Spring 2004 Volume 10 Issue 1

It’s All Inside

2 Letter from the President 2-3 2004 Board of Directors 4 News from the Consulate of Japan 5 6 The Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association

Newsletter

Spring 2004

Volume 10, Number 1

7 8

The JETAAi Conference in New York Prep Seminar News From Vancouver Island Japanophile: Lost in Translation & Optic Nerve #9 JETAABC Food Night Calling All Paddlers What, Where, When

JETAABC Working to Build Closer Ties with Mokuyokai Nina Inaoka, Cultural Events Coordinator

When you hear of Mokuyokai (literally “Thursday meetings”), you probably relate this society to their Donwakai pub nights, monthly hikes and speaker programs. Actually, JETAABC and Mokuyokai have similar aims: to maintain contact with the Japanese culture, community and people. Angie Freedman and I met with Vancouver Mokuyokai Society Vice-President, Bill McMichael, to discuss the relationship between JETAABC and Mokuyokai. We hope to build stronger relations and create more joint cultural events and workshops in the future.

We are starting with the co-sponsored Ohanami on April 24th, (3:00 -7:00 p.m.) at UBC’s Nitobe Memorial Gardens, and Asian Centre. Please join us! (see details at right) The Vancouver Mokuyokai Society is an association for Canadians who have special interests in Japan, and Japanese people residing in Canada. The association was established in 1982 by a group of Canadians who had returned from Japan and were looking for ways to facilitate their contact with Japanese people and events here in British Columbia.

Mokuyokai members come from a diverse range of backgrounds and professions, but share a common interest in promoting Canada-Japan relations and in networking with similar-minded people. To this end, Mokuyokai organizes and supports a number of activities and events for the benefit of its members and the greater community.

If you would prefer to receive future editions of the JETAABC Newsletter in your inbox rather than in your mailbox, please contact the membership coordinator at members@bc.jetaa.ca.

Ohanami 2004 at Nitobe Garden Saturday April 24 3:00-7:00 pm Nitobe Garden and Asian Centre, UBC

If you have friends who are interested in Japanese culture or know someone who really misses Japan, bring them along to enjoy Ohanami 2004 (blossom-viewing festival), co-sponsored by JETAABC and the Vancouver Mokuyokai Society. Everyone is also invited to take part in the Asian Library Open House, to be held in the Asian Centre from 11:00-4:00 p.m.

In addition to providing an excellent opportunity to stroll the gardens or join a guided tour, tea ceremonies (45 mins) will be held in the Nitobe Garden Tea House (Ichiboan) at 3:15, 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. The cost is $5.00 per person. To make reservations for a tea ceremony* or order a dinner-bento box, please contact Nina Inaoka at cultural@bc.jetaa.ca. *Please come to the registration table at least 10 minutes before your start time to make payment. Unclaimed places will be offered to visitors on a first-come-first-served basis.

1

Letter from the President

As you may know, this year’s JETAABC Board of Directors has significantly shifted direction from previous years. We have a new structure, with several new positions, and half a dozen new faces to bring a fresh vision and renewed enthusiasm to our group. I’m already excited by all the ideas and plans being cooked up by our clever Directors.

This year our goal is simple: to make your JETAABC membership valuable to you. At the end of this year, we hope that you will be able to say that being part of this group has offered you something of value, through social or cultural events, classes and workshops, aided in your career development, and helped to keep Japan alive in your life.

I see the role of JETAABC being threefold: first, to help returning JETs when they return to Canada by providing a supportive community and career development; to help JETs keep Japan alive in their lives, even if everyday life doesn’t include sushi or Nihongo; and finally, to give JET alumni a chance to share and teach about Japanese culture with the community around us.

How can we make your JETAABC membership more valuable? What would you really have appreciated when you first arrived back in Canada? How can we bring Japan back to you, and how can you bring Japan to those around you?

Meetings of the Board of Directors are always open for any JETAABC member to attend. You can reach all of us by email, and we welcome you to contact us any time for feedback, suggestions, or ideas. You might want to get involved with organizing or volunteering for some of the great events we have planned this year, and we welcome your participation. I look forward to seeing you – or meeting you – at some of our great events.

