C-DOC: Learn Chinese NYC – The Chinese Pronunciation System (Pin Yin) – Initials
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Japanese Classes OnlineThe Chinese Doctor is a recurring feature 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 services company offering customized and personal Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Cantonese language learning options. Their listing of classes can be found at: Japanese Classes Online Chinese Classes Online Korean Classes Online Cantonese Classes Online Thai Classes Online
Congratulations on choosing to learn Chinese Pinyin! Whether you’re an advanced or a complete beginner, developing your pinyin skills is essential for any Chinese language learner. Once someone has perfected the pinyin system of sounds, they can basically read and communicate with any Chinese person. The only criteria is that the Chinese person needs to remember their pinyin!
Debunking the Myths about Pinyin A lot of foreigners looking to learn Chinese see the pinyin system as developed for “them.” The Chinese language with its 10,000 characters is just too daunting a task, so there was a romanized system setup for Chinese to make learning it an easier process. While having pinyin definitely makes it easier for English speakers to learn Chinese, actually pinyin is not only just for foreigners. Chinese people learn it too! In early childhood education, pinyin (along with Mandarin instruction) is mandatory in schools throughout China.
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Chinese language and culture articles
Jamie Graves: Food translator and waiter at Kajitsu NYC
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By Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)
Just wanted to share that I had a really terrific dinner the other night at Kajitsu (www.kajitsunyc.com), a new and very unique Japanese restaurant on E. 9th Street in NYC, thanks to professional translator Jamie Graves (Saitama-ken, 2002-03) who not only waits tables in the intimate establishment but also translates the menu and other texts for Kajitsu and interprets for important clients.
Kajitu's Chef Masato Nishihara
Jamie, who specializes in translations relating to food and cooking, explained to me a few months ago at a JETAA NY gathering that he was working at a restaurant that specializes in shojin cuisine, which as a non-foodie I can best describe as a sort of high-end, vegan kaiseki. The chef, Masato Nishihara, had worked at Kitcho, a very prestigious kaiseki cuisine restaurant in Kyoto before coming to New York to open Kajitsu.
I can’t remember exactly what I ate, but each course did really blow me away in terms of both flavors and creativity. Plus the soba dipping noodles may be the best in NYC. The menu changes every month, so apparently a number of regulars come back each month to sample the new menu.
The fare is not inexpensive. But it’s well worth it if you have a special occasion to celebrate (which I did!) Especially if you get a seat at the counter where you can watch Chef Nishihara prepare each course right front of you, including his zen-like tea ceremony approach to making the macha at the end of the meal. (According to Jamie, all chefs at Kitcho must study tea ceremony.)
From the March "Spring" menu: Clear Soup with Sticky Rice Ball Mugwort, Rice Crackers.
Here’s a little additional background on Kajitsu from it’s website:
Kajitsu – “Fine Day”
Kajitsu means “fine day”, or “day of celebration” in Japanese. We have chosen the name Kajitsu hoping that a visit here will always be a special occasion for our guests.Shojin Cuisine
Shojin cuisine refers to a type of vegetarian cooking that originates in Zen Buddhism. Even though it does not use meat or fish, shojin is regarded as the foundation of all Japanese cuisine, especially kaiseki, the Japanese version of haute cuisine.
If you decide you have your own special occasion, make sure to say hi to Jamie and ask him all of your questions about the restaurant and the food. There’s lots to tell and lots to learn.
Kajitsu (www.kajitsunyc.com) is on E. 9th St between 1st Ave & Avenue A in New York City.
Japan Info e-Newsletter – Feb 2010
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The February 2010 edition of JapanInfo is now available online. JapanInfo is published by the Consulate General of Japan in New York/Japan Information Center and is a great source of info for Japan-related things going on in New York and the surrounding area.
Ask Dr. Muse-Are You Tolerating “Shoulds” In Your Life?
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Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options. Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com. She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.
Dear Dr. Muse:
I feel conflicted about what I should do about my job and what the right career option is. J.D. in D.C.
Dear J.D.:
The word “should” always signals to me that some inner dialogue may be preventing you from doing or determining what you really want. The following exercise assists you with figuring out what you are tolerating in your life, why, and how to eliminate some situations that may be draining you. This may give you some free time to spend on more peaceful projects.
Day 1: Schedule about 15 distraction-free minutes with a pen and some paper. Take a few pieces of paper and fold them in half.
a/ On top of the lefthand colum of one piece of paper, write: I Should….
Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and then write every and any thought that pops into your head answering that question. Do not think into the answer, just write the thought.
b/ On another piece of paper, on the top of the lefthand column write: I want…
Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and then write every and any thought that pops into your head answering that question. Do not think into the answer, just write the thought.
c/ Now, repeat this exercise on another sheet of paper and write on the top of the lefthand column: I am Tolerating…..
Set these pages aside for another day to analyze.
Day 2 : The next part of this exercise will take some time to analyze your lists. For the “shoulds” list, over the next few weeks, you are going to evaluate three at a time on this list. Take some time to answer the following questions for each should:
*why is this a should?
*who says I should do this?
*what would happen if I did not do it?
*who would I be without this should on my list?
*what would I rather do instead?
On a blank piece of paper write out three restatements for your “Shoulds” that assert what you would rather have. For example, rather than ‘I should be a lawyer,’ you may decide to write, ‘I prefer work where I am creative,” or “I am an opera singer.” Write something that affirms what you want.
As for toleartions, do the same thing. Pick three on your list each week and ask yourself why you are tolerating this and what would your life look like if you did not tolerate it anymore. Then, on a separate piece of paper, rewrite the toleration to be something you do want.
Finally, the “I want” column is for you to keep in your journal or bookmark. Every few months, refer to this list to assess whether your wants have changed, or to inspire you on a course of action to take to get you closer to what you want. What you think you want today and what you start to create later may surprise you!
As you can see from these columns, career choices overlap with other areas of our life. By paying attention to our thoughts and our present life even outside of work, we can aseemble the bigger puzzle pieces of our life into a picture we enjoy.
Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals. You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.
Tom Baker reviews “The Hurt Locker”
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Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
He also writes about movies. Here is his review of “The Hurt Locker,” which just opened in Japan and has been nominated for several Academy Awards (the results of which will be revealed very soon):
“If I’m gonna die, I want to die comfortable,” U.S. Army Sgt. William James says as he shucks off his hot and bulky bomb-disposal suit. Then he bends over the open trunk of a car in an alley beside a freshly evacuated U.N. office building in Baghdad and begins to run his eyes and fingers over a tangle of wires connected to a large collection of bombs.
Why is he doing it?
In The Hurt Locker, a movie that has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, including best picture, “why” is just one of the implicit yet ever-present questions…
Read the rest of the review here.
Casting Call Auditions! Japanese Americans in Seattle
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Casting Call for Japanese Mini-Series: In March, Japanese TV producers will hold auditions in Seattle for a couple of minor roles in a mini-series to be broadcast in Japan. Shooting is scheduled for May 16 in Seattle. The drama follows a Japanese American family from their immigration to the United States, through hardships during World War II, to their lives today.
Audition Dates: March 8 (Mon.) and March 9 (Tues.)
Union Status: This is a non-union job.
Shoot Date: May 16 (Sun.) in Seattle, subject to change
Role: Japanese American Boy
Age: 15-17
Skill: English speaking, conversational Japanese a plus
Role: Japanese American Girl
Age: 12-15
Skill: English speaking, conversational Japanese a plus
Please send your resume and headshots and indicate which date you are available to audition.
Email photos and information to jaminitv@gmail.com
Tom Baker writes about umami, food science
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Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
He also writes about food. Here is a recent article about a food science exhibition currently running at Tokyo’s Miraikan museum. The latter half of the story focuses in on the scientific-culinary concept of umami, often called the“fifth taste”:
How many calories are there in a 500-milliliter bottle of a zero-calorie soft drink? If you guessed zero, you might be right. But the correct answer could be as high as 24. This is one of the many fun facts visitors can learn at “It’s a Tasty World–Food Science Now,” an exhibition running through March 22 at the Miraikan science museum in Odaiba, Tokyo. Under Japanese law, according to a display debunking food myths at the show, a drink is “zero calorie” as long as it has less than five calories per 100 milliliters. (A note on vocabulary: A “calorie” and a “kilocalorie” are the same thing.)
Other displays include sniffable containers of food scents, which you can mix to create new aromas; videos of food processing factories, where plump onions comically pirouette on industrial peelers; and a glowing green tank of euglena, a photosynthetic microorganism seen as a promising future food source. Too bad its Japanese name, midori mushi–green bug–isn’t exactly appetizing….
Read the rest of the article here.
Tom Baker interviews “Coraline” Oscar nominee
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Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
He also writes about movies. Here is his interview with stop-motion animator Henry Selick, whose film “Coraline” is a nominee for best animated feature in the Academy Awards to be presented on March 7:
When the nominees for best animated feature film are read out at the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood next month, there will be one computer-graphic animated film (Up), two traditional 2-D animated films (The Princess and the Frog and The Secret of Kells) and two stop-motion films (Fantastic Mr. Fox and Coraline).
