Kumamoto International Archive

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

Japanese is a funny language. For example, the Kumanichi today used the term 「馬食文化」(horse eating culture), noting that the drop in foreign visitors due to the virus has led to a plummet in basashi sales.
An interesting thing I learned is that rendering horses for meat is illegal in America. However, live horses can be exported to Canada, where they are there rendered and sent to Japan. So when you eat basahi, it is likely an American-bred, Canadian processed product. - William
熊本の「馬食文化」守りたい　コロナで需要減、国支援乏しく｜熊本日日新聞
生産量日本一で、熊本の食文化を代表する馬肉の需要が、新型コロナウイルスによる観光客減少や外食離れの影...

I love it when people here ask me for directions. They'll approach and make an inquiry but suddenly recoil when they notice I'm a gaijin. However, I know Kumamoto like the back of my hand and am well-versed in keigo (formal Japanese), and this soothes them. They'll probably tell their friends about this experience. - William

Hi there
I'm hoping to get this information out to foreign students or ALT's ( plus anyone else who might be interested !) and thought you might be able to share the post on to the Kumamoto International page.
Since March I have lost all my business due to Corona virus but I'm hoping some people might be interested in taking a day trip with me over the summer. I'm not part of the Japanese government's travel stimulus plan but thought I'd also spread some happiness by discounting the tours as well. If you can share, that would be great.
Thank you
Helen
https://www.explore-kumamoto.com/kumamoto-summer-tour-campaign/
Kumamoto Summer Tour Campaign!
Kumamoto Summer 2020 tour campaign 50% discount available! Visit the top sights around Kumamoto in a fun,friendly tour with a native English speaking guide.
explore-kumamoto.com

Hi friends.
Kumamoto city government announced the warning about ground slide because of heavy rain from tonight to tomorrow early morning.
It's not order but warning for especially olders and handicapped people who live near mountain, hill.
The evacuation centers are also opened for residents at 公民館 Kouminkan and some. Please check by yourself each.
It's often cases for Kumamoto, we have heavy rain from end of June to first of July.
Residents who've lived in Kumamoto long time might know where is dangerous to ground slide but new comers and international students might not know about it.
Please help each other, together, with neighbors.
I attached Japanese version but you can change English, Korean and Chinese version.
Be careful.
Please help and support each other!! ーAtsuko(｡•̀ᴗ-)و ̑̑✧
https://city-kumamoto.secure.force.com/K_PUB_VF_Top?kuiki=%E5%8C%97%E5%8C%BA&x=0&y=1249
Especially, evacuation center page
https://city-kumamoto.secure.force.com/K_PUB_VF_HinanjyoList
***Kumamoto city hazard map.
http://kumamoto-hazard.sakura.ne.jp/
＜補足情報＞熊本市内の山沿い、がけ地付近で土砂災害の恐れのある地域の方は避難の準備を整え、気象情報に注意して、危険だと思ったら早めに避難してください。また、お年寄りの方など避難に時間のかかる方は避難.....

Entertaining is when Japanese fight over correct kanji usage. Kumanichi notes that many denote the corona-virus pandemic as 『コロナ渦』when it should be 『コロナ禍』. Though homonyms (both pronounced ［か］) , the former means "whirlpool" while the latter means "pandemic". Pay attention: this might be on the test. - William
「コロナ渦（うず）」ではありません　「禍」の間違い多発｜熊本日日新聞
「『コロナ禍［か］』を『コロナ渦』と間違えている人が目立ちます。先日も職場の上司が『コロナうず』と堂...

I remember visiting a sushi bar in California where items were ranked by "challenge" - toro, for example, was a 1, but uni was a 3. Perhaps McDonald's should adopt a similar system: a salad would be a zero (depending on the dressing), while a Big Mac would be a 5.

A note from the obscure Japanese customs desk: This season marks half-way through the year, so it's a good time to shake off your sins and hope you survive the remainder. This is done through the Shinto ceremony of Chinowashinji (茅輪神事), which literally means "thatched ring ceremony". A bit like hokey pokey, there are rules: One must hop through the ring and circle first to the left, then hop through again and circle to the right, than once again to the left. Do not break the rules. On one hand, this might be simply silly superstition; on the other, we need all the help we can get at the moment. - William
https://www.shinmeisya.or.jp/html/tinowa01.html

Joe Tomei here. This is an English translation of the Japanese information located at
https://note.stopcovid19.jp/n/n8d97bc77eddb
What is the Japanese version of a ‘contact confirmation app’?
We are doing this in order to pass on the information that is coming out in Japanese. While the translations are done to the best of our ability, please be aware that we take no responsibility for any issues that may arise based on actions taken on account of these translations. We are doing this in English, but would welcome help not only for that, but also for translations in other languages. Contact me off list if you can help.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sect8Z8pGEThbNt45TOwq0bnS0zWffW7YTHPFuusieU/edit?usp=sharing
はじめまして、世界経済フォーラム第四次産業革命日本センターの藤田卓仙です。 5月25日、安倍首相が緊急事態宣言の解除を表明されたとき、新型コロナの「接触確認アプリ」の導入について触れられていました。日本型....

