JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by A

JET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present).

 

 

1. JETAA Ireland       

Japanese Language Meet-ups

 

JETAA Ireland has resumed their Japanese Language Meet-ups. They are

held once a month on the second Friday of the month, making the next one February 9th. For more details, their Facebook event page can be found here.

 

2. JETAA New York

JETAANY Gala

If you only attend one JETAANY event next year, make it this one!

The gala will be an evening of celebration, commemorating the JET Program’s 30th anniversary with our own New York spin, honouring local JET alumni, and celebrating the JETAANY community.

This is a black tie optional event that includes dinner, open bar, a sake-barrel opening ceremony and toast, entertainment, speeches, a silent auction, a taiko performance, and other activities. All for only $82*, thanks to generous grants we have secured to offset costs of the event.

Read more about the event (including FAQ) on jetaany.org. This event is open to all alumni, friends, and family (21+), so feel free to invite others, and buy your ticket soon!

*Early-bird pricing available until 1/15 (if tickets remain)!

Questions? Email gala[at]jetaany[dot]org
Want to get involved? Sign up here to volunteer.

 

 

 2. JETAA Singapore

Japanese Cultural Festival

J.CLAIR Singapore is looking for volunteers to share about the JET Programme at the Japanese Cultural Festival.

The details are as below:

～Japanese Cultural Festival (JCF) 2018～

• Date: 2/3 (Sat) 10:00～18:00
• Venue: University Town in NUS
• Organised by: The NUS Japanese Studies Society (JSS)

 

We would appreciate it if you could lend us your support to CLAIR for this event by indicating your availability in the link below.

https://goo.gl/forms/CAvcrD0hCJsjfzwv2

 

Feel free to contact JETAA Singapore if you need any clarifications.

 

 

 3. JETAA DC

Annual 10+ Reunion Event

The 10+ Reunion is a casual get-together for any JET alumni who departed for the JET Program in 2007 or earlier. Join fellow alumni to re-connect and reminisce about your time in Japan.
Date:      Saturday, February 10
Time:     1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location:        Teaism Penn Quarter (400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004)

Price: $10
Attendees have a choice of bento (fried chicken, salmon, or black bean cake) and each meal is accompanied by an exclusive Japanese green tea sampling. +1’s are welcome!

Please register and pay in advance by Saturday, February 3. Payments are non-refundable after Tuesday, February 6.

Feel free to contact secretary@jetaadc.org if you have any questions.

Click HERE to register for the 10+ Reunion

 

5. JETAA NSW

Manga Mania at Casual Powerhouse Arts Centre

Details

We invite you to join us for MANGA MANIA, a day filled with free workshops and events that speak to the Manga Hokusai Manga exhibition.

Please note that BOOKINGS are essential due to limited capacity.

***
MANGAZINE | 11am-1pm | 10-16 years
Participants of Mangazine will be introduced to the features of Manga drawing before creating their own zine using the key characteristics of this cartooning and comic based style.
FREE, bookings essential.
Book here: https://goo.gl/t8gCNm

IKEBANA WATERCOLOUR |11am -1pm & 2-4pm | 16 years +
Watch a demonstration of the traditional Japanese flower arranging technique of Ikebana before being lead in an exploration of the resulting creation through the use of watercolour painting. This workshop is suitable for both beginners and advanced students of watercolour techniques and all materials will be supplied.
FREE, bookings essential.
Book here: https://goo.gl/2RJyfR

SUSHI SUPER HEROES | 1.30-3.30pm | 6-9 years
Choose your favourite sushi ingredients from the available menu and then transform into an epic version of popular Japanese cuisine, the sushi roll. The sushi super hero outfit comes complete with mask and cape, ready to be decorated into the most exciting and powerful hero ever seen. This will be an open (drop in) workshop that participants can join and leave as desired.
FREE, bookings essential.
Book here: https://goo.gl/mq2pyz

***
MANGA MANIA FILMS

Film Screening: Crayon Shin Chan: Bravo! Samurai Battle (PG) | 11am
FREE, bookings essential. Book here: https://goo.gl/vvM6SC

Film Screening: Miss Hokusai (Uncl 15+) | 1:30pm
FREE, bookings essential. Book here: https://goo.gl/HkhYje

***
ALSO AVAILABLE:
Liverpool City Library will hold a pop-up Library within Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre that will be entirely devoted to Manga. Come and browse the huge collection of Manga books available for borrowing from the wonderful team at Liverpool City Council Library.

***
Header Image:
Daisuke Igarashi, A person who draws the world, 2015
Ink and watercolor on paper, 36 x 110 cm
© Daisuke Igarashi

When:    February 3^rd 2018

Where:   Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

Tickets:  www.casulapowerhouse.com

 

6. JETAA WA

KaiWA

When: Thursday, February 8th.

Location:        43 Below Tavern, 43 Barrack Street, Perth WA, Australia

Time: Starts 17:30

 

Hello everyone! We hope you’re settling into 2018 and keeping up with those New Year’s resolutions! Come join us for the next KaiWa on Thursday, February 8th.

KaiWA is a casual Japanese-English conversation-cultural exchange and anyone is welcome to come and practice their Japanese or English.

Entry is a gold coin donation and we’ll be open from 5:30pm til 8:30pm at 43 Below, (cnr. Hay and Barrack St, downstairs next to Commonwealth Bank).

Don’t forget to subscribe to kaiWA events!

More details can be found here and here.

 

 

7. JETAA France

Japancraft – Synergies entre Tradition et Modernité

2 dates:      6 February – 17 February

Expo :         Japancraft − Synergies entre Tradition et Modernité

Place:        Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris – page officielle

Clair Paris présente des objets artisanaux de différentes régions du Japon grâce à la collaboration de 18 collectivités locales du Japon. Ces objets fabriqués avec des techniques ancestrales, y seront présentés, et mis en regard de produits industriels de pointe réalisés avec les mêmes techniques. ENTRÉE-GRATUITE Du mardi 6 février au samedi 17 février 2018 de 12h à 20h (fermé dimanche et lundi) A la Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris 101Bis Quai Branly, 75015 Paris, France

日本の地方に根付いた伝統技術にスポットをあて、それらが現代の生活スタイルに高度に適応している例、異分野先端産業に活かされている例を分かりやすくご紹介します。日本の１８自治体から、特色ある工芸品、製品がパリ日本文化会館に集まります。 入場無料 2018年2月6日（火）～2月17日（土） 12時から20時 (日月休館) パリ日本文化会館 (Maison de la culture du Japon) 101Bis Quai Branly, 75015 Paris, France

 Certaines des créations présentées seront ensuite disponibles à la vente. Du mardi 6 février au samedi 17 février de 12h à 20h (fermé dimanche et lundi) The Japan Store ISETAN MITSUKOSHI | 101Bis Quai Branly, 75015 Paris, France http://thejapanstore.mistore.jp/paris/fr/index.html 展示期間中、同建物内のThe Japan Store ISETAN MITSUKOSHIにて一部の展示商品を販売します。 販売期間： 2018年2月6日（火）～2月17日（土） 12:00～20:00 ※日曜、月曜は休業日 Du mardi 20 février au jeudi 1 mars de 12h à 20h (fermé dimanche) Maison Wa | 8, Rue Villedo 75001 Paris France

https://www.facebook.com/maisonwa/ また、展示会終了後、パリ１区の和雑貨セレクトショップにて一部の展示商品を販売します。 販売期間： 2018年2月20日（火）～3月1日（木） 12:00～20:00 ※日曜は休業日 販売場所：Maison Wa | 8, Rue Villedo 75001 Paris France

 

8. JETAA UK

Karaoke/Pub Night with The London Chapter

When:    February 8^th

Time:     18:00 – 21:00

Where:   The Glasshouse Stores, 55 Brewer Street, W1F9UJ London, United Kingdom

Details

Following our London AGM/games afternoon last week, we decided to continue our 2018 JETAA London events with a crowd-pleasing classic karaoke night!