“I feel very lucky to have lived long enough to still be making films in this era,” Coraline director Henry Selick told The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo last week. His two previous features, Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and James and the Giant Peach (1996) came out before the Oscars introduced an animated feature category in 2001.
Coraline has already won several other prizes, including an Annie animation award for Japanese production designer Tadahiro Uesugi.
Coraline, based on a novel by Neil Gaiman, is the story of a young girl who discovers a secret passage to an alternate universe where all the things that annoy her in the real world have been changed. But like a gingerbread house in a fairy tale, this seemingly delightful place turns out to be a trap from which she must escape.
Read the rest of the article here.
Tom Baker reviews “Uncharted” video games
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Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
Here is his latest video game review, of “Uncharted” and “Uncharted 2” which Sony recently released as a box set in Japan:
My pal Nate is such a great guy that he keeps hanging out with me despite the fact that I’ve gotten him killed hundreds of times, usually by explosions, gunfire or plunges from cliffs. It’s a good thing he’s made out of pixels, or this relationship would be a lot harder on both of us.
Digital though he may be, Nathan Drake, the lead character in the Sony PlayStation 3 video games Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2007) and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), is so lifelike and likeable that it is not unusual for players to think of him as someone who really exists.
The two games, re-released Feb. 18 as a 7,980 yen box set, are swashbuckling adventures from the Indiana Jones school in which our hero and a few friends hunt for treasure in exotic locales while fighting off gangsters and pirates who are also after the loot. And also as in Jones’ world, events take a paranormal turn once the treasure is uncovered…
Read the rest of the review here.
Ask Dr. Muse-Life Coach: Time & Money
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Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options. Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com. She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.
Dear Dr. Muse:
I don’t have time for all these creative exercises you post and I can’t afford to leave my current job, what can I do? B.B., Texas
Dear B.B.:
A common lament even from people who love their current jobs is that they want more time but cannot give up their current income level . Your question may involve several underlying issues. First, ensure you have accurate information regarding your current financial situation. Do you have a budget and understand exactly how much money you need to live responsibly now and in the future? Understanding your money now empowers you so that life does not force you to understand it later [with harsher consequences, usually]. The internet offers many resources for self education on this topic.
This information allows you to strategically plan for a job search or transition and aim higher for salary and job satisfaction. Also, pay attention and be responsible for the words you choose to characterize your life. If you find yourself stating you cannot afford something, an internal alarm should sound. We can afford the things in life we truly need and want; we allocate our resources—time and money—toward what we value. Finally, evaluate whether this statement hinders you from having what you want and challenge its veracity.
A second issue concerns the scarce resource of time. If you operate from a premise that you can make more money but not time, you may assess your life differently. What would you like time for? How do you currently spend your time in a day? Can you adjust something and make time to plan a change in your life? Again, we spend our money and time on what we value, so what we really want we find a way. If you really do want time to plan and do these things, you will find time. If not, then investigate other ways to shift your thinking around your current job.
Finally, this type of question often arises when people are stressed and in “survival” mode. During times like this, it may be helpful to first assess your lifestyle and health before embarking on big changes. Get enough sleep, exercise, and choose to take care of your health so you have a clear mind and energy to do the things you want. I hope this was helpful.
If you want to expand on any of these areas, email me with questions.
Like hiring a personal trainer to reach your fitness goals, a personal life coach can assist you to attain your personal goals. You may write the Muse with any coaching questions, or inquiries into life coaching options on a one-time or ongoing basis at drmuse@jetwit.com.
Tom Baker’s review of “Ooku” manga
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Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. A big part of his beat is the Pop Culture page, which covers manga, anime and video games. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
Here is his latest manga review, of Ooku by Fumi Yoshinaga:
With its shrinking population, chronically depressed birthrate and rising average age, Japan is fated for major social changes in the fairly near future. How that will play out remains to be seen, but Fumi Yoshinaga’s manga series Ooku: The Inner Chamber is an example of how popular art can tap
into real-world social anxieties.
Ooku is set in an alternate-history Japan that also faces a demographic crisis, but of a different type. In the 1630s, a mysterious epidemic called Redface Pox kills 75 percent of Japan’s men, while leaving women physically unharmed.
The disease lingers, the gender imbalance never rights itself, and Japanese society comes to resemble a colony of bees or ants, in which the large female majority does every kind of work while the male minority are seen as delicate creatures valued only for their “seed.”
