Activities, Workshops, and Themed Lunches

All special activities were held on a first-come, first-served basis, and are organized by JET alumni.

Friday, May 20, 2022

[10:00 a.m. – ]  Career Counseling – One-on-One Sessions Begin

• Provided by Emily Kikue Frank, The Career Catalyst (Hokkaido, 1993-1996)
  Location: Motif Seattle Hotel – Blue Mouse Boardroom
• Capacity: 10
• Cost: Free, generously funded by the Japan Foundation

Sign up for a one-on-one career counseling session during the reunion! Spaces are limited, so register early. Sessions will be with Emily Kikue Frank. Emily is a professional career counselor with over 15 years of experience, including both higher education to private practice.  She was  also a Hokkaido AET (1993-1996) and has coached many other JETs, both individually and in groups, over the last 5 years.

5/20 session options: 10:00, 11:00, 1:00, 4:15, 5:15

5/21 session options: 9:00, 10:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00

[11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.] Walking Tour of Pike Place Market

• Led by Bruce Rutledge, Founder and Owner of Chin Music Press and Owner of Origami Magazine and
• Location: Departs from Motif Seattle Hotel Lobby 
• Capacity: 20
• Cost: Free

Bruce will take you on an insider tour of Pike Place Market, lasting approximately 45 minutes. On the tour he will show everyone the hidden gems of the market and also explain how the market’s history is intimately tied to the Japanese American community.  Afterwards, he will suggest some nearby lunch places where you can grab a bite on your own dime (optional).

[11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.] 20+ JET Alumni Lunch 

• Lead by Ryan Hart, Regional Manager, Health & Group Benefits Consulting at Milliman; JETAA USA Board of Advisors (Chiba, 1998-1999)
  Location: Departs from Motif Seattle Hotel Lobby; Restaurant TBA
• Capacity: 10
• Cost: Pay for your own lunch

If you returned from the JET Program 20+ years ago, this is the lunch for you! Chat with other JETs who remember what it was like living in Japan prior to 2002. Meet in the hotel lobby then walk together to a nearby restaurant.

[1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.] Samurai Undressed Armor Workshop

• Presented by Lynn Miyauchi, Senior Specialist for Cultural Affairs Sister City Relations and Cultural Outreach, Consulate General of Japan (Fukui, 1990-1993)
• Location: Motif Seattle Hotel – Japan Expo Hall; Consulate General of Japan Expo Table
• Capacity: 20
  Cost: Free

Get up close and personal with the samurai. Discover what lies beneath the iconic armor of these ancient warriors. See how the individual components of Japanese armor were constructed and worn as well as what types of accessories a samurai may have carried into battle. 

[8:00 PM] The Mothra Storytelling Hour

• Emceed by Steven Horowitz, Founder of JETwit.com (Aichi, 1992-94)
• Location: Optimism Brewing Co
• Theme: Secrets

Tell your stories from JET to people who want to hear them! Like “The Moth,” but JET-style.

The Rules:

• Think of a story from your JET days on the theme of “Secrets”
• Submit your name through the google form…OR…
• Put your name in the hat the night of the event.
• If your name is called, tell your story to everyone!
• 5 minute time limit for each story.
• Winner chosen at the end by applause-o-meter.

Sunday, May 22, 2022

[8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.] JETAA Chapter Leaders Brunch

• Lead by JETAA USA Country Representatives Valerie Stewart (Saga, 1999-2002) and Megan DeVille (Aomori, 2009-2010)
• Location: The Crumpet Shop, Pike Place Market (< 0.4 mile walk from the hotel)
• Capacity: None
• Cost: Pay for your own breakfast

If you are currently or formerly a JETAA chapter officer, CR, or board members, join us for breakfast at the Crumpet Shop!

Details:

• 8:45 – 9:00 am Gather in hotel lobby
• 9:00 am Depart for The Crumpet Shop
• 10:00 am Depart from The Crumpet Shop to return to the hotel

Attendees may choose to meet the group at The Crumpet Shop if they are not able to walk together with the group from the hotel. Individuals who sign up will be provided with a contact number for the brunch organizers in case they have issues finding the group. We are not requiring an attendance cap as this will be a “come & go” or “grab & go” style casual meet up.

