2020-01-02 14:21 JST 2020 豊肥線、今秋に復旧へ ＪＲ九州「頑張りたい」 ｜ 熊本日日新聞ＪＲ九州の青柳俊彦社長は３１日、熊本地震で被災した豊肥線の不通区間（肥後大津－阿蘇、２７・３キロ）に... https://this.kiji.is/584878951339902049?c=92619697908483575 ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 7 · Comments: 0 · Shares: 0 ← 2020-01-02 10:42 JST 2020-01-03 12:36 JST → Around this time … 2020-01-09 13:08 JSTAso Taiichi-san, who lives in Koshi Machi, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disorder that results in the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. This has progressively left Aso-san with mobility only with his left hand and his head. A friend created for him a custom-made mouse that allows him to maneuver a mouse ball using his lower lip and click commands using his left hand.With this newfound freedom to roam the Internet, he and his caretaker have made a series of inspirational but funny videos at a Youtube page called あそどっぐ, each of which he edits himself, taking an average of 15 hours for a few-minute clip. Aso-san's initial goal was to gather 100,000 followers, but soon realizing that overreach, he lowered it to 10,000, a number he recently reached.Saying "I want people all over the country to see the story of a bedridden entertainer," Aso-san continues to post and inspire. Subscribe to his Youtube site so that you can encourage him to continue inspiring others. - William【障害者 VS 障害者】カミサマへの反逆！！！ 2020-01-08 12:07 JST「火映現象」(Kaeigenshō) is translated at Weblio as "a phenomenon of combustion inside a volcanic crater that creates ruddy reflection against smoke or clouds." In other words, the red that you see is not erupting magma but a reflection of heat on emitted gasses. Aso occasionally burps out gas. Kumanichi reports that it burped out 3,300 tons of sulfur dioxide on 1/6, resulting in an alarming appearance. Scientists who maintain monitoring stations around the volcano which monitor bulges indicating magma intrusions were not alarmed, and the warning level remains at 2, meaning don't approach the crater. It did allow for a magnificent photograph. - William阿蘇中岳で火映現象 警戒レベル２は維持 ｜ 熊本日日新聞 2020-01-07 13:49 JSTImmediately post-war, the government was preoccupied with getting people home and fed. That accomplished, in the 50s and 60s, they turned their attention to housing, with Kumamoto Prefecture building massive amounts of 4-5 story ferro-concrete complexes known as "熊本県営住宅," or Kumamoto Prefecture subsidized housing" (or, if you're British, Council estates), of which 8,528 units still exist.You've probably seen some: invariably white or some shade that once was white, each building numbered or lettered, with steep stairwells, no elevators, no modern conveniences such as A/C or water heaters (unless self-installed), and invariably in a state of dank deterioration, and you've likely thought, "Thank God I don't live there!" Turns out you're not alone: Kumanichi reports that vacancies in these buildings has skyrocketed 85% over the past six years, topping 10% last year, and shows no signs of slowing.This puts the prefecture in a conundrum: Those who remain tend to be elderly, for whom the housing is unsuitable unless living on the ground floor, and the poor who cannot afford anything else. Replacement would necessitate relocation of current residents and likely result in vastly more expensive rents as the housing stock for the poor in Kumamoto City rapidly shrinks.Any reader who has experience with this housing or has ideas for solutions are encouraged to comment below. - William熊本県営住宅の空き室１割超、５年で４倍 老朽化 生活に合わず ｜ 熊本日日新聞 2020-01-04 13:38 JSTA note from the Kumamoto International Rodent Desk: "nezumi" (鼠 is most often used, but you can also use 鼡, 鼢, 鼬, 鼦, 鼪, 鼫, 鼯, 鼴, 鼷, 鼹 or 鼺 depending on how much time you have) is often translated as "rat" but can also mean "mouse" - Japanese doesn't quite distinguish between the two. (Disclaimer: I had a pet rat in college; they are far more intelligent than mice, kind of like tiny dogs.) Photos of kids playing with animals such as guinea pigs (マーモット, though they're not marmots) and capybara (goes by the katakana) abound in this Year of the ... uh ... Rat? (To be clear, a マーモット is not a marmot but a guinea pig, which are neither from Guinea nor are pigs and are certainly not rats or mice, but you take your rodents where you can find 'em.) In fact, pretty