Dec 10

Job: Admin Assistant at Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN (NYC)

The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (NYC) is looking for an Administrative Assistant in the Social Section to start in mid-January 2010.  Japanese language skills is preferred but not required.

Deadline for applications (cover letter and resume) is Friday, 11 December 2009 by 13:00, sent to makiko-hayashi@un-japan.org with “PMJ Administrative Assistant Position” in the subject line. No phone calls.

DUTIES:

  • Respond to telephone calls, both incoming and outgoing, with efficiency and professional etiquette
  • Assist in logistics/protocol for conferences, meetings, briefings, receptions, and other official functions
  • Draft and prepare letters and diplomatic correspondence
  • Manage appointment schedules for the section, visiting diplomats and VIPs
  • Research and book restaurants, hotels and airlines for reasonable prices and specials
  • Receive guests as necessary
  • Respond to inquiries
  • Assist other officers and staff in the section when needed

Read More


Dec 9

Jobs: Sales & Marketing at VIZ Media (SF)

Recession or otherwise, it seems like nothing is stopping manga from crossing the Pacific into American territory. VIZ Media of San Francisco has seven open positions in their Sales and Marketing division.  Owned by three of Japan’s most powerful graphic novel and anime licensing and merchandising companies, VIZ has brought the Naruto, Detective Conan, and Hana-Kimi empires, among others to the United States, the United Kingdom, and more.

Within their sales/product marketing department, they are looking for a  Director of Marketing, Magazine Sales & Marketing Associate, Marketing Manager, Retail Development Manager, Online Marketing/Social Media Manager.

They are also looking for Bilingual (Japanese-English) Contracts Administrator and a Billingual Collateral Coordinator.

Although not all jobs require Japanese language skills, interest in manga, anime, and Japanese gaming/entertainment are imperative.

For more specific job description/qualification details and application instructions, please see VIZ Media’s job page here.


Dec 9

Job: Reporter/Research Assistant at Yomiuri Shimbun (NYC)

yomiuriPosted by Machiko Yasuda, a senior at UCLA and Friend of JET.  She is the Director of New Media at the school’s Daily Bruin newspaper and is open to additional freelance and full-time writing and editing opportunities.

The Yomiuri Shimun bureau in New York City is looking for a full-time reporter/research assistant.  The candidate need not speak Japanese, but journalism experience and knowledge of markets/business industry are beneficial.

Join Media Bistro (free) to apply for this job here. Read More


Dec 7

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Translator/Interpreter/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).  Recently she’s been watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

政権交代 (seiken koutai) or “change of government,” was announced to be the winner of Japan’s 2009 Buzzword Award on December 1 (Incidentally, last year the title was won byアラフォー」 or “around 40 years old”).  This phrase of course refers to the rise to power by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), overturning over 50 years of Liberal Democratic Party rule.  Other contenders for the buzzword title were 新型インフルエンザ (shingata influenza)  or “new flu” and 草食男子 (soushoku danshi) or “herbivorous men.”

Since the change in administration, Hatoyama has been dealing with 3Ks.  However, this is not referring to the typical usage regarding undesirable 3K jobs that are kitsui (difficult), kitanai (dirty) and kiken (dangerous).  Hatoyama’s very own 3 K’s are kenkin (contribution), keizai (economics), and kichi (military base).

The first K is in regard to a donation scandal plaguing the new Prime Minister. Prosecutors have traced Read More


Dec 4

HarimayaJapanese

***************

The JET alumni community already has a great reputation for writers such as Bruce Feiler, Roland Kelts and James Kennedy among others.  And now we’re starting to make our mark on the world of film as well.

JET alum Aaron Woolfolks film The Harimaya Bridge, starring starring Ben Guillory, Saki Takaoka, Misa Shimizu, and Danny Glover (who is also the Executive Producer), is making its New York debut on Sunday December 6 (with Q&A and cocktail reception to follow) and Sunday December 13 as part of the African Diaspora Film Festival.

(Editor’s Note: I already bought my ticket for the Dec 6 date!)

The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan beginning in June, and the response from audiences and critics was fantastic.  (There was also a showing in Los Angeles back in June that a number of JETAA Southern California JET alums attended.)

The film will be showing in New York:

  • Sunday, December 6 @ 5:30PM – Thalia Cinema, Symphony Space (95th & Bway) – GALA SCREENING. Followed by a Q&A with director and catered reception
  • Sunday, Dec. 13 @ 7:30PM- Thalia Cinema, Symphony Space (95th & Bway)

This looks to be a big event for the JET alum community, so get your tickets now and hope to see you there.

Here’s the trailer for the film:


Dec 3

WITvid #4: Monkey Majik – “Change”

WITvid is a periodic series by Peter Weber (Saitama-ken 2004-07), the JET Program Coordinator in San Francisco.

Some of you may have heard of the popular band in Japan, Monkey Majik, but did you know the lead singer,  Maynard Plant (Aomori, 1997-00) is a Canadian JET Alumni! Here is their song Change with the Yoshida Brothers!


Dec 2

Here are two videos of Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, from a keynote speech he gave at the University of Missouri in St. Louis back in October.