See you soon!

Angie Freedman President, JETAABC 2004

Your JETAABC Board of Directors for 2004

This year’s AGM/Shinnenkai, held in January, saw a record number of people compete for positions on the new, improved Board of Directors. Meet the Friendly Folks of JETAABC every third Monday of the month, locations tba, or send an email to us at the addresses below.

2

Angie Freedman, President president@bc.jetaa.ca

Since Angie returned from Nagasaki-ken four years ago, she’s developed her social network through volunteering, work, and classes, but she still gets lost downtown.She considers her greatest success in Vancouver to be snagging Johnny, her Japanese dreamboat. Angie enjoys arranging flowers, pottery, and animals of all kinds. Actually, one of those things isn’t true. Can you guess which?

Kristin Olson, Senior Advisor advisor@bc.jetaa.ca

Kristin (Ibaraki-ken 1997-2000) has served on the JETAABC Committee for two years, first as secretary, preparation seminar coordinator and career seminar coordinator, and then as president. She is currently studying urban geography at UBC. Matt Fedoruk, Treasurer treasurer@bc.jetaa.ca

The Yoda of JETAABC, Matt is in charge of all the cash. When not stuck on his laptop writing his Ph.D. dissertation, Matt can be found doing equally

painful things such as training for marathons, trail running and cross-country skiing. Other pastimes include searching out the latest and greatest in Vancouver’s Japanese cuisine.

An ideal life: Travel the world on an expense account.

Andrew Eisenberg, Technical Coordinator webmaster@bc.jetaa.ca

Andrew (Hyogo-ken, 1998-2000) maintains the JETAABC website and Yahoo! group. Andrew moved to sunny Vancouver from New York two years ago and is currently an impverished graduate student in Computer Science. Andrew has wistful memories of a distant past living in a Japanese fishing village and eating kani.

Jane Leung, Volunteer Coordinator volunteer@bc.jetaa.ca

Jane was a rural ALT in the little known prefecture of Kochi. She spent a sublime three years living beachside and eating katsuo tataki, and now feels like giving something back to the JET community that has given her so much. If there are any areas of interest you’d like to get involved with, please feel free to contact her. Jane has the info on all sorts of great upcoming events!

2004 JETAABC Board of Directors cont’d...

Bobby Taylor, Membership Coordinator members@bc.jetaa.ca

Bobby had a simple plan: To win at Monopoly. His quest for victory led him to JET where his abilities were tested as ringleader of a Bald Monkey Circus, aka kindergarten. The students loved him dearly but three years had passed and still no answers to his quest. Upon returning home, JETAABC caught his attention and Bobby enlisted. He is currently Membership Coordinator and bent on realizing his goal.

Joseph Luk, Secretary secretary@bc.jetaa.ca

Born amongst the raisins and pistachios in Fresno, California, Joe is a perennial gaikokujin, yet feels right at home in Vancouver. As Secretary, he tries to avoid slips of “Kita-California ben” in the communications and records for which he is responsible. In Karasuyama-machi, Tochigi-ken 2-3, he learned to love the onsen, and is now searching for the ultimate B.C. onsen experience. Visit Joe on the web at www.choberi.com.

Greg Joughin, Prep Seminar and Social Coordinator social@bc.jetaa.ca

past-times while in Japan were practicing Kyudo, stuffing her face full of agedashi tofu and mochi dango. She’s been in Vancouver for the last year and a bit and is enjoying the best of both world’s Vancouver has to offer.

Nina Inaoka, Cultural Events Coordinator cultural@bc.jetaa.ca

In this new position, Nina (Hyogo 1999-2002) will feature cultural events that were a part of our JET experiences. She would like to be the JETAABC link to the local Japanese-Canadian community. Join us for the upcoming Ohanami and Sobalicious!

