Just so you know what the castle looks like when it is struck by lightning. - William
2025-08-10 22:58 JST 2025 Just so you know what the castle looks like when it is struck by lightning. - William ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 77 · Comments: 12 · Shares: 7 ← 2025-08-06 10:58 JST 2025-08-11 05:30 JST → Around this time … 2025-08-13 06:19 JSTKirk here. I complained about EVERYONE getting repeated midnight warnings and reports that gave the impression that everyone had to evacuate. But, it's also true that a lot of people were put in harm's way and quite a few suffered significant damage, particularly in the Tamana area. If you are one of those whose property was damaged, you may be able to get compensation. Check out this page from the prefecture.https://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page375.htmlThe page also says that you may be able to receive compensation if your car was damaged. 2025-08-12 03:23 JSTKirk here. In a comment I'll put a link to this video showing how Shimotori flooded yesterday. It was particularly sad for folks with shops below street level. :( Fun fact: When Kato Kiyomasa built the castle, the Shirakawa flowed through this part of town. After he used the river to carry all those heavy boulders to the construction site, Kiyomasa diverted the flow, producing the state we know today. The diversion of the river was very successful and invaluable to the building of what we now know as downtown Kumamoto. But, even Kyomasa couldn't change the fact that Shimotori used to be a riverbed and, as such, is subject to flooding at times like this. Next time you walk down Shimotori look around and imagine how the street used to be a river. :) 2025-08-12 02:57 JSTKirk here. I have found the quality of journalism in the Japan Times to be pretty good in the past but not so much so in this case. As I posted previously, it may be true that the "literal" message sent to millions of people was an "evacuation order." But, it's also true that most of the millions who were not in a flood plain and not near a steep incline had the good sense to stay put -- a point that the article doesn't explain. Most social phenomenon observable in one country can be found to some extent in other countries. So, I assume that this "don't do what we say; do what we mean" type of communication is not unique to Japan. But, even after decades living here it still bugs me. It strikes me as part of a communication pattern where the bulk of the burden is on the recipient of a message to figure out the actual intent of the message sender (in such communication, the words used by the sender are important "clues" but may not always be taken at face value).I'll put links to this Japan Times article and my previous post in a comment. If I put them in the body of my post the Facebook algorithm will give it a lower priority when deciding who to show it to. :( 2025-08-11 08:27 JSTGood morning.Be careful.Watch out for the rain, everyone.Atsuko(ง •̀_•́)งKumamoto city River flood monitoring system.https://city-kumamoto-pub.e-monitor.jp/city-kumamoto/.https://www.nhk.or.jp/kishou-saigai/city/status/43100004310100/ 2025-08-11 05:30 JSTKirk here after a very long hiatus. The screenshot you see is from this website:https://city-kumamoto.my.salesforce-sites.com/#But don't panic; the "evacuation order" is very, very misleading -- despite the wording, we have not actually been ordered to evacuate.Here's a post I made a long time ago that explains what this "evacuation order" REALLY means:https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02HaDrsnR5wfsRQzQZWQSmZZjHz7ndPxTRKx3PciVuRRVTsJtiPRhWspXfhBTTDJMrlSo, if you got up in the middle of the night because you were worried about your alarmist phone (mine was very noisy!), you can probably go back to sleep as long as you are not living on an incline (danger of landslides) or in a low lying area (danger of flooding). I'm in neither situation so I would prefer that my phone be quiet but, alas, I'm not sure if that is even an option.A footnote about where I found the "evacuation" (which really means, evacuate IF you are in a dangerous place) information. It's being reported in the news but today I went to the city website:https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/This site has machine translation to English and other languages. In the information about evacuation centers I found this:For more information, please visit the official website.https://city-kumamoto.my.salesforce-sites.com/Last Updated at 4:20 on August 11, 2025This site is in Japanese but it provides links to other languages. The problem is that, in order to switch to English you have to be able to read "言語選択" (language selection) and "英語" (English). Folks who can't make sense of those kanji may be out of luck.This issue of an "evacuation order" not really being an order is the same for Japanese and English. Whichever language you are reading, what the website tells you to do is not REALLY what you should do. If the 740,822 people subject to the "order" really did try to evacuate, that would cause its own