In the first, he talks about the connection between manga and anime and traditional Japanese line-based aesthetics–or what Takashi Murakami now calls “Superflat”:

And in the second video, he discusses the fundamental differences between American visual iconography and Japanese sensibilities, with a reference to Pokemon in America and McDonald’s in Japan:


Nov 30

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Translator/Interpreter/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).  Recently she’s been watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Believe it or not we will be greeting the new year in about a month, and today’s news took a look at what is being forecast for お正月 (oshougatsu) 2010.  Similar to last year, it is expected that in light of the dismal economic climate there will be a tendency toward 巣篭り (sugomori), literally nesting or staying close to home as opposed to going abroad or visiting one’s family.  Compared to last year, there has been 30% increased sales of two-person servings of osechi ryouri.  According to an osechi salesperson at a department store, this goes along with Read More


Nov 30

J-News Mini-Roundup: Strong Yen – Japanese Reactions to their Inflated Currency

J-News Mini-Roundup 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options.rising yen

Background: The Japanese economy has had some bad news in past weeks. The index that measures new housing starts in Japan went down 27.1% in October. The historic news that JAL is lowering their retirement payouts still rocks the news, along with institutions posting historic unbalanced budgets, including JTB and the Bank of Japan.

Usually at the forefront of bad economic news are the effects felt from a strong yen. In an export driven economy with the dollar weakening and the yen strengthening, Japanese exports continue to become more expensive when compared with their competition. The newspapers this morning reported on the yen strengthening and the reactions to it.

Asahi Prime Minister Hatoyama exclaimsWe must do something quickly…”

Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles


Nov 25

WITvid #3: “Thanksgiving Party In Japan”

WITvid is a periodic series by Peter Weber (Saitama-ken 2004-07), the JET Program Coordinator in San Francisco.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving here is a video posted by malavi21 explaining a little about the Thanksgiving Holiday.


Nov 25

Thanksgiving in Japan – Celebrating and Enjoying the Holiday

The JAPANESE 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options.

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays you’d expect to be an American only holiday. After all, according to our elementary school education it celebrates American pilgrims and Native Americans coming together to celebrate, eat, and give thanks. Why would a country like Japan, whose history starts 1,000 years before America, celebrate Thanksgiving?

Surprisingly, Japan does celebrate Thanksgiving. Not surprisingly, the official holiday, called Thanksgiving Labor Day, was started after the American Occupation in 1948. Thanksgiving in Japan is an opportunity for unions and other workers to celebrate their hard worked days of labor through parades, parties, and well an actual day off.

As an American living in Japan though it wasn’t easy to celebrate the holiday…

Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles


Nov 23

J-News Mini-Roundup: Poison Blowfish: A Deadly Dinner in Japan Puts 11 in the Hospital

J-News Mini-Roundup 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options.blowfish

Background: Sushi is a delicacy in Japan, and probably the most famous Japanese food in America. Whenever anyone hears sushi, they think of raw fish, and how adventurous (and healthy) it must be to eat fish uncooked. No one ever thinks it might be dangerous.

The one exception to this is blowfish. To anyone who’s ever lived in Japan or thought about going there, blowfish is famous for its borderline poisonous properties. All restaurants that carry blowfish need special chefs to prepare the fish just right, and if it’s not prepared correctly it can potentially be poisonous. Everyone tries blowfish because of the potential danger and of course unique taste, but no expects to actually…

Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles


Nov 21

Job: Project Coordinator – Mobility International USA

The following job opportunity is via the JETAA Jobs yahoogroup:

PROJECT COORDINATOR – NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON DISABILITY AND EXCHANGE

www.miusa.org

Position description

Writing/Editing Skills

* Research, write and update new informational resources such as disability-specific tip sheets or online journals

* Solicit, interview, write or edit exchange alumni stories, blogs, featured person pieces, and podcasts for publications, websites, journals, newsletters and other resources

* Write sections of the NCDE quarterly report and monthly E-News

* Content and copy editing for peer review, including articles, conference proposals, resources, alumni stories, newsletters and correspondence Read More


Nov 19

WITvid #2: “ALT in Japan”

WITvid is a periodic series by Peter Weber (Saitama-ken 2004-07), the JET Program Coordinator in San Francisco.

This video was brought to my attention by Rhea Young, JET Program Coordinator at the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit.

This piece (posted by draginboll) was featured on Japanese television about the treatment of some Assistant Language Teachers in Japan.  Although I feel some of the views are biased and extreme (especially the references to the JET Program) it is very interesting. It just goes to show, ” Every Situation Is Different (ESID)” does not only apply to the JET Program.


Nov 19

Job: Junior Patent Editor/Coordinator at MultiLing

Via MultiLing Japan:

Position: Junior Patent Editor/Coordinator
Type: Fulltime
Start Date: Negotiable
Salary: From 3.6m JPY/year (experience and performance based)
Benefits: Social Health Care, Pension, Unemployment Insurance, Paid Leave
Holidays: Sat., Sun., National Holidays, End of year holiday

Description of position:
MultiLing Japan is looking for a hardworking detail-oriented linguist to coordinate our growing JA-EN patent translation work. The selected candidate would also be responsible for editing translations done by other members of the team, and, after proving competence, translating as well. Organizational and computer skills are an absolute must for this position as well as superior English writing ability.

Those interested should send the following documentation to the email address provided above:
1. Resume/CV
2. Cover letter
3. Sample of translation

Candidates must already live in Japan. Relocation costs are to be born by the candidate. Company will sponsor visa.

Company Name: MultiLing Japan Y.K
Address: 4-17 Kaigan Dori, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0002
Tel: 045-315-3135
Email: info-japan[at]multiling[dot]com


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