Winter 2009 Volume 13 Issue 3

Volume 13, Issue 3 Winter 2009 Season’s Greetings From JETAABC Dear Readers, 2008 is finally coming to a close. As we look back, we can safely say that this was truly a historic year. A global oil crisis, the creation of a new country, memorable (though politically charged) olympic games, an economic downturn, a historic win in the American presidential elections, a parliament divided... these were but some of the many events far and wide that shaped our world in ‘08. I am also certain many of you out there have your own personal memories to add to this list as a new year comes knocking at our door.

As for me this year, I came to a particular realization that I wish to share here. Having spent time from one end of the country to the other, I noticed a common thread amongst the JETAA crews. They all had a lot to give. Behind all these events, seminars and the get-togethers there was a dedicated group of people who devoted time and effort to bring us all together in some shape or form. To all these volunteers I would personally like to wish them the best in 2009, wherever they may be.

From my desk here in snow covered Montreal, I can finally take a pause from the chill of the city to thank you, our readers. Yes, you! If you are receiving this newsletter then I am assuming you were once part of this great adventure that was the JET programme. An experience like none other that leaves each and everyone one of us markedly different in more ways than one. Whether you joined us this year in one of our numerous events, or simply took the time to read these columns and stay in touch, JETAABC would like to wish you a warm season’s greetings.

皆様、良いお年を

Table of contents on page 2

In this Issue: Call for Candidates for JETAA Canada Representative............2 Death Note Movie Review..............................................................3 Death Note Movies, Another Take................................................4 Taiko Workshop with Katari Taiko..............................................5 Upcoming Events............................................................................6 Around the Web..............................................................................7

Want to know more? Visit us online at:

www.jetaabc.ca

Call for Candidates for JETAA Canada Representative All JET Alumni Assocation members in Canada are invited to run for the position of Canada Country Representative. If you’re interested in running, please submit a platform to before February 15, 2009 to president@jetaabc.ca.

Election schedule: * December 15 - Request for platforms for Canada Rep. * February 15 - Platforms for Canada Rep due. * February 20 - Canada Rep election platforms collected and sent to chapters. * March 20 - Voting for Canada Rep opens. * March 26 - Voting for Canada Rep closes. * April 5 - Returning officer publishes results of Canada Rep election.

The country representative’s responsibilities are to: * Communicate and disseminate JETAA-International information to all chapters in Canada * Collect and compile chapter reports when requested by CLAIR and JETAA-International * Support host chapter in organization of annual national conference (helping to put together conference handbook, speakers, agendas, etc,) * Represent Canadian JETAA chapters at an international level and vote on behalf of them when

necessary * Create and submit chapter representative budget to CLAIR with approval and input from all Canadian chapters * Update JETAA Canada Wiki and calendar of dates * Liaise with Japanese government organizations when necessary Other qualifications: * Must currently be a member of a JETAA Chapter in Canada. * Executive experience is not necessary, but is an asset. * Must be living in Canada at time of election.

The successful candidate will submit a platform that states the following: * Experience with JETAA * Vision for future of JETAA chapters in Canada * Action plan for year ahead and ideas to strengthen JETAA Canada

A Noteworthy Story – An “Insider’s” Take on be able be able to enjoy the brand new twists and turns that keep them guessing. the Death Note Movie

By Michelle Clough Two years ago, I walked into an Ikebukuro movie theatre, eager to watch the newly released Death Note movie and finally see what the buzz was all about. I never imagined that it would set me on a path to living my dream as an anime scriptwriter… nor did I imagine that I would ultimately end up working on the Death Note anime series! And now things have come full circle… watching the original movie again, only now with the eyes of someone who has helped write this same story.

In the end, though, what struck me most about this movie in comparison the series I worked on was the subtle human element. The manga and anime tended to sideline thorny moral questions or emotional character development in favor of a “clean” detective thriller plot between two devious geniuses. In contrast, the movie makes a point both to make its protagonists more human (Light is less of a megalomaniac here) and to openly question the morality of both sides (when people aren’t doubting the justice of Light’s crusade, they’re calling L out for his amoral investigation methods).

