JET News Roundup 2.9.2012
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By Filmore Ha (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08). Filmore continues to live and work in the Greater Tokyo Area as an FAE and is also webmaster for JETAA Tokyo. He is actively seeking new opportunities in the U.S. or Canada.
Back today with another roundup of JET related news after a brief hiatus. This roundup will include items from last month as well so bear with me.
- Paper artist Gannon cut his own niche
On Jan. 10th the Japan Times posted an article about paper artist Patrick Gannon who’s interest in Japan began when he visited his brother JET alum Jim Gannon who was a JET in Ehime at the time. This is an awesome example of connections that JETs help create. - Yiddish to Japanese Dictionary
Not exactly JET related, however there are many translators in the JET alumni community who could benefit from this great resource. - NYT Mourning in the age of Facebook
On Jan. 13th the New York Times posted an article written by JET alum Bruce Feiler (Tottori-ken, 1989-90) where he discusses grieving in a progressively secular world. - Panel Discussion Disaster Recovery and Human Connections
From the Sydney JETAA Facebook Group, the Japan Foundation Sydney will be hosting a panel discussion about disaster recovery in Melborne and Sydney on Thursday Feb. 23, 2012 and Friday Feb. 24, 2012 respectively. - JETAA Singapore
If you live in or are planning to move to Singapore, check out their chapter of JETAA. Their latest event is their upcoming Oshaberi Cafe to be held on Feb. 12, 2012. The deadline was Feb. 6, but maybe they’ll make an exception if you’re really nice! - Reuters English crisis in Japan
Posted to Facebook by JET alum Byron Nagy. The article discusses the relationship between English language skill and jobs in Japan. Byron is a JETAA Tokyo co-founder and currently serves as it’s Community Committee Rep.
Job: Part-time assistant at Fujisankei Communications (Los Angeles)
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Thanks to Dan DiGregorio (Shimane-ken, 2009-11) who works for Fujisankei Communications in LA for sharing this job listing.
(If you apply, please make sure to indicate you learned of the listing via JETwit.)
Fujisankei Communications International (FCI) seeks a part-time assistant to the general manager. Duties include office managing and translating (mostly from Japanese to English). Ideal candidate is fluent in both English and Japanese, and has no trouble writing a business letter/document in English. Experience in a Japanese work environment is a plus. Typical hours are 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday through Friday. This is a part-time position (4 hours/day, 5 days/week); $12~$14/hr (based on experience). We are looking for long term, responsible candidates.
This position is located in Century City, Los Angeles. Local candidates only.
Candidates must be able to legally work in the U.S.
Please send resume and cover sheet to admin@fci-la.com. No calls, please.
Job: Account Manager/Assistant Sales Manager (Fort Lee NJ)
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Via Actus. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London but is interested in hearing about any Japan-related opportunities across the globe.
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***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***
Job Position: Account Manager/Assistant Sales Manager (Fort Lee NJ)
Job Details:
Company Information:
– Company Address: Fort Lee, NJ
– Established in 1930’s in Japan, Main product is industrial gas. Others include industrial machinery, communications and electronics, chemicals, ceramics, metals, and construction materials.
– Company size: Around 80 in Japan, 10 in the US.
Read More
Justin’s Japan: Cosplay Idol Reni Mimura, Haruo Noro Salon Headline NY Lunar New Year Fest Feb. 11
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Courtesy of AsianInNY.com
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Cosplay singer Reni Mimura and Japanese stylists from Haruo Noro Salon will appear at AsianInNY‘s annual Lunar New Year Celebration and Fashion Show on Feb. 11 at Bennett Media Studio, 723 Washington Street in Manhattan’s West Village at 7 p.m.
New York’s premier online destination for multicultural networking and entertainment, AsianInNY’s Year of the Dragon celebration is in time with the New York Fashion Week. Many outstanding Asian designers will present their new collections with runway fashion shows along with an exciting line-up of comedy, music, dance, and martial arts. Models will rock tresses and looks with amazing hair and make-up provided by Haruo Noro Salon.
Reni Mimura specializes in Moe style performances, a genre that emphasizes the cute look of Japanese pop-culture with the hip appeal of Japanese animation. She released her first Japanese CD in 2006 and relocated to New York in 2008. In 2009, she was invited as a guest performer to Japan Society, Otakon, New York Anime Festival and Anime Boston, and is quickly winning over the hearts of many new local fans, thanks to her pretty stage costumes, upbeat personality, and her unique singing talent.
For the complete story, click here.
