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Liz here, back from a gorgeous fall day, on Sunday, in Kugino and Minami Aso., and here to recommend a great place to enjoy the fall weather and colors in the English Garden Minami Aso.
The garden was created by Mr. Masuda（舛田さん, I hope I have the reading right), now in his early eighties. He began work on it the month before the earthquakes struck Kumamoto. His family
home in Gofuku machi was leveled in the second quake , and he has reestablished the foundation stones as markers here and there throughout the gardens. He is very friendly , happy to tell you the names of all the plants, and share the history of the gardens.
The entrance fee is ¥300 yen, a small price to pay to wander freely through the paths and marvel at the wide variety of flowers and trees. If you are a camera buff , you will love this place. There are plants, seeds, and birdhouses for sale and tables where you can relax with a cup of freshly brewed herb tea, coffee, or have an ice cream, all for ¥300. The fall colors are coming out now but I imagine it would be worth visiting in any season. I have included a photo of the map on his brochure. in the comments
You can also check out his instagram : englishgarden_minamiaso which he updates daily.

Kirk here with a post from Kumamoto Gakuen University's Facebook page. I think you can make out the dedication message to Dr. Masazumi Harada from Eugene Smith. Dr. Harada was a truly wonderful man whom I had the great pleasure to get to know as a colleague at Kumamoto Gakuen University. For a brief introduction to the man and his work, please see the following Wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masazumi_Harada
https://www.facebook.com/kumagakuuniv/posts/4313855282042964

Hi friends, Atsuko here.
Firework festival in Hitoyoshi will be held tonight from19:30 to 20:00.
They will show you 3000 fireworks for 30 minutes.
Don't worry, you can enjoy it at home via youtube below. The youtube starts from 19:00pm.
Hoping lots friends enjoy it (๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
【LIVE】第66回 人吉花火大会2021 4K LIVE配信
【YouTubeLive配信】配信日時 ：10月24日(日)19：00よりスタート●人吉市の魅力を紹介●日本のふるさと 人吉●アニメツーリズム聖地巡礼のご紹介●人吉市長、人吉商工会議所会頭メッセージ●協賛企業のご紹介●人吉花火大会....

Hi, Atsuko here.
We are fine.
Aso is also fine.
We have lived Aso together for looooong time.
It's nice Aso Rock Fes seems to be held as scheduled.
Beautiful Aso, Blue Sky, and Rock 'n' roll yeah(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
#阿蘇ロックフェスティバル2021
https://www.facebook.com/asorockfes/
@アスペクタ
from 23 to 24 October.

Kirk here with the RKK video of the selfie I posted the other day. On RKK's news program yesterday, they were saying that this got way more hits that their news reports normally do.
What I posted the other day:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6162862520453795
RKK video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSD9guOdjQ
RKK news article:
https://rkk.jp/news/backno_page.php?id=NS003202110201847070111

Kirk here, back from a little walk in which I came across an ambulance bogged down in traffic. What I saw was on the so-called "Kokutai Doro" (国体道路), close to its intersection with the East Bypass (東バイパス). The ambulance was up ahead of me but by merely jogging a little, I almost caught up to it. I couldn't make out the details but I'm pretty sure that drivers were not pulling over promptly. I saw this in Kumamoto but I think it's a national phenomenon:
https://buzzmag.jp/archives/181336
This article features quite a few complaints about drivers not getting out of the way. What I haven't been able to find, though, is any reference to a "crying wolf" phenomenon due to patrol cars that turn on their lights for no clear reason. My concern is that this practice merely trains drivers not to perceive such flashing lights as a big deal. As someone who learned to drive in the U.S., I suspect I'm not alone in experiencing a pretty severe stress response whenever I see flashing lights in my rear-view mirror. And, when it comes to flashing lights, my impression is that American drivers actually tend to be a good deal more "obedient" than Japanese drivers (e.g. pulling over immediately, at least in my experience).
Generally, I have to admit that policing in Japan seems to be more successful and less problematic than policing in the U.S., but when I see ambulances struggling to get through traffic, I can't help but think that the police bear some responsibility.
In this regard, I have a question for any Japanese people who may by reading this: Is my perspective entirely foreign? In other words, are there Japanese people who share my concern that patrol cars with flashing lights may be causing problems for ambulances and other emergency vehicles?
消防にボットーーーク☆ (@botFD)さんは、「速度の遅い救急車」をめぐって、こんな呟きを投稿しました。 く…

Kirk here with an eruption update. It seems that, luckily, no one was hurt yesterday. But the eruption is causing problems just the same. On RKK today, I saw reports about damage to crops, canceled reservations at tourist facilities, and little kids having to wear goggles to protect their eyes from the volcanic ash. By the way, this Japan Times article has a YouTube video you may be interested in. It's from Japanese TV so the narration is in Japanese but the images are good.
Cleanup begins after eruption at Mount Aso in Japan
The eruption from Mount Aso's No. 1 Nakadake crater sent a column of ash about 3,500 meters into the air.

