Job Opening: Open-rank position in Cultural Studies or Postcolonial Studies

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Paula

Kanagawa University in Yokohama, Japan, invites applications for a full-time, open-rank faculty position in the Department of Cross-cultural Studies, a unit of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, to begin April 1, 2013. We seek applicants from the fields of Cultural Studies or Postcolonial Studies (including those whose research incorporates postcolonial approaches). Duties will include the teaching of both specialized and general English-language courses. Preference will be given to candidates who have completed the PhD by time of appointment, or who can show evidence of equivalent research accomplishments. Candidates who are not native speakers of English should have completed at least 4 years of research at a university or research institution in an English-speaking country; native speakers of English must have experience of in-residence study at a Japanese university or comparable institution. All candidates must possess Japanese language ability sufficient for work at an academic institution in Japan. For a detailed list of materials to be submitted when applying, the address to which applications should be sent, and further information regarding the position, please view the Japanese-language announcement at www.kanagawa-u.ac.jp/employment/professor/fulltime/pdf/22-1.pdf. Materials must arrive by September 30, 2012. Results of the search will be communicated by the end of December, 2012. Salary is competitive; precise salary level, which is linked to appointee experience, will be determined according to university guidelines. In accordance with common practice at Japanese institutions, all ranks of this open-rank position can be understood as tenured. For more information, please contact Christian Ratcliff (ratcliff@kanagawa-u.ac.jp) or Teruaki Torigoe (torigt01@kanagawa-u.ac.jp).

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Funding: Sumitomo Foundation Japan-related Research Grant

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Paula

http://www.sumitomo.or.jp/e/index.htm

Grant for Japan-related Research Projects

Purpose of the Program:

The program aims at enhancing mutual understanding between Asian countries and Japan through promoting research projects in the field of the social sciences or humanities that are related to Japan.

Eligible Projects for Application:

Any research project to be carried out by individual or a group in the field of the social sciences or humanities that is related to Japan.

Qualification of Applicant:

Researcher shall be of Southeast or East Asian (non Japanese) nationality, living outside Japan. Awarded researcher must conduct the proposed research by himself or herself.

Fiscal 2011 Program:

Application period :　September 1 ～ October 31, 2011

Grant period :  One year (April 2012 through March 2013), but can be extended by another 6 months maximum if required.

Grant budget : Approx.\55 million in total, with approx. 70 projects to be selected

See website for more details.

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Happy birthday, Shinpai Deshou!

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Paula

Image by surlygirl

Happy birthday, Shinpai Deshou! It’s hard to believe another year has gone by! Like our train cake? (It’s the only picture of a cake I could find with a number 2 on it…)

What can I do with a B.A. in Japanese Studies? sputtered to a start two years ago today, which means for some reason I was sitting around during finals week at the IUC (probably weeping into a textbook) and suddenly had the urge to try making a Japanese Studies blog again. But two years later, we have 355 followers via email, 180 on Facebook, 206 on Twitter, and an untold number subscribing via RSS feed. We’ve had about 113,000 hits since we launched, and though in 2010 we only had 5,172 in the six months we opened, in 2011 we had over 57,060 hits. With only 5 months left in this year, we’ve already reached 50,567, and our incoming views are from all over the world! That’s amazing growth, especially considering how terrible I am at social networking via the web. 😉

We owe our continued expansion to you, the readers! You guys not only encourage us, but also bring valuable suggestions and insight into how our content can best serve the Japanese Studies community, be it for academics, professionals, or casual learners. So thank you all and please continue to spread the word about Shinpai Deshou!

Want to see anything new in the next year? Want more on a particular topic? Email us at shinpai.deshou@gmail.com, tweet us, catch up with us on Facebook, or leave a comment below! Thanks everyone!

