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The official beginning of the cherry blossom season was declared in Kumamoto today, a couple days earlier than normal. -- Kirk
桜「開花宣言」、平年より２日早く　熊本地方気象台　満開の見込みは…｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本地方気象台は２０日、県内で桜（ソメイヨシノ）が開花したと発表した。平年より２日早く、昨年より３日遅い。今後１週間から１０日ほどで満開を迎えると見込んでいる。

Kirk here with what I think is a sort of "fun fact" about this Facebook page: After Kumamoto City, the city with the most people who "like" it is . . . drum role . . . Bangkok, Thailand! Fukuoka is next followed by Yangon, Myanmar. Most of the other facts about who "likes" this page are not particularly surprising. We have a fairly even split between men and women, and, as an old guy, I'm in a distinct minority.
Since the strong showing by Bangkok and Yangon, Nairobi, Lima, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dar es Salaam is a little surprising to me I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you from those cities for your participation and invite you to say hello in a comment. I'd love to here from you. :)
By the way, the data I'm sharing here is from something called "insights." Facebook shows data like this to people who edit a page but not to participants, unfortunately.

Kirk with one more bit of zoo/botanical garden news. Starting today, a sloth (namakemono in Japanese) will be doing its thing (which is usually not much) in a tropical greenhouse. So, vistors to the greenhouse will see the sloth (if they can find it; it tends to blend in to its environment) on a tree or whereever it chooses to be -- not behind glass or bars.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/565601
In case you missed them, here are some links to previous posts about the zoo/botanical garden:
Red panda:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/7033193030087402
90,000 flowers:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/7033193030087402
新たな仲間、見に来てね　熊本市動植物園にナマケモノとヒョウモンガメ｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本市動植物園（東区健軍）に２月上旬、中南米のジャングルに生息するフタユビナマケモノの「ベビドン」（雄、１歳５カ月）と、アフリカを代表するリクガメのヒョウモンガメ３匹が来園した。３月１９日開幕の「全...

Kirk here with news of some new residents of the Kumamoto City Zoo: Two red pandas (one male, one female).
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/72c5ed9954f96057ee71cc52a090f7370e970434
I'm not sure when public viewing will start but I imagine that day is not far away.
In Japanese, these animals are called "lesser pandas" (as opposed to giant pandas) but I learned from Wikipedia today that they are actually more closely related to raccoons than to giant pandas, although both like bamboo, and both can be extremely cute. There are lots of video compilations of cute red pandas on YouTube. Here's one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPKab2d4_Xw

Kirk here with news about Kumamoto City's botanical garden (part of the zoo near Ezuko; 動植物園). Starting tomorrow the botanical garden will reopen with a flower bed of 90,000 flowers. The current arrangement will continue (presumably with some seasonal adjustments) until May 22. There will also be exhibits about the flora and fauna of the Ezuko area.
I don't plan to go tomorrow (I prefer to avoid crowds) but I'm pretty sure my wife and I will make a point of checking it out before it closes.
All of the sources I was able to find are in Japanese but, even if you're not a confident speaker of the language, the video in the NHK article should give you a good idea of what to expect.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/kumamoto/20220317/5000015032.html
https://www.asahi.com/articles/photo/AS20220317003082.html
https://kumanichi.com/articles/590079
９万株の大花壇お披露目　開幕迫る花博、「植物ゾーン」リニューアル　｜熊本日日新聞社
　国内最大級の花とみどりの祭典「全国都市緑化フェア（くまもと花博）」が１９日、熊本市内３カ所のメイン会場で開幕する。同市と公益財団法人都市緑化機構の主催。１７日は、会場の一つとなる水前寺江津湖公園一帯...

