WIT Life #208: Monsters, Woodsmen and Girls, Oh My!
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WIT Life 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.
It is indeed time again for one of my favorite annual events, Japan Cuts at Japan Society! The lineup of 39 films is more robust than ever, and the focus on fabulous actor Koji Yakusho adds a new dimension to this year’s festival. He will be on hand this Friday night to screen his 2011 award-winning The Woodsman and the Rain, and he will receive the first ever Japan Cuts prize, the CUT ABOVE award for excellence in film. Can’t wait for the screening and to possibly catch an up-close glimpse of this living legend at the reception after.
This event kicked off last Thursday, and many wonderful pieces have already been shown. I haven’t been able to catch as many as I would have liked, but one that really struck me was Read More
WIT Life #207: This week’s NYT Japanese baseball articles
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WIT Life 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.
This week’s NYT offered two interesting articles about baseball, one about a Japanese player in the U.S. and one about a Venezuelan player in Japan.
The first focuses on Yankees pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who shares his story of how abusive treatment at the hands of coaches and teammates while growing up in Japan molded him into the player he is today. I had heard about things like getting hit on the backside with bats (ketsu batto) and some of the other torturous treatment coaches inflict on their players from Japanese friends of mine who played baseball as youngsters, but I didn’t know the extent of some of the abuse. What Kuroda had to endure would surely be prosecutable today, but at the time it was tacitly endorsed, even by his mother.
Another article in today’s sports section talks a
bout Yokohama BayStars outfielder Alex Ramirez (aka “Rami-chan”) and his recent attaininment of Read More
JapanLocal: Kamo Aquarium in Tsuruoka
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JETAA Philadelphia Subchapter rep Rashaad Jorden recently wrote the following article for the Japan Tourist website (a great example of JETs helping to promote “local” tourism for Japan):
Kamo Aquarium in Tsuruoka: More wonderful water fun in Yunohama
(Click link to the article to see photos: http://japantourist.jp/view/kamo-aqarium)
In a part of Tsuruoka renown for onsen and Yamagata Prefecture’s most popular beach, it’s quite fitting there’s another place where water brings out more fun. Only here animals are stars of the show.
Once threatened with bankruptcy, Kamo Aquarium in Yunohama has grown to become one of the country’s most popular aquariums, welcoming more than 220,000 visitors in 2011 (according to a June 2012 article on the Japan Times’ website). A remarkable number considering only 90,000 people visited Kamo in 1997, sparking rumors of the aquarium’s demise.
Much of the credit for Kamo’s revival goes to one creature: the jellyfish. Read More
Japan Times article on pre-JET Lesley Downer, writer, historian and journalist
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Thanks to JET alum Aurelien Hancou for alerting JETwit to this recent Japan Times article about British writer, historian and journalist Lesley Downer, who participated in a forerunner to the JET Programme.
Author Lesley Downer’s romance with Japan is no fleeting affair
By VICTORIA JAMES
Special to The Japan Times
British writer, historian and journalist Lesley Downer has been visiting Japan and writing about it for nearly 35 years — beginning in 1978, when she was part of the first-ever intake of the English Teaching Recruitment Program, which evolved into the famous JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) scheme. Read More
Job: Japan Information Center Seeking a Speechwriter/Public Affairs Specialist (NY)
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Thanks to JETAA NY Board Member Kat Barnas for passing along this job posting. Posted by Kay Monroe (Miyazaki-shi, 1995 -97).
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Position: Speechwriter/Public Affairs Specialist
Posted by: The Consulate General of Japan in New York
Type: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary:
Start date: NA
Overview:
The Consulate General of Japan in New York is currently seeking a speechwriter/public affairs specialist. The incumbent will produce and edit English language public remarks, speeches and official correspondence for the Ambassador and other diplomats, and, working in close cooperation with Japanese officials and staff, will carry out a variety of communications duties within the Japan Information Center, the Consulate’s press and public affairs arm. To apply please send resume and cover letter to Mr. Yoshito Yamashita (yoshito.yamashita@mofa.go.jp). Read More
I’ll Make It Myself!: “Tomato Challenge: ALL the Tomato Recipes”
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L.M. Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) is the editor of The Ishikawa JET Kitchen: Cooking in Japan Without a Fight. A writer and web administrator for The Art of Japan: Kanazawa and Discover Kanazawa, ze also writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan, and curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles, a series of essays by JETs and JET alumni on the theme of cooking/eating and being alone in Japan.
