It’s late summer, and that means hundreds of new JET Program participants have recently started their new life in Japan. In this episode, I share my thoughts on what steps they can take to have an enjoyable and memorable Japan experience.

The Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching 

Smile Kids Japan

Temple University Japan Testing Center

Monbukagakusho Scholarship Information

Welcome to a special JET Talks Edition of the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast.  This episode features a panel discussion with the producers of “Kokoyakyu,” a documentary about high school baseball in Japan and the quest to qualify for the national summer baseball tournament at historic Koshien Stadium.  High school baseball in Japan is a national obsession, and the Koshien summer tournament is a wonderful event through which to gain insight into Japanese society.

The 96th National Summer Baseball Tournament will be played at Koshien Stadium beginning Saturday, August 9th, and will end with the championship game on Saturday, August 23 at 1pm (JST).  Here is a list of this year’s teams, a schedule of the games, and the internet live stream link.

Here are some other great Japan baseball related resources:

• You Gotta Have Wa & The Meaning of Ichiro, by Robert Whiting
• Banzai Babe Ruth, by Rob Fitts
• Japan Baseball Weekly Podcast
• Yakyu Baka website

“JET Talks” is a speaker series organized by the JET Program Alumni Association of Washington, DC (“JETAADC”).   JET Talks is loosely modeled after the TED Talks concept and features dynamic and interesting speakers with the goal of inspiring innovative ideas and conversations on Japan-related themes.  

A few weeks ago, I was invited to a pre-departure orientation for new JET Program participants, organized by the JET Program Office at the Embassy of Japan.  

The orientation covered a wide range of topics, and I am very grateful to the Japanese Embassy for allowing me to record the event and use the audio on the podcast.  The presenters were all JET Program alumni, who shared their first-hand experiences and advice with the new JETs on a wide range of topics.  

In this episode, I have included three particularly useful presentations; including: (1) Things To Do Before You Leave; (2) Life in Japan; and (3) Life as an Assistant Language Teacher.  These are just a few of the topics covered at the orientation, and I hope to share more of them with you in a future episode.

Recommended JET Program Resources:

• The JET Program’s Official Website
• The JET Program’s USA Website
• Great JET Program youtube video created by an alum
• JET Program FAQs
• The JET Program Alumni Association Website
• The CIR Homepage

Recommended Life in Japan Resources:

• Surviving in Japan (started by a JET Program alumni)
• Gaijinpot

Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan, and if you’ve enjoyed the topics covered so far, consider leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes.  Doing so will make it easier for others to find Let’s Talk Japan when searching for Japan-related content.  As always, feel free to email questions or comments to: letstalkjapan@gmail.com 

In this episode, Nick speaks with Dave Carlson, a longtime resident of Japan and host of the popular Japanofiles Podcast.  Originally from Michigan, Dave first came to Japan in 1983.  Since then, he has resided in Japan on and off for 21 of the last 30 years.  Together, Nick and Dave discuss a wide range of topics related to life in Japan, as well as what Dave has learned from other n

Some of Nick’s favorite Japanofiles episodes include:

Episode 3 – Buying a home in Japan

Episode 24 – Operating a traditional Japanese inn

Episode 35 – Bicycling in Japan

Episode 40 – Building a cabin in Japan

Episode 43 & 45 – Life in rural Nagano

In addition to discussing what it takes to organize such an event, they cover recent trends in Japanese cinematography and introduce some of the best new films from Japan.

As always, you can rate the podcast in iTunes, check it out on Facebook, or following along with Twitter.

In this episode, Nick sits down with Washington, D.C. native Jan Evans Hauser to discuss her experience living in Kyoto, Japan during the American occupation following WWII.  

At the time, Jan’s step-father was Brigadier General Eugene Harrison, who was the Chief of Staff to Major General Joseph Swing, the commander of the U.S. Army’s 1st Corps.  During the occupation, 1st Corps was headquartered in Kyoto and responsible for administering the Southern half of occupied Japan. 

