Farewell Announcement, and Transition to New PA
Hello everyone,
With a heavy heart, I am announcing my 卒業 from the JET Programme. Over these four years, I have grown and changed along with my fellow JETs. It was a tough beginning with 2 weeks of lockdown due to COVID-19 and the difficulties of restarting programs after the lift of COVID-19 as things slowly started to return to normal.
I started with small one-on-one group orientations and now have helped this past group of 200 arrivals! The best part of this position has been to get to know all of you. But there are also many things I wish I could have done better as a PA if I had more time to answer all 400 of you. I also apologize for my sudden medical leave, which left many of you without a PA. Upon returning, I worked through over 400…
Re-contract papers and Feb training
Hi,
Intent to re-contract papers are due this Friday! If you haven't received and signed it yet, please talk to your school's vice principal. Let me know if you have trouble obtaining the paperwork, and I will call your school.
The BoE emailed schools the signup for this year's Class Observation and Discussion Professional Development Training this week. You will visit a school and observe a lesson by a JET and JTE, and then a workshop will be led by the English Language Fellow.
Inform your 1st and 2nd choice of attendance to your vice-principal. Please note that you will not be allowed to attend both meetings. We will let you know which one you can participate in by January 24.
If many people wish to participate, a lottery will be held. In tha…
After thoughts on the PD and updates
Hi TJETs,
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Tokyo Board of Education Professional Development training.
We had around 400 JET ALTs that were split into 2 days. Seeing familiar faces and others I have not seen since last year's orientation was nice. In particular, we had most of our first years with no fifth years, which created a unique PD. I hope everyone took away something from the training and enjoyed mingling with fellow JETs. During the training, I ran out of physical informational booklets. Please email me if you would like a PDF copy of the four booklets. (PA: tokyo_jet_alt_contact@section.metro.tokyo.jp)
Here at the BOE, we appreciate all the input from the pre-training questionnaires. If you still need to do so, please …
Updates for this Fall
I have updated the schedule for this year's reappointment forms and their deadlines on the wiki. Some dates depend on how quickly the schools can process the documents, so a general timeline of December to January has been inputted. For more information on reappointment, please check with your VP. Schools were emailed in mid-September about the procedures.
The TJET Mentorship has also started. I want to give a thank you to everyone who attended English Night for our second mentorship meet-up.
TJET will be holding two events in December. We will have an Odaiba Shopping and Fireworks meet-up on December 7th. We are also helping with an event at Shakuji Koen, more information to come soon!
November is the start of work performance evaluations. Plea…
What's happening in Tokyo Sept.
Hello everyone,
Here are some updates on what is happening and upcoming information.
Tokyo related-
- Sign-up for the TJET Mentorship program has ended. There will be partner announcements later this week.
- For those who arrived in July/August, your conditional 1st month is finally ending (You are now officially employed).
- The TJET committee is planning a Welcome back Picnic at Friendship Square in Showa Kinen National Park for all the new and current JETs. Please join us on Sept. 23 from 12 pm to 4 pm!
- We have received some late arrivals this month and will have more next month. Please give them a lovely welcome into the community.
- TEPRO is holding an international exchange informational seminar on Oct. 4 with the Tokyo International Exchange Concierge (m…
Volunteer Activities for Public school JETs
Hi,
I am reminding all the current JETs who have received volunteer invitations from the BOE to check with your school for specific event materials and schedules, such as event guides, presentation materials, and any necessary equipment.
About 60 JETs have been asked to participate in one of the following events.
English Job Challenge: An exciting event by the BOE where students get to intern at English-speaking companies started yesterday, offering them a unique and enriching learning opportunity. I'm sure you'll find it fascinating.
Live Action: Online event where students get to learn about the body. Starts on August 3rd at noon.
Senpai JETs for Orientation: We are grateful for your willingness to share your knowledge with incoming JETs and fa…
June News
Hello everyone,
Here are some updates.
1. "English Job Challenge" Students can apply for this program for free and get hands-on experience working at a company while using English. Sign-up deadline is June 21st, 2024. Here is the signup link:
2. "Live Action" is a hybrid learning program for students with low English levels. It will be held on the Tokyo English channel. I am still waiting to hear how JETs can volunteer for this program.
3. Return flights
Your return flight will be selected from near the three dates you turned in on the application. Ticket notices will start to be sent out from the 24th, with priority given to those with the earliest departure dates.
