~ Article & photos from former JET participant / JETAA WA president Nick John ~
I was lucky enough to be on the JET Programme as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture, between 2003 and 2006. Ako is a beautiful city nestled on the Seto Inland Sea, just before the border with Okayama.
I have been able to visit Ako at least once a year since I returned to Australia — to visit family! I met my wife in Ako, and we were married at the local shrine in 2005. We now have three wonderful children — Monika, Saaya and Issei — who look forward to seeing their Japanese grandparents every year. Heading back to Ako also gives me the chance to catch up with all the teachers, other staff and community members that were so supportive of me during my stint there.
I also look forward to seeing what all my former students are doing. Now that they are adults, it’s great to catch up and hear about their lives. My family has been happy to welcome a few of them to stay with us here in Australia too.
Somewhat unfortunately, my primary career has no real connection to Japan. I am a lawyer currently seconded to WA Police. That job, and my kids, certainly keeps me busy.
In that context, the JET Alumni Association has been a valuable opportunity to remain connected to Japan while I am in Australia. I believe JETAAWA is one of the most energetic and committed alumni associations of which I am aware. I was lucky enough to be the President from around 2008 to 2013. We launched, and have maintained, a number of rewarding and useful initiatives and events, such as the charity quiz night and the fortnightly kaiWA conversation meeting. I believe that we have significantly contributed to promoting JET and Japan, maintaining ex-JETs’ links to Japan, and helping Japanese visitors to Perth make friends and form networks — which itself has, in parallel, served to keep ex-JETs connected to Japanese people, culture and language.
We are very grateful to CLAIR and the Government of Japan for the ongoing support and assistance in facilitating our activities.
Another way in which I have maintained my ties to Japan is through translation and interpreting. I am a NAATI-accredited Professional Translator, and also take interpreting assignments when convenient and feasible. My most interesting assignment thus far, assisted by my legal background, has been interpreting for a Japanese High Court judge who spent a week researching the Western Australian jury system and community corrections programs. I do not have a lot of time for translation or interpreting, but I do try to find the opportunities where I can. A number of organisations hold literary translation competitions, which I endeavour to enter where possible. This year has been rewarding in that regard — I have been lucky enough to win the annual competition held by Kurodahan Press, and be selected as a runner-up in the Japanese Literature Publishing Project conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. For the latter, I was flown to Tokyo for the awards ceremony and a symposium on literary translation, and have been invited back later this year for further development opportunities. I hope to ‘translate’ those opportunities into published works in the near future. It should be obvious from the above that the JET Programme, supported by CLAIR, has been a fateful and crucial part of my life!