Together Nick and Jan discuss what life was like in Japan immediately after the war and how Kyoto captivated her imagination, just as it has so many others.

To learn more about the Daimau Villa and its architect, click HERE.  If you’re a fan of victorian architecture and find yourself in Washington, DC, I highly recommend a tour of the Heurich House Museum, built by Jan’s grandfather.

For great reads about Kyoto, generally, and the American occupation of Japan, specifically, check out the following titles:

The Heike´ Story, by Eiji Yoshikawa

The Lady and The Monk, by Pico Iyer

Memoirs of  a Geisha, Arthur Golden

Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide, by Judith Clancy

Embracing Defeat, by John W. Dower

Kyoto Journal

If you enjoyed this interview, you should also listen to Episode 4, in which I interviewed a close family friend about surviving the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast and life in Japan during and after the war.

As always, you can rate the podcast in iTunes, check it out on Facebook, or following along with Twitter.

Together Nick and Stacy discuss:

• how she became interested in the Japanese language
• how she went about deciding to become a professional translator & interpreter
• the impact of technology on the world of professional translation & interpretation and
• tips for improving your own Japanese study habits

To learn more about Stacy,  check out her website as well as her blog posts for JETwit.  Also, here’s a great article about Japanese translation and interpretation.

A special thank you to everyone who has left a positive rating and review in iTunes.  The podcast can also be found on Facebook and you can interact with me on a more regular basis on Twitter @letstalkjapan

In this episode, Nick speaks with Michael Veltri, the owner and chief instructor of DC Aikido, about the history, philosophy and benefits of Aikido.

If you live in the Washington, DC area and are interested in learning more about Aikido, I highly recommend you take a look at Veltri-sensei’s dojo.  In addition to their webpage, you can check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Veltri-sensei recommends that all his students read The Spirit of Aikido, by Kisshomaru Ueshiba.  I also found The Aikido Student Handbook, by Greg O’Connor to be a very helpful resource.  Additionally, this video series demonstrates how many of Aikido’s movements are executed.

If you are enjoying the podcast, and have not already done so, be sure to leave a positive rating and review in iTunes and don’t forget to follow the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan.

TUJ Social Media:  Facebook; Twitter (official & admissions); YouTube 

In this episode, Nick speaks with Johnnie Stroud, the owner of Sake´ Nomi, a premium sake´ shop and tasting bar in Seattle, Washington.  Together they discuss how Johnnie discovered sake´, what motivated him to open a business specializing in sake´, and why you should be drinking more sake´, preferably bought from Sake´ Nomi!

Johnnie and Sake´Nomi were featured in a Japanese manga comic titled “Kurodo” by Akira Oze.  In my opinion, they definitely nailed Johnnie’s likeness!

The Price for a tasting flight of all three – a “kikizake sampler” – was $20 (2 oz. pour of each) 

Here  are the official tasting notes and prices of the sake´ I sampled during my visit.  (Pictured above, right to left)

#1 Yaegaki Mu “Nothingness” – Junmai Daiginjo from Hyogo Prefecture

Light amber tint, with crisp apple aroma. Wonderfully settled and calm, melting and smooth. Layered, complex, well-rounded, and balanced, Brewed with the “king” of sake´rice, Yamada Nishiki.

$12 for 4 oz. in house pour; $40/720 ml bottle; $22/300 ml bottle.

#2 Narutotai “Ginjo Shiboritate” Nama Genshu from Tokushima Prefecture

Yeasty, sweet grain aromas. Soft, full, gentle mouthful, with ripened fruit sweetness and slight minerality. Lingering finish shows a touch of mint. The “oil can” would be ideal at a barbecue or with fatty sashimi. The brewery was established in 1804.

$15 for 4 oz. in house pour; $ 50/720 ml can

#3 Tedorikawa Kinka “Gold Blossom” Daiginjo from Ishikawa Prefecture

Floral nose, with notes reminiscent of dates and raisins, Mild spice, minerality, and cinnamon notes on the palate. Subtly layered, soft and settled. Deep, rich, mature, and mellow, especially for a namezake (unpasteurized sake´).

