Hey, Mikans! As you know, or, if you’re a new JET, as you’ll come to know, March in Japan is a season of change. From the melting snowcaps of Ishizuchi-san signifying a さようなら to winter and tearful goodbyes with graduating students to the blooming of plum & cherry blossoms and the start of a new school year just around the corner, March = the month of endings + beginnings.
This month’s edition of the ZINE is all about that― endings & beginnings, specifically for JETs! The March Edition features 5 veteran, retired JETs who will always, call Ehime their home. Their ZINEs are an ode to their beloved time in the land of 🍊🍊🍊, while also a word from the wise to you, their successors, their 後輩 (kouhai). We hope that through their journeys, you can learn & reflect on your own.
That said, with heavy hearts, we are also sad to announce that this is the last edition of the Mikan🍊maga(ZINE)…
Actually, while it is not the last edition of the Mikan🍊maga(ZINE), it is, sadly, my (Gizelle’s) last edition. I have truly enjoyed my time working with Dillon and Justin (and all the ZINE-making Mikans!) on this amazing project. I 100% agree with Dillon and his reasons for creating the ZINEー art brings people together. It’s a common language, through which everyone can express themselves. As we’ve seen over the past seven months, no one perspective is the same. No one œuvre, work of art, is more beautiful than the other. Despite that, art is the common ground through which we can come to understand and appreciate that individuality, each other. LOVE. IT.
And so, as I step away from the🍊maga(ZINE) and The Mikan Blog, I step into my own little “new beginning”. For the rest of 2025 & 2026 I’ll be focusing on enjoying my fifth and final year as an Ehime JET, ALT at Toon SHS and Inoton groupie. It’s bittersweet but all in all, I’m excited for what’s to come! For the Blog and the ZINE, too! I’ll still be cheering (& appreciating & supporting) from the sidelines ofc~
If you made it through all that, thank you for reading and please enjoy the March edition of the Mikan🍊maga(ZINE) ft. Kai, José, Sage, Jo & Christian!
～ Gizelle (ttfn 🧡)
(click ☝️ to jump to a ZINE)
Pixels & Poems from a Homesick Mikan
About the Mikan
Kai Dearlove (any/all pronouns)
Mikan Status: ES/JHS ALT in Matsuyama (2015-2022)・currently JHS/SHS ELT in Matsumoto, Nagano・from New Zealand 
Why JET?
😎 was in university, majoring in English/Linguistics, minoring in TESOL and Japanese & Asian Studies
📣 JET was heavily advertised and pushed by school and the embassy + auntie was on JET back in the 90’s
🤔applied: 3 choices of placements were Otaru (hometown’s sister city), Kyoto (b/c it’s cool) & Okinawa (b/c of karate)
✈️ BOOM! Went straight out of uni to JET & ended up in Ehime!
📑tidbit: wanted to be a writer growing up, but teaching became a practical avenue to go down + ended up liking it~
ZINE Themes: homesick, memories, a love letter to the love princess, friendships, life
Kai Time: nerd alert 🚨! Pokémon Card collector, ttrpg-er (DnD, Pathfinder 2e + Critical Role), casual gamer, BUT would much rather read a book than fight a pixel ∴ Bookwormー Fantasy (Emelan series by Tamora Pierce) & YA (Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir), currently reading This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Life in Ehime 🍊
🦄 mythical 7 yrs on JET (ty Covid)
⚖️ Matsuyama = perfect balance between city/inaka vibes
🧡 great schools, great friends
Hobbies:
🥋 to the dojo (karate)!
