Notable JET Alums: Barefoot Ted
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Thanks to JET alum Sacha Battrick (currently working at CLAIR-Tokyo) for sharing this:
Barefoot Ted (aka Ted McDonald), a JET from 93-96, has established himself as one of the leading proponents of barefoot running. He’s also has a company that makes sandals based on models originally developed by indigenous peoples. He gave a Google talk about barefoot running back in March for the Authors@Google series.
More info about Ted at his blog: www.barefootted.com
Do you know of any notable JET alums? Let us know at jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
WIT Life #118：プリクラの進化
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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.
It’s been a few years since I lived in Japan, but during my various periods in the country purikura played a big part in my life. Purikura stands for “print club” and refers to the sticker pictures often taken with friends that blanket Japan and many malls in the States as well. I must admit I sometimes didn’t fully understand all the purikura functions available and usually let my Japanese friends take charge, but they seem to have advanced even further these days. A special on the news this morning took a look at what current purikura machines have to offer.
Three functions were highlighted as being the most sought after by young women, who are the prime target of purikura. They are big eyes (デカ目 or dekame), skin beautifier (美肌機能 or bihada kinou) and linking to your keitai (携帯との連動性）. The first option of dekame works Read More
JET ROI: Japanese media coverage of the JETAA USA National Conference
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Update 8/25/10: Kyodo has put out an English version of the article. Here are links:
- http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100817a8.html
- http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/us-alumni-call-for-continuation-of-jet-program
Kyodo News Service ran an article in Japanese on the JETAA USA National Conference dated August 16 that was carried by a number of Japanese local newspapers. The article resulted from the JETAA press release issued at the end of the Conference. Below is the list of the papers. Thanks to Noriko Furuhata of the Consulate General of Japan in New York for sharing the information. (BTW, if anyone wants to write up an English summary of the article in the comments section of this post, that would be greatly appreciated.):
- 徳島新聞 Tokushima Shimbun http://www.topics.or.jp/worldNews/worldTopics/2010/08/2010081601000165.html
- 京都新聞 Kyoto Shimbun http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/politics/article/20100816000030
- 千葉トピ Chiba Nippo http://www.chibanippo.co.jp/news/world/entertaiment_kiji.php?i=nesp1281924322
- 山形新聞 Yamagata Shimbun http://yamagata-np.jp/news_core/index_pr.php?kate=Lifestyle_Human_Interest&no=2010081601000165&keyword=%A5%B8%A5%A7%A5%A4%A5%BD%A5%F3
- 新潟日報 Niigata Nippo https://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/world/lifestyle/2010081601000165.html
- 大分合同新聞 Oita Godo Shimbun http://www.oita-press.co.jp/worldTopics/2010/08/2010081601000165.html
- 山陽新聞 Sanyo Shimbun http://www.sanyo.oni.co.jp/news_k/news/d/2010081601000165/
- 河北新報 Kahoku Shimpo http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2010/08/2010081601000165.htm
- 西日本新聞 Nishi Nippon Shimbun http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/191143
- 山陰中央新報 Sanin Chuo Shinpo http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/newspack/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1059682016
- 北國・富山新聞 Hokkoku Toyama Shimbun http://www.hokkoku.co.jp/newspack/09kurasi2010081601000165.html
- 高知新聞 Kochi Shimbun http://203.139.202.230/?&nwSrl=224803&nwVt=npd
- 中日新聞 Chunichi Shimbun http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
- 神戸新聞 Kobe Shimbun http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/knews/0003323442.shtml
- 下野新聞 Shimotsuke Shimbun http://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/news/domestic/life/news/20100816/367829
- 岩手日報 Iwate Nippo http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/newspack/cgi-bin/newspack_s.cgi?s_lifestyle_l+CN2010081601000165_1
- 静岡新聞 Shizuoka Shimbun http://www.shizushin.com/news/culture/topix/2010081601000165
- 大阪日々新聞 Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun https://www.nnn.co.jp/dainichi/knews/100816/20100816024.html
- 中国新聞 Chugoku Shimbun http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Sp201008160110.html
- 佐賀新聞 Saga Shimbun http://www.saga-s.co.jp/news/global/corenews.0.1706307.article.html
- 熊本日報 Kumamoto Nippo http://kumanichi.com/news/kyodo/life/201008/20100816004.shtml
A few more links to the article that ran in major Japanese publications online:
- http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/america/100816/amr1008161052004-n1.htm
- http://www.47news.jp/CN/201008/CN2010081601000165.html
- http://www.nikkei.com/news/latest/article/g=96958A9C9381959FE3E4E2E3E38DE3E4
- http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/country/article/20100816000030
- http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/f24/CN20100816/li2010081601000165.shtml
- http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
- http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
Also, below is a scan of an article in the Tokyo Shimbun that was written by one of their reporters who actually attended the Conference and has quotes from some of the JETAA chapter representatives with whom he spoke:
JET Alumni volunteers needed for New York Mets’ Japanese Heritage Night – Fri, Aug 27
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The organizers of the First Annual Japanese Heritage Night are looking for JETAANY volunteers.
