Kumamoto International Archive

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

Kirk here. Shibuya in Tokyo is being quite emphatic that they don't want people to celebrate Halloween there. Kumamoto, on the other hand, has a website devoted to promoting various Halloween events that are planned. One of them is this dance contest. Hey dancers, how 'bout struttin' you stuff?
Here's the website with videos and information in Japanese about other events:
https://www.kumamoto-halloween.com/
P.S. Being 6'4" (193 cm) and relatively thin, I've always wanted to get professional make up, a good outfit (including thick monster shoes to make myself that much taller) and walk as Frankenstein, around handing out candy while continuing to look as scary as possible. Probably won't be able to do that this year, though. Maybe someday. ;)

Kirk here with news about a bullying scandal regarding Ozu High School's soccer team. The Japan Times article is behind a paywall but the NHK article and video are available for free.
I heard on the news yesterday that the soccer team will be rendered inactive for the time being due to the issue.
Probe launched over 'serious' Kumamoto soccer team bullying
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/04/japan/society/kumamoto-school-soccer-bullying/
Japanese student criticizes school's response to soccer club bullying case
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231004_11/
Probe launched over 'serious' Kumamoto soccer team bullying
A member of the renowned school team was allegedly forced to kneel on the ground in apology while naked as he was filmed by senior members of the team.

Sean here-
この度私たちは、キッズ向けハロウィンイベント「トリック・オア・トラッシュ2023」を開催する運びとなりました。このイベントは、未来を担う子どもたちに環境問題を英語で学ぶ機会を提供するもので、今年で4回目となります。企画・運営は全て、Sean’s New York Language Club（SNYLC）所属の中高生ボランティアチーム「Teen Driven」が行います。
日程：2023年10月29日（日）
時間：13時～16時
場所：上江津湖・中の島
対象：5歳～小学校高学年
料金：1人500円
目的：①身近な遊び場である江津湖の豊かな生態系を通して環境問題を学ぶ
②未来を担う子どもたちに、生きた英語に触れる機会を提供する
③集めたお金は「熊本市母子寡婦福祉連合会」に寄付する
内容：５R（Reuse/Reduce/Recycle/Refuse/Rot）の紹介・アクティビティ・ゲーム・バザー・表彰式など
寄付、ボランティア、または参加に興味がある場合は、私にメッセージを送るか、Teen Drivenに連絡してください [email protected]
Good morning, everyone.
Support your community, our teens, our kids, our environment.
Please share -
The 4th annual Ezuko Trick or Trash fundraising Halloween Party is here.
Last year we raised 30000 for our partner charity.
This year all proceeds will be donated to Kumamoto City Federation of Maternal and Child Widows Welfare Association.
If you are interested in donating, volunteering, or participating, please message me, or contact Teen Driven at [email protected]

上色見熊野座神社 Kamishikimi Kumanoza shrine.
Atsukoଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧
https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-oppo-rev1&sca_esv=571626697&hl=ja&cs=0&sxsrf=AM9HkKnB6YD4Xwc9Y2oXn05OfNgN9nJeRg:1696721136277&q=%E4%B8%8A%E8%89%B2%E8%A6%8B%E7%86%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%BA%A7%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE&ludocid=8464286624988710782&ibp=gwp;0,7&lsig=AB86z5UQk7DI_tXv0gzkQov1SeZI&kgs=c08de150ea6eee06&shndl=-1&shem=lbsc,lsp&source=sh/x/kp/local/m1/4
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=369265525435140&id=100070550876674

1-day only Free Ride.
They ask you to get SEIRIKEN. Maybe, they want to find out how many people got on board.
There is, of course, no charge.
Atsuko.(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡

Sean here -
File under: I dunno, you tell me. Somewhere in Oe.

Kirk here reporting that an inadvertent post here by Mr. Yagi of the International Center is EXTREMELY popular, with a post reach as of 1 PM Friday of well over 50,000. If, somehow, you missed it, Mr. Yagi's wildly popular post is here:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0wNEiLXP6R1oZwHMBwh7a3zpVcKTdbVmjDojzviok3h6r1R5j2DVNRcFefde93yPzl
I say that the post was "inadvertent" because Mr. Yagi later told me he meant to post it to his own Facebook page but posted it to Kumamoto International instead.
Personally, even though I've posted thousands and thousands of times in the decade or so that I've been running this page on Facebook, I've never posted anything that so many people liked. The one precedent is the following post by fellow editor Sara Brown (now Sara Kubota):
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02G2jC8bxJFnDPkNxay3JdfHWzKFyxqj695vruqECnq6ZCM1jkW1ymeoSY6wS5djHpl
Sara's post got shared a lot because it contained a link to a useful website showing where they could get (free?) food after the earthquake in 2016. The website itself was in Japanese so I wasn't really surprised that it got shared a lot.
Mr. Yagi's post is nice but, to be honest, I didn't expect it to take off like this. Maybe its popularity has something to do with it getting shared by Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber (just kidding ;) ).
Or, maybe it's just that a lot more people like trams than I realized. By the way, if you like trams, remember that you can ride free tomorrow:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=free%20bus

Sean here-
I saw this bird on Kinpo san this morning. It's the second time. It looks like a roadrunner, and it runs, rather than fly when trying to avoid me.
Sorry about the quality of the photo. Any idea what this might be?

