Dec 25

January 2020 Chapter Beat

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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 (Ishikawa Prefecture, 2017- Present)

Please click on the following link to see what’s happening with your local JETAA chapter for January 2020!

Dec 23

Connect: The Unexpected Path of Life After JET

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Lillian Hanako Rowlatt, a former JET (ALT, Niigata-ken, 2003-05) wrote an article for this month’s issue of Connect (an online monthly dedicated to the JET Program and expat community in Japan) about how her JET experience helped launched her career delivering Japanese food across the world.

Dec 20

WIT Life #337: Japanese Home Cooking

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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.

It’s been a long time since I’ve written here, and I can’t believe the holiday season is already upon us! If you are like me and are still in the midst of Christmas gift shopping, what better present is there than books? In the last week I’ve visited various bookstores in the city, and was lucky enough to be introduced to the fantastic new cookbook Japanese Home Cooking (Simple Meals, Authentic Flavors) from the cooking teacher, noodle maker, grain activist and author Sonoko Sakai.

California-based, Queens-born Sakai shares personal stories while showcasing traditional Japanese dishes in this beautifully photographed book. She offers readers advice on how to stock their pantries with the necessary ingredients for creating any Japanese meal, as she views this as the most important aspect of Japanese cuisine (she often takes students on tours of Japanese grocery stores as they can be hard to navigate if you are not familiar with what is being sold). I like how she opens the book by describing freshness, beauty, seasonality, simplicity and economy as the five keys to Japanese cooking. As an introduction she also breaks down the five elements of cooking and eating (i.e. five colors, five senses, five flavors), making these essential aspects easy to remember.

Dec 19

Justin’s Japan: ‘Weathering with You’ at Anime NYC

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By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Shukan NY Seikatsu. Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.

On Nov. 17, more than 3,000 fans gathered in the Special Events Hall of the Javits Center for the East Coast premiere of “Weathering with You,” the latest animated film from celebrated writer/director Makoto Shinkai.

The screening served as the Closing Film event of the annual Anime NYC convention, which in its third year drew a record 46,000 fans over three days. This hotly anticipated new film from Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed global smash “Your Name” (2016), the highest-grossing Japanese film of the decade.

Produced in English and set for national release in January by New York’s own GKIDS (who backed last year’s Academy Award-nominated anime film “Mirai”), “Weathering with You” follows high schooler Hodaka, who runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. After befriending the bright and strong-willed Hina, Hodaka witnesses her strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky. Together the two develop a successful “sunshine” startup, but what happens when manipulating the weather leads to even greater problems?

A crowd-pleasing story with elements of comedy and romance that wed the supernatural elements of “Your Name” with the more adult concerns of Shinkai’s earlier work “The Garden of Words” (2013), “Weathering with You” serves up unforgettable animation in its exquisite lensing of an unusually gloomy and rainy Tokyo. Japanese rock band Radwimps, also returning from “Your Name,” provide solid music and songs.

“Weathering with You” premieres in the New York metropolitan area with dubbed and subtitled fan preview screenings Jan. 15-16. The film opens nationwide Jan. 17. For more information, visit https://gkids.com/films/weathering-with-you.

Dec 16

Job: Program Officer, Innovators Network – Japan Society (New York City, NY)

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Job Title: Program Officer, Innovators Network
Posted by: Japan Society
Location: New York City, NY, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Dec 15

Job: Tour Consultant / Co-ordinator / Guide (Tokyo area)

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Posted by Tom Baker.

Job Title: Tour Consultant / Coordinator / Guide
Posted by: Journeys of Discovery
Location: Tokyo area
Contract: Full-Time

The following information was passed along by Ryoji Shimada, a friend of a JET alum, who has sometimes worked with the company.

Journeys of Discovery is a Toronto-based Canadian tour company operating tours to Japan for Canadian travellers. We are looking for a Japanese team member who can work for us from Japan.

Responsibilities:
Researching, developing, and pricing Japanese tour products for the Canadian market; Communicating and negotiating with our Japanese suppliers; Accompanying and hosting of small groups from Canada to Japan (training will be provided); Maintain and update the company’s databases; Making bookings and reservations by phone or online reservation systems; Training and managing future staff; General office administrative work including simple translation between English and Japanese

Place of Employment:
Your position will be home-based in Tokyo (or easy access to the center of Tokyo) with good internet environment.