Kirk here with a picture I took of my TV screen (RKK). This man said that, after reaching the summit of Nakadake, he turned his back to the volcano, held up his camera to take a selfie and then noticed the eruption. Then, hearing rocks falling, he ran for cover and found a concrete shelter made for such occasions.
I'm not sure if I believe him completely (could he really have not noticed something was happening until he was ready to take the selfie?) but it's quite a story -- and quite a selfie. By the way, I'm pretty sure he was closer than 1 kilometer, the restriction that was in effect at the time. Pretty good evidence, in my mind, that such restrictions should be taken seriously. This man could have easily lost his life if he had been hit by one of the rocks that he heard falling around him.
RKK said that there were 16 hikers near the volcano (about a kilometer or so) but that all are safe and accounted for.

This YouTube video from a Japanese-language news report gives the best view of the eruption that I've been able to find so far. -- Kirk
阿蘇山噴火　現地で数十人避難　被害の有無確認中(2021年10月20日)
気象庁によりますと、20日午前11時43分ごろ、熊本県の阿蘇山で噴火が発生しました。噴石や火山灰などに警戒して下さい。　気象庁によりますと、阿蘇山の中岳第一火口で午前11時43分に噴火が発生しました。　この噴火に.....

Kirk with a link to a live feed of Mt. Aso:
【阿蘇 噴火】ライブ配信
【阿蘇山(熊本)情報カメラ　ライブ配信】KKTニュース

Kirk here. Mt. Aso has erupted. As far as I know, no one has been hurt. The NHK video (in English) relates the current eruption to earlier ones. In 1953, six tourists were killed and over 90 people were injured. Then, the report continues, 12 people were killed in 1958. In 1979, 3 people were killed by ejected rocks. I recommend that you take a look at the video.
Mount Aso in Kumamoto erupts | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Mount Aso in Japan's central Kyushu region has erupted.

Kirk with an update from Kelly Hansen on the Daiz meat-substitute products:
"Daiz products are being sold at Youme town (took this photo at the one across from Kumamoto Gakuen Dairaku), but seem to be selling out quickly."
Thanks Kelly!

Kirk with some news about migratory spoonbills that are expected to pass through this area. By the way, I see that some ducks are flying with the spoonbills. I wonder what that's all about. Maybe they wanted to be in the picture too. ;)
Japan Photo Journal: Endangered migratory spoonbills arrive in Japan for winter - The Mainichi
Black-faced spoonbills, endangered migratory birds of the ibis family, are seen in the sunset along the Tatara River in the city of Fukuoka on Oct. 17

Kirk here. I've posted about a lot of different topics over the years but I think this is my first post about samurai wall doodles. ;)
Samurai wall doodles dating back 200 years found in quake-hit Japan town go on display - The Mainichi
MASHIKI, Kumamoto -- An exhibition held in this southwest Japan town showcases ancient artifacts, including doodles of samurai on a plaster wall datin

Kirk here with some business news. Kyushu is sometimes referred to as Japan's "silicone island" about the production of semiconductors. See, example
https://www.semi.org/en/blogs/technology-trends/semi-china-delegation-searches-for-the-secret-of-japans-silicon-island
Now, TSMC is preparing to join those manufacturing in Kumamoto:
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/10/9bc53309be17-breaking-news-tsmc-eyes-building-japan-plant-in-2022-start-of-operations-in-24.html
"The world's largest contract chipmaker is considering building the new plant adjacent to Sony's plant for image sensors used in smartphones in Kikuyo in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Kumamoto, a person familiar with the matter said."
Here's an NHK report (in English, with video) on the same news:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211015_11/
TSMC eyes building Japan plant in 2022, start of operations in 2024
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. says it envisions building a new plant in Japan in 2022 and starting operations there in 2024.

Kirk here with a link to a news article entitled "Starbucks Japan joins Been There drinkware line with 20 cool designs for all over Japan."
https://soranews24.com/2021/10/16/starbucks-japan-joins-been-there-drinkware-line-with-20-cool-designs-for-all-over-japan【pics】/

Kirk here with some strange news:
KUMAMOTO -- A 51-year-old man was arrested on Oct. 14 for stealing and driving a police car for some 20 kilometers after his van ran out of gas on an expressway in southwest Japan.
Man arrested for stealing police car after van ran out of gas in southwest Japan - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A 51-year-old man was arrested on Oct. 14 for stealing and driving a police car for some 20 kilometers after his van ran out of gas on an

Kirk with a Japanese news report (video) about Mt. Aso's increased volcanic activity. There was an relatively small eruption on Thursday. I noticed a bit more dust on our car today than usual and I suspect that it may be volcanic ash. On another TV report I saw small rocks that had been found in the vicinity of the volcano after a small eruption. The report says it's the first eruption of the volcano since the summer of last year.
P.S. As I reported the other day, the official activity level was recently increased from Level 1 to Level 2.
https://www.kkt.jp/nnn/news100ezc1b8nffkugkp1k.html

Hi, Atsuko here.
Sharing beautiful Autumn views at ミルク牧場Milk ranch.
https://aso-milk.jp/modules/contents/index.php?lid=1705&cid=3
You might enjoy lots cosmos at 萌の里Moenosato in aso too.
https://www.facebook.com/moenosato1999/

Kirk with an inquiry sent to the page:
Sorry to write a private message but I would need an information. Are there pocket wifi rental places in Kumamoto airport or near Kumamoto station?
Thank you very much.