A friend queried why “Higokko” (肥後っ子, as those native to Kumamoto are known) excel so at mathematics, so I Googled it but couldn’t find a satisfactory answer. Requirement, though, often drives results. My father in law, from the isolated village of Tomochi, was the first in his family to attend college and became a teacher of mathematics. His village is bisected by a steep, deep valley. Nearby is a bridge called Naidaijin (内大臣橋). The logistics to make this bridge must have been astounding. The roads also pass through tiny tunnels that make it feel like a Disneyland ride. If you haven’t been out there, you should. - William