JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers: James McKnight, Gunma-ken, 2001-2004
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JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers is produced by Ryan Hata (Tottori-ken, 2014-2017), Margie Banin (Kochi-ken, 2005-2007), and Jim Walsh (Fukushima-ken, 2018-2020). Want to be featured next? Submit your information here.
James McKnight, Gunma-ken, 2001-2004
Accomplishment:
James McKnight wrote Yellow & Black Fever: Life, Love and Baseball in the Land of the Rising Sun, a memoir of the first three years (2001-2004) out of twelve total that he lived in Japan. Mainly about life as an ALT in a small town, James writes about struggling to fit in, traveling around Japan-Asia, and about a group of Japanese pro baseball fans that took him under their wing and accepted him not as a gaijin, but as an equal. Current and former JETs might enjoy reading James’ memoir as he is certain many of the struggles and successes he experienced are similar to the ones they experienced. This memoir may well bring back good memories for former JETs, and for current JETs it might shed light on what life was like as a JET nearly 20 years ago. As James’ baseball friends lived in Osaka, he had a 500 km journey in order to see them and watch Hanshin Tigers games together. However, he says it well worth it as inside a baseball stadium he could escape the troubles of his everyday life. James’ book is available on Amazon.com and also on Amazon in other countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, France, and Japan.
More Info:
James is currently working as an Adult Education – Workforce Instructor on a Native American Reservation in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and has found that working on the reservation is almost like being a foreigner in Japan again. He began teaching in 2001 as a JET, worked two years as Gunma Prefectural ALT Advisor in the Board of Education Office (2004-06), then became licensed as a Foreign Instructor in order to teach full-time at Chuo Secondary School, an English Immersion School in Takasaki, Gunma (2006-2013). James taught there for 6 1/2 years and learned exactly how hard it is to be a full-time middle school/high school teacher in Japan. He found it very challenging, but adapted to the long work hours and enjoyed teaching the students and learning from his co-workers.
James returned to the U.S. in 2013, and is certified to teach high school social studies, adult education, and career – technical education. He would be glad to help anyone interested in learning about full-time teaching in Japan or teaching in Arizona as well. Prior to becoming a teacher, James worked as a sports journalist and public relations professional for 11 years. A graduate of the University of Arizona – Class of 1990 with a B.A. in Journalism, James has also earned a Masters in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Secondary Education from Pima College.
Public Contact Information:
James can be reached at gotryb34@gmail.com. He can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers: JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers: Valerie Hwang, Hyogo-ken, 2009-2012
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JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers is produced by Ryan Hata (Tottori-ken, 2014-2017), Margie Banin (Kochi-ken, 2005-2007), and Jim Walsh (Fukushima-ken, 2018-2020). Want to be featured next? Submit your information here.
Valerie Hwang, Hyogo-ken, 2009-2012
Founded Intrepid Ayurveda – Ayurvedic Health Counseling business and website.
After years of post-JET soul-searching, adventuring, and creative endeavors, Valerie has launched her career in Ayurvedic medicine as a Health Counselor Intern at the California College of Ayurveda. Her mission is to provide guidance through the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda so that her clients have the path and tools to live their lives to the very fullest.
Public Contact Information:
Website — www.intrepidayurveda.com
Email — intrepidayurveda@gmail.com
USJETAA Webinars
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The School of International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute Scholarship Information Session
Session 1 (Aug 11, 2020 at 5:30 PM Pacific Time / 8:30 PM Eastern Time): https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5015968358314/WN_A2_-mIXLTR24dtfODiYeCg
Session 2 (Aug 13, 2020 at 6:00 AM Pacific Time / 9:00 AM Eastern Time): https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3415968359030/WN_Lq5cqR21SOqTVypU-ZV3KA
Are you interested in attending graduate school? The School of International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute has partnered with the USJETAA to offer a scholarship to JET alumni interested in pursuing a master’s degree program at SIT. SIT will commit to providing 30% tuition scholarships for eligible JET alumni. Please join us to learn more about the mater’s programs and scholarship available to JET alumni. JET alumni who have completed their MA at SIT have been invited to join us for this presentation.
