Newsletter for The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Alumni Association, New York Chapter Vol. 15, Issue 3 SUMMER 2006 THE “WELCOME BACK” ISSUE What’s Inside?! NATSUKASHII IN NEW YORK 2 Letter from the Editor *Down Home Japan in NYC* 3 Comings & Goings by Steven Horowitz & Justin Tedaldi with lots of input from the JET Alum Community 4 JETAA Society Ever have a moment when you extensive a collection as need a good dose of Japan? some of the Japanese 5 What Are We Doing? places. JET alums discuss work Well, here's a guide to help you get your natsukashii on, broken For the wealthier and more 6 Bilingual Journalism down into categories to strike courageous, you can try Interview with Stacy Smith back against culture shock and seeking out one of the help you maintain (or at least “piano bars” tucked dis- 7Bai-bai New York! simulate) the Japan experience in cretely behind unassuming a way that brings it all back, even doors in Midtown East. by Alexei Esikoff if just for a moment. (They often have signs in Japanese saying “knock 3 7 Heeere’s Janak! DO YOU PLAY KARAOKE? times.”) These are hostess bars and generally by Clara Solomon Nothing brings back the fun (or painful) memories don't let in non-Japanese, but they skirt the like exercising your vocal chords with some lively legal issue by calling it a club and allowing 8 Softball Tournament Carpenters tunes or a nice heavy enka. While it’s entrance only to members. (Ed. note: Let us by Zack Ferguson hard to truly re-create the Japanese karaoke bar know if you get into one. We’d love to have a environment, the closest you’ll come are any of first-hand account for the next Newsletter is- the Japas locations (Japas 38 on E. 38th St., sue. ) 9 TV Reporter Chika Japas 55 on W. 55th St., Japas East Village on Yoshida Drops By St. Mark’s and a new one near E. 23rd) where LET’S AUTHENTIC EATING! you can sit at the bar and sing or get your own While most of the rest of the U.S. just has 9 JET Logo Contest karaoke box. Duet on E. 49th St. or Sing-Sing on “Japanese” restaurants (or worse, Benihanas), by Justin Tedaldi 2nd & 2nd have similar offerings and ambiences. New York City is blessed with some real au- thentic Japanese joints—including izakayas, th 13 Puffy AmiYumi Concert KaraokeOne7 (www.karaoke17.com) on 17 St. th th (“Natsukashii” continued on page 11) Review by Justin Tedaldi between 5 & 6 Aves has all those options plus a flat-rate group room for those seeking a more communal experience. Their website boasts RELIGION ISSUE APOLOGY 14 Japan Society Film Event over 80,000 songs and even shows the top- Review by Lyle Sylvander requested tunes. But the best song for your buck As Newsletter Editor, I would like to apologize is easily Bar Toto in Korea Town on 32nd St. for an insensitive remark made in the Spring 15 Top 12 List between Broadway & 5th Ave., especially if you’ve 2006 “Religion” Issue, brought to my attention got a big group. It's BYOB, so make sure to hit by Zandra Ellis, a JET from the Bronx cur- rently working in Nagasaki-ken. 15 Cartoon by Brian Hall the Korean grocery store across the street for tasty beverages if you need some social lubricant to help you nail that Morning Musume tune. They do have Japanese songs, though perhaps not as (“Letter” continued on page 10) The “WELCOME BACK” Issue What do JETs want to know about when they come home from Japan? Unfortunately, it’s been 12 years since this oyaji set foot back in Gaijin Land. But while I don’t have my own MySpace page, I think I have some idea of what might interest the young JET Set. You want to know how to find jobs, omoshiroi places to hang, tanoshii things to do, how to atsumaru with other people, how to recapture that natsukashii feeling when you need it and, let’s see... oh right, how to find jobs. Editor Steven Horowitz This issue aspires to be a nice starting block for folks just getting into town as well as [email protected] those of us contemplating other life issues. (Contrary to what you experienced in junior high, they say our 20s and mid-30s are the most stressful years of life as we grapple Assistant Editor with major life issues. Then again, the 80s and 90s don’t sound like a mochi bangin’ Justin Tedaldi matsuri either.) President My point is that JETAA-NY continues to grow and become an increasingly dynamic and Jennifer Olayon multi-dimensional community offering a little something for everyone. It is my hope that [email protected] this issue will enable you to feel connected with JETAA-NY and