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１. Introduction of New JLGC Staff 	  Kotaro Kashiwai, Assistant Director, Repre-­sentative of Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture

JETAA USA NATIONAL CONFERENCEISSUE NO. 90 / OCTOBER 2017

1. Introduction of New
JLGC Staff (Page 1-­5)
2. Japanese Governors
Attended the NGA Summer
Meeting (Page 6）

3. USJETAA Celebrates
30 Years of JET at theJET30 Reunion (Page 6-­9)+HOORP\QDPHLV.RWDUR.DVKLZDL,·PIURP
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working for Japan Local Government Center
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Matsue City, which is not a well-­knowncity, even among Japanese people.
Matsue City is the capital of Shimane
Prefecture, in Southwest Japan.
A former feudal stronghold, Matsue City,
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with many canals and boasts one of the twelve remaining
original castles in Japan. Matsue City also prides itself on
being famous for its beautiful sunsets over Lake Shinji.
As an International City of Culture andTourism, Matsue City and its surround-­ing areas are rich in cultural assets andhistorical sites, and many of Japan's
most ancient legends are set in the area.

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2&72%(5 ,668(【Sightseeing】
Matsue Castle and Surroundings
Completed in 1611, Matsue Castle was built over a five-­year period by
Horio Yoshiharu, feudal lord and founder of Matsue. It was designatedas a national treasure in 2015.
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often compared to the wings of a plover bird, which has led to the
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panoramic view of the castle grounds and the city.
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castle moat that is lined with traditional Japanese houses on one sideand majestic pine trees on the other. It has been designated as a
traditional aesthetic zone. A finely preserved samurai residence (bukeyashiki), open to public viewing, is located at the half-­way point of thisstreet. There, you can see what life was like for a middle-­class samurai in the Edo period.
You can also enjoy the Horikawa Sightseeing Boat tour, which circles
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interest which you may not see otherwise. The boat also passes underparticularly low-­built bridges from time to time, meaning thepassengers need to duck down as the boat passes underneath thebridges. Kotatsu heaters are placed in the boat during winter and passengers can literally
experience the "warmth" of Japanese tradition.
Daikonshima Island and Yuushien Garden
The flat island of Daikonshima is one of the nation's most celebrated
producers of Japanese peonies and ginseng. There is Yuushien Garden
on Daikonshima Island, which is famous as a beautiful traditional
Japanese garden. It is designed as a walk-­through garden with ponds,streams and small waterfalls. Its main attraction, the peony flower,
blooms in winter and spring, and the garden is resplendent year round with a variety ofseasonal blooms, such as irises and hydrangeas in summer, as well as sasanqua camellias and´PRPLMLµIROLDJHLQDXWXPQ3HRQLHVDUHDOVRNHSWLQDKRWKRXVHZKHUHWKHLUEORVVRPVFDQEH
viewed all year round.

Ϯ2&72%(5 ,668(Tamatsukuri Hot Spring
Tamatsukuri hot spring is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan. ThisKRWVSULQJZDVILUVWPHQWLRQHGLQWKH´&KURQLFOHVRI,]XPR3URYLQFHµ
in 733, where it is said that the gods themselves enjoyed bathing
here. It is now a popular destination with those looking for a more
tranquil Japan, and has excellent dermatological properties, said to
LPSURYHWKHHODVWLFLW\RIEDWKHUV·VNLQ【Food】
Wagashi (Japanese Confectionaries) and Matcha Green Tea
In the 18th century, a Lord of Matsue Castle deeply loved the tea
ceremony. Under his influence, drinking matcha green tea servedwith wagashi became a part of daily life for many locals. You can findmany wagashi shops all around town. In the Matsue History
Museum, you can watch Mr. Tsugio Itami, one of the mostdistinguished wagashi makers in Japan, perform his art in front ofyou. You can also learn how to make your own wagashi at the Karakoro Art Studio.
Izumo Soba (Buckwheat Noodles)
Handmade Izumo soba has a darker grey-­black color, firmer texture,and more aroma than typical soba in Japan. We normally serve it in
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you will like the firmer texture, aroma and taste, of course.

