USJETAA’s Bobby Nawbary took some time to hear how current JET, Michelle Barajas Perez, found herself making sugar skulls with her students in Japan. Michelle’s path to Japan was not typical. With roots in small-town, rural California, her hometown of Los Banos is not a town where its people venture far from in their lives.

Join us on Friday, May 9th, 7 -8:30pm ET to explore pathways into Japanese language education, from credentialing and certification to navigating career opportunities in K-12 and higher education.

For many JETs, Japan is a memorable chapter in their lives—one filled with late-night konbini runs, local festivals, and just enough office formalities to make them fluent in the art of the polite nod. But for Andrew Ou, who is currently the U.S. Consul General in Okinawa, it was just the beginning of his career in diplomacy, though he didn’t quite know it at the time.

Join us on Friday, April 18 from 7-8:30pm ET for a discussion and demonstration of one of Japan’s most iconic performing art forms along with an inside peak at the makeup application process.

Thinking about teaching in Japan or applying for the JET Program? Whether you're just exploring the opportunity or actively preparing your application, join us for a virtual info session on April 9, 2025, at 8:00 PM EST.

Sign up to become a JET Senpai Mentor! Share your insights and help recently departing JETs, navigate their upcoming journey to Japan. As a mentor, you'll connect with them on Discord and join bi-weekly Hanashi-kai sessions to offer guidance for Special Interest Groups. Be the mentor you wish you had and support the next generation of JETs!

March’s Photo of the Month comes from Victoria White (Shizuoka, 2001-2004), who captured this vibrant moment at a temple with a stunning ginkgo tree in the background during her trip to Japan last fall. 🍂

This March, Japan Society of Boston featured Lillian Wies (Saga, 2012-2013), in their JSB meets JET Alumni series. Lillian shared how her time in Saga shaped her career path, leading to a PhD in Japanese art history and roles at top museums, including the Harvard Art Museums, where she’s currently the Gregory and Maria Henderson Curatorial Fellow.