Kumamoto International Archive

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

William A headline and sub-headline in the Kumanichi caught my eye:
"First-year student at Kumamoto Kogyo High School commits suicide in October; suspicion of bullying cannot be ruled out"
and
"For the second time, Prefecture to initiate third-party investigation."
Apparently, the Prefecture instituted an ordinance in 2018 that all primary (K-12) student suicides must be investigated by an independent entity to prevent coverups.
A former student of mine, the owner and president of a medium-size company founded by his grandfather, committed suicide after his company went bankrupt. He was like a Japanese father to the still way-green me 30 years ago, and 30 years later, it still hurts like it was yesterday. It was a lesson to me: suicide is, essentially, a selfish act, leaving survivors with scars that will never heal.
If you are considering harming yourself or know anyone who is, contact the Tokyo English Life Line (TELL), https://telljp.com/lifeline/ to talk with professionals trained in this area.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/848060?utm_source=kumanichi&utm_medium=mail&utm_campaign=newsletter
熊本工高の1年生、10月に自殺　いじめ疑い排除できず　県教委が第三者委調査へ｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本県教育委員会は7日、熊本工高（熊本市中央区）1年の生徒（16）が10月23日に自殺したと発表した。県教委は学校の報告から、生徒が、所属する部活動の部員によるいじめを苦にしていた疑いがあると判断。第三者委員....

Kirk here with some election news. There is a mayoral election underway in Kumamoto (Nov. 13) and the person you see in this poster is one of the candidates. I don't think he'll win (I'm betting on the re-election of Mr. Onishi) but I'd like to give him an award for most creative/enigmatic poster. His name is not shown on it; the only text to read is the word "灰色" (haiiro; grey).
Here's my English summary of the candidate's reasoning:
"The word 'grey' signifies the current state of politics in Kumamoto. Everything needs to be made white so the lettering is white. I didn't put my name on the poster because I want people to go to a polling venue and see it there."
「今の政治が灰色。真っ白にするために白文字を。で、名前を入れていないので有権者の方に投票所に行ってもらうためです。あとは投票所で公報を見ていただく」
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f2229926263a4e661fbbc521c43976199ecd6bbd
Actually, I posted earlier this year about how Japanese election posters are paragons of clarity:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0A1j2LrLgLgfoAMAtZw2xZQMgsbE8nb6DsNwxd517GtkHVmXtPPxcMyTN1CKkjCVbl
Make that "are usually paragons of clarity" . . . ;)
P.S. The photo is one I took with my smart phone.

William A reminder about Tuesday's lunar eclipse, but first: The shachi (鯱 - a mythological animal with the head of a tiger and body of a fish, its tail fin always facing the sky and covered with layers of sharp thorns on its back) was commonly used atop castle gables as guardian gods to prevent fires: if not frightening away calamity, at least the shachi could (theoretically) spout water from its mouth to stop its spread.
The two which now adorn the castle are replacements for the pair shattered during the quakes and measure 120 centimeters in height and 100 kilograms in weight. The full moon Tuesday evening seen from Ninomaru will rise behind the keep, appearing at about a 45° angle over the keep from 20:00, the greatest extent of its eclipse. Bring your camera and send us your photos! (Photo from a sadly long-extinguished blog, though Nishinippon Shinbun has a video on shachi replacement: https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/406704/.)

William To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the streetcar in 1924, the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau has begun what they call a "beer ga-den" (get it? - not ビアガーデン but ビアガー電, as in 電車 - never say the Bureau has no sense of humor). Every Friday from this 11th through March 31st, one car will be devoted to a group of imbibers. Here are the rules:
・You should form a group.
・The cost is a flat rate of ￥45,000 for 15 or fewer people; that is, for a group of 15, ￥3,000 per person, or you can ride alone for ￥45,000 if you have no friends.
・Additional people may be added up to 20 at the rate of ￥3,000 per person.
・This includes 3 glasses of beer and snacks (no word on the type of beer or size of glass).
・The route departs from the Transportation Bureau ( Kōtsū-kyoku, 交通局), runs by Kumamoto Station, and returns toTorichosuji (presumably so that you can continue drinking).
According to the Municipal Transportation Bureau, "This is the only opportunity to drink on the train. We want you to enjoy the extraordinary." Reservations can be made from the station's website: http://www.kotsu-kumamoto.jp/kihon/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=3&id=1320&pg=1
Kumanichi article: https://kumanichi.com/articles/847149 (assume no masks)
「ビアガー電」予約受け付け開始　11日から毎週金曜運行　熊本市交通局｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本市交通局は4日、電車を1日1組限定で貸し切り、市街を走りながらお酒を楽しめる「ビアガー電」の予約受け付けを始めた。11日から来年3月31日まで毎週金曜日に運行する。

