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JETwit
@jetwit.bsky.social
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https://jetwit.com/wordpress/ The official un-official website, blog, job listings, alumni magazine, etc. for the Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) Alumni community worldwide. Founded by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94) in 2008.
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jetwit.bsky.social
A strawberry-adorned white sponge cake is the traditional Christmas cake in Japan—but how did this come to be?

This article traces the history of Christmas cake in Japan from 1910 till now. Yum!

savvytokyo.com/christmas-ca...

#ChristmasCake #FujiyaBakery #クリスマスケーキ #不二家 #Strawberries #JETAA #Japan
Christmas Cake in Japan: An Affectionate History - Savvy Tokyo
Move over cookies, in Japan, cake reigns supreme. Learn more about the Japanese Christmas cake and the history behind its popularity.
savvytokyo.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:56 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Wanting to up your festive mood? Timeout Osaka has compiled a list of 12 dazzling winter and holiday illuminations throughout the city.

www.timeout.com/osaka/things...

#Wintertime #Holidays #Illumination #Lights #Osaka #JETAA #Japan
12 best winter illuminations and Christmas light-ups in Osaka
The most dazzling winter light displays and festive illuminations in the city, from Midosuji to Osaka Castle and beyond
www.timeout.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:19 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
JET Alumni Profile: Jennifer Sherman

The Japan Society of Boston speaks with Jennifer Sherman about her experience as a JET in Mie, 2012–2016.

www.japansocietyboston.org/post/jennife...

#AlumniProfile #LifeAfterJET #Mie #LifeImpact #CareerPath #JETAA #Japan
Jennifer Sherman - Mie (2012-2016)
Where were you in Japan as a JET and when? I lived in Mihama, Mie as an ALT from 2012 to 2016, and I taught elementary and junior high school.What sparked your interest in applying for the JET program...
www.japansocietyboston.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:30 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Tokyo moved up to #2 in the 2025 Global Power City Index. It also ranked 1st in the livability category, and 2nd for cultural interaction.

Do you agree? Also, do you think residents and visitors have the same Tokyo experience?

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#Tokyo #GlobalPowerCity #JETAA #Japan
Tokyo rises to 2nd in global city attractiveness ranking for first time - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo rose to second among 48 major cities worldwide in overall attractiveness for the first time after nine years in third place, ac
mainichi.jp
December 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Attn: JETs & JET alumni! The 2026 JET Program Career Fair is your chance to connect with employers in a variety of sectors.

The fair will be held this coming February in Tokyo and Osaka, and registration is now open:

dotank.net/afterjet/en/...

#CareerFair #JETProgramme #Tokyo #Osaka #JETAA #Japan
December 16, 2025 at 5:38 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Kobe Uni's team won the Student Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Japan 2025 competition for small-scale formula-style race cars. Check out their entry!

english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/6...

#Engineering #Design #FormulaOne #SAEJapan2025 #JETAA #Japan
FEATURE: Student formula car design competition helps shape future engineers
A collegiate manufacturing and design competition for small-scale formula-style race cars has helped fuel the growth of Japan's automotive industry by producing future automobile engineers for more th...
english.kyodonews.net
December 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
And the kanji of the year for 2025 is…

…BEAR・ 熊・くま

Is anyone surprised? With the surge in sightings and attacks, bears have been on everyone's mind lately.

www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/n...

#KanjiOfTheYear2025 #Kuma #熊 #Bear #JETAA #Japan
Bear Character Chosen as Japan's Kanji of the Year for 2025
On Friday, the official Kanji of the Year for 2025 was announced. The winner this year was 熊 (pronounced Kuma) meaning bear.
www.tokyoweekender.com
December 13, 2025 at 6:11 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Are you searching for a job?

JETwit's website regularly features job posts submitted by JET alumni for JET alumni. Find opportunities in business, hospitality, at Japanese consulates, and more!

Come see what's available now!

jetwit.com

#JobHunting #JapanRelatedJobs #Opportunities #JETAA #Japan
December 11, 2025 at 8:29 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Journey into the world of Japan's luxury sightseeing trains through this photographic essay/interview with Mitooka Eiji, designer.

immersive.kyodonews.net/sightseeing-...

#TrainTravel #LuxuryTrain #Sightseeing #Design #JETAA #Japan
Illustrator Eiji Mitooka has grand designs for future of sightseeing trains
immersive.kyodonews.net
December 9, 2025 at 6:57 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
This article reflects on the ALT experience in Japan. What do you think? Does your ALT experience (on JET or independently) mirror this educator's observations?

