JETAANC Dominates Round One of Shobu Cup · Emerging as the evening’s ringer, Takashi Yoshimatsu from Team ... overall score average. So, Round One goes to JETAANC, but who will

In April, alumni volunteered at the 2009 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen Program, held at the recently refurbished Sundance Kabuki Cinemas auditorium in San Francisco’s Japantown.

The Cherry Blossom Queen Program has been a tradition during the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival for 42 years, persisting through the undying commitment of its committee members, sponsors, community leaders and volunteers.

JET alumni Mark Frey (Kumamoto, 2002-06), Peter Kinmond (Osaka, 2001-04), Darren Yamaguchi (Kanagawa, 2003-05) and myself, as well as a dependable Friend of JET, Haj Matsukata, volunteered for the popular event, handily passing out programs and ushering friends and family members to their seats. This is the second year in a row that JETAANC volunteers contributed to the event.

The Cherry Blossom Queen Program is not a traditional beauty competition, in contrast to what some might suspect. While these young women are each very beautiful and accomplished in their own right, the program is a celebration of Japanese-American heritage and an avenue through which young women of Japanese ancestry can represent and engage themselves in the Japanese-American community. Additionally, the Queen represents the United States on a goodwill tour to Japan designed to deepen ties between the two countries.

The evening’s events included individual speeches, candidate interviews, Polynesian entertainment, an evening gown segment, and a slideshow that reviewed and wrapped up the 2008 Cherry Blossom Queen and Court’s activities. Interacting with the court and watching the slideshow, I had a strong feeling that there is a true sense of sisterhood, not competition, among the members of the court.

A panel of community leaders judged the candidates on a number of factors, including essays written about their motivations for wanting to become Cherry Blossom Queen, interviews prior to the program, and individual speeches and candidate interviews during the program.

After some moments of suspense, Eri Tagaya, sponsored by Golden Gate Optimist Club of San Francisco, was crowned the 2009 Cherry Blossom Queen. Sarah Naomi Kasuga, sponsored by Takara Sake USA Inc., earned the title of First Princess as the runner-up in the pageant. Friendly Eri Tagaya was also elected the 2009 Tomodachi Award recipient, given to the most congenial candidate by her fellow candidates. The event was emceed by local newscasters George Kiriyama and Jana Katsuyama, which was an exciting bonus because Jana too is a former JET alumna!

Benh Nakajo, a lead coordinator of the event, commended JETAANC for their help and expressed his hope that the group could contribute to other events in the Japanese-American community.

June Honma, Nagano, 1993-96

Spring 2009 Issue

“There She Is....” Alumni Volunteer for the 2009 Cherry Blossom Queen Program

pacif c bridgepage 1 page 1

ボランティア

The 2009 Cherry Blossom Queen Court poses at the conclusion of this year’s program. Queen Eri Tagaya anchors the middle, in purple

Saturday, February 21 saw nine bowlers from Team Japan Society and ten from Team JETAANC laced up in their bowling shoes and hitting the lanes at Serra Bowl in Daly City for the first round of the JETAANC vs. Japan Society Shobu Cup. Shobu translates roughly as “battle” or “competition,” and the two teams took each other on in two and a half rounds of bowling.

While maintaining a competitive spirit, members of both teams also mingled and shared stories and experiences, establishing friendships and creating ties.

Emerging as the evening’s ringer, Takashi Yoshimatsu from Team Japan Society dominated individual totals with a high score of 220 in game two, awing all present. Yet, JETAANC came out on top in overall score average.

So, Round One goes to JETAANC, but who will win Round Two? On July 11, we’ll find out as we square up against the Japan Society in the classic playground game, kickball! No experience is necessary, just come out for a day of outdoor fun. The game begins at 11am in Golden Gate Park’s George Washington Grove (25th Avenue and MLK Jr. Drive). After the game, we’ll hold a celebratory potluck BBQ, so please bring a dish to share (note that no alcohol is permitted in that part of the park). Please RSVP to me at [email protected]. See you there!

Lauren Nakasato, Okayama, 2006-08, Shobu Cup Captain

JETAANC Dominates Round One of Shobu Cup

Makenna, Elizabeth and Matthew give a kanpai between frames

勝負

The 2009 JET interviews are now complete and we are now busy preparing the new JET participants for their fast-approaching adventure in Japan.

Try to think back to the time before you left for the JET program. I’m sure you were a very different person back then.

Where there things that you wish you would have known before you got on the plane? Did you wish you packed more/less omiyage or shipped your winter coat? Was there any advice that you had that helped you while you were on the program?

We have several events planned in the near future to prepare the new JETs and we need your help!

We will be presenting the following workshops throughout June and July: Team Teaching, Cross-Culture, and Friends and Family Q&A. We also hosted our annual JET Alumni Led Orientation (ALO) on June 14.

If you would like to get involved and share your knowledge, contact our office at [email protected].

Our office will also be issuing a short survey soon through the Yahoo and Facebook Groups that we would like you to complete. The purpose of the survey is to help us promote more events and services in which JET alumni are interested.

We are always looking at ways to keep you engaged in cross-cultural exchange and are open to new ideas. We hope that you take the time to fill out this survey.

All of us here at the Consulate hope you are enjoying your summer. I hope to see you soon at a JETAANC event!

Peter Weber, Saitama, 2004-07JET Program Coordinator, Japan Information Center

In addition to being the name of the English textbook I used for three years in Japan (featuring an exchange student character from Australia named Mark who strangely spoke with an American Midwestern accent on the classroom CD), I thought “New Horizons” would be a good theme for this issue.

In April, alumni came out to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to celebrate the “new horizons” symbolized by the blooming cherry trees and the onset of Spring during our annual Hanami Picnic. Since May, new JETs in California, Nevada and all around the world have been preparing for their new life in Japan this August. And, as the articles in this issue show, alumni have been opening new horizons for themselves in a typically interesting and varied fashion, whether in the pursuit of further education, cultural events, or the creation of fun, new opportunities within JETAANC itself.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents for another great issue! A special “thank you” to my new editorial board, and especially to Melissa Chan (Tokyo, 2005-07), Pacific Bridge’s talented new Assistant Editor and a life-saver. O-sewa ni narimashita. If you’d like to join the editorial board or contribute to Pacific Bridge, please email me at [email protected].

Mark Frey, Editor, Kumamoto, 2002-06


We have been having some pretty amazing weather lately, which is setting us up for a great summer!

In February, we had the first installation of the “Shobu Cup” series with Japan Society, which pits JETAANC against the Japan Society’s Young Professionals Group in recreational sporting events.

