rently heads Yankee operations in Japan. How did this New York native manage to accomplish all this in his post-JET life? The JETAANY Newsletter had a chance to talk with George about his past exploits and his present position. Here are some excerpts from Stacy, who is collabo­rating with George to lead Japanese tours during games at Yankee Stadium this summer.

What was your post-JET career path?

I was going for my MBA at Co­lumbia when I had the opportunity to become the interpreter for the new Yankee Hideki Irabu, so I took a leave of absence and worked with him from ’98-’99. When he got traded, I resume my studies and after graduation worked on Wall Street. When Hideki Matsui came over, I did a bit of interpret­ing for him such as at his opening press confer­ence. Because at the time I had my own business I wasn’t able to do this full-time, but I did help with the interview process for his interpreter. Then last year the Yankees asked if I was interested in help­ing out with the opening of their office in Tokyo, and I went over last summer. Read More


May 18

It’s a veritable JET literary review in the new issue of JQ, featuring an interview with bestselling Learning to Bow author Bruce Feiler and three-time Stephen Leacock Medal winner Will Ferguson! Click here to view.

Additional contents below. Thanks to JQ editor Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) for another solid issue. Contact Justin if you’d like to pitch or write a story for the next issue.

       CONTENTS

  • Page 3….From the Editor, New Country Reps
  • Page 4….Nippon News Blotter / Wynne Memorial
  • Page 5….JETAANY Election Recap
  • Page 5….Gorgeous Entertainment by Anthony Waldman
  • Page 6….Int’l Center of New York by Pamela Kavalam
  • Page 6….Yoko Shioya of Japan Society by Lyle Sylvander
  • Page 7….JETlog Feauturing Gail Cetnar Meadows
  • Page 8….Bruce Feiler: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 9….JETAANY Society Page Photos
  • Page 10…Nihonjin in NY: Nobuya Nagahama by Stacy Smith
  • Page 11….Echostream Rocks the Anime Circuit by Earth Bennett
  • Page 13.…Robataya Restaurant Review by Nancy Ikehara
  • Page 13….The Niigata Sake Book by Yukari Sakamoto
  • Page 14.…Will Ferguson: Canadian Cousin by Joshua Graubart
  • Page 15….The Funny Page

Mar 25

JQ Magazine’s March/April 2010 “Go East Issue” Online Now!

Settle into spring with the latest issue of JQ (JETAA NY) Magazine, out now! Featuring: A recap of former Mets/Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine‘s talk at Japan Society, JET alum Life After the B.O.E. illustrator David Namisato (CIR Aomori-ken, 2002-04), a review of J-pop superstar Hikaru Utada‘s recent New York concert, and an exclusive interview with rocker Andrew W.K. All this and more in the new issue of JQ!
Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) is now working on the next issue and seeking writers, photos, ideas and (going out on a limb here) advertisers for the next issue to be released in May. Contact  him at magazine@jetaany.org for more details. Enjoy!

Jan 30

JQ Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) has worked hard to put out another fantastic issue of JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine (aka JQ).  O-tsukare sama deshita, Justin-san!

 

JQ’s JAN/FEB ISSUE OUT NOW!
Start the decade off right!
JAN/FEB 2010 ISSUE: Click image below for our homepage
Please submit any JETAA-related story ideas/photos you’d like to see in the next issue. Please include IDs/dates/locations where applicable. Submit pictures to Justin at magazine@jetaany.org
Want a hard copy? Subscribe to JQ—now six issues a year!

Click here to SUBSCRIBE via PayPal

 

Editor: Justin Tedaldi – magazine@jetaany.org

JAN/FEB 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 3……..Letter From the Editor / Letter From the Secretary

Page 4……..Nippon News Blotter / JetWit Baby

Page 5……..Peace Corps Calls Out to JETs by Marea Pariser

Page 6……..Gearing Up for Grad School by Aly Woolfrey

Page 6……..At the ISE Cultural Gallery by Michael Glumac

Page 7……..Harumi Kurihara: The JQ Interview by Yukari Sakamoto

Page 8……..Nihonjin in New York – Featuring Filmmaker Takayuki Tanaka by Stacy Smith

Page 9……..Lisa Katayama on 2-D Love, Japan Pop by Crystal Wong

Page 9……..The Legacy of Tokyo Story by David Kowalsky

Page 10……JETlog – Featuring John Ellis-Guardiola

Page 10……The Language(s) of Love: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga by Nichole Knight

Page 11…….Bridge Building with Filmmaker Aaron Woolfolk by Lyle Sylvander

Page 12……The Funny Page


Oct 16

 

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JQ Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) has done it again.  Another great issue of JQ:


JQ FALL ISSUE OUT NOW!
Some Dreams Do Come True! JQ’s Fall 2009 Issue is Here!!

