JET Programme Alumni Association USA
More than one month has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake has hit the nation. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to all the people who have suffered as a result of this disaster, both Japanese nationals and non-Japanese; including JET Programme participants, and to their families. I especially offer my sincerest condolences to Ms. Taylor Anderson and Mr. Montgomery Dickson, who were the victims of the disaster. I laud their achievement and contribution as JET Programme participants for English education and international exchange activities at the local level. At the same time, I express my gratitude to JET Programme participants who have continued to assume their duties in Japan in this difficult time.
I understand that JETAA chapters across the United States of America are working for the earthquake relief efforts in Japan by means of a series events including “JETAA USA Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.” I extend my heartfelt appreciation for such assistance from your organization. I am grateful for the fact that many JET alumni have prayed for Japan and extended support to us. I am deeply impressed by the warm encouragement.
The Government of Japan is currently mobilizing all resources to overcome the situation at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and working hard to stabilize the situation there at the earliest possible date. I would appreciate if those who have been away from Japan following evacuation advices issued by their mother country, among other reasons, and also those who hesitate to apply for the JET Programme in this situation in Japan could judge and act calmly based on available information on the safety in Japan. I would like to point out that the Government of Japan considers that the areas outside the zones for evacuation and staying indoors are safe, and the Government of Japan has required each local authority to restrict the distribution of food products whose radiation doses exceeded the provisional regulation values. The Government of Japan has uploaded the latest information on the websites as follows. I would really appreciate if you could share this message with your JET friends and their possible candidates through your network.
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html
http://www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/index.html
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/2011_Earthquake.html
http://www.mofa.go.jp/index.html
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/saigaijohou/index.htm
http://eq.wide.ad.jp/index_en.html
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/2011eq/index.html
http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/index.html
http://www.maff.go.jp/e/index.html
There is no doubt that Japan will recover, become vibrant again, and become an even more marvelous country. I strongly believe that Japan will certainly repay, through its contributions to the international community, the cordial assistance from your organization. The Government of Japan will work to the best of its ability to realize a reconstruction of Japan. I appreciate your continued support and cooperation.
To that end, I add my own effort to those of my Government: I extend my best wishes to you for your organization’s future development.
Naoki Murata
Director-General
Public Diplomacy Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan