CEPEX

JET Alumni and special guests joined Mrs. Abe and Mrs. Sasae

The First Lady of Japan took time out of her busy schedule on April 29 to meet with 18 alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program and the families of Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson in Washington, DC.

 Mrs. Abe, Mr. Tada, Mrs. Sasae

Mrs. Abe has been an important supporter of the JET Program and its focus on grassroots internationalization. In 2007 she joined her husband to greet American JET Program alumni at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC. Since 2013, Mrs. Abe has met with current and former JET participants in Tokyo, Canada, Ireland, and China.

Mr. Tada of Sojitz Research Institute made introductory remarks and facilitated the conversation with the assembled alumni of the JET Program. Everyone shared where they lived and how long they participated in the JET Program, with many of the placements located in inaka areas (countryside) of Japan. The alumni included think tank scholars, a Washington Post reporter, government employees, nonprofit organization leaders and employees in the private sector. After 27 years, the JET Program has produced over 60,000 alumni in 63 countries who have become the next generation of Japan hands and “influencers” in their communities. 

 Mrs. Abe with the families of Monty Dickson and Taylor Anderson

While the JET community suffered the loss of Monty Dickson and Taylor Anderson during the Great East Japan earthquake in March 2011, their families have become important members of the JET alumni community. During the discussion, Shelley Fredrickson encouraged greater ties by JET alumni to members in her home state of Alaska. Laurel Lukaszewski of the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation JETAA Initiative is striving to do just that, connecting the diverse alumni associations throughout the United States. Assembled participants discussed how to increase opportunities for the program participants post-JET, including initiatives to increase professional skills development or graduate school fellowships. No matter where the participants lived in Japan, the JET Program has had a profound impact on the alumni and helped shape future careers. 

 Special omiyage from Mrs. Abe

A thoughtful gift to each attendee included a handicraft from the Otsuchi Sashiko Project. The Otsuchi Sashiko Project began at an emergency evacuation shelter in Iwate Prefecture to create professional jobs for female tsunami victims. Sashiko, which means “little stabs”, is a traditional form of decorative embroidery in Japan. You can support this great project by visiting tomotsuna.jp. 

CEPEX along with USJI (U.S.-Japan Research Institute) hosted a special event on February 10, 2015. Sojitz Research Institute’s Masayuki Kobayashi gave a presentation to undergraduate and graduate students in the Washington, DC area about Japan, World and ‘Sogo Sosha’.

Mr. Kobayashi discussed Japan’s history, the impact of Abenomics and the role of the sogo shosha (Japanese trade and investment companies).

The students enjoyed sushi and refreshments provided by CEPEX and USJI, as well as stimulating conversation with the visiting scholar from Tokyo. Mr. Kobayashi has a special interest in Japanese history, and was the key force behind the creating of the Suzuki Shoten Museum (http://www.suzukishoten-museum.com/).

Great Falls Elementary School held a special tree planting ceremony in their Yujo no Niwa (Friendship Garden) on Thursday, April 30. Mrs. Akie Abe had requested the chance to plant a cherry blossom tree, called sakura, in the garden. Her husband, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, had attended the opening ceremony for the garden in 2010. Unfortunately the tree ceremony could not take place when Mrs. Abe and First Lady Michelle Obama visited the school on April 28 and Mrs. Abe requested Mr. Yukio Tada participate in the tree planting as her representative.