FALL 2009 ISSUE: click image below for our homepage

Microsoft Word - JQ Fall 2009 Cover Draft.doc

In our final issue of the year, we chat with the men of Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a film that may be on the road to the Oscars next year, and original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley about his memories of touring Nippon in three different decades. On the JETAANY front, read all about our end-of-summer softball tournament and the annual National Conference in Chicago, as well as a wedding announcement. Plus: the New York Anime Festival, Film reviews of Ponyo and The Cove, author interviews, theater, fab “translation tours”…all this and MORE in the new “Fall Classic Rock” issue of JQ!!

Editor: Justin Tedaldimagazine@jetaany.org
FALL 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 3……..Letter From the Editor / Letter From the Treasurer
Page 4……..Nippon News Blotter / CJ’s Wedding
Page 5……..Comings & Goings / JETAA National Conference in Chicago
Page 6……..JETAANY Annual Softball Tournament
Page 7……..Working the Written Word by Alexei Esikoff
Page 8……..Nihonjin in New York – Featuring JETRO’s Maya Eiki-Law by Joe Marucheck
Page 8……..Actor Jun Kim Talks heavenly BENTO by Adren Hart
Page 9……..Americans on Fuji: Talking with Author Sara Backer by Veronika Ruff
Page 10……International Visitor Leadership Program Interpreting by Stacy Smith

Page 11……JQ&A with New York Anime Festival’s Peter Tatara by Justin Tedaldi

Page 13……Anvil with Sacha Gervasi:  The JQ Interview: by Justin Tedaldi

Page 14……What We Did This Summer – Photos

Page 15……Theatre Review: A Recipe for heavenly BENTO by Adren Hart

Page 16……Film Review: Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo by Lyle Sylvander

Page 17……Book Corner: The China Lover by David Kowalsky

Page 18……Ace Frehley: Back in the New York Groove by Justin Tedaldi

Page 20……New York Anime Festival Photos

Page 21……Film Review: The Cove by Elizabeth Wanic

Page 21……Book Corner: Japanese Kitchen Knives / Food Carving by Yukari Sakamoto

Page 23……Top 12 List / Life After the B.O.E. / Sponsors Index


Aug 8
****************
JQ SUMMER ISSUE OUT NOW!
We Want You to Want It! JQ’s Summer 2009 Issue is Here!!

SUMMER 2009 ISSUE – click image below to download PDF

The leader of a band that’s sold over 20 million records and brought the words “At Budokan” to the big time, the new Japanese ambassador to New York, a tour of Philadelphia that’s uncannily Zen, and chats with award-winning writers, French pastry operations managers and even a maid-outfitted cosplay superstar complete with bunny ears. All this and more in the new summer issue of JETAANY’s JQ magazine.

THIS IS ALSO OUR LAST FREE PRINT ISSUE!


To preserve our budget for alumni events, and in an effort to be greener and save paper, JETAANY will begin charging for print copies of JQ Magazine. The cost is $12 for 4 issues and you will only have the opportunity to sign up once a year – annual subscriptions will occur each fall.  Please note that the magazine, in its entirety, is also available online. If you would like to sign up to receive a paper copy by mail, please follow the PayPal link below (Add to Cart) or e-mail magazinesubscriptions@jetaany.org for more information. Remember you must put “JQ subscription” and your desired mailing address in the Paypal comments box.

Major domo to (from left) Steven Horowitz, Stacy Smith, Alexei Esikoff, Liz Wanic, Adren Hart, Justin Tedaldi, and (off camera) Joe Marucheck, Shree Kurlekar, Anson Mau and Seiko Kamiya for help stuffing and mailing the current issue.

