Yomitime JetWit article translation (by Joel Dechant)
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Back on January 15, JetWit posted a link to its first media hit, an article that ran in Yomitime, a free Japanese-language weekly publication. Below is a translation of the article into English generously provided by professional translator/interpreter Joel Dechant (CIR Kagoshima-ken, 2001-04) at the request of JetWit. (FYI, Joel actually translated it very quickly. I just forgot to post it until today.)
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Two Men Work Behind the Scenes for the JET Program, Publish Newsletter on Japan
By Kinoue Imai Weinstein
Translation by Joel Dechant (CIR Kagoshima-ken, 2001-04)
The original article ran in Japanese in Yomitime, a free Japanese weekly newspaper 1/9/09
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program is a Japanese government-sponsored program under which fresh university graduates from English-speaking countries are invited to teach English in Japan’s junior and senior high schools. Started in 1987 with 848 participants, the program’s American alumni association alone now boasts 5508 members, approximately 1000 of whom are in New York. One alumni, Steven Horowitz (age 38) began publishing a quarterly newsletter, JETaaNY, in 2002. The 24-page[1] newsletter covers recent JET alumni developments and news about Japan. Horowitz recently handed off his editor-in-chief duties to Justin Tedaldi (age 29) who plans to expand and enrich the newsletter.
The reason for starting the alumni association and holding the occasional gathering after returning to the States, says Horowitz, was “because our experience working in Japan when we were younger is an important part of our identity, and of course because we wanted to be friends with people who we had something in common with.” Read More
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I recently learned of the existence of the Society for Writers, Editors and Translators (SWET) (www.swet.jp), a Tokyo-based group that seems to share a lot in common with JetWit and the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group–except that SWET has been in existence for 25 years! (Read the full history of the group here.)
In 1998 SWET members collaboratively published the Japan Style Sheet as a guide for professional translators
The other day I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth Stevens, one of the founders of SWET who now lives in the NY area. She introduced me (via email) to Lynne Riggs, the co-founder and current organizer of SWET, who in turn introduced me to SWET webmaster Sako Eaton.
Needless to say, we were all happy to learn of each others’ existence, and I wanted to make sure to let all the JET alumni and Friend of JET readers out there know about SWET (which, amusingly, has “SWET Shirts” for sale on their website).
In addition to a terrific website, SWET also has an e-mail list and RSS feed that are free. You can also sign up for SWET membership for 5,000 yen or $50/year which entitles you to receive their newsletter containing various info and articles that do not appear elsewhere.
I look forward to future collaboration with the SWET folks. (You’ll notice there’s already a sidebar widget for SWET with the RSS feed from their site.) And I encourage any readers to suggest and help implement additional ideas to help foster collaboration as well.
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JETAA NY Magazine Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) has apparently just landed a phone interview with Hikaru Utada to run in a future issue, and he’s looking for good questions to ask her. E-mail responses to Justin at magazine /atto/ jetaaany /dotto/ org.
Hi everyone,
I just received an e-mail saying that Utada Hikaru will call me tomorrow (Fri. 1/30) afternoon to do an interview with JETAA NY Quarterly about her forthcoming English studio album, which will be released in the U.S. at the end of March.
I thought it would be cool to put out a request to the JET Alumni community for any questions you’d like to ask her. I’ll do my best to include as many as I can.
Please e-mail your questions to Justin Tedaldi at magazine /atto/ jetaany /dotto/ org no later than 1:00 p.m. this Friday.
Official release info for the new album appears below. Yoroshiku! Read More
Lend a hand for the JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine Stuff ‘n Mail
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Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) is about to publish the first issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine (f/k/a the “Newsletter”) under his new tenure. Come out and help, hang with other JET alums and support a JETAA NY activity.
WHAT: JETAA NY Stuff n’ Mail for the winter 2009 “New” issue of JETAA NY Quarterly
WHERE: Japan Local Government Center, 3 Park Ave. (at 34th Street), 20F
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 4, after 6:00 p.m.
WHY: Officially, to help stuff envelopes and mail them to your fellow JETs. But also…
-To get a first-hand look at our “New” issue, now rebranded as a magazine
-To enjoy free free pizza and drinks at the JLGC’s new location
-To chill out with other JETs and take the party over to Caliente Cab Co. for an informal nomikai (488 Third Avenue and corner of 33rd Street). Margaritas and Central American beer the house specialty.
-For the truly dedicated, a chance to hear about potential assignments already planned for our next spring issue, so you can write the really cool stories!
HOW?
RSVP with Justin at magazine /atto/ jetaany /dotto/ org before the end of Tuesday, Feb. 3 to ensure the right amount of pizza for all.
SEE YOU THERE!
17th Annual JET Programme Essay Contest (reminder)
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Via Sacha Battrick, the JET Liason at CLAIR-Tokyo.
CLAIR is now taking submissions for the 17th Annual JET Programme Essay Competition. We welcome submissions from both current and former JET participants, and there are some great prizes up for grabs.
Full details here: http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/news/essay%2009.html
There’s an article in today’s NY Times on increased availability and usage of self-publishing/print-on-demand companies such as iUniverse, Blurb, Lulu Enterprises and CreateSpace. Something for all the writers out there to be aware of.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/books/28selfpub.html?th&emc=th
WIT Life #22: Consumers’ What’s Hot and What’s Not 2008
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/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.
The start to a new year always invites reflection on the previous one. Some of this delving is not so pleasant (i.e. 2008 fourth quarter earnings), but looking at other aspects such as best sellers from the year can be very enjoyable. The magazine Nikkei Marketing Journal annually examines the latter and uses sumo rankings for its classification system. 
