Jan 8

Film maker seeks info on Japan

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Via JETAA UK:

Hello JETAA members,

Below is an email from Joe Johnson from Plum Pictures:

‘I work as a researcher for Plum Pictures, an independent television production company, and we are currently making a documentary film for the BBC about festivals and food in Japan, specifically the Inazawa Hadaka Matsuri (Naked man festival) and the Nakizumo (baby sumo wrestlers). I am currently trying to find out as much as I can about the history, meaning and significance of these festivals and about Japanese foods from Nagasaki and Inazawa. I am also interested in finding out more about the conflict between the ancient and the modern in contemporary Japan and where we can visualise this for the purpose of the film.’

If anyone has relevant experiences of either of these festivals, places or foods and would like to help Joe then please email him before Fri 16th of Jan joej@ hattrick. com.

Thanks,
Anne Grieve
JETAA Chair

Jan 7

Job: Write Subtitles in English for Adult Movies – P/T – (Tokyo)

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Via Craigslist Tokyo.  I’m posting this more for entertainment value than job search value.

Part Time Subtitle Editing for Adult Video Company (Tokyo)Reply to:

job-975368287@craigslist.org ^[?]

Date: 2008-12-31, 11:03PM JT

Tokyo-based adult video production company seeking part time bilingual staff to add English subtitles to material orginally in Japanese.

Requirements:
– Any age
– Strong command of English and Japanese
– Over 20 years old
– Available for 4 hour shifts in central Tokyo (9:00-13:00 or 13:00-17:00)
– Some knowledge of material content a plus (knowledge of terminology very useful)

This is a translation job only. You will be adding English subtitles directly and a native English speaker will review material before completion.

• Location: Tokyo
• Compensation: 3,000yen an hour plus transportation

Jan 7

Jobs: International Education Programs

Career, Jobs Comments Off on Jobs: International Education Programs

The following are from the Chronicle of Higher Ed’s job site:

1/5/2009

• Northeastern Illinois University (Illinois) : Coordinator of University International Exchange Programs and Graduate College Assistant Opportunities
• United Nations University ( Multiple locations) : Director, International Institute For Software Technology, Macao, Special Administrative Region of China — Director, Institute For Natural Resources in Africa, Ghana, Africa
• University of Hawaii at Hilo (Hawaii) : Associate/Full Professor (Director of China-U.S. Relations)
• University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Nebraska) : International Programs Coordinator
• Western Michigan University (Michigan) : Director Intensive ESL Program

Jan 7

WIT Life #15: Power Spots

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

A visit to a shrine, or hatsumoude, is an essential part of Japan’s oshougatsu. This year’s visits incorporated the idea of power spots, or places from which you can receive special energy. Depending on what sort of wishes people hoped to fulfill, they made visits to “power spot shrines” targeted to their desires. The third most popular request was for success in business, and one temporary worker interviewed expressed hope that work would continue to come to him. Currently laborers such as himself make up 1/3 of the work force, and their protests have received much news coverage.

The second most popular request was for luck in love, with one woman insisting that the shrine she had been visiting for the last couple of years during oshougatsu was the reason she was able to get married last year. Incidentally, the idea of searching for a marriage partner in the same way as searching for a job has become so prominent in Japan that the expression “konkatsu” has come into vogue. This phrase derives from Read More

Jan 6

James Kennedy short story in Chicago Reader + New Yorker Cartoon Game

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James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06), author of The Order of Odd-Fish, has a short story in the Chicago Reader this week. It’s called “The Most Dangerous Beard In Town” and, according to James, “it’s whimsically illustrated by the very talented Jeremy Russnak.”

Bonus recommended reading: On his blog today, James shares the results of a New Yorker cartoon game he invented and then played with his family.  One hat is filled with everyone’s New Yorker style drawings and another with urbane punchlines.  The drawings and punchlines are paired randomly, and the results satirize nicely.

Jan 6

Job: Japanese speaker/writer needed – P/T (South Tampa, FL)

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Japanese speaker/writer needed – P/T (South Tampa, FL)

Via JETAA Florida:

In today’s USF newspaper, there was an advertisement saying, “P/T Japanese spk/writer needed in S. Tampa.  Contact Misty for details.  (813) 870-2400”

Jan 5

2009 JET Programme Essay Contest

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In case you haven’t recently checked the CLAIR website, here is the official announcement about the 17th Annual JET Programme Essay Competition.  This year’s submissions are due by Friday, March 13, 2009.  This annual contest is open to both current and former JETs.