We will be gathering at the pub from 6ish (or as soon as our employers untie us from our desks/tools!) and heading to our usual karaoke spot in the manga laundrette!

Bring your friends, alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks, song list and your best/enthusiastic voices!

Pub: The Glasshouse Stores, 55 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 9UJ
Karaoke: Adanami Manga Bookstore, 30 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 0SS

*This event requires registration and payment*
Please head to our eventbrite page to sign up!

Only 14 spaces for karaoke so get in quick!
Head to the Eventbrite page to reserve your spot now:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/karaokepub-night-with-the-london-chapter-tickets-42570231709

 

 9. JETAA Ottawa

Japanese Potluck Event

Come one, come all, to JETAA Ottawa’s first official event for 2018!

This year, we’d like to kick off the mid-winter fun with some delicious eats and delightful company. After the gustatory festivities, we’ll also have karaoke and pool set up if you’d like to join in!

Click here to reserve what food/drink you’ll bring!

Some ideas include: gyoza, sushi, takoyaki, karaage, tempura, tsukemono, katsu curry, and more! There will be a small kitchen area (no oven) and microwave available for use, as well. But, if you’re not particularly skilled in the kitchen, not to fret–you could always bring some chuhais, bottled tea, or Pocky!

Date:         Saturday, February 17th
Time:         6:30pm to 9:30pm
Where:      Central 2 Building Party Room, 360 McLeod St.
To access the entrance, take the elevator to the second                    floor and turn left.
Cost:          Free, but please bring (Japanese-style) food!

 

 

10. JETAA Southern California and Arizona

Natsukashii-Kai!

When:        Friday, February 9th
Time:         17:30
Where:      Oreno Yakiniku
Weller Court, 3rd floor, 123 S. Onizuka St., 90012

Happy hour deals: http://www.oreno-yakiniku.com/happyhour/

Natsukashii-Kais are back for 2018 starting this February! Last year, this monthly meetup consistently achieved our primary goal of bringing more JET Alumni out to connect and remember what we loved about Japan! Each time was equally awesome, because we discovered and supported small Japanese, and Japanese-American-run businesses in Little Tokyo through our attendance at fun places, including Wolf and Crane, Suehiro Cafe, GAZEN, 3rd Generation Sake Bar, and more, plus our go-to after party spot: karaoke at Tokyo Beat!

For our inaugural night out, we’re celebrating one of the most natsukashii (nostalgic) dining activities: Yakiniku! We will meet at Oreno Yakiniku in Little Tokyo, from 5:30-9:00 to enjoy their unique happy hour deals on drinks and food (see link for details). We can split into two tables for those who dinner elsewhere, so don’t worry if you need to arrive late, leave early, or abstain from meat! As always, non-drinkers and friends of JET are absolutely welcome, and if history is any track record: good times are guaranteed!

This event also falls on the last day of L.A. interviews for potential 2018 JET Programme participants. We should avoid inviting any current applicants, so any hard working volunteer greeters, interviewers, and Japanese staff from that event can feel relaxed and welcome to enjoy the night out with us. Maybe you will even see someone from when you interviewed!

If you can’t make it, keep an eye out for our next event in March, when we will begin expanding our venues outside Little Tokyo. (Fear not! If you love Little Tokyo, we plan on returning to new and favourite venues from last year, every even-numbered month.)

 

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present).

 

1) JETAA Western Japan

JETAAWJ Job hunting and business manners seminar.

The JET Alumni Association Western Japan (JETAAWJ) will be hosting a two-day job hunting and business manners seminar in Osaka City with Mori Kosan Co., Ltd., a firm that supports foreigners seeking employment in Japan. The seminar will be from 9:00 to 17:00 on January 20 (Sat.) and 21 (Sun.), 2018. Attendees will learn things like: how to write a Japanese-style resume, prepare for an interview, exchange business cards, answer phone calls in Japanese, etc.
＊The seminar participation fee is 1000 Yen.

There will also be a networking event on the night of January 20 (Sat.) from 17:30 to 19:30, with Mr. Takeo Mori, CEO of the Kansai Tourism Bureau, and guests from other organizations. ＊Participation fee for the networking dinner will be 1000 Yen to help pay for catering costs (this is separate from the seminar fee).

For those who would like to attend, please apply through the link below. A schedule with more detailed information on the seminar will be sent to applicants.

＊The seminar will be conducted in Japanese, so it recommended for participants to have at least a JLPT N3 level of Japanese or higher.

Sign up here!

When: January 20 (SAT) & 21 (SUN)

Time: 09:00 – 17:00 (both days)

Where: Mori Bldg 4F, 1 – 4 – 11 Minamisemba Chou-ku, Osaka

More details: Contact JETAAWJ@gmail.com

 

 

2) JETAA Ottawa

The Japanese Film and Literature Society presents:

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

The Temple of the Golden Pavillion

Film and Book Description:

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is a 1985 American biographical drama film co-written and directed by Paul Schrader. The film is based on the life and work of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima (portrayed by Ken Ogata), interweaving episodes from his life with dramatizations of segments from his books The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoko’s House, and Runaway Horses. It was executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.

Movie TrailerThe Temple of the Golden Pavilion
In ‘The Temple of the Golden Pavilion’, celebrated Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima creates a haunting portrait of a young man’s obsession with idealized beauty and his destructive quest to possess it fully.

Mizoguchi, an ostracized stutterer, develops a childhood fascination with Kyoto’s famous Golden Temple. While an acolyte at the temple, he fixates on the structure’s aesthetic perfection and it becomes his one and only object of desire. But as Mizoguchi begins to perceive flaws in the temple, he determines that the only true path to beauty lies in an act of horrific violence. Based on a real incident that occurred in 1950, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion brilliantly portrays the passions and agonies of a young man in postwar Japan, bringing to the subject the erotic imagination and instinct for the dramatic moment that marked Mishima as one of the towering makers of modern fiction. With an introduction by Donald Keene; Translated from the Japanese by Ivan Morris.

 

 

Film – Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

When: Tuesday, January 16th, 2018

Where: Ottawa Public Library (120 Metcalfe St.) Basement Auditorium

Book – The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

When: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018

Where: Ottawa Public Library (120 Metcalfe St.) Basement Room B125

 

 

3) New England JETTAA

NEJETAA 5th Annual Ski Trip

This year NEJETAA will host our 5th Annual Northeast Region Ski Trip from January 26th – 28th at Killington Ski Resort, the largest ski area in the eastern United States.

We will stay at the Summit Lodge. It features a pub, hot tub, etc. Complementary breakfast is also included, and it is walking distance from the Foundry, our optional restaurant destination for Saturday night.

For those who are not interested in skiing, the Killington area offers much to do. There are options for individuals to do cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities. Killington Resort is only 35 minutes from the lovely town of Woodstock, VT with many options for eating and shopping; and 20 minutes from the Long Trail Brewery.

If you plan on attending this event, please fill out the form below by Monday, December 11 for the Early Bird rate and by Friday, December 29th for the regular rate. RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your spot and the type of room you want, as both are limited. We will send payment information soon after each deadline.

