Fun Link Friday: Hackathon at 762-year old Zen temple

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Paula

Ever thought that a 762-year old Zen temple would be the perfect place to pile all of your technology-savvy engineers and programmers for a two-day hackathon? Apparently Beck Kuchkorov, a nearly 20-year resident of Japan, did, as he’s organized for the second year the Zen Hack event at Kenchoji temple, near Kamakura. A part of a larger enterprise to expand IT and community projects, Quartz has described the fascinating combination of the Rinzai sect’s Zen traditions and producing quality programming work during this limited-time event. Check out a detailed explanation of the event’s origins and process as old meets new at the temple in the original article. Fascinating stuff!

Photo from Quartz.com.

Photo from Quartz.com.

Happy Friday!

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Internship Opportunity: Paid Digitization Project Internship, Densho

Posted on July 16, 2015 by LM

For those working with Japanese American history and digital archiving:

Location: Seattle, WA
Type: paid
Number of internships: 2-3
Deadline: August 12, 2015
Term: Sept. – Dec. 2015

Densho is a Seattle-based non-profit organization started in 1996, with the
initial goal of documenting oral histories from Japanese Americans who were
incarcerated during World War II. This evolved into a mission to educate,
preserve, collaborate and inspire action for equity. Densho uses digital
technology to preserve and make accessible primary source materials on the
World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. We present these materials
and related resources for their historic value and as a means of exploring
issues of democracy, intolerance, wartime hysteria, civil rights and the
responsibilities of citizenship in our increasingly global society.

Job Description

Densho is seeking 2 to 3 interns to support our Digitizing Photos for Japanese
American Oral Histories Project through the following activities:
corresponding with narrators and their families to identify and collect
materials, digitizing the materials (newspapers, photographs, documents,
etc.), editing and performing quality control on digital images, transcribing
documents, cataloging, data management in digital repository software, and
other duties as needed.

The internships run from September 2015 through December 2015 or January 2016
at $12 an hour, no benefits.

Current students or recent graduates from library and information science or
archival studies programs preferred. The ideal candidates are self-directed,
detail-oriented, and comfortable with technology. Knowledge of Japanese
American history is welcome but not required. The internships are funded by an
award from 4Culture.

Apply

To apply for the position, please send your resume and cover letter to
caitlin.oiye(at)densho.org by Wednesday, August 12, 2015. All applications will be held in confidence. All submissions and questions should be sent via email – no phone inquiries please.

Original posting on Densho’s blog.

Posted in announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Resource: Burke Collection Online Catalog

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Travis


Thanks to the Japan Art History Forum (JAHF) for publicizing the launch of a beautiful online catalog of the Mary Griggs Burke Collection. The Burke collection is one of the most prominent collections of Japanese art outside of Japan, and the website includes catalog information and hi-res images of over 1000 artworks.

I cannot recall if I have ever seen the Burke Collection on display in person, though it is very much a name I have come across time and again. The collection seems to include chiefly Japanese Buddhist paintings, ink landscapes, Genji scenes, birds & flowers paintings, and the like, as well as a handful of works of sculpture and pottery, a very few ukiyo-e paintings (I don’t see any prints), and a number of Chinese and Korean works.

Many of these works are widely cited, by scholars such as Murase, Tsuji Nobuo, Narazaki, Kobayashi Tadashi, and Matthew McKelway, and this website is really going to be a great resource for anyone looking to work on these objects – or just to look at them and enjoy. Many museums these days have fantastic collections websites as well, but many do not, so it’s great to see one more private collection opened up, so to speak, to public access in this way. The large hi-res images are particularly nice to see.

Posted in graduate school, study tools, undergraduate, useful links | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Resource: Burke Collection Online Catalog

Contest: Japanese Speech Contest for free roundtrip fare

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Paula

Wasabi Japanese Speech Contest

In commemoration of Wasabi’s launch, a new Japanese language learning tool that will spice up your studies with specially designed lessons for speaking practice with native speakers, we have decided to conduct Wasabi Japanese Speech Contest on the Internet. If you win, you will receive a ROUND-TRIP TICKET TO JAPAN!

It is our hope that you will become more interested in Japanese culture and be motivated to learn Japanese. That’s why we have created this opportunity not only for Wasabi users, but also for EVERY JAPANESE LEARNER. All you need to do is make a video of your speech, upload it to YouTube, and send us the URL. We would be more than delighted if a lot of learners participate in this contest all over the world.

For eligibility requirements and speech details, please visit:

http://www.wasabi-jpn.com/wasabi-japanese-speech-contest/

Deadline: August 15, 2015

Posted in announcements, study abroad, study tools, summer program | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Job Opening: Exhibition Coordinator, Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan

Posted on July 14, 2015 by LM

job opening - 5Employer: Embassy of Japan
Location: Washington DC
Education: BA required
Deadline: not listed

The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan, is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented individual for the position of Exhibition Coordinator. The main responsibilities of this position will include curating in-house exhibits at the JICC as well as working with other organizations on exhibitions. Please see below for a more detailed list of responsibilities.
The Embassy offers group health insurance coverage, paid vacation, and sick leave. Working hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday with weeknight and/or weekend events several times a month (paid overtime). Salary is commensurate with experience.

