Kumamoto International Archive

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

This hike is for the more seriously-minded. First, hike to the top of Mt Kinpo, and then descend by its rear.The views of Ariake Sea are beautiful, and you pass through a labyrinth of citrus fields (mostly mikan, but also grapes and pears). If you continue along the multitude of farm roads (which has sightseeing treasures), you'll arrive at the seaport of Kawachi. From there, you can take a bus back.
It's a full day hike, so leave early in the morning. There are few shops en route, so bring your own supplies. - William

Post

This is an ideal time of year for hikes. A good day hike is to Hanaokayama 花岡山, the hill behind the train station. You can take JR or the city tram to a somewhat proximate location and walk up a whole lotta steps past cherry trees to the peak.
Note along the route many old inns that were used as leprosy hospitals in the 1920s. It was also a site from which the Kagoshima army bombarded Kumamoto Castle, and there are graveyards dating from that era. Reading the tombstones is interesting. At the peak is a stupa gifted to Kumamoto by Prime Minster Nehru of India. If you go by car, the night view of Kumamoto is unsurpassed. - William
熊本市の公式観光サイト。熊本城や水前寺成趣園などの観光地をはじめ、グルメ、イベント、特産品など、心にグッと来る熊本の魅力を紹介します。

Kirk here. The "follows" (likes + follows, actually) of the page recently passed the 6,000 mark. Thanks to everyone (editors and readers) for participating.
I went for quite a long time without posting much. The reasons were that I had become rather disappointed in the Facebook platform (i.e. what Cory Doctorow has termed en***tification) and also found that I was spending too much time on the page and not able to do other things. Recently, I've been feeding news to the page in a way that I think will be more sustainable. What follows is for nerds like me. If you don't have any particular interest in how the sausage is made, so to speak, please feel free to stop reading here.
I have two RSS feeds for Google news alerts: "Kumamoto" and "熊本 + 外国人". I use RSS for other things and so I check my feeds on my app (Vienna on my Mac) every day. A problem I have is that I get a lot of false positives. "Kumamoto" might snag flight reports, for example, and "熊本" + "外国人" often includes articles about Kumamoto where "gaikokujin" only appears in a side bar so the article isn't really about 外国人 in 熊本. Wading through all of these false positives took a lot of time and wasn't really sustainable in the long run.
Fortunately, I've found a solution that I'm quite happy with. I've made a little app for myself that uses Python scripting and AI (via API) to sort through everything for me. I'm not able to program in Python but Claude helps me -- so-called "vibe coding." Now, I just double click on a little app and the script is invoked. It checks the unread items in my RSS app, uses Python to mechanically sort items into "include" and "exclude" categories, then uses AI (Claude API) to check stuff that can't be sorted mechanically. The result is data presented to me in the form of a web page with a small number of "included" items at the top and a much longer list of excluded items below it.
It works remarkably well. I can now check in less than a minute what used to take me much longer to sort through. So, I should be able to keep feeding news to the page and also get other work done. ;)

Kirk here. I saw something on TV about this local product but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
Crystal clear soy sauce from Japan's Kumamoto a global hit, tops 1.6 million bottles sold - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A clear-as-water soy sauce that offers full flavor and aroma despite its transparency has become an unexpected global hit, selling more th

Kirk here with an article about the 2016 quakes.
How Kumamoto Survivors Are Keeping Earthquake Lessons Alive | JAPAN Forward
From sleeping in cars to struggling for food, volunteers are sharing overlooked lessons in disaster preparedness from the Kumamoto Earthquake.

Kirk here with something from my news feed.
Kumamoto Official Suspended for Watching Porn at Work
A male employee in his 50s from Kumamoto has been suspended for four months for watching 93 hours of porn at work.

