Reuters: Japan’s Obama Town Parties for Inauguration
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Obama-shi in Fukui-ken, Japan is partying hardy to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Here’s today’s report from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE50J4AQ20090120
And here’s the video of their Obama-uta to get you in the mood. “La…la-la-la-la O-ba-ma!…”
Smithsonian lists “Odd-Fish” as one of notable children’s books for 2008
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Kathleen Burke, who compiles an annual list of notable children’s books for the Smithsonian, included The Order of Odd-Fish, by JET alum James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06) in her 2008 list in the category for older readers.
And as a bonus, the cover of Odd-Fish is one of three covers shown, along with Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle and Aaron Blabey’s Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley.
Omedetou gozaimashita, James-san!
(Click here to see other critical praise for Odd-Fish.)
Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…
There is much to celebrate now that 2009 is upon us. New possibilities, new hopes and new experiences wait just around the corner. Join the JET Alumni community in kicking off the new year together in this special Shinnenkai special edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.
JETAA Chicago Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24, 6:00 at the Japan Information Center. What better way to celebrate the new year than with food, games, koto music, gyotaku, a raffle and even a little calligraphy lesson? If that isn’t enough, then all proceeds for this event will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Don’t miss it.
JETAA D.C. Bowling Shinnenkai – Tuesday, January 27th, 7:00 at Lucky Strike Lanes. Bowl in the new year in Washington D.C. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and food for everyone!
JETAA Florida Shinnenkai – Sunday, January 25, 5:30. Michael Maloney is hosting this year’s Shinnenkai at his home. Come enjoy food and conversation with Florida JET alumni.
JETAA Texoma Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24, 6:30. JET Alumna Melissa Villamil is offering her home for this year’s event. Earlier meetup scheduled for 2:00 in downtown Houston for some activities before the party. Bring your business cards, get ready for some Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, Wii and board games. It promises to be a good time.
JETAA Rocky Mountains Shinnenkai – Sunday, February 8th, 1:00 to 4:00 at the International House. Help to celebrate the year of the cow with sushi, music and games and prizes.
JETAA Southeast Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 31st, 6:00 to 8:00 at Nori Nori. Bring in the new year with all you can eat seafood and sushi.
JETAA Southeast First Ever SC Sub-Chapter Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24th, 6:00 at Clemson University’s Roderick International House. Come join in on a little new year’s celebration with the South Carolina Sub-chapter.
JETAA Northern California Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 14, 6:00 at Restaurant Peony. Food, games, and prizes! Celebrate 2009 with old friends and new.
- Photo Request! – JETAA Northern California needs photos for this year’s Shinnenkai Slideshow! If you’ve got: Pictures you took while in Japan on JET, JETAA Event Pictures, other event pictures you want to share or pictures of your family please submit them and share with the JET community.
JETAA Pacific Northwest Japan Young Professionals Group Shinnenkai – Wednesday, January 21st, 6:30 at Typhoon Restaurant in downtown Seattle. Join in for good food and a chance to network with others interested in Japan.
JETAA Toronto Annual General Meeting & Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 31st, meeting starts at 5:30 at Milestone’s Grill & Bar. Come and help contribute to the Toronto Executive and help celebrate 2009 Canada-style.
JETAA NY Shinnenkai – On Friday, January 23 at 7pm, enjoy All-you-can drink and eat shabu-shabu in a traditional Japanese restaurant (Naniwa on E. 46th between 5th & Madison) sitting on tatami and surrounded by paper sliding doors. Beef shabu shabu & seafood yosenabe will be served. Drinks include beer, sake, shochu, wine and tea. Vegetarian option upon request. Space is limited to 45 people, so RSVP now to get on the list and make your payment so you don’t miss out on the biggest dinner of the year! If you’re not a big drinker and still want to attend contact Monica.
All attendees must pay in advance through PayPal. RSVP to Monica at social /atto/ jetaany /dotto/ org to get the link to make the payment. Click here to see photos of last year’s Shinnenkai.
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.
My name is Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08). And whether readjusting to post-JET life is something you’re facing now, will deal with in the future or if you just enjoy reconnecting with that awkwardly uncertain feeling you had when you got back from Japan, come along with me as I look for a new job, a new apartment, and yes, mow the lawn of my parent’s house. Tadaima!
Hello all. Yes, I’m back, still living at home, doing chores and looking for work! Apologies about the long black out and happy new year to all! I think Julie, who writes Editorial Pursuits, really did a great job summarizing how I feel right now, in terms of thanking people, looking for work, and dedicating myself to working harder. So thanks Julie, you saved me a good amount of space to write about…. (Drum Roll)
The Puppy! That’s right. As if I needed more distractions, this Christmas my sister wanted one thing, and she got it. A puppy. A deviously cute, usually well behaved puppy. Let me outline what that first week was like.
Day 1: Love Puppy. He’s so cute. Did you see that? He looked at me! Sooo cute!
Day 3: Puppy is cute. He pees where he shouldn’t, and Read More
QUESTION
In a recent post on her blog travelingtastebuds.blogspot.com (“Growing Pains“) Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) describes a situation where she submitted a travel writing piece to an editor (her first hit with a national publication) only to see a published version that looked rather different than what she submitted, in rhythm and voice.
She wonders: Is this normal or typical? Or is this just what she should expect?
JetWit.com put the question to JET alumni in the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group.
Click “Read More” to read their responses. Read More
Haiku Challenge #3 – Winner!
