Visit Japan: February in Japan
Travel/Tourism, Uncategorized 
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The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) provides rather helpful travel information for JETs and non-JETs alike, whether you’re traveling to or around Japan or helping a friend or relative plan their trip. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at their website at www.japantravelinfo.com.
Below is a recent item from the Visit Japan Facebook page:
Kisaragi, the old Japanese name for the month of February, is a contracted form of kinu sara gi, which means “wear still more clothes.”
Setsubun – celebrated on February 3 or 4 – is a favorite annual celebration among Japanese children. On this night, children fill a wooden cup with roasted soybeans and run around throwing them at an oni, or devil, (usually played by the dad) and shouting “Oni wa soto; fuku wa uchi!” This translates as “Out with the devil; in with good fortune!”
The only national holiday in Kisaragi, though, is National Foundation Day on February 11. This is the date calculated to be the day on which Jimmu – the first emperor of Japan – was enthroned, according to the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan).
Job: Business Development Specialist at Japanese NPO (NY)
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via Actus Consulting. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position:
Business Development Specialist for IT and Environment-related Industry/Business at Japanese Nonprofit Organization (New York, NY)
Job Details:
Our Client, Japanese nonprofit organization seeks a Business Development Specialist. This is a full-time direct hire position. Main job duties are as follows.
1. Promote Investment to Japan:
Search companies in the designated area who’re interested in making investment to starting business in Japan; and support such companies to establish their subsidiaries in Japan. Target Industries: Information and Communication Technology and Environment-related business
Job Responsibilities:
(1)Search for new projects
*by making cold calls, participating trade shows and visiting potential clients; and offer support to launch new business in Japan,
*by following up past contacts and projects.
(2)Any activities to complete, assist and promote.
2. Support bilateral business alliance:
Operate business incubators, organize trade shows and exhibition; solicit participation from US companies to events in Japan; search for lecturers for symposiums to support alliance between Japanese and US companies in the field of advanced technology.
(1)Support business development of Japanese high-tech venture companies
①Incubation of Japanese venture business in US
Support Japanese companies to launch business in US by liaising and coordinating with US incubators
②Organize business meetings at trade shows
(2)Search for lecturers for high-tech themed events in Japan and solicit participation from companies in US
(3)Others
Liaise and coordinate with lecturers and participants for venture business themed seminars
Qualifications:
How to apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter as an MS Word attachment to stakeda@actus-usa.com to apply. Make sure to mention in your email to what position you are applying.
Job: Sales rep at Japanese Forwarding Company (NYC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Sales rep at Japanese Forwarding Company (NYC)
via Actus Consulting. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Sales rep at Japanese Forwarding Company (NYC)
Job Details:
Our client, Japanese forwarding company seeks a Sales Representative.
Some sales experience or knowledge or/and experience in forwarding companies desired but entry-level also welcome. Training will be conducted based in their JFK office, but once training is completed, Manhattan office is going to be the main base. Japanese skills not required but welcome.
Location: New York, NY
Salary: Up to $35K (DOE)+ Commission
Please send your resume and cover letter as an MS Word attachment to moya@actus-usa.com to apply. Make sure to mention in your email to what position you are applying.
Job: Part-time English Teacher (Yokohama)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Part-time English Teacher (Yokohama)
via Proud Academy Corporation. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Part-time English Teacher
Job Details:
Fun, local English school for children aged 2-15 looking for a friendly part-time native English teacher to join our team. 3-4 hours/day, 2-3days/week, 2000yen or more/per lesson (40-, 50- and 60-minute lessons). Teaching location; Yokohama city, Hakuraku station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line. Transportation allowance (to 1000yen/day). Six-month renewable contract.
Requirements:
Application deadline; End of March, 2010.
Position available from Mid of March, 2010.
How to apply:
Please apply by e-mail with CV/resume, letter of introduction, photo, availability and visa status.
Shige Satsuma
Proud Academy Corporation. 34-28, Kandaiji 4-chome, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 221-0801
mail to: info@esbkids.com
http://www.esbkids.com
Info courtesy of Diana Lee, President of AsianInNY.com. Diana is handling performances for the 32nd Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival in New York.
The Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival is a free, day-long celebration of Asian/Pacific Americans. On May 8th, 2011, from noon-6pm, performing groups from the New York tri-state area will take the stage in front of an audience of over 8,000 in Union Square, Manhattan.
