Feb 18

JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘The Japanese Lover’

Article/Journalism, Books, JQ Magazine, Reviews Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘The Japanese Lover’

“The Japanese Lover has its ups and downs, but it does serve as an eventful tour of various aspects of 20th century history.” (Atria Books)

By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata-ken, 2008-10) for JQ magazine. A former head of the JETAA Philadelphia Sub-Chapter, Rashaad is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University with a master’s degree in responsible tourism management. For more on his life abroad and enthusiasm for taiko drumming, visit his blog at www.gettingpounded.wordpress.com.

We might be keeping fascinating mementos from our daily lives that if discovered, might stun many people.

Certainly, letters documenting something shocking (well, shocking during a certain period of history) would classify as that. Isabel Allende’s The Japanese Lover highlights one woman’s relationship with a Japanese national during her eventful life.

The story’s protagonist is Alma Belasco, a native of Eastern Europe was sent to live with well-to-do relatives in San Francisco when she was young. During the latter years of Alma’s life, she lives with a caretaker named Irina Bazili, who learns about an important figure who shaped Alma’s life and is described in the title of the book: a man named Ichimei Fukuda. Ichimei could also be described as a secret lover because the two had to keep their romance on the down low as it occurred during the height of World War II when people of Japanese descent were considered a threat to American society. The Japanese Lover also takes a journey not only through Alma’s life, but Irina’s as well as Ichimei’s.

Read More

Feb 18

7 Jobs in International Education

Jobs Comments Off on 7 Jobs in International Education

Via Carleen Ben (Oita). Posted by Sophia Chan (Sapporo-shi, 2009-2014). If interested in more job listings, join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

(1) (CT) Study Away Advisor, Trinity College

Please see the job announcement below.
Position Title: Study Away Advisor
Department: Office of Study Away
Institution: Trinity College
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Job Description Summary: The Study Away Advisor advises 100-150 students annually on academically appropriate study abroad opportunities on a portfolio of programs to be assigned. These may include South Africa, France, China, Spain, Argentina and the United States. Students advised may be interested in semester, full year or summer. The Study Away Advisor assists students with the application and selection process and acts as the primary liaison with exchange and partner institutions in his/her designated region regarding student support and service. The Study Away Advisor serves as a resource for faculty regarding academic questions for programs within his/her advising portfolio. The Study Away Advisor communicates with overseas contacts and partner institutions, and assists in resolving curricular issues in cooperation with students and their academic advisors. The Study Away Advisor also represents the Office of Study Away at campus events and visits classes to talk about study away opportunities as assigned; he/she will also present at pre-departure orientation for students attending non-Trinity programs each semester. For a full description, please see: https://trincoll.peopleadmin.com/postings/1011
Special Note: This is a long-term temporary position. Salary is commensurate with work experience. Read More

Feb 17

Job: ESL Instructor/Administrative Support – Embassy English (NYC)

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Positions: ESL Instructor/Administrative Support
Posted by: Embassy English 
Location: New York City, NY
Contract: Full-Time

Embassy English, a world leader in English language education, is looking for a dynamic and resourceful teacher for our main school in Midtown Manhattan. This role will be primarily responsible for covering classes when another teacher calls in sick or has scheduled time off. While not in the classroom, this role will assist with administrative duties in the Academic Office. Experience with Excel mail merges and formulas is required. This is a part time position (approx. 25 hours per week in the morning), with the possibility of full time hours as student numbers increase in the summer.

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching classes when other teachers call in sick or have scheduled time off.
• Management & maximization of school resources including books, classroom utilization, technological infrastructure, etc.
• Implementation and management of systems focused on assuring accreditation standards and customer service excellence.
• Management and development of the Center’s “English In Action Program”.
• Responsible for some supervision of the teaching staff, including hiring teachers when needed, training new instructors, and driving professional development.
• Develop on-going In-Service Program of Professional Development. Provide leadership and support while motivating teaching staff to achieve results.
• Provide academic guidance for students in the Center’s English for Academic Purposes course and for students looking to enter a Pathway university.
• Promote team spirit at all levels and ensure full communication with all employees within the Center.
• Raise Embassy’s profile and reputation internally and externally within the profession. Develops, communicates & implements customer service.
• Teaching hours & other duties as assigned by Program Manager or Center Director.

Read More

Feb 17

Job: Economic Associate Producer – NHK (Washington, DC)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Economic Associate Producer – NHK (Washington, DC)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Positions: Economic Associate Producer
Posted by: NHK
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time

NHK is the public broadcaster of Japan and one of the largest networks in Asia with over 100 million viewers worldwide, including in the US via NHK World. NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) currently has an opening in its Washington bureau for the Associate Producer position. This entry-level position is a fantastic opportunity for those who are early in their journalism careers – you won’t get this kind of access anywhere else.

