Kirk with another post about the artificial (but cool nonetheless) mist at the castle.
2024-10-16 17:28 JST 2024 Kirk with another post about the artificial (but cool nonetheless) mist at the castle. Japan's Kumamoto Castle floats in artificial sea of clouds - The MainichiKUMAMOTO, Japan (Kyodo) -- Kumamoto Castle, a popular tourist destination in southwestern Japan, appears to be floating in a sea of clouds after its h https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20241012/p2g/00m/0li/01 … ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 8 · Comments: 0 · Shares: 0 ← 2024-10-15 23:54 JST 2024-10-17 08:03 JST → Around this time … 2024-10-19 14:03 JSTAtsuko here, sharing Aso Milk Farm EventsAdmission is free on 11/2.(*ᐛ*)ᒃLast Thursday, I enjoyed the Aso Milk farm in autumn with my class. I found some good deals there, so I will share them with you.The last picture is a picture of the onigiri action at the Milk farm with the rice balls for lunch. If you are a Kumamoto International reader, you know the onigiri action I share every year. Please share your love from Kumamoto to the world too.Think global by working locally.ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーMilk Festa is an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rakunou Milk. There will be many fun events including a marche & kitchen car featuring Kumamoto's most popular gourmet foods, stage events, performance shows, artists LIVE, and more! Please come with your family and friends!https://milkfesta.com/https://onigiri-action.com/en/ 2024-10-18 08:13 JSTKirk here. Here's some news from a couple months ago. I suspect the technique is similar to what water polo goalies have to learn to do -- keep your body fairly high in the water without relying on your hands. I can understand its usefulness in water polo but I'm not quite sure how it would be useful to samurai "when fighting on water". Perhaps it might allow them to shoot a bow and arrow or something from within the water.Kumamoto: Swimmers Demonstrate Centuries-Old Technique; Writing, Drinking While Treading Water 2024-10-17 20:27 JSTKirk here. Even though I've lived in Kumamoto and have been writing about all things Kumamoto for a while (today, Oct 17, is our 25th anniversary), I've never thought about a connection between Miyamoto Musashi and world-class fishing equipment. Well, according to this article, one exists:Swords, Samurai, and the Art of Making World Class Fly Rodshttps://www.yardbarker.com/general_sports/articles/swords_samurai_and_the_art_of_making_world_class_fly_rods/s1_17329_40891002In a nutshell, the idea is that craftsmanship that goes into G. Loomis fishing rods made at the Shimano factory in Kumamoto is rooted in the samurai spirit of which Miyamoto Musashi is emblematic. Somehow, Joe Rogan gets brought into the discussion because he is so enamored of Musashi that he has him tattooed on his arm. (Sorry Joe, your homage to Japanese culture will cause you to be excluded from quite a few onsen here. :( ) In regard to the Kumamoto Factory, I could confirm that there is a Shimano factory in Yamaga and that Shimano owns G. Loomis but I don't know much more than that. 2024-10-17 08:10 JSTKirk here with pastry news. Chez Tani (formerly popular pastry shop near Ezuko) may resume business today (?) after falsifying expiration dates.--- start ChatGPT translation ----Title: Pastry Shop "Chez Tani" Falsified Expiration Dates—Sold Products Meant to Expire in 3 Months Over a Year Period in KumamotoDate: 10/15 (Tuesday) 19:24Source: RKK Kumamoto BroadcastingKumamoto Broadcasting has revealed that the pastry shop "Chez Tani" in Kumamoto City sold leftover products after falsifying their expiration dates.[See Photo]: "Notice of Apology and Temporary Closure" posted in stores, with a written apology also posted on their website.According to Chez Tani, they had a large amount of unsold chocolate confections, "Amande Chocolat," from Valentine's Day last year (2023). They replaced the expiration date labels and continued selling these products at seven of their stores for about a year.The original expiration date was set for February 28, 2023, three months after the products were made.Typically, the store sets expiration dates for all products based on inspections by a third-party organization. However, in the case of the "Amande Chocolat," because it was a limited-time item, they extended the expiration date using a similar product as a reference.In September this year (2024), a former employee reported the issue to the Kumamoto City Public Health Center, leading to the discovery. The Public Health Center has been investigating since September 18, visiting the store as part of their inquiry.Store’s Response:While expiration dates do not necessarily mean that a product becomes unsafe to eat immediately after the date passes, such falsification could violate food labeling laws.No health issues have been reported thus far. However, the store does not know how many items were sold with incorrect labels, and the store’s representative commented, "We do not know who instructed the replacement of the labels or when."As of October 15, the store had received several dozen refund inquiries.On October 15, Chez Tani posted an apology on their website. The store’s representative stated, "It was not an intentional falsification, but if it's considered falsification, then it might be. We will work to prevent misunderstandings in the future."About "Chez Tani" Founded in 1991 & Future Business Plans:Founded in 1991 in Kumamoto City, Chez Tani is popular for products like Baumkuchen and cakes. The business now operates eight stores in Kumamoto, Oita, and Chiba Prefectures, as well as an online shop. The company employs around 50 people.Some of Chez Tani’s stores have been temporarily closed since October 13. After the Public Health Center’s investigation, they plan to resume operations as early as October 17.--- end translation ---洋菓子店「シェ・タニ」賞味期限を改ざん “本来は期限3か月” の商品を1年間にわたり販売 熊本（RKK熊本放送） - Yahoo!ニュース 2024-10-17 08:03 JSTDaily flights between Kumamoto and Incheon starting November 24. -- KirkKorean Air announced on the 15th that it will start operating once a day on the Kumamoto route from .. - MK 2024-10-16 17:28 JSTKirk with another post about the artificial (but cool …Japan's Kumamoto Castle floats in artificial sea of clouds - The Mainichi (this post) 2024-10-15 23:54 JSTKirk here with some local news about power harassment in a high school.Japan high school operator accused of power harassment against staffers - The Mainichi 2024-10-13 19:20 JSTAtsuko here.I could see Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in Kumamoto!!!It is a beautiful day today with no clouds.It was visible in the western sky after the sun set, around 6:30 p.m. today. I managed to take a picture of it with my cheap smartphone without a lens. It will probably be visible again tomorrow if conditions are good.This is a comet that appears only once every 80,000 years, so please try to see it.With the moon on your left shoulder, face west and look for Venus in the western sky at about the same angle.I will report again if I can take a proper and beautiful photograph.It's not a dirty lens, it's a comet!🤩https://theskylive.com/c2023a3-info 2024-10-13 07:27 JSTSome of those who went to see Mizuakari yesterday may have heard the sound of fireworks near Kumamoto Castle. Last night, there was an autumn festival held by the PTA and the local community association at Joto Elementary School near Kumamoto Castle. I didn't share it in advance because it was a festival for the children of the school district, but I will share these pics with you because the match of the fireworks display by the family fireworks prepared by the children's parents and Kumamoto Castle was magnificent.I think you can feel the love for Kumamoto Castle from the residents.(^O^)／AtsukoWe love Kumamoto．We love Kumamoto Castle.Mizuakari Informationhttps://www.facebook.com/share/p/CXnR8YsUFpNiHXxM/ 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!
