Kumamoto International Archive

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

Morning, Joe Tomei here. This is an English translation of the Japanese information located at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OGVH9TdTzE5bz79_xESrawhQzUkzyvoUfd_LSVeMG2I/edit?usp=sharing
After Golden Week, will the battle with COVID-19 end?
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.
After Golden Week, will the battle with COVID-19 end? (English)
An English translation of ゴールデンウィークが明けたら、コロナとの戦いは終わるの？ After Golden Week, will the battle with COVID-19 end? Public Advisory Group of Experts on COVID-19 23:38, 15 April 2020 I am Koji Wadai, a member of the experts’ group on COVID-19. The st...

This is Masaki Koreishi.
I have been reading what people are saying about the current situation in Japan, and one of the things that caught my attention was this: While taxi companies are forced into having their employees take days off or even laying them off, carriers such as Japan Post and Yamato, and Sagawa are in great demand and often require more days than usual for delivery.
In urban areas such as Tokyo, I hear that Uber is now busy as ever (not confirmed but easily imaginable).
On the other hand, food industry, especially restaurants and bars are now forced to close their business.
Isn't there any link that can connect these businesses? There should be. The following article is one example. I just wanted to inform you that this kind of service is starting in Hitoyoshi City in our Kumamoto Prefecture.
Tsubame Taxi seems to be doing well in this tough situation by providing this kind of service in other areas, too.
Last evening, I watched on TV news that a strawberry farm where you can usually hand-pick strawberries and eat them on the spot and bring them home is having a hard time. So they started delivering strawberries to stores in hospitals (hospitalized elderly people cannot walk far to buy fruits on their own, the news said) and also started selling strawberries like a food truck beside the entrance of stores like drug stores. I thought these are really good examples of what we can do in this unprecedented situation.
So the following is a translation of the Kumanichi article about the service Tsubame Taxi is providing:
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"Familiar Taste" Delivered to Your Home: Taxi Company in Hitoyoshi City Collaborates with Restaurants
Tsubame Taxi (Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture) will start a meal delivery service in April in collaboration with restaurants in the city. It is named "Taxi Eats" and aims to contribute to sales in the food service industry, which is affected by the spread of the CoVID-19.
The user calls the taxi company, tells the restaurant where they want to use, and orders a meal. The driver receives the meal at the restaurant and delivers it in a special delivery box. The user pays for the meal and the fare from the store to the designated location.
Tsubame Taxi President Shojiro Kita (60) started the initiative. So far, about 20 restaurants such as izakaya (Japanese-style bar where you can also have meals), yakiniku (barbeque) restaurants and hotels that serve lunch have participated.
The operation will begin as soon as the system is in place, such as the distribution of leaflets to households. Mr. Kita said, "I want everyone to enjoy the tastes they are familiar with while staying home is required."
Tsubame Taxi TEL: 0966 (22) 5115.
Original Kumanichi article:
”なじみの味” を家まで　熊本・人吉市のタクシー会社が飲食店と連携｜熊本日日新聞
つばめタクシー（熊本県人吉市）は、市内飲食店と連携した食事の宅配サービスを４月中に始める。「タクシー...

Joe Tomei here. This link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_cbTxzI0lXKTIEKlkt-A4wGoefdpA33W1f3CYJoCNJ0/edit?usp=sharing
How can we count 'human to human contact'?
is an English translation of the Japanese information located at https://note.stopcovid19.jp/n/n1d0745601527
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 could like to help.

Hi friends.
This is Kumamoto city's poster to ask you to STAY HOME.
籠城(ろうじょうRoujyo)じゃmeans ''Let's hunker down!!''
In 戦国時代せんごくじだいThe Sengoku Period (Period of Warring States), 大名だいみょう Daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) did STAY HOME, STAY castle to protect castle and ally from other Daimyo, enemy. They decided to stay castle to survive till the enemies become tired and give up.
It's said Kumamoto castle is good at protecting from enemy because of its shape and construction. Katou Kiyomasa is also known well so.
It's so cool and funny poster!!
Yes, Let's we do together!
皆の者(みなのものAll together!)
籠城じゃ!!!
ーAtsuko∠(　˙-˙ )／
熊本市長大西一史 on Twitter
“ステイホームも加藤清正公ならこう言ったでしょう。『籠城じゃ。』 #家にいよう #みんなで打ち克とう #熊本市 #新しいポスター”