We bowled at Serra Bowl in Daly City, where people in attendance saw JETAANC’s athletic prowess overtake the young so-called professionals with amazing athleticism and versatility in the lanes. I’m looking forward to the next Shobu Cup event, a no-holds-barred kickball match on July 11!

In terms of upcoming events, the summer is filled with a lots of excitement. Mike Shu (Hyogo, 2005-08) and Adam Lisbon (Kobe, 2004-07) just led a very successful Alumni Led Orientation on June 14, where 65 bright-eyed JETs were eager to hear what us wise alums had to say. On June 28, we will be having the Natsu Matsuri Picnic (formerly known as the Family Day Picnic). It will be in Golden Gate Park again, and we hope to see many people come out in yukata and jimbei (or just a T-shirt and shorts) for a lot of fun in the sun. Everyone is still welcome to bring their families and friends! In addition to the Shobu Cup on July 11, an alumni camping trip is planned for July 18 at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in the East Bay. See the JETAANC Yahoo Group for details.

We are also going to continue JETAANC Japanese classes this Fall and again in January. Due to the high demand, JETAANC will offer a JLPT 1-kyuu class starting in September, which will last 10 weeks. The Japanese government is excited about these classes and was kind enough to provide us with a budget, so the only cost borne to the student will be study materials (textbooks, etc.). The class beginning in January will be a intermediate-advanced conversation class that will meet six times. More information will be available closer to the starting dates of the classes.

One of our big initiatives this year is the creation of subchapters. I am proud to announce our first subchapter: South Bay! Upcoming events will include an “Ask JET” Event and hiking. If you are interested in starting a subchapter in your area, please contact John Branderhorst (Okinawa, 2001-06) at [email protected].

Lastly, I would like to bid farewell to the “Godfather” of JETAANC. After two decades of dedicated service, JETAANC Board Member and alumni stalwart Bruce Jaffe (Kanagawa, 1988-90) retired from the Board in December. Bruce was an “OJ,” an original JET who was an AET (Assistant English Teacher) during JET’s first year. After moving back to the Bay Area, Bruce became one of the founding members of JETAANC in 1990. His efforts also led to the group being incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit organization in 1994, the first JETAA group in the U.S. to do so, and the only one until the New York chapter went non-profit in 2007. Bruce, we wish you the best of luck and hope that you stay active in the community!

As always, if you would like to help us coordinate one of our upcoming events or create a new one, please don’t hesitate in contacting me at [email protected].

Rod McLeod, Shimane, 2005-07President

会長からのメッセージ

総領事館からのメッセージ

“New Horizons”

Message from the President Message from the Consulate

From the Editor

Rod shows off his new chopper at Hanami 2009

テーマ

What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys? Twelve JETs in a van! Looking to expand our horizons before the sun was even awake, 12 genki JET alumni and Friends of JET (FOJs) piled into a van piloted by the fearless alum Geoff Witek (Hokkaido, 1998-01), and we were off for a day adventure at Lake Tahoe. To our delight we were met there by Reno alum Kaci Okumoto (Yamanashi-ken, 2005-06). (Potential for a Reno subchapter?)

The sun was shining, the view of the lake from the top was crystal clear, and the snow perfectly crisp. We had a fun-filled day of skiing, riding, and a few tumbles down Alpine Meadows. Our van ride home was full of songs, jokes, and of course, a stop at Ryan Moore (Kochi, 1996-2000)’s favorite burger and shake joint, Ikeda’s. And our new-found alumni friends even met up for movies after the trip; proof of what a van, lunch, and riding togetherness will do for you! Other alums along on the trip included Arisa Takahashi (Nara, 1991-94), Darren Yamaguchi (Kanagawa, 2003-05), Lulu Lin (Saitama-ken, 2003-05), June Honma (Nagano, 1993-96), and several distinguished FOJs.

Yep, it really was that good—way better than your average ski bus! For those of you who missed out, judging from the success of this trip, we are thinking of going “all out” next year and planning three ski cabin weekends: January, February and March. Stay tuned!

Heidi Smith, Fukui, 1997-99, Webmaster/Ski Trip Coordinator

On April 4, JET alumna Arisa Takahashi (Nara, 1991-94) took the prize for Best Vegetarian Curry in the 6th annual Curry Cook-Off, held in San Francisco’s Japantown by the Japanese American Religious Federation.

Arisa’s spinach-based curry, entitled “Riki’s Curry of Life,” won praise from fellow alum and Cook-Off attendee Mark Frey (Kumamoto, 2002-06): “Sometimes Japanese curry tastes heavy, but Arisa’s was light and healthy-tasting. Truly the Curry of Life!”

According to Yoshiro Tasaka, Advisor for Community Affairs at the Japanese Consulate and one of four Cook-Off judges, the judges were impressed to find such a tasty entry in the vegetarian category. “It was an easy decision for us,” he added.

Here is what Arisa had to say about her curry-making success:

When did you start making curry? Did you hone your skills while on JET? I don’t know when I started making curry; I guess it just became a part of my cooking repertoire over the years. I love curry, so I liked trying different curry shops, especially in Japan. I’ve got years of curry eating experience too! On JET, I had friends who I would cook and eat with, so if we did try something good, we’d try to figure it out at home. So I guess you could say that I started making different curries while in Japan.

How did you develop your winning recipe?It’s based off a Palak Paneer (spinach curry with cheese) recipe I found in Cook’s Illustrated. I couldn’t find the recipe for the contest, so I remembered what I could and supplemented with ingredients that sounded good. I also got the fundamentals from my friend Deborah’s mom, from India, who told me about the “Four C’s”: Cumin, Coriander, Cardamom, and Chili. I put three C’s in my curry, and put the chili to the side to keep my curry batch mild.

What do you think is the secret of a great vegetarian curry?I think the secret of any curry is starting with good ingredients and cooking it all from scratch. I used mostly fresh vegetables, real butter and individual spices (okay, I used canned tomato and some pre-mixed curry powder). At the Curry Contest interview they asked me what the secret ingredient was. I told them one unexpected ingredient, which was cinnamon. It reminded me of the quote from Seinfeld, who said something along the lines of “if something tastes good, it inevitably has cinnamon in it.”

Did competing take a lot of work?Yes, it did take a lot more work than I thought. There was a lot of vegetable prepping, peeling, grating, parboiling, chopping—a lot of chopping because I didn’t use a food processor, just my knife and me. And blending and pureeing (I discovered that curry will indeed splash up to the ceiling if you don’t put the lid on the blender). I totally underestimated the amount of work it would take, but hey, it was totally worth it!

