JET Programme recruitment
JLGC this winter again supported the Embassy of Japan in their recruitment drive for the JET Programme, attending and manning a stand at job fairs in York and Leicester universities. Interviews took place in January and February, again with support from JLGC, for Assistant Language Teacher and Coordinators for International Relations positions throughout Japan in local authorities and boards of education from summer 2019. The JET Alumni Association UK (sponsored by JLGC) also supports the Embassy with JET alumni attending and speaking at such events throughout the UK.
The Programme [LINK] was established in 1987, with 848 participants from four countries. Since then, the number of participants has increased significantly, with over 4,000 graduates from around 40 different countries currently participating and over 60,000 alumni globally (over 10,000 from the UK). Its expansion highlights the Japanese Government’s commitment to the Programme and overwhelming support for the scheme at a local level.
TMG visit to London
A workshop on Travel Demand Management during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics was organised by Transport for London for Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials this month.
Delegates heard the positive impact on the Games and enhancing the city for residents and workers during the Games and how work has been sustained beyond 2012 to utilise the lessons and systems to alleviate congestion on the travel network during busy periods. Tokyo officials were also able to share materials and concepts from their own recent ‘Jisa Biz’ campaign to benefit Tokyo commuters through staggered journey timings.
The workshop was an outcome of a recent meeting between the London mayor Sadiq Khan and the Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike at City Hall, where the two Olympic host cities agreed to collaborate on such knowledge exchange between games.
While in London further visits were also arranged to the London Borough of Southwark, hosted by recent participants the JLGC Japan Study Tour, and the London Borough of Waltham Forest (this year’s inaugural London Borough of Culture) to examine the local impact of flexible working on its changing workforce and coworking spaces for economic development respectively.
Taken together, the visits presented an opportunity for Tokyo Metropolitan Government to learn and reflect on London’s recent policies in economic development and innovation ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Kagoshima visit to Manchester and Camden
JLGC supported a visit by staff from Kagoshima Prefecture Government, who were in the UK to support exchange activities with recent twinning link partners in Manchester and Camden Borough in London. Kagoshima will work on a range of projects with Manchester City Council based on heritage and shared history, starting with the 1872 Iwakura Ambassador’s mission when Japanese leading statesmen and scholars visited the UK to learn about industrial technology and the modern state, returning to Japan to start the epochal reforms of the Meiji Reformation and start of the modern era. Exchange activities will be based around industrial heritage and education with student exchanges for young people in both countries.
The London Borough of Camden has similar shared historical links with Kagoshima, and has a range of activities planned including public exhibitions. Many thanks to Manchester City Council and Camden Council for their welcome and cooperation.
German JET welcome-back event
JLGC staff travelled to Berlin Winter 2018 to meet with Embassy of Japan staff, to discuss future events with the German JET Alumni Association as well as attend an event for the JET participants returning home after their time in Japan at local authorities and boards of education throughout the country.
The JET Programme celebrates 30 years of German participants taking part in one of the world’s largest educational and youth exchanges, with an anniversary event planned for later in 2019. German participants of JET wishing to know more, as well as any nationality former JET living in Germany, Austria or Switzerland can contact mailbox@jlgc.org.uk for more information regarding the plans.
Hyper Japan
JLGC once again pitched a stall at Hyper Japan, where visitors can get a taste of regional culture from Japan. The event is the largest J-culture festival in the UK. Hyper Japan was held 16-18 November at Olympia London. Along with JLGC/CLAIR, the annual event is sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in the UK, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Foundation and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) etc. Local authorities from Japan are increasingly attending and exhibiting to promote the unique charms of their regions.
Season of Culture details
JLGC has been supporting the embassy on the upcoming “Japan-UK Season of Culture” which will unfold in 2019 and 2020, when Japan hosts two sporting landmarks: the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.
Events supporting UK – Japan links are eligible for registration, and those related to the four highlighted themes of Disability Sports, Future Generations, Designing a Society for the Future (e.g. cutting-edge technologies which may help in solving global issues), and Washoku (Japanese cuisine) and Japanese Sake are particularly welcome.
Events should be aimed at advancing mutual understanding between Japanese and British people, particularly the next generation. For more details of the projects listed and how to register see HERE [LINK]
JETAA UK AGM
The JET Alumni Association Annual General Meeting was held in Liverpool by the North West Chapter 26-27 March, with representatives from the UK’s four current active chapters, all discussing events and activities over the last year and strategies to improve engagement and member attendance at events in 2018. JETAA UK is a grassroots voluntary not-for-profit organisation working with JLGC and the Embassy of Japan in the UK, supporting links between the two countries through activities and events. The two days were spent discussing future direction and included a workshop focusing on stakeholder expectations for 2019 and beyond. This year was the last AGM to be attended by the outgoing chair Sarah Parsons (Midlands Chapter), with Rob Gorton (also Midlands Chapter) taking the role from 2019. Many thanks to Sarah for her massive contribution over the last few years, and to North West chapter chair Corrina Ellis and committee members for a warm welcome and a very well organised two days.