Kirk here with a little item for baseball fans about Munetaka Murakami.
Baseball fans visit Murakami’s junior high ‘field of screams’ | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
MASHIKI, Kumamoto Prefecture--Long before Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami terrorized pitchers in his record-setting season this year, he was unintentionally putting the fear into Mashiki resident Masayuki Hamada.

Carlton here. A quick personal follow-up re: the availability of the 5th booster shots for Covid.
I received my reservation ”ticket” a few days ago and went to the online reservation site to book an appointment at the same clinic where I’ve obtained my previous 4 jabs. The earliest opening I got was precisely 5 months after my 4th injection, the 1st week of December.
However, the waiting period has now been adjusted to 3 months rather than 5 months, but the online English guide is still programmed it seems for the 5 month delay.
Anyway, I was told by the Covid Call Center that I could get an earlier reservation perhaps at another clinic by using the Call Center to change and make the new appointment.

(Fiona) Kumamoto is hosting an autumn version of the Green Vision Flower Expo that was held earlier this year. As before, events are taking place in three main areas - Ezu-ko, Tatsuda-yama and the city centre. I found this out by chance while on a walk in the woods this afternoon - alas, I'd missed the outdoor concert and Mori Marché but I believe they will happen again tomorrow. Details can be found here, with English translation available.
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/hpkiji/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=5&id=44499#
くまもと花博レガシーイベント「くまもと花博2022秋」開催について / 熊本市ホームページ

Kirk here. I enjoyed a pleasant view of the sun setting over the Ariake Sea from Mt. Kimbo (some say "Kimpo"). The sun is setting behind Fugendake in Nagasaki.

Sean here-
Another K-town gem right here in our collective backyard.
"Yuka Family Road" is a prefectural road for bicycles and pedestrians with a total length of 34 km that connects Kumamoto City and Yamaga City.
There are rest areas along the way, and there is little danger of being hit by a car, so it's an easy trail for beginners.
There are path signs at every kilometer informing you how far you went and how far to go. This is mostly a flat route with one significant climb near Ueki station 9~10 K marker if you are coming from K-town.
Keep in mind that this route is an out-and-back. Meaning, if you go 10 k in one direction, you need to go back 10K, or 20k roundtrip. Know your limits.
In addition, depending on the day and time, there can be a significant headwind that can be exhausting.
You will experience this either going toward Yamaga or returning back to K-town. It is not a matter of whether there will be wind, but how strong the wind will be. Of course, the good news is that there is a tailwind as well.
If you do not have a bike, you can rent one from our good friends at Kumamoto International Center. ¥800 for the day. ¥1000 for an electric assist bike.
https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/kcic/kiji003436/index.html
Keep in mind some safety precautions.
"Yuka Family Road" is a road where bicycles and pedestrians coexist.
"Bicycles are like vehicles," please follow the traffic rules.

Pedestrians have right of way. Slow down, use your bell or announce when you are about to pass a pedestrian from behind.
It doesn't hurt to give a greeting as well. A smile will usually get you one back in return.
Use caution at intersections. As you get closer to Yamaga, there are many intersections.
At intersections with roadways and railroad crossings, stop and confirm safety.
Cyclists must keep to the left!
Wear a helmet to protect yourself and your loved ones!
I am not positive, but it might be a requirement for children 12 and under.

