J-News Mini-Roundup: Another Scandal Rocks the Prime Minister
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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: Prime Minister Aso’s approval ratings have been quite low on average this year. From the slow moving stimulus package to many scandals within his own cabinet, the Prime Minister has had a tough year. In fact one of the only political honeymoon’s he’s had is the fact that the opposition party had a scandal, therefore making him look a little better, and more in control.
The honeymoon is over with the latest scandal to face the prime minister: the reappointment of Nishikawa. The former Japan Post president’s reappointment is causing controversy and in some ways is showing Aso’s inability for leadership. On the one hand, Aso wants Nishikawa to be reappointed, he’s a strong ally and is favored by the still popular former Prime Minister, Koizumi. However his own government, namely Hatoyama (head of internal affairs) says he needs to step down. The gridlock and confusion each day makes Prime Minister Aso look worse in the public’s eye.
Nikkei “Recent Approval Ratings Drop to 25%, the Dismissal of Hatoyama is Inappropriate…”
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
Jobs: International Education Programs (Chronicle of Higher Ed)
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Via the Chronicle of Education’s international education programs job listings:
6/9/2009
- Columbia University (New York) : Senior Coordinator, Weatherhead East Asian Institute
6/2/2009
- Department of State () : Executive Director
- World Learning (Vermont) : Academic Director Chile: Education and Social Change
Events: Consulate General of Japan at Montreal Digest (Montreal, Canada)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following Japan-related events in the Montreal area through the Consulate General of Japan at Montreal website, and thought they might be of interest to former JETs in the Montreal area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
Exhibition: Lacquer, Precious Resin
This exhibition invites visitors to learn all about lacquer-how it is collected, processed and used-and to admire a superb collection of pieces made by members of the Japan Urushi Art and Craft Association.
- From May 15 to November 1, 2009
- Japanese Pavilion of the Montreal Botanical Garden
- 4101 Sherbrooke East, Montreal (QC), H1X 2B2
- For more information call 514-872-0607 or visit the website.
Montreal Kendo Taikai 2009
- Saturday, June 20th
- From 9:00am to 6:00pm
- McGill Sports Complex
- 475 Pine Avenue West, Montreal
- Free entrance for visitors
Events: Consulate General of Japan in Toronto Digest, June and July (Toronto, Canada)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following Japan-related events in the Toronto area through the Consulate General of Japan in Toronto website, and thought they 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.
to June 14 – The Gendai Gallery is proud to present emerging artist and architect, Haji Nakamura, and EXTENSIONS Floating Forest House.
June 12 to 18 – Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Departures is a delightful journey into the heartland of Japan as well an astonishingly beautiful look at a sacred part of Japan’s cultural heritage.
June 20 – A big “Aloha” will be greeting visitors to this year’s Nostalgia Night being held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre this year with a Hawaiian theme.
June 25 – The dynamic taiko troupe Isshin Daiko plays at the McLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa Public Library.
June 26 to July 5 – The Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival this year features sax great Sadao Watanabe and acclaimed pianist Hiromi.
July 11 -The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre invites visitors to enjoy a lively festival atmosphere with games, great food and spectacular performances at the Natsu Matsuri and Obon Festival.
July 25 – Acclaimed cellist Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi performs with two of Japan’s most accomplished string players: Yasuko Ohtani, concertmaster of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and Yoshiko Kawamoto, formerly of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony. Part of the Toronto Summer Music Festival.
Japan America Society Roundup 6.13.09
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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…
Summer Enkai Party — Yakitori, sushi, sake and karaoke? Who wouldn’t have a good time? Tickets are $20 for JASGP members. Click here to buy tickets online.
- Date: Wednesday, June 24
- Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
- Place: Yakitori Boy Izakaya & Karaoke Lounge, 2F.
- For more information, click here.
- Sake & Washoku Pairing — Come hungry to this event – a nine course menu will be served with six of the most popular and famous Hakutsuru sakes. With dishes like “fried soft-shell crab with marmalade sauce”, you know it’s got to be good. By the end of the meal, you should be confident that you can choose the right sake for a Japanese meal. Click here to see the menu. Click here to register online.
