Archive of the Kumamoto International Facebook group, 2011–present.
William According to the Kumanichi, scaffolding has been removed from the castle's Idemaru Five Story Turret (飯田丸五階櫓). This was built during the Kato family era and is believed to have been used as a lookout and a weapons storehouse. The turret was dismantled during the Seinan War to disarm Higo, leaving only the stone fortification. This almost completely collapsed during the quakes, saved solely by a single corner pillar, leaving it the nickname 一本石垣 (ippon ishigaki, single-legged stone wall).
Tumbled stones were identified by numerous photographs, numbered, and laid out on a field before restoration work began using the skills of stonemasons from across Japan. One mason spoke of the difficulty: ``You can't tell if the newly placed stone matches the original position just by looking at the photos taken before the disaster. If it's one centimeter off, it may not fit." Restoration work on the turret is scheduled to begin in 2025 with completion expected by 2028. Good photos at the link.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1221434
Kirk here. I added some events to the "Kumamoto International" calendar, which is pinned to the top of the page:
https://kumamotoi.blogspot.com/2023/09/calendar.html
I can't promise to pick up every event -- I've missed several recently. But this calendar might help you keep track of events that I have been posted about several weeks before they actually come up.
Even if I'm late to add events to the calendar, I should be able to pick up most of the events that are posted significantly in advance. With posts about events that are only a few days off, I may not bother to add them to the calendar if I'm busy.
Kirk here with a last-minute reminder about the fireworks in Tamana today that Claire posted about. Here's the link to Claire's post:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02vbauqM6wBZmv5nzNSKqBpVyVbLXYtUFKFtigZRpEtVYCZ8hXL91NApAgBypJJPrYl
Kirk here here with a post about how the Kumamoto National Institute of Technology in Koshi and other kosen (高専; schools that start at high school age but have curricula that last through what would be the 2nd year of college) are preparing young people to meet the growing demand for workers with technical skills.
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/political-series/20231102-147007/
Here's the address of the Kumamoto National Institute of Technology website (in English):
https://kumamoto-nct.ac.jp/english-home.html
Future World Order: Industrial Policies / Japan’s Efforts to Nurture Personnel Related to Semiconductors Focus on ‘Colleges of Technology’
This is the second installment of a series that reports on security-focused, public-private industrial policies. In a cleanroom with controlled temperature and humidity at the Kumamoto campus of the Kumamoto National Institute of Technology in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Associate Prof. Kenichiro Ta...
Sean here -
Having lived in Northern California for a good portion of my life, the home to mountain biking. (If you ride or have ridden a Gary Fisher, Google him as he is one of the grand dads of mountain biking or Klunkerz, an interesting doc about the beginning of mountain biking).
Mountain biking is so popular in Northern California, that high schools have mountain bike teams. What a way to get kids interested in protecting our environment.
I consider myself a cyclist overall, however a mountain biker at heart.
Kumamoto has some of the most amazing road cycling in the world.
However. it falls short in mountain biking. That is too bad.
The abundance of potential trails is unlimited, yet untapped. What Kumamoto has and Tokyo does not is the abundance of outdoor space / green space. And yet so little is done to promote it. This is criminal.
Well, this cool little place in Yoshimuta is offering opportunities to change that paradigm. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, For parents, get your kids out on mountain bikes and they'll be hooked for life.
Sorry about the low-quality pictures, but I hope there is enough information that you could just Google it and get the information that you need.
Kirk here. RKK aired a report about the meeting held today between the mayor and representatives of various local foreign communities and/or nationalities. I was glad to see Kumamoto International participant Hari Devkota there, along with several other familiar faces.
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/816496
The video you can see at the URL shown above is shorter than what was broadcast on TV today. I got the impression from what I saw on TV that it was an open-ended discussion on various issues related to the lives of foreign residents.
