JETAA Chapter Beat 8.19.09
JETAA Chapter Beat, JETAA Chapters 
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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.
- JLPT 1 Kyuu Prep Course – September 16th through November 18th, every Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Japanese American Association of Northern California. Sign up ends soon, so don’t miss it if you’re planning to take the test in December.
- Way of the Sword Event at the Asian Art Museum – Thursday, August 27th, 5:0o to 9:00 at the Asian Art Museum. Part of the Museum’s special exhibition on “Lords of the Samurai,” this event will feature a discussions and a workshop on drawing a sword with one of Japan’s finest masters of iaido, Esaka Sensei.
- San Jose Taiko presents Rhythm Spirit 2009 Concert Series – Friday, September 11th at 8:00 and Saturday 12th, at 2:00 and 8:00 at the Campbell Heritage Theatre. Catch an amazing performance by this world-class performance troupes this fall.
- East Bay Tabehodai – Friday, August 20th, 5:45 at Zabu Zabu in Berkeley. In place of this month’s nomikai, East Bay is doing a shabu shabu tabehodai, so stop by and grab a drink with JETAANC.
- Second City Saturday Sketch Comedy – Saturday, August 22nd, 11:00 p.m. at Second City. JETAA Chicago as well as members from other JETAA chapters will be checking out the America: All Better! sketch comedy performance this weekend. Join in for some politically charged laughs and hilarity.
- JETAA National Conference Volunteers Needed! – Friday, August 21st at the Dana Hotel. JETAA Chicago is looking for volunteers to help with general tasks and note taking at the JETAA National Conference from 8:30 to 3:00 on Friday. Lend a hand and help welcome the other JETAA chapters, JETAA USA, and CLAIR members.
- J-Happy Hour/Dinner – Thursday, August 18th at Asia Nine in DC. Happy hour begins at 6:00, with dinner to follow at 7:30. Stop by for a drink and a bite to eat with the gang at JETAADC.
- Ship for World Youth – The Japanese government has announced that Australia has been selected as one of the countries that will participate in the 22nd Ship for World Youth(SWY22) Program. They are seeking a 12 member delegation from Australian young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from all walks of life to represent Australia in this unique, 2 month cross-cultural exchange program.
- O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, September 2nd, 5:30 at the Holy Grail in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.
- Nihongo Dake Dinner – Monday, August 31st, 7:00 at Takesushi. Brush up on your Japanese while delighting in some sushi and lively conversation.
- JETAANY Annual Softball Tournament – September 12th marks the day of the Annual Softball Tournament. Brush up on those skills and get out the old mitt, sign ups and more information to follow soon.
- JETAANY Book Club – Thursday, September 24, 7:00. The selection this month is “Daughter of a Samurai” by Etsu Sugimoto. Start reading now and make sure to think of an interesting discussion question for the group.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just email Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
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From the Summer 2009 “1/4 Cheap Trick” Issue of JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) Magazine:
Like Japanese Girls? Then You Need This Book
By Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08)
There I was again, outside my apartment, in the car with Hitomi. Again, at this awkward moment where we both fidget and she puts the Toni Braxton CD in. This is of course, about 10 months ago now, back in Japan. Even after living in Japan for a year and a half, I still had moments like this; social impasses as I liked to call them. We both didn’t know what to say, what to do. Well, in reality, I didn’t know what to say or do. This was before I understood what “nan demo ii” really meant, before I could fully understand all the silent cues. This was before I read David Radtke’s Understanding Japanese Women.
I know I know, you’re thinking, “oh no, not another pick-up line book. Not another cheesy how-to.” It’s what I feared before I started reading it, too. However, I was delightfully surprised that Read More
JETAA Southern California elects new officers
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JETAASC Election Results
JETAA Southern California is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009-2010 JETAASC Officers elections. Please note, there is a position still open. If anyone is interested in becoming co-president, please contact the current officers or the elections coordinator. JETAA SC will be inducting the next officers at their annual Golf and Installation Luncheon on Saturday, September 12th.
Co-Presidents: Zoran Iovanovici, Open
Secretary: Matt Braaten
Treasurer: Frankie Murphy
Sincerely,
Dominique Eugene, 2009-2010 Elections Coordinator, Email: elections [at] jetaasc.org
Starting in September, Doshisha University in Kyoto will begin offering its Global MBA Program through its Graduate School of Business at Doshisha University in Kyoto. And JET alum Eleanor Robinson (CIR Aomori-ken, 1999-2002) is actively involved in the administration of the program.
After leaving the JET Programme in 2002, Eleanor Robinson studied International Relations at Kyoto University with a focus on the history of Anglo-Japanese relations. She is still in the process of completing her PhD thesis while also currently working full-time as an administrator for the Graduate School of Business at Doshisha University in Kyoto. Her job is to translate documents, assist international students and a range of other tasks. Eleanor notes that all of the classes on the Global MBA will be in English with an “Asia focus” and the program has a student cohort of 23 people from all over the world.
