Kirk here. A while back I complained that the prefecture’s website doesn’t seem to have a section devoted to providing information to foreign residents. Since then, I’ve learned that the prefecture has a “Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents” and that such information can be found there. Here’s the address of the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/KumamotoSupportCenterforForeignResidents
You’ll find a link there to the free online Japanese classes that caused my complaint in the first place. Similar information is available on the Center’s webpage:
http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/hpkiji/pub/List.aspx?c_id=3&class_set_id=6&class_id=582
I think the “Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents” provides important information and services but am worried that it’s a little hard to find. When you go to the prefecture’s main website, you’ll find a link to “Foreign Language” (should be “Foreign Languages”?) and this takes you to machine translations of the entire website in various languages, including English. However, you won’t find a link to the “Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents” there. So, I wonder how they expect people who need help to find it.
If any of you have used the services of “Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents” and would be willing to comment on your experience, either positively or negatively, please do so here.