FEW Kansai: A Networking Group for Foreign Women

May Monthly Meeting - Making it Work

 

Making it Work: The Joys and Challenges of Being Your Own Boss 

In May, Kansai home-business owner Catherine Nakamichi will give us the real scoop on being the boss and what might get “lost in translation!”

Have you ever thought about starting a home-based business? Seems ideal–avoiding the crowded trains, choosing your own hours. But what is the reality? How do small business owners make it happen? Cat’s six-year old translation business, Catlingual, specializes in technical translation in a variety of fields. We’ll learn how she built it from scratch and some of her experiences from the trenches.

Cat will give us her take on the joys and challenges of being your own boss and the key to her success. Regardless of your field, you’ll enjoy hearing her talk about managing work-life balance, building a client base as well as a support system and how to say no (can you?). Hope to see you there!

 

        Date: Thursday, May 31, 2012   

        Time: 6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8 pm Presentation   

        Place: 10th Floor Hilton Osaka

        Cost: 4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen -

                     Non-Members (Women Only)  

        RSVP: few_adm@hotmail.com by May 24, 2012

About the speaker

Catherine Nakamichi is CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of Catlingual, her home-based translation  business. Cat is also on the Board of Directors of JAT (Japan Association of Translators) and chair of the JAT Kansai Activities Team. Her free time is recently filled with dog-related duties, as her family adopted a dog from Tohoku via Kobe-based ARK. Xyris lives with Cat, her husband and two children in Osaka.

 

Menu

Fish
Salad of white asparagus, broad bean and loquat, raspberry-walnut oil vinaigrette
Pan fried Isaki, buttered turnip and puree, star anis flavored extra virgin olive oil
Fresh cherry and pistachio cream tart with mixed berries gelato

Meat
Salad of white asparagus, broad bean and loquat, raspberry-walnut oil vinaigrette
Roasted duck breast with apple compote and onion fondant, crème de cassis sauce
Fresh cherry and pistachio cream tart with mixed berries gelato

Vegetarian & Vegan Meal
Salad of white asparagus, broad bean and loquat, raspberry-walnut oil vinaigrette
Tofu skin spring roll of Wasabi flavored avocado and bell pepper, tomato coulis
Fresh cherry and pistachio cream tart with mixed berries gelato
  

Dessert

Cacao flavored dark cherry compote with lemon sherbet

Coffee/Tea

Monthly Meeting - Media Meltdown

 

Media Meltdown: Foreign and Japanese Reporting of the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor

Speaker:  Eric Johnston 

Date:      Thursday, March 29, 2012

Time:      6:00pm Drinks, 7:00pm Dinner, 8:00pm Presentation

Place:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Cost:      4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:    few_adm@hotmail.com by March 22, 2012

 

Join us in March with The Japan Times deputy editor Eric Johnston, who will speak about media coverage of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant crisis.

March 11 is a date forged in our collective memory. Looking back at the catastrophe at the Fukushima plant, what role did the media play in shaping our perspectives? Eric will talk about how the world’s media portrayed the earthquake and nuclear crisis, based on his bilingual book The Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor, and How the World's Media Reported Them published by The Japan Times. He will also discuss the role of the media in the nuclear power village and how social media in Japan has evolved since last year's quake.

About the speaker

Eric Johnston is an American journalist who has worked in Japan for over twentyyears. He has a particular interest in Japan's environmental policies, especially nuclear energy policy. In addition to The Japan Times, his articles on nuclear power in Japan have been published in Japan Focus, Yale Online Review, The Guardian, and Kyoto Journal. Eric alsolectures at universities across Japan on Japanese media, politics and society.

