Kumamoto International Archive

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

Kirk here with a COVID-19 update. Kumamoto Prefecture's alert level has been lowered from 3 (警報; keihou; warning?) to 2 (警戒; keikai; alert?). This is on a scale that starts with 0 as completely normal and goes up to 5. I'm not sure exactly how this will impact daily life here but it's certainly good news. The numbers of new cases have been very low recently and the lowered alert level reflects that.
By the way, the address of the prefecture's page on the warning levels is as follows:
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/soshiki/30/51409.html
Personally, though, I didn't find it to be particularly informative -- and it's only in Japanese. It's even difficult to translate with apps and Google translate etc. because they have put most of the text in low-resolution graphics. Low-resolution graphics may be convenient for those who want to take a table made on a computer and quickly put it up on a web page but it's the worst possible format for people who are trying to learn Japanese. :( I've been at this for 40 years so it's not a problem for me personally at this point but it would have slowed me down several decades ago.
https://nordot.app/829302002299240448
熊本県内の感染リスク、「レベル２（警戒）」に引き下げ　新型コロナ｜熊本日日新聞
熊本県は５日、新型コロナウイルスの県独自リスクレベルを「レベル２（警戒）」に一段階引き下げると発表し...

Kirk with some news about something that might not sound appetizing but that I'm eager to try -- beer made with igusa (the kind of grass used in tatami). Kumamoto is Japan's leading producer of igusa. In fact, 97% of the igusa used in tatami throughout Japan comes from Kumamoto:
http://www.tatami-kumamoto.com/about_tatami
Here's a link to the Sapporo Beer page for this beverage, which they call "HOPPIN' GARAGE IGUSA":
https://www.sapporobeer.jp/product/beer/hoppin-garage_igusa/
I guess they combined the word "garage," which reminds me of the fragrance of oil-stained concrete, to make the beer sound more appetizing than just igusa alone might be. ;) Nonetheless, I really am eager to give it a try. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6yOFQZTLbc
The YouTube video was embedded in the following Japanese article:
https://rkk.jp/news/index.php?id=NS003202111041744080111

Kirk here with an election update.
"In the Kumamoto No. 2 district, where the top two candidates had both garnered support from conservative forces, former home affairs minister Takeshi Noda was defeated by a newcomer and independent backed by retired politician and former LDP Secretary-General Makoto Koga, and failed to secure his 17th victory in a general election."
On RKK I've heard that the new comer is going to join the LDP. So, though there is a generational changing of the guard I doubt there will be much of an ideological shift.
"
String of ex-LDP ministers, party heavyweights fall in Japan general election - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- Numerous political heavyweights and former ministers of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) were defeated in the Oct. 31 House of R

Hello friends, Atsuko here.
This is information about recycling market, flea market at Shirakawa park at 20 and 21 November.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yXmGh3mekrFgcavB7
You can get good reasonable items. They seem to accept few more participants, shop owners. You can sell old, used, or new items. Foods and hand-made items are not allowed.
Let's join this recycling action!
Sorry, I got another appointment so I can't join it.
Hoping I have any chance to chat with you, readers sooner.(^_-)-☆
https://fb.me/e/2MFoo0BT7

Kirk here wishing I had time to go to Ueki Onsen, instead of just posting about it.
https://www.facebook.com/kumamoto.en/posts/885877648954460

Kirk here congratulating Kumamoto International editor Hari Devkota on his success. By the way, if you search this page for "matcha" you'll find other posts about his research.
https://www.facebook.com/devkotahp/posts/10159754926006779

Kirk here with an election headline from the Kumanichi (Kumamoto's local newspaper): 2nd lowest voter participation rate in the prefecture since the end of WWII.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/451378
Even so, Kumamoto's average is slightly higher than the national average of 55.9%, the 3rd lowest since the war for the nation as a whole.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6408555