They said it was the first such discussion between the mayor and local foreign residents in 4 years. At that time, Kumamoto International was invited to participate:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02ETSjCsfSCiE1icCFm89aQgQvhh8r8oPBrcaJQTEBD8EYNpzqShtySMw6WneixYMVl
Personally, I had my chance four years ago and so I'm happy to sit this one out. Still, it would seem to me that when only a small number will be chosen to meet directly with the mayor (and when such meetings occur so infrequently), providing some alternative, secondary mode of communication with him, such as an invitation to submit written opinions or requests, would be a good idea.
P.S. Here's a link to my post about the Kumanichi article announcing this meeting:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0txFCgQUkJseYK9x6jczDAzeDVm1pJVSHxYHeR2HsF9KqKJnLuY5bPcJTCzRJnKZRl
「行政書類の年号は『元号』中心なのでわかりにくい」「給食は文化や宗教に配慮して」定住外国人と熊本市長の対話集会 | TBS NEWS DIG
熊本市で暮らす外国出身者と市長が対話する集会が開かれ、出席者からは生活面の課題を指摘する声が上がりました。外国出身者が対象の市長との対話イベントは4年ぶりの開催です。台湾やアメリカ、ウクライナなどが…
Atsuko here.
I would like to introduce a volunteer project I participate in every year that connects Kumamoto with the world.
Onigiri Action
https://onigiri-action.com/en/
Post a photo of yourself holding an onigiri on a social networking site (FB, Instagram) or on the Onigiri Action website, and the sponsor will donate 100 yen (for 5 meals) for each post.
All you have to do is post a photo. You can do it from Kumamoto. Even kids can do it without money. However, please make the SNS you post to public. If you don't want to make it public, go to the website.
The good thing about this activity is that it can be done by anyone, anywhere, even children, even if you don't have any money. You don't have to show your face, just a rice ball will do.
Onigiri is Japanese culture. It is a mother's love. From Japan, from Kumamoto, let's send lots of love with rice!
By the way, the photo post is from today's workshop for street children and CDM at the Kumadai Shiguma Festival. The best part was the large number of children, students and families who participated.
The future of Kumamoto, the future of Japan, and the future of the world will not be made by some great person, but by us, the children.
Today we had over 100 participants and 17850 yen in donations.
Tomorrow we will have workshop at the Kumadai Shiguma Festival again. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=719819856846475&id=100064554018003
Let's send lots of rice balls to Onigiri Action by November 17.
Let's enjoy what we can make from Kumamoto together.(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
#onigiriaction
William Two good pieces of news for those who enjoy transportation: The LCC Hong Kong Airlines will resume service on the Kumamoto-Hong Kong route from December, adding another, likely cheaper option to flying abroad (HK generally has cheap flights to Europe and the Americas).
Also, progress on the Kyushu Chuo Expressway connecting Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture and Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture is moving ahead, with a 10.4km stretch out near Yabe to be opened on February 11, 2024. This will both facilitate economic development in eastern Kumamoto and more closely connect our town with Nobeoka, a fine city with wonderful beaches and ferry service to Kansai and Kanto. (The old road to Yabe was notoriously difficult to drive, being so curvy.) Kumanichi has the news at the links.
Photos: Expressway route and photo of a beach Nobeoka offers.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1220485
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1219275
Kirk here. Mercury poisoning (particularly low-level mercury poisoning) is a global problem. This couple from Minamata has some lessons about it for the world.
--- start quote ---
Hideki, 68, said, "The damage caused by mercury is still occurring all over the world. I hope many countries and regions will participate (in) the convention and make efforts to achieve its goals."
--- end quote ---
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/11/9499001b63ab-japan-couple-urges-fight-against-mercury-at-minamata-treaty-meeting.html
Alternative URL:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/01/japan/society/minamata-mercury-geneva-couple/
Japan couple urges fight against mercury at Minamata treaty meeting
A Japanese couple affected by the mercury-caused Minamata Disease has called on more countries to get involved in the global fight against water pollution due to the substance under a 2013 international convention.