In technical terms, there’s very little to complain about in this movie. It’s well paced and exciting. The original Death Note centers on Light Yagami, a brilliant but Japanese actors do a very good job of emulating the jaded youth who finds a mysterious notebook; if you original manga character while bringing their own write someone’s name in it, they die. Light begins using unique flavor (Iron Chef fans may recognize Light’s it to eliminate criminals, hoping to purge evil from father!) The dub actors are excellent, but then, I’m the world. The resulting rash of criminal deaths soon rather biased as most of them reprise their roles from attracts the attention of an eccentric detective known the animated series! As such, they slip into character as “L”, who will stop at nothing to find and punish the effortlessly and deliver excellent performances. one responsible.

As an adaptation of the original manga, the Death Note movie is well executed and packs huge sections of plot into a short period. The story covers ten episodes worth of anime in about two hours, yet doesn’t feel rushed or incomprehensible. It also abandons the source manga at times in favor of completely original material.

Normally, this would anger purists, but the changes work extremely well and, in some cases, feel more natural than the original. New viewers can appreciate the more dynamic and exciting pace while old fans will

In short, I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and exciting detective story… but especially to those that are already fans of the franchise. Even after spending a year eating, sleeping and breathing Death Note, I’m still as blown away now as I was two years ago in that Ikebukuro theatre.

Michelle Clough is a freelance writer working for Ocean Studios, an anime dubbing company. Her adaptations include My Otome, The Story of Saiunkoku, and Death Note.

Death Note Movies: Another Take

By Jason Catterson Death Note and its sequel Death Note: The Last Name are live-action movies based on the popular manga series by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata. Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, both films were released in 2006 in Japan, and were recently screened as one-night-only special events at Canadian theatres nationwide. The plot revolves around Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara of Battle Royale), a young, extremely intelligent law student who is the son of Tokyo police officer Shoichiro Yagami (Takeshi Kaga, of Iron Chef fame). In the first film, Light Yagami stumbles upon a black notebook known as a “death note” that has been dropped by a shinigami, or death god, named Ryuk.

According to the Death Note fable, shinigami carry death notes which allow them to carry out their work.

According to a series of explicit instructions (conveniently listed in English inside the death note), whoever is in possession of a death note can cause someone to die by merely writing their name inside it. Light, who has grown to detest the rampant crime and corruption that has hit Tokyo, decides to take it upon himself to become “the God of the New World” and passes judgement on those deemed unworthy of society by listing known criminals inside the death note. The unexplainable deaths of known criminals worldwide results in the public to refer to this “saviour” as “Kira” (obviously a Japanese play-on-words for killer). Kira’s cult-like status along with the increased number of dead criminals (and the subsequent decline in crime) quickly gets the attention of the International Police Organization, as well as a mysterious detective simply known as “L” (brilliantly played by Kenichi Matsuyama). L’s interest in revealing the identity of Kira sets up the basis for a suspenseful, yet rather amusing and intelligently complex cat-and-mouse game between Light Yagami and L. Things get further complicated when Light Yagami’s father, Shoichiro Yagami, and his police task force enlists L’s brilliant powers of deduction to try to outwit Kira and expose his identity, with the film building into a climactic showdown between the two main characters.

In the second film, Death Note: The Last Name, things are further complicated with the introduction of a new death note, which is discovered by spunky, yet ditsy TV pop icon Misa Amane (Erika Toda). Her infatuation

with Kira quickly leads Misa to assume her role as the second Kira. To the public, the second Kira appears more vengeful and terrifying, since it seems that this new Kira can kill people just by seeing them; this is due to Misa striking a deal with her shinigami Rem to give her the power of “shinigami eyes”, which allow her to know the identity of anyone she gazes upon (at the cost of half her lifespan). However, L’s detective work threatens to expose Misa as the second Kira since she does not possess the wit to outsmart L. As such, she teams up with Light Yagami; if all goes according to plan, her shinigami eyes will allow her to see L’s true identity, thus allowing Light to exterminate L using the Death Note. Things get even more convoluted when Light tries to avoid exposure while appearing to work closely with L in his quest for both the first and second Kira, even though L holds firm to his suspicions about Light being the first Kira.

Both Death Note films were presented with English voice-overs, using the same actors that provide the English dub for the Death Note anime series. The English voice-overs might welcome an air of familiarity for those who are used to watching the anime series in North America, but I would have rather enjoyed

listening to the story with the original Japanese actors’ voices and subtitles (the DVD editions fortunately include both English and Japanese audio tracks).

