“Kukai Jodo” (苦海浄土, literally, “Bitter Sea, Paradise Earth”, available at Amazon), was a novel published in 1969 by then 42-year old Ishimure Michiko (石牟礼 道子), who was born in Kawaura-machi, Amakusa (her surname is unusual, but the isolation of Amakusa has endowed it with linguistic idiosyncrasies). The novel (which I’ve yet to read) apparently centers on the rape of resources and resulting environmental harm which commonly occurs during a country’s early economic development - in this case, the rape of Minamata.
Gofuku Machi (呉服町) is in what was once the commercial center of Kumamoto, though it has today deteriorated into gentile delapidation. A wattle-and-daub storehouse known as Hayakawa Souko (早川倉庫）was built there in 1915 and remains in use as an event space. On Monday, February 19 from 7:00 PM, an actor named Kawashima Kouchi (川島宏知)will present a solo excerpt of the novel entitled “Fish of Heaven” (天の魚, Ten no Iwo). This excerpt was written several decades ago, has won several literary awards, and has been performed around the globe.
So if you’re free Monday night, you can acquaint yourself with an historical building and an important story in one of the best parts of Kumamoto. Take the trolley and disembark at the Gofuku Machi stop; it’s a short walk from there, and while there, be sure to visit Jay and Chikae’s lovely bakery, Out of Step, which is close by - https://www.facebook.com/outofstepbagels/ . - William