John Gauntner is the world's first leading non-Japanese sake expert. Not exactly what he envisioned for his future when he arrived in Kanagawa in August of 1988 with the JET Program.

For Aaron Woolfolk (Kochi, 1992-1993), it was one particular teacher who helped get it all started. “My second grade teacher in elementary school — she was Japanese American — and she would introduce elements of Japan into our lessons,” Woolfolk said. “She would tell us, ‘This is where my family is from.’”

From there, Aaron joined the JET Program and went on to become an award-winning writer, director and producer.

We are so proud of our team member, Danielle Reed! Danielle recently received the prestigious John & Hiroko Malott Leadership Award at the Japan America Society of Washington, D.C.'s Capital Gala. Danielle deserves all the accolades and recognition that comes with this award!

Zack Davisson (Nara/Osaka 2001-2006) has always been interested in folktales and all manner of spooky things. Maybe it was due to growing up in the United States’ Pacific Northwest reading about Bigfoot, or the time he spent in Scotland, where he became obsessed with local fairy tales and the Loch Ness Monster. But it was Zack’s time in Japan on the JET Program that solidified his love of Japanese yokai and yurei and set him on the path to become the prolific writer he is today.

In this Senpai Spotlight, Jonathan Lucas (Shizuoka, 2016-2019), MICE Promotions Specialist & IGLTA 2024 Coordinator, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau , explains how he got his start in the tourism industry.

In this Senpai Spotlight, Becca Guttentag (Oita, 2014-2018), Localization Producer at Riot Games, explains what it takes to get started the in game localization industry.

This Senpai Spotlight features two JET alums who work in foreign policy in the U.S. Federal Government.

The prestigious ‘George Busbee Award’ was presented to a key advocate of Georgia-Japan relationship, JET alum, Jessica Cork (Hiroshima, 1997 - 2000), Vice President of Community Engagement and Corporate Communication at YKK Corporation of America.⁠