Aug 10

The Cove: Documentary on Dolphin Slaughter in Japan

Article/Journalism, Japan Trends, Reviews, Video, Website, Writers Documentary, Dolphins, Whales Add Comment (2)

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

JetWit webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) comments after the jump on The Cove, a new documentary about dolphin hunting in Japan.  Please feel free to share your own thoughts regarding this controversial film in the comments section of this post.

Read More

Aug 9

What I Like About JetWit

Advice, Career, Networking, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, Writers Add Comment (19)

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

(Originally posted on April 28, 2009.)

Here’s your chance to help JetWit.  Just share a comment on this post saying what you like about JetWit.  (Or email your comment to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com and I’ll post it.)

Thanks for your help and yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Update: Thanks to everyone who has posted comments so far!

Aug 9

Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (August 2009)

Celebrity, Food & Drink, Japan Trends, Uncategorized, Writers Comments Off on Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (August 2009)

The August 2009 issue of the Sake World E-mail Newsletter by JET alum and leading sake expert John Gauntner (aka “The Sake Guy”) is now available online.  In this issue:

• Cost of Sake & that of Rice
• Did You Know?
• Guided Sakagura Tours
• NEW! Sake Professional Course in Las Vegas
• Sake Events
• Learn More About Sake eBooks
• Odds-n-Ends

Aug 8

JQ Magazine’s Summer 2009 “¼ Cheap Trick” Issue Is Out Now!

Anecdote Article, Article/Journalism, Celebrity, JETAA Chapters, JQ Magazine, Music, Reviews, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on JQ Magazine’s Summer 2009 “¼ Cheap Trick” Issue Is Out Now!

The leader of a band that’s sold over 20 million records and brought the words “At Budokan” to the big time, the new Japanese ambassador to New York, a tour of Philadelphia that’s uncannily Zen, and chats with award-winning writers, French pastry operations managers and even a maid-outfitted cosplay superstar complete with bunny ears. All this and more in the new summer issue of JETAANY’s JQ magazine.

To preserve our budget for alumni events, and in an effort to be greener and save paper, JETAANY will begin charging for print copies of JQ Magazine. The cost is $12 for 4 issues and you will only have the opportunity to sign up once a year – annual subscriptions will occur each fall.  Please note that the magazine, in its entirety, is also available online. If you would like to sign up to receive a paper copy by mail, please follow the PayPal link below (Add to Cart) or e-mail magazinesubscriptions@jetaany.org for more information. Remember you must put “JQ subscription” and your desired mailing address in the Paypal comments box.

Editor: Justin Tedaldi – magazine@jetaany.org

Aug 7

Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri on manga program in Switzerland film festival

Blogs, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Japan Trends, Roland Kelts, Writers Comments Off on Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri on manga program in Switzerland film festival

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has a good column in today’s Daily Yomirui titled “Anime with Texas Roots Debuts in Switzerland.”

According to the column:

Manga Impact: The World of Japanese Animation, a special program at the 62nd annual Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, will include next Friday’s world premiere of the Japanese anime Redline in the city’s historic central square, which can accommodate more than 8,000 viewers.

And Redline is:

a film that piles hybrid upon hybrid–a racing film that blasts into sci-fi apocalypse, as a corrupt alien government seeks to destroy the mortal drivers who dare to compete on their alien planet. The action is relentless, allowing you to catch your breath only in brief interludes, yet the imagery is dense with anatomical grotesqueries–like Lucian Freud on acid, or, if you view Redline as a kind of meta- anime, an anime about the stylized thrills of anime itself, Speed Racer on speed.

If any JetWit readers happen to see Redline–especially if you see it in Switzerland at the film festival–please post a comment and share your thoughts and experience.

Aug 6

Bankruptcy Bill #18 – Pro Bono

Blogs, Cartoon/Illustration, Humor, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on Bankruptcy Bill #18 – Pro Bono

BAPCPA Man and Bankruptcy Bill are cartoons created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall.  For more cartoons, original bankruptcy haiku and even a bankruptcy country song, go to bankruptcybill.us.

Additionally, if anyone would like to take a stab at translating the cartoon into Japanese for JetWit’s Japanese fans out there, feel free to post in the comments section of this post.  Some cultural explanation might be helpful as well, given that Japanese bankruptcy laws are very different than the U.S.

Aug 5

JetWit Blog Beat 8.5.09 by Crystal Wong

Blogs, Food & Drink, Writers Comments Off on JetWit Blog Beat 8.5.09 by Crystal Wong

JetWit Blog Beat by Crystal Wong (Iwate-ken, 2002-04) is a recurring item featuring posts from the blogs of various JET alumni.  Crystal is a former English-language writer for Kyodo News. She is now a freelance writer and digital strategist in New York and relishes her constant hunt for the best cheap(ish) eats in the city.

Interesting post from Dave Jacobson over at Chin Music Press about the continuing lack of interest in Japan as a news story from mainstream media, despite it being the world’s second largest economy. Dave points out that this is a great opportunity for the smaller companies and bloggers who continue to produce great content on Japan. We here over at Blog Beat would be interested to hear your thoughts on this trend – Have you noticed this as well? What does it mean for Japan?

JET alum Toby Weymiller reports on the progress on his new house from Hokkaido – how extremely cool to track the construction of a new home!

Also, check out a new addition to our blogroll  – adventure writer Elizabeth White (Toyama-ken, 1995-98), lives in San Luis Obispo County and her new blog is well worth reading as it details all the delicious delights of life in paradise (and its challenges, of course) with great writing and photos.