We are currently seeking submissions for:
- Performances from artists and companies working in music and/or dance including folk, traditional, and contemporary expressions.
- Must be appropriate for a family oriented 20-30 minutes performance on an outdoor stage.
The event has a history of high media coverage featured in the New York Times, Newsday, the Village Voice, Time Out magazine, NY1 News, and many ethnic papers.
We will have a merchandizing table for performers who participate in this festival to sell their items or place their promotional materials (flyers/posters).
To submit registration or auditions for performances, please visit our registration site at: http://bit.ly/etkYAP
Deadlines:
Performances Submissions: Friday, February 18, 2011
For more information regarding the festival: www.capaonline.org
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me here or at info [at] ASIANinNY.com.
Thank you,
Diana Lee
VP of Performance of APA Heritage Festival
WIT Life #152: Kaga Maki-e
Art, Events, Food & Drink, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #152: Kaga Maki-e
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Recently I had the opportunity to interpret for a delegation from Kanazawa that was here to promote the city in general and especially its ancient craft of 蒔絵 (maki-e), a lacquerware technique that uses silver and gold powder. This art form actually originated in Kyoto which has its own style known as Kyo Maki-e, but the Kanazawa version is called Kaga Maki-e, Kaga referring to the area of Kanazawa where it originated. This picture, courtesy of fashion blogger Alice Chin, shows two delegation members at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Kaga Maki-e display.
On the left is native New Yorker and long-term Kanazawa resident Evelyn Teploff-Mugii, a designer who has modernized the thousand year old maki-e process to make breathtakingly beautiful accessories. Her Evelyn Claude line will be offered in the US for the first time. To her right is Read More
There’s a nice piece today by Dan Moeller on The Wide Island View (a really high-quality JET-produced webzine for Hiroshima-ken) looking into the similarities between the Philly Phanatic and Slyly, the Hiroshima Carp’s mascot. In the process, Dan comes to grips with the overlap and digs below the costume to reveal some interesting things about the two mascots:
http://www.wideislandview.com/2011/02/the-hiroshima-carp-and-slyly-their-mascot/
Correction: The Wide Island View is independent and not an official AJET publication, as previously stated. Thanks to Dan for pointing that out and apologies for the confusion.
Justin’s Japan: Interview with Ary Warnaar of Anamanaguchi
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- See Ary Warnarr with Anamanaguchi at New York’s Silent Barn Saturday, Feb. 5. (Leia Jospe/leiajospe.carbonmade.com)
By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
The music of Anamanaguchi is part hacked Nintendo Entertainment System, part crowd surfing rave. The Brooklyn-based foursome and chiptune vanguards are on an artistic roll after releasing an acclaimed video game soundtrack based on the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and earlier this month the band played packed houses at both The Studio at Webster Hall as a headliner and Irving Plaza with Super Mash Bros.
If you missed them, fear not: Anamanaguchi returns this Saturday at Silent Barn. I caught up with their co-guitarist and songwriter Ary Warnaar for this exclusive interview.
How did Anamanaguchi form, and what made you decide to specialize in playing chiptune music?
Pete [Berkman, the band’s lead songwriter] started writing chip music in 2003 and was releasing it online under the name Anamanaguchi. Once there was a demand for the music in a live setting, Pete decided to form a band. Over the years the lineup changed quite a bit, but solidified in 2007-08 with Pete on guitar, James [DeVito] on bass, Luke [Silas] on drums and me on guitar as well. I started messing around with chip music when I met Pete and James at New York University in the music technology program. I had been writing electronic music for most of my teen years and had become quite bored with most software by the time I entered college. Modern music software gives you unlimited options in terms of creation, and often lets you skip most steps of creation with presets and loops…software for limited sound chips (such as the 2A03 in the Nintendo Entertainment System) does the exact opposite. You’re extremely limited and are forced to make every note and every sound count. I found that the primitive software and extreme limitations actually made me write more complex music, and helped me focus on expressing myself. The harsh sound palette of simple squarewaves and white noise was also a breath of fresh air to me…overproduced lush sounding electronic music drenched in reverb and pads with hundreds of channels can get kinda boring. Chiptune music is a nice way of going back to basics.
What does the band’s name mean?