Kirk here with a screenshot of one of the pictures from an Asahi Shimbun article entitled "Powerful quake raises nightmare specter of 2011 disaster." Of course, seeing castle walls destroyed reminded my 2016, not 2011.
Actually, today happened to be my day to get vaccinated at the KKR Hotel, which is very near the castle. On my way back I walked through the castle grounds. The repaired keep (tenshukaku) is looking very good but the castle walls are still largely in disarray because each stone must be located and put back in exactly the same position. For that reason, many of the crumbled walls have not been touched since the quake and now lots of plants can be seen growing in the crevices between the stones. It's perfectly natural but rather sad looking just the same.
Sendai Castle was build in 1601 (just a year after Kumamoto Castle) by Date Masamune, a figure as important to the people of Sendai as Kato Kiyomasa is to Kumamoto.
I'm thinking of the people of north-eastern Japan today and hoping for the best.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14575010

Hi Atsuko with some beautiful Sakura pictures.
The most commonly seen cherry blossom tree in Japan is ソメイヨシノSomeiyoshino.
The 大寒桜 Ookan-zakura blooms a little earlier than Someiyoshino.
These pictures are of one and the same cherry tree, Ookan-zakura. They are white at the beginning of blooming and turn deep pink when in full bloom.
I was also impressed by the beauty and interesting changes of the Ookanzakura for the first time this year, so I would like to share them with you.╰(*´︶`*)╯
Ookan-zakura@Kengun elementary school.
Someiyoshino are expected to bloom around the 20th in Kumamoto.

(Fiona) It's springtime in Kumamoto and the city is in bloom. Shimotori arcade has flower displays representing the prefectures of Japan and beginning Saturday March 19th various events are organised around the city.

Kirk here with news about Yubeni (ゆうべに) strawberries (and other varieties), produced here in Kumamoto.
Why 1 packet of Japanese strawberries in S’pore can cost so much, explained

Kirk here with some local / international shochu news:
"In the final, the cocktail 'Fit for Himiko,' created by Kira Webster from Missouri, came in second place. She added ingredients including pistachio liquor and vermouth to the rice shochu 'Yachiyoza,' which is distilled by Chiyonosono Sake Brewery Inc. in the city of Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture."
By the way, when rice shochu is made, they first make a form of sake (rice wine) and then distill that. Chiyononosono is well-known for their sake.
Bartenders in US compete in cocktail contest using Japanese 'shochu' liquor - The Mainichi
MIYAZAKI -- A unique drink using coconut, almond and even vinegar-flavored rice won the first edition of a cocktail contest using Japanese

William Wheat prices were rising globally even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, known as "the grain basket of the world," providing more than a quarter of the world's supply, but as Kumanichi points out, "the government selling price of imported wheat to flour milling companies will be raised by 17.3% from the current price from April." This is obviously bad news for those who love bread and udon (and for bakeries and udon shops), but fortunately we in Japan have options. Expect to see more rice-based bakery goods.
Of more impact will be on countries such as Egypt, where Russian wheat is a staple of their nan-based culture, essential to so many living at the margin. I do not know what they will do. The Aljazeera article has an inforgraphic about where wheat comes from and where it goes.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/586572
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/17/infographic-russia-ukraine-and-the-global-wheat-supply-interactive
Infographic: Russia, Ukraine and the global wheat supply
More than a quarter of the world’s wheat exports come from Russia and Ukraine.

There's a Games/Communication Day at the International Center・熊本国際交流 on this Saturday, 19th March! 英語を練習しますか?いくつかのゲームを楽しみたいですか? Doors open at 1.45pm. It's aimed at high school students and up✨🙋‍♂️🎲📝🙆‍♀️ See the posters for more details!! 高校生以上・3月19日(土)の午後14時から・受付は13時45分から - Ruth

Kumamoto International Center's 『Spring English』 for children (and parents of preschoolers) is planned to make a comeback at the end of this month. 熊本国際交流で、四日間の幼稚園児向け「春休み親子で英語」(午前中)と小学生向けの「春子ども英語クラブ」(午後中)は3月末に復活する予定です。
Preschooler lessons are in the morning and those for ES students are in the afternoon. For more details see the posters or their page https://www.facebook.com/kcic.kif　お問い合わせ: お申し込み、詳細は熊本国際交流館までご連絡ください。お気軽にご参加ください。ぜひシェアしてください - Ruth