[10:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ] Japanese-American History Tour of Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Hall

Led by Denise Sawyer

• Location: Departs from Motif Seattle Hotel Lobby then travels to the Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Hall
• Capacity: 30
• Cost: Free (transportation cost not included)

The mission of the Nisei Veterans Committee Foundation is to preserve and honor the Japanese American legacies and to provide community programs that meet the educational, cultural and social needs of the broader community. Through this tour, you will visit the historic Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Hall, which has served as a Japanese American community center since the 1950s. The private group tour of this “living museum” will take approximately 60 minutes and will cover the following areas: 

• Pre-War, The Beginning
• The Internment Experience, The Go For Broke Room
• The Medal of Honor Room, The Military Museum
• Post-War, Returning from War and the formation of the NVC and building of the hall
• Memorial Wall, Honoring The Veterans of all Conflicts and those incarcerated during World War II

You will travel together with a volunteer from the Motif and take the light rail together to International District Station and walk to the NVC. After the tour, we will walk to Uwajimaya and eat lunch at Uwajimaya Food Court. After lunch, return to the hotel with our JET35 volunteer or walk around the International District on your own

Schedule:

• 10:15 – 10:45  Depart Motif Seattle, take light rail to International District Station
• 10:45 – 11:00 Walk from International District Station to NVC
• 11:00 – 12:00  NVC Hall tour
• 12:00-12:10 – Walk to Uwajimaya
• 12:15-13:30 – Lunch at Uwajimaya Food Court

[11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m] Walking Tour of Ballard 

• Led by Patrick Penny, Senior Product Developer at Starbucks (Gunma, 2014-2016)
• Location: Ballard – starts in front of the Ballard Locks Visitor Center! 3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107
• Capacity: 15
• Cost: free; pay your own way for transportation to Ballard, food, and drinks

On this tour you will explore the Ballard area of Seattle. Ballard is a hip waterfront neighborhood with trendy restaurants, indie shops, bars and craft breweries centered on historic Ballard Avenue. Ships and salmon pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, also a popular picnic spot. The tour will end at a brewery where you can unwind before finding a spot for lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. (We are in the process of setting up a brewery tour at the final destination – TBD).

Meet Patrick in front of the Ballard Locks Visitor Center! 3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107.

Suggested transportation to Ballard is by car, such as using Uber or Lyft.

[2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m ] JET35 Seattle Scavenger Hunt

• Lead by Ryan Hart, Regional Manager, Health & Group Benefits Consulting at Milliman; JETAA USA Board of Advisors (Chiba, 1998-1999)
• Start Location: Motif Hotel Lobby at 2 PM
• End Location: Rachel The Piggy Bank at Pike Place Market (93 Pike St UNIT 310, Seattle, WA 98101)
• Capacity: no limit
• Cost: Free

Welcome to Seattle! Do you have what it takes to compete with other attendees to win the JET35 Scavenger Hunt? Please enjoy getting to know Seattle and its connection to Japan as you hunt for pictures depicting the history and culture of this wonderful city! This scavenger hunt is a great chance to make new friends and get to know the area. After the hunt, we will head to a nearby brewery or bar for drinks – and bragging! No preparation required, but one group member will need a smartphone and the ability to download an app. We will divide into teams and explain the instructions at the beginning.

[2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m] Tour of the JCCCW building, the Northwest Nikkei Museum, & the Hosekibako: Japanese Resale Shop

• Tour Guide: Maile Chung, Northwest Nikkei Museum Specialist
• Capacity: 20
• Cost: FREE; pay your own way for transportation to and from the JCCCW

The Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington (JCCCW) was built in 1913 by Japanese immigrants as a community gathering place and Japanese language school. It was the first permanent home for teachers and students of the original Seattle Japanese Language Program, formerly Kokugo Gakko, which was founded in 1902. It is the oldest continuously operating Japanese language school in the continental U.S. and JCCCW’s premier program. In 1945, the campus provided temporary housing for dozens of families returning from WWII incarceration camps. The story is currently on view as Hunt Hotel: Unsettled/Resettled in the Northwest Nikkei Museum’s exhibit. The JCCCW  features a variety of exhibits, classes, and activities to preserve and highlight Japanese and Japanese American history and culture including “Nikkei Story” by artist Roger Shimomura; a Genji Mihara exhibit; Kintsugi Garden; a Martial Arts Dojo; and Hosekibako resale shop. Visit www.JCCCW.org for more information about events, programs, and classes.

For this tour, we will meet at the JCCCW at 1:50 p.m. The best ways to get to the JCCCW are is to take the light rail to the International District Station and walk to the JCCCW or by car. We do not recommending walking from the Motif due to distance and for safety reasons. After the tour, return to the hotel or walk around the International District on your own.

[3:00 PM – 5:00 PM] PNW Book Club

Join PNWJETAA Book Club after #JET35 for a discussion of keynote speaker William Tsutsui’s book Godzilla on My Mind We will meet on Sunday at 3 pm at Old Stove Brewing Company (1901 Western Ave. Suite A) for a refreshing beverage, beautiful views & great book  conversation  Please email bookclub@pnwjetaa.org if you plan to join so that we can give the venue a rough count.