Arisa offers to keep us posted about next year’s event, and encourages fellow alumni to come enjoy the fundraiser/tabehodai (all you can eat!).“Or if they dare,” she adds, “they’re welcome to enter.” Just remember to keep the lid on the blender!

Liana Prescott, Ishikawa, 2007-08

Alumni On the TownAlumna Arisa Takahashi Wins Curry Cook-Off with her “Curry of Life”


スキー

The gang hangs tough at Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows

賞

Sukii ga suki desu yo!: Alumni Ski Trip Results in Winter Thrills

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In honor of the International Shogi Tournament in Japantown during the Cherry Blossom festival, the Consulate General of Japan hosted a welcome party for the Japanese competitors. Shogi, the Japanese version of Chess (or is it the other way around?), is a very popular game in Japan and is gaining popularity all over the world.

Several JET alumni attended the event to welcome the players to San Francisco. The event was held at the Consulate General’s residence the night before the tournament, with plenty of yummy Japanese drinks and food to go around. The team received a warm welcome when they were introduced to the audience, who gave them numerous “ganbattes” for the two-day tournament the next day.

The highlight of the night was the shogi demonstration. Aided by a translator, most people got the gist of the game. In good

JET fashion, we approached these champion shogi players so they could practice their English, we could practice our Japanese, and everyone could make some new friends! At the end of the night, everyone was given a shogi set so they could play on their own. Who knows, one of us could be ready for the international championship next year!

Casey Lary, Hiroshima, 2003-07


Alumni On the TownAlumni “Check” Out National Shogi Champions in San Francisco

Melissa, Mark, Casey, and Eric mingle with 7th-dan Shogi Master, Nozuki-san

In February, the Japan Foundation and The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), along with a score of other organizations, presented a rare touring performance and lecture program entitled “Noh: Pathos Behind the Mask” in five cities across the United States. Shizuka Mikata, principal actor of the Kanze School in Kyoto, and four other exceptional performers from the Kanze School treated audiences to an informative lecture on this classical art, followed by a short performance from a Noh masterpiece. Despite a less-than-ideal venue, a great time was had by all.

The San Francisco appearance was held at the University of San Francisco in a room not nearly large enough for all who wished to attend. With the audience filling every available chair, lining the walls, and spread out on the floor before the stage, the event began. After the introductory remarks, Mikata-san began the lecture portion of the program. A stage had been set up, but it was not raised, meaning that those seated or standing towards the back (myself included) could not see Mikata-san as he delivered much of his talk in seiza. However, this was not as great a drawback as it could have been—being a trained actor, he had no trouble projecting his voice to fill the room. His talk was full of energy and love for his craft. The musicians demonstrated their instruments with impressive skill. On the whole, it was a very interesting and vibrant talk.

The chosen excerpt was from the play Atsumori, and it was magnificently performed. Thanks to the lecture portion, the audience knew the characters and the plot and even the significance of the costumes, making what otherwise would have been a mostly impenetrable 45 minutes quite accessible. The character of Atsumori related the tragic story of his death during the Genpei War in dance form. The silence in the room during the performance was complete. Though told that at the end of a Noh performance the audience was not to applaud but rather to sit in contemplation of the work, applause broke out at the end of the spectacular performance.

Contemplation was still to be had, of course. Some of the audience was familiar with Noh, while others knew little more than that

it was “traditional Japanese theater” (which is about as useful a description as saying a Wagner opera is a “traditional German musical”). It would be fair to say that, despite the short-comings of the venue, this was a good event that provided its audience with a new and deeper appreciation of a profoundly Japanese art form. And for those who attended (including at least one other alum I saw there), they may now say, “I want to see Noh, and I won’t take kabuki for an answer.”

Adrienne Lipoma, Gifu-ken, 2001-’02Note: The Editor is not responsible for the quality of any puns that may appear in this publication.

Alumni Get to “Noh” Japanese Traditional Theatre at USF

Mikata-san as the proud, mysterious Atsumori

Mikata-san, unmasked

能楽

将棋

On April 5, JETAANC members, family and friends spent a beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon underneath the sakura trees at Speedway Meadows in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Almost 50 people came out to partake in this beloved Japanese tradition, while enjoying some good food, touch football and great company.

The sakura trees were in full bloom, much to everyone’s delight. Patricia Silvestre (Okayama, 2004-06), who came with her husband Neil (Okayama, 2004-06), said, “There is no need for us to go all the way to Japan to enjoy the beautiful hanami because it’s right here in San Francisco!”

A few people laid out blankets underneath the trees, taking in the blossoms; some even enjoyed an afternoon nap. Of course, this hanami would not have been complete without a few people in yukata and happi coats, making the whole day more festive! Many wonderful photos were taken under the tree, and even some in the tree. Thanks to everyone’s contributions, there was a full spread of delicious goodies – from spam musubi to pork kakuni and even homemade carrot cake! It was great sharing in this wonderful tradition under the sakura. Until next year!

Melissa Chan, Tokyo, 2005-07, Media Circle Coordinator

Have you ever dreamt of building a business around your favorite food from Japan? That’s exactly what Tara Wong did with her San Mateo shop, Sweet Breams, which specializes in taiyaki, Japan’s beloved fish-shaped baked dessert.

More than a few JETs can identify with Tara’s love-at-first-bite experience upon tasting a taiyaki during a trip to Kyoto. While bean-based desserts might have seemed bizarre at first, many JETs quickly discovered an affinity for azuki, the sweet version of the magical fruit that fills traditional taiyaki.

After her trip to Japan, Tara couldn’t shake her yen for a fresh-baked taiyaki. “In talking with other people about my trip, it dawned on me that taiyaki was something that others missed, too,” she said. Things moved pretty fast from there. Within about a year, Tara was baking up her own chibi taiyaki, and today the

shop makes around 800 of the bite-size fish on an average day. An official “Friend of JET,” Tara, who donated the grand prize to last year’s inaugural disc golf fundraiser, has put an American spin on the dessert that many of us know from matsuri stalls. While Sweet Breams offers traditional azuki taiyaki every day, Tara also dreams up “Catches of the Week,” seasonally inspired taiyaki which feature novel flavors. If you’d have wandered into her shop on Cinco de Mayo, you might have enjoyed a school of strawberry margarita taiyaki, and during Mother’s Day week, a champagne and hibiscus version was all the rage.