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delicious foods, and other attractions in Matsue City. You would also have the chance to visit
other cities near Matsue City, as well as famous places like the Izumo Taisha shrine, which is
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also listed as a three-­star site in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
For more information about Matsue City, please check out our official website:Visit Matsue: https://www.visit-­matsue.com/

ϯ2&72%(5 ,668(

Sayaka Mochizuki, Assistant Director, Representative of Yamanashi
Prefecture【Great to meet you!】
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Government Center (CLAIR, New York) since this April. I originally come
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so please let me introduce my home, Yamanashi!
【Belly button of Japan】
Yamanashi is situated in central Japan and located next to Tokyo. So you
can get to the central city of Yamanashi in about 1 hour 30 minutes bytrain.
The climate of Yamanashi includes large temperature swings between
summer and winter. Therefore, the prefecture undergoes distinctively
visible changes among the four seasons.
【Sightseeing】
Yamanashi is surrounded by high mountains and almost 80% covered by forests. It isblessed with natural beauty like Mt.Fuji, the Five Fuji Lakes, and the Shosen-­kyo andNishizawa Valleys. We can enjoy colorful vistas in each season.

【Activities】
The Samurai Festival: SHINGEN-­KO FESTIVAL
The people of Yamanashi celebrate the famous warlord ofthe Sengoku era, Takeda Shingen, every spring. The main
highlight is the parade in which more than 1,000 people
dress in traditional Samurai costumes and they re-­enactϰ  2&72%(5 ,668(the deployment of a battalion of samurai. And if you want, you can participate in the parade
as a Samurai after making a reservation and paying the participation fee.
Thrilling amusement park: Fuji-­Q HighlandFuji-­Q Highland is located at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Along with appreciating
Mt. Fuji, you can enjoy various thrilling world-­class rides such as´'2'213$µZLWKDPD[LPXPVSHHGRINPSHUKRXU+RZHYHUWKHUH
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can spend time playing in fun Thomas-­themed attractions like a train rideand mini roller coaster that are safe and great for young children.
【Foods】
One food nurtured from our renowned waters: Fruits
Thanks to the blessings of being surrounded by mountains,
Yamanashi has clean and delicious water. These renowned waters
nurture juicy fruits year-­round. You can go to Yamanashi farms andpick fruit with your own hands and eat it.
Healthy miso vegetable stew: Hoto
Hoto is a local specialty of Yamanashi. It features an abundance of
seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin, mushrooms, and potatoes
stewed in a miso broth together with long, wide, flat noodles. Hotothat has been left to sit overnight and is eaten the next day isespecially delicious. It is a well-­balanced food.
This confection looks like a drop of water: Mizu Shingen Mochi
Mizu Shingen Mochi is a Japanese-­style confection served with soy
powder and brown sugar syrup. You can get it only at a shop, since it
can only hold its form for up to 30 minutes. Also, it is sold for a limited
time from June to September. Mizu Shingen Mochi looks like a crossbetween jelly and edible water!
For more information about Yamanashi Prefecture, please look at our official site: http://www.yamanashi-­kankou.jp/english/index.html,·PUHDOO\KDSS\LI\RXKDYHEHFRPHLQWHUHVWHGLQ<DPDQDVKL7KDQN\RXIRUUHDGLQJϱ2&72%(5 ,668(2. Japanese Governors Attended the NGA Summer Meeting  Kaori Kurauchi, Assistant Director, Representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications
Japanese governors talked with their U.S. partners at the National Governors Association(NGA) Summer Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, which was held from July 13rd to 15th.
Two Japanese governors, Gov. Taizo Mikazuki (Shiga Prefecture)
and Gov. Shinji Hirai (Tottori Prefecture), attended the meeting as
representatives of the Japan National Governors Association. On
the first day of the meeting, they conferred with NGA Chair Gov.
Terry McAuliffe (Virginia), Vice Chair Gov. Brian Sandoval(Nevada), Gov. Steve Bullock (Montana), and Gov. Larry Hogan(Maryland).
Both U.S. and Japanese governors focused on international trade
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eagerness to work with each other. Gov. Mikazuki agreed andhighlighted the importance of working together on issues involving
international trade and investment promotion.
In their conversation, Gov. Hirai suggested that the two countries resume the U.S.-­Japan*RYHUQRUV·0HHWLQJDIWHUD-­year hiatus. The U.S. governors showed considerable interestand they agreed to continue efforts to enhance the relationship between the U.S. and Japan.
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strengthen the friendship between the U.S. and Japanese governors.

