Wanted: JETAA Canada Rep
The call for platforms for the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) Canada's Country Representative has begun and we're looking for interested candidates! The Canada Representative is integral to unifying Canada's various…
Meet Your New Exec
Introducing the 2013 JETAA Toronto Executive Co-Chairs: Nadine Bukhman & Julia Rozinowicz Treasurer: Sonia Cheng Secretary: Eunice Leung Conference Coordinator: Chris Draenos (?) Community Liaison: Hitoshi Murakami Membership…
Speaker Series Report
On December 5, JETAA was pleased to invite Eri Asai to come to the Japan Foundation to speak about her experiences as a Japanese film maker in Canada.
Ms. Asai screened two short films and discussed her experiences in a creative field while juggling the roles of wife, mother of two, immigrant and university student.
The first film presented, Momiji, was a short film based on her experiences as a newcomer to Canada. Screened at Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival in November, Momiji is a window in the mind of the director and her experiences raising a family in a new country. The second documentary, Stray Dogs, is a look at a romantic relationship in progress.
Restaurant Review: Sansotei Ramen
Continuing his search for a great bowl of ramen, Johnson Kong steps into Sansotei Ramen on Dundas.
For me, one of the delights on a cold winter day in Japan would be to
step out of the cold and dig into a steaming bowl of noodles at a
corner ramen shop. Nothing fancy about décor or style necessary – a
personal touch of history here and there perhaps. My favourite finds
were the holes-in-the-wall places where you were pretty much sitting
in someone’s tatami living room; often there would be an old TV
perched in a corner wafting the bland voice of an NHK announcer
reading the local news.
While there isn’t a TV (or at least one that I could see, anyway) in
Sansotei, as one of the newest ramen shops on the Toronto scene, it
stands out for its little-ramen-shop feel that I’ve been looking for
here since returning from Japan. Located on Dundas between Bay and
University, the sign on the store is so small that I walked past it
twice and had to look at what the window-counter singles were eating
to enter. Whereupon, I had to wait in line for one of the 34 seats –
though theoretically more people could probably fit on the benches.
Changing Of The Diplomats
This month two high level diplomats at the Japanese Consulate were reassigned to other positions: Masuya Otsuka-san, Director of Culture, the former JIC at the JCCC, and head of the…
Update Your Information For Consulate
The Consulate General of Japan would like to send a report highlighting all the positives of JET, JETAA and how you all contribute to your community and use the experiences…
JETAA Fighting Carps Win Gold!
The rain stayed away on Sunday, September 9 as JETAA Toronto aimed to recreate the team spirit that encompasses Sports Day in Japan. Against the backdrop of Marilyn Bell Park’s dragon boat event, JET alumni got together to test their skill, speed and agility and to cheer on the JETAA Fighting Carps Dragon Boat team. (more…)
Growing Up Japanese
Sending the Kid to Ikebata Nursery School
By Johnson Kong
When the time came for us to look at daycare options for the kid, a Japanese language environment for her social and cultural development was on the top of our lists. We felt that it was important for our child to have the experience of her Japanese identity as well as to build her language skills for communicating with family members. Currently, there are only two options in Toronto: Ikebata Nursery School, located in the same building as the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre at 6 Garamond Court (northeast of Don Mills and Eglinton), and the Japanese Academy of Cultural Exchange, or Hakobune, at 630 Spadina Avenue (southwest of Spadina and College). The only information that I have about Hakobune (416-599-2426) is that it takes children ages 2.5 to 6 years. A Japanese daycare may also be opening in Markham’s J-Town at Woodbine and Steeles. (more…)