Congratulations to JET/MEF alum, Leonard Schoppa (Kumamoto, 1984-1985),for being awarded the prestigious imperial decoration, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in recognition of his academic contributions and his work to strengthen US-Japan relations.

This May, Japan Society of Boston featured Jessica Smith (Okinawa, 2003-2006), in their JSB meets JET Alumni series. Jessica reflects on her time living in Naha. She shared how the U.S. military presence influenced local cuisine, including Taco Rice, a GI-inspired favorite, and Goya Champuru.

The early 2000s were simpler times. Social media was non-existent, the internet was in its infancy, and innovations like YouTube, AI, and the iPhone were still years away. My only connection to the world beyond Japan was a small flip phone that could send text messages of about 20 characters….

A certain object — one that many people consider outdated nowadays — planted a seed in Adam Lisbon that ended up shaping his life.  “The thing that really made me want to travel and see the world — and Japan sort of filled that gap of where to go in the world — was, believe it or not, CD-Roms,” Lisbon said.

This April, Japan Society of Boston featured Bianca Sanchez Alvarez (Hiroshima, 2016-2018). In their JSB meets JET Alumni series. Bianca reflects on her journey inspired by her great-grandfather’s Japanese roots. She shares insights on Hiroshima’s culture, from okonomiyaki to Peace Memorial Park, and the lasting connections made with students and colleagues.

USJETAA’s Bobby Nawbary took some time to hear how current JET, Michelle Barajas Perez, found herself making sugar skulls with her students in Japan. Michelle’s path to Japan was not typical. With roots in small-town, rural California, her hometown of Los Banos is not a town where its people venture far from in their lives.

For many JETs, Japan is a memorable chapter in their lives—one filled with late-night konbini runs, local festivals, and just enough office formalities to make them fluent in the art of the polite nod. But for Andrew Ou, who is currently the U.S. Consul General in Okinawa, it was just the beginning of his career in diplomacy, though he didn’t quite know it at the time.

This March, Japan Society of Boston featured Lillian Wies (Saga, 2012-2013), in their JSB meets JET Alumni series. Lillian shared how her time in Saga shaped her career path, leading to a PhD in Japanese art history and roles at top museums, including the Harvard Art Museums, where she’s currently the Gregory and Maria Henderson Curatorial Fellow.