What Does the National Council Do?
The AJET National Council works to enhance the lives of JET Programme participants.
We represent your views and concerns to CLAIR and the government ministries that manage the JET Programme. We do so by maintaining a close working relationship with CLAIR throughout the year, highlighted by our face-to-face forums called the AJET-CLAIR-MEXT-MIC-MOFA Opinion Exchange Meeting.
What Does the National Council Do?
The AJET National Council works to enhance the lives of JET Programme participants.
We represent your views and concerns to CLAIR and the government ministries that manage the JET Programme. We do so by maintaining a close working relationship with CLAIR throughout the year, highlighted by our face-to-face forums called the AJET-CLAIR-MEXT-MIC-MOFA Opinion Exchange Meeting.
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Our Projects
What we do
Committed to providing JETs with the best experience
Peer support group hotline
The AJET Peer Support Group is available to call at 050-5534-5566 between 8 P.M. and 7 A.M. every night! AJET PSG is a volunteer organization, by and for JETs. PSG is a free listening and referral service, and operates with confidentiality and anonymity. Additionally, PSG is always seeking volunteers.
Providing support to AJET Groups
National AJET supports all regional AJET chapters through block organization and appointing Block Representatives to promote activity and assist in growing their local chapters. National AJET also supports AJET Special Interest Groups in the same manner.
Negotiating discounts off relevant goods and services to JETs
If you are looking to improve your Japanese skills, we offer discounts to a variety of Japanese language services. Email the Co-Directors of Professional and Educational Development at resources@ajet.net
We Voice the Opinions and Concerns of JETs
We ask current and former JET Programme participants what issues or concerns they have regarding the JET Programme, we tailor-make a survey that we send out every year for everyone’s responses on those issues and address them to CLAIR and the Japanese government ministries that manage the JET Programme.
Maintaining the AJET Website
This website is all managed by our Webmasters. If you have any articles or found any issues with the website, please email webmaster@ajet.net
National AJET Council
Meet the Council! The team is comprised of volunteer JETs from all across Japan. Our council members come from diverse backgrounds and represent the best of the JET Programme!
Executive Members
Adriana Nazarko
National AJET Chair
Adriana Nazarko is a 2nd year ALT teaching in Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture. Originally born in Lviv, Ukraine, she has spent her life in the United States living in Florida and Maine.Â
You can find Adriana visiting shrines and temples across Japan, or volunteering at local events. Post-JET, she plans on pursuing a career in the Foreign Service.
Pamela
National AJET Vice Chair & Advertisements and Partnerships Director
Pamela is a 2nd year ALT based in Kochi Prefecture. Born in the Philippines, she has spent most of her life living in Sydney, Australia.
In her free time, you can find her glued to a book, or hopping around local cafes on the hunt for the best coffee.
Spencer Stevens
National AJET Treasurer
Spencer Stevens is a 3rd year ALT teaching in Gifu Prefecture. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, he’s a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Spencer is living his Animal Crossing dream by eating the special local fruits all over Japan. He also serves as the Block 5 Representative of Asian Pacific Islander AJET.
Non-Executive Members
Logan Keene
Director of Alumni Relations
Logan is a 2nd year ALT working in the city of Fukagawa, Hokkaido. Hailing from the small but proud island nation of Aotearoa, New Zealand. He likes to go running in the summer and snowboarding in the winter, travelling to new places around Japan, playing cards and video games, studying Japanese, and meeting new people.
alumni.relations@ajet.net
Atul
Advertisement and Partnerships Director
Atul is a 4th year ALT from Australia based in Kobe
He enjoys writing, archery, mountains and chasing wonderful stories around Japan.
His various Google Map lists of Japan consist of 600+ places to visit and is a constant source of amusement to his students
Ayanna Wills
Co-Director of Professional and Academic Resources
Ayanna is a 5th year ALT living in Hiroshima Prefecture. She is a quiet person who enjoys rainy days in and a nice movie on her days off. She is not an outdoors person, but she can be tempted by a visit to a temple or shrine.
As a former TESOL major, Ayanna hopes to bring new resources and teaching opportunities to the JET community. She also hopes to expand upon the current resources available to bring in more connections for JET’s looking to deepen their professional development.
professional.educational@ajet.net
Jen Matsushita
Co-Director for Education and Professional Development
Prefectural Advisor Representative
Jen is a 5th year ALT based in Fukuyama in Hiroshima as well as the Hiroshima ALT Prefectural Advisor.
She is currently a Co-Director for Education and Professional Development, the PA Rep and the Block 9 Representative. She enjoys beaches, motorcycles and long weekends camping. She is looking forward to expanding academic and job resources for the JET Community.
Winnie
Director of Social Media
Winnie is a 2nd year ALT based in Gifu Prefecture.
Winnie enjoys the simple things in life like making friendship bracelets, planning trips around Japan at odd hours of the day, and attempting to make baked goods inside of her tiny toaster oven.
communications@ajet.net
Peter
Co-Translation and Interpretation Director
Peter is a 4th year ALT from the U.S. placed in Shibukawa, Gunma.
Having grown up in Alaska and Montana, he has always been spoiled with beautiful places to live. He spends much of his free time in the climbing gym, but also enjoys most outdoor activities as well as reading, video games, and playing basketball.
Block Representatives
Logan Keene
Block 1 Representative
This is Logan’s 2nd year as a Block Rep for Block 1. This year he aims to continue to strengthen the communication between the P.A.’s, Local AJET chapters and the community’s of JET’s working within the block. Logan has become a Block Advisor (B.A.) for Sorachi in Hokkaido this year, willing to give a helping hand or an ear for listening if any JET requires it.
block1@ajet.net
Ashton Acree
Block 3 Representative
Ash is a 5th year ALT placed in Maebashi in Gunma, a sister city of her hometown, Birmingham, Alabama. She is both the former GAJET president and the self-proclaimed cornbread champion (she recommends cheddar jalapeño). She was the graphic artist and logo designer for her university’s esports team, but now doodles for friends as a hobby.
She is our Block 3 representative this year and hoping to revive inter-prefectural events.
block3@ajet.net
Michael Tynan
Block 6 Representative
Michael Tynan is (technically) a 3rd year JET after arriving as an alternate ALT in November 2021. He likes to read and laze around at cafes on his day off, and living near Himeji makes it easy to enjoy nice scenery in his prefecture of Hyogo.
He is the Block 6 Representative, and is always happy to help people make connections and get more involved with others in their area.
block6@ajet.net
Tanner
Block 8 Representative
Tanner is a 3rd year ALT from Canada placed in Kuroshio Town, Kochi.
When he’s not playing sea shanties by the ocean, he can be found running, swimming, biking, or hiking around Kochi prefecture.
His favorite Japanese philosophy is kaizen (改善), and he tries to apply it practically in everyday life.
block8@ajet.net
Michal
Block 9 Representative
Hello everyone, My name is Michal Puzio. I am the current MMOSS block leader. I am a third year JET, working as an ALT at four elementary schools and one junior high school in Onomichi. Just to introduce my background, I am Polish but was predominantly raised in Canada. I was brought up within a conservative Polish household but self-identify as being both Polish and Canadian because of the great influence that Canadian culture plays with regards to creating my personal values and identity.
To list some of my hobbies; I enjoy watching movies and anime; especially ones with an element of comedy to them, playing video games such as Pokémon, 2-D Mario scrollers and Runescape, enjoy swimming, and socializing with others. My friends would consider me to be an easy-going individual that does not take themselves too serious in social settings.
block9@ajet.net