Responsibilities

• Daily coverage of related agencies, including the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, the USTR and the IMF
• Weekly coverage of economic indicators and reports, such as unemployment numbers and the FOMC minutes
• Monitoring breaking US/international economic news
• Attendance at press briefings, policy speeches and think tank events around Washington
• Planning and producing feature stories with an eye towards 2016 coverage

Requirements

• Candidates will need to be energetic, interested in political and international affairs, and have excellent communication and organizational skills.
• This is not a 9 to 5 job, so the successful candidates should also be prepared to work nights and weekends as needed.
• Most importantly, we are looking for team players who will do their very best to assist our Japanese correspondents, and who are capable of bridging the different cultures between American and Japan. Some experience in international affairs or broadcast news production is required. Japanese language proficiency is a big plus but not required.

Feb 17

Job: Administrative Assistant – Diversified Sourcing Solutions of Atlanta (GA)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Administrative Assistant – Diversified Sourcing Solutions of Atlanta (GA)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Positions: Administrative Assistant
Posted by: Diversified Sourcing Solutions of Atlanta
Location: Atlanta, FA 
Contract: Full-Time

The Atlanta Branch has an excellent opportunity in our Administration Department. We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented, energetic selfstarting individual for our Branch. The position will report to the Assistant Manager of Administration.

Primary Duties

• Distribution of Mail
• Maintaining attendance records
• Assisting in the processing of payroll
• Sub-contractor management

Required Skills and Experience

• Japanese speaking is required
• High School Diploma or equivalent or related logistics industry experience
• Minimum 3 years administration experience
• Excellent Interpersonal and Customer Service Skills, professional, positive demeanor; commitment and appropriate sense of urgency to complete assignments with accuracy and efficiency
• Able to multitask and effectively handle changing priorities under pressure
• Good Written & Verbal Skills; Strong organizational skills; attention to detail and follow-up
• Good computer skills (AS-400, Microsoft Word, Excel, Lotus Notes)

Application: Please contact Renee McLain at rmclain@emaildss.com for more information. 

Feb 16

Let’s Talk Japan – Episode 28, Recent Japanese Cinema with Maurice Maloney

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Let’s Talk Japan is an interview format podcast covering a wide range of Japan-related topics. Host Nick Harling (Mie-ken, 2001-03) lived in Japan from 2001 until 2005, including two great years as a JET Program participant. He practices law in Washington, D.C., and lives with his wife who patiently listens to him talk about Japan . . . a lot.

In this episode, Nick and fellow JET Program Alum Maurice Maloney (Fukui-ken 2004-06) review the 2015 Cinematsuri Japanese Film Festival and share their opinions on which of these films you should see for yourself.

If you have not already done so, be sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan and leave a positive rating/review in iTunes.

Feb 15

Job: Deputy Editor & Copywriter – Custom Media (Japan)

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Positions: Deputy Editor & Copywriter
Posted by: Custom Media
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Custom Media is seeking a writer and editor with project management skills. The ideal candidate will be flexible, able to meet tight deadlines, and skilled at juggling multiple tasks with various collaborators.

The primary job function is finding article topics and writing for monthly business magazines produced in house. Additional project work for clients could include proofreading, creative copywriting, and other marketing-related tasks in digital and print media.

Requirements:

• Professional demeanor
• Crisp, concise, creative writer
• Keen eye for detail
• Self-starter who needs minimal supervision
• Respects tight schedules and ensures others adhere to them
• Proven writing/editing experience (portfolio samples requested)
• Interest in and knowledge about business and the economy
• Able to adapt style, tone to fit client and project needs
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Some experience in print publications preferred

Application: Please email cover letter and CV to brandi@custom-media.com

Feb 15

Job: Planning Manager Position and PR Manager Position – JAPAN HOUSE (CA)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Planning Manager Position and PR Manager Position – JAPAN HOUSE (CA)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Positions: Planning Manager Position and PR Manager Position
Posted by: JAPAN HOUSE
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contract: Full-Time

JAPAN HOUSE is a Japanese Government’s public diplomacy initiative and its Los Angeles location is managed by a private company in Hollywood. The management office of JAPAN HOUSE in Los Angeles seeks to fill a full-time Planning Manager position and a full-time PR Manager position

Feb 15

Job: Global English Teacher – Vietnam Education Project (Vietnam)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Global English Teacher – Vietnam Education Project (Vietnam)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Position: Global English Teacher
Posted by: Vietnam Education Project
Location: Vietnam
Contract: Temporary

Work as a Global English Teacher in one of our 2016 summer camps for the Vietnam Education Project (VNEP). We offer valuable education opportunities for students from underserved villages. We will be located in two small villages in Vietnam: Quynh Thanh in the Central North and Cao Lanh in the Mekong Delta region.