Joe Tomei here with another update from the JET prefectural advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott.
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Hello Kumamoto,
We hope everyone had a relaxing weekend. Here are some more updates:
Case updates for Kumamoto
On 26 April, a student in her 20s living in Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City who was previously determined to have recovered from COVID-19 tested positive again. She was discharged from the hospital on 9 April after two consecutive tests returned negative, but on the 17th of April she reported feeling fatigued and noticed a loss in her sense of smell, and a PCR test determined that she was positive for COVID-19 once again. Kumamoto City officials are asking the national government for assistance to do a RNA analysis of her test samples to determine whether she was re-infected or the original infection re-asserted itself. The woman's mother, a female in her 50s, also tested positive yesterday.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200427/k10012406841000.html
In addition to the two cases mentioned above, 4 additional cases were reported in Kumamoto since our last update, bringing the current total to 47.
http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page156.html#01
23 April - Female in her 50s, Kumamoto City – Clinical Technologist at Kumamoto Regional Medical Center. Developed a fever on April 19 and did not leave home. Same workplace as the 36th and 40th cases, however this case did not have contact with either of them.
24 April - Male in his 40s, Kumamoto City – Self-employed, attended work from April 13 – 18. Stayed at home since April 19
22 April - Female in her 60s, Kumamoto City – Related to the 42nd case
Finally, Kumamoto City announced that 104 staff and patients tested at the Kumamoto Regional Medical Center, in relation to Case 44, returned negative for novel coronavirus.
https://kumanichi.com/news/1443281/
Proportion of positive test results on the rise
The proportion of positive cases to the number of performed PCR tests in Kumamoto is slightly increasing, although it remains low in comparison to other areas of Japan. In the first week when testing began, the positive rate was 0.8%, and has since increased to 2.5% for the period between 19-23 April.
By comparison, in Fukuoka and Okinawa, the positive result rate between 19-23 April was 7.4% and 11.5% respectively.
https://this.kiji.is/626606409831318625?c=92619697908483575
According to data released by the Ministry for Health Labour and Welfare, the rate for positive results between 15 January to 21 April in Tokyo is 39.4% (not including tests performed on Princess Diamond cruise patrons/crew or private hospital tests).
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10906000/000624007.pdf?fbclid=IwAR28HhddyY-gT8x_tf2YHYTxSlrRpih1F7ebkNlyJ0C0tFGr--V3EZAWSno
Kyushu Area Governors Conference: Do not travel outside your prefecture
On 24 April last week the governors in Kyushu, Yamaguchi and Okinawa held a video conference with one another. In the meeting, they agreed to request the residents of all of their respective prefectures to avoid travelling across prefectural boundaries.
Here are the requests from Kumamoto Prefecture:
　○Absolutely refrain from nonessential and non-urgent movement across prefectural lines.
　○To reduce interactions by 80%, refrain from nonessential and non-urgent outings, meetings, etc.
　○Avoid the "3 C's," even during everyday tasks such as going to the supermarket, going on walks, etc.
In Japanese, the first request is phrased 県境を越えた不要不急の移動を絶対にしない " - i.e. Absolutely do not ("zettai ni shinai") move across prefectural boundaries for non-essential/non-urgent reasons.
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20200424-14285301-kbcv-l40
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji_32686.html
10 important guidelines for achieving an 80% reduction in person-to-person contact
The government's COVID-19 response team held a meeting in which they agreed that the reduction in our interactions has not been sufficient to expect a significant reduction in new cases in spite of the declaration of a state of emergency. To provide the public with some specific advice on how to reduce our interactions with others, the team put together and released a set of 10 points on 22 April. Please check these 10 points out in the document here:
http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page165.html (in English)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200422/k10012400721000.html (in Japanese)
退院後に再び陽性感染の20代女性熊本新型コロナウイルス | NHKニュース
熊本市は、新型コロナウイルスに感染し、その後退院した東区の20代の女性が検査の結果、再び陽性になったと発表しました。退院…

Kirk here. The other day I expressed some concern about low levels of testing for Covid-19 in Japan. As a country, Japan is still having trouble gearing up to do more testing but I have some good news about Kumamoto relative to Tokyo. In Tokyo, as of April 21st (the most recent statistics I could find), 8,435 tests were conducted and 3,320 were positive -- a whopping 39.4 percent! By contrast, in Kumamoto, the percentage of positives is just 1.7%. The percentage of positives is considered to be a measure of how bad the situation is. So, for now at least, I'm very glad to be in Kumamoto.
Data in Japanese:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10906000/000624007.pdf

A view of the corona virus Kumamoto airport parking lot. The article mentions that the adjacent equestrian park is also desolate. I had no idea that existed, but I suppose the vacation makes the horses happy. - William
阿蘇草千里、駐車場ガラガラ　「これほど少ないのは初めて」｜熊本日日新聞
新型コロナウイルス感染拡大を防ぐ緊急事態宣言が全国に発令されて、２度目の日曜日となった２６日、熊本県...

