WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Japan’s recovery efforts continue to take place, and while it is easy to feel helpless in the face of the disaster’s aftermath we can each help out in our own small way. I would like to highlight some upcoming events that will enable you to contribute to the cause 
while enjoying good food and music.
First up is Dine Out for Japan Relief, a week-long event in which the 70+ participating restaurants are donating 5% of their proceeds to Japan’s tsunami recovery and relief efforts. There are many familiar Manhattan Japanese favorites like Read More
WIT Life #157: Bye Bye Kitty!!!
Art, Events, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers 
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the opening for the Japan Society’s newest exhibit, Bye Bye Kitty!!! The title refers to opposition towards the domination of Japan’s kawaii-ness, the idea of cuteness that has become Japan’s major export as represented by Hello Kitty. It features 16 artists, many of them quite young and not household names, and their interpretation of this concept. I was particularly drawn in by the intricacy of the works of 38-year old Manabu Ikeda, whose pen and ink masterpieces were incredibly detailed and required several minutes of close examination to take in all of their elements.
Equally interesting was the large-scale Read More
Role of JET alumni community in this crisis
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There was an article in the NY Times earlier this week saying there has not been a large response from the Japanese community in NYC, because it’s not as big as other ethnic communities in NYC and because many members are here for short periods to work for their companies, etc.
But that article didn’t understand this important fact: We–the JET alumni community of 55,000+ worldwide–we are part of the Japanese expat community.
So when the media talk about the Japanese community in the world, they need to factor in the JET alumni. Because we all have a lifetime connection to Japan no matter what else we do in life, and in our minds we are all Japanese. We are hurting like hell and we are also helping.
JET alumni are doing amazing things right now to organize and mobilize resources, funding, translations, information and volunteers. Through the JET Alumni Association. Through independent efforts. And also through the roles established JET alumni already play in myriad organizations and companies that are supporting Japan.
In addition to these efforts, part of our role as JET alumni is to engage the people around us in our home country so that they understand and feel connected to Japan. So that they understand and are aware of ways they can help. Cultural outreach is one of the most important ways that JET alumni can help right now.
Minasan, ganbatte kudasai.
A Nuclear Reactor Explained by Poop and Farts: Nuclear Reactor Boy’s Tummy-Ache
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Dispatch from Minamisanriku and other towns nearby
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Via an email I received. The writer below is a friend of the person who sent the email.
These are notes I wrote on March 13th and 14th when I was too exhausted to post…
by Abe Levin on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 11:17am
Heading north to MinamiSanriku. Tried to get onto the highway and found the rally point for rescue teams heading south towards Fukushima. I saw fire trucks from Kawasaki and Osaka in addition to teams local to Sendai. These dozens of red fire trucks were waiting to get on the highway to which they said there was damage that was preventing them from heading south.
We’re taking mountainous back roads to Minami Sanriku since the coastal highway is badly damaged and limited to emergency vehicles – one of the hardest hit areas. I’m not a geologist but it seems these granite peaks held firm during the quake as road conditions up here are fair with only a few areas where the roads are damaged. I’m sure it will be bad as we get near the coastline. Descending towards the coast, there are many more buildings that’ve been mostly or completely destroyed.
Local Residents are again today lined up for miles for gas stations that may or may not have gas. Saw a JSDF team get stuck in traffic. Looked like they were on their way to Kessennuma. Hope they aren’t too late getting to wherever they need to be…
Entered the town of Minami Sanriku. Coming down the mountain towards the coastline, we hooked back up with the JSDF team so we are going to follow them straight into whatever chaos there is at the coast.
Arrived at Minami Sanriku. Read More
JET Prefecture Round-up 03.16.11
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Emily Lemmon, Shiso-shi ALT 2009 to present, and editor of Hyogo Times, gives a little taste of what JETs are doing around Japan.
Ongoing
Man up for Japan – a campaign launched across prefectures not affected by the earthquake and tsunami damage. Every JET is encouraged to donate ichi-man (100,000) yen on payday, or before if possible, either via bank transfer or at a post office or Family Mart. So far, 2,303 JETs are planning to participate. See the facebook event page for more information.