Aug 4

BAPCPA Man #2 – Automatic Stay Force Field

Blogs, Cartoon/Illustration, Humor, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on BAPCPA Man #2 – Automatic Stay Force Field

BAPCPA Man and Bankruptcy Bill are cartoons created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall.  For more cartoons, original bankruptcy haiku and even a bankruptcy country song, go to bankruptcybill.us.

Additionally, if anyone would like to take a stab at translating the cartoon into Japanese for JetWit’s Japanese fans out there, feel free to post in the comments section of this post.  Some cultural explanation might be helpful as well, given that Japanese bankruptcy laws are very different than the U.S.

Aug 4

Graphic novelist Lars Martinson seeks funding for comic book about East Asian calligraphy

Academic, Art, Blogs, Books, Career, Cartoon/Illustration, Networking, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on Graphic novelist Lars Martinson seeks funding for comic book about East Asian calligraphy

JET alum Lars Martinson, author of the graphic novel Tonoharu:  Part 1, is not only currently studying East Asian calligraphy in Ehime-ken, he wants to write a comic book about his experience.  And he’s in the process of seeking funding to help make this happen.

If you’ve seen Tonoharu:  Part 1, you know that “comic book” barely does justice to Lars’ sophisticated and detailed drawing style.  And having won a Monbusho Scholarship to help him fund the production of Tonoharu:  Part 1, Lars knows a thing or two about getting funding (as further demonstrated in a previous blog post titled “How to Apply for a Monbusho Scholarship“).

That said, it’s never easy getting funding and income as an artist/illustrator.  (See, e.g., Lars’ recent post on adapting his drawing style for professional and practical purposes.)  So if anyone can provide any assistance or leads to help Lars with funding, please feel free to get in touch with him at blog [at] larsmartinson [dot] com.

For information about Lars, you can read his blog at http://larsmartinson.com. You can also read a nice article about Lars from the Winter 2008 “Digital Media” Issue of the JETAA NY Newsletter, written by Alexei Esikoff (Fukushima-ken, 2001-02).

Aug 3

Transcript of Roland Kelts full interview with Hayao Miyazaki (via GhibliWorld)

Academic, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Interview/Profile, Roland Kelts, Uncategorized, Writers Comments Off on Transcript of Roland Kelts full interview with Hayao Miyazaki (via GhibliWorld)

For those of you who weren’t able to catch Roland Kelts’ (Osaka-shi, 1998-99) interview with Hayo Miyazaki in Berkeley, CA on July 25, a “fanatically thorough transcript” of the full interview has been posted at the GhibliWorld site:  http://www.ghibliworld.com/miyazaki_on_stage_conversation_berkeley_july_2009.html

Aug 3

JET alum artists: Brooke and Daniel Lauer

Art, Blogs, Cartoon/Illustration, Writers Comments Off on JET alum artists: Brooke and Daniel Lauer

JetWit just learned of two more JET alum artists who happen to be married to each other and live in Greenville, SC.  They also both lived in Niigata-ken.

Lauer, Brooke (Niigata-ken 2004-07) – Greenville, SC

• Writes and illustrates picture books, makes dolls from polymer clay, and handmade journals. Her newest work can be found at http://brookelauer.blogspot.com
• Motto:  “Creating a more interesting world, one character at a time…”

Lauer, Daniel (Niigata-ken 2005-2007) – Greenville, SC

• His wheel-thrown pottery can be seen at http://www.firebirdpottery.com

Aug 3

Roland Kelts and young fans at Keio Academy Digital Media Creation program

Academic, Blogs, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Roland Kelts, Uncategorized, Writers Comments Off on Roland Kelts and young fans at Keio Academy Digital Media Creation program

Over the weekend we mentioned that Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, gave a talk for the students in the Keio Academy of New York Japanese-English Bilingual Summer Program in Purchase, NY in connection with a two-week Digital Media Creation program.  (Additional speakers in the program include Michael Arias, director of “ANIMATRIX” and “Tekkonkinkreet,” Shoji Kawamuri, animation director and mechanical designer and Yuji Nunokawa, CEO of animation producer Pierrot Co., Ltd.)

Here are a couple nice photos from the event:

*********

Aug 1

Roland Kelts participates in Keio Academy Digital Media Creation Program

Academic, Books, Career, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Roland Kelts, Writers Add Comment (1)

This past Thursday evening, Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, gave a talk for the students in the Keio Academy of New York Japanese-English Bilingual Summer Program in Purchase, NY in connection with a two-week Digital Media Creation program.

Additional speakers in the program include Michael Arias, director of “ANIMATRIX” and “Tekkonkinkreet,” Shoji Kawamuri, animation director and mechanical designer and Yuji Nunokawa, CEO of animation producer Pierrot Co., Ltd.

Jul 31

BAPCPA Man #1 – Automatic Stay

Blogs, Cartoon/Illustration, Humor, Writers Comments Off on BAPCPA Man #1 – Automatic Stay

BAPCPA Man and Bankruptcy Bill are cartoons created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall.  For more cartoons, original bankruptcy haiku and even a bankruptcy country song, go to bankruptcybill.us.

Jul 30

Roland Kelts interview with Hayao Miyazaki

Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Events, Interview/Profile, Roland Kelts, Uncategorized, Writers Add Comment (1)

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

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, hosted a talk with Hayao Miyazaki (director of Spirited Away among other animated films) on July 25 in Berekely, CA.  Miyazaki made a rare U.S. appearance to receive the second annual Berkeley Japan Prize for lifetime achievement, presented by the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.  (See a Japan Times article on the event here.)

This was familiar territory for Roland, who hosted a talk with novelist Haruki Murakami in October 2008 when Murakami was presented with the first Berekely Japan award.