Another Canadian JET to visit Tohoku via the MOFA program
Article/Journalism, Blogs, Earthquake Tsunami, Japan Local, JETAA Chapters, Notable JET Alums, Return on JET-vestment, Travel/Tourism, Volunteer, Writers 
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Turns out the Ottowa Citizen article was not entirely correct about Brent Stirling (Fukushima-ken, Fukushima-shi, 2006-10) being the only Canadian among the 20 ex-JETs selected for the MOFA program to go back to their town/city in Tohoku, help with volunteering and write about and share their experience.
But the post on JETwit about the article did help generate a response from Toronto-based JET alum Tanya Gardecky (Miyagi-ken, Shiogama-shi) who will also be participating and whose travel blog you can follow here: http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/ShiogamaJET/
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Here are a few JET-related articles and radio piece written and produced in the past month by JET Alum Bluegrass Subchapter member Graham Shelby (Fukushima-ken). (Thanks to Graham for sharing the info.)
- Graham went to Nashville at the end of July to interview some of the new JETs about to depart from the consulate there. Here’s a radio piece he produced that aired this past week on the public radio station here in Louisville. (It’s short.)
http://www.wfpl.org/2011/08/15/audio-new-teachers-prepare-for-life-in-japan/
- Graham also put together a quick piece focusing on one of new JETs who happens to be headed to Fukushima. It aired a few times on NPR’s national newscasts during Morning Edition on August 1. They don’t archive the newscasts online, the newscaster’s intro sounded something like this:
“While many people are struggling to find jobs, hundreds of Americans, many of them recent college graduates, have found an employer eager to hire them – in Japan. From member station WFPL, Graham Shelby has more.”
- Lastly, Graham did another short piece that was Kentucky-specific that was picked up by a few stations here.http://www.wfpl.org/2011/07/30/kentuckians-prepare-for-japanese-teaching-assignments/
As Graham’s work demonstrates, there are clearly opportunities to find and tell compelling stories from the world of JETs and former JETs. If you have any ideas, angles, upcoming events or possible outlets in mind, please feel free to contact Graham gshelby3 [at] gmail.com.
JET alum’s film “The Harimaya Bridge” now via Video On Demand
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JET alum and film director Aaron Woolfolk’s (Kochi-ken, 1991-93) acclaimed film The Harimaya Bridge is now available via video on demand. Read below to see how the JET alum community can help.
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Acclaimed feature film The Harimaya Bridge is now available to watch via video on demand (VOD) on most cable and satellite systems. The film can now be seen in more than 100 million households in the U.S. and Canada. If you didn’t see it in theaters, it’s just a click away in the comfort of your homes.
The Harimaya Bridge, written and directed by Aaron Woolfolk, stars Ben Guillory, Saki Takaoka, Misa Shimizu, and Danny Glover (who also executive produced it). It is a drama about an American man who must go to rural Japan after the sudden death of his estranged son there, and the secrets he discovers his son left behind.
The film had a nationwide release in theaters in Japan and a limited release in the U.S. The San Francisco Examiner called The Harimaya Bridge “one of the best films of the year,” while The Los Angeles Times called it “powerful” and “a unique, complex, consciousness-raising accomplishment”.
The cable and satellite operators will be watching to see how the film initially performs, which will determine how long they make it available. So please help in spreading the word.
The movie is now available for viewing on Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, AT&T, Verizon, Cogeco (Canada), MTS (Canada), Amazon VOD, Best Buy/Cinemanow VOD, Microsoft Xbox, Sony Playstation, and many, many more. People can find it on their cable or satellite systems, or learn more here:
http://www.gravitasventures.com/the-harimaya-bridge/
In addition to that, the DVD and Blu-ray of the film will be available beginning October 18th. Special features will include a behind-the-scenes documentary, cast and staff interviews, and the director’s commentary. You can see a brand new minute-long trailer for the DVD/Blue-ray release here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKZ8GfVeNWU
As always, people can learn more about The Harimaya Bridge at its official website and at its Facebook page:
Please watch, and please help spread the word. Thank you very much!
