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:

• Tohoku: Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization http://www.tohokukanko.jp/english/
• Shikoku:  TOURISM SHIKOKU  http://www.tourismshikoku.org/
• Kyushu: http://www.kyushu-tourist.com

Prefecture Tourism Sites

Aichi

• http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/aichi/index.html
  • Kariya City – http://www.city.kariya.lg.jp/wwwe_data/index.html (Steven Horowitz, Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94)

Akita

• http://www.pref.akita.jp/koho/foreign/en/index.html
• http://www.akitafan.com/en/index.html

Aomori

• http://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/foreigners/sightseeing.html
• http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/aomori/index.html
• http://wikitravel.org/en/Aomori
• JET blog about sight seeing in the Tsugaru region of Aomori by Aomori JETs Emma Sayers, Mike Moses and Kelly Isom:  http://letsgotsugaru.blogspot.com.
• Towada and Beyond http://towada-city.blogspot.com – Thanks to JET alum Mel Tee (Aomori-ken, Towada-shi), who still works for Towada, for sharing this.
• http://www.en-aomori.com/ is another good Aomori sightseeing website in English (also has Japanese, Chinese, and Korean versions) – Thanks to Mel Tee for sharing this one as well.
• http://melt-in-japan.blogspot.com/ – And this is a blog by Mel about life in Aomori!

Chiba

Read More

Jun 1

Japan Times: U.S. students invited in memory of JET victims

Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Trends, JETs in the News, Local Government Comments Off on Japan Times: U.S. students invited in memory of JET victims

Via Japan Times/Kyodo News Service, June 1, 2011:

U.S. students invited in memory of JET victims

Kyodo

Japan will invite 32 U.S. high school students who are studying Japanese to take part in a program in July to study the language and culture in memory of two American teachers killed in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, during a speech at a symposium in Tokyo on Monday, referred to the program intended to nurture people who will serve as a bridge between Japan and the United States in the future.

The program is in commemoration of Taylor Anderson, 24, and Montgomery Dickson, 26, who were taking part in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.

Anderson of Virginia was found dead in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, and Dickson of Alaska was found dead in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.

According to the government-linked Japan Foundation, the organizer of the program, the 32 students selected from about 250 applicants in the United States will attend Japanese-language lessons, take part in cultural events, including a drum performance and wearing kimono, and have exchanges with high school students in Osaka.

They will stay at the homes of the Osaka high school students during the two-week program. It will run for five years starting this year, the Japan Foundation said.

May 19

Japan Times: JET teacher aids school rebuilding

Blogs, Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Japan Local, JETs in the News, Local Government, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer, Writers Comments Off on Japan Times: JET teacher aids school rebuilding

“My name is Andras Molnar, an English teacher from Yamamoto Town in Japan, a place recently devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. I am trying to raise funds for the reconstruction of the schools in my town, as well as buying school supplies and uniforms for children who lost everything in the tsunami.”

U.S. teacher aids school rebuilding

SENDAI — An American English teacher at a middle school in Miyagi Prefecture has set up funds to solicit donations for rebuilding elementary schools damaged by the tsunami following the March 11 earthquake.

Pennsylvania native Andras Molnar, 25, said that although he is leaving the prefecture’s town of Yamamoto in August when his teaching contract ends, he is “hoping to stay connected” with the town through the fund.

Molnar said he became interested in Japan through “anime” such as “Gundam” and spent a year in the country as a high school student and again while at university. He came to Yamamoto, a coastal town of around 16,000, in August 2009.

He said he got along well with locals through a drum circle and surfing, a hobby of his.

“Everyone is very open, kind and I like them a lot,” he said in Japanese.

After the town was engulfed by the tsunami, he stayed at the junior high school for a week, busily checking the whereabouts of his students and doing what he could at evacuation sites, he said.

He then moved to Tokyo for around one month at the suggestion of his parents and friends.

But after getting email from friends in Yamamoto inquiring about him, he wondered why he was not giving his best when all the people in the town were doing their utmost, he said.

Molnar said it was this that prompted him to return to his apartment in Yamamoto.

“It was really good that I returned,” he said. “I feel encouraged by the children.”

He set up relief funds in Japan and the United States to help rebuild two elementary schools where buildings were devastated by the tsunami, and is soliciting donations through his blog.

May 18

Translation challenge: “Return on JET-vestment”?