3. USJETAA Celebrates 30 Years of JET at the JET30 Reunion  Laurel S. Lukaszewski, Executive Director, USJETAA, ALT, Kagoshima-­ken 1990-­1992
This summer, the United States Japan Exchange and Teaching ProgrammeAlumni Association (USJETAA) was proud to host the JET30 Reunion
celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the JET Programme. The event was heldat the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, on August 4-­6, 2017.
Over 280 alumni of the JET Program, who served on every year of the pro-­gram since 1987, in 46 of the 47 Japanese prefectures, gathered from acrossthe United States, Canada, Japan, Jamaica and Brazil. The weekend Reunion
brought back fond memories of their time in Japan, and enabled alumni to re-­connect with friends and colleagues that they had not seen in years.

ϲ2&72%(5 ,668(As attendees arrived, they had the opportunity to enjoy off-­site
excursions to the Library of Congress to view the Asia Collection
and to Discovery Communications for a behind the scenes tour ofthe Discovery Channel in Silver Spring, MD. Others enjoyedreliving traditional Japan in Natsukashii Hall, participating in
the tea ceremony, observing traditional Japanese woodworking,playing go, and watching an engaging kendo demonstration.
Panels at Natsukashii Hall
Organizations like the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, The
Mike Mansfield Fellowship, iiiCareers, InsideJapan Tours and JNTO all provided information
about their programs and services, encouraging individuals to maintain and enhance theirconnections to Japan.
The formal program started on Friday afternoon, highlighted by welcome remarks by Paige
Cottingham-­Streater, Chair, USJETAA, Masahiro Fukukawa, Executive Consultant, CLAIR,and Atsuyuki Oike, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan. They were followed by Tom
9LFNFXUDWRURIILOPDWWKH6PLWKVRQLDQ)UHHU6DFNOHU*DOOHULHVZKRVHWDON´1DWVXNDVKLL-DSDQ7KURXJK)LOPµIROORZHGWKHSUROLILFDQGLQIOXHQWLDOFDUHHURI
film director Seijun Suzuki.
)RXU-(7DOXPQLFRQWULEXWHGWRWKHSDQHO´6WUHQJWKHQLQJ86-­Japan Relations: 1987-­µ0RGHUDWHGE\-LP*DQQRQExecutive Director, JCIE (ALT 1992-­1994) with panelists Paige
Cottingham-­Streater, Executive Director, Japan-­U.S. Friendship
Commission (ALT 1988-­1989), Jim Schoff, Senior Fellow, Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (ALT 1988-­1989), and David
Boling, Deputy Assistant, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative(ALT 1988-­1989). The panel shared not only the changes in theU.S.-­Japan relationship over the past 30 years, but personal
stories about their time on JET and how it influenced them asprofessionals.
The panel was followed by guest speaker, and JET alumna, Dr.
Emily Metzgar (ALT 1993-­1995), Associate Professor of Public
Diplomacy at Indiana University, whose recently published book,
The JET Program and the U.S.-­Japan Relationship: GoodwillGoldmine, highlights the role JET alumni have played
strengthening the U.S.-­Japan ties on all levels, especially in thearena of public diplomacy.

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-­Japan Relations: 1987-­µ

Dr. Emily Metzgar

That evening, attendees were welcomed to the exquisite Japanese$PEDVVDGRU·V5HVLGHQFHE\'HSXW\&KLHIRI0LVVLRQ$WVX\XNL
Oike. Alumni enjoyed touring the tea room, networking withfriends old and new, and getting a taste of authentic Japanesecuisine including sushi, ramen, tempura and other favorites.
Reception at Japanese$PEDVVDGRU·V5HVLGHQFHϳ2&72%(5 ,668(Throughout Saturday, the JET30 Reunion featured panels and discussions highlighting theinteresting and successful paths many alumni have taken since returning from JET. Len
Schoppa, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia (Mombusho English Fellow, 1984-­
1985) shared what it was like to be an ALT in the early days of teaching English in Japan.
Alumni Keith Krulak, former International Economist at the U.S. Departments of Treasuryand State (ALT 1993-­ PRGHUDWHGDSDQHORIDOXPQL´,QYHVWLQJLQ&KDQJHµZLWKVSHDNHUVTracy Washington, Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation of The
World Bank (ALT 1991-­1992), Shawn Escoferry, Program Director of Strong Local Economies,
Surdna Foundation (ALT 1998-­1999), and Gisela Camba, J.D.
Candidate, GWU National Law Center (ALT 2010-­2012). Overlunch, where alumni were seated by prefecture, Mark Frey,JETAA USA Country Representative (ALT 2002-­2006), moderated
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President & CEO of World Affairs Councils of America (ALT 1987-­1989) and Amy Boots, Executive Director, Japan-­America Societyof Pennsylvania (ALT 2008-­2010), whose organizations strive tocreate international and grassroots connections among Americans, 7KHSDQHO´,QYHVWLQJLQ&KDQJHµJapanese and others in local communities.
Between the morning panels, the Japan-­America Society of Wash-­ington, D.C. hosted a mini Japan Bowl Competition, challenging
JET alumni to remember their Japanese language and cultureknowledge. Based on the annual national competition for highschool students, the Japan Bowl proved to be a fun way for alumni,
who were seated by years on JET, to try and recall some very ob-­scure vocabulary and facts about life in Japan! Even those whose
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joyed the challenge.

