Posts
Kirk here with some local "foreign crime" news. You may recall a false alarm about a couple of "foreign criminals" about a month ago:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid09ckSnkoaN27jJFPK8yDAN6u3JcuCNjbbNvmPkcyJeZurbM6apEuNqiVR4a1FAFgpl
This case may very well turn out NOT to be a false alarm but, nonetheless, it seems rather problematic to me. In regard to the clothing the suspect is reported to have been wearing, details are provided: "a dark-colored short-sleeved shirt and dark-colored pants." They didn't just say something vague like "he was not wearing red" which would apply to a very large group of people. So why only say "thought not to be Japanese"? If there was something about him -- like a particular manner of speaking or something specific about his appearance -- that indicated "foreigner", why not identify it, just as the specifics regarding clothing were identified? Without such specific information doesn't that make all males one is unfamiliar with who seem in some way to be "foreign" suspicious, and requiring "reporting it to the police"?
--- ChatGPT translation ---
Man carrying a knife flees in Yatsushiro City; whereabouts still unknown
Distributed Sunday, May 17, 11:30 a.m.
At around 10:00 p.m. on the 16th, police began searching for a man who reportedly fled while carrying what appeared to be a knife near Koganaka-machi in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. As of 11:00 a.m. on the 17th, the man’s whereabouts were still unknown, and police were urging nearby residents to be careful.
According to police, at around 10:00 p.m. on the 16th, they received a report saying that “some kind of dispute is taking place,” and when they arrived at the scene, they found an injured man. According to the fire department, the man had injuries to his head and hand, but his life is not in danger. Meanwhile, a man believed to be a foreign national fled while carrying what appeared to be a knife, and police are searching for him. The relationship between the man who fled and the injured man is not known.
The man who fled was reportedly wearing a dark-colored short-sleeved shirt and dark-colored pants, and as of 11:00 a.m. on the 17th, he had still not been found.
Police are urging residents to take crime-prevention measures, including making sure the doors and windows of their homes are securely locked, leaving the area immediately if they see a suspicious person, and reporting it to the police.
八代市で刃物を持った男が逃走 いまだ行方分からず（熊本ニュース KAB ONLINE） - Yahoo!ニュース
１６日午後１０時ごろ、熊本県八代市古閑中町付近で、男が刃物のようなものを持って逃走したとして警察が男の行方を追っています。１７日午前１１時現在、男の行方は分かっておらず、警察は周辺の住民に対し注意
Kumamon doesn't talk but can he sing? -- Kirk
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/attachment/326700/
Atsuko here.
It’s finally firefly season.
Over the weekend, many people visited Ezu Lake to enjoy watching the fireflies. Lake Ezu
The beauty of the fireflies and the fresh early-summer atmosphere felt wonderful.
However, when I was a child, there were many more fireflies, and you could find them in lots places. It made me feel that we need to treasure and protect them even more.
To protect them, I hope people will first come to know and love the beauty of fireflies, their unique scent, and the importance of nature itself.
https://www-ezuko--park-com.translate.goog/firefly?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en#p_top
More IT sector business news. -- Kirk
Sony, TSMC sign MOU to develop and manufacture image sensors
Through the JV, both companies expect to leverage Sony's expertise in sensor design alongside TSMC’s strengths in process technology and manufacturing excellence as part of a broader collaboration aimed at enhancing image sensor performance.
Do You Know About Japan’s New 'Blue Ticket' System for Bicycles?
青切符"制度、知ってる？ 留学生と学ぶ自転車の安全利用 熊本
To ensure international students understand Japanese traffic rules and use bicycles safely, a traffic safety seminar was held at Kumamoto Technical College in Kumamoto City. A total of 56 first-year students from the Japanese Language Department, who just enrolled this April, participated in the session.
日本の交通ルールを理解し、自転車を安全に利用してもらおうと、熊本市の熊本工業専門学校で、外国人留学生を対象とした交通安全教室が開かれました。受講したのは、この4月に入学した日本語学科の1年生56人です。
For more detailed news, please see:
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/rkk/2661322?display=1
-Hari
Do You Know About Japan’s New 'Blue Ticket' System for Bicycles? 青切符"制度、知ってる？ 留学生と学ぶ自転車の安全利用 熊本 | 熊本のニュース｜RKK NEWS｜RKK熊本放送
※日本語訳は後段にあります。To ensure international students understand Japanese traffic rules and use bicycles safely, a traffic safety seminar was held at Kumamoto Technical College in Kumamoto Ci…
Kirk here with more news about research done at Kumamoto University.
Kumamoto University technical expert receives prestigious MEXT Minister’s Award for excellence in research support
Kumamoto University is proud to announce that Mr. Takenobu Nakagawa, a Senior Technical Specialist has been awarded the 2026 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Mr. Nakagawa received the Outstanding Support for Re...
