JETAA Chicago Newsletter article on James Kennedy
Article/Journalism, Books, Interview/Profile, Writers 
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Finally got a hold of this nice article from the Spring 2009 Issue of the JETAA Chicago Newsletter about Jamese Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06) written by JETAA Chicago Newsletter Editor Elizabeth Friedman (Shimane-ken, 2003-04).
Local Chicago JET Alum Spotlight: James Kennedy
James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-2006), a Chicago resident, is the author of The Order of Odd Fish, a 2008 Smithsonian Notable book for children. I recently attended a reading he did of the book at the Evanston Public Library’s Fantasy Festival. Children and adults alike giggled as James bounced around the room while emulating his various characters’ voices and mannerisms. James mentioned he has taken improvisational theater classes in Chicago, which was evident in his ability to keep the group entertained and engrossed in the fantastical story. James also talked about how his improv classes were beneficial in getting him through the JET program interview; he had no problem acting out a sample English lesson on the spot in front of strangers.
In “The Order of Odd Fish,” James’ language often soars to dizzying heights, built upon his silliness and brilliant sense of humor. Each sentence seems to compete with the next to be the most surreal and outrageous piece of writing possible. The book’s dust jacket states that “The Order of Odd Fish” is “equal parts Monty Python and Roald Dahl ….” and I think that comparison is spot on. “The Order of Odd Fish” brought back fond childhood memories of reading “The Witches” and listening to the silly banter of Monty Python.
The main character of the novel, Jo, enters a strange land full of Read More
U.S. High School Japanese Karaoke Contest – via YouTube
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Definitely some future JET alums in this crowd. It turns out there’s a national contest for U.S. high school students to submit “karaoke videos” in which they sing Japanese songs which are then judged by a panel of experts. (Come to think of it, I wonder if there are any JET alums now working as Japanese teachers who have students who submitted videos.)
You can see the full slate of the winner and finalists here: http://www.cheng-tsui.com/superstar/index.php?q=finalists
And the winning entry below:
Job: Manager, Research and Strategy – Telecommunications (NY)
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Via MAX Consulting:
Job Number: F6181 Title: Manager, Research and Strategy
Location: Mid-town, Manhattan NY Area
Industry: Telecommunication
Job Description: Attend trade shows, decide the theme to discuss with venture companies and manufacturers and make appointments to hold meetings with them. Point of contact for maintaining the relationship with venture companies and carriers and for coordinating contracts between carriers and distributors. Window for new business development with venture capitals and other related companies; coordinate forming alliances and handle contracts. Research US market, products and service and report to headquarter in Japan. Excellent communication skill in English is a must. Business level proficiency in Japanese is preferred.
Salary: Depending on Experience
Please email your resume to info@maxjob.com or call 212-949-6660.
NYTimes: Japan offers to pay foreign workers to go home
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One step back for Japan, according to this NY Times article titled “Japan Pays Foreign Workers to Go Home.”
Are there any JETs out there who have run into this process or have friends who have been affected? Feel free to post a comment.
In my case, I lived in Kariya-shi on JET in the early 90s, right next to Toyota-shi. My area was the heart of the auto manufacturing industry in Japan–I was told my town had the largest Brazilian population in Japan (though I’ve since heard other people say the same thing about their towns). So this article definitely hits close to (JET) home.
That said, Jiro Kawasaki, a senior LDP lawmaker and former health minister, comes across as a bit of a reactionary nut job who may simply be representing a minority opinion. He unfortunately is in a position to make something happen. Although, they’re not forcing anyone to leave. It’s simply an option. Of course, it’s an insulting and short-sighted option that’s garnering a lot of publicity. And perhaps that was Kawasaki’s real goal–a publicity stunt that lets his supporters know that he’s Momotaro the Peach Boy doing his job to “protect” the good Japanese people and send the foreign devils home.
Several other Japanese experts are quoted in the article pointing out how offensive and short-sighted the idea is, further supporting the notion that this kind of xenophobia is not a majority viewpoint. And I have to say it’s refreshing to read an article in a U.S. paper including such strongly opinionated quotes from Japanese people. Additionally, the Japanese government has actually been making efforts in recent years to help provide support and training to foreign workers that have been losing their jobs, so Kawasaki’s plan may be more of a renegade effort that is occasionally part of modern democracies.