Current and former PTA members, Japanese teacher Mamiya Worland, Ken Kuribayashi and Yukio Tada

GFES Principal Lonnett spoke to the students about the tree planting and recognized the special guests in attendance. Mr. Lonnett acknowledged Mr. Tada’s long-time support for the Japanese Immersion Program at the school and  his efforts to further U.S.-Japan ties. Mr. Tada gave an uplifting speech about the significance of cherry blossom trees to Mrs. Abe. “Every April, when the Sakura bloom, people across Japan hold special parties to celebrate their beauty and friendship with others. They sit beneath the trees, and enjoy their time with their family and friends. Cherry trees are also a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States. One hundred years ago, Japan gave a gift of cherry trees to the United States, and they were planted around the Tidal Basin in Washington DC.” “Today, I am pleased to help you plant this Cherry Tree in honor of the continued friendship between Japan and the United States, especially as demonstrated by the visit this week by Mrs. Abe and Mrs. Obama. Yūjo No Niwa means “Friendship Garden”, and Sakura is indeed at Yujo No Ki, which means “Friendship Tree”.” He asked the students “when you look at this cherry tree – when it is in bloom or not – please think of the friendship between Japan and the United States, between your school and your sister school in Japan and this special week when Mrs. Abe and Mrs. Obama came to visit.”

The GFES JIP students enjoyed taking turns digging the hole for the cherry blossom tree.

Students posed by the Friendship Garden with photos created by the PTA to commemorate the special visit by the two First Ladies earlier in the week.

CEPEX Director Nicole Uehara and Japanese professor Sufumi So joined the tree planting ceremony.

The Friendship Garden and newly planted cherry tree will require continued care and support over the years. The families involved in the Japanese Immersion Program at Great Falls Elementary School are an integral element for providing the care for the garden and supporting the U.S.-Japan people-to-people relationship.

Arrival Ceremony 

Crowds of American and Japanese individuals arrived early in the morning on Tuesday, April 28, to pass the security gauntlet and find the perfect spot for the Arrival Ceremony of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and First Lady Akie Abe. While hundreds were invited, not everyone made it onto the South Lawn, with a number of hopeful attendees turned away at the gates after waiting an hour to 90 minutes in line. Welcoming visiting heads of Government with a military Arrival Ceremony held on the South Lawn of the White House has been a tradition since the Kennedy Administration.

The Golden Ticket

The Arrival Ceremony included a 19 Gun Salute; performances of the National Anthem of Japan and the National Anthem of the United States; Review of the Troops; and speeches by President Obama and Prime Minister Abe. Media coverage of the event includes video by C-SPAN.

 Members of the U.S. military were dressed in their uniforms. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the lucky attendees snapped photos of the White House and South Lawn on their cameras and phones.

The parade of American and Japanese flagbearers in front of the fountain, with the Washington Monument in the background, was a stirring visual as the State Visit commenced.

The First Ladies of the U.S. and Japan Visit Great Falls Elementary School

First Lady Michelle Obama and First Lady of Japan Akie Abe visited Great Falls Elementary School (GFES) on April 28, 2015. GFES is one of two public elementary schools with a Japanese Immersion Program (JIP) in Fairfax County, Virginia. Since 1989 students in Grades 1-6 have had the option to spend half of the day learning science, math and health in Japanese and the other half of the day learning subjects in English. The First Ladies’ visit included observation of a Japanese Immersion Program classroom and a school assembly with speeches, Taiko drumming and vocal performances.

Taiko drumming performance by GFES students

Mrs. Obama told the students that “building friendships between people is how we truly build friendships between entire countries.” She was also impressed with the “powerful” performance by the taiko drumming students.  

Singing songs in Japanese

While this was the first visit to the school by Mrs. Obama, Mrs. Abe and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have been long-time supporters of the Japanese immersion program. Mr. and Mrs. Abe were instrumental in establishing a sister school relationship between Great Falls Elementary School and the Kake Educational Institution in the Fukuyama area of Hiroshima. In 2010 the友情の庭 (Friendship Garden) was created at GFES with funding from a Japan Foundation grant, and then former Prime Minister Abe attended the ceremony. Unfortunately, Mrs. Abe was unable to attend the ceremony in 2010 and wanted to plant a cherry tree at the Friendship Garden during her time in Washington in 2015. The Abes have also welcomed students from GFES during their annual 6^th Grade trip to Japan to the Prime Minister’s residence.

