Kumamoto International Archive

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

Whereas Kumamon is a "yuru kyara" ("laid back character") I saw one Japanese article that called this sign a "yuru kanban" ("laid back sign"). It mimics a phrase made popular by a couple of comedians to get its "No drunk driving" message across.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/09/28/japanese-buzzwords-and-regional-dialects-keep-kumamoto-drivers-safe-【photos】/
Japanese buzzwords and regional dialects keep Kumamoto drivers safe 【Photos】
Japan loves its popular trends. They will grab a hold of something that is gathering steam and spread it all over the country. This is especially true in TV. Millions of viewers tune into variety programs to see the current comedy darlings and their catch phrase over and over again. Generally these…

Here's some information about a performance by Drum Tao, a well-know wadaiko (Japanese drumming) group.
When: Oct 10, 6:30 to 7:30 PM (preceded by other performances starting at 5:00 PM)
Where: Ninomaru Hiroba (on the castle grounds)
I don't see anything about having to pay so I assume it's free.
===start quote===
１０月１０日（金）
熊本市・福井市姉妹都市締結20周年記念イベントオープニングステージ
第１部　17：00～18：00　伝統芸能など
第２部　18：30～19：30（予定）「十七人のサムライ　野外特別ライブ」
「十七人のサムライ　野外特別ライブ」
【時間】18：30～19：30（予定）
【場所】二の丸広場特設ステージ
【出演】ＤＲＵＭ　ＴＡＯ
世界２０ヶ国、４００都市、観客動員数６００万人を超える驚異のドラム・アート・パフォーマンス「TAO」
和太鼓だけでなく、三味線、琴、笛など日本の伝統的な楽器を用いながら、
パフォーマンス、舞台美術など、今までの和太鼓の概念を覆すステージを繰り広げる。
昨年は、世界的ファッションデザイナー「コシノジュンコ氏」とのタッグで話題を呼び、
モードとエンターテイメントの融合という新たな舞台を繰り広げた。
昨年、結成２０周年を迎え、日本を代表する最新かつ最上の舞台芸術として新たな境地を開拓する。
今回は、その若手メンバーを中心に結成された特別編成のメンバーで出演。
===end quote===
http://www.manyou-kumamoto.jp/contents.cfm?id=702
http://www.drum-tao.com/main/?lang=en
世界600万人を動員！世界が認めた和太鼓を使ったエンターテイメントショー

The baby hatch was established to save lives. I saw a press conference on TV in which the head of the clinic expressed his dismay at the child not being brought to the hospital earlier, when something might have been done for it.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/04/national/crime-legal/dead-newborn-left-in-kumamoto-baby-hatch-mom-arrested/#.VDHdFb6yu0w
Dead newborn left in Kumamoto 'baby hatch'; mom arrested
A 31-year-old woman was arrested Saturday on suspicion of leaving the dead body of her newborn son in a 'baby hatch' at a hospital in the city of Kumamoto. Maiko ...

Here's a little movie of the typhoon swinging past this area:
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/gms/

In this image, taken just a few minutes ago, you can see the eye of the storm approaching southern Kyushu:
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/gms/

The image you see is of the Sazae-san family riding on Kumamoto's SL Hitoyoshi, a steam locomotive that still runs between Hitoyoshi and Kumamoto. The anime adaptation of the Sazae-san manga has been recognized by Guinness as the world’s longest-running animated television series. (Citation: http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/sazae-san-enters-guinness-world-records-as-longest-running-animated-tv-series)
It's a little like “The Simpsons” but with none of the edginess.
The TV series started 45 years ago today on October 5, and tonight at 6 PM the anniversary show (including the ride on the SL Hitoyoshi) will be broadcast on Terebi Kumamoto (TKU).
If you would like to ride on the SL Hitoyoshi (and I highly recommend the experience), you can find the schedule on the following page.
http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/trains/slhitoyoshi/
It's all in Japanese but a lot of nice photos are included. The interior of the train itself is very nice but the route the train follows is also very scenic. It follows the Kumagawa (Kuma River) so you get lots of nice views of the river and the surrounding mountains.
http://natalie.mu/comic/news/126824
長谷川町子原作によるTVアニメ「サザエさん」の放送開始から45周年を記念し、10月5日に「サザエさん歌って踊ってロケットまで！放送開始から今日でぴったり45年スペシャル」が放映される。

