Maplopo's Spring Session - Special Offer for JETs!

Maplopo's spring public cohort enrollment is about to close, and they've got a special offer just for JETs! TWO guaranteed $400 scholarships: one for you as a JET or JET alumni AND one for a friend.

Applications for their flexible, online advanced Japanese program will be accepted until March 14th, at midnight, PST.

Maplopo is rigorous and structured, with perks like free access to teaching assistants, nihongo kaiwa sessions, special visits from Japan-focused professionals, their complimentary conjugation and writing courses, live sessions, and a $100 cash-back completion bonus when you finish the program at 80% or better.

Spring is a great time to upskill and boost your Japanese, or share the experience with a friend by passing along your +1 discount to another serious learner of Japanese. This session begins April 14th and ends June 27th, 2025. Only seven seats are available. Good luck, and do let us know how you make out!

Apply, or send your friend here: https://maplopo.com/learn-japanese/spring-2025/

Fukuda Shinichi performing in Evanston

Fukuda Shinichi (guitarist) will be performing at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL on Friday, March 14, 2025, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM CT. See details and buy tickets here.

Shin-ichi Fukuda began playing the classical guitar at the age of eleven under the direction of Tatsuya Saitoh and has since pursued a brilliant career as a leading guitarist. He has performed with orchestras and as a solo recitalist in concert halls around the world, including New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Museum, and Athens’s Megaron Concert Hall. Fukuda has earned international acclaim for his musicianship, receiving first prizes in the 1st Carpentras International Guitar Competition and the 23rd Paris International Competition, as well as top prizes in competitions and festivals in Italy, Spain, and Japan. Fukuda’s repertoire spans from the Renaissance to today, and he has premiered many pieces by 21st-century composers, such as Leo Brouwer’s Concerto da Requiem, an homage to Toru Takemitsu that is dedicated to Fukuda. A highly gifted and enthusiastic teacher, Fukuda is a guest professor at Shanghai Conservatory in China and has trained many pupils who have gone on to attain the highest honors, including Kaori Muraji, Daisuke Suzuki, and Yasuji Ohagi. He has produced 84 recordings in a career that spans more than four decades.

Employment Opportunity at the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago

The Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented individual for the position of MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Scholarship and JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Program Coordinator for the Japan Information Center (JIC). The deadline to apply is March 10th, 2025.

For details, please see the full job posting here: https://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100803743.pdf