Recently, there has been a spate of bear attacks in Honshu.
There are no bears in Kumamoto except for one: (and I don't think he'd attack anyone): - william
Kirk here with some research news.
--- start quote ---
Professor Araki is recognized for his transformative work in the field of Diabetology, particularly his pioneering research into insulin signaling and the molecular mechanisms of diabetes.
--- end quote ---
Kumamoto University Professor Emeritus Eiichi Araki awarded Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon for landmark discoveries in diabetes research
Professor Emeritus Eiichi Araki of Kumamoto University has been awarded the prestigious Japanese Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (Shiju Hosho) in the Spring 2026 Conferment for his extraordinary contributions to academic and scientific development. A pioneer in the field of Diabetology, Professor....
Kirk here. The numbers of visits of foreign tourists to Kumamoto City have been rising in recent years. The blue bars represent numbers of foreign tourists; yellow bars show numbers of such tourists who spent the night. I'm not quite sure how the numbers are calculated, especially for people who don't spend the night (no border check to see if a foreigner in Oita drove in to Kumamoto to look around, for example) but I don't doubt the overall trend.
Note: Y-axis values are in units of 万 (10,000). So, in 2025 there were approximately 180万 or 1.8 million foreign visitors.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1989824
Kirk here. The two most interesting takeaways from the article for me were:
(1) the grasslands of Aso support unique species
(2) grasslands can be better than forests at recharging aquifers
In regard to the second point, while forests are excellent at preventing runoff, they tend to use more of the water, which ultimately returns to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration from the leaves of the trees. Grasslands, however, are somewhat more susceptible to runoff in heavy rain, but since they use less water, more of it can seep into the ground to recharge the aquifer.
And, to maintain this ecosystem, the grasslands need to be maintained by controlled burns in the spring.
Editorial: Biodiversity crisis calls for support for 'nature positive' initiative - The Mainichi
We are said to be in the middle of a
Kirk here. I'm in the process of building a searchable archive of everything that has been posted to this page over the years. I've made a lot of progress but it's still not quite ready for prime time. In the meantime, I thought I'd share this old photo that came up in the process. Here's what I wrote on March 25, 2012:
--- start quote ----
I found this photo on the following page:
http://www.flickr.com/ (broken URL; no longer works)
I think that if you could look at the left side with your left eye and the right side with your right eye, the photo would be in 3D. Unfortunately, I couldn't make my eyes do that.
--- end quote ----
The Facebook URL for this post is as follows:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=293942520679187&set=a.625846489577146&type=3
Kirk here with more business news.
Sony, TSMC agree to cooperate on next-generation image sensor development
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corp., and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said Friday they have agreed to cooperate for the development and manufacturing of next-generation image sensors.
If you're young and still have knees, you really need to climb Misato Machi's 3,333 steps, which lead from a parking lot at the base of a mountain to a temple at its peak (technically, it is a 参道). It's more like 4,000 steps (I've counted them) that pass through lush sugi forest with beautiful glimpses of Yatsushiro. At the top, of course, there is the temple.
I once did the hike, forgot my glasses at the temple, so had to go back to get them. Don't make that mistake, but do do the hike. - William
この石段は、1200年の歴史を秘めた由緒ある釈迦院(八代市泉町)の表参道である御坂に日本一の石段(美里町)を建設し、世紀の文化遺産として後世に残すとともに町の活性化を図るための観光の目玉づくり、町おこしのシンボ....
The headline is misleading because this is about Yatsushiro City, not Kumamoto City. But it's big news; covered nationally as well as locally. -- Kirk
Kumamoto city councilor arrested over ¥60 million bribe to rig post-quake city hall bid - TokyoReporter
Police here have arrested a 54-year-old city council member for allegedly pocketing 60 million yen in cash to rig the bidding process for the construction of a new city hall
Luffy's birthday! -- Kirk
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/manga-anime/20260506-326093/
Kirk here. The Kumamoto Keizai article I cited in the first post in this series (what might be called "Hate at the International Center") says that the group held its first event at the Center in February. To see my original post click/tap on the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02i2uLiaL26yCg3TS4FzpwvtJP3Dpa1qndZjQ8j8SLVQgCK3QZ2yExujtzKKkrXXe1l
In this post, I'd like to report on an announcement of that first event that was published on X by Mr. Saeki, the person mentioned in the Kumamoto Keizai article. His announcement can be found here and it features the posters / graphics I've attached to this post.
