USJETAA News
USJETAA Vice Chair James Gannon Receives Commendation
Congratulations to USJETAA Vice Chair James Gannon (Ehime, 1992-1994) for receiving a commendation from the outgoing Consul-General of Japan in New York. The ceremony recognized his contributions to U.S.-Japan exchanges, philanthropic initiatives particularly after 3/11, and advancing U.S.-Japan dialogues on global health while leading JCIE/USA Japan Center for International Exchange. A special dinner was hosted by Amb. Kanji Yamanouchi at his residence. More about this award here.
|
|
Save the Date for the JET35 Alumni Reunion
The reunion will be held inin Seattle, Washington from May 20-22, 2022. More information and ticket sales will be available on this page starting March 1st. Check back for more details!
|
|
JET Alumni Interviews with the Japan Society Boston
"It took me a few months to get used to Kansai-ben, but I did end up picking it up from my students, who used it very often during class. My favorite words were “mettcha” (very), “nandeyanen” (Why / That’s crazy), “kamahen” (It doesn’t matter), and “shiran” (I don’t know). The teachers I worked with were surprised when I started using Kansai-ben in school!"
 "I was placed in the gorgeous, rural town of Hokuto, Yamanashi from 2009-2014. Located in the very north of Yamanashi, Hokuto is bordered by Nagano prefecture and is nestled within the Yatsugatake mountain range. So, in addition to having a very clear view of Mt. Fuji, Hokuto has stunning views of Yatsugatake as well. There are some Japanese celebrities who are known or rumored to have second homes in Hokuto due to the fantastic scenery in relative proximity to Tokyo. Despite Hokuto being rural, it is surprisingly diverse and cosmopolitan as it is home to Suntory's Hakushu distillery, many delicious restaurants, and the world's only museum dedicated to the works of Keith Haring."
"Japan honestly changed my life. It changed my career trajectory, the way I live an d engage with other humans, and has had such an immense impact on my worldview. So much so, that I relocated to the US for graduate studies, where I focused on International Education and Training. Since completing my studies, I have been quite blessed to work with an organization that allows me to facilitate programs focused on assisting universities to incorporate Japanese and initiatives into their academic programs and student life. Through my work and in my personal life, I have become an advocate for international learning experiences."
These alumni interviews are part of a partnership between the Japan Society Boston (JSB) and USJETAA in which JET alumni contribute short interviews about their experiences in Japan in each prefecture. To read past interviews, please visit our website.
|
|
|
Recording: Go for Broke! – The Nisei Soldier Legacy of World War II
JETAA Florida held an important discussion on the social justice legacy of the Japanese American (“Nisei”) soldiers of the 100th/442nd RCT who overcame poverty and prejudice to become and continues to be the most decorated outfit in US military history for its size and length of service. The discussion featured Dr. Lynn Heirakuji, President and Board Member of the Nisei Veterans Legacy, whose father was a member of the 442nd RCT, who provided a general historical background on the Nisei Soldier story with a focus on the Hawaii experience. Commentary from panelists Diane Hirabayashi Carter, Collections Assistant at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, and Dr. Mitzi Uehara Carter, Assistant Teaching Professor of Anthropology, East Asian Studies, and the African and Africa Diaspora Program at Florida International University added insight on the Nisei legacy in the Florida/mainland context and its significance to present-day social justice movements, particularly with regard to the rise in Anti-Asian sentiment in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Event was sponsored by the USJETAA and Sasakawa USA Chapter Grant Program.
|
|
JETAADC Mentorship Program Concluded
For the second year in a row, JETAADC coordinated their Mentorship Program with funding from USJETAA and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA. This year, they paired 10 recent JET returnees with 10 mid-career JETs. Pairs met several times over a four month period to discuss careers and professional development. They also put together two virtual Mentor Talks panels about careers at the State Department and careers in journalism, and held opening and closing ceremonies and a networking picnic. JETAADC has received positive feedback for the second year and they hope to continue this program next year. Learn more about the Mentorship Program here.