$15 for 4 oz. in house pour; $ 48/720 ml bottle

Be sure to check out Sake´ Nomi’s great website, “like” their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter.

In this episode, Nick speaks with JET Program alumni Chelsea Reidy and Elayna Snyder about their upcoming 900-mile bicycle tour of Shikoku’s famous 88 temple pilgrimage.  

Listen to hear them describe their creative “Temple by Temple Project,” which they are funding through Kickstarter, and how they plan to share their adventure with others.

To learn more, check out their website, www.bigricefield.com, and the Temple by Temple Project on Kickstarter. 

In this episode, Nick speaks with 

The Helm family’s connection with Japan begins with Mr. Helm’s German great grandfather, Julius, who traveled to Japan as a young man in 1869, looking to make his way in the world. Julius would go on to found Helm Brothers, a company with diverse interests related to what would become Yokohama’s booming port economy.  From there, the book’s narrative winds its way through four further generations of the Helm family.  Mr. Helm recounts not only the family’s participation in major historical events, but also offers a frank assessment of the personal and intra-family struggles each generation faced while living in Japan.  Together, these two aspects make for a compelling read.

Mr. Helm was born and raised in Yokohama and left Japan in the early 1970s to attend university before returning as a journalist to cover Japan for Business Week and the Los Angeles Times.  He currently lives in Seattle, where he is the editor of Seattle Business magazine.

To learn more about Leslie Helm, including a list of upcoming talks and book signings, please visit www.lesliehelm.com.    Also, check out this great article about Josh Powell, the book’s designer.

If you are interested in purchasing Yokohama Yankee, and supporting the podcast, click HERE.  I also recommend these other great books from Chin Music Press:

Shiro: Wit, Wisdom, and Recipes from a Sushi Pioneer, by Shiro Kashiba and Ann Norton

Otaku Spaces, by Patrick W. Galbraith

Anyone interested in seeking Oshita-san’s design and installation services can email him at japanesegarden@tds.com   

Below are some photos of Oshita-san and Nick together at the arboretum, as well as photos of local gardens designed by Oshita-san.

Just a quick programing note, the podcast is going to be taking a little natsu yasumi to relax and spend time with family this month.  As a result, July’s production schedule will not be as regular as in previous months.  But don’t worry, I have some great interviews lined up for later this summer and into fall.  As always, I welcome your feedback at letstalkjapan@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit the iTunes store and leave the podcast a positive rating and review.  I also appreciate all the Facebook “likes” and Followers on Twitter. 

The podcast will return in a few weeks.

If you would like to support the podcast, please consider purchasing some of the books discussed in this episode using the print and Kindle links below.  By doing so, the podcast will receive a small commission to help offset production costs.  The books are listed in the order in which they were discussed, regardless of whether they truly match the category under which they are listed.

Introduction to Japan (suggestions for: departing JETs, summer students, first-time visitors, etc.)

• Kafka On The Shore – Haruki Murakami – (Kindle Edition)
• The House Keeper And The Professor – Yoko Ogawa – (Kindle Edition)
• Popular Hits of The Showa Period – Ryu Murakami
• The Briefcase – Hiromi Kawakami – (Kindle Edition)
• Fear And Trembling – Amelie Nothomb –
• Learning to Bow – Bruce Feiler – (Kindle Edition)
• For Fukui’s Sake – Sam Baldwin- (Kindle Edition)
• Confucius Lives Next Door – T.R. Reid – (Kindle Edition)
• Getting Naked With The Father-in-Law – Shaune Sakamoto – (Kindle Edition)

New Books (published in the last year)

• The Lake (Kindle Edition) & Kitchen (Kitchen)- Banana Yoshimoto
• Manazuru (Kindle Edition) – Hiroko Kawasaki
• A Tale For The Time Being (Kindle Edition) – Ruth Ozeki
• Yokohama Yankee (Kindle Edition) – Leslie Helm
• Death Sentences (Kindle Edition) – Chiyaki Kawamata