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#ALT #TeachingInJapan #Education #JETAA #Japan
Opinion: What Japan's schools teach us: 16 years inside the system - The Mainichi
By Nathaniel Reed For 16 years, I have worked in education in Japan -- from kindergartens to universities, conversation school management to public s
mainichi.jp
December 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Artist/Pilot Hachiya Kazuhiko flew his jet-powered glider based on the Mehve from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind for the last time today. Hachiya hopes to train a new generation of pilots to carry on the tradition.

www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

#Mehve #JetGlider #Nausicaa #Flight #JETAA #Japan
Real-world ‘Nausicaa’ glider goes on final flight in Chiba | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
NODA, Chiba Prefecture—Nearly a decade after first taking to the sky in his take on the glider from “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” Kazuhiko Hachiya flew his creation for the last time here.
www.asahi.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Galerie Tamenaga has extended its free exhibit of Chagall's works to Dec 21!

"For Chagall flowers symbolized love, happiness, remembrance, and life itself, intimately reflecting the joys and sorrows of his own journey."

www.tamenaga.com/en/exhibitio...

#GalerieTamenaga #Chagall #Art #JETAA #Japan
Marc Chagall：40 Years in Remembrance | Galerie Taménaga
We are pleased to announce that, due to popular demand, the exhibition Marc Chagall—which has been on view at Galerie Tamenaga since Saturday, November 8, 2025—has been extended until Sunday, December...
www.tamenaga.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
December is here and it's time for bōnenkai, or "forget-the-year" parties!

Forgetting the year cleans the slate, giving us a fresh start for the coming New Year.

Are you attending any bōnenkai this month?

www.ordinaryjapan.jp/bo-nen-kai

#Bōnenkai #忘年会 #ForgetTheYear #YearEnd #Party #JETAA #Japan
🎍 Bo-Nen-Kai（忘年会）: Japan’s Year-End Party to Forget the Year
Learn what a Bonenkai is, why Japanese people celebrate it, and how this year-end tradition began. A simple guide to Japan’s unique “forget-the-year” party culture.
www.ordinaryjapan.jp
December 5, 2025 at 5:25 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
The days are growing colder, and that means it's the perfect time to visit a hot spring. What better way to relax and feel warm through & through?

Here's a list of a dozen famous onsen destinations to get you started. Happy soaking!

www.timeout.com/tokyo/travel...

#Onsen #温泉 #Winter #JETAA #Japan
12 best onsen destinations in Japan for a rejuvenating holiday
Warm up as well as rejuvenate your body and mind at these scenic hot spring resorts, easily accessible from Tokyo
www.timeout.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:14 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Looking for a holiday gift for someone who loves Nintendo? Check out the new Nintendo shop in Fukuoka! At 1,000 m2, it stocks more than 2,500 items. You'll definitely be able to find something for everyone.

english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/6...

#Nintendo #Fukuoka #HolidayShopping #JETAA #Japan
Nintendo opens 1st directly operated store in southwestern Japan
Major Japanese game developer Nintendo Co. on Friday opened its first directly operated store in southwestern Japan, adding a fourth such location to its lineup after Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, hoping to...
english.kyodonews.net
December 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Coming soon: The Snow Monsters of Zao!

Every winter, Mt. Zao's trees, covered in layers of snow and ice, transform into "snow monsters." Come see them for yourself, Dec through Feb, at the Zao Onsen Ski Resort!

visitmiyagi.com/contents/sno...

#Zao #蔵王 #SnowMonsters #Wintertime #JETAA #Japan
Snow Monsters of Zao - VISIT MIYAGI
Frozen natural wonders
visitmiyagi.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:38 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
ICYMI, Edo Hashiri—or running like an Edo Japanese—is apparently far more efficient than modern-day Western-style running. Edo period couriers reportedly ran 160 km or more per day using these techniques!

www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/e...

#Running #EdoHashiri #江戸走り #大場克則 #JETAA #Japan
Edo-Era 'Sideways Running': Japan's Brilliantly Weird New Meme
Meet Ooba Katsunori, a researcher responsible for turning Edo-period running techniques into one of Japan’s unlikeliest viral sensations.
www.tokyoweekender.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:30 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Rapidus is a national project aimed at making Japan competitive in the global semiconductor industry. Now the project has expanded to include creation of a "Hokkaido Valley"—based on Calif.'s Silicon Valley.

newsonjapan.com/article/1456...

