Volunteers needed for Japan Festival in Skokie, IL!

The Chicago Japanese American Council (CJAC) is seeking volunteers to help with Japan Festival, taking place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Skokie, Illinois. Japan Fest 2025 will showcase the richness of Japanese culture through traditional and contemporary performances, cultural exhibits, culinary experiences, and interactive activities. The exposure to Japanese culture, cuisine and art will create deeper awareness, appreciation and understanding of Japan and further strengthen U.S.-Japan friendship at the local level.

If you are interested in helping out, please fill out their call for volunteers form.

June's Book Club - Rental Person Who Does Nothing

The JETAA Chicago and Japan America Society of Chicago YPC Book Club continues with a meeting on Wednesday, June 25th!

Our book club highlights voices and stories with a solid connection to Japan. For our next meeting, we chose "Rental Person Who Does Nothing" by Shoji Morimoto. After an old boss told him that he contributed nothing and that it made no difference whether he showed up to work or not, he wondered if a person who ‘does nothing’ could still have a place in the world. With a tweet, his Rental Person service was born.- Have a deep secret you desperately need to reveal, so deep that you can’t tell a friend or family member?- Have you spent a long time home alone, and want to know what it’s like to have somebody with you at your apartment? Morimoto is dependable, non-judgmental, and committed to remaining a stranger throughout each request, and his encounters are revelatory about both Japanese society and human psychology.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the book and join us for an evening of casual discussion in a virtual space via Zoom! Registrations are limited, so grab a spot while you can!

Sign up here!

Questions? Contact Joe at networking@jetaachicago.com

This event is open to alumni, JASC YPC members and friends.

JOB Opening - Japanese-English Bilingual Technical Support Specialist in Chicago

Join a global leader in precision measuring tools in the western suburbs of Chicago!

We're seeking a Japanese-speaking Technical Support Specialist to assist customers and sales teams with product demos, specs, and troubleshooting.

Ideal candidates have a background in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or Marketing.

New grads and recent JET returnees are welcome to apply!

Salary: $60,000 + bonus eligibility

Full benefits package including 401(k) match, paid holidays, and tuition reimbursement

JLPT N2 or higher required; business-level English also needed

This is a great opportunity to apply your bilingual skills in a technical, customer-facing role.

Apply here: https://iiicareer.com/applicant/en/detail.php?recid=62259 or contact chicago@iiicareer.com for more info.