Kumamoto International Archive

Archive of the Kumamoto International Facebook group, 2011–present.

Here's a ChatGPT translation of an article about the need for more foreign workers in Kumamoto. -- Kirk
--- start translation ---
“Developing Human Resources Who Contribute to Friendly Relations”: Kumamoto Prefecture Survey Finds Demand for About 4,000 Foreign Workers Over Three Years
TV Kumamoto
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
As labor shortages become increasingly severe, demand is rising among companies and other organizations for foreign workers.
In response to general questions at the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly on June 10, Governor Kimura revealed that there is demand for about 4,000 foreign workers in the prefecture over the next three years.
Governor Kimura:
“Responses from 70 organizations indicated that over the next three years, they will need approximately 1,500 foreign workers in agriculture, about 500 in construction, and 200 in food-service manufacturing, among others.”
According to the prefecture, a prefectural survey found that there is demand for about 4,000 foreign workers in Kumamoto Prefecture over the three-year period beginning this fiscal year.
At the same time, Governor Kimura said, “It is also true that there are voices of concern about the easy use of foreign labor.” He added that accepting foreign workers merely to secure labor “would lead to dissatisfaction on both sides and must absolutely be avoided.”
Governor Kimura:
“Foreign workers should receive proper vocational training and language training in their home countries, then work in Kumamoto Prefecture, acquire skills and knowledge, and return to their home countries. Throughout this entire process, up to their return home, both sides should cooperate in human-resource development.”
In addition, when asked by Assembly Member Yoichi Fuchigami about the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower regarding the sending of workers and related matters, the governor said that “discussions toward concluding the agreement are underway.”
He then emphasized, “We would like to realize human-resource development that contributes not only to the industries of both countries, but also to friendly relations.”
--- end translation ---
「友好関係に寄与する人材育成を」３年間で約４０００人の外国人材の需要　熊本県の調査｜FNNプライムオンライン
働き手不足が深刻化する中、企業などの受け入れ需要が高まる外国人材についてです。木村知事は、１０日の県議会一般質問で、県内では今後３年間で約４０００人の外国人材の需要があることを明らかにしました。【木村...

Kirk here with something to do in Kumamoto City at Sakura-machi.
Kumamon's XR interactive content, "Kumamon Dungeon," will open in Kumamoto City in July.
Kumamoto Prefecture, JTB, and ABAL are jointly hosting “Kumamon Dungeon,” an experiential content […]

Kirk here with a news item from May that I neglected to share at the time.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260518/p2a/00m/0na/004000c
The article is related to the following posts and how Discovery Kumamoto can help.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02hVh2RvxNcLpGENvxgfBgnSMYDkqQTnjEDQusa51XVvPoFpedhw9QySPTLMc5yefLl
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0382v7hs2DHQ8gsoCedgEJ19xPyGSQmLQ3xtGp7gUFFWNsdf823xjqzvbDJsTkWai2l
Info about roots wanted: Descendant of immigrant to Hawaii to visit Japan's Kumamoto Pref. - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- Does anyone know the Shimada family who lived in Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture, over a century ago? That is the question being asked by Lynn

Kirk here with a Gemini translation of a Japanese article about how dangerous "3D" jobs (dirty, difficult, dangerous) in Japan can be. By the way, in Japanese the word is 3K (kitanai, kitsui, kiken). I don't know how these numbers compare with Japanese workers doing the same work.
--- start translation ---
June 10, 2026, 12:30 PM
45% are Technical Interns... Number of Occupational Accidents Among Foreign Workers Increases; Thorough Safety and Health Education Urged
The status of occupational accidents among foreign workers in Kumamoto Prefecture for 2025 has been compiled.
According to the Kumamoto Labour Bureau, the number of occupational accidents involving foreign workers in the prefecture resulting in four or more days of absence from work was 60 (excluding COVID-19 cases), an increase of 11 from the previous year.
Accidents involving foreign workers accounted for 2.9% of the total. Broken down by industry, the highest numbers were in manufacturing with 22 people, followed by construction with 17 people.
By nationality, Indonesia had the highest number with 19 people, followed by Vietnam with 11 people, and the Philippines with 6 people.
In terms of residency status, technical interns accounted for the largest share at 45% (27 people), followed by specified skilled workers at 19 people.
The most common types of accidents were "getting caught or entangled in machinery," followed by "cuts and abrasions," and "reaction to motion or strenuous movement."
Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
The Labour Bureau noted that approximately 40% of those affected had less than one year of experience, suggesting that safety and health education at the time of hiring has not been sufficient. They are calling for education that is easy for foreign workers to understand.
--- end translation ---
45％が技能実習…外国人労働者の労災件数が増加　安全衛生教育の徹底を | KAB ONLINE
2025年の熊本県内の外国人労働者の労働災害の状況がまとめられました。熊本労働局によると、熊本県内における外国人労働者の労災は休業4日以上の死傷者数が新型コロナを除き60人で、前年から11人増えました。外国人労....