CEPEX President Yukio Tada (right) and his wife, Hiroko, also attended the special visit to Great Falls Elementary School, along with Sojitz Washington, DC General Manager Ken Kuribayashi (pictured on the left). This school visit by Mrs. Abe and Mrs. Obama comes at an important time for public schools with language immersion programs as budgetary pressures and declining interest in Japanese places immersion programs such as GFES at risk. The continued support and friendship from high profile education advocates such as Mrs. Abe and Mrs. Obama is truly appreciated by supporters of the U.S.-Japan community.

Graduate School Scholarship Opportunity for JET Program Alumni

Graduate School:       Showa Women’s University; located in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo.

Eligibility:                   JET Program alumni (as of October 2015); men and women may apply

Japanese Ability:        Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1, or equivalent language  ability. If applicant has not passed JLPT N1, a separate entrance qualification examination is required; application due May 7-15, 2015.

JET Scholarship:       Qualified applicants can receive financial support for graduate school in exchange for work as an office and Teaching Assistant up to 28 hours per week. Scholarship covers enrollment fee, facilities and equipment fee, tuition, housing and training materials costs.

Awards Available:     (2) scholarships for JET Alumni are available for 2015.

Award Duration:       2 years for Master’s Programs; 3 years for PhD (Doctoral Programs)

How to Apply:            Applicants must submit all documents June 1-16, 2015 to the Showa Women’s University Admission Center. Applicants will be required to take the Graduate School of International Students Entrance Exam and have an in-person or Skype interview (duration of 15-20 minutes).

Required Documents:          

             Completed JET Scholarship Application form <Word>  or <PDF>

            Certificate of Eligibility application <PDF>

            Copy of Passport Photo Page <PDF>

            Curriculum Vitae Page 1 <PDF>

            Curriculum Vitae Page 2 <PDF>

            Graduation thesis summary <Word> or <PDF>

            Research Plan <Word> or <PDF>

            Graduate Studies Major <PDF>

            Financial Statement <PDF>

            University Transcripts

            Proof of Graduation

            Certificate of JET Program participation from contracting organization in Japan

            Recommendation Letter from office where applicant worked on JET          

            Copy of JLPT N1 certificate (or take separate qualification exam) 

Selection Criteria:      Evaluation of documents, essay and interview, which includes a presentation and question-answer session about candidate’s research plan. Interview may be conducted in person or via Skype. You will need to ensure good voice and video quality for Skype interviews.

Entrance Exam:         Applicants must take the Showa Women’s University Graduate School of International Students Entrance Exam on Friday, July 3, 2015. (Attention Date Correction)

Exam Schedule:         For Literature/Linguistics Majors: Arrive by 9:30 am; Essay 10:00-11:00 am; Oral Examination from 1:00 pm.

                                      For Life Sciences Majors: Arrive by 10:30 am; no essay; Oral Examination from 11:00 am.

                                     JET Special Scholarship applications will conduct an additional separate interview following the Oral Examination.

Exam Location:          Showa Women’s University, Taishido 1-7-57, Setagaya-ku

Announcement:         July 11, 2015 at 10 am at the announcement site, and acceptance letters will be mailed to successful candidates.

Enrollment:                Late enrollment to begin October 2015.

Questions/Contact:   Showa Women’s University Student Services Center Student Office; Tel: 03-3411-5118; Email: shougakukin@swu.ac.jp

For more information, please see:        

http://exam.swu.ac.jp/files/86cb1fd09628f203df95dc70c8256461.pdf 

http://exam.swu.ac.jp/graduate_school/gexam/g_istudent/#jet

Graduate School Scholarship Opportunity for JET Program Alumni

Graduate School:     Showa Women’s University; located in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo.

Eligibility:                  JET Program alumni (as of March 2015); men/women may apply.

Japanese Ability:     Must have passed Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1.

Scholarship:              Qualified applicants can receive financial support for graduate school in exchange for work as an office and Teaching Assistant up to 28 hours per week. Scholarship covers enrollment fee, facilities and equipment fee, tuition, housing and training materials costs.

