Thanks to writer/designer Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, Uwajima-shi, Yoshida-cho, 2003-05), JetWit now has some funky new merchandise. Chotto mite kudasai!
Get JetWit email updates by joining the JetWit yahoogroup
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You can now get JetWit email updates by signing up for the JetWit yahoogroup (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JetWit/).
Jameri-pop?
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I was listening to NY-based band HappyFunSmile on my iShuffle on my subway commute home last night, and it hit me that bands like HappyFunSmile, Gaijin-a-Go-Go, Soh Daiko (of which Ariel Shearman (Ichikawa-ken, 1994-97) is a member) and perhaps others seem to be part of a trend that could be called “Jameri-pop,” i.e., a hybrid of US and Japanese culture, though perhaps with an ironic sense more typical in U.S. culture than Japanese. Sort of a twist on Roland Kelts‘ Japanamerica concept.
I’m guessing someone somewhere has already discussed and described this trend, though I Googled the word “jameripop” and nothing came up. Maybe it’s just a New York thing at this point in time, given the high concentration of young Japanese people in a city already known for setting trends. I don’t travel around to other parts of the U.S. enough to know.
Do you have other examples of “Jameri-pop?” Send an e-mail to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Here’s a sample of HappyFunSmile from a performance at the Knitting Factory in NYC:
Translators Mini-Challenge is a new arbitrarily recurring feature presented by professional translator, interpreter and writer Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999).
Update: The winner is Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06)
Welcome to the first-ever JetWit Translators Mini-Challenge! The first person to respond by email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with the correct English translation of the below Japanese term will win a free Gaijin-a-Go-Go CD (Go-Go Bootcamp)!
*******
凸凹（でこぼこ）
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ANSWER: uneven, rough, rugged, bumpy
Stay tuned for the next Mini-Challenge!
Is author David Mitchell a JET alum?
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Can anyone confirm whether award-winning author David Mitchell is an alumni of the JET Program? His Wikipedia entry and other info on the web make clear that he lived in Hiroshima for 8 years and taught English at a technical school. Just trying to confirm whether he’s a JET alum.
E-mail any info to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
FYI, he is the author of (among other things) Ghostwritten (1999), number9dream (2001), and CloudAtlas (2004).
INTERVIEWING IN N. AMERICA FOR ALT POSITIONS COMMENCING IN MARCH/APRIL 2009
Interac Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading private provider of Assistant Language Teachers to the Japanese public schooling system, is accepting applications from motivated and committed educators currently residing N. America to join our team of over 1,700 teaching professionals for positions commencing in March/April 2009.
If you love working with kids ranging in age from elementary to junior high school, have a passion for teaching, a willingness to adapt to a culture that is different from yours, and wish to expand your horizons and teaching skills by working in the public schooling system in Japan as an ALT, then you are the candidate we are looking for.
Based out of its head office in Tokyo and its eight branch offices located throughout Japan, Interac’s staff of approximately 1,700 ALTs are now working in locations throughout Japan. Read More
JETAA Chapter Beat – 12.01.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET community…
- Sunday, December 14 – Bonnenkai. 6:00 p.m. at Tono Sushi, $20 for JETs and $25 for everyone else.
- Tuesday, December 2nd – Konwakai business meeting on “How to address conflicts between American upper management and Japanese headquarters.” 6:10 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Consuate General of Japan.
- Friday, December 5th – Happy Hour at Daisy Buchanan’s.
- Saturday, December 6th – An outing to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts(MFA) and dinner at Sake Japanese. Join the JASM (Japan America Society of Maine) at 2:00 p.m. for a look around the MFA. $15.00 entry fee for the museum.
- Tuesday, December 16th – JETAA Monthly Meeting
- Every Thursday Free Japanese Class
- Thursday, December 4th – PNWJETAA Executive Advisory Group meeting. 6:00 p.m. at Wann Izakaya.
- Saturday, December 6 – Bonnenkai. 6:30 p.m. at Bush Garden. $12 per person. Bring a gift to participate in the White Elephant Gift Exchange. RSVP as seating is limited.
- Sunday, December 21 – Sing for Christmas Service at the Christ United Presbyterian Church(CUPC) Choir. Practices on Dec. 5, 12, and 19th at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, December 13th – Bonnenkai. 7:00 p.m. at the Wakatay Restaurant. $10 for JET Alums, $15 for Friends of the JET Program. Bring a wrapped gift (value $10-15) to participate in the “White Elephant” gift exchange.
- Tuesday, December 2nd – Informal Pub Supper with Ambassador Ebihara. 7:00 p.m. at The Penderel’s Oak. £10 for members of the Japan Society and JETAA.
- Wednesday, December 3rd – Annual Chapter Meeting followed by food. 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Japan Local Government Centre.
- Friday, December 12 – Bonnenkai. 7:30 p.m. $20 for JETAA Members and JALTs, $55 for all others. Drinks not included. RSVP as seats will be limited.