Stephenie Gold and Zamiha Virjee, Career and Personal Development Coordinators careerseminar@bc.jetaa.ca

For a second year, Stephenie is a Career and Personal Development Coordinator. She is currently finishing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology at UBC. She is also trying to find time to go on her honeymoon with Andrew - hitchhiking from Hokkaido to Honshu, though she acknowledges this may be more enjoyable as an idea than in reality!

Zamiha (Chiba City ALT, 1997-99) has an MA in Comparative Education and interests in cross-cultural learning and the arts. While jobsearching, she is writing magazine articles, giving workshops, volunteering and promoting her new non-profit society,OpenYourArt (www.openyourart.com). She looks forward to helping JETs with their career and personal development plans.

Greg was an ALT in Kanazawa (1996- 1999). In “real life,” he’s a mechanical engineer at a relatively dull firm with no ties to Japan whatsoever. He lives with his wife Akiko Damien Vilaysane out in the sticks (Burnaby) and enLots of fish swimming in a big comfy pond.

Member at Large joys reading, watching movies, and Damien, JETAABC’s former Newsletplaying with home electronics and his computer. Just the sort of ter Editor, is now a Member-At-Large. Because he could no longer homebody loser who’s gonna be the perfect Social Coordinator. silence his inner call to unite with the land of the rising sun, he Jennifer Tomomitsu and Christine Rowlands Newsletter Editors newsletter@bc.jetaa.ca

In 2002, Jennifer and her partner left rural Nagano and ventured to Vancouver. Since then, Jennifer has been frolicking on her snowboard, drinking too much wine (she works at a wine store), and waiting to get into a master’s program. Writing is her biggest pastime, but the spring air has prevented her from staying put at a computer. She misses onsens, her taiko drumming group, and onsens.

Christine considers her time in Chiba City (1999/2000) the year at university she never had. Although weekend izikaya, karaoke, and nomihodai sessions are no longer, she is up for belting out some Copacabana at the Dufferin, anytime. She reads constantly, loves movies, and cooks lots of curry and pasta. It takes her forever to write anything.

Dianne Cook, Programs and Services Coordinator services@bc.jetaa.ca

Dianne lived in Yokohama from 1999 to 2001. Favourite

recently went back to Japan for a short visit. Rekindling a bond with the culture that so enriched his life has given him a small case of reverse-culture shock.

Shaun Sephton, Vancouver Island Representative sllsephton@hotmail.com

Many moons ago, Shaun left his job at the Vancouver Museum, backpacked across the UK, and became an ALT in Iwate-ken (1997-2000). He stayed in Japan for two more years, opened a small eikaiwa, and got married. He now works in Victoria and is active with the JETAA-BC chapter.

So what can JETAABC do for you? Contact us!

By mail JETAABC Bentall Centre PO BOX 48121 Vancouver, BC V7X 1N8

On the Web www.bc.jetaa.ca By e-mail info.bc@jetaa.ca

3

News from the Consulate of Japan Steve Chevalier Interviews for the 2004-2005 JET Programme were held over three days this past February. Many JET Alumni were involved as either interview panelists or reception desk personnel. We are very thankful for the continued support of the Alumni in helping us select the best candidates to participate on JET. Final result letters for all interviewed candidates were sent out at the beginning of April. In total, there are 119 shortlisted ALT candidates and 8 CIR candidates, who are now scheduled for placement with a contracting organization in Japan. The number of participants is slightly higher than in Toronto, making those leaving from Vancouver the largest contingent in Canada again.

The next step is getting everyone ready for departure at the end of July. As usual, we will have two departure dates for our large group of BC JETs - July 24 and July 31, 2004.

Remember preparing to head off to Japan on your new JET adventure? Were you nervous? Had a lot of questions? If you’d like to impart your JET experience and wisdom to the new participants, volunteer for the Preparation Seminar (conducted by JETAABC) in June, or join our Yahoo! group for departing JETs.