 

 

Who: JET Alums & Friends of JET

When: Friday, January 26 to Sunday, January 28

Where: The Summit Lodge, Killington, VT

Early Bird Hotel Costs for two night stay : Double: [$265] per person; Quad: [$175.50] per person; Triple: (in the event that we’re short one person for a quad) [$205.33] per person (Pay by Monday, December 11)

Normal Hotel Costs for two night stay – December 29 deadline normal price: Double: [$275] per person; Quad: [$185.50] per person; Triple: (in the event that we’re short one person for a quad) [$215.33] per person (Pay by Friday, December 29)

Lift Ticket Cost: One-Day: [$62]; Two-Day: [$119}
Ski (includes poles & Helment) or Snowboard Equipment Package Rental (includes Helmet): One-Day: [$39]; Two-Day: [$68]

Deadline to fill out form: Monday, December 11th, 2017 (Early Bird – payment instructions will be emailed to you) or Friday, December 29 (Regular Rate and final day to cancel or change reservation)

If you have any questions, or would like to inquire about carpooling, email Jesse Kerstetter at social@nejetaa.com.

Please Note:

*By RSVPing for this event, you will be responsible for any costs incurred on your behalf.

**As with previous years the quad accommodations include two queen-size beds. Extra cots are not always available.

***The above prices are based on a 20+ person group rate. Therefore, the costs are subject to change if fewer than 20 people sign up (in which case, you will have an opportunity to withdraw)

Sign Up Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU0ESRFwY6YiI55VWeGJUHRCtt22UZ_CdmiztVE3xvQDsM_g/viewform?usp=sf_link

 

When: Friday, January 26th to Sunday, January 28th

Where: The Summit Lodge, Killington, VT

 

 

4) JETAA Florida

Annual JETAA Shinnenkai in Tampa

Join us for our annual event to welcome in the new year!

When: Sunday, January 28, 2018

Where: Tampa

Contact: Please R.S.V.P. to Michael Maloney (Toyama-ken AET ’92-’94) at maloney_m@hotmail.com for directions.

When: Sunday, January 28th, 2018

Where: Tampa

 

 

 

 

5) JETAA Pacific North West

Book Club Spring Garden

Konichiwa PNWJETAAers + friends!

Please join Book Club for the first discussion of 2018 about Spring Garden by Tomoka Shibasaki. You can find it on Amazon here. The Japan Times says: “A masterful look at loneliness and malaise in Tokyo.”

Amazon says: “Winner of the Akutagawa Prize, a sharp, photo-realistic novella of memory and thwarted hope…”

We look forward to seeing you all on January 28 at 3:00pm at Fresh Flours on Phinney Ridge.

Yay books !

 

 

When: January, 28th, 2018

Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Where: Fresh Flours, 6015 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

 

 

6) JETAA Wellington

MEXT Japanese Study Scholarship OPEN

MEXT scholarship applications for Japanese Studies Students are now OPEN! This is a one year scholarship funded by MEXT (the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology). If you are a New Zealand citizen between 18 and 30 years old and studying Japanese at university, you may be eligible for this scholarship! Return airfares, university fees, and a monthly allowance will all be covered by the Japanese Government. Check the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand’s website for guidelines and the application forms.

When: From December 4th To February 16th, 2018

Where:

Wellington: JICC, PO Box 6340, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

Christchurch: JICC, PO Box 13748, Christchurch 8141

Auckland: JICC, PO Box 3959, Auckland 1140

 

 

 

7) JETAA New York

JETAANY Gala

The JETAANY 30th Anniversary Gala is a celebration of the JET Program’s many years of successful grassroots exchange and its positive impact on U.S.- Japan relations. The event is a chance for JET alumni and other attendees to engage in innovative educational and cultural activities that will promote understanding and friendship between the U.S. and Japan and strengthen our local networks.

This is a formal, inter-generational night of celebration. It is important because it presents an opportunity for us to come together and commemorate, for the first time ever on this scale in New York, the significance of this program, chapter, and our experiences.

Interested in Volunteering? We Need Your Help!

 

 

GALA FAQ – CLICK HERE AND ON EACH Q TO EXPAND

VOLUNTEER FORM – GET INVOLVED WITH THE GALA

When: February 3, 2018
Time: 6:00-11:00 PM
Where: Dumbo Loft, 155 Water Street, Brookyln, NY 11201 Map.

 

8) JETAA Rocky Mountains

The Daruma of Making Your Network Work

We are delighted to co-host with the amazing folks at the Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) for their Young Professionals Newtorking event.

You must RSVP at:
http://www.jascolorado.org/new-events-1/darumanetworking

Already have your career sorted? Then come support those who are finding their way, and just get to know other great people in the Denver Metro area who have a connection to Japan.

When: Wednesday, January 24th, 2018

Time: 6:30pm

Where: Nighthawk Brewery, 2780 Industrial Ln, Broomfield, CO 80020

 

 

 

9) JETAA Minnesota

JETAAMN’s Annual Karaoke Shinnenkai

Let us say Sayonara to 2017 and celebrate the new year with some Karaoke! Pay tribute or celebrate the goods and bads of 2017 by to our favorite tunes at Do Re Mi in Eagan from 8-10pm.

We will also meet next door for a Korean dinner at 6pm.

RSVPing will guarantee you a spot for karaoke. PLEASE comment below if you are interested in attending dinner before!! Yoroshiku!!

When: Saturday, 20th January, 2018

Where: Do, Rei, Mi Karaoke Studio, 1989 Silver Bell Rd, Eagan, MN 55122

 

 

These articles are recurring features written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning center that offers group and private Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Cantonese and Spanish classes.

Arabic Class listing can be found at: Arabic Classes NYC and Arabic Classes Online

So you might be interested in learning Arabic? In New York City, there’s a variety of Arabic classes offered from a variety of institutions. What this article does is discuss learning Arabic from the lense of a Japanese language learner (assuming most readers on JETWIT have either learned or attempted to learn Japanese in the past).

First of all, why learn Arabic? Just turn on the news and you’ll find out that a lot of the political, business and cultural trends these days seem to be coming from the Middle East. And Arabic (now keep in mind, there are multiple dialects), is the predominate language across the region.

Now to approach Arabic from a Japanese perspective. First of all, Japanese has only five vowel sounds (AIUEO), in case you remember that’s pretty small right? Wrong! Imagine a language with only three vowel sounds, that is Arabic. It sounds crazy but true, what you’ll end up finding is that a lot of words don’t have any vowel at all.

So next up is the alphabet, after all most diligent Japanese learners started by writing out their alphabets for Hiragana and Katakana, right? Do you remember how many characters per language that was? 46. So, you had to learn about 92 characters to start out to begin to pronounce and write Japanese. Arabic only has 28, so you can imagine how quickly your learning might go if you dive into this language.

I know the theme of this article is about how easy Arabic is, believe me, it’s a category IV difficult language (according to the DLI rankings) for a reason (Japanese is too, by the way). (FYI Category IV is the most challenging for English speakers) The fine print that I won’t really emphasize is that each letter’s shape changes depending on where it ends up in the word. Also the pronunciation of Arabic, unlike Japanese, has many sounds that are unfamiliar to the typical English speaker.

The most important thing I’ll end with is that surprisingly enough, when you develop your ability to speak one language, it actually enables you to speak another language easier. I think the confidence that you develop when you find a voice in a second language adds to your confidence to continue to build on this with a third language. I wish all of you the best of luck in your language pursuits! Please feel free to ask any questions.

J-DOC, C-DOC, S-DOC, A-DOC and K-DOC are recurring features written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning center that offers group and private Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Arabic and Spanish classes.

Spanish Class listing can be found at: Spanish Classes NYC

Congratulations on choosing to learn the Spanish language! In New York City, there’s a variety of Spanish classes offered from a variety of institutions. What this article does is discuss learning Spanish, and some similarities that Spanish has with Japanese (Assuming most people on this website have been exposed to Japanese).