Kirk here. This lists Kumamoto as a point of departure for discounted international tickets. I have not verified this but thought I should share it.
Starlux Airlines Launches Sale on Flights from Japan to the U.S. and Prague - TRAICY Global
Starlux Airlines, a Taiwanese carrier, is holding a sale on flights to the United States and Prague from June 1 to 30. Departures from Sapporo/Chitose, Hakodate, Sendai, Tokyo/Narita, Nagoya/Chubu, Osaka/Kansai, Kobe, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Okinawa/Naha, and Shimojishima are eligible. Example round-trip...

Kirk here with some transportation news.
China Airlines to Increase Kumamoto–Taipei/Taoyuan Route to Daily Round-Trip from June 13 - TRAICY Global
China Airlines will increase its Kumamoto–Taipei/Taoyuan route to one round-trip per day starting June 13. The route was launched with two round-trips per week from September 2023, and frequencies were increased to five round-trips per week from February 2024. The aircraft used on the route is the...

Kirk here with news about a workshop that, unfortunately, has stopped taking applications to participate because all seats have been sold out. But, since I've written about anti-immigrant hate on this page, I thought that I should share the very positive, welcoming message of this workshop, even though it's too late to participate directly. Here's part of the English-language summary that appears on the page.
~~~ start quote ---
10 Years After the Kumamoto Earthquake: Building a Multicultural and Multiethnic Inclusive Society from the Community, Beyond Discrimination and Exclusion
Japanese society has already become an immigrant society, where many foreign workers, long-term residents through international marriage, and children and young people with foreign roots live together. At the community level, various initiatives toward coexistence have begun to take shape. At the same time, however, the Japanese government has not only failed to change its long-standing approach of strict control over foreign residents, the exclusion of undocumented migrants, and the acceptance of foreign workers as disposable labor, but under the current administration, policies emphasizing control and surveillance are being further intensified.
This year’s two-day workshop will be held in Kumamoto, which marks the 10th anniversary of the earthquake. Through reports on the realities of immigrant communities and local initiatives, as well as discussions on specific thematic issues, we hope to revisit the vision of a multiethnic and multicultural society. Together with all participants, we aim to reflect on what kind of society we want to build going forward.
＜Event Details＞
Dates/Times: Sat 13, 13:00 - Sun 14, 12:00, June 2026
Place: Kumamoto City International Center 6-7F(for the keynote speech on 13th, the plenary sessions on 14th), 3-5F meeting rooms（for breakout sessions on 13th）
--- end quote ---
【会場参加は申込締切ました】移住連全国ワークショップ2026 in 熊本（6月13日〜14日）
移住連は、今ここにある移民社会のために多様性を豊かさと捉える社会を目指して活動するNGOです。在日外国人人口は324万人を超え、日本には、多くの移民が暮らし外国にルーツをもつ日本国籍者も増えました。日本人の定...

Kirk here with news about marriage equality.
--- start quote ---
Signatures Seeking Marriage Equality Handed to Japan Top Court
Tokyo, June 8 (Jiji Press)--Plaintiffs in same-sex marriage lawsuits across Japan handed about 36,000 online signatures seeking equality of marriage to the Supreme Court on Monday.
They also called for the top court's unconstitutional ruling for Civil Code and family register law clauses that only allow opposite-sex marriage.
The signatures were submitted, after five high courts ruled those clauses unconstitutional and one court constitutional while all the courts rejected state compensation claims. The plaintiffs have brought the cases to the Supreme Court, whose Grand Bench is expected to issue its first unified ruling as early as next year.
"I'd like Supreme Court justices to imagine their own parents or children wishing to marry someone of the same sex when they write the ruling," Kozo, a 43-year-old plaintiff from Kumamoto, told a press conference in Tokyo.
--- end quote ---
https://jen.jiji.com/jc/i?g=eco&k=2026060800918
The person from Kumamoto who is quoted in the article has been in the news quite a lot about this issue. The group of plaintiffs, however, is from all over Japan.
The picture is from a Japanese-language article on the same issue:
https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article_photo/list?article_id=493704&pid=2625831

Kirk here. This article appeared on "Essential Japan" but, from my perspective, it's non-essential enough that I wondered if I should even share it. But, nonetheless, I think it's a mildly interesting example of a connection between motorcycle racing (an activity I tend to associate with fearless, macho men) and Japan's cute culture. The connection to Kumamoto is that the bikes are designed by Honda Seisakusho in the Ozu area. See the article for an image of an actual powerful-but-cute bike.
Sanrio and Honda Announce New Racing Collab Starring Hello Kitty, Kuromi and Pompompurin
Sanrio and Honda have announced a new collaborative initiative called the SMILE RIDER PROJECT, a program designed to promote the appeal of motorcycles, motorsports, and traffic safety awareness to younger generations while also engaging a broader audience.

