Bento, Sushi, and Furoshiki Workshop for Relief for Japan

Free Global Mini-Conference

JET Program Info Session

JET PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION

Thursday, November 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Career Development Center: 625 N. Jordan Ave.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program aims to promote grass roots internationalization at the local level by inviting young overseas graduates to assist in international exchange and foreign language education in local governments, boards of education and elementary, junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. It seeks to foster ties between Japanese citizens (mainly youth) and JET participants at the person-to-person level.

The JET Program enables local authorities (prefectures, designated cities and other municipalities) to employ foreign youth for the purpose of improving foreign language education as well as promoting international exchange at the local level. By teaching foreign languages at schools nationwide and assisting with international exchange activities organized by local authorities, participants engage in international exchange on a variety of levels with local residents. In this way, the Program is expected to increase cross-cultural understanding as well as contribute to internationalization efforts within Japan.

Benefit Concert for Japan

IU Jacobs School of Music hosting benefit concert for Japan April 18 at the MAC

Faculty, friends and students of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music are coming together to present "Benefit Concert for Japan," a fundraiser for those affected by the tragic 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the northeastern part of Japan March 11.

WHAT: "Benefit Concert for Japan," including performances by Jacobs School faculty, students and friends

WHEN: April 18, 8 p.m.

WHERE: Musical Arts Center, 101 N. Jordan Ave., IU Bloomington campus

TICKETS: $20 General/$10 Students available at the MAX box office

Playing 18 pieces that range from classical to jazz styles are 33 musicians.

Performers

professors: Federico Agostini, Edward Auer, Ik-Hwan Bae, Emilio Colon, Edmund Cord, Luke Gillespie, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Petar Jankovic, Eric Kim, Henryk Kowalski, Jaime Laredo, Kathryn Lukas, Otis Murphy, Emile Naoumoff, Jeff Nelsen, Reiko Neriki, Shigeo Neriki, Sharon Robinson, Marietta Simpson, Shuichi Umeyama, Carol Vaness, Tom Walsh and André Watts

Guests: Sung-Mi Im, Haruko Murphy and Nina Yoshida Nelsen, along with students in the Jacobs School of Music.

The concert was organized by Jacobs faculty members Federico Agostini, Emile Naoumoff,  Reiko Neriki, Shigeo Neriki, and Jacobs student Mikela Asano.

Net proceeds from the concert will be given to the Japan Red Cross through the Japan-America Society of Indiana. Purchase tickets at the Musical Arts Center box office Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., or phone 812-855-7433.

Neriki said he happened to be watching a Japanese cable channel at 1 a.m. in Bloomington when coverage of the tragic March 11 disaster began. As the days went on, he watched mounting reports of the tsunamis that followed the quake, with waves as high as 30 feet sweeping away cars and carrying burning buildings toward factories, fields and highways, completely washing away many homes and villages. He saw the crippled Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant emitting dangerous levels of radiation as the death toll exceeded 12,300, with more than 15,000 people still missing.

"People were asking, 'What can we do? Can we play concerts for charity?'," he said.

"Mikela already had a link with the Japanese Student Association," said Neriki, a Jacobs faculty member since 1980. "When I had the idea for the concert, I sent out a note to practically every performing faculty member at the Jacobs School." Despite the time of year -- late in spring semester and right in the middle of many concert tours -- 23 faculty members offered their time for the concert, with 10 talented students and special guests also participating.

The concert will conclude with J.S. Bach Aria in D Major, also known as an Aria on G String, played by a string orchestra composed of Jacobs students and faculty.

"I'm very grateful for everyone to be able to participate within such a busy time of year," Neriki said. "If I think about the goodness in their hearts, it makes me emotional."