This is the season of the lotus flower (ハスの花). They occur naturally but are also cultivated for their roots, called renkon, which are rendered into karashi renkon when imbued with a spicy mustard - an acquired taste but exquisite. In Buddhism, they symbolize the rise of the human spirit from the muck of mortality to what lies beyond. Kumamoto is a major producer of renkon, probably some near you (they grow in murky water, so look for that or ask your friends). - William

People do strange things with horses, like eat them. Kumanichi introduced me to another bizarre equine sport called "sagariuma (さがり馬)," in which participants inexplicably do not mount their horse but are pulled at the side. I don't see the point in this - it's a bit like driving your car while hanging outside the driver's side door - but it's apparently a big thing in Kawashiri. The paper announced that this year's event has been cancelled due to the virus. - William https://this.kiji.is/648855507423659105?c=92619697908483575

At a certain point on Shirakawa near Kokaibashi is a plaque marking the flood of June 26,1953, which killed 563 people and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes. An elderly friend of mine said that the rain that day was not particularly heavy, but the low bridges at the time created debris jams which caused the river to overflow.
Since then, the banks and bridges have been raised and the river widened. Yesterday was a commemoration for those lost. - William

Joe Tomei here, with an update from Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott, The JET Program Prefectural Advisors for Kumamoto Prefecture. As always, I appreciate that they allow me to share these with everyone.
=======
Hello Kumamoto,
Here are some updates:
First new case in Kumamoto Prefecture in 45 days: Amakusa Area
A case was confirmed Monday evening in the jurisdiction of the Amakusa Health Centre (Kamiamakusa City, Amakusa City, Reihoku Town) of a 90 year old woman who returned to stay with her family after leaving a private nursing home in Fukuoka Prefecture.
The woman's family drove her from Fukuoka to Amakusa in a family vehicle. On the same day, the woman developed a cough. Her son, who is a medical doctor, took her to the medical institution that he operates, where he performed an antibody test. The test returned a positive result, showing that the woman was at some point exposed to COVID-19. The prefecture believes that the woman was infected before arriving in Kumamoto, and is treating her son, his wife, as well as 2 staff members at the medical institution run by the son as close contacts and will perform tests on them today.
Antibody tests are used to detect infection history and are not considered a reliable indicator of current infection status. However, the woman still has a cough and as a result has been hospitalised at a designated institution for infectious diseases in Kumamto Prefecture.
https://this.kiji.is/647813463542760545?c=92619697908483575
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=32300&sub_id=21&flid=239674
Prefecture plans to raise Risk Level to Level 2
As a result of the case detected yesterday evening, the prefecture is planning to raise the Risk Level for the prefecture to Level 2 (Refrain from holding any events in which any of the 3 major risk factors are present: This level applies if even a single new case is confirmed in Kumamoto).
In a comment to the press, Governor Kabashima said that this new case demonstrates that infections can emerge at any time, anywhere and that he would like everyone to continue implementing the "New Lifesyle" recommendations in order to ensure the balance between the resumption of economic activity and prevention of the spread of infection can be maintained.
Here are the risk levels again as a reminder:
No warning (Level 0) - Exercise normal precautions, promote and implement the "new lifestyle" (新しい生活様式, atarashii seikatsu youshiki): Applies only if there are no confirmed cases anywhere in the country for a certain period of time.
Level 1 - Take measures to prefer the spread of infection at events/locations in which 3 major risk factors overlap (poorly ventilated closed spaces, places where many people are in close proximity, where people have conversations close to each other): This level applies if even a single case occurs within Japan.
Level 2 - Request to refrain from holding events in which the 3Cs are present. Closure of facilities attended by an unspecified large number of people: This level applies if even a single new case is confirmed in Kumamoto.
Level 3 - Refrain from any unnecessary and non-urgent outings at the weekend; request for restraint in participating in any events: This level applies if two cases of community spread in Kumamoto are confirmed.
Level 4 - Refrain from any unnecessary and non-urgent outings; do not travel outside of the prefecture; all events to be postponed or cancelled: this level applies if there are 4 or more cases of community spread in Kumamoto and more than 5 new cases in total.
https://www.news24.jp/nnn/news86819713.html
【新型コロナ】熊本県内、４５日ぶり感染確認　天草の９０代女性、２１日に福岡県内老人ホームから帰宅｜熊本日日新聞
熊本県は２２日、天草保健所管内（上天草市、天草市、苓北町）の９０代の無職女性が新型コロナウイルスに感...