Japanese Literature/Fiction

• Botchan (Kindle Edition), Kokoro (Kindle Edition), I Am A Cat (Kindle Edition) – Natsume Souseki
• Makioka Sisters (Kindle Edition) – Junichiro Tanizaki
• The Pillow Book (Kindle Edition) – Sei Shonagon
• Battle Royale – Koushun Takami
• The Buddha In The Attic (Kindle Edition), When The Emperor Was Devine (Kindle Edition) – Julie Otsuka
• Out, Real World (Kindle Edition) – Natuso Kireno

History / Biography

• Kamikaze –
• Black Rain (Kindle Edition) – Masuji Ibuse
• Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball (Kindle Edition) – Robert Fitts
• Shutting Out The Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation (Kindle Edition) – Michael Zielenziger
• Train Man: Densha Otoko – Hitori Nakano
• Banzai Babe Ruth (Kindle Edition) – Robert Fitts
• Unbeaten Tracks in Japan (Kindle Edition) – Isabella Bird
• Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His World (Kindle Edition) – Donald Keene

Arts / Culture

• Viewed Sideways: Writings on Culture and Style in Contemporary Japan (Kindle Edition) – Donald Richie
• Japan Journals: 1947-2004 (Kindle Edition) – Donald Richie
• Geisha (Kindle Edition), Kimono: Fashioning Culture – Liza Dalby
• Minka: My Farmhouse In Japan (Kindle Edition) – John Roderick

Miscellaneous

• Tokyo Vice: A Western Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan (Kindle Edition) – Jake Adelstein
• Yakuza (Kindle Edition) – David Kaplan and Alec Dubro
• Doing Time – Kazuichi Hanawa
• Rice As Self (Kindle Edition) – Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney

Let me be the first to welcome you to “JET Talks”, a brand new speaker series organized by the JET Program Alumni Association of Washington, DC (“JETAADC”). 

JET Talks is modeled after the TED Talks concept and will feature dynamic and interesting speakers with the goal of inspiring innovative ideas and conversations on Japan-related themes.  JET Talks is separate from the Let’s Talk Japan podcast  but our goals are the same – to get people talking and thinking about Japan. 

Shauna Tischler came up with the idea of JET Talks and currently serves as JETAADC’s Thought Leadership Chair.  From 2000-03, Shauna worked as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Program in Gifu Prefecture.  Special recognition is also owed to Leigh Ann Mastrini, the current President of JETAADC, and the Japan Information and Cultural Center of Washington, DC for hosting the first JET Talks event.

Regular listeners of the Let’s Talk Japan podcast will recall that in Episode 11, I spoke with director Regge Life about his film Live Your Dream, chronicling the lives of JET Program participants Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson who passed away in the March 11th 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

Regge was recently in Washington, DC, along with Taylor’s father, Andy Anderson, and Monty’s sister, Shelly Frederickson, to speak at the first JET Talks event – a screening and panel discussion of the film Live Your Dream.  More than 120 guests were in attendance and the event was a huge success. 

For anyone who has not yet seen Live Your Dream, I encourage you to listen to Let’s Talk Japan episode 11, as it provides a good overview of the film. 

In this JET Talks, you will first hear introductory remarks from the JET Talks organizers and panelists, followed by the panel discussion, which followed the screening. 

Enjoy the Talk!

For more information about Live Your Dream, including a list of upcoming public screenings, click HERE.

Options on how to purchase the film can be found HERE.

If you are interested in contributing financially to Taylor and Monty’s legacies, please consider these organizations which have been set up by their families:

The Taylor Anderson ’04 Memorial Fund at Taylor’s high school, St. Catherine’s in Richmond, Virginia

University of Anchorage, Alaska Montgomery Dickson Center for Japanese Language and Culture

In this episode, Nick speaks with Meredith Smith, Media and Public Relations Director for Smile Kids Japan.   Since 2008, Meredith has worked as an ALT on the JET Program and has volunteered with Smile Kids Japan since 2009.  Smile Kids Japan is a volunteer organization that encourages visits to Japanese orphanages.  Through its website and volunteer leadership, Smile Kids Japan helps facilitate such visits by serving as a resource for best practices and activity ideas.  This is an amazing organization, and I’m glad to help share their story.