Aomori – Aomori JETs, led by Travis Emery, are compiling and delivering supplies to some affected regions, including Minami Sanriku. There are many drop-off locations, including people’s homes in Morioka and Hiroskai, and a school in Oga.
Upcoming
Shikoku Region
Kochi – Yusuhara Fijian/Indian Cooking Day, April 3rd (10am – 2pm). Parents of CIR Kavita will give cooking lessons and demonstrations. Recipes to be distributed in English and Japanese. (Flyer) Cost is free, all donations go to Tohoku Earthquake relief efforts.
Kochi – Windbeat Concert, March 26th, ticket proceeds and CD sale money will be donated to aid earthquake affected region. More information here.
Tokushima – Annual Tokushima AJET Touch Rugby Tournament, to be held the 28th and 29th of May in a beautiful camping ground in Tokushima Prefecture.
Accomplished
Block 6 and 7 V-Day Party in Osaka raised 14,000yen, originally for other causes, but now being donated to provide rice in the earthquake affected region.
Shizuoka 6.0 earthquake or aftershock
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Update: “There was a 6.0 in Shizuoka, then two small aftershocks (according to JMA, one of the aftershocks was actually a 5.6 quake in Tohoku.”
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Strong quake of upper 6 jolts Shizuoka Pref.
Kyodo News
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 jolted Shizuoka Prefecture and its vicinity, including Tokyo, on Tuesday evening.
The 10:31 p.m. quake registered upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in the eastern part of Shizuoka, and upper 5 in the eastern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
No tsunami warning was issued.
Just saw FB updates about 6.0 earthquake or aftershock in Shizuoka.
CLAIR Tokyo office operating as usual
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There was a tweet or post earlier today incorrectly stating that CLAIR Tokyo was being evacuated and responsibilities were being handed to CLAIR NY. This was inaccurate. I think it’s been deleted everywhere on other pages, groups, etc. Just re-posting on JetWit in case anyone out there is still confused by this. The post apparently related to last Friday but inadvertently got posted today (Monday).
FYI, CLAIR Tokyo office is operating as usual. (Actually, “as usual” is probably not the correct term as they’re working their oshiris off more than ever right now.)
Ganbatte and hang in there CLAIR Tokyo people!
Via Fukui JET Mike Maher-King of Smile Kids Japan:
Update: Here’s the link to the Google spreadsheet where you can start inputting any info you gather: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AsMdoYcl5qwSdG5BTHl3M3VSX21TZHpYc21ReVFhUGc&hl=en&authkey=CJH_ppQL
AJET and Smile Kids Japan are working on some procedures to help foreigners living in Japan volunteer at the earthquake sites. They need JET alums with good Japanese>English ability to look through prefecture websites and find the information about prefectural volunteer groups plus, if easily available, volunteer forms. (This might best done through internet searches using < prefecture name + 東北地方地震災害ボランティア >)
CONTACT: smilekidsjapan [at] gmail.com, cc: activities [at] ajet.net
An example of what we are looking for for every prefecture is this
Fukui
Info http://info.pref.fukui.jp/danken/npo/060_sv/touhokujisin.php
Application form http://info.pref.fukui.jp/danken/npo/060_sv/html/data/touhokumousikomusyo.doc
Complete form and mail to danjoken-volunteer@pref.fukui.lg.jp
Once gathered, this information is going to be distributed through block reps, facebook, twitter etc to all the jets and hopefully lots of non jets that want to help so it has to be accurate.
Yoroshiku,
–AJET & Smile Kids Japan
The AJET Relief Fund for JETs in affected areas
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Via National AJET (10:15 am, Monday, March 15 NY time):
AJET would like to announce that we will be collecting money to specifically address JET needs in areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. We also encourage donations to relief efforts directed at the community at large (JEN: http://tinyurl.com/4sp8mba; Peace Winds Japan: http://www.peace-winds.org/en/; or Good Neigbours: http://tinyurl.com/4f6gtas), however the AJET Relief Fund will provide donations directly to JETs in affected areas, with advice from Prefectural Advisors in prefectures such as Akita, Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Iwate and Miyagi to ensure that this money is used in the most efficient way possible.