Miyagi AJET to host Feb 17 “Cultures United” event to promote multiculturalism in Miyagi
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Thanks to Andy Anderson for sharing this information originally sent by Miyagi AJET Co-President Cameron Peek regarding an upcoming Miyagi AJET event:
“On February 17th we will be holding “Cultures United,” an event promoting multiculturalism in Miyagi, and advertising the efforts of foreign members of the community towards helping rebuild after the earthquake. JET participants are going to be a big focus of the event, and about 10-11 JETs are going to be assisting, putting on booths about their activities in the prefecture. We are also planning on having a display about Taylor Anderson, telling her story.”
Notably, the event will feature JET alum Maynard Plant’s (Aomori-ken, 1997-2000) hit band Monkey Majik.
Note: Because the event is intended for Japanese residents, all information produced for the event is in Japanese only.
Why Japan does not celebrate the Lunar New Year to the extent of its Asian neighbors
By Jessica Kennett Cork (CIR, 1997-2000, Hiroshima-ken)
With the large number of Asians in the U.S., it was hard to overlook the fact that the Year of the Dragon by the lunar calendar began on January 23. But had we been in Japan, January 23 would have passed quite uneventfully. Have you ever wondered why Japan does not recognize the lunar New Year to the extent of its Asian neighbors? And as we approach the Doll Festival (Hina Matsuri), has it ever struck you as odd that this festival is also called the Peach Festival, and yet March 3 is way too early for peach blossoms? The explanation is actually quite fascinating. Read More
JET help needed to secure music grants for Iwate, Fukushima & Miyagi
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Via the JETAA USA website:
JET help needed to secure music grants for Iwate, Fukushima & Miyagi
Margarita Rozenbaoum of Relief International (an international humanitarian nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles) is reaching out the JET alum and JET community to secure music grants for schools in Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi-ken. This project, called Jam for Japan aims to give scholarships/ grants of $5000 USD to several Japanese schools in the affected prefectures.
Relief International has to date received a very low number of grant applications for this project and the deadline is fast approaching. They are looking to JET alums and current JETs to help identify the schools in need and facilitate connections between then two. The scholarships/ grants are focused on elementary school, junior high and high school levels as well as individual musicians in Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi. The damage from the earthquake and tsunami does not need to be severe for a school to qualify for the grant.
Interested schools/ individuals must submit the grant application by February 29, 2012. It is available in both English and Japanese:
Hope for Tomorrow launches English language website
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Hope for Tomorrow, a JETAA USA Fund grant recipient, just launched the English language version of its website: http://hope-tomorrow.jp/index-e.html
Hope for Tomorrow has provided subsidies to cover travel and other exam-related costs for a 70 students from Takata High School in Rikuzentakata and is funding 244 students from 5 schools for this year’s exams.
Click here for more JETwit posts about Hope for Tomorrow.
JETAA Chapter Beat 2.6.12
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Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community for another edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.
- Oshaberi Cafe – Sunday, February 12th, 2:00 at Once Upon a Milkshake. Oshaberi Cafe is an effort to foster interaction between JETAA members and the Japanese community in Singapore. Bring your Japanese speaking friends, and share in the conversation and games
- Norwegian Wood Movie Night – Tuesday, February 7th, 6:45 at Kabuki Theater in Japantown. Based on Haruki Marukami’s novel, Norwegian Wood will be showing at Kabuki from now until the 9th. JETAANC is getting a group together to see it this Tuesday, so don’t miss your chance.
- Kabuki on Film: The 47 Ronin Project – This is a year long exploration of the original Kabuki version of the popular tale. Beginning last Sunday, the JETAANC and San Mateo Kabuki clubs are teaming up to bring you two different celebrated productions of the complete epic on film. Screenings begin at 1:30 at the San Mateo Japanese American Community Center.
- Joshikai Pre-Valentine’s Day Networking Event – Thursday, February 9th, 6:00 at Muka. Joshikai is a networking group for Japanese women and women with connections to Japan. Migle, chat, and share stories with other women in English and Japanese over snacks and wine.
- JBook Meeting – Monday, February 27th, 6:30 at the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC. This month’s selection will be Roshomon and the Seventeen Other, but Ryunosuke Akutagawa. As this is a collection of short stories, this is a perfect chance to see what JBook is all about without having to read everything.
- Kaiwa – Thursday, February 9th and 23rd, 5:30 at 43 Below. Join in and practice your Japanese skills with friends and alumni.
- Cooking Class with Nashville Top Chef Toshihiro Nishimoto – Saturday, February 11th, 5:00. Learn how to make Japanese cuisine from a true master at this fun and educational event.
- Tabemashou – Thursday, February 9th, 7:00 at Wafu. Tabemashou is a group that gathers to explore, critique, and enjoy Japanese dining in Portland. Check it out if you are looking for the next best place to sate your appetite.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just contact Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
JETwit site re-design: How can you help?
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We’re thinking through a re-design of the JETwit site, and we want your help.