- Movember – Ewan Morris, one of the JETAA Canberra committee members is participating in Movember this year and has asked JETAA members to support him. Movember is an organization to raise money for awareness of men’s health issues – namely depression and prostate cancer – through the lovely art of moustache growing. Click to donate to a good cause.
- Tuesday, December 2nd – Free public workshop entitled Japan’s Gateway to the West: The Nagasaki Foreign Settlement 1859-1941 by Professor Brian Burke-Gaffney. 5:00 p.m. at the National Library of Australia(NLA), Ferguson Room, 1st Floor.
- Wednesday, January 28th – Kodo “One Earth Tour” Taiko concert at the Orpheum Theatre. 8:00 p.m. From now until December 31st there is a special 15% discount on tickets when you order online using the code ODAIKO
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.
Job: Freelance writers needed (Tokyo)
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Interesting job listing from Craigslist Tokyo. Reminds me of the Tom Lehrer line about a certain doctor specializing in “diseases of the rich.”
Freelance writers needed (Tokyo)
Reply to: job-935865525@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-11-27, 4:27PM JT
New bi-monthly magazine looking for freelance writers. The magazine will target wealthy and successful foreigners in Japan and will include topics such as business, politics and culture or anything that might interest the readers. The language will be English.
Reply with a short description of your past experience and an sample of your previous work.
We will also consider Japanese writers even if the English ability is not entirely perfect. We will spell-check and rewrite together with you.
Rise in Elderly Crime in Japan – by The Washington Post’s Blaine Harden
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An interesting article about a rise in crime by the elderly in Japan, by the Washington Post’s Blaine Harden and Akiko Yamamoto. Apparently many older people, feeling isolated and disconnected, are engaging in shoplifting.
A question for JET alumni readers: Have you heard about or experienced this trend or related trends in other contexts? Do any JETs or JET alums out there interact with elderly communities on a regular basis? It seems like there’s a lot of potential for both volunteer and 
work opportunities for JET alums with regard to Japan’s aging population.
Send an e-mail to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with any comments or perspectives, or post a comment below.
Job Listing: Assistant Director for Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University (NY)
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Position with the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University. Seeking an organized, dynamic individual to fill the position of Assistant Director.
From Miho Walsh, Associate Director, Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture www.donaldkeenecenter.org
Center, founded in 1986, supports the study of diverse aspects of Japanese culture at Columbia University by organizing lectures, workshops, conferences, film screenings, exhibitions, performances, and other events throughout the year. It also hosts visiting scholars, administers fellowship competitions and prize programs, and collaborates with other academic departments and organizations across campus. At the same time, the Keene Center maintains an active presence on New York’s broader cultural scene, coordinating its activities with academic and non-academic institutions throughout the city, as well as nationwide and abroad.
The Assistant Director is the senior administrator of the Keene Center. He/she is supervised by the Center’s faculty director, works closely with Columbia’s Japan studies faculty, and supervises a research associate and part-time staff. As a full-time officer of the University, the Assistant Director is entitled to comprehensive employment benefits as well as tuition exemption. Among his/her responsibilities are fundraising and representing the Keene Center at national meetings, which require periodic travel to Japan and elsewhere.
Strong Japanese language ability is necessary for the job. Individuals who are fully bilingual in Japanese and English are especially encouraged to apply. Previous fundraising experience is also highly desirable. For further details about this position, including application procedures, please follow the link below.
http://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=113446
Tadaima! #2 – Networking, Karate and Stocks, Oh My!
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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!
My cousin recently published a mystery/horror novel called “Once Upon a Nightmare,” which I read exclusively at night because that’s generally when scary stories are most poignant. She asked me to review it, so I am. But like most books you get really into, you forget what time it is, and I ended up staying up really late. So I end up waking up late.
First I checked e-mails for leads and responses with jobs. A fellow JETAANY member (Steven) needed help with the Kintetsu Essay Contest, and at this point he and I were working on a title for this series. The back and forth was a great way to keep myself engaged and feeling like I was doing something. The Essay Contest data was formatted quickly, but Steven and I went back and forth several more times brainstorming for a name for this series.
Downstairs I went for brunch in my deserted house. Carefully placed on the kitchen table was my daily note from Mom. Tuna in the Fridge. She’s going to Lowes when she gets home. Vacuum all the leaves in the front of the house.
I thought of calling my mother at work and telling her that many houses in Japan lack yards and doing yard work would severely cripple my cultural transition. Instead I threw on my weird leather and faux fur hat (I have a habit of wearing odd hats during chores) and began on the leaves. While doing this my neighbor Tony sauntered over.
Tony is about my fathers age and has two loves: Cigars and Sinatra. Read More
JETAA Philly Mud Shack Social Night – Photos!
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The JETAA Philly subchapter Mud Shack Social Night on Saturday, November 15 was a big hit! Subchapter rep Renay Loper reports, “”We painted pottery, made jewelry, enjoyed some Japanese food, traded JET stories, and laughed the night away! Everyone was excited that the Philly group was re-awakening! Based on the feedback – even from those who couldn’t make it – I am already looking forward to our next event!”
