Jan 20

Job: Native Japanese Speaking Attorney needed for document review asap

******

Via Penn Alumni LinkedIn Group:

Seeking Native Japanese Speaking Attorneys ASAP

“I am recruiting for NATIVE Japanese speaking attorneys for a document review project at a large law firm located Manhattan. Top pay and long term opportunity. Please contact me at kroth /atto/ customlegalsolutions. com. Thanks!


Jan 20

Japan Job Site: Job Cube

I just got an email from a nice guy at JobCube: Japan Jobs (http://jobcube.com) letting me know about their site.  They had seen JetWit.com and asked if we could include a link to their site, which I’ve done on the Job Site Links page in the “Finding Jobs in Japan” section.

JobCube is run in conjunction with their Japan News site (theblackship.com) featuring up-to-date news on Japan as well as an active forum and classifieds service.  (See the RSS feed for theblackship.com in the JetWit sidebar.)

JobCube/TheBlackShip is kindly going to post a link to JetWit.com on their site in exchange.  Though regardless, JetWit is always happy to post information that’s helpful for JET alumni when it comes to finding jobs. :-)

Meanwhile, if anyone uses JobCube and gets a job or has any feedback, please feel free to share your experience or comments via an e-mail to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.


Jan 20

WIT Life #20: 買わない生活

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03).  Recently she’s been watching the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

The above title Kawanai Seikatsu, or purchase-free lifestyle, describes a money-saving phenomenon taking over Japan. In the midst of the economic doldrums, people are looking for creative solutions to maintain the lifestyles they are used to without spending as much money. What they have found to be indispensible in this pursuit are a variety of websites accessible by keitai (cell phone) and computer that allow them to access goods and services through a system of sharing.                                                       

One such site is ShareMo (shmo.jp) whose catchphrase is “With just one keitai, you can share anything.” This site has a variety of offerings, from frying pans to Halloween decorations to video games, which are lent out among members. No money exchange takes place, but members receive points for carrying out transactions and can then use this currency to borrow items listed on the site. A Tokyo customer profiled showed the items throughout her house that she had rented from ShareMo. They ranged from a tea whisk to Read More


Jan 19

The Order of Odd-Fish: The Mix Tape

James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, was asked to do a fun feature on the music blog Largehearted Boy a couple weeks ago. They have a feature called “Book Notes” in which an author is invited to compile a mixtape appropriate for their book, and explain it. So he put together a kind of movie soundtrack for “The Order of Odd-Fish.” You can listen to his “Odd-Fish” mixtape, and read the explanations for his choices, here:

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2009/01/book_notes_jame_2.html


Jan 19

Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community…

There is much to celebrate now that 2009 is upon us. New possibilities, new hopes and new experiences wait just around the corner. Join the JET Alumni community in kicking off the new year together in this special Shinnenkai special edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.

JETAA Chicago Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24, 6:00 at the Japan Information Center. What better way to celebrate the new year than with food, games, koto music, gyotaku, a raffle and even a little calligraphy lesson? If that isn’t enough, then all proceeds for this event will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Don’t miss it.

JETAA D.C. Bowling Shinnenkai – Tuesday, January 27th, 7:00 at Lucky Strike Lanes. Bowl in the new year in Washington D.C. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and food for everyone!

JETAA Florida Shinnenkai – Sunday, January 25, 5:30. Michael Maloney is hosting this year’s Shinnenkai at his home. Come enjoy food and conversation with Florida JET alumni.

JETAA Texoma Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24, 6:30. JET Alumna Melissa Villamil is offering her home for this year’s event. Earlier meetup scheduled for 2:00 in downtown Houston for some activities before the party. Bring your business cards, get ready for some Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, Wii and board games. It promises to be a good time.

JETAA Rocky Mountains Shinnenkai – Sunday, February 8th, 1:00 to 4:00 at the International House. Help to celebrate the year of the cow with sushi, music and games and prizes.

JETAA Southeast Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 31st, 6:00 to 8:00 at Nori Nori. Bring in the new year with all you can eat seafood and sushi.

JETAA Southeast First Ever SC Sub-Chapter Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 24th, 6:00 at Clemson University’s Roderick International House. Come join in on a little new year’s celebration with the South Carolina Sub-chapter.

JETAA Northern California Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 14, 6:00 at Restaurant Peony. Food, games, and prizes! Celebrate 2009 with old friends and new.

  • Photo Request! – JETAA Northern California needs photos for this year’s Shinnenkai Slideshow! If you’ve got: Pictures you took while in Japan on JET, JETAA Event Pictures, other event pictures you want to share or pictures of your family please submit them and share with the JET community.

JETAA Pacific Northwest Japan Young Professionals Group Shinnenkai – Wednesday, January 21st, 6:30 at Typhoon Restaurant in downtown Seattle. Join in for good food and a chance to network with others interested in Japan.

JETAA Toronto Annual General Meeting & Shinnenkai – Saturday, January 31st, meeting starts at 5:30 at Milestone’s Grill & Bar. Come and help contribute to the Toronto Executive and help celebrate 2009 Canada-style.

JETAA NY Shinnenkai – On Friday, January 23 at 7pm, enjoy All-you-can drink and eat shabu-shabu in a traditional Japanese restaurant (Naniwa on E. 46th between 5th & Madison) sitting on tatami and surrounded by paper sliding doors.  Beef shabu shabu & seafood yosenabe will be served.  Drinks include beer, sake, shochu, wine and tea. Vegetarian option upon request.  Space is limited to 45 people, so RSVP now to get on the list and make your payment so you don’t miss out on the biggest dinner of the year!  If you’re not a big drinker and still want to attend contact Monica.

