Fun Link Friday: Ancient Archaeological Finds

For this week’s Fun Link Friday, you’ll have to allow me to history geek out as we reblog an article over at the Ancient Japan blog. It was recently announced that in Sakurai, Nara, over 100 postholes were found indicating the presence of 3rd century architecture. Neat!

As most people who’ve taken a Japanese history survey know, 3rd century dates back to the time of Himiko, a shaman queen mentioned in the “Records of Wei” (Wei Zhi 魏志) section of the Chinese history Records of Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Zhi 三國志, ca. 297) as one of the many chieftain leaders in the land of the Wa (prehistoric Japan). I absolutely love new archaeological finds, especially ones this early! What did life look like back then? How do our ideas about Himiko and other leaders in this time shape our notions of Japanese identity? Will we ever find Himiko’s palace (with every new find, people like to claim they have!)?

Things to muse on over the weekend! Happy Friday, all!

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Job Opening: Receptionist, The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville

job opening - 5
Via JETWit.com jobs mailing list:

Institution: Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville
Location: Nashville, TN
Education: not listed
Deadline: Feb. 15, 2013

The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville is seeking a receptionist.

Job Description:

The duties include but not limited to:

  • Receiving and directing phone calls.
  • Providing secretarial and administrative support.
  • Maintaining a general filing system.
  • Other office administrative duties.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Understanding of Japanese culture and intercultural communication skills (working experience in a Japanese environment a plus).
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills.
  • Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Applications.
  • Native fluency in English
  • Conversational level Japanese a plus.
  • Must have permanent work authorization in the United States.

To Apply:
Please send your resume via email to accounts1@nv.mofa.go.jp
or mail to 1801 West End Ave, Suite 900, Nashville, TN 37203

See original posting (pdf) on the Consulate-General’s site.

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Job Opening: Research Librarian, Middlebury College

Location: Middlebury, VT job opening - 5
Posted: 01/23/2013
Application Deadline: March 14, 2013
Education: Graduate degree in Library or Information Science from an accredited institution or equivalent and a strong background in at least one liberal arts academic subject required.

The Research and Instruction Librarian provides research and basic curricular technology assistance and instruction to faculty, students and staff within a merged library/information technology environment. This support includes serving as a Library and Information Services (LIS) liaison to assigned departments, promoting the wide range of services offered by LIS, developing strong working relationships with faculty, and preparing for changes in the curriculum and teaching methods being used. The Librarian utilizes his/her expertise to develop appropriate documentation for the use of LIS resources, to teach research skills, to provide one-on-one consultations, and to assist in the development of the Library collection.

The Librarian contributes to the success of the LIS liaison program by working closely with others in LIS and beyond. The LIS liaison program comprises LIS staff including librarians and technologists, and its goal is to help ensure that faculty, students and staff have appropriate support and access to information and technology resources.

Essential Functions:

  • Serve as a Library and Information Services liaison to assigned departments
  • Provide technology and research assistance as part of a team supporting the Middlebury Summer Language School programs
  • Develop strong working relationships with faculty through regular communication and meetings
  • Provide assistance with curricular development, for example through workshops and selective dissemination of relevant information
  • Educate students and other researchers in library and information skills, for example through classes for First Year Seminars and senior seminars
  • Conduct research consultations
  • Provide research assistance at public service points
  • Promote and seek feedback on LIS services and resources
  • Create and maintain resource guides and point of use aids
  • Develop and maintain selected LIS web pages
  • Take responsibility for library collection development for selected academic subject areas and for general research use
  • Maintain subject and technical expertise in a rapidly evolving field through ongoing education, professional development and collaboration, and/or other scholarly activity
  • Provide positive representation of LIS across the College by attending relevant meetings and events
  • Work cooperatively with others in LIS and beyond, and accept direction from supervisors
  • Contribute to workgroup, area and LIS routine tasks and annual goals
  • Must be able to work evenings and weekends

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Preference will be given to candidates with a humanities background and working knowledge of one or more non-English, non-Romance language taught at Middlebury (particularly Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, and/or Russian).
  • Excellent written and interpersonal skills, a positive attitude and enthusiasm for learning are essential.
  • Technical skills and a willingness to develop new competencies are required.
  • Ability to work in a team oriented environment is required

Experience:

Experience with outreach, information literacy program development, instructional design and assessment, graphic design, or curricular technologies is preferred.

Full details and application at HigherEdJobs.com.

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Job Opportunity: Cultural Affairs/Public Relations Section, Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta

job opening - 5Via JETWit.com jobs mailing list.