To learn more about SKJ, check out their website and facebook page.  You can also follow SKJ on Twitter @SmileKidsJapan (English) or @SmileKidsJP (Japanese). Also, be sure to check out the website of Living Dreams, Smile Kids Japan’s partner organization helping orphans in the Tohoku region of Japan.

Other SKJ Resources:

Smile Kids Japan’s founder Michael Maher King speaking at TEDxTokyo on May 21, 2011.

Some great videos of volunteers interacting with the children can be seen here, and here.

Anyone interested in contacting Smile Kids Japan with questions or comments can click here.

In this episode, Nick provides an overview of other great Japan-related podcasts available to listeners on the Internet.  This list is by no means meant to be exhaustive.  If one of your favorite podcasts did not make the list, feel free to email letstalkjapan@gmail.com and Nick will add it to the “listener recommended” category below.

LIFE IN JAPAN

The Japanofiles Podcast

Tokyo Podcast – @tokyopodcast

JAPANESE LANGUAGE STUDY

Japanese Pod 101 – @japanesepod101

HISTORY

A Short History of Japan – @frugcam

Samurai Archives – @samuraiarchives

SPORTS

Japan Baseball Weekly – @jballallen

The J Talk Podcast – @jtalkpod

FOOD

Japan Eats Podcast – @japaneats

Japan Booze Blind

CURRENT EVENTS

The Japan Show – @thejapanshow

LISTENER RECOMMENDED 

Anime World Order Podcast – @AnimeWorldOrder

Otalkku Podcast-

Notebook on Cities and Culture – Though not strictly a Japan-focused podcast, there are some great Japan interviews.  I especially recommend the interview with Pico Iyer.

Studio 360 in Japan Episode –

• The history of bonsai
• How Aaron became interested in this art form and was able to make it a full-time career
• The contents of the National Arboretum’s bonsai and penjing collection
• The rewards and pressure that can come from working with bonsai
• Advice for anyone interested in starting a bonsai collection

Below are photographs of the four trees from the museum’s collection that Nick and Arron discuss:

Resources for anyone interested in learning more about bonsai:

• The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum
• Aaron’s great blog, Capitol Bonsai

Recommended books for bonsai beginners:

• Bonsai Survival Manuel, by Colin Lewis
• The Complete Book of Bonsai, by Harry Tomlinson
• Indoor Bonsai for Beginners, by Werner Busch 

The podcast receives a small percentage of each sale from the links above to help offset production costs.  Thanks for your support!

It’s officially hanami season and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom here in Washington, D.C.  Each spring, over a million and a half people come to see the most famous cherry blossoms outside of Japan.  In this episode, Nick speaks with Ambassador John Malott, president of the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., about this living symbol of U.S.-Japan friendship and its 101-year history. 

To learn more about the history of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, check out this books:  

The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration, by Ann McClellan 

Eliza’s Cherry Trees: Japan’s Gift To America, by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman

Cherry Blossom Friends, by Corky Hay DeSimone

For more information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Sakura Matsuri, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org and sakuramatsuri.org.  The U.S. National Park Service website also has some great information about the cherry blossoms and their history. 

Thanks to everyone following the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan and be sure to “like” the podcast on the recently created facebook page.

Happy hanami!

While its been referred to as “One of the greatest road trips in sports history,” the 1934 tour was about much more than the game of baseball. Diplomats on both sides of the Pacific hoped that a visit by Babe Ruth and company could help avert war between the United States and Japan. Instead, the All-American’s tour coincided with an attempted coup that could have been disastrous for the players and the two countries if it had succeeded.