My wife listens to RKK radio all the time. I like it as it is not a themed station: one never knows what the'll toss out. Tonight, they had a delightful song, はいさよじさん, which basically means "old guy who loves festivals." "Haya" is a celebratory exclamation. Ushibuka is famous for its festival called "Hayamatsuri"「ハイヤ祭り]. The song, linked to below, is themed on Okinawa music (沖縄音楽, Okinawa ongaku). Enjoy. - William
喜納昌吉＆チャンプルーズ - ハイサイおじさん
沖縄民謡独特のリズムや音階をベースにした、思わず体が動き出す歌＝「ハイサイおじさん」。踊れる沖縄（創作）民謡として広く親しまれているこの曲を、喜納昌吉＆チャンプルーズの熱気あふれるライヴ映像で堪能あれ...

Joe Tomei here, while we've had a few posts about this, I share this, which is in multiple languages.
外国籍・無国籍でも給付金（10万円）がもらえます - 新型コロナウィルス｜Yu Ohtani｜note
こちらの記事は、表題の内容をボランティアの有志の方々のご協力を得て多国語に翻訳しています。　総務省によると、2020年4月27日時点で住民基本台帳に記録されていることが給付の条件になります。在留カードを持っ.....

A friend queried why "Higokko" (肥後っ子, as those native to Kumamoto are known) excel so at mathematics, so I Googled it but couldn't find a satisfactory answer. Requirement, though, often drives results. My father in law, from the isolated village of Tomochi, was the first in his family to attend college and became a teacher of mathematics. His village is bisected by a steep, deep valley. Nearby is a bridge called Naidaijin (内大臣橋). The logistics to make this bridge must have been astounding. The roads also pass through tiny tunnels that make it feel like a Disneyland ride. If you haven't been out there, you should. - William

"Mushigaeshi" (武者返し - literally, repelling assailants) were architectural features designed to, well, repel assailants, ranging from uneven ground stonework to complicated walls. Kumamoto Castle is particularly famous for its mushigaeshi. For example, the stones of the walls are placed at random angles to thwart anyone trying to climb them. They also eventually reach a 90° angle. An interesting example is this location, where the builders figured out they'd screwed up the angle so added another wall. We all have bad days, but most of them don't involve tons of rock.
Yamaga, famous for its craftsmanship (think of the lanterns they wear on their heads during their festival), recently donated this model of the castle to our city. Note the slopes of the walls. Thanks, Yamaga! - William

Joe Tomei here. Not Kumamoto content, but a faintly Kumamoto related post. The NanKyu JALT chapter invited Tomomi Kumai, a crosscultural trainer, to speak at our conference. Her site is here
https://www.tomomikumai.com/
Tomomi will be speaking at the KoTESOL National conference (https://kotesolconf.com/), (starting in 45 minutes!! Take a look!!) which is online because of CoVID-19 and free to attend.
But I wanted to bring up something else, which is that one of Tomomi's sons passed away from cancer and I was always impressed and awed by the way she was always positive and upbeat and able to turn the most difficult adversities into opportunities for growth and given that everyone is suffering from challenges now, you may want to take a look at Tomomi's YouTube channel where she talks about how she has taken the challenges she has faced and turned them into positives.
The YouTube channel is here, and if you are feeling overwhelmed, it may be useful.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcLasI6BWNAEup-6kr61mgw
Tomomi Kumai

Joe Tomei here. This doctor, Yumi Yamamoto, is recommended by a good friend, Mathew Porter, who teaches at a medical college. From her clinic page
"Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Japanese government has temporarily loosened regulation of オンライン診療 (Online Clinic). Now you can consult with a doctor over the internet and get a prescription for up to 7 days to treat your non-serious health problems. The charge is 1,500 JYN for this service. The prescription will be transferred by fax or postal mail to your nearby pharmacy and you can get the medicine there."
The page explains how it works. Dr. Yamamoto is based in Kochi, but patients can be anywhere in Japan and it will help you avoid crowds at clinics.
Online Clinic - www.dryumiclinic.com
Online Clinic is available - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Japanese government has temporarily loosened regulation of オンライン診療 (Online Clinic). Now you can consult with a doctor over the internet and get a prescription for up to 7 days to treat your non-serious health problems. T...

