JETAABC NEWSLETTER Volume 11 Number 4 — November 2006
In This Issue: Upcoming Events ...............………....... 3 Amazing Alumnus Mark Durland ......... 4 “Aki no sora” Restaurant Review........... 6 A Cut Above the Rest.....................….. 7 Babel Movie Review..........……....…... 7 - 8
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2006 JETAABC Board of Directors
Call Out for an Assistant Newsletter Editor We are opening a position for anyone interested in learning various aspects of pu�ing together the JET newsle�er, from writing, to creating ideas, to using Adobe InDesign CS for layout. This is a great way to get involved and learn a few skills without shouldering all the responsibility! Contact Beckie at newsle�er@jetaabc.ca for more info.
Ongoing Hikes
For all B.C. nature lovers, you are now privy to the best-kept JET secret (which was only a secret because nobody knew about it before): JETs are included on Mokuyokai hikes free of charge! You just pay for your own meals and public transportation. On the fourth weekend of every month, the Mokuyokai hiking captain, Kenny Yamanaka, takes a group of adventurers on popular hikes around B.C., each varying in degree of difficulty and length of time. The next hike will be as follows: Nov. 25, Boundary Bay (Tsawwassen) RATING: A 1 You can RSVP to Kenny at his email address: hike@mokuyokai.bc.ca. For more information about the Mokuyokai Society and their hikes, go to: h�p:// www.mokuyokai.bc.ca/e_moku/e_hike.html.
President Ala Ji president@jetaabc.ca Secretary Joseph Luk secretary@jetaabc.ca Treasurer Chris Bailey treasurer@jetaabc.ca Senior Advisor Angie Oshika senioradvisor@jetaabc.ca Membership Coordinator Erica Moizumi membership@jetaabc.ca Social and Cultural Coordinator Anita Lien social@jetaabc.ca Canada Conference Coordinator Greg Joughin canadaconference@jetaabc.ca External Liaison Coordinator Nina Inaoka Lee external@jetaabc.ca Volunteer Coordinator Jane Leung volunteer@jetaabc.ca Newsle�er Editor Beckie Wong newsle�er@jetaabc.ca
Stawamus Chief (Squamish, 2005)
Newsle�er Contributors Kurt Heinrich Linda Takahashi Shari Virjee Tañada Jason Ca�erson
On the Cover: Restaurateur Mark Durland, owner of Nevermind, Hell’s Kitchen, Abigail’s Party, and Flying Tiger.
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Upcoming Events CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT FOR RETURNEES: NOVEMBER 17 Welcome back from Japan! You’re cordially invited to a special JETAABC event for new returnees on November 17 at the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver. You’ll gain some resources for career development in Canada, and have a chance to connect with other JET alumni. Details: Friday, November 17, 5:30 pm start Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver (1177 W. Hastings Street) SPEAKERS Erin Leach, Career Coach with Training Innovations , and facilitates an on-line program helping people to choose their career focus
and effectively search for work. Working in the Career Development field before and a�er her two years as an ALT in Aomori-ken (2002-2004), Erin will give tips for your post-JET job search. Carl Brodie has recently established his own business helping families make and save more money and has helped many others get their businesses off the ground. He will share his expertise in the area of building a business and how to make money in Vancouver. Carl was on JET in Kyoto (1995-1998) and knows how important it is to facilitate a smooth transition into Vancouver’s business environment. Followed by a niji-kai (a�er party), of course! RSVP to secretary@jetaabc.ca by November 12.
IKEBANA CLASS: NOVEMBER 25
SAKE TASTING: TBA
Secretly, you’ve always wanted to try ikebana (flower arrangement) but couldn’t resist the thrills of karate, kendo, taiko or what have you. Now, JETAABC is giving you a chance to try and create your own work of art!