Editor: Justin Tedaldimagazine@jetaany.org

SUMMER 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 3…Letter From the Editor / Professional Outreach & Development Rep
Page 4…Nippon News Blotter
Page 5…Comings & Goings
Page 6…An Interview with Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya by Anne Koller
Page 7…JET Alum Author Cristy Burne Wins Award by Gregory Anderson
Page 8…Philadelphia Loves Japan! by Therese Stephen
Page
9…JETAA in the Big Apple and Beyond by Megan Miller
Page 10.Japan Day @ Central Park Recap by Stacy Smith
Page 10.JETlog featuring Yukari Sakamoto (Chiba-ken, 1989-1990)
Page 11.Nihonjin in NY – Featuring Beard Papa’s Masashi Wada by Janice Chow
Page 12.Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
Page 13.U.S. FrontLine’s Ken Haraguchi on Japanese Newspapers by Junko Ishikawa
Page 14.JETAActivity Photos
Page 15.JET Farewell Reception at the Ambassador’s Residence
Page 16.Maid in America: Q&A with Cosplay Singer Reni by Adren Hart
Page 17.JETAANY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang by Shree Kurlekar
Page 17.Understanding Japanese Women with David J. Radtke by Rick Ambrosio
Page 18.Theatre Review: Samurai Takamine Jokichi by Anne Koller
Page 19.Film Review: Tokyo! by David Kowalsky
Page 20.Book Corner: Sony: The Private Life by Lyle Sylvander
Page 21.KRAZY! Exhibition at Japan Society by Anton Phung
Page 22.Pop Rock: Q&A with Marshall Crenshaw by Justin Tedaldi
Page 23.Jy? Q! with JET Alum Poet James Shea by Liz Wanic

Jun 3

JQ Magazine’s Spring 2009 “Utada Issue” Now Available Online!

The Spring 2009 Issue of JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) Magazine is now available online at http://jetaany.org/magazine/.

Microsoft Word - JQ Spring 2009 Cover Draft  1.docO-tsuakare sama deshita to Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for all his hard work in putting out another outstanding issue, this one featuring a one-on-one interview he did with Hikaru Utada in New York.

Tanjo!!  JQ‘s Spring 2009 Utada Issue is Here!

  • What do an Oscar-winner, a celebrated ambassador-turned-president, an international author summit and one of the best-selling singer-songwriters the Eastern Hemisphere’s ever seen have in common? That’s right! They all (I heard) turned down Conan O’Brien to appear in the new issue of JETAANY’s quarterly magazine JQ!
  • Months in the making but well worth the wait, our new issue also features our newly elected officers, Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a you-are-there piece on the Tokyo Marathon that you’re guaranteed to learn a thing or to from, and interviews with an Off-Broadway star, community honchos, noted authors and local JETs-made-good in both Japan and beyond.
  • And how’s this for a main course: for the first time ever our feature interview was too long for the print issue, so we’ve posted the complete 13-page interview with Hikaru Utada at the handy link below. Whether you’re a Hikki-mania or just want to read what might be the most in-depth interview she’s ever done in English, we’ve got you covered.   It all happens in the new issue of JQ. Dozo and enjoy!

SPRING 2009 ISSUEclick to download PDF

(Click Here to Read the Complete Hikaru Utada Interview)

 

Editor: Justin Tedaldimagazine@jetaany.org

 