Email Donna Tsufura at thedayako@gmail.com for more details (use “JETAANY” as the subject line).
Volunteers are needed for:
1) Information Tables: setting up and manning two tables with info on Japanese and Japanese Americans
2) Pre-Game performance: coordiinating taiko and bon dance participants
3) Mets Spirit Awards: coodinating Award participants
4) Transportation: JET members w/cars driving Award participants &others to & from Citi Field
5) Partnership outreach: generating ticket donations/ funding / services from companies & individuals
6) Program: assisting with writing & production for printed program
7) Outreach: reaching communities who are not yet aware of Japanese Heritage Night
8) Press/media: assisting with media needs, individual interviews
9) Documenting:video, photo & reporting coverage of the event
A general timetable of events:
SCHEDULE FOR JAPANESE HERITAGE NIGHT
Friday, August 27, 2010
(draft as of 8/23, 2:30pm)- subject to change
4:15 Material for Information tables can be dropped off at Mets office
4:40 Information tables set up
5:40 Performers enter Bullpen Plaza Gate, escorted by Mets staff
6:30 Pre-game entertainment begins (20 min)
Taiko drumming by Soh Daiko “Hachidan Uchi” (10 min piece)
Obon dance “Tanko Bushi” led by Japanese Folk Institute of New York (3 min piece)
dance participants include people from the Japanese heritage community and friends
6:50 Spirit Award Ceremony (5 min)
Awards given to the following communities and received by members of those communities.
Baseball – received by Satoru Tsufura (Nisei ballplayer) and Shuji Kato (JAA baseball league)
Military Service – Kaz Yamagushi (WWII vet) and Lt. Janelle Kuroda (Navy, active duty in Iraq)
Community Service – Suki Terada Ports and Sam Kiyomi Turner (activists, HIV AIDS, Ninth Ward)
In attendance: Ambassador Nishimiya
6:58 National Anthem sung by Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa
7:10 Game starts
5th inning Information Tables broken down
Also, for our pre-game event, JET alumni are invited to dance the Tanko Bushi on the Mets centerfield! It is a simple and fun bon dance honoring one’s ancestors. Here are the online instructions for the dance and an an mp3 of the song for you to practice.
TICKETS: All JET alumni volunteering and/or dancing at Citi Field must have a ticket to the game. The Mets have made available discounted tickets in specific areas of the stadium. I believe your website has a draft of the flyer with outdated information saying that the ticket purchase cutoff was August 5. Please inform your members that discount tickets are now available until Thurs, August 26. Regular tickets can be bought on the day of the game.
JETAA Chapter Beat 8.20.10
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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.
- 11th English Discussion Forum – Saturday, August 21st, 3:00 at Inner Sunset area of San Francisco. The topic of this month’s forum is the “Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
- Noh Theatre Nite – Tuesday, August 24th, 6:00 at the San Francisco Public Library, Paley Conference Room. Learn about Japanese Noh Theatre with the JETAANC Kabuki Club. An informative documentary about Noh will be shown, followed by a short Noh Performance on video entitled, “The Wooden Water Well.”
- New People’s J-Pop Summit Festival Volunteers Needed – The New People J-Pop Center is hosting the J-Pop Summer Festival in Japantown in San Francisco and they are looking for volunteers to help with the many planned events. Get back into the spirit of the summer matsuri and help out.
- Go-Cart Mayhem and Networking Night – Saturday, August 21st, 7:00 to 9:00 at the Houston Grand Prix. Join Texoma JETAA for a night of go-carts, video games, pinball and more. See old friends and meet new ones over pizza and soda.
- Camping in Michigan – Saturday, September 18th thru Sunday September 19th in Van Buren State Park on Lake Michigan. JETAA Chicago is packing the car, setting up the tents and spending the weekend at the lake. Spend Saturday on the beach, followed by a cookout complete with ghost stories and marsh mellows.
