2024-10-11 19:19 JST 2024 ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 1 · Comments: 4 · Shares: 0 ← 2024-10-10 19:31 JST 2024-10-11 22:03 JST → Around this time … 2024-10-12 13:19 JSTKirk here with an announcement from Josh, who has a job announcement from Kiyomi.--- start quote ---Hello everyone. An old student of mine who works at the Kashima Board of Education is looking for an evening class English teacher for May 2025 to March 2026 (11 months). Details as below:Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (time can be changed a little if needed) twice a month, any weekday fineLocation: Kashima Chomin KainanPay: 6,000 per lesson (=12,000 a month for 2 lessons)No transportation allowance. (Having a car might be better because public transportation not convenient.)Work details: English conversation class for beginners. Can use textbook or your own materialsNative English speaker preferred.Call (096)237-0058 if interested.Contact person: Kiyomi Osaka--- end quote --- 2024-10-12 10:13 JSTKirk here. Thursday "Kumamoto International" will be a quarter of a century old. It started as a mailing list on October 17, 1999. I remember the date because eGroups (later taken over by Yahoo!Groups, now defunct) used to show the "founded" date on the group's webpage. I wish I had a screenshot of that but can't seem to locate one. Five years ago we had a big celebration, which was a lot of fun:https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02GCYhb5tDuEVBBmHiRPeqgi3xJY9yt1aRf8eQcvLLncgFb7yq57zAnJ1w512oTZt4lThis year I think I'm a bit too busy to plan something like that but I wanted to at least mention that 25 years have passed. Thanks to everyone, especially fellow editors (posters) who have been feeding and caring for the page!My own view is that, just as the page transitioned from a mailing list into this Facebook page, it will eventually become necessary to leave Facebook or add some other platform to the community even if we don't completely abandon Facebook. I'll post a bit more later about the issues I've noticed with Facebook (many of which I've already mentioned in previous posts).Thanks again and, looking forward, yoroshiku onegai shimasu!P.S. In the very early days of the mailing list, Mr. Yagi of the Kumamoto International Foundation was quick to recognize the value of what I was trying to do and help me get the word out. A special shout out to him! 2024-10-11 23:03 JSTKirk here with another view of the castle, take from this web page:https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/524f66bbf97787ea5a8149bc185136c3e3b9cd16For details and this mist-eerie-ous scene, see the following post of mine:https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02p8Cq3KR2Qf9hytjC7xLyWtsjMfYCkJQRc4ULQpufjhmjFncvD8HQpyuR1yTo6CqWl 2024-10-11 22:59 JSTKirk here with some information about how to get mist-eerie-ous perspective on the castle.--- start ChatGPT translation ---Artificial Sea of Clouds near the Stone Walls of Kumamoto Castle, Creating a Fantastical Atmosphere for Many TouristsOctober 11, 17:22On the 11th, an initiative began to create an artificial sea of clouds near the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle, captivating many tourists with its magical atmosphere.This initiative was planned for the first time by the city, in conjunction with the "Autumn Kumamoto Castle Festival," which started on the 11th to attract more visitors.The artificial sea of clouds is produced between the special viewing path leading to the main keep and the stone walls.The "Two Styles of Stone Walls," where stone walls from different periods overlap, were enveloped in pure white mist, and tourists were mesmerized by the fantastical sight of the towering main keep behind them.According to the Kumamoto Castle General Office, the mist is generated using water from an old well within the castle grounds, making this one of the largest artificial sea of clouds in the country.The initiative will continue from the 11th until November 4th, with the mist being created every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM.After 6:00 PM, the sea of clouds will be illuminated, and there will also be performances using music.A man visiting with his family from Taiwan said, "The traditional castle itself is amazing, and I feel lucky to have come on the first day of this new sea of clouds initiative."--- end ---熊本城の石垣付近に人工の雲海 幻想的な雰囲気に多くの観光客｜NHK 熊本県のニュース 2024-10-11 22:03 JSTMizuakari is tomorrow and the day after.Please enjoy not only watching but also volunteering to light the lights.Please also find the welcome triangular lantern I made. Atsuko (∩^o^)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー🌟The 19th Kumamotol Mizuakari 🌟🌟Date 🌟TimeOctober 12 (Sat), 18:00-18:00, 2024Saturday, October 12, 18:00-22:00 (tentative)October 13 (Sun) 18:00-21:00 (tentative)🌟Venue 🌟VenueHanabatacho area, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City🌟Map 🌟https://maps.app.goo.gl/LAnbV2VAeUwJcVUx5🌟Mizuakari official website🌟http://mizuakari.net/(You can see the details such as the place of the event)🌟The 2024 19th Kumamoto Kurashijin Festival "Mizuakari" Traffic Regulations for preparation, holding and cleanup 🌟https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/kcic/kiji0032575/index.html"🌟日時🌟2024年10月12日（土）18時～22時（予定）10月13日（日）18時～21時（予定）🌟会場🌟熊本市中央区花畑町一帯🌟地図🌟https://maps.app.goo.gl/LAnbV2VAeUwJcVUx5🌟みずあかり公式サイト🌟http://mizuakari.net/（開催場所などの詳細をご覧いただけます）🌟令和6年 第19回熊本暮らし人まつり「みずあかり」準備・開催及び撤収に伴う交通規制について🌟https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/kcic/kiji0032575/index.htmlMizuakari website in Englishhttps://mizuakari-net.translate.goog/?fbclid=IwY2xjawF2E_tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaF4turIQ-6buEIWpzQG1oEN8ZP8p9qWd-tRbPdbi5Mpe_yiYF6VbRSSIA_aem_wTxMUgV2ikYDiOKlWLe41g&_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en 2024-10-11 19:19 JSTPost (this post) 2024-10-10 19:31 JST.Atsuko here.Information about international BBQ @YWCA near Kumamoto University.٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶ ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー Autumn BBQ party in Kumamoto YWCA's garden✨ This is Halal BBQ🍖From 11:30 noon on Saturday, October 19. All meat and seasonings used are halal-compatible🙌🏻 It's gotten cooler and it's easier to spend lunch, so I'd like to enjoy it in the garden!! The participation fee will be 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children as spring campaign support prices. Please refer to the leaflet for details♪If you wish to participate, please apply through Google Form! 2024-10-09 20:48 JSTSean here -Teen Dirven's next 2024 Ezuko Trick or Trash Halloween event is just around the corner. Sunday October 27th I hope many of you will be able to join us.Please message the group if you can. The teens are working very hard to make this a successful event. Your support would be appreciated.If you have kids clothes/ books /toys in good condition, we will have a small bazaar. The proceeds will go to out charity org. What is not sold will be donated to Jiaien (Local orphanage) 2024-10-08 22:14 JSTPlease share this with anyone you think might be interested. We need to get the word out!!===========================Kirk here, asking that you help Takemura-sensei. I think many of you know of her work. For those who don't please read the following brief description which ChatGPT and I translated from the website where you can donate:--- start translation ---Message from the OrganizerWe provide Japanese language instruction and create safe spaces for children with foreign roots who are living in Kumamoto Prefecture, helping them achieve their dreams. We kindly ask for your continued support so that we can keep these efforts going!Project Highlights1. Over the past 15 years, we have expanded our Japanese language support for children.2. However, the rapid increase in the number of children has made it difficult to continue our support activities.3. We want to keep supporting these children so they can live confidently in Japan!--- end translation ---Website where you can donatehttps://for-good.net/project/1001095The image you see is of Takemura-sensei, the amazing person who started the school and has kept it going all these years. It's a screenshot of an NHK program about her activities that was broadcast nationwide in 2017:https://www2.nhk.or.jp/chiiki/movie/?das_id=D0015010752_00000The webpage has a segment of the show that you can see (that's where the image is from) and this blurb (as always, translated with ChatGTPs help) about her organization and activities:--- start translation ---In Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, there is a house where children with roots in foreign countries gather on weekends. It is run by the NPO "Support Network for Children from Overseas, Kumamoto" (外国から来た子ども支援ネットくまもと). Children come from all over the prefecture to learn Japanese. While the children can speak Japanese fluently, they struggle with reading and writing. Due to the language barrier, they tend to feel isolated at school. In this house, they can converse in their native languages and enjoy meals together, making it a "second home" where they feel safe.--- end translation ---Takemura-sensei's work has been mentioned on this page several times. Here's one relevant post from Atsuko Kumabe:https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0Y9fZ4AarCBfhwz1LeXX6EVbBuwS2xLFnfn66nwLKXrtx8PZrYbS3445Yst3G7nNWlSome of the people who have donated and left comments are former students (writing their comments in excellent Japanese, of course). Here are some examples, translated into English:--- start quote ---from FumeiOctober 8, 2024I owe who I am today to the Support Network.今の私がいるのは支援ネットのおかげです。from son.hOctober 7, 2024It is no exaggeration to say that I am who I am today thanks to Takemura-sensei. I am truly grateful for your efforts on behalf of children overseas. I will continue to support you. Please always stay well.竹村先生のお陰で今の僕がいると言っても過言ではありません。海外の子供のためにご尽力頂き、本当に感謝しております。これからも応援し続けます。先生はいつもお元気でいらしゃってください。--- end quote --- 2024-10-08 08:36 JSTJoe Tomei here, passing this on. Details in the flyer 2024-10-05 23:00 JSTKirk here with news about preparations being made for the start of Kumamoto University's new international school in 2026. https://www.educ.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/kokusai/The website has both English and Japanese explanations and surveys. You can check out the English on your own so here's an English translation of the Japanese (prepared with ChatGPT's help):--- start translation ---Date: September 2024 Kumamoto Title: University Elementary School International Class Establishment Survey (For Japanese Students' Parents)At Kumamoto University Elementary School, starting in the 2026 academic year, an international class will be established where, in line with the Japanese national curriculum, all subjects, except for some like Japanese and moral education, will be taught in English. This will involve so-called "immersion education*" in English.In this international class, in addition to developing Japanese language skills, we aim to enhance English proficiency and enrich students' learning across various subjects. The class is expected to include both Japanese and foreign students, creating natural opportunities for using English in daily life. Moreover, classes will be co-taught by a Japanese teacher and a native English-speaking foreign teacher, with Japanese used as needed to ensure that students acquire the desired skills and abilities through attentive, detailed instruction.*Note: Immersion education refers to teaching subjects in a second language to enhance language learning.--- end translation ---https://forms.office.com/r/0VC2WrN5mJHere's the English form:https://forms.office.com/r/Ac1TD8znvz