Awards Available:    (2) scholarships for JET Alumni are available for 2015.

Award Duration:      2 years for Master’s Programs; 3 years for PhD (Doctoral Programs)

How to Apply:           Applicants must submit all documents January 6-January 27, 2015; and take Graduate School of International Students Entrance Exam.

Required Documents:              

Completed JET Scholarship Application form <Word>  or <PDF>

Certificate of Eligibility application <PDF>

Copy of Passport Photo Page <PDF>

Curriculum Vitae Page 1 <PDF>

Curriculum Vitae Page 2 <PDF>

Graduation thesis summary <Word> or <PDF>

Research Plan <Word> or <PDF>

Graduate Studies Major <PDF>

Financial Statement <PDF>

University transcripts

Proof of graduation

Certificate of JET participation from local contracting organization

Letter of Recommendation from office participant worked at during JET Program

Copy of JLPT N1 certificate

Selection Criteria:      Evaluation of documents, essay and oral examination, which includes an oral presentation and question-answer session about research plan.

Entrance Exam:         Applicants must take the Showa Women’s University Graduate School of International Students Entrance Exam on February 14, 2015.

Selection:                    Announcement of test results and selection February 21, 2015.

Enrollment:                February 27-March 5, 2015.

Semester Starts:       April 2, 2015.

Questions/Contact:   Showa Women’s University Student Services Center Student Office;   Tel: 03-3411-5118; Email: shougakukin@swu.ac.jp

For more information please see:        

http://exam.swu.ac.jp/files/86cb1fd09628f203df95dc70c8256461.pdf

http://exam.swu.ac.jp/graduate_school/gexam/g_istudent/#jet

The JET Program

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program began with 800 participants in 1987 with the lofty aim to increase grassroots internationalization. Young college graduates were selected to live and work in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) or Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The JET Program peaked in size in 2003 with 6,226 participants from 41 countries, and has decreased to around 4,400 participants.[1] A number of cities have stopped accepting JET Program ALTs and directly hire their own ALTs or use ALT dispatch companies such as Interac, BorderLink, and Altia Central.^[2] In 2014 there were 4,101 ALTs, 364 CIRs and 11 SEAs from the JET Program working in Japan. While there are representatives from 42 countries, over 54% are Americans. Combined with participants from United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, these five countries comprise over 87% of the JET Program.^[3] In addition to the JET Program, around 8,000 ALTs hired directly or through dispatch companies are working in Japanese schools.[4]

JET as a Public Diplomacy Tool

In the past 27 years over 60,000 people have lived and worked in Japan through the JET Program. While improvements in English ability in Japan have been mixed, the program has significant soft power attributes and helped cultivate a new generation of Japan hands. A 2011 study by Indiana University Associate Professor Emily Metzgar (Shimane 1993-1995) focused on how the JET Program is a “effective public diplomacy program yielding benefits to Japan well after alumni have moved on to new chapters in their lives.”  Former participants in the JET Program can be found in varying stages of their careers in academia, public service, nonprofits, and the corporate sector. Out of the estimated 20,000 American alumni of the JET Program, Metzgar’s study received 518 responses, 86% of whom were ALTs. Survey results clearly showed the impact of participation on the JET Program for the respondents. 85% strongly agreed that the JET Program gave them a deeper understanding of Japan, 77% strongly agreed that the experience on the JET Program had been valuable, 84% had a positive impression of Japan, 96% said their experience in Japan influenced the views of their family and friends of Japan, and 97% encouraged friends and family to visit Japan.[5]

The Future of the JET Program

In September 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced plans to increase the ranks of ALTs in Japan by 2,300 over five years. The government is targeting JET Program and privately hired ALTs to reach 20,000 by 2019.^[6] In 2014 over 12,000 ALTs are working in Japanese schools, including 4,101 from the JET Program and 8,000 hired directly by individual Board of Education offices or through dispatch companies. According to Harry Hill, CULCON (Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange) Chairman and JET Program CIR in Gifu 1987-1988, “JET is part of the solution to the diversity problem facing Japan.” “JET has been tremendously successful in developing Japan hands over the last 27 years, but Japan needs our expertise even more today.”[7]