Start Date:
Subject to negotiation

Probation period:
6 months

Salary:
From 220,000 yen per month (based on ability and experience)

Benefits:
Not provided

Hours of work:
9 am to 5 pm with some flexibility (days off: weekends and holidays *this will be varied when you have the guiding duty)

Vacation:
10 days of paid vacation will be provided after the first 6 months

Qualifications:
Japanese native speaker with excellent written and oral communication skills in English; Inbound travel industry experience; Can work independently; Ability to travel and guide small groups through Japan for duration of 7 to 14 nights

If interested, send a CV in English to Ryoji Shimada at ryoji829@gmail.com.

Dec 13

Job: Co-Instructor – TABLE FOR TWO USA (Providence, RI, 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

Job Title: Co-Instructor for a Japanese nutrition program
Posted by: TABLE FOR TWO USA
Location: Providence, RI, USA
Contract: Part-Time

Dec 12

Job: Production Intern – Tokyo Broadcasting System (Washington, D.C., 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

Job Title: Production Intern
Posted by: Tokyo Broadcasting System
Location: Washington, D.C., USA
Contract: Full-Time

Read More

Dec 11

Job: Various Jobs – STAY JAPAN JOBS (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

Job Title: Various Jobs
Posted by: STAY JAPAN JOBS
Location: Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Read More

Dec 10

Job: Bilingual English/Japanese Sales Rep – Sanken Industry, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL, 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

Job Title: Bilingual English/Japanese Sales Rep
Posted by: Sanken Industry, Inc.
Location: Schaumburg, IL, USA
Contract: Full-Time

Here’s a job sent directly from the company:

Sanken Industry, Inc. is looking for Bilingual English/Japanese Sales Rep in Schaumburg, IL.

Read More

Dec 10

Job: Japanese Program Resident Director – American Councils for International Education (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

Job Title: Japanese Program Resident Director
Posted by: American Councils for International Education
Location: Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Here’s a job received directly from the American Councils for International Education:

American Councils for International Education is currently hiring 2020 summer Resident Directors for Japanese immersion programs of the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS Program, see http://www.clscholarship.org for more information about the program).

Resident Directors are the first-level of support for CLS students for the duration of the program. The Resident Director supports student success by ensuring the health and safety of the participants, helping them to maintain a Japanese-only language policy, and helping to acclimate them to life in Japan.

The Resident Director position is a non-teaching position but requires a high level of Japanese language. The approximate dates of the program are June to August; Resident Directors also attend a three-day training in Washington, D.C. during May. Read More

Dec 9

Job: Temporary JET Program Assistant – Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

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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

Job Title: Temporary JET Program Assistant
Posted by: Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Contract: Temporary Contract Position

Here’s a re-post of a JET temporary position sent to us directly from the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles:

The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles is seeking a talented, hard-working, organized individual to assist the JET Program Coordinator during the JET Program selection period in early 2020.

This is a temporary contract position which will most likely be full-time for the duration of approximately 33 business days, to take place from early January until late February. Wages are non-negotiable and do not cover any taxes you may be responsible for later (social security, etc.) or parking/transportation.

https://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_e n/2019_winter_temp.html      

Dec 9

Job: Managing Editor – Savvy Tokyo ( 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

Job Title: Managing Editor
Posted by: Savvy Tokyo
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Full-Time

Thanks to JET alumna, Rebecca Quin (Saitama-ken) for passing along the following opening with her organization:

Immediate Opening for Managing Editor of Savvy Tokyo My company, GPlus Media, is looking for a passionate writer/editor to fill the opening of Managing Editor of our women’s lifestyle website Savvy Tokyo. Please see further details below.

GPlusMedia—the company behind GaijinPot (gaijinpot.com), Japan Today (japantoday.com) and Savvy Tokyo (savvytokyo.com)—is looking for an accomplished content creator to take over the position of Managing Editor of Savvy Tokyo, starting immediately. Savvy Tokyo is a lifestyle web magazine that publishes content aimed at international women and their families living in Tokyo and across Japan.

As Managing Editor, you’ll be responsible for continuing to provide accurate, entertaining and meaningful content to our diverse readership. Savvy Tokyo’s articles cover all aspects of life in Japan, including culture, lifestyle, health and beauty, food and drinks, recipes, life with kids, relationships, and more. You will be in charge of running the website day-to-day, and spearheading projects and opportunities for the site’s continued growth as part of the GPlus brand family, as well as the English media industry in Japan as a whole.

Application Process: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/job/view/lang/en/keywords/savvy+tokyo+editor/job_id/135408#.Xd3fEpMzb3Q

Dec 1

JQ Magazine: Nippon in New York — Hello Panda Festival, J-COLLABO Party, ‘Promare’ Returns

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By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe–shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.

With Thanksgiving (and the hopes of sensible eating) now just a memory, we turn to colder weather, falling snow, and the new year to come. Fortunately for Japanese culture fans, December is just as busy as the holiday season itself. Whether you’re hosting guests from out of town or looking to squeeze in an event or two in between parties, we’ve got you covered.