JETAABC would like to wrap up the year treating you to the taste of Japan - Sake and Shochu Tasting. Selected sake and shochu is available to suit all taste buds. Paired with delicious tapas at one of Vancouver’s hippest Izakaya, you can count on having a blast with your fellow alumni!
The Ikebana Class will be held on November 25, from 1-3pm. Everyone is welcome! The cost will be $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Reservation is required. If you are interested, please RSVP to social@jetaabc.ca.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Tentatively scheduled for JANUARY 12, 2007. JETAABC’s AGM and Shinnenkai is fast approaching. Look for your invitation in the mail next month, and plan to a�end. Run for a Board of Directors position! Get involved as a volunteer! JETAABC EMAIL LIST If you have received an email from us, you will only receive ONE more email from JETAABC, unless you join the mailing list! Stay in touch with JET Alumni and Japan-related events and news: h�p://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaabclist/
We know December is a busy time for everyone, but this is an event you do not want to miss! Please visit www.jetaabc.ca for more details! Anita Lien JETAABC Social Coordinator, social@jetaabc.ca Or just take advantage of your free JETAABC membership to meet or catch up with fellow alumni over refreshments. Recently returned, back for years, or even new to BC, all JET alumni are welcome! Check the website (www.jetaabc. ca) for details on available Board positions, and a complete list of annual events. See you there! * If you have trouble signing up, please let us know. We can’t add you to the mailing list, but we would like to know whether you are interested in receiving JETAABC communications. Genki de! Joseph Luk JETAABC Secretary, secretary@jetaabc.ca
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Amazing Entrepreneur: Mark Durland By Kurt Heinrich (Kawauchi Town, Aomori-ken 2003-2004) In late 1992, Mark Durland sat astride a motor scooter sucking in the clean air and admiring the rugged mountains surrounding his small town of Shinshiro, outside Nagoya. Fourteen years later, he sits astride a comfy swivel chair in the back office of Nevermind, one of four successful Vancouver restaurants he owns. He doesn’t look like your typical entrepreneur. Tanned and armed with a wide and relaxed smile, he looks like someone more comfortable on the beach than in any board room.
formed. Unlike many restaurant entrepreneurs, Durland didn’t have any experience serving, cooking, bartending or managing any restaurants before embarking on his own project. He’d never even worked in a restaurant. Instead, he’d spent the first few years of his west-coming coordinating a tour/home stay program. A�er several years, he’d had enough and decided to take a chance. Flying by the seat of his pants, he marshalled his JET savings and in-
Today is another world and over a decade of time has passed. A great deal has changed for Durland. But a�er all his challenges, stresses, successes and failures, he still exudes the same relaxed disposition and confident entrepreneurship he had during his tenure as a JET. Durland’s connection to Japan is as lengthy as it is deep. Back in the 1970’s his father, who worked as a banker, moved the family to Tokyo. A�er several years combing the narrow streets of the metropolis with their friends, the Durland family headed back to North America. Over the next ten years, Durland would globe-trot about, spending many summers in Vancouver and Penticton. “I always felt like Vancouver was a place I identified with,” he said. A�er completing his degree at the University of Boston, Durland decided to head back to his old stomping grounds with the JET program. The next two years were great ones, he says. “I felt comfortable immediately when I got there. It just seemed normal and right. I was happy there because I liked teaching and I liked being treated as a cultural liaison. It was really nice.” Working for the program by day and tutoring by night, he had a blast and saved enough money to arrive back in Canada with the capital to match his dreams. But they were dreams that were still being
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vested them in his first restaurant, Elwoods. The flexible, long hours of the business appealed to his personality. “The restaurant business is really dynamic, fun, and cool and creative,” he said. Despite the large time investment required, Durland remained a steady fixture at his first business. Days were spent supervising and accounting for expenses and profits. In the a�ernoon, he’d take a quick nap and then head back to the restaurant to buy drinks for new friends and party long into the night. Durland says he spent so li�le time at home that his fridge never had any groceries in it. It was the ideal fit for the young and outgoing ex-JET. Slowly Elwoods began to flourish, and he took his profits and reinvested them in Nevermind. With Nevermind, Durland incorporated his love of the Japanese izakaya, decorating the restaurant with dark cozy wood in an underground feel. Beers were complemented with tapas-style dining served immediately.
