Here's something for those of you interested in teaching opportunities. -- Kirk
2017-02-06 16:09 JST 2017 Here's something for those of you interested in teaching opportunities. -- Kirk ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 12 · Comments: 2 · Shares: 4 ← 2017-02-03 21:50 JST 2017-02-08 00:41 JST → Around this time … 2017-02-13 13:09 JST"Anaba" (穴場) is a wonderful Japanese word that succinctly sums up the rather more clumsy English phrase "a good place not many people know about." From today, Kumamoto International is adding an Anaba Desk. Anyone who has lived for any length of time in Kumamoto has undoubtedly stumbled upon tiny shops that, for whatever reason - items provided, service, atmosphere, fascinating proprietors - are well worth visiting. We invite all of our readers to message us with your discoveries so that we may share them with others. You will be rewarded with recognition and KumaBit Coins*.If you're female, you can stop reading now. If you're male, you'll notice that females sometimes suggest you get your hair cut, gently at first but with greater urgency as your hirsuteness progresses. Here is my anaba suggestion for the day.The barbershop I've patronized since coming to Kumamoto over 20 years ago used to be called El Dorado; after its owner died of old age, it moved from its ancient digs to a newer location and for some reason changed its name to "Be Happy," but they brought with them their barber chairs, the kind you father remembers from when he was a kid. Awesome barbers, but don't panic at their appearance: older, and with terrible haircuts themselves; though their sight has faded a bit, they know what you want and, having grown accustomed to my curly mop, can now handle gaijin guy hair of most any consistency. They are very thorough, shaving your neck and even the hairs off your ears with a straightedge razor. The atmosphere is very guy-friendly: NHK radio playing, conversation only at the bequest of the customer, very pragmatic. Their fee used to be 1,000 yen but was raised to 1,200 yen a few years ago. No tipping - this is Japan - but I always give them a case of Asahi before New Years.They are located on Suizenji Ekimae Dori just off Densha Dori. Tell them the gaijin sent you and they'll probably understand. - William*Note: KumaBit Coins are something we made up and have no value. 2017-02-12 23:22 JSTJoe Tomei here. The KGU Green Philharmonic orchestra will be giving their 23rd annual concert on 26 Feb in the Takahashi Morio Hall on the KGU campus. We will be playingGluck Iphigenia in AulisKabalevsky The Comedians SuiteSchumann Symphony #3 (Rhenish)The concert is free and begins at 2pm, doors open at 1:30. If you come, please say hello to me, I'll be the old ojisan in the horn section. 2017-02-08 10:46 JSTBilly Bento is offering a Korean quesadilla lunch set. Visit his Facebook page - or, even better, his shop - for more details. 2017-02-08 01:06 JSTSpring whispers its advent with the fragrant blossoming of the Japanese plum (ume no hana 梅の花). Sturdier and sparser than the cherry, plum blossoms signal the beginning of spring, while cherries signal the end; the plum tree is also smaller and scraggly, often poking not more than a gnarled branch or two over the wall of someone's garden, yet even from these unlikely sources come the most beautiful blossoms.In fact, the Japanese plum is more closely related to the apricot (think of the smooth-skinned plums you eat compared with the fuzzy surface of the ume). The fruit is not eaten but is often used to make umeshu (梅酒; sometimes translated as "plum wine") by steeping green plums in shōchū (焼酎). It is traditional in Japan to make umeshu, store it for so long that it is forgotten, and then finally dispose of it once realizing that no one is ever going to touch the stuff. While visible from home gardens and at shrines, the best place to view plum blossoms is at Iida maru (飯田丸, pictured below) at the castle, where some 140 trees grow. According to this article, some of the area is still restricted, but there should nonetheless be excellent viewing and photography opportunities. Blossoms are expected to reach full bloom towards late February; one castle employee was quoted as saying, "We'd love people to come view the plum blossoms and to hasten reconstruction." - Williamhttp://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/kumamoto/article/303870熊本城に春の兆し 紅梅咲き始める 2017-02-08 00:41 JSTHeartbreaking but hopeful: stones from the castle walls are pictured below in order of what is thought to be their original locations based on size, shape, and historical photographs. Now comes the task of putting them back. - Williamhttp://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003493836Zoom Up / Kumamoto Castle restoration progresses 2017-02-06 16:09 JSTHere's something for those of you interested in teaching … (this post) 2017-02-03 21:50 JSTA note from the Kumamoto International desk of improbable realities: There is apparently a village south of Hitoyoshi called 相良村 (Sagara Mura) which contains a location with a name containing an improbable number of "kawas" - 川辺川河川敷 (improbably pronounced "Kawabegawa Kasenjiki" - we'll report later on the difference between 川 and 河) - but that's not the point. Mari (below left) and Koro (right - I think; let's face it: they look pretty much the same) are simply following their dream of becoming police dogs, but they both had the misfortune of being born toy poodles. While their larger canine brethren laughed at them, they trained and trained and yesterday took their test in 川辺川河川敷 which involved navigating an obstacle course and finding their handlers hidden in thick brush within 10 minutes (Mari did it in 10:30, Koro in 6:55). Toy poodle police dogs are rare in Japan, and if these two pass (results will be released in March), they'll be the first in Kumamoto and will begin work in April.A police official said that the Kumamoto quakes have demonstrated the need for small dogs able to navigate the cramped spaces of collapsed buildings to alert their handlers of survivors. Standard poodles were originally bred as retrievers, and their diminutive cousins retrain that trait, so perhaps it is not as improbable as it seems. Dog speed, Mari and Koro! - Williamhttps://this.kiji.is/200128234382099956?c=92619697908483575 2017-02-03 21:35 JST"The city of Kumamoto suffered the third-largest net outflow of 1,540, and the Kumamoto Prefecture town of Mashiki, hit hardest by the powerful quakes, saw the sixth-largest net outflow of 1,319."-- KirkPopulation influx into greater Tokyo slows down 2017-02-03 13:48 JSTHi everyone! The Sojo University Teaching and Learning Forum is tomorrow. Check out our program here. - Levyhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxlxSAjh7BDmX3RKcTNTdjJ2RkE 2017-02-01 22:28 JST[Kumamoto UNESCO Association］2/12(Sun) Try and enjoy the Noh … 2017-02-01 11:42 JSTI like Kumamoto by I'm repulsed by the seedy areas near Shimotori. The allegations in this article are particularly repulsive.-- KirkKumamoto cops: Hostess club employed middle school girls | The Tokyo Reporter
