Foxhound87: Monkey Mountain
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Joshua Small is a First Year JET currently living in Ikaruga-cho, Nara-ken and has been chronicling his experience on his blog Snorlax87.
Last Saturday, I joined some Nara and Kyoto JETs in climbing Arashiyama, or as I call it, Monkey Mountain.
This mountain in Kyoto is famous for playing host to many feral Macaques. The hike up the mountain was pretty easy. There were only a few hazards. Because it was a bit misty, the rock steps and ramps were a little slippery. We cautiously made our way up Arashiyama.
As we climbed, we came across many signs warning us of the dangers of Monkey Mountain:
1. Do not feed the monkeys
2. Do not look the monkeys in the eyes
3. Do not touch the monkeys
Yeah…lots of do not’s…
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the post.
http://snorlax87.blogspot.com/
Justin’s Japan: Interview with Filmmaker Amy Guggenheim on ‘When Night Turns to Day’
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- ‘When Night Turns to Day’ director Amy Guggenheim. (Courtesy of A. Guggenheim)
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.
New York-based writer/director/producer Amy Guggenheim is currently hard at work on When Night Turns to Day, a dramatic feature that will be shot in New York and Tokyo. A present-day romantic thriller with martial arts, sword choreography and tattoos, the film follows May, a young American female writer who gets drawn into both Japanese sword fighting (kendo) and a passionate relationship with Toshi, a young Japanese martial artist. Beyond anything she’d ever imagined, both must face secrets from their past, barely escaping with their lives.
Guggenheim herself is a third dan (degree) kendo practitioner who has competed in Tokyo, a grant recipient from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Mellon Fund, and the director of her own production company. I caught up with her to learn more about When Night Turns to Day, which begins shooting in Japan next year.
What made you interested in making a movie about kendo from an American perspective?
I got interested in making a film involving kendo after making a multimedia theater piece called Monsters and Marvels with video projection and 14 actors. It’s about the unconscious influence we have on each other from various cultures, Japanese being one of them. It’s also a way to express my vision of kendo as an American woman in 2010, interested in the “art” aspect of the “martial art.”
What is your personal history with Japan?
I’ve been involved with Japan in one way or another since the 7th grade. I was first interested in the design culture and the values of simplicity and essence, then later in kabuki, noh and butoh. In my background in theater, I was trained by Zen-influenced artists including Elaine Summers— an early intermedia artist from Judson Church (John Cage, Merce Cunningham, etc.), and then Eiko and Koma—butoh artists based in New York. When I was doing my own solo theater performance work, I started practicing kendo. For a few years I toured in Europe, Latin America and the U.S. performing my work and then practicing kendo with local dojos.
With the honor of having an Asian Cultural Council Grant in 2008, I was able to travel again to Japan (the first two trips were kendo-related—2006 participating in the first International Women’s Kendo Tournament in Tokyo), and in these last two years I’ve gone back several times and have been working with Masaru Koibuichi of Koi Pictures (our co-producer there), Setsu Asakura (art director) and others.
The dark, erotic tension of Japanese culture is my own language as well, and also the intuitive intelligence at the heart of kendo is my subject, too.
How did you get into kendo originally? Are there any films that cover the subject that inspired you with the idea or development of your film?
Bobby Troka, a kendo player and voice coach, worked with me on a solo piece of mine, suggesting I try it. I thought it was “too formal,” but once I did it, I fell in love with it and couldn’t stop! That was in 1990. There’s surprisingly few films that adequately deal with kendo, and I must say the idea developed out of my own experience and imagination and was inspired by people I met in the kendo world along the way. The way Kwaidan, directed by Masaki Kobayashi, deals with the uncertain spaces of the psyche, is evocative. Kurosawa’s Ran, Dreams and The Seven Samurai, Shindo’s Onibaba, Masumura’s Irezumi and Hong Kong martial arts films also have great inspirational material.
What are your current goals regarding the next steps in getting the film made?
