WIT Life #131: Asian Collaboration
Events, Food & Drink, Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers 
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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.
Yesterday I attended the first ever Japan & Korea Block Fair, which was held on Broadway between 93rd and 94th streets. It was sandwiched between other festivals offering your standard street fare of zeppoles and gyros, but the Asian section seemed to be getting the most foot traffic. One side featured Japanese food such as okonomiyaki and yakitori, and the other had Korean food like bulgolgi and kimchi.
My friend and I shared many different samples, but my favorite was Read More
Guest Post: A Few Humble Suggestions to Burst Your Bubble
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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.
Everitt Henry relieves my workload and gives us three suggestions for dealing with lawyer oversupply and the tuition bubble.
Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (October 2010)
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The October 2010 issue of the Sake World E-mail Newsletter by JET alum and leading sake expert John Gauntner (aka “The Sake Guy”) is now available online. In this issue:
1. Greetings: Happy Sake Day!
2. Toji Today: The State of the Artists
3. Did You Know? Start with the rougher stuff
4. Sake Basics: Sake Temperatures
5. Announcements and Events: Sake Professional Course in Portland and a new sake educational blog
6. Sake Education Central
Additional Links:
New issue: Pacific Bridge, JETAANC Newsletter
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Via JETAA Northern California’s John Dzida:
New Issue – Pacific Bridge, JETAANC newsletter
The new issue of the official JETAANC newsletter, Pacific Bridge, is now available! Read it online here: http://tinyurl.com/28vfvoz
Get caught up on all of the alumni happenings in NorCal and Nevada! Read about how alumni like you spent their summer, as well as other goings-on in the JET alumni world, including:
– Post-Alumni Led Orientation (ALO) wrap-up
– Exclusive interview with Board Member Sabrina Ishimatsu
– JETAANC Scholarship winner revealed
– Kabuki Club update
– Top 10 List and Life After the B.O.E.!
…and much more!
JETs with J.D.s >> Law School Personal Statements, and not being creepy
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Andrew R. McCarthy (Akita-ken, 2005-08) is a law student at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law focusing on international trade, business, and tax. He currently runs the blog JETs with J.D.s, an information source for current JET alumni law students and prospective law students for career paths and approaches within the current legal market. For those considering law school and trying to comprehend the costs and the risks of such an endeavor, he also recommends The Law School Tuition Bubble.
It’s law school application season, and there are plenty of applicants out there anal-retentively tending to their personal statements in attempts to make themselves sound like the beacon of light that law schools are searching for to join their class, maintain their ranks, and get all those fancy entry-level BigLaw jobs that haven’t been shifted to India.
So what makes for a good personal statement, anyway? Well, for applying to law school, you would think it would be saying how much you love the law, dream about the law, sleep with the law under you pillow, live, breathe, eat, drink, and piss law. All the time. Everyday.
But as JETs, you should already know better, but if you don’t Yale Law School’s associate dean has kindly stated the obvious for you… and it’s all available right here.
Welcome to the new JETAA International Officers
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The JETAA International Conference was held last week in Scotland, and among other things, a new slate of JETAA International officers has been elected.
Chair – Shree Kurlekar (US02 New York)
Vice Chair – Barbara Gill (JETAA Scotland, member of JETAA UK)
Secretary – Kay Dunkley (JETAA Jamaica)
PR/Treasury – David Boyd (JETAA Sydney)
Web – Paul Donovan (JETAA Canada)
Web – Bob Schnyder (US12 JETAA Portland)
O-tsukare sama deshita to the outgoing officers. Omedetou and yoroshiku onegaishimasu to the new officers.
FYI, one of the new challenges JETAAi faces as a result of recent budget cutting by the Ministry of Finance is that there will be no funding for a JETAAi meeting in 2011. Not clear yet about future meetings. But a good concrete example of how budget cutting is starting to nibble at the edges of JETAA activities and efforts.
WIT Life #130: Nobel Prize honors
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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.
Japanese professors 75-year old Eichi Negishi of Purdue University and 80-year old Akira Suzuki of Hokkaido University received news this week that they had won the $1.5 million 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on organic synthesis. This chemical method allows scientists to test cancer drugs and make thinner computer screens, and it is one of the most sophisticated tools available today. They share this honor with 79-year old American Richard Heck of the University of Delaware, but the three recipients worked entirely independently of each other, an unusual situation for joint winners.
Negishi shared that he started dreaming about winning the prize when Read More
Job: Program Coordinator Position at Waseda University
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Job posting via Sarah Kobayashi (Kobe 2007-09). 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 Description
The following tasks related to the Contemporary Japanese Studies Program (English-based Degree Program) to be conducted both in Japanese and English.
Qualifications
Candidates must meet all of the following requirements:
*Please note that these are qualifications for English-native speakers or equivalent.