• Enhance your teaching skills
• Gain valuable and rewarding experiences
• Impact undeserved student lives internationally
• Build your resume

Program Length:

• Cao Lanh: July 14th – August 13th
• Quyhn Thanh: July 21st – August 19th

Deadlines:

• Priority Deadline: March 5th, 2016
• Final Deadline: March 15th, 2016
• Acceptance Notification: March 25th, 2016

Program Fee for Accepted Applicants: $750

Apply Now @ www.VietEdProject.Org

For more information, please visit our website or email us at info@vietedproject.org

Feb 15

Job: Editor-in-Chief – Custom Media (Japan)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Editor-in-Chief – Custom Media (Japan)

Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Position: Editor-in-Chief
Posted by: Custom Media
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Custom Media is an award-winning media, design and market entry agency specializing in innovative print and digital publishing—magazines, marketing, websites, social media, apps, videos and communications. More information about Custom Media is as follows: 

• BCCJ 2013 Company of the Year
• Publishers of ACCJ JOURNAL and BCCJ ACUMEN
• Producers of Business in Japan TV (BIJ.TV)
• Diverse crew of multi-talented experts
• Creativity is the core of our success
• Guaranteed satisfaction for clients

Feb 15

JETAA Chapter Beat February 15th 2016

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Ashlie O’Neill (Hyogo-Ken, 2013-Present) AJET National Council Vice Chair and Director of Alumni Relations. Ashlie is in her second year on the AJET National Council as the Director of Alumni Relations. She works alongside Ryan Hata (National AJET Director of Alumni Resources ) and members of JETAA to strengthen the relationship between former JETs, current JETs and Japan. Please feel free to contact her email at ashlie.oneill@ajet.net or her Linkedin profile. Ashlie helps to keep you up up to date with JETAA happenings around the world.

Pacific Northwest JETAA

Book club (The Professor and the Housekeeper by Yoko Ogawa)

When: February 28th, 3pm
Where: Uptown Espresso, 500 Westlake Ave N Seattle, WA 98109

PNWJETAA are reading and discussing The Professor and the Housekeeper by Yoko Ogawa (she also authored The Diving Pool) this month. It is available everywhere, but here it is on Amazon. They look forward to seeing you all.

JETAA Texoma

2015 Returning JET Reception Luncheon

When: February 20th, 1pm CST
Where: contact jetcoord@ho.mofa.go.jp for address

All the little JETs have grown up! Time for JETAA Texoma to welcome them into the JETAA world.  If you can make it please get involved! Please contact Alisa Tobin to confirm your attendance and get the address. Her contact email is jetcoord@ho.mofa.go.jp

The Luncheon Reception will officially begin at 1:00 PM.

 JETAA Rocky Mountains

Shinnenkai

When: February 20th, 5pm MST
Where: Tokio 2907 Huron St, Denver, Colorado 80202

It’s time to celebrate the year of the monkey. Remenisce about the old times in Japan while celebrating the new year over a proper bowl of hot Ramen. Chat, network, befriend, and be merry. Bring your +1’s and Kodomo’s. Space is limited to 30 (fire Marshal’s orders) – Reserve your spot by following the PayPal link below.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TGMK9A3MCP4XG

Dinner is just $15 and includes ramen and a beer (or a softdrink with free refills). If you haven’t been to Tokio, take a gander at their website and check out their amazing space: http://www.mytokio.com/

JETAA  Auckland

Beach Day

When: February 28th, 11am
Where: Castor Bay Beach Area, (parking available on The Esplanade, Castor Bay) 

Enjoy some chilled beach time together before the beautiful weather disappears. They are just meeting at Castor Bay Beach, bring your own picnic and beach things etc. JETAA will provide limited refreshments. Long term weather forecast doesn’t look too bad but watch this space for any changes.

RSVP: If you can, just drop JETAA a line to say you’d like to go along – just to get an idea of numbers for the refreshments and also so that they can organise a few games.

Questions? Contact aucklandjetaa@gmail.com.

