JETsAD Newsletter #5

#5 August 29, 2015

NEWSLETTER January 2016

10 Tips for Traveling Cheaply in Japan Recipes for Taco Seasoning & Sweet Potato Pie

Okayama Naked Man Festival JETs AD January Giveaway  

Upcoming Events

JETs AD Newsletter

Table of Contents • January Giveaway…….…… 3 • Okayama’s Naked Man

Festival…………………………4

• 10 Tips for Traveling

Cheaply in Japan.…………. 5 • Recipe Corner……..……..…6 • Quotes of the Month…..…. 7 • Brain Challenge……….……8 • Upcoming Group Events… 9 • Events in Japan……………. 10 • 1000 Paper Cranes for

Peace……………….………..11 • JETsAD Opportunities……. 12

January 2016

Announcements •Happy birthday to everyone

born in January!

•If you have ideas for events or

activities for JETs AD to do, join the open Skype meeting on Jan. 9. See Facebook post for details.

•Don’t forget to register for the

After JET Conference JET Translation. Deadline is soon.

•The registration deadline for the

3-day JET Career Up Internship Research Program for 5th year JETs is Jan. 8.

•JETs AD has a home on the

web! Check out our new site at: https://jetsad.wordpress.com.

•Please help us improve and

make our group of value to you by sharing with us your feedback in our survey. Please send your responses by Jan. 20.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

CALLING ALL CURRENT AND PAST JETS OF AFRICAN DECENT CURRENTLY LIVING IN JAPAN WE ARE HAVING A…

For How to Enter and Rules: https://jetsad.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/monthly-challenge-1/

To See Our New Home on the Web: https://jetsad.wordpress.com 3

JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

Okayama’s Naked Man Festival It’s that time of year again, you guys. That’s right! It’s time for one of Japan’s annual festivals known as the Naked Man Festival in Okayama. Although it is called the Naked Man Festival, no one is really naked but they are almost naked because the participants wear only a loincloth like sumo wrestlers.

At this festival, men compete in this attire for the lucky sacred sticks to receive blessings for the year. The participants are not only Japanese men but also foreign men as well. Since its only a limited number of sticks that are released and a lot of participants, you can imagine the intensity of the battle to get them.

The sticks are releases at a certain time, which traditionally was midnight but has been changed to around 10pm. While waiting for this time, the participants run laps around the temple, which includes a dip in the “holy pool”.

The festival is filled with plenty of food to warm you up and fill your belly as you wait. Once the time has neared, the spectators go to their seats (or find a spot to stand) and the participants position themselves around the temple. The countdown begins. The light goes out. The priest tosses the sticks. The search begins.

Okayama AJET usually organizes a trip to the event. This usually includes transport to and from the festival from Okayama Station, registering male ALTs who want to participate in the festival and securing tickets for ALTs who just want to watch the event. So if you are interested in joining the festival keep a look out for a post from Okayama AJET or contact them for details on how you can join the festivities.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

10 TIPS FOR TRAVELING CHEAPLY IN JAPAN Winter break is over but spring vacation is coming soon. If you plan to travel during the spring or any other time in Japan, here are some tips to save you some yens.

1. Get a pass- Even as a resident in Japan, there are plenty of day passes available to help discount the cost of traveling and getting into attractions. Be sure to check with the local tourism association for your planned destination. You can often find information about available passes on their website (sometimes in English) and even on websites such as Japan Guide or Wikitravel.

2. Buy in advance- The earlier you buy, the more access you have to discounted prices offered for advance bookings of hotels, Shinkansen tickets, bus tickets and airfare. Advance purchase price can offered as late as 1 day before to as early as 75 days before.

3. Stay in hostels or budget-friendly hotels- Although hostels often get a bad rap, there are really good hostels to stay at and some even often private rooms if room sharing isn’t your thing. They usually have kitchens so you can save even more money by making your own food. Budget hotels such as business hotels also are a good savings because you can also get your own space for a cheap price.

4. Take discounted transport- If time isn’t an issue, you can save a lot of money by taking night buses, LCC airlines or ferries to your destinations. Depending on the company you choose, spacious seating can be purchased or found.

5. Hit up the supermarkets- Shopping at the grocery store is going to save you more money than stopping at convenience stores. Plus, supermarkets sell dinners and lunches at the deli you can buy cheaply saving you the cost of eating out 6. Pack light- Packing light is not only going to save you baggage fees but also save you time. If you can keep your packing limited to carry-on, you can breeze out of the airport without having to waste time waiting for luggage to arrive on the carousel. Not to mention, save the cost of storing you luggage in lockers. Save space by rolling your clothes and stuffing in open spaces.