Institution: Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
Location: Atlanta, GA
Education: BA/BS
Language: JLPT N2
Posted: Feb. 4, 2013

The ideal candidate would be a team-player who works well with Japanese people; a recent college graduate or someone with 2-3 years work experience; flexible and motivated, with the ability to handle a wide variety of tasks; educational background in Japanese, English, Journalism, or Communications preferred; posses a strong interest in Japan, preferably with work experience in Japan through the JET Program or other organization or business; Japanese language ability (reading, writing, speaking) and excellent English language skills; and basic IT skills necessary for website updates.

Requirements:
• Recent college graduate, who is an American citizen or has permanent U.S. resident status, and wishes to work with Japanese people.
• Able to work full time (Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, with occasional overtime and weekends required).
• Minimum B.A. or B.S. degree. Japanese, English, Journalism, or Communications majors preferred. One year plus Japan work or living experience ideal.
• At least Level 2 Japanese Language Proficiency Test ability.
• Basic IT skills necessary for website updates preferred.

Job description:
The Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta is an overseas establishment of the Government of Japan. The main function of our office is to protect Japanese nationals and economic interests, provide consular services and cultural exchange. The Cultural Affairs/Public Relations section of the Consulate provides information on Japanese government policies and views on current issues; provides tourist information for visitors traveling to Japan; administers invitational programs such as the Japanese Government Scholarship and Japan Exchange and Teaching Program to promote cultural exchange between the United States and Japan; and facilitates local festivals and coordinates exhibitions and performances of Japanese artists. The person hired into this position would work as part of a team to provide these services.

For details and to apply, see original post at the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.

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Job Openings: Lecturing Opportunities in China and Japan

job opening - 5Context Travel, a leading organization in travel for intellectually curious travelers, is looking to expand its docent pool in Beijing, Shanghai, Kyoto, and Tokyo.

Context is a very different sort of travel company: They work with local scholars and experts to create theme-based “walking seminars” in many of the major cities worldwide. It got its start in Rome a decade ago, and now has over 300 docents working more than 20 cities worldwide cities, many of whom are university professors, graduate students, or independent researchers.

You can learn more about Context by reading our About Us or management page or by taking a look at the kinds of things they do in a more developed city like Rome, in addition to the programs in Beijing and
Shanghai.

Work is on a flexible freelance basis to meet the varying needs of each docent’s outside working demands.

Context is looking for experts in a variety of specialties: architecture, art history, history, design and contemporary, literature, etc. Our specific needs in each city are as follows, though other specialties are welcome to apply.

Beijing / Shanghai
sinologists
experts in Chinese religion
experts in Traditional Chinese medicine
experts in the history of Shanghai during the 1920s
urban planning and design specialists
art historians

Tokyo / Kyoto
art historians
historians
experts in Japanese religion
experts in Japanese landscape and gardens
anthropologists and experts on Japanese cultural traditions
experts in contemporary Japanese pop culture and otaku
experts in urban planning, architecture, and design

Contact: Jessica Stewart
Expansion Manager
jessica@contexttravel.com
Website: www.contexttravel.com

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Film Screening: Kataoka Ichiro’s Sayonara Performance at the University of Michigan

image
Via the Center for Japanese Studies mailing list:

Kataoka Ichiro’s Sayonara Performance

Saturday, February 23, 2013
7:00PM @ Natural Sciences Auditorium
830 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Benshi Kataoka Ichiro will perform the samurai feature, Jirokichi the Rat (Oatsurae Jirokichi Koshi, dir. Ito Daisuke, 1931), along with a selection of delightful shorts. DJ musical accompaniment by Arwulf Arwulf.

Kataoka Ichiro, who has a residency this semester at U-M through the Center for World Performance Studies, is a benshi from Japan. During the silent-film era, primarily the late 1800s to the early 1900s, a benshi would stand next to the movie screen and narrate—in a theatrical style—the story to audiences, from packed Tokyo theaters to small screens in fishing villages. Kataoka is one of a dozen or so benshi still performing in Japan, and arguably is the top professional benshi.

Details on the University of Michigan CJS page.

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Internship Opportunity: Digitization Project Intern, Densho

job opening - 5Institution: Densho
Location: Seattle, WA
Type: paid
Period: March – August 2013
Hours: 20-30 hours/week
Education: current students or graduates of library and information sciences or archival studies preferred
Deadline: February 13, 2013

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 1 or 2 interns to support our digital repository and encyclopedia projects through the following activities: digitizing a variety of materials (newspapers, photographs, documents, etc.), editing and performing quality control on digital images, transcribing documents, cataloging, cross-indexing materials and encyclopedia articles, and other duties as needed.

This internship runs from March 2013 through August 2013 for 20-30 hours per week at $12 per 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. Funding for the internship comes from the National Parks Service Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program.

To apply for the position, please send your resume and cover letter by Wednesday, February 13, 2013. All applications will be held in confidence. All submissions and questions should be sent via email – no phone inquiries please.