👣 walk, walk, walk (🏯)
🎲Rolling the (🤓) dice
✋ Hi-5 (Harry, former students, new faces)
Saying Goodbye 👋
After JET, stayed in 松山市 to work at a kindergarten (kinda awful) but worth it to be able to stay in the city … contract ended tho (2024)
Leaving Matsuyama 😢…
📦parents were share-milkers (i.e. moving around a lot = the norm) so…
“Matsuyama was the first place I put down roots, the longest place I’ve ever lived”
✨had a good doctor, good support system… it was so hard to leave all of it
New Beginnings 🌱
Moved to Matsumoto, Nagano to work at a private JHS/SHS (of 600 students!) as an ELT
ELT = English Language Teacher → plans the curriculum for two grades, co-homeroom teacher, talks to parents, grades students = more responsibility
…it’s nice but…
it’s.not.EHIME.💔
“I miss the people, miss the ocean”
Some Advice ✌️
A Word from the Wise to All Current JETs
✅check your ego at the door→ remember that you’re in a different culture & environment
✅have an open mind and attitude (just be flexible with how things go)
✅Find a balance of standing your ground & being understanding
✅Expect to get culture shock from other ALTs→ Be open to other people living differently from you
✅Don’t shit where you eat, (if you’re looking for a fling) don’t date within the same ALT community & be professional about your entanglements→ you’re an international ambassador
To JETs Leaving,
Save up money ASAP if you’re planning to live in Japan・clear apartment at least 2 months before leaving・book moving company early & shop around・don’t forget about the big tax bill your last month here (if you’re not American?), don’t do things last minute!
To New JETs,
Eat everything (you’re not allergic to), try everything at least once・put yourself out there・don’t hide in your house・look after yourself during the winter (it can get lonely)・check in with people (like life supporters, Hi-5)・open mind, open attitude・check ur ego・mix ur friend groups (like Matsuyama + Prefecture BOEs)→ don’t do cliques and isolate yourself with only the people you know, mixing with other “circles” can benefit everyone・put yourself out there with the Japanese community・go to the bars or find social groups/sports groups・involve yourself in many things・the experience is only going to be what you make of it・take Japanese lessons through EPIC (or MIC) with little old ladies
Tl;dr…
“If you’re looking for shit, all you’re gonna see is shit. Throw yourself out there, take Japanese lessons, don’t be a dick (only when it matters, like to stick up for yourself). You’re not in Kansas anymore”.
ーKai, 2025
Trying to be the very best like no one ever was.
About the Mikan
José (he/him)
Why JET?
😎 backstory: born in LA, Cali, lived in Mexico for a bit, raised in Georgia
🌏studied international business in university, required to take language credits and said f*ck it, let’s learn Japanese,
🎌studied abroad in Nagoya the summer of 2014, fell in love with the people/ surroundings/ EVERYTHING
💁was introduced to JET, applied & landed a spot as an ALT in Sakurai, Imabari
ZINE Themes: reflections, life in Japan, travel, gotta catch ’em all
José Time: J-pop, K-pop (Twice!!!), music, music, música 🎶, dance💃 (hula, salsa, bachata, merengue, etc.), running, reading (Onyx Storm next), everything Pokémon (rn, TCGP), cocktail-making (the BEST margaritas)🍸
Life in Ehime 🍊
🦄 6 yrs on JET (b/c of Covid)
🏚️ lived in teacher housingー it was cheap (8000 yen/mo.) but old, moldy & in the boonies → fought the urge to BOOK it, cleaned the house & made it work
🏫 had 1 school (JHS/SHS) ー as responsibilities increased, the work became more fulfilling
🫂 was SO involved in the community－ Pokémon GO at the local shrine, teaching cooking lessons (tacos!), hosting latin dance events, + more
Speaking of Firsts…
🏃 1/2 marathon
🌺 hula classes (for 3 yrs)
🎾tennis (Saijo every Wed.)
🍹mixology 🤩
Saying Goodbye 👋
very emotional saying goodbye― almost cried giving farewell speech at school→ really loved the kids, grew to be part of their lives, pushed them to speak English outside of school, and “when they succeeded, I felt like I succeeded, too”
💘 Initially wanted to just do JET for the international experience, not specifically for teaching BUT got attached to the kids― seeing them go from 1年 JHS students to 18-year-old adults was so special
Reverse culture shock (back in America): bowing constantly
🤜 said HOLD ON, “I can’t leave before visiting all the Pokémon centers in Japan
New Beginnings 🌱
📦 Moved to Wakayama & has been in Japan for 8 years, now!
🙋Still visits Ehime (hula family, friends, old school’s winter English camp)
…but…
working out of habit + rinse and repeat lifestyle =
“lost the fire” 🔥😔
“When you’re comfortable you stop growing”.
