JETAA Careers Information Day 2009 (London)
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Via JETAA United Kingdom:
Event: JETAA Careers Information Day 2009
What: Business Meeting
Host: JETAA: London
Start Time: Friday, September 25 at 2:00 pm
End Time: Friday, September 25 at 10:00 pm
Where: HMS President building
Returning to the UK? Already here and looking for work? Thinking about a career change?
The annual JETAA Careers Information Day is here to help past JETs use their experience on JET and in Japan to their advantage. CID can introduce you to some of the employers who are interested in your background – and let you discover what other options are there for you.
In the evening the Japan Local Government Centre will host a drinks reception with everyone in the same venue, looking out over London’s Tower Bridge.
To attend send your name, address and contact details to: cidregistration[at]jetaa[dot]org[dot]uk.
Registration is free and open!!
New JETAA Brazil Country Representative
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JetWit is happy to share that Brazil’s JETAA chapter has a new Country Representative as of July 1st.
Please meet Cristiane Megumi Hayato, who attended the last JETAA International meeting in Paris last September.
Also, a big o-tsukare sama deshita to outgoing Country Rep Cristina Izumi Sagara, who has done a fantastic job on behalf of JETAA Brazil for the past 9 years, also serving as a JETAA International officer for part of her time.
Seeking Studio Assistants for Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki Studio in Long Island City, Queens.
Requirements:
– Practical experience in detailed painting
– Strong work ethic
– BFA, or equivalent work related experience
– Able to work/ function in a group
– Able to work legally in the USA (OPT acceptable)
– Knowledge of Japanese culture and conversational Japanese language skills is a plus.
– Adobe Illustrator knowledge is a plus
Hours:
– Project based hours with possible overtime.
Job Description:
– Artist Assistant to Takashi Murakami’s Studio
– Work in all areas of Painting Production (canvas preparation, color mixing, silk screening, hand painting, paint spraying, leafing, packing, etc.)
– Office duties relating to Studio Maintenance (schedules, inventory, expense reports, etc.)
– Supply management, storage, cleaning, art handling
Application:
Please email a cover letter, resume and digital portfolio or website to:
hiring_studio@kaikaikikiny.net
JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned (a little lately) of the Emperor and Empress of Japan’s visit to Canada and thought that it might be of interest to former JETs across Canada. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
The past, present and future will come together as Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan visit Canada this summer at the invitation of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, the Governor-General of Canada. Their Majesties will travel through Canada from July 3 to 14. Excitement is building on both sides of the Pacific in anticipation of this rare occasion.
This will be the first time for Her Majesty the Empress to be in Canada. His Majesty visited Canada in 1953 as the Crown Prince of Japan on the way to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in England.
Click the following links for coverage from:
The Embassy of Japan in Ottawa
The Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto
The Consulate-General of Japan in Montreal
The Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary
The Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver
Japan America Society Roundup 7.07.09
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Meadows, co-editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of various Japan America societies…
Art of Laughter: The Kyogen Theater of Japan — This program co-sponsored by JSNC sounds sure to bring a smile to your face given that “kyogen” means “wild speech” or “comical tales.” This free, interactive program at the Asian Art Museum will be led by Izumi Junko and Miyake Tokuro, who have been pioneers for opening the Kyogen stage to women. They will demonstrate performance techniques and discuss their careers as the first female performers in this male-dominated field.
- Date: Thursday, July 16
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Place: Asian Art Museum, Samsung Hall, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco
- For more information: http://www.asianart.org/performances.htm#kyogen_performance
- Mind, Body, Spirit — How does a free massage and Japanese oysters sound? Find them at the next meeting of JASC’s 5:01 Club, where you can challenge your mind with Humana video games, talk to a fitness expert from Bob Roncker’s Running Spot for training advice, and receive spirit-lifting reflexology massage while learning about other ways to relax and rejuvenate your spirit.
