The below article is taken from the JETAA UK‘s excellent website. The author is Vanessa Villalobos who serves as JETAA UK’s Communications Officer and who is also the founder and publisher of JapaneseLondon.com, a lively and helpful website dedicated to all things Japanese within London.
When I returned to the UK after 3 years on the JET Programme I was, at first, concerned that JET had effectively ruined my career prospects. In Japan, it seemed, I had developed a rather different kind of approach to work than my non-travelling peers. Years later, I now see how brilliantly my experience in Japan prepared me to start out on my own…
In fact, I now firmly believe that the unique characteristics of the JET programme provide entrepreneurial types with a solid, practical advantage by honing their unique skills. Just to clarify, by ‘entrepreneurs’ I mean any freelancers, sole-traders, business owners, designers, artists, journalists, writers, bloggers, online workers, general creative types, consultants, and career 2.0 designers. JET sets you up to blast off! And here are my top 5 reasons why:
1) JETs are Risk-Takers
The JET Programme attracts people who don’t mind jetting off (do excuse the puns) on a year’s non-negotiable contract with very little idea what they are getting into, having had very little choice in where they were placed. It’s a plunge into the unknown; developing our innate trust that everything will somehow just be OK. Whether we are suddenly starring in a festival that starts in 5 minutes, or singing our unrehearsed rendition of the national anthem on stage in front of 500 people, JETs learn to rise to any occasion with a certain outlandish confidence. Crucial for business success is this same appetite for adventure: the ability to launch into something new and remain flexible as to how it develops.
2) The JET Programme Imparts a Sense of Responsibility
JETs are people who make things happen. From the word go, most JETs understand that their experience in Japan will be created by their own efforts. JETs have a special opportunity to [CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article on the JETAA UK site.]
JET ROI: NY’s Consulate-General of Japan, JET alumni make mighty combo
Article/Journalism, Interview/Profile, Return on JET-vestment 
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- Kumi Matsumoto, left, and Noriko Furuhata, right, from the consulate with JET alumni Monica Yuki and Shree Kurlerkar at the 92nd Street Y Street Festival. (Photo courtesy of Monica Yuki)
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.
For over two decades, the Consulate-General of Japan in New York has led the way in scouting, screening and sending young Americans to Japan for work opportunities under the government initiative known as the JET Program. But the consulate also plays an active role by working with the program’s returnees in the JET Alumni Association of America’s New York chapter (of which this writer is also a member) to continue advancing Japanese culture in America through numerous events and activities.
“I have been working on the JET Program as program coordinator for the past four years, and my most enjoyable moments doing this job have always related to JETAA NY,” said Noriko Furuhata of CGJ. “The wonderful members of JETAA NY give me their continued support on selection interviews, pre-departure orientations, recruiting and career forums, and more. I have always been very impressed with their enthusiasm promoting the JET Program and Japan-related events and activities.”
The members, whom Furuhata calls “true ambassadors for U.S.-Japan relations,” serve as good citizens and are keen to keep their connection to Japan strong while also doubling as a source to CGJ for alumni news. Steven Horowitz is JETAA NY’s professional outreach and development chair and a board member as well as the founder of JetWit.com, an online resource for the JET community.
“The consulate has been very instrumental in helping us communicate with the Japanese press,” he said. “Especially with regard to demonstrating the return on investment that JET and JETAA has and continues to provide to Japan. For the JETAA National Conference in New York this past August, they encouraged Japanese media to attend, which gave JET alumni chapter representatives a chance to share their views and experiences.”
Click here for the rest of the article.
WIT Life #134: Versatile veggies
Events, Food & Drink, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WIT Life #134: Versatile veggies
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.
Last night I was happy to be able to attend an event at Japan Society called Field to Table: The Role of Vegetables in the Japanese Diet. The featured speakers were Japanese food culture expert Elizabeth Andoh and Masato Nishihara, executive chef at Kajitsu, the only restaurant in NYC to feature 精進料理 (shouijn ryouri), a vegetarian cuisine introduced to Japan from China in the 13th century by Zen monks who had returned from studying Buddhism there.
I had met both of the speakers before, Elizabeth when I lived in Tokyo where she resides, and Nishihara-san when I interpreted for him at a food event last year. They offered their expertise regarding Read More
Job: Deputy Editor at Global Voices
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Via friend of JET, Machiko Yasuda. 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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Job Position: Deputy Editor at Global Voices
Job Description:
Global Voices seeks a Deputy Editor to help manage daily content flow in English. Global Voices in English is a central focal point for more than 400 bloggers and translators around the world who work together to report on blogs and citizen media everywhere, with emphasis on voices that are not ordinarily heard in international mainstream media. We are a global, virtual organization led by a team of part-time editors who work with volunteer authors around the world across multiple time zones, communicating primarily by email and regional mailing lists.