Another minor criticism is that the special effects for the movie, in particular the way both shinigami are animated, look rather cheap for a high budget project such as the Death Note series.

Overall, the concept behind the Death Note films is quite refreshing and captivating, with the multidimensional storyline serving as an echo of social commentary. The creators explore the debate about whether or not conviction is justification for execution, with L squarely in favour of the current legal system, whereas Light being at the opposite end of the spectrum in support of capital punishment. But in comparing the two films, Death Note fares much better than its sequel. The manner at which the first movie exposes its characters and the way Light and L’s rivalry is utilized as the central mechanism to drive the story ingeniously works to invoke sheer suspense and excitement. In

Taiko Workshop with Katari Taiko Come be Inspired!

Death Note: The Last Name, the story rapidly becomes muddled with the introduction of many rushed and unresolved plotlines, which include a second death note, a second shinigami, the story behind Misa’s actions, the introduction of a second and third Kira, and a long drawn-out final confrontation that seems entirely ridiculous and out of place. In fact, the story becomes so convoluted in its attempt to tie up so many plotlines that the suspense is entirely lost. Instead of highlighting the debate about what constitutes justice, and the rivalry between Light and L, the shaky storyline of the second movie just makes you question what the entire point of the second movie was. If the second movie was split into two, that could have allowed the creators to flesh out the details more. However, that is not the case, and Death Note: The Last Name feels painfully overbloated.

Although Death Note is the superior film to its sequel, fans of the manga/anime series should give these two films a view, and the performances by the lead actors are definitely worth watching.

and having a good workout but it is not intense.

Katari Taiko also gives regular open workshops in Vancouver As the first taiko group to form in Canada, Katari Taiko has inspired many communities to explore the Japanese-Canadian and other Asian cultures. Here’s a little glimpse of some taiko action from the past workshop…

Here are the details on how you can sign up for the workshop.

Back by popular demand, we will once again be offering a taiko workshop next February.

If you have tried, always wanted to try or just want a good workout and play with big drums, come join us for a 3 hour session on February 1, 2009! Through Taiko, you will be touching on the following elements: discipline, physical strength, grace, non-sexism and musical creativity. Do not worry if you currently score low on physical strength. You will be sweating

When: February 1, 2009 Where:1254 Frances Street. Vancouver Cost: $30 per person RSVP & questions to Anita Lien at social@jetaabc.ca.

Please RSVP by January 25, 2009 Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events Calendar JETAABC 2009 Annual General Meeting JETAABC is pleased to invite all JETAABC members and their guests to the Annual General Meeting and Shinnenkai 2009.

When: Friday, January 23rd, 2009, 6 pm - 9 pm Where: YWCA Hotel, 733 Beatty Street, Vancouver (near B.C. Stadium) Directions: http://www.ywcahotel.com/explore/directions.html Your RSVP is kindly requested by Friday, January 16th, 2009 at agm@jetaabc.ca JETAABC’s AGM is when a new Board of Directors is elected to a one-year term. All JETAABC members are invited to attend the AGM, to vote and to run for the Board positions. Check our website www.jetaabc.ca for more info!

Mokuyokai Pub Night - Donwakai Social * JET Alumni warmly welcomed! $4 for non-members * Transit-friendly location! Steamworks Pub in Gastown * 375 Water Street, Vancouver, BC * Visit http://www.mokuyokai.bc.ca/e_moku/e_donwa.html for more info, including membership info.

[FYI: Mokuyokai yearly membership $20 for JETs (first year) and $40 for individuals ($35 for families). This yearly membership will get you free into the pub nights (with snacks to go around) and discounted rates at all other Mokuyokai events throughout the year!]

Volunteering in the Community Powell Street Festival! * http://www.powellstreetfestival.com/get_involved/volunteer.html * Volunteers needed for annual community festival Tonari Gumi * http://www.jcva.bc.ca/english/volunteer/position.htm * Seniors lunch programs, transportation, language, and special events * 511 East Broadway, Vancouver 604-687-2172

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Around the Web World’s First Hello Kitty Hospital Opens in Taiwan.... via Japundit.com

appears suddenly and is likely to fade away almost as quickly. One word that was on people’s lips in 2008 was arofo, an abbreviation of “around forty” made popular by a television drama by the same name, and the word has come to symbolize the current generation of Japanese women in their forties.