There's a strong storm coming this way. The good news is that it looks like it will pass by the south-east side of Kyushu. That's good because tropical storms in the northern hemisphere spin counter-clockwise and for that reason the winds that hit Kyushu first will be weakened by having to travel over land before arriving in here. Still, it's a very intense storm system (currently Category 3 but predicted to return to Category 4 as it approaches Kyushu) so it shouldn't be underestimated, particularly if you are in a vulnerable area.
http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/1418l.html

This might be of interest is you are considering renting a car for some reason.
With Kyushu Expressway Pass, you can drive on expressways in Kyushu for one flat rate!!

Looking for something to do this weekend?
http://kurokawa-onsen.com/october-event-kurokawa-onsen-festival-on-october-4th-and-5th/
October Event: Kurokawa Onsen Festival on October 4th and 5th!
A date for your diaries if you happen to be in the Kurokawa area on the weekend of October 4th and 5th! This year the festival has been extended to two days,

This net, designed to keep crows away from trash, saved a small girl's life after she fell from an apartment building in Suizenji. To see a video report in Japanese, go to
http://www.news24.jp/articles/2014/09/26/07259927.html#
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/7-year-old-girl-survives-fall-from-12th-floor-of-condo-in-kumamoto
7-year-old girl survives fall from 12th floor of condo in Kumamoto
A 7-year-old girl fell from the balcony of her 12th-floor apartment in Kumamoto but survived after she hit thick netting…

"Digicel gives back to the people with new service"
This article is about bringing digital technology to students in Tonga and mentions the work of Tobias Sopu of Kumamoto University.
---start quote---
Forty THS students are part of the “moodle” project, initiated by Mr Tobias Sopu from the Kumamoto University in Japan.
---end quote---
http://www.tongadailynews.to/?p=8549

This news does not have a direct connection to Kumamoto, but I think there is an important, albeit indirect connection. That is that, at the time of the eruption, Ontakesan (Mt. Ontake) was at Level 1 on the volcanic warning scale used by Japan’s Meteorological Agency. Level 1 is the lowest level, the equivalent of no warning:
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/volcano/
This is relevant to Kumamoto because Asosan (Mt. Aso) is currently at Level 2 (Do not approach the crater). Given the difficulty of predicting eruptions, I think the eruption at Ontakesan should give us a renewed respect for the dangers that volcanos pose, particularly when warnings have been issued.
http://rt.com/news/191124-japan-volcano-erupts-injured/
Volcano erupts in cenral Japan, several injured
A volcano in central Japan has erupted, sending ash clouds down the mountains’ slope for more than 3 kilometers. At least eight people have been injured and aircraft have been forced to divert to avoid the dangerous area.

The photo is of a giant Kumamon was taken in Kumamoto but the article describes a Japan Festival in London at which Kumamon will appear.
http://londonist.com/2014/09/japanese-town-mascots-land-in-trafalgar-square.php
Japanese Town Mascots Invade Trafalgar Square
What the actual hell?

I think I've posted a version of this video in the past, but this one has English and Japanese subtitles, if any of you are interested.
By the way, here's a little note about Kumamoto dialect. In standard Japanese, "mono" (者) can mean "person" (as in "uchi no mono" -- a person in our family, etc). In Kumamoto dialect, however, "mono" often becomes "mon," as in わさもん (wasamon) -- a person who likes new things. Thus, the name "Kumamon" also sounds like "person from Kumamoto" or perhaps "bear person."
http://youtu.be/W0OHJUMNZqE
Song 'Kumamon-mon-mon' with English subtitles
Kumamon is a mascot created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

