Tom Baker (Chiba-ken, 1989-91) is a staff writer for The Daily Yomiuri. He usually writes for DYWeekend, the paper’s arts and leisure section. You can follow Tom’s blog at tokyotombaker.wordpress.com.
He recently interviewed Azby Brown, author of “Just Enough,” a book that describes how Japanese people 200 years ago (including the million-plus residents of Edo, which was the world’s largest city at the time) led environmentally sustainable lives. Here is an excerpt:
Most of the details are of purely historical interest. It is unlikely, for instance, that you will ever need to stitch a thatched roof onto your house with a wooden sewing needle the size of a spear.
However, the larger patterns that emerge from the details are of vital interest today. A farmer’s thatched roof could be made of rice straw, making good use of a by-product of food production. The same straw also was used to make rope, sandals, bags or mats. And when those items were worn out, they could be composted or mulched to help grow more rice, or they could be burned as fuel, incidentally creating ash that could be sold to the makers of ceramics, dyes and other products.
Brown calls this an example of “the zero-waste ideal.” But it wasn’t just farmers living close to the land who approached this ideal. Even urban Edo recycled almost everything and wasted almost nothing. “It was a self-policing system, because nearly every waste product had economic value for someone else,” Brown writes.
“Waste product” in this context means more than just rags, scraps and ash. Even the contents of the city’s toilets had economic value, with farmers paying for the privilege of hauling “night soil” away to make compost for their fields. Urine was collected separately, to extract ammonia and other useful chemicals.
Brown thinks these are practices to which the modern world would do well to return, especially in the present era of “alarming topsoil losses.” Unfortunately, the “yuck factor” keeps such resources from being utilized.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever seen…a composting toilet,” Brown said in the interview. “The compost that comes out is absolutely inoffensive. You really would think it was peat moss. You would not know what it was. There is almost no smell. [The problem is] the idea more than anything else.”
The use of night soil as farm fertilizer actually promoted public health in the Edo era, Brown writes. Because waste was collected and hauled away, it stayed out of the urban groundwater supply, helping to spare Edo from the deadly cholera epidemics that often swept large Western cities of the time.
Job: Paid Internship at Japan Society of Northern California (SF)
Jobs 
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Via JETAANC jobs yahoo group:
The Japan Society of Northern California has a part-time internship available with a monthly stipend. The intern provides administrative support to the Japan Society staff and helps maintain the Society’s on-line presence. This position requires a pleasant office demeanor, good written and spoken English language skills, good organization with an eye for detail, and a capacity to multi-task. The intern is part of a small team, demonstrating initiative to solve challenges.
Required Qualifications:
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Job: Asia Society seeks Director (NYC)
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Via the JETAA USA LinkedIn group:
The Director is a key organizational leader with responsibility for growing and directing the International Studies Schools Network, an integral part of the Asia Society’s national initiative to promote international education in US schools.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Job: New AET needed in Shintoku (Hokkaido)
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Via the Hokkaido JETs Yahoo listserv:
The Shintoku BOE is looking for an applicant to fill one of its two Assistant English Teacher (AET) positions. The town is looking for someone who can help the Japanese teachers with the Eigo Note. The successful applicant will also help teach at 2 junior high schools, design and teach a children’s conversation class and coordinate a yearly English/holiday party with the town’s other AET.
Application deadline: June 18th
Position begins: August 1st
Job: Business Operations Manager with Nichi Bei Foundation (SF)
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Via the JETAANCjobs Yahoo listserv:
The Nichi Bei Foundation, a non-profit newspaper based in San Francisco’s Japantown, is currently recruiting for a Business Operations Manager. Strategic business planning experience, familiarity with accounting management software, and Japanese language ability preferred.
WIT Life #96: ヒューストンの日本庭園
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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.
The hot, humid weather down here in Houston certainly takes its toll on the body, but I was able to enjoy a morning run this weekend with one of the participants in my group (By the way, this fellow runner is also a former interpreter, and I would highly recommend her Japanese-only very entertaining blog). Our destination was Hermann Park located just off of the Rice University campus, and when we arrived and did some exploring we were able to find a Japanese garden! (日本庭園 or Nihon teien)
It was authentic in all respects, with manicured paths and a large tea house in the back. We took respite in the shade and Read More
J-DOC: JLPT 2010 – Lessons from the past and recommendations for the future!
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J-DOC, C-DOC, and K-DOC are recurring features written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based 
language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese, Chinese, and Korean language learning options.
Japanese Class listing can be found at: Japanese Classes or Japanese Classes Online
So it’s about that time of year where students are thinking about and preparing for the JLPT (The Japanese Proficiency Exam). Preparing for the exam this year will be different than last year, there have been a lot of changes to the exam. This article explores the Japanese proficiency exam with personal accounts of past failures and successes, and how this relates to the JLPT 2010.
For those readers who are not sure what I’m talking about by the “1-kyu” in the title of this article, there are 5 levels of the Japanese proficiency exam in 2010. 5-kyu is the beginner level, where as 1-kyu is the highest level.
