Kirk here introducing a post about Mason Buskirk, who is working to get the JR Hisatsu Line restored and to keep the SL Hitoyoshi in service.
I contacted him after reading the article and he shared this link to a Japanese-language website associated with his efforts:
http://www.hisatsu-again.info/shomei/index.html
Mason, you can explain this better than I can. Please add any information or comments that occur to you. :)