Jayson Vosz (Kochi, 1995-1997)

For our author and JET alum turned Buddhist monk, Jayson Vosz (Kochi, 1995-1997), Zen Buddhism became the vehicle to truly know and understand Japan for what it is. This JETs on Japan article focuses on his belief that with deeper knowledge and understanding of Zen Buddhism, comes an opportunity to further Japan-U.S. relations.

JETs on Japan: April, 2024

Alyssa Cantrell (Akita, 2016-2019)

International exchange centered around music has an important, and often overlooked, role to play in U.S.-Japan relations. In the space that music provides, stories can be told. . . regardless of nationality, age, or background, everyone has a story worth telling. The important thing is to just listen.

JETs on Japan: March, 2024

Gabe Baskin (Nara, 2021-2022)

Lunch should be a difficult subject. Crafting inclusive, sustainable, and healthy school lunch policies is not easy. . . . If U.S. educators want to make the next generation of American youth healthier, more equitable, more knowledgeable, and more community-centered, they can draw a great deal of inspiration from Japan’s school lunch system.

JETs on Japan: February, 2024

Erik M. Jacobs (Hyogo, 2013-2016)

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly emerged as an S&T focus for both national security and economic policy in the United States and Japan. AI, and other emerging technology issues, are likely to play a larger role in U.S.-Japan relations in the years to come.

JETs on Japan: January, 2024

by: James Gannon (Ehime, 1992–1994)

Despite early criticism from home and abroad, Japan has quietly responded better than every other major rich country to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting its death rate to less than one-fifth that of the United States. In this essay, Japan expert Jim Gannon (Ehime, 1992–1994) draws on nearly two decades of experience working on global health issues to analyze how Japan managed do better than so man other countries in protecting its citizens and what the United States and the rest of the world can learn from this in order to be better prepared for the next pandemic.

by: Gil Breit (Gunma Prefecture,1989-1990)

JET Program alumnus Gil Breit (Gunma, 1989-1990), a counterterrorism expert, outlines how U.S.-Japan defense cooperation on outer space has evolved and why growing coordination to protect satellites, defend against space-based weaponry, and other outer space initiatives are such an integral part of the bilateral alliance.

by: Dylan Rhoads (Yamanashi, 1996-1999)

In a thought-provoking essay, JET Program alumni Dylan Rhoads (Yamanashi 1996-1999) reflects on what Americans and others should learn from the respect and value that Japanese culture accords food

by: Jonathan Brewster (Shiga, 2007-2010) and Anne Hooghart (Shiga, 1989-1990)

As borders closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, educators scrambled to replace U.S.-Japan study abroad programs and in-person exchanges with online programming. Jonathan Brewster and Anne Hooghart detail the online exchanges they have personally overseen.