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Book Announcement: The Premise of Fidelity: Science, Visuality, and Representing the Real in Nineteenth-Century Japan

Posted on July 29, 2012 by LM

http://www.sup.org/book.cgi?id=20941


The Premise of Fidelity: Science, Visuality, and Representing the Real in Nineteenth-Century Japan
Maki Fukuoka
Stanford University Press
Forthcoming July 2012
ISBN: 9780804777902

The Premise of Fidelity puts forward a new history of Japanese visuality through an examination of the discourses and practices surrounding the nineteenth century transposition of “the real” in the decades before photography was introduced. This intellectual history is informed by a careful examination of a network of local scholars—from physicians to farmers to bureaucrats—known as Shohyaku-sha. In their archival materials, these scholars used the term shashin (which would, years later, come to signify “photography” in Japanese) in a wide variety of medical, botanical, and pictorial practices. These scholars pursued questions of the relationship between what they observed and what they believed they knew, in the process investigating scientific ideas and practices by obsessively naming and classifying, and then rendering through highly accurate illustration, the objects of their study.

This book is an exploration of the process by which the Shohyaku-sha shaped the concept of shashin. As such, it disrupts the dominant narratives of photography, art, and science in Japan, providing a prehistory of Japanese photography that requires the accepted history of the discipline to be rewritten.

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Job Opening: ISEP Program Assistant in DC Metro Area

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Nyssa

ISEP is currently seeking a full-time Program Assistant for our central office located in Arlington VA (10 minutes from Washington DC). Founded in 1979, ISEP is a nonprofit membership organization of institutions of higher education in the U.S. and 50 other countries, administered by a central office in Arlington, VA., and supported by member fees and fees for services. Over 3,000 students participate annually in ISEP programs.

Position Summary:
Under the general supervision of the Assistant Vice President for Programs, the Program Assistant serves as a member of the Programs Team providing administrative support for the student placement process and program implementation, including data entry, file management, and processing and mailing of application and other program-related materials. Additional duties may include one or more of the following responsibilities: management of transcripts, assistance with J-1 Visa Program and SEVIS Administration, coordination of scholarships, and recording of TOEFL scores.

Job Description:
1) Provides program assistant support for designated region/s
• Data entry of applications and preparation of student files for program officer review
• Corresponding with US and International ISEP coordinators with
regard to student applications, host site confirmations, and student
acceptances
• Processing and mailing of student applications and other program-related materials as necessary
• Entering placements, confirmations and students’ acceptances into
database
• Initiating follow up on outstanding confirmations and acceptances
• Managing student files throughout all stages of placement process
and ensuring that student files contain documentation of significant
transactions
• Filing and other administrative tasks

2) Other Duties as assigned, including, but not limited to:
• Assisting in country-specific review and development of ISEP
publications, materials and website information
• Assisting in marketing of ISEP programs
• Researching prospective member institutions in designated region
• Running statistics on student activity in region

Eligibility Criteria
Education:
• BA/BS degree
Experience:
• One year of relevant work experience in an international organization
and/or higher education office
• Study abroad and/or living abroad experience
• Knowledge of cultures and educational systems within designated region
Skills:
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work and think independently as well as part of team
• Management of multiple projects with considerable detail
• Initiative and resourcefulness in solving problems
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office systems
• Proficiency in foreign language preferred
• Applicant must have authorization to work in the U.S.

Please send resume/cover letter and salary requirements to careers@isep.org. Subject line must include job title. Applications without salary requirements will not be considered. http://www.isep.org

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Job Opening: Program Director – International Recruitment & Admissions, Tacoma Community College

Posted on July 28, 2012 by LM

Institution: Tacoma Community College
Location: Tacoma, WA
Application Due: 08/20/2012
Education: Bachelor’s required, master’s preferred

The position is responsible for international student marketing and recruitment. This position reports directly to the Director of International Programs.