Tara has trouble choosing her favorite Catch of the Week, but says that she’s hooked on gingerbread, “because of the gingerbread batter outside. I’m particularly proud of that one!” Not all of her Catches of the Week have been a swimming success, however. Her ume version, she recalled, was one that got away. “It was our first and only savory Catch of the Week. It was a tough sell. It was too mild for those who love ume, and too strong for those who didn’t know what ume was.” Tara says that, aside from the creative flavors, her customers love the smaller size of her chibi taiyaki, which make it easy to mix and match. “We are discovering more and more people who have had the chibi size previously in Japan and are delighted to see it here,” she said.

Sweet Breams taiyaki swim in sustainable seas. The store’s utensils and soft-serve cups are made from corn and are compostable and recyclable. Their “schoolboxes” are also recyclable and are derived from recycled paper. When it comes time to check-out, the store offers reusable paper bags and strongly encourages the use of reusable, “green” Breamie bags.

For any JETs thinking about plunging into the sink-or-swim small business world, Tara offers some words of wisdom: “Do lots of research. Accept help when offered. Always listen to others’ advice.” To learn more about Sweet Breams and to keep abreast of Tara’s latest Catch of the Week, visit the store’s Facebook page by searching for “I Heart Sweet Breams.”

Douglas Shelton, Saga, 2000-03, Outreach Coordinator

Alumni On the Town

Living the American Bream: Sweet Breams Taiyaki Shop Sweetens up San Mateo


おいしいの

Fish never tasted so sweet! Sweet Breams’s famous chibi taiyaki

Art- and sweet-lovers converge at Sweet Breams’s recent “Meet Me Under the Cherry Blossoms” art show reception

Hanami 2009: An Afternoon under the Sakura Trees

Under the spreading sakura tree: JETAANC Hanami 2009

花見


Alumni Spotlight

Spotlight on: JETAANC Board Member Timothy Morey, Aomori, 1996-99

What are some of your most vivid memories of your JET experience?Aomori Prefecture, where I was based for three years on JET, has a snow-covered mountain range called Hakkoda that is popular with back country skiers. I learned to ski and snowboard in Aomori, and in my second year I started back-country skiing. Hokkoda has two huts just under its summit that are unmanaged, but free of charge, and I showed up one winter night with three fellow JETs. The three elderly Japanese climbers already in the hut were a bit surprised by this gaijin invasion, and were a little cold to begin with, but as the whiskey flowed they warmed to us. They were children during the Second World War, and had vivid memories of the bombing of Aomori city. Their childish wonder at the colors, sights and sounds of the bombing had given way to an adult realization of the suffering and death it caused, and it was almost with a sense of shame that they described these and other experiences as war children. The honesty and intimacy of that evening is one of the most vivid memories of my time in JET. There was something about the seven of us, strangers from different cultures, high on a snow-covered mountain, cut off from the rest of reality by darkness and snow, that led to the most honest of “international exchanges.”

How did JET affect what you did when you got back to the States?My first job was as a freelance technical translator, making good use of the Japanese skills I honed on JET. One assignment was a patent infringement lawsuit between a Silicon Valley startup and a Japanese technology firm. I translated lots of documents, emails, and memos pertaining to this failed partnership, but found out that translating can be lonely, especially if you don’t know anyone in the Bay Area. JETAANC was my one social outlet, and several people, including a current board member, helped me get settled and established. I have tried to do the same for fellow JET alumni, and it has been my privilege to hire a couple of ex-JETs and get them started in their post-JET careers.

What are some of your proudest accomplishments and best memories as a leading member of JETAANC?I was Co-President with Courtney Burry (who is also my wife), and our combined proudest accomplishment came six months after we stepped down—we hosted the JETAA National Conference in San Francisco. We managed to get discounted accommodation at a boutique hotel in downtown San Francisco using our non-profit status, and the Consulate kindly provided meeting rooms. We put on a good conference for the delegates, and on the last day we held a “City Chase” type event with the help of JETAANC volunteers—a four-hour San Francisco city edition of The Amazing Race, if you like. The race participants formed teams, figured out what the clues meant, and rushed around various tourist highlights in the city, where they conducted activities. It was a nice diversion from the workshops and meetings, and provided the delegates with a fun way to see the city. What is your focus area or passion as a Board member?The role of the Board is to meet the legal requirements of the state of California in order to maintain our non-profit status; provide guidance and continuity for the JETAANC executive officers; review the finances of JETAANC; and to administer the JETAANC Scholarship for high school students going on to college. On the board, I have enjoyed the scholarship process the most. As a JETAANC officer, I had been part of the team who publicized the scholarship with press releases, email newsletters, adding it to scholarship databases such as FastWeb, and getting the content on the web. On the board, I got to participate in the selection process each year, and it was interesting to see the group dynamics of the board and invited panelists each year. Where do you see JETAANC headed and how can alumni become involved?JETAANC has always been great at meeting its first goal—which is to assist and support all JET participants as they readjust to life in the U.S. Over my decade of involvement with JETAANC, I have seen it become stronger in its second goal—to serve as an extended network for JETs who wish to keep their connections with Japan alive. JET alumni are spread out all over the various Japan related non-profit, business, and educational organizations in Northern California, and we are beginning to leverage that more effectively. A good example of this is the scholarship, which has allowed us to grow from being an inward-looking organization supporting its members to also being an outward-looking organization that is a focal point for U.S.-Japan cultural and educational exchange in Northern California. I look forward to seeing more ideas and activities like this in the future, while also making sure we continue to meet the needs of returning JETs.

インタビュー

6 画音: ササイ | 訓: ふたた（び）Examples: 再び (ふたたび) - again, afresh, re-再起（さいき） - recovery, resurgence 再起動（さいきどう） - restart (a computer) 再婚（さいこん） - remarry再考 (さいこう) - reconsideration再生紙（せいせいし） - recycled paper再生（さいせい） - play (a CD), resuscitate再開（さいかい） - reunion

Alumni-Led Orientation (ALO) workshop, JCCCNC, San Francisco, June 2009


Member Material

再

San Francisco Nomikai Happy Hour,San Francisco, Winter 2009

East Bay Nomikai Happy Hour, Oakland, April 2009

感

Hanami Picnic, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, April 2009

Snapshots: Hanami Picnic 2009

A Daily Dose of JapanDespite having left Japan over five years ago, a day rarely passes when I don’t recall my Japanese experiences or JET-related experiences. For one, I married a fellow JET alumnus. Another shared connection is that we both have one parent who immigrated to the U.S. from Japan: my husband’s father and my mother moved here as young adults. After two years of marriage, our natural “new horizon” will be parenthood.