We are assembling a terrific, experienced, creative team here and in Japan, and launched a mini-fundraising campaign going with Kickstarter.com that ran through November. We will next move on to preliminary test shooting and start working with sword choreographer Kataoka Noboru and actors in New York City. We are working hard to complete financing for the feature to shoot next fall, which will include investors, pre-sales and sponsors. If people are interested in donating to the project to help get us to principal photography next year, please go to our website at www.whennightturnstoday.com. You can also contact me by e-mail about donations, the project, or interest in getting involved with creative skills or production.
Click here for the rest of the interview.
Op-ed on natural gas development by JET alum
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JET alums continue to make their voices heard. Here’s a recent opinion article by New York-based alum Sam Lederer (Shizuoka-ken, 2005-07), a Contributor at Americans for Energy Leadership, on the importance of better regulation over natural gas exploration in the U.S.
CLICK HERE to read some of Sam’s other writings on Japanese energy and environmental policy.
Sam can be reached via his LinkedIn profile and can be followed via Twitter @samlederer
JETAA DC Film Festival: How was it?
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On December 3 and December 5, JETAADC held its first ever JETAA DC Film Festival. And they did it in style at the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute. Here’s a write-up of the event courtesy of JETAADC.
In an attempt to increase awareness of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program and to showcase Japanese or Japan-related films to American audiences, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Washington, DC (JETAADC) partnered with the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution to screen two films from December 3-5, Linda Linda Linda and The Harimaya Bridge.
On Friday, December 3, JETAADC showed Linda Linda Linda, a quirky comedy about a band of four girls and their rehearsals leading up to their talent show performance during school festival. Prior to the film, JETAADC Vice President Nick Harling provided some opening remarks, discussing the JET Program, JETAADC, and adding a bit of context to the film. Approximately 130 people attended the show on December 3, and after the film, about 40 audience members congregated at a local bar to continue discussing the film and Japanese culture.
On Sunday, December 5, JETAADC and the Freer Gallery screened The Harimaya Bridge, written and directed by Aaron Woolfolk, a JET alum from Kochi-ken. The film follows an American man who must travel to rural Japan to claim some important items belonging to his late son, from whom he was estranged. While there, he learns several secrets his son left behind. Mr. Woolfolk attended the screening, which drew over 200 people from the greater DC metro area, including representatives from local media. After the film, Mr. Woolfolk responded to questions from the audience regarding his inspiration for the film, the process of making the film, and what it was like working in Japan, both as a teacher and a filmmaker. About 50% stayed for the Q & A.
Afterwards, Mr. Woolfolk said, “It was a special honor to have the film shown at the Smithsonian Institution, and I am especially grateful to JETAADC for playing a pivotal role in making that happen. Moreover, spending time with the DC alumni before and after the screening reminded me how very fortunate and proud I am to be a part of the JET community.”
JETAADC President Maurice Maloney added, “JETAADC was honored to have Aaron Woolfolk and The Harimaya Bridge as part of our film series. In two and a half hours at the Freer Gallery, the film, along with Aaron’s discussion, conveyed the JET experience to a broader audience than we could have reached in months.”
Maloney added, “In light of discussed budget cuts to the JET Programme and JET Alumni Associations across the globe, it is more important than ever for JET Alumni Associations to showcase the breadth of their alumni and the positive effects they have on their communities.”
Click “Read More” to see photos from the event, courtesy of JETAADC.
Japan Fix: San Francisco
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Kathy Laubach (CIR Kumamoto-ken, 2003-06) originally hails from Montana but recently re-located to San Francisco and agreed to share how she’s been getting her Japan Fix there so far.
I have to admit that I simple feel too fresh back to write a worthy piece on my Japan Fix in San Francisco…. Montana was so long ago, which also makes that a challenge! I have found that my main sources of warding off Japan homesickness are skyping/emailing friends there and, mainly, tracking their lives on Facebook. I’ve also managed to meet a few Japanese folks in the area which has been helpful for the adjustment.
One place that makes the top of my still short but notable Bay Area Secrets Japanese list, however, is Umami. The menu boasts two of my weaknesses (as in addictions) – sushi and ice cream – in an upbeat, modern atmosphere. Plenty of items for sharing and the wait staff is confident making suggestions and ordering on behalf of patrons’ wanting to spend more time in conversation than deliberating over menu choices. Fairly expansive and fun cocktail list, with sake as well (Was driving, so not too familiar with the beverages. Would like to stop in for Happy Hour sometime though.)