Thanks to JET alum Scott Dixon, a reporter at Kyodo News, for passing this along. Incidentally, Scott mentioned that he actually found his current job thanks to JETwit.
Note: If you found your job via JETwit, send an email to jetwit [at] jetwit.com to let me know. This kind of info can be really helpful, and I have no other way of tracking whether JETwit is helping except for when people reach out and tell me. Yoroshiku!
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Kyodo News America, Inc. is currently seeking an assistant sports correspondent for its New York bureau. Applicant should have knowledge about sports, sports rules, sports regulations, sports history and a basic familiarity with players’ backgrounds. Knowledge of Japanese players, especially baseball, is highly desired. Read More
JETAA Tokyo supports Tokyo de Volunteer event
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Via JET alum Emily Duncan’s Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Idea Exchange Facebook group:
JETAA Tokyo is pleased to support Tokyo de Volunteer in their “Beauty de Volunteer” volunteer activities. As these trips have received corporate sponsorship, free bus transportation will be provided. Please contact tokyo.de.volunteer@gmail.com.
For more info from Tokyo de Volunteer’s website go to: http://tkdv.blogspot.com/
FYI, Tokyo de Volunteer is an offshoot of New York de Volunteer, the New York based non-profit founded by wonderwoman Noriko Hino. Tokyo de Volunteer was started by former New York members who had returned to Tokyo and wanted to continue their volunteer spirit.
All of which is to say, collaboration seems to be a natural fit between JETAA Tokyo and Tokyo de Volunteer as well as between JETAA New York which has engaged in many activities with New York de Volunteer.
JET Programme 25th Anniversary Symposium to be held by Japanese government
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FYI, this is a big deal and something to pay attention to, especially in terms of the future of JET. One of the speakers, notably, will be Jim Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94), Executive Director of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA). I believe AJET President Matthew Cook (Osaka, 2007-12) may also be in attendance.
Here’s the official info via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website:
Holding of the Symposium and a Reception Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the JET Programme
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2011/8/0816_01.html
August 16, 2011
Japanese
- On Thursday, September 8, the Symposium Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) will be held at U Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University. The symposium will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
- The JET Programme aims to enhance foreign language education and promote international exchange at the local level. The symposium will be held to reflect on the results of the Programme’s efforts during the past 25 years, and contribute to the Programme’s further development, as well as to widely publicize the Programme to all walks of life.
- On the occasion of the holding of the Symposium Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the JET Programme, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to hold a reception at the Iikura Guesthouse in the evening of the same day, with a view to deepening the understanding of the relevant parties in Japan and abroad on the significance and results of the Programme, among others, and seeking further coordination with parties related to the Programme including those from local governments and in the education field, and the diplomatic corps in Tokyo.
Additional information
Symposium Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the JET Programme (Overview)
1. Time and date:
12:30 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2011
2. Venue:
U Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University
(5-53-70, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
3. Co-organizers:
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)
4. Supporters:
National Governors’ Association,
Japan Association of City Mayors,
National Association of Towns and Villages
5. Scheduled programs and participants:
(a) Greetings by co-organizers:
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(b) Greetings by guests:
Ambassador of the United States to Japan (to be confirmed),
Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Japan (to be confirmed),
Ambassador of the ROK to Japan
(c) Commemorative lecture:
Mr. James Gannon,
Executive Director, Japan Center for International Exchange
(d) Activity reports:
Dr. Angus Lockyer,
Chair, Japan Research Centre, University of London
Mr. Kim Jin Ah,
Director of International Cooperation Department,
Governors Association of Korea
(e) Panel discussion:
Panelists:
Dr. Akira Nakamura, Professor, Meiji University
Dr. Angus Lockyer,
Chair, Japan Research Centre, University of London
Mr. Kim Jin Ah,
Director of International Cooperation Department,
Governors Association of Korea
Mr. Keiji Yamada, Governor, Kyoto Prefecture
Mr. Masao Niisato, Professor, Tokyo International University
Ms. Yoko Kimura, Chairperson, Board of Directors, CLAIR
— Participants: Approximately 350 people including those from local governments and in the education field, and the diplomatic corps in Tokyo.
— Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.
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- (*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)
Job: Senior Broadcast Co-ordinator, BBC World News, Japanese Service
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Via TVT Japan. Please make sure to mention JETwit if you apply. Yoroshiku!
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TVT Japan is responsible for providing the Japanese service of BBC World News. It is part of the TVT group of companies with headquarters in London and offices in Tokyo and Singapore. The group provides translation, versioning and post-production services to Broadcasters all over the world including BBC World News, BBC Worldwide Channels, BBC World Service, UKTV, NBC Universal and Disney.
Position: Senior Broadcast Co-ordinator, BBC World News, Japanese Service
Location: Tokyo
Type of hire: Permanent, full-time.
Responsibilities:
As Senior Broadcast Co-ordinator you will play a vital role in ensuring the overall success of the Japanese Service of BBC World News. Reporting to the Operations Manager you will lead the team responsible for the Japanese versioning of live news and current affairs programming.
The role centres on the day to day running of the Japanese studio in Tokyo. In addition to key duties such as monitoring of Japanese audio output and operation of broadcast systems the Senior Broadcast Coordinator is responsible for investigating and reporting on broadcast issues as well as local staff coordination and financial administration.
Out of hours response for broadcast issues is required for this role. Read More
JETAA Chicago is now www.jetaachicago.com
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FYI, JETAA Chicago has just changed its website address to: www.jetaachicago.com
Brent Stirling (Fukushima-ken, Fukushima-shi, 2006-10)
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Ottawa based JET alum Brent Stirling (Fukushima-ken, Fukushima-shi, 2006-10) is one of only 2 Canadians out of 20 JET alumni selected to return to the Tohoku region to volunteer, engage and share their experience for the benefit of others, according to an article in the Ottawa Citizen.
(Note: This post previously repeated the error in the Ottawa Citizen article that Brent was the only Canadian participating. But it turns out that Toronto-based Tanya Gardecky (Miyagi-ken, Shiogama-shi) will also be participating.)
Stirling, who writes on his blog ForYourBrentertainment and was actively involved in the creation of Quakebook following the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, submitted a proposal which was accepted by the program established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Japan Tourism Agency to bring 20 Tohoku-area JET alums back to Tohoku to play a role in helping their communities and then spread word of their experience afterwards.
Read the full Ottawa Citizen article here: “Months of blogging leads to trip to Japan: Kanata teacher will help with disaster relief in the country he writes about”
JET Prefecture Round-Up 08.15.11
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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.
Newly brought to my attention is the website ToBetterUs, put together by a former Miyazaki JET to assist with earthquake/tsunami relief. The website seeks to generate money through website ad revenue; instead of money, contributors are asked to donate their art. Here they are on facebook and twitter!
Events by Region
- Summer seminar for English teachers in Kamikita District was held July 29, at the Misawa International Center.
- Aomori’s Welcome Party will be September 10th.
Chubu Region
- The Nagano JET Welcome party will be held at Winds, Friday 12th August after the Nagano JET Orientation.
- Nagano JET groups will attend the Lake Suwa Fireworks display.
- There will be a Japanese cooking class for foreigners (chicken teriyaki and chocolate mousse) on September 4th in Okaya City.
- Toyama Beer Garden on August 13th.
- JETs will Hike Mount Fuji August 20th and 21st!
- Toyama JETs are attending lots of matsuri this month.
Kansai Region
- JETs host a cooking class and supermarket tour for their newcomers.
