I'm sharing this so that more lovers of knowledge will see it.
2015-04-21 21:03 JST 2015 I'm sharing this so that more lovers of knowledge will see it. ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. ← 2015-04-19 14:25 JST 2015-04-22 19:23 JST → Around this time … 2015-04-26 19:09 JSTThe Aso volcano has been active again. This article says that the cloud of ash streaming from the volcano rose 1500 meters into the sky on the 24th. The Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima has been even more active. There, the ash rose 4000 meters high on the the same day.http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/kagoshima/article/164981桜島と阿蘇山で噴火 阿蘇中岳は噴煙１５００メートルに 2015-04-25 17:27 JSTFor aviation fans out there . . ."In Japan, it will make appearances in special events at . . . Kumamoto Airport in Kumamoto Prefecture on Wednesday . . ."http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002102719HondaJet flies over Japan for 1st time 2015-04-24 14:20 JSTI'm not exactly sure where this happened but 212 runs north-south between Oguni and Aso (descending into the valley near Daikanbo).http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/04/23/national/crime-legal/tour-bus-tree-kumamoto-20-south-koreans-injured/#.VTnPNs6yuc8Tour bus his tree in Kumamoto; 20 South Koreans injured | The Japan Times 2015-04-23 17:30 JSTThe other day I saw a police car with its lights flashing, but the police were sitting in the car calmly, waiting at a red light. As those of you who have been here a while have surely noticed this is pretty common. I grew up in a country where flashing lights meant that the police were rushing to the scene of a crime, a nearby car was about to be pulled over, or some other urgent business was being attended to. I thought I'd capture the scene on video with my phone as an example of this practice but a policeman on a motorcycle that was following the police car took that as his cue to stop me for questioning. Such questioning is supposed to be reserved for situations when criminal activity is suspected. The policemen said I was allowed to record video of police cars on the street so, though I was able to continue on my way after a few minutes, I didn't appreciate being treated like a potential criminal and being asked all kinds of personal questions. The video I took wasn't very good but this one from YouTube is a bit better and gives a pretty good idea of how the lights are used.The idea seems to be that the flashing lights encourages people near the car to be on their best behavior. I can't help think, however, that the "little boy who cried wolf" story applies in this case. As people become habituated to the lights I suspect they become less likely to go out of their way to make room for passing police cars just because they see lights flashing. This argument didn't impress the young police office who stopped me, however. He seemed to be entirely convinced that the practice was just fine regardless of what a silly foreigner like me might think.Posted by Kirkhttps://youtu.be/r7wZhEkwI94Here Come the Police!! 2015-04-22 19:23 JSTI received the following information in an e-mail from the Kumamoto City International Foundation:--- start quote ---■Nandaimon Spring FestivalThe baby sumo ring debut ceremony and scattering rice cakes will be held, and you can experience rare tea ceremony.Day and Time: Wed.,29th. Apr. 10:00~16:00Place: Renge-in Tanjyo-ji Temple (Tamana City)Admission fee: freeAccess: Kyushu Shinkansen (bullet train) from Kumamoto Station to Shin-Tamana Station (about 15 minutes)It takes about 10 minutes from the station by car.Or it takes about 10 mitutes from JR Tamana Station by car.For more information: Renge-in Tanjyo-ji Temple (TEL: 0968-72-3300) *Japanese onlyWebsite: http://www.rengein.jp/--- end quote ---Japanese explanation and the photo you see on this post can be found here:http://www.rengein.jp/event/detail.php?id=20150318141636 2015-04-21 21:03 JSTI'm sharing this so that more lovers of knowledge will see … (this post) 2015-04-19 14:25 JST"In Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, a high school girl was strangled in May 2014. A man in his 40s who was charged with murder in the case is believed to have met the girl via an online community site."http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201504170004Record number of minors victimized in crimes linked to online community sites - AJW by The Asahi... 2015-04-16 18:11 JSTThis is not about Kumamoto, but it reminds me of the "No Foreigners" issue that came up here in February. Whereas the good people of Kumamoto City's Office for the Promotion of Human Rights intervened so that the issue in Kumamoto could be resolved successfully, Japan's Ministry of Finance has failed to come to bat for the victim in this case:--- start quote ---A European exchange student in his twenties who wished to rent an apartment in Kyoto could not get a rental contract because the apartment was “No Foreigners”. He asked for recourse from the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Affairs Bureau in Kyoto for discrimination against foreigners, but the Legal Affairs Bureau refused, stating, “We cannot determine that the facts constitute a violation of human rights.”. . .入居を希望した京都市のアパートが「外国人不可」のため、賃貸契約できなかった欧州出身の２０代の留学生が、法務省の京都地方法務局に外国人差別だとして救済措置を求めたところ、法務局は「人権侵犯の事実があったとまでは判断できない」と退けた。--- end quote ---http://www.debito.org/?p=13185debito.org » Blog Archive » Kyodo: Ryukoku U exchange student denied “No Foreigner” Kyoto... 2015-04-16 07:13 JSTDouglas Bruce is a highly skilled videographer who lives in Kumamoto. Check out the beautiful images of sakura in this video he posted recently.https://vimeo.com/124400986P.S. The announcement was first published athttps://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/13211Cherry Blossom - the Flower of the Samurai 2015-04-15 07:27 JSTHere's an announcement from the Kumamoto City International Foundation:--- start quote ---■Ushibuka Haiya Dancing FestivalYou can see more than 5,000 people dancing in the street.Time period: Fri., 17th. ~ Sun., 19th. Apr.Place: Ushibuka Haiya Bridge Glass Park, Ushibuka-machi shopping street, Ushibuka General Center, and so on.Admission fee: freeAccess: JR Kumamoto Station → Hondo Bus Center (about 2 hours by bus) Hondo Bus Center → Ushibuka Port (about 1 hour by bus)For more information: Ushibuka Haiya Planning Committee Office (TEL: 0969-73-2111) *Japanese onlyWebsite: http://www.city.amakusa.kumamoto.jp/--- end quote ---The image you see and explanation in Japanese can be found athttp://www.ushibuka-cci.or.jp/ivento-haiya.htm 2015-04-15 01:16 JSTIn the recent election for the city council, two candidates received the exact same number of votes. The winner was decide by drawing lots.Here's an article in English that mentions the tie:http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002078199 ttp://www.asahi.com/articles/photo/AS20150414004026.html