The Government of Japan has a few new websites that you might want to check out: Catch up with what’s happening around Prime Minister Koizumi and His Cabinet. Subscribe to their newly launched E-Zine at www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/mmagazine/index.html A good source for your next trip to Japan or just to reminisce is Yokoso! Japan: www.japanwelcomesyou.com Plan a visit the 2005 World Expo in Aichi at www.expo2005.or.jp/en/index.html

The Yahoo! group is designed for candidates departing from Vancouver to share information and advice directly related to the pre-departure process for the 2004-2005 JET Programme. JETAABC members are welcome to join this group to help answer participant questions and alleviate concerns they have before departing. Visit groups.yahoo.com/group/jetbc/ for more information and to subscribe to this group.

The JETAAi Conference in New York

Matt Fedoruk, Treasurer Greetings fellow JETAABC members! I was fortunate enough to attend the JETAA International Conference in New York from February 26th to 29th as the JETAABC Chapter Representative.

The conference is a forum for all JET Alumni Chapters around the world to gather and discuss issues pertaining to JETAA and the JET Programme.

This year, one of the main discussion topics was the future of JETAAi, since various Japanese governmental organizations are suffering severe budgetary restraints. There will definitely be more focus on local, regional, and national levels in the future, and in my opinion, this is a great thing. In reality, we benefit a lot more from sharing ideas and discussing challenges with other chapters within Canada. What JET Alumni chapters are doing in A ustralia, the UK, and the US is interesting, but not of much benefit to us. They’re really not doing anything any more exciting than we are. Actually, it’s funny because Canada is definitely a leader when it comes to cool ideas and events. Everyone is stealing our ideas!

Brenda MacDonald of NAJETAA (Northern Alberta) was elected JETAAi Chair, therefore we have lots of pull as a country in JETAAi. I also had a chance to meet and discuss many issues/ideas with the other Canadian Chapter Representatives (Southern Alberta, Winnipeg, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa).

For anyone with a greater interest in the details of the conference, please feel free to contact me. Everyone is looking forward to putting together a great Canadian Conference in Ottawa in May.

4

It’s April, JET applicants are being notified that they’re headed to Japan (or not), and that means it’s time for JETAABC to start thinking about the...

2004 JET Preparation Seminar!

Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, 2004 (Yes, that’s right: we’re expanding the event to two days.)

The JET Preparation Seminar is the single biggest event that JETAABC presents each year. As such, there is no annual event that requires more volunteers.

The earlier you decide to pitch in and help, the wider the selection of tasks you can choose from.

If you’re keen on being a speaker on a particular topic, now’s the time to speak up! Similarly, if you could do an awesome job of convincing other people to be a speaker, sign up now to offer your services as a speaker coordinator.

These topics that have been covered in past years.....

Culture Shock Travel Within Japan Female JETs Travel Outside Japan Married JETs Japanese Education Asian JETs System Rural JETs The First Month CIR Seminar

BUT By no means should you feel restricted to this list.

If you have ideas for topics, let us know! Other JETAA chapters have covered topics like J-Pop and Dorama, so it doesn’t have to be a “serious” topic. Anything that may help a new JET get the most out of his or her year(s) on JET is fair game and we welcome ideas from all JETAABC members.

Give those eager new JETs the benefit of your hard-won wisdom. E-mail Greg Joughin, Prep Seminar Coordinator at: prepseminar@bc.jetaa.ca to volunteer. For updates, visit the Prep Seminar discussion on the new JETAABC forum at www.bc.jetaa.ca/bb.

Sign up now!

News From Vancouver Island

Shaun Sephton, Vancouver Island Rep Greetings from the Vancouver Island mini-chapter of JETAABC! My name is Shaun and I am the VI Rep. Our goal here is simple: to host and participate in a variety of Japan-related activities on Vancouver Island. It is not easy for Islanders to participate in events on the Mainland, so we do our best to keep the spirit alive. So far, we’ve attended and led JET Programme information sessions, and participated in local international events.

Other ideas that have been bandied about are: weekly language classes, monthly rotating potlucks, cooking classes, active living - hiking, camping, skiing, etc, joining a local sports league,

and creating a resume book with strategies to let employers know what ex-JETs have to offer. There is almost nothing we can’t do as long as we have people interested in getting together.

Our next mixer will be on Sunday, April 25th at 12:00 at South Bay restaurant, located on the Gorge at the very end of Finlayson. Please RSVP by Friday, April 23rd.