- Happy Hour – Friday, August 27th, 6:00 at McCormick and Schmicks. Join the guys at JETAANE for a night of relaxation and fun at this month’s Happy Hour event.
- Aki Matsuri Volunteers Needed! – PNWJETAA is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s Aki Matsuri on September 11th and 12th. Do your part in helping to preserve the JET Program by helping to inform people about JET and your own experiences working and living in Japan.
- Tsukimi no Kai – Saturday, August 21st, 7:00 to 10:00 at the Seattle Japanese Garden. Gaze up at the harvest moon this month for a moonviewing event that includes haiku readings, music, tea ceremony and more.
- Historic Walking Tour: Jewish & Japanese Strathcona – Friday, August 27th, 1:30 to 3:30. The Jewish Museum & Archives of BC are presenting a tour of the histories of both early Jewish and Japanese communities in Vancouver, including the Jewish and Japanese Strathcona landmarks, Oppenheimer Park and more.
- Mokuyokai Hike to Joffre Lakes – Saturday, August 28th, 8:15 A.M to 8:00 P.M. at Joffre Lake. Mokuyokai is heading into the woods for a challenging hike to the emerald green alpine Joffre Lakes. Transportation is included and the trail is a sometimes steep and rocky 11km, so come prepared for a workout.
- Bonsai Class – Saturday, September 25th, 10:00 to 3:30(with a half hour break for lunch) at the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Center. Learn how to develop, transform and care for your bonsai at this informative class.
- Annual JETAA Wales Picnic – Sunday, August 22nd, 1:00 at Bute Park in Cardiff. Get out the picnic basket and get outside with JETAA UK for their annual picnic in Bute Park. Friends and family of JETs are invited, so don’t miss it.
- JETAA Masters Golf 2010 – Sunday, August 22nd, 10:30 at McMenamins Edgefield’s Pub Course in Troutdale. Compete for the Sugoi “Green Jacket” at this years JETAA Portland Masters Tournament. Golfers of all levels are welcome to join and share in this exciting and fun day.
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.
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.
As of late there has been much discussion regarding to what extent English should be incorporated into different aspects of Japanese society. A recent post here talked about the possibility of mandating English in Japanese high schools in 2013, and a Wall Street Journal article from earlier this month entitled “English Gets the Last Word in Japan” highlighted Japanese firms that are conducting their internal business in English. This is an interesting phenomenon that is especially timely in light of the possibility of the JET program being cut.
The high school teacher who wrote the former article says, “Although many of our school’s students acquire the reading and writing skills needed to pass university entrance exams, I have failed to teach them the skills necessary for simple conversation. In the future, these elite students from high-ranking universities will Read More
WIT Life #116: Japanese Shifts in Sumo and Economic Status
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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.
Two interesting Japan articles in today’s Wall Street Journal. The first on the cover page talks about the sumo club at Tokyo University, and how those previously not associated with the sport, such as smaller size wrestlers and foreigners, are now making a splash. The second in the opinion section discusses the recent news that China has replaced Japan as the world’s second largest economy (and is set to surpass America in the near future). Happy reading!
According to a letter published in the Japan Times by a Nara-based Japanese teacher of English, high schools will be required to teach English class in English. And she doesn’t think the schools will be ready.
Here’s an excerpt:
Beginning in 2013, high school English classes are to be taught in English. New guidelines from the education ministry also state that English grammar should no longer be taught as a whole subject but instead incorporated with expressions and vocabulary of the new textbook “English Communication I-III.”
Here’s the link to the full letter: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/rc20100812a6.html
JET ROI: Japan Times article – “JETs Press to Keep Program Intact”
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JETAA issued a press release following the JETAA USA National Conference in New York this past weekend, and the Japan Times has responded with a Kyodo News article titled “JETs Press to Keep Program Intact.”
Here’s the link: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100817a8.html
*Thanks to JETAA Hawaii’s Krystle Hara for sharing the article with JetWit.
Japanese press coverage of the JETAA USA National Conference
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The JETAA USA National Conference (which brings together officers from the 19 U.S. JET Alumni Association chapters) was held this past weekend in New York City (Aug 12-15). Much of the conference discussion surrounded the potential cuts and/or changes to JET and JETAA. One of JETAA’s primary challenges has been not only communicating all the positive and beneficial activities and efforts of JET alumni on behalf of Japan, but getting it communicated in Japanese to the Japanese media so that more Japanese citizens are aware of all the value JET alums bring to Japan, it’s foreign relations and its economy.