|
|
JET & JET Alumni News
Regional Women in Leadership with Jessica Cork (Hiroshima, 1997-2000)
Check out the recording of the Regional Women in Leadership webinar organized by the U.S.-Japan Council. Hosted by Masami Izumida Tyson, the program features Jessica Kennett Cork, (Vice President of Community Engagement and Corporate Communications of YKK Corporation of America) Nozomi Morgan (CEO and founder of Michiki Morgan Worldwide), Maki Futami (Managing Director, Trust Solutions, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP), and Christine Karbowiak Vanek (Former Vice Chair, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Executive Vice President, Bridgestone Americas). This group of female leaders speak openly and honestly about their career paths, what makes a great leader, and the challenges they have faced along their journeys.
Japanese Teacher Faye Valtadoros Featured by the Japanese Business Society of Detroit
Former JETAA USA Country Representative and former USJETAA Board Member Faye Valtadoros (Kagawa, 1998-2000) was featured in the Japanese Business Society of Detroit JBSD Monthly Newsletter (Japanese only)
The Fallen Fortress Documentary by David Caprara
Check out this documentary made by journalist David Caprara (Nara, 2012-2014)! He moved from NYC back to the village in Nara where he taught as a JET from 2012 to 2014 and heard that there was a plane crash there during WWII. He did some research and discovered that the crash took place on the Buddhist holy mountain of Mt. Omine, visible from his backyard. In this documentary, NHK World shows about the journey of uncovering what happened and the quest to meet eyewitnesses in Japan and bereaved family members in the USA 76 years after the war.
TSUNAGU: Bridge-Builders — Activ8 Interview Series: Greg Beck, Founder of Sake Secret, and Certified Sake Sommelier
Greg Beck was a JET in Hiroshima. After 5 years on JET, Greg returned to the U.S. with his future wide open. After considering a few different directions, he was offered a job as a television news producer with Tokyo Broadcasting Systems (TBS) in New York City. After moving back to Los Angeles, he discovered a path to becoming a sake sommelier.
|
|
|
15 Questions with De'Jia Long-Hillie
Japan America Society of Washington, DC sat down with current JET De'Jia Long-Hillie, DMV-area local and Tanaka & Green Scholarship recipient, to learn more about her experience in Japan and how studying Japanese has influenced her career goals and aspirations.
Have alumni news we should share? Email us at contact@usjetaa.org.
|
|
|
USJETAA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, EIN 47-4042132. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
|
|
|
We look forward to seeing you at the JET35 Alumni Reunion! It will be held from May 20-22 in Seattle, Washington. All JET alumni and friends of JET are welcome!
More information and ticket sales will be available on this page starting March 1st. Check back for more details!
Special ticket rates are available to USJETAA members, so become a member today by clicking here. Special perks will be available to supporting members at any level!
|
|
JET プログラム後のキャリア形成：JET で培った異文化を橋渡しする能力とグローバルなキャリアとは
(日本語）
Post JET-career talk: Using your JET experience of bridging cultures in a global career (Japanese)
2022年2月22日、米国東部標準時17:00－18:30
2022年2月23日、日本時間7:00－8:30
本パネルディスカッションでは、JETプログラム参加者を中心に、日本での就労経験やそこで培った語学力を活かして、現在グローバルにご活躍される方々からお話を伺います。様々な業界・セクターから5名のパネリストにご参加頂き、日本での就労後にどの様にして日本と海外の橋渡しをするキャリアを築いてきたのか、日本での生活や語学習得のご経験、日本企業の海外ビジネスの現状等を中心に、率直な意見交換をして頂きます。本企画は、主に現役JET参加者及び卒業生の方々を対象に、将来のキャリア形成の参考にして頂くことを目的とし、USJETAA関連イベントとしても初めて全て日本語にて実施されるものです。
In Japanese, panelists will share their personal stories of continuing with a Japan-related career after JET and time in Japan, their perspectives of Japan business developments abroad, and how the experience of studying Japanese, working and living in Japan has enabled them to contribute to relations between Japan and their home countries. As the first USJETAA event to be in Japanese only, this panel aims to inspire current JET participants and JET alumni about how they can leverage their JET experience and language capabilities while contributing to closer collaboration between Japan and overseas.
