Reception for Returning JET Program Participants
2023/11/16
On November 9, Consul General Murabayashi hosted a reception at his residence for JET participants who returned to Texas and Oklahoma this year.
This annual reception welcomes JET Program participants returning to Texas and Oklahoma after completing their terms in Japan and provides an opportunity for networking with the local Japanese community.
Consul General Murabayashi began by thanking the JET returnees for their significant contributions to English language education in Japan, noting that the JET Program has a long history with more than 70,000 participants since its inception in 1987, and JET alumni are active in a variety of organizations and companies as knowledgeable supporters of Japan. He expressed his hope that the JETs would use the experience they gained through the JET Program to become active as kakehashi (”bridges”) between the U.S. and Japan.
After the introduction of the five JET returnees who attended the event, a representative shared her memories of life in Japan as a teacher and involved member of her local community and called for maintaining connections made through the program. Afterwards, Mr. Andrew McCarthy, Acting President of JETAA Texoma (Texas and Oklahoma chapter of the JET Program Alumni Association) gave a toast to the participants in which he shared his own memories of Japan and encouraged returnees to stay involved in U.S.-Japan relations through the Alumni Association and other organizations.
24 people attended the reception, including returning JETs, JETAA Texoma members, JET Program supporters, local Japan-related organizations, and Japanese business representatives. Participants exchanged their memories of their time in Japan, recent developments, and future career plans, while deepening exchanges with Japan-related organizations and Japanese company representatives.
Link
JET Program(External link) https://jetprogramme.org/ja/
JETAA Texoma(External link) https://jetaa-texoma.org/
This annual reception welcomes JET Program participants returning to Texas and Oklahoma after completing their terms in Japan and provides an opportunity for networking with the local Japanese community.
Consul General Murabayashi began by thanking the JET returnees for their significant contributions to English language education in Japan, noting that the JET Program has a long history with more than 70,000 participants since its inception in 1987, and JET alumni are active in a variety of organizations and companies as knowledgeable supporters of Japan. He expressed his hope that the JETs would use the experience they gained through the JET Program to become active as kakehashi (”bridges”) between the U.S. and Japan.
After the introduction of the five JET returnees who attended the event, a representative shared her memories of life in Japan as a teacher and involved member of her local community and called for maintaining connections made through the program. Afterwards, Mr. Andrew McCarthy, Acting President of JETAA Texoma (Texas and Oklahoma chapter of the JET Program Alumni Association) gave a toast to the participants in which he shared his own memories of Japan and encouraged returnees to stay involved in U.S.-Japan relations through the Alumni Association and other organizations.
24 people attended the reception, including returning JETs, JETAA Texoma members, JET Program supporters, local Japan-related organizations, and Japanese business representatives. Participants exchanged their memories of their time in Japan, recent developments, and future career plans, while deepening exchanges with Japan-related organizations and Japanese company representatives.
Link
JET Program(External link) https://jetprogramme.org/ja/
JETAA Texoma(External link) https://jetaa-texoma.org/