hopefully find ways to contribute as well. (Now where’d I put my Metamucil?) Vice President Katrina Barnas Steven Horowitz [email protected] Newsletter Editor Secretary Rob Tuck WHADDYA THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE? [email protected] Treasurer WHAT SHOULD BE IN A FUTURE ISSUE? Tony McCormac [email protected] Social Coordinator SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AT: Anyone? [email protected] [email protected] Philadelphia Representative Therese Stephen [email protected] Webmaster Scott Norman YOU EACH WANT [email protected] HOW MANY COPIES Database Coordinator Shannan Spisak OF THE [email protected] NEWSLETTER? Please check out e-mail SORRY MATT, ONLY from our Secretary and the website ONE PER www.jetaany.org for CUSTOMER. updated announcements To have a hardcopy mailed to you, just e-mail your snail-mail All material contained in this newsletter is the sole property of JETAA New York, Inc. address to: with the exception of graphics as noted [email protected] and may not be copied without permission. COMINGS & GOINGS YOKOSO HIRAI-SAN, FURUHATA-SAN & TUCK-SAN! JETAA-NY JETAA-NY is JETAA-NY is excited to have Rob Tuck welcomes pleased to work with (Miyagi-ken CIR, Shinji Hi- Noriko Furuhata, 2003-05) as its new rai, who originally from Secretary. He’s the began Kanagawa-ken, who one that sends you working as is the new JET Pro- those weekly e-mails Executive gram Coordinator (not to be confused Director of for the Consulate with the Quarterly the Japan General of Japan in Newsletter in your Local Gov- New York. hands.) Hailing origi- ernment Center (JETAA-NY’s parent organi- Furuhata-san, pic- nally from Durham zation) on June 21st. Hirai-san, pictured here tured with her (England, not North with Governor George Pataki, is the former daugher Emi, replaces Lisa Sakaeda who Carolina), he moved Vice Governor of Tottori-ken and is proud to left the Consulate in June. Furuhata-san to NYC from Cam- say that he has visited all 47 of Japan’s has lived in the U.S. for 16 years and has bridge (also England, as opposed to Mas- prefectures. His hobbies include travelling, worked at the consulate since 2003 when sachusetts) last year to pursue a Ph.D in swimming and skiing, but his newest goal is she began working on a media research Modern Japanese Literature at Columbia. to visit half of the states in the U.S. He project. Before the Consulate, she worked Rob is equally excited to be part of the expresses his heartfelt gratitude to the mem- for Nomura Securities International in team and says, “I’m looking forward to the bers of JETAA-NY who have greeted him downtown Manhattan. Furuhata-san is not great chance to meet alumni I haven't with "New York Hospitality" which has helped just fluent in English, but actually speaks it come across yet, hang out more with those relieve many of the concerns he had before better than most JET alums! I have, and to use my skills to benefit the coming here. JET Alumni community.” YOROSHIKU ONEGAI SHIMASU!!! 858-832-1378 Effectively serving the JET community for over 15 years! “We look forward to helping you find the positions you’ve been searching for!” Our clients need your skills!! Contact us for finance, imp/exp, research, media, fashion and more. Be sure to visit our homepage for a listing of open positions at WWW.BREMAR.COM New York Office San Diego Office 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 660 Tel: (858) 832-1378 New York, NY 10170 Fax: (858) 832-1379 Tel: (212 )661-0909 Fax: (212) 856-0989 the morn turned out to be the JETAA NEW YORK females in attendance kicking male oshiri in the Halftime SOCIETY PAGE Quiz, answering 4 out of 5 questions to win the prizes sup- by Yoku Shitteiru plied by JETAA NY’s newest buddy, the Japan National Tourism Organization Grab a strong can of Jive coffee and pay attention, JETAA Society fans, (JNTO), i.e., the bestowers of because takusan koto happened over the summer since we last chatted, The Plaque that featured and you need to know prominently in this column last all about it... Last June’s issue... Also in June, for the Newsletter stuff ‘n mail Pre-Departure Orientation a Clara , Donal (owner of Mr. Dennehey’s, & Jenn was a perfectly fine af- whole slew of committed JET fair, but took a fun twist alum volunteers came out of the woodwork to make a great event for the when Ryan “Lucky” rookie JETs and followed it up with a big gathering at Faces & Names Chan found $80 in a including a surprise soubetsu cake for Lisa Sakaeda..