Kirk here with news about a run-away iguana. P.S. Who would keep a 2-meter iguana as a pet?
2023-09-13 13:12 JST 2023 Kirk here with news about a run-away iguana. P.S. Who would keep a 2-meter iguana as a pet? 2-meter-long iguana on the loose in Kyushu - The MainichiKUMAMOTO -- An approximately 2-meter-long green iguana has escaped from a house in the Kumamoto Prefecture town of Asagiri in Japan's southwest island https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230912/p2a/00m/0li/00 … ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 13 · Comments: 6 · Shares: 0 ← 2023-09-12 20:48 JST 2023-09-13 16:57 JST → Around this time … 2023-09-14 15:18 JSTWilliam A bit of history regarding the Autumn Great Festival (or Boshita, or 藤崎八旛宮秋季例大祭): apparently, its roots go back to a type of festival known as "Hojo-e" (放生会), which (somewhat ironically given allegations of cruelty towards the horses) was held with the aim of ``having compassion for all life, admonishing killing, and giving thanks for the autumn harvest.'' This in turn comes from the principle of non-killing in East Asia's Mahayana Buddhism. Memorial services held during this period included those for such animals as those killed due to unavoidable circumstances and dead pets. Records appear to exist dating a Hojo-e held in Fukuoka in 919.Two Websites for reference: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%94%BE%E7%94%9F%E4%BC%9Ahttps://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/omatsuri/houjoya/放生会 - Wikipedia 2023-09-14 10:37 JSTThe Fujisaki Hachimangu festival got started yesterday with lion dancing (shishimai; 獅子舞), a 400-year-old tradition. Then, the lions went around biting (or pretending to bite) people. Getting bitten by a lion is considered to be good luck. The idea seems to be that the lion is eating any evil spirits that might be attached to you -- kind of like a monkey picking bugs off another monkey for lunch. But, some kids who got bitten weren't buying it. ;) Horses were not involved in this part of the festival. The parade in which the decorated horses will appear is Sunday. I think that some readers of this page might have enjoyed viewing the lion dancing. Sorry I wasn't able to give you a proper heads-up.熊本・藤崎八旛宮例大祭、獅子舞奉納で始まる 57団体参加の神幸行列は17日｜熊本日日新聞社 2023-09-13 21:00 JSTKirk here with a followup to Williams post about the British Fair (英国フェア) underway at Tsuruya, which will last until next Tuesday (the 19th). Actually, I didn't notice William's post before started writing this one; please for give some overlap.The picture of the scones is from the Tsuruya website, which has the details about the event:https://www.tsuruya-dept.co.jp/saiji/britishfair/index.htmlThe spot I saw about this on RKK showed fish and chips being made and sold. That wasn't on the Tsuruya website so I took the fish-and-chips photo from the following Kumanichi article, which was published today on the opening of the fair:https://kumanichi.com/articles/1170452I'm posting this not as an advert for Tsuruya but in the hope that folks who love British food might be interested. If, however, there's someplace better for Brits to find comfort food, please let me know in a comment. 2023-09-13 19:00 JSTKirk here with event news for jazz fans. The event will be held in Suizenji Jojuen (Suizenji Park) on the 29th of September and the price is right: free! Moreover, I think the quality of the performances will be very good. I'm kind of a snob when it comes to jazz so I didn't want to recommend the event without some evidence that the quality would be good. And I found very convincing evidence of that quality in the form of a YouTube video of the jazz pianist, Tomoko Sonoda:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsftYXpClF8By the way, I originally found out about this event here:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=683771053788517&set=a.632782172220739You can find a calendar of more events announced on this page here:https://kumamotoi.blogspot.com/2023/09/calendar.html 2023-09-13 16:57 JSTWilliam Tsuruya is having what they call an "English Fair" 「英国フェア」from today through the 19th. Apparently, there are scones and tea and fish 'n chips. And antiques, and goods branded with the British flag. This NSFW clip is about all I know re: London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=291kT7LvQ0khttps://kumanichi.com/articles/1170452紅茶にスコーン、フィッシュ＆チップス 英国文化身近に味わって 鶴屋百貨店でフェア始まる｜熊本日日新聞社 2023-09-13 13:12 JSTKirk here with news about a run-away iguana.2-meter-long iguana on the loose in Kyushu - The Mainichi (this post) 2023-09-12 20:48 JSTKirk here reporting that KIHARA Minoru (Kumamoto) is Japan's new Minister of Defense. https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-PM-Kishida-to-replace-foreign-defense-ministersI think his fans and detractors would both agree that he's quite conservative. He is, for example, an member of the very conservative (some would say reactionary) Nippon Kaigi:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_KaigiIf you'd like to see previous Kumamoto International posts about Mr. Kihara, please click on the following link:https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=kiharaJapan PM Kishida to replace foreign, defense ministers 2023-09-12 17:40 JSTKirk here with pedestrian crossing (oudan hodou; 横断歩道) news. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians waiting at a crosswalk not governed by a traffic light. However, it has frequently be pointed out on this page that not all drivers will stop for you. But, you may have noticed that the situation is improving; I've certainly noticed a change on my daily walks. The graph shows the increase percentage of drivers who stop, as required, at crosswalks. The numbers start in 2018, where those who stop properly are clearly in the minority. By 2022 the figure for Kumamoto in 57.3%, considerably higher than the national average of 39.8%.I think the change is due to efforts of the police to actually enforce the law (amazing, isn't it, what a little enforcement will do) and media efforts to help get the word out that stopping is important.https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/site/police/171906.htmlFor some perspective, here's a quote from William from 2019:--- start quote ---JAF notes that Kumamoto ranks among the lowest amongst prefectures for drivers following this rule. Nagano was highest, with 69% of drivers giving pedestrians priority; adherence seems to fall as one moves south (maybe lack of snow?). Kyushu prefectures bottomed out the list: only 11% of Kumamoto drivers yield to pedestrians (and this includes cyclists), far below the 20% national average, which in and of itself is shockingly low.--- end quote ---https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02FHU3BG7TiL6icfkeo5znwRamesiRXM9hVGeP6PE2h4ZjXu9HWC5igzp6Lqa4Gg8XlThe figures William quoted are reflected in this graph.Here's a post I did about a Kumanichi report written by graphic novelist Sean Micheal Wilson:https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02eQ2CYF87HchzikV5YEDnSHpRaEch9tJZA9GvMbaQt7VxWvP2Nx86DxyJzNZZWqqolSee? Kumamoto International isn't just a lot of hot air. We're making a difference (or, in this case at least, the direction our hot air is blowing in matches that of the local society ;) )!P.S. I've noticed that compliance is not so good at night, where drivers assume that pedestrians have no reason to be out and about and that the roads are just for them. So, never assume that a car will stop for you, especially at night. Wait until you are sure they are stopping. Also, even though drivers are supposed to stop, I like to nod, wave or smile to show my appreciation and encourage them to keep it up. :) 2023-09-12 11:18 JSTI think lots of humans would like to live longer, healthier lives. Research at Kumamoto University on naked mole-rats (not those dressed-up mole rats) may lead to important discoveries that, in turn, may help us do so (maybe ;) ). -- KirkJapanese scientists may have unraveled the secret of aging resistance in naked mole-rats 2023-09-11 20:00 JSTKirk here with something for sunflower fans about and event in Yanagawa:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=780399150759983Yanagawa is just beyond the border with Kumamoto in Fukuoka prefecture. Yanagawa is also known for its canals, on which tourists can enjoy tours. For more information about that see the following page (which is the source of the second photo):https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/destinations/fukuoka/yanagawarivercruising 2023-09-11 16:44 JSTKirk here coming back to the Fujisakigu festival. I found a book in my university's library that presents interesting information about the festival (see cover image). On pages 78 and 79, it says that in 1982, public dissatisfaction with the involvement of yakuza in the festival (apparently, yakuza groups were shaking down folks in town by demanding "contributions" to fund their participation in the festival) and the abuse of horses. In response, a "Fujisakigu Reitasai Decorated Horse Supervisory Committee" was established and a set of rules written up and distributed. In 1983, four groups that were found to be in violation of the rules were banned from the festival the following year. Impressive! But, the author doesn't say (at least not in this part of the chapter) whether or not such enforcement of rules was continued in following years. This got me wondering about contemporary rules that the groups must follow. I found an application for on the shrine's website that requires all participating groups to follow rules established by the shrine but I couldn't find the set of rules itself. If they are really committed to enforcing a set of rules, I think that publishing them for all to see would be a good start. Indeed, the animal rights group I quoted in my last message complained that the shrine had not yet responded to a request for a clear list of rules (but this was a few years ago).