And on top of everything else, I can’t imagine the Japan National Tourist Organization is too happy about all of this.
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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.
I thought my sleepy eyes were betraying me when I turned on the tv to watch the Japanese news this morning. The headline splayed across the screen was that popular boy band SMAP member 34-year old Tsuyoshi Kusanagi had been arrested on charges of public indecency. Evidently he had been found naked, drunk and incoherent in a Tokyo park early this morning.
According to bystanders, some of what he was muttering was jibberish, some was in Korean (he is known for his Korean language skills and has a big following in Korea), and some were Japanese words they could make out like “baka.” When Kusanagi was approached by a policeman, he yelled out, Read More
Apparently SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi was found walking around naked in a park yelling incoherently. I was on JET when SMAP was first starting out, so this is pretty startling and disturbing. (Though perhaps not quite as startling as their continued popularity all these years.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/23/smap-japan-singer-police-naked-arrest
JETAA Chapter Beat 4.22.09
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…
- Japan Festival – April 25th and 26th in Hermann Park, Houston.
- Shushi Course Mixer – Saturday, May 23rd at the Mirage Clubhouse. JETAA Texoma along with the Japan America Society of Houston and the Japanese-American Citizen’s League-Young Professional Group are hosting a sushi making course.
- Nihongo Dake – Sunday, April 26th at 2:00. Brush up on your Japanese skills and join in on a day of conversation, food and JETAA.
- Iron Chef Potluck – Saturday, May 9th, 6:00 at a location yet to be determined. Come put those culinary skills to the test with JETAASC’s annual Iron Chef competition.
- Camp JET at Lake Arrowhead – May 29th – May 31st at Lake Arrowhead. Spend the weekend roughing it with JETAASC.
- AskJET Volunteers Needed! – Volunteers wanted for May, June and July dates to be announced for informal question and answer sessions for departing 2009 JETs. Lend your experience to a new crop of hopeful JETs.
- The Secrets of Haiku from Master Basho – Thursday, April 23rd, 5:30 at the Commonwealth Club Office. Learn about the art of Kaiku from a well-known translator of the medium, Jane Reichhold, author of Basho the Complete Haiku.
- Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival – April 25th and 26th, 10:00 to 5:00 at Memorial Park, Cupertino. Spend the weekend outside under the cherry blossoms. Events include martial arts expeditions, taiko, and dance groups.
- Yoshida Brothers Concert – May 20th, 7:00 and 9:30(two shows) at the Triple Door. Do not miss these highly talented shamisen masters.
- O-Shaberikai – Wednesday, April 29th, 5:30 at the Holy Grail in Civic. Join in and meet Japanese people living in Canberra and other locals interested in Japan.
- JBook Book Club – Monday, May 18th, 6:30 at Penn Quarter Teaism. May’s topic of discussion is “Moribito” by Nahoko Uehashi. New members always welcome, so drop on by.
- Filmfest DC – April 16th – 26th. This year’s Washington DC Filmfest includes the theme, “New Japanese Cinema.” Films from Yojiro Takita, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and Sunishi Nagasaki are being highlighted this year.
- JETAA DC Alumni Social Event at Pimlico Race Course – May 23rd at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD. The first race is 11:30 and admissions is free.
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.
Bank of Japan Governor Shirakawa at Japan Society on Thursday
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This is pretty big. Note that you can watch by webcast as well.
| LIVE WEBCAST TOMORROW
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Japan Society’s Corporate Program will feature Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa at a luncheon program. Governor Shirakawa will address the current global economic crisis and offer lessons from Japan’s recent experience. Speaker: To view this event live online: |
NYTimes Book Reviews: Manga and Creative Writing
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Thanks to JETAA Pacific Northwest alum David Kowalsky for sharing the following two JetWit-relevant book reviews from the NY Times:
- Manifesto of a Comic-Book Rebel – Review and comment on A DRIFTING LIFE by Yoshihiro Tatsumi; Translated by Taro Nettleton– a memoir that looks back at the roots of gekiga, Japanese comic book art’s dark side. (Click here for a blog interview with photos with Tatsumi-san and Taro Nettleton.)
- The Ponzi Workshop – Commentary on the creative writing movement and reviews of The Program Era: Postwar Fiction and the Rise of Creative Writing by Mark McGurl and The Writer’s Notebook: Craft Essays From Tin House.
- Bonus: A NYTimes restaurant review of Inakaya, the Japanese restaurant on the ground floor of the NY Times building in Manhattan where the show is perhaps more important than the food.
Job: Full-time Translator J>E for consulting firm (NY)
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This job listing is from a seasoned Japan hand (i.e., not from Craigslist) who asked me to share it with the JET alum community. If you apply, please mention that you saw the listing on the WIT Group or on JetWit:
Translator, Japanese to English.
Small company specializing in Japanese/English communications, research, and industry monitoring seeks to hire an experienced translator whose native language is English and who has excellent writing skills in English. Familiarity with IT and pharmaceutical industries a plus but not required. We are seeking someone who is responsible, eager to learn about new fields, and works well with colleagues and clients. Collegial atmosphere with American and Japanese colleagues. Midtown Manhattan location. Competitive salary and health insurance benefits.
Please send resume and cover letter to translator [at] msapr [dot] com.
J-News Mini-Roundup: Chiba Mayor Arrested on Corruption Charges
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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: All three newspapers were filled with headlines this morning showing the Chiba Government Office being flooded with police. The mayor Chiba was arrested today on charges of bribery in a construction scandal. The police claim that Mayor Tsuroka Keiichi received about 1,000,000 yen (10,000 dollars) in 2005 as bribe money when new orders were being placed for public works projects. Each newspaper added different sides to the story.
Nikkei: “The Mayor Claims he’s innocent” The Nikkei’s opening paragraph descr
ibes the accusation that is being brought on the mayor, and then the second sentence abruptly states “and he claims he’s innocent.” The Nikkei also mentions that the Public Works Construction Company involved in the scandal is using the defense that the statue of limitations on bribery is three years, and three years have elapsed since the event.
Yomiuri: “The Mayor had a Motive” The Yomiuri paints a vivid picture…
(Click HERE to read the rest of the post)
JET alum discount for Human Japanese 2.0
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JETAA Texoma’s Dallas Subchapter Rep Angela Beard reports that she’s been able to secure a 20% discount on the downloadable version of Human Japanese 2.0, a Japanese instruction program. Users who posted reviews on Amazon.com seem to like it (78% of reviewers awarded 5 stars…and the sole negative reviewer actually recanted and awarded 5 stars later).
Angela says: I know that Human Japanese offers boxed versions and iPhone versions, but for now the discount applies to the downloadable version only. However, depending on how well this promotion goes, maybe we’ll be able to strike a deal on the other versions, too! Here is information from the creator himself, including how to get the discount:
To see Human Japanese and download a trial version, the students can just use the normal web site, at www.humanjapanese.com. When they’re ready to purchase, they’ll get a discount if they use this URL: http://www.humanjapanese.com/Purchase.aspx?promotion=APLGGBEX That brings the price for the download-only version to about $15, which is a smokin’ deal if you ask me! :-)
I hope this discount will help those of you who have been wanting to get better at Japanese but can’t quite get motivated or commit to a classroom course. I know that I am in that group, and I am excited to give this program a try. From the reviews, it seems that Human Japanese takes a different approach from many other language instruction programs.
Incidentally, the creator is a wonderful guy…he and his wife were kind enough to let me stay with them during half of my time in Seattle last August. Actually, his whole family is great, especially his brother (my boyfriend). ;) In seriousness, he is very open to feedback about the program and if you run into difficulties or have questions, he is always available to help. I approached him about this discount specifically for JETAA and he was immediately happy to offer some incentive.
Thanks for reading and good luck with Human Japanese.
JetWit Blog Beat by Crystal Wong
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JetWit Blog Beat by Crystal Wong (Iwate-ken, 2002-04) is a recurring item featuring posts from the blogs of various JET alumni. Crystal is a formerEnglish-language writer for Kyodo News. She now works as a media planner in Chelsea and sorely misses all her favorite midtown ramen joints.
Hello JetWit readers! Blog Beat was on a brief spring hiatus, but we have a lot to catch up on as JET alumni everywhere have been clearly very busy this spring.
