Fall 2009 JETAANY.org/magazine 1 Table of Contents Fall 2009, Vol. 18, Issue No. 4 3 Letters From the Editor, Treasurer 4 Nippon News Blotter / CJ’s Wedding 5 Comings & Goings / JETAA National Conference in Chicago 6 JETAANY Annual Softball Tournament 7 Working the Written Word By Alexei Esikoff 8 Nihonjin in New York – Featuring JETRO’s Maya Eiki-Law By Joe Marucheck 8 Actor Jun Kim Talks heavenly BENTO By Adren Hart 9 Americans on Fuji: Talking with Author Sara Backer By Veronika Ruff 10 International Visitor Leadership Program Interpreting By Stacy Smith 11 JQ&A with New York Anime Festival’s Peter Tatara By Justin Tedaldi 13 Anvil with Sacha Gervasi: The JQ Interview By Justin Tedaldi 14 What We Did This Summer - Photos 15 Theatre Review: A Recipe for heavenly BENTO By Adren Hart 16 Film Review: Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo By Lyle Sylvander 17 Book Corner: The China Lover By David Kowalsky 18 Ace Frehley: Back in the New York Groove By Justin Tedaldi 20 New York Anime Festival Photos 21 Film Review: The Cove By Elizabeth Wanic 21 Book Corner: Japanese Kitchen Knives / Food Carving By Yukari Sakamoto 23 Top 12 List / Life After the B.O.E. / Sponsors Index Special thanks to this issue’s proof- readers for sticking to the drafts like a 2D lover on a body pillow: Ann Chow Pamela Kavalam Nichole Knight Crystal Wong Aly Woolfrey 2 Fall 2009 JETAANY.org/magazine Letter From the Editor This is our last issue of JQ for the year, so I want to go forward by looking back. Five score and sixteen months ago, I penned an op-ed for my school paper entitled “The New Decade in Review,” which chronicled a year-to-year list of humorous happen- ings that the future supposedly had in store for us. While some of that stuff remains on hold (The Tonight Show Movie, etc.), on a personal level, life provided me with plenty more seminal opportunities, and entering the JET Programme rates high on that scale. If there’s a theme for this issue, it’s about chasing your dreams instead of just waiting for things to happen. I’d especially like to thank all the writers and contributors who believe in this magazine, and I’m looking forward to working with you when we return in Janu- ary. See you in 2010, and good luck in Tokyo, Aya! Justin Tedaldi (Kobe-shi CIR, 2001-02) [email protected] Letter From the Treasurer I’m sure all of the alumni fondly recall the fi rst sprigs of sakura announcing that Japan’s season of “new beginnings” has sprung—a rightly congruous association between nature and the nation’s overall feeling of renewal. However, as oxymoronic as it may be, I for one cherish autumn and all the ways we celebrate new starts, even as the world around us begins to fade and decay. As summer’s oppressive humidity falls away and we breathe in the crisp change in the air, I’m sure many of us begin to feel that surge of excitement for the possibilities that this season brings. For some, the excitement comes in the form of embarking on a new scholastic journey; for others, it could be in the anticipation of the many fall activities that sweep through during October and November. Apple picking, state fairs, weekend escapes into fall foliage, the start of the holiday season—each week brings so many opportunities to carry on traditions, as well as opportunities for new experiences and endeavors. I personally began a new endeavor last autumn when I applied and was accepted to begin training for JETAANY’s treasurer position. So far, this has been an invaluable experience—which has not only taught me a lot about the legalities of running a non-profi t, budgeting, doing grant proposals and the like—but has also increased my dexterity, both with recordkeeping and Excel (oh, dearest love of my left brain, Excel!). As I became more involved with JETAANY, I also began contributing my fi rst pieces to JQ–which, in my opinion, all of our members should consider using as an outlet for creativity, as a chance to develop published writing samples, or simply as a way to contribute to our chapter’s voice. As usual, JETAANY has a slew of events in the works for fall, and then well on through the end of our fi scal year in March. We welcome and encourage fresh ideas from our members for events and activities which will strengthen ties across our chapter as well as with the New York community. If you have any suggestions, please get in touch with one of the JETAANY offi cers, so that we can discuss how your idea can be carried out (and worked into our budget!). Once again this fall, JETAANY welcomes back our newest alumni members who have just begun the latest