 

***Menu***

<Fish>
Salad of green asparagus and mustard leaves
Strawberry confit vinaigrette with baguette croutons

Roasted blue whiting with light choucroute and white wine sauce with chives

Strawberry mint cremeux and rhubarb compote
Blood orange espuma with mango sherbet

<Meat>
Salad of green asparagus and mustard leaves
Strawberry confit vinaigrette with baguette croutons

Aromatic steamed pork belly with spinach, raspberry vinegar flavored red wine sauce

Strawberry mint cremeux and rhubarb compote
Blood orange espuma with mango sherbet

<Vegetarian & Vegan Meal >
Salad of green asparagus and mustard leaves
Strawberry confit vinaigrette with baguette croutons

“Udo” and ripe blossom spaghettis “Aglio olio e peperoncino” with fresh tomato

Strawberry mint cremeux and rhubarb compote
Blood orange espuma with mango sherbet

<Vegan Dessert>

Fresh strawberry and orange salad
Rhubarb compote with mango sherbet

Coffee/Tea

Mothly Meeting: Jump on the ‘Personal Brand-wagon'!

 

Jump on the 'personal brand wagon'!

 

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2012

Time: 6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8 pm Presentation

Where: 10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Cost: 4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only) 

RSVP: few_adm@hotmail.com by February 16, 2012

In the current market, differentiation defines success. Join us at our February meeting to jump on the "personal brand-wagon" and hear Peter discuss the power of a personal brand.

In an economy of change and uncertainty, how can you best
manage your career? BUILD YOUR BRAND. Your personal
brand is a constant in a world where change is the norm. Your
personal brand is authentic to you and differentiates you from
your peers; it is your unique promise of value.

Peter will introduce a 3-stage process you can use to uniquely
position yourself in a competitive market and provide value to
your customers. Expect to leave our February meeting with
action items you can immediately apply to build and manage
your brand. Don’t miss out!

 

About the speaker 

As Japan's only Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Peter Sterlacci is the pioneer of personal branding in Japan. His personal branding approach taps into his strong passion for bicycling. The idea for his consulting service 'BeYB’ - Believe. Become. Be Your Brand - actually came to him on an early morning ride. He uses this three-stage process to lead his clients on their own path to discover, communicate, and manage their brand. Learn more about Peter and his work at http://www.petersterlacci.com.

 

***

Menu

Fish

Braised bamboo shoot and fried mountain vegetables
On Jerusalem artichoke puree and mesclun salad
Itoyori fillet “Grenobloise”
Caramel chiboust and citrus caviar jelly with rosemary flavored green apple sherbet

Meat

Braised bamboo shoot and fried mountain vegetables
On Jerusalem artichoke puree and mesclun salad
Pan seared beef tenderloin with potato gratin and mushroom sauce
Caramel chiboust and citrus caviar jelly with rosemary flavored green apple sherbet

Vegetarian & Vegan Meal

Braised bamboo shoot and fried mountain vegetables
On Jerusalem artichoke and mesclun salad
Rolled cabbage sauce braised in tomato with mushroom and millet
Caramel chiboust and citrus caviar jelly with rosemary flavored green apple sherbet

Vegan Dessert

Citrus fruits salad with rosemary flavored green apple sherbet

Coffee/Tea

***

Monthly Meeting - Exploring the World of Amber

Exploring the World of Amber

Date:        Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Time:        6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8pm Presentation

Where:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Speaker:  Ania Jasiejko

Cost:        4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:      few_adm@hotmail.com by November 10^th 2011

Do not miss it, when FEW member Ania talks about the secrets of amber - a product that most of us are familiar with, but only few of us has true knowledge about.

In her presentation Ania will share with us her knowledge about the universe of amber. She will cover basic questions such as “What is amber?” and  “What are the different types of amber?” as well as more specialized topics such as the the history of amber use in jewelry and the medical use of amber.

Furthermore Ania will be displaying some of her products, of which some  will be offered for sale very cheaply  for this event alone, so be ready to pamper yourself! 

 

About the speaker

Ania Jasiejko was born in Poland - a country that claims to be the home of amber, and she has been an independent business woman in Japan for several years. She came to Japan in 1994 to live and work. Her career in amber started in 1998 as an amber representative for another company, but in 2003 she leaped into starting her own company named it "Ambrosia" which means "The delight of the Gods".