First of all, why learn Spanish? If you live in New York, there’s an honest answer: a very large amount of people speak it. It’s estimated that about 25% of New Yorkers have Spanish as their native language (and you can multiply that by whatever population estimate for New York you prefer).

Now to approach Spanish from a Japanese perspective. Surprisingly enough the vowel sounds in Japanese can also be found in Spanish, in fact they’re identical. AIUEO all have identical matches in Spanish, so those years you’ve been speaking and using Japanese have gotten you prepared to use some of the vowel sounds in Spanish.

I know what you’re thinking, Japanese is such a different language than Spanish, why would I bother with learning this language? Well keep in mind because you’re reading this article you speak English so the grammar patterns will be similar. Also probably as most of you have experienced the resources for keeping up with Japanese when you live in New York are limited, versus Spanish has public tv stations, radio, and many other facets.

The most important thing I’ll end with is that surprisingly enough, when you develop your ability to speak one language, it actually enables you to speak another language easier. I think the confidence that you develop when you find a voice in a second language adds to your confidence to continue to build on this with a third language. I wish all of you the best of luck in your language pursuits! Please feel free to ask any questions.

JET Prefecture Round Up is a weekly mosaic of events taking place in the AJET community in Japan. Compiled by Suzanne Bhagan, (Tottori Prefecture).

 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

When: 15 December

Where: Oita City, Oita Prefecture

Oita AJET welcomes one and all to watch the latest Star Wars flick.

 

Aomori AJET Skating and Gift Exchange

When: 16 December

Where: Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture

Whether you’re a pro or a newbie, join Aomori AJET for some winter fun and holiday cheer. Bring a pressie if you’re interested in the gift exchange.

 

TA JET Holiday Party

When: 16 December

Where: Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture

Get in the spirit with Tottori AJET. Bring a gift and money for dinner and drinks!

 

Ugly Sweater Potluck and White Elephant

When: 16 December

Where: Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture

Get together with Oki AJET to celebrate with an ugly Christmas sweater party and gift exchange!

 

Written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03), WIT Life is a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language.  Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

Last week I had the opportunity to see some amazing works from legendary avant garde Japanese poet, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer Shuji Terayama. I hadn’t heard of him before, but many critics view him as one of the most productive and provocative creative artists to come out of Japan. He has also been cited as an influence on various Japanese filmmakers from the 1970s onward. The three films screened were Americans, who are you (アメリカ人あなたは), Laura (ローラ) and The Trial (審判).

A special treat was that Laura included the restaging of Terayama’s 1974 film performance with the original actor, Henrikku Morisaki, who was in attendance. This short film feature female strippers who are berating the audience, when all of a sudden a spectator (Morisaki) enters the film. We saw scenes of him as a young man in this role, being stripped and assaulted by the women. At the end of the film he emerged from behind the screen, this time naked and holding his torn clothes. In an interview post-screening, Morisaki told stories about his work with Terayama over the course of almost 17 years. He described Read More

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Resources Sara-Jane Seery (Kochi Prefecture, 2016- Present).

 

1) JETAA Pacific North-West

Washi & Washoku

The Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association with the generous support of the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington are putting on an event to show

how you can bring Japanese culture into your life.Washi and Washoku is here again.  Come get your hands dirty and learn how to make Japanese paper, the traditional way. While doing this you can also learn how to make (and eat!) some easy Japanese snacks.

When: Saturday, December 2 at 12 PM – 4 PM PST
Where: Japanese Cultural & Community Center of WA ワ州日本文化会館
1414 S Weller St, Seattle, Washington 98144

 

2) JETAA Rocky Mountain

Nengajo Making Workshop

The JET Alumni Associaation (JETAARM and the Japan American Society of Colorado (JASC) are proud to present a workshop for making your very own Japanese New Year’s Card. 2018 will be the year of the Dog.

Surprise your friends back in Japan, or give your friends here in the US something unique for New Years. Participants are welcome to come between 130 and 330 to make a card, as long as our supplies last. For the detail oriented, come early to get all that creative energy spent. See you there!

When: Saturday, December 2 at 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM MST
Where: First Baptist Church, 1373 Grant St, Denver, CO 80203

 

3) JETAA Chicago

‘Bowlnenkai’ aka December Monthly Member Meeting

Come bowl away the past year with JETAA Chicago. We’ll have our regular meeting (possibly at my office, possibly at the Consulate) and then we’ll go bowling. We go to 10 pin on State and Kinzie (near House of Blues). Join us for just the meeting, just the bowling, or both!

When: Monday, December 4 at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST
Where: Japan Information Center
737 N Michigan Ave Ste 1000, Chicago, Illinois 60611

 

4) JETAA South Island

JETAA SI End of Year Dinner

Celebrate the end of 2017 together at JETAASI’s end of year dinner / bounenkai.

When: Thursday, December 7 at 6:30 PM – 8:30pm PM UTC+13

Where: 48 Colombo St, Christchurch, New Zealand 8023

 

5) JETAA UK

JETAA UK Academic Special Interest Group, UEA Norwich

Applications are open for the next Academic Special Interest Group (SIG) organised by JETAA UK, apply using details below.

The very first meeting of the JETAA UK SIG took place in December 2016 at the School for East Asian Studies (SEAS) at Sheffield University organised by JET alumni Dr Peter Matanle (Senior Lecturer and Director of Research & Innovation at SEAS) and Sharleen Estampador (PhD student at SEAS). 20 JET alumni academics attended representing universities from all over the UK, Ireland, Germany & Holland.

Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR) London, and the Japanese Embassy (tentative) will again also attend, having spoken last year about how they value JETAA in the UK warmly and welcome the development of the SIG and offered their support for the future of the group. This year, staff from CLAIR HQ in Tokyo also plan to attend.

When: Friday, December 8 at 10 AM – 4:30 PM UTC
Where: University of East Anglia (UEA)
University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ Norwich

 

6) JETAA NSW

JETAA NSW End of Year Celebration

Come along and join JET NSW Alumni Association and our new returnees as we celebrate the end of another year!

For the very first time ever we will be offering AN OPEN BAR for 2 hours!! as well as delicious canapes, great company and your chance to win a variety of great lucky door prizes!

Where: Friday, December 8 at 7 PM UTC+11
When: Pyrmont Point Hotel
59 Harris Street, Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia 2009

 

7) JETAA UK

JETAA London Christmas KFC and Markets

Get into the festive spirit by the bucket-loads with the JETAA London Chapter this December!

We kick off our lovely Sunday afternoon with the Japanese Christmas tradition of tucking into a “Kentucky Christmas Dinner”. Once our bellies are full of chicken and cheer, we will head over the beautiful and iconic Tower Bridge to the Christmas Market across the river. Here there will be stalls where you can purchase your Christmas prezzies, food stalls if you’re looking for a tasty dessert, and plenty of decoration and sights (with Tower Bridge as the back-drop!) if you just want to take in the atmosphere. The markets are mostly outdoors so wrap up warm!

Meet at KFC (across the road and to the right of Tower Hill station) at 12pm.clock

When: Sunday, December 10 at 12 PM – 3 PM UTC
Where: Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4, United Kingdom

 

8) JETAA Texoma

December Book Club – Our Land Was A Forest: An Ainu Memoir

Next we will visit Japan with a memoir by Shigeru Kayano, the first Ainu to be member of the Japanese Diet. The book discusses Shigeru’s struggles to straddle both worlds and to preserve Ainu traditions. clock

When: Sunday, December 10 at 1 PM CST

 

9) JETAANY

So you wanna start a business?