As a result, it’s encouraging to see an article in Japanese today from Kyodo News today about the JETAA USA National Conference that has been picked up by several Japanese publications:
- http://www.nikkei.com/news/category/article/g=96958A9C9381959FE3E4E2E3E38DE3E4E2EAE0E2E3E29C9CE2E2E2E2;at=ALL
- http://www.47news.jp/CN/201008/CN2010081601000165.html
- http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
- http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2010081601000165.html
*Thanks to Noriko Furuhata, JET Liaison at the Consulate General of Japan in New York, for sharing the links with JetWit.
Reader extra credit: Post an English summary of the article in the comments section below!
Life After the B.O.E.: Your Name
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Life After the B.O.E. is a comic series about the JET experience by David Namisato (Aomori-ken, 2002-2004), a professional illustrator currently living in Toronto.
Visit David’s website at www.namisato.org.
JET ROI: “Because of JET……”
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JETAA NY Webmaster and tech/social media guru Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) got the ball rolling with a video series called “Because of JET…..“ in which he uploaded short video clips of JET alumni sharing some good things that they experienced and witnessed as a result of participating in JET. The first few videos were taken at the JETAA National Conference this past weekend in New York.
Here’s the link to see all the videos so far: http://becauseofjet.tumblr.com/
- Send your own video testimonial to webmaster@jetaany.org to have it included and let people know about some of the positive effects of JET that they might not otherwise be aware of.
- If you can say your piece in Japanese that would be particularly helpful, according to Matt Gillam of CLAIR NY.
- Additionally, you can post your own “Because of JET…” testimony in written form by posting in the comments section here or in this other post on JetWit: https://jetwit.com/wordpress/2010/07/04/jet-roi-because-of-jet/
- Written testimony in Japanese is also potentially very helpful.
Here’s one of the videos:
Top 10: If a JET Alum were President of the U.S……
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This past weekend at the JETAA USA Conference hosted by the JETAA New York chapter, there were several references in speeches (including by Ambassador Fujisaki) to the possibility of a JET alum someday becoming President of the United States. Fortunately, this issue was already addressed in the Spring 2004 issue of the JETAA NY Quarterly Newsletter so we’ll all know exactly what to expect:
Spring 2004 – THE “POLITICS” ISSUE TOP 14!
It could happen. One of these days one of our very own from the JET Alumni community could become President of the United States. What would that be like, ka na…?
THE TOP 14 THINGS THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF A JET ALUM WERE PRESIDENT
14. Fifty-minute self-introduction on first day in office.
13. Press conference with Japanese media to promote internationalization and clear up confusion over ability to use chopsticks.
12. Presidential toilet seat warmer.
11. Future school history books include section on famous “I Have a Pen!” speech.
10. Vending machines with hot corn soup installed throughout White House
9. Pre-Departure Orientation in the Rose Garden
8. Curry rice included in public school lunch menus across the U.S.
7. All Foreign Service language training outsourced to AEON.
6. Inauguration Karaoke!
5. All JETAA Chapter Reps appointed to ambassadorships.
4. President works half days, then goes on vacation. (Wait a second…)
3. Spin control involves slapping Vice President on the back of the head to evoke laughter from audience and divert controversy.
2. All policies explained very clearly, slowly and loudly.
1. Oval Office Happy Hour!
*(Click here for more Top Ten lists from past Newsletter issues.)
Notable JET Alums: Aaron Woolfolk’s “The Harimaya Bridge” wins at Pan African Film Festival
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Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken, 1991-93)
Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi-ken, 1991-93), director and writer of the Kochi-based film, “The Harimaya Bridge,” recently won a director’s award at the 2010 Pan African Film Festival.
Click the link below to read the article and learn more about Aaron and his acclaimed film.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/12/18655970.php
Job: Administrative & Program Assistant (Seattle)
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The Japan-America Society of the State of Washington is currently accepting applications from qualified individuals to fill the position of Administrative & Program Assistant.
The Application Deadline: August 31, 2010
Job Description
This position is responsible for the smooth operation of all office systems in a small, intimate office setting in downtown Seattle. Duties include general office work, membership communication & support, Board of Directors and committee communication & support, website maintenance (with the assistance of the Society’s website provider), program assistance including staffing programs (some evenings), management of one or more office interns, data entry and database management, and other work as directed by the Executive Director. Please click here for a more detailed list of responsibilities. Read More
