Kirk here. I may not be able to send out a reminder so mark your calendar: April 11th!
2026-03-29 18:55 JST 2026 Kirk here. I may not be able to send out a reminder so mark your calendar: April 11th! Japan's Blue Impulse aerobatics team to perform over Kumamoto for 10th anniv. of 2016 quake - The MainichiKUMAMOTO -- The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatics team will perform over the city of Kumamoto this April 11 to mark the 10th anni https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260304/p2a/00m/0na/01 … 📅 Event details Event:Community EventDate:2026-04-11 ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 14 · Comments: 4 · Shares: 0 ← 2026-03-28 15:43 JST 2026-03-30 13:13 JST → Around this time … 2026-04-01 06:00 JSTKirk here. Every April 1st, I've been publishing April Fools' posts on the page for many years now. This year, however, I'm afraid I just can't do it. You see, to be honest, I'm not well. I've been diagnosed with a degenerative cognitive disease: ICVS (Inane Cat Video Syndrome). My docs tell me that it's caused by the overexposure to infinitely scrolling videos of cute kittens, babies laughing at sneezes, goats screaming like humans, and hamsters eating tiny burritos. It has left me unable to focus on any single task for more than . . oh, look, raccoons stealing things . . . that's so cute! And those dogs in costumes are absolutely adorable . . . um . . . well . . bye! 2026-03-31 11:32 JSTKirk here. To be honest, I don't have a deep interest in the repair of this Shinkansen car, which was damaged in the 2016 earthquakes. It has been interesting, however, to see the numbers of people who care enough about it to show up to cheer it on.Repaired Tsubame Bullet Train Car Damaged in 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Sets Off on Sea Voyage to Hakata 2026-03-30 22:22 JSTKirk here. No shortage of news about this guy -- though most of it doesn't mention his hometown.Homer in 3rd straight game! Murakami continues astonishing start to MLB career 2026-03-30 16:23 JSTNHK WORLD JAPANThe Kumamoto castle's secrets are revealed through demolition. Atsuko ʕʘ̅͜ʘ̅ʔ 2026-03-30 13:13 JSTKirk here. From the article:--- start quote ---The following excerpt is from The Thorn Puller, the first novel by the Japanese poet Hiromi Ito to be translated into English. With dark humor and refreshing candor, the novel explores the complexities and absurdities of illness, aging, and death as the narrator navigates the challenges of caring for her aging parents in Japan and her husband and children in California. The chapter below draws from Ito’s conversations with the novelist Michiko Ishimure, as well as from a variety of Japanese folktales, poems, and sutras.--- end quote ---From Hiromi Ito's English Wikipedia page:--- start quote ---Itō divides her time between her home in Encinitas, California and Kumamoto in southern Japan. In the latter, she has been the organizing force between a group of local writers and artists known as the "Kumamoto Band" (熊本文学隊, Kumamoto bungakutai). Itō's work is featured prominently in the Kumamoto Modern Literature Museum.--- end quote ---A Poet Stares Death in the Face 2026-03-29 18:55 JSTKirk here. I may not be able to send out a reminder so mark …Japan's Blue Impulse aerobatics team to perform over Kumamoto for 10th anniv. of 2016 quake - The Mainichi (this post) 2026-03-28 15:43 JSTKumamoto is now filled with beautiful cherry blossoms, especially in Suizenji. Suizenji Jojuen is crowded with many visitors enjoying the Suizenji Festival.The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, creating a stunning scene. People are gathering to celebrate and enjoy the wonderful spring of Kumamoto, Japan.The event runs until tomorrow—don’t miss this chance to experience it! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)وAtsukohttps://www.facebook.com/share/r/18TC4XXGkW/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.facebook.com/share/1JNe92yimf/?mibextid=wwXIfr 2026-03-27 07:21 JSTCassie here: There’s been a lot of bad news lately so here’s some good news. Kumamoto’s Munetaka Murakami (Kyushu Gakuin Graduate) hit a home run in his opening game for the White Sox. It’s pretty amazing to hit a home run in your first game in the MLB. 2026-03-26 16:24 JSTKirk here. The article I introduced about the anti-immigration demonstration that occurred here in Kumamoto included the following statement from an organizer: "While Japanese people are struggling, it is wrong to spend large sums of tax money bringing in foreigners." In fact, however, the majority of economists that responded to a survey (image) answered that an increase in foreigners in Japan tended to improve living standards for Japanese nationals. These survey results were originally published in Japanese. I'll put links to both the English-language and Japanese-language articles in a comment.The journalist who wrote the article about the demonstration in Kumamoto didn't endorse their argument -- he merely reported it. Nonetheless, it would have been nice if he had fact checked it for the benefit of his readers. 2026-03-26 07:52 JST🌸🌸🌸Suizenji Seisui-en Festival 2026We’re holding the ‘Suizenji Seisui-en Festival’ again this year! 😊Highlight 1: Japanese Cultural ExperiencesTry your hand at the Hosokawa-style bonsai, experience yabusame (horseback archery),and enjoy tea ceremonies and ikebana flower arranging…There are plenty of fun activities to try! 🥰Highlight 2: FoodFood trucks and collaborations with Kumamoto Commercial High School,a gathering of delicious treats 🤤Highlight 3: Events at Izumi ShrineMiko dance workshops and observing Shinto wedding ceremonies,be sure to check out these unique shrine eventsthat you don’t get to experience every day 👀✨Highlight 4: ExhibitionsExhibitions including the Morihiro Hosokawa Art Exhibition,the 10th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake Photo Exhibition, and the Higo Rokka Panel Exhibition,offer plenty to enjoy at your leisure ☺️○o。..:*・ ・*:..。o○🌸 Suizenji Jojuen Festival 🌸📅 28 March (Sat) & 29 March (Sun)🕐 10:00–17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)📍 Suizenji Seisui-en / Suizenji Approach / Jane’s House*Free admission for secondary school students and younger🍵 Special Exhibition of Works by Morihiro Hosokawa 🖌️📅 28 March (Sat) – 5 April (Sun)🕐 9:00–16:30📍 Izumi Shrine Office○o。..:*・ ・*:..。o○#SuizenjiSeisui-enFestival #DiscoverHigoHosokawaCulture 2026-03-25 13:52 JSTKirk here with some unfortunate news. I'm glad to say, though, that some people are pushing back. I'll put the citation in a comment but first here's a translation by Claude.--- start translation ---50 Attend Anti-Immigration Policy Demo... Nationwide Simultaneous ActionMonday, March 23, 2026On March 22, anti-immigration policy demonstrations were held at 18 locations across the country. In Kumamoto City, where the number of foreign residents has been increasing, a rally was also held in which approximately 50 people voiced opposition to policies being advanced by the government. This was the third such event in Kumamoto, following one on November 30 of last year.At the rally held near the "Kumamoto Machinaka Bicycle Parking – Shinshigai" facility in Chuo Ward, participants spoke in a relay-microphone format. Organizer "Bani" (pseudonym) stated: "We are not calling for the expulsion of foreigners. We are opposed to the immigration policy being pushed by the government. Are we not seeing multiculturalism being forced upon us? While Japanese people are struggling, it is wrong to spend large sums of tax money bringing in foreigners."Afterward, the participants marched from the Shimotori Arcade to Kumamoto City Hall carrying banners reading "Oppose Immigration Policy" and similar messages. The demonstration appeared to target Kumamoto Prefecture (Governor Kimura Takashi), which has announced plans to accept foreign workers for household support services, and Kumamoto City (Mayor Onishi Kazufumi), which granted permission for a venue where Muslims held an "Eid al-Adha" festival at Ninomaru Plaza last June. Chants included "Kumamoto's mayor should listen to the citizens!" and "Protect Japanese jobs!"Meanwhile, several counter-demonstrators gathered around the venue holding placards reading "Kumamoto is a city that coexists with immigrants," "Discrimination kills people," and "Discrimination is shameful." There were moments of heated exchanges between counter-demonstrators and rally participants.(Editorial staff – Miyazaki Taiki)