Along with anime and J-pop, the Japanese game industry is another influential export of the country. My guest, Catherine (Cat) Dinh now works at Ubisoft Osaka, and we talk about the industry, work practices and a valuable trait that a non-Japanese worker can bring to a Japanese workplace.

Game Changing: Game Designer

Many of us go through several restarts and pivots. For Natalie Hamilton, it's been a full circle going back to teaching and finding her passion and purpose (including time to publish a textbook on kanji). Join us for a discussion on what that's like, and why finding purpose is an ever-changing destination.

Footnotes:
Natalie's book on kanji can be found at: https://thekanjicode.com/the-kanji-code-study-guide/
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Music for this episode is A Journey by Kevin Hartnell, from the Free Music Archive, under license type CC BY-SA.

The After JET podcast is generously supported by CLAIR, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, but is otherwise an independent personal project. All views expressed on this podcast are the independent opinions of podcast participants and do not represent any organisation that participants are connected with or work for.

After JET - Life Changes

Oh the places you’ll go. Dr Seuss's poem nicely describes the post-JET life of my guest, Sam Baldwin - journalist, start-up techie and author. A desire to live the outdoor mountain life led him to living and working in Slovenia in a 300-yo cabin. He chronicles his journey and love for his adopted country in his upcoming book, Dormice and Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia. Sam's description of this overlooked corner of Europe is very evocative - anyone want to do a trip?

Footnotes:
- Sam's portfolio site: sambaldwin.me (https://www.sambaldwin.me/)

Music for the episode is Snow Drift by HoliznaCCO, from the album Winter LoFi, with a public domain license and sourced from freemusicarchive.org

The After JET podcast is generously supported by the Council of local authorities for International relations or CLAIR, but is otherwise an independent personal project by me, Eden Law. All views and opinions expressed on this podcast are the personal opinions of podcast participants and are not the official views of any organisation that participants are part of, connected with, or work for.

Oh, the Places You'll Go: Writer and Journalist

Against the odds, a tiny Icelandic town speaks of a local Black ancestor. Geneticists and historians combine forces to uncover the man’s eventful life.

A Trail Gone Cold

Living to another country can be a source of inspiration. And you could meet kindred spirits that make you feel like you belong. My guest, Luke Cuerden, talks about finding a welcoming creative community and how much that has inspired him creatively and professionally. We also talk about the music scene in Tokyo, and what jazz and metal have in common.

- Connect with Luke on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harroruke/ 
- Check out Red Dragon Blues on YT: www.youtube.com/@reddragonblues7231

Music and Brotherhood: The Musician

Tourism is one of those careers that is a good fit for JETs - after all, we are passionate advocates for our second homes in Japan, and have explored every nook and cranny, probably more so than locals who have lived there all their lives. Continuing with the theme of ex-JETs who now work in the Japanese public sector, we'll be speaking to our guest, Andy Coombs, who currently works for the Fukushima City Tourism and Convention Association. He'll talk about what's involved, the challenges, his ambitions for Fukushima tourism, the benefits of selectively and softly applying the gaijin-smash approach, and of course, since we're both ex-JETs from Fukushima, we'll be shamelesly flying the flag and showing much rabu-rabu (love) for the best little prefecture in Japan. 

A mild language advisory warning since we (ok me) will be swearing just a teeny-tiny bit.

Andy manages the following official Fukushima Tourism social media channels:
- Fukushima Tourism on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Fukushima.Guide/
- Fukushima Tourism on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fukushima.guide/
- Fukushima Tourism site - https://fukushima-guide.jp/

We mentioned several places of interest on the podcast: 
- Aizuwakamatsu, the samurai city: http://samurai-city.jp/en/
- Lake Inawashiro: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1743/
- Goshikunuma (Five Coloured Lakes): https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/attractions/detail_1287.html
- Soma Nomaoi (Samurai Festival): https://www.kyuhoshi.com/soma-nomaoi/
- Iizaka Kenka Matsuri (Fighting Festival): https://voyapon.com/fukushima-iizaka-kenka-matsuri/
- Yanaizu Hadaka Mairi (Naked Temple Visit): https://rediscoverfukushima.com/2018/01/10/yanaizu-naked-man-festival/
- Iwaki: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7775.html

For the translating accreditation and other associations mentioned in this podcast:
- JAT (Japan Association of Translators): https://jat.org/
- NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters - Australia only): https://www.naati.com.au/
- Fukushima International Association: http://www.worldvillage.org/english/

Music for this episode: "Coming Home" (from Step by Step) by Stefano Vita is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License, and available on freemusicarchive.org

Be Our Guest: Promoting Tourism

Featuring the lives, stories and careers from the global JET Programme alumni community. And usually, our stories begin with "This one time in Japan..." - our best, our silliest and our fondest.

Share your story! Contact webmaster@jetaainternational.org

Be Our Guest: Promoting Tourism

After JET

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