As the relief effort is still in its early stages, the needs of affected JETs have not yet been fully assessed. National AJET expects to address some of these needs as they arise; shelter, food and water will be top priorities. The AJET Relief fund will also be used to help JETs rebuild their lives after the immediate danger has passed. For updates or questions about the distribution of AJET Relief funds, make sure to e-mail relief@ajet.net.
Via Matthew Holmes who is at Interac’s headquarters:
Thank you all of you for sharing information and really helping to keep us updated at Interac HQ. We are working round the clock trying to contact everybody and also give news to relatives by phone, email, facebook and via the various Embassies. We have really appreciated your responses and help with contacting various people on the ground.
Please take care everyone and please tell any Interac teachers, if they have not already done so, to contact Interac . They can do so 24/7.
contact@interac.co.jp
We are all taking turns to do shifts in the office and we will continue to try and get through to everybody. We will be providing instructions and further advice over the next 24 hours.
All those in the middle of this tragedy are in our thoughts and prayers.
Matthew
Request for contact from all New Zealand JETs
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Via former New Zealand JETAA President Katie McTeigue, who says the Embassy of Japan wants to hear from everyone:
As you are aware the recent earthquake has potentially affected many New Zealand JETS particularly those in the Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori regions. If you have any information on JETS in these areas please forward details to Mr. Ato. (takashi.ato@mofa.go.jp).
KYODO NEWS URGENT CALL FOR UPDATES IN QUAKE AND TSUNAMI-HIT AREAS
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Via JET JET alum Jody Godoy (Fukui-ken) who is a Kyodo News reporter:
KYODO NEWS URGENT CALL FOR UPDATES IN QUAKE AND TSUNAMI-HIT AREAS
How are foreign residents in your area doing? Is anyone unaccounted for? Did anyone sustain injuries? Are people at shelters?
Any updates are appreciated! Please pass this information on to anyone who may have information. Feel free to append other helpful links.
Please call the following numbers with updates only. I’m sorry but we cannot field questions. Or please e-mail me at jody.godoy@kyodonews.jp
——————
Kyodo News Tokyo 03-6252-8306
————–
Emergency line if you cannot get thru above 03-3574-7693
—————-
English speaking line (The others should be able to speak to you in English also) 03-6252-8314
National AJET Statement regarding Japan earthquake/tsunami
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National AJET Statement regarding Japan earthquake/tsunami
March 12, 2011
On March 11, 2011 a large earthquake of a magnitude of 8.8 hit northern Japan, causing huge fires, landslides, radiation leaks, and widespread infrastructure damage as well as generating tsunamis in several regions. A broad area has been affected by these disasters, and problems vary from region to region. For up-to-date information, check news sources that are local to the region in which your family member or friend resides.
National AJET, as a representative body of JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) participants in Japan, would like to provide possible avenues for communication or relief efforts to people who are concerned across the globe, as well as in Japan.
It is important to stay calm, not panic and be mindful that due to power outages and lack of telecommunications, it may take time to get through to anyone affected.
If you are searching for family or friends in the affected areas, first check this list of American and Canadian JET participants whose safety has been confirmed.
To reach JETs directly, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are proving to be the most effective means of communication as phone lines are busy or down. Also, if someone you know does not have access to communication systems, please communicate on their behalf. Read More
Pre-dawn 6.0 earthquake in Nagano and Niigata Prefectures
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Japan Times has a Kyodo News service report of a 6.0 earthquake in Nagano and Niigata:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110312x1.html
Two powerful earthquakes hit an inland area northwest of Tokyo early Saturday, each measuring 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Nagano Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The agency did not issue a tsunami warning. The 3:59 a.m. and 4:32 a.m. quakes, with preliminary magnitudes of 6.6 and 5.8 respectively, hit areas including Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, which is far from the Pacific coastal area jolted by a magnitude 8.8 quake the previous day.
The focus of both predawn quakes was in central Niigata at a depth of 10 kilometers, the agency said.
The first quake measured lower 6 in Niigata but Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it was continuing to operate its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in the prefecture.
Niigata police said they have received a report of mudslide in Tokamachi city as well as avalanches in Tokamachi and Tsunan town, following the early morning quakes.