- Date: Wednesday, July 1. RSVP deadline is June 29 at 5 p.m.
- Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
- Place: Tako Grill Restaurant, 7756 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Maryland
- For more information: http://www.us-japan.org/dc/pdf/2009/090701SakePairingFlyer.pdf
Celebration Kyoto: Modern Arts from Boston’s Sister City — JSB invites members to attend an exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts now through August 9 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Boston-Kyoto sister city relationship. Contemporary ceramics and prints created by artists in Kyoto and the surrounding Kansai region will be on display, as well as contemporary textiles by Kyoto artists. For more information: http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/sub.asp?key=15&subkey=7534
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
JET-linked book event in Seattle
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Via JETAA Pacific Northwest:
“The book itself is a fine work of art, with a gorgeous, embossed cover, rice paper-thin pages, and textured paper inserts with illustrations that offer clues to Zack’s fate — a triumphant kick in the pants for anyone who doubts the future of paper-and-ink books.” — NPR
Japan-U.S. business consultant and blogger Yvonne Burton (also a good friend of JetWit) has a good recent post on the likely new U.S. ambassador to Japan–John V. Roos:
There is to be a new kind of ambassador in Tokyo! I just read in the Japan Times that John V. Roos, a Silicon Valley attorney, has been designated as ambassador by President Obama and in my opinion, he is just what Japan-US business needs. But many seem to disagree. Why?
The nay-sayers say he isn’t the usual politico. I say that is a good thing. They say that his appointment means the new presidency is treating Japan as less than important. I say not so.
New conditions call for new solutions
In times like these when the old standards are not working (and that is putting it mildly), it is time to create something new.
How can a successful lawyer who (CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article.)
Roland Kelts update
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Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has been keeping busy. JetWit just hasn’t been able to keep up. So here are some recent highlights:
- A recent Daily Yomiuri SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column about a symposium on the state of the anime/manga industry and some of the challenges it faces, which you can see on 3:00 A.M. Magazine. The column touches on the shifting market as well as the unsustainable nature of the way anime/manga workers are compensated.
- Giving a speech at book-signing event in Kyoto next weekend as part of a Creative Writing Lecture Series. (A good event for any JETs or JET alums in the area! If you go, say hi to Roland and feel free to report back to JetWit on the event.)
- Japanamerica is now available on Kindle!
An interesting job opportunity in Japan from JET alum Miguel Gervais (Saitama-ken, 2000-03):
Hello,
My name is Miguel Gervais and I’m a former JET (Saitama-ken, Fukaya City, 2000-03). After my tenure on the JET Programme, I opened my own eikaiwa school and currently teach 45-50 students. Between these classes and various corporate contracts, I’ve reached the limit to my individual school’s growth. I’d now like to partner with one other enterprising person to grow the M.L.C.英会話 brand further. We are looking for the following:
Eikaiwa Manager
M.L.C.英会話 is looking for an experienced English Teacher to own and operate an independent branch school in Saitama or Gunma.
The ideal candidate will meet the following criteria:
1- Be a Native Speaker of English with at least 3 years of teaching experience in Japan.
2- Have at least a 3kyu JLPT or equivalent language skills.
Please send your resume and cover letter to MLCeikaiwa [at] gmail [dot] com. Describe your work-ethic, your aspirations and detail any management experience.
J-News Mini-Roundup: The Swine Flu Continues to Spread
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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: Although articles about school closings and the threat of the swine flu have abated in the U.S., in Japan they’re still going strong. Effects from the economic downturn have been exacerbated by the spread of the swine flu, which has scared some consumers into shopping more through the internet than at their local department stores. There have also been articles from international news sources claiming that the threat of swine flu in Japan might prompt the WHO to raise the world alert level.
The last frontier, the “West” of Japan was hit today by the Swine Flu. The big news was that the northern island of Hokkaido had its first case. The flu has already spread and affected most of Honshu, Japan’s most populous island. Each newspaper reported the incident.
Asahi: “In Hokkaido, the First Infection of the New Virus Has Been Found.”
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
Job: Marketing Intern fluent in Japanese for Mindjet (San Francisco)
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Via JETAANC:
Position
Marketing Intern
Japanese Language Fluency Required!
