Sep 25

JET Prefecture Round-up 09.26.11

JET Prefecture Round-up, Uncategorized Comments Off on JET Prefecture Round-up 09.26.11

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Emily Lemmon, (Hyogo-ken, Shiso-shi, 2009-present), PSG volunteer, organizer of Hyogo-ken’s PEPY Ride, student of Shorinji Kempo, and editor of the Hyogo Times, gives a little taste of what JETs are doing around Japan.  To submit items for future JET Prefecture Round-up posts, e-mail Emily at jetinfogather [at] gmail.com.

Events by Region

 Hokkaido

• Hokkaido JETs are going to Hike Mount Rausu on October 1st!

Tohoku Region

Iwate

• Iwate AJET will be climbing Mt. Iwate on October 8th on the Umagaeshi trail.

Yamagata

• Connect 2011 is happening October 8th-10th at Kurosawa in Oguni, Yamagata.

Fukushima

•  Halloween SHINE is October 22nd in Aizu Wakamatsu City.
• The 2011 International Festival Aizu is October 29th!
• Fukushima ALTs are doing a Home Visit Program in Aizu on November 5th.

Kantou Region

Chiba

• Chiba AJET Baseball Game trip goes to see the Chiba Marines on October 1st.
• Chiba JETs go Camping in Otaki October 8th-9th!
• Chiba JETs are prepping for the Tokyo Yamathon 2011.

Gunma

• Gunma JETs join the football tourney in Nagano on October 1st.

Chubu Region

Shizuoka

• Shizuoka JETs go to Costume Karaoke on October 1st!
• Shizuoka AJET makes an excursion to Fuji-Q Highland on October 15th.
• Shizuoka JETs are invited to the 2011 Halloween Party on October 30th.

Nagano

• Cricket Game: Nagano vs. Hakuba, October 19th.
• October 16th, the Ina English Guide Club will present Zazen Meditation.

Toyama

• Toyama JETs are going on a Kyoto Trip, October 7th-10th.
• Toyama AJET is holding a Cheesecake Bakeoff on Sunday, October 16th, in Nanto city.

Kansai Region

Kyoto

• Kyoto AJET takes part in the Mikoshi Challenge, October 9th.

Nara

• The Nara AJET Halloween Party will be at the Wormwood Café on October 29th.

Hyogo

• Hyogo JETs Rant and Rave at the Lock Up in Kobe, September 30th.
• There will be an art event (dance, music, theater, visual arts, performance art, sculpture, installation, etc.) in the Fukuchiyama abandoned train tunnel on October 1st.
• Akashi Disc Summit, featuring Beach Ultimate, will be October 2nd at Okura Beach in Akashi.
• Hyogo JETs go rafting and canyoning in Shikoku, October 9th and 10th.
• The Tajima Halloween Party will be October 29th in Yabu.

Osaka

• Language Exchange Meetup is October 1st in Namba.
• Osaka AJET will have its fourth meeting on October 12th.

Wakayama

• Lots of Wakayama JETs are attending a birthday dinner party on October 1st.
• Wakayama JETs are going camping on Friend Island, October 15th.

Shikoku Region

• Shikoku Field Day will be held in Shikoku Saburo no Sato, in Mima City, Tokushima on November 26th and 27th.

Ehime

• October 1st-2nd is the Niihama Welcome Party, held on the beach in Niihama.
• There will be a drifting event at Setonaikai Circuit in Saijo on October 9th, complete with a Pro D1 Grand Prix driver (Takashi Haruyama) who’s coming out to help judge the competitions!
• October 15th Ehime JETs will climb Mt. Ishizuchi, tallest mountain on Shikoku.
• Ehime JETs assist with the Yoshida International Association’s Halloween party for the local elementary and junior high school students on October 15th.
• October 23rd is the Matsuyama Orphanage Visit.
• November 12th is the Ehime AJET Dinner in Matsuyama.

Kochi

• Kochi JETs will make an excursion to Nahari Hotel Beer Garden on Friday 30th September.
• October 8th-10th is Surf Camp in Kuroshio-cho for Kochi JETs.
• Kochi JETs are getting artsy at Mouth to Mouth: a meeting of makings on October 23rd in Kochi City.
• Kochi-JETs are helping with Halloween Party in an abandoned school building on October 28th.

