2016-07-16 20:48 JST 2016 ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 2 · Comments: 0 · Shares: 0 ← 2016-07-16 20:23 JST 2016-07-17 07:49 JST → Around this time … 2016-07-17 22:00 JSTJohn Oliver does Japanese mascots -- including Kumamon. Irreverent but very funny. ;)-- KirkLast Week Tonight with John Oliver Japan Mascots 2016-07-17 21:19 JSTPeople who lost their homes in the quakes began moving into the the Mashiki-machi Techno Kasetsu Danchi (Mashiki Techno Temporary Housing Complex) today. While the complex provides much needed housing, it's location near the airport presents several problems. One is the lack of stores in the area. Another is the distance from downtown Kumamoto City. The following NHK news video and text (in Japanese, unfortunately) explains how the city will attempt to address those issues:http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160717/k10010599231000.html-- Kirkhttps://goo.gl/maps/qFaX3XBHwQH2 2016-07-17 10:30 JSTCharmaine here....I just want to (quickly) share the news of a special discount campaign by booking.com. I`m afraid I haven`t yet been able to find details in English though. It starts July 19th,and offers substantial discounts on bookings made in Kyushu from overseas:http://kurokawa-onsen.com/special-discounts-on-booking-com-for-2016-julyaugsept-kyushu-bookings/SPECIAL DISCOUNTS on booking.com for 2016 July/Aug/Sept Kyushu bookings!! 2016-07-17 09:54 JSTHere's something I posted over a year ago. I'm reposting it now because this fabulous ryokan (inn), Sozankyo, has reopened. They were hit hard by the quake and had difficulties repairing their onsen but yesterday's NHK evening news reported that they were able to resume their business Saturday. For a limited time, you can see that video (in Japanese) here:http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160716/k10010598621000.htmlAlthough they are back in business, they need more customers as the quakes have sharply reduced the number of visitors to the Aso area.Here's the English side of Sozankyo's web site:http://www.sozankyo.jp/en/And here's a Booking.com page with links to Sozankyo and other highly rated ryokan in the Aso area:http://goo.gl/f1Mg25-- KIrk 2016-07-17 07:49 JSTHere's an old article that I seem to have missed at the time. Information about how to contribute to the reconstruction of the castle or other worthy causes can be found here:http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/2016/06/13/june-13-updates/-- Kirkhttp://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160502/p2a/00m/0na/025000cDonations pour in to help restore quake-damaged Kumamoto Castle - The Mainichi 2016-07-16 20:48 JSTPost (this post) 2016-07-16 20:23 JSTPost 2016-07-16 11:13 JSTHere's a post from the Kumamoto-i mailing list about items for sale: "I would like to sale off many stuffs like SD-Bed, Dining set, Dressing table, kitchenette and many more small useful items at cheapest rate possible. I can also guarantee they are all in perfect condition.Kindly check the website below to find more and please contact us through mail only so that we can reserve the stuffs for you until the sales date.http://dibyajivanarun4u.wix.com/mastmono "The Kumamoto-i e-mail group can be found at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messagesThis Facebook page grew out of the Kumamoto-i e-mail list. The e-mail list is not as active now as in the past but it has some advantages over this Facebook page. One advantage is that you don't have any fancy algorithm deciding what you should or should not view; you see all posts in the order that they are made. Another related advantage is that all posts are treated equally. On this page, only the editors can post as "Kumamoto International" but on the Kumamoto-i e-mail group, posts from members are distributed in the same way that posts from moderators are. This makes the e-mail page group useful for people who have items they wish to buy or sell because one can address everyone in the group without getting the attention of a moderator. Since becoming involved in Facebook I have found it difficult to integrate the two forums, though their purposes are essentially the same. Recently, however, I've developed a method of collating and sending summaries of posts made to this Facebook page to the Kumamoto-i list that I think I can sustain. Readers of the Facebook page may want to check out the summaries to make sure that Facebook hasn't prevented you from seeing content that you are interested in.-- Kirk https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/13373Yahoo! Groups 2016-07-15 06:26 JSTA sobering headline . . .Kumamoto cleanup from April quakes drags on as 4,700 residents remain evacuated | The Japan Times 2016-07-14 22:54 JSTNHK frequently removes English videos such as this one after just a day or two so, it you're interested, better take a look soon.-- KirkKumamoto quakes still have effect on local economy- News - NHK WORLD - English 2016-07-14 20:56 JSTSadly, yesterday's heavy rain caused one death in Misato-machi. An elderly women was caught in a surging river. About 7 hours after she was last seen near the water, her body was found was found six kilometers downstream.川で行方不明の女性が死亡 熊本 美里町 | NHKニュース