However, not everything translated well across the Pacific. Despite several a�empts to market certain noodles to Nevermind’s clients, Durland says he’s come to one immutable conclusion: “Ramen doesn’t sell as well to drunk people in the West as it does to drunken westerners in Japan!” Of course low ramen sales were the least of his problems. Even as his fortunes started to increase, Durland had a series of disagreements with his partner. Soon the partnership broke down and Durland sold his stake in Elwoods and focused on Nevermind. The restaurant slowly grew profitable as it became established as a mainstay for UBC students and the young Kitsilano crowd. Durland also credits his honest and hardworking staff for helping make Nevermind a success. As time passed, and Nevermind continued to flourish, Durland decided to take the next step. First he opened Hell’s Kitchen, a lunch restaurant Durland credits to be more mainstream than the hip Nevermind. Next he opened Abigail’s Party, an eatery he recommends for dates and more intimate get-togethers. His newest restaurant, Flying Tiger’s funky Asian food, also borrows from the izakaya, though not the ramen shops of Japan.
Durland says that all the restaurants have enjoyed a great deal of success. He credits much of his current success to his partner who has taken an active role in managing the mini-restaurant empire. Free to indulge on his interests, Durland now divides his time between working on real estate development on a small plot of land north of Vancouver and sipping beers with patrons and friends at his various restaurants. He says he’s also looking forward to a future trip to catch some waves and a bit of Portuguese in Brazil. A li�le escape for the surfer from the dreary winters of Vancouver. Such are the joys of semi-retirement at 37!
Do You Know an Amazing Alum? If you or someone you know has accomplished something great since returning from Japan, we would love to hear your story! Whether of athlete, humanitarian, entrepreneur, or performer, we are interested in stories that amaze and inspire each of us to be proud of our individual talents. Contact our newsletter editor below and we’ll send the all-star treatment which includes a detailed interview and snapping a few glamour shots! Beckie Wong newsle�er@jetaabc.ca
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“…Aki no sora…” By Shari Virjee Tañada (Saitama-ken 1997-1999) I’d recently landed home as a newlywed back from honeymoon. On my own today, I found myself driving through the city enthralled by the beauty of fall’s changing leaves – something I never see when living in tropical Southeast Asia. A trip to Kitsilano/Cornwall on a visit home to Vancouver is a must-do. No ma�er the season, it’s always a pre�y place to spend some time and appreciate nature. I parked on the side street (free for two hours on the le� side) and enjoyed the stroll around the corner and past a string of eateries including a wheat and gluten-free bakery, until I stumbled upon the red door to Planet Veg ($, 1941 Cornwall Ave, Tel: 604-734-1001). “All veg, made fresh and with no preservatives, and no dairy – vegan.” This statement was delivered by the owner, a Canadian of Indian descent, who came from behind the counter to greet me. Surprisingly, what was more relatable to me was the profile of his employees – youthful Japanese, working in Canada (reverse their citizenship with the country and you have us JETs -- pre-alumni). And though I instantly wanted to speak Japanese, for natsukashii reasons, I decided not to get their typical shocked responses, and let them shock me, instead. Since I was dining on coupon (where the second menu item is free), I ordered twice as much as I needed; I intended to take exactly half of each order home. A�er a long look at the colourful and innovative options clearly laid out on the board, I decided on the following: Daily Special, aloo paratha + a cup of chai ($5.19+tax) and the Kathmandu Roll (also $5.19). Set meals with rice
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and salad are $8. A�er choosing the silver over plastic flatware option from the counter at the back, I sat at a table amidst the diner atmosphere, basking in the so� glow of a�ernoon sunlight pouring in from the windows. Some minutes a�er the chai, my meal arrived. Guess what? They understood my betsu-betsu request in English perfectly! In considering the presentation and form of my two items, Planet Veg duly served my wrap cut in half with one half already packaged to go; my aloo paratha however, came to me hot off the chulo (griddle), as is. Dousing it with the tangy tamarind sauce available on each table in a ketchup bo�le, my taste buds got the be�er of my willpower, and I indulged in this mildly spiced stuffed potato pancake such that it was a struggle to leave aside even a quarter of it for the takehome bag. If you’ve missed the ‘granola’ culture of Vancouver, the variety and combinations of all-veggie meals, are trying a new XX-free diet, or just looking for ‘good, cheap & healthy’, Planet Veg is one of the few spots that can offer you all of this plus a seat & table if you want it, on the west side of Vancouver. I’d definitely return, whatever the season! Haiku Planet Veg is cheap healthy vegetarian meals You can change your mind.
