News

Many JET Programme participants find that their time in Japan becomes the starting point for an entirely unexpected career path. For Yan Sen Lu

When Nick Rowan (@winefogg) first arrived in Japan as a JET Programme participant in the late 1990s, he never imagined it would eventually lead...

We're reaching out to our incredible community of JET alumni to gather stories and memories for an expanded spotlight series, celebrating the lasting impact of the JET experience and 40 years of the Japan Exchange Teaching Programme. These stories will be shared on our website and social media channels over the next few months in collaboration w...

On 5th November, a small group of JETAA London members were “remember, remember”-ing a different historical story to the usual seasonal tale as we gathered at the Vaudeville Theatre to see popular musical SIX, being performed in London by the Japanese cast for a limited time only. Ella Donaldson, South Chapter Chair, ventured up to Lond...

On 8th November, JETAA South held its first autumn leaf viewing walk from Ashurst New Forest train station to The New Forest Inn in Lyndhurst. JETAA South Vice Chair Holly reflects on the lovely day out, enjoying the seasonal colours and getting to know their small but growing community.

Sam Rosen, JETAA Northwest Chair, reflects on the recent success of the Northwest Summer Matsuri, held on Sunday, 31st August, in Liverpool’s Sefton Park Palm House.  The Palm House

From the 22nd to 24th August, JETAA Scotland held its largest event of the year, the

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live is a high-energy 2.5D stage adaptation of the beloved Sailor Moon anime and manga series. In February 2025, the show made its London debut at HERE at Outernet, bringing the ma...

The JET Programme was in its early days when I joined in 1988, first as an AET (now ALT) and then as a CIR in Nara. At the time, ALTs were known as "One Shots," visiting a different school each day and spending Fridays at the Board of Education arranging visits. Only six of...

Drum Tao is an internationally acclaimed live Taiko drumming group known for their dynamic, creative, and visually stunning performances. In March 2025, Drum Tao came from their native Oita to London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre for a one-of-a-kind event titled ...

Vallebona is a London-based food business known for blending Japanese and Italian flavours in creative and unexpected ways. More than a restaurant, it’s also a community space that values the experiences of ex-JETs and aims to foster ongoing connections between Japan and the UK. We caught up w...

Hannah Thomas, JETAA’s London Treasurer, reflects on her recent experience of sharing her Japanese journey with language students in London.  In January, I had the opportunity to attend the Languages ...

This year has been another busy year for JETAA Chapters, with celebrations of Japanese culture and the JET experience in abundance up and down the UK. From exhibition visits in London to Hanami in Scotland, the JETAA community came together both to reminisce about their time on JET and make new memories of Japanese traditions and culture.

After an experience like working in Japan on the JET Programme, people who return to the UK once their time has ended can often find themselves looking for a way to stay connected to their placements. Having spent two years in my placement getting to know the city and the locals of Japan’s hot spring capital, Beppu, I wanted to be able to cont...

Photo by Dominic Alves   Would you be interested in volunteering at the Japan Matsuri? We're looking for JETAA volunteers to support at the event, with three shifts available:   All day: 07:30 - 21:00 (or end of the day, whichever is earlier) 1s...

Seasoned fans and newcomers alike would find it hard to deny the magic of Spirited Away performed on stage. Considered by many as a favourite of Miyazaki’s works (and perhaps one of the most influential animated films of its time), this is one of four Studio Ghibli animations to have been brought to life. Tickets for the show, in Londo...

  As the national chair of the JETAA community, my usual duties are overseeing multiple local chapters to support alumni who have returned from their time in Japan, as well as continuing to maintain and grow the connection between the UK and Japan. It can be anything from applying for funding from the Japan Local Government Center, book...

Calling all JET alumni and those interested in exploring new career opportunities! Join us for the JET Careers Fair 2024 — an event designed for networking, professional growth, and discovering exciting job prospects. Date: 25th September Time: 11:00 - 16:00 (BST) Location: ...

Rebecca Slinn is doing her Master's Degree in applied linguistics and English language teaching at King's College in London. She has been working on her Master's dissertation whilst also teaching academic English over the summer. When did you go on the JET programme, and where did you go?  I was in Okayama Prefe...

Buta Kun is a super accesable Japanese restaurant that has just opened up next to Newcastle university, across from Haymarket Metro station. The inside had a range of spacious tables and a large bar with no shortage of Sake behind it. ...

Sharleen Estampador is a scholar researching the politics of memory, nostalgia, soft power, intersectionality and Japan, international exchange, and cultural diplomacy. At the University of Edinburgh, she teaches undergraduate courses that include or have included: Sociological Imagination, Thinking Sociologically, Anthropology and the Life Co...

London . .   Spirited Away at the London Coliseum The 26th of June 2024, 7:15pm onwards JETAA London plan to experience Studio Ghibli’s enchanting classic film onstage in the landmark new adaptation. Tickets are hard to come by, but if you already have yours, why not meet u...

Award-winning illustrator, born in Tokyo, and now in London, Natsko Seki sat down with us to discuss her career and love of art.  After Completing a B.A. in Illustration from the University of Brighton in 2005, Natsko Seki moved to and fell in love with London. "When I think about my favourite places in London, I prefer those wit...

Suki-Suki is fantastic pan Asian restaurant on Deansgate in Manchester. Fashionable and affordable, the restaurant has great window decals and a kitch little counter to order your food downstairs. Upstairs, you'll find two cosy, but not cramped, seating areas. 

Dojo is a popular spot among young Geordies and is a strong contender for the title of best Japanese restaurant in Newcastle.       Immediately upon entering, you are met with Kumamon's welcoming f...

London . .   Networking Mixer To kick off the new year, we will be hosting a Welcome Back Mixer for returning JET alumni and new members alike. It will be an evening filled with reconnection, sharing experiences and collaboration. Date and venue details will follow shortly, so st...