7. Check out the free things in life- There are a lot of free attractions in Japan. There are plenty of parks, museums, shrines, temples, gardens and other places that are free. For example, the Tokyo Edo Museum is free and has a lot of displays.

8. Take advantage of JAF or other membership card discounts- Many attractions and hotels offer discounts to people who have certain membership cards. The JAF card is one of these and JAF sends a brochure listing the places where discounts are available. If you’re already a member, you might as well use it to your benefit.

9. Travel off season- Hotels and more hike their prices up at certain times of the year when people often go out of town. Traveling at these times is definitely going to cost. Therefore, save some money by traveling at times that other people aren’t.

10. Network- If you ever wanted to travel to a certain place, it’s always good to know you can go to soand-so’s house if you do. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to meet new people.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

RECIPE CORNER Taco Seasoning

Sweet Potato Pie

Since there’s no Taco Bell to hop in my car to, I’ve had to find other means of satisfying my taco cravings. Although I can find salsa and taco kits at the local stores and taco seasoning at the import store, cost adds up and finding taco seasoning without the additives is difficult. What’s the fix for this? Homemade tacos!

Nothing reminds me more of the holidays and family than sweet potato pie. You’ll need a pie crust

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2 tbsp chili powder (チリパウダー)

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1 tsp garlic powder (ガーリックパウダー)

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1/2 tsp onion powder (オニオンパウダー or オニオングラニュール)

but, if you’re from the states, you won’t find the ones you’re used to in the local stores. What you will find in the frozen section is something called pie sheet( パイシート). It’s pie crust expect it’s not put in a pan nicely for you. You have to let it thaw then roll it and fit it to the pan yourself.

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4 sweet potatoes (boiled, cooled and peeled)

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cinnamon

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1/2 tsp. nutmeg

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3/4 cup sugar

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1/2 tsp dried oregano (オレガノ)

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3/4 cup butter

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1 tsp paprika (パプリカ)

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1 egg

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1/2 tsp ground cumin (クミン)

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1/2 tsp vanilla

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2 tbsp salt (塩)

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1/2 tsp pepper (コショウ)

1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees C (375 degrees F).

2. Put the sweet potatoes into a large bowl and mash them up. Make it as smooth as possible but a few lumps is ok.

1. Thoroughly combine all of the ingredients in a bowl.

3. Add the butter, sugar and vanilla and mix thoroughly.

2. Transfer the newly made taco seasoning to an air tight container or glass bottle.

Leftover seasoning bottles work well.

4. Add the nutmeg and cover the mixture with cinnamon. Mix once more.

3. For tacos, simply cook about 1 lb. of beef until it is good and brown, and then add 2 or 3 tbsp of the seasoning to the meat along with a 1/2 cup of water. Let it cook until a good portion of the liquid is gone and viola!

Alternatively, you can use cooked chicken instead of beef and have chicken tacos.

5. Taste. This is how your pie will taste. If you like it, go to step 6. Otherwise, add more nutmeg and/or cinnamon until you reach your desired taste.

6. Add the egg and mix.

7. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and smooth the surface.

8. Put it in the oven and bake until brown.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

Quotes of the Month

” Whatever your life's work is, do it well.

A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Japanese Proverb: 井の中の蛙大海を知らず Romaji: i no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu.

The frog inside the well is unaware of the greatness of the sea.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

BRAIN CHALLENGE Japanese Tongue Twister: Hiragana: 貴社の記者は汽車で帰社した。 Romaji: Kisha no kisha wa kisha de kishashita.

JAPAN HOLIDAYS CROSSWORD

ACROSS 3. a day to enjoy and promote sports activities and focus on good holistic health 6. a day referred to as ganjitsu (元日) in Japanese 7. an imported winter holiday and is a day for couples 9. a holiday currently celebrated December 23 in honor of the emperor 10. a day to celebrate those who have become 20 years old 11. a day to celebrate and promote culture

DOWN 1. a day of reference for the elderly and a celebration of long life 2. a day of thankfulness for the seas and hopes for Japan's prosperity 4. a day that originally started for boys but now includes girls; people fly koinobori on this day 5. the day when women give men presents 8. the day when men give presents to the women that gave them presents

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016 January 2016

Upcoming JETs AD Events •2016 Sapporo Snow Festival

âœŚ

When: February 6-10

Sapporo has its annual Snow Festival(Yuki Matsuri) in February. This year the festival will be from February 5-11! Marvel at the spectacular snow and ice artand enjoy the plethora of snow activities Hokkaido has to offer. Ready to get in on the snow adventure? See on the Facebook event page for more details!