- Goon BBQ is Saturday, August 20 in the southern countryside of Nara, and features swimming in the Yoshino River, and grilling in the shade.
- Nara’s next Smile Kids Japan visit will be Saturday, August 27.
- Group C Welcome and Pre-orientation Beer Garden will be Sunday, August 28 at Niko Hotel Beer Garden.
- Nara JETs’ Group A Welcome Dinner was Saturday, July 30th.
- Marty Party 4 / Nash Bash 1 / Nara JET Welcome Party will be September 3rd – 4th in Tenkawa.
- Hyogo’s Welcome Party will be August 20th in Kobe.
- Ehime JETs will continue the tradition of the annual book exchange at this year’s orientation.
- There will be trivia night on Friday the 12th of August in Matsuyama.
- Enkai for the Ehime Orientation wll be at the Takashimaya Beer Garden on Thursday the 11th of August.
- This year’s Ainan Mud Soccer Tournament will be on Sunday, September 4th at Sasayama Elementary School in Ainan, Ehime.
- Some JET volunteers will assist with “Green Market,” a flea market / farmers’ market that aims to promote Kochi’s local producers and businesses on August 20th in Kagami Village.
- The Fukuoka Day Out will be October 15 and will include Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Baseball Game v. Seibu Lions, Asahi Beer Garden Dinner, and Night Out at Clubs along Tenjin’s Oyafuko-dori Strip! This event is for Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, and Nagasaki!
- The Oita JET Welcome Party is August 19th at the Forus Beer Garden in Oita City.
- On Saturday August 20th, the Oita International Plaza will be holding its monthly Japanese Conversation Circle.
- KumAJET will be hiking the lovely Mt. Aso on August 27th!
- Ichi Kyu Bee will be held in Kumamoto on October 1st as the first Co-ed ALT-hosted Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Kyushu!
- Welcome Dinner for New JETs will be August 19th at Cafe de Nature in Miyazaki.
- Some JETs will join NPO Miyazaki as they return to volunteer in Ishinomaki in August, September 5, and October 20.
- Miyazaki CIR Tiffany is on the planning committee this year’s Nobeoka, a famous outdoor Noh play, held in the spectacular setting of the city’s castle ruins on October 8th.
- KAJET Welcome Dinner will be Monday, August 22nd at the Porto Casa outdoor beer garden at Dolphin Port.
- Kagoshima’s JET Day Out was August 6th, and new JETs got a whole day of information and fun!
Jobs: Purpose Campaigns (NY)
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Via JETwit and JETAANY Webmaster Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) who works for Purpose. Please make sure to mention “JETwit via Lee-Sean” if you apply for any of these positions.
Purpose is actively hunting for a senior Movement Strategy Director and a CTO among our top priority hires. We’re also on the lookout for great talent for a Finance Manager, Creative Director, Developers, and Project Mangers – full list.
For Movement strategy Director, we want someone who can architect major projects for clients, and create and run new partnerships and incubated ventures. As you know, our 3 core disciplines are marketing/communications, strategy consulting and political organizing — so the ideal candidate will be very strong in at least one of these areas (e.g. a super talented political organizer who has helped to start or build a movement organization). Full job description
For CTO, we’re looking for a world-class team leader to oversee all aspects of technology, from the overall vision, to the buy/build/integrate decision-making process, to development and deployment of the organization’s applications and web presence, and management and growth of the technology team. Demonstrated interest in technology for social change and mass digital participation is a must. Full job description
For the right person, these roles are an opportunity to shape and direct major areas of a rapidly growing (approaching 50 people) organization.
Job: Japanese Research Institute is looking for a Japanese/Spanish bilingual research assistant, ASAP!
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Via Pasona, N.A. Please make sure to indicate you learned about the job via JETwit if you apply. Yoroshiku!
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Japanese Research Institute is looking for a Japanese/Spanish bilingual research assistant, ASAP!
