JR elevating its tracks through the city not only pleased pretty much every driver but also opened up valuable real estate which the company has to figure out what to do with now.
Freed space to the south of the station (red below) will become a shopping and dining area which will be called “Higo Yokamon Market” (sheesh - okay, feudal era name for Kumamoto + Kumamoto dialect catchphrase which means “good” + market = 肥後よかモン市場). The plan is for an eventual 60 shops; 33 have thus far come aboard. The planned atmosphere is Kumamotoesque (and, yes, I do ignore those red squiggly lines under my writing which indicate a misspelling).
The new shopping area is set to open from March next year and is expected to not only offer a venue for local products but to contribute to revitalization of what has long been a neglected area. (Plus - more shops. My wife is pleased.) - William