See original posting on Libgig.

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Job Opportunity: International Programs Manager, Saint Martin’s University

job opening - 5Via NWJobs.com.

Institution: Saint Martin’s University
Location: Lacey, WA
Education: Bachelor’s degree; MA preferred
Posted February 1, 2013
Deadline: February 15, 2013.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The primary responsibilities include planning, coordinating, implementing and managing Saint Martin’s international programs (ESL, educational and cultural exchange). The International Programs Manager is responsible for all facets of the programs including program design/evaluation, supervision of summer cultural ambassadors/student workers, budget management, marketing, ESL curriculum development and overseeing the ESL Program. Other responsibilities include language assessment and student advising, planning and attending student extracurricular activities and special cultural events, and other related professional responsibilities. (Please see attached job description for additional information.)

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum

  • Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, TESOL, Education, Humanities or a related field with an international emphasis.
  • Three years of experience in intercultural and ESL programming.
  • Administrative, supervisory, and management experience.
  • Experience in interacting with people from a diverse linguistic and cultural background.
  • Studying/living/working experience abroad.
  • Computer literacy and familiarity with computer information resources.
  • Possession of a valid driver’s license with proof of insurance.
  • Successfully pass a criminal background check.

Preferred

  • Master’s degree in International Studies, TESOL, Education, Humanities or a related field with an international emphasis.
  • Studying/living/working experience abroad in Japan, China, or Korea.
  • Fluency in a second language.

See original posting at St. Martin’s for details and to apply.

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Funding: Make Your Mark Study Abroad Essay Contest [general] [undergrad]

Undergrads looking for additional funding for their study abroad may be interested in the LewerMark Student program’s “Make Your Mark” essay contest, which offers anywhere between $750 and $1,250 to the first, second, and third place winners of their essay contest on international education. Every little bit helps! All that’s required is an essay, a submission form, and a letter from your advisor. See the full contest rules and such here:

http://www.lewermark.com/lewermark-scholarship/

Deadline: March 4, 2013.

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Job Opening: Assistant, Grassroots Exchange & Education Program, The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership [part-time]

job opening - 5Via JETWit mailing list:

Institution: The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership
Location: New York, NY
Education: bachelor’s required; graduate students welcome
Job Commencement: March 1, 2013 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

Established in 1972, the Japan Foundation seeks to promote international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. The Foundation awards grants in the areas of Arts & Cultural Exchange, JapaneseLanguage Education Overseas, Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange, and operates fellowship programs to foster individual research and the development of human resources. The Center for Global Partnership (CGP) was founded within the Foundation in 1991 in New York City and seeks to promote exchange and collaboration between the United States and Japan with the goal of fulfilling shared global responsibilities and contributing to the improvements in the world’s welfare.

CGP has an opening for a part-time Assistant to support the following programs: 1) Grassroots Exchange & Education Program, which promotes collaboration and exchange between the United States and Japan at the grassroots level and education about Japan at the K-12 level in the United States, and 2) Japan Foundation Japan-America Collegiate Exchange Travel Program, which promotes understanding of Japan by providing students with firsthand experience in Japan. The Assistant will report to the Program Director and will support grant-making efforts, as well as the coordination of program and in-house events.

Responsibilities:
1. Grant-making

  • Review letters of inquiry and proposals, draft recommendations, and related materials;
  • Communicate with grantees and grant-seekers through written correspondence, meetings, and site visits (if
  • necessary);
  • Research fields to identify and monitor trends, new models, and new initiatives.

2. Program and in-house activities coordination

  • Coordinate various program activities and in-house events such as roundtables, seminars, and outreach events;
  • Participate in the development and implementation of a public relations strategy;
  • Carry out other related duties as assigned by the Program Director;

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in a related area. Graduate students are welcome;
  • Experience in fields related to the Foundation’s giving areas preferred;
  • Strong analytical skills; the ability through questioning and informal research to understand the feasibility and
  • implications of submitted proposals;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills in English;
  • Understanding of contemporary Japan; experience living in Japan and proficiency in the Japanese language,
  • including translating ability, preferred but not required;
  • US citizenship or valid working visa in US

Work Hours and Days: 9:30 am-5:30 pm, 4 days (no more than 30 hours) per week. Initial term will be for a two-month contract, renewable contingent on needs and performance.

Wage: Hourly wage, commensurate with experience. No other benefits offered.

Job Commencement: March 1, 2013 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

To Apply: Please email résumé, cover letter, and one-page writing sample to: job-opening@cgp.org.

The deadline for submitting applications is Wednesday, February 13, 2013.
For more information, please visit the Japan Foundation website at http://www.jfny.org/ and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP) website at http://www.cgp.org/.

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