They came up with 36 items for last year, and appropriate of 2008’s declining economy a theme running through the list was low price and good value. For example, the top rankings of Yokozuna East went to clothing store Uniqlo and Yokozuna West went to Seven Premium Top Valu, an in-house discount brand from the retailer Aeon (i.e. Jusco). Ozeki East was captured by Read More
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Manga Contest: Meredith Hodges-Boos’ submission
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Writer and artist Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, 2003-05) recently submitted the below entry for the manga contest sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a contest which I’m guessing ties in with Prime Minister Taro Aso’s “manga diplomacy” (explained in more detail in NPR’s 10/3/08 interview with Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99). I encourage everyone to take look at Meredith’s wonderful work that pays homage to the JET Program as well as to the world of manga. (Suggestion: Click the button at the bottom of the video player to expand the screen so you can read the dialogue.)
Growing Pains: A freelancer’s follow-up – by Devon Brown
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Devon Brown (Tokyo-to, 2002-04) is a freelance writer with a focus on food. You can read more of her writing at TravelingTastebuds.blogspot.com.
In a recent post titled “Growing Pains”, she sought some perspective on the business of freelance writing. In a subsequent JetWit post, we aggregated the responses of writers in the JET alum community in response to Devon’s question. Below she shares her new perspective:
Growing Pains: A follow up on an over edited piece by a newbie freelance writer
The jury is in and it seems I’ll just have to man up.
The freelance writing world can be a cold hard place and the fact that I’m getting paid and will have a byline in a national mag is going to have to be consolation for my hurt ego. The rational part of me knows that magazines have their own voice and until I’m so big and famous that they’re willing to pay me $5 for every single word I type, I’m gonna have to deal.
Thank you to everyone who offered up some insight. I heard of some horror stories that I hope to never experience myself.
On the upside, I did get a final PDF of my piece. Seeing it in print was awesome!
Greetings Fellow Former JETS!
Do you know what yosa-koi is? Good for you.
Do you love nothing more than flailing about with naruko? (wooden instrument, NOT some girl’s name! ^^) Are you an aspiring performer/dancer with an interest in Japanese culture? Are you a non-performer/dancer with an interest in Japanese culture? Do you just really miss Japan and dream of becoming one of the crazy sexy cool people in this flier?
Then fantasize no more!
Hi, I’m Kirsten, a former ALT based in Niigata Prefecture 2005-2008. One of the things I missed most about my life in Japan was an awesome and energetic festival dance called yosa-koi that I used to perform together with my students. I missed it so much when I came back that I Googled “NY” and “Yosa-koi” and found 10tecomai. For a JET with raging Japan withdrawal like myself being a member of 10tecomai was like a dream come true.
Like the flier says, no dance experience is necessary. I can attest to that, folks. I have zero background in performance or dance but I quickly found this was not required. You will be expertly and patiently trained, no matter what level you are and you will have TONS of fun in the process. However, team spirit and serious dedication are an absolute must. My experience with 10tecomai has been truly rewarding and fulfilling on so many levels. I’m sad I no longer live in Japan but I am overjoyed to be a part of 10.
So come on down and try out if you fancy? It can’t hurt. Tell your friends!
[Editor’s note: Kirsten also wrote a wonderful article about the Mitsuwa department store in Edgewater, NJ for the Fall 2008 Issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Newsletter.]
Roland Kelts latest column in Daily Yomiuri
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In his latest recurring column “Soft Power/Hard Truths” for the Daily Yomiuri, Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) attempts to explain the phenomenon that is Afro-Samurai.
See his column here: http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2009/01/afro-samurai-anime-and-game-follow-soft.html
The Chopsticks NY – JET Alum Intersection
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FYI, the February issue of Chopsticks NY (The “Exploring Japan” Issue) is out and contains articles by:
Stacy Smith (CIR Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03) – Focus*Culture: Learning the Meanings Behind the Rituals of Shintoism. Stacy also translated the issue’s lead feature article on actress and calligraphy expert Yoshiko Sakuma, written by Chopsticks NY editor Noriko Komura, and wrote the unsigned “What’s New” articles (Joost, Kari Kari cookies, Anime Castle, Dainobu). (Stacy is a professional interpreter, translator and writer and also writes the WITLife series on this site.)
and
Nori Akashi (Friend of JET and Writers Interpreters Translators Group member) – Welcome to Japan: Traveling Through the Sub-Zero World by Train. (Nori is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and writes for the Japan National Tourist Organization as well as well as for freelance assignments.)
JetWit Celebrates the Year of the Ox
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To get JetWit in the Year of the Ox spirit, Meredith Hodges-Boos (Ehime-ken, 2003-05) has come up with yet another great Zazzle twist on A.J., the JetWit mascot, created by Zi Mei (Saitama-ken, 2002-05).
JetWit Year of the Ox Greeting Card
JetWit Year of the Ox T-shirt
JetWit Year of the Ox Postcard
Smithsonian lists “Odd-Fish” as one of notable children’s books for 2008
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Kathleen Burke, who compiles an annual list of notable children’s books for the Smithsonian, included The Order of Odd-Fish, by JET alum James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06) in her 2008 list in the category for older readers.
And as a bonus, the cover of Odd-Fish is one of three covers shown, along with Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle and Aaron Blabey’s Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley.
Omedetou gozaimashita, James-san!
(Click here to see other critical praise for Odd-Fish.)
James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, was asked to do a fun feature on the music blog Largehearted Boy a couple weeks ago. They have a feature called “Book Notes” in which an author is invited to compile a mixtape appropriate for their book, and explain it. So he put together a kind of movie soundtrack for “The Order of Odd-Fish.” You can listen to his “Odd-Fish” mixtape, and read the explanations for his choices, here:
http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2009/01/book_notes_jame_2.html
