About Iwate-Aomori JALT

JALT Chapter covers two prefectures in the northern Tohoku region.

We have two main locations for events in Aomori, Hachinohe-shi and Hirosaki-shi. The annual Michinoku English Education Summit (MEES) is held in Hachinohe-shi at Hachinohe Gakuin University in July. The annual Tsugaru Ideas for Language Education Seminar (TILES) is held in Hirosaki-shi in September or October at Hirosaki Gakuin University. Events in Iwate are usually held in Morioka-shi at Aiina.

We have had both face-to-face, online, and hybrid events. Future events, styles, and locations will vary. There are usually no events in March and August.

We can be found on Facebook.

Officers for 2026

President – Jim Smiley
Treasurer – Jacob Petersen  
Membership – Mary Burkitt
Publicity – Jason Hill
Programs Co-Chairs – Kathryn Akasaka and Nadiia Zaitseva
Hachinohe Area Co-Coordinators – Greg Anthony and Barry Grossman
Tsugaru Area Co-Coordinators – Steven MacWhinnie and Edo Forsythe

Chapter Roles 

Webmaster – Jason Hill