Kumamoto International Archive

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

Fiona here with my last post of 2021. The Tatsuda-yama area of Kumamoto city offers many accessible walking trails and nature-viewing opportunities all year round. Matsuri Hiroba, which can be reached from Kita Bypass or Shimizu, has a car park, brand new toilet facilities and a lovely new play area perfect for families to visit during the winter holidays. If you're driving through in the evening you also stand a good chance of seeing wild boar, rabbits and other woodland creatures you might not expect to find so close to downtown Kumamoto.

Kirk here with a headline form the Kumanichi (the local rag): First steps taken to turn Kumamoto into "Kumamon Land"
This sounds like an April Fool's prank but it seems legit. Of course, I don't think we need to worry about changing our addresses from "Kumamoto-ken" to "Kumamon Land" anytime soon, but it does seem that "Kumamon Land" will be a major promotional campaign. The article says that it will have a place in the prefectural budget (for implementation and/or promotion) but I don't see an exact amount.
熊本を「くまモンランド」に　県構想、22年度始動へ　「会える場」陸海空の玄関口に｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本県が２０２２年度、県内全域で「くまモン」の魅力や世界観を伝える「くまモンランド化構想」を始動させることが３０日、分かった。熊本市中心部にある交流施設を改装し、新たに空や陸、海の玄関口にも「会える...

Kirk here with a "Best of 2021" list. The criteria were determined by Facebook. I think these posts were selected for their "reach" (number of people who saw them) and "engagement" (instances of clicking, liking, commenting, etc.).
Number 1 according to these criteria was the following post about MINAMATA (the movie) by Andrew:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/5995116257228423
Number 2 was a post by William about a roadside hotdog stand:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6080791558660892
Number 3 was about a cup available from Starbucks (this one and those below were by yours truly):
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6146286448778069
Number 4 was about a Nepalese restaurant:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6363218917084820
Number 5 was a new year's card by my daughter:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/4750128471727214
Number 6 was about how English is used (misused?) in Japan / Kumamoto:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/5257050087701714
Since I post a lot, it's not surprising that some of the post that got fairly big reactions were by me -- even a poor shot will hit the target from time to time if he/she shoots enough. I think it's worth noting that the most popular posts were not be me. My takeaway from this result is that I can't maintain the page by myself. Both in terms of quality and quantity, the contributions of other editors of the page are invaluable.
At this writing, I'm just ending a little trip to my wife's hometown. I didn't ask for help but, almost as though on cue, Carlton, Atsuko and Fiona stepped in to fill the gap with useful and interesting posts. Thanks! I hope all the editors who were active in 2021 will continue to contribute in 2022 and that others will choose to come on board. よろしくお願いします。

Kirk here, asking "Sento, anyone?" The website (which contains a Google map showing the location) for this sento is
https://yoyasu.kuma1010.com
https://japan-forward.com/hidden-wonders-of-japan-sento-in-kumamoto-welcomes-foreigners-to-bathe-with-mascot/
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Sento in Kumamoto Welcomes Foreigners to Bathe with Mascot | JAPAN Forward
Yoyasuyu, a public bathhouse in Kumamoto, has been temporarily decorated with illustrations of Kumamon, the adorable bear that serves as the region’s publicity mascot.

Fiona here with a suggestion for a winter day trip to Amakusa. Since there are currently no escape rooms in Kumamoto, the next best thing for me is a Real Treasure Hunt. This one, The Timeless Treasure of Shiro Amakusa, involves solving several puzzles scattered around the area with prizes for the winners. It's free to take part - you just need to pick up a puzzle form at the tourist information centre in Amakusa-shi. It's a great way to support the local economy if you eat out and do a little souvenir shopping while you're there. The puzzles usually require knowledge of kanji, and some of the clues will lead you to places that might be hard to reach by public transport so it's recommended to go by car.
Find out more at
時を越える天草四郎の宝 | hunters-village
ハンターズヴィレッジは様々な種類の「宝探し」が集まるサイトです。クエスト情報をご紹介しています。