Please note: Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. green card holder. Screening will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Only successful candidates will be contacted. All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.

Responsibilities:

Coordinate exhibitions at the JICC and collaborate on exhibitions with other organizations
Organize JICC supplies and adapt them to gallery displays
Design and create JICC window displays
Assist diplomats for coordinating events together with other JICC staff
Respond to inquiries about Japan
Assist other JICC staff in the organization and execution of cultural events
Other responsibilities as needed
Required Qualifications:

Bilingual in Japanese and English
Deep knowledge and appreciation of Japanese culture
Strong public speaking skills and experience delivering presentations
High level of professionalism and respect
Flexibility and resourcefulness
Superior interpersonal and communication skills
Highly organized and able to multi-task varying deadlines
Computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
Team-oriented self-starter
Bachelor’s degree in related field

Full application details at JICC.

Posted in announcements, job openings, jobs | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Announcement: The Chaos and Cosmos of Kurosawa Tokiko: One Woman’s Transit from Tokugawa to Meiji Japan

Posted on July 12, 2015 by LM

NenziFPO.indd

Via University of Hawai’i Press

The Chaos and Cosmos of Kurosawa Tokiko: One Woman’s Transit from Tokugawa to Meiji Japan
Author: Nenzi, Laura

280pp. February 2015
Cloth – Price: $48.00
ISBN: 978-0-8248-3957-4
Categories: Asia, Japan, history, biography

The Chaos and Cosmos of Kurosawa Tokiko is the story of a self-described “base-born nobody” who tried to change the course of Japanese history. Kurosawa Tokiko (1806–1890), a commoner from rural Mito domain, was a poet, teacher, oracle, and political activist. In 1859 she embraced the xenophobic loyalist faction (known for the motto “revere the emperor, expel the barbarians”) and traveled to Kyoto to denounce the shogun’s policies before the emperor. She was arrested, taken to Edo’s infamous Tenmachō prison, and sentenced to banishment. In her later years, having crossed the Tokugawa-Meiji divide, Tokiko became an elementary school teacher and experienced firsthand the modernizing policies of the new government. After her death she was honored with court rank for her devotion to the loyalist cause.

Tokiko’s story reflects not only some of the key moments in Japan’s transition to the modern era, but also some of its lesser-known aspects, thereby providing us with a fresh narrative of the late-Tokugawa crisis, the collapse of the shogunate, and the rise of the Meiji state. The peculiar combination of no-nonsense single-mindedness and visionary flights of imagination evinced in her numerous diaries and poetry collections nuances our understanding of activism and political consciousness among rural nonelites by blurring the lines between the rational and the irrational, focus and folly. Tokiko’s use of prognostication and her appeals to cosmic forces point to the creative paths some women constructed to take part in political debates and epitomize the resourcefulness required to preserve one’s identity in the face of changing times. In the early twentieth century, Tokiko was reimagined in the popular press and her story was rewritten to offset fears about female autonomy and to boost local and national agendas. These distorted and romanticized renditions offer compelling examples of the politicization of the past and of the extent to which present anxieties shape historical memory.

That Tokiko was unimportant and her loyalist mission a failure is irrelevant. What is significant is that through her life story we are able to discern the ordinary individual in the midst of history. By putting an extra in the spotlight, The Chaos and Cosmos of Kurosawa Tokiko offers a new script for the drama that unfolded on the stage of late-Tokugawa and early Meiji history.

Posted in announcements, culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Job Opening: Study Abroad Coodinator, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Posted on July 12, 2015 by LM

job opening - 5

Institution: The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Location: Pembroke, NC
Posted: 07/02/2015
Application Due: Open Until Filled
Type: Full Time
Education: MA

This position is primarily responsible for recruitment of UNCP study abroad students, balancing exchange-in-kind with incoming exchange students, direct exchanges, exchanges in conjunction with consortiums, and faculty-lead programs.

This position has budget responsibility for faculty-led programs, scholarship awards and financial aid.
The Study Abroad Coordinator is responsible for implementation and growth of the university’s study abroad and student exchange programs. A background in the development and maintenance of Memorandums of Agreement and Memorandums of Understanding is desired.
This position will not have direct immigration responsibility with the J-1 program, however, knowledge of the regulations associated with the J-1 program is desired.