|
|
March 2022 Japanese Reading Group (Virtual)
REGISTER
6:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM CST / 4:00 PM MST / 3:00 PM PST/ 2:00 PM AST / 1:00 PM HST
The goal of the USJETAA Japanese Reading Group is to help advanced beginner and intermediate level students improve their reading skills. Each month we will look at a short reading from Aozora Bunko, a repository of public domain literature. Participants should attempt to do the reading on their own and come to the meeting with any questions. We will spend the meeting each month reading the assignment sentence by sentence to understand how the Japanese is working.
This month's meeting will be on the first Friday of the month.
March reading:
https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000234/files/50417_47816.html
This month we're reading "Waterfalls" by Imai Kuniko. She's a novelist, poet, and literary scholar from Nagano prefecture. The reading uses the older kana orthography, so small つ will appear as big つ and え will sometimes be written as へ. The reading ends with a challenging poem. Let's puzzle through this one together!
Register to receive the Zoom access link.
|
|
Start Your Japan-Related Career Now! Webinar Series
February-April 2022
Join the Bridging Foundation this Spring for a 4-part Career Webinar Series that offers practical, action-based advice and stories from the field to help build meaningful Japan-related careers. This series is free and open to all.
Sponsored by: Indeed and Recruit
In partnership with:
- American Association of Teachers of Japanese
- The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
- Japan-America Society of Washington D.C.
- J.C.C. Fund of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York
- Japan-United States Friendship Commission
- USJETAA
For the full webinar series, please click HERE.
MY PATH TO WORKING IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY
March 1, 2022, 8-9 pm ET
March 2, 2022, 10-11 am JST
REGISTRATION
Gaming industry professionals discuss the various steps they took from studying as an undergraduate student to working in this competitive field.
|
|
JETAA Chapter Events
Check out the JETAA USA calendar for JETAA activities you can join virtually or in your region.
|
|
Minka Summit 2022
Apr 22 - Apr 24, 2022
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM JST
This might be of interest to alumni who want to move back to Japan, or Japan residents who want to own their own home. The Minka Summit is 3-day event for English-speaking enthusiasts of traditional Japanese homes, to be held in the village of Hanase, Kyoto.
Japanese Film Festival Online 2022
February 14 - 27, 2022
The Japanese Film Festival Online 2022 will be open from February 14th to 27th! Please see the guide linked above on how to register, and access the 16 films for FREE!
Mirai Generations Leadership Program (MGLP) 2022 Application Open
The Mirai Generations Leadership Program (MGLP) encourages participants to CONNECT, INSPIRE, and ACT within the Japanese American (JA) community. It provides the opportunity for engagement with leaders to serve the JA community. Participants will create the framework to become meaningful contributors and mentors to the JA community and ensure its growth into the future.
|
|
Job Board
New jobs are added all the time.
Visit the Job Board for more great opportunities.
- Program Coordinator (Cultural Diplomacy) – Consulate General of Japan in LA (Los Angeles, USA) »
- Events & Program Coordinator – Japan-America Society of the State of WA (Seattle, WA, USA) »
- Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education – Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA, USA) »
- Executive Director – the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (San Jose, CA, USA/Hybrid) »
- Director of Evaluation – Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA, USA) »
- Curator – the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach, FL, USA) »
- Assistant, Economic Section – Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago (Chicago, IL, USA) »
- Marketing and Communications Associate – AIGA (Remote within the U.S.) »
- Program Manager – U.S.-Japan Council (Washington, DC) »
- Group Leader – The Experiment in International Living (Japan) »
Have a job we should include? Email us at contact@usjetaa.org.
For more job opportunities check out the following resources:
|
|
Thank you to our grantors, program partners, and donors!
|
|
Grantors and Major Donors
|
|
|
|
|