 

Monthly Meeting - How to manage your digital footprint

How to manage your digital footprint

 

Date:        Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Time:        6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8pm Presentation

Where:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Speaker:  Todd Welbes

Cost:        4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:      few_adm@hotmail.com by October 20th

In a follow-up to last year's conversation about online privacy and safety, Todd will talk about the concept of managing your "digital footprint". Our use of online sharing and publishing creates a version of our identities—our digital footprint—that is accessible to people all over the world. We shape that identity with every Facebook post, Tweet, blog post, and email. In this session we will look at the dangers of creating that identity by accident, and consider some tools and techniques for taking control of it.

 

 

 About the speaker

Todd Welbes has been a middle and high school teacher for the past eleven years. For the last five years, he has worked at Canadian Academy in Kobe, where he teachers technology and theatre.

Monthly Meeting - Women of the World Travel Forum

To Travel is to Live

 

Date:        Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Time:        6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8pm Presentation

Where:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Speaker:  Members Evening

Cost:        4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:      few_adm@hotmail.com by September 22nd

Travelling brings our senses alive, broadens our minds and provides us with memories for life - whether they are fond memories or of the less invigorating kind!

Travel also brings us together and can be one of the most inspiring and powerful topics of conversation.

At our September meeting we will let the conversation flow, let the sharing begin and encourage you all to dig into your mental drawers of travel memories as well as leaning back and listening to FEW members’ personal travel accounts. 

We will have 3 or 4 members lined up as speakers this evening. They will each give a short presentation from a trip that they themselveshave been excited about. Furthermore we encourage you all to share your memories and experiences. Bring one small item that represents a trip that you have taken. It could be a souvenir(yes, we would like to see the hideous ones as well), a book, a photograph…. Anything that carries a travel memory for you is welcomed as a conversation starter! 

You do not have to prepare an actual presentation. Just be ready to share, listen and enjoy!

 

*** Menu ***

<Fish>
Salad of marinated seasonal mushrooms and frise leaves, lemon vinaigrette
Pan-roasted Itoyori with ginger flan and pink grapefruit chutney
Hirami lemon meringue soufflé with red currant jelly and pineapple sherbert
Coffee/Tea

<Meat>
Salad of marinated seasonal mushrooms and frise leaves, lemon vinaigrette
Roasted duck breast, braised chestnut and red cabbage and green peppercorn sauce
Hirami lemon meringue soufflé with red currant jelly and pineapple sherbert
Coffee/Tea

<Vegetarian & Vegan Meal >
Salad of marinated seasonal mushrooms and frise leaves, lemon vinaigrette
Spaghettis all’arrabbiata in burdock soup with tomato, bitter melon and burdock chips
Hirami lemon meringue soufflé with red currant jelly and pineapple sherbert

Coffee/Tea
&
Vegan Dessert

2 kinds of pear compote with verbena flavored sherbet

Monthly Meeting - 06/30/11

 

Exploring Music Appreciation with Vlad Jocic

Date:        Thursday, June 30^th, 2011

Time:        6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8pm Presentation

Where:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Speaker:  Vlad Jocic

Cost:        4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:      few_adm@hotmail.com by June 23^rd

We are pleased to present Vlad Jocic as June month’s guest speaker. Vlad Jocic, professional guitarist and music teacher, has been exploring how different settings will influence our appreciation and understanding of a musical performance.

Vlad will guide us through an experiment, where we will be listening to the same piece of music in different settings. We will seek to discover how these different settings influence our experience of the same piece of music. Do we really have to wait for an interlude or a break in a piece of music in order to applaud or shout or say “bravo!”, or should we be able to do it spontaneously as our feelings would guide us? 

For the participation in the experiment Vlad kindly asks all the members to bring along a formal jacket or hat, or anything else you may be wearing on a formal occasion.