SIT offers master’s degree programs in part-time, low-residency and full-time, face-to-face, global formats in the following subjects:
Master of Arts in Climate Change and Global Sustainability
Master of Arts in Development Practice
Master of Arts in Diplomacy & International Relations
Master of Arts in Global Health Policy, Administration & Management
Master of Arts in Humanitarian Assistance and Crisis Management
Master of Arts in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management (Online with brief residencies in Vermont)
Master of Arts in International Education (Global, Online with brief residencies in Vermont)
Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Leadership (Online with brief residencies in Vermont and abroad)
Master of Arts in Sustainable Development (Online with brief residencies in Vermont and abroad)
Master of Arts in TESOL (Online with brief residencies in Vermont)
Japanese Jobs for JETs
Aug 20, 2020 08:00 PM EDT: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7515968357686/WN_XRBeLyyRRAOvvp7QE8EdiQ
The JET experience is a life-changing one, and when you return home, you may feel confused and/or stressed about the job search, specifically for jobs that allow you to use your Japanese. Join this seminar if you’re still on or already done with the JET Program, and learn some key tips about job searching.
Anne Hooghart (Shiga, 1990-1991) is an instructor, consultant, and parent of bilingual kids. Anne maintains a personal and professional focus on fostering interest in the Japanese language and culture.
Kasia Lynch is the Founder of Ikigai Connections. Kasia aims to be a kakehashi (bridge) between job seekers who want to utilize their Japanese language and/or cultural skills, and the global companies that need them.
Faye Valtadoros (Kagawa, 1998-2000) is a 6-12 grade Japanese teacher. Faye strives to open her students’ eyes to all the amazing things about the Japanese language and culture while talking about her JET days and what she learned while living in Japan.
Obon Classics: Special Lecture & Performance Event
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The Japan Foundation will present a special lecture with Isaku Kageyama, Sumie Kaneko, and David Wells on some of the traditional Japanese musical instruments used for the Bon Odori, a summertime folk dance festival which is the highlight of a centuries-old Buddhist custom called Obon. This lecture will be focusing on the history of Japanese music, and will also cover the histories of taiko, shamisen, koto, and fue.
There will be demonstrations of traditional performances by the guest artists, and the various instruments will be played together at the end to showcase how they sound together to create Obon festival music.
Live chat will be enabled on the YouTube stream, so guests can ask questions, and participate in the Q&A session during the stream.
I would appreciate it if you could share this free event with your friends in the taiko community.
Date and time: Saturday, August 15, 5pm EDT
Facebook event page:
YouTube link:
JFNYwebsite:
GlobalizeDC Events
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Thanks to GlobalizeDC for sharing some events that are happening this week that may be of interest to you.
Online Course: Race in American Life
Application Deadline: Tues, August 4 (today)
Mya Fisher, recently of the US-Japan Council, is offering a free 4-week sociology mini-course on “How Race and Ethnicity Shape American Life.” Those working in the U.S.-Japan space are encouraged to apply, including TOMODACHI program alumni, so they can gain some context for understanding why what is happening in the US at this time is so important.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Confucius Institute U.S. Center: Virtual Discussion – “Social Justice in the World Language Classroom”
Program Date: Wed, August 5, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
How is the language classroom uniquely suited to challenge bias, stereotypes, and nurture student voices? How can world language educators continue to support justice, equity, and inclusion within our communities? What does social justice education look like in the Chinese language classroom? This free webinar will explore these questions and more with a panel of educators and social justice advocates. For more information and to register, click here.
EngageAsia: “Pictures from a Hiroshima Schoolyard” – Turning Horror into Hope
Presented in Partnership with MIT Japan
Program Date: Wed, August 5, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan, join EngageAsia for a discussion of the documentary film, Pictures from a Hiroshima Schoolyard, and a ceremony to remember and honor this event.
Register here. Interested persons are encouraged to watch the film for free prior to the program here.
JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers: Jessica Frey, Fukuoka-ken, 2005-2007
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JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers is produced by Ryan Hata (Tottori-ken, 2014-2017), Margie Banin (Kochi-ken, 2005-2007), and Jim Walsh (Fukushima-ken, 2018-2020). Want to be featured next? Submit your information here.
Jessica Frey, Fukuoka-ken, 2005-2007
Accomplishment: Jessica J.M. Frey is an author, screenwriter, and professional smartypants. With an MA in Communications and Culture, she’s appeared in podcasts, documentaries, and on radio and television to discuss all things geeky through the lens of academia. She also has an addiction to scarves, ‘Doctor Who’, and tea, which may or may not all be related. Her life’s ambition is to have stepped foot on every continent (only 3 left!)
J.M.’s also a professionally trained actor who takes absolute delight in weird stories, over the top performances, and quirky characters. She’s played everything from Marmee to the Red Queen, Jane Eyre to Annie, and dozens of strange creatures and earnest heroines as a voice actor.
Her debut novel “Triptych” (written while in Japan) was nominated for two Lambda Literary Awards, won the San Francisco Book Festival award for SF/F, was nominated for a 2011 CBC Bookie, was named one of The Advocate’s Best Overlooked Books of 2011, and garnered both a starred review and a place among the Best Books of 2011 from Publishers Weekly. Since then, J.M.’s published eight more novels, the most recent being her digital-only queer time-travel novel “The Woman Who Fell Through Time”, which was named a winner of the 2019 WATTY AWARD for Historical Fiction.
J.M. Frey continues to write and hopes that one day to finish the sprawling historical epic she started while touring the hauntingly beautiful Iya Valley. It’s eluded her so far, and she thinks she might just have to travel back to Japan to chase down that inspiration again…
J.M. Frey is currently located in Toronto, Ontario, and welcomes inquiries and mentees looking to get into writing.
Public Contact Information:
Website – www.jmfrey.net
Twitter – https://twitter.com/scifrey
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/j.m.frey/
Mystery in the mountains: Piecing together the fate of a downed American aircrew in rural Japan by JET alumnus, David Caprara (Nara-ken, 2012-2014)
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JET alumus, David Caprara (Nara-ken, 2012-2014) has been working as a journalist post-JET. He credits his time on the JET Programme to help his career. For three years, he worked in New York City for two Japanese media outlets, NHK, and the Tokyo Shimbun. Before that, he was a freelancer for a wide array of international outlets around the world. He recently wrote an article for the Japan Times surrounding some rumors he heard in Nara that a plane had crashed into the holiest mountain of the Kumano Kodo during WWII and decided to conduct some research into this as a journalist. It sort of puts a highlight on the bond between the US and Japan and on JETs and their placements.
Interested in reading the full piece? Please click here.
Job: Translator/Interpreter Contract Positions – Central Motor Wheel of America (Paris, KY, USA)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email
Position: Translator/Interpreter Contract Positions
Posted by: Central Motor Wheel of America
Location: Paris, KY, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JET alum, Jeremy Patrick (Shizuoka-ken) for passing along this JET relevant job with his company:
Central Motor Wheel of America (CMWA) is a supplier of aluminum and steel wheels for Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Subaru, and other automobile makers.
We are in the middle of an expansion project that will see several supervisors from Japanese equipment suppliers coming to the US to oversee equipment assembly, installation, connections, programming, and startups. As part of that, we are looking for 4 translators/interpreters to support our project. These will be contract positions lasting 5-6 months with two positions beginning in August and 2 more in September.
Job: Japanese Client Manager/Paralegal – The Jensen Law Firm, PLLC (Remote)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email
Position: Japanese Client Manager/Paralegal
Posted by: The Jensen Law Firm, PLLC
Location: Remote
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a remote job passed along to us:
Communicate with Japanese speaking clients for an immigration law firm located in midtown Manhattan. Gather information for immigration applications and ensure client satisfaction.