(still loves Japan tho)
+ Has a great community here but it’s not the same as family, Japan will always be here, but time with family → you never know how much you’ll have
✨ found a job in America & moving back April 1st
Some Advice ✌️
A Word from the Wise to All Current JETs
Living in Japan, you can be yourself but you kind of have to change a bit, too. So, it’s good to go home, eat that good, homey food and charge that battery (talking to friends or family from back home works, too).
To JETs Leaving,
Don’t burn your bridges & try to respect others. It’s about keeping relationships going that can benefit you when you need it, i.e. recommendation letters. You don’t know if you’ll need something from someone, like help or whatever else. You don’t have to like everyone but at least respect them, especially if you’re planning on staying in Japan in the future. ALSO, you can ruin things for future JETs, don’t f*ck it up, BOEs carry grudges (ahem, Niihama & Uwajima).
To New JETs,
Have an open mind― it’s a different country so don’t try to push your views/ways onto other people, it’s easy to say, “in America we do it like this”, etc., but try to see things differently & adapt to your environment, for example, don’t ask for changes with food if it’s not because of an allergy. Things are different here, respect the way!
Motivational Quote…
“The only person you’re trying to beat is yourself; it doesn’t matter how long it took you to get there, all that matters is that you finished, you won”.
ーJosé
YT Videos & Goals & Highways & Sunsets
In this Zine you will find🔎: a list of prefectures we were forbidden from visiting during COVID, an egg vending machine, a book of miso soup recipes, battleship rock, a bartender holding up two crabs, red hands after strawberry picking, and support for Ukraine. What else do you see?
About the Mikan
Sage (they/she)
Mikan Status: ES/JHS ALT in Matsuyama (2019-2023)・just finished M.A. in International Education Policy @ UMD ・from America 🇺🇸
Why JET? (Spoiler 🚨: “It’s not the anime origin story”)
🏫 Middle school: learned about JET from someone whoe participated
🦖High school: got super into watching videos made by people who lived in Japan for hours upon hours on YouTube
→ mind was set on “going to Japan and living the kind of life in I’d seen on YouTube”
+ studied lots of Japanese (don’t recommend studying Japanese in school, learned nothing)
🎓University: Global Studies and Asian Studies → used that knowledge and experience to apply for JET
Living in Japan = “a long time in the making!”
ZINE Themes: life in Ehime, life in Japan, memories, adventure, like the YouTube videos
Sage Time: loves to write stories= published one day 
!?
Life in Ehime 
Arrived August 2019, i.e. it was a nice few months before the pandemic hit → Everything shut down at the end of March, two days before ES graduation
So, during the pandemic, favorite pastime was…
“Keeping my sanity by forming a routine”, a.k.a. walking 10km, up (sunset) & down the highway (city lights) = “most of my favorite memories were from that highway”
Saying Goodbye 👋
Very difficult to get the BOE to approve time off to visit home after COVID + procedures leaving & coming back were TEDIOUS despite immigration restrictions being lifted (probably not recontracted + another ALT b/c of the BOE’s issues with this)
☁️Wasn’t unhappy, planned to grad school anyways, it just would have been nice to have the choice
New Beginnings 
“The country that I left wasn’t the same as the country that I moved back to”
end of July 2023, started work + grad school right away (don’t recommend, it was wild, give yourself a break before jumping in)
Reverse culture shock: public services just being punishing, ex. public transport = SUPER unreliable
→ difficult to get to uni on time + build rapport with supervisor (school was just 2 miles away!!)
Some Advice ✌️
A Word from the Wise to All Current JETs
✅ If you can drive start driving! Either get your own or find someone who has a car/driver’s license. You can see and do a LOT, like island hopping on the coast of Ehime.
✅ Fuel up for your day trips! Otherwise, you’ll just get tired and sleepy which could ruin your trip.
✅ Find people to vent to.
✅ Sleep is important. Find things that you like to do and do them, and after you do them, take a nap. The only way out is through.
To JETs Leaving,
⭐Start getting rid of your belongings at least 1 year ahead of leaving! It’s tough to get rid of things, can be emotionally & physically draining so plan ahead and give yourself time.
⭐ Give yourself time to rest when you get back home.
To New JETs,
⚠️ Don’t buy too many things, try to just get by with what you need because it’s tough packing up or getting rid of things down the road. Travel light !
