Job: Native Japanese Speaking Attorney needed for document review asap
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******
Via Penn Alumni LinkedIn Group:
Seeking Native Japanese Speaking Attorneys ASAP
“I am recruiting for NATIVE Japanese speaking attorneys for a document review project at a large law firm located Manhattan. Top pay and long term opportunity. Please contact me at kroth /atto/ customlegalsolutions. com. Thanks!
WIT Life #20: 買わない生活
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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 the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
The above title Kawanai Seikatsu, or purchase-free lifestyle, describes a money-saving phenomenon taking over Japan. In the midst of the economic doldrums, people are looking for creative solutions to maintain the lifestyles they are used to without spending as much money. What they have found to be indispensible in this pursuit are a variety of websites accessible by keitai (cell phone) and computer that allow them to access goods and services through a system of sharing. 
One such site is ShareMo (shmo.jp) whose catchphrase is “With just one keitai, you can share anything.” This site has a variety of offerings, from frying pans to Halloween decorations to video games, which are lent out among members. No money exchange takes place, but members receive points for carrying out transactions and can then use this currency to borrow items listed on the site. A Tokyo customer profiled showed the items throughout her house that she had rented from ShareMo. They ranged from a tea whisk to Read More
Roland Kelts interview on Tokyo FM (in Japanese)
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******Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica and frequent lecturer on the topic of Japanese pop culture, was interviewed recently on Tokyo FM. Below is the link to the post on his blog (japanamerica.blogspot.com) as well as links to the interview clips.Interviewed in New York, Aired in Tokyo, on Tokyo FM
The interview is in English, but the DJ translates in Japanese over Roland’s voice when he speaks and then expounds on her own at times. (I think it’s a little easier to hear the English in Part 2.)
It would be great if someone out there would post an English-version summary of the interview in the comments section below. Or perhaps one person could do a small portion and then others could add to it.
Job: Temporary Assistant – Permanet Mission of Japan to UN (New York)
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Via JETAA NY:
The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations is seeking a temporary assistant for general administrative duties.
Requirements/Preferences:
1) U.S. citizenship required.
2) Computer skills, typing skills and excellent English writing and verbal communications skills required.
3) College degree required
4) Familiarity with Japanese language and culture preferred
Duration: 5 weeks starting late January 2009
Please send a cover letter and resume by January 21, 2009 to jinji-center @un-japan. org with “PMJ Temporary Assistant” in the subject line. No phone calls please.
WIT Life #19: Michelin Phenomenon
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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 the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
The famous French Michelin guide finally made its way to Tokyo last spring with a 2008 edition, and the 2009 edition came out last November. A news feature called “Michelin Phenomenon” examined how the Japanese are viewing this take on their culinary culture.
Japan’s gourmet guide with the most history is “Tokyo Ii Mise Umai Mise” (Tokyo’s Good and Delicious Restaurants), started in 1967. Written on the cover of a recent issue was the quote, “The French just don’t understand.” When the editor was asked about this assertion, he claimed, “What French and Japanese look for is different. For them the atmosphere of a restaurant is important, whereas for us it’s all about the taste.”
A new guide with a Japanese publisher came out in reaction to the Michelin guide. Its editor felt that with only a year or two of experience in Japan, it would be impossible for Read More
JetWit’s first media hit! An interview by Kinue Imai Weinstein in the January 9 edition of Yomitime, the free Japanese weekly publication, with me as well as with JETAA NY Magazine Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02).
WIT Life #18: Kohaku 2008 Revealed
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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 the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Two weeks after the fact, but yesterday I finally had the chance to watch the NHK New Year’s
Eve music show Kohaku Uta Gassen aka Kohaku. This literally translates into “Red and White Song Battle,” referring to the fact that the genders split up into teams with women on red and men on white, and battle it out in the 
musical arena to see which sex takes honors for the year. The performers are a mix of contemporary pop stars and old-time enka singers (many with lavish costumes!), so there is a little of something for everyone. In addition to the interesting commentary provided by the host and hostess (representatives of their respective teams), several surprise guests drop by with acts of their own.
Each side present 26 songs during this four-hour spectacle, and this year 13 performers made it to Kohaku for the first time. For many singers, this is the pinnacle of their careers. The songs are judged by a 10-person panel of actors, athletes and other famous figures who offer their insight between songs. However, the ultimate decision of which team comes out on top is made by the live audience as well as viewers at home via their keitais.
An interesting first entry was that of Jero, a Pittsburgh native whose grandmother was Japanese. When he was growing up, she introduced enka to him and
A JET alum e-mailed me with an interesting question about electronic dictionaries. Please post responses below for the benefit of others (or feel free to e-mail your response to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.)