Undoubtedly one of the coolest cakes ever – James Kennedy lauds his fans in a recent post, and with good reason, as these are original and wonderful ways to see his work appreciated. (James’ editor is reported to have commented, “That is simultaneously the most impressive and least appetizing cake I have ever seen.”)
Another new addition to the blogroll – Suzanne (Borsum) Kamata (Tokushima, 1988-90) is the author of the novel Losing Kei (Leapfrog Press, 2008), a picture book, Playing for Papa (Topka Books, 2008) and the editor of three anthologies. We welcome her to Blog Beat and look forward to cheering for her little Tiger during his adventures in Japanese baseball.
JET alum Chen Reichert shares thoughts and photos from her first craft show of the season during Sakura Sunday, the biggest event during the Philly Cherry Blossom Festival. Sounds like it was a smashing success!
Check out Lee-Sean Huang‘s (Oita-ken, 2003-06) intriguing final project for his Visual Music and Animals, et al. classes.
JET alum Lars Martinson is hard at work on the sequel to his graphic novel Tonoharu – read a complete rundown of his progress here.
Bruce Rutledge of Chin Music Press reveals a few more tantalizing sneak peeks at the upcoming Oh! by Todd Shimoda.
Finally, we’d like to report that Rose Symotiuk (Hokkaido, 2003-2005) just got married in Poland a few days ago! Congratulations Rose!!
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Author Suzanne Kamata (Tokushima-ken, 1988-90), who serves as the publicity assistant for the Tokyo branch of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, shared the following announcement:
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators presents
Literary Agent Laura Rennert
Under the Hood: The Nuts and Bolts of Craft
Time: Friday, May 15, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Place: Tokyo Women’s Plaza, Conference Room 1
5-53-67 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
(by the Children’s Castle and United Nations University)
For a map see www.scbwi.jp/map.htm
Fee: SCBWI members 1,500 yen; non-members 2,000 yen
This event will be in English.
In this two hour presentation, Laura Rennert, senior agent of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, will lift the hood and focus on the key elements of the writer’s craft: voice, great beginnings, characterization, narrative structure, plot, powerful endings. How do you establish your compact with the reader and then honor it? What makes opening pages irresistible and how do you sustain these page turning elements throughout your work? What causes an agent, an editor, or a reader to put down a book? If voice is that ineffable something you bring to the table, are there concrete ways in which you can work on it? What are the essential elements that go into the creation of “round” characters, and how can you create these multi-dimensional, vivid characters?
Come to this hands-on session and plumb these questions and others as Rennert delves into issues of craft and technique, drawing on her ten years plus experience as an agent, on her Ph.D. and eight years of university experience teaching English Literature, and her own experience as an agent with forthcoming published books.
Laura Rennert is a Senior Agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Founded in New York City in 1981, it was the first literary agency to represent both children’s book authors and illustrators. Rennert has been with the agency for almost ten years, and specializes in all categories of children’s books, from picture books to young adult, graphic novels, fiction and nonfiction. Visit the Andrea Brown agency website at www.andreabrownlit.com.
Upcoming Lectures at Japan Society (NY): Intimacy and Tourism
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I just saw that Japan Society (NY) has two particularly interesting lectures coming up. One on the issue of intimacy in Japanese society and the other on whether Japan has failed to take advantage of a big tourism opportunity, both topics that are likely to be of interest to JET alums.
Lovesick Japan:
Stories of Intimacy from Courts to Keitai (Cell Phone) Novels Dana Goodyear, poet, journalist and the author of the New Yorker article “I ♥ Novels,” and Mark West, Nippon Life Professor of Japanese Law at the University of Michigan, discuss their latest research into this “crisis of intimacy.” Moderated by Kenji Yoshino, The Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University. Tickets: Purchase tickets online or call the box office at 212.715.1258 Historical and Natural Tourism:
Rediscovering Lost Japan While tourism has become the world’s largest earner of foreign exchange, famed author and Japan expert Alex Kerr argues that Japan has largely missed a great opportunity. Using examples of successful historic renovation and new approaches to managing tourist sites in both rural and urban Japan, Kerr offers an innovative vision for the future of international tourism in Japan. Purchase tickets online or call the box office at 212.715.1258 LOCATION: |
