Matthew, Kohoku・ 江北

Hi, I’m Matt! I’m originally from Brisbane, Australia, but now I live in the small town of Kohoku, located between Saga city and Takeo.

Before moving to Japan, I worked in marketing for several tech start-ups, but decided to trade that in for the more relaxed countryside life here in Saga—at least for a little while.

I love trying new experiences and am always up for an adventure. As the warmer months approach, I’m looking forward to scuba diving in the oceans around Kyushu. If you’re also a diver, I’d love to plan a dive trip together!

I joined AJET to help keep the incredible Saga JET community going. Moving to a foreign country, especially one with a different language, is always a challenge. So, I think it’s important to maintain strong connections within the community. I hope to organise activities and trips across the prefecture and am always looking for exciting events or must-visit spots to share with fellow JETs—so if you have any recommendations, let me know!

Whether it’s a social event idea or just a friendly chat, I’m always happy to connect—so don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Since Saga is fairly small in terms of area and numbers, our AJET chapter is kept straightforward—with no need for a committee, constitution, or any of the complexity you might find in larger prefectures!

As with all prefectural AJET chapters, the Saga AJET role is not recognised officially by National AJET; it is separate, although has broadly similar aims to the national association.

Do you want this job?

The ideal Saga AJET representative is someone who is enthusiastic, socially-connected, highly involved within the community, and keen to maintain and promote the socially-active network we have established. Through their leadership and work, JETs should have opportunities to see more parts of Saga they might not otherwise visit.

The new Saga AJET is chosen annually by the outgoing representative after seeking expressions of interest, and announced along with the new District Representatives at the Winter JET Conference in January. The term of the role is one year, from April to March.

Being the Saga AJET rep can be a lot of work and a challenge at times, but it is incredibly enjoyable and also very fulfilling when you see other JETs and friends have a great time together at the events you have organised.