My trusty stand-by for 5 years died. I had a Cannon IDX-9700. Do you know of any place [in the U.S.] where I can buy one and what model to recommend now? I’m looking for something originally in Japanese- I’ve found that was better for Kanji, but maybe things have changed now.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
WIT Life #17: Coming of Age in an Insecure World
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). In her recent posts, she’s been watching the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Coming off the news that Toyota reported its first operating loss in 70 years, Japan’s other leading manufacturers are also falling victim to the high yen and global recession. Sony just announced that it will have its first profit loss in 14 years, despite the fact that it was in the black with profits of 200 billion yen in March of last year. For the business year through this March, it looks like Sony may post an operating loss of 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion). Toshiba also revealed that it will have its first operating loss in 7 years, due largely to slumping sales of its semiconductors.
However, in the midst of all this doom and gloom there was a bit of good cheer in Japan yesterday as nationwide more than 1.3 million 20-year olds celebrated Seijin no hi or Coming of Age Day. Seijinshiki (ceremonies) took place from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and this first generation of Heisei (1989~) seijin shared their hopes and fears with reporters. With a large percentage of college students, many expressed the desire to Read More
Sherif Afifi, a technical recruiter at Robert Half Technology, is looking for a resource that can translate a manual written in Japanese with technical specifications The manual is 600 pages, but he says he is not looking for a programmer or a developer, just the keen sense of understanding. Also the selected candidate will NOT be required to translate the whole manual , instead identify key chapters and better convey to the line manager what the document is aimed to present.
If interested, contact Sherif at sherif.afifi /atto/ rht /dotto/ com.
Via GaijinPot.com. I’ve never heard of this job fair myself, so if anyone has any perspectives or additional info, please feel free to add in the comment section. (The only Akiba I’m aware of, actually, is a rabbi who gets mentioned in the Passover hagadah.)
The first annual Akiba International Job Fair, presented by Vein Carry Japan Inc., will be held this year on February 28th in Umeda, Osaka and on March 7th in Akihabara, Tokyo.
http://www.gaijinpot.com/job_view.php?jid=23079
Japan Society presents Kazuko Shiraishi, the “Allen Ginsberg” of Japan, Friday, Jan. 30, 6:30pm
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Interesting upcoming event at Japan Society in NYC:
JAPAN SOCIETY PRESENTS THE “ALLEN GINSBERG OF JAPAN,” WHO READS FROM NEW WORK, ACCOMPANIED BY LIVE JAZZ
My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi
Friday, January 30, 2009, 6:30 pm at Japan Society
New York, NY – Japan Society presents an intimate evening with one of Japan’s foremost poets, Kazuko Shiraishi, in conjunction with the recent English-language collection of her poetry, My Floating Mother, City. Shiraishi, a pioneer in jazz-poetry collaboration, is joined by trumpeter Itaru Oki for a special live performance, and partakes in a discussion and Q&A moderated by Forrest Gander, author and Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Brown University. My Floating Mother, City: An Evening with Kazuko Shiraishi takes place Friday, January 30 at 6:30 pm and is followed by a reception. Read More
Conversation Partners – Japanese/English – NYC
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I just saw this on Craigslist NY Writing Jobs. I’ve become rather skeptical of a lot of Craigslist postings. Does anyone want to check it out and report back as to whether it’s actually legit? Just an fun project for a snowy day if you have time.
Conversational Partners (Japanese)
Reply to: gigs-987035626@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2009-01-09, 10:47PM EST
Two female college student’s looking for some people who are fluent in English and Japanese to speak with. Serious inquiries only.
- it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
- Compensation: Two great friends !
WIT Life #16: Home for the Holidays
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). In her recent posts, she’s been watching the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Today’s news discussed Japanese travel trends during the New Year’s holiday, and it turns out that 2.87 million people passed through Tokyo’s domestic Haneda Airport during this time. Many were taking part in what’s called the u-turn rush, or the phenomenon of people returning to Tokyo and other big cities from their hometowns at the end of a holiday season. According to the survey, 84% were u-turning and 16% were coming back from places like Guam and South Korea where they could take advantage of the strong yen.
This piece did a check of what kind of omiyage people had received from their families. A young man from Okinawa had two large cheesecakes his mother had baked for him. A man from Kagoshima held Read More
Job: Write Subtitles in English for Adult Movies – P/T – (Tokyo)
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Via Craigslist Tokyo. I’m posting this more for entertainment value than job search value.
Part Time Subtitle Editing for Adult Video Company (Tokyo)Reply to:
job-975368287@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-31, 11:03PM JT
Tokyo-based adult video production company seeking part time bilingual staff to add English subtitles to material orginally in Japanese.
Requirements:
– Any age
– Strong command of English and Japanese
– Over 20 years old
– Available for 4 hour shifts in central Tokyo (9:00-13:00 or 13:00-17:00)
– Some knowledge of material content a plus (knowledge of terminology very useful)
This is a translation job only. You will be adding English subtitles directly and a native English speaker will review material before completion.
- Location: Tokyo
- Compensation: 3,000yen an hour plus transportation
