CLAIR News March 2023
We ask that everybody continues to thoroughly observe basic infection prevention measures such as avoiding the “Mittsu no mitsu” or “three Cs” (Closed spaces, with poor ventilation; Crowded places, with many people nearby; and Close-contact settings, such as close-range conversations), as well as maintaining social distancing, the wearing of masks, and good hand hygiene.
In order to prevent the resurgence of infection, we should observe these measures during any travel which crosses prefectural borders, and act to avoid the same situations in the workplace.
For further information, please refer to the national and local governments’ official websites.
Cabinet Secretariat website:
https://corona.go.jp/en/
From 3/13, guidance for the use of masks will be changing, so please stay up to date with the latest information on the following website:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000164708_00079.html
Fourth shots of legacy vaccines are being carried out between May 25 2022 and March 31 2023 for those people who have had three shots (or equivalent) and three months have passed since their last shot.
Moreover, autumn 2022 start vaccines (adapted for the omicron strain) are being carried out from September 20 2022 to March 31 2023. Those for whom a certain period has passed since their first initial two shots (or equivalent) are eligible, regardless of whether or not they have received a third or fourth booster shot.
Please note that if you have received your first two shots overseas before moving to Japan, or if you have moved to a different municipality within Japan since receiving your first two shots, you may need to apply to your municipality to receive your paperwork for the booster shot(s). Please contact your local municipality for more information.
Those who receive a shot of the new autumn 2022 start vaccines are ineligible to have the third or fourth booster shot.
For details, please visit the following webpages from the Japanese government and local municipalities:
Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/vaccine.html
CLAIR requests that each JET Programme participant register for the Safety Confirmation System (Emergency Call) and Contact Information Survey. These are two separate systems. Please register to both using the links below.
Safety Confirmation System:
https://asp2.emc-call.jp/clair/index_en.html or
https://asp2.emc-call2nd.jp/clair/index_en.html Your login ID and password are both the final nine numbers of your JET Number, omitting the first two digits (20).
* If your contracting organisation has changed, please register your new address.
Contact Information Survey: https://goo.gl/u1gVT2
Login ID: JET Number (11 digits beginning with 20)
Password: Date of birth (YYYYMMDD)
* If your contracting organisation has changed, please register your new address.
Emergency Pocket Guide for JETs
To ensure your safety in Japan, please take the opportunity to ensure that you are prepared in case a disaster occurs.
CLAIR has compiled an Emergency Pocket Guide for reference in the event of a disaster. Please keep it with you at all times. Please ensure that you fill out the important parts and keep it with you in case of a disaster.
*CLAIR distributes the Emergency Pocket Guide during orientation for new arrivals.
https://jetprogramme.org/en/emergency-support/
In the event of a disaster CLAIR will confirm the safety of JET Programme participants using the Safety Confirmation System (Emergency Call). It only takes a few moments to confirm your safety via the email you receive. Please make sure you respond regarding your safety situation when a safety confirmation email arrives, as it otherwise takes time for Host Prefectures/Designated Cities to confirm the safety of each individual JET Programme participant in the affected area(s).
In any given year in Japan, there will be somewhere which has had an emergency warning issued. The country is also prone to large earthquakes. At the moment Japan is entering a period of increased chance for emergency warnings to be issued as a result of heavy rain and typhoons. Because of this, we are asking JET Programme participants and supervisors at each contracting organisation to confirm information registered with the Safety Confirmation System and to check how to respond to a safety confirmation request should an email arrive.
Once again, if you receive a safety confirmation request email, please respond to it right away. Safety Confirmation requests are sent out based on Host Prefecture/Designated City, so participants may receive safety confirmation requests even when they are not physically near the site of a disaster. In this case, a response is still required from each individual to whom the request is sent.
With the aim of enhancing mental health support for JET Programme participants, CLAIR offers the JET Programme Mental Health Counselling Assistance Programme. This programme provides a partial subsidy (50%, up to 30,000 yen per year) for counselling costs incurred through consultation with mental health professionals not covered by health insurance.
The coverage period for this year is from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The application form must arrive at CLAIR by 7 April 2023 (Fri).
If you have already had counselling sessions and paid for them, please submit your application as soon as possible.
JET Programme participants can also receive free counselling offered by CLAIR via Web Mail and Skype. If you wish to use these services, please access them using the URLs below, input the ID/password, and follow the instructions for registration. Up to 7 Skype sessions are available between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. We recommend starting with web mail, which has no limits on usage.
Web Mail and Skype Counselling
Website:https://jetcounseling.com/
Login Information:
Username: jet
(Please see the CLAIR News email for the password)
Applications for the 2022-2023 grant are closed, and grants for completed courses are currently being processed.