I hope to see you there!

Feel free to email me anytime with your thoughts and ideas at sllsephton@hotmail.com. I look forward to meeting all of you at some point.

5

The Japanophile: Food, Movies and Books You Don’t Want to Miss 6

Lost In Translation

Jennifer Tomomitsu

Lost in Translation has been on rental shelves for a few weeks now, and although I loved it, I must admit that it took a second viewing to demand appreciation. Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards, Lost in Translation is a film surrounded by praise and controversy. Director/writer Sofia Coppola delivers a romantic story about two unlikely people finding each other during a time of loneliness and uncertainty. Set against the backdrop of Tokyo, Lost in Translation is essentially a love story of sorts, and its comedic aspects of cultural misunderstanding should resonate well with those who have lived in Japan and understand its character.

The current controversy surrounding Coppola’s ‘racist’ depiction of Japan and its people is not one I personally took offense to. There are obvious plays on well-known stereotypes, Focus Features 2003 but overall I found the film to be fair in its portrayal. With a set that is just as dreamlike as it Directed by Sofia Coppola Starring Bill Murray and Scarlett is confusing, it is clear that Lost in Translation presents a sense of realism and intimacy.

Johansson The plot revolves around two Americans staying in Tokyo. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an www.lost-in-translation.com actor shooting whiskey commercials for Suntory, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is just ‘hanging out’ while her not-so-available photographer husband goes out to photo sessions. Charlotte and Bob meet in the hotel lounge due to insomnia, and spend several nights together exploring the wilds of Tokyo. Bill Murray’s physical comedy and dry sarcastic wit lend great moments of hilarity, while Scarlett Johansson’s sad presence gives us a sense of the isolation one can feel while living in a foreign country.

I recommend this movie to anyone (especially JET alumni!) who wants to take a nostalgic voyage back to Japan. Politics aside, I think this film has great entertainment value in terms of its sentiment and comedic elements. However, for those who don’t understand Japanese or haven’t set foot in Japan before, be warned, as you may just find yourself ‘lost in translation’.

Optic Nerve #9 by Adrian Tomine

Christine Rowlands

Ever since I picked up Optic Nerve #7: Summer Blonde way back in 2001, I’ve been hooked on Optic Nerve and Adrian Tomine. The Japanese-American comic artist gives us a window into the painfully recognizable lives of teenagers and young adults in society today. Each issue presents completely new stories and characters. Widely reviewed by media such as Rolling Stone and The New York Times Book Review, Optic Nerve is fast establishing Adrian Tomine as one of the top names in graphic novels.

Optic Nerve #9 has finally been released three years after the last issue came out.

(Since Tomine has said this is to be the beginning of a three-part miniseries, hopefully #10 will appear a lot quicker.) Drawn in an intimate, almost cinematic style, this issue introduces Miko and Ben, a Japanese-American couple whose relationship seems to be on its last legs. Ben is in denial to himself about his crush on a new employee at the movie theatre he manages. Miko, an aspiring filmmaker, is outgrowing him. The dialogue, telling silences and see-1-get-10 storytelling techniques build dramatic tension in each panel of the story.

ISBN 1-894937-64-3 Although not as compelling so far as his previous work (Hawaiian Getaway (#6) www.drawnandquarterly.com and Summer Blonde (#7) are personal favourites), I am looking forward to next installments of this miniseries. Optic Nerve issues #1 through #8 are still available for order in comic book form. The crazy reader letters in each issue make them worth ordering individually, but the complete series is also available in two book collections. Sleepwalk contains the first four issues and Summer Blonde gives you #5 to #8.

If you like authors such as Banana Yoshimoto, Yasunari Kawabata, or Junichiro Tanizaki, you will certainly appreciate Adrian Tomine’s ability to delve into the psyches of his characters in just a few strokes and expose the undercurrents of even the most ordinary circumstances.