#Tech #Future #HokkaidoValley #SiliconValley #JETAA #Japan
Hokkaido to Build Japan's Silicon Valley by 2050
The newly established Hokkaido Valley Vision Council aims to create a 'Hokkaido version of Silicon Valley' by promoting development around next-generation semiconductor firm Rapidus and transforming t...
newsonjapan.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:39 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Starting a business is one way to stay in Japan post-JET or return later on, but is it realistic? Hear what 12 international start-up entrepreneurs share about founding a business in Japan.

www.fukuoka-now.com/en/startup-v...

#Entrepreneur #Start-Up #BusinessVisa #CareerPath #PostJET #JETAA #Japan
Real Startup Visa Experiences: What It’s Like Building a Company in Fukuoka | Fukuoka Now
Thanks to the twelve international founders featured in our recent Startup Visa article for joining us last Friday evening at CIC Fukuoka for...
www.fukuoka-now.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Happiness-bringing demons from Oita's Kunisaki Peninsula are traveling to Italy!

Well actually, it's monks from Tennenji Temple in Oita visiting Milan to perform the Shujo Onie ritual—fire and all—on Dec 7.

www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

#ShujoOnie #Happiness #CulturalHeritage #Italy #JETAA #Japan
Oita demons heading to Milan for fiery Shujo Onie ritual | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Shujo Onie, a traditional demon-filled ritual celebrating the Lunar New Year on Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita Prefecture, will be performed in Milan on Dec. 7, its first overseas show in 30 years.
www.asahi.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:42 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
Winter in Hokkaido brings a frigid beauty to the landscape, a beauty that the illumination of the Blue Pond distills into pure elegance.

english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/6...

#BluePond #青い池 #Illumination #Winter #Hokkaido #JETAA #Japan
Hokkaido's famous Blue Pond shimmers at annual illumination
The annual winter illumination is underway at Hokkaido's famous "Aoi Ike" Blue Pond, drawing visitors eager to witness the ethereal transformation of the landscape.
english.kyodonews.net
November 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
JR East is launching teppay, a new mobile payment system, in 2026 with the goal of streamlining cashless payments.

Described as an "all-in-one digital wallet," teppay will be integrated directly into Suica and Pasmo.

www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainmen...

#MobilePayments #Teppay #JETAA #Japan
JR East Announces Teppay: A New All-in-One Digital Wallet
The update will allow for QR code payments, peer-to-peer money transfers and beyond. Here's everything you need to know.
www.tokyoweekender.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Itami's classic film "Tampopo" spotlights food—the French restaurant, ramen, the hobo making an illicit omraisu.

This 40th-anniversary essay celebration of Tampopo explores all these gastronomic connections.

www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025...

#Tampopo #Film #Itami #40thAnniversary #JETAA #Japan
Eat, slurp, love: 'Tampopo' turns 40
Four decades on, Juzo Itami's film remains unsurpassed as a wicked and delicious social commentary on Japanese society told through the lens of food.
www.japantimes.co.jp
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
jetwit.bsky.social
Sanjusangendo, established in 1164, is illuminating its 1,001 golden Buddhas and opening the hall for public viewing through Nov 24. This is the first time the temple has held such an event.

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/tra...

#Sanjusangendo #Kyoto #Illumination #GoldenBuddhas #JETAA #Japan
1,001 Buddhist Statues Illuminated at Kyoto Temple Hall in Limited-time Event
<p>KYOTO — The Sanjusangendo temple hall in Kyoto was filled with a solemn atmosphere when its 1,001 golden Buddhist statues were illuminated on Friday evening, the day before the start of its first s...
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
November 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
jetwit.bsky.social
The newly released film "Rental Family" highlights rent-a-person businesses in Japan. This article takes a deeper look into the industry and how it meets people's emotional needs.

www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

#RentalFamilyFilm #Rent-a-Person #Society #EmotionalNeeds #JETAA #Japan
‘Rental Family’ spotlights real-life Japanese businesses that offer fill-in relatives, friends | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Ryuichi Ichinokawa’s life could be right out of the movie “Rental Family” as the founder nearly two decades ago of the Heart Project business in Japan, which he bills as a surrogate attendance service...
www.asahi.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM