Roland Kelts update
Article/Journalism, Blogs, Books, Cartoon/Illustration, Celebrity, Japan Trends, Roland Kelts, Writers 
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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
Event: “Increase your Sales Now!” Fundamentals of Professional Selling Seminar (Tokyo)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following career workshop being held by CareerCross, and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
With the current economic situation, selling has become more critical than ever!
Sales is an integral part of everyday business and quite simply, success in sales equals success on the business front.
No matter your level of expertise, whether you work for a large organization or for yourself, improving one’s ability to close more deals is critical. CareerCross has arranged for two of Japan’s leading sales skills trainers to provide an overview of several areas of professional selling with practical tips and advice that will help you succeed in sales!
How much is it worth to be able to turn more leads into sales? Join CareerCross for one morning designed to increase your sales.
Event: The Basics to Jump-starting your Career in Japan (Tokyo)
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JetWit job poster Stephen Palanik (Fukushima Ken, 2004-08) learned of the following career workshop being held by GaijinPot, and thought it might be of interest to former JETs in the Tokyo area. Stephen is a translator based in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka Ken, and he periodically posts job listings and event information for JET alumni.
GaijinPot Career Workshop
LAST CHANCE FOR SEATS!
GaijinPot is holding a Career Workshop this Thursday, June 11 from 5 pm at Temple University Japan in Azabu, Tokyo, and there are only a handful of places left!
The Basics to Jump-starting your Career in Japan
Date: June 11, 2009
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Location: Temple University Japan, Azabu Hall, Room 206
Cost: JPY 2,500
Click here to sign up.
Designed specifically to help all international job-seekers, the workshop will help you jump start your career in Japan and provides a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the different working environments and recruiting processes you are likely to encounter while in Japan.
J-News Mini-Roundup: Change of Pace – Japanese Accomplishments!
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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.
Tsukiji-san, taken from today's edition of the Yomiuri Shinbun
Sample themes from this blog are “the economic woes facing Japan,” “The flu in Narita,” “Car crash kills one,” so today I decided it was better to report on accomplishments from Japan. The Japanese who are successful abroad are adored back home, just go to a Yankees game and look at all the Japanese corporate sponsors lining the stadium.
Today the papers reported on the achievements of a pianist, an athlete, and a novelist, all of which have international fame and recognition. Each newspaper chose a different figure to focus on.
Asahi ” Olympic Swimmer Returns to Active Duty…
(CLICK HERE for the rest of the article, that includes Japanese News Summaries)
This just off the Facebook status update wire:
Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), the Toronto-based author of the rhyming children’s novel Zorgamazoo, has confessed to caving in to Twitter. To follow him, go to: http://twitter.com/rpweston
Job: President of National Association of Japan-America Societies (D.C.)
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The Board of Directors of the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) announces an opening for the position of President.
The National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc. (NAJAS), located in Washington, D.C., is a private, non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c) 3 organization. The mission of the National Association of Japan-America Societies is to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the peoples of Japan and the United States by providing programs, services, and information to and facilitating cooperation among its member societies throughout North America.
Responsibilities:
The President serves as the chief operating officer of the association and reports directly to the Chairman of NAJAS, the Executive Committee and the full Board. The President and Chairman, in conjunction with the Board, set the strategic vision for the organization and the strategy to implement goals and objectives. Read More
Hikaru Utada: The Complete JQ Interview
By Justin Tedaldi, Editor (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02)
(Originally Published May 2009 in JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) magazine, the official quarterly publication of JETAA NY (http://jetaany.org/magazine)
It was perfect timing. Back in January, Hikaru Utada, the New York-born recording phenomenon who before she was out of her teens notched three of Japan’s top ten bestselling albums (including number one), was back in town working on a new album for the U.S., and JQ spent a full hour with Hikki to talk of many things, including her new disc This is the One, which hit stores in May.
I know you want to talk about the new album and the single.
The song…
I heard it about two and half weeks ago, as I think I was already on the e-mail list from when your last English album came out.
Oh, right, right, right.
So we go way back. Ten years ago I found out about First Love when I studying Japanese as an undergraduate…
Oh, wow.
It’s amazing to be here now talking about it.
I’m humbled [laughs]. Read More
JET alum blog featured in Japanese online news
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JET alum and SC Subchapter Rep Daniel Stone’s blog The Divine Wind Vault has been featured in an article on the Japanese website Searchina. It profiled his recent post about the excellence of Japanese convenience stores and fast food restaurants, especially in comparison to the poor level of service and goods offered at the same places here in the States. Omedetou for this Japanese media coverage!