JETAABC Food Night

Greg Joughin

On Friday, April 2, JETAABC held its first official Food Night– not that anyone really noticed. The three in attendance were yours truly, my wife, Akiko and JETAABC President Angie Freedman (who was late, I might add). There was more interest than just the three of us, but sadly, people’s schedules seemed not to be amenable. Ah, well – I’ll try to give more notice next time.

Anyway, our intrepid little party trekked over to Clubhouse Restaurant at 255 West 2nd in Vancouver. While we waited for Angie, we checked out the decor and the menu.

The decor is vaguely west-side eclectic casual, and features murals of golf-themed scenes. Hence the name “Clubhouse”.

We sat near the front, but the restaurant extends back pretty far to an mezzanine area. There’s also a patio, presumably for smokers, since 2nd Avenue isn’t the most picturesque nor pedestrian-friendly of streets.

The menu is large and varied. As a Japanese restaurant located in Vancouver, Clubhouse must serve sushi. (I think it might even be required to get a business license). They’ve got salads, fried gyoza, and a bunch of other stuff. (“Bunch of other stuff” - how’s that for a professional-sounding restaurant review?) Clubhouse also serves various cocktails – including chu-hai – of which none of us partook. All of which is secondary to the fact that Clubhouse features okonomiyaki.

You cannot be a JET alumnus without knowing w h a t okonomiyaki is You’d never know it from Japanese restaurants in sushi-crazy Vancouver, but the dish is popular Japan-wide. Each region makes it differently, but the two most famous styles are from Osaka and Hiroshima. I always forget the distinctions between these regional styles, but that’s probably because I really don’t care. I eat it all, and like all I eat – sort of an okonomiyaki gourmand, if you will. Clubhouse offers a number of flavours – chicken, pork, prawn, ika, mixed seafood, and mochi are all available.

Being a traditionalist, I ordered the buta-tama (pork).

Akiko tried the mochi. Preparation time is longer than for

Chotto!

The Clubhouse Restaurant 255 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver (604) 879-8998

most items on the menu, but who cares? It’s okonomiyaki, so it’s worth the wait.

The prices vary by flavour from $11.25 to $11.75. That might seem steep, but the portions are huge and come with yakisoba. I ate about half of my meal, and Akiko got through about a third of hers. Happily, Clubhouse will wrap up leftovers for you - mmm... lunch.

Last time I went to Clubhouse, I wasn’t that impressed with their okonomiyaki. It seemed to be chock-full of notquite-okonomiyaki extras, like weird vegetables. Don’t get me wrong: not-that-great okonomiyaki still beats excellent ika-yaki any old day. I was still ready to make the trip from Burnaby, even if nothing had changed. But it has! This time, it was much, much closer to real Japanese style. With two exceptions: no dancing fish flakes and no drizzled-on grid of Kewpie mayo. But it was delicious nonetheless. Even reheated the next day, it was tasty. I’m a man of simple tastes, and enjoyed it immensely. Akiko is more sophisticated than I Japanese food-wise, and she enjoyed it. So it must be decent.

The next Food Night could be held as soon as early- to mid-May, so watch for a post on the new JETAABC forum (www.bc.jetaa.ca/bb) or on the Yahoo! group. Maybe we can increase our attendance by 33% or more!

Calling All Paddlers Jane Leung, Volunteer Coordinator I’d like to introduce all JETAABC members to the inaugural JETAABC dragon boat team. We are taking a big run at the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver on June 19th and 20th. Well, okay, we are going to have big laughs, lots of fun, and plenty of opportunities to socialize. It’s a great chance to get together, share our JET experiences, and promote the benefits of the programme to the community. Being a novice team, you don’t worry about what shape you’re in, or what experience you have. Just come out!

Practices will be Saturday mornings out by the Plaza of Nations. Our first practice will be on April 17th.

If you can come out please let me know. If you can’t make the Vancouver races, there are other races during the summer we hope to participate in. If you are interested in paddling, please feel free to contact me at volunteer@bc.jetaa.ca for details. Looking forward to hearing from you!

We want your articles, reviews, and story ideas for the JETAABC newsletter Drop us a line at newsletter@bc.jetaa.ca Next Issue Deadline is July 5, 2004

7

April

What Where When JETAABC OHANAMI WITH MOKUYOKAI Join us for this fantastic event! $5/person.