Mindjet, the leader in information visualization and maker of the award-winning MindManager mapping software, is looking for a marketing intern that is fluent in both spoken and written Japanese, creative, energetic and results-oriented. The primary role of this position is to help develop integrated marketing strategies and positioning and deliver compelling web site and email marketing content to drive the continual growth of the Japanese market. This position reports to the Vice President of Asia Pacific. The position is based along the Embarcadero waterfront in Levi’s Plaza in San Francisco, CA. Read More
Bankruptcy Bill #16 – GM First Day Hearings
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Bankruptcy Bill is a cartoon created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall. To see more strips as well as original bankruptcy haiku, go to bankruptcybill.us.
WIT Life #42: Guerrilla Rain and Shotgun Marriages
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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.
Japan has just officially entered the rainy season, a period many of us might remember as a time when it’s
impossible to get your laundry done as there are few dry days to hang it outside. Last year the buzzword at this time was ゲリラ豪雨 （gerira gouu) or “guerrilla rain,” referring to the sudden fierce downpours similar to flash floods that on occasion took people’s lives and are thought to be an effect of global warming. Courtesy of innovation from the Japan Meteorological Agency, perhaps this year’s rainy season will be spent a bit easier. It has scattered Read More
Job: Entertainment company seeks bilingual exec personal asst. (NYC)
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From speaking with Jenna at Forrest Solutions, this sounds like a pretty cool job:
Entertainment company in NYC looking for a bilingual English/Japanese Executive Personal Assistant to support company Chairman.
Job Description
Senior level experienced personal and business executive assistant needed for high-profile Chairman of vertically-integrated, Rock and Roll media/entertainment company. This position requires a candidate that has experience as a Personal Assistant to a high profile individual as well as is bilingual English/Japanese. Individuals must thrive in an extremely fast-paced environment, while keeping a cool head among complete chaos. Candidate must be able to handle long hours and fast-paced work environment, and must be on call 24/7. Read More
Note: This is the first in what JetWit hopes will become a series of “Japan Fix” articles. Each article can be a simple guide for where to go to get a Japan fix in your neck of the woods, or a more personal account of how you get your Japan fix. (Or in Kirsten’s case below, both of those and more.) The goal is to use the collective brain of the JET alumni community for the benefit of the JET alumni community.
Japan Fix: New York City
By Kirsten Phillips (Niigata-ken, 2005-08), writer of the Kirsten’s World columns on JetWit
There are thousands of different angles to approach a story like this, particularly in a metropolitan city such as New York. But I’d really love to expand this topic and hear about Japan Fixes in other parts of the country, preferably those without a coast! Yes, I’m talking to you Wyoming! Hi there, Kansas City! Since Japan means something different for everyone who walks away from it, I’d really like to hear about where and how you find Japan. Whether its building a raft and fording rivers to reach that one Kaiten Sushi bar, renting your favorite Japanese language film, or simply chatting with your Japanese neighbor down the hall, tell us all about it!
Now let’s get one thing straight. I earned an admirable jones before I even lived in Japan.
I have my buddy Reiko to thank for the multitude of pre-JET Japanese obsessions I harbored before marching knee-deep into the trenches. In Nueva York, karaoke was only something I did when I was too drunk to care about the lyrics and the only songs I knew then were by Shiina Ringo. Tarako-spaghetti was novelty, not survival. I entered without ceremony. Tips were important. The sole purpose of a handkerchief was for gagging. Vending machines only offered one thing.
Although prior knowledge of Japanese custom, popular wastes of time and cuisine-abuses was a reasonably applicable methadone for the harder edges of culture shock, nothing can fully prepare you for the experience of living on Japanese soil. Everyone gets shocked in one way or another. However, once you get used to the vibe and start running with the pack, untangling yourself from that mentality can be equally as harsh. Three years of opening important doors with 失礼しますand public transportation that runs on time can really leave a mark. Also, it’s hard to say goodbye to your favorite onsen, izakaya, chuugakkou and depaato. A majority of these are difficult to revive even in facsimile here in the States unless you wanna fork over your rent check.
But for those who are blessed enough to live in or around Nueva York, Read More