Feb 13

JQ Magazine: JETAA Sakura Sweethearts

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By Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08) for JQ magazine. A dusty old fixture of the JET Alumni Association of New York (JETAANY) community, Rick manages projects at a software company by day and sends drafts late into the night as a writer for JQ.

Well, folks, it’s that time of year again. Maybe you have a special someone you’re going out with on Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you’re grabbing a bunch of friends and doing a “singles karaoke night” instead (Like some JETAANY folks are). Maybe you forgot and this is a great reminder to get some flowers and make a dinner reservation ASAP. Either way, you can only hope for the best.

But some people seem to luck out in love, and I have to say I’m happy when it’s people I like. And what kind of people do I often like? JETs. That’s right, folks, we are going to interview some Cupid-conquering JET couples and get to know how they met, where they came from, and maybe a little advice on how to spark a little JET romance of your own. So if you find yourself at that next JET alum enkai thinking “what if…?,” this might be for you.

Chau Wing Lam (Gunma-ken, 2005-07) and John Ciocco (Saga-ken, 2006-07)

At Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Philadelphia, May 2014.

Did you meet on while on JET? Or after JET through an alumni meeting?

We met during a JETAANY alumni event—a boat cruise on August 20, 2008.

How long have you been together?

We’ve been together since 2008, married in 2014.

Was it your mutual love for Japan that brought you together, or something else?

Mutual love for Japan gave us something to start talking about, then the rest of our conversation filled in from there. We actually got married at the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden here in Philadelphia to commemorate what brought us together.

Have you guys ever had to do the “distance” thing? If so, what was that like?

Yes. When we first met, Chau was living in Hoboken and John was living in South Jersey. The commute was about two hours each way, so we only saw each other on weekends. We had some challenges at first being that far away and with the both of us trying to cultivate a new relationship, but we worked through it. Chau moved to Philly in the fall of 2009, shortening the commute to about half an hour—and now we’re married with a four-and-a-half-month-old baby!

Has being on JET made you a “stronger” couple? If so, how?

It’s a shared history that grounds us and helps us remember the many commonalities we have despite our inherent differences. We both learned to be self-deprecating to try and get our students interested in English, and that is definitely a quality that we love about each other and helps us through arguments that arise. Relationships aren’t easy, but we work at it every day—so yes, in some ways, knowing how far out of our comfort zone we’re able to stretch helps us.

What advice do you have for other budding JET couples?

Always remember to have fun with each other as you did in Japan—ALWAYS. And use your commonalities to help bridge the gap when the divide seems too wide!

Read More

Feb 11

Job: Academic Director – Georgetown University (DC)

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Posted by Sydney Sparrow, curriculum and content developer for a real estate school based in Virginia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Position: Academic Directors
Posted by: Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Varies

Each summer, Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies hosts Summer Programs for High School students. The various programs and courses provide opportunities for talented and motivated high school students to learn more about a subject area of their interest. The dynamic programs and courses let students hear from Georgetown faculty and Washington decision-makers and experts, and gain hands on learning experience through classroom and laboratory activities.

Georgetown Summer Programs is currently hiring Academic Directors for four of the university’s summer high school programs: 

• Economics Immersion (3 weeks)
• Foreign Policy Immersion (3 weeks)
• College Preparatory Program (3 weeks)
• Digital Design & Programming Institute (1 week)

Please note that these positions vary in length and click here for job descriptions. 

Application Process: Candidates can apply by emailing their cover letter, CV, and 3 references to: SCSSpecialPrograms@georgetown.edu. Georgetown’s HR team checks this email account regularly. 

Feb 10

Job: Media & Marketing Assistant Manager @ JNTO (Sydney, AUSTRALIA)

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Posted by Eden Law, JETAA NSW President and Country Representative for Australia. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.

Short description
Seeking candidates for the position of Media & Marketing Assistant Manager. You will be responsible for organising events and developing relationships with the media and MICE industry partners to promote the organisation’s activities.

The full advertisement, and application details are available on Seek.com.au.

Note that JNTO looks on candidates with JET experience very highly. They have specifically reached out to the JETAA community for suitable candidates and past employees have often been ex-JETs. Good luck!

Feb 10

Presenters wanted for 2016 Japan Writers Conference

Books, Events, Networking, Writers Comments Off on Presenters wanted for 2016 Japan Writers Conference

Posted by Tom Baker (Chiba, 1989-91), a writer and editor in Tokyo and a regular Japan Writers Conference participant.

The Japan Writers Conference is a free annual event for English-langauge writers in a variety of fields. It is held each autumn in a different part of Japan. The event attracts a fair number of JETs and JET alumni, and this year’s event, at Tokushima University on October 29-30, will be hosted by a former JET, the author and anthologist Suzanne Kamata (Tokushima, 1988-90).

