Kirk here with a video report (in English) on the eighth anniversary of the quakes.
2024-04-16 00:31 JST 2024 Kirk here with a video report (in English) on the eighth anniversary of the quakes. Japan marks 8 years since Kumamoto earthquake | NHK WORLD-JAPAN NewsSunday marks eight years since a deadly earthquake hit the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240414_10/ ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 10 · Comments: 0 · Shares: 0 ← 2024-04-15 16:00 JST 2024-04-16 09:00 JST → Around this time … 2024-04-17 23:37 JSTThere was an earthquake after 11 PM. The shaking in Kumamoto City was relatively mild but my phone went nuts (wake up and run for cover!!). Shikoku had more intense shaking. -- Kirk 2024-04-17 18:02 JSTKirk here. I got this is my feed today:https://thesmartlocal.com/read/farmstays-japan/#4_Nakamura_Ranch_KumamotoSince it mentions the Nakamura Ranch, I went to the source (for anyone who might be interested).https://en.stayjapan.com/area/kumamoto/aso/pr/1231Reservations for Nakamura Ranch - Ranching lifestyle experience（Aso Kumamoto)｜STAY JAPAN 2024-04-17 10:19 JSTKirk here with some notes on pdf publications in various languages that provide information for residents. The languages are やさしい日本語 (Easy Japanese), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese), 中文（簡体字） (Simplified Chinese), 中文（繁体字） (Traditional Chinese), Tagalog, bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian), नेपाली (Nepali), English, 한국어 (Korean), မြန်မာ (Burmese), ខ្មែរ (Khmer). They are available at the following URL:http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page338.html?type=topI recommend that you download both the Easy Japanese version and the version in your target language (English or whatever). That way, you'll be able to find the key Japanese words you will need to get Japanese people to understand what you're talking about.A simple example is the "Maternal and Child Health Handbook" mentioned on page 16 of the English. It's possible that a Japanese person at the Shiyakusho (city hall) will understand if you tell them that you want a "Maternal and Child Health Handbook" but you are much more likely to be understood if you can say "boshi techo." And, I think it's extremely unlikely that someone who has read the Tagalog version will be understood if they tell the person at the counter that they came to get their "Talaan ng Pangkalusugan ng Ina at Anak." So, on a positive note, I think it's great that you can use these translations in tandem with the simple Japanese. Negatively, however, I'm mystified by the lack of any Japanese terminology in the foreign language versions. A little parenthetical inclusion of key terms such as "boshi techo" would greatly enhance the usefulness of such translations, especially in languages other than English. Though it is true that foreign language translations are very useful to people from other countries, particularly people who do not understand Japanese well, I'm amazed at the extent to which it is assumed that foreigners ONLY need foreign language translations. It's as though there's an assumption that foreigners only need to be able to read and understand documents and that they have no need to talk about the information they gleaned from them with actual Japanese people! As the documents are currently being provided, someone who doesn't understand Japanese well enough to locate the corresponding section in the Easy Japanese version or to read the hiragana will have considerable difficulty actually getting a copy of their "Talaan ng Pangkalusugan ng Ina at Anak." 2024-04-16 18:09 JSTHere's an article on the machiya (traditional wooden townhouses) of Uki City. Kyoto is famous for such buildings but you can see them right here in Kumamoto. -- Kirk https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15230058Here's a Wikipedia article on the buildings:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiya‘Machiya’ still surviving 8 years after Kumamoto twin earthquakes | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis 2024-04-16 09:00 JSTDon't be fooled by the headline -- Kumamoto is actually recognized as one of the BEST mannered places in Japan. Of course, I can't vouch for the scientific reliability of the survey -- but I'm pleased with the result just the same. ;) -- KirkA Survey Ranked Japan's Most Ill-Mannered City. The Winner? - Unseen Japan 2024-04-16 00:31 JSTKirk here with a video report (in English) on the eighth …Japan marks 8 years since Kumamoto earthquake | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News (this post) 2024-04-15 16:00 JSTKirk here with something about Kumamoto Square. The URL of the website I took a screenshot of is here:https://www.kumamon-sq.jp/en/Here's a bit of news (translated from the Japanese by the Claude AI service) about it:Headline: Visiting Japan to meet Kumamon - Visitor center sees 4-fold increase, with majority being foreignersText: Kumamoto Prefecture's PR character "Kumamon" is popular among inbound tourists (foreign visitors to Japan). Among the 30,000 monthly visitors to "Kumamon Square" (Kumamoto City), which was renovated in July 2023, more than half are foreign tourists, mainly from Asia. The number of visitors in fiscal year 2023 has nearly quadrupled compared to fiscal year 2022, and as of the end of March 2024, the cumulative number of visitors reached 3.5 million.https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOJC222B90S4A320C2000000/ 2024-04-14 16:49 JSTKirk here. It's been eight years since the 2016 quakes. In addition to being a life-changing event for everyone who experienced it, the disaster kept the volunteer editors of this page (including yours truly) quite busy. I may write a bit about that some other day.Kumamoto Quake Victims Remembered 8 Years On 2024-04-14 13:00 JSTKirk here. We need to utilize sustainable solar energy but there can been problems associated with solar panels as well. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/science-nature/environment/20240405-178623/To view a previous post on this topic (having to do with erosion), click or tap on the following:https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=solar%20panelsSolar Panels Around Southern Japan’s Mt. Aso Stoke Fears Over Landscape; Local Govt Scrambles to Preserve Nature 2024-04-13 11:34 JSTKirk here. In keeping with the anniversary of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes (the first of which was on the 14th), an article has been in published in Japanese about Andrew Mitchell and the Kumamoto Earthquake Experience Project - KEEP. Even if you don't read Japanese, those of you who know the people involved may enjoy the photos.https://www.nhk.or.jp/fukuoka/lreport/article/001/82/The Facebook page of the project is here:https://www.facebook.com/kumadaiquake/ 2024-04-12 23:53 JSTKirk here. The new children's library has opened! Has anyone checked out the collection of books in English?Children’s Book Forest Kumamoto, a Library Built and Donated by Tadao Ando, Opens
