WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). Recently she’s been watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Today’s news reported on an interesting trend in Japan, that of 便所飯 (benjo meshi) or toilet meals. The segment focused on college students who don’t want to be seen eating alone, and choose to take cover in the bathroom instead. The news crew went into a university to determine the extent of this phenomenon, and did a survey of how many people were found eating alone in the cafeteria within an hour, yielding 11. They interviewed these solo eaters as to why they were by themselves, and one replied that the time she had available to eat didn’t match that of her friends.
Other people who spoke to reporters said that they would rather skip lunch and wait until a later meal when their friends were free rather than face eating alone. However, for some Read More
Zorgamazoo in China too! (sort of)
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Following up on the post about Robert P. Weston’s (Nara-ken, 2002-04) rhyming children’s novel Zorgamazoo being translated into German, it turns out Zorgamazoo is also being translated into Chinese. And by the Chinese translator who did Dr. Seuss!
This, apparently, is not new news. Rob did a post on his Way of the West blog back in November, 2008 unveiling the news. But JetWit didn’t know Rob back then. In fact, JetWit barely existed at the time.
The important thing is that we know now and as a result, so do you.
And to Rob we simply say, “Gong shi, gong shi!” (That’s “omedetou” in Chinese, fyi.)
The latest from Way of the West, the official blog of Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), the Toronto-based author of the rhyming children’s novel Zorgamazoo:
Good news, everyone: I’ve had an offer to publish Zorgamazoo in Germany!
Jacoby and Stuart wants to have the book out in Spring of 2010, and in hardcover, no less. Because of the challenging translation presented by Zorgamazoo, they’re currently on the search for a well-known, well-experienced translator.
Whoever they find, may I wish them the very best of luck! I don’t expect it’ll be easy.
(JetWit is still stuck on the question of how one would pronounce “Zorgamazoo” in German?)
Job: Translation of the Kurodahan Press’ Speculative Japan Series
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following freelance translation opportunity through the Honyaku E <> J Mailing List and thought it might be of interest to former JETs. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
The contents of the second volume of the Kurodahan Press’ Speculative Japan series of anthologies has been finalized, and they are looking for good translators. If you would like to be considered for one of these stories, please contact either Mr. Edward Lipsett or Mr. Stephen Carter by e-mail.
See the list of available works for more information.
If you have never worked for the Kurodahan Press, you should probably take a look at their FAQ for prospective translators, because it is highly likely that you will be asked to demonstrate your ability as a translator and a writer before you are contracted to handle a story.
WIT Life #44: 水筒男子
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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 Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
暑中見舞い (shochuu mimai) or mid-summer greetings to everyone! I apologize for my absence, but I was traveling across the country for the past three weeks as an interpreter for a Japanese delegation participating in the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). My co-interpreter and I shared some wonderful adventures with this group that I will detail in a post soon to come.
First I would like to talk about the rage currently overtaking Japan: water bottle boys! As you probably know, the Japanese love to find trends and attach catchy names to them, thereby creating a stir. For example, in a previous post I mentioned the phenomenon of 草食男子 (soushoku danshi), “herbivorous men” who are cooperative, family-oriented and kind but not very aggressive when it comes to romance. This time around the trend is 水筒男子 (suitou danshi), or men who carry around their own bottles.
Manufacturers are coming up with a variety of masculine styles to appeal to this previously neglected market. One store in Tokyo revealed Read More
Job: In-House and Freelance Translation Positions At Nintendo of America (Redmond, Washington)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following employment opportunity through the Honyaku E <> J Mailing List and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Redmond area and other freelance translators. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Nintendo of America is looking for a few experienced J>E translators.
Freelance and in-house work is available.
The group in question translates programming manuals, including SDKs and middleware. No game content.
The target audience is game developers (programmers) knowledgable in C, C++, and Java.
Manuals describe image and sound manipulation and deal with everything from heaps and stacks to high-level animation and audio control.
The successful candidate will be able to write native-level English suited for programmers.
Interested parties should contact John Zimet.
**********************
Miguel Gervais (Saitama-ken, Fukaya City, 2000-03) founded and runs the M.L.C.英会話 (eikaiwa) school in Fukaya City, Saitama-ken which currently teaches approximately 45-50 students. He is originally from Canada and was kind enough to write this article in response to a JetWit request to share his career experience.
Any other JET alums interested in sharing their own career advice, experience and perspectives are encouraged to e-mail your article idea to Steven at jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com.
Having a Job is Irresponsible
My friend Jack is a fine, upstanding person and a great teacher. He’s been in Japan for untold years, had a job that he liked well enough and is blessed with a wonderful family. Unfortunately, the college that had hired him for the past 10 years or so suddenly refused to renew his yearly contract. In their magnanimity, they told him this one month before he was due to start the new school year. Obviously, this was much too late to find another job.