A note from the Etymological Desk (from Greek etymologia: "analysis of a word to find its true origin," or "study of the true sense of a word," so we're all pretty musty): It turns out that "quarantine" comes from the Latin for forty. This is because Venice established in 1377 the first formal system of quarantine, requiring ships to lay at anchor for 40 days before landing during the Plague. I guess they did a lot of Netflix. - William
A Short History of Quarantine
From Roman times to the present, follow an illustrated time line on the separation of the diseased from the healthy.

A note from the Kumamon is Worried Desk (we usually have nothing to do): Kumamon is reminding all of us to wear masks. - William
感染防ごう　くまモンもマスク姿に　｜熊本日日新聞
熊本県は２２日、新型コロナウイルスの感染防止対策を呼び掛けるマスク姿のくまモンの新イラスト１種類を発...

Joe Tomei here. This is another newsletter from the JET program advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott。At the end of the newsletter, they detail the process to renew your driving license, so if your birthdate is in the first half of the year, you may want to double check your license renewal date, because, as they point out, even though the physical renewal center is closed, you are still required to renew your license.
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Additional cases in Kumamoto City
Two additional cases have been confirmed since our last e-mail, both taxi drivers in Kumamoto City:
41st case (April 20) - Male in his 60s, Kumamoto City - Taxi driver, Unknown Infection Route
42nd case (April 21) - Male in his 60s, Kumamoto City - Taxi driver (separate company to the 41st case), Unknown infection route - Worked on April 15, 17, 18 and 20
Information regarding temporary closures and supports in place while the State of Emergency is in effect
Kumamoto Prefecture has requested that non-essential facilities* be closed for two weeks from today (22 March) until 6 May 2020. Restaurants and izakaya have been asked to shorten their business hours. In order to support businesses affected by these measures, the prefecture will pay 100,000 yen to all companies that comply with the prefecture’s requests. The following information is from http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page156.html:
Facilities which will remain open include...
・Hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies
・Nursery schools, after-school clubs, care facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities
・Department stores, home centres, supermarkets, convenience stores
・Restaurants, cafés
・Public transport services such as buses and taxis
・Banks, funeral homes, public baths, veterinary clinics, beauty salons and cleaning services
*Non-essential facilities include host clubs, nightclubs, dance halls, bars, internet cafés, manga cafés, karaoke bars, “Live Houses” (concert venues), universities, vocational schools, cram schools, driving schools, kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, special needs schools, gymnasiums, swimming pools, bowling alleys, sporting facilities, mahjong parlours, pachinko parlours, game centres, theatres, cinemas, assembly halls, exhibition halls, museums, art galleries, libraries, hotels/inns (when used to host functions) and retail stores other than those which sell daily necessities.
In addition, some large shopping centres and department stores such as Tsuruya and AEON Mall Kumamoto have voluntarily closed:
https://kumamoto-aeonmall.com/
https://www.tsuruya-dept.co.jp/eigyou/index.html　
About Special Fixed Benefits – 特別定額給付金（仮称） “Tokubetsu Teigaku Kyuufukin” (Tentative name)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will distribute a 100,000 yen subsidy to every resident. Anyone registered in the Basic Resident Register as of April 27, 2020 is eligible; foreign residents must have a period of stay of 3 months or more and have registered their residency at their city/town/ward office to be eligible. Here is some the information that has been released so far on how to apply available on the Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents website: http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page156.html#03
（1）Postal Application
Provide your bank account details on the application form which you receive from your municipality and mail it back to your municipality, including documentation to prove that the desired bank account belongs to you as well as proof of identity.
（2）Online Application
This application method is only possible for those who hold a My Number Card.
In order to apply online, use the My Number Portal to input your bank account details and upload documentation to prove that the bank account belongs to you. (Identity verification will be completed using a digital signature, making identity verification documents unnecessary)
Application Period: This can differ depending on your municipality. The application period will begin in May at the earliest.
Beware of Fraud: Beware of scam emails and phone calls claiming to be from a representative of your municipality asking for personal information such as your bank PIN. Please contact the Police Consultation Phone Line (9110) if you receive any suspicious emails or phone calls.
Driver License Renewal
As of today the Kumamoto Prefectural Police Driving License Center (免許センター, Menkyo Sentā) will not be conducting renewals of drivers licences on-site. The License Center remains open and they will still be conducting some services in a limited capacity. However, in order to reduce the number of people going to the facility every day, they are temporarily suspending some of their operations. Please read the following and make sure you understand how this will affect you:
① Those whose Japanese driver's licence will expire on or before 31 July 2020. If your licence will expire, you must file paperwork either by mail or in person to receive an extension "sticker" to put on the back of your licence.
If you chose to do the process by mail, you must send all of the following to the the License Center (〒８６９－１１０７熊本県菊池郡菊陽町大字辛川２６５５番地熊本県運転免許センター運転免許課免許第一係御中):
1. A completed renewal procedure application form (更新手続開始（継続）申請書, available in Japanese only, can be downloaded from the website here)
2. A copy of both the front and back of your licence, attaching it to the application form.
3. One standard size envelope (23.5 cm x 12 cm) with your address written on it with a 404 yen postage stamp affixed to it (404 yen is the amount required for registered mail and postage, this envelope for the menkyo center to send you back the sticker).
Your application must arrive at the center no later than the day your licence expires, so please send it with time to spare. If you do everything correctly, you should receive a sticker in the mail within two weeks which you can affix to the back of your licence, allowing you to continue driving. If your licence expires after sending the application, but before you receive the sticker, you must not drive until you receive the sticker in the mail and attach it to your licence.
Your licence will NOT be extended automatically, and you will be driving without a licence if it expires without filing this paperwork.
Information about COVID-19 in Kumamoto / 熊本県外国人サポートセンター / 熊本県国際協会
Information about COVID-19 in Kumamoto 最終更新日：2020年4月21日 ↓If you experience any of the following symptoms, please do not leave your home and phone your local health center ◆A temperature of 37.5℃ or above that lasts for 4 days or more※（If you are older than 60, pregnan...