Links:
- Doshisha’s Global MBA – http://gmba.doshisha.ac.jp/
- Eleanor’s blog about her research and other work at Doshisha University: http://eleanorinjapan.wordpress.com/
- JetWit Study Program Page (listing all graduate and other programs of study we know of that might be of interest to JETs and JET alums): https://jetwit.com/wordpress/graduate-school/
New York de Volunteer Happy Hour Fundraiser – Friday 9/25
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7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Enjoy Drink Specials, Raffles, and Prizes
http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/2009/2009.09.25_e.html
Location:
Slattery’s Pub
8 E 36th St. (btwn. 5th and Madison Ave.)
100% of cash tips will support to
NY de Volunteer’s
“Explore Japanese After School Program”
@ New York City Parks and Recreation Center
For more information regarding the FUNdRaiser please visit:
http://www.nydevolunteer.org/activities/2009/2009.09.25_e.html
Michael Auslin to moderate panel discussion on Japan’s Aug 30 elections
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The latest from JET alum Michael Auslin, a professor of Japanese history and politics and currently the Director of Japanese Studies for the American Enterprise Institute in D.C.
Go to http://www.aei.org/event/100118 for full event details. Go here for more posts about Michael Auslin on JetWit.
Japan’s Election: Democratic Breakthrough?
AEI event, Wednesday, September 2, 2009
 Photo Courtesy of chinadaily.com |
On September 2, AEI’s Michael Auslin will moderate a panel discussing Japan’s August 30 general elections. If it wins, the Democratic Party of Japan will focus on reversing the country’s sharpest economic downturn since World War II, but it will also face numerous foreign policy challenges. The panel will include Kevin Maher, director of the Japan desk at the State Department, Len Schoppa of the University of Virginia, and Nick Szechenyi of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. [READ MORE]
New JET Program page on Miami Consulate website
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Future JETs?
Thanks to the hard work of JET alum Abigail MacBain, current JET Program Coordinator for the Consulate General of Japan in Miami (and former JETAA DC Newsletter Editor), the Miami Consulate has a wonderfully updated JET Program page.
Have a look at Abigail’s handiwork at http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jet/jetprogram.html
Abigail also reports two big JET Program policy changes as of Monday, August 17:
1. JET alumni can now reapply for JET after 3 years instead of 10
2. The previous requirement used to be that you couldn’t have lived 3 or more years in Japan in the past 8 years. Now it’s 6 or more years years in the past 10.
J-News Mini-Roundup: The Swine Flu Returns
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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: Earlier this year in May, the first fatal case of the swine flu was reported in Japan. The man was 57 years old, and he lived in Okinawa. Although panic set in to the point where Japan had to be split off into different zones (infected areas, not infected areas, areas that are starting to be infected), over the summer the excitement died down. People stopped wearing masks, department stores started to see customers coming back to shop, and salarymen went back to their daily routines.
That could all change now with the second fatality from the swine flu now confirmed in Japan. Each newspaper had a different take on how exactly the man died, and the circumstances surrounding the return of the swine flu.
Yomiuri “A 70 Year Old man died in Kobe from the Swine Flu while undergoing Dialytic Treatment” The Yomiuri describes the 70 year old man being infected in the city Kobe, the first city to be hit by the swine flu…
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following events being held in various locations through the websites for the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto and the Consulate-General of Japan at Montreal and thought they might be of interest to former JETs in these areas. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Here are some Japan-related events being held in the Toronto and Montreal areas over the next month and a half.
Toronto Area:
to Aug. 27 – The Japan Foundation, Toronto presents Four Seasons of Gardens in Kyoto, an exhibition of exquisite photographs by Katsuhiko Mizuno.
to Oct. 12 – Renowned Japanese sculptor and artist Ichi Ikeda is presenting one of the Earth Art exhibits at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
to Oct. 12 – Kazuyoshi Ehara is one of the photographers featured in RESPECT a photo exhibit at Harbourfront Centre which takes an innovative and thought-provoking look at Canada’s Boreal Forest.
Aug. 19 – The Japan Foundation, Toronto‘s Summer Movie Screenings features the celebrated work: Oriume.
Aug. 21 to 23 – The Shinsedai Cinema Festival at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre introduces the newest wave of young Japanese filmmakers and offers Canadian and International premieres of many of their films.
Aug. 27 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre is proud to announce its August movie is Departures, winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, as well as 10 Japanese Academy Awards.
Aug. 27 (deadline – extended) – The Thunder Bay International Fine Arts Association together with the Lakehead Japanese Canadian Cultural Association takes great pride in presenting The Summer Haiku Contest.
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/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.
As we get further into August, the weather is not the only thing heating up in Japan. People are greatly anticipating the national elections to be held at the end
of the month, as many expect that at this time Prime Minister Taro Aso’s Liberal Democratic Party will lose its grip on power for only the second time in over half a century. Voter surveys show that the Democratic Party is favored to beat the LDP. This largest opposition party vows to put more money in the hands of consumers, and support has soared for them and their ambitious election platform which includes Read More
Japan Society (NY) weekly e-Newsletter (Aug 17-23)
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The Japanese Proficiency Exam – How to sign up and secure a seat
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The Japanese 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 Japanese and Chinese language learning options. Their main service is private one on one language lessons in the NYC area.