Kyushu Region

Oita

• The Notsu City’s annual Halloween Party will be October 8th, and Oita JETs are helping out!
• The Annual Oita AJET Sumo Trip is coming up on Saturday, November 26th!

Kumamoto

• KumAJET and DiscSports Japan present Ichi Kyuu Bee on October 1st, featuring 4 ALT Teams (Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kumamoto) and 9 Japanese Teams (Shakaijin and college students from all over Kyushu).
• Kumamoto JETs will be rafting down the Kuma River on Saturday, 15th October with LandEarth.

Nagasaki

• On 1st October, Nagasaki JETs will take a walk through Hasami. The attractions include tiered rice fields, crazy scarecrows, pottery, and pretty temples.

Sep 25

JQ Magazine: Theatre Review – Two Critics Talk ‘Crane Story’

Article/Journalism, JQ Magazine, Reviews Add Comment (1)

By Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) and Vlad Baranenko (Saitama-ken, 2000-02) for JQ magazine.

Presented by The Playwrights Realm, the drama Crane Story stars Angela Lin (a veteran of JET alum Randall David Cook’s Sake with the Haiku Geisha) as Cassis, a young Japanese American on an odyssey to rescue her brother’s soul from the land of the dead.

Written by Jen Silverman and directed by Katherine Kovner, Crane Story runs through Oct. 1 at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York’s Greenwich Village. Here’s what JQ‘s critics had to say at a Midtown diner after a recent performance.

Justin Tedaldi: What were your thoughts about the production?

Vlad Baranenko: Given the limited resources that they have being Off-Broadway, they did a very good job with the imagery and the special effects.

JT: I really liked the way the creative team put everything together with the scenery and the costumes, especially the sound effects. There’s a raised wooden stage where most of the action happens, and at the very beginning they describe rain, but you see the rest of the cast drumming their fingers on the stage, which creates the illusion of falling rain. Very creative ways of getting around the limitations that come with being an Off-Broadway production.

VB: I agree on that. The cast obviously remembered their lines really well. It didn’t seem forced, actually; very natural. In that regard, I give them high marks.

JT: I’m reading here that the actor who plays Ishida, Louis Ozawa Changchien, appeared with Adrien Brody, Topher Grace and Laurence Fishburne in the movie Predators.

VB: He looks like someone who’s got some pretty good experience under his belt. He comes off as very authentic in the way he acts, and that’s one of the first things that I noticed.

Read More

Sep 22

Media Outlets Claiming ‘Law Is no Longer a Golden Ticket’ Conceal Decades of a Profession in Decline

Academic, Advice, Blogs, Career, Graduate School, Notable JET Alums, Writers Comments Off on Media Outlets Claiming ‘Law Is no Longer a Golden Ticket’ Conceal Decades of a Profession in Decline

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Matt Leichter (matt [dot] leichter [at] gmail [dot] com) (Saitama-ken 2003-05) is a renegade attorney who plays by his own rules.  He operates a think tank of one, The Law School Tuition Bubble, where he archives, chronicles, and analyzes the rising cost and declining value of legal education in the United States.

The popular lawyer periodical, the Am Law Daily, ran an article I wrote, titled, “Media Outlets Claiming ‘Law Is no Longer a Golden Ticket’ Conceal Decades of a Profession in Decline.” In it I use Bureau of Economic Analysis data, charts, and animations to demonstrate that the legal sector of the U.S. economy stagnated about 20 years ago, and along with increasing law school tuition creates a crisis for legal education in the United States.

Sep 21

Justin’s Japan: Hiroshima lends its divine sound to NYC Japan benefit concert

Article/Journalism, Justin's Japan, Music Comments Off on Justin’s Japan: Hiroshima lends its divine sound to NYC Japan benefit concert

Hiroshima brings its soothing sound to New York City Sept. 21.

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his page here for related stories.