4. Placement survey
You can re-do the survey as many times as you would like & th…
Return from vacation and updates
Hello everyone,
How was your golden week? Hopefully, everyone got a few days of rest.
I went to visit my family back home and have recharged to get back to work. While I was gone, quite a few emails accumulated; I will try to get back to everyone as quickly as I can. In the meantime, here is some new information about what the BOE is working on.
The BOE has commenced its crucial school visits for the 2024 fiscal year. This time, the visits will be split into two periods: the first half will be from May to the end of June, and the second half will be in the fall. We will visit around 45 schools, mainly English promotional schools, and a few others. The purpose of these visits is for the BOE to evaluate how the schools put the four targets and in…
Leave for Vacation and notice on change to return flight conditions
Hello TJETs,
I will be out on vacation starting next week for 3 weeks. If you have any urgent inquiries please email them to the BOE email at
S0311301@section.metro.tokyo.jp
If you send anything to my PA email (Tokyo_jet_alt_contact@section.metro.tokyo.jp) I will respond as soon as I can after returning to work.
I wanted to remind you that leaving procedures and return flight information will be emailed to schools from April to mid-May. This email contains information on those re-contracting in July/August and those leaving the JET program. If you are leaving, you must submit the information required to allocate working days for these two months in May. As well as how your remuneration will be affected based on these work days. There will be …
Upcoming Events in April and May
I received some information from the English Language Fellow, Claire Lee, about upcoming events she is hosting. I think many JETs will be interested, so please check out her flyers!
- JTE TESOL Conference 2024 on May 11, 2024 in Sumida
- Graduate Study Abroad Webinar Series (month of April on Tuesdays and Thursdays). Recordings will also be on the US Embassy YouTube channel. I will send a link for this once they are posted.
Also, we are looking for a few volunteers for the conference. JETs would be perfect since they would benefit significantly from attending and learning from the conference presentations. The conference fee will be waived, lunch will be provided, and a letter of recognition from the US Embassy will be provided. If anyone is interes…
Change of TMG Medical website from "Himawari" to "Iryou"
I am informing you today of the following change in the method of publication of medical function information reported by medical institutions to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government by the Medical Service Act. If you have used "Himawari," the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Institution Information Service, please be aware of the change in URL.
The new name is "Iryou," Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Institution Information Service (医療情報ネット).
Start date: April 1st
Previous URL: https://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq13/qqport/tomintop/
NEW URL: https://www.iryou.teikyouseido.mhlw.go.jp
Please use the new website URL to search for medical institute that meet your needs. The new website allows you to search by available language, keyword, medical department, locat…
2023 PD Training Materials and Results
Hello TJETs,
Thank you for your patience, and I am happy to notify you that all the materials and questionnaire results from the Tokyo Board of Education Professional Development Training are complete.
The 82pg report has been emailed to all Public schools in two segments due to the large file.
Please ask your supervisor for a copy!
REPORT ON JET ALT TOKYO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2023-2024
Below is the report's table of contents
- Outline of the Training
- Results of Pre Training Questionnaire
- Contents
- Today’s educational issues and educational policies (BOE session)
- Representative JETs presentations
- Mental health training, Work Life Balance Co., Ltd. Ms. Arai Serah
- Keynote speech, Toyo Gakuen University Nate Olson, Ph.D.
- Annual Training (Group Discussion…
Winter greetings and news
Hello TJETs,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I enjoyed some pistachio cake with KFC for Christmas, how was your holiday weekend? Thank you to everyone who came to TJET`s Illumination social event this month. With the help of the new members and TJET President, Nick, we plan to do many more events next year.
Here are some news and updates for Public school JETs.
- School visits have ended for this fiscal year, we visited around 35 schools! Any JETs that were unable to attend their visit will have a follow-up by the BOE in January. Thank you to all the ALTs, JTEs, and school staff for their feedback. The BOE will use the information gained from the visits to create better school management.
- During the Professional Development training (PD), I not…
PD after thoughts
Hi TJETs,
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Tokyo Board of Education Professional Development training.
We had around 280 JET ALTs that were split into 2 days. It was nice seeing familiar faces and others whom I have not seen since orientation 3 years ago.
I hope everyone took away something from the training and got to enjoy mingling with fellow JETs.
Here at the BOE, we really appreciate all the feedback we have received from the surveys and will use that information for next year's PD planning.
Feel free to comment any ideas or suggestions for next year.
I will see you soon on Monday evening for TJET's Illumination meet-up at Yebisu Garden.
Direct hire ALTs and Public school JETs
Hello TJETs,
The BOE Global Talent Cultivation Division was newly established in April 2023. It is divided into two sections with multiple teams under it working together to implement multilateral English and international education into the curricula of elementary, middle, and high schools. One of the many teams that have come together includes the JET team and the direct hire ALT team(I'll call them DH ALTs from now).
So, how does this affect JETs?
The JET team is not the same, it consists of mainly new members with a few older members. You might have noticed that there have been some changes to the ways the JET team works. Also, the newly formed DH ALT team and JET team are working together under the International Education Planning Section. …
November News
Hello TJETs,
The leaves are changing, and it's sweater season. Cool-Biz has ended meaning for male employees- it's time to put that tie back on. Here is some news for this month.
CLAIR's Career Vision Conference registration deadline is on Nov. 10, 2023.
The TJET Mentorship first newsletter is out. Feel free to check it out on the Tokyo wiki.
School evaluations are underway until the end of December. Make sure you take the time to study the lesson with your JTE for your BOE visit. Previously the BOE only visited about 10 schools each year, but this year we are doing over 30 schools. Don't feel too pressured, this will not have a big impact on your re-appointment evaluations. It's mainly for the BOE to make sure each school is properly utilizing t…
TGT Ambassador Registration
Hello TJETs,
Registration has opened from October 10 to October 20 for the TGT Ambassador Live Project.
The BOE is pleased to inform that JETs will be a part of the implementation of this program. Celebrity Ambassadors will conduct English workshops at 6 metropolitan schools over 2 terms. JETs will have a supporting role in helping the students in groups. The BOE is looking for about 180 JETs.
This is a great opportunity to work with other JETs/students/teachers/media/etc. and even meet some celebrities! Schools have been sent the information and JET Letter for registration so please consult with your supervisor or VP. There will be lots of mass media, so please only apply if you are comfortable with your image being taken.
CLAIR Conference Notice and Reapoint intent forms and general Updates
Hello TJETs,
Starting this year, CLAIR is holding the Career Vision Conference that was formally a part of the AFTER JET Conference on Nov. 18-19, 2023. To participate JETs have to be in their 2nd year or alumni.
I have updated the schedule for this year's Re-appointment Forms and their deadlines. Some dates are dependent on how quickly the schools are able to process the documents so a general timeline of December to January has been inputted. For more information on re-appointment please check with your VP. Schools were emailed on Sept. 25th about the procedures. The deadline to transfer this year is Oct. 12, 2023. For transfer requirements please check with your VP.
Let's give a big welcome to the October late arrivals who are settling in to …
September update for Public JETs
Hello TJETs,
I hope all the new and current ALTs are adjusting to the new term. I just wanted to give everyone a general update.
- Let's give a big welcome to the September late arrivals who are settling in to Tokyo!
- Sign-up for the TJET Mentorship program ends Sept. 15. There will be partner announcements late Sept/early Oct.
- CLAIR London Alumni Career Fair is coming up on Sept. 27 (19:00 to 24:00 JST)
- Those that arrived in July/August your conditional 1st month is finally coming to an end (YAY your now officially employed). I hope your school has given you a warm welcome!
- In October we are expecting more late/upgrade arrivals. See you all soon
- The TJET committe is planning a Welcome Picnic for all the new and current JETs. Stay tuned for more informatio…
Return of Public School PA from Leave
Dear TJETs,
First, I want to welcome the new ALTs! It was a pleasure to meet you all during orientation.
I hope your time here in Tokyo will become a memorable experience.
- Next, I want to talk about commuting. I was waiting to get confirmation, so I apologize for taking so long to get back to everyone about commuter passes.
Due to the chip shortage, Suica & Pasmo are out of stock. At the moment commuter passes are still available (this may change depending on chip availability). For those of you who can not get passes, there are a few options.
1. If you have an iPhone you can download the Suica app, for Android users there is the Pasmo app. iPhone has made a guide to how to set up the Suica app https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207155 For the A…
Group A schedule 2023
Day One of BoE Orientation
A more detailed schedule will be handed out to JETs later. This is for reference of the general layout
Day 2 of BoE Orientation
Leave of Absence- how to contact the TMG JET team
Dear TJETs,
Due to personal reasons, I will be going on leave for a few months.