“PS: Kare wa Tokyo to Kagoshima-ken kara desu.”
Shari Virjee taught as an ALT in two high schools in Saitama-ken. Recently married, she is in the middle of officially changing her name to one that looks Japanese when spelled without the Spanish accent: Tanada.
A Cut Above the Rest By Linda Sachiko Takahashi (Shizuoka-ken ’01’03)
ily, one thing that I miss about Japan is available right here in Vancouver: Japanese hair salons.
I came back to Vancouver, BC a li�le over three years ago a�er living in rural Japan for two years. I had the usual reverse culture shock that everyone experiences to some extent. I think one of the biggest shocks had to be my incorrect use of an ATM in Vancouver (or was it a temporary lack of be�er judgment?). I mistakenly deposited coins in the machine and you can well imagine what happened next…!
I like Japanese hair salons for two main reasons: I have the chance to speak some Japanese to the stylists, and I can get a cut that suits my hair type. I have only been to a couple of them, but there are many in the downtown Vancouver area and beyond to try. My current favourite is Kaen. This hair salon is a li�le “hole-in-the-wall” that is located on the second floor of Konbiniya on Robson Street. I like it here because it reminds me of those hidden venues in Japan one finds by accident or from a local. In this case, a Japanese friend recommended her hair stylist to me. A lot of these places offer additional services such as shiatsu and esthetics.
Since returning to the Great White North, there have been many things I miss about Japan, such as Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, MUJI, shinkansen, and even stuff like kyushoku. Luck-
Here is a list of some of the ones I found: Aoi h�p://www.aoibeauty.com/ Air h�p://www.air-hair.com/index.htm Hair cuts start at $40 (women) and $35 (men) Hair cuts start at $40 (women) and $34 (men) 518 Bea�y Street, Vancouver 604-688-2122 1344 Hornby Street, Vancouver 604-688-7238 Ark h�p://www.jpcanada.com/info/ark/index.html Hair cuts start at $35 (women) and $28 (men) 810 Homer Street, Vancouver 604-688-7768 Chura h�p://www.jpcanada.com/info/chura/index.html Hair cuts start at $25 (women and men) 413 West Hastings Street, Vancouver 604-685-1006 Misako h�p://www.misakohair.com/ Hair cuts start at $40 (women) and $30 (men) 888 Davie Street, Vancouver 604-683-8853 776 Thurlow Street, Vancouver 604-684-8306 #1115-8766 McKim Way, Richmond 604-244-0980 Kaen h�p://www.jpcanada.com/info/kaen/ Hair cuts start at $37 (women) and $28 (for men) KONBINIYA 2F 1238 Robson Street, Vancouver 604-696-KAEN(5236)
Babel Movie as Lofty as its Namesake By Jason Ca�erson (Osaka-fu ’02-’04) The idea of miscommunication on all levels, and the emotions that accompany the feeling of being misunderstood in today’s world, is explored in Babel, directed by Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu (director of Amores Perros and 21 Grams). This ensemble piece takes place across three continents and involves four storylines, all
connected by a single incident. The first storyline focuses on two brothers in Morocco who acquire a rifle from a local man in order to protect their herd of goats from jackals. An experiment to test the rifle’s range results in the near-fatal injury of an American woman (Cate Blanche�), who is accompanying her husband (Brad Pi�) on vacation. The second story arc revolves around Pi� continued on next page