Mini Japan Bowl Competition

In the afternoon, attendees had a choice of breakout sessions to hear from alumni speaking on
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didate, GWU (ALT 2010-­2013) with discussants Masahiro Fukukawa, Executive Consultant,
CLAIR, Seana Magee, Reporter, Kyodo News (ALT 1988-­1990), and Greg Aurit, Educationaland Exchanges Officer, U.S. Embassy Tokyo (ALT 2002-­ ´0DNLQJWKH1HWZRUN:RUNµ
was moderated by Monica Yuki, JETAA USA Country Rep (ALT 2002-­2004) with Laurel
Lukaszewski, Executive Director, USJETAA (ALT 1990-­1992), Xander Peterson, Chair,JETAA International (ALT 2009-­2012), Steven Horowitz, Founder & Editor, JETwit (ALT1992-­1994), and Andrew Ou, Acting Director of the Office of Taiwan Coordination, U.S. De-­partment of State (CIR 1995-­ $QG´-(7V(GXFDWLQJWKH1H[W*HQHUDWLRQµZDVIDFLOLWDW
ed by Len Schoppa with discussants Roderick Jemison, Head of School, International School ofAsia (ISAK) (ALT 1992-­1994), Mya Fisher, Director of Education, U.S.-­Japan Council (ALT2000-­2002), and Shanti Shoji, Vice President & Co-­Founder, Kizuna Across Cultures (KAC)(ALT 2002-­2004).

ϴ2&72%(5 ,668(The final session of the day began with an energetic demonstration of martial arts by Aikido ofArlington. This was followed by an engaging and wonderfully entertaining talk with author
and translator Zack Davisson (ALT 2001-­2006) and Michael Richey, Editor of Tofugu (ALT2008-­2010).
After a full day, alumni were invited to celebrate at the Natsu Matsuri,
starting with a networking reception featuring summertime games,
lanterns, and many colorful yukata and jimbei worn by attendees on
the outdoor terrace. This was followed by a buffet dinner and excitingraffle drawing with prizes generously donated by organizations andindividuals, including ANA, with two roundtrip tickets from the U.S. toTokyo, and selections of Japan-­related books from Chin Music Pressand Stonebridge Press. After dinner, attendees moved back outside toWKHORZHUWHUUDFHWRKHDUDOXPQLVKDUHVWRULHVRI´)DPH )RUWXQHµDW
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acting as emcee. It was a delightfully entertaining end to a long andfun day.

As the event came to a close on Sunday, alumni had a final chance tomeet up informally with excursions around DC, including an Urban
Hike on the National Mall and a whiskey tasting at DC Distilling in the U Street Corridor.
Whether reconnecting with Japanese culture in the Natsukashii Hall by participating in thetea ceremony, trying out traditional Japanese woodworking tools, or having a chance to wear ayukata that has been in storage since leaving Japan at the Natsu Matsuri, alumni throughout
the weekend were delighted to celebrate 30 years of memories and a passion for a country they
once called home. As alumni departed the weekend, the Planning Committee heard over andover how meaningful the weekend had been. USJETAA is particularly grateful to the JET30Reunion Planning Committee members who spent the past year orchestrating the event, andto all of the alumni who volunteered throughout the weekend³otsukaresama deshita!

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without the strong support of funders and do-­nors. USJETAA is grateful to the Japan Foun-­dation Center for Global Partnership, CLAIR,
Sachiko Kuno Foundation, U.S.-­Japan Foun-­dation, JCAW Foundation, ANA, SAN-­J,Cheryl Hou, Takeo Yuki Family Foundation,and the Young-­Champaloux Families.
USJETAA also thanks all of the alumni andfriends of JET who joined us to celebrate 30years of the JET Program. For more infor-­mation about USJETAA and our ongoing ac-­tivities, please visit us at www.usjetaa.org.

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