Kirk here with something to do in Kumamoto City at Sakura-machi.
2026-06-16 08:52 JST 2026 Kirk here with something to do in Kumamoto City at Sakura-machi. Kumamon's XR interactive content, "Kumamon Dungeon," will open in Kumamoto City in July.Kumamoto Prefecture, JTB, and ABAL are jointly hosting “Kumamon Dungeon,” an experiential content […] https://www.moguravr.com/kumamon-dungeon-kumamoto-xr-2026-en … ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 0 · Comments: 0 · Shares: 0 ← 2026-06-12 13:25 JST 2026-06-16 19:27 JST → Around this time … 2026-06-16 19:27 JSTHere's a ChatGPT translation of an article about the need for more foreign workers in Kumamoto. -- Kirk --- start translation ---“Developing Human Resources Who Contribute to Friendly Relations”: Kumamoto Prefecture Survey Finds Demand for About 4,000 Foreign Workers Over Three YearsTV KumamotoWednesday, June 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m.As labor shortages become increasingly severe, demand is rising among companies and other organizations for foreign workers.In response to general questions at the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly on June 10, Governor Kimura revealed that there is demand for about 4,000 foreign workers in the prefecture over the next three years.Governor Kimura:“Responses from 70 organizations indicated that over the next three years, they will need approximately 1,500 foreign workers in agriculture, about 500 in construction, and 200 in food-service manufacturing, among others.”According to the prefecture, a prefectural survey found that there is demand for about 4,000 foreign workers in Kumamoto Prefecture over the three-year period beginning this fiscal year.At the same time, Governor Kimura said, “It is also true that there are voices of concern about the easy use of foreign labor.” He added that accepting foreign workers merely to secure labor “would lead to dissatisfaction on both sides and must absolutely be avoided.”Governor Kimura:“Foreign workers should receive proper vocational training and language training in their home countries, then work in Kumamoto Prefecture, acquire skills and knowledge, and return to their home countries. Throughout this entire process, up to their return home, both sides should cooperate in human-resource development.”In addition, when asked by Assembly Member Yoichi Fuchigami about the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower regarding the sending of workers and related matters, the governor said that “discussions toward concluding the agreement are underway.”He then emphasized, “We would like to realize human-resource development that contributes not only to the industries of both countries, but also to friendly relations.”--- end translation ---「友好関係に寄与する人材育成を」３年間で約４０００人の外国人材の需要 熊本県の調査｜FNNプライムオンライン 2026-06-16 08:52 JSTKirk here with something to do in Kumamoto City at …Kumamon's XR interactive content, "Kumamon Dungeon," will open in Kumamoto City in July. (this post) 2026-06-12 13:25 JSTKirk here with a news item from May that I neglected to share at the time. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260518/p2a/00m/0na/004000cThe article is related to the following posts and how Discovery Kumamoto can help.https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02hVh2RvxNcLpGENvxgfBgnSMYDkqQTnjEDQusa51XVvPoFpedhw9QySPTLMc5yefLlhttps://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0382v7hs2DHQ8gsoCedgEJ19xPyGSQmLQ3xtGp7gUFFWNsdf823xjqzvbDJsTkWai2lInfo about roots wanted: Descendant of immigrant to Hawaii to visit Japan's Kumamoto Pref. - The Mainichi 2026-06-12 08:45 JSTKirk here with a Gemini translation of a Japanese article about how dangerous "3D" jobs (dirty, difficult, dangerous) in Japan can be. By the way, in Japanese the word is 3K (kitanai, kitsui, kiken). I don't know how these numbers compare with Japanese workers doing the same work.--- start translation ---June 10, 2026, 12:30 PM 45% are Technical Interns... Number of Occupational Accidents Among Foreign Workers Increases; Thorough Safety and Health Education UrgedThe status of occupational accidents among foreign workers in Kumamoto Prefecture for 2025 has been compiled.According to the Kumamoto Labour Bureau, the number of occupational accidents involving foreign workers in the prefecture resulting in four or more days of absence from work was 60 (excluding COVID-19 cases), an increase of 11 from the previous year.Accidents involving foreign workers accounted for 2.9% of the total. Broken down by industry, the highest numbers were in manufacturing with 22 people, followed by construction with 17 people.By nationality, Indonesia had the highest number with 19 people, followed by Vietnam with 11 people, and the Philippines with 6 people.In terms of residency status, technical interns accounted for the largest share at 45% (27 people), followed by specified skilled workers at 19 people.The most common types of accidents were "getting caught or entangled in machinery," followed by "cuts and abrasions," and "reaction to motion or strenuous movement."Fortunately, there were no fatalities.The Labour Bureau noted that approximately 40% of those affected had less than one year of experience, suggesting that safety and health education at the time of hiring has not been sufficient. They are calling for education that is easy for foreign workers to understand. --- end translation ---45％が技能実習…外国人労働者の労災件数が増加 安全衛生教育の徹底を | KAB ONLINE 2026-06-11 22:08 JSTKirk here. This lists Kumamoto as a point of departure for discounted international tickets. I have not verified this but thought I should share it.Starlux Airlines Launches Sale on Flights from Japan to the U.S. and Prague - TRAICY Global 2026-06-10 15:38 JSTKirk here with some transportation news.China Airlines to Increase Kumamoto–Taipei/Taoyuan Route to Daily Round-Trip from June 13 - TRAICY Global 2026-06-09 16:43 JSTKirk here with news about a workshop that, unfortunately, has stopped taking applications to participate because all seats have been sold out. But, since I've written about anti-immigrant hate on this page, I thought that I should share the very positive, welcoming message of this workshop, even though it's too late to participate directly. Here's part of the English-language summary that appears on the page.~~~ start quote ---10 Years After the Kumamoto Earthquake: Building a Multicultural and Multiethnic Inclusive Society from the Community, Beyond Discrimination and Exclusion Japanese society has already become an immigrant society, where many foreign workers, long-term residents through international marriage, and children and young people with foreign roots live together. At the community level, various initiatives toward coexistence have begun to take shape. At the same time, however, the Japanese government has not only failed to change its long-standing approach of strict control over foreign residents, the exclusion of undocumented migrants, and the acceptance of foreign workers as disposable labor, but under the current administration, policies emphasizing control and surveillance are being further intensified. This year’s two-day workshop will be held in Kumamoto, which marks the 10th anniversary of the earthquake. Through reports on the realities of immigrant communities and local initiatives, as well as discussions on specific thematic issues, we hope to revisit the vision of a multiethnic and multicultural society. Together with all participants, we aim to reflect on what kind of society we want to build going forward.＜Event Details＞Dates/Times: Sat 13, 13:00 - Sun 14, 12:00, June 2026Place: Kumamoto City International Center 6-7F(for the keynote speech on 13th, the plenary sessions on 14th), 3-5F meeting rooms（for breakout sessions on 13th）--- end quote ---【会場参加は申込締切ました】移住連全国ワークショップ2026 in 熊本（6月13日〜14日）