A staple of the Los Angeles jazz scene since 1974, Hiroshima returns for an East Coast engagement tonight (Sept. 21) to headline a Japan relief benefit concert with special guest stars at New York’s B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

The only Asian American band to have been nominated for a Grammy, the group’s most recent album, 2009’s Legacy, celebrates Hiroshima’s 30th anniversary of recording and serves as a re-visitation of songs (like the easy listening favorite “Roomful of Mirrors” and ’80s hit single “One Wish”) from the band’s first decade.

Led by original members Dan and June Kuramoto, the group proved itself a musical chimera from the start with its self-titled debut, mixing elements of jazz, pop, and R&B with traditional Japanese instruments. Dan has remarked that at the time in America, music was the only outlet of cultural diversity available, and the resulting disc was a pioneering voice in the world music movement that followed.

For the complete story, click here.

Sep 20

Ishikawa AJET publishes digital cookbook for charity

AJET, Books, Earthquake Tsunami, Food & Drink, Fundraising, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Writers Comments Off on Ishikawa AJET publishes digital cookbook for charity

Thanks to Leah Zoller (CIR Ishikawa-ken, Anamizu, 2009-11) for sharing the below.  Leah is currently a writer and translator for The Art of Japan: Kanazawa, an art-based tourism project via a METI grant to the Cooperative Association for the Promotion of Kanazawa-Kaga Maki-e in Kanazawa, Ishikawa.

Ishikawa AJET has just published a digital cookbook for charity.  The book is designed for the English-speaking expat in Japan.

CLICK HERE for details and to purchase the Ishikawa AJET Digital Cookbook.

When I moved to rural Ishikawa in 2009, I had to entirely revamp my philosophy on cooking: how to work with the ingredients I had available in my small town; how to cook without a full-size oven; how to deal with metric measurements; and how to cook for one. I started this project with the hope that any JET, regardless of cooking skill or Japanese language ability, could arrive in Japan and immediately have a guide to simple home-cooking and be able to make the food s/he wants to eat.

The recipes are written in English with the Japanese terms for the ingredients right on the page, along with helpful hints for navigating the grocery store. Measurements are in metrics, and the recipes are meant for Japanese kitchen equipment, so you never have to worry about recipes not fitting in the oven range or not cooking through. Furthermore, 30 JETs and friends and I did extensive testing on the recipes to make sure they all were easy to understand and actually worked correctly. The recipes are a mixture of Japanese, foreign, and fusion food, and include a large number vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free recipes.

Because this is a pdf, we were able to save on printing costs and keep things more environmentally friendly. The pdf is interactive: there are hotlinks to recipes from the indices, and the document is searchable. Our design team did a fantastic job, and it’s a very useful friendly layout.

The cookbook costs 1000 yen, and all proceeds go to Second Harvest Japan, a charity that brings food and supplies to food banks, orphanages, single mothers, immigrants, et al. This charity has been critical in the relief efforts after the Tohoku Earthquake.

The original post on the Ishikawa JET Blog is here: http://ishikawajet.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/master-cooking-in-japan-with-the-ishikawa-kitchen/

Payment options include using paypal for a downloadable pdf (see link) or contacting AJET directly at ishikawaajet@gmail.com to pay via furikomi and receive the document by email.

Sep 20

JET alum band Monkey Majik to play Sendai charity concert

Celebrity, Earthquake Tsunami, Events, Fundraising, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on JET alum band Monkey Majik to play Sendai charity concert

Members of Monkey Majik with Deputy Minister Len Edwards

Here’s info on a charity concert (“charity live”) by JET alum Maynard Plant’s (Aomori-ken, 1997-2000) hit band Monkey Majik in Sendai on October 16th, as part of their ongoing effort to support rebuilding and recovery in Tohoku, in their capacity as Tohoku Tourism Ambassadors.