Those who were approved for a course in 2022-2023 should have received an end-of-the-year survey. CLAIR kindly requests your feedback in this survey to help improve the grant regardless of whether or not you completed your course. The survey takes approximately two minutes. We truly appreciate your feedback.
The first application period for the 2023-2024 grant will open in April 2023. Please use this time to carefully research and consider what course may be best for you, and look for an announcement in April regarding the new application period. Please note that CLAIR cannot recommend or endorse specific courses.
Details concerning the grant may be found year-round at the following page:
https://jetprogramme.org/en/tefl/
Participants are currently being sought for the 2023 National JET Japanese Pedagogical Training Seminar. (Japan Foundation)
The National JET Japanese Pedagogical Training Seminar will be offered at the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute in Urawa for JET Programme participants wishing to become Instructors of Japanese in the future.
[Schedule]
First Intake: 15 May (Monday) – 23 May (Tuesday) 2023
Second Intake: 29 May (Monday) – 6 June (Tuesday) 2023
＊Both courses have the same content. You can only take part in one of them.
If you wish to apply for the course, please gain the approval of your contracting organisation and then submit the application form and essay by 9AM on March 22 (Wednesday) via email.
Information about application requirements, the application form and the format of the required essay can be downloaded from the following URL:
https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/urawa/trnng_t/2023/other_jet.html
【Applications & Enquiries】
Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute Teacher Training Team (Contact: Ouchi)
Email: nc_jet@jpf.go.jp / TEL: 048-834-1181
Do you want to stay in Japan after JET? Do you want to know what kind of opportunities there are for former JETs in Japan?
We have made a video showcasing three former JETs and their impressive career paths post JET, ranging from positions at Mercari and Square Enix to the Osaka Tourism Bureau. Get inspired by your senpai JETs and check out the career support initiatives we offer at CLAIR!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBvb-lY0de8
Please feel free to share this video on your own social media and spread the word on the amazing potential of former JETs!
You can apply for online Japanese language courses offered by CLAIR.
For the 2024 fiscal year, changes are being made to the format and application process for the JET Programme Japanese language courses. You can now apply for individual month-long units to study material which better fits your needs at your own pace. The course guide on the JET Programme website will be updated in the coming days with the latest information.
https://jetprogramme.org/en/languagecourses/
Please check the course list provided below to see what material is most relevant to you and then apply for your course.
Japanese Language Course Application Form
https://bit.ly/2HfLvpv
Course Contents List
https://nttls-edu.jp/vlj/CourseList_ENG.pdf
The 2023 edition of the General Information Handbook is now available at the link below.
Various sections have been updated, so please make sure you re-acquaint yourself with the content of the GIH.
https://www.jetprogramme.org/en/gih/
For JET participants who arrived in April, it is almost time to extend your period of stay, so please check the dates written on your Residence Card (especially JET participants in their third year who will be reappointed for another term).
For information on extending your Period of Stay or changing your Status of Residence, please refer to page 69 of the 2022 edition of the General Information Handbook (GIH).
https://www.jetprogramme.org/en/gih/
All JET Programme participants are strongly advised to register with their home country’s embassy or local consulate, and/or through your embassy run travel registration scheme while living in Japan, as your embassy may be able to help you and your relatives obtain necessary information and check on each other’s safety in times of emergency. Please check the website of your home country’s embassy or local consulate for more details:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/protocol/index.html
JET Programme participants finishing their appointments and returning to their home countries may be eligible to receive a pension refund (lump-sum withdrawal payment). For more information, please refer to page 169～175 of the 2022 edition of the General Information Handbook (GIH).
https://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/
Information is also available in English and Japanese on the following website: https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/index.html (English)
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/index.html (Japanese)
Is your house or apartment covered by property insurance (kasai hoken)? If you do not know, please check with your contracting organisation supervisor.
There have been several cases where JET participants were forced to pay for the damages to not only their own, but also their neighbours’housing when there were water leaks or other problems (if a water leak occurs, damage to the property of neighbours is covered by the JET Accident Insurance Policy Liability Endorsement, but damage to your own property as well as damage to the structure or building can only be covered by property insurance). Whether or not to purchase property insurance is the choice of the JET participant. However, if you are liable for damages, the costs can be very high. Therefore CLAIR recommends that JET participants enroll in property insurance.
Although the majority of JET Programme participants live in rental properties, earthquake insurance may also be taken to account for the cost of lost household items, such as personal computers or TVs. Therefore, please take care to research a suitable form of insurance for your situation.