Last year’s 1-kyu exam was quite difficult… (Click JLPT FAQ for the rest of the article)
WIT Life #95: 事業仕分け
Anecdote Article, Article/Journalism, Japan Trends, Return on JET-vestment, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life Comments Off on WIT Life #95: 事業仕分け
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.
The Japanese government is currently undertaking 事業仕分け (jigyo shiwake), budget screening or review and prioritization of government projects. This has become a buzzword since the DPJ came into office promising to eliminate wasteful government spending. The party sees this reassessment method as a potentially powerful way to chop budgets. It is being carried out to the point where no one knows where the ax will fall next.
In fact, the group I am currently interpreting for is here in the U.S. for a year through a program carried out by Japan’s National Personnel Authority and supported by the State Department. They are representatives of a variety of Ministries and will spend their time researching and producing papers on topics relating to their respective fields, with the hopes of applying this knowledge when they return home. However, they are concerned that due to jigyo shiwake there might not be a group to succeed them next year.
I recently received news from a friend at the Japan Local Government Center, the New York branch of the Council for Local Authority on International Relations (CLAIR), one of the sponsors of the JET program. He told me that Read More
The Juris Doctor Is Your New Bass-O-Matic
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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 his own blog, 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.
Like me, many American JETs contemplate going to law school when faced with their contracts expiring. You may hear about the value of the Juris Doctor – the degree that’s so flexible you can do anything with it. Find out why you should recontract and save your yennies by reading this.
JETAA Chapter Beat 5.21.10
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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.
- Japanese Cooking Class – Saturday, May 22nd, 12:00 to 2:30 at the Cooking and Crafts Room on the 2nd floor of the Nikkei Centre. Naomi-sensei will be giving a lesson on Harusame Salad, Yahata Maki, Kinpira Renkon and Azuki Shiratama for dessert.
- 2010 JET Pre-Departure Seminar Volunteers Needed – JETAABC is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s Pre-Departure Orientation and Seminar. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, June 26th, 9:00 to 17:00 and Sunday, June 27th from 14:15 to 15:30 for a seminar panel discussion. Presentation topics include Culture Shock, Your First Month in Japan, etc.
- Saturday Brunch at Lucky Strike – Saturday, May 22nd, 11:00 to 1:00 at Lucky Strike in Houston. Join the gang for brunch, including bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys and a free game of bowling.
- Happy Hour – Wednesday, May 26th, 6:00 at Redline in Harvard Square. Join the guys at JETAANE for a night of relaxation and fun at this month’s Happy Hour event.
- June Networking Event – Wednesday, June 2nd, 6:00 to 8:00 at La Tasca in Clarendon. Get together with other local JET alumni over sangrias for a chance to make friends and new contacts.
- Komen Race for the Cure – Saturday, June 5th, 7:40 A.M. at the corner of Consitution and 7th St. Join the JETAADC team and help raise money to help end breast cancer forever.
- O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, June 2nd, 6:00 at Coo Izakaya in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.
- Japan Expo – Tuesday, June 1st, 6:30 at King O’Malley’s. In order to promote tourism in Japan, there will be a Japan Expo held at City Walk Canberra. Check it out.
- Annual General Meeting and Lunch – Saturday, June 5th, 11:30 at a location to be determined. Come discuss the future of JETAA Canberra and get involved. A sushi lunch will be provided.
- Softball Challenge Writeup – The Softball challenge was held last Saturday, 15 May 2010 at Fellows Oval ANU. The Embassy of Japan team once again took the winner’s title. The JETAA, AJS and CJC team had some great games and played well. Thank you for your support — JETAA Canberra
- Japan Day 2010 Volunteers Needed – Sunday, June 6th at East Meadow in Central Park. JETAANY is assisting in this years’ Japan Day, and they are looking for volunteers to help man the YoYo fishing booth. Sign up to help with the Morning, Afternoon or Clean-up shifts.
- 2010 JET Pre-Departure Seminar Volunteers Needed – JETAANY is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s JET Pre-Departure on Saturday, June 26th. Topics include Life as a JET and Studying Japanese in Japan.
- Kamifusen Workshop – Saturday, May 22nd, 3:00 to 4:30 at East Meadow in Central Park. Join in and learn about Kamifusen, a paper balloon that is a traditional Japanese toy.
- Nihongo Dake Dinner – Wednesday, May 26th, 7:00 to 9:00 at Bia Garden. Practice your Japanese in the warm night air as JETAANY’s Nihongo Dake Dinner is being held in a Vietnamese Beer Garden this month.
- Kabuki Club – Saturday, May 22nd, 2:00 at the San Francisco Public Library, Paley Room. This month the Kabuki Club will be viewing the final two acts of Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Blossoms.
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.
Interview with Richie Kotzen on Mr. Big, touring Japan
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For over twenty years, Richie Kotzen has waxed nearly as many albums under his own name, as well as high-profile discs as a former member of platinum-selling rock bands Poison and Mr. Big, the latter of which enjoyed massive popularity in Japan. Kotzen recorded two albums with them—1999’s Get Over It and 2001’s Actual Size—before the group called it quits with a Japanese farewell tour the following year. (In 2008 they reformed their original lineup, and is rumored to hit the road in the U.S. next year.)