Kirk here with some TSMC news.
TSMC wins approval to produce 3-nanometer chips in Kumamoto | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Taiwan's economic ministry says it has given approval to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to produce advanced 3-nanometer chips in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

From 1 April, a new type of bin bag will become available.
You can put both burnable waste and non-burnable waste in these bags.
You can continue to use the existing bags as well.
Although you can put both burnable and non-burnable waste in these bags, you must choose to put either burnable waste or non-burnable waste in them—not both.
The message seems to be that whilst the bags can be used for both types, you must sort the contents and put them out separately.
If I may offer my personal opinion, I would like them to produce small bags specifically for non-combustible waste if there is a demand for them.
It’s a bit confusing, isn’t it, that you can put both combustible and non-combustible waste in the same bag, but you’re not allowed to mix them?
Atsuko ( * ॑꒳ ॑*)
Kumamoto city website
https://share.google/s3PY4U7Mr0WyuqAz9

Kirk here. Every April 1st, I've been publishing April Fools' posts on the page for many years now. This year, however, I'm afraid I just can't do it. You see, to be honest, I'm not well. I've been diagnosed with a degenerative cognitive disease: ICVS (Inane Cat Video Syndrome). My docs tell me that it's caused by the overexposure to infinitely scrolling videos of cute kittens, babies laughing at sneezes, goats screaming like humans, and hamsters eating tiny burritos. It has left me unable to focus on any single task for more than . . oh, look, raccoons stealing things . . . that's so cute! And those dogs in costumes are absolutely adorable . . . um . . . well . . bye!

Kirk here. To be honest, I don't have a deep interest in the repair of this Shinkansen car, which was damaged in the 2016 earthquakes. It has been interesting, however, to see the numbers of people who care enough about it to show up to cheer it on.
Repaired Tsubame Bullet Train Car Damaged in 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Sets Off on Sea Voyage to Hakata
A restored lead train car from the Kyushu Shinkansen Tsubame departed Kumamoto aboard a ship on Sunday to tour the area along the line.

Kirk here. No shortage of news about this guy -- though most of it doesn't mention his hometown.
Homer in 3rd straight game! Murakami continues astonishing start to MLB career
MILWAUKEE – The saga of Munetaka Murakami has gone far beyond bidets being installed at Rate Field per his recommendation, as many people expected who know his game. In just three games played during the opening weekend of the 2026 season against the Brewers at American Family Field, all three

NHK WORLD JAPAN
The Kumamoto castle's secrets are revealed through demolition. Atsuko ʕʘ̅͜ʘ̅ʔ

Kirk here. From the article:
--- start quote ---
The following excerpt is from The Thorn Puller, the first novel by the Japanese poet Hiromi Ito to be translated into English. With dark humor and refreshing candor, the novel explores the complexities and absurdities of illness, aging, and death as the narrator navigates the challenges of caring for her aging parents in Japan and her husband and children in California. The chapter below draws from Ito’s conversations with the novelist Michiko Ishimure, as well as from a variety of Japanese folktales, poems, and sutras.
--- end quote ---
From Hiromi Ito's English Wikipedia page:
--- start quote ---
Itō divides her time between her home in Encinitas, California and Kumamoto in southern Japan. In the latter, she has been the organizing force between a group of local writers and artists known as the "Kumamoto Band" (熊本文学隊, Kumamoto bungakutai). Itō's work is featured prominently in the Kumamoto Modern Literature Museum.
--- end quote ---
A Poet Stares Death in the Face
With questions about the end of life, a writer seeks guidance and companionship through conversation and ancient poetry.

Kirk here. I may not be able to send out a reminder so mark your calendar: April 11th!
Japan's Blue Impulse aerobatics team to perform over Kumamoto for 10th anniv. of 2016 quake - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatics team will perform over the city of Kumamoto this April 11 to mark the 10th anni

Kumamoto is now filled with beautiful cherry blossoms, especially in Suizenji. Suizenji Jojuen is crowded with many visitors enjoying the Suizenji Festival.
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, creating a stunning scene. People are gathering to celebrate and enjoy the wonderful spring of Kumamoto, Japan.
The event runs until tomorrow—don’t miss this chance to experience it! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)وAtsuko
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18TC4XXGkW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/1JNe92yimf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Cassie here: There’s been a lot of bad news lately so here’s some good news. Kumamoto’s Munetaka Murakami (Kyushu Gakuin Graduate) hit a home run in his opening game for the White Sox. It’s pretty amazing to hit a home run in your first game in the MLB.