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and Blanche�’s characters and their unresolved resentment towards each other over the loss of a newborn son. The third storyline involves a Mexican nanny named Amelia (played brilliantly by Latin legend Adriana Barraza) who takes care of the American couple’s two young children back in San Diego. As a result of the incident in Morocco, Amelia is le� without anyone to take care of the children on the day she has to a�end her son’s wedding in Mexico. She enlists the help of her nephew, Santiago (played by Gael García Bernal of Motorcycle Diaries fame) and takes the children with her to Mexico, where scenes of joyous celebration sharply contrast with the tragic series of events that ensue. The fourth storyline takes place in Tokyo, where a business man (Japanese screen legend Koji Yakusho, most recently seen as Nobu in Memoirs of a Geisha) struggles to understand and reach out to his headstrong, deaf-mute daughter Chieko (played by up-and-comer Rinko Kikuchi). Just like one would flick through channels on a television set, Iñárritu effectively jumps between the four storylines using anachronism and jarring juxtaposition to highlight and contrast the emotions of the characters. With all of this frantic jumping between scenes, the plot never gets muddled or confusing; however, as a result, the plot sometimes becomes too obvious and a bit predictable. With this ensemble piece and flashcard-like storytelling, one can’t help thinking of this film as a gri�ier looking, international version of Paul Haggis’ Crash (although the cinematography has to be commended, for it is at times breathtaking and epic in scope). The screenplay, wri�en by Guillermo Arriaga (who also penned Amores Perros and 21 Grams), deals with the subject of miscommunication on many layers and levels, and the first three plotlines mesh very well; however, with the exception of sharing the theme of miscommunication along with one key detail linking it to the Morocco storyline, the Japanese plotline seemed the most out of place.
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One begs to question the relevance of such a story in comparison to the other three that have solid and well-developed plot links. But on its own, the story that takes place in Japan has a lot of merit and much emotion. Rinko Kikuchi is outstanding in her portrayal as a deaf-mute teenager struggling with her mother’s suicide, her father’s distance, and her own anger clashing with her budding sexuality. However, I would have liked to see more of the father and daughter relationship fleshed out in order to provide more insight into Chieko’s motives and inner conflict (not to mention Koji Yakusho having a bit more screen time; it was rather disappointing to not see more of his fine acting ability utilized in this project). Overall, Babel is a stunning effort, but tries a bit too hard to achieve its goal of highlighting the idiosyncrasies of miscommunication. Subtle moments of true tenderness and emotion between the characters o�en get lost in the grandiose tragedies of far-fetched situations. Just as the film’s title references the biblical story of how God punished a group of culturally linked people for building a tower to get closer to heaven (by demolishing the tower to smithereens, sca�ering them across the world, and making them unable to comprehend one another), the screenplay o�en assumes a benevolent god-like role and punishes the characters when they get too close to emotional resolution. Also, the terrorist subplot was a bit overdone and cliché (even though it was clearly intended to highlight American paranoia surrounding terrorism). On the positive side, the strong ensemble performances do warrant this film a viewing. Brad Pi� delivers probably his most emotional screen role to date, and standout performances by Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi are not to be missed (and at least the scenes of Tokyo, along with hearing Japanese dialogue, were nostalgic at best). But cast performances and a few natsukashii scenes of Shinjuku and Shibuya cannot save a crashing tower from tumbling. That being said, I believe that in the case of Babel, sometimes less is more.