Kirk here with election news. In Kumamoto's 2nd district, challenger Nishino (younger former bureaucrat) has beat out incumbent Noda. Noda is in his 80s. He seemed quite vigorous when I saw him campaigning in a TV report but I suspect that, for better or worse, age may have been a factor. 2021 has been a year in which the word rogai (老害; harm caused by older people who hold on to power too long) has gotten a good deal of use, most notably in regard to former Prime Minister Mori's sexist remarks.
I'm only speculating that age was a factor in Noda's loss -- I haven't seen any commentary or exit polls that confirm my suspicion. It is a fact, though, that Nishino campaigned on the need for a transfer of power to the younger generation (世代交代; sedai kotai).
Ideologically, I doubt that this represents a major change. Nishino got some conservative LDP support too. Indeed, I've seen some reports about a conservative split being a factor in this case.
https://www.47news.jp/localnews/6989810.html
https://www.sankei.com/article/20211031-6TGGZEI6SFMDVI4UYYTU6ZYBHY/

Kirk here with some almost-too-late (or made too-late-already?) information about Halloween events in Kumamoto. This page lists several events for today. The one at the top is pantomime performances at 2 and 4 today on the roof of the Sakuramachi Building (屋上サクラマチガーデン).
I should have sent this out earlier but I was just thinking "Today's Halloween. I wonder if there are any related events in Kumamoto" and happened upon this after a little Googling.
Happy Halloween!
熊本桜町のランドマーク、SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto-サクラマチクマモト-。館内で開催されるイベントのご案内です。

Happy Halloween friends, Atsuko here.
Lots readers might enjoy Halloween especially English teachers.
I share lots other yellow and orange smiles.
It seems to be the best season of Autumn sunflowers at 嘉島ゴッホひまわり園 Kashima Gogh sunflower park in this weekend.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E3%80%92861-3104+Kumamoto,+Kamimashiki+District,+Kashima,+Kitaamagi,+1873+%E3%82%B4%E3%83%83%E3%83%9B%E3%81%B2%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8F%E3%82%8A%E5%9C%92/@32.7491231,130.7816161,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x3540f2f299c507ef:0x45aacbb1c5ed20d2
lt's near the サントリー九州熊本工場 Suntory Kyusyu Kumamoto factory, (unfortunately you can't try tasting beer now because of Corona.)
Enjoy! Happy yellow and orange weekend(*˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

Kirk here, admiring Dr. Takeshi Hasuda's courage, a quality he seems to have inherited from his father, the late Dr. Taiji Hasuda , who put the lives and welfare of newborns first and foremost.
Southwest Japan hospital shelters woman seeking to give birth without family knowledge - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A hospital in this southwestern Japan city that introduced a de facto

Kirk here. This is an article about a visit to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine (上色見熊野座神社) in Aso. It's "renowned for its dramatic set of stairs in the woods." There's a picture in the article that you may recognize, even if you haven't been there before. The cat seems to be the author's travel companion.
[Corona ni Makeruna] COVID-19 Can't Stop the Wanders of the Traveling Cat | JAPAN Forward
The young Iicha feline has traveled through all 47 prefectures in Japan multiple times, and with her seasonal snaps and outfits, has gathered thousands of followers.

Kirk here with a little note about the impact of Johnny Depp's film. Though it takes some historical liberties I think it does a good job of dramatizing an important issue. I hope there are lots of instances like this one where young people get interested in the issue because of the film. By the way, I'm indebted to Mr. Toshio Yoshinaga, mentioned in the article. He helped me when I took students to Minamata and stayed with them at Soshisha, many years ago. Soshisha has an English website you can view here:
https://www.minamatadiseasemuseum.net/about-us
It's a museum but distinct from the one operated by the city.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14459973
Depp film spurs Milan Minamata disease studies by Japanese kids | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
The Johnny Depp film

Liz here, back from a gorgeous fall day, on Sunday, in Kugino and Minami Aso., and here to recommend a great place to enjoy the fall weather and colors in the English Garden Minami Aso.
The garden was created by Mr. Masuda（舛田さん, I hope I have the reading right), now in his early eighties. He began work on it the month before the earthquakes struck Kumamoto. His family
home in Gofuku machi was leveled in the second quake , and he has reestablished the foundation stones as markers here and there throughout the gardens. He is very friendly , happy to tell you the names of all the plants, and share the history of the gardens.
The entrance fee is ¥300 yen, a small price to pay to wander freely through the paths and marvel at the wide variety of flowers and trees. If you are a camera buff , you will love this place. There are plants, seeds, and birdhouses for sale and tables where you can relax with a cup of freshly brewed herb tea, coffee, or have an ice cream, all for ¥300. The fall colors are coming out now but I imagine it would be worth visiting in any season. I have included a photo of the map on his brochure. in the comments
You can also check out his instagram : englishgarden_minamiaso which he updates daily.