Sean here -
For you day trippers/hikers
Optimal conditions for hiking are here. If you are looking for someplace local to explore, check out this site for QR code-guided hikes. Smartphone required.
5 different hikes to suit different skill levels based on "KUSAMAKURA-Three Cornered World" by Natsume Souseki
Natsume Sōseki was the pen name of Natsume Kinnosuke, who is widely considered to be the foremost Japanese novelist of the Meiji Era (1868–1912). Two of his novels, The Three-Cornered World and The 210th Day, are based on his experiences in Kumamoto.
A word of caution. There are many intertwining trails without signage and incredibly old signs which can’t be read, leaving you to guess which way to go.
For detailed info, check out this link.
https://kumamoto-guide.jp/popotabi/en/course/
Available in：
日本語
https://kumamoto-guide.jp/popotabi/course/
中国語
https://kumamoto-guide.jp/popotabi/tw/course/

William For you astronomy buffs out there, Kumamoto will witness a total lunar eclipse (which has a cool name in Japanese: 月食, gesshoku, or "eaten moon") on 11/8, reaching maximum at 8:00 pm. Apparently, this is the first full lunar eclipse in Kumamoto in 442 years, so mark your calendar.
Map of Total Lunar Eclipse on November 8, 2022
You can select any location to see the local type, date, and time of the eclipse. See how this eclipse looks in your city.

William with a quick vocabulary note:
"indian summer" in Japanese is "小春びより" (koharubiyori), which is what we are enjoying now. Also, "秋晴れ" (akibare) is autumn sunshine - "Not a cloud in the sky!" as English speakers delightfully exclaim. The forecast promises further warming later in the week. Enjoy it while you can!

William Following is a message from Sean Benward regarding his Ezuko cleanup walk:
An update on our 2022 Ezuko Halloween Trick and Trash Halloween celebration:
Six extremely busy teenagers (Teen Driven) volunteering their time, one zooming it in from France to bring on this amazing event.
(Also, a shout out to our many not-teen supporters)
A win for teenagers developing team building and leadership skills.
A win for the environment as the participants learned about the negative effects of plastic and our lake.
A win for our future. Teens connect with kids about what they can do together for a cleaner environment.
A win for our community – Teen Driven raised 13100 for YWCA, an org dedicated to supporting women in Kumamoto.
Our future is bright!
Sean Benward

Carlton. I mentioned earlier that Kumanichi newspaper has a very informative online section devoted to upcoming events in the prefecture. Here: <https://kumanichi.com/event>.
And with the Culture Day holiday coming November 3 this weekend is chocked with things to see and do.
If you don’t mind the drive in nice weather my recommendation is to head to Amakusa’s Hondo CIty for the Ceramics Fair <https://kumanichi.com/event/812217>. A good place to see and even stock up on fine pottery and even everyday tableware.
　県内最大級の陶磁器展示即売会。全国各地から92の窯元や陶芸家が出店。ろくろ体験や絵付け体験、抽選会などがある。トークショーや天草ハイヤ踊りの披露、特産品販売も。

Kirk here with the page's new cover photo, supplied by professional photographer and fellow editor, Liz! Thanks Liz!

Kirk here. The "quiz" in the article is "くまモン検定" (Kumamon kentei, shown on the screen in back of Kumamon and in the Japanese article to which the English links). Japan has lots of kentei (certification) tests, one of which is Eiken (English kentei). If you'd like to take the test, the link is here:
https://kumamon-kentei.com
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20221028/p2a/00m/0na/016000c
Kumamon quiz: Japan's Kumamoto Pref. to launch knowledge test about popular mascot - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- An online test of knowledge about the activities of Kumamon, the popular mascot of southwest Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, and the prefectu

William with the long read:
Japan has a long history of emigration, with peaks during the Great Depression and the post-war period. Due to America's Chinese Exclusion Act (a sad period of xenophobia enacted in 1882, abolished in steps between 1943-1965 https://tinyurl.com/28szuk29), immigration from China fell to virtually zero. At the time, however, Japanese were considered "honorary whites https://tinyurl.com/yeyatz88," and many, particularly Higokko, emigrated to Hawaii and California.
At a time when even travel within Japan was unusual, people from all over the country intermixed in California; this article states how the Nisei regarded each other: "Hiroshima people were said to be industrious and tight-fisted; Wakayama people aggressive and hot-tempered; Tokyoites generous; Okayama shrewd and clever; the northern provinces patient as a result of their long cold winters; people from Kumamoto stubborn.” (https://tinyurl.com/jvwwpd9t) Heh. Ask my wife.
Kumamoto (and other Kyushu prefectures) have thus had an oversized influence on Japanese-American culture, particularly cuisine. One example is the satsuma (an Edo-era term for Kagoshima), which in English refers to a variety of tangerine. Another fun-fact is that most all restaurants in California serve tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen, native to Fukuoka and Kumamoto (Tokyoites eat shoyu ramen https://tinyurl.com/2rh7j2e) - ask an Angeleno what ramen is and that is what they will imagine.
Tangentially related is the Kumamoto oyster, native to Yatsushiro Sea, which has an interesting history: "In October 1945, two months after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, General Douglas MacArthur asked the Japanese government to export 80,000 boxes of oyster seeds to the United States. This marked the end of the wartime embargo on Japanese goods. Unfortunately, lack of manpower and low oyster stocks threatened Japan’s ability to fill the order. Seeds from the little-known Kumamoto oyster were used to help fill the shipments." (Interesting read: https://tinyurl.com/4b2vhnet .)
The article mentions that the variety has been extirpated from the Shiranui Sea due to pollution; however, I have read about attemps to reintroduce the variety from healthy stocks in America's Pacific Northwest. What goes around, comes around. Photo: Kumamoto oyster