Local Government, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting Add Comment (6)

“Return on JET-vestment“ is the term I’ve been using (along with “JET ROI“) to connote the “return on investment” that JET and JETAA have been providing for Japan in various ways, both directly and indirectly.  And it’s now particularly important for us to demonstrate Return on JET-vestment to the Japanese government and taxpayers, particularly at the prefecture and local government levels as those are the ones making the decisions as to whether to hire JETs or some other form of ALTs (e.g., dispatch companies).

Translation Challenge:

What’s the best way to convey “Return on JET-vestment” in Japanese?

Please post in the comments section below or e-mail to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.  (Commentary and thoughts on the translation is welcome as well.)

Yoroshiku!

May 15

Group Project: “Local Japan” tourism websites?

Japan Local, Local Government, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism Add Comment (50)

Question: Do you know of any Japanese prefectures, cities, towns, regions, etc. that have their own tourism website in English?  (e.g., Shimane Prefecture:  http://visitshimane.com)  Or even their own English language website that might be helpful in some way to potential tourists?  And if not, do you have time to look some up?

Your help needed: Please either post the locations and URLs in the comments section below.  Or email the information to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.

Goal: To gather in one place a list of as many English language tourism sites for Japan as we can find.

Background: One more thing the JET alumni community can do to increase the “Return on JET-vestment” by helping to promote tourism to Japan, especially to more local and regional areas.  I thought about this when I stumbled on the visitshimane.com website and realized that there must be a bunch of other Japanese prefectures and local governments that have set up sites to encourage tourism.  In addition to gathering and posting them all in one place on JETwit, I thought it would also be great if every time we list a JET alum along with prefecture and years on JET (e.g., Steven Horowitz, Aichi-ken, 1992-94), we can hyperlink the prefecture and/or town to the appropriate tourism site.  This will help drive more traffic to those sites and also provide additional linkbacks, which are valuable to a website with regard to search engine optimization.

Thanks for everyone’s help with this collaborative effort.  Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

p.s.  I checked with Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) as well as CLAIR and as far as I can tell there’s no previously existing version of this kind of list.

Apr 30

Fukushima Publishes “United We Stand” Newsletter

Article/Journalism, Earthquake Tsunami, Local Government Comments Off on Fukushima Publishes “United We Stand” Newsletter

Via CLAIR New York’s Japan Local Government Center, here’s a special English-language newsletter from the Fukushima government about the current situation  there. Read the inaugural issue at www.jlgc.org/pdfs/jp/20110501Fukushima.pdf.

Apr 26

CLAIR News April 2011

Earthquake Tsunami, Local Government Comments Off on CLAIR News April 2011

Here’s the latest edition of CLAIR News, April 2011.  Click here the Japanese edition (PDF).

This edition of CLAIR News contains the following topics:

1. Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake and Tsunami
2. Tragic News
3. New JET Arrivals
4. For Returning JETs: Applying for a Partial Refund of Your Pension
5. Payments
6. Tax Refund on Pension Refund
7. Local Inhabitant Taxes
8. Proceedures Concerning Status of Residence and Period of Stay
9. CLAIR Thanks all TOA Applicants
10. AJET Peer Support Group
11. Recruitment for Self-Support Group Leaders (SGLs)
12. The JET Alumni Association (JETAA)
13. ALT Opinion Exchange Meeting
14. Japanese Language Courses
15. The Local Government Officials Training Programme
16. TOA T-Shirt Design Contest
17. JET Q&A
18. Contracting Organisation Q&A

Apr 19

2011 National AJET Awards Nominations!

Contest, Local Government, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Volunteer Comments Off on 2011 National AJET Awards Nominations!

Via AJET:

Every year National AJET recognises some of the outstanding contributions JET participants have made to their local communities. If you know an individual or prefectural AJET chapter that fits this profile, please nominate them for one of the categories listed. Self-nomination is encouraged, so don’t be shy – go for it!

For more info about how to nominate somebody go here:

http://ajet.net/lang/en/2011/04/18/2011-national-ajet-awards-nominations/

Posted by Sam Frank, an ALT who taught English in Hiraizumi-Cho, Iwate Prefecture from 2002-2004 and worked in Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture as a JET from 2004-2006. He currently manages the New York Division of UnRated Magazine and works as a Project Manager/Web Producer at Arrow Root Media.

Apr 8

AJET Cares: Care packages for JETs in affected areas

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Local Government, Volunteer Comments Off on AJET Cares: Care packages for JETs in affected areas

Via AJET.net:

AJET is trying to coordinate sending care packages to JETs in areas affected by the earthquake. If you, a group of friends, or your prefectural AJET chapter would like to send a care package to a JET who needs it, please see this form for more information and to sign-up: http://tinyurl.com/3v9o25o.