Click ‘Read More’ for more details
Interview with Satoshi Okamoto of the New York Philharmonic
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Photo: Chris Lee
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.
Japanese native Satoshi Okamoto is a double bass player for the New York Philharmonic, a position he has held there since 2003. Prior to that, he was a member of New York City Ballet Orchestra for one year and an assistant principal of the San Antonio Symphony for eight years. Last September, he performed at the New York Philharmonic’s Opening Gala Celebration for its169th season with Music Director Alan Gilbert and Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for the U.S. premiere of the latter’s Swing Symphony. I caught up with Okamoto following the performance to learn more about what it’s like to play with an esteemed ensemble.
What were your impressions of this year’s Opening Gala, and what was your favorite thing about it?
I thought it was very successful. The orchestra played very solidly. It was quite a high quality performance. Mr. Marsalis’s music was really nice, too. I always wish for more contemporary composers to use existing rhythm patterns to write music, like the Baroque era. In his piece, there were a lot of those: Charleston, Kanasas City swing, New Orleans parade marches, bebop, and so on. The orchestra was nicely woven into a jazz style music. If I can wish more, it would be nicer and more creative if there are more classical elements in the piece, because it’s a little like big band music played by an orchestra.
What’s it like working with musical director Alan Gilbert and Wynton Marsalis?
I know Alan from my school days in Juilliard. He was conducting the pre-college symphony where I was a ringer (helper). I always have a great time playing under his baton. For me, it comes very natural to synchronize with his music, I would say, more than any other conductor. I don’t really know Mr. Marsalis.
As a musician, what’s the difference between working with an orchestra in Japan compared with New York?
I have never been a regular member of Japanese orchestras, so maybe it’s not totally fair for me to make a comparison. But I think New York has more of an advantage to attract great musicians worldwide. Like the NBA or MLB, you often have to reach outside of your country to grab the best players. Even though Japanese orchestras are becoming international, it’s still harder for them to get the first class players from overseas compared to the New York Philharmonic, which is in a great position to attract the best players around the world. As a result, I’m surrounded by truly amazing musicians and you can’t have this kind of experience except only a few places in the world. I am enjoying it and really appreciate it.
Read the rest of the interview here.
Justin’s Japan: Interview with Yoshiki of X Japan
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Yoshiki of X Japan. (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.
After 25 years of recording and 30 million discs sold, the biggest rock group in Japanese history is finally come coming to New York. X Japan, the pioneers of the elaborate “visual kei” movement, launched themselves with a glam-meets-metal look and sound that instantly set them apart from the pack. After selling out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times in its career, X Japan will take Roseland Ballroom Sunday. Band leader/drummer/pianist Yoshiki shared his thoughts with me on breaking America and recording a new album.
For your current North American tour, what are you looking forward to doing in New York and the other cities in the U.S. and Canada?
Do the best X Japan shows EVER. (Love)
Your forthcoming album is going to be almost entirely recorded in English. Since many popular musicians have experienced plummeting CD sales, what are the goals with the new record?
Quality and quantity secondary!
Who is your label in the States? How did you choose them?
We are in the middle of closing the deal. If we come to an agreement, we may be able to announce the label and distributor at the New York show.
Read the rest of the interview here. Click the button below to visit X Japan’s U.S. homepage.
AJET Survey: Do you have suggestions for the JET Programme?
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This year’s JET Programme Survey of current JETs is more important than ever as the JET Programme and JET Alumni Association have been subject to increased political scrutiny despite the benefits that JETs continue to provide to Japan, both during their service as well as in the years after. If you’re a current JET, please take a moment to provide responses. You are in an excellent position to help improve the JET Programme, and the more we can help the better for everyone.
Here’s the post about the survey from the AJET website:
Do you have an opinion about JET Programme orientations, technology use in your workplace or how integrated you are into your workplace? If so, please take the National AJET surveys about these issues.
Since the JET Programme is over 4,000 members strong, National AJET surveys the concerns and comments of JET Programme participants twice a year and then presents the results to CLAIR and the ministries so that your voice is heard.
You can find the the surveys here:
JET Programme Orientations
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JETorientationsTechnology in the Workplace
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AJETtech2010Workplace Integration Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/integration2010
These surveys are vital to the longevity and improvement of the JET Programme.
Asahi newspaper column offers perspective on the value of JET Programme to Japan
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The following is a synopsis/loose translation of Bill Breer’s recent op-ed piece about the importance of the JET Programme to Japan which appeared in the My Viewpoint column of the Asahi newspaper from October 1, 2010. Breer is the former Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
I thought it was worth sharing with the JET alum community as it provides some rather helpful perspective on the value to Japan of the JET Programme and the JET Alumni Association.
Bill Breer, Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies
In this world of ongoing globalization, the JET Program is a daring, unique effort to open up the world to students in Japan. It is the Japanese government’s most successful program, and no other country has been able to create a citizens’ exchange initiative like it.