From the beginning of our courtship we joked about our potential offspring. Of course, we are aware of our own unique physical features, but what would our children look like? We continue to joke about having one child with very Western Caucasian features and another with very strong Japanese features. My husband and I are both very connected to our Japanese heritage on many levels because there is a direct connection to the strong traditional culture and rituals. My “other” ancestry feels so much more disjointed, despite my family’s distinct German background. I’ve begun to wonder what my child will connect with. As a daughter of a Japanese mother, I was doomed from the start. To add to that, my now 90-year-old grandmother moved in with my mother almost 30 years ago. Aside from learning how to play a slot machine, she is still all Japanese. Her grasp of the English language is limited to some standard greetings and salutations. So now with two half-diluted parents, will my daughter share my enthusiasm and curiosity of Japanese culture? Will she wonder why we don’t wear shoes in the house or why her name might be hard for her friends to pronounce? My hope is that, like me, she will learn to embrace and cherish all of the unique treasures I remember, beginning with the sticky sweet tea cakes, Obachan’s somen and chahan, cartoons grandpa sent from Japan (Doraemon and Ge ge no Kitaro), and the flat-chested Japanese Barbies (Reiko). To this day, I still love “all of the above.”

Alisa Kuniya, Gunma, 1999-2003感想

Diary of a Mahjong AddictI became fond of two things in Japan that became intertwined: ramen and mahjong. Directly behind my apartment in Tamano, Okayama, there was Genkotsuya—what I soon came to appreciate as some of the best ramen I’ve ever had in Japan, the secret being a family recipe for the broth and the kicker: homemade noodles. I came in for lunch right at closing time one day and noticed a green mat set up with a bunch of tiles: a mahjong set. I had bought one in 1998, the summer before college, when I spent two months in Japan doing an immersion course. I thought it was a neat-looking game and wanted to learn how to play. As fate would have it, six years later while on JET, I would become a complete mahjong addict!

I asked to stick around and watch and soon became fascinated with the game. They played three-player mahjong, or san-nin uchi; its roots, I was told, tracing back to when idle yakuza would play every afternoon from 3:30 to 6 pm, between the lunch and dinner hours. Three-player mahjong is played with the standard set of 144 tiles, but the 2 through 8 of “wan” (Chinese character tiles) are removed, leaving only 108 tiles in play. With fewer tiles, it’s easier than four-player mahjong to form high-scoring hands quickly and often, and play ends up aggressive and fun.The rules for the game are difficult to explain, requiring multiple pages (I have a rule-set if you’re curious to see it); needless to say I watched them play for two months before I sat down to actually play for money. They played 1,500 yen a game, and the first time I sat down with them to play for a couple hours, I walked away with 12,000 yen! Beginner’s luck, because the next couple of times I ended up giving it all back.Over the course of the last year and half of my time on JET, I was going in to play anywhere up to four times a week, especially over the summer. They had my keitai number and would sometimes call me, asking if I could come play because Mi-chan or Takuya couldn’t come that day. Despite the fast pace of the play and game, I found it relaxing (albeit frustrating at times) to play, usually spending some of my winnings at 6 pm with a “futsu,” which for me was go-ban, chashuu oumori. I was awarded a T-shirt of the ramen shop upon my final day, but more importantly was given the compliment of “becoming a formidable mahjong player in such a short time.”I would like to start a mahjong group in the Bay Area, and am wondering if there are any other alumni who play or are interested in learning, or know of others who might interested. If so, please email me at [email protected]. Neil Pallaver, Okayama, 2004-06Visit a blog about playing mahjong in Japan at hirohurl.blogspot.com.


Member Material

San-nin uchi in action

Top Ten Nihonteki Films Overlooked by the Academy

The surprise Oscar win of Departures earlier this year has revived interest in Japanese cinema, becoming a new source of

national pride for its people. But what about some other worthy candidates snubbed at past ceremonies? From the pages of

JETAA New York’s new alumni magazine, JQ, we present the following list....

Top Ten Nihonteki Films Overlooked by the Academy

10. Snow White and the Seven Samurai

9. Kung Fu Badtz-Maru

8. Citizen Akane

7. Three Salarymen and a Little “My Way”

6. Hello, Kitty!

5. A Fish Called Honda

4. Dragonball Evolution

3. Pocky Balboa

2. Dude, Where’s My Omiyage?

1. Gimme Shelter (and Central Heating and a Flushable Toilet)

Visit www.jetaany.org to see more of JETAA New York’s alumni magazine, including an exclusive interview with Hikaru Utada!笑

感想


Japanese Film NotesOshima at Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archive Film buffs should not miss the rare opportunity to see the oeuvre of Japan’s greatest living director, Nagisa Oshima, at Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archives (PFA) through July 18.

Long known as the “Godard of Japan” (though Oshima, typically, held that Godard was the “Oshima of France”), Oshima helped to create the Japanese New Wave and made film after film that challenged the status quo and exploded cultural taboos.

I’ve seen five films in the series so far and was astonished by how subversive they still are after all of these years. Tackling issues ranging from the status of Koreans in Japan to the consequences of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Oshima’s films continue to provoke thought.

Since few of his films are available on DVD, do not miss this once-in-a-generation chance to see this rebel master’s work.

In marked contrast to Oshima’s films, the PFA is also hosting a “Tribute to Hayao Miyazaki,” showing four of his beloved animated movies from July 12 through July 21. See www.bampfa.berkeley.edu for more information.

New Horizons for Japanese Cinema?Despite various post-mortems issued in the last decade or so, there are signs that Japanese film is still alive and well, and may, in fact, be poised for a renaissance. Though far from an infallible mark of artistic quality, an Oscar still means something, and Yojiro Takita beat out stiff competition (including Israel’s Waltz With Bashir and France’s The Class) to win the golden statue last year with his film, Departures (Okuribito, 2008), about an out-of-work cellist (Masahiro Motoki) who returns to his hometown to work in a funeral home. Meanwhile, in the category of Best Animated Short, Kunio Kato won an Oscar for his House of Small Cubes (Tsumiki no Ie, 2008), a creative exploration of the memories of an old, widowed man.

Thanks to a Japanese friend, I got to see Departures on a DVD sent from Japan before it was released here in the States. With the exception of a painful sequence involving playing a cello in some rice fields that looks like an allergy drug commercial (the inescapable influence of Korean dramas?), as well as perhaps one coincidental death too many, the film was beautiful to look at and I ended up being moved.