With women forced to share the limited supply of men, the institution of marriage largely disappears, as only a rich woman can keep a husband all to herself. The wealthiest and most powerful woman of all is the shogun, who keeps a crowded male harem in the innermost chambers–the Ooku–of Edo Castle…
Read the rest of the review here.
Roland Kelts sought as commentator on Toyota by major media outlets
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If you’ve been following Toyota’s problems of late, then you may have also noticed JET alum Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, popping up a lot as a commentator.
He recently appeared on ABC’s World News Tonight. And even more recently he was commissioned to write an op-ed for the Christian Science Monitor to clarify some of the vast cultural misreadings evident in the Congressional Toyota/Toyoda hearings.
- Toyota and trust: Was the Akio Toyoda apology lost in translation? Stung by Toyota recalls, Toyoda had to convey sincerity – and bridge the gulf in communication styles between Japan and America. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0225/Toyota-and-trust-Was-the-Akio-Toyoda-apology-lost-in-translation
- Roland is also quoted in this AP article on Toyota: “Toyota President Battles Crisis in Family Company“ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/02/19/toyota_president_battles_crisis_in_family_company/?page=full
And addressed the topic of Toyota in an interesting way in his recent Daily Yomiuri column on The Super Bowl, Toyota, Anime and Hollywood:
- SOFT POWER, HARD TRUTHS / Anime must eventually transcend Japan ‘national’ brand http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20100219TDY11003.htm
And if you’re looking for commentary on non-Toyota topics, then you can listen to Roland’s recent appearance on NPR discussing a wild relic of Japanese popular culture, a viral video of Japanese ‘Jazz Opera,’ produced in 1986 by Tamori, the great comedian:
Mansfield Fellowship in Japan
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Via JETAA DC President Michelle Spezzacatena:
Mansfield Fellowship in Japan
Federal employees with a strong career interest in issues of importance to the U.S.-Japan relationship now have the opportunity to apply for a Mike Mansfield Fellowship.
During the two-year program, Fellows spend a year working full-time in Japanese government offices, preceded by a year of full-time rigorous language and area studies training in the United States. After completing the program, Fellows return to their U.S. agencies with proficiency in Japanese and practical, firsthand experience with Japan and its government that enables them to contribute to their agencies’ Japan-related work.
For more information about the Fellowships, information sessions in Washington, D.C., and application guidelines, please visit www.mansfieldfdn.org or contact Ms. Sara Seavey, Program Assistant, Mansfield Fellowship Program at 202-347-1994 or sseavey@mansfieldfdn.org.
Application deadline: April 1, 2010.
The Mansfield Fellowship Program is administered by The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as grantor.
Japanese Events New York City – Nihongo Dake Dinner
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The Nihongo Dake Dinner is one of the few regular Japanese events in New York City designed to bring both Japanese and non-native Japanese speakers together. Currently run by Jon Hills for JETAANY (http://jetaany.org/), he’s also the founder of Hills Learning (http://www.hillslearning.com), a language school based in Grand Central, New York City.
The event usually numbers around 20 people, and is designed to be half Japanese, half non-native Japanese speakers. The Japanese participants come from all industries and backgrounds, from JETRO and JLGC to Mitsui and Nomura. There are also Japanese who are artists, recruiters, volunteers and students.
- Nihongo Dake Dinner – 02/23/10
The past event held at the Congee Restaurant in Chinatown was a mix of languages, intimacy and fun. As mentioned before, the typical attendance for the Nihongo Dake Dinners is about 20, quite a number for a Japanese language speaking event in New York. This past event only housed 7 people, pushing all participants to try their Japanese skills and get to know each other a little better. Also thanks to our Chinese American participant Ann, we had Chinese translation when ordering and handling the bill.
If you’re involved in the JET organization please be open to signing up for future Nihongo Dake Dinners. If you know someone from JET and would like to go as a friend of JET, it’s also possible to attend. Japanese people who would like to meet English native speakers who have an interest in Japanese are also encouraged to attend. As one of the best Japanese Events in New York City, it’s an event that can’t be missed!
Request: Tokyo apartment and language immersion program info
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*****
A request from WITLife writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03):
My friend Ryoko is looking to get some information for a college classmate who is hoping to spend a short time in Tokyo studying Japanese. Can anyone help out with the following questions? If so, please contact her at sr960002 [at] gmail.com. Thank you and yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
1) Do you have any suggestions for safe, short-term apartment leases/rentals in Tokyo? Or any idea of how to search for one?
2) Also, do you have any suggestions for good Japanese language immersion programs in Tokyo? (The kind where you stay in the country/program for 1-3 months.)