Atttention: Persons interested in LGBT and multicultural issues
Here's some information about a new multicultural salon called MuMuCo that has opened in Kumamoto and an event it is holding about LGBT issues. MuMuCo stands for "Multicultural Multispecies Community. Here's a quote from MuMuCo's blog about an upcoming event:
===start quote===
The World Salon is to learn and experience different cultures and societies around the world.
Our 1st World Salon is about LGBTIQ around the world.
4 to 10% of the whole population is said to be LGBTIQ. LGBTIQ people are in every society around the world. Of course, many LGBTIQ people are in Japan, living next to you.
At this event, we’ll have people from Canada, South Africa, and the US to come and share their experiences as LGBTIQ in their country and in Japan.
If you think there is no LGBTIQ around you, if you don’t even know what LGBTIQ is, or if you want to know LGBTIQ communities around the world, please come and join us.
Time: Sept. 26, starting at 7pm til 9pm
Location: Multicultural Multispecies Community Salon MuMuCo
Fee: 1000 yen (with one drink)
To attend, please contact MuMuCo!
===end quote===
http://ameblo.jp/mumuco-in-kumamoto/entry-11922453844.html
Here's a map showing the approximate location:
https://goo.gl/maps/ZOsbq
The main website (including address, e-mail, and phone number) can be found at
http://mumuco.jp

Here's another article about the designation of Mount Aso as a Global Geopark. The article says that "Observation decks have been set up around the crater so visitors can get close up to the volcanic activity." It neglects to mention, however, that currently one cannot get within one kilometer of the volcano because it is unusually active:
http://www.aso.ne.jp/~volcano/i/info.html
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201409240054
Mount Aso designated as Global Geopark - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
The Mount Aso area in Kumamoto Prefecture was designated Sept. 23 a Global Geopark, the seventh time a site in Japan has been recognized as having geological features of world significance.

A couple of paragraphs in this article are devoted to the opening of the new museum in Mifune:
=== Start Quote ===
The museum has two sister museums in Japan. McKamey showed photos of museum and university leaders visiting last April for the grand opening of the new Mifune Dinosaur Museum in Montana’s sister state of Kumamoto. It drew more than 130,000 visitors in its first five months, said Pat Leiggi, paleontology administrative director.
The Museum of the Rockies was featured on a Mifune newspaper’s front page for helping launch the new museum, allowing it to populate its new dinosaur hall with casts of Montana specimens and training the Japanese staff in preparing fossils.
=== End Quote ===
I don't think there is a newspaper in Mifune -- they are probably referring to the Kumanichi.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/education/article_035d25ec-3eaa-11e4-8f68-4736aee6c30d.html
Museum of the Rockies adds $48 million to local economy
The Museum of the Rockies is bringing the world to Montana and Montana to the world, and it’s having a big impact on kids’ education and the economy.

Here's a report on the current state of the Minamata Convention, which was adopted at the conference held here in Kumamoto last year. You can also find a good video about contemporary use of mercury.
===start quote===
So far, 102 governments have signed, but many others have not, including governments that have a significant role to play in reducing mercury exposure globally. Among those that have not signed are:
Russia and India, two important global powers;
Kyrgyzstan, which has active mercury mining and exports mercury globally;
Algeria, which has mercury deposits and a closed mercury mine; and
Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with sizable small-scale gold mining sectors.
===end quote===
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/59928/
Human Rights Watch Calls for Mercury Treaty at UN Event, Video - Kansas City infoZine
Governments Should Make an Urgent Commitment to Protect People from the Harmful Effects of Mercury by Signing and Ratifying the New Minamata Convention on Mercury, Human Rights Watch Said Today, on the Eve of a High-level Un Event About the Treaty.

A good decision by UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network. Aso is a very special place!
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/09/23/national/aso-volcano-area-designated-global-geopark/
Aso volcano area designated as a Global Geopark
The Aso volcano area in Kumamoto Prefecture was designated Tuesday as a Global Geopark, a site with geological heritage of world significance. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) ...

The image is from a Green Peace article (in Japanese; http://www.greenpeace.org/japan/ja/news/blog/staff/40km/blog/48601/) titled "Kumamon within the 40km zone!"
http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014092200832
Japan Sets Forth N-Reactor Restart Plan at IAEA Meeting - JIJI PRESS
HOME NATION Article Text Size ��Vienna, Sept. 22 (Jiji Press)--Japan set forth its plan for the restart of two reactors at the Sendai power station in the country's southwest at a five-day annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency that began on Monday.