2017-02-19 09:54 JST 2017 ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 0 · Comments: 0 ← 2017-02-18 21:37 JST 2017-02-20 17:50 JST → Around this time … 2017-02-22 14:27 JSTHere's a colorful announcement that I received in a message posted to the page. -- Kirk🍀 2017 Kumamoto St.Patrick's Day Parade - Saturday, 18th March - 2:30pm~3:15pm 💚 Gather at the Kamitori (Higo Bank) from 2pm 💚🍀 Parade moves into the Shimotori, and ends at Shinshigai 🎶 Wear something green and join in as you like! 📩 Certainly feel free to share info and posters with friends, colleagues, schools and other groups 💡✨Táim ag súil go mór leis!! Looking forward to it!! 楽しみにしています!! 🍻👫🎵http://parade.kumamoto-ireland.orgMay your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!第11回 熊本2017 セント・パトリックス・デイ・パレード 11th Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade Kumamoto 2017 2017-02-21 11:02 JSTSome questions arose about what will happen with the previous #1 Amakusa bridge. The new bridge is part of an entirely new "southern bypass" that will eventually link Ueki with Hondo (and "eventually" in terms of roadwork means "maybe within our lifetimes"). A map is below with captions: green: complete; solid red: under construction; red dash: planned; red dot: desired but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯As the new bridge links to a tunnel system through the Uto Peninsula and not surface roads, the old bridge is still necessary for local use, so apparently, both will remain. An illustration below shows the planned configuration. One reader noted that this might require a name change from "Amakusa Gokyou" to "Amakusa Rokkyou." Interesting thought. - Williamhttp://k-keikaku.or.jp/xc/modules/pc_ktech/index.php?content_id=1942 2017-02-21 14:16 JSTThe Kengun Arcade was attached to the Sunlive department store, and when that came down after the earthquake, so did the arcade. It took awhile to clear away the rubble of Sunlive (its replacement is expected to be complete by September), but in the meantime, restoration of the arcade supports and roofing was completed on Feb. 20. While local shop owners are happy that the arcade has been restored, they long for the return of their anchor store.End of the trolley line, Mr. Donuts, funky old stores, and not far from the zoo and lower Lake Ezu - if you have a free afternoon, please visit! - Williamhttp://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170220007.xhtml商店街にぎわい戻って 健軍アーケード修復完了－熊本のニュース│ くまにちコム 2017-02-20 17:50 JSTJoe Tomei here, this from Richard Lavin at Kumamoto Kenritsu DaiTomorrow, February 21st, 2017, Professor Ken’ichi Tasaki will deliver his final lecture, titled “Between Experimental and Clinical Psychology”, and Professor Yoshitoshi Murasato will deliver his final lecture, titled “Towards the Reconstruction of the Image of Sir Philip Sidney”. Both lectures will be delivered in Japanese. There will be a chance to mingle informally with the professors, who will retire in March, afterwards.Date: Tuesday, February 21st, 2017Time: 1:00 pm ~ 3:30 pmPlace: 中講義室 1 (Chuukougishitsu 1, Lecture Hall 1)http://www.pu-kumamoto.ac.jp/event/detail.php?id=49 2017-02-20 23:22 JSTGood news for Higo gephyrophiles (or pontists - choose whichever word describing a bridge lover that you'll never use again): the final deck section of the new Amakusa #1 bridge has been installed.With the arch completed in November, the 460 meters of decking have been raised from barges in a total of five sections. The last section, weighing 225 tons and 45 meters long, was hoisted and successfully attached today, Feb. 20. Bridge finishing and ancillary roadwork will take another year to complete, with the bridge expected to open in March, 2018. In conjunction with other road improvements, the bridge is expected to halve the current driving time between Kumamoto City and Oyano, Amakusa. - Williamhttp://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170220006.xhtml 2017-02-19 09:54 JSTPost (this post) 2017-02-18 21:37 JSTJoe Tomei here, sorry this is a little late, but if you can join us at Gakuen tomorrow, please do!