Where were you in Japan as a JET and when?
I was in Tosashimizu, Kochi Prefecture, from 2011 to 2016 as an ALT. I was stationed in the city hall’s Board of Education and visited eight elementary schools and five middle schools spread across Tosashimizu’s 100-square-mile area. After discussing with my supervisors, I was eventually allowed to visit five preschools as well. I found that these preschool visits greatly eased the transition into first-grade English lessons in elementary school.
What sparked your interest in applying for the JET Program?
Growing up, I developed an interest in Japan, and I actively pursued and nurtured that interest whenever I had the opportunity. I was also drawn to teaching and saw the JET Program as the perfect chance to immerse myself in the language and culture, teach, and contribute to cultural exchange.
What are some of the things your prefecture is known for? e.g., food, hotspots, etc.
Kochi Prefecture is famous for its stunning coastline, katsuo no tataki (seared bonito fish), and the revolutionary samurai Sakamoto Ryoma. Tosashimizu City, in particular, is known for the dramatic landscapes of Cape Ashizuri and the Tatsukushi Coastline, sodabushi (dried and smoked sodagatsuo fish), and the inspiring story of John Manjiro.
John Manjiro, also known as Nakahama Manjiro, was a boy from Tosashimizu who became the first Japanese person to live in America. Shipwrecked on his first fishing voyage at the age of 14, he and his friends survived for six months on a deserted island before being rescued by an American whaling ship in 1841. Manjiro played a pivotal role in opening Japan to the West, serving as a bridge between the two cultures during Japan’s isolation. I find his story deeply inspiring and draw many parallels to my own life.
Did you pick up any of the regional dialects? What are some of your favorite words or
phrases?
Yes! Hata-ben, the regional dialect spoken in the Hata area of Kochi Prefecture, is distinct from the more widely known Tosa-ben spoken in other parts of the prefecture. Hata-ben has its own unique expressions, intonations, and, as some argue, even grammar, reflecting the local culture and geography. I absolutely fell in love with Hata-ben. Many in Tosashimizu, including myself, insist that there is an even more specific “Shimizu-ben” spoken only in Tosashimizu.
I love encountering new words and phrases and often look them up in my Kochi Regional
Dialect Dictionary. One word I use almost daily is kaman, which means “no problem” and
functions similarly to daijoubu.
If you were to return to live in Japan, would you choose to live in that same prefecture?
Return? I never left! After completing my five-year tenure as an ALT in Tosashimizu, I was
fortunate to gain a position in the city’s Tourism Department. After a recent departmental shuffle, I now work in the Planning and Finance Department, which, among other things, oversees the sister city relationship with Fairhaven and New Bedford, Massachusetts.
How has your connection to Japan changed since living in Japan?
Before JET, I was a frequent tourist.
Through JET, I became a resident.
After JET, I have a second home.
Thank you, Jason, for sharing your JET story!
If you'd like to learn more about the city of Tosashimizu and listen to Jason speak more about his experience, check out our upcoming program in collaboration with Jason and the City of Tosashimizu!
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