Good morning, friends.
It's our city, Kumamoto.
Have you visited all places?
Can you tell where it is, everywhere?
If you've not visited, tasted yet,
Let's go to see, taste, and meet!!!
It's good for us to start to enjoy our trip from small visit.
Just enjoy lots of Kumamoto.
Enjoy Minimum but Maximum!ーAtsuko٩( ᐖ )۶
Quality Living City Kumamoto, JAPAN 4K 熊本市 Full ver
熊本城をはじめとした観光地や景勝地、豊かな自然や水、伝統文化や産業、うるおいある人々の暮らしなど、本市のあらゆる魅力を詰め込んだ総合的なプロモーション動画です。熊本城ホールやサクラマチクマモト、ルフ...

In 1773, British navigator Captain James Cook encountered the Cook Islands, which he promptly named after himself. 15 major islands spread over 2,200,000 km2 of the South Pacific do not provide a particularly promising land of prosperity; however, as a sovereign nation with guile, they figured out how to make money from exotic materials such as stamps and stuff.
Now, they've figured out a new ploy: issuing Kumamon medallions. I don't know the legal issues - one must obtain a license to issue Kumamon goods - but this being an international issue, it's likely complicated. - William

Joe Tomei here with some friendly COVID-19 related updates from Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott, the Prefectural JET Advisors:
==============
Cross-prefecture travel re-opened nationwide (19 June)
As of today, people may travel freely between all prefectures nationwide. Kumamoto Prefecture is still asking residents to continue avoiding the 3 Cs as well as to avoid outings in regions in which COVID-19 is still spreading. Please be proactive in acquiring information about where infections are spreading and take precautions when travelling. Prefectural employees are still being to avoid unnecessary and non-urgent business-related travel to Tokyo.
As we mentioned in our early updates in late-February and early-March, the decision about whether or not to travel to different prefectures is your own, but please make that decision after consulting with your CO first and reporting about your travel plans.
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=33787&sub_id=1&flid=239203
Prefecture further relaxes restrictions on public events (19 June)
From 19 June, the following events may take place given measures are taken to prevent the spread of infection:
1. Concerts, exhibitions, local festivals (as long as the number of participants can be controlled and the anticipated visitors are from a specific area)
2. Indoor events of 1000 people or fewer where the number of participants is less than half of the capacity of the venue (→increase from 100 people).
3. Outdoor events of 1000 people or fewer in which the distance between participants can be maintained (preferably 2m) (→increase from 200 people)
4. Professional sports events (without spectators)
Events for which people are expected to attend from across the country/a wide area, in which it is difficult to grasp who the participants are such as festivals, outdoor music events should be considered carefully, including the possibility of cancellation (→no change).
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=33787&sub_id=1&flid=239203

COVID-19 Contact Confirming Application (COCOA) now online
The smartphone app developed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to help trace close contacts of people after they are confirmed to be infected has now been released. The app, when enabled, uses a smartphone's Bluetooth capability to track "close contacts" (濃厚接触者 nо̄kо̄ sesshokusha), defined as being within 1 metre of another person for 15 minutes or longer.
If a user of the app tests positive for COVID-19, they can voluntarily report it using the application using a special code. The app then sends a notification to all other users detected as "close contacts" from the preceding 2 week period. If you receive a notification saying you were in close contact, you can then report to a local health centre. In order to protect user privacy, specific information such as the location and time of contact will remain confidential. Personal information is not recorded or exchanged. Information is not stored in a central database, only locally on the phone. Records of bluetooth-contact with other devices with the application enabled are automatically deleted after 2 weeks.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare believes that the application will only be effective if the voluntary uptake in the general population is 60% or higher, and so is encouraging as many people as possible to download the app. You can download the application using the following links:
For iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id1516764458
For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.go.mhlw.covid19radar (not yet live at the time of this e-mail)