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016 January 2016

Events in Japan January Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1

New Year’s Day

2 Mizu Abise (Kochi)

Geita Festival (Mie)

3 Fire Dance Festival (Shizuoka)

Fire Dance Festival (Shizuoka)

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5

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New Year’s Parade of Firemen (Tokyo)

Ball Catching Festival (Fukuoka)

10 Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament starts

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Nagaoji Big Mochi Game (Kagawa)

Devil Festival

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9 Meet-up

(Shiga & Fukuoka)

National Holiday

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11

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13

Misogi Sai starts *Osaki

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Hachimangu Fire Festival (Miyagi) *Dora Doya Festival (Osaka)

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19

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24

25

26

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Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament ends

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28

Morozaki Sagichou Matsuri (Aichi)

Ice Sculpture Festival (Nagano)

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15 *Misogi Sai finale

Heto Mato Festival (Nagasaki) Bonden Festival (Akita)

Nabe Battle (Saitama)

Lion Dance Festival (Chiba)

Chakkkirako Festival (Kanagawa)

Christmas

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23 *Ice Sculpture Festival (Nagano) *Kamezuka Neriba Parade (Niigata)

30 Nabe Battle (Saitama) Iwate Winter Festival starts Tengu Matsuri (Tokyo)

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Movie Releases: • • • •

Bridge of Spies (01/08/2016) Paddington (01/15/2016) In the Heart of the Sea (01/16/2016) The Walk (01/23/2016)

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

1000 Paper Cranes For Peace

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What Do I Need to Do? 1. Fold as many paper cranes as you can.

Our goal is 1000 paper cranes total. Feel free to get some of your local friends, students and teachers to help you.

2. Preferably, try to use paper that’s the color of our logo (i.e. blues, purples, or black/brown). However, any paper you have available is fine.

3. Mail all of your paper cranes the organizer (Send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net for mailing address).

Postage costs will be refunded to you.

What Happens After I Send My Paper Cranes?

1. We will vote on a message to accompany our donation.

2. All of the paper cranes will be strung together and then sent to the Children’s Peace Monument’s donation mailing address.

3. All participants will receive a certificate and a “Thank you” gift bag.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

Share With Us! Got some amazing classroom tricks, amusing comics, hair tips, delicious recipes, great teaching resource or information on an amazing festival in your town? Want to share an experience you had? Whatever it is you have, we would like to hear about it! You can write about anything your heart desires, with only a few exceptions. If you have something you would like to share with the JETsAD community or would like more information, send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net with the subject header “Newsletter Contribution.”

Exceptions: Posts about political, religious or commercial activities, posts from businesses looking for clients or employees and anything deemed inappropriate by the editor.

***Get Involved*** ✦

Open Positions: • Block Coordinators for the following blocks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 • Newsletter Editor • Website Coordinator(Webmaster)

✦

If you are interested in any of these positions, send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net.

The Block Coordinator application is located in the “Files” section of the JETsAD Facebook page.

✦

Be apart of Sempai Connect, a buddy system linking current JETsAD & former JETs AD. If you are interested, send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net. To help the pairing process, fill out and send the questionnaire. Questionnaire is also located in the “Files” section of the JETsAD Facebook page.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

What is JETs AD? 


JETs AD (JETs of African Descent) is a group that is open to all and focuses on topics related to JETs of African Descent. This group serves as a platform for discussion, support, and announcements relating to the JET community at-large. We aim to provide useful information and share resources on hard-to-find hair and beauty products, foreign foods, events, ways to stay connected, and other topics relevant to our demographic. We also plan nationwide and region-specific events.

We are affiliated with The JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme.

Join us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the happenings in the JETs AD community. For more information, email us at jetsad@ajet.net.

JETs AD Newsletter is newsletter for current and former JETs to share information, tips and any other information that may be deemed useful. The views expressed by contributors to this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the JETs AD Special Interest Group nor the JET Programme and its affiliates All contents retain their copyright to the respective contributor(s) and are printed by JETsAD Newsletter under special permission. Š2015 JETs AD Newsletter. All rights reserved.

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JETs AD Newsletter

January 2016

Thank you for reading!

Wishing you a wonderful New Year!

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