This BBC article discusses the colorful history of Kumamoto Castle. -- Kirk
2018-01-05 15:56 JST 2018 This BBC article discusses the colorful history of Kumamoto Castle. -- Kirk The Japanese castle that defied historyKumamoto has seen its fair share of drama over the centuries – but perhaps most famously, it was the site of the final battle between 20,000 samurai and the ruling Meiji government. https://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180103-the-japanese-castl … ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 31 · Comments: 1 · Shares: 8 ← 2018-01-05 14:30 JST 2018-01-05 17:33 JST → Around this time … 2018-01-07 22:01 JSTKumamon may be Kumamoto's most famous bear but Maruru (the polar bear in the video; Marle?) may be even more fun to watch. As the Japanese title on the YouTube video indicates, Maruru's corner of the Kumamoto Zoo recently reopened after a hiatus of over year and a half (due to the earthquake). In the interim, Maruru has learned a new way to play with one of his toys -- throwing it into the air and diving in after it. Humans may have provided the toy and taught Maruru the game but it's pretty obvious that he plays for his own enjoyment. Not all parts of the zoo have reopened but, if you visit, you should be able to see Maruru.-- Kirkさびしさで一人遊び習得？ 熊本の人気ホッキョクグマ「マルル」 熊本地震から約１年８カ月ぶり公開 2018-01-06 15:31 JSTA note from the Kumamoto International religion desk (merged with other various desks for obvious reasons): Some shinto religious omamori (お守り、amulet) manage to retain their protective powers over an entire year, at which time they must be replaced by others which are identical in appearance but renewed, while some peter out protectively in a few weeks. But in neither case may you casually huck them out with the garbage.Omamori of the former type are generally disposed of at a shrine around New Years (where, conveniently, new are available for purchase), but the New Years decorations (shimenawa, しめ縄, are most common) miss this boat. Consequently, an event to dispose of these is held in most neighborhoods, usually on the second Saturday of January, called "dondoya" - kind of an interesting word. It is a portmanteau of「尊や尊」(tou ya tou - respect and respect)、the phrase for "speedily" (どんどんと - referring to the rapid burning), and an onomatopoeia of the sound the bamboo traditionally used as the combustible material makes as the gas in each of its separate chambers expands and explodes. Participants often roast mochi over the embers, though I usually brought enough marshmellows for all the neighborhood kids (I was a popular dad).Check around your neighborhood for the location and date it will be held. It's actually quite fun - and convenient for relieving oneself of amulets. - William 2018-01-06 08:56 JST"Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima announced at a press conference on Jan. 4 that the ban on foreign companies selling products bearing the popular black bear character would be lifted. Kumamon is also set to star in his very own anime as well for both domestic and foreign audiences."-- KirkP.S. The Japan Times also covered this story:"Domestic and overseas sales of Kumamon-related products, including stuffed toys and stationery, increased 27 percent in 2016 from the previous year to some ¥128 billion, according to the prefectural government."https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/04/business/kumamoto-prefecture-decides-allow-foreign-firms-use-kumamon-bear-brand/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180105/p2a/00m/0na/002000cForeign licensing ban for Kumamoto mascot 'Kumamon' lifted, anime in the works - The Mainichi 2018-01-05 17:33 JSTJoe Tomei here. A nice BBC Travel article about Kumamoto castle hereThe Japanese castle that defied history 2018-01-05 19:08 JSTThough not specific to Kumamoto, a previous post on this topic https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1565907143482712got a big reaction so I thought I'd share this as a kind of update.-- Kirkhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/11/national/media-national/lawsuit-over-students-dyed-hair-confronts-outdated-thinking-in-japan/Lawsuit over student's dyed hair confronts outdated thinking in Japan | The Japan Times 2018-01-05 15:56 JSTThis BBC article discusses the colorful history of Kumamoto …The Japanese castle that defied history (this post) 2018-01-05 14:30 JSTKumanichi reports that the opening of the Oyano bypass in Amakusa, intended to reduce travel time between downtown Kumamoto and Amakusa City to 90 minutes, is now scheduled for May of this year. The original March opening was postponed due to the difficulty of securing construction workers after the quakes (priorities). A beautiful photo of the new bridge, which connects to a more direct route carved through the Uto peninsula to circumvent the windy coastal route and is part of the Minami bypass starting from Ueki interchange, is below, and a map at the link. - William新天草１号橋、５月開通 大矢野バイパス３・７キロ区間 - 熊本日日新聞 2018-01-05 00:01 JST"Tokyo Reporter" is not my favorite news source but it seems to be the only one to write in English about this issue. Here's a URL for a Japanese report:https://www.tku.co.jp/news/熊本市西区の殺人事件%E3%80%80次男を送検/-- Kirkhttps://www.tokyoreporter.com/2018/01/03/kumamoto-man-47-stabs-father-to-death/Kumamoto: Man, 47, stabs father to death | The Tokyo Reporter 2018-01-04 21:44 JSTThe venue of this light show is far from Kumamoto (closer to Nagoya) but the theme is close to home:"The festival uses more than 8 million LED lights to depict intricate scenes from nature. In the past, the light show has recreated Mt. Fuji, the Swiss Alps, and the Aurora Borealis. But this year, festival organizers have themed the show around Kumamoto, a city in Japan that was struck by a series of earthquakes in 2016."-- KirkThis Dazzling Light Show in a Japanese Flower Garden Is One for the Bucket List 2018-01-02 13:57 JSTCNN notes that Nagashima-chō in Mie-ken, which is famous for its themed light displays, has themed this year's on Kumamoto. An organizer was quoted, "Our main theme of this year is 'Kumamon's hometown dream in Kumamoto. This year's theme features beautiful landmarks of Kumamoto, where Kumamon travels." (Likely the maximum usage of "theme" I've ever used in a paragraph.) - WilliamJapan's wildest light display is back 2018-01-02 10:59 JSTPrivate note with a bit of useful information. My dog on New Years got a lil' doggie calendar and a lil' doggie amulet (they're called "eto" - 干支 - figurines representing the year of the Chinese zodiac) - along with a lil' doggie お祓い(oharai, that Shinto blessing they do with a stick and paper). He was not impressed and said, "Great. Can I go back to sleep now?"Fun fact! There are 12 cycles in the Chinese zodiac, each represented by an animal - last year was the cock (hee hee!) and next year will be the pig, so as my dog is 11, this is the first and only time in his life he'll enjoy 戌年 (inu doshi - Year of the Dog).If you look closely at the calendar, you'll notice it is now Heisei 30 (平成30年) - easy to forget what reign year it is (even Japanese often forget), and with the Emperor set to retire on April 30, 2019, this will be the last full Heisei year (unsure of how they'll handle that - it meshes with the fiscal year but not the calendar year).(Also, Takara Pan bakery ー 宝パンー makes wonderful pizza crust upon which you can build your own pies. Contact info on the calendar.) - William