Kotzen’s most recent release is 2009’s Peace Sign. JQ Magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) spoke with him for Examiner.com while he was en route to the next stop of his current tour, which comes to New York’s Highline Ballroom on May 25. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to read the interview and subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories, including parts II and III of this interview.
Job: Translation/Writing/Editing with JAPANiCAN (Tokyo)
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Thanks to JET alums and JAPANiCAN employees Bryan Reynolds and Brian Blanchard for sending this job listing to JetWit:
JTB GMT WEB販売部 JAPANiCAN営業チーム 求人情報
【Job Summary】
Job type Back office
Career level Mid-career
Contract type Fixed-term contract staff
Contract period End of June 2010 – 31 March 2011
Contract renewable a maximum of 4 times. After initial contract period, subsequent contracts will be for a period of 1 year.
*The decision to renew a contract will be based on job performance and results achieved under the previous contract, and will only occur with the consent of both parties.
Location Tokyo Shinagawa-ku
English level Native
Japanese level Business
Salary JPY 2,800,000 – 3,000,000/year
Requirements Native level English, currently residing in Japan
Able to begin work by end of June 2010
【About us】
JAPANiCAN.com is an online travel booking site for foreigners planning to travel around Japan. We provide a wide range of travel services and hospitality that has been built and integrated on top of the history of the JTB Group, one of Japan’s biggest travel companies. Our website is available in English, Korean and Chinese (traditional and simplified).
Our division has a culturally diverse staff and is a very friendly environment.
We are currently looking for native English speakers to join our Translation/Writing/Editing staff.
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How to Present Yourself to a Publisher or Agent at a writers conference
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Laura Popp (Mie-ken, 2009-Present) is a current JET who writes fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, and is an occasional playwright/film maker. Her short work includes a short story titled “In theShadow Realm” and a documentary she made in Malawi. To read about her amazing adventures all over Japan, go to her blog at laurajanepopp.blogspot.com. (And check out the Authors/Books section of the JetWit Library for a list of more writers in the JET-o-sphere.)
Tired of submitting queries to agents and editors and simply getting form rejection letters or worse, NO RESPONSE? Wondering if they`re even bothering to read your stuff? Frustrated by wanting to submit to publishing houses that only receive submissions from agents and “referred” writers? Consider meeting publishers and agents at a conference!
Recently I returned from a writers` conference in my home in Oklahoma and came back with some great success stories to tell. Even better than the wonderful presentations on writing, polishing and marketing were the opportunities for networking and industry contacts. One literary agent asked me for the first fifty pages of my middle grade novel Dargon, another agent requested a proposal for my young adult novel Treasure Traitor, and a publisher from Simon and Shuster asked to see the full manuscripts of BOTH. A travel publisher also requested a proposal for a non-fiction travel-essay book on Japan, and best of all, a Christian magazine publisher accepted one of my stories on the spot! Of course, most of these are just birds in the bush, if you will, but they are certainly a good start.
So how did you do it? you may be wondering. Well, let me tell you…
Do your homework
Many conferences post information about editors and agents who will be attending in advance. Research them and pick the ones that look like they may be interested in your completed fiction projects or non-fiction ideas. Note that most agents and publishers will ONLY consider finished fiction works and proposals for non-fiction articles and books.
Try to make an appointment
If you have the option to make an appointment, Read More
Examiner.com NY Japanese culture roundup: 5/19
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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.
Japan Society serves up annual sake lecture/tasting Wednesday (5/19)
Japan U.S. Media Professionals launch networking debut Thursday (5/20)
Salon Series offers Joy of Okinawan Music and Dance Sunday (5/23)
JQ Magazine’s May/June 2010 “JET Author Issue” Out Now!
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It’s a veritable JET literary review in the new issue of JQ, featuring an interview with bestselling Learning to Bow author Bruce Feiler and three-time Stephen Leacock Medal winner Will Ferguson! Click here to view.
Additional contents below. Thanks to JQ editor Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) for another solid issue. Contact Justin if you’d like to pitch or write a story for the next issue.
CONTENTS
- Page 3….From the Editor, New Country Reps
- Page 4….Nippon News Blotter / Wynne Memorial
- Page 5….JETAANY Election Recap
- Page 5….Gorgeous Entertainment by Anthony Waldman
- Page 6….Int’l Center of New York by Pamela Kavalam
- Page 6….Yoko Shioya of Japan Society by Lyle Sylvander
- Page 7….JETlog Feauturing Gail Cetnar Meadows
- Page 8….Bruce Feiler: The JQ Interview by Justin Tedaldi
- Page 9….JETAANY Society Page Photos
- Page 10…Nihonjin in NY: Nobuya Nagahama by Stacy Smith
- Page 11….Echostream Rocks the Anime Circuit by Earth Bennett
- Page 13.…Robataya Restaurant Review by Nancy Ikehara
- Page 13….The Niigata Sake Book by Yukari Sakamoto
- Page 14.…Will Ferguson: Canadian Cousin by Joshua Graubart
- Page 15….The Funny Page