disaster. Another issue is that 避難 (hinan; evacuation) isn't really "evacuation". The characters mean "avoid danger"; and, in Japanese, you can actually 避難する (hinan suru) at home!![Correction: I happened to be using a browser set to Japanese. If the default language of your browser is set to English, the indications from Google as to how to translate the page will be in English.]So, in a situation where clarity and clear communication is needed, we have something of a house of mirrors: only those familiar with the system really understand what's going on. 2025-08-10 22:58 JSTJust so you know what the castle looks like when it is … (this post) 2025-08-06 10:58 JSTSharing information for children from abroad and their mothers and fathers.Atsuko (* 'ᵕ' )☆ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーWe are pleased to announce the August 2025 schedule for “Orugated Kids,” a study group for children from abroad and their mothers and fathers.At “Orugated Kids”, children can learn how to pronounce and use Japanese correctly, and mothers and fathers can consult with the children about things they don't understand or worry about at kindergarten or school.The program is open to children between the ages of 5 and 8 and their mothers and fathers (guardians).https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/plaza/kiji0032290/3_2290_6459_up_qgvuh3rb.pdfhttps://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/plaza/kiji0032290/index.html 2025-08-03 17:23 JSTThe argument over rebuilding Kumamoto City Hall is ridiculous. Here is my hometown city hall. Notice the dates. - William 2025-07-30 22:29 JSTAtsuko here.Sharing Hanabi and Nihonshu,Shochu.You can enjoy Japanese summer night, cool!!KAWASHIRI SUMMER FESTA “HANABI GARDEN” will be held 🍉✨!KAWASHIRI SUMMER FESTA “HANABI Garden” will be held!Friday, August 15, 2025 16:00 - 20:30 Venue: Kawajiri Kanko Parking Space 4-10-28 Kawajiri, Minami-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture (in front of Zuitaka Kawajiri Honzo) ★500 meters to Kasegawa riverside, the venue of the Shoryo Nagashi Fireworks Festival In conjunction with the Kawajiri Syoryo Nagashi Fireworks Festival, the KAWASHIRI SUMMER FESTA “HANABI Garden” will be held, where you can enjoy Japanese sake and shochu from the long-established local sake brewery “Zuiyo” with fireworks at ! There will also be many other tasty kitchen cars with beer, fried food, fries, freshly baked pizza🍕 candy apples, takoyaki, shaved ice, etc. 🍎🐙🍧✨.Restrooms (multi-purpose available) are also available. There will be tables for eating and drinking so that everyone from young children to adults can enjoy a relaxing summer evening 🍹✨. There is no parking at the venue. Please come by public transportation. HANABI Garden" will be canceled if the Kawashiri Syoryonagashi Fireworks Festival is postponed due to rain.#HANABI Garden 2025-07-26 17:21 JSTFiona here, sharing updated details of the running session to be held in Yamaga.Running session for ladies runners supported by the 1st Yamaga Lantern Women's Marathon ambassador Yuko Kawakami.This is a running session leading up to the event to enjoy running.The main aim is to build a community among runners, including those who want to start running, and jogging.[Overview] Running session with Yuko Kawakami, Ambassador of the 1st Yamaga Lantern Women's Marathon in Kumamoto.Target: Female runners only (beginners to experienced runners) but children 3-15 years old are free to join with guardians.All sessions (Total 5 sessions), only the first 25 people.Tea time after each session (drinks and snacks included).English speakers are also welcome! Instructions will be in English too.Fee: Drop in: ¥3,500 per session *Inc.insurance feeAll sessions (Total 5 sessions): ¥12,000*Inc.insurance fee ◇Contents◇ Session 1 Sunday 3 Aug Early morning running in YamagaReception 5:30 am - 6 am - Morning run, morning yoga 8 am Hot spring time at Sakura Yu - Free of charge for 3-15-year-old children-Session 2 Sunday 7 September in YamagaReception 8:30 am - 9 am - XC run, muscle training, stretchingSession 3 5 Oct (Sun) at Yamaga Women's Marathon course Reception 8.30 am - 9 am - Course trial run Session 4 Sunday 2 November in YamagaReception 8:30 am - 9 am - 2 hours LSD (with pacer) run and talk Session 5 30 Nov (Sun) Running reviews after the event,Running clinic with ambassador Yuko Kawakami (including stretching, after care)*Additional offer*Special online consultation course before the Yamaga Women's MarathonFrom July to November before the marathonOnline running consultation with ambassador Yuko Kawakami (only for the first 20 people) *Yuko Kawakami a representative of the Japan team in the past two Olympics and a former head coach of the professional running team, will have an opportunity to directly discuss your running-related problems, such as training, stretching, and injury prevention. 25 minutes per session, 3,000 yen, booking required.Please apply via the following moshicom: 🙇♀️ Or DM this account. 2025-07-25 15:26 JSTSharing Suizenji park summer festival. ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* Atsuko