If you liked Departures, I recommend renting some of Takita’s recent films, including Onmyoji (2001) and Onmyoji 2 (2003), a light, highly entertaining series based on the popular manga about a legendary Heian-period magician and exorcist. I also recommend Takita’s When the Last Sword is Drawn (Mibu gishi den, 2003), a finely made story about a penniless samurai (the great Kiichi Nakai), who joins the shogun’s Shinsengumi secret police in the twilight of the Tokugawa shogunate. The film might be seen as a more subtle companion piece to The Last Samurai, which was made in the same year.

Now about the renaissance. Whatever the reason, Japanese directors have produced some really excellent films over the last few years, including most recently Hirokazu Kore’eda’s Still Walking (Aruitemo aruitemo, 2008) and Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Tokyo Sonata (Toukyou Sonata, 2008), both featured along with Departures at major film festivals in San Francisco this year.

It could be that, with the scale-back of the big Japanese studios’ output in the 1990s, new models of financing and distribution have taken a while to kick in. Whatever the case, these directors, along with Nobuhiro Yamashita (Linda Linda Linda) and Tetsuya Nakashima (Kamikaze Girls), make up a formidable roster of creative talent that augers well for a healthy Japanese cinema in the decades to come. All mentioned films are available on DVD.

San Francisco’s New Japanese Movie TheatreI also wanted to pass on an exciting development for Japanese film fans in NorCal. On August 15, Viz Pictures, distributor of Japanese films in the U.S., is opening their New People J-Pop Center in San Francisco’s Japantown. The brand-new building will have a movie theater in the basement and various shops, galleries and restaurants that showcase Japanese pop culture on the upper floors (anyone who saw Kamikaze Girls with me last year will recognize the Tokyo-based Lolita fashion shop, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright). The theater will be dedicated to Japanese live-action and animated movies. See www.newpeopleworld.com for more information.

The Human ConditionFinally, I have to recommend one more film that I, along with two alumni and another friend were lucky enough to see in February at the PFA—the monumental Human Condition (Ningen no joken, 1959-61), Masaki Kobayashi’s 9.5-hour, humanistic account of the Japanese occupation of Manchuria. I can only say that the time invested in seeing this film is well worth it. Though we had the rare chance to see it all in one day, I recommend watching it like a mini-series, a little at a time, like you might watch a TV series on DVD. The cumulative effect of this film is life-changing. Available on Criterion DVD.

Mark Frey, Kumamoto, 2002-06, Editor

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Oshima’s The Sun’s Burial

Takita’s Oscar-winning Departures

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Alumni Movers and Shakers

The Monterey Institute of International Studies, an affiliate of Middlebury College, is a private graduate institution located in Monterey, California. It is at the forefront of international professional education, preparing students for global careers in the private, public, nonprofit, and educational sectors. The Institute’s approximately 800 students come from nearly 70 countries.

Along with myself, there is one other JET alumna at the Monterey Institute, graduate student Lauren Messing (Akita, 2004-08).

Lauren is currently undertaking a Masters of Arts in International Policy Studies, with a specialization on international migration. She is interested in conducting comprehensive research on education within refugee camps and during humanitarian emergencies. Her language of focus is Japanese and she also speaks German. During her time on JET in Yuzawa-shi, Akita-ken, she was an ALT and also served as Prefectural Advisor.

When asked about how her JET experience has helped her as a student at the Monterey Institute, Lauren said, “Living and working abroad with Japanese and international students taught me about the world outside of my world. After this,

studying at the Monterey Institute feels like second nature due to my international experiences.”

When discussing what her future career goals are and how her JET experience has inspired her towards those future goals, Lauren says “My future goals are to work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. While on JET, I founded the JET volunteer Special Interest Group “Room to Read,” which is associated with the international nonprofit organization in San Francisco (www.roomtoread.org).

Lauren also directed our JET prefectural non-profit, Everest of Apples-Akita, which helps to provide educational opportunities for children in developing nations, and served as the National Coordinator for the JET Special Interest Group Go M.A.D., which coordinated international volunteer activities. Through these organizations, Lauren had the opportunity to set up educational infrastructure throughout Asia and teach her Japanese students about areas in which she was volunteering. “Being a JET helped me become interested in education and why it is an important aspect of development and emergency humanitarian response in the world,” she commented.

Lauren’s future Japan-related goals include returning to work there in some capacity. Lauren also has a message for other JET Alumni, “Come visit the Monterey Institute. You’re in good company here!”

I am the coordinator of student services at the Monterey Institute. I recently attained a Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in international student advising and program development from Dominican University of California. As coordinator of student services, I am a designated student official (DSO) and act as an international student advisor, providing immigration-related advising and international student support.

I’m also a student life advisor and develop and coordinate student programs, including the Monterey Institute Ambassador (MAP) Peer Mentor and International Education Day programs. During my time on JET in Tottori, I was an ALT at three junior high schools, two specialty schools and two elementary schools. I also presented at conferences and was the editor of the 2004 Tottori JETs Guidebook.

My time on JET really inspired me to continue to work in education and get my counseling psychology master degree. While on JET, I had the great opportunity to work with many different students, including at-risk students; this work confirmed for me that education and psychology were fields that I really enjoyed. I have found that the cultural sensitivity that began to develop through my experiences in Japan on JET has helped me work successfully with people from all over the world, including those I work with here at the Monterey Institute.

My future career goals include continuing to work in higher education, creating student programs, and acting as an international student advisor. Eventually, I would like to attain a PhD and teach. JET has inspired me towards those goals in that the lessons that I learned from my students and my schools in Japan have continued to inspire me to learn more about myself and the world through the field of education. As many of my JETAA colleagues have said, someday I too would like to return to Japan to work in some capacity. I think of Japan as a second home after the three years I spent there on JET.

Exciting student opportunities are available for JET alumni at the Monterey Institute. The Institute values a diverse, culturally sensitive learning community and places importance on admitting students with international experiences such as JET. Scholarship preference may be given to JET alumni for their substantial service abroad. For more information, contact Monterey Institute admissions at [email protected] or (831) 647-4123. Also, visit www.miis.edu.

Gail Lu, Tottori, 2001-04, Coordinator of Student Services, Monterey Institute of International Studies 国際化

More smiles in Monterey: Lauren

Opportunities for Alumni abound at the Monterey Institute of International Studies

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Gail smiles big at the Monterey Institute

We are at that halfway point in the movie known as the JET experience....Speaking about movies, I mentioned to some fellow teachers that I love the actor Koji Yakusho—a great actor who does great films that explore important issues in Japanese society. Apparently, he graduated from the high school I’m teaching at! They have a framed picture of his autograph on the first floor. He studied civil engineering and construction and actually worked in the Tokyo road construction department until he decided to become an actor. It must be a school tradition, because my students can be quite dramatic and can also act like a bunch of clowns.