*We previously held this talk in-person, and are happy to now offer it as a webinar!

Join JET Alumni Lee Uehara and Alex Varney for a conversation about starting a business, digital marketing/PR fundamentals, useful (and often free) online tools, and general things to keep in mind when bringing a product or service to life and marketing it.

Lee is a serial entrepreneur with a string of businesses under her belt, and Alex provides PR, digital marketing, and event management services at an integrated digital marketing/communications firm. Both look forward to sharing their knowledge and experience with attendees in the process of starting/marketing a new business, or attendees simply looking to learn more about the strategies, processes, and digital tools available to entrepreneurs today.

Date: Tuesday, December 12th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:15 pm
Location: Zoom Info Webinar (Participation Link Forthcoming)
Cost: Free!

There will be time for Q&A.

 

10) JETAA Heartland

Fa Ra Ra Ra Ramen

Time to get festive in the yummiest of ways!
Join us for a holiday get together celebrating good company and delicious ramen! We will be exploring ramen restaurants and tasting our way through KC’s favourite ramen hotspots.

This is a fun and relaxed event, you are welcome to join or leave at any time. It’s also an open event, so grab a friend/partner/family/person and expose them to the best of Japan. Then they too can understand the wonder which had our students rioting in jubilation when it graced our school lunches.
Hope to see you all there!

When: Saturday, December 16 at 5 PM CST
Where: Bōru Ramen
500 W 75th St, Kansas City, Missouri 64114

By Suzanne Bhagan (Tottori Prefecture)

 

 

Wine Train

When: 17 November

Where: Ōmi-Hachiman Station, Shiga Prefecture

Join ShigaAJET for round two of the Omi-Tetsudo booze train extravaganza! The wine train will leave the station for a 2-hour nomihoudai with 6 delicious wines from across Italy and France.

 

Sports Day Night Cup

When: 18 November
Where: Oita Prefecture

Oita AJET welcomes you to a night of games and challenges and the glory of winning the Night Cup!

 

Hakodate Takeover

When: 18 November

Where: Hakodate, Hokkaido

Join Aomori AJET after SDC exploring the beautiful city of Hakodate.

 

Mt. Kajigamori Day Hike

When: 18 November

Where: Otoyo-cho, Kochi-ken

Catch the fall colors on a day hike on Mt. Kajigamori and then spend a relaxing evening at Star Lodge Kajigamori!

 

Naked and A-Bathed: Arima Onsen Day Trip

When: 18 November

Where: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture

KAJET welcomes fellow JETs to steam in the nude and wash away your troubles at Arima onsen. Don’t forget your towel!

 

2017 Shikoku Field Day

When: 18 -19 November

Where: Mima, Tokushima Prefecture

Shikoku Field Day is ready to kick-off with its tradition of silly games, outdoor fun, and getting to know other fellow JETs from all around Shikoku! After the games, enjoy a BBQ and help raise money for a good cause.

 

ShizAJET Regional Potluck Party

When: 18 November- 2 December

Where: Hamamatsu, Shimizu, Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture

ShizAJET will be having separate potluck parties in 3 locations: Seibu, Chubu, and Tobu. Bring food to share for all.

 

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Resources Sara-Jane Seery (Kochi Prefecture, 2016- Present).

 

1. JETAA Minnesota

   

30 Years of Change – JET Program’s 30th Anniversary

Come and join us in celebrating 30 years of the JET Program. We will be talking about the connections between Japan and Minnesota past, present and future. Join us for an amazing multi course meal at Kado no Mise to commemorate 30 years of the JET program! (menu to be posted shortly on our website and Facebook page)

https://jetaamn.org/2017/10/04/save-the-date-jet-30th-anniversary-banquet-event/

When: Sunday, November 12th from 2pm-5pm

Where: Kado no Mise 33 North 1st Ave, Mpls, MN 55401

 

2. JETAAMB

Whale Watching

JETAAMB is hosting its first-ever Whale Watching Trip!

We will meet at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey at 1pm on Saturday, November 18th. Anyone is welcome: JET alumni, family, friends, and anyone interested in Japan. We will be traveling with the Monterey Bay Whale Watch Company, and we will most likely be able to see humpback whales and dolphins.

Tickets are on sale at Eventbrite (https://tinyurl.com/y8ps2mk6). You must buy tickets by October 30th (Monday) at 6pm. RSVPing on Facebook is NOT good enough, you must buy your tickets in advance.

Schedule:

1pm Meet Fisherman’s Wharf (Monterey Bay Whale Watch @ 84 Fisherman’s Wharf Monterey, CA)

2-5pm Whale Watching

5-8pm Nijikai at downtown Monterey Pub to be determined later

Special Notes: Seas may be rough and cold, so bring anti-seasickness medication and warm clothing. The event may be canceled in the event of bad weather. For safety reasons, pregnant women are not allowed on the whale watching but are welcome at the nijikai.

 

3. JETAA NY

Karaoke Marathon

Let’s enjoy a karaoke marathon!. Please RSVP by Monday, November 6 if you plan to attend, so we can reserve an appropriate size room. Huge selection of English and Japanese songs, and other languages are available too. Did we mention some drinks are 50% off? All are welcome, so feel free to invite friends, JETs, and friends of JET alike!

Note: You can bring your own food, but not drinks (you can get drinks at the bar separately; some will have happy hour specials). Also, please make sure to bring your state ID — if even one person doesn’t have it, the whole room can’t drink. (Don’t be that guy!)

Happy Hour details: http://www.karaokeduet.com/index.php?itemid=5

When: Saturday, November 18th, 1pm – 8pm (Come late, leave early – you don’t have to stay the entire time!)

Where: Duet 48 (304 E 48th St, New York, NY 10017)

Cost: $14/person

RSVP/Questions: Email Alexei at alexeisensei@gmail.com and check out more details.

 

4. JETAASC

Natsukashii Nomikai

Come one, come all, to JETAASC’s 9th Natsukashii Nomikai! Every second Friday of the month, JETAASC checks out a new Japanese-owned establishment in the LA area. Relax and enjoy a drink and/or some food with us, because it’s the weekend! This month we’ll be at Ebisu, which has plenty of Kyushu flavor along with great happy hour specials

When: Friday, November 10 at 5:30 PM PST

Where: EBISU Japanese Tavern 356 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, California 90012

 

 

5. JETAA NSW

Career Workshop

The careers workshop is ideal for new JET Returnees but is open to any individuals interested in working on their job hunting, networking or personal promotion skills.

The workshop comes in two parts. Part one is this workshop and part two will be a networking evening where you can use the skills that you have acquired to build your personal and professional network

 

6. JETAA Chicago

Career Development Workshop

Just got back from Japan and looking for a job? Unsure about how to leverage your experiences in Japan? Maybe you have a job and are considering a career change? Wondering what skills you need to get that promotion? Attend JETAA Chicago’s annual Career Development Workshop on Saturday, November 18, 2017 to get guidance on building a path to career success.

The Career Development Workshop is free of charge. Registation will begin at 1:30 PM with the presentations scheduled to start at 2:00 PM and the networking reception scheduled for 5:00 PM.

The workshop will be held in downtown Chicago however the venue for the event has yet to be confirmed. Check back for more details.

When: Saturday, November 18 at 1 PM – 4 PM CST

Where: 400 S Michigan Ave, Ste C, Chicago, Illinois 60605

 

7. JETAA Manitoba/Saskatchewan

JET Program Info Session

Join JETAA Alumni for our JET Program Information session. If you want to know more about the JET Programme please join us.