Kirk here. Waita is a cool (well, geologically speaking, hot) place in the Oguni area. Now they have a new geothermal plant.
--- start quote ---
Waita No. 2 Geothermal Plant Begins Commercial Operations in Kumamoto
Baseload Capital and Furusato Netsuden have brought online the 4.995MW Waita No. 2 Geothermal Power Plant in Kumamoto Prefecture, a milestone for advancing geothermal energy in Japan. The facility entered commercial service in March 2026, and the firms present it as a template for scaling such projects through strong ties with local residents. Although Japan holds one of the globe's largest geothermal reserves, it currently produces under 1% of its electricity from this source. The companies contend that Waita No. 2 illustrates how community-oriented development can tackle persistent hurdles around regulation, land use, and public approval.
Source: https://www.indexbox.io/blog/waita-no-2-geothermal-plant-begins-commercial-operations-in-kumamoto/
--- end quote ---
Picture of town from:
https://www.visit-kyushu.com/en/blogs/waita-onsen-kumamotos-hot-spring-paradise/
This a good page for tourists.
Image of thermal plant from here:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001414.000021766.html
This is an article on the same topic in Japanese.

Kirk here. It looks like a Category 1 (or so) typhoon will arrive in our neighborhood around Tuesday. Even if the winds are not extreme here in Kumamoto, we may get heavy rains. If you are wondering about whether you need to evacuate, please refer to this post of mine.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0Nk4Xb2DQynXkT5vGSCQHSdD7UhkEjg6rbcZL74VbCAF4LAwhgLg6UrHz63CqcNLCl
P.S. The image is from this site: https://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/tracker/dynamic/W.html

Atsuko here.
Discovery Kumamoto has started supporting people in the United States and Brazil who are searching for their Kumamoto roots.
My parents are from Tamana, but my grandparents emigrated to Hawaii. They returned to Kumamoto during World War II, and that journey is part of the reason I am here today. After the war, one of my uncles returned to Hawaii, so I have had some opportunity to learn about the strengths and value of immigrant communities. Because of that, I hope Kumamoto will continue to be a welcoming place for people with immigrant backgrounds.
Many of the immigrants who left Kumamoto are now elderly or have already passed away. For their children and grandchildren, it can be very difficult to reconnect with their ancestral roots in Kumamoto on their own.
This is a wonderful opportunity and an important support system. I hope many descendants of Kumamoto immigrants will take advantage of it, reconnect with their roots, and build new connections that continue to grow.
(੭˙꒳˙)੭♡
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BngFExBGb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Kirk here. A lot of news today is pretty terrible. For me, that makes news about Dr. Hasuda's good work that much more valuable.
Japan hospital chief urges empathy for women who leave infants at 'baby hatch'
KUMAMOTO -- The director of a hospital operating a "baby hatch" where parents can anonymously leave infants has called for greater understanding of th･･･

When I schedule a post to this page, I'm always asked if I want to pay to "boost" it. The only way I have to say "no" is "Maybe later." I'd like to suggest that the folks at Meta add another choice that is a bit closer to my sentiments regarding this matter. -- Kirk

Kirk here introducing an article entitled "Best New Airport Terminals in the World in 2026." This isn't my first post on the topic but I thought the emphasis on how Aso Kumamoto Airport is clearly of Kumamoto and Kyushu was interesting and made it worth posting again.
--- start quote ---
1. Aso Kumamoto Airport, Mashiki, Japan
At the top of the 2026 rankings sits Aso Kumamoto Airport in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, a project that reflects a growing shift toward regional airport revitalisation in East Asia.
The airport reopened with a completely redesigned passenger terminal created by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose work is often associated with natural materials, open spaces, and integration with surrounding landscapes.
Instead of leaning into futuristic steel-and-glass aesthetics, the terminal embraces locally sourced timber, broad natural lighting, and panoramic mountain views that immediately establish a strong sense of place.
What makes the terminal particularly notable is how intentionally regional it feels. Many modern airports are interchangeable — polished, efficient, but anonymous.
Kumamoto’s new terminal instead attempts to reflect the identity of Kyushu itself, incorporating local craftsmanship and architectural references tied to the surrounding volcanic landscape.
--- end quote ---
https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/05/29/best-new-airport-terminals-in-2026/

Kirk here with something for One Piece fans.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20260528025007592/