How could the site be better organized? What would make it easier or more useful for you? What would be the ideal layout or set-up?
The goal is to update JETwit so that it is as helpful to the JET and JET alumni community as possible (within reason. :-)
Any and all feedback is welcome. E-mail Steven at jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
I’ll Make It Myself!: “Flexitarian: Spicy Fava Beans and Pork Stir-fry”
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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.
Ishikawa is a good source of locally-raised pork, which I discovered when I set out to make today’s recipe. Fava beans, sora mame（空豆), are all over Kanazawa right now (though my vegetable almanac says they are a late spring bean), and they really compliment the sweet onions and spicy pork in this stir-fry.
CLICK HERE to read the full post.
JETAA USA Fund Update 02.04.12
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Thanks to Jim Gannon for passing on the following update about the JETAA USA Fund:
The JETAA USA donation of $26,700 to Hope for Tomorrow has apparently been extremely effective, allowing Hope for Tomorrow to provide subsidies to cover travel and other exam-related costs for a full 70 students from Takata High School in Rikuzentakata. Altogether, Hope for Tomorrow is funding 244 students from 5 schools for this year’s exams .
Separate from the JETAA funds, they have selected 2 students from Takata High School (and 2 from elsewhere) to take part in a March homestay at the Harvey School in Westchester NY, courtesy of a donation from the Harvey School. In preparation for this, they have arranged online English tutoring for the students and also provided computers to the schools for this purpose.
Click here for more JETwit information and background about Hope for Tomorrow.
Click here for a summary of the JETAA USA Fund disbursements and recipients.
JET alum Rob Cornilles loses election for Congressional seat in Oregon
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We came close, but JET alum Rob Cornilles has lost the special election in Oregon’s 1st district to Suzanne Bonamici. The election was necessary after previous Congressman Democrate David Wu had to resign last year due to allegations of sexual impropriety. Cornilles also made a good showing but lost to Wu in the last election.
Ganbatte Rob!
Justin’s Japan: ‘Tokio Confidential,’ ‘Our Planet’ Premiere Next Week
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Mel Maghuyop and Manna Nichols in rehearsals for ‘Tokio Confidential,’ playing Feb. 5-19 at the Atlantic Theater Stage 2. (Philip Smith)
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his Japanese culture page here for related stories.
Words, music and the history of the world collide next week with the new theatrical presentation of Tokio Confidential at Atlantic Theater Stage 2 from Feb. 5-19 and Our Planet at Japan Society for one night only on Feb. 6.
A new musical penned entirely by Eric Schorr and helmed by Joanna McKeon (the associate director of the Broadway and national tour editions of Green Day’s American Idiot), Tokio Confidential (a Richard Rogers Award finalist) is set in 1879 the hidden pleasure quarters of Meiji era Japan.
Isabella Archer, a young American war widow, crosses an ocean in search of a lost love—and is about to cross a line from which she can never return. When Isabella falls in love with a renowned Japanese tattoo artist, she enters a world of extreme beauty, becoming an object of unexpected desire—in a realm of unspeakable danger. It’s a journey across the boundaries between pleasure and pain, art and artifice, the secrets of the flesh and the sins of the heart.
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How to Pass Your Love of Japan onto Your Kids
By Jessica Kennett Cork (CIR, 1997-2000, Hiroshima-ken)
(Note: Click here to join the JET Alumni Parents Facebook group.)
My kids (7, 5, 2 and 4 months) are the only blond-haired kids in their school. My two oldest know the names of all the Pokémon characters in both English and Japanese. My toddler can sing the Totoro and Anpanman theme songs in Japanese.
No, we don’t live in Japan. We live in a suburb of Atlanta. But I knew that even though we live in the United States, I wanted to share my love of Japan with my kids. I don’t want to “force” Japan on them, and it is fine with me if their future careers have nothing to do with Japan. But at the same time, I want for them to appreciate our family’s adopted culture, and to understand that since I met their dad in a Japanese class in college, they wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Japan.
And so I decided to enroll them in Japanese/English bilingual immersion school. We’re lucky to have several here in Atlanta: two daycare centers and one elementary school. Almost all the other kids in the school are full Japanese or half Japanese, so it is not always easy on my blondies. The elementary school is Japanese Ministry of Education approved, which means homework every day, even during summer vacation, and lots of parental involvement expected from the PTA. Not to mention the pressure to come up with a decent o-bento for lunch. My seven year old often wonder why his o-bento doesn’t have cute rabbits made out of apples and carrot flowers. But at the same time, he got to pound rice for New Year’s, grow tomatoes and morning glories as part of his life skills class, has mandatory music and art class, and can use chopsticks better than I can.
But what I love most about the school Read More
