About My Placement

For the 2007/2008 JET Programme year, I will be placed in Asago-shi, Hyogo-ken, Japan. Hyogo-ken means Hyogo prefecture, which is a very large region just west of Kyoto and Osaka. The capital of Hyogo is Kobe (as in Kobe Beef). Asago-shi, the area where I will be placed is located in the very centre of Hyogo, in the central mountains. Asago-shi refers to an area that includes Asago town, Ikuno, Santo, and Wadayama. Technically the area is one city, but it seems a lot more like a region, because the towns aren’t really even that close together. The whole place has a population of just over 35,000, with the majority living in Wadayama. I believe my town has a population of 4000. I will be working from Monday to Thursday at Asago Junior High school, and Fridays at Okuganaya Elementary, however I actually have no idea where that school is, only that it is 20min from my apartment.

Hyogo is supposed to have more JETs than any other prefecture, which means that it should be somewhat possible to meet people with whom I can communicate. Asago has seven (I think) JETs including myself. I believe that I am the only Canadian, with the rest being from the States.