SPRING 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  • Page 3…..Letter From the Editor / Letter From the Country Rep
  • Page 4…..Nippon News Blotter / JQ National Photo Contest Winners
  • Page 5…..Comings & Goings – New Officers and JLGC Changes
  • Page 6…..JETAANY Author Showcase by Gina Anderson and Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 6…..TAIKOPROJECT in Philly by Renay Loper
  • Page 7…..Japan Society’s New President Motoatsu Sakurai by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 8…..JETlog featuring Ed Thompson (Chiba-shi CIR, 1994-97)
  • Page 9…..STOMP New York’s Yako Miyamoto by Liz Wanic
  • Page 10…Running the Tokyo Marathon by Stacy Smith
  • Page 11…Nihonjin in NY – Featuring Noriko Furuhata of the CGJ by Rick Ambrosio
  • Page 11…Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
  • Page 13…Hikaru Utada: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 14…Adren Hart’s ConnectForce Productions Jazzes Up NY by Matt Matysik
  • Page 15…JETAActivity Photos
  • Page 16…An Animated Talk with Japanamerica Author Roland Kelts By Larry Heiman
  • Page 17…Destination Nippon: JNTO and Kintetsu International by Sylvia Pertzborn
  • Page 18…New York-Tokyo Founder Taeko Baba by Marea Pariser
  • Page 19…Film Review: Departures by Lyle Sylvander
  • Page 19…Book Corner: Shutting Out the Sun by David Kowalsky
  • Page 20…Shutting Out the Sun Author Michael Zielenziger Q&A by Kelly Nixon
  • Page 21…Awaji Puppet Theater at Japan Society by Beata Wilk
  • Page 23…Top 14 List / Life After the B.O.E. / Let’s Make Chirashi!
  • Major domo to (from left) Anson Mau, Kayoko & Rob Werner, Marea Pariser, Louie Reyes, Joe Marucheck, Justin Tedaldi, Steven HorowitzLaura Pollak, Stacy Smith, and (off camera) Nancy Ikehara and Peter Mallik for pitching in to mail out the Utada Issue.

stuff-n-mail-group-pic


Mar 12

From the 2009 Winter Issue of JQ, the JETAA NY quarterly magazine:

By Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08)

It was one of our last big nights in Tokyo. A well dressed crew hailing from Ibaraki descended on Roppongi for our last big hurrah. In a couple months we would all go back to our homes, be them England, Australia, America, etc. and this weekend was an all out affair. Expensive dinners, nice hotel, Jacuzzi Karaoke, Tokyo Bay cruise…it was one for the books.

Saturday night of this luxurious weekend found us at club Alife, rumored to be a hot spot for famous Japanese actresses and models. To be honest, I don’t think I’d know them if I saw them, but it was still cool to be partying where they party, and with a ¥3,000 entrance fee, it had better be fun. There were about 15 of us in total running around, having drinks, dancing, enjoying ourselves. Little did we know it would end up being one of our most talked about nights in JET. Read More


Feb 25

JQ Magazine: Winter 2009 “New Issue” of JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine Now Online!

jetaa_winter_2009_cover***********

Otsukare sama deshita to Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02), the new editor of JQ, JETAA NY’s Quarterly Magazine, for putting out the first issue of the Magazine.  And what an amazing issue it is.

Go to http://jetaany.org/magazine to see the issue online.

Here’s the table of contents:

WINTER 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Page 3…..Letter From the Editor
  • Page 4…..Nippon News Blotter
  • Page 5…..JETAAnnouncements
  • Page 6…..East Meets West
  • Page 7…..Nihonjin in New York Featuring the JLGC by Junko Ishikawa
  • Page 8…..JETlog by Sean Sakamoto
  • Page 9…..JetWit.com Q&A with Steven Horowitz
  • Page 9…..Catching Up with Randall David Cook by Lyle Sylvander
  • Page 10…Youth for Understanding by Sylvia Pertzborn
  • Page 11…Theatre Review: Shogun Macbeth / John Briggs Q&A by Olivia Nilsson and Adren Hart
  • Page 12…Speakit LLC: Kevin Kajitani Interview by Junko Ishikawa
  • Page 13…Jero: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 14…Joost!: Japanese TV on Your PC by Rick Ambrosio
  • Page 15…Film Review: Sukiyaki Western Django by Elizabeth Wanic
  • Page 16…An Inside Look at Japan Airlines by Kelly Nixon
  • Page 17…Japan Society’s Best of Tora-san Series by Matt Matysik
  • Page 18…Chip Kidd Talks Bat-Manga! by Justin Tedaldi
  • Page 19…Book Corner: Natsuo Kirino’s Real World by David Kowalsky
  • Page 19…Restaurant Spotlight: Wajima by Allen Wan
  • Page 20…Adventures in SwirlySwirlDates by Rick Ambrosio and Nicole Bongiorno
  • Page 21…Yosakoi Dance Project by Kirsten Phillips
  • Page 22…The Tale of Eric and Ozawa by Rick Ambrosio
  • Page 23…Top 14 List / Next Issue / Sponsors Index

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