Kirk here with an article for history buffs.
2021-11-29 10:49 JST 2021 Kirk here with an article for history buffs. Tabaruzaka Park: Discovering the Japanese GettysburgAtop a certain hilltop in Kumamoto Prefecture is a serene park, with lanes of cherry trees and azaleas on its terraced hillside. https://japan.stripes.com/travel/tabaruzaka-park-discovering … ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 17 · Comments: 0 · Shares: 3 ← 2021-11-28 11:00 JST 2021-11-30 15:43 JST → Around this time … 2021-12-01 21:45 JSTKirk here with bad news for people outside of Japan hoping to return:"In a stunning move, the transportation ministry Wednesday directed airlines to halt reservations for incoming flights to Japan for one month amid growing fears over the omicron coronavirus variant. The ministry described the move as 'an emergency measure.' People with existing bookings will still be able to fly into Japan."In the past, residents of Japan with foreign passports have been excluded but this is the first time I'm aware of where Japanese citizens will also be unable to return until the ban on new reservations is lifted.Japan halts new incoming flight bookings over omicron strain 2021-12-01 11:55 JSTKirk with an emu update. In October, William reported on the emu escape mentioned in the article. I learned from the article that the animals are being kept in an abandoned elementary school and that the goal to to turn it into a tourist farm. They are waiting for the end of the pandemic to begin inviting tourists.Kumamoto: Mountain town embraces cracker-fed emus 2021-11-30 23:10 JSTKirk here with one more Omicron update. This one is a TV report from FNN about Kumamoto University needing to cancel plans to accept new students from various countries.新たな変異株で新規入国禁止 熊本大学では留学手続きを中断 2021-11-30 23:05 JSTKirk here. Earlier today I posted about new restrictions related to the discovery of Omicron variant. After I posted, RKK ran a news segment about the impact on agriculture in Kumamoto. The prefecture depends on foreign "trainees" for agricultural labor. Here's the Japanese YouTube url for the video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNSKcQmNSVEAnd here's the RKK page:https://rkk.jp/news/index.php?id=NS003202111301715000111 2021-11-30 15:43 JSTHi! Kirk here with news that I'm sure most of you have already gotten and that fits in the category of "not specific to Kumamoto but is as relevant to those of us here as it is to the rest of Japan."I've seen some articles that make it sound as though Japan has decided not to allow any foreigners into Japan. Here, for example, is a sentence from Nikkei Asia:"Japan will suspend entry into the country by foreign nationals starting Tuesday, citing the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19."https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Japan-to-suspend-entry-of-overseas-travelers-due-to-omicronFortunately, though this wording is extremely misleading (lousy journalism), there is more nuance to the actual policy. Both the following NHK article and video and the Japanese reports I've seen indicate that those of us with legal residency status will not be banned. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211129_22/However, if you're returning from an area in which Omicron has been discovered, you may be significantly delayed by the need to quarantine. Here's the government page on that topic:https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section3And here is the text currently on the page regarding the countries that have been newly added to the special restrictions:Countries/ regions subject to the quarantine measures mentioned in (i) above.On November 26, 2021, the following countries are designated (The above-mentioned quarantine measures already commenced from 0:00 am (JST) on November 27, 2021.):Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, LesothoOn November 27, 2021, the following countries are designated (The above-mentioned quarantine measures commence from 0:00 am (JST) on November 28, 2021.):Zambia, Malawi, Mozambiquehttps://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section1Japan to ban new entry of foreigners from Tues. | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News 2021-11-29 10:49 JSTKirk here with an article for history buffs.Tabaruzaka Park: Discovering the Japanese Gettysburg (this post) 2021-11-28 11:00 JST(Fiona) Anyone looking for seasonal work? Here's a request for someone to be Santa. Please contact Marty at Hilltop International School for further information.Looking for a Santa! Hilltop International School, located in Tatsuda Jinnai, is looking for someone to be Santa at our Christmas party on Wednesday, December 22nd from 10:15 to 11:00am. You need to be entertaining and able to answer some questions in English. After Santa makes his entrance, the children will sing you a few songs then get their presents. You will need to come to Hilltop once before the party to try on the suit and talk about the party plan. The total pay is 12,500 yen. If you are interested, email me at [email protected] 2021-11-27 13:27 JSTKirk with news about the planned TSMC chip factory. A government subsidy for half of the investment sounds quite generous to me.TSMC To Receive $3.47 Billion In Subsidies From Japan Government For $7 Billion Chip Factory It Will Set Up In Kumamoto 2021-11-26 19:22 JSTAnett here: It's really short notice but Shugakukan has its Furiai Matsuri tomorrow in Yatsushiro. Please see the poster for more information.Start: 13:30 Place: Nakagawa Furiai Arena (it's besides the Tandai college in Yatsushiro)I used to work there some years ago but at least the energy and effort they put into such events was incredible. So if you decide to go, you'll not be disappointed. 2021-11-26 15:00 JSTKirk here, introducing a fairly new Nepalese restaurant. I say "Nepalese" because the two gentlemen that are running it are from Nepal. But, I'm not sure how much of their menu should be classified as Nepalese and how much is Indian. The name of the restaurant is "Indian Curry Suizenji" (インドカレーすいぜんじ) and it is located near Suizenji Station. You can find a map and several 5-star reviews on it by Googling インドカレーすいぜんじ.The menu is not vegetarian but they have some vegetarian items. I particularly enjoyed the freshly made nan. I was quite hungry at the time and would have enjoyed larger portions but I think you can get seconds on some items or perhaps larger portions could be negotiated. I was told that they have another restaurant in Fukuoka but that they just started this one in October.The last picture I'm uploading shows so items that they sell there. 2021-11-25 21:42 JSTKirk here with some information about an opportunity to help children living in an orphanage in Kumamoto. The text that follows is from Yoriko Sakuma and the photo is one that I took from the orphanage's website:https://www.jiaien-childhome.com/--- text from Yoriko ---English Speaking Volunteers Needed at an Orphanage!!!Kuma Ei Go! offers an English activity program at Jiaien, an orphanage in the Kuwamizu area of Kumamoto City. We are a small group of Japanese and non-Japanese volunteers, and we are constantly looking for new members to join us. We meet on Thursdays from 7pm until 8pm. You won’t have to come every Thursday but only when you can although the children would benefit more from volunteers who can commit regularly. Japanese can be helpful but not necessary. We have children from elementary to high school. They love to learn English and communicate with “foreign” sensei (teachers). Please join us and make some changes in the children’s life. Contact: Yoriko 080-2708-1266 [email protected]