Kirk here with a post that could be put in the category of "useless information that might be mildly interesting if you happen to pass by the place from time to time" (a category with very very few posts ;) ).
The place is the Kuwamizu Intersection (神水交差点) near Ezuko (see map image).
The picture you see is one I took on Saturday of the building that houses the Kumamoto branch of the what has been known as the Unification Church ("Family Federation for World Peace and Unification" or "the Moonies"). I got the address from their official website:
https://ffwpu.jp/admission/church/nearest
I was in the area on Saturday and thought I'd take a look. It's completely unmarked but there was a steady stream of people entering the stairway to the third floor venue (entrance on opposite side from the store fronts in the picture) when I was there. They were nicely dressed people (seemed to be individuals and families).
I didn't want to harass them at all so I kept to myself and left the area after a short time.

Kirk here sharing an article about an island in the Amakusa area called Yushima (湯島, "Island of Hot Water"), also known as Dangojima (談合島, "Island on which Locals Conspired in the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637). According to the article, it has one more name: "cat island."
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/travel-spots/20221008-62999/
William has written about this place here:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02uw3b1GbatjMbLi6vUt2APB26haJWJZ99McMGGChJG2FzJAUWGYNSvSvdovaiwJyfl

Kirk here with some strange news. A man named Katsuhiko Higuchi has been arrested because a company in Kumamoto says that he published an unauthorized Spanish-language version of his own autobiography. First, here's a blurb about who Katsuhiko Higuchi is:
--- start quote ---
Katsuhiko Higuchi, known as the king of the octopus, presents his biographical book, a pleasant account of the first and last Japanese who has supplied his country with abundant catches of cephalopods from Western Sahara. More than fifty years ago, when he arrived, almost no one fished octopus at the Saharan Bank. That is why his life summarizes the recent history of fishing in Morocco, that of the Port of La Luz and, specifically, that of the fishing town of Dakhla. He has been ruined and married several times, but as the Japanese encouraging proverb "Nana says. Korobi already oki "," if you fall seven times, eight times you get up. "
--- end quote
https://spainsnews.com/the-story-of-the-king-of-the-octopus-in-the-club-la-provincia-la-provincia/
Hmmm. Looks like he'll need to try to get up again.
Now, back to the reason for Higuchi's arrest. According to the article, Higuchi asked the company (unnamed) to put the book together (presumedly, including the writing of all the text describing material provided by Higuchi himself). It would seem that part of the deal was that the company would hold the copyright on the book. So, I guess the company considered Spanish-language publication to be a copyright infringement.
OK, I guess I can sort of understand that part. But, I have lots of questions about this.
1. I would think that such copyright infringement would usually lead to nasty "cease and desist" letters and then, as a next step, suing for damages -- not arrest. Maybe copyright law is different in Japan. Or, maybe it's because he's normally out of the country. Not sure.
2. What sort of damage to the Kumamoto company was involved? I looked and I couldn't even find any information about the Japanese version of the book (title shown in the image) on Amazon or any other website. The Spanish-language book, however, does have Amazon page, though I see that sales have been stopped:
https://www.amazon.sg/KATSUHIKO-HIGUCHI-REY-PULPO-Spanish/dp/1791536492/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
I guess you don't necessarily have to prove that the copyright infringement caused damages but I would think that a case with no clear damages might not be treated quite as severely as one with such obvious damages. Doesn't look like the Spanish version sold very much either.
3. Why isn't the company named? Why are those of us in Kumamoto not allowed to know which local companies tend to be litigious in this way?
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3ea327e6e035a17f207f5a473087487dfd900275