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Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has reviewed all haiku submissions containing the designated word “pop“ for Haiku Challenge #3 and has selected a winner to receive a free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime: From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle.
Says Roland: “As a half-Japanese drummer and writer, I can’t resist finding a paradiddle and bubble-blowing carp in a haiku. Congratulations, Julie Matysik–and thanks to all for stellar contributions.”
THE WINNER
A paradiddle.
The sticks connect, pop, bounce,
like koi blowing bubbles.
—Julie Matysik (Yamanashi-ken, 2006-07)
**********
Click “Read More” to read the rest of the haiku submissions…
Read More
JETAA Chapter Beat 1.11.09
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…
- January Volunteer Event – Saturday, January 24th, 8:30 to 12:30 come out to Kipp DC: Will Academy and volunteer with 5th, 6th, and 7th graders in the Saturday School Community Service Program.
- Inauguration Coat Checker – January 18th – 20th. Want to check coats for the upcoming presidential inauguration? Sign up for a part time job as a coat checker in downtown DC hotels over the weekend.
- JETAADC Happy Hour – Wednesday, January 14th, 6:00 to 8:00 at Cafe Asia. Drop on in for the first Happy Hour of 2009! Special guests from several Asian related organizations will be in attendance so bring your business cards.
- Japan Young Professionals Group Shinnenkai – Wednesday, January 21st, 6:30 at Typhoon Restaurant in downtown Seattle. Join in for good food and a chance to network with others interested in Japan.
- Celebrate Asia Concert – Friday, January 16th, 6:00 at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium Benaroya Hall. Get your tickets to this inaugural benefit concert event celebrating classical music and other Asian cultural performances.
- Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 14, 6:00 at Restaurant Peony. Food, games, and prizes! Celebrate 2009 with old friends and new.
- 2009 Japan in the Gobal Economy Lecture – Thursday, January 15, 6:00. Join the discussion with Dr. Hugh Patrick and Dr. Takeo Hoshi on the topic of Japan’s financial future after the economic downfall of 2008.
- The Future of Democracy in Northease Asia Lecture – Tuesday, January 20, 5:30 at the World Affairs Council of Northern California. Explore the political landscape of Asia and the challenges democracy faces in the future.
- First Ever SC Sub-Chapter Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24th, 6:00 at Clemson University’s Roderick International House. Come join in on a little new year’s celebration with the South Carolina Sub-chapter.
- Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 31st, 6:00 to 8:00 at Nori Nori. Bring in the new year with all you can eat seafood and sushi.
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.
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
Job: Program Associate – FORECAST Exchange Program for Serbia and Montenegro
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Via JETAA DC:
Program Associate – FORECAST Exchange Program for Serbia and Montenegro
Location: Washington, DC
Duration: January 2009 to May 2010 (with possible extension)
General Description:
The overall goal of this program is to provide academic exchange programs for undergraduate students from Serbia and Montenegro. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), this program exposes the student leaders to the U.S., its educational system, and society. World Learning manages all of the recruitment, selection, applications, placement, and monitoring of these students. The
Program Associate will assist a Program Officer in all aspects of the placement and monitoring of the students. Read More
Ozawa and Obama: Michael Auslin comments in WSJ Asia
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JET alum Michael Auslin (Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, former Professor of Japanese History at Yale University and one-time judge on Iron Chef America) has a new article in today’s Wall Street Journal Asia titled Ozawa and Obama that analyzes the state of Japan’s economy and political situation and discusses the ways that Japan and the U.S. need to work together.
Job: Associate at Burson-Marsteller (Tokyo)
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Via Indeed.com Tokyo jobs:
Burson-Marsteller is an international PR and communications firm. I’m aware of at least one JET alum who works for them.
Click read more to read about the position and how to submit a resume for it. Read More
JetWit Vacation – Akemashite omedetou!
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JetWit will be on hiatus during the Christmas/New Year’s break. But we’ll be back posting in the New Year.
明けましておめでとうございます!
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
Happy New Year!
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!
WITLife #13 – Emperors, Towers and More Nesting
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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 (already yesterday in Japan) celebrated the birthday of two of this country’s fixtures, the Emperor and Tokyo Tower. The former turned 75 and the latter 50, and both have been showing slight signs of aging.
In the customary palace visit open to the general public, Emperor Akihito apologized for causing people to worry regarding his health, as he is still fighting a cold. Because of this, many of the usual events surrounding his birthday will be canceled or postponed.
Tokyo Tower has recently undergone renovations such as a new elevator and new illumination, and author Lili Frank was on hand to offer greetings at its 50th anniversary party. He wrote the 2005 best seller Tokyo Tower, later made into drama and movie versions (which I liked so much that I’m now reading the book and enjoying it just as much).
*News of this year’s nesting phenomenon continues, and two trends regarding Christmas cakes are “mini” and “luxurious.” Mini cakes as small as 5-10 cm in diameter are wildly popular, as people would rather be able to try several different kinds instead of just one. On the other hand, high-end Christmas cake is also selling well. Whereas your typical strawberry shortcake goes for 500 yen, these luxury cakes are as much as 2,500 yen each.
As one consumer explained, “This is something I buy only once a year so I might as well go all out!”
Every Situation is Different: Holiday Edition
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To get everyone in the Japanese Christmas spirit, here are a few cartoons from the archive of Earth Bennett’s (Aomori, 2000-03) JET cartoon Every Situation is Different:
