For Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi, 1992-1993), it was one particular teacher who helped get it all started. “My second grade teacher in elementary school — she was Japanese American — and she would introduce elements of Japan into our lessons,” Woolfolk said. “She would tell us, ‘This is where my family is from.’”

From there, Aaron joined the JET Program and went on to become an award-winning writer, director and producer.

In November, Japan Society of Boston featured Mac Gill (Kochi, 2021-2023), in their JSB meets JET Alumni series. Mac share her experiences of rice planting, a local arts festival, translating a kamishibai, and joining tai chi and folk dance groups. Sounds like so many of us on JET!

Zack Davisson (Nara/Osaka 2001-2006) has always been interested in folktales and all manner of spooky things. Maybe it was due to growing up in the United States’ Pacific Northwest reading about Bigfoot, or the time he spent in Scotland, where he became obsessed with local fairy tales and the Loch Ness Monster. But it was Zack’s time in Japan on the JET Program that solidified his love of Japanese yokai and yurei and set him on the path to become the prolific writer he is today.

In October, Japan Society of Boston got to know Sarah Yasuda (Tokyo, 2015-2017). The JET program allowed her to connect with her heritage, explore her mother's hometown, and gain valuable teaching experience while fully immersing herself in the culture!

Minoh City’s first Hack-A-Thon kicked off with a bang as middle school and high school girls across the city made their way to their first ever robotics and coding class.

This interview with current JET Adriana Nazarko (Osaka, 2022-205) delves into her project promoting sciences and advanced study in the US through a coding class completed entirely in English.

In August of 2024, Japan Society of Boston got to know Vivian Chen (Shimane, 2016-2018) who is JETAA USA’s newest Country Representative.

Parker Douglas Fairchild, a Tokushima ALT, was awarded a microgrant through USJETAA’s Microgrants for Current US JETs in partnership with the US Embassy Tokyo.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Parker was awarded the microgrant along with a team of co-recipients for their project, the Tokushima AJET Musical.

In July of 2024, Japan Society of Boston got to know Peyton Goodman (Oita, 2017-2019) who got to work as a marching band coach in one of her schools. How cool is that?!