東北観光親善大使「モンキーマジック」がチャリティライブを開催します！

2011年9月12日

震災から６ヶ月が経過してもなお、復興までのプロセスには数多くの方の継続的なご支援が必要であるとあらためて実感すると同時に、活動を通じて人間一人一人の助け合いの力強さ、素晴らしさに日々感動を憶えてきました。

そしてこの出来事を全国の皆様に伝え続けて行かなくてはならないという強い想いから、プロジェクト第３弾となるチャリティライブを故郷 被災地 仙台で開催することを決断しました。

「音楽」の力を通じて、参加してくれた方々、さらに被災地の方々の一歩前へ踏み出す気持ちへの後押しとなり、心の早期復興への一助となるような１日を共に作り上げたいと強く願っております。

本公演に於ける売上金の一部を義援金、寄付金として、再び公的機関を通じて被災地へ送ります。

〈公演概要〉
東日本大震災復興支援プロジェクト
ＭＯＮＫＥＹ　ＭＡＪＩＫチャリティライブ「ＳＥＮＤ愛」
～ＭＯＮＫＥＹ　ＭＡＪＩＫがゲストを迎えてのチャリティライブ～
日程：２０１１年１０月１６日（日）開場１３：００開演１４：００
会場：セキスイハイムスーパーアリーナ（グランディ２１）
出演：ＭＯＮＫＥＹ ＭＡＪＩＫ/ＬＯＶＥ ＰＳＹＣＨＥＤＥＬＩＣＯ/Ｒａｋｅ and more・・・

チケット一般発売：９月１７日（土）１０：００～
チケット料金：前売り５，０００円（税込）

お問い合わせ：
ＴＢＣ事業部　ＴＥＬ０２２－２２７－２７１５
ニュース・プロモーション　ＴＥＬ０２２－２６６－７５５５
詳しくは　こちら　へアクセス願います。

Sep 20

Return to Tohoku: Round-up 09.20.11

Blogs, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Writers Comments Off on Return to Tohoku: Round-up 09.20.11

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Here are updates from a few more of the 20 Tohoku region JET alumni selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to return to their town to both engage in volunteer efforts and also help document and share what’s going on there.

• Ben Erickson (Iwate-ken, Ninohe-shi) of Pacific Northwest JETAA left yesterday for Iwate.  You can follow his experience on his blog at Tohokuben.com – One JET’s Return to Iwate.  Here’s Ben’s current itinerary:

• Brent Stirling (Fukushima-ken, Fukushima-shi, 2006-10) – “A Rough Guide to My Fukushima Trip – Return to Tohoku #1“ –Brent, based in Ottawa, shares his itinerary as he prepares to depart Canada for Fukushima.

You can also check the JETAA USA website post (“JET Alums Return to Tohoku”) for additional information.

Sep 20

Newly-wed JETs Give to JETAA USA Earthquake Fund

Cultural Outreach, Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, JETAA Chapters, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment Comments Off on Newly-wed JETs Give to JETAA USA Earthquake Fund

Originally posted on the JETAA USA website by Jessyca Wilcox:

Rachel and Josh, JET alums from the DC area were married this past summer. They met while on JET in Kumamoto-ken, falling in love with Japan and each other during their years in Japan. As they celebrated their marriage this summer, Rachel and Josh approached JETAA USA, expressing a desire to have their wedding guests give to the JETAA USA Earthquake Relief Fund in lieu of getting toaster ovens, china, towel sets and mixing bowls. We were deeply touched by their thoughtfulness, belief in the JET alum community and their continual and sincere dedication to Japan.

The generous contributions Rachel and Josh’s wedding guests made in their name will help the Japanese communities that most need it. ども　ありがとう　ございました！

About the bride

About the groom

Sep 20

2011 JLPT Registration Deadline 9/30

Language Study, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on 2011 JLPT Registration Deadline 9/30

Via JETAA USA:

The JPLT will be offered this year in the following locations:

• Atlanta, Georgia (Georgia State University)
• Boston, Massachusetts (Northeastern University)
• Chicago, Illinois (De Paul University, Lincoln Park)
• Fayetteville, Arkansas (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville)
• Honolulu, Hawaii (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
• Los Angeles, California (University of Southern California)
• New York, New York (Lehman College, The City University of New York)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Villanova University)
• San Francisco, California (San Francisco State University)
• Seattle, Washington (University of Washington)
• Washington, DC (Georgetown University)

“If you intend on taking the test, you must have your registration paperwork in by Sept. 30th!! This is not a postmark date, so send it quick! For more details, see The Japan Foundationwebsite.”