When: Thursday, November 16 at 10 AM – 11:30 AM UTC-06

Where: 474 University Center. 66 Chancellors Circle, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2

 

 

JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Resources Sara-Jane Seery (Kochi Prefecture, 2016- Present).

 

1.JETAA Rocky Mountain

Tsukimi welcome back party

When: Saturday, September 30 at 4:30 PM MDT

Where: Chautauqua Park in Boulder, the lower park area near Baseline Road. We will be flying our JETAARM Nobori Flags and should be easy to spot.

900 Baseline Rd, Boulder, Colorado 80302

Join us in wishing an “okaerinasai” to the recently returned JETs at our Tsukimi picnic! Friends and family are welcome to join us for , tabemono (food), hot tea and, of course, moon viewing!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

2. JETAA UK

Leicester Japan Club ‘Sushi and Sword’

When: Saturday, September 30 at 1 PM – 3 PM UTC+01

Where: University of Leicester

University Road, LE1 7RH Leicester, United Kingdom

The Leicester Japan Club are organising a talk on Japanese swords and history by Joe Robey from the King Richard III Visitor Centre (he will bring his colelction of Japanese swords) on Saturday 30th September from 1pm until 3pm at the University of Leicester. There will also be sushi @ £5 a head and a chance to buy sweet Japanese bread.

Orders must be made before Friday 22nd September. E mail junko.n.tamaki@gmail.com to register and order sushi.

Read More

 

Written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03), WIT Life is a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language.  Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth, and celebrations are taking place around the country and world.  I recently had the chance to go to MoMA’s Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive (ending October 1 so run to check it out if you haven’t already!).  This incredibly comprehensive exhibit looks at Wright’s career from 12 different perspectives, each of which has its own section.   There are around 450 works that he made from the 1890s through the 1950s on display, and each section has a video narrated by a scholar in the respective field.

I was particular interested in the section discussing the second version of the Imperial Hotel (帝国ホテル), designed by Wright and built from 1919–1923).  It survived the Great Tokyo Earthquake that September, but eventually slipped into decay over time and in 1967 it was decided to demolish the hotel and replace it with a high-rise building.  The structure was mostly destroyed, but the iconic central lobby wing and reflecting pool were disassembled and rebuilt at Meiji-mura in Nagoya, which I was lucky enough to visit during a recent business trip.

This is an amazing theme park with a variety of architecture mostly from the Meiji Era (1868-1912), and Read More

 

             Posted by Cori M. Hallock (Hokkaido 2007-2008)

In response to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) established the JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON FUND. Gifts to the Fund will be donated to local Houston charities supporting recovery efforts.

JASH created the fund in response to an outpouring of concern from Japan over the severity of flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. JASH’s website states:

Houston,

You were there for us in 2011 to assist people and communities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. You also came to our aid in 2016 as we responded to the Kumamoto Earthquake.  

Now, we are here to support you. JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON. 

The Fund will serve as the focal point of support received from Japan and from friends of the U.S.-Japan relationship. All contributions will be utilized to support trusted local Houston charities with five-star ratings on Charity Navigator.

You can donate by check, wire transfer, or credit card through the JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON FUND page. More information is available in English and Japanese on the fund page.

Hurricane Harvey hit Houston on August 30^th, 2017 causing severe flooding and damage to thousands of homes. For updates on JAPAN STANDS WITH HOUSTON relief efforts, follow the JASH Facebook page.

 

Written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03), WIT Life is a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language.  Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

Last week the inaugural Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema began, and I’ve had the chance to catch a lot of great films at the two main venues of Kew Gardens Cinema and Queens Museum. Today they screened Persona Non Grata (杉原千畝 スギハラチウネ, 2015), a film about Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara (“Japanese Schindler”) who served as a consul in Lithuania from 1939-40 and saved the lives of thousands of Jewish refugees by issuing over 2000 transit visas to Japan. He famously continuing to sign visas even as his train pulled away from the station, and is estimated to have saved over 6,000 lives from the Nazis who invaded Lithuania in 1941. However, his diplomatic career was ruined because he had defied instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to issue the visas. Sugihara didn’t know if they had made any difference until being found years later by someone he had helped. He is now considered a hero in Japan, and those he saved have more than 40,000 descendants.

The film stars the phenomenal Toshiaki Karasawa as Sugihara and the always stellar Read More

Ryan Hata (Tottori-ken, 2014-Present) AJET National Council Director of Alumni Relations: Ryan is in his second year on the AJET National Council and first as the Director of Alumni Relations. He works alongside Rachel Brisson (AJET National Council Director of Alumni Resources ) and members of JETAA International (JETAA-I) to strengthen the relationship between former JETs, current JETs, and Japan. Ryan helps to keep you up to date with JETAA events around the world. If you have a specific event that you would like promote, please do not hesitate to contact him by email at ryan.hata@ajet.net or his Linkedin profile. 

Japan is in the midst of Golden Week, so why not take some time to celebrate at an event with your local JETAA chapter.

1 JETAA Chicago

May Monthly Member Meeting

 

When: May 1st 6:30-8 pm CDT
Where: Japan Information Center 737 N Michigan Ave Ste 1000, Chicago, Illinois 60611

On Monday, May 1st, JETAA Chicago will have our monthly member meeting!
We will discuss past events, upcoming events and welcome new ideas. In particular we will be discussing the Survival Series 2017, fundraising ideas, and events for the upcoming year. If you have ideas and would like to share them, this is the meeting for you!

For those unable to attend in person, please email info@jetaachicago.com if you would like to call or video into the meeting. We have successfully had call-ins, google hangouts, and skype-ins in past meetings. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you would like to do that.

Our meetings are open to any and all JET alumni. Dinner is provided to all who attend. Let us know if you have any food allergies or avoidances.

Email info@jetaachicago.com with any questions or any items you would like to add to the agenda.

Photo from JETAA Chicago’s Facebook Event

2 JETAA Portland

J-Kaiwa

WHEN: Friday, May 5th, 7-9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lucky Lab Brew Pub on Hawthorne (915 SE Hawthorne Blvd)

NIJIKAI: ??

WHO: JETAA members, JET Program returnees, Japanese friends and Nihongo speakers of all levels.

WHY: To catch up with old friends, make some new ones and maintain that connection to Japan

COST: It’s free to join! There will be some pitchers of beer, subsidized by JETAA, to help get the Nihongo flowing and if you wish to partake of these shared pitchers a $3 contribution is requested. All contributions will be applied to the cost of shared pitchers. Otherwise you may purchase your own food and/or beverages.

This is a great chance to catch up with old friends, meet new people, and keep up on your Japanese language. We hope you’ll join us and look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions, email us at: jkaiwa@jetaaportland.com

J-Kaiwa de aimashou!

Photo from JETAA Portland’s Website

3 JETAA Singapore

Star Wars Hanami

When: May 6th 5-8 pm SGT
Where: Gardens by the Bay, Supertree Grove

Join us for the first event of the year – a hanami with a nod to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Date: May 6th 2017 (Saturday)
Venue: Gardens by the Bay, Supertree Grove
Time: 5pm to 8pm (Star Wars light show at 7:45pm)

Event is open to all members and friends, and will be a BYO.
Do bring some things to share!

More details here:
http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/whats-on/calendar-of-events/star-wars-day-2017.html

4 JETAA Southeast

JETAASE Chapter Planning Meeting (Virtual)

When: May 7th 7-7:40 pm EDT
Where: Online

Join us for our chapter meeting as we plan for the upcoming fiscal year. This meeting is a virtual web meeting using the Zoom.US platform so all can attend – either using a computer, tablet, or phone.