  • Recruit, unconditionally, students from all backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender, as well as through respectful interactions with other TCC representatives in compliance with TCC’s Non-Discrimination Policy.
  • Respond to inquiries from students, staff and the community regarding international programs.
  • Develop annual marketing plan and establish yearly travel proposal.
  • Communicate with the campus community regarding events and new developments in the International Department.
  • Coordinate overseas student recruitment advertisements.
  • Select overseas publications; work with the TCC Marketing department or contracted designer to develop overseas publicity for both electronic and hard copy; manage budget and billing for promotions.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with prospective students and TCC alumni; attend fairs to promote TCC; follow up on all visits with appropriate correspondence to prospective students and agencies.
  • Establish travel itineraries and complete necessary travel documents within Washington State purchasing and travel guidelines.
  • Develop relationships with overseas agents and various agencies (consulate offices) as appropriate; provide information about TCC as requested.
  • Develop relationships with local high schools and recruit international transfer students.
  • Create and maintain all necessary contracts, records, and department related databases.
  • Work with the Information Systems department to update information on the TCC website and lead the international database projects.
  • Work directly with the Admissions Specialist to help problem solve admission issues.
  • Coordinate commission payment structure and timeline with the Admissions Specialist.
  • Have a working knowledge of F-1 visa process and I-20 rules and regulations in accordance with Immigration policies and TCC policies.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree in Human Development, Student Personnel Administration, Education, International Business or related field from and accredited college or university.
  • Two years experience in Higher Education, student development, recruiting, or related field.
  • Two years experience/training in delivering services to diverse students in an educational or social services setting.
  • Computer literacy and experience with business management software.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Masters degree in Education, Human Development, or International Marketing or related field from an accredited college or university.
  • Fluency in Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese or other foreign language.
  • Experience in planning and marketing development.

For full details and to apply, see posting on HigherEdJobs.com.

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Fun Link Friday: “Two Views of the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage”

Posted on July 27, 2012 by LM

Image from Neojaponisme.

Today’s fun link is “Two Views of the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage” on Néojaponisme. In the article, W. David Marx interviews two American writers who hiked the 88-temple henro route in Shikoku (separately) and wrote about their experiences.

Tucked between the very end of Honshu and the top of Kyushu, Shikoku is the least traveled and least familiar major island of the Japanese archipelago. There are few famous sites or tourist attractions, and most guidebooks recommend the location as a way to “experience rural Japan.” Shikoku does, however, attract a constant stream of visitors every year to walk, bus, bike, or drive through its famed 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage route.

While most pilgrims in modern times are retirees moving through the course easily with the aid of tour buses, we wanted to get a sense of what it was like to do the course by foot as a young explorer with modern travel expectations. So we caught up with two American writers who have turned their Shikoku foot journeys into books: literary memoirist Gideon Lewis-Kraus and former travel writer Matthew Firestone.

Full article: “Two Views of the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage”

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Job Opening: Program Assistant, Culture & Information Section, Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville

Posted on July 26, 2012 by LM

Institution: Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville
Location: Nashville, TN
Education: not specified, JET experience preferred
Deadline: Aug. 6, 2012

Job Description:

The duties of this position include…

  • Coordinating the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program, Japanese Government
  • Scholarship (MEXT) Program and other exchange programs (i.e. recruitment, interview, orientation)
  • Organizing Japanese cultural programs (i.e. Japanese cultural fairs, school visits)
  • Promoting Japanese language and Japanese studies education (i.e. Japanese speech contests, seminars on US-Japan relations)
  • Website management
  • Other office administrative duties

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Strong interest in Japan and US-Japan exchanges
  • Understanding of Japanese culture and intercultural communication skills; conversational Japanese language ability and working experience in a Japanese environment desired
  • Strong public speaking and presentation skills
  • Excellent organizational, administrative and people skills
  • Strong computer skills (website design and database management skills desired)
  • Outgoing, flexible and creative personality

For full details and to apply, see original posting on the Consulate-General’s website.

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Job Opening: Study Abroad Coordinator, Eastern Michigan University

Posted on July 26, 2012 by LM

Institution: Eastern Michigan University
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
Posted: 07/23/2012
Type: Full Time
Education: MA required

Market, recruit for, coordinate and administer semester/year programs for students including student exchanges and study abroad programs outgoing and incoming. Develop and implement industry “best practices” procedures for the administration of such programs in collaboration with EMU faculty and administrative staff and overseas partners or third-party providers.

