Kumamoto International Archive

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

Noyaki (field burning) can be dangerous. Sadly, a veteran of the practice lost his life in a noyaki accident on the 13th. According to the article, the flames surrounded him, leaving him no route of escape.
http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_society/articles/000070322.html
　長年、野焼きに携わってきたベテランの男性が火に巻かれました。　熊本県南阿蘇村で、自宅近くの牧野で野焼きをしていた男性が13日午前、火に巻かれました。男性は全身にやけどを負っていて、搬送先の病院で約12時間後に亡くなりました。阿蘇地域では13日、各地で一斉に野焼きが行われていました。男性は長年、野焼きに携わってきたベテランで、当日は枯れ草に火を付ける作業を担当していました。警察は、男性が自分で付けた火や別の場所で付けられた火に追われ、逃げ場を失った可能性があると見て原因を調べています。

Another nice onsen post from Onsen-hop:
http://kurokawa-onsen.com/onsen-hop-20-wafuryokan-misato/
Onsen-hop #20 Wafuryokan Misato
A quick lunchtime onsen-hop today,Wafuryokan Misato (和風旅館美里 number 15 on the English guide map ) only a minute or so on foot from the Visitor Center

This Japanese article is about a Malaysian man who was accused of assaulting a woman in Ozu-machi and then was found not guilty. Now he is suing the government for the time he spent in confinement.
Not guilty verdicts are rare in Japan. I've read that the conviction rate is 99%.
http://mainichi.jp/articles/20160218/ddl/k43/040/330000c
大津町の暴行事件：無罪確定のマレーシア男性、刑事補償を請求　／熊本 - 毎日新聞
　大津町で２０１５年２月、女性の口を塞いだなどとして暴行罪に問われ、熊本地裁の無罪判決が確定したマレーシア国籍、会社員、ガウ・コン・コックさん（３４）が、身体拘束された２８３日間の刑事補償として計約３５３万円（１日当たり１万２５００円）を熊本地裁に請求した。請求は３日付。

Coming soon!
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/2016/03/02/hifuri-shinji-fire-swinging-ritual-at-aso-shrine/
Hifuri Shinji – Fire Swinging Ritual at Aso Shrine Kumamoto JET
Hifuri Shinji – Fire Swinging Ritual at Aso Shrine March 2, 2016 Events The Hifuri Shinji, or Fire Swinging Ritual, will take place on Tuesday, March 15 from 6PM-8PM at Aso Shrine. The ritual is done every year to pray for a good harvest. As part of the ritual, bales of straw are set on fire and swu…

Joe Tomei here passing this on from Julie Waterman
Here's the info on the March Pigate session for anyone involved in teaching English here:
[PIGATE March session]
Date: Saturday, March 12th, 2016
Venue: English Lounge–1st Floor of Building 1 at KGU
Time:13:30–16:40
1. 13:00 ~ 13:30 Preparation(30mins)
2. 13:30 ~ 13:40 Opening remarks(10mins)
3. 13:40 ~ 14:40 ETE(English Through English slot)
by Mr. Kota Kuroki (Aso Chuo SHS Aso Seiho Building)
"Reading Aloud Activities"
4. 14:40 ~ 15:20 Kitemiran and Shitemiran + Break(40mins)
5. 15:20 ~ 16:20 GAS(Grammar Awareness Series)
by Ms. Tomomi Nishioka (Kikuchikita JHS)(60mins)
「EVERの活躍に追いつく(About "ever"」
6. 16:20 ~ 16:30 Summary by Mr. Takaki(10mins)
7. 16:30 ~ 16:40 Annoucements & Closing Remarks(10mins)
Please invite your friends^^ Let's enjoy the session together! |

A new issue of YOKA has come out. The notice comes from the Kumamoto JET website but the articles should be of interest to many, not just JETs.
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/2016/03/02/winter-2016-yoka/
Winter 2016 YOKA Kumamoto JET
Winter 2016 YOKA March 2, 2016 YOKA The Winter 2016 YOKA is out! This issue of the YOKA features: Failure to Communicate by Liam Nolan A Little of Ourselves: The Decision to Re-Contract by Sara Birnbaum Japanese Residence and Income Tax by Dokken Nakamone Samui Desu Ne! by Denise Wiley Day Trips fro…

Did you know that your Japanese spouse can divorce you without your consent? The article describes what happened in one such case in Kumamoto.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/04/national/social-issues/japanese-law-failing-prevent-fraudulent-divorces-advocacy-group/#.VtmJs8e5gpY
Japanese law failing to prevent fraudulent divorces: advocacy group | The Japan Times
Is it "too easy" to get a divorce in Japan? There is an increasing number of cases of foreign women claiming their former Japanese husbands divorced them b

A researcher in Kumamoto has found evidence that the same variety of cockroach many of us see much more often than we would like to, has been in Japan for thousands of years. The evidence comes from the pottery shown in the picture. I could have included an image of a cockroach but, well, who wants to see another roach! ;)
-- Kirk
https://earthsky.org/human-world/cockroach-egg-impressions-from-4300-years-ago
Cockroach egg impressions from 4,300 years ago | EarthSky.org
More information about early human settlements - and in this case the insects who lived alongside them - is being found in ancient bits of broken pottery.