Carlton here with an update for some at least on booster vaccinations in Kumamoto city.
First of all, hats off to Kumamoto City’s 24-7 Covid hotline for foreign residents. I gave it a call earlier today at this number: 092-687-7962. It is not a toll-free call.
The line was answered in two rings by a man speaking Japanese who then also said “hello”. I told him that I wished to use English and he told me to hold. This hotline is supposedly able to handle the following languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Nepalese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Malay, Burmese, Khmer, Mongolian, Sinhala
After a very short pause a fluent English-speaking woman came on the line and I told her first that it was not an emergency and that I was not sick. The main purpose of the line is to help people who cannot speak Japanese to report symptoms of suspected Covid infection and get help.
I told her I just had questions about how one could learn about getting a booster shot. She then took down my inquiry and asked me to hold while she arranged to get the answers.
Another not long pause and she was back on the line in a 3 way conversation now with a representative of the Kumamoto government Covid-19 Consultation Center. The lady assisting me then relayed my questions in Japanese to the consultant, and then translated the responses back to me in English. We could all hear each other, and it was accomplished smoothly and professionally.
The questions I asked pertained to my particular situation but I’m happy to share what I found out.. I am over 65 years in age and received my 2nd Pfizer vaccination on June 9 of 2021 at a Kumamoto clinic. As more than 6 months have passed since June 9 I knew I was eligible for a booster jab, and I wanted to know how to go about getting one ASAP.
The answer was that all Kumamoto residents over 65 years old who received their vaccinations in Kumamoto and have passed _7_ months since their 2nd jab will automatically be mailed “coupons” for them to use to get their boosters. In my case I was told to expect to get my coupon by mid-January and then follow through accordingly.
I was told that if I had not received my coupon by mid January that I should call the Covid Vaccination Call Center at 096-300-5577 to report the problem. The translator told me she thought that number would also be handled by multilingual personnel as well when it begins operation.
For any of you reading this, here is the website with the information, links, and telephone number for you to remember. I recommend bookmarking this: <http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page249.html>
【English】Multilingual Phone Interpreting for COVID-19 Consultations / 熊本県外国人サポートセンター / 熊本県国際協会
【English】Multilingual Phone Interpreting for COVID-19 Consultations 最終更新日：2020年12月9日 It is possible to have consultations about COVID-19 in your own language. (19 supported languages)What kind of consultations are supported?Advise people who suspect they may have COVID-19 (Th...

Hi, Atsuko here.
I've thought all area of Kumamoto city might have snow but it seems only South Ward got it?
Around my house, South Ward Karikusa, we got enough snow to make Snowman and play snowball fight(੭ ᐕ)੭

Carlton. A towering figure in the fight for human rights and a Nobel Prize winner because of it has sadly passed away. I admired Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa very much. <https://news.yahoo.com/south-africas-tutu-anti-apartheid-071328707.html>
South Africa's Tutu - anti-apartheid hero who never stopped fighting for "Rainbow Nation"
, (Reuters) -"Like falling in love" is how Archbishop Desmond Tutu described voting in South Africa's first democratic election in 1994, a remark that captured both his puckish humour and his profound emotions after decades fighting apartheid. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the Nobel Peace laureate whose moral...

Kirk with something that came up in a Google news search for "Kumamoto." The article was occasioned by the recent tragedy in Osaka. The fire in Kumamoto was not arson but its scale was even bigger than the fire at the clinic:
"On November 29, 1973, another major fire at Taiyō Department Store in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, resulted in 104 fatalities and 124 injuries."
Major Fires in Japan Since 1925
Arson was the cause of half of Japan’s 10 major fires with 10 or more fatalities in the twenty-first century so far.

Carlton here and exercising his editorial prerogative to wish everyone to whom it means something Merry Christmas!

Kirk here. Yesterday, Kumamoto had it's first new case of COVID-19 in 40 days. At this writing, it hasn't been determined if the person has the Omicron variant or not.
I heard an interesting segment on NPR about the lull that we've been experiencing here in Japan:
The riddle of Japan's dramatic drop in COVID numbers
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/12/20/1065159384/the-riddle-of-japans-dramatic-drop-in-covid-numbers
One point it raised was that our neighbor Korea is experiencing a surge in cases even though it "has fully vaccinated more than 90% of its adult population. And masking up in public is the norm in that country too." So, that makes it somewhat difficult to explain why Japan should be so different.
I'm glad that we are getting a bit of a respite here but I'm not counting on it lasting -- especially with reports of the local transmission (shichu kansen [市中感染]) of Omicron. It's probably just a matter of time before cases begin to appear in Kumamoto. So, I'm planning to get a booster shot at my first opportunity and avoid unnecessary risks.
Stay safe as you enjoy the holiday season!
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/kumamoto/20211224/5000014314.html
熊本県新型コロナ新たに１人感染４０日ぶりに感染確認｜NHK 熊本県のニュース
熊本県と熊本市は２４日、新たに１人が新型コロナウイルスに感染していることが確認されたと発表しました。感染が確認されたのは、大阪から熊本…

Kirk here reflecting on 2021 in Kumamoto International Land. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, we had some friction this year over editorial issues. In this post, I'd like to note that our group is NOT a so-called "silo" (a place on the internet where like-minded people gather to the exclusion of others). The two things we have in common are some sort of interest in Kumamoto and either a preference for or at least a willingness to communicate in English. As a result, I think we're a pretty diverse group. I've seen statistics about the people who read this page and whatever category you look at (age, gender, native language, current place of residence, etc.) we've got a good mix.
I'm really glad that this is a diverse group. And, given the more-or-less random mix of people whose only point in common is an interest in sharing information about Kumamoto in English, I think we get along remarkably well. :)
Speaking of diversity, I'm frequently impressed by how other editors choose to post about topics that would never have occurred to me and how those posts often get big responses. I hope that more people will be willing to come on board as editors in 2022 and that the editors we already have will continue to post whenever the spirit moves them to do so.
I imagine some differences of opinion will come up in 2022 too. When they do, I'd like to try to take an interest in and value the different perspectives rather than see them as problems. Yoroshiku!
https://www.virginiamiracle.com/2011/02/09/overcoming-social-silos/
P.S. I'm quoting the article mostly for the graphic.
Overcoming Social Silos | Virginia Miracle
This being cross-posted from Ogilvy's Fresh Influence blog. Silos have long been bemoaned as preventing the optimization of everything from enterprise

