Anise Overton - Fukuoka (2023-2024)

Anise wearing a furisode (振り袖 - long-sleeved kimono) at a Fukuoka JET kimono event

Where were you in Japan as a JET and when? 

I was a high school Assistant Language Teacher in Fukuoka Prefecture, specifically in Iizuka-shi, during 2023-2024.

What sparked your interest in applying for the JET program? 

I was participating in a writing mentorship with Women in Animation, and when I connected with my fellow mentees on LinkedIn, I saw the JET Program on one of their profiles. I’d always wanted to go back to Japan after studying abroad in Tokyo for 5 weeks. On top of that, I’d just graduated with a degree in English and had experience with teaching and ESL tutoring. After talking it over with her, I realized that JET was a great fit!

What are some of the things your prefecture is known for? e.g. food, hotspots, etc. 

Fukuoka has so much amazing food! There’s Hakata ramen of course, but I also got to eat unagi in the canal city of Yanagawa and umegae mochi (grilled rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste) in Dazaifu, just to name a few. I loved visiting landmarks like the top of Fukuoka Tower and Nanzoin Temple’s gigantic reclining Buddha. I even got into the city before dawn to witness Hakata Gion Yamakasa, a festival culminating in a parade of intricate floats that are raced through the streets! It’s a beautiful prefecture with so much to see and do.

Anise and a JET friend at the top of Fukuoka Tower

Did you pick up any of the regional dialects? What are some of your favorite words or phrases? 

I admittedly didn’t pick up much Hakata-ben. When my students asked me for my favorite phrase, I told them お疲れ様です (otsukaresama desu), because I like that there’s a specific phrase to acknowledge and appreciate someone’s hard work!

If you were to return to live in Japan, would you choose to live in that same prefecture? 

Such a difficult question! I would love to live in Japan again, and though it would be nice to experience life in a different prefecture, Fukuoka was perfect for me. It’s got a lovely balance of city and countryside, I felt welcomed into my community in the suburbs, and there’s still so much to explore after having been there for only a year. Plus, Fukuoka is the sister city of my hometown, Atlanta, so it felt like it was meant to be! Aichi and Nagasaki were a couple of my favorite places to visit, so those are my other top choices.

Anise petting the ox statue at Dazaifu Tenmangū, a Shinto shrine in Dazaifu, Fukuoka

How has your connection in relation to Japan changed since living in Japan? 

Being in Fukuoka was like finding a new home away from home. I’m about one year out from the end of my time on JET, and I still miss it every day! In that time, I’ve gotten involved with the JET Alumni Associations in both the southeast and southern California, volunteered at Atlanta’s JapanFest, and helped conduct JET interviews. I struggle with learning languages, but I want to continue studying Japanese so that I can return one day!

Anise with students at her school's cultural festival

Thank you, Anise, for sharing your JET story!