Japan Society: Isaac Shapiro book signing
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From the Japan Society of New York
Born to Russian Jewish parents in Tokyo in 1931, Isaac Shapiro grew up in the shadows of war torn Japan. Mr. Shapiro, who went on to become a prominent Manhattan attorney and president of Japan Society, shares his fascinating tale of his Russian/Jewish/Chinese/Japanese childhood in wartime Japan.
Moderated by Rabbi Marvin Tokayer, Honorary Lifetime Rabbi, Jewish Community of Japan.
Followed by a book signing.
DATE Thursday, January 14 6:30 PM
LOCATION
This program will be held at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 (at First Avenue).
Tickets:
$11/$7 Members, seniors & students
Buy Tickets Online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.
Japan Society: Talkin’ Baseball with Bobby Valentine
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From the Japan Society of New York:
The only manager in baseball history to lead a team to both the Japan Series and the World Series, Bobby Valentine discusses his experiences as one of the most successful baseball managers in the world. Valentine led the Chiba Lotte Marines to the Japan Series championship in 2005, their first title since 1974. Valentine also managed the Mets to the post season in consecutive years for the first time in club’s history in 1999 and 2000. To the vocal disappointment of fans in Japan, Valentine completed his tenure in Japan in 2009, and now serves as a baseball analyst for ESPN, as well as the owner of Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Café in Stamford, CT.
Moderated by Ken Belson, The New York Times
TIME: Thursday, January 21 6:30 PM
LOCATION: This program will be held at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 (at First Avenue).
Tickets:
$15/$12 Japan Society members, seniors & students
Buy Tickets Online or call the Japan Society Box Office at (212) 715-1258, Mon. – Fri. 11 am – 6 pm, Weekends 11 am – 5 pm.
C-DOC: Learn Chinese NYC – Where to Start and The Basics
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The Chinese Doctor is a recurring feature 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 Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
Congratulations on choosing to learn the most prominent Asian language for the new decade in 2010. Learning Chinese has become the new linguistic pursuit in schools throughout NYC. Individually when networking I’ve also come to find out that businessmen, government employees, parents concerned about their children’s future, or just individuals interested in Asian language or culture have all at least discussed the possibility of learning Chinese. The possibilities with the language seem limitless, but where to start learning Chinese? What is the most efficient way of learning about the Chinese language and culture?
Learning Chinese, as with learning any Asian language, will take dedication and the ability to open your mind to a new way of thinking. Although it might seem cheaper at first, it’s not recommended to focus your efforts on learning Chinese with…
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Chinese language and culture articles
WIT Life #67: Hard power
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Translator/Interpreter/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). Recently she’s been watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her 
own observations.
Today’s NYT features an interesting editorial from Joseph Nye about the Okinawa base location issue threatening this year’s 50th anniversary of the US-Japan Security Treaty. This Harvard professor and former assistant secretary of defense coined the term “soft power,” but his article focuses on how he believes our hard power should be used in regard to this matter. Basically he is urging us to not throw the baby away with the bath water, and advocates a more patient and strategic approach in order to prevent “a second-order issue [from threatening] our long-term strategy for East Asia.” PM Hatoyama (who Nye describes as being “caught in a vice”) wants to push off resolving this issue until May, but we’ll see what the new year (decade!) brings.
In weather news, we are experiencing quite a cold winter and Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: Japanese Finance Minister Resigns – Blow to Hatoyama
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature 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 and Chinese language learning options.
Background: Since becoming Prime Minister last September, Yukio Hatoyama has had a dedicated cabinet. The Prime Minister and his cabinet have stood fast to battle both a horrible economic downturn in Japan and also the many issues arising from an aging population. However in recent weeks concerns have risen in regards to his Finance Minister’s health (aged 77), in particular high blood pressure. The Prime Minister’s initial reaction was to try to keep him on regardless, as Fuji-san is one of his most experienced and capable cabinet members.