I will try to stay active on TJET as best as I can, but for PA inquiries, please address emails to the JET Team at S9000020@section.metro.tokyo.jp. Someone from the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
I will get back to work as soon as I can, and apologize for the trouble this may cause. In preparation, I have trained some of my coworkers on often-asked questions I get and how to handle general inquiries. For more serious cases, feel assured that the JET team has your best interest in mind and will do their best while I am away. Don't be afraid to step up and ask them for help at any time. For those few ongoing cases that will be taken over by my tempor…
Changes to Leave for 2023
Dear TJETs,
Happy new year! I hope you all got to relax for a few days.
New revisions to the National Public Service Act will take affect from January 1st , 2023. For JETs, they will be reflected on your new contract in April at the start of the fiscal year.
Working conditions will depend on your contracting organization. Private schools and public schools will have different changes, so please ask your CO for details.
For Public School Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. JETs, the main changes will be with the handling of leave. Right now the Tokyo BoE is still in draft form, so I can only give out a general outline while we work out the details.
As well as these changes, it has been decided there will be an increase of incoming JETs this year to Tokyo! …
2022-2023 JET Programme ALT Opinion Exchange Meeting hosted by CLAIR
The 2022 2023 JET Programme ALT Opinion Exchange Meeting will be held on Friday, 24 February 2023 at the CLAIR office in Tokyo.
This Opinion Exchange Meeting is an opportunity for ALTs to share constructive opinions about the planning, implementation and management of the JET Programme with representatives from CLAIR and the three sponsoring ministries.
Twelve ALTs will be invited to come and take part in the meeting. If you are interested in participating, please take the following steps
1. Ask your Contracting Organization whether you can apply for this event.
2. If you obtained their permission to apply, fill in the SurveyMonkey application form at the following link : https://jp.surveymonkey.com/r/WDJRTBD
You must fill in the Survey Monkey ap…
GE-NET 20 Conference 2022
Dear TJETs,
Have you heard about GE-NET20? It stands for Global Education Network 20 High Schools.
At the end of the year the Tokyo Board of Education holds an educational conference for students from these schools. A few ALTs from the TMG public schools are randomly selected by the BOE to be facilitators and participate in the conference. This counts as a business trip and its a great opportunity for ALTs to meet students from other schools.
The BOE finished getting the last confirmation today. If you haven't heard already, your school will contact you and let you know if you're one of the selected facilitators. You will also receive the basic schedule and address information. On the day of the conference a more detailed explanation will be …
Update to Leaving Checklist
Hi TJETs!
As schools are getting ready to re-contract current JETs, I thought I'd also update the TJET Wiki Leaving Checklist for those who decide to not recontract. I've also added a new page for those who decide to quit before the end of their period of appointment called Resigning / Quitting JET. You can find it on the checklist. Also it might be a good time to start thinking about your options for Working in Japan after JET.
If you still haven't heard about re-contracting from your school, no worries! The BOE has slowly been sending out the information to all the schools and should be done sending out the paperwork by December. Please email me if you have not gotten any information by end of this year!
Whether you choose to re-contract or n…
Certification of Employment Insurance
Dear TJETs,
I am working on a letter of notification about your Certification of Employment Insurance.
At the bottom of the letter the BOE has also added resources about your employment and unemployment benefits. We have received many inquiries on unemployment benefits after JET for those who are continuing to work in Japan. Your school needs to request the confirmation of loss of employment insurance from the welfare division in order for you to apply for unemployment. Some schools have not been progressive in giving retiring JETs this documentation. (Currently, the BoE's JET team does not have the authority to request unemployment on your behalf. Please go through your school to request these documents from the welfare division)
In order to…
Notice on Katakana name change for JETs
Dear TJETs,
I hope everyone is adjusting smoothly to the new health insurance with the Public Mutual Aid Association.
You may have noticed that your new membership card displays your name in Katakana only, not in Roman alphabet.
This means the Katakana Confirmation Form you turned in during BoE Orientation is now more important than ever. IF you have legally changed your name recently and not notified your school, please let them know ASAP. If you change your name later because of marriage, divorce, etc., please let your administrative staff know as soon as you can.
