Here's an article about Kumamon and Gov. Kabashima in Boston.
2013-11-24 09:25 JST 2013 Here's an article about Kumamon and Gov. Kabashima in Boston. http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2013/11/11/kumamonusvisit/ http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2013/11/11/kumamonusvisit/ ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. ← 2013-11-24 09:07 JST 2013-11-25 09:54 JST → Around this time … 2013-11-25 10:00 JSTOf course, Kumamon was on hand, but not this winner this time."Yurukyara-cute and often cuddly mascots representing cities and prefectures from throughout Japan and abroad Saturday set a Guinness world record for the largest gathering of mascot characters when 376 of them gathered at a park in Hanyu, Saitama Prefecture."http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000821920http://youtu.be/yz-daXBGGB0ゆるキャラグランプリ2013 1位は栃木・佐野市の「さのまる」(13/11/24) 2013-11-25 20:43 JSTThe link to the flier seems to be broken. Still, those of you who are interested can contact the center about this event.http://www.kicjapan.com/islam-life-seminarIslam & Life Seminar 2013-11-26 08:44 JSTThis article presents a pretty good summary of the issues covered and not covered by the Minamata Convention that was agreed upon here in October:http://phys.org/news/2013-01-mercury-treaty-geneva-countries.html#inlRlvGroundbreaking mercury treaty adopted by 140 countries (Update) 2013-11-25 09:54 JSTThis might be of interest to American readers:http://www.npr.org/2013/11/24/247006322/expatriots-make-do-or-do-without-for-thanksgiving?ft=1&f=1008Expatriates Make Do Or Do Without For Thanksgiving 2013-11-26 08:51 JSTThis came out before the Minamata Conference but I'm posting it now because it has a surprising (and scary) statistic that is still relevant today. It says that, according to a recent study, 71% of women of child-bearing age in Japan have mercury levels that exceeded "the widely recognized U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guideline of 1 micrograms per gram."http://www.pollutiononline.com/doc/in-advance-treaty-adoption-hair-testing-worldwide-exposure-mercury-0001?atc~c=771+s=773+r=001+l=aIn Advance Of Treaty Adoption Hair Testing Shows Worldwide Exposure To Mercury 2013-11-24 09:25 JSTHere's an article about Kumamon and Gov. Kabashima in … (this post) 2013-11-24 09:07 JSTI'm posting this here because it includes a quote from Shigetoshi Takeuchi, a lawyer with the Kumamoto Bar Association. Though it may not be of special interest to the international community in Kumamoto, I think the potential passage of this law is a very important issue in Japan right now:http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201311230044Survey: Majority of Japanese outraged over state secrets protection bill - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun 2013-11-24 09:03 JSTI don't really know what to make of this because I can't figure out Mr. Green's connection to Kumamoto. Still, I thought I'd go ahead and post this just the same.http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013KumamotoJPNAdamGreen/11TopNetworkerAwardNagano/prweb11320796.htmKumamoto Japan Based "Xocai" #1 International Liaison Adam Green Receives "Top Networker Award"... 2013-11-24 08:53 JSTKuma shochu is basically distilled sake. Like sake, it's make from rice. Actually, a form of sake is produced first, and then that is distilled to make the shochu. In this case, "Kuma" refers to the Hitoyoshi area (the kanji [球磨] are different from that of "Kuma" in Kumamoto [熊]). Hitoyoshi is famous for its rice shochu -- Kuma shochu.http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000791665Yunomae’s bountiful forest: Kuma shochu makers get back to nature - The Japan News 2013-11-23 21:55 JSTI haven't been able to do anything to help with this worthy effort. I'm sure, though, that the conference in March will be a success!https://www.facebook.com/ftic.kumamoto第8回フェアトレードタウン国際会議／8th International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Kumamoto 2013-11-23 09:05 JSTKumamoto International Friendship Festival this weekendFrom the post:"If you are free this Sunday, November 24, the Kumamoto International Friendship Festival is happening from 11 to 5pm at the Kengun Shopping district (健軍商店街）in Kumamoto City. There will be food, performances, face painting, and booths of all sorts. Kumamon will make an appearance at 12:30. For those of you who were at Kumamoto Orientation and met Sakai-san and the other jolly women who demonstrated the Otemoyan dance, they will be performing at 3pm on stage. Come say hi!"https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/kumamoto-jet/DwXk0rnGewQ/gyTRFxmqq2cJ(I posted this from my individual Facebook account first so I am reposting this as "Kumamoto International.")Google Groups