Kirk here with a historical account the connection between Peru's Alberto Fujimori, Kumamoto and Japan. The article doesn't describe Fujimori's downfall. If you look at his Wikipedia page, you'll see a long list a crimes for which he is still in prison. Around 2000 or so, soon after I had started the mailing list that led to this Facebook page, Fujimori's reputation was falling precipitously. Still, I remember that people in Kumamoto tended to be quite loyal to him because of his roots here. There had been a time when Kumamoto's association with Fujimori was a source of pride but by then I found uncritical loyalty to him to be rather shameful.
DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS: Tokyo told not to overhype Peru leader Fujimori’s visit in 1990 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
A top Japanese diplomat advised his government not to go overboard in welcoming new Peruvian leader Alberto Fujimori when he was planning to visit Japan in 1990 after winning the vote to become the country’s first president of Japanese descent.

Douglas here with a new video from the Kumamoto area.
Fudougan - 不動岩
A 55 minute drive from our home in Kumamoto takes us just north of Yamaga City and the group of rocks known as Fudougan. Roughly translated as Immovable Rock. The…

Kirk here with a Lonely Planet article about Kumamoto City:
Explore Japan's cultural experiences on Kyushu – Lonely Planet
Kumamoto City is the perfect home base for a deep dive into the ancient traditions that make Japan the vibrant and exciting place it is today

Kirk here with a home-town-boy-makes-good story. Munetaka Murakami graduated from Kyushu Gakuin High School just a few years ago (Spring of 2018). Today, I learned that he has signed for 220,000,000 yen per year beginning in 2022. That's 2.2 oku (2.2億) or about 2 million US and is more than Ichiro or Hideki Matsui were earning at similar points in their careers.
What I have just written is a summary of what I found in this Japanese article:
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/9c7b6d13c57fd46dcee0e6d2cb0ac9920f04d0fc
The English article is about him being voted most valuable player:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211215/p2g/00m/0sp/072000c
Baseball: Slugger Murakami, ace pitcher Yamamoto win MVP awards - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A pair of youngsters walked away with Japanese pro baseball's top honors on Wednesday as Yakult Swallows third baseman Munetaka Murak

Kirk here. Personally, I prefer warm, sunny weather but I must admit that the cold has its charms too. Today RKK reported that Koga Falls in Aso has frozen. The URL has a video.
https://rkk.jp/news/index.php?id=NS003202112201137460111

Kirk here requesting tips about where one might find good psychological counseling services in the Kyushu area. I'd particularly like to get information in English. This has been prompted by an inquiry that the page received today. If you are willing to share some information publicly, please respond with a comment. If you would prefer to share your information anonymously, I've made a Google form for that purpose:
Anonymous tips regarding psychological counseling in the Kyushu area
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSJorcSDz-o02i3OXqvZJDniLzVdIDsybtQm6FBOAGhodj_A/viewform
I put the following blurb at the top of the form: "This form does not collect e-mail addresses so all tips are anonymous. The information submitted here may be shared on Facebook. However, if you write a note about information that you would not like to be shared, your wishes will be respected."
Thanks!

Kirk here. If you've got kids, check out Atsuko's post for information on how to get your cash:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6503966223010088
Facebook is a rather visual medium . . . and what few people stop to look at tends not to be shown to many others. So, being a bit concerned that the valuable information Atsuko posted for parents might not be seen by the people who need to see it, I thought I'd use this image to get people's attention. :) If I could, I'd add the sound of a cash register (cha-ching!) as that seems to catch people's attention too.

Good morning, Atsuko again.
This is information about the special benefits, 100,000 yen for each child under the age of 18 in Kumamoto city.
Many people do not need to apply for this service, but if you are a public servant or if your child is between 16 and 18 years old, you need to apply. The application procedure will be announced on the following website as soon as it is decided.
Benefit period is around December 24 for those who do not need to apply (those who have received the child allowance for September this year and do not receive special benefits), and in January for those who need to apply.
You can find more information in the following link.
If you have been displaced due to domestic violence - even if the previous child allowance was paid to the perpetrator of the domestic violence, you may be able to receive the new benefit if you contact the municipal office before the perpetrator receives it. If this is the case, please call 096-355-8866 as soon as possible. The number is open from 9am to 5pm, including weekends. If you know someone who is in this situation, please let them know.
Each governments might give these information now, check them carefully.
Hoping the Special Benefit reach every child and family! ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧
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