The many young people who have participated in the Program from the world’s leading English-speaking countries have come to like Japan, have learned the language, come to know the people and culture, and have gone on to become the “Third Wave” of Japanese scholarship.
The “First Wave” developed from the mid-19th century as art collectors worked with Japanese artists and merchants to build the great collections at the Boston Museum of Art, the Freer Galleries in Washington, DC, and others, entrancing Americans with Japan’s beauty and culture and producing the first research on Japan.
The “Second Wave” came out of the tragedy of the Second World War, as the US government trained thousands of soldiers in Japanese language for the war effort. These people came home with a deep interest in Japan and created the base of scholarship into Japan’s history, culture, economics and politics at the great universities. These men include Edwin Reischauer at Harvard, James Morley, Donald Keene, Edward Seidensticker and Herbert Passin at Columbia, and John Hall at Yale.
Now, the JET Program, begun in 1987, has given birth to a new generation. These people have an entirely different perspective on Japan and the Japanese people. Many of them have a fondness for Japan and are instrumental in conveying that to people in their home countries. Furthermore, many have gone on to become educators conducting further research on Japan, and this piques their students’ interest in JET. Over 20 ex-JETs work at the US Embassy in Tokyo, and many more work in business in New York, London, and other major cities. They are all passionate “Japanese ambassadors”, conveying the message that Japan is an outstanding country with a rich history and culture.
America has the Fulbright Program and England the Rhodes Scholarships, but Japan should be proud of its JET Program as the most successful example of a government youth exchange program. JET is the advance guard of Japan’s “internationalization”, whose participants have changed the Japanese people’s perceptions of “gaijin” and then gone home to become lifelong friends of Japan.
Japan could still use “friends” like these, couldn’t it?
Here is the original column:
Rajio Taiso Project – JETAA Portland
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A little while back we posted about JETAA Portland’s effort to get every JETAA chapter to make a Rajio Taiso video in their city or town. Well, JETAA Portland has started things off with the first video.
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Inspired? For more information, or to submit your a video for your chapter, you can contact JETAA Portland’s webmaster Bob Schnyder at webmaster@jetaaportland.com or go to: http://www.jetaaportland.com/community-events/rajio-taiso-portland-japanese-gardens/
Japan America Society Roundup 10.4.10
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JET Alum Gail Cetnar Meadows (Hiroshima-shi 2007-10), co-founder of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of Japan America Societies…
Japan’s Emperor System: Bane of Blessing? — Learn all about the history of Japan’s emperor system from James Huffman, who taught East Asian history for 35 years at Wittenberg University in Ohio. Huffman will discuss the dramatic ways in which Japan’s emperor system has changed across the modern era: the use of the Meiji Emperor to create a modern state in the late 1800s, the controversial role of the Shōwa Emperor (Hirohito) during World War II, and the debates that have raged around the emperor in the postwar era. He will include comments on the personal approaches (and quirks) of individual emperors and will conclude with reflections on the role of the emperor system in Japan’s current political system and what the imperial family means to the Japanese society.
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 21
- Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Place: Conference Center UBS Tower One, N. Wacker Drive, 2nd floor (Superior Room), Chicago
- For more information, click here.
2010 Matsuri — Get your dose of Japanese culture at this festival featuring tea ceremonies, karate and kendo demonstrations, dance performances and live musical performances with taiko drums, the koto and the shakuhachi. The festival will take place at the Water Garden Gems, which also will be hosting the 18th annual Koi & Goldfish Show and the AGA National Goldfish Show.
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 9
- Time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Place: Water Garden Gems, 3136 Bolton Road, Marion, Texas
- For more information, click here.
Academic Lecture Series Speaker — John W. Traphagan, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will provide an introduction to general themes in Japanese religions, focusing on Shinto and Buddhism. Rather than exploring religious texts, the talk will look at how people in contemporary Japan use religious symbols and ideas in ritual practice.
- Date: Friday, Oct. 8
- Time: 7 to 8:15 p.m.
- Place: Kumon of Westlake – Math and Reading Center, 3345 Bee Caves Road, Suite 103, Austin, Texas
- For more information, click here.
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
Job: Team Assistant at PAX-Program of Academic Exchange
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Job posting via Jet Alum Elizabeth Bass. 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: Team Assistant
Job Description:
Entry level opportunity for College graduate interested in international educational exchange. Provide administrative support to regional directors in fast paced, lively environment. The ideal candidate is well organized, detail orientated with a can do attitude. Excellent computer skills a must. Room for ample growth, Great work environment in downtown Port Chester, NY near Metro-North station.
Contact:
Email cover letter & resume to: michaels at pax dot org
PAX -Program of Academic Exchange.
A non-profit Educational Foundation.
www.pax.org
