The The Japanese American Storytelling Program – U.S.-Japan Council /日系アメリカ人ストーリーテリング・プログラム – U.S.-Japan Council, a U.S.-Japan Council program (JASP), is seeking part-time Interns on a continuous and rolling basis.
The JASP Internship offers a distinctive opportunity for college students and graduate students who are especially interested in learning about the experiences of Japanese Americans (e.g., Nikkei, Sansei, Yonsei, etc.), Shin Issei (post-war Japanese immigrants to the U.S., including “kikoku shijo”), Shin Nisei (children of Shin Issei born in the U.S.) and multi-racial Nikkei (“Hapa” Nikkei), including those living in Japan and in the United States.
Responsibilities
The Intern’s duties relate to the management and supervision of presentations given by USJC member speakers (both American and Japanese) to students at universities throughout Japan.
Duties consist primarily of:
- Attendance at weekly Intern meeting (via Zoom) with the Program leader (currently, Tuesday mornings, JT)
- Editing and summarizing of video recorded JASP presentations
- Drafting and editing of a monthly Program Newsletter
- Periodic updating of the Program’s website (using WordPress software)
- Drafting and editing of JASP Speaker Presentation Profiles (in English and Japanese)
- General Program organization and coordination and Speaker scheduling and followup
- Light Japanese to English / English to Japanese translation, as needed and appropriate based on ability
Through exposure to the speakers’ presentations, Interns will have an opportunity to learn about effective storytelling techniques, as well as positive messages for students such as the importance of inclusion, empathy and tolerance, journeys in search of identity and belonging, following your passions and expanding your horizons, and resilience and overcoming challenges, all from a Nikkei perspective.
Interns will interact primarily with USJC members who are the Program leaders (in English) and Program speakers (based in Japan and the U.S.). Duties can be performed remotely. Due to the remote nature of the Internship, significant reliance will be placed on prompt and thorough email review and appropriate followup correspondence.
All native Japanese Interns should be proficient in English since the primary Internship language is English. Native English Interns should ideally have some Japanese proficiency; however, this is not strictly necessary in all cases.
The internship is unpaid.
Qualifications
We seek an Intern who:
- In principle, commits to at least 8 hours per week for 6 months)
- Is fluent with Zoom functions, Google Drive, Google Slides/Powerpoint and ideally, WordPress (for Website Updates)
- Interns need not be based in Japan but can be based in other locations such as Hawaii or the US Mainland as long as they can attend a weekly Intern meeting in the morning JST
- Can prioritize and manage numerous simultaneous tasks, while exercising good judgment
- Can work accurately and productively with high attention to detail
- Can communicate smoothly and diplomatically with 30+ USJC member speakers
Additional Program Information and background
Seizing Opportunity During the COVID-19 Crisis—The Power of Cross-Cultural Storytelling
Testimonial from Current/Past Intern
「私は幼少期にアメリカに住んでいたのですが、日本で中々アメリカの方々と関わる機会がなかったです。ですが、JASPインターンシッププログラムを通じて、アメリカの方々だけでなく、日本の別の地方出身の方々とも関わる機会を得られました。また、日本では普段習うことのないビジネスにおける英語や日本語でさえも学ぶことができとても有益でした。日本とアメリカという異なる文化の中で働くことで学ぶこと、自分が伝えること、それぞれ中々得られない機会を得られました。」
“I lived in the United States when I was a child, but I didn’t have many opportunities to interact with Americans in Japan. However, through the JASP internship program, I had the opportunity to interact not only with Americans, but also with people from other parts of Japan. Also, it was very useful to be able to learn business English and even Japanese, which I usually don’t learn in Japan. By working in different cultures of Japan and the United States, I was able to learn and pass on things that I rarely receive.”
“As someone who is interested in Japanese American history, it is fascinating to learn from individual Japanese Americans with unique personal and family stories. I thought that being able to communicate and connect with JASP speakers on a personal level is a valuable aspect of this internship. Overall, this internship has been a very positive experience as I have been able to gain professional experience in management and communication.”
To Apply:
Please send your cover letter and resume (in English) to [email protected] with cc to [email protected]