Umami staff got good marks, too, for doing a good job of accounting for 好き／嫌い and アレルギ. The ice cream I referred to isn’t any ordinary/extraordinary 抹茶 variety, per se, but the dessert menu incorporates a cookie dough wrapped ice cream roll with delectable toppings. Attractive to the eye and as well as stimulating to the taste buds! Also noteworthy is the Japanese language lesson audio system in the トイレ!
I guess you could say I am a fan. I’d like to sit at the bar sometime and see if it offers that same visual satisfaction as often felt when doing so in Japan.
(Kathy added that she would soon be attending her first JETAA Northern California gathering, another great way to get your Japan Fix.)
Have something to add to Japan Fix: San Francisco? Want to share how you get your Japan Fix in your corner of the world? Add a comment to this post or e-mail jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
Job: Position available at Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
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via JET alum Jessica Cork who works for the Consulate in Atlanta. 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: Assistant, Political and General Affairs Section, Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
Job Details:
The Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta is seeking an assistant for the Political and General Affairs Section. Duties will include preparing speeches and materials for lectures, analyzing and reporting on political trends and election results in the Southeast region of the United States, preparing letters and other communications, and assisting with other Consulate duties. Candidate must possess at least a Bachelor’s degree, have excellent English language communication skills, be proficient with Microsoft Office, have an interest in and knowledge of U.S. politics, particularly the Southeast, have a strong desire to further mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, and be a U.S. citizen. Knowledge of Japanese culture and history and fluency in the Japanese language are a plus.
How to apply:
To apply for this position, please email your résumé and two writing samples to isoda@cgjapanatlanta.org
http://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/politicaljob.html
WIT Life #142: Fair Play Committee
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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.
I don’t make a habit of reading the obituaries, but one in yesterday’s NYT caught my eye as it was entitled, “Frank Emi, Defiant World War II Internee, Dies at 94.” It told about the life of this Japanese- American who was imprisoned during the war and refused to serve when drafted in 1944. He was being held at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in the northwest Wyoming desert, and he and six other internees there formed the Fair Play Committee in response to this order. Their rally cry was “No more shikata ga nai,” which had been the prevalent attitude until that point.
This committee stated that they would serve only when their rights as American citizens were fully restored. They tried to take their case to court, but these resisters were criticized by Read More
Jobs: Center for the Pacific Rim Teaching Fellowships (SF)
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Via Shinpai Deshou, an online resource to help Japanese Studies majors figure out how to make a living doing what they love:
The Center for the Pacific Rim at the University of San Francisco is offering two teaching fellowships for the 2011-12 academic year: One Post-doctoral Teaching Fellow for applicants who have received their doctoral degrees within the past five years, and one Teaching Fellow for applicants of all stripes who are looking to spend a sabbatical semester or two at USF.
Deadlines are February 28, 2011. More details can be found here.
A recent article from Japan Times-McClatchy News Information Services about the Nitten braile library in Takadanobaba in Tokyo includes several paragraphs on a British JET alum named David Hathaway (Nagano-ken) who is blind and who is running the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) scholarship program — which is held in Malaysia, where he teaches basic and advanced computer skills to blind Asian leaders.
Here’s the link to the article: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2010/12/19/5203423.htm
(Thanks to Megan Miller-Yoo for alerting us to the article.)
Dialogue with an Affable Law School Dean, Part 1
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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. He also maintains the “Bankruptcy Legal Topics,” and, “Bankruptcy Billables,” sections for Steven Horowitz’s Bankruptcy Bill. For further reading regarding JETs and the law, he recommends JETs with J.D.s.
When you were on JET, did you ever have a refreshingly honest discussion about education with your kocho-sensei? I just had something similar. I received the distinct pleasure of discussing the state of legal education with the Devil’s advocate law school dean inhabiting my mind. A shrewd sparring partner, he’s surprisingly honest and appears to enjoy mandarin oranges. Find out why he doesn’t care that his law school isn’t transparent about its employment figures.