- Date: Thursday, July 30
- Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Place: Humana Building, 640 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati
- For more information: http://www.jasgc.org/501club.html
Boat building presentation — JSB invites members to attend a talk and slide presentation by Douglas Brooks, who has apprenticed with four different boat builders in Japan since 1996. He will share his experiences with different crafts drawn from over a dozen trips to Japan. Brooks is a boat builder, writer and researcher who builds traditional wooden boats for museums and private clients. In 2003, he published his first book, The Tub Boats of Sado Island: A Japanese Craftsman’s Methods.
- Date: Wednesday, July 22
- Time: None listed
- Place: The Carpenter’s Boat Shop, 440 Old County Road, Pemaquid, Maine
- For more information: http://www.carpentersboatshop.org/
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
New JETAA Hawaii website/blog?
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Just came across a JETAA Hawaii website/blog: http://jetaahawaii.wordpress.com/.
And I found it because they list JetWit.com in the sidebar which led someone to click through to JetWit.
Thanks JETAA Hawaii! Aloha from JetWit-Land!
J-News Mini-Roundup: The LDP Political SHOCK: Defeat in Chiba
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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 language learning options. Their main service is private one on one Japanese language lessons in the NYC area, where the student chooses where and when to have lessons.
Prime Minister Aso, from the Yomiuri Shinbun
Background: The ruling party of Japan and the party of Prime Minister Aso, the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party), is showing signs of cracking. A usual LDP stronghold, Chiba Prefecture, today announced that the recommended candidate from the LDP and Komeito coalition lost a preliminary election for governor. This paves this way for the opposition party, the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan), to take the governor’s seat.
This election comes in the background of the bigger national snap election, which the Prime Minister could announce at any time. The snap election can be called in the Japanese parliamentary system by the Prime Minister to redistribute power, ideally to his own party. However the signs lately are showing the opposition party gaining, and the Prime Minister losing. The papers this morning each reported something different about the LDP’s losing popularity.
Asahi “We have come from behind. This shows our real strength…”
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
JET-oriented scholarships?
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Can anyone recommend any scholarships (or organizations/institutions that are good sources of scholarships) that might appeal to JETs/JET alums in addition to the ones listed below? If so, please post in the comments section, or feel free to e-mail directly to jetwit [at] jetwit [dot] com. We’ll make a more complete list available after getting responses.
- Monbusho
- Monterey Institute
- McGill MBA
- JAIMS (Japan-America Institute of Management Science)
- Temple University Japan campus MBA
- JLGC summer in Japan
Update:
- Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships http://www.rotary.org (Thanks to Shannon Quinn, former JETAA Pacific Northwest President, former JETAA USA Country Rep and currently the ALT Advisor to MEXT in Tokyo.)
Update #2:
A few more scholarships, thanks to Kia Cheleen (CIR, Aichi-ken 1996-98, ALT 1998-1999), Associate Director at the Donald Keene Center on Japanese Culture at Columbia University.
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Japan Foundation — grants for Ph.D. studies, short-term research, Japan-related organizations who need funding for Arts & Culture or Japanese Studies projects:
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Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Translation Prize (administered through Columbia University’s Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture):
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Shicho Fellowship for Graduate Study in Japan (adminstered through Columbia University’s Donald Keene Center of Japanese of Japanese Culture; only open to Columbia U grad students):
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National Endowment for the Humanities (Fellowships: Advanced Social Science Research on Japan):
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Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (fellowship program, creative artists’ program, etc.):
A Night Out with Fukuoka IT
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Professional translator Joel Dechant (CIR Kagoshima-ken, 2001-04) is now guest blogging for Fukuoka Now
In my search for a local freelancer community, a friend of mine introduced me to a group called Fukuoka IT. I’ll be the first to admit that I am no codejammer, but I am interested in web tools and IT as they relate to the field of translation. Not to mention, I am always game for meeting new people, so I got in touch with Mark Cowan, a self-confessed Java lover and the fearless leader of Fukuoka IT.