Liz here, I am very sad and disappointed to have to announce that the 13 th gig with Michelle Rounds has been canceled. Apparently she was not able to get her musician’s working visa ( don’t ask about it , as it will trigger a long rant from me) . I don’t know how to remove it from the events calendar , so I have to ask Kirk to kindly do that for me. There is still lots of jazz going on in Kumamoto though. Venues that frequently have gigs are Swing, Jazz in Okura, kuhonji Smile ,Basement, and Green River . I am probably forgetting a few ….

Kirk here with information about Mizuakari events at various locations. "What's Mizuakari?" It's what you see in the picture.
The following ChatGPT translation is of Japanese text on the following page:
http://mizuakari.net/overview
--- begin ChatGPT translation ---
Event Overview:
Name: 18th Kumamoto Livelihood Festival "Mizuakari"
Date: 2023
October 7th (Saturday) Lighting time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Scheduled)
October 8th (Sunday) Lighting time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Scheduled)
Location: Various areas in Kumamoto City, Chuo Ward, Hanabata-cho
Hanabata Park
Hanabata Plaza (In front of NHK)
Road in front of the Citizens' Hall Sears Home Yume Hall
Misumi Park (In front of the Kato Kiyomasa Statue)
Tsuboigawa River and Nagabei
Josaien
Miyukizaka
Kumamoto Castle
Organizers:
Host: General Incorporated Association Kumamoto Livelihood Festival
Mizuakari Operation Committee
Co-hosts (Scheduled):
Kumamoto City
Supporters (Scheduled):
Kumamoto Prefecture
--- end ---

Sean here -
A quick note for cycling fans.
The second stage of the 2023 Tour de Kyushu is in Kumamoto / Aso region this Sunday.
Here is the link -
KUMAMOTO stage | STAGES | マイナビツール・ド・九州２０２３
2023年10月開催。福岡・熊本・大分を舞台に繰り広げられるUCI（国際自転車競技連合）公認のサイクルロードレース「マイナビツール・ド・九州２０２３」オフィシャルウェブサイト。

Reminder: As I posted a couple of days ago, they'll be free bus and trolley rides in Kumamoto City on the 7th! -- Shared by Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/pfbid0VVFJymMD9gDjnxEbfn1hyF4Vt3SgYxzzJb9Hzxjq7tcuyQm5vZP94ZmWgibth7b8l

Kirk here with a share from Michi No Eki Aso:
https://www.facebook.com/eng.michinoekiaso/posts/pfbid0v2hPgAEubPYwRmxrbCcmU5a6s1kdbZ4vxGwQ6jmqdz9t3jvZkG8Epsa2WdF3DQsMl

In the morning on October 4.

Kirk here, partially answering my own question about where to experience wagashi making in Kumamoto with this web page from the Explore Kumamoto site:
https://explore-kumamoto.com/japanese-sweets-making-experience/
Still looking for feedback and more information, though. Here's the address of my previous post on the topic:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid03wi1dxej83GTJhiwLSaVTHYfWsDWPCc5sN8nYpGxXCynio55bAt6QS6AUyEZ4FLTl
Japanese Sweets Making Experience - Explore Kumamoto
Fun and memorable! Tenmeido's Japanese Sweets Making Experience. Learn how to make and eat artistic nerikiri wagashi from a master craftsman.

Kirk here. I met someone recently who has a special interest in wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) but isn't fluent in Japanese yet. I looked on the web and found this but I wonder if this the best place to recommend. If any of you have had either positive or negative experiences learning to make wagashi in Kumamoto, please share your thoughts.
Make Furumachi "Wagashi" Sweets
It is Kumamoto City Official Tourism Website. We will introduce the charm of Kumamoto City including tourist spots such as Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Park and also cooking, events and special products.

Hello Everyone 😃
Olivia here, 😃
Helping a friend posting work opportunity in Kumamoto.
A Kindergarten in Kumamoto is looking for a part time English instructor (foreign teacher) for after school classes,
at least every Tuesday, from April 2024.
Possible additional work days will also be considered.
For further details & information, please contact:
[email protected]
Look forward to hearing from you ! 😃
📚📙📚📙📚📙📚📙📚📙📚📙📚📙

Free bus and trolley rides on Saturday! --- Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/kumamototourism/posts/pfbid0EC8bHKSQoexVndbYVL6qqsmhYu7tHrM9ywzGmtUK9iEACe892WY664kYbJgZTwGRl

Kirk here with a quick follow-up to my previous post about places to experience wagashi making. I should have known about this one, but missed it somehow. As you can see, it's from Explore Kumamoto.
Japanese Sweets Making Experience - Explore Kumamoto
Fun and memorable! Tenmeido's Japanese Sweets Making Experience. Learn how to make and eat artistic nerikiri wagashi from a master craftsman.

Kirk here with national coverage, in English, of Dotour’s Kumamoto Prefecture Japanese Chestnut Mont Blanc. Ah, chestnuts!
Starbucks Japan vs. its two big rivals – Who’s got the best Mont Blanc chestnut sweets?
The fall classic dessert is here for this three-way taste-test showdown.