This month’s highlights include:

Thursday, Dec. 5, 7:00 p.m.

Gundam 40th Anniversary Celebration: Char’s Counterattack

Regal E-Walk 42nd Street 13, 247 West 43nd Street

AMC Empire 25, 234 West 42nd Street

AMC Kips Bay 15, 570 Second Avenue

$17-$20

Amuro and Char, two best mobile suit (robotic weapons) pilots who fought together against Titans after the Zeon’s independency war, must face each other in a fateful duel where the Neo Zeon, led by Char, attempts to drop a gigantic meteor and its nuclear weapons to Earth in order to cause Nuclear Winter to wipe out the Earth inhabitants. Gundam fans won’t want to miss out on this exclusive one-night-only event, featuring a special interview with franchise creator Yoshiyuki Tomino and a commemorative poster! (Limited quantities, first come, first served only.)

Dec. 6-Jan. 26

Hello Panda Festival

Citi Field, 41 Seaver Way

$25-$28 adults, $90 family admission/season pass

Celebrate the holiday season with the largest lantern show ever for New York, with diverse entertainment, food, modern art exhibitions, interactive games, cultural handcrafts, cultural heritage experiences, and live stage performances! This year’s festival features over 120 handmade lanterns like the world’s tallest Christmas tree lantern, an enormous fairy tale castle, and a 98-foot-long light tunnel. These giant lantern displays are built on-site by artisans, using a variety of materials including silk and porcelain, all illuminated by environmentally friendly LED lights.

Friday, Dec. 7, 5:00-9:00 p.m.

J-Collabo Holiday Party

J-Labo, 300 East Seventh Street (Brooklyn)

$20, $10 kids 12 and under

J-Collabo is an organization that introduces Japanese culture to New Yorkers. They support artists from both Japan and New York, and their annual group exhibition of those artists is one of their biggest events of the year. Come and meet passionate artists, enjoy Japanese foods, sake and more! This year’s event features a tea ceremony by Nina Ozeki from Urasenke (5:00-6:00 p.m.); live music performance by Hall & Keenan with Glenn Spivack (7:00-7:30 p.m.); a talk show by Joe Samalin (co-founder of MenChallenging) on “importance of Cross-cultural Understanding” (7:45-8:15 p.m.); and raffle winner announcements (8:15-8:30 p.m.)!

Nov 27

SurviveInJapan: Why Now is the Perfect Time to Work in Japan

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Thomas Chang has lived and worked in Japan since 2015 and is the publisher of the Survive in Japan blog. Thomas came to Japan as an ALT and eventually became a software engineer in Tokyo. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring Tokyo’s many cafes and enjoys drinking a nice cup of coffee early in the weekends.

Japan is one of the most popular destinations, both for tourism and for living. Japan’s anime, food, and technology are enjoyed all over the world and it sparks people’s interest in the country. Japan is also a good place to live, with convenience stores everywhere and very low crime rates. If you’ve ever thought about getting a job and living in Japan, now is the perfect time to do so. This article will show you what makes now the best time to look for a job and what kind of jobs are best for foreigners. 

Japan’s Shrinking Population

One of the biggest reasons why now is the perfect time to move to Japan is the shrinking population. There are far fewer Japanese babies being born today than before the 1970s, resulting in an imbalance of young and old people. In fact, half the population in Japan is over 46 years old. This is causing an economic crisis since there are not enough people working to support the older generation. 

In order to fill this gap, Japan has no choice but to open more doors for foreigners to work and live in the country. As a result, there are more and more job openings available to foreigners every year. 

Japan’s Traditional Work Culture

Japan has a work culture that’s different from the rest of the world and it starts from the hiring process. Instead of hiring one by one when needed, most companies follow a process called shuushoku katsudou where they mass hire new graduates every year. The shuushoku katsudou period would be considered one of the most critical times of your life because, in that year, you would have to choose a company that you would work for for the rest of your life. 

It sounds crazy but the reason is that switching jobs was often looked down upon by society and it was extremely hard to find a company that would hire somebody that has quit their previous job. In fact, this was so extreme that suicide became the number 1 cause of death in Japan for men ages 20-44. 

With times changing and the shrinking population crisis, Japan’s work culture is changing little by little. Shuushoku katsudou is still around but working conditions are improving and more people are able to switch jobs, which means that foreigners can also find jobs.

Opportunities for Foreigners in Japan

English Teacher

This is the most well-known method to start working in Japan. With Japan’s plans to increase English education, there are more and more English teaching jobs available than before …

Click here to read the full post at surviveinjapan.com