Ahh, Nova: the sketchy chain of English-language cram schools for business men and anyone else who feels like learning to speak fluent Engrish. Japan Probe reports that a Nova school is going to open in April– on the Aichi Gakuin University campus.

Well, I’d say something about how I wouldn’t want to learn English from Nova while I’m enrolled in a nice expensive college already, but on the other hand, the system that my local university uses to teach Japanese is kind of ridiculous and awful, so I guess I can’t say anything.

Anyway, seeing as Nova was on the verge of collapse not all that long ago, it’s interesting to hear of them expanding.

Posted by gia in JP News, Misc, News • Comments (1)

Japan Probe (who is very slow right now– maybe they’re getting too many hits again?) reports that NOVA, the most well-known chain of private English schools in Japan, has filed for court protection against creditors. NOVA schools have closed their doors and no one knows if or when they might reopen.

So let’s sum up NOVA’s difficulties over the last year, shall we? One teacher was killed (and for a while they thought it was by a NOVA student), other teachers were arrested for possession of marijuana, then NOVA itself lost a lawsuit regarding its refund policies. More recently, NOVA teachers reported not being paid on time or at all– and now, basically bankruptcy.

Insert generic joke about novas and explosions here!

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…See what I did there?

I’ve been in the midst of site-moving hell (not this site, obviously, but another one), and it was nice to have a little break after all those first dates ♥ But I have the first episode of Juushin Enbu to watch and review, so look for that, probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, a lot of little bits and pieces, so here they are:

• The Odex Saga, now with 100% more TV exposure!
• Pacific Media Expo guests, including Code Geass C.C. seiyuu Yukana. Mmm, delicious pizzabutt.
• Japan Probe watch: 1 in 17 teens in Shibuya have contracted an STD, and NOVA teachers are going on strike. (About damn time.) Also: maid PC cases. But only the important half! *cough*
• The first-ever Japanese animators’ union. Speaking of “about damn time…”
• ComiPress is posting translator John Gallagher’s translation of a book about obscure manga artists in the ’60s and ’70s titled Manga Zombie. Sounds pretty groovy to me!
  Posted by gia in Anime, Cons, Gossip, JP News, Manga, Misc, News, Western News • Comments (0)

Not that there’s any such thing as “too much anime,” but I mean to say because I’ve been watching piles and piles of first episodes (along with, you know, working, and stuff). But without further ado: news, and stuff.

News:

Also from Japan Probe: Japan’s first schoolgirl uniform.

Posted by gia in Anime, Gossip, JP News, Manga, Movies, New Series, News, Western News • Comments (1)

Japan Probe reports on a growing number of Nova teachers claiming to have not been paid, one of whom even attached a shot of the letter that they received announcing the delay in pay. One employee also claims that Nova intends to close as many as 90% of the kids’ schools in a particular area, and that other schools are closing or merging as well.

Given Nova’s troubled past in the last year– a lawsuit regarding class refunds, a teacher killed by a student, other teachers caught with marijuana in their possessions, and rumors that other employees had been having trouble getting paid –it’s hard to look at this lack of pay for their core, the teachers, as anything but the death throes of a former English school giant.

Granted, I could be wrong; they could close a big chunk of their schools to save money and refocus themselves. But given the demise of their reputation– which wasn’t necessarily stellar before all this –who would want to attend? And what’s more, who would want to teach for them?

Posted by gia in Gossip, JP News, Misc, News • Comments (1)