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/232615887

Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +16465588656,232615887# or +14086380968,232615887#

Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll) or +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 232 615 887
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference?m=qa5xN8r0juIKv88fYURVtuYg1Qr1xKHM

Photo from JETAASE’s Facebook Event

5 Music City JETAA

JABE Con

When: May 13th 11 am EDT
Where:Wilson County Expo Center in Lebanon, TN

We are looking for JET Alumni volunteers to speak about their JET experience at JABECon! (www.jabecon.com) on Saturday May 13 at the brand new Wilson County Expo Center in Lebanon, TN. Alumni will be a part of a one-hour Q&A panel titled “Teaching English in Japan: 30 Years of JET” that is scheduled for 11:30am. Panelists will receive a free pass to JABECon! Please contact John Gale at john@johnsensei.com if interested!

Photo from .jabecon.com

6 JETAA Monterey Bay

Japan Forum Omedetou Potluck

When: May 13th 6-9 pm PDT
Where:99 McGowan Building, MIIS Campus, 411 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA

apan Forum Omedetou Potluck May 13 (Sat) 6-9

Join us to celebrate the end school and start of summer with a potluck hosted by Japan Forum and JETAAMB. All those interested in Japan or the Japanese language are welcome. This is a potluck, so please bring food or drink to share.

SIGN UP for what food you will bring: https://tinyurl.com/gqne8am We want to have a good balance of foods and not end up with 20 desserts. If possible, please bring a serving utensil if you need one. :)

When: May 20th 3:30 pm EDT
Where: Shelby Park, Nashville, TN 37206, USA

The Music City JET Alumni Association is excited to host its fourth annual Yakiniku BBQ in Shelby Park on May 20th. We’ll gather at 3:30 and start grilling around 4PM. JETAA will arrange for plates, utensils, non-alcoholic beverages and food including high quality meats (beef and pork from Porter Road Butcher), chicken, rice, and vegetables (bell pepper, onion, garlic, kabocha, carrots, etc). In order to off-set costs, we will collect $10 from each guest at the start of the event. JET Alumni and children between 6 and 12 are discounted to $5 each.

This family friendly event is open to JET alumni, family and friends as well as members of the local Japanese community so feel free to spread the word. Please RSVP on our Facebook events page by May 17th so that we can get a solid headcount before purchasing food.

We’re looking for a few extra hands to run the event so please contact Tye Ebel at tyeebel@gmail.com if you can volunteer as a grill master or are able to help us out with food prep before the event.

9 JETAA Rocky Mountain

Monthly Networking Happy Hour

When: May 21st 2 pm MDT
Where: Akihabara Arcade 8901 Harlan st., Westminster, Colorado 80031

May’s Networking Nomikai is dedicated to the Otaku in all of us. So we will be checking out Akihabara (!) in Wesminister. Note that we are meeting up on the THIRD sunday of the month so that we aren’t in conflict with mother’s day.

There will also be a board meeting from 12-2 before the Nomikai to talk about the Q&A session and the Predeparture Session for the 2017 JETs. Want to be involved in seeing them off? Come and help out :-)

Photo via JETAA Rocky Mountain’s Facebook Page

10 Great Lakes JETAA

Gai Koto Jin koto (traditional Japanese instrument) performance

When: May 26th 7-9 pm EDT
Where: Herndon Gallery at Antioch College One Morgan Place, South Hall Morgan Pl, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387

Gai Koto Jin ensemble brings a taste of real Japan to their audiences through the koto, the national instrument of Japan. The koto is similar to a Western harp or dulcimer. The aim of this educational event and performance is to introduce this beautiful and unique instrument and to show its diversity and versatilit. They will perform traditional Japanese compositions, folk songs, covers of familiar Western tunes, and modern koto compositions, including “Uruma” by Sawai Tadao. Audiences will have an opportunity to play the instrument and ask questions. Admission to this event is free.

About Gai Koto Jin:

Gai Koto Jin is Julie A. Palmer, Jessica Entis, and Lori Fannin, who have training from music schools in Japan as well as the United States and have the expertise to educate and entertain. Gai Koto Jin is a portmanteau of the Japanese word for foreigner, gai koku jin, and the name of their instrument, koto. The ensemble has performed at Columbus Asian Festival, Dawes Arboretum, Columbus Museum of Art, Lakeside Chautauqua, Ohayocon, and Midoricon.

Photo from Great Lakes JETAA Facebook Event

Ryan Hata (Tottori-ken, 2014-Present) AJET National Council Director of Alumni Relations: Ryan is in his second year on the AJET National Council and first as the Director of Alumni Relations. He works alongside Rachel Brisson (AJET National Council Director of Alumni Resources ) and members of JETAA International (JETAA-I) to strengthen the relationship between former JETs, current JETs, and Japan. Ryan helps to keep you up to date with JETAA events around the world. If you have a specific event that you would like promote, please do not hesitate to contact him by email at ryan.hata@ajet.net or his Linkedin profile. 

It’s almost spring time in the northern hemisphere and here in Japan, the sakura are starting to bloom. Check out if there are any hanami parties or other similar events from around the world!

1. JETAA Chicago

April Monthly Member Meeting

When: April 3rd 6:30-8 pm CDT
Where: Japan Information Center 737 N Michigan Ave Ste 1000, Chicago, Illinois 60611

On Monday, April 3, JETAA Chicago will have our monthly member meeting!

We will discuss past events, upcoming events and welcome new ideas. We will also continue planning our Outgoing JETs events, Japan Off the Beaten Path.

For those unable to attend in person, please email info@jetaachicago.com if you would like to call or video into the meeting. We have successfully had call-ins, Google Hangouts, and Skype-ins in past meetings. Don’t hesitate to let us know you’d like to do that.

Our meetings are open to any and all JET Alumni. Dinner is provided to all who attend. Let us know if you have any food allergies or avoidances.

Email info@jetaachicago.com with any questions or any items you would like to add to the agenda.

 

Photo from JETAA Chicago’s Facebook event

2. JETAANSW

Shaberanaito

When: April 7th 6:30-8:30 pm DST
Where: Daruma Japanese Restaurant Level 1, Prince Centre 8 Quay Street, Haymarket, Sydney, Australia

Join JETAA and AJS for a casual dinner where you can eat delicious food and break out the Japanese-however limited or rusty.

Cost: $35 BUT say you are with JETAANSW and you will get a $5 discount! (This $30 includes tasty Japanese food for dinner.) There is a vegetarian option available and drinks are PAYG.

Register online: http://www.ajsnsw.org.au/event-2500537

If you are interested in an a nijikai please register your interest by posting below or contacting Elly Kate or Ashlie (myself).

See you there!

 

Photo via JETAANSW’s Facebook event

3. JETAAMN

Cooking Class: Omurice

When: April 8th 11 am-2 pm CDT
Where: The Good Acre 1790 Larpenteur Ave W, Falcon Heights, Minnesota 55113

***All particpants must RSVP AND pay the class fee in advanced to be considered as registered for the event*** Please go to the JETAAMN website to reserve your spot and pay! https://jetaamn.org/

Join JETAAMN and friends for another cooking class. This year’s theme is Omurice. Learn about Japanese cooking and eat the delicious results of your work! From 11am to 2pm!

 

Photo from JETAAMN’s Facebook event page

4. JETAASC

SPRING THINGS

When: April 8th 8:30 am PDT
Where: 3051 Canyon Drive, 90068

SPRING THINGS!