The organizers are looking for writers, translators, editors, agents and publishers to give presentations at this year’s event. For those interested in presenting or simply attending, the remainder of this post contains practical information taken verbatim from an official announcment:

About the site, Suzanne writes, “Although off the beaten path, Tokushima University is reasonably accessible. It’s about an hour and a half by bus from Kobe (all buses on the way to Tokushima station make a stop in front of the university), and a short bus ride from the Awa Odori Airport. Tokushima, a city with a rich literary heritage, is settled on the banks of the Yoshino River. We’ve got nature and culture (both traditional, such as Japan’s largest Bon festival, Awa Odori, indigo dyeing, bunraku puppetry and pottery-making, and modern, as in J-pop, anime and manga).

“The conference will be held in Tokushima University’s brand new Glocal Building.”

She also says there are plenty of hotels nearby in the station area.

So mark your diaries, calendars, smartphones or whatever it is you use to keep track of things, and plan to join us. As the event shapes up, we will keep you posted.

This is also our first call for presentation proposals. All published writers, translators, editors, agents and publishers who would like to lead a session are invited to submit proposals. We especially encourage proposals from new submitters. One of the strengths of the Conference has been variety, and the best way to foster variety is to have new presenters each year.

Those who have presented at past conferences are (of course) welcome to submit new proposals. But please, in the words of Ezra Pound, “Make it new.”

Please forward this to any friend or colleague who might be interested. If you know someone the conference organizers might approach–either living in Japan or planning to visit Japan next autumn–send us your suggestion. If you have contact information, that would be a great help.

Detailed information follows, but briefly, a proposal needs to include a brief bio, including some publication credits, the type of presentation you wish to make, a title, a summary of 50 words, a longer abstract (150 words) and any special requests you might have. Standard sessions are fifty minutes long, but if you have something special in mind, please let us know and we will accommodate if possible.

Presentations on all genres and all aspects of writing and publishing are welcome. The deadline for presentation proposals is Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

As in the past, the Conference will be free and open to all who wish to attend. This is possible because all the presenters and organizing staff volunteer their time and talent, and the use of the site is donated by the host. As a result, the Conference cannot offer any payment, reimbursement, lodging, or help in securing visas or travel permits. So please don’t ask.

Proposal Guidelines

When planning your JWC proposal, keep your audience in mind. Your listeners will be writers and others (translators, editors, publishers, and agents) concerned with creating publishable writing. While teaching, literary studies and private self-expression are certainly worthy activities, they are not the focus of this Conference. Ask yourself as a writer or other word professional these questions:

What information do I have which could be useful to others?
What writing, rewriting, editing, or marketing techniques have worked for me or others I know?
What topic would make for a lively and enlightening discussion?
What publishing or other professional opportunities do I know about?
What will an attendee take away from my fifty-minute session that he or she will find worthwhile?

You may submit more than one proposal.

The only qualification one needs to be a presenter is to have published. This does not mean that you need to have published a lot or in some high-profile journal. Your book (if you have a book) does not have to be on a best seller list. You do not have to have won any awards or to have appeared on TV. You simply need to have written, edited, translated, or otherwise worked on a piece of writing which has made it to the public eye. That is, published.

Proposal Deadline and Format

Using the following format, please send your ideas for a presentation by June 1, 2015. Send your proposal in the body of an email (no attachments) to both these addresses:

gribblej@gol.com
bernmulvey_1@yahoo.co.jp

In your subject line give your name, “JWC,” and the date.

In the body of the email, give:

1. Your name (or names)
2. Contact information (email, telephone. These remain confidential.)
3. Your publications (Need not be complete, but give names of journals and genre for short pieces; title, publisher and date for books; venues and dates for plays, and so on)
4. Title of presentation. (20 words or less)
5. Type of presentation (short lecture with Q&A, craft workshop, panel discussion, reading with Q&A, etc.)
6. Short summary of the presentation (50 words or less)
7. Abstract of the presentation (150 words or less)
8. Personal and professional biography (50 words or less. Make mention of your publications, as this will be part of the Conference program)
9. Anything else, such as special equipment needs or questions.

Your proposal doesn’t have to be a “finished” document to submit. There will be time to shape and polish your ideas for a presentation. But there is a set number of session slots available and if you are interested in having one of them, please let us know soon. Again, the deadline is June 1, 2016.

John Gribble
Bern Mulvey
Co Co-ordinators,
2016 Japan Writers Conference