All attendees must pay in advance through PayPal. RSVP to Monica at social /atto/ jetaany /dotto/ org to get the link to make the payment.  Click here to see photos of last year’s Shinnenkai.

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.


Jan 19

Mizuho Reacts to Financial Crisis

Mizuho Bank is making some changes at the top of their corporate heirarchy in response to the financial crisis.  I had heard and read some comments that Mizuho and the Japanese financial sector’s exposure to the subprime mortgage crisis and other issues facing American banks was not as great.  However, this article in FinanceAsia.com indicates Mizuho may have some significant problems, including a poorly timed investment in Merrill Lynch and losses relating to the Lehman bankruptcy, though it’s hard to gague from the article exactly how bad things are.

I share this not to turn JetWit into a financial commentary blog but just as an indicator of Japan-related trends, since the fortunes of many in the JET alumni community, and perhaps the JET Program itself, are tied to the state of the Japanese economy.


Jan 19

I just finished reading Zorgamazoo, the rhyming novel by Robert P. Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04) published by Penguin Books, and want to let the JET alum community know that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The characters, the illustrations, the crazy fonts, the story and of course, the rhymes.

I know it’s not necessarily intended for people in my….um….age range.  But that didn’t take anything away from it.  It’s an extremely creative effort and I think JET alums (as well as non-JET alums) who read it will appreciate it.

(FYI, I’m not getting paid to say any of this.  Honto ni, I really was just curious and found I enjoyed it a great deal.)


Jan 17
******Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica and frequent lecturer on the topic of Japanese pop culture, was interviewed recently on Tokyo FM. Below is the link to the post on his blog (japanamerica.blogspot.com) as well as links to the interview clips.

Interviewed in New York, Aired in Tokyo, on Tokyo FM

The interview is in English, but the DJ translates in Japanese over Roland’s voice when he speaks and then expounds on her own at times.  (I think it’s a little easier to hear the English in Part 2.)

It would be great if someone out there would post an English-version summary of the interview in the comments section below.  Or perhaps one person could do a small portion and then others could add to it.

Click here for Part 1

And here for Part 2


Jan 17

Job: P/T International Programs at Lake Washington Technical College (Kirkland, WA)

*******Via JETAA Pacific Northwest.  I think posted by a JET alum who works at LWTC.

Anyone a die hard INTL? If you’ve never quite recovered from reverse culture shock & still prefer to hang out with INTL than local seattlites, then you might be a die hard.

The INTL department at LWTC in Kirkland is looking for a PT INTL die hard to tend to INTL student needs: i.e. F1 student visa immigrations, academic advising, quarterly registration, social support, event & activity planning, INTL club advising, … Read More


Jan 17

Job: Director of International Programs (Humboldt College, CA)

Via Chronicle of Higher Ed jobs page:

1/13/2009


Jan 16

Job: Japanese – English Bilingual Web Developer (Salt Lake City, UT)

Via JETAA Pacific Northwest:

Be Part of a Global Team in an Innovative Company!

Seeking: Japanese – English Bilingual Web Developer

Location: Greater Salt Lake City Area

Responsibilities:

The right candidate will be part of the head office IT team to work for the Japan market by liaising with the Read More


Jan 16

Interesting article (“Japan’s Outcasts Still Wait for Society’s Embrace”) by Norimitsu Onishi in the NYTimes today on buraku in modern Japanese society, a high ranking politician named Hiromu Nonaka who is of buraku descen, and a racist comment allegedly made two years ago by current prime minister Taro Aso.


Jan 16

Job: Temporary Assistant – Permanet Mission of Japan to UN (New York)

Via JETAA NY:

The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations is seeking a temporary assistant for general administrative duties.

Requirements/Preferences:

1) U.S. citizenship required.

2) Computer skills, typing skills and excellent English writing and verbal communications skills required.

3) College degree required

4) Familiarity with Japanese language and culture preferred

Duration: 5 weeks starting late January 2009

Please send a cover letter and resume by January 21, 2009 to jinji-center @un-japan. org with “PMJ Temporary Assistant” in the subject line. No phone calls please.


Jan 15

Event: Japan Brand Unfolds in NYC at Felissimo Design House

Tara Hohenberger (Nara-ken, 2001-03) (PR & Events Coordinator for Felissimo Design House) has shared information for an intriguing upcoming exhibition at Felissimo Design House (10 W. 56th St. in NYC) which is featuring a collection of artisan produced products from 30 regions of Japan from Jan 25 – Feb 7, including glassware, furniture, ceramics, paper and textiles and well as lacquar and culinary ingredients.

Click “Read More” to read the full press release, or go to www.felissimo.com. Read More


Jan 15

Job: Best job in the world

JetWit is not making this job listing up.

The Australian Ministry of Tourism is willing to pay someone $100,000 to spend 6 months relaxing and enjoying some island in the Pacific and blogging about it.

Here’s the article from the NYTimes/Associated Press:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/world/asia/15australia.html?emc=eta1

Here’s the job listing website:  http://islandreefjob.com/ For those interested, deadline is Feb. 22 and requires submission of a 60-second video among other things.

It sounds too good to be true, so my guess is that the $100G pays for itself via the publicity this generates for the island as a tourist destination.

If any JET alums out there apply for it, let me know or post a comment so we can hear about the process (and perhaps eventually the job itself!)


Page Rank