 

About the speaker

Vlad Jocic is the principal and co-founder of Kansai International Music Academy as well as a very active performer. As a performer he has travelled the world from Norway, UK, Ireland, UAE, all the way to Australia, New Zealand and Japan. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Music Education from the Trinity College of Music in London. On top of that he has studied Montessori pedagogy, and in 2001 he gained an International Diploma and License in Montessori pedagogy.  

 

*** Menu ***

<Fish>
Chilled fedelini with gold string pumpkin and basil, gazpacho sauce
Pan roasted Isaki fillet with potato mousseline, mustard scented mussel jus
Apricot and pistachio ravioli, sable Breton and chocolate ice cream
Coffee/Tea

 

<Meat>
Chilled fedelini with gold string pumpkin and basil, gazpacho sauce
Beef tenderloin Chaliapin, jus de roti with garlic and onion and rissoler potato
Apricot and pistachio ravioli, sable Breton and chocolate ice cream
Coffee/Tea

 

<Vegetarian & Vegan Meal >
Chilled fedelini with gold string pumpkin and basil, gazpacho sauce
Grilled Mediterranean vegetable with asparagus on filo tart
Steamed couscous with olives and red and yellow bell pepper coulis
Apricot and pistachio ravioli, sable Breton and chocolate ice cream
&
Vegan Dessert
Caramelized pineapple compote with peach sherbet
Coffee/Tea

 

Monthly Meeting - 5/26/11

Tohoku Disaster - Bringing Hope to Japan

 

Date:        Thursday, May 26th

Time:        6 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8 pm Presentation

Where:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Speaker:   Alexis Jacobs

Cost:        4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:      few_adm@hotmail.com by Thursday May 19 at 5pm

 

We are pleased to present Alexis Jacobs as May month’s guest speaker. Alexis Jacobs, has been busy making trips to the Tohoku Area and carrying out relief work to help the victims of the tsunami and earthquakes in that region. She will be making a presentation on her work in Tohoku and will also let us know what we as individuals can do to help the people in North and Eastern Japan recover and rebuild. Come along to the May meeting to hear from someone who is directly inviolved in relief efforts and hear her insights on what Japan needs to focus on for recovery.

 

About the speaker

Alexis Jacobs came to Japan 2.5 years ago from North Carolina, USA.  Prior to coming to Japan, she was the owner of AJ Public Relations, a public relations firm specializing in business-to-business communications. She has experience working with a wide range of clients, including Pfizer, Inc., Caterpillar, Inc., AGCO Corporation, Monsanto, the American Osteopathic Association, the National Agricultural Aviation Association and the Illinois Soybean Association. Before starting her own business, she worked for Dunncreek Communications in DeKalb, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University. 

 

*** Menu ***

Fish

Salad of white asparagus, broad bean and loquat, raspberry-walnut oil vinaigrette

Sautéed escalope of salmon on stewed leek and potato, dill white wine sauce

Almond pannacotta 

Tonka bean flavored cherry compote with orange sherbet

Coffee/Tea

Meat

Salad of white asparagus, broad bean and loquat, raspberry-walnut oil vinaigrette

Hamburger steak with melted cheddar cheese, tomato demi- glace sauce 

 Almond pannacotta 

Tonka bean flavored cherry compote with orange sherbet

Coffee/Tea

Vegetarian & Vegan Meal

Salad of white asparagus, broad bean and loquat, raspberry-walnut oil vinaigrette

Tofu skin spring roll of Wasabi flavored avocado and bell pepper, tomato coulis

Almond pannacotta 

Tonka bean flavored cherry compote with orange sherbet

Coffee/Tea

Monthly Meeting - 2/24/11

 Tips For Creating a Career Makeover

Date:        Thursday, February 24th 2011.

Time:        6 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8 pm Presentation

Where:     10th Floor Hilton Osaka

Speaker:  Hershey Wier

Cost:        4000 yen - Members, 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only)

RSVP:       few_adm@hotmail.com by February 17th 2011

 

We are pleased to present Hershey Wier as February month’s guest speaker. Among other topics Hershey Wier specializes in career coaching which she will be addressing in this month’s presentation.