Be aware that NHK World does keep their videos up for long; this will disappear before long.
'One Piece' statues give Kumamoto post-quake boost | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Statues of characters from Oda Eiichiro's hit manga series have been helping Kumamoto Prefecture bounce back from the 2016 earthquakes, and raising awareness about the disaster.

Kirk here. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA; Kishocho) has come out with a new, 5-level warning system that clarifies "the link to evacuation information." The Mainichi Shimbun translation of the scale is particularly good, in my view, because it avoids simply translating 避難 (hinan) as "evacuate." "Hinan" literally means "avoid danger" and you can "hinan" just by staying at home (if your home is in a safe place) but, of course, you can't "evacuate" at home. This has caused confusion here in Kumamoto in the past when large portions of the city received "hinan" orders. What this really meant was, "evacuate" from dangerous areas (such as near a river that might flood or near a steep slope that might be the site of a landslide). The "dangerous areas" should be understood as a subset of places within the larger areas that receive the "hinan orders." As I say, this Mainichi translation handles that well. My one point of disappointment is that there is no single "official" translation. The JMA has published a Japanese version on its website but the message to foreigners who don't read Japanese seems to be "figure it out yourself" or "we don't care -- we put out notices for Japanese people (but we have an English website for show)."
Japanese JMA page:
https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/kishou/know/bosai/keiho-update2026/index.html
Mainichi article
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260528/p2a/00m/0na/007000c
Japan weather alert names unified for flooding, heavy rain, landslides, storm surges - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- Operation of a new system of

Some news for train and/or Kumamon fans. -- Kirk
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/travel-spots/20260527-329616/

Here's an English translation of a Japanese page I came across today.
---- start ChatGPT quote ----
Kumamoto Earthquake 10th Anniversary: Groups Now Being Recruited for the 49th Hinokuni Matsuri “Otemoyan So-odori”!
We are looking for organizations and groups that will help bring excitement and energy to the Hinokuni Matsuri (“Land of Fire Festival”)!
Before applying, please be sure to check the participation guidelines.
Date and time
Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. — planned
Application deadline
Friday, June 5, 2026
How to apply
Apply electronically using the LoGo Form, a web form for local government procedures.
Electronic application is available here.
Fill out the application form and participant profile, then submit them by email, fax, postal mail, or by bringing them directly to the office.
Please note that applications are not accepted by telephone.
Where to apply / Inquiries
Hinokuni Matsuri Steering Committee Office
c/o Event Promotion Section, Kumamoto City Hall, 8th floor
1-1 Tetorihoncho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City
〒860-8601
TEL: 096-328-2948
FAX: 096-323-9262
For email submissions, please attach the completed application form as a PDF, Word file (.docx), or image file with a .jpg or .png extension.
Each group should consist of at least 30 and no more than 150 participants.
The number of participants listed at the time of application will be treated as the number eligible to participate on the day of the Otemoyan So-odori. Additional participants cannot be added after the application deadline. However, depending on the application situation and other factors, groups may be asked to adjust their number of participants.
A briefing session for participating groups will be held as follows.
Briefing Session for Participating Groups
Date and time: Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 10:30 a.m., for about one hour
Venue: Kumamoto City International Center, 6th and 7th floor hall
4-18 Hanabatacho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Here, Otemoyan So-odori means a large group dance based on Otemoyan, a well-known Kumamoto folk song, and Hinokuni Matsuri literally means “Land of Fire Festival,” a major summer festival in Kumamoto.
---- end ChatGPT quote ----
熊本地震１０年　第４９回火の国まつり「おてもやん総おどり」参加団体を募集します! ｜新着情報
熊本の夏の風物詩である「火の国まつり」の公式ホームページです。祭りの開催日・詳細・交通情報など案内しています。熊本の代表的な民謡「おてもやん」のリズムに乗って市内の中心部を踊り歩きます。

I'm glad Ms. Araki-Regan seems to be satisfied with what she was able to find and do in Kumamoto. Over the years I've been contacted by several people trying to do research into their roots in Kumamoto. I've tried to do some very basic things to help but haven't been able to do the real detective work that can be required. -- Kirk
Japanese American woman connects with kin on visit to Kumamoto Pref. to trace family roots - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A Japanese American woman whose ancestor emigrated to Hawaii about 130 years ago from southwest Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture visited the pr