Think back to that magical moment when you first arrived in Japan. Spirits high, you take your first step out of the plane on a beautiful summer evening into a brave new world. A world full of opportunity, new friendships, humidity, sweat, and pit stains… You realize that jeans were a bad idea, and you wish you knew just how hot Japan really is before getting here.

So you’ve decided that you want to keep your original phone from your country and only get a sim card in Japan. Use this handy guide to get yourself set up!

The third annual Gunma Games are coming up fast! The Gunma Games are the first big event of the year for new Gunma JETs. It’s bound to be the hottest and most talked about event all year, so don’t miss it! For those that have already been to the Gunma Games I have no doubt you’re coming back for more. But, for those of you that need some convincing I’ve prepared my top three reasons why you should attend the Gunma Games!

It’s that time of year again—one of GAJET’s biggest events—the Canyons Adventure and Mixer! Get to know your neighbors from Gunma, Ibaraki, Nagano, Saitama, and Tochigi while catching the last rays of summer during an action-(or leisure) packed weekend at Gunma’s own Canyons Alpine Lodge in Minakami.

All year I’ve been looking forward to my favorite GAJET event: The Mt. Fuji Climb. To get ready I’ve been running up and down the stairs at school during my free periods, and planning what to pack this year.

When JETs arrive in Japan, they are given a three year visa. This visa is good for three years as long as you do not leave your job or change professions. So the question is, what happens when you’re in your third year on JET and you have decided to continue your job for another year?

America’s favorite past time is finally here, It’s baseball season! Baseball also happens to be extremely popular in Japan. Many of your students know and love the sport, and will often talk about their favorite teams and players. Let’s explore baseball in Japan together!

So there you sit at your enkai, staring at another glass of pale, watery beer. If only you could get your hands on a dark and roasty stout or a hoppy and fragrant IPA. Anything but Asahi! Luckily there are opportunities for better beer in Gunma, if you know where to look. 

We have a lot of great candidates this year, so please read their platforms below and choose which candidate you think can best fulfill the role they are running for.  If you are unsure what each position does, feel free to check out the Nominations page for a description of each position.
Voting is open until 10:00 p.m. June 1st! 
 
President
 
Samantha Corpuz

Hello fellow Gunma JETs! My name is Samantha Corpuz from Vancouver (they call me Can-EH-dian ^_~ ). I’m a 3rd year ALT living in western Gunma, and I am running for GAJET President!
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The sweet and sweaty oven-heat of summer is upon us, but while it may be tempting to lock yourself in with your aircon and an army of fans, be sure to check out some (or all!) of the amazing festivals our cabbage patch has to offer.

Winter is here! What is the one thing guaranteed to drag us out from under our warm toasty kotatsu? Why, snowboarding and skiing, of course! Did you know that next to Hokkaido, the Gunma-Niigata-Nagano region has the best ski resorts in all of Japan? Gunma, banzai!