A note from a friend at city hall:
We have recently compiled information related to COVID-19 cases in Kumamoto and the various benefits, subsidies and support people may be able to avail of at this time, as well as information about potential visa issues they may encounter and links to places where further information can be found.
We would like this information to be made available to as many members of the international community in Kumamoto as possible. The webpage specific to coronavirus information can be found here: http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page156.html
The information is frequently updated and translated into various languages including English, French, Vietnamese and Korean.
Information about COVID-19 in Kumamoto / 熊本県外国人サポートセンター / 熊本県国際協会
Information about COVID-19 in Kumamoto 最終更新日：2020年4月21日 ↓If you experience any of the following symptoms, please do not leave your home and phone your local health center ◆A temperature of 37.5℃ or above that lasts for 4 days or more※（If you are older than 60, pregnan...

1,500 Rooms to Be Available to Accommodate Minor-Symptom Patients with COVID-19 in Kumamoto Pref.
Another update (a bit late though) released on Apr. 17 about Kumamoto Prefecture's measures against COVID-19.
Kumamoto Prefecture has announced on Apr. 17 that they had asked for applicant hotels and inns that can accommodate those infected with COVID-19 but with minor symptoms.
It was announced that about 15 facilities raised their hands and about 1,500 rooms turned out to become available.
The Prefecture will check each facility individually to check the equipment and other details and will start signing an agreement beginning with facilities that are ready for acceptance.
Currently, Kumamoto Prefecture has 38 medical institutions (312 beds) that can accept those infected.
Source: Nikkei: https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO58205920X10C20A4LX0000/
- Masaki Koreishi

As for the 100,000 yen subsidy for all residents in Japan, here is a policy for domestic violence victims under consideration.
Most of such victims are often in hiding and do not want their address known by the offender, or they may be living in an address different from the address on their Resident Card.
So the government is planning to take this into consideration and is planning to make it available to receive the subsidy even if such residents change their registration of Resident Card after Apr. 27, which is the date that will be the basis for the provision of the subsidy.
So there will be more updates on how residents under special circumstances will be able to receive the subsidy.
I hope such victims will not be concerned about this.
Source: Asahi Shimbun paper edition
-Masaki Koreishi

This applies to small-scale business entities in Hitoyoshi CIty, Kumamoto.
Hitoyoshi City announced that as its measure the city will provide a subsidy of 100,000 yen to small-scale business entities whose sales in March or April have decreased to 50% or less from the same month last year.
The application will be accepted beginning on April 25 until May 15. The earliest provision will be made on May 1.
Source: Asahi Shimbun (paper edition)
- Masaki Koreishi