Kirk here with a post from Kumamoto Gakuen University's Facebook page. I think you can make out the dedication message to Dr. Masazumi Harada from Eugene Smith. Dr. Harada was a truly wonderful man whom I had the great pleasure to get to know as a colleague at Kumamoto Gakuen University. For a brief introduction to the man and his work, please see the following Wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masazumi_Harada
https://www.facebook.com/kumagakuuniv/posts/4313855282042964

Hi friends, Atsuko here.
Firework festival in Hitoyoshi will be held tonight from19:30 to 20:00.
They will show you 3000 fireworks for 30 minutes.
Don't worry, you can enjoy it at home via youtube below. The youtube starts from 19:00pm.
Hoping lots friends enjoy it (๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
【LIVE】第66回人吉花火大会2021 4K LIVE配信
【YouTubeLive配信】配信日時：10月24日(日)19：00よりスタート●人吉市の魅力を紹介●日本のふるさと人吉●アニメツーリズム聖地巡礼のご紹介●人吉市長、人吉商工会議所会頭メッセージ●協賛企業のご紹介●人吉花火大会....

Hi, Atsuko here.
We are fine.
Aso is also fine.
We have lived Aso together for looooong time.
It's nice Aso Rock Fes seems to be held as scheduled.
Beautiful Aso, Blue Sky, and Rock 'n' roll yeah(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
#阿蘇ロックフェスティバル2021
https://www.facebook.com/asorockfes/
@アスペクタ
from 23 to 24 October.

Kirk here with the RKK video of the selfie I posted the other day. On RKK's news program yesterday, they were saying that this got way more hits that their news reports normally do.
What I posted the other day:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6162862520453795
RKK video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSD9guOdjQ
RKK news article:
https://rkk.jp/news/backno_page.php?id=NS003202110201847070111

Kirk here, back from a little walk in which I came across an ambulance bogged down in traffic. What I saw was on the so-called "Kokutai Doro" (国体道路), close to its intersection with the East Bypass (東バイパス). The ambulance was up ahead of me but by merely jogging a little, I almost caught up to it. I couldn't make out the details but I'm pretty sure that drivers were not pulling over promptly. I saw this in Kumamoto but I think it's a national phenomenon:
https://buzzmag.jp/archives/181336
This article features quite a few complaints about drivers not getting out of the way. What I haven't been able to find, though, is any reference to a "crying wolf" phenomenon due to patrol cars that turn on their lights for no clear reason. My concern is that this practice merely trains drivers not to perceive such flashing lights as a big deal. As someone who learned to drive in the U.S., I suspect I'm not alone in experiencing a pretty severe stress response whenever I see flashing lights in my rear-view mirror. And, when it comes to flashing lights, my impression is that American drivers actually tend to be a good deal more "obedient" than Japanese drivers (e.g. pulling over immediately, at least in my experience).
Generally, I have to admit that policing in Japan seems to be more successful and less problematic than policing in the U.S., but when I see ambulances struggling to get through traffic, I can't help but think that the police bear some responsibility.
In this regard, I have a question for any Japanese people who may by reading this: Is my perspective entirely foreign? In other words, are there Japanese people who share my concern that patrol cars with flashing lights may be causing problems for ambulances and other emergency vehicles?
消防にボットーーーク☆ (@botFD)さんは、「速度の遅い救急車」をめぐって、こんな呟きを投稿しました。く…

Kirk here with an eruption update. It seems that, luckily, no one was hurt yesterday. But the eruption is causing problems just the same. On RKK today, I saw reports about damage to crops, canceled reservations at tourist facilities, and little kids having to wear goggles to protect their eyes from the volcanic ash. By the way, this Japan Times article has a YouTube video you may be interested in. It's from Japanese TV so the narration is in Japanese but the images are good.
Cleanup begins after eruption at Mount Aso in Japan
The eruption from Mount Aso's No. 1 Nakadake crater sent a column of ash about 3,500 meters into the air.