https://x.com/trdTqT5df153351/status/2025246342868787541
Here's a summary of the content of the image on the right that Claude (my go-to AI service) helped me prepare:
--- start summary of graphic ---
This is an anti-immigration manga-style illustration focused on Kumamoto, Japan. The top panel presents a sinister looking figure in a suit and tie that is labeled "multicultural co-existence" (多文化共生) and surrounded by pro-immigration buzzwords — multicultural co-existence (多文化共生), technical intern trainees (技能実習生), domestic support foreign worker acceptance (家事支援外国人受け入れ), and one-stop business startup procedures (起業手続きワンストップ). The figure calls for more foreign workers to address labor shortages (人手不足). The middle panels then present these policies as threats, with shocked reaction shots accompanying three "alarming" scenarios: Southeast Asian foreigners (東南アジア系外国人) stealing bonsai plants and copper wire; Muslims praying near Kumamoto Castle with the caption suggesting there were too many to hold the event in the Islamic Center (イスラミックセンター); and the Aso Mega Solar (阿蘇メガソーラー) project, portrayed as harming local livestock farmers while raising electricity costs (foreign connection not explained but there's a conspiracy theory behind its inclusion here). The bottom section shows a young woman voicing concern that "too much consideration is being given to foreigners (外国人に配慮しすぎ)" while taxes go to foreigners rather than Japanese people, and a figure in a military-style cap warning that Japan will end up like "immigrant-overrun European countries" if nothing is done. The illustration ends with a call to action (声を上げよう) urging readers to contact Kumamoto Prefecture and local government websites, with sample messages like "Please stop easily accepting foreigners (安易な外国人受け入れをしないでください)" and "Can public safety be guaranteed if the number of foreigners increases further?" The X (Twitter) account @kumamono385 is promoted at the bottom.
--- end summary of graphic
In regard to this event, it didn't get any support or publicity from Mr. Miyazaki or Kumamoto Keizai. But this history should have been known to Mr. Miyazaki, the reporter. Since he helped publicize the second event (see https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0oLDoQ73yy8GFnPHMfMLn9ZCXbpK3DT2qRujayT5zPEXzxRoxAqtHh3JbNzr1kvFPl) he should have investigated how the organizers were promoting themselves — including on X. It was easy enough for me to find the announcement; a diligent journalist should be equally adept at such research.
This repackaging of hate as an innocuous event (poster announcing the tea-drinking meeting) is a known technique that far right groups use to recruit new members. Here's a report about similar activities in the U.S.:
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More than any other white nationalist group operating today, Identity Evropa has attempted to frame their views in ways that appeal to mainstream conservative audiences. They downplay the extreme nature of their ideas, like referring to their ideal society as “ethno-pluralistic” rather than segregated. They push for a clampdown on immigration and stress nativist talking points that they believe will appeal to Trump supporters. They carefully manage their public image, holding only unannounced demonstrations where they hold banners with innocuous-sounding slogans like “Make America Beautiful Again.”
--- end quote ---
But don't be fooled by the marketing.
--- start quote ---
Despite Identity Evropa’s efforts to differentiate themselves from other segments of the white nationalist movement with their tony aesthetic and faux-academic jargon, their Discord chats show that their views were essentially the same as any other group in the alt-right. Members toed the party line and avoided using racial slurs or other crude language, but they still engaged in Holocaust denial, vilified Jews and black people, and read crudely racist content like the Daily Stormer.
--- end quote ---
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/white-nationalist-group-identity-evropa-rebrands-following-private-chat-leaks-launches/
Kirk here. Sorry I couldn't give you a heads-up about this event in advance. Come to think of it, aggregating event information has always been a lot harder for me than aggregating news. Perhaps someday I'll figure out a way to do it more efficiently and more effectively.
Tainan mayor promotes city culture at Taiwan festival in Kumamoto | Taiwan News | May. 4, 2026 19:05
Huang Wei-che introduces Tainan food, agricultural products to Japan visitors | May. 4, 2026 19:05
Kirk here. This survey has been promised for a very long time:
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The survey on residents of the Shiranui Sea coast in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures will be conducted for the first time under a special law that took effect in 2009 to provide relief for victims of the disease, which was officially recognized in the Kumamoto city of Minamata on May 1, 1956.
--- end quote ---
The "under a special law" part means that the government committed to doing the survey when they made the law. So far, the only data about health effects is from those who have come forward to request certification, etc. -- despite fears of social stigma and discrimination. The government has been dragging its feet because revealing the extent of the damage reveals the extent of its own negligence (failure to protect the health of people living in the area). Now after 17 years, the government is finally starting the survey but their methods are not what patient groups are asking for.
Japan to begin Minamata disease survey as early as this year
The survey on residents of the Shiranui Sea coast in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures will be conducted for the first time under a special law that took effect in 2009.
Another place to visit if you have a car during GW (or any season) is Kurokawa Onsen, on the border between Kumamoto and Oita. There are a multitude of onsen, including one in a cave, It's said to be the inspiration behind many Miyazak Hayaoi films. You can buy a pass that lets you visit multiple inns, walking around cobblestoned streets in yukata, eating eggs boiled by onsen water. My wife had fertility problems, but a visit to the onsen solved that (we have two children now). It's healthy and very scenic. - William