======Hello members of Nankyu JALT!My name is Mutsumi. I teach English to kids at my home in Kumamoto. I’m a member of ETJ(English Teachers in Japan), and planning to start a regional English teachers group in Kumamoto. We are going to have our first meeting on Feb. 19 th (Sun). Yes, this coming Sunday! There are only few teachers planning to attend the meeting so far, so I decided to post this note on JALT’s facebook hoping some people are interested.There will be two presentations at the meeting. One is by Joe Tomei of Kumamoto Gakuen University on Extensive Reading, and the other one is by me on Children’s Book Activity. The purpose of the group is for the teachers to share ideas, problems, opinions, information etc., and help each other.When: Feb. 19 th (Sun), 2017 1~3 o’clockWhere: Kumamoto Gakuen University LibraryFree of charge!!If you are not running the Kumamoto Castle marathon (or if you are!), please drop in to see what’s happening. Even if you can’t come to the meeting on Sunday, I will be happy to let you know about other meetings we might hold in the future, so let me know if you’re interested.Thank you.Kumamoto-iの皆様、こんにちは。私は、廣岡睦美と申します。熊本の自宅で英語教室をしています。この度、ETJ(English Teachers in Japan) の熊本グループを立ち上げようと計画しています。第一回目の会合を今週の日曜日１９日の１３時から、熊本 学園大学の図書館で開催予定です。参加者が少ないので、直前ですが、こうしてお誘いをしています。会の目的は、英語講師（教師）が、簡単なプレゼンテーションをしたり、それぞれ持ち寄った、アイディアや、教材、問題、情報等をシェアして、助けあい、横のつながりを作る事です。もし、よろしかったら、気軽に参加してみられませんか。詳細は、上の英文を参照にされてください。もし、今回の会合に参加できなくても、グループに興味がある方は、お知らせください。これからの会合の情報を提供させて頂きます。 2017-02-17 14:50 JSTKumamon has reportedly received 533 Valentine's Day gifts, according to the Kumanichi - enough to fill ten boxes. A little calculation (let's see ... carry the zero ...) shows that to be 533 more than I received.The paper notes that his heart haul is his largest yet, 30% greater than last year, and includes loving sweets from such countries as Taiwan and Hong Kong. According to Kumamon's spokesperson, "We are delighted that fans both domestic and foreign have shown their love following the quakes." Plans are underway to return the love on White Day, March 14.A reporter trying to interview the always-energetic Kumamon asked if these gifts would destroy his diet, and the rolly-polly guy suddenly froze. As is his custom, there was no comment. - Williamhttp://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170216004.xhtml 2017-02-16 18:45 JSTHere's another article on Kumamon's revenue-generating ability:http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201702160058.html-- KirkKumamon bear earns record 128 billion yen in wake of quakes：The Asahi Shimbun 2017-02-16 17:53 JSTSales of Kumamon mascot products hit record Y128 bil after … 2017-02-16 00:19 JSTA note from the Kumamoto international pro baseball desk (if you're anti-baseball, please stop reading here): Some watch baseball because they love the game; others, because they enjoy the atmosphere; and still others, because they want to hook up. We at the desk do not judge. An all-avian featherbuster is set for Saturday, May 13, when the Softbank Hawks talon off against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles - the ultimate clash of iPhones vs online shopping - at Kumamoto's beautiful Fujisakidai Stadium. The venue was once home to Kato shrine until the shrine was moved closer to the castle in the Meiji Era, but the 600-year old camphor trees ringing the stadium still provide a gorgeous foreground to a stunning view of Mt. Kimpo, particularly at sunset. Recent renovations to the stadium have pretty much (but not entirely) eliminated previous avenues for sneaking in without a ticket, according to one of our desk members; if you plan to attend, be aware that admission starts from 4,000 yen, with tickets going on sale this Saturday. More info is at the link. - Williamhttps://wws.kab.co.jp/event/hawks2017/KAB 熊本朝日放送