New Rice Cooker Chronicles submissions always welcome. Just e-mail it to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
I couldn’t resist buying a box of 10 large (230 g), gorgeous tomatoes for only 598 yen at the grocery store a few weeks ago. Tomatoes in Japan can be quite expensive, and although the price drops in the summer when they are in season, 600 yen might get you 5 if you are lucky.
How did I use my 10 tomatoes?
WIT Life #206: Japan’s Energy Policy
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WIT Life 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.
As we begin experiencing the dog days of summer, 
Japan has decided that it will restart one of its nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs of this hot period. Reactor No. 3 at the Oi Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture is due to be reactivated tomorrow, and the nearby No. 4 reactor has also been scheduled for restart at a later date. There was a huge protest at the plant last Friday night in response to this announcement, with the crowd chanting ｢再稼動反対！」 (saikado hantai) or “No to nuclear restarts.”
In terms of electricity conservation efforts, Japan’s power companies have agreed to reductions in supply ranging from 5-15%, and they will implement Read More
I’ll Make It Myself!: “Broiled Sawara with Paprika”
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L.M. Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) is the editor of The Ishikawa JET Kitchen: Cooking in Japan Without a Fight. A writer and web administrator for The Art of Japan: Kanazawa and Discover Kanazawa, ze also writes I’ll Make It Myself!, a blog about food culture in Japan, and curates The Rice Cooker Chronicles, a series of essays by JETs and JET alumni on the theme of cooking/eating and being alone in Japan.
New Rice Cooker Chronicles submissions always welcome. Just e-mail it to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
While at Omicho Market a couple weeks ago, I spied a fish-seller with sashimi-grade sawara (サワラ, 鰆), Japanese Spanish mackerel, on sale–for 250 yen, I could get a plate of huge filets much bigger than the ones I usually get at the store–about 500 grams’ worth.* “Two, please,” I told the clerk (the fish monger?). “Onê-san,” he said, “I’ll give you 3 for 500 yen.”
This was probably the only time I’ve had a whole kilo of fish at one time. I don’t know how to gut a fish (it’s on the to-do-in-2012 list, promise), so my choices are more limited than chefs braver than I am. Still, since moving to Kanazawa, I’ve found my supermarkets carry a great selection of filets caught locally, so I’ve finally really learned how to cook fish.
Dan’s Slice of Culture 06.30.12
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By Japanese cultural blogger Dan Moeller (Hiroshima-ken, 2009-11). Through blogging, staying active with Philly JETAA, and being married to his wife, Dan tries to stay connected to the Japanese world. Check out this piece and more of his thoughts at American Accent.
Tomato juice may cure hangovers, or by saying so, make Kagome rich…
According to a recent study by Kagome and Asahi Group Holdings, drinking tomato juice will help you sober up faster (source). Apparently, the tomato juice helps to cleanse your liver by making it secrete more of the enzymes needed to break down alcohol.
The study included an experiment of people given about two shots of shochu (焼酎, a Japanese liquor similar to vodka). After the two shots of shochu, the control group was given a pint of water while the experimental group was given a pint of tomato juice. Those drinking the tomato juice sobered up an average of 50 minutes faster than those drinking water.
Kagome and Asahi agree that a tomato would most likely work the same way, although it was not studied.
This is great news considering Japan loses Read More
WIT Life #205: Lunch Hour NYC
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WIT Life 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.
Yesterday I had the chance to check out the NYC lunch exhibit at the New York Public Library. It offers fascinating tidbits regarding the origins of the meal we now know as lunch, as well as how has evolved over the years here in the city. The aspect that interested me the most was the discussion of the first Japanese restaurant here in the city, dating back to 1932. It was called Yoshino-ya and located at 76 West 47th Street. Although it is often thought that Read More
JETProgram.ME – a new unofficial JET community site
Aloha! My name is Beau Mueller (Miyazaki-ken, 2009-11) and I am the founder of JETProgram.ME — a new unofficial community site catering to those in all stages of the JET process. With the site, we are hoping to be able to help promote the positive qualities of the JET Programme and of JETs, while fostering a sense of community and facilitating exchange. Being quite fed up with some of the other JET community sites that can be snarky and downright unpleasant, we put together the site aiming for it to be a diverse, friendly, productive and useful resource.