Tentative List of Topics to be Covered:

• Tips for Finding Your Ideal Career 
• 
  Expand Your Career Globally, From Japan 
• 
  Fear, Resistance, and Blocks. Identify, Understand, and Befriend them. 

Throughout her presentation Hershey will address some of the questions that were previously posed to her by FEW members.

 

About the speaker

Hershey Wier, BS Education, MBA-International Business Communication, has over 20 years’ experience in teaching, training, consulting and coaching. Bilingual and multi-cultural, Wier served as guest expert on US / Japan cultural differences for ABC television's 20/20, interviewed by the journalist Martin Bashir. Wier coaches, consults on and presents seminars on international business communication, corporate leadership, talent management and career transition.

 

 

*** Menu ***

Fish
Carpaccio of beetroot and turnip with taro potato confit
Lemon vinaigrette
Roasted sea bream with bacon and root vegetable “barigoule”
Raspberry vacherin of white chocolate parfait, Grand Marnier orange sauce
Coffee

Meat
Carpaccio of beetroot and turnip with taro potato confit
Lemon vinaigrette
Roasted duck breast with caramelized apple, green peppercorn flavored cider sauce
Raspberry vacherin of white chocolate parfait, Grand Marnier orange sauce
Coffee

Vegetarian & Vegan Meal 
Carpaccio of beetroot and turnip with taro potato confit
Lemon vinaigrette
Bamboo shoot and ripe blossom spaghetti “Aglio olioe peperoncino”
Raspberry vacherin of white chocolate parfait, Grand Marnier orange sauce
&
Vegan Meal
Strawberry and banana smoothie with lemon tea sherbet
Coffee

 

Monthly Meeting - 1/27/11

Date:         Thursday, January 27th 2011. 
Time:        6:00 pm Drinks, 7 pm Dinner, 8pm Presentation 
Where:      10th Floor Hilton Osaka 
Speaker:   Will Baber 
Cost:         4000 yen - Members 
                 6000 yen - Non-Members (Women Only) 
RSVP:        few_adm@hotmail.com by January 20th 2011 

 

Why do some foreign managers succeed in Japan while others end up frustrated and 
disillusioned? What is the key to creating a productive relationship with the Japanese 
employees and business associates? Will Baber indentifies acculturation as the key 
concept to deal with this challenge. 
Successful acculturation can lead to deep integration and even synergy wherein managers 
become more effective. 
In this presentation Will Baber will talk about 
Local and international networks 

Cultural skills Involvement 

After the presentation Will Baber will encourage FEW members to participate in his current 
study. 

About the speaker: 
Will Baber is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Management of Kyoto 
University where he teaches Negotiation and Management Communication. His research 
work has been on cross-cultural management with an actor-centered focus – especially 
with interest in the phenomenon of hybrid managers. 
Previously Will Baber worked in Economic Development for the State of Maryland, USA 
where he marketed the state domestically and internationally as a business location. 

 

*** Menu ***

<Fish>

Steamed seasonal vegetables in olive oil and fresh herbs vegetable bouillon
Itoyori snapper meuniere, shallot fondue and red wine sauce
Coconut and chocolate dome with passion fruit jelly in strawberry soup
Coffee

<Meat>

Steamed seasonal vegetables in olive oil and fresh herbs vegetable bouillon
Braised beef “Bourguigonne” with butter noodle
Coconut and chocolate dome with passion fruit jelly in strawberry soup
Coffee

<Vegetarian & Vegan Meal >

Steamed seasonal vegetables in olive oil and fresh herbs vegetable bouillon
Mushroom risotto with lily bulb puree and vegetable fritter
Coconut and chocolate dome with passion fruit jelly in strawberry soup

&

Vegan Meal
Ginger flavored grapefruit compote with strawberry sherbet
Coffee