Remember…
“Rest is resistance, rest is good”.
ーSage, 2025
Political Ambitions
About the Mikan
Jo Rocke (he/they)
Why JET?
😎 BA History, minor in Latin American Studies, got a teaching degree (high school) → loves teaching and communicating with people
💡 Was interested in JET b/c there were a bunch of humanities teachers when he graduated + it wasn’t uncommon for grads to teach abroad for a couple years to get xp + Japan has education systems that a lot of teachers in Australia hope to emulate (personally, not really tho)
*Side note: while working in Ehime & having so many schools, got to learn a lot of different parts of the system, like: culture is instilled in it, it’s old and broken, teachers work far too hard to keep it running, i.e. didn’t walk away with much to bring back to Australia
🤔 No real deep-seated interest in Japan, Cuba= more fascinating → applied with best friend who was more interested → got in but friend backed out for personal reasons → decided to go anyways!
✈️😨 To Japan = the first time being on a plane, didn’t know how it would go
ZINE Themes: thoughts, politics, fighting for what you believe in, the journey so far
Jo Time: TTRPGs, board games, translating Japanese murder mystery games (ran first one at an Australian game convention), loves writing fiction, book club, door knocking, campaigning, politics (getting people on board with progressive politics), video games (strategy games, Crusader Kings 3, Balatro), podcasts (Knowledge Fight, QAA, Maintenance Phase, If Books Could Kill, Serious Danger, Sixteenth Minute of Fame) anime (Romantic Killer, From the New World, Planetes, Vinland Saga)
Life in Ehime
b/c of COVID, only 3 SHS ALTs in Ehime = taught in 13 schools ー most at one time: 9
VERY lucky with placement, would have left earlier otherwise (Matsuyama BOE 👀)
Teaching SHS: lots of freedom, job = a bit dull → had 3~4 classes/week (Hojo SHS is closing so numbers 👇 A LOT), BUT, kids = amazing & had a lot of time to pick up hobbies
As RA & PA: loved making connections + helping the community→ built a lot of relationships: Knew all 138 JETs in Ehime at one point
tl;dr JET was a life changing experience
Saying Goodbye 👋
Fave thing about living in Japan: transport infrastructure (as someone who doesn’t drive & bike)
Fave thing about Hojo: THE BEST part of Japan! It’s… ⭐so special & beautiful
⭐a town you can learn intimately, “I could go to every landmark by memory”
⭐walk ocean → mountains in 2 hours
⭐ Just walking everywhere
→ Got a tattoo of the deer statue outside of Iyo-Hojo Station
Tough to leave these things behind but it was time~
New Beginnings 🌱
① Big trip across America
② Settled in Canberra, went on a picnic & met a left wing political party rep. → became ed. policy advisor for Laura Nuttall
③ Jo Rocke for Senate!!
**Being involved with politics is very important for him→ Not doing so while in Japan was tough
👍 No real reverse culture shock other than having to re-learn how to filter out people’s conversations (it was easier when everyone was speaking Japanese)
Next: Maybe to Europe → new job?! (Not teaching)
Some Advice ✌️
A Word from the Wise to All Current JETs
✅ It’s instinct to completely immerse yourself with the Japanese community but culture shock can hit unexpectedly, remember to not fully submerge, don’t burn bridges with JETs, just cause they can help ground you when things are rough
✅ Always take the feedback you get seriously and try to adapt, BUT don’t base your self-worth on your job performance at all. Do your best and don’t stress too hard about being the perfect ALT.
✅ Walk around your town! Get to know your area→ It’s good to travel around but explore Ehime! It’s cheap, beautiful and off the beaten path. Make the most of that Shikoku life.
To JETs Leaving,
Don’t fly Qantas, took 48 hours to get home.
Words of encouragement…
“Regret is the worst feeling in the world”.
ーJo, 2025
JET, a Journey to Japan and Childhood Dream Fulfilled
About the Mikan
Christian Jalim (he/him)
Mikan Status: ES/JHS ALT in Matsuyama (2019-2024)・currently in Kanto・from Manzanilla, Trinidad and Tobago 
Why JET?