To kickstart the site, we have put together an essay contest for current, former and prospective JETs. Basically, writers have to put together a 400-800 word essay on one of the given topics. After submitting the essay, the goal is to get as many Facebook likes as possible. The writers who get the most likes will win cash prizes (first place is $150).
I hope many of JETwit’s readers will consider participating. The current deadline to pick a topic is 11:59 PM on June 30th, JST. That said, if you are interested in the contest, it is highly recommended you pick your topic soon! Currently, only about 10 people are signed up, so there are lots of great topics left to choose from.
If you are at all interested in or have questions about the site or contest, check out the links below or feel free to contact me at contact (at) jetprogram.me. Note that I am in Hawaii and timing might be a little funny ;)
JETAA Southern Alberta Newsletter – Spring 2012
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Thanks to JETAA Southern Alberta Media Coordinator John Nguyen (Hokkaido, 2008-10) for sharing the Spring 2012 issue of “Express Shinkansen,” the very excellent JETAA Southern Alberta Newsletter:
- Spring 2012 JETAA Southern Alberta Newsletter (PDF): http://jetaasa.ca/newsletter/Shinkansen_Express_v4.1.pdf
- You can find links to all current and past issues of JETAA Southern Alberta’s “Express Shinkansen” at: http://www.jetaasa.ca/media/newsletter/
WIT Life #204: Enka Sensation Jero
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WIT Life 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.
I never thought I would say this, but last night I was captivated by the strains of enka. However this was not your typical enka, it was this style of Japanese music performed by none other than Pittsburgh-born singer Jero. This 30-year old celebrity in Japan learned enka thanks to his maternal Japanese grandmother. As early as five he began singing ballads to entertain her, and from this young age he had a dream of becoming an enka singer. He has achieved this success in spades, debuting with his hit single 「海雪」 (Umiyuki, or Ocean Snow) four years ago. He went on to create numerous other hits, including an original one dedicated to his mother who raised him on her own.
The event I attended took place at Japan Society and was entitled “Let’s Enka! with Jero.” It began with an interview where Jero shared how his childhood dream had became a reality, including how at one point he contemplated Read More
JET alum James Kennedy curates Second Annual 90-second Newbery Film Festival
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This just in from the so-original-you-have to see/meet/read-him-to-believe-him James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of the acclaimed young adult novel The Order of Odd-Fish. Make sure to watch the “Heart of a Samurai” video below–one more example of a JET alum generating interest in Japanese language and culture in ways the Japanese government could never have possibly imagined. (See explanation further below.)
Preparations for the Second Annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival are underway! The 90-Second Newbery is a film festival I curate in which filmmakers of any age are challenged to make movies that tell the story of a Newbery award-winning book in 90 seconds or less.Full details here. The deadline for video submission is October 29, 2012. Details about screenings in New York and Chicago—including special celebrity guests—below!
But first, check out the latest submission above! It’s of Margi Preus’ fantastic 2011 Newbery Honor book, Heart of a Samurai. The movie is by Alex, Amy, Izzy, Asher, and Zach from Burley Elementary in Chicago. Full disclosure: I helped with this one! And here’s our twist: we did the film in Japanese, even though the students, er, don’t know Japanese. I helped with the script and pronunciation. There are storms at sea! Whales! Burning beards! Fistfights! It’s also slightly longer than 90 seconds. Oh well. ENJOY! Read More
WIT Life #203: Super Cool Biz/Cool Share
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WIT Life 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.
As early summer heats up in Japan, the country is trying to figure out how it will satisfy its energy needs now that all 50 of its nuclear reactors have been taken offline to be checked. With expected cutbacks in electricity consumption, some supermarkets have adjusted their operating hours to open two hours early for consumers who want to shop in the cooler morning hours.
Another idea is the implementation of Super Cool Biz, building on Japan’s previous Cool Biz boom. This fashion trend was created in response to the decreased use of air conditioning in Japanese offices for the purpose of energy conservation, and enabled employees to eschew ties and jackets. However, Super Cool Biz takes it a step further and also allows them to wear things like polo and Hawaiian shirts, chino pants and sneakers. The icon on the right also suggests beating the heat with things like fans and sun umbrellas.
Building on this concept is Cool Share, an idea that took shape in Saitama. “Share” refers to Read More