Let’s take a hike JETs! (Morning Hollywood Sign hike and breakfast – plus optional music festival!)
When: Saturday, April 8th, 8:30 A.M.
Who: JETAASC and friends
Where: Meet at 3051 Canyon Drive, 90068
What: We will enjoy a light morning hike up to the Hollywood Sign where photos will be taken, and Instagrams updated. Then hike back down to enjoy a local brunch spot, TBD.

If you are further away, and want to make a day trip out of coming, then please join Greg and fellow JET alum Cindy for Broke LA, a music festival for people who can’t afford Coachella! It’s a $25 music festival, going from 3pm to midnight! More info is available here: http://brokelafest.com/about

Don’t forget to RSVP for the hike and brunch! The concert is just a footnote for live music fans.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to email or text Greg at Social@jetaasc.org or 917.975.2067

 

Photo via JETAASC’s Facebook event

5. JETAAWJ

Charity Networking Brunch in Honor of US Consul General and Mrs. Greenberg

When: April 9th 11:30 am-2:30 pm JST
Where: Trente Et Un 〒650-0046 Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe, Chuo Ward, Minatojima Nakamachi, 6−10−1, 神戸ポートピアホテル31F

¥3,000 per person, with a portion of the cost being donated to the Ashinaga Foundation.

Join us as we express our appreciation for Consul General and Mrs. Greenberg. Meet JET alum Jay Klaphake, founder of TEDx Kyoto and TED x Ambassador, and Jeff Anderson, brother of Taylor Anderson. Limited to 15.

To RSVP, please e-mail Rose at jetaawj(at)gmail(dot)com.

Due to the popularity of the event and limited spaces, pre-payment will be collected to secure your seat. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

 

Photo taken from JETAAWJ’s Facebook event

6. GLJETAA

GLJETAA Board Meeting

When: April 9th 1 pm EDT
Where: The Detroit Bubble Tea Company 22821 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, Michigan 48220

Join us for great bubble tea and discussing the chapter!

 

Photo from GLJETAA’s Facebook event

7. JETAAMB

Dake Coffee

When: April 16th 3-5 pm PDT
Where: Starbucks 316 Alvarado Monterey, CA

Come join us for some Japanese conversation practice and a free cup of coffee courtesy of the JETAA Monerey Bay Subchapter at the Starbucks on 316 Alvardo in Monterey, CA. The first 20 people to come will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. Please arrive between 3:00 – 3:15 to receive your free card.

Everyone can get a drink and sit down to practice their conversational Japanese skills. We encourage people have conversations with several different people. Be sure to take and share pictures. All levels of Japanese are welcome. We will be holding this event from 3:00 -5:00.

Photo from JETAAMB’s Facebook group

8. JETAASC

San Diego Karaoke

When: April 23rd 5-8 pm PDT
Where: Muzen Karaoke 7770 Vickers St, San Diego, California 92111

Let’s go Karaoke-ing!

Calling the tone-deaf, the anime-theme-song-obsessed, and Monster 80s lovers: Time to descend on San Diego and rock their socks off! MUZEN is a BYO-Food Japanese-Style joint with Sunday 5-8 happy hour deals on drinks AND room rates, so let’s keep the mics are glowing and Japanese pilsners flowing!

Bring a friend if you’re shy, and even if you can’t make it, please help spread the word by inviting your alumni friends to this event!

When: Sunday, April 23rd, 5:00 – 8:00PM
Where: Muzen Karaoke
7770 Vickers St, San Diego, California 92111

 

Photo via JETAASC’s website

9. JETAA British Columbia

JETAABC Sun Run Team 2017!

When: April 23rd 9 am-12 pm PDT
Where: Vancouver, British Columbia

Calling all runners and walkers! Don’t miss one of Vancouver’s biggest annual races, the Sun Run!

*REGISTRATION ENDS ON MARCH 31ST – Register today!

Join the JETAABC Sun Run Team today and be a part of JET’s special 30th year anniversary! Simply follow this link, click “join existing team” and join JETAABC’s team* (by searching “jetaabc”).
https://register.vancouversunrun.com/#!/events/2017-vancouver-sun-run.

When you find the jetaabc team, the system will ask you for the passphrase.
jetaabc passphrase: jetaabc

As this is JET’s 30th anniversary, JETAABC will subsidize a portion of your registration. First 30 runners to sign up will receive a $15 subsidy!

To apply for your subsidy, please email your race registration receipt with a copy of your payment to external@jetaabc.ca and treasurer@jetaabc.ca. We will be sending out your subsidy in March. Look out for upcoming information about practice runs we will try to organize.
**Priority will go to JET alumni

There are a few community runs coming up! We won’t have official teams for these runs, but perhaps if there is enough interest, we can participate in these runs together!

Sunday, April 2nd in Coquitlam (5km, 10km) :
http://events.mec.ca/node/147171

Saturday, April 15th in Burnaby (10km, half-marathon):
http://events.mec.ca/node/146096

Easter Run, April 16th in Stanley park (5km, 10km):
http://www.easterrun.ca/home.html

*Please note that early bird registration ($49 + tax) ends on February 10th, and regular registration ($57 + tax) ends on March 31st.

 

Photo from JETAABC’s Facebook event

10. NEJETAA

Calligraphy Exhibition and Workshop

When: April 28th 6 pm-8 pm EDT
Where: 420 Pond Street, Boston, MA 02130

Showa Boston will host a special Calligraphy exhibition and workshop on Friday, April 28th. A great way to kick off the Boston Japan Festival weekend! RSVP to Miyo Takahashi at mle@showaboston.edu by Friday, April 14.

Photo from NEJETAA.com

11. JETAA Portland

Iron Chef 2017

When: April 29th 1 pm-4 pm PDT
Where: At Demaree’s home in SE Portland, RSVP for directions to Veronica Adversalo.

Iron Chef 2017: JETAA Portland’s 15th Annual Cooking Competition!

It’s time to sharpen those knives and dig up your best recipes as contestants, judges, and other hungry mouths gather for one of our most popular (and delicious) events of the year!

Date: Saturday, April 29th
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location:  At Demaree’s home in SE Portland, RSVP for directions to Veronica Adversalo.

(Please respond by Thursday, April 27th and let us know what dish you plan to bring!) This is a BYOB event. Please plan on providing your own drinks.

There are three categories for Iron Chef entries:

• Side Dish
• Main Dish
• Dessert

There will be prizes awarded to the 1st and 2nd place winners in each category.

In addition to the above categories, cooking teams from JETAA Portland and Pacific Northwest JETAA chapters will be facing off in our “Battle with Seattle” using this year’s secret ingredient: shokupan from Oyatsupan Bakers in Beaverton, Oregon.

We are inviting the Pacific Northwest JETAA chapter to join us for this event. This is a great opportunity to meet the members from the PNW chapter of JETAA.  They will be traveling from Seattle to attend our Iron Chef event and using the “Tatami Timeshare” program to stay with Portland-area members.

Hope to see you there!

Iron Chef FAQ

Q: Do I have to cook something to attend Iron Chef?

A: No, but please consider bringing a store bought food or beverage to share with the group. Please note that store bought items cannot be entered for prizes.

Q: Do I have to use the secret ingredient in my dish?

A: No, the secret ingredient is only required for the “Battle with Seattle” cook-off between Team JETAA Portland and Team Pacific Northwest JETAA.

Q: Can I prepare my dish during the event?

A: Possibly, but please be aware that the kitchen facilities will be reserved for the “Battle with Seattle” cook-off teams. We strongly encourage you to bring your side dishes, main dishes, and desserts ready to serve.

Q: Can I bring my significant other / kids / friends?

A: Of course! This is a family-friendly event and the more people that come the merrier! Please include any extra guests in your RSVP.

 

Photo from JETAA Portland’s Website