(Fiona) I am planning to host a Quiz Night to raise funds for this year's Team Tonakai Toy Drive. It will be held on Saturday November 25th from 7:30pm. Check the event page for location and further details. Please book a spot as soon as possible if you plan to come!
https://facebook.com/events/s/team-tonakai-quiz-night-fundra/6964605423577999/
Kirk here with old but still very relevant news from local author Sean Micheal Wilson. In some personal correspondence with Sean, he pointed out to me that Kumamoto City has no policy to require home builders to replace trees they remove due to construction. I hadn't thought about the need to create legal incentives to plant trees until Sean pointed it out to me but his word certainly ring true. Much of my neighborhood, some of which had been cultivated land bordered by trees until very recently, is now almost all paved over. Most of the land has become plots for houses but many of the home owners have elected to cover all of their land in pavement -- no dirt, no trees. :(
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Call that progress?: In the city of Kumamoto, a Meiji Era house and its beautiful old Japanese-style wall were knocked down recently, with 90 percent of its trees torn down too. The small area left at the back gives an idea of what the trees were like in the main garden. The plot is now a car park. | SEAN MICHAEL WILSON
--- end quote ---
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2017/09/20/voices/every-new-construction-japan-less-trees/?fbclid=iwar1wfoncjittebbhcumln1f2yxddnbhl8pqwtoup4re0adto-7bjs_heyqa
With every new construction in Japan, fewer trees
When houses are demolished, there is a very bad habit here of cutting down all the trees on the plot, leaving the ground cleared and empty for new construction.
(Claire) Tomorrow November 3rd is the festival at Rengei in (蓮華院祭り) outside Tamana city.
It was last held 4 years ago. There is a lot of parking at the temple but it’s not walkable from the station and there are no extra buses being laid on this year afaik.
The Yokozuna won’t be in attendance but it is still a really good festival. The temple is on top of a mountain with gorgeous views over the Ariake sea.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/627093686169888?mibextid=kcDB8O
(Claire)Tamana city has a busy weekend coming up. November 4th Saturday is our Firework Festival. Very near to Bonfire (Guy Fawkes) Night for any Brits missing home. There are half the amount of fireworks compared to pre Covid days but 5001 is still a good few I think! The city is usually gridlocked afterwards but this is the first time to try holding the festival in November so not sure about this year.
It was moved to November because the soaring summer temperatures make preparations really hard for the volunteers in August who work all through the day to prepare for the evening events. My husband (Sezakinosake) is one of those volunteers so if you buy a draft beer please say hello !
Scroll down this link to find train times etc.
もしもの時に備え全国商工会議所のスケールメリットにより低廉な保険料でご加入いただけます。
Kirk here with a Kumanichi article that says that representatives of the foreign community have been invited to discuss the "foreigner as shimin" issue and other issues related to community building.
Here's an English-language translation of the Kumanichi article:
--- start translation ---
Discussion with Foreign Residents: In Light of the Implementation of the Revised Municipal Basic Ordinance - Kumamoto Mayor on November 3rd
2023.10.28 Morning Edition
Mayor Kazufumi Ōnishi of Kumamoto City will set up an occasion on November 3rd to directly hear from foreign residents living in the city regarding challenges they face. The event is organized in response to the enforcement of the revised Municipal Basic Ordinance, which emphasizes that "diverse citizens work together" in city planning. It will be held at the city's International Exchange Hall in Chuo Ward, where 15 individuals will be invited to share their opinions.
During a regular press conference on the 27th, Mayor Ōnishi, while pointing out differences in language and lifestyle habits, stated, "It is important for both foreigners and local residents to understand each other's ways of thinking and values." He expressed an intention to increase opportunities for dialogue as a concrete measure to deepen mutual understanding.
Reflecting on the journey to the ordinance revision, Mayor Ōnishi emphasized, "There were various discussions, including critical opinions. There were ups and downs, but I want to take it positively and promote a multicultural coexistence society." As a strategy to deepen mutual understanding in the community, he said, "I want to actively engage with the public by expanding forums like the discussions with foreigners that are taking place at the local community centers throughout various regions."