Before studying music technology, we were all fashion majors at the Parsons School of Design. Pete and James both interned for Armani, I was a secretary at Prada, and Luke worked at the Gucci store in SoHo. Whenever we showed up at fashion parties, people would always call us as the “Armani-Prada-Gucci” boys. After a couple bottles of Veuve Clicquot, people just started slurring the nickname into “Anamanaguchi.” We quickly realized the fashion world wasn’t for us, but that name just stuck when we made the shift to being a band.
Tell us about your history with Japan. How did it pop up on your radar, what made you want to go there, and how do you keep up your connection with it back home?
Hmm…I’m sure we all have different answers for this. I’ll start with answering for the band, and then get more personal:
As a band, we have never been to Japan.
As a band, we are DYING to go to Japan.
Touring in Japan is kinda our number one dream. Japanese culture, and more specifically, its music scene, is totally awesome. Even the chip-scene in Japan is amazing with artists like quarta330, USK, Maru, Aonami, Cow’P, BSK, YMCK, etc., etc…..
Personally, I have been to Japan twice. I went to Tokyo a couple summers ago and loved it so much that a week after I got back home, I bought another ticket right back to Japan to go to the Fuji Rock Festival. BEST TIME EVER. I’m always keeping up with what’s coming out of Japan, whether it’s reading blogs online searching for new Japanese artists, or asking my girlfriend to buy me clothes when she goes back to Tokyo to visit her family.
What’s your fanbase in Japan like? What things would you like to see and do there on tour?
I don’t really know what our fanbase is like in Japan…I know we have fans there, but we have yet to meet any of them! Hopefully we’ll be out there sooner than later. I love Tokyo, but haven’t really gotten a chance to see any other cities in Japan. Touring would be an awesome excuse to see all of Japan.
Click here for the complete interview.
Job: Tradeshow work for Japanese company Feb 27/28 & Mar 1
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Tradeshow work for Japanese company Feb 27/28 & Mar 1
via Actus Consulting. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Tradeshow work for Japanese company Feb 27 & March 1
Job Details:
Japanese food company who is attending the trade show at the end of February is seeking a Bilingual Assistant. Job duties will include but not limited to 1. Explain and introduce products to visitors/customers 2. Invite and encourage visitors to sample products 3. Assist communication with customers
Dates and Hours: February 27th and 28th, 9:30am to 5pm and March 1st, 9:30am to 4pm
Salary: Around $19/hr
Location: New York, NY
Qualifications:
-Must have native-level English.
-Must have enough Japanese skill to be a liaison between the Japanese vendor and American visitors.
-Prior to the work, you will be asked to learn and memorize their products.
Please forward your most recent resume as an MS Word attachment to stakeda@actus-usa.com. Make sure to mention which position you are applying to in your cover letter. We will contact qualified candidates to have a preliminary interview. We are a Japanese staffing agency and currently searching for candidates for the above position at one of our client companies. We look forward to your application. Thank you!
Fluent Chinese Speaker wanted for Live Japanese TV News Program
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via Jet alum Rosa Sobrino. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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Live Japanese TV news program looking for a fluent Chinese speaker to help us with our report in Manhattan Chinatown this Thursday, February 3 from 1p.m. to 5p.m. (4 hours). We’ll be reporting on Chinese New Year and we need someone to help us with production and to communicate with the local community.
If you are interested, please contact Rosa anytime at 917-755-0955.
Job: Japanese Translator/Administrative Executive Assistant (MI)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Japanese Translator/Administrative Executive Assistant (MI)
via Jet alum Yvonne Stephens. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
*Note: If you apply for this position, please let them know you learned of it from JetWit. Thanks.
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Job Position: Japanese Translator -Administrative Executive Assistant (Kalamazoo/Battle Creek MI)
Job Details:
Schedule appointments, translation of technical documents,arrangements and agreements with suppliers of clerical assignments given by the president such as travel agencies etc, give information to callers, take dictation, compose and type correspondence, read and route incoming mail. Perform other administrative and clerical duties. Relieve officials of clerical work and administrative and business duties.
Essential Functions:
• Translation of documents.
• Keep track of immigration status for Japanese expatriates.
• Assist Japanese expatriates and their families with community access activities.
• Assist Japanese expatriates and their families with their relocation including but not
• limited to negotiating with vendors and suppliers of household needs, leases, terms and
conditions.
• Plan conferences/meetings.
• Ensure all material required for conferences/meetings is prepared and distributed
accurately.
• Prepare, file, copy and retrieve corporate documents and correspondences as needed.
• Read and forward incoming mail. Locate and attach appropriate file(s) to
correspondence.
