JET ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MUSIC CITY
OUR OFFICERS
JETAAMC holds annual elections to choose its Board, which is responsible for getting the JET returnee community in touch with other returnees as well as locals and Japanese expatriates in its jurisdiction.
Patrick Fallon
President
Kumamoto, 2021 - 2022
I am a proud Nashvillian with an affinity for Japanese language and culture. I took my first Japanese language class in 4th grade and grew up on Pokemon, anime, and Japanese music. After my sophomore year of university, I interned for JR Central in Yokohama, consulting with Shinkansen and local rail stations over the Tokaido region in preparation for the predicted influx of foreign passengers during the Tokyo Olympics.
After returning from Japan, I studied Japanese language at Vanderbilt, where I graduated with a degree in Environmental Science. I knew I wanted to experience living in Japan after I graduated. I found community among JETAAMC alumni, and I applied and was accepted to the JET program in 2021. I worked as an ALT in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture at a super science high school and a special needs school from 2021-2022. During JET I enjoyed learning from the Japanese and from my international JET colleagues. Now, I am looking forward to preparing our organization for future returnees to enjoy their years after JET with rewarding opportunities to connect and network within our strong JETAAMC community.
Frances Takemoto
Vice-President
Gunma, 2016 - 2018
Departing from Washington, D.C. shortly after graduating with a degree in Elementary Education from University of Maryland, College Park, Frances taught for 2 years as a 1st - 6th Grade ALT in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture (only 1 hour drive from her grandparents’ home!) She joined the local taiko drumming team, planned community outreach events with fellow JETs to promote international exchange, and chilled in Gunma’s famous onsens. Frances continued to teach abroad at an international school in Bangkok, Thailand.
Her interest in second language acquisition brought her Nashville, where she studies English Language Learning at Vanderbilt. Frances currently teaches K-2 multilingual learners at Nashville Classical Charter School. She is excited to join JETAAMC to practice Japanese and create a community for JET returnees, the local community, and Japanese expats!
James Shively
Treasurer
Tokyo, 2015 - 2018
As an Early Departure JET, James was an ALT on a small island of 8,000 people called Izu-Oshima from April 2015 to August 2018. Though receiving such a rural placement was a bit of a shock at first, he grew to love the island and became active in local sports teams, community events, and volunteer efforts to help foreign tourism on the island. He strongly encourages anybody who visits Japan and the Tokyo area to take the ferry to Oshima for a few days and enjoy everything the island has to offer.
In addition to his time on the JET program, James also has spent time studying abroad and experiencing a homestay in Osaka at Kansai Gaidai Daigaku. He regularly keeps in contact with his host family in Osaka as well as his friends in Oshima and hopes to visit them as much as possible. James is now the Primary Aluminum Purchaser for Nissan North America.
Byjan Kajaei
Secretary
Akita, 2018 - 2020
After graduating from Maryville College in May 2018 with a TESOL degree, Byjan (bee-ZHAWN) started her time on JET shortly after in August. She was placed in Yokote-shi in Akita prefecture and taught at both the elementary and junior high school levels. During her time in Japan, she participated in an English radio show, attended many festivals around Tohoku, made lots of friends with the locals (including the obaa-chans at the women's gym), and became an expert at snow shoveling! She looks back fondly on her time living in Japan.
Even now, almost three years later, Byjan keeps in touch with her JET cohort from Yokote-shi as well as her former students and coworkers. Wanting to stay connected to Japan and to JET, she decided to join the JETAAMC community. Currently, she works at Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville, TN as a Youth Program Specialist.
Amy Su
Bluegrass Subchapter Executive
Gunma, 2013 - 2014
Amy was an ALT for one year at an elementary school and junior high school in Takasaki, Gunma (the same city as Frances)! After working on the JET Program, she moved to Singapore and worked for a Japanese medical clinic for two years before moving back to Kentucky. Amy currently works as project manager for the Japan/America Society of Kentucky (JASK). She is responsible for JASK’s ongoing programs, including the development and implementation of marketing strategies.
Her interest in Japan began in high school when she participated in a summer immersion program in Nagoya, Japan. She has kept in regular touch with her host family and visits them as often as she can. In college, she studied abroad at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto where she joined the university's negotiation and arbitration team and was a volunteer on TEDxKyoto's translation team.
Tucker Reed
Bluegrass Representative
Shimane, 2017 - 2020
Tucker comes from Georgetown, Kentucky, and says that he owes much of the opportunities he grew up with to the presence of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in his hometown. His interest in Japan-America relations began in high school with summer study abroad programs in Georgetown's sister city of Tahara in Aichi Prefecture. He got his BA in Political Science at Transylvania University, then worked as an Assistant Language Teacher in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, through the JET Program from 2017 to 2020. After JET, Tucker got his Masters in International Relations at the University of Kentucky's Patterson School. Now, Tucker works for the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Tye Ebel
Member Ex Officio
Kagawa, 2007 - 2010
Tye was born and raised in Chattanooga. After earning his undergraduate degree in International Studies at Elon University in North Carolina, he joined JET and worked for three years as an ALT in Kagawa Prefecture. Upon returning to North America, Tye earned a Master of Asia Policy from the University of British Columbia where he was active with the BC JETAA Chapter. He then spent a couple years traveling and working remotely before moving to Nashville in 2013. He has been an active JETAA member and has served as both Treasurer and Vice President in the Music City JETAA Chapter. Since September 2015, Tye has been the JET Program Coordinator at the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville. When not working in support of the JET Program, Tye likes to travel. To date he has visited nearly 90 countries spanning 6 continents. His last visit to Japan was in the fall of 2017 when he got the opportunity to introduce his wife, Sarah, to his former "hometown."
Contact Tye at jet@nv.mofa.go.jp
John Gale
Webmaster - Advisor
Kagawa, 2003 - 2006
John taught at two junior highs and one elementary school. Coached 25 speech contest students in three years and loved it. Went on to get JLPT Level 1 and an MA in Japanese. Worked in the auto industry at Japanese companies for about five years. JET Program Coordinator at the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville from September 2012 through September 2015.
Currently a Media Consultant for the Consulate. You can also find me at my website, johnsensei.com.