Last night however the Prime Minister called a press conference where he caved in to letting Finance Minister Fuji step down. Each newspaper reported a slightly different take on the event:
Yomiuri ” Next Finance Minister Nominated, he’ll share the position…
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles
Job: TELL English Life Line, Communication Coordinator (TOKYO)
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TELL, the Tokyo English Life Line, a new free, anonymous telephone counseling for English-speakers in Tokyo is looking for a full-time Fundraising, Events & Communication Coordinator in Tokyo
DUTIES:
- Responsible for managing fundraising events
- Supporting other fundraising efforts
- Recruiting and managing volunteers
- Coordinating media relations in order to enhance the financial and volunteer resources critical to the organizational health of TELL
HOW TO APPLY: To apply for this position, send a resume and cover letter to: Jason Chare, Director of Life Line Services lifeline1@telljp.com To learn more, click here.
Roland Kelts on Confucianism in Japan, in AdBusters, Big Ideas of 2010 Issue
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After the Walkman and the Prius, Is it time for the West to adopt the Confucianism from the East? Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US, asks that in the latest issue of AdBusters. As a part of the magazine’s Big Ideas of 2010 issue, Kelts challenges the West: “Let’s listen to our neighbors in the East. A culture that prizes quiet contemplation, self-abnegation, community and stability should not threaten us in the West. We can do better if we learn from one another. And with our entire planet threatened by extinction, we need to.”
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Chin Music Press, the Seattle-based publisher owned and run by Bruce Rutledge (MEF Program Chiba-ken, 1985-87) is thrilled to host several reading events this week in Seattle and Vancouver for their newest release, Big in Japan: A Ghost Story.
The debut novel from Hawaii-based author M. Thomas Gammarino is a deadly funny story of haunted progressive rock composer Brain Tedesco. The book has already received rave reviews; PF Kluge says it’s “seductive and devastating” and Ron Currie Jr. calls Brain “the perfect hero for the Age of Anxiety.”
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If you’re near Seattle or Vancouver, catch Tom and the Chin Music Press team at one of these events:
1/6 Third Place Books Ravenna, 6504 20th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 7pm
1/7 Sophia Books, 450 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, 6:30pm
1/8 Big in Japan: Bold In Seattle. Little Red Bistro, 400 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA, 6pm
Big in Japan: A Ghost Story is designed by JET alum Joshua Powell (Saitama-ken 2005-07) and marketed by fellow alum Jessica Sattell (Fukuoka-ken 2007-2008). The book is available through the Chin Music Press website with promotional free shipping to the U.S. and Canada or at major booksellers.
For book reviews and more information, visit Big in Japan’s website. Check out previous JetWit posts about Bruce Rutledge and Chin Music Press here.
WIT LIfe #66: 明けましておめでとうございます！
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Translator/Interpreter/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). Recently she’s been watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
アケオメ！ I hope everyone had a super New Year’s celebration and that you are ready for 2010, aka the Year of the Tiger (toradoshi). Yesterday I had the chance to have some belated osechi ryouri and it was well worth the wait! Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo kicked off the new year with its first auction where appropriately enough torafugu (tiger blowfish) was being sold at prices of 10,000 yen each, cheaper than usual. Maguro (tuna), on the other hand, sold for almost 16.3 million yen (about $177,000) to a Hong Kong customer known as the “Sushi King.”
In other Tokyo news, an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal last week portrayed Read More
Sake World e-Newsletter by John Gauntner (January 2010)
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The January 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:
New Section: Sake Basics – Ginjo-shu
Sake Professional Courses in Japan: Last Call!
Holiday Gift Idea: AnnouncingThe Sake Dictionary!!!
Additional links:
Sake World Website
More About Us
Archive
Just want to share that on December 28, 2009, my wife Wynne and I became the parents of a bouncing baby girl named Helen (aka Mini-Wynne)!
Needless to say, this may take a toll on my ability to post on JetWit for a little while. :-) But fortunately with the help of Stacy Smith, Jon Hills, Machiko Yasuda, Gail Meadows, Jonathan Trace, Peter Weber, Crystal Wong and others JetWit will continue to hum along in the New Year.