This is a well-written and fast-paced account of not only larger than life personalities but also inspirational and, sometimes tragic, lesser known characters whose stories Fitts has thankfully helped preserve.    

To purchase Banzai Babe Ruth and support the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, use these affiliate links: Hardcopy, Paperback, Kindle, Audible

Click HERE to sign up for a free 30-day audible.com membership, which includes a free download of the book.                     

Other great books by Rob Fitts include:

• Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball:                     Hardcopy, Paperback, Kindle
• Remembering Japanese Baseball: An Oral History Of The Game: Paperback

To learn more about Japanese baseball, I also recommend  these books:

• You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert Whiting: Paperback
• The Samurai Way of Baseball: The Impact of Ichiro and the New Wave from Japan, by Robert Whiting: Paperback
• Sayonara Home Run!: The Art of the Japanese Baseball Card: Paperback

In this episode, Nick speaks with Ayako Smethurst and Drew Scronce about Kizuna Across Cultures.  Ayako is the President of Kizuna Across Cultures and Drew is the organization’s Educational Director.  Drew also teaches Japanese at Langley High School, just outside of Washington, DC.

Kizuna Across Cultures is an innovative educational organization that uses technology to build relationships between students in Japan and the United States.  This is definitely more than a classic pen pal exchange.  Listen to the episode to learn how this organization is inspiring youth to embrace diversity.  

Anyone interested in learning more about this great organization can visit: www.kacultures.org

I would like to thank the listeners who have emailed me their thoughts about the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, and also everyone following the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan. 

I’m excited to announce that the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast is now listed in the iTunes New & Noteworthy section under the Society & Culture podcast category.  Next time you visit the iTunes Store, please be sure to leave the podcast a positive rating.  Doing so will ensure that the podcast continues to move up that list and catch the attention of other listeners.  

  Keiko and her older sister Michiko

Keiko in kimono standing on the far left with her father behind her.  Keiko’s mother is standing far right. [Bottom Photo]

Keiko and Jesse on a date.

Keiko and Jesse, center, with their infant daughter and Keiko’s extended family.

Keiko and Nick at Keiko’s home.

Some of the many certificates at Keiko’s home recognizing her extensive volunteer work.

Here is an article from a local newspaper about Keiko’s life. 

If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to leave a positive rating in iTunes.  As always, email questions or comments to letstalkjapan@gmail.com and follow the podcast on Twitter @LetsTalkJapan.

In this episode, Nick Harling speaks with Jennelle Root Martelle and Paul Rothman about the mission of Sister Cities International.  Jennelle is the Director of Programs and Grants and Paul is the membership coordinator at Sister Cities International.

Topics covered in this interview include:

• An explanation of what a sister-city partnership is
• The history of sister-city partnerships worldwide and how they have evolved over time
• How Sister Cities International encourages and helps sister-city partners maintain their relationships
• The current state of U.S.-Japan sister-city partnerships

For more information on Sister Cities International, please visit their website: www.sister-cities.org

If you have any questions about how to start a sister-city partnership, improve upon an existing partnership, or restart a dormant partnership, email Paul at prothman@sister-cities.org

As always, feel free to email questions or comments to: letstalkjapan@gmail.com and follow the podcast on Twitter @LetsTalkJapan 

Together, they discuss the JET Program’s:

• purpose & history
• types of positions & responsibilities
• eligibility criteria
• salary & benefits
• common application mistakes
• application deadline & hiring process timeline

Other Recommended JET Program Resources:

• The JET Program’s Official Website
• The JET Program’s USA Website
• Great JET Program youtube video created by an alum
• JET Program FAQs
• The JET Program Alumni Association Website
• The CIR Homepage

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please go to the Let’s Talk Japan page in itunes, click on the “ratings and reviews” button and leave us some feedback.  Doing so, will ensure that other listeners looking for Japan-related content can more easily find us.

As always, feel free to email questions or comments to: letstalkjapan@gmail.com and follow the podcast on Twitter @LetsTalkJapan