The Boy and the Heron is the latest masterpiece of animation by Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki. The film is the biggest Japanese release in the UK from both this year and last. It has been nominated for Best Animated Film at the Oscars, won the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Animated Feature as well as many more awards.  It ...

Why did you decide to go on the JET programme, and where did you go?   I've done a course on East Asia as part of my year abroad at university and started getting interested in the region after that. After graduating, I did the EPIK programme in South Korea and while I quite liked that, I took a trip to Fukuoka ...

Run to support orphaned youth with education! Ashinaga, a Japanese charity with a UK office, has 5 places for the London Landmarks Half-marathon on April 7. The route is 13.1 miles long and goes past iconi...

photo by  Giuseppe Milo  Working holiday visas are fantastic. It was what I used to decide that I didn't want to just holiday in Japan, I wanted to properly live there for a number of years as an English teacher. When researching it online, I was advised to call ahead as there were only so many given out each year. It wa...

By Matsuyuki     70 g glutinous rice flour 65 ml water 60 g sugar 2 tsp cinnamon powder Mix 70 g of your glutinous rice flour with 65ml of water, ensuring there are no lumps. Add 60 g of sugar. Once combined, the...

By OCDP   Dorayaki, a great snack, or possibly a replacement for those who like scotch pancakes for breakfast. 2 large eggs 80 Grams of Caster Sugar 10 grams of Honey 100 grams of flour 2 tbsp of baking powder 50 ml of w...

 Jonathan Longden was a Shiga Prefecture JET in 2016 but is now a project management team leader in the pharmaceutical industry. He sat down to chat with us about his time in Japan and the transition back into that industry.  How did you become interested in the JET Programme, and where did you go? Every time s...

London . .   JETAA London had a great time seeing the stage adaptaion of Garden of Words, and are hoping to see more theatre shows in the future. Spirited Away - London Coliseum, 2024 - 30th April to 20th July 2024 If you haven't already sorted tickets for this, ...

School-Centred Initial Teacher Training Information Day for Applicants   

    JET Video Contest Now Accepting Submissions!   CLAIR is very happy to announce the long-awaited return of the JET Video Contest, being held for the first time in 7 years! All JET Programme alumni as...

Speech Contest for Spoken Business Japanese at at SOAS 7th November 2023 The purpose of the Awards is to deepen the understanding of Japanese business culture by businessmen and women of the UK and the European Union through the study of the Japanese language, and to contribute to goodwill and mutual understan...

London . .   JETAA London had a great time seeing the stage adaptaion of Garden of Words, and are hoping to see more theatre shows in the future. On Thursday 28th of September we are planning to watch the Japan Vs Samoa Rugby world cup game together from 19:30 til 22:30 at The Hercules Pillars, 18 G...

Philip Harper is a successful sake brewer and author. He is the first non-Japanese person to earn the title of Toji 杜氏 or master sake brewer. He is Toji of Kinoshita Brewing Company in Kyoto. He wrote The Insider's Guide to Sake (1998) and The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide (2006).    How...

Haruka Kuroda is CEO of the A Thousand Cranes Theatre company. She was kind enough to tell us about her "Anglo-Japanese theatre company that creates shows for young people using the Japanese language, culture and storytelling styles, such as Kamishibai." She is also quite a prolific actor, ...

Photo by Masahiko Satoh Japanese cabbage roles, or ロールキャベツ, are a great food to tide you over though these autumn months. You'll need mince for this, but it can be any kind, Quorn, beef, pork or turkey are all fine for this recipe.  250g mince  6 cabba...

• Returning or considering a move to the UK after your JET experience? • Uncertain about finding work or contacts after your arrival? • Or simply want to keep in touch with the JET community and Japan? Join us for this year’s JET ALUMNI CAREERS FAIR ONLINE, organised by the Japan Local Government...

***JETAA volunteers are needed to help with London pre-departure meet-up for outgoing JETs!*** The new JETs have recently been given their placements in Japan and will be attending their pre-departure orientation on Friday 7th July. We would like to invite JET Alumni to join us at a pre-departure meet-up following their orienta...

Nick Bradley’s second book, Four Seasons in Japan, is a moving story covering a range of topics including grief, loss, relationships and seeking fulfilment, all with a beautiful backdrop of the country vividly described by the author. The structure of a book within a book is beautifully crafted, it pulls the reader into a novel difficult to pu...

Hi all, I’m Naomi And I have just become the Chair of the North-East chapter. I was on the JET Programme as an Irish JET 2008-2011 and was an ALT in Umaji-Mura, Kochi.  I was involved with the JET Programme in Ireland upon my return in 2011 and have got involved with the North-East Chapter through our many online events. I also happen to live...

James Gamgee is a Learning and Development manager at the Scottish Government, has been studying Psychology since 2017, and is one of the main organisers of the Fuji Festival. The Festival is an educational project to promote fun study days on Japanese culture in schools.

Photo by Lovejsc     Melon Pan is my favourite Japanese bread,  and it comes from such a simple recipe. We have a step-by-step recipe for those just wanting a quick and fun treat, and one for those who have a bit more time on their hands   Part 1, The Outer L...

This is a great recipe if you've got any leftover curry. You could make some fresh curry just for this recipe, but make sure it's not too saucy. 200G of strong white flour 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of sugar 1/2 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil 120ml of milk 1 teaspoon of instant yeast 2 e...

London . .   We are having an informal gathering in the upstairs room at the Marquis Cornwallis near Russell Square Station from 7pm after JET orientation on Friday the 7th of July. JETAA volunteers are needed to help with London pre-departure meet-up for outgoing JETs! Sign up using the Even...