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The Speech by Consul General Kiyokazu OTA to New JETs on the Occasion of Their Imminent Departure to Japan (July 23, 2010)
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
New JET participants: congratulations on your selection. Welcome to the JET family and welcome to my residence. Today I have four points for you to keep in mind as you depart on your respective adventures.
I. Have confidence
My first message to you is: be confident in yourselves. Tomorrow you are leaving for Japan on a jet plane. Take good care of yourselves, as you are sure to be jet-lagged.
Japan is the unknown for many of you. You will be sent to various parts of the country from north to south, from schools to prefectural offices, from metropolitan areas to rural ones. You are to take up your individual assignments, which are completely new to you. Undoubtedly, you have high hopes for Japan and your upcoming experiences, as well as some worries. It is a new challenge for you, but you have been carefully selected out of many applicants over the last several months, so you can trust in yourselves.
II. Do your best
You are serving as Assistant Language Teachers or Coordinators of International Relations at prefectural offices. The schools and local governments have high expectations of you to contribute to their students and offices. In the places you are going only you can lead lessons as native speakers, and only you can contribute to international activities as non-Japanese. You will be paid by the taxes of your neighbors, so please do your best for them.
III. Exchange: your mission as a cultural ambassador
JET Program stands for Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. View the word exchange as your mission! You have the mission to convey Pacific Northwest American life, culture and customs to your Japanese counterparts. In turn, you will have a great opportunity to learn about the culture, customs, manners and language of Japan. In short, you are the grassroots ambassadors between our two countries. After you return home, you will be able to deliver your own messages from Japan to America. We hope you will join JETAA and be friends of Japan for the rest of your lives.
IV. Enjoy yourselves
It is often said that “every situation is different” when participating in the JET program. This is true on several levels. Each of you will discover a different Japan, not just because of your circumstances, but also because of your personalities. You may encounter customs you find strange or don’t agree with, but, in the words of Albert Einstein: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” If you keep your eyes open, you are certain to also find something you will like. By focusing on your strengths and the things you find fun, you will more easily make friends and cherish your time in Japan.
No matter where you are going, enjoy your work. Please make many friends, and you may even meet boyfriends and girlfriends! Travel around the country! Try new things! Communicate with your new friends over drinks and Japanese cuisine. In Japanese, “nomu” means “to drink”. We combine this with the word communication and call it “nomu-nication.” I hope you accomplish your mission of exchange via “nomu-nication” with your new friends in Japan.
In closing:
Thank you very much for coming to my residence today, and thank you for going to Japan tomorrow! I wish you a safe flight and good luck with your challenges. You can practice “nomu-nication” today with your colleagues.
Thank you for listening!