Remember the Katakana Confirmation is the LEGAL version of your name we have on file, not your nick name. If you use a different Katakana nick name at school- that's OK- no need to…
Notice for Intent to Re-appoint and Transfer forms
Dear TJETs,
Please check with your administrative staff for an important letter from the BOE titled "2023 JET Programme Reappointment Procedures".
The BOE has emailed schools the current deadlines for these forms and detailed instructions on the procedures.
If you plan to continue or decline the JET programme contract for the next fiscal year, schools will start to hand out "Intent to Reappoint/Participant Intent as to Reappointment" (Form A-1) from October to December. Signing this form does NOT guarantee you will be re-contracted for the next fiscal year. This is just for your school to know if you are interested or not in continuing to work with them. So they can start preparing your necessary documents for next year, or start preparing for …
Japan Public Mutual Aid Association Pre-registration OPEN
Dear TJETs,
Pre-registration is now open!
If your are a current member of the Japan Health Insurance Association, you do not need to do any procedures. You will automatically be enrolled and qualified into Public Mutual Aid starting October 1st, 2022. Please keep a lookout for your new health insurance card. Do not throw away your current health insurance card. It is recommended that you make a copy of it for paperwork purposes you may need to fill out later. You will be asked by your school to hand in your Japan Health Insurance Association membership card, so have it on you when you go to school.
For dependents of current Japan Health Insurance Association members, you need to fill out the Dependent Declaration Form. The deadlines are: by Sept. 16th …
Replacement of Health Insurance by the Japan Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers
Dear TJETs,
Starting October 2022, public school JETs will have their Health Insurance coverage extended under the new Local Public Service Mutual Aid Association Law amendment. Originally public school JETs are members of the Japan Health Insurance Association, but starting Oct. they will be moved to the Japan Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers.
This is a good thing for current and new JETs! Not only will we have more services available to us, but our monthly rates deducted from our paychecks will also be lower. New/incoming public school JETs will only have to wait 2 months (instead of the current 1 year) to be fully covered.
Procedures are still being worked out and being prepared. As soon as things are ready- all public schools…
Slow Internet Speed
If your work laptop's internet is so slow that the Google homepage can't even load or many websites time out, but the computer itself isn't that slow, you might have a problem with the Proxy settings. Here is a fix for Windows 10 OS.
- open computer settings
- go to Network & Internet section
- select Proxy from the left menu
- on the right, disable Automatically detect settings
As you can see here, the internet speed has significantly improved.
"Welcome Letter" to incoming Summer 2022 JETs
Hello future TJETs,
Are you nervous and excited as you count down the days to Japan?
For those of you feeling lost and uncertain of what to expect, I have some good news.
The last batch of "Welcome Letters" will soon be emailed to incoming public high school ALTs. They contain a short introduction from the Tokyo Board of Education and valuable information you will need.
You should have received a "Hello Letter" email from the BOE (if you know you are an ALT for a public Metropolitan High School under the BOE and haven't received the "Hello Letter" email, please shoot me a message to my PA email).
The "Welcome Letter" consists of more information about your school, the schedule for your orientation, contract information, moving-in information, a…
ALT High Level Training Seminar Notice 2022
Hi TJETs,
Today I wanted to let you know that there will be a notice handed out soon to schools for CLAIR's ALT High-Level Training Seminar in August-Sept.
The training seminar will be separated into different sections by school level (elementary, middle, and high school). JETs who have arrived before March 2022 will be eligible for the training. It will be several days long, and it will be taken through an online platform. JTEs are also encouraged to participate. After turning in everything and passing, you are eligible for a certificate.
So if you are interested in furthering your teaching skills, sign up!
New handouts about JETs in July/August
Hello TJETs,
I hope everything is going well with everyone. I wanted to give you a heads up that you will soon receive some paperwork from your school.
This contains information on those who are re-contracting in July/August, and as well as those leaving the JET programme. There is important information on working days allocation for these two months that you will need to submit in May. As well as how your remuneration will be affected based on these work days. There will be information on Residence tax, income tax, and residence status renewal plus many other things. Also the dates for this year's PD (Professional Development) training have been decided.
For those leaving the JET programme, there will be detailed information on the steps to …
Events & Training for JETs 2022
Hello TJETs,
I have compiled a simple schedule of events in progress and those that have dates already set for this new school year.