The Study Abroad Coordinator will also be responsible for:

  • Assisting with the development and acquisition of federal and state grants, scholarships, and other financial opportunities to assist with study abroad students and faculty-led programs.
  • Conducting orientations for out-going UNCP students and faculty-led programs, interface with incoming exchange students, and orientation related events for all international student and scholars.
  • Assisting the Director of International Programs with strategic goals and objectives for international exchange.
  • Promoting UNCP as an exchange partner, and collaborate with UNCP deans, department chairs, and faculty in presenting workshops, recruiting, and marketing.
  • Representing UNCP on the General Administration University Council on International Programs, especially with regard to Risk Management.
  • Working with stakeholder units on-campus (Campus Safety, Public Relations, Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid, and other units) to ensure streamline procedures for study abroad and faculty-led programs, including academic related matters associated with credit-transfer, foreign transcripts, transfer and credit equivalences, financial aid awards, etc.
  • Managing social and traditional media content, student data, and security of student records and marketing and promotion of study abroad opportunities.
  • Collaborating with International Programs units to assist with international student services that involve on-campus events, overnights cultural excursions and afterhours programming.
  • Fulfilling other work-related duties as assigned by the Director of International Programs.
  • This position is expected to work as a team member in promoting the mission of International Programs and in building collaborative efforts among various academic and administrative departments. An amiable, energetic, and creative approach to promoting study abroad opportunities for UNCP students is essential.

Minimum Training and Experience Requirements:

  • Master’s Degree in related field. Applied knowledge in overseas travel requirements and advisories is desired. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to positively represent the International Department in conjunction with other team members.
  • Management Preference: Two years’ experience preferred in developing and managing student exchange or education abroad programs at the college or university level.

Full details on HigherEdJobs.com

Posted in announcements, job openings, jobs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Job Opening: School Program Coordinator, Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan

Posted on July 11, 2015 by LM

job opening - 5Employer: Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan
Location: Washington Dc
Deadline: not listed
Education: BA

The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan, is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented individual for the position of School Program Coordinator. The main responsibilities that this person will hold is coordinating and presenting an educational program on Japan and Japanese culture. Please see below for a more detailed list of responsibilities.

The Embassy offers group health insurance coverage, paid vacation, and sick leave. Working hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday with weeknight and/or weekend events several times a month (paid overtime). Salary is commensurate with experience.

Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. green card holder. Screening will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Only successful candidates will be contacted. All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate and present an educational Program on Japan and Japanese culture for audiences ranging from elementary school students to professionals
  • Promote the school program and maintain a reservation schedule
  • Write a report for each program and compile data quarterly
  • Coordinate and lead JICC participation in the Embassy Adoption Program
  • Disseminate information on Japan to the public; respond to public inquiries on Japan
  • Assist other JICC staff in the organization and execution of cultural events
  • Management of interns
  • Other responsibilities as needed


Required Qualifications:

  • Bilingual in Japanese and English
  • Deep knowledge and appreciation of Japanese culture
  • Strong public speaking skills and experience delivering presentations
  • High level of professionalism and respect
  • Flexibility and resourcefulness
  • Superior interpersonal and communication skills
  • Highly organized and able to multi-task varying deadlines
  • Computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
  • Team-oriented self-starter
  • Bachelor’s degree in related field

Full details here.

Posted in announcements, job openings, jobs | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Cats Wearing Kimono

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Paula

As the internet has probably informed you all, now that we’ve passed through our phase of cats wearing melon hats and sitting in bowls, there is a trend now of dressing up cats in kimono. One can’t forget, of course, the need to their various accessories (wigs, dishes, matching obi!). Check out this link for more pics like the one below! Happy Friday!

ck

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Job Opening: Visiting Asst Prof, Japanese, Centre College

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Travis


Institution: Centre College
Location: Danville, Kentucky, United States
Position: Visiting Assistant Professor of Japanese

Centre College invites applications for a two-year visiting assistant professor of Japanese beginning in August, 2015. The successful candidate will hold a PhD or be ABD in Japanese or a related field and possess native or near-native fluency in Japanese. The successful candidate will teach a range of courses in Japanese language and culture as well as a course for first-year students during our three-week January term.

Centre College, a highly selective liberal arts college of about 1,400 students, has one of the nation’s premier study abroad programs and is ranked among the top fifty National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Classes are small and academic standards are high. Centre graduates enjoy extraordinary success, with entrance to top graduate and professional schools, prestigious fellowships for further study abroad, and rewarding jobs. The College is located in Danville, Kentucky, a town of 18,000 recognized for its high quality of life. It is within easy driving distance of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Centre College is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. Centre strives to create an environment where differences are celebrated rather than discouraged, where the individuals have the opportunity to exchange ideas and share in the richness of mutual experiences. Please view the Statement of Community. For information concerning the college, visit our web site at www.centre.edu.

To apply, please go to http://apply.interfolio.com/30240 and submit a letter of application, CV including names of three references, and a transcript. Applications will be reviewed as they arrive and an appointment will be made as soon as possible. Centre College is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualifications

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or be ABD in Japanese or a related field and possess native or near-native fluency in Japanese.

Application Instructions

Please submit a letter of application, CV including names of three references and a transcript.

Posted in announcements, job openings, jobs | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Job Opening: Visiting Asst Prof, Japanese, Centre College