Here’s a photo of Helen:
And here’s a nice cartoon drawing by my friend Gideon Kendall for the Bankruptcy Bill cartoon site:
Japan America Society Roundup 1.3.10
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Meadows, Editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of Japan America Societies…
Mochitsuki New Year’s Celebration — Enjoy a rice pounding demonstration and other New Year’s activities during this celebration of JASDFW’s 40th anniversary.
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 17
- Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
- Place: Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc., 2801 Telecom Parkway, Richardson, Texas
- For more information: http://www.jasdfw.org/pages/program_events_calendar.html
- Tea Ceremony Demonstration — Guests are welcome to participate in a free tea ceremony demonstration. Reservations are required by 5 p.m. Jan. 13.
- Date: Friday, Jan. 15
- Time: You can choose from two sessions. Session A is 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Session B is 4 to 5 p.m.
- Place: The University of West Florida Japan House, Building 71
- For more information: http://uwf.edu/japan/pdf/TeaCeremonyJan15.pdf
Major League Networking: A Union of International Business and Soccer — If you like soccer, get your kicks at this networking reception bringing together members of the international business community and executive staff from the Philadelphia Union, the area’s new Major League Soccer team. Attending this event will be CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz, President Tom Veit, and members of the Philadelphia Union soccer team coaching staff. When you register, you also get the chance to win two international round-trip tickets courtesy of Continental Airlines.
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 27
- Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
- Place: The Pyramid Club, 1735 Market St., Philadelphia
- For more information: http://jasgp.org/newsletter/current.html
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
Job: JET Programme Assistant Coordinator (Winter 2009; Toronto)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following opportunity through the JETAA Toronto mailing list and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Toronto area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Position Type: Full Time – Temporary
Location: Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan
Application Deadline: Friday, January 8th – 4:00 pm
Start Date: Monday, January 18th 2010
End Date: Monday, March 8th 2010
Position Description:
The JET Programme Assistant Coordinator will provide assistance in the winter selection process of the JET Programme.
Responsibilities:
· responding to telephone, e-mail, post and in-person inquiries from potential JET candidates
· helping maintain accurate data using MS Access/MS Excel
· preparing and creating form letters in MS Word
· helping to create and maintain interview schedules in MS Excel
· assist with logistics of JET Programme interview (scheduling, materials, on site coordination)
· maintain strict confidentiality
· liaising with organisations and institutions regarding the JET Programme
· occasionally fielding general telephone inquiries to the Japan Information Centre about Japan
· on occasion, she/he may also be asked to assist with work beyond JET
Akemashita omedetou gozaimashita!
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JetWit wishes you a happy and healthy New Year.
Job: Program Assistant at the Asia Society (NYC)
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The Asia Society headquarters in New York City is looking for a Program Assistant for Global Business Development & Programs to help plan and administer the Asia Society’s global business development and programs both in the U.S. and Asia.
DUTIES:
• Assisting with agenda planning, including identification of speakers, preparation of letters, coordination of speaker participation in events
• Assisting with corporate sponsorship relationships, including identification and research on target companies. Preparation of sponsorship proposals, coordination of sponsor participation in conferences and/or study missions, tracking of sponsorships payments/receivables.
• Managing and maintaining general department trackers, lists, and databases.
• Assisting with conference and/or study mission administration, including all logistics and conference secretariat coordination.
• Assisting with conference and/or study mission documents, including maintenance of all tracking documents.
• Assisting with outreach coordination for programs, including brochure and flyer distribution in the U.S. and in Asia.
• Assisting with Asian corporate conference brochure, advertisement development, and all P.R. materials and website information/maintenance for all other business programs in Asia.
• Assisting with consultation/coordination with other areas within the Society—Communications, External Affairs, Cultural Programs & Performing Arts, Museum, Education, and Centers/Representative offices—regarding programming as required.
HOW TO APPLY:
- For positions in New York, please email your cover letter and resume indicating position reference code and salary requirements to: businessjobs@asiasociety.org.
- Indicate job title in the subject line.
- Resumes without cover letters will not be accepted.
- No phone calls, please. Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.