much every rodent (齧歯類, gesshirui) - and even some non-mammals - incorporate the kanji 鼠. Let's have a look!Yamanezumi (山鼠) is a dormouse.Nonezumi (野鼠) is a field mouse.Hatanezumi (畑鼠, "field rat") is a vole.Risu (栗鼠, "chestnut rat") is a squirrel.Shimarisu (縞栗鼠, "striped chestnut rat") is a chipmunk. Fukuronezumi (袋鼠 - "pouch rat") is a possum (or opossum - your choice).Harinezumi (針鼠 - "pin rat") is a porcupine.Nezumijika (鼠鹿) is, of course, a mouse deer.Mogura (鼢) is a mole. Note it's one kanji.Nezumiiruka (鼠海豚 - kind of cute: it translates as "mouse sea pig") is a porpoise.Namako (海鼠) is a sea cucumber, unless you dry them, in which case they become熬海鼠 (Iriko), which is a dried sea slug. Undoubtedly, there are more. If you can think of any, please let us know. - William今年の干支ネズミの仲間がいっぱい 熊本市動植物園 ｜ 熊本日日新聞 2020-01-03 12:36 JSTA note to our American friends: To ensure receipt of your absentee ballot, print out, fill out, and send this confirmation. Remember how close the vote was in 2016. Every vote does certainly count. - William 2020-01-02 14:21 JST豊肥線、今秋に復旧へ ＪＲ九州「頑張りたい」 ｜ 熊本日日新聞 (this post) 2020-01-02 10:42 JSTUsed to be a time there was a train. The train connected Kumamoto and Oita and was thus known by its cute moniker in remembrance of the feudal names of the two regions, the Hōhisen (豊肥線). Then the quakes broke a hydroelectric plant reservoir, washing away 27 kilometers of track and the land that it traversed.This has been particularly troublesome for those who live within the Aso caldera and used to use the train to commute to school or shop - it connects with the local line Minami Aso Tetsudo at Tateno Station. Since the quakes, they've had to take buses, which adds hours to their journey. But good news: apparently, 80% of civil engineering work such as embankment reinforcement and 30% of track replacement is said to have been completed, and JR has projected that the route will reopen this autumn. Another step on the route to recovery. - William豊肥線、今秋に復旧へ ＪＲ九州「頑張りたい」 ｜ 熊本日日新聞 2020-01-02 09:29 JSTFor those who are in Kumamoto until January 13th, you still have time to see collections of different types of goldfish at Kumamoto Jyo Hall in Sakuramachi. -Olivia- 2019-12-31 15:12 JSTHi friends.You might be busy for preparing new year. Have you finished all your work?If you want to enjoy new year as Kumamoto-jin, you should buy 赤酒Akazake.Akazake is very famous Kumamoto Nihonshu. Of course, it's made in Kumamoto, Kawashiri. It's very close to my elementary school I work. Few weeks ago, I visited the Sake maker,瑞鷹 ZUIYOU,as study visit with 3rd grade students.(東肥Touhi is a part of ZUIYOU) The staff explained the Akazake is colored by ash. They put ash into sake to stop to oxidize, keep as sake, not to become vinegar. Old days sake in Japan were all colored red. They keep the old way to make Akazake still now and we, Kumamoto-jin love the red sake as celebrate alcohol in new year.I'm local Kumamoto citizen. After bringing up, I know the Akazake is only Kumamoto prefecture new year celebrate sake.😂I like the sweet taste. It reminds my family new year memory.Of course, I bought this year too.I recommend the Kumamoto Lovely taste in your new year!! Hoping your Happy New year 2020💖ーAtsuko(*Ü*)瑞鷹ZUIYOUhttps://www.facebook.com/zuiyo.sake/ 2019-12-31 11:07 JSTKumamoto International wishes a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year to all our readers! (This ema 「絵馬」was available at Rakuten but is sold out.) 2019-12-30 12:43 JSTWhen Kotsu Center closed for reconstruction in 2015, the buses had to go somewhere, so a large, temporary terminal was created in front which included an event area proving so popular that 334 events have been held there to date. Now that the buses are gone, the city has decided to spiffy it up a bit with artificial turf and other facilities, thus spanning the distance from Karashima Park and Hanabata Park. Considering its popularity as an event space, the work will be done in sections, allowing those not under construction to still be utilized. Work is expected to be complete in autumn 2021 and will greatly aid revitalization of that area. Now, I hope attention will be paid towards pedestrian-friendly connections between Hanabata and the train station in Kasuga. That could easily follow Tsuboi river. - William