(By Ayaya Uemura)
--- end translation ---
I've been invited to participate in a forum with the mayor once before so I've already had my turn. I'm happy to sit this one out. But, I can't help wonder how the representatives of the community were chosen. Were there people who contacted the city and are those the people who have been invited? Or, did they have some other way of choosing participants? It's great that the mayor is speaking with people but I think it's important for the process to be open and accessible to those who are most deeply interested.
Sean here –
A bazaar event, not to be confused with the bizarre author 😉
Here is a neighborhood opportunity to help a local church that supports Jiaien, a home for kids who are either temporarily or permanently separated from their parents.
Maybe it is too late to donate for the bazaar, but give them a call just in case they will. If you miss the cutoff date, you can still make donations throughout the rest of the year.
Here is an opportunity to make a difference locally.
See the flyer for details
Sharing symposium announcement.
Atsuko (๑˃ᴗ˂)و
Kirk with a note on whether it's "Kinbozan" (my personal favorite) or "Kinpozan," another fairly popular reading of 金峰山. These are images of two signs that are very near Toge no chaya. People are told to say "Kinpo" when they head toward Kumamoto and then "Kinbo" when they leave. So, next time you think "Didn't that sign say something else when I came?" don't worry about your sanity; it really did.
I wonder what the locals think about these signs, frozen as they are in a perpetual argument. "Kinpo" "No, Kinbo!" "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, Kinpo!" "Now you listen to me . . ."
Thanks to Sean for sharing the images of these signs with me.
Atsuko.
This is information sharing for fans of Japanese sweets and craftsmanship.
There was a previous discussion on this page about a wagashi making experience, but unfortunately this time it is for parents and children. But it is a FREE workshop.
All workshops are fascinating, aren't they? My children are grown now, but I like these craftsmanship workshops and used to take them every year. Mini tatami mats are also nice. You can smell the nice smell of rush grass.
Even if you don't have children, it is fun just to watch.
I recommend this event.
Reservations are required on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't delay.
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Planter table
Wooden tree- shaped free rack
Flower decoration
Making mini tatami mats
Christmas flower arrangement
Hand- rolled sushi
Japanese sweets nerikiri (mandarin orange/ momiji)
Making Danish bread and melon bread
■Reservation reception starts from 10:00 on Wednesday, November 1st (first come first served) (096-325-6947)
■Reception hours weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00
■Please note that only one group can apply for one story. We will explain how we handle personal information.
@熊本市職業訓練センター
@Venue Kumamoto City Vocational Training Center 7-19-10 Hanazono, Nishi- ku, Kumamoto City (Next to Kakibaru Park)
Previous post about Japanese sweets
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=704791715015956&id=100064554018003
P.S. I visited Tomodachiya's owner and asked him about non-Japanese speaking foreigners. He replied that he had had some non-Japanese speaking foreigners before. He can't speak English fluently, but he welcomes foreigners well.
Yes, Just enjoy!!!!(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
William After the war, Japan, in a panic to quickly obtain material for rebuilding, replanted most of its deforested land with vast plantations of sugi (cedar, 杉), a fast-growing tree with the unfortunate characteristics of providing zero benefit to wildlife but triggering terrible allergies to anyone with a functioning nose. To walk in a cedar forest is to enter an eerie zone of complete silence. Fortunately, the gov't has recently noticed this immense mistake and is taking steps to replace sugi with trees more suitable to the environment.
One area left pristine, though, is in central Kyushu: Itsuki (五木). The village will hold a festival next weekend, 11/4-5, during the height of the autumn leaves season (紅葉, Kōyō). Festival info at the link; photo ripped from the Web.
https://itsuki-no-koto.com/articles/akimatsuri2023?fbclid=IwAR1hTakmwMQJoDOGsOGvri7ce5BQgp9_OMJDbrn9pTq0b4SqE7nJGt_u3g4