Bachelor’s → Master’s→ work at an office & a grocery store (jobs back home = tough to get, so work in Japan was like 
)
small island + rural…. “life can sometimes seem like you are a caged bird”
fascinated by Japan → local station’s short video series “Japan Video Topics” showcasing various things in Japan 
= 
the spark that ignited an ember of ambition to one day visit Japan which of course grew into an inferno 
to one day live in Japan
JET = recommendation from 1st year university senpai roommates 
became #2 ambition after finishing postgrad
ZINE Themes: life in Japan, EHIME ♥️♥️♥️, dreams fulfilled
Christian Time: Cooking, reading, video games, and making & doing cosplay (no space while living in Ehime tho. New place has more space but “I don’t have the luxury of time to enjoy many of my hobbies as before” 😭)
Life in Ehime
perfect slice of life anime, brought to life
summer & 夏 festivals (-the humidity) + visiting the coast = Carribean vibes
COVID was frustrating, but 
b/c of 
crowds
Fave thing to do:
☕ visiting local restaurants and cafésーEhime is so underappreciated and there are so many hidden gems!!!
Saying Goodbye 
moving.IS.A.PROCESS. (even just leaving the prefecture)
① Needed to do several administrative things at the city hallー ** do not forget to register your new address at the post office!
② Moving costs quite a penny
③ Looking for an apartment takes a while as so many nice apartments = “difficult for foreigners.”
New Beginnings 🌱
Now in Saitama teaching at various schools.
Saitama is cool ~ less crowded than Tokyo while still close enough to get to Ueno within 30 minutes via 🚃
New life is enjoyable but…
“I do miss Ehime with every ounce of my soul”
🍊😢
Some Advice ✌️
A Word from the Wise to All Current JETs
✅ It goes without sayingー learn some Japanese!! Many folks struggle and that’s okay. Just get the basics, things that will help you navigate daily life without pulling out your phone to translate, or even take a taxi to your home after a long night with a dead phone.
✅ Take the time to build a rapport with your teachers and school. Get them some omiyage on your next trip to another prefecture, or even if you visit home. They will really appreciate it and may even look out for you if you need help
To JETs Leaving,
For those JETs in their final year, whether you’re going back home or staying in Japan, please be sure to save up enough money, however, especially if you’re staying in Japan, save, save, save. Moving into a new place is not cheap and depending on your landlord, you may be asked to pay up to 3 months rent value in security/key money. And while it may not seem fair, there are unfortunately foreigners before us that mess up and make it difficult for all foreigners coming after.
Additionally, if you plan to stay in Japan, look for your next opportunity from the year before, if you don’t want to break your JET contract, hopefully your new employer can understand and make arrangements that will allow a seamless transition from JET to your next chapter.
At the end of the day, follow your heart and do what’s best for you. If you feel unsure, talk to friends, talk to family because the uncertainty of the future can be very daunting, so don’t feel bad about seeking counsel from others.
Thoughts on reverse culture shock…
“I only visited home once during my 5 years on JET and let me tell you, I was experiencing road rage within 5 minutes of leaving the airport. However, once I was home, I also quickly reverted to looking over my shoulder and clutching my satchel close to me. Although it was a nice reset to see friends and family who meant so much to me and also consuming the best gift from God, PLANTAINS. “
ーChristian, 2025
Hey, Mikans!
What a GREAT edition― learning about the experiences of these 5 “graduated” JETs through such heartfelt, personal (and downright🔥) zines was so, so insightful.
As Gizelle mentioned above, with the 2024/2025 AJET term coming to a close, she will not be signing on for another year as the Mikan Blog Editor (and therefore as a member of 🍊maga(ZINE) team). Her work with getting everyone’s zines & bios organized & up on the blog + published has been invaluable and we are SO sad to see her go… BUT, as we learned with the theme of this month’s edition, there are no beginnings without endings. We wish her all the best in her new beginning!
Keep your eyes peeled for April’s edition of the blog we’re sure it’ll be 😙👌!
Love 🧡,
―🍊 Totally ZINEs
We’ll have a new🍊maga(ZINE) post for you on the first of each month, so keep an eye out!
Interested in having your own ZINE? Reach out to us at themikanblog@gmail.com!
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