I just came across a vlog run by Jason, a JET alum who taught in Shimane-ken, which recommends JetWit as a good resource for JET alums and also contains a significant amount of videos, written content and links intended as a helpful resource for JETs.
Here’s a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWtIgFjWt2g (FYI, he talks about a few other things before mentioning JetWit, including the most bizarrely named snack I can remember hearing about.)
And here’s a link to his YouTube video channel for JET-related videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/myargonauts?feature=mhum#p/p
National AJET’s “Life After JET”: Teaching English in Japan – Lucas Clarkson
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Lucas poses as Honest Abe.
National AJET shares former JET participants’ experiences – and a little advice – with current JETs in their new monthly interview, Life After JET. Contact lifeafterjet [at] ajet.net to be featured in future posts.
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Lucas Clarkson spent five years on JET as an ALT at high schools and elementary schools and now teaches at a private school in Yokohama. He is currently a social studies instructor at the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Chuo University Yokohama Yamate Girl’s School. Lucas told us a little more about his transition from JET to another teaching position in Japan for this month’s “Life After JET.”
National AJET: Why did you decide to continue teaching in Japan after JET? Was that always your plan?
Lucas Clarkson: I figured that I had so much invested in this country in terms of time spent, friendships made, and language (presumably) acquired, that to leave after JET would be a mistake. I always knew that I wanted to teach in some capacity, and I was lucky enough to find the position I did, when I did.
National AJET: Are there any resources you could recommend to someone looking for a teaching job in Japan?
Lucas: As far as resources go, there are the usual suspects: GaijinPot, Ohayo Sensei and Jobs in Japan. These are all helpful if you know exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for International School positions there are a number of online headhunter-type sites where you pay a nominal fee to post your resume and other information online for prospective schools to see.
National AJET: Can you tell me a little bit about the logistics of staying on after JET – moving, getting a new visa, etc? Where there any difficulties that you didn’t expect?
Lucas: No major difficulties at all really, as long as you have a legitimate employer willing to sponsor you. If you decide to take the independent route however, you’re going to run into a host of difficulties. Just be sure to have (a) Japanese friend(s) on hand to help you with visa paperwork and the like.
Click here for the rest of the interview.
Did you or your friends write or hear any songs about your JET experience, your town, your region, or anything JET-related?
We know a bunch of songs have been written by some number of the 50,000+ JET alumni over the 23 years of the JET Program. Now it’s time to try and gather them together in one place.
E-mail your songs to jetwit [at] jetwit.com or input them right into the comments section of this post. Whatever works for you. And if you have a recording or a video of the song being performed, then share that as well.
To start things off, here are some song lyrics about Saga-ken by a Japanese comedian translated into English by a JET.
New Spring Japanese Classes at Japan Society of New York
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| New Spring Classes at the Toyota Language Center
Spring 2011 Japanese Japanese Spring 2011 English Spring 2011 Shodō 2011 Spring Learn To Read Hiragana and Katakana LOCATION |
Calling all Kyushu JET alums and fans of Kyushu!
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People from different parts of Japan who reside here in NYC have r
espective 県人会 (kenjinkai) or associations of people from a certain prefecture. Last year I decided to look for the Kumamoto Kenjinkai, and found out that we are part of the larger island-wide Battenkai for Kyushu-jin. I was hesitant to go since I wasn’t technically from Kyushu (even though I consider Kumamoto my home in Japan), but I was welcomed with open arms. The group is looking to get some new attendees, and would like to offer an open invitation to its upcoming shinnenkai (see below for details)! For those who want to read the original message in Japanese, please click here. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
We are beginning 2011 with a shinnenkai to mark the Year of the Rabbit! This exciting event will feature laughter yoga, a shamisen performance and a fabulous raffle. Please join us for this fun night!
★ Open to anyone born in or who has connections to Kyushu, as well as those interested in this region.
Date: January 5, 2011 (Tuesday)
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Japanese American Association of New York (15 W. 44th Street (11th floor)
Cost: Adult = $35, Student = $20, 11 and younger free (includes food/drinks; pay in cash on day of)