Sep 19

Justin’s Japan: Japan Society Remixes a Greek Masterpiece with ‘Medea’

Article/Journalism, Events, Justin's Japan Comments Off on Justin’s Japan: Japan Society Remixes a Greek Masterpiece with ‘Medea’

Micari stars in Satoshi Miyagi's production of 'Medea,' running Sept. 23-25 at New York's Japan Society.

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his page here for related stories.

Looking for an Eastern take on a Western classic? Japan Society kicks off its fall 2011/spring 2012 performing arts season with the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC)’s production of Medea with a three-performance engagement from Sept. 23-25.

Directed by SPAC artistic director Satoshi Miyagi, the performance makes its North American premiere as a visual feast on the scale of a kabuki play. Set in 19th century Japan among the nation’s imperialist, gender-divided late Meiji era, this bold reinterpretation of Euripides’ evergreen features a company of 19 presented in Miyagi’s distinct bunraku puppet theater-inspired style accompanied on stage by live music.

Performed in Japanese with English subtitles, this stunning and internationally acclaimed production has traveled to 20 cities and 11 countries since its premiere in 1999. It also marks the return of SPAC to Japan Society, where the troupe mounted productions of Electra and Oedipus Rex during national tours for both.

For the complete story, click here.

Sep 19

JQ Magazine: Art Review – ‘Fiber Futures: Japan’s Textile Pioneers’ at Japan Society

Art, Article/Journalism, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Art Review – ‘Fiber Futures: Japan’s Textile Pioneers’ at Japan Society

From left to right: 'Feel the Wind' (2010), by Fuminori Ono; 'Birth' (2011) by Hitomi Nagai; 'Su no hana' (Nest Flowers) (2011) by Takaaki Tanaka. (Vlad Baranenko)

By Vlad Baranenko (Saitama-ken, 2000-02) for JQ magazine. Vlad is an avid photographer.

Opening this week at New York’s Japan Society is the exhibit Fiber Futures: Japan’s Textile Pioneers, which showcases the works of Japanese textile masters and explores the ever evolving relationship between traditional fabric manufacturing and the uses of unconventional technology and materials to create awe-inspiring works of art. To commemorate the opening of the gallery and the designation of the Japan Society building as a city landmark, a special preview event was held on Sept. 14 with many of the artists in attendance along with an exhibition walkthrough from gallery director Joe Earle.

Originally conceived in 2007, the project received approval following this year’s devastation in Japan, and is jointly presented by Japan Society and the International Textile Network Japan in collaboration with Tama University. According to Japan Society, the collection of 35 works on display was thoroughly selected by a special committee to showcase the work of 30 contemporary masters of a movement originally envisioned in the 1950s to “reflect the fecundity of the Japanese artistic tradition and ingenuity.” Since many of the pieces had to make a long journey from Japan to New York, unique containers had to be meticulously designed for each piece to preserve the artist’s intended presentation and allow the viewer to fully appreciate each work.

To simply describe the collection as a stunning example of creativity and the profound Japanese insight into the coexistence of nature and man would not be enough to credit the artists on display. The exhibition explores such themes as the passage of time and seasons just to name a few. While many of the works are composed of traditional materials such as silk and washi paper, modern materials such as stainless steel, vacuum deposited aluminum, and complex chemical dyes are also added to create three-dimensional enchanting expressions.

Read More

Sep 17

Job: Nikkei Concerns – Health Information Manager (Seattle)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Nikkei Concerns – Health Information Manager (Seattle)

Via jet alum pnwjetaa. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London and is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, translation, or other fields.

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***Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JETwit. Thanks.***

Job Position: Health Information Manager at Nikkei Concerns (Seattle)

Job Details:

Nikkei Concerns, a non-profit elder-care organization primarily serving the Japanese-American and Asian-American Communities in the Greater Seattle area, is seeking qualified applicants for their Health Information Manager vacancy.

