Here’s a list of our main posts (roughly grouped together), which feature advice on studying and working in the Japanese field from contributor and guest writers of the blog. Want to see a topic covered? Have a burning question or problem you want advice on? Feel free to contact us at shinpai.deshou@gmail.com! Also you can browse our entries by category in the right sidebar.
College
- Coping with Senior Year Decisions
- Don’t have a plan? You’re not alone.
- An Introduction to the Japan-America Student Conference (JASC)
- Get Involved! Volunteering with a Sister City Organization
Graduate School
- Going on to graduate school for Japanese Studies
- Not going on to graduate school for Japanese Studies
- Choosing the right Japanese Studies Ph.D. program for you
- Should I go on to a Ph.D. after my M.A.? Four insights about the differences between being an M.A. and a Ph.D. Student
- Social Networking basics: Developing and maintaining relationships in Japanese Studies
- Social Media in Japan as a Resource
- Making the Most of Online Dictionaries
- Japanese Studies: We have a problem– in theory
- On the State of the Humanities and the Value of the PhD
- Managing Your Digital Reputation
- Preparing for and Making the Most of Your Research Year(s) Abroad
- Livetweet Threads from AAS: Publishing in Scholarly Journals on Japan
Language Schools
- IUC Series: What is the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies and (when) should I go?
- IUC Series: Housing – Monthly Mansion vs. Apartment
- IUC Series: The IUC Summer Program
- IUC Series: IUC-sponsored housing: Star Heights
- IUC Series: IUC-sponsored housing: Toriumi Haimu
- [Guest] Housing at IUC: San Serite Shinohara
- IUC Series: 10-month program (Part 1)
- IUC Series: 10-month program (Part 2)
- IUC Series: How can I fund my stay at the IUC?
- IUC Series: Former students – Where are they now?
- IUC Series: IUC Summer Kanbun Course
- IUC Professional Tutorials
- Middlebury Summer School of Japanese: Experiences, Challenges, and Alternatives
Funding
- An Introduction to the MEXT Scholarship
- From Application to Research: Fulbright in Japan
- Funding Short-term Research Projects: Conducting an Oral History in Sendai
Military Professions
- Military Points to Consider
- Road Map to a Military Decision
- Foreign Area Officer (aka Getting Paid to be an Expert)
Teaching in Japan and ESL
- Why Apply for JET? (With a focus on the ALT position)
- Is JET for you?: Why I didn’t do JET.
- The JET Application Process – The Actual Application
- JET Application The Sequel: The Interview Strikes Back
- ESL Job Application Differences: Japan and Korea
- Applying to JET as a CIR, Part 1
- Applying to JET as a CIR, Part 2
- Applying to JET as a CIR, Part 3
- Teaching English Informally in Japan
Teaching in Japan: What is AEON*Amity?[removed by request]A day in the life of an AEON*Amity Native English Teacher[removed by request]- Working at an Eikaiwa [part 1]
- Working at an Eikaiwa [part 2]
- Working at an Eikaiwa [part 3]
Employment and Volunteering
- The Job Hunt – Getting Started
- The Job Hunt – Using Consulting Agencies
- The Job Hunt – Resources
- The Job Hunt – Resources (2)
- The Job Hunt – Resources (3)
- The Job Hunt – Resources (4)
- The Job Hunt – Resources (5)
- The Job Hunt – Resources (6)
- The Job Hunt – Resources (7)
- Interviewing for a Position in a Japanese Work Environment
- Working in a Japanese Work Place
- Getting Involved in Japan-America Societies
- On Museum Volunteering/Internships
- On Museum Volunteering/Internships: Part II
- On Museum Volunteering/Internships: Part III
- Managing Your Digital Reputation
- Japanese Studies M.A. In Action: How My Master’s Degree Prepared Me For My Professional Career
- What can you do with a BA in Japanese? How one linguist carved out a niche using Japanese
- What can you do with a BA in Japanese? Welcome to the Wonderful World of Patent Law
- Get Involved! Volunteering with a Sister City Organization
- Life after Japanese Studies (Part 1): Identifying, Maintaining, Contributing to and Building (non-academic) Professional Networks
- Life after Japanese Studies (Part 2): Reconnecting with Professional Networks and Seeking Jobs after JET
- Life after Japanese Studies (Part 3) [forthcoming]
- Life after Japanese Studies (Part 4) [forthcoming]
- Writing into a Career: Learning How to Write and Adult in Japan and the United States
- Recommendations for Employment Seekers in and Beyond Academia
- Resource: Videos on Careers Related to Japan
- Resource: Japan Foundation’s Former Fellows Video Series
Translation & Localization
- Breaking into the translation business: using online translation services – An introduction to YAQS
- The Realities and Benefits of Translation as a Full-time Job – An Introduction
- Translation Services and the Video Game Industry
- Reblog: Japanese to English Translation Basics
- My Experience in Media Contents Translation
- Resources: Translation and Interpretation
- An Introduction to Japanese Game Localization
Japanese Studies: 5-10-20 [+]
- 5-10-20 – Eight Years Out, Where Am I Now?
- 5-10-20 – From 10 years out the gate.
- 5-10-20 – A Year Out and a Long Way to Go
- 5-10-20 – The Last 10 Years
- 5-10-20 – Resources and Thoughts on International Education
Testing, Studying, and Teaching
- Making the Most of Online Dictionaries
- Oral Proficiency Interviews: What to Expect
- Wasei Eigo is オンリーワン
- Multimodal literacies and using manga/anime in the classroom
- Listening Practice with Podcasts
- Understanding Japanese Politics for the non-Japanese Speaker: A Resource Guide
- Graduate Summer School in Japanese Early-modern Palaeography at Cambridge
- 3 Best Chat Apps for Practicing Japanese
- Japan Foundation Summer Institute
- Resource: Open Access Tools from Impactstory
- Resource: Asia for Educators
- Resource: Writing Business Emails in Japanese
Living Abroad
- Is Home Stay in Japan right for you?
- Choosing an unaffiliated homestay
- Getting a Prepaid Softbank Phone- even without resident card!
- Living in Japan Part 1: Preparations Before You Arrive
- Living in Japan Part 2: Getting Your Residency Started
- Living in Japan Part 3: Apartment Hunting Basics
- Living in Japan Part 4: How to Read Apartment Listings
- Living in Japan Part 5: Furnishing Your Japanese Apartment
- Resource: Real Estate Japan Blog
- How to Change to a Cultural Activities Visa (in Tokyo)
- Travel Tips: Purchasing Flights to Japan
- Resources on Sexual Assault in Japan
- Resource: ANA Experience Japan Fares
Culture
Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami
- Huge list of disaster relief/volunteer opportunities
- More information on volunteering in Japan
- How and where can I volunteer this summer?
- How I Remember 3/11: Japan Cat Network
- Sent to Sendai: Reflections of an ALT after the Tohoku Earthquake
- Information on Volunteering in Japan [Summer]
- Tohoku Revival Project
What can I do with a B.A. in Japanese Studies? 