To be in the loop on future Philly events, just e-mail PhillyRep atto jetaany dotto org
JETAA Chapter Beat – 11.24.08
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JETAA community…
Texoma (aka JETAA Chapter 9)
* Friday, November 28th — Beaver’s BBQ – Come support a local legend-in-the-making at Beaver’s BBQ around 7pm.
* November 1, 2008 — December 17, 2008 Madame Kawakita, ongoing film series
Cinema Japan: A Wreath for Madame Kawakita ($5.50 – 9.50 per movie)
– Friday, November 28 — 8:40 p.m. Her Brother
Kon Ichikawa’s powerful family drama, set in the Taisho era, with virtuoso performances by Kinuyo Tanaka and Keiko Kishi
– Saturday, November 29 — 5:00 p.m. Zigeunerweisen
Seijun Suzuki weds surrealism to ghost story to evoke the late 1920s in Japan as a period of changing mores akin to Weimar Germany.
– Sunday, November 30 — 3:00 p.m. Tora-san’s Sunrise and Sunset
A Japanese populist classic from Yoji Yamada’s Tora-san series. Our bumbling proletarian hero has adventures in the Tokyo suburbs and in the arts.
Check out the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive for more dates!
* Saturday, December 6 — Nihongo Dake Dinner. Time and place TBA
* Saturday, December 13 — JETAASC Bonenkai. Time and place TBA
* Saturday, December 6 — 2008 JETAA Portland Bonenkai.
Time: 6:30 p.m., Location: Bush Garden, Cost: $12 per person.
Join JETAA Portland’s end of the year party. Make sure you bring a gift for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Bring your unwanted or most hilarious omiyage from Japan (ike a dancing Pocari Sweat can). One of our most attended events of the year, reserve your spot now. Seating limited!
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.
Two Upcoming Events with Sake Sommelier Chris Johnson (Oita-ken, 1992-95)
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Sake sommelier Chris Johnson (Oita-ken, 1992-95) will be sommelier-ing at two upcoming events. FYI, Chris is also the owner of Bao Noodles, the Vietnamese-style restaurant on 2nd Ave. between 22nd & 23rd Sts., and has provided gift certificates for several JETAA NY Newsletter contests.
Zagat’s Presents
THE ART OF SAKE PAIRING
December 8, 2008, 6 PM & 8:30 PM
Kyotofu, 705 Ninth Ave. (bet. 48th & 49th Sts.)
Join infamous New York sake sommelier Chris Johnson at this award-winning Midtown Japanese spot for a an informative six-course dinner pairing food and sake.
Event Details: $75 for six courses with sake and cocktails, tax and tip not included. More information here.
ASIA SOCIETY PRESENTS
Panel Discussion
Wine and Spirits with Asian Cuisine: A Perfect Pairing! (with live webcast)
Savory Productions / Saveur Magazine
Date: December 1st
6:30 – 9:00 pm
Location: New York
Asia Society and Museum, Auditorium, 725 Park Avenue, New York
Cost: $15 students; $15 members; $30 nonmembers
Buy Tickets Online
Phone: 212-517-ASIA
Web: http://www.savoryproductions.com/
Panelists:
– Cynthia Sin-yi Cheng, Founder, cyn-et-vin; Wine Editor, Cravings, New York
– Chris Johnson, Mixologist and Sake Master, Bao 111, New York
– Litty Mathew, Mixologist, Modern Spirits, Monrovia, California
Moderator:
– James Oseland, Editor in Chief, Saveur Magazine
Get more information here.
Akiko Wada, interviewed at Kinokuniya by Store Manager John Fuller
By Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02)
If you’ve ever watched TV in Japan on New Year’s Eve, chances are you’ve seen Akiko Wada. One of Japan’s most celebrated stars, the singer and entertainment personality has made over 20 appearances on the annual Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red-White Song Contest). To celebrate her 40th year in show business, the “Female Emperor” performed a landmark one-night-only concert, Power & Soul, at Harlem’s renowned Apollo Theater on September 29.
Born in Osaka, the headstrong Wada made her recording debut in 1968, shortly after dropping out of high school at age 17. The following year, she broke big with “Doushaburi no Ame no Naka de” (In the Pouring Rain), with pop stardom and numerous variety show hosting gigs to follow. With her tall, stocky build and direct nature, Wada is something of an anomaly in the Japanese entertainment world, where women are less encouraged to speak their mind or even think about criticizing their peers.
Three days before the Apollo date, Wada held court at a press event in Midtown’s Kinokuniya Books. Hosted by store manager John Fuller, the conference (conducted entirely in Japanese) kicked off with an a cappella performance of “Amazing Grace” from American vocal trio The Wild Women, who also opened Wada’s concert.
The superstar then emerged from the back to thunderous applause, fielding questions from Fuller and the Japanese media. She gushed about New York, which she’s visited eight times, and explained that she hand-picked the Apollo over venues like Carnegie Hall because of the “sacred place”‘s ties to the R&B acts that inspired her growing up.
Other questions focused on her rehearsal of English-language songs Read More