Shannon Rochelle Quinn
JETAA USA Country Rep 2006-2009

Prizes (tentative, based on last year)

Japanese Language Division

Grand Jury Prize \ 100,000 (1 entry)
Prize for Excellence \ 50,000 (1 entry)
Honourary Mention \ 10,000 (3 entries)

Foreign Language Division

Grand Jury Prize \ 100,000 (1 entry)
Prize for Excellence \ 50,000 (1 entry)
Honourary Mention \ 10,000 (3 entries)

(Click “Read More” for details) Read More

Jan 5

WITLife #14: Mooooooooo….

Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WITLife #14: Mooooooooo….

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

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!  Welcome to the year of the cow.  I hope it is a happy and healthy one for all!  I received some electronic New Year’s greetings from friends in Japan, and the noise a cow makes in Japanese (「モー」) was often used as a dajare (pun) in the phrase: “Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.”  Gotta love Japanese humor!

Social woes are already plaguing Japan in early 2009.  During the end of the year a provisional “Toshikoshi Haken Mura” was set up in Hibiya Park for temporary employees who have become jobless/homeless due to premature cutting off of their contracts.  This was a village where they could live over the holidays, and on the eve traditional toshikoshi soba (extra-long soba connecting the new year to the old) with mochi in it was served.  One 40-year old recipient said that it was the first proper meal he had had in two weeks.  When asked about his prospects for the new year, Read More

Jan 5

Haiku Challenge #3 – “Pop”

Blogs, Books, Celebrity, Contest, Roland Kelts, Writers Add Comment (1)

Deadline:  Thursday, January 8, before 5:00p.m. EST

Welcome to the JetWit Haiku Challenge! The challenge is to submit one or more haiku using the designated word.  The best haiku submitted wins the prize.

This challenge is courtesy of Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica:  How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S., published by Palgrave Macmillan. You can also follow Roland on his blog japanamerica.blogspot.com.

• Designated word:  “Pop” (you must use this word in your haiku; multiple submissions welcome)
  

• Deadline:  Thursday, January 8, before 5:00p.m. EST
  
• Prize:  Free copy of Japanamerica + Susan Napier’s Anime:  From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle mailed to you.
• Form: Haiku are typically 5-7-5 and have a seasonal reference.  (Though the form actually has a fair amount of flexibility.)
• E-mail responses to:  jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com

Jan 4

Job: Associate at Burson-Marsteller (Tokyo)

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Via Indeed.com Tokyo jobs:

Burson-Marsteller is an international PR and communications firm.  I’m aware of at least one JET alum who works for them.

Click read more to read about the position and how to submit a resume for it. Read More

Jan 4

Job: Asst Director, International Student Services – State University of NY College at Plattsburgh

Jobs Comments Off on Job: Asst Director, International Student Services – State University of NY College at Plattsburgh

Via the Chronicle of Higher Ed jobs page:

Position: Assistant Director, International Student Services
Institution: State University of New York College at Plattsburgh
Location: New York
Date posted: 12/26/2008

Assistant Director, International Student Services

Staff members in International Student Services (ISS) at the State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh are attentive to the unique needs and concerns of international students. ISS is looking for an Assistant Director to administer immigration advising and to assist with professional functions related to international student enrollment management. This position requires limited international and/or domestic travel, as well as some evening and weekend work. Read More

Dec 24

JetWit Vacation – Akemashite omedetou!

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JetWit will be on hiatus during the Christmas/New Year’s break.  But we’ll be back posting in the New Year.

明けましておめでとうございます!

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!

Happy New Year!

Dec 24

Translations agencies bad practices – LinkedIn group

Career, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Translations agencies bad practices – LinkedIn group

I just found out there’s actually a LinkedIn group called “Translations agencies bad practices.”  A JET alum with whom I’m linked recently joined it, according to one of those LinkedIn updates you get that tells you who has done what recently.

In its own words:

“If you had or have non payment issues, or other bad experience, with a translation agency, use this group to tell us about, as it is useful information for all freelances in this sector.”

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1536857&trk=nus_grp

Dec 23

Omedetou!

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Omedetou gozaimashita to JETAA NY Secretary Meredith Wutz who’s had a rather big week.

• Her fantasy football team, Machine Gun Kelly, defeated Takashi Daito’s Hamamatsu Eel-Dogs by 0.7 points after trailing by 45 points going into the Monday night game to win the first ever JETAA NY Fantasy Football League, consisting of 5 JET alums and 5 football-loving members from CLAIR New York, and…

• She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Kiyora Linda, on December 18. :-)

Me-ri Kurisumasu!

Dec 23

WITLife #13 – Emperors, Towers and More Nesting

Japan Trends, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WITLife #13 – Emperors, Towers and More Nesting

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