Jack is a great teacher. He is a valuable asset… and yet he is now unemployed and in rather desperate straits. But things could have been even worse… he could have been forced to leave Japan, just like untold numbers of other teachers after the NOVA debacle. Luckily, he is on a spousal visa and was spared this final humiliation.
Don’t let this happen to you! Life-time employment has never been in the cards for foreign teachers in Japan. Unless you are Read More
Job: On-Site Translator (Frankfurt, Germany)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following employment opportunity through the Honyaku E <> J Mailing List and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in Europe in general and Germany in particular. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Aerotek (click here for the Aerotek USA Web site), one of the world’s largest recruitment companies, is looking to recruit Japanese to English Translators for a global household name in Frankfurt. The client has an unrivaled reputation and is known throughout the world as an employer of choice. Click here to view the original thread on the Honyaku E <> J Mailing List.
The Role:
Working for a global household name who is a true global leader in the entertainment industry.
You will be responsible for the translation of a wide range of texts from Japanese to English. These texts will vary in complexity and subject matter.
You will be responsible for proof-reading translations provided by 3rd parties, checking the texts for errors and checking the content and grammar.
Read More
Event: SWET Summer Party
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The Society of Writers, Editors, and Translators presents:
The SWET Summer Party!
Event: SWET Summer Party
What: Club Party
Host: Society of Writers, Editors, and Translators (SWET)
Start Time: Sunday, July 26 at 1:00pm
End Time: Sunday, July 26 at 4:00pm
Where: Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Kantokutei Hiroma
Click here to see more details and to RSVP.
Travel: Aitai Japan
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aitai Japan
I just found out about an interesting travel website called aitai Japan (translation: “I want to meet” Japan) (www.aitaijapan.com), which bills itself as an “association for independent tourist assistance in Japan” and explains that it is “a guide/interpreter service with listings of enthusiastic volunteer guides who can offer free tourist assistance for independent travelers on their visit to Japan.”
It reminds me of a great organization in New York City called Big Apple Greeters (a good place for JET alums to volunteer, by the way) which pairs up a volunteer with any visitors to New York looking for a friendly local to walk around with for a few 
hours. Except aitaiJapan seems to be doing this on a national level and really helping tourists cross through what can seem like intimidating language and cultural barriers to non-Japanese.
If anyone out there has had any contact or experience with aitaiJapan, please feel free to share, either by posting a comment or by sending an email to JetWit.
WIT Life #43: ひったくり
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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 Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Japan’s status as a crime free haven is being further tarnished by an increase in a kind of petty thievery known as ひったくり (hittakuri) or bag snatching. The culprits make their moves while on motorbikes, bicycles or even on foot, and many times their distracted victims do not notice them until it is too late. According to a policeman, as they are often arrested holding little or no money of their own, it is thought that these crimes are committed out of economic need.
Hittakuri has a comparatively low arrest rate, primarily because Read More
Bankruptcy Bill #16 – GM First Day Hearings
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Bankruptcy Bill is a cartoon created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall. To see more strips as well as original bankruptcy haiku, go to bankruptcybill.us.
WIT Life #42: Guerrilla Rain and Shotgun Marriages
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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 Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Japan has just officially entered the rainy season, a period many of us might remember as a time when it’s
impossible to get your laundry done as there are few dry days to hang it outside. Last year the buzzword at this time was ゲリラ豪雨 （gerira gouu) or “guerrilla rain,” referring to the sudden fierce downpours similar to flash floods that on occasion took people’s lives and are thought to be an effect of global warming. Courtesy of innovation from the Japan Meteorological Agency, perhaps this year’s rainy season will be spent a bit easier. It has scattered Read More
Job: Entertainment company seeks bilingual exec personal asst. (NYC)
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From speaking with Jenna at Forrest Solutions, this sounds like a pretty cool job:
Entertainment company in NYC looking for a bilingual English/Japanese Executive Personal Assistant to support company Chairman.
Job Description
Senior level experienced personal and business executive assistant needed for high-profile Chairman of vertically-integrated, Rock and Roll media/entertainment company. This position requires a candidate that has experience as a Personal Assistant to a high profile individual as well as is bilingual English/Japanese. Individuals must thrive in an extremely fast-paced environment, while keeping a cool head among complete chaos. Candidate must be able to handle long hours and fast-paced work environment, and must be on call 24/7. Read More
JET alum blog featured in Japanese online news
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JET alum and SC Subchapter Rep Daniel Stone’s blog The Divine Wind Vault has been featured in an article on the Japanese website Searchina. It profiled his recent post about the excellence of Japanese convenience stores and fast food restaurants, especially in comparison to the poor level of service and goods offered at the same places here in the States. Omedetou for this Japanese media coverage!