Recruit students for the programs in portfolio.

Advise and counsel students on the appropriate programs for them based on individual needs and interests.

Advise students on matters related to financial aid, scholarships, prior approval of course selections, and transfer of credit for foreign study.

Register incoming students for EMU courses and liaise with academic departments on issues of pre-requisites etc.

Handle record-keeping for outgoing student applicants including application files, course registration, health insurance, transfer of credit, and keep track of and round up errant paperwork.

Oversee matters related to marketing of the programs in the semester/year portfolio in conjunction with the APA marketing plan through means such as providing up-to-date and accurate web text, presentations, meetings, social media postings, news articles etc.

Handle transcripts for incoming students in the programs incoming and for returning students (including evaluation).

Develop budgets for the programs in the portfolio, handle billing for outgoing and incoming students in conjunction with the Student Business Office, Records & Registration
Coordinate and promote Gilman Scholarships and Freeman-Asia Scholarships to the campus.

Provide orientation and return programming for students in the program portfolio.

Advise international students in reciprocal exchange programs, selected dual-degree programs, and non-degree seeking international guest students on admissions, housing, student accounting and course registration issues in conjunction with the Office of International Students and Office of International Admissions.

Keep informed of government regulations and current issues in the professional field related to study abroad programs, financial aid, scholarships, work and travel abroad, international internships and international service learning.

Data management, database development & provide reports as required.

Attend professional meetings and conferences
Perform related departmental duties as required
Implement and manage work, internship, service learning and volunteer abroad programming.

A Master’s degree is necessary.

Two years college level advising experience with at least one year experience in a college-level study abroad office is necessary.

Knowledge of a foreign language is desirable.

Experience as a study abroad student is desirable.

Work is performed in a typical office environment, with some travel and transporting of materials. May require some evening or weekend hours and occasional travel to program sites.

For full details and to apply, see posting on HigherEdJobs.com.

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Job Opening: Media Officer Job Opportunity, Oxfam Japan

Posted on July 25, 2012 by LM

Company: Oxfam Japan (オックスファム)
Location: Ueno, Japan
Education: not specified, 3 years of job experience in field
Deadline: July 31, 2012

Oxfam Japan is looking for a media officer who can manage media strategy involving Oxfam’s advocacy and campaigns regarding global poverty eradication. To apply please send in your resume, CV, and goals/your contributions via e-mail or mail.

Description (Japanese-language only)
職種 メディア・オフィサー
募集人数 1名
職務内容

貧困問題の構造・政策的側面に関するオックスファムのアドボカシー/キャンペーン・メッセージの対メディア発信を統括するお仕事です。

  • （主な業務内容）
  • 特に保健医療、教育、食料、（不）平等と格差、開発資金（ODA、途上国における租税強化など）などの課題の、国内のマスメディア・ソーシャルメディア上での露出の質と量を向上させる
  • 「地球規模課題に関する情報源」としての、オックスファム・ジャパンの地位確立への貢献
  • 主要な国際会議における、オックスファムの国際チームの一員としての活動


必要な経験、技能

  • オックスファムが取り組む開発関連課題に関する基本的な理論的理解（特に、開発資金、教育、保健医療、貧困と格差などの課題のいずれかについて、専門的知識があれば尚可）
  • 社会人経験3年以上
  • 類似のメディアワークの経験（アドボカシー活動。広報経験でも可）
  • 英語でのコミュニケーション能力（TOEIC800点以上もしくはそれに準ずる）
  • 簡潔かつ正確でわかりやすい作文能力
  • ブログなどの作成・活用能力
  • 渉外能力、人脈構築能力
  • 戦略、計画の策定と実施
  • チームワークおよび外部状況の急激な変化や強いプレッシャーの下での冷静かつ迅速な対応能力
  • 貧困や緊急事態の現場における活動経験があれば尚可（国内外問わず）

For full details, see original posting on Oxfam’s website. (Via idealist.com)

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