Yakusho was in The University of Laughs (about wartime censorship), Shall We Dance?, Memoirs of a Geisha, BounceKo-Gals (a critique about money worship in Japan), Kamikaze Taxi (he plays a Japanese Peruvian taxi driver), andBabel with Brad Pitt. He speaks English in Babel, so I try to use him as an example to my students that learning English is useful!

Recently, we had the famous Chinese Lantern Festival in Nagasaki and many Japanese, Chinese, and other foreigners came to enjoy the beautiful and colorful lanterns. There is a vibrant Chinese-Japanese community in Nagasaki. I also saw a “low-rider” driving around during the festival. This gave me flashbacks to California, except this car wasn’t blasting music! Part of the Lantern Festival festivities included making fresh gyoza. Master Chef Lee (no relation to myself, unfortunately) showed the Japanese how to work the dough. Grassroots internationalization at its finest. In other news, badminton! I love it and Japan is the place to be for it. I watched Matsuda and Otsuka playing during the Nippon League in Isahaya. At this level of badminton, you just watch and hope to achieve a heavenly level of badminton. They play for Team Tonami and a bunch of my students were excited to get autographs. They also played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and are currently either the fourth or fifth-ranked badminton players in the world.

My technical high school students volunteered at the game. The coach helped to organize the match; he’s no badminton slouch himself, as he used to be the Number One badminton player in all of Nagasaki-ken!

Besides watching badminton, I used to play weekly with my technical high school students and the drills could be maddening. You see, I was on a badminton team in my high school for three years...in America. American badminton has nothing on Japanese badminton. I have been studying their drills and copying them so that maybe someday I can join Matsuda and Otsuka on the court? At any rate, the teacher became the student as my students helped me improve my game while they worked on improving their English.

Lately though, I have switched to basketball because the badminton players are too fast for me! On the basketball team I am the tallest player and pretty good...in Japan. In America, my height is a joke for a basketball team and as I tell my students I was the Number One Benchwarmer—no joke there. This being Japan, my height means that my students have to take difficult shots or they get “rejected”! I did take what I learned and have been coaching with some other teachers the badminton club at my Special Education High School once a week. The students there are a lot of fun and are not so deadly serious. They are eager to learn! I have to be very diligent and understanding of how challenging it can be; my humbling badminton club experience helps in that department. Even so, I definitely push them to their utmost! —Joshua Lee, currently in Nagasaki

Joshua goes for the smash

感想

Letters from Japan: First Year NorCal JETs at Mid-Year

My, time flies! Our first year NorCal JETs are now three-fourths of the way through their first year in Japan. Of course,

in February each had to make the difficult decision of “do I stay or do I go, now?” Although he felt that he had the “best

placement in Japan,” Josh will be returning to his hometown in the Central Valley this year. Toki, on the other hand, has

opted for another year in his tropical Okinawan paradise. Let’s check in with them and see how they have been spending

their time recently....


Letters from Japan

Joshua and friends at the Lantern Festival

Letters from Japan | Book Club

It’s only the end of February, but here in Okinawa

the cherry blossoms have bloomed and gone and I’m already

breaking a sweat just walking to the next class (today the

temperature was 80°F with 90% humidity...which is a little too

humid for anyone who grew up in Northern California).

With that said, re-contracting papers were due two weeks ago

and here in Okinawa it’s the one time it’s not overwhelmingly

hot and humid. So I signed, forgetting what it felt like when I

first arrived, being constantly drenched in sweat.

I guess summer comes early here and from what I hear its going

to be a scorcher this summer! Luckily, the great experiences I’m

having outweigh all of the discomfort, so I’m looking forward to

the next year and half.

I’m sure most people would agree that we all have our “off” days.

I’ll have days when it seems like I’ve forgotten all my Japanese

or days where a lesson just doesn’t turn out as great as I hoped. Last week I was having one of those days when I got to

go teach a group of 43 elementary school first graders. The youngest grade I ever get to teach is third grade, so this was

a special treat for both me and the kids. I wasn’t feeling that great, but once I walked in it was like being hit by a wall of

energy. You can’t help but become super excited about life.

I did my self-introduction, we played a few games, and then we had time for a few questions. Usually the questions are

“How old are you?,” “What’s your favorite food?” etc,, but first graders are much more inquisitive. The first question was,

“How did you get to Japan from America?” I gestured that I swam and the class just about flipped out yelling “Liar!” at

the top of their lungs.

After settling them down, the next question was (no joke) “Why did America and Japan fight a war?” Wow! That really

floored me. The home room teachers told the group that’s a more difficult question that we can talk about later. After a

few more questions the last question was “Why did you come to Japan?” which after 45 minutes of English I thought

would have been fairly obvious, but after thinking more about it, is a good question.

Why did I come to Japan? Of course, the reality is to teach English, but after being here for over six months I’m

beginning to understand more about the international exchange part of the program, as the first graders pointed out

with their questions and frequent complaint that they couldn’t see Okinawa on the world map. At any rate, that lesson

has made my week. If you’re ever having a bad day, go visit a group of first graders because it’s impossible to leave

without a huge smile. Okay, until next time!

—Toki Burke, currently in Okinawa; Email Toki at [email protected] 感想

Toki, showing off a glass cup he made at the glass house

Hello again Book Clubbers! It’s been a while since our last update, but here’s a brief overview of our last two meetings. Our March meeting was a great success as more members joined the discussion about Miyuki Miyabe’s All She was Worth over a delicious meal at Cactus Taqueria in Oakland. This thriller takes readers through an investigation of the dangerous cycle of personal debt, bankruptcy and even identity theft.

Our June meeting involved many slices of pizza at Pizza Orgasmica in San Francisco as we pondered the difficult lives of young Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in Japan in the mid-1600s. Shusaku Endo’s Silence depicts the persecution and hardships many Christians faced in Japan during that time.

For our next book, we will be venturing into the underground world of the yakuza with Shoko Tendo’s Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster’s Daughter. Tendo, the daughter of a yakuza mob boss, grew up in 1970s and ’80s Japan, living through the booms and busts of life on the wrong side of the law. From age 12 onwards, Shoko’s life was enveloped in drug addiction, poverty, abuse, a miscarriage, attempted suicide and the deaths of many close family members—all set against a backdrop of Japan’s ultra-secretive yakuza society.

Admiration and a detached outlook keep Tendo from exploring any resentment she might harbor toward her criminal father—which may prove off-putting for some—but the book feels entirely honest given the emotional trauma Tendo suffers. The book is as revealing as much for what it doesn’t include as for what it does.