The Deputy Editor must possess professional and personal skills to help the site maintain and expand its role as the leading website for translating, contextualizing, and amplifying international citizen media.
For details about job responsibilities, requirements, and how to apply, go to —>
Job: News Interns at NTV
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Job posting directly from Nippon TV (NTV). 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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Job Positions: News Interns
Job Details:
Nippon TV (NTV), Japan’s oldest TV network has openings for enthusiastic news interns at New York News Bureau. The responsibility for the position is to assist our reporters in creating daily news stories, breaking news and longer feature stories to our Japanese audience. The ideal candidate would be fluent English speaker (Native/Business level) and conversational in Japanese, have great interests in news and be able to work long-term, more than 3 months. We don’t assist in any visa support.
Contact:
Interested candidates should send their English and Japanese resume to ntvny at ntvic dot com.
Jobs: Job Opportunities at PSP
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Via JET alum Megan Bernard of PSP Inc. 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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Job Positions:
PSP, Inc., a web developer and IT solutions company in Bellevue, is currently looking to add people in the following three positions:
1. Web Designer (Japanese language required)
2. Customer Service (Japanese language required)
3. Account Representative – Sales (Japanese language required)
Contact:
If you have questions, need more information or would like to submit your resume, please email Megan Bernard at c_megan dot bernard at pspinc dot com
Gaijin on Parade
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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.
32 Nara JETs, 60 Japanese people (ranging from infants to the elderly) gathered at Miwa station, all dressed in costume. Let me paint a picture for you: 30 FOREIGNERS BOARDED A TRAIN COMPLETELY CLAD IN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES. To say people stared would be an understatement. They LEERED…
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Instant Noodle Comics is a new cartoon by Shun Endo (Ibaraki Prefecture, 1998-2001), who also served as Treasurer and Webmaster for JETAA Pacific Northwest. He works as a Game Artist at Real Networks( Gamehouse Studios). To see more of his cartoons go to instantnoodlescomics.com.
Click the image to see the full comic!
Facebook Boss Filter Comic
Japan Trends: “Jersey Shore” to air in Japan, titled “Macaroni Rascals”
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This CNN story on Jersey Shore as the latest U.S. pop-culture import to Japan and how the title translates loosely as “Macaroni Rascals.”
http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/none/macaroni-rascals-mtvs-jersey-shore-comes-japan-490032
Here’s the official title:「MTV Jersey Shore〜マカロニ野郎のニュージャージー・ライフ〜」And CNN just decided to translate “yaro” as “rascals” to keep the story family friendly, but they acknowledge that the term could be translated less politely.
If anyone watches this in Japan, first, I’m very sorry. And second, JetWit would love to hear about reactions from some of your Japanese friends and colleagues.
JETAA Chapter Beat 10.25.10
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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.
- JETAA Meeting: Elections – Tuesday, November 2nd, 7:00 at Kyoto Sushi. Get involved in the future of JETAA and even throw your name into the hat as a candidate for the upcoming year.
- Job Fair – Sunday, November 6th, 12:00 at the Japan Information Center. Take the first step towards a new and better career with Chicago JETAA, and don’t forget your resume.
- Halloween Party – Saturday, October 30th, festivities start when the sun goes down. Dress your scariest, show off your most inventive Jack O’Lantern and celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with Texoma JETAA. Personal hygiene products will be collected to donate to the Thomas Street Clinic, so please donate.
JETAA New Orleans
- Kami-shibai for Kids Day – Saturday, November 13th at the local Latter Library. JETAA volunteers will be dressing up in happi and reading kami-shibai plays to children. Volunteer and spread some Japanese culture to a new generation.
- Japan Fest Writeup – JETAANOLA participated in Japan Fest at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Saturday, October 9th. Japan Fest is the largest annual celebration of Japanese culture in the Gulf South. There were performances by taiko groups, many local Japanese restaurants had booths outside the museum, and there were also tours of the small Japanese garden in the nearby Botanical Gardens. Over a dozen JET alumni helped host its popular dress-up activity. The Consulate in Nashville provided yukata and obi for people to try on, and the JETs helped show people how to wear them. We also sold Japanese candies and sweets acquired by JETAANOLA treasurer Mike Brinkman when he was in New York for the national JETAA Conference. In addition to helping promote JET and Japan, the festival helped reconnect several local JET alumni with JETAA, increasing out numbers by half a dozen names. –JETAA New Orleans
- Careers Seminar – Tuesday, October 26th, 6:00 at UWA Social Sciences Lecture Room. Get a head start on finding a new job at this year’s career seminar. Delegates from CLAIR Tokyo will be in attendance, so do not forget your resume and business cards.