Questions? Contact us at care@ajet.net. Show another JET that you care~

Here’s the full post from the AJET website:

Apr 8

Certificate of Appreciation from CLAIR

Earthquake Tsunami, Local Government Add Comment (1)

I was extremely honored (and also surprised) to receive this Certificate of Appreciation from the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).  There are many, many JETs and JET alumni helping out in so many ways both in Japan and from other parts of the world–with volunteering, fundraising, translating, reporting, organizing, communicating, etc.  JETwit is simply a reflection of the JET and JET alumni communities, and so appreciation extends to all of you as well.  And for those who don’t know, the folks at CLAIR have been working around the clock through all of this to help JETs and families of JETs in myriad ways for which my words do not suffice.

Issho ni isshokenmei ganbarimasu.

Apr 8

JET alum Canon Purdy’s “Save Miyagi Fund”

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, JETs in the News, Local Government, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on JET alum Canon Purdy’s “Save Miyagi Fund”

By Jen Wang (Miyagi-ken, Tome-shi, 2008-09), writer for J-music website Purple Sky.  She also maintains her own J-pop culture blog, Gaijin Teacher Otaku.

JET alum and tsunami survivor Canon Purdy (Miyagi-ken, Shizugawa-cho, 2008-10) has created the Save Miyagi fund with her family to help the students in Minamisanriku.  Currently she is working with the mayor and the BOE to determine where the funds are needed most.

In addition to seeking donations, she is asking both current and former JETs to send her links to fundraisers and other charity events to be promoted on the Save Miyagi site.  She is also looking for photos of places before they were destroyed by the tsunami to send to the victims as a way to raise morale and give them something to hold onto.

You can email your links and photos to canon.purdy [at] gmail.com .

Mar 31

CLAIR 2011 “JET Streams Newsletter”

Article/Journalism, Local Government, Writers Comments Off on CLAIR 2011 “JET Streams Newsletter”

Via CLAIR Tokyo:

Dear JET alumni,

• Here’s a link to the online version of this year’s JET Streams newsletter:  http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/former/jetstreams.html
• Here’s a link directly to the PDF:  http://www.jetprogramme.org/documents/pubs/JET%20STREAMS2011.pdf

JET Streams is distributed once a year to all JET alumni who request it and have registered their email address with CLAIR. Be sure to keep your email address updated so that you keep receiving JET Streams.

CLAIR would like to thank all the JETAA chapters and current/former JETs who contributed articles for this year’s JET Streams.

Table of Contents

1. Greetings from Yoko Kimura, Chairperson of the Board of Directors
2. JETAA Singapore:  The New Kid on the Block
3. JETAA Tokyo:  A Closer Look
4. JET Alumni Voices:
   • Lorelei Cortez (Hyogo-ken, Santo-shi, 2004-07) of JETAA Northern California
   • “Better Than a Thousand Days of Diligent Study” – Cristy Burne (Hyogo-ken, 1998-00) of JETAA Western Australia (Perth)
   • “Shashinka – A Cultural and Visual Inspiration” – Stirling Elmendorf (Tokushima-ken, 2001-04) of JETAA Northern California
5. Current JET Perspectives:  “JET Island Life:  Photographic Perspectives”
6. JETAA International Meeting in Scotland
7. Introduction of 2011-12 JETAA International Executive Committee
8. Setting Up a JETAA Chapter
9. From CLAIR Department of JET Program Management
10. JETAA Chapter Representatives/Information
11. Cartoon:  “Final Thoughts” by David Namisato (CIR Aomori-ken, Ajigasawa-machi)
12. “Words from the Editor” by Christian Tsuji

Mar 30

Fundraising: Instructions for donating directly to Iwate prefectural government

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Local Government Comments Off on Fundraising: Instructions for donating directly to Iwate prefectural government

The following information was shared by JET alum Susan Pickett (Iwate-ken, Miyako-shi) who helped gather information for anyone who would like to donate directly to the Iwate prefectural government.  The information is also available via the Facebook group “Grassroots Aide for Iwate“ (which I believe was set up by a JET alum, but not sure).

Note: JETwit.com does not advocate for or recommend any one particular charity or relief effort.  This is just one more helpful example of JET alums helping to facilitate donations to Japan.

What Can I do?

I spent a year teaching English in Iwate Prefecture (Miyako) in the Tohoku Region- (northern Japan), and ever since the earthquake, I have been asking myself what can I do to help the people of Iwate and in particular those in the coastal towns severely hit by the tsunami.