The position will be responsible for planning, directing and implementing a medical records system that follows established professional standards and meets all state and federal regulatory requirements. The person in this position will also serve as HIPAA Compliance Officer and lead the HIPAA compliance process. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to lead and manage, possess the ability to relate to residents and staff of diverse backgrounds and a passion for enhancing the lives of our residents and elderly community.

How to Apply:

Interested qualified individuals should email their resume and a cover letter to jlardizabal@nikkeiconcerns.org (Jeannette Lardizabal, Human Resources Specialist, 206-726-6525). Complete job descriptions are available upon request.

Please visit the Nikkei Concerns website at www.nikkeiconcerns.org for more information about our organization.

Position advertisement is open until filled. First considerations will be given to resumes and cover letters received by 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2011.

Sep 16

JET Prefecture Round-Up 09.16.11

AJET, Events, JET Prefecture Round-up, Uncategorized Comments Off on JET Prefecture Round-Up 09.16.11

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Emily Lemmon, (Hyogo-ken, Shiso-shi, 2009-present), PSG volunteer, organizer of Hyogo-ken’s PEPY Ride, student of Shorinji Kempo, and editor of the Hyogo Times, gives a little taste of what JETs are doing around Japan.  To submit items for future JET Prefecture Round-up posts, e-mail Emily at jetinfogather [at] gmail.com.

Events by Region

Tohoku Region

Aomori

• Aomori AJET Welcome Party was September 10th at Shichinohe Campground.

Iwate

• Iwate AJET will be climbing Mt. Iwate on October 8th on the Umagaeshi trail.

Miyagi

• MAJET Bandai Trip is September 17th-19th , a camping adventure at Mount Bandai in Northwest Fukushima.

Yamagata

• Connect 2011 is happening October 8th-10th at Kurosawa in Oguni, Yamagata.

Fukushima

• The Aizu Festival 2011 is September 22nd-24th in Aizu Wakamatsu City.
•  Halloween SHINE is October 22nd in Aizu Wakamatsu City.
• The 2011 International Festival Aizu is October 29th!
• Fukushima ALTs are doing a Home Visit Program in Aizu on November 5th.
• Fukushima JETs attended Volunteer Day at a Children’s Home on September 3rd at Iris Gakuen in Fukushima City.

Kantou Region

Chiba

• Chiba AJET Baseball Game trip goes to see the Chiba Marines on October 1st.
• Chiba JETs are prepping for the Tokyo Yamathon 2011.

Gunma

• Gunma JETs join the football tourney in Nagano on October 1st.

Chubu Region

Shizuoka

• Shizuoka JETs go to Costume Karaoke on October 1st!
• Shizuoka AJET makes an excursion to Fuji-Q Highland on October 15th.

Nagano

• Cricket Game: Nagano vs. Hakuba, October 19th.
• October 16th, the Ina English Guide Club will present Zazen Meditation.

Toyama

• Toyama AJET is holding a Cheesecake Bakeoff on Sunday, October 16th, in Nanto city.

Kansai Region

Over the weekend of September 2nd,  Typhoon Talas crossed through Japan, dumping massive amounts of rain especially on the prefectures of Wakayama, Nara, and Mie. There are volunteer opportunities available to JETs in and around the Kansai area to help the victims of this typhoon.

Kyoto

• Kyoto AJET takes part in the Mikoshi Challenge, October 9th.

Nara

• The Nara AJET Halloween Party will be at the Wormwood Café on October 29th.

Hyogo

• Hyogo AJET leads a hike through the Fukuchiyama abandoned railroad on September 24th in the Takarazuka area.
• Hyogo JETs Rant and Rave at the Lock Up in Kobe, September 30th.
• There will be an art event (dance, music, theater, visual arts, performance art, sculpture, installation, etc.) in the Fukuchiyama abandoned train tunnel on October 1st.
• Hyogo JETs go rafting and canyoning in Shikoku, October 9th and 10th.

Osaka

• Osaka Smile Kids Japan group makes its next visit on September 25th.

Wakayama

• Wakayama JETs are going camping on Friend Island, October 15th.

Chugoku Region

Okayama

• Bound in Japan comes to Okayama! Workshops will be in Okayama City on September 17th and 18th, in Maniwa September 24th, and in Tsuyama September 25th.