- Career Seminar – Thursday, October 28th, 5:30 at MacMillan Bloedel Room, at the YMCA of Vancouver. Get back into the job market with a little help from JET alumni.
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.
Job: Employer Relations Manager, Career Services Office (Western Washington University)
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Via JET alum Effie Eisses of Western Washington University. Effie recently accepted a position as Assistant Director, MBA Services at Western Washington, and the school is now looking to find a replacement for her. 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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Job Position: Western Washington University is looking for candidates to fill the position of Employer Relations Manager at Career Services Center
Send all enquiries to:
Aaron Ignac
Assistant Director of Operations for the Career Services Center
e-Mail: aaron dot ignac at wwu dot edu
Job: LEX Internship Program
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Job posting via LEX America. 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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Job Position: LEX Internship Program
LEX America is currently accepting applications for the 2011-2012 LEX Internship Program. The application deadline for the program is December 15, 2010.
Intern Eligibility:
Applicants must be between the ages of 18-25 at the time of application. Applicants should have a strong interest in international exchange, language learning, Japanese culture, working with people of all ages, and living with host families for one year. Prior knowledge of Japanese is not required, but applicants must be willing to learn Japanese, and immerse themselves in other languages. Previous participation in LEX activities and homestay programs is encouraged, but not required for this position. 4-H members are strongly encouraged to apply (LEX partners with the 4-H organization for exchange programs and a familiarity with 4-H is preferred). Essential qualities in an applicant include strong communication skills, maturity, flexibility, openness, enthusiasm and interest in all cultures and people. For work experience, we look for strong office skills, organizational skills, public speaking skills, writing skills, and experience or potential in counseling and orienting exchange students.
Job Description:
The interns will act as the Assistant Exchange Program Coordinator in the LEX Japan office in Tokyo.
Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Interns will find that one of the benefits of working for LEX is the great people! Interns work with terrific people, from the staff to language club members and fellows, who will provide a lot of support and encouragement!
For more details, and for how to apply go to http://www.lexlrf.org/Exchange%20Program/Internship%20Program.htm
Job: Full-time copy editor/writer (LA)
Jobs Comments Off on Job: Full-time copy editor/writer (LA)
Job posting via Rafu Shimpo. 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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Job Position: Full-time copy editor/writer
Job Details:
The Rafu Shimpo, the nation’s premiere Japanese American community newspaper, is seeking a copy editor/writer, to join our English section editorial staff on a full-time basis. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to begin a career in journalism and news reporting in one of the largest news markets in the world.
Duties will include:
Applicants should have a keen sense of current events and a “nose” for news, as well as an eye for detail. Previous journalistic experience will give applicant priority, as will familiarity with posting information online. Native fluency in English is essential and Japanese fluency is a valuable plus.
After a trial term, health/dental benefits and 401k are available. The Rafu Shimpo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
For a look into the Rafu and its mission in the community, visit www.rafu.com.
Contact:
For employment information or to submit a resume, contact:
Mikey Hirano Culross
The Rafu Shimpo
(213) 629-2231, ext. 108
mikey at rafu dot com
Loss in the JET community
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From the October 20, 2010 edition of CLAIR News, a bi-monthly newsletter for the JET community published by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR):
“It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Alan Buckley, a second-year ALT in Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture. Alan, from Ireland, died on Sunday, 22 August 2010 due to injuries sustained from a traffic-related accident. We express our most sincere condolences to Alan’s family and friends during this difficult time.
If you knew Alan and would like to talk, please feel free to call the JETLINE at 03-5213-1729 (M-F 9am-5:45pm).”
Elementary School Musical PART 1
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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.
Midterms are a strange time. Students come into school, take their test, then take off for the rest of the day presumably to practice their club activity or maybe even study. Either way, there is nothing for ALTs to do during midterms. There are no real classes and no midterm test for English conversation class. As such, I was “voluntold” to teach at an elementary school Tuesday and Friday. I gladly olbliged. What follows is a tale of cuteness, creepiness, and all around awesomeness…
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