Please feel free to comment if you have any more information to share, especially if you have any Private JET events to add since I do not have access to those.
I will try to update as more information comes out.
JETs leaving in July and August
Dear JETs,
The year is coming to a close, and I hope you are enjoying your remaining time in Tokyo.
Here are a few things to look out for in the coming months and please feel free to check out the Leaving JET check list on the wiki, After JET guide, and the General Information Guidebook. I wish everyone the best of luck on your next step!
-Your Public PA
- 1 Farewell Ceremony
- 2 Remuneration and Work Days in July/August
- 3 Summer leave
- 4 Return Airfare
- 5 Pension Refund
- 6 Change of status of residence
As of right now, no clear decision has been made on whether it will be held in-person or not like last year. I will try to update on this in the near future. In case it is cancelled again materials will be distributed (it will probably follow last year's mid-July…
Start of the 2022 Fiscal Year
- 1 Friendly reminders for the new fiscal year
- 1.1 Taxes
- 1.2 Paid Leave
- 1.3 Early Resignation/Leaving JET
Hello TJETs,
Its that time of year to say your goodbyes to your students and hello to your new classes. In Japan, April is the start of the year full of excitement, but it comes with many headaches. I made a few notes, but feel free to comment on anything I've left out.
So before you go Hanami this spring, make sure you have all these things checked!
- Your PA
There is a high chance you don't need to do anything. Your school will file everything for you for March taxes in Japan. But just in case you're in a country that requires you to fill out a few more things...check out our income tax page along with many other useful pages like U.S. taxes and Spr…
Revision to Health leave requirements 2022
Hello JETs,
New papers will be given to schools soon on changes to injury or illness leave, nursing care, and maternity leave effective January 1st, 2022.
If you're a Tokyo Metropolitan fiscal year employee(public high school JET), this applies to you, if not than you can skip this post.
I will finish translating the paperwork after new years vacation, but I wanted to give everyone a heads up before I'm off to some R&R.
I did a quick copy of the major points in English here
Your schools should already have been emailed the information in Japanese, so you can already ask them about it.
HAPPY New Years, and see you all in 2022!
your PA
TJET Committee Chair Elections
LOVE JET and want to have a bigger influence??
The TJET committe is a group of volunteer private and public Tokyo JETs that help support their fellow JETs. We work hard to organize events, share important information, and help make a difference in the lives of JETs throughout Tokyo area. A few of our members are retiring, so we are looking for any intrested JETs (first year JETs are also welcome as long as they have the passion to learn!) to apply.
We have extended the application deadline. If you're intrested please sign up here
We now have the following chairs open*
- Information Chair
- Professional Development Chair
- Social Chair
Also if you are still intrested in volunteering, but don't want to be a chair, please message one of the current chairs…
Current and incoming public JETs changes to 2021Terms and Conditions
New additions have been made to the FY2021 Terms and Conditions of Employment Article 18 Section 1.
During your reappointment/or first meeting day for new incoming JETs you will be asked to sign for the new contract.
For current JETs, the changes should not make a difference in the terms that you are already used to, however you will notice the section is longer than before.
If you have any questions, please make sure to talk them out with your supervisor when they are going over the contract details with you.
Departing JETS
As it’s that time of the year again, I thought I’d recycle this post as a reminder for all the JETs getting ready to leave next month.
One Month Before Leaving:
- Inform your landlord/Relocation Japan/other housing company/agency that you are moving. You may need to arrange a date for inspection.
- Arrange for payment of last month’s rent/cleaning fees as necessary.
- Decide on a tax representative for your pension refund.
- Submit the Declaration of Tax Representative form to your local tax office.
- Fill out the Moving Out Notification form (tenshutsu-tokoke, 転出届) and submit the form to your local ward office.
Current 3rd Year JETs: If your Status of Residence will expire before you leave the country, make sure that you apply for an extension o…
ALT Agorà 3 – Free Professional Development Event for ALTs - April 22
ALTTO is a free open source self-learning platform helping ALTs and JET teachers in Japan.
ALTTO organises Agorà, a monthly free professional development event for ALTs
The 3rd Agorà event will take place via Zoom on April 22 at 7:30 P.M. JST - Registrations are now open.