Kirk here. The article I introduced about the anti-immigration demonstration that occurred here in Kumamoto included the following statement from an organizer: "While Japanese people are struggling, it is wrong to spend large sums of tax money bringing in foreigners." In fact, however, the majority of economists that responded to a survey (image) answered that an increase in foreigners in Japan tended to improve living standards for Japanese nationals. These survey results were originally published in Japanese. I'll put links to both the English-language and Japanese-language articles in a comment.
The journalist who wrote the article about the demonstration in Kumamoto didn't endorse their argument -- he merely reported it. Nonetheless, it would have been nice if he had fact checked it for the benefit of his readers.

🌸🌸🌸
Suizenji Seisui-en Festival 2026
We’re holding the ‘Suizenji Seisui-en Festival’ again this year! 😊
Highlight 1: Japanese Cultural Experiences
Try your hand at the Hosokawa-style bonsai, experience yabusame (horseback archery),
and enjoy tea ceremonies and ikebana flower arranging…
There are plenty of fun activities to try! 🥰
Highlight 2: Food
Food trucks and collaborations with Kumamoto Commercial High School,
a gathering of delicious treats 🤤
Highlight 3: Events at Izumi Shrine
Miko dance workshops and observing Shinto wedding ceremonies,
be sure to check out these unique shrine events
that you don’t get to experience every day 👀✨
Highlight 4: Exhibitions
Exhibitions including the Morihiro Hosokawa Art Exhibition,
the 10th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake Photo Exhibition, and the Higo Rokka Panel Exhibition,
offer plenty to enjoy at your leisure ☺️
○ｏ｡..:･･:..｡ｏ○
🌸 Suizenji Jojuen Festival 🌸
📅 28 March (Sat) & 29 March (Sun)
🕐 10:00–17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
📍 Suizenji Seisui-en / Suizenji Approach / Jane’s House
Free admission for secondary school students and younger
🍵 Special Exhibition of Works by Morihiro Hosokawa 🖌️
📅 28 March (Sat) – 5 April (Sun)
🕐 9:00–16:30
📍 Izumi Shrine Office
○ｏ｡..:･･*:..｡ｏ○
#SuizenjiSeisui-enFestival
#DiscoverHigoHosokawaCulture

Kirk here with some unfortunate news. I'm glad to say, though, that some people are pushing back. I'll put the citation in a comment but first here's a translation by Claude.
--- start translation ---
50 Attend Anti-Immigration Policy Demo... Nationwide Simultaneous Action
Monday, March 23, 2026
On March 22, anti-immigration policy demonstrations were held at 18 locations across the country. In Kumamoto City, where the number of foreign residents has been increasing, a rally was also held in which approximately 50 people voiced opposition to policies being advanced by the government. This was the third such event in Kumamoto, following one on November 30 of last year.
At the rally held near the "Kumamoto Machinaka Bicycle Parking – Shinshigai" facility in Chuo Ward, participants spoke in a relay-microphone format. Organizer "Bani" (pseudonym) stated: "We are not calling for the expulsion of foreigners. We are opposed to the immigration policy being pushed by the government. Are we not seeing multiculturalism being forced upon us? While Japanese people are struggling, it is wrong to spend large sums of tax money bringing in foreigners."
Afterward, the participants marched from the Shimotori Arcade to Kumamoto City Hall carrying banners reading "Oppose Immigration Policy" and similar messages. The demonstration appeared to target Kumamoto Prefecture (Governor Kimura Takashi), which has announced plans to accept foreign workers for household support services, and Kumamoto City (Mayor Onishi Kazufumi), which granted permission for a venue where Muslims held an "Eid al-Adha" festival at Ninomaru Plaza last June. Chants included "Kumamoto's mayor should listen to the citizens!" and "Protect Japanese jobs!"
Meanwhile, several counter-demonstrators gathered around the venue holding placards reading "Kumamoto is a city that coexists with immigrants," "Discrimination kills people," and "Discrimination is shameful." There were moments of heated exchanges between counter-demonstrators and rally participants.
(Editorial staff – Miyazaki Taiki)