So here’s the scenario, you’ve been studying for the Japanese Proficiency Exam. Maybe you need it because you’re interested in pursuing a job with Japanese and you want to communicate to employers that you have Japanese ability. Maybe you’re a prospective student trying to enter university in Japan, and doing well on the Japanese Proficiency Exam is your ticket to a good scholarship. Or probably it’s just a personal goal of yours to get official recognition for your Japanese abilities. At any rate, the secret to securing a seat on the Japanese Proficiency Exam is signing up in a timely and organized manner, don’t put it off.
Don’t believe me? Here are some examples…
(CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article)
Job: Attorney who is fluent in Japanese (Northern Virginia)
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Great opportunity for an attorney who is fluent in JAPANESE!
A hi-tech company in Northern Virginia needs an attorney with at least four years of experience who can modify and negotiate contracts in Japanese. The contracts include content licensing, distribution and other technology related agreements.
The position is expected to begin in Mid-September and should last for at least six months. The work must be done on-site. Please apply on-line at www.AssignedCounsel.com. If you have any questions, please call Alisa Austin of Assigned Counsel at 301-924-0368. Thank you very much!
See the direct job posting on Assigned Councel HERE.
Job: Garden Instructor at the Redwood Heights Parent Fund Assoc. (Oakland, CA)
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Via JETAA Northern California:
Position: Garden Instructor (Independent contractor)
Employer: The Redwood Heights Parent Fund Association
Location: Redwood Heights Elementary School, Oakland, CA
Salary: $16 hr. 15-20 hrs. per week for the 2009-10 school year.
(No benefits, must have TB test and fingerprinting completed. Currently we have funding for approximately 40 weeks to be spread throughout the school year.)
Starting date: As soon as possible (school starts 8/31/09)
Position Details:
The Garden Instructor will be an integral part of the students’ and teachers time in the Redwood Heights outdoor classroom. Weekly, standards based garden curriculum will be designed and implemented with teacher oversight. The instructor will help to instill a sense of teamwork, responsibility, organization and overall care for the garden area with groups of students. The Garden Instructor supervises general care and maintenance of the Outdoor Classroom, communicates with teaching staff throughout the year and with the principal and Garden & Ecology Committee on a weekly basis. Read More
Japan America Society Roundup 8.16.09
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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 various Japan America societies…
- JASCO Business Seminar — JASCO presents a business seminar titled “4 Behavior Styles of People” designed to help those who are challenged with Japan-U.S. cultural differences or those who wish to improve relationships with customers. The seminar will explain reasons why people act in a certain way and give you the ability to slightly modify your approach to different people for much better results. This seminar has been a vital part of the core management training program for many years at Honda companies throughout North America.
- Date: Friday, Sept. 11
- Time: 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- Place: Offices of Corna Kokosing Construction, 6235 Westerville Road, Westerville, Ohio
- For more information: http://jasco.osu.edu/events/2009/NDiSCflyer_E.pdf
Greater Kansas City Japan Festival — Enjoy performances of taiko and other Japanese instruments, J-bands, cultural exhibits, martial arts demonstrations, kimono workshops, anime vendors and much, much more.
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
- Time: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Place: The Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas
- For more information: http://kcjapanfestival.com/
- Post-Election Political Update — At this luncheon titled “Political Change Comes to Japan: What Lies Ahead”, Professor Gerald Curtis will discuss the results of the elections and what lies ahead for Japan and the United States. He will have just returned from observing the elections and meeting with key political figures in Japan. Register online by 5 p.m., Sept. 8.
- Date: Friday, Sept. 11
- Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
- Place: Capital Hilton: South American Room, 1001 16th St. NW, Washington, DC
- For more information: http://www.us-japan.org/dc/
Happy 15th Sake Tasting and Beer Garden Party — Get ready to bend your elbows at two upcoming JASGC events. Register online.
- Event: Beer Garden Party
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 10
- Time: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Place: Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Road
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- Event: 15th Sake Tasting
- Date: Friday, Oct. 9
- Time: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Place: Sawyer Point Building Atrium, 720 E. Pete Rose W.
- For more information on both events: http://www.jasgc.org/sake_tasting_flyer.pdf
Tsugaru Shamisen Concert — JASGA invites members to enjoy the unique sound of the traditional Japanese Shamisen during this performance by Toshie Suzuki of Oita, Japan. In 2003, she won the National Tsugaru Shamisen contest in Japan, the youngest winner in the competition’s history, and in 2008 she was the first winner of the women’s Tsugaru Shamisen in Kobe and Osaka. See a video of her performance.
- Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Place: Casa de Luz Auditorium, 1701 Toomey Road, Austin
- For more information, click here.
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