• Prepare and send outgoing mail.
• Compose and type routine correspondence.
• Answer telephone and give information to callers or route call to appropriate official
and place outgoing calls.
• Schedule appointments, meetings and any special arrangements required such as food,
beverages, transportation and needs of attendees.
• Make travel arrangements as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Fluently Bilingual in Japanese/English, written and spoken.
• Experience in technical translation from Japanese to English.
• Skills in speaking and writing Japanese consistent with a native of Japan.
• Ability to accurately complete all paperwork.
• Competent using office computer software.
How to apply:
If you have an interest in the above position please email a copy of your resume to Doug Scripture or John Hall or please pass this on to an associate.
CTPC
Career Technical Placement Consultants
PO Box 48081 Oak Park MI 48237
(313) 345 – 0134 Fax 1(866) 399 – 8543 Toll Free
information@ctpccareers.com
www.ctpccareers.com
Job: Assistant Producer for Japanese TV Company (NYC & DC)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Assistant Producer for Japanese TV Company (NYC & DC)
Job listing received directly from TV Asahi:
Japanese television network seeks assistant producer to provide support for foreign correspondents in their newsgathering and reporting.
Excellent research and coordination skills required. Entry-level with opportunity for hands-on experience in all phases of broadcast news.
In your cover letter, please identify three story ideas, including human interest, national news, and techonology/economics, from the last month that you think would be of interest to a Japanese audience.
Job opportunities are available both at Washington, D.C., and New York city.
Please send your resume to kitasei [at] tv-asahi.net.
JETAA Chapter Beat 1.31.11
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community for another edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.
- O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, February 2nd, 6:00 at Coo Izakaya in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.
- Tampa Subchapter Tsudoi – Friday, February 4th, 7:00 at Panera Bread in the Brandon Mall. The Tampa Subchapter will be hosting their monthly Tsudoi, an informal time for anyone interested in Japanese and Japanese culture.
- Annual General Meeting – Friday, February 4th, 6:00 at the Japanese Consulate. Connect with friends, meet people in the Japanese community and discuss the future of JETAA Sydney in this year’s meeting. Dinner and drinks to follow at the Nippon Club.
- Happy Hour Networking Event – Tuesday, February 1st, 6:00 at Cafe Asia. Chat, relax and catch up with friends old and new at this month’s Networking and Happy Hour event.
- J-Kaiwa – Friday, February 4th, 7:00 at Hawthorne Lucky Lab. Practice your Japanese or just get together with friends for a drink at Lucky Lab.
- Shakuhachi Workshop – Saturday, February 5th, 1:00 to 3:00 at the Roundhouse Community Centre. JETAABC presents a workshop by the renowned Shakuhachi(Japanese bamboo flute) artist and musician, Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos. Learn how to play from the master and enjoy a day of Japanese culture.
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.
Justin’s Japan: X Japan Signs North American Deal with EMI
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X Japan will release its first album in 15 years especially for North America. (Nishioka)
By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
Hot on the heels of a rapturous North American tour last fall that climaxed with a sold out gig at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, X Japan is one step closer to cracking America.
The supergroup, which began recording in the mid-’80s and went on to become one of the most successful in Japanese history, has inked an exclusive three-year North American manufacturing and distribution agreement with EMI Music. The first release will be the track “Jade” on March 15, followed by the band¹s as yet untitled American debut set for a summer 2011 release.
“We are so honored to have X Japan as part of the EMI Label Services/Caroline family,” commented EMI Label Services executive VP Mike Harris in a press release issued Thursday. “After the highly successful North American tour last fall, the timing is perfect for the upcoming X Japan release.”
Led by the charismatic drummer/pianist Yoshiki (whom this reporter conducted an exclusive interview with in October), X Japan is currently putting the finishing touches on the disc, the band¹s first new studio album since 1996 and fifth overall. Half of the songs will be culled from some of the band’s gold and platinum Japanese singles, while the other half are brand new songs. An estimated 95% of the lyrics are being sung in English by vocalist Toshi.
Click here for the rest of the story.
What do you like about JetWit?
Please take a moment to share your response for the benefit of potential supporters and sponsors of JetWit, JETAA and the JET Program.
Here’s a link to the comments section of the original post from April 28, 2009 where the question was first asked: https://jetwit.com/wordpress/2009/08/09/what-i-like-about-jetwit/#comments
Thanks for your help and yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
–Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94)
Brooklyn, NY
