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Will being critical of Japanese government hamper JET program aspirations?

Athenry

後輩
19 Dec 2014
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I'm an aspiring journalist, I've been writing freelance on and off for the past few years.

In the past 12 months I've written a few articles about Japan, and in them I take quite a critical tone toward Abe's LDP, and some of the far-right groups in Japan. In particular when it comes to military expansion, denialism and reinterpreting Article 9.

I would like to teach in Japan, and have been planning to apply to the JET program late next year, to teach in mid-2016.

Do you think my criticism of the current Japanese administration, and the far-right in Japan, will have any impact on my chances of being accepted?
 
Only if you go out of your way to draw their attention to it.

A case of biting the hand before wanting it to feed you?
 
Only if you go out of your way to draw their attention to it.

A case of biting the hand before wanting it to feed you?

Ah well hopefully it won't come back to bite me. I've recently adopted a more positive outlook on life, so I'll probably have a couple of more positive articles about Japan out in the future too.

Hah yeah I guess so. I find it hard to keep my mouth shut about things I care about.
 
I don't see much opinion in them, just factual reporting. Plus, they are in a blog, not a commercially distributed media affiliation. When/If you are interviewed, they will probably ask about what you did in Japan as a freelance writer, so that's probably when you will have to do any explaining. Keep it simple, such as "I reported in a blog about some major political events" instead of "I wrote about (implying giving your opinion) them on my blog".
 
I don't see much opinion in them, just factual reporting. Plus, they are in a blog, not a commercially distributed media affiliation. When/If you are interviewed, they will probably ask about what you did in Japan as a freelance writer, so that's probably when you will have to do any explaining. Keep it simple, such as "I reported in a blog about some major political events" instead of "I wrote about (implying giving your opinion) them on my blog".

Thanks for the advice, I will do that. I'm probably overthinking it a little. I know something like this wouldn't matter too much to Australia, I just figured the Japanese government cares a lot more about its reputation than Australia does. But hopefully my resume will be of a high enough quality that they won't even need the clarification, if I get to that stage.

Thanks again.
 
A resume isn't a confession, you don't have to put in any information you don't think would be advantageous.

A resume is basically a sales pitch. When I bought my car the salesman talked about the great fuel efficiency, not the severely restricted trunk space.

Why not just leave out anything you don't think sells you?
 
Hello

I didn't find your articles particularly anti-Japanese, and not really very anti-establishment either, so I think you are worrying too much. If anything, they needed a bit of editing (sorry, can't help myself). Tojo's grand-daughter (Yuko, not Yuki) was never elected to any office, and by the time your article went live, she had already been dead for nearly a year. Most Japanese viewed her as bat-shite crazy, and she was soundly rejected at the polls, which I think would have been a contrary indicator to the supposed shift towards militarism.

But this is after-the-fact, and probably more suited to the "serious discussions" thread. As above, your CV is supposed to let the employer know how awesome you are. It doesn't need to be a catalogue of all the skeletons in your closet.

Seems kind of a shame to give up a budding career in journalism in order to get stuck into the English teaching gig. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against JET. In fact I think it is a great way for people to come to Japan and learn about Japan first-hand (although I'm not sure about its efficacy as a vehicle for teaching Japanese kids English. This is a thought for yet another thread). Maybe it would be also worthwhile to see if any of the English-language newspapers here are looking for experienced reporters?
 
Hello

I didn't find your articles particularly anti-Japanese, and not really very anti-establishment either, so I think you are worrying too much. If anything, they needed a bit of editing (sorry, can't help myself). Tojo's grand-daughter (Yuko, not Yuki) was never elected to any office, and by the time your article went live, she had already been dead for nearly a year. Most Japanese viewed her as bat-shite crazy, and she was soundly rejected at the polls, which I think would have been a contrary indicator to the supposed shift towards militarism.

But this is after-the-fact, and probably more suited to the "serious discussions" thread. As above, your CV is supposed to let the employer know how awesome you are. It doesn't need to be a catalogue of all the skeletons in your closet.

Seems kind of a shame to give up a budding career in journalism in order to get stuck into the English teaching gig. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against JET. In fact I think it is a great way for people to come to Japan and learn about Japan first-hand (although I'm not sure about its efficacy as a vehicle for teaching Japanese kids English. This is a thought for yet another thread). Maybe it would be also worthwhile to see if any of the English-language newspapers here are looking for experienced reporters?

Perhaps I was just being a little paranoid.

Oh wow, I can't believe I didn't notice the typo on Ms. Tojo's name, that's embarrassing.

I've always been torn between teaching and journalism. In the end I chose journalism, and plan to see it through. But the benefits of living and working in Japan, even for a short period of time are too great not to chase. I don't think I would have adequate experience to find a job reporting in Japan by the time I am ready to go there, so that's part of the reason why I'm considering JET. I figure living in Japan full-time for any length of time will help my knowledge of the nation's politics, culture and language which will then end up giving me a leg-up in my writing in the future too, maybe I'll get people's names right then haha.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Perhaps I was just being a little paranoid.

Yes, you were. I doubt very much Mr. Abe has your name on a blacklist. Though with that state secrets act that got rammed through the Diet......

[/QUOTE]
I've always been torn between teaching and journalism.
[/QUOTE]
A writers got to eat. I think most every person I know who is an artist/writer/musician/what-have-you, has a day job too and a majority of those day jobs are teaching in some capacity. The 2nd part of the JET mantra, right after, "Every situation is different." is "JET is not a career." JET is hands down, the sweetest teaching gig a newbie can land. Great job for an aspiring journalist.
 
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