Tottori

• Beerfest Daisen 2011 will take place at Mt. Daisen in Tottori, September 23rd, featuring craft brews.

Shikoku Region

• Shikoku Field Day will be held in Shikoku Saburo no Sato, in Mima City, Tokushima on November 5th.

Ehime

• October 1st-2nd is the Niihama Welcome Party, held on the beach in Niihama.
• October 15th Ehime JETs will climb Mt. Ishizuchi, tallest mountain on Shikoku.
• October 22nd is the Matsuyama Orphanage Visit.
• November 12th is the Ehime AJET Dinner in Matsuyama.

Kochi

• Beer, Sake, Baseball, and BBQ will be September 17th at Hagi Park.
• Kochi JETs will make an excursion to Nahari Hotel Beer Garden on Friday 30th September.
• October 8th-10th is Surf Camp in Kuroshio-cho for Kochi JETs.
• Kochi-JETs are helping with Halloween Party in an abandoned school building on October 28th.

Kyushu Region

Oita

• The Annual Oita AJET Sumo Trip is coming up on Saturday, November 26th!

Kumamoto

• The Amakusa Waterwheel event is September 23rd in Amakusa, Kumamoto!
• Kumamoto JETs are helping out with the 5th annual Nagasu Ferry Event on September 25th, Sunday!
• KumAJET and DiscSports Japan present Ichi Kyuu Bee on October 1st, featuring 4 ALT Teams (Saga, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kumamoto) and 9 Japanese Teams (Shakaijin and college students from all over Kyushu).
• Kumamoto JETs will be rafting down the Kuma River on Saturday, 15th October with LandEarth.

Nagasaki

• JETs are invited to the O’hana Cafe’s 8th Anniversary Party on September 16th.
• On 23rd September, JETs will check out the wild boar races in Kawatana.
• On 1st October, Nagasaki JETs will take a walk through Hasami. The attractions include tiered rice fields, crazy scarecrows, pottery, and pretty temples.

Sep 15

JQ Magazine: Photos from the 2011 JETAANY Softball Tournament

Article/Journalism, JETAA Chapters, JQ Magazine Comments Off on JQ Magazine: Photos from the 2011 JETAANY Softball Tournament

Team JETAANY, ready for some softball. (Photos courtesy of Monica Yuki)

By Monica Yuki (Saitama-ken, 2002-04) and Pam Kavalam (Shiga-ken, 2007-09), the JET Alumni Association of New York (JETAANY)’s President and Secretary, for JQ magazine.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, The JET Alumni Association of New York (JETAANY) hosted its Annual Softball Tournament in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Joining the JETs for some friendly competition were Amnet, Docomo, Kintetsu, Mitsubishi, TV Japan, Quick USA, and Yusen.  Despite some ominous looking clouds, the 175+ players and spectators enjoyed beautiful, rain-free weather.  The daylong tournament was filled with many spectacular plays and great hits, and the event finished with an award ceremony and BBQ at a local bar to celebrate this year’s champion, Yusen. A big thank you to all the teams for coming out and for the tournament’s organizer (and JETAANY President) Monica Yuki!

View the tournament’s Picasa album here.

Sep 15

Sisters of JET alum run half-marathon for Tohoku orphanages

Earthquake Tsunami, Fundraising, Volunteer Comments Off on Sisters of JET alum run half-marathon for Tohoku orphanages

Jen Wang (Miyagi, 2008-09) created the alias “Hibari-sensei” for her Japanese pop culture blog, Gaijin Teacher Otaku, after her students called her by the name of a character she cosplayed. She also writes for J-music website Purple SKY.

The sisters of former JET Lucy Onodera (Miyagi, 2002-04), who is still living and working in Miyagi-ken, are running a half-marathon on September 25 in London for Living Dreams.

The charity is raising money to help provide orphanages in Tohoku with basic necessities, school supplies, and counseling services.  Onodera plans on visit the children in the future.

Alice and Claire Goodwin have raised £1,537 to date.  To donate, please visit their Global Giving page.