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Location: Downtown NY
Position: Research Assistant
Salary: Temp – $14.00/hour (*Possible to become a permanent position)
Working Hour: 9-5/M-F
Job Description:
– Research industries and companies in South/North America .
– Have an appointment for the interview with local organization.
* Industry Example- Automobile, Energy etc.
Requirement:
– Japanese proficiency/ Reading and Writing, Spanish or Portuguese proficiency/ Speaking and reading
– Entry level is welcome.
– Basic PC skills (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
If you are interested in this position, please contact at mtakemura@pasona.com.
All Hands volunteers and 3M workers take a break from tearing down drywall to enjoy a delicious bento lunch. All Hands executive director and founder David Campbell, center, T.R., second row, far right. (Eric Zdenek)
By T.R. Pearson (Shiga-ken, 2004-06) for JQ magazine. T.R. currently works in the Admission Office at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, New York. This was his third deployment with All Hands after volunteering in Indonesia in 2006 and Bangladesh in 2008. If you’d like more information on All Hands, he can be reached at theodoreroyce[at]gmail.com.
I’m sure most JETs remember the influx of e-mails after every typhoon or earthquake in Japan. It didn’t matter if you lived hundreds of miles away on a different island, family members and friends wanted to know you were safe. With the exception of a couple rumbles and some violent windstorms, my time as an ALT in Nagahama, Shiga-ken was relatively peaceful. While earthquakes in Japan are always a concern, the scale of devastation that occurred on March 11, 2011 was unimaginable and unpredictable. Watching coverage from my home in New York, I was now the worried person sending e-mails to friends and researching ways I could help. I found my answer on March 14 when I received a message from the international disaster relief organization All Hands entitled “Japan Tsunami Assessment.”
Three days after the quake, executive director David Campbell and international operations director Marc Young, were on the ground surveying the damage and meeting with local governments to discuss possible response projects. As Marc said in his e-mail, “the best way to really understand the situation is to be there on the ground, and make important decisions from that perspective.” After encountering some refusal for assistance in certain areas, the mayors of Ofunato and Rikuzentakata in Iwate-ken graciously opened their arms and their cities to All Hands to coordinate relief efforts, recruit volunteers, and distribute fresh food through a partnership with Second Harvest Japan. A month after All Hands launched Project Tohoku, they received over 4,000 applications from eager volunteers. Initially, the organization requested people with Japanese language skills and cultural knowledge to expedite the work that needed to be done. This made JET alums and current expats living in Japan perfect candidates to get involved.
Much like the JET Program, All Hands attracts people from all over the world at different stages in their lives. To date, All Hands has brought in over 539 volunteers from 28 countries. When I was there in June, I worked alongside college students on summer break, backpackers who rearranged their travel schedules, mid-career professionals who quit unfulfilling jobs, nurses with extensive international experience, and of course, JET alumni. Certain aspects of the JET Program mirrored this experience as we navigated an unfamiliar landscape, discussed Japanese culture, talked about our hometowns, sang our hearts out in karaoke booths, shopped at the grocery store, and lived in a community as if it were our own.
New LinkedIn group: JET Alum Okane
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All JET alumni and Friends of JET are welcome and encouraged to join a new LinkedIn group:
JET Alum Okane
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4045224&trk=anet_ug_hm
For JET alumni who have an interest in, work in or aspire to work in fields related to money – i.e., finance, fundraising, investment, accounting, tax, economics, insurance, etc.
Click here for a list of all of the other JET Alum LinkedIn groups you can join.
JETAA USA e-mail subscription now available
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FYI, you can now get JETAA USA website updates via e-mail just like many of you already do for JETwit. (I just worked with Country Rep Jessyca Wilcox to get it set up on the JETAA USA site.)
Just go to www.jetaausa.com and enter your email into the subscription field in the right sidebar.
(If you’re not already getting JETwit posts sent to your inbox, just go to the subscription field in the right sidebar on JETwit.)