I'm really impressed with the Jikei Hospital. This is the same hospital that established the so-called "baby hatch" system to save the lives of newborns and also offer counseling for pregnant women and young mothers who don't feel they can bring up their children.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201603030003
Kumamoto hospital to feed underprivileged children - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--A hospital known for its kindness will offer free and nutritional meals for children from impoverished families and single-parent households.

A Kumamoto native announces his retirement.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/03/01/baseball/japanese-baseball/slugger-matsunaka-retire-sources/#.VtWf9ce5gpY
Slugger Matsunaka to retire: sources | The Japan Times
Triple Crown winner and two-time Pacific League MVP Nobuhiko Matsunaka will retire as a player, according to baseball sources. The 42-year-old slugger had

"Sankei News reports that famed architect and Osaka-native Tadao Ando is supervising the project, which features 55 Kumamon in Osaka Station as part of a push for Kumamoto tourism. The display is surreal."
http://kotaku.com/osaka-overrun-for-the-glory-of-satan-of-course-1761910288
Osaka Overrun for the Glory of Satan, Of Course!
You might know Kumamon as the official mascot character for Kumamoto Prefecture. Or you might know Kumamon as the bear from the “For the Glory of Satan” meme. Whichever, there are now a ton of them dotted throughout Osaka Station.

Please click on the link to see the entire announcement.
--- start quote ---
The Kumamoto YMCA is looking to hire English teachers for the upcoming year. Here's the information on their available positions:
For foreign teachers:
A foreign English teacher (or a foreigner who wants to be an English teacher) who is available on Saturdays from 8:30~17:30 for our Saturday Day Camp in one of our Kindergartens at the YMCA. He or she need not have an experience in teaching as long as he/she loves to be with kids. Training will be provided.
A part time position for an English teacher (non native English speaking foreigners are welcome).
--- end quote ---
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/kumamoto-jet/0tevLzirHH8/BFEJPUDmBAAJ

The article says that the victim was from Kumamoto. On today's news I heard that she is originally from Amakusa. Sorry to be the bearer of sad news. :(
-- Kirk
http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2016/02/29/fukuoka-cops-female-prep-school-student-stabbed-to-death/
Fukuoka cops: Female prep school student stabbed to death | The Tokyo Reporter
Hikaru Kitagawa, 19, was stabbed in the face and neck on a street in the Meinohama area

Beloved ‘green frog’ train makes final 'hop' in Kumamoto - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Railway fans from across the nation packed onto a train platform here on Feb. 14 to bid farewell to the last “aogaeru” (green frog) train as it completed its final run.

Kumamoto cops: 2 women beat man with stones in home | The Tokyo Reporter
Takahiro Shimazaki suffered wounds to his hand and head after an early-morning attack by 2 female acquaintances

Misato leads the way in Kyushu footpath boom
MISATO, Kumamoto — Ambling along footpaths (see below), a type of walkway that originated in Britain to enjoy scenery and old townscapes in rural areas, is becoming more popular in the Kyushu region.

Joe Tomei here, two colleagues (Judy Yoneoka from Gakuen and Chie Saito, from the International University of Health and Welfare in Tochigi) and I have a Monkasho grant to help local businesses use online translation to make multilingual signage. We are running a workshop on 25 Feb from 2 to 3 and 3:10 to 4:30. We have a web sign up form at
http://goo.gl/forms/xKvOHE4sxf
Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.
　　多言語表記作成ワークショップ申込
2016年2月25日(木)　2：00－4：30、熊本学園大学14号館4階1448教室で行うワークショップの申込みサイトです。

Joe Tomei here, the Kumamoto Gakuen University Green Philharmonic Orchestra will be having its 22nd annual concert on Sun 21 Feb. Doors open at 13:30, concert starts at 14:00. Entry is free. We will be playing
Beethoven Symphony #1
Sibelius Finlandia
Disney Medley
Hope to see you there!

This is not a Kumamoto-specific issue. On the other hand,I think it is relevant as quite a few readers of the page are probably either current, former, or prospective ALTs or are close to one. For more information about this topic go to
http://www.debito.org/?p=13814
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G95K0vjB3A
Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Japan - below the poverty line
This is an actual example on how impossible it is to live on the salary of a dispatched ALT working at a Kitakyushu City Board of Education public school. Th...

Joe Tomei here, as this is the 2nd Saturday of the month, the PIGATE teacher training group will be meeting at its usual place (the KGU campus in the English lounge in Building 1) from 1:30-4:30. This month, Clair Sezaki, who has a language school in Tamana and is working with the Tamana Board of Ed to create 10 min DVD lessons for all the Tamana elementary schools, will be joining us. Contact me (joe tomei [email protected]) if you have questions or you want to come and need directions.