Saturday, April 24th, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Nitobe Japanese Gardens, UBC Asian Centre Contact: Nina Inaoka: cultural@bc.jetaa.ca or Shelley Hayashi: hayashi@davis.ca

May

UBC ASIAN LIBRARY OPEN HOUSE Exhibitions and performances by Asian artists and musicians, including Alcvin Ramos playing the Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) Saturday, April 24, 11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m UBC Asian Centre.

JAPANESE CULTURAL NIGHT Explore Japanese culture through discussions and demonstrations of culture, cooking and arts/crafts.

Thursday, May 6, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Richmond Public Library, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond Info: (604) 231-6422 JAPANESE COOKING Join Chef Ron Suzuki to learn how to make your favourite Japanese dishes. Pre-registration required.

Thursday, May 13, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Renfrew Park Community Centre, Vancouver Info: (604) 257-8387 POWELL STREET FESTIVAL WORKSHOP Block printing. $20/person. Rubber block provided. Bring your own tools or order in advance for $10.

Saturday, May 15, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Tonari Gumi 511 East Broadway, Vancouver Info: (604)683-8240

“SOBALICIOUS!” SOBA-MAKING WORKSHOP

June

Make soba from scratch! Tempura will also be served.

Members/$10; Guests/$12 Saturday, May 22 Nikkei Heritage Centre, 6688 Southoaks Cres., Burnaby Mail deposit to: JETAABC, Bentall Centre, PO Box 48121, Vancouver, BC V7X 1N8 Contact Nina Inaoka to RSVP: cultural@bc.jetaa.ca

Steve Chevalier, Angie Freedman, Matt Fedoruk, Nina Inaoka, Jane Leung, Greg Joughin, and Shaun Sephton

The Editor Speaks!

Well thank god you have read this far. I wasn’t sure if we would make it, but thanks to our sempai Damien, my coeditor Jennifer and I broke through the walls of text, killed all your darlings, and hopefully created something to entertain and inform. By the time you read this, we’ll be planning how to do it all over again. Once my mouse hand heals up, that is.

This newsletter is but a small part of the ways JETAABC keeps its members informed. With the technolo-gee of the website and daily geyser of informative emails off the Yahoo! list taking care of late-breaking announcements, the newsletter can focus on the news from the BoD and articles. In the upcoming year, we want to help members keep a bit of Japan in their lives, and mix it up a bit. We also hope to reach out to our members across BC and feature regional updates from the Island, the Okanagan, and Northern BC. This is first newsletter I’ve put together – ever – but the detail monster loved coming out to play. If you see a typo, don’t worry, I already saw it flashing in neon. Please continue to send in your articles and dream of the day this franchise will be yours.

When you see your words in print, remember one thing: we edit because we love.

Christine

Want to be in on the latest JETAABC happenings?

Sign up for the JETAABC e-tree!

COQUITLAM ANIME FILM FESTIVAL Showcasing favourite Japanese anime films in a variety of styles Saturday, May 29, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Poirier Library, 575 Poirier Street, Coquitlam Info: (604) 937-4140

As a member of the JETAABC Yahoo! group, you can receive JET and Japan news in your e-mail inbox. Any member can also post news and information to everyone on the list.

Looking for a job, a roommate or something fun to do? Follow this link and get connected:

JET PREPARATION SEMINAR

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaabclist/join

Volunteer and help new JETs prepare for Japan!

Saturday June 12 and Sunday June 13 Contact: Greg Joughin prepseminar@bc.jetaa.ca

ALCAN DRAGON BOAT RACE

8

Rock On Contributors

Join other JETAABC members for this world-famous race!

Saturday, June 19 and Sunday June 20 Contact Jane Leung: volunteer@bc.jetaa.ca

JETAABC

For more information, contact webmaster@bc.jetaa.ca.

Mail Bentall Centre PO BOX 48121 Vancouver, BC V7X 1N8

Web www.bc.jetaa.ca

E-mail info.bc@jetaa.ca