This has also been a good year for Japanese comedian Harumi Edo, who makes use of the fact that words in Japanese end in full syllables, e.g. ra-nin-gu instead of “running,” and her popular comic routine that turns the final gu! sound into the English good! has won her a place on the list.

Some words that were nominated for the award but not chosen include homuresu chugakusei (homeless Junior High School student) based on a book released by a media “talent” who spent some months living in a park Boring white hospitals are so last year… at least, that’s as a boy, dokuiri gyoza (poison Chinese dumplings) according to the man who’s just opened a Hello Kittydue to the Chinese food scare, and asa banana (morning themed maternity hospital in Taiwan. banana), reflecting the sudden popularity of a diet that promoted eating a banana for breakfast, which resulted The 30-bed hospital in Yuanlin features Hello Kitty in bananas being completely sold out and impossible to blankets, cot linen and room décor, and the nurses wear buy in supermarkets throughout the country. pink uniforms with cat-themed aprons.The famous white mouthless cat is also printed on the birth certificate covers, and the lobby holds a Hello Kitty statue in a doctor’s uniform.

The man behind it all, Doctor Tsai Tsung-chi, spent around AU$455million making the hospital. He says he did it because his mother, wife and daughter all love Hello Kitty.

“I wish that everyone who comes here, mothers who suffer while giving birth and children who suffer from an illness, can get medical care while seeing these kitties and bring a smile to the faces, helping forget about discomfort, and recover faster,” he says.

JETWIT.COM Keeping up with JETAA Chapters Worldwide

The Most Popular Japanese Words of 2008 via J-List side blog by Peter in Japan on Steven Horowitz, a JET Alumni (Aichi-Ken, 199212/5/08 1994) from JETAA New York set up a new website to promote contact between chapters worldwide named

http://www.peterpayne.net/2008/12/most-pop- JETWIT.COM. As a newsletter editor himself for 7 years, Steven has offered yet another way to share exular-japanese-words-of-2008.html periences between chapters by posting some of each Every year dictionary publisher U-CAN announces the other’s newsletter articles online, as well as providing most popular buzzwords for the past year, slang which tons of interesting content from regular contributors.

Here’s a sample:

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Interpreter/Translator/Writer Stacy Smith (Kumamotoken, 2000-03). In her recent posts, she’s been watching the news in Japanese and sharing some of the interesting tidbits and trends along with her own observations.

While watching the Japanese news this morning, the story that headlined hit a bit close to home. It profiled a recent scandal regarding takenoko (bamboo shoots) that took place in Kumamoto City, where I served as CIR for three years.

ly from abroad. Now that the scandals are domestic in origin it will be interesting to see what measures are taken…

The trend for this year’s holidays in Japan is 巣篭もり (sugomori), or “staying close to home” (literally confining oneself to one’s nest). With the Japanese economy reacting to ours and doing just as “well,” many people are thinking of ringing in the new year not at a local shrine but in their own homes. Bonuses are expected to be 7.5% less than last year, and there are no signs of immediate improvement.

On the upside for department stores, sales of Christmas cake are up 25% compared to last year with people anticipating more at-home celebrations on Christmas Eve. The same goes for sales of osechi or the traditional New Year’s meal, which some dedicated cooks still make, though many resort to store-made.

This vegetable was being marked as “Made in Kumamoto,” when in fact supplies had come from China. Even worse, when representatives of the parent company came to visit the local supplier, Kumamoto Cannery, they made three employees pose A spirit of 神頼み (kamias farmers and had danomi) or “asking of the them take a comgods” is prevalent in Japan memorative photo during this season, and there in a bamboo grove. is even a lottery ticket with This picture was then this name that is selling like used on the packagwildfire. Being Japan, there ing with the caption are even special shrines you “Kumamoto Prefeccan go to in order to pray for ture Bamboo Grove winning numbers.

Farmers,” creating a wholesome image Another popular item of for a product that was these trying times is maneki different than what neko, or cat figurines that are was being advertised. supposed to usher in riches.

They claim that their bamboo shoots were selling so These lucky feline charms gain special attention during well that they had to resort to other sources as their own difficult economic periods. The official Manekineko production couldn’t keep pace.

Museum in Aichi Prefecture has seen its sales go up 25% compared to last year. A spokeswoman for the Food safety is a topic of immense concern in Japan, museum said there are many who claim to buy winning though in the beginning of the year the threat was large- lottery tickets right after leaving the premises.