Hi Atsuko here sharing some information about reused items bazaar.
It will be held at 西部交流センター,Seibu Kouryu center, The Western Exchange Center on Sunday, March 27.
They also collect reusable items for the bazaar.
The exchange center has a good Onsen and gym you can play badminton too.(*Ü*)
西部交流センター
http://seibu-koryu.com/
西部交流センター,Seibu Kouryu center, The Western Exchange Center will hold a bazaar.Why don't you give away your children's clothes or toys that you no longer need or play with at home to those who need them?
Receiving starts anytime from the opening day.
*Items will be given away by staff on Sunday, March 27 to those who wish to receive them!
　
　Time: 10:00 - 15:00 (ends as soon as all the supplies are gone)
What you can bring
Children's clothing (laundered), toys and picture books (undamaged, in good condition, and sanitized)
What you can't bring in
Dishes, broken or soiled items, used underwear and socks, stuffed animals, items with names written on them
Bazaar items will be limited to children.
*Please prepare masks in advance and be sure to wear them in the venue.

Here's a full-time, ALT work opportunity, for a native or non-native English speaker. It's in the Misato area, out past Kumamoto Costco. It's an April 2022 start, with work at 1 JHS and 2 ES.
Work is contracted through a Kumamoto-based language provider, Parakaro・パラカロ. Please check the post for criteria and contact details - Ruth

Hi Atsuko here.
It's an announcement about 薪能 Takigi Noh at Kumamoto castle tonight,( 18:30 ～20:00pm. @二の丸Ninomaru)
Information about Oshiro Matsuri
https://kumamoto-guide.jp/oshiromatsuri/?fbclid=IwAR2-oIMGZHm8ZPv_5NFcXgVXBFm-7xLJ0U4IYsQ2pdFMMReG3qxAgZzEIos
I hope you like it (๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
No charge!
We will be performing Noh at Kumamoto Castle.
March 12　
It will be held at the Ninomaru of Kumamoto Castle from around 7:00 p.m.
A fantastic moment in a bonfire of firewood
You will be able to enjoy it.
I will be performing the "Shakkyou" red lion.
Ishibashi is about 15 minutes away.
Please come and visit Kumamoto Castle.
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
舞囃子｢嵐山｣ Maibayashi '' Arashiyama''
On a night of cherry blossoms in full bloom, Zao Gongen appears and makes a vow to defeat demons, save people from suffering, and protect the land.
仕舞 ｢羽衣｣Shimai "Hagoromo"
The beautiful scenery of spring haze on the ground and the blooming of moon laurel in the heavenly realm is depicted.
半能 ｢石橋｣ Half Noh "Shakkyou"
This is a very festive Noh play that celebrates the coming of the new year with a dynamic lion dance. The gorgeous costumes and peony costumes (stage set) add to the festive atmosphere. It is the basis for the Kabuki play "Renjishi.

Kirk here with a follow-up to Atsuko's post of almost a week ago. Since then, the English-language editions of the Asahi and Yomiuri newspapers have published articles on the same story (a boy with roots in both Kumamoto and Ukraine who is here with his father because of the war) -- Atsuko scooped them! ;)
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14567000
https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0008345627
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6977607295645976
Boy, 12, who fled to Japan wants to hug his mother in Ukraine | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
KUMAMOTO—A 12-year-old boy who fled Ukraine days before Russia’s military invasion gets nervous during phone calls with his mother when she mentions that she hears air raid sirens.

Carlton. Was I the only one surprised at the sound of sirens at a quarter to 3pm today in the city?
For those like me who forgot, they were in remembrance of the great Northeastern earthquake and tsunami which struck 11 years ago to this day at 14:46.
I remember that day well but here we did not experience so much as a wiggle or a ripple although maybe over in Amakusa there was a rise in the sea level that might have been noticed.

William March, which shares the etymology of Mars and is also related to the military, "March!", as this is the time of year when war traditionally began, has been a harbinger in many cultures. I've been recently acquainted with Hyakki Yagyō (百鬼夜行, "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons"), associated with this time of year. If anyone knows more about this, please inform.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyakki_Yagy%C5%8D#/media/File:Hyakki_Yako.jpg

People are interested in Japan for various reasons, manga being one. Kumanichi reports that Takamori has for its high school budgeted 383 million yen for its "manga-related department." Much of the funding will go towards new dormitories, particularly three for girls, and production equipment.
Takamori, with its breathtaking scenery and legendary, well, legends lends itself well to manga (a photo is below). This may well result in recruiting students from outside the prefecture. We wish them well.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/581053