CLAIR Newsletter
For those of you just starting out or for those that didn't know about it, CLAIR sends out monthly emails with important information for JET participants. Here are a few examples of the topics covered:
- News Regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Registration for the Safety Confirmation System (Emergency Call)
- Contact Information Survey for JET Participants
- Mental Health Support Resources
- Japanese Language Courses
- Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Grant
- Home Country Taxes
- JET Conference Materials
- Period of Stay and Status of Residence Renewal
- Lump-Sum Pension Withdrawal
- Training Seminars
You must register for the newsletter in order to receive the emails. Registration can be done by filling out the JET Contact Information Survey. You will need…
Making Hanko/Inkan
- 1 Hanko / Inkan
- 1.1 HANKO VENDING MACHINES
- 1.2 SPECIALTY SHOP
- 1.3 LOCATIONS
If you don't already have one, you will most likely need a name stamp (hanko) made for school documents. As for creating a bank account and making contracts, it is becoming more and more common to not need a hanko. Just ask if you can use your signature instead. Whichever method you choose, please remember to jot down your choice somewhere for whenever you need to change/close your accounts. Banks are really picky about that kind of stuff.
You can have your hanko made at a specialized shop. It would would cost around 1,000 yen or more. However, if you want to go the super cheap route, you can have them made with a vending machine for as cheap as 500 yen.
Should you wish to r…
Credit Cards
I highly recommend bringing a credit card to Japan! You can certainly live here without one, but it just makes things so much easier if you have one.
You will have more phone/internet provider options available, you can make online purchases, make reservations at hotels, buy tickets online, shop online, and way more. Even if you don't use it, it's better to have one on you, just in case! Below are a few extra things to take note of.
- Visa is the most accepted, MasterCard is 2nd.
- If it says Debit on your card, it may be rejected by store staff.
- Try to get one with no transaction fees.
- Look for one with a low currency exchange rate.
- Call your overseas bank/card company to tell them you will be in Japan. They need to update your account that you a…
Currency Exchange
For startup costs and all that good stuff, I recommend that you bring a large sum of cash with you to Japan. It may feel super weird to carry a wad of cash, but it is going to make life easier and Japan is a cash based society. If possible, try to exchange your local currency to YEN before coming to Japan. Here are a few reasons why:
- Should you get here and your credit card or debit card doesn't work, you would have no means to pay for anything.
- Your bank back home might have 0 fees for currency exchange.
- Airport and ATM exchange rates are a rip off. They are convenient, but that is about it.
- Banks here do have currency exchange, but if you don't already have an account with them, the rates may be higher and there are fees.
- Lets not forget that…
2020 Incoming JET Group Calls
Welcome incoming 2020 JETs!
I am sure you all are anxious to find out more about your placements and have lots of questions, so I was thinking it might be interesting to have some video chats with JETs currently living in Tokyo. Chances are, not everyone is gong to be available at the same time, so the idea is to have multiple sessions or at least have a list of interested participants so you can contact each other on your own. We can cover all sorts of topics, so if there is something in particular, please leave a comment below.
I will be conducting the group calls via Zoom, because it allows all users to access the call via a URL. When a date and time has been scheduled, I will post a link below and details to this blog post, so please ch…
Benefits for Public School JETs
- 1 Subsidies and Grants Through Insurance
- 1.1 What's Available for Individuals
- 1.2 Sites & PDF Links
- 2 Public Servant Employee Benefits
I don't know if any of you get this magazine at your school, so I'll attach a PDF. Anyway, it looks like there are some more benefits available through the school's insurance. Since the availability is limited, it is a first come first serve basis.
Sorry, but all the sites and information are in Japanese. Please use Google Translate to navigate the site.
What is available is subject to change, so please be sure to check the website for updates.
- Human dock consultation subsidy (health check)
- Designated accommodation facility use subsidy
- Childbirth congratulations subsidy
- Marriage gift grant
- Domestic study trip subsidy
- Subsi…
TJET Professional Development Project
Check out the resources created by the TJET Professional Development Committee on their YouTube and Soundcloud. The TJET Professional Development Project aims to develop materials and resources specifically for private and public school JETs teaching in Tokyo. We hope that new and current JETs will find them beneficial.
You can find the committee's work HERE. You can also locate the page using the navigation bar by going to Information > Professional Development > TJET Professional Development Project.
Subscribe to the Tokyo JET Professional Development Committee's YouTube channel for new videos on teaching English!
If you are intersted in contributing to the project, please contact the Professional Development Committee Chair John Perales.
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