You can also search for ”接触確認アプリ” (sesshoku kakunin apuri) on your device.
The application can be used in English and Japanese.
Terms and Conditions of Use (English): (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/english_rk_00031.html)
Privacy Policy (English):
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/english_pp_00032.html
Prefecture adopts Kumamoto City's 5-level advisory scale (8 June)
To improve clarity in public communications, Kumamoto Prefecture has decided to abandon its previous "area classification" (地域区分, chiiki kubun) and adopt a unified Risk Level warning system together with Kumamoto City. The City released the 5-level advisory scale at the end of March. https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji_33555.html
Currently, the risk level is set to Level 1, since no new infections have been confirmed in the prefecture in over 5 weeks, though there are still cases being confirmed in other parts of the country.
Here are the risk levels again as a reminder:
No warning (Level 0) - Exercise normal precautions, promote and implement the "new lifestyle" (新しい生活様式, atarashii seikatsu youshiki): Applies only if there are no confirmed cases anywhere in the country for a certain period of time.
Level 1 - Take measures to prefer the spread of infection at events/locations in which 3 major risk factors overlap (poorly ventilated closed spaces, many people, where people have conversations close to each other): This level applies if even a single case occurs within Japan.
Level 2 - Refrain from any events in which any of the 3 major risk factors are present and closure of any City facilities used by a large unspecified number of people (e.g. the zoo, libraries, public gyms): This level applies if even a single new case is confirmed in Kumamoto City.
⇒Level 3 - Refrain from any unnecessary and non-urgent outings at the weekend; request for restraint in participating in any events: This level applies iftwo cases of community spread in Kumamoto are confirmed.
Level 4 - Refrain from any unnecessary and non-urgent outings; do not travel outside of the prefecture; all events to be postponed or cancelled: this level applies if there are 4 or more cases of community spread in Kumamoto and more than 5 new cases in total.
No COVID-19 patients in Kumamoto hospitals (10 June)
As of 10 June, there are no longer any patients undergoing treatment in hospital in Kumamoto Prefecture for COVID-19. This is the first time there have been no coronavirus patients in hospital since the first case in Kumamoto was confirmed on 21 February.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/kumamoto/20200610/5000008429.html
Special permission to re-enter Japan for foreign nationals
Some people have asked about the Ministry of Justice policy concerning special permission to re-enter Japan for foreigners. There are a certain narrow number of cases in which, if a foreigner receives special advanced permission, they may be re-admitted to Japan. For example, to visit a relative in critical condition, attend the funeral of a deceased relative, receive medical treatment such as surgery, or to appear as a witness in court.
You can read the full statement about the policy on the MInistry of Justice website here: http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001321982.pdf
However, these exceptions only apply to a very limited number of resident statuses. JET Participants are not typically holders of “Permanent Resident”, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” or “Long-Term Resident” statuses, so permission to re-enter Japan will still be denied even under the above special circumstances.

We amateur volcanologists are few in number because we tend to die frequently - that is, we only die once but in high numbers. Aso has a large lake. If the gasses emitted from the volcano are white, it's simply the water blowing off, so no worry; if the gasses are darker in color, that's bad.Below is a photo of the lake in the Aso's caldera and a video explaining the phenomenon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlySYYjXdJI - William

Good morning friends.
Kumamoto zoo restarted to open not only weekday but also weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 13 June!
They can accept 2500 people as maximum at same time not to be crowded. Some facilities close to avoid to be crowded but it might be so nice seeing animals under the sky.
We should be aware and avoid to be crowded each other.
Keeping social distance and mask rules, you can enjoy Minimum but Maximum!
It's step by step.
Keep going, for you, for us, for Kumamoto residents.
AND enjoy lots, have fan lots!! ーAtsuko٩( ᐖ )۶
https://www.facebook.com/438505469570144/posts/3021657207921611/

Hi friends.
How is rainy season? Do you enjoy the sounds? color? smell?
Sorry for my late notice of this interesting exhibition ''Life'' at 熊本現代美術館, Kumamoto modern art museum in downtown near びぷれす.
Lots Kumamoto - i readers might know and love the wonderful, funny selfie photographer, 西本喜美子Kimiko Nishimoto. I'm also her big fan.
The exhibition has 11artists. They express,
depict many themes like, minority, disability, common, family,,,.
Unfortunately, it will be held till 14th, June, on this Sunday but it's good opportunity to get energy from them in such a rainy day!
You should watch them in social distance with mask, of course.
I'm sure you can get lots power from themーAtsuko(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
For new readers, previous post.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1667932429946849&id=123734781033296
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1703987643007994&id=123734781033296
Exhibition HP.
https://www.camk.jp/exhibition/life/
Exhibition CM.
https://www.camk.jp/blog/4042/

This was raised recently here so this might be of interest

Tristan Vick here.
As summertime rolls in and Covid 19 settles down, people will be getting out and about more. Please be aware that there have been some official announcements about wearing masks related to heat-stroke.
With temperatures already reaching 32 C (89.6 F) I myself overheated just the other day and had to take off my mask and sit down on the curb to catch my break and rehydrate.
Just be aware that if you're going out to take all the necessary precautions.