This book is relatively new, but there are copies available in most public libraries. If you have any trouble finding the book, or if you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. Keep an eye on the JETAANC Yahoo Group message board for the next Book Club date and location. Thank you and happy reading everyone!

Melissa Chan, Tokyo, 2005-07, Media Circle Coordinator 読書家

Alumni Book Club Members Discuss Bankruptcy, Japanese Christians, and Yakuza!


Greetings and Farewells

Say Hello to Lauren Nakasato, our new Secretary and Shobu Cup Captain!

Hajimemashite. I am honored and excited to be serving JETAANC as Secretary and Shobu

Cup Team Captain this year. The Shobu Cup, a friendly, ongoing sports tournament

between JETAANC and the Japan Society of Northern California, was started this year to

strengthen the bonds between the two organizations and connect those with interest in

Japan. I am hopeful that the Shobu Cup will give participants the chance to deepen this

interest by providing a friendly, recreational context within which they can share their

experiences and enthusiasm about Japan.

As an ALT in Okayama-ken, I worked at two different high schools and one K-12 special

needs school over the course of two years (2006 to 2008). My experience in Japan

solidified my belief in the importance of mutual cultural understanding and exchange

between Japan and the U.S., and helped me to lay out my plans for the future.

I am now aspiring to be a Japanese teacher, as I hope to spread my love of Japanese

language and culture to others. My goal with JETAANC this year is to help deepen our connection with the

Japanese and Japanese American communities, as well as to support JET participants—future, current, and past.

I am looking forward to a productive and healthy year. Please contact me at [email protected] with any

comments, questions or concerns. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.

Daniel Takashi Sakai, Sergeant and SWAT member of the Oakland Police Department, was one of the four officers shot and killed on March 21, when he led his tactical team into an East Oakland apartment to search for a suspect who had allegedly shot two officers. Dan was just 16 days short of his thirty-sixth birthday.

Dan and I met while attending Cal as undergrads and became very close friends. Following graduation, Dan decided to apply for the JET Program, and was assigned as an ALT in Maesawa-cho, Iwate-ken in 1997.

I remember how excited he was to leave for Japan. Though he had never traveled there, it was where his father emigrated from as a child. Dan was always proud of his Japanese ancestry, and took great interest in learning more about the culture and people.

I remember receiving letters from Dan over the course of the year, telling me how he loved his job and his students. He experienced as much as he could while there—studying Japanese and kendo, traveling, and actively participating with his school and community. He often talked about his students even after returning back to the U.S., and hoped to someday go back and visit. It was obvious that the students there loved him just as much.

A year after his return, he joined the police academy in Oakland and fulfilled his dream of becoming an officer. He was one of the few people—if not the only person—I know who absolutely loved his job. The only thing he loved more was his family: his wife and his four-year-old daughter. I have never seen a father love his child more than Dan. She was the world to him, and him to her.

Dan put his entire self into everything that he did—from being an ALT, to a police officer, to being a father, husband, and friend. He always gave everything unconditionally, and never expected anything in return. His main goal in life was to make a difference in others’ lives and he truly did make an impact in this world. He is a hero, and will be missed and remembered always by many.

A 529 college saving plan has been set up for his daughter, Jojiye Sakai. Contributions are welcome and very much appreciated. Please make checks payable to “Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC.” Note on the memo line, “Acct# 615-588270, FBO: Sakai, J. 529 Plan.” Send to: Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0003. Jennifer Chin, Mie, 1998-2000

Remembering Alumnus Daniel Takashi Sakai

Daniel and his students in Iwate, Japan

おくやみ


自己紹介

Daniel and his students

President Rod McLeod [email protected] President John Branderhorst [email protected] Arisa Takahashi [email protected] Lauren Nakasato [email protected] Coordinator

Mark Frey [email protected]

Webmaster Heidi Smith [email protected] Circle Melissa Chan [email protected] Coordinator Douglas Shelton [email protected] of Directors Lenore Española

Sabrina IshimatsuTim Morey

Gary MukaiRonn PattonLibby Wolfensperger

JETAANC Website http://www.jetaanc.orgJETAANC Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaancJETAANC Jobs http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaancjobsSFJETS http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sfjets

Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Northern CaliforniaP.O. Box 2873San Francisco, CA 94126-2873

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Pacific

Bridge

Spring 2

009Announcements

Save the Date


Note: Nomikai happy hours are held in San Francisco every first Thursday of the month, in the East Bay every third Thursday, and in the South Bay TBD. For more details about upcoming events, join the Message Board at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaanc and choose to receive either “individual email” or “daily digest.” To stay even more in the loop, join the JETAANC Facebook & LinkedIn pages!

Pacific Bridge is published quarterly by volunteer members of JETAANC. All rights reserved. One issue a year is mailed to members via USPS. To receive notification when new online issues become available, join the JETAANC Message Board at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaanc. Past issues can be found online at www.jetaanc.org. Opinions expressed in Pacific Bridge are not necessarily those of the JETAANC. Send all letters, comments, or requests to stop receiving paper copies to [email protected].

June 28 Natsu Matsuri Summer Picnic Golden Gate Park Speedway Meadow

July 2 SF Nomikai Happy Hour Jade Bar, San Francisco

July 11 Shobu Cup Kickball Match SF Golden Gate Park, G.W. Grove

July 11-12 Obon Matsuri Street Fair San Jose Japantown

July 16 East Bay Nomikai Happy Hour Location TBD

July 18 Alumni Camping Trip Anthony Chabot Regional Park

Aug 8-9 Nihonmachi Street Fair SF Japantown

Summer is upon us (even in the fog-covered city)! That means it’s time for the Natsu Matsuri Summer Picnic (formerly the Family Day Picnic).

“Let’s enjoy” good food and company and have another chance to model your summer yukata! Family and friends are welcome. Please bring a potluck picnic dish to share.

Who: JET alumni, family, and friends

When: Sunday, June 28th, 11am - 3pm

Where: Speedway Meadow, Tables 7,8,9 in Golden Gate Park (north side)

See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaanc for RSVP information or send me an email at [email protected].

See you there!

Arisa Takahashi, Treasurer/Picnic Coordinator, Nara, 1991-94

Natsu Matsuri Summer Picnic - June 28

夏祭り

Documents

JETAANC Dominates Round One of Shobu Cup · Emerging as the evening’s ringer, Takashi Yoshimatsu from Team ... overall score average. So, Round One goes to JETAANC, but who will