Requirements: Native Japanese speaker; immigration paralegal experience; good communication skills; reliable; attention to detail.
Application Process: Email resume to ptjensen@jensenlaw.com
About The Jensen Law Firm, PLLC
Established in 1996, the Jensen Law Firm PLLC, “Jensen Law Firm,” has been providing expert legal services on a full range of immigration matters for over twenty years. Our team has particular expertise in navigating the legal system to provide the best solutions for, especially difficult and complex cases. We also specialize in assisting foreign companies seeking to do business in the United States. In addition to the transfer of personnel, we assist these clients with general corporate, employment, and other regulatory matters.
Job: 2020 Ashinaga Internship Program in Japan (Tokyo, Japan)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email
Position: Internship Opportunity
Posted by: Ashinaga Internship Program
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a job passed along to us:
JETwit’s JET Alum Movers & Shakers: Dan Lowe, Chiba-ken, 2011-2013
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Daniel Lowe, Chiba-ken, 2011-2013
Accomplishment: New Website & Business in Intercultural Consulting
More Info: After spending six years at Showa Boston Institute as a Japanese intercultural exchange specialist where he developed, managed, and marketed programs for Japanese college students, Dan has decided to build a website to impart his knowledge to you all. His website specifically focuses on strategies to improve your Japanese language ability, increase your intercultural engagement, and ultimately grow more connected with Japan.
Public Contact Information:
Website: https://www.danknowsjapan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-d-lowe/
Email: dan@danknowsjapan.com
WIT Life #344: BLM in Japan
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Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she offers some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.
As we entered July the wave of protests for Black Lives Matters seemed to have subsided a bit, but the fighting spirit is strong. It has even made its way to Japan, as this NYT article highlights. However, as it indicates, recognition of racism in Japan is still woefully inadequate and its existence is often denied.
Although Japan had some protests post-Fukushima, there is clearly still resistance to these types of movements as they have never been part of Japanese culture. It remains to be seen as to whether this changes in the future, along with the country’s increased diversification.
And in local news, I was featured in a July 4th interview so please check it out here!
July 2020 Chapter Beat
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Hi everyone,
We hope you are safe and well. Another month has passed and another round of virtual events are happening around the world. Have a look at what chapters are hosting!
JETAA Chapter Beat is a periodic mosaic of events taking place in the JETAA sphere. Compiled by AJET‘s Director of Alumni Relations Megan Buhagiar megan.buhagiar@ajet.net (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)
I Love Yu! Japanese Bath Houses, Hot Springs, and How to Soak Up at Home Webinar
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I Love Yu! Japanese Bath Houses, Hot Springs, and How to Soak Up the Benefits at Home
Saturday, July 18, 7PM EDT
YouTubeLive
Join a free online event with special guest speakers Stéphanie Crohin, Author and Sento Ambassador, and Hayasaka Shinya MD PhD, Bath & Hot Spring Medical Researcher, as they discuss Japan’s long history of bath culture, the art of public bath houses, the science behind Japanese bathing habits, and how everyone can try these practices in the comfort of their own home. Presentations will be followed by a live Q&A.
This event is supported by the Center for Global Partnership.
RSVP: https://iloveyu.eventbrite.com
WIT Life #343: Dispatches from Japan (courtesy of NYT)
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Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03) presents WIT Life, a periodic series about aspects of Japanese culture such as film, food and language. Stacy starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she offers some interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations..
We entered Phase 2 this week and it looks like New York continues to move in the right direction, though the same cannot be said for other parts of the country. Tokyo has also seen a slight rise in cases, but the alert was recently lifted so perhaps that has something to do with it.
I’ve been watching the Japanese news and reading the New York Times to keep tabs on how the virus is affecting Japan, and I’d like to share some articles I found most informative and/or interesting.
Last month there was a NYT article about how the pandemic has affected Japanese men and their domestic duties. This month’s reporting focused on the deeply ingrained culture of mask wearing in Japan, as well as how it has been able to maintain a low jobless rate despite the crisis. Happy reading!