Mark, a native Canadian and long-time Fukuoka resident, started the Fukuoka IT Google group 2 years ago as a way for foreign IT specialists in the Fukuoka area to get together and share ideas. In the beginning meetings were often comprised of Mark and one or two other brave souls, but he persisted. Membership grew by word of mouth and eventually the group decided to expand its network by inviting Japanese techies into the fray. With mailing list membership now at 50, the Fukuoka IT group saw a record 18 members turn up for June’s meeting held at the Chuo Civic Center. Each month, members set a different topic and conduct presentations or engage in coding competitions. The aim is to share ideas and build professional networks.
Continue reading ‘A Night Out with Fukuoka IT’
JETAA Chapter Beat 7.1.09
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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.
- 2009 JET Programme Pre-Departure Reception – Friday, July 17th, 6:00 at the Consulate General’s residence. Catch up with old friends and bid the newbies a fond farewell at this year’s reception. Space is limited so make your plans soon.
- Unofficial Pre-Departure Reception – Friday, July 10th, 6:00 at Jun Restaurant. In case you can’t make the official reception, why not join JETAAWA to see off the new crop of JET participants and share your experiences.
- O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, July 1st, 5:30 at the Holy Grail in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.
- Movie Night: Tampopo – Friday, July 31st, 7:00 at Narrabundah. JETAA Canberra will be screening Itami Juzo’s classic film “Tampopo” with pizza and popcorn.
- Tampa Natsu Matsuri – Saturday, July 11th, 9:00 to 11:00. Celebrate the summer Japan-style with Japanese food, games and even a yukata/jinbei clothing contest.
- Tampa Subchapter Tsudoi – Friday, July 3rd, 7:00 at Panera Bread in the Brandon Mall. The Tampa Subchapter will be hosting their monthly Tsudoi, an informal time for anyone interested in Japanese and Japanese culture.
- Chinatown/International District Summer Festival Call for Volunteers – Saturday July 11th and Sunday July 12th this year’s Seattle Chinatown/International Summer Festival will be held and PNWJETAA is looking for volunteers. Help your community, spend the day outside and get a free T-shirt.
- July Meeting – Wednesday, July 1st, 6:30 at the Convention Center Atrium. Join in and become an active voice in the JETAA community.
- July Happy Hour – Friday, July 10th, 6:00 at Wann Izakaya in Belltown. Start the weekend right with good friends and a cold drink.
- Next Book Club Selection: Yakuza Moon – JETAANC’s book club will be discussing Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster’s Daughter by Shoko Tendo at its next meeting(date and time TBA). Start reading now so you can join in on the discussion.
- July San Francisco Nomikai – Thursday, July 2nd, 6:00 at the Jade Bar. Check out this month’s happy hour. New JETs leaving in August are invited to join and ease some of that pre-departured tension.
- July Happy Hour – Wednesday, July 15th, 5:30 in the courtyard of Hotel Monaco/Poste. Relax after a hot day with a cool drink and JETAADC.
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.
JetWit is happy to share that Kate Chevarley is in the process of getting a JETAA Fingerlakes subchapter up and running.
If you live in or anywhere near a Fingerlake (or if you are a Fingerlake), then feel free to get in touch with Kate for some JET alum community (which I have to imagine will at some point involve wine tastings and/or grape pies).
If you have no idea what a Fingerlake is, then read up on the topic on Wikipedia.
Geneva Marie (Niigata-ken, 2008-09) grew up all over the U.S. but if asked will tell you she’s from Minneapolis, MN . JET Lag will recount Geneva’s experiences and thoughts as she prepares to leave the comfortable womb of her JET life and figure out her next move.
It’s been an entire month since my last JETLag post! I had an entire week of birthday activities, I did some much-needed traveling, and soon after I was…sickety, sick, SICK! Needless to say -I’m playing catch-up.
It’s no surprise. I was getting off too easy. Nearly two months with nary a cough, sniffle, or sneeze. I knew it wouldn’t last, especially given my bill of health in Japan.
