What’s special about Niigata?
For those arriving in Niigata on the JET Programme, there is an important distinction to be made, for work purposes only, between those arriving on the Niigata City JET Programme and those arriving on the Niigata (Prefecture) JET Programme.
Why is this?
Niigata City is classified as a designated city, which means it has more autonomy in several areas of governance, including education. As such, Niigata City hires its JET ALTs & CIRs separately from the other cities/towns/schools in Niigata Prefecture.
What am I?
If it is stated as OOO-shi, OOO-machi, OOO-mura (anything except Niigata-shi, e.g. Joetsu-shi), or your placement is initially stated as Niigata-ken, then you are with the Niigata JET Programme! The former will make you a Municipal Niigata JET Programme ALT (ES/JHS) in your designated placement, while the latter makes you a Prefectural Niigata JET Programme ALT (SHS). Prefectural ALTs will find out their city/town/village designation sometime after being sent their initial placement email.
*Municipal ALTs are employed by the Board of Education within their designated placement and are mainly allocated Elementary and Junior High Schools. Prefectural ALTs are employed by the Prefectural Board of Education and are almost always primarily Senior High School ALTs.*
If your JET Programme Placement is stated as Niigata-shi, then welcome to Niigata City! You have a placement with the Niigata City JET Programme! A Niigata City Municipal JET ALT shares some characteristics with their fellow Municipal and Prefectural Niigata JET Programme ALTs! In other words, Niigata City ALTs are allocated to Elementary, Junior High Schools and Senior High Schools. These Senior High Schools are separated from the Prefectural Board of Education because they are operated by the Municipal Board of Education. Please do keep in mind that you can be placed in Niigata City as a Prefectural ALT, as the majority of Senior High Schools in the Niigata City Area are operated by the Prefecture Board of Education.
What does this mean?
The two different programmes have separate in-prefecture orientations. You will receive more information later from your employers about these orientations.
Furthermore, all Niigata JET Programme ALTs take part in the annual Skills Development Conference held in January. Niigata City Municipal ALTs do not.
While JET Programme participants are split into the Niigata Municipal JET Programme or the Niigata Prefectural JET Programme for training purposes, all JET Programme participants in Niigata are members of Niigata AJET and can participate in Niigata AJET events.