chapter of their lives, many of whom may be turning over a new career leaf. Knowing full well the challenges that many of our new members are facing in their career search, we are excited about the possibilities that can emerge during our upcoming annual Career Forum and Welcome Home Reception in October. Next spring (in a nod to our beloved Japan), JETAANY will bring back our highly successful and popular Meishi Exchange networking event. However, it is my hope that everyone in our chapter will fi nd his or her own exciting new start this autumn. Then perhaps when next spring rolls back around, there will be very little need for new beginnings. Kelly Nixon (Iwate-ken, 2003-06) [email protected] Cosplay singer Reni contributes to JQ. How about you? “Nothing comes between me and my hard copy of JQ!” Send your ideas to [email protected]. E-mail [email protected]. Fall 2009 JETAANY.org/magazine 3 Nippon News Blotter 8/17/09: Japan emerged from recession when 8/28/09: The new H1N1 swine fl u has reached its economy grew by 0.9% in the April-to-June epidemic levels in Japan, signaling the early quarter after four consecutive quarters of con- start to what may be a long infl uenza season this traction. Correspondents say the rise is due to year, and it is also worsening in tropical regions, a huge government stimulus package, and it is the World Health Organisation said. Every year, unclear whether the momentum will be sus- seasonal fl u infects between 5% and 20% of a tained upon conclusion. Recent fi gures show given population and kills between 250,000 other economies coming out of recession, in- and 500,000 people globally. (Reuters) cluding Germany, France and Hong Kong, a sign the global slowdown is easing. (BBC) 8/30/09: For only the second time in postwar history, Japanese voters cast out the long-gov- 8/18/09: Sony Corp. will delay the launch of erning Liberal Democratic Party in elections, 9/23/09: Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama its next-generation ultrathin television organic handing a landslide win to the Democratic Party sent a letter to International Olympic Commit- light emitting diode, or OLED, TV because mass of Japan. “This has been a revolutionary elec- tee members assuring them that government producing the new displays would exacerbate tion,” said Yukio Hatoyama, the party leader support for Tokyo’s bid to host the 2016 Olym- losses at its TV division, according to people fa- and presumptive new prime minister. “The pics “remains as strong as ever.” The city last miliar with the matter. (Wall Street Journal) people have shown the courage to take politics hosted the Olympics in 1964, and is competing into their own hands.” (New York Times) with Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. (AP) 8/26/09: Japanese and South Korean auto- makers registered the biggest market share 9/2/09: Miyuki Hatoyama, the wife of Japan’s 9/28/09: Japan’s transport minister said he gains in the U.S. government’s “cash for clunk- next prime minister, claimed to have had a close will not force the struggling Japan Airlines, ers” program that ended this week. Overseas encounter with another world in a book pub- Asia’s biggest airline, into bankruptcy. The air- manufacturers dominate in car sales, while U.S. lished last year entitled Very Strange Things line incurred its biggest-ever quarterly net loss companies have been stronger in the light truck I’ve Encountered, in which she wrote, “While of ¥99 billion ($1 billion) in the three months to segment. Cars outsold trucks 2-1 under the my body was asleep, I think my soul rode on June. JAL has sought public funds for survival. “clunker” initiative, with Toyota’s “clunkers” a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus.” Its request for taxpayer money came months market share leading at 19.4%. (Reuters) Her husband was once nicknamed “the alien” after it received ¥60 billion ($668 million) in for his prominent eyes. (Reuters) loans from the government-owned Develop- 8/27/09: Former Nova President Nozomu Sa- ment Bank of Japan in June. (AP) hashi was sentenced Wednesday to 3 1/2 years 9/11/09: The number of Japanese people aged in prison by the Osaka District Court for his role 100 or over now exceeds 40,000, the Health 10/8/09: Typhoon Melor, the fi rst storm to in skimming off employee funds in 2007, just Ministry said. The number of centenarians make landfall in Japan since 2007, damaged before the foreign language school giant’s bank- rose 11% from 2008, reaching 40,399, of whom buildings and roads, halted train service, and ruptcy that October.