Kirk here with some news about a new position I’ve been given. In recognition of my many years of service to the local community and in view of the knowledge I have accumulated about Kumamoto during that period, RKK has designated me as their “Senior Foreign Correspondent” (主任外国人特派員) and set aside a three-minute slot for me to express my views on local events and issues. I recorded my first session the other day in which I proposed that the name “Kumamoto” be changed to “Voltomoto” and that Kumamon be replaced by an electric eel called “Voltomon.” I know, I know . . . this was my “April fools” post last year (see URL below) — but the more I thought about it, the better the idea started to seem to me, so I thought I’d make the proposal for real this time.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/5139433589463365
I asked about when my next column was scheduled to be recorded and aired and they said something about freezing temperatures in a fiery inferno. Must be some kind of media lingo or something. I’ll let you know when I hear back from them.
By the way, they originally wanted to call my column “青い目から見た . . .” (“A blue-eyed perspective on . . .”) but I said “Hey! Look at my eyes! They’re green!” Well, “hazel” really, but I didn’t know how to say that in Japanese. At any rate, that’s why the column is titled “緑の目から見た熊本” (“A green-eyed perspective on Kumamoto”). After I get the name of this place changed to “Voltomoto” I’m going do a column about how everything in Kumamoto looks green to me — you know, because I have green eyes.
Happy April 1st!