Iwate Prefecture has set up a Disaster Relief Fund for the citizens affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

The Iwate Prefectural Site in Japanese is here:  http://www.pref.iwate.jp/index.rbz
Information on Iwate and the Great Tohoku Earthquake

Wikipedia info on the earthquake:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami#Japan

Charity information on the Iwate Prefecture site (English) (PDF):  http://sv032.office.pref.iwate.jp/~bousai/taioujoukyou/gienkin_kaigai2.pdf

Charity Donations for the Great Tohoku Earthquake Disaster

Those who want to make a direct contribution to Iwate Prefectural victims and affected areas from overseas can make a bank transfer to the following location.  The government of Iwate has a committee to decide how to distribute the funds.  Those who want to make a direct contribution to Iwate Prefectural victims and affected areas from overseas can make a bank transfer to the following location.

1 Bank Transfer Account Information

• Bank (JPN: 銀行名)
• The Bank of Iwate, Ltd(JPN: 岩手銀行)
• SWIFT Code
• SWIFT: BAIWJPJT
• Branch: Kencho Branch(JPN: 県庁支店)
• Branch No: 009
• Account No. :009-­2016634
• Beneficiary’s Name (JPN: 口座名義):Iwate Prefecture Disaster Relief Charity Committee (JPN: 岩手県災害義援金募集委員会)
• Beneficiary’s Address/Telephone Number (JPN: 住所/電話番号): Japan, Iwate-­ken, Morioka-­shi, Uchimaru 10-­1 Office of Health and Welfare Planning Iwate Prefectural Government Tel :019-­629-­5408

*(Note: Please remember that there may be bank charges involved with transferring money overseas)

2 Issuances of Receipts

• For those that require a receipt for their charitable donation, please download the following form : http://sv032.office.pref.iwate.jp/~bousai/taioujoukyou/gienkin_kaigai2_yousiki.pdf
• Fill out your address, name, transfer account information, and amount of money donated. Then send that form by mail, fax, or email to the Office of Health and Welfare Planning of the Iwate Government (the address is written below).

3 Distribution of Charitable Donations

A separate committee will be formed to decide how to distribute charity funds.

• < Iwate Prefecture Disaster Relief Charity Committee >
• 〒020-­8570 Iwate-­ken, Morioka-­shi, Uchimaru 10-­1
• Office of Health and Welfare Planning
• Iwate Prefectural Government
• TEL 019-­629-­5408  FAX 019-­629-­5419  Email AD0001 [at] pref.iwate.jp

Mar 24

Sayonara! 6 CLAIR-NY staff set to return to Japan

Local Government Comments Off on Sayonara! 6 CLAIR-NY staff set to return to Japan

It happens every year, but it’s always sad to say goodbye to the CLAIR-NY (aka Japan Local Government Center) staff members who finish their terms and return to Japan at the end of March.  Those departing this march include (left to right):

• Yuko Nishida (Izumo City government, Shimane Prefecture)
• Shinya Abe (Tokyo, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
• Taichi Hanzawa (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture government), who previously served as the JETAA USA Liaison
• Chizuko Kawamura (Hiroshima City government), who served as JETAA Canada Liaison this year and JETAA USA Liaison the previous year
• Kazuaki Nakajima (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department) (not pictured)
• Akiko Tanabe (Tottori Prefecture government) (not pictured)

Minasan arigatou gozaimashita.  O-tsukare sama deshita.  Nihon ni kaete, ganbatte kudasai!

Note on CLAIR-NY/JLGC: The staff of the JLGC is comprised of local government workers from various cities and prefectures along with some central government workers, all of whom are selected to participate in a 3 year program.  The first year they spend working and learning together in Tokyo.  The latter 2 years they spend in one of a number of CLAIR offices in various countries.

Mar 24

JETwit featured in CLAIR NY (aka Japan Local Government Center) Newsletter

Article/Journalism, Interview/Profile, JETs in the News, Local Government, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on JETwit featured in CLAIR NY (aka Japan Local Government Center) Newsletter

Here’s a link to the Spring 2011 Issue of the JLGC Newsletter, published bi-annually by CLAIR NY (aka Japan Local Government Center).

This issue includes a feature on JETwit.com (PDF) which I was asked to write a few months ago.  It’s hopefully a helpful explanation of the background and purpose of JETwit.  However, post-3/11 I have to admit it also feels dated and I feel somewhat conflicted about posting it now given what’s still going on in Japan.