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the JET Program alumni collectively and individually responded to support Japan. JETAA USA, the national alumni organization for the JET Program in the U.S., raised over $88,000 for the relief fund which supported  Hope for Tomorrow, E-Pa+ch, Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund, Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story, volunteerAKITA, and Rikuzentakata City. Other JET alumni volunteered in Tohoku with the cleanup efforts, or created new projects to continue assisting with rebuilding.[8] JET alum Wesley Julian (Miyagi 2008-2010) created a documentary film, Tohoku Tomo, which highlighted the “story of true friendship and commitment to Japan’s recovery by the international community following the Great East Japan Earthquake.”[9] Former JET Program USA Coordinator Ayako Smethurst and Shanti Shoji (Kagawa 2002-2004) created the nonprofit Kizuna Across Cultures (KAC) in June 2011, to inspire youth in Japan and the United States to become active global citizens by fostering international friendship through exchange of culture and collaborative learning of foreign language.[10] 

Keizai Doyukai Raising Awareness of JET

With the numbers of foreigners working in Japanese schools set to increase in the short to medium-term, Keizai Doyukai (Doyukai), the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, has begun to investigate ways to harness this growing talent pool. While some former JET Program ALTs continue to live and work in Japan after completing their contracts, the majority return to their home countries to pursue graduate degrees or other employment opportunities. Only a small number of companies in Japan have former JET Program participants working for them such as Latham and Watkins LLP, Sojitz Corporation, and Mitsubishi Corporation. A 2013 survey of Doyukai members revealed only 16 percent of the 207 responding Japanese companies knew about the JET Program and only ten companies had hired a former JET Program participant. Doyukai is working with the business community and other organizations to highlight the JET Program and alumni as a talented pool of foreigners with both an understanding of Japan and Japanese language ability. In May 2014 Doyukai organized a special roundtable in Tokyo with business leaders, JET Program participants and alumni and special guests including First Lady of Japan Akie Abe and Minister Hakubun Shimomura. In November 2014 Doyukai held another special event in Nagasaki with members of Nagasaki University, Doyukai members, and current and former JET Program participants in Nagasaki.

(Tokyo Event with First Lady Akie Abe)

  (Nagasaki Event)

Additionally, scholarship opportunities for JET Program alumni are being encouraged and promoted by Keizai Doyukai members. In 2015 Showa Women’s University, located in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, offered two (2) graduate school scholarships for JET Program alumni who have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level N1. Qualified applicants were eligible to receive financial support for graduate school in exchange for work as an office and Teaching Assistant up to 28 hours per week. The JET Scholarship would cover enrollment fee, facilities and equipment fee, tuition, housing and training materials costs.

CEPEX Support for JET

A key mission of CEPEX is to support the cultural and interpersonal exchange and study between the U.S. and Japan at the professional level. Throughout the years CEPEX has endeavored to assist Americans who return from Japan in maintaining and strengthening their ties to Japan. CEPEX has coordinated a number of events to connect members of the JET Program alumni association in Washington, DC with visiting Japanese professionals from Keizai Doyukai as well as a special dinner with then-former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2010. In 2006, CEPEX cooperated with Teikyo University Graduate School to provide an innovative teaching fellowship program available only for JET Program alumni. The fellowship provided full tuition and housing benefits, as well as an opportunity to conduct language teaching assistance or lecturer duties in Japan. Walter Tsushima (Ishikawa 2002-2005) became the first CEPEX fellow and graduated with a Master’s degree in Japanese Studies from Teikyo University in 2008. Mr. Tsushima is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Fukui University.

 (Walter Tsushima graduation 2008)