I had spent nearly all winter ill. Like, totally illin’, but not in that Beastie Boys kind of way. I was told that it was probably due to the fact that I was teaching little kids for the first time. Either that, or because the whole “no heat situation” in indoor places OR the worst case scenario: there was killer mold hiding in the apartment somewhere. Whatever the case, I was sicker than I’ve ever been in my life. I got the flu which is pretty normal for the winter season just about anywhere, but I had gone out of my way to get a flu shot every winter in America for about the last five years or so. I had forgotten how freaky the flu really is: the sweating, the puking, the hallucinations. All experienced alone, in a cold apartment without a kind hand to wipe the sweat from my brow.
In any case, at least it wasn’t Read More
Job: Sales Consultant for Oxford University Press (Kanto/Kansai)
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Oxford University Press – Kanto and Kansai Sales Consultants
This is a key position requiring a highly organized, motivated, and forward-thinking team player. Candidates must have sales and marketing experience, and/or educational experience. Teaching experience in ELT is particularly relevant and desired for this job. Candidates are also required to have a high level of both Japanese and English and must be fit and healthy and able to travel extensively within Japan.
Based in Kansai, or Kanto, the successful candidate(s) will join our motivated and experienced bilingual sales and marketing team and be responsible for generating sales of Oxford University Press ELT products to schools. Read More
J-News Mini-Roundup: Bizarre Robberies Strike Japan
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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 language learning options.
Background: One of the biggest culture shocks for most foreigners who have lived in Japan is leaving the safety of the country. People that have lived there will tell stories of how you can forget your wallet in a café for hours, and then return to find both the wallet and the money intact. Guns are also illegal, so living there people feel a higher sense of security both from petty and violent crimes.
However there is crime in Japan, and although sporadic as it may be, most of the crimes I can remember are either quite bizarre or shockingly violent. Some examples are the Akihabara hit and run where a laid off disgruntled worker decided to randomly try to run over 4 or 5 people in Akihabara in the morning. There are also cases of overworked salarymen coming home and killing their whole family.
The newspapers this morning in their headlines all had reported robberies, and interestingly enough each newspaper had reported a different incident.
Asahi “Couple Charged w/ Stealing 2.6 million yen ($26k) from Pachinko…”
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
Japan America Society Roundup 6.29.09
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Meadows, co-editor of the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of various Japan America societies…
Black Ships Festival — Enjoy a variety of events emphasizing Japanese art and culture at the 26th annual Black Ships Festival, an event that commemorates Commodore Matthew Perry’s negotiation of the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, ending two centuries of Japanese isolationism. A highlight of the festival is the annual Festival of Drums, featuring thundering performances by taiko drummers.
- Date: July 16-19
- Place:
- For more information, click here.
JAS of the State of Washington
- Summer Picnic – Beer, barbecue and yakisoba? Oishisou! Find it at this summer event co-hosted by the JASSW and the Japan Business Association of Seattle. Tickets are $20 for JAS members, $10 for children 10 and under, free for children 4 and under.
- Date: Sunday, July 26
- Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
- Place: Newport Yacht Club, 81 Skagit Key, Bellevue, Washington
- Register here by July 22.
11th Annual Lantern Festival — JSB invites members to attend this moving memorial ceremony inspired by Buddhist rituals. Inscribe a lantern with a personal message to friends or family and float it across Lake Hibiscus at sunset. This ritual is based on the traditional Japanese Bon Festival, a time when a door opens to the world of ancestors, allowing us to send messages to the other side.
- Date: Thursday, July 16 (Rain date Thursday, July 23)
- Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
- Place: Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave., Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
- For more information, click here.
- Summer Family Festival — This summer, JASK introduces this new event, a large-scale outdoor festival for families to experience Japanese cuisine and culture. Visitors can enjoy origami, calligraphy, dressing up in kimono, a Nintendo Wii tournament, a Japanese flea market, martial arts performances, taiko drums and more.
- Date: Saturday, August 22
- Time: 1 to 7 p.m.
- Place: Jacobson Park, Shelter 1, Lexington
- 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 with the info.
