Posts

Hi! Kirk with what I expect to be my last post for now on the topic of Daiz, the local company that produces plant-based meat-substitute products.
Several people expressed interest in purchasing their products. I also got a question about whether or not what they make is vegan. So, I decided to give them a call to find out. What I learned is that, at the moment, our only way to taste a product made by this company (at least here in Kumamoto) is to visit a FRESHNESS BURGER fast-food joint and order a soy patty burger (see photo). The following page shows the location of the two shops in Kumamoto:
https://search.freshnessburger.co.jp/fb/spot/list?address=43&search=address
In regard to whether or not their products are vegan, I was told on the phone that what they make is vegan but that the businesses that actually sell their products may mix them with meat or other animal products. So, you have to check with FRESHNESS BURGER as to whether or not their soy sandwiches are vegan.

At the moment, they aren't selling to local supermarkets and they don't sell directly to the public from their company offices. Hopefully, demand for their products will grow in the future and that will lead to wider availability.
The interest in the topic of vegan foods may not be huge as a percentage of the readers of this page but I think that those who are interested are strongly interested. And, Japan is general not super sensitive to the needs of vegans and vegetarians in my experience so I think there is a need for more information about how to get by in Kumamoto without eating meat.
So, if those of you who are interested in this topic would comment on this post with your vegan/vegetarian tips about Kumamoto, I would appreciate it. I may not be able to collate all of the information but people searching this page with terms like "vegan" and "vegetarian" will be able to find it.

Kirk again with another article about Daiz, the local company that's making big waves with its plant-based meat-substitute products. Personally, I've become particularly interested in how replacing meat products with plant-based products can reduce carbon emissions. So, I was pleased to see several people express interest in that post. In case you missed it, here's the URL:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/6129063807167000
Corporate Japan opens wallet for Miracle Meat maker
$27m haul will help Daiz improve soy meat and grow sales network

Kirk here with a little news article about a local company that is making plant-based substitutes for animal products:
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14437196
It mentions a "Kumamoto-based company" but, unless I missed it, I don't think the article gives the company name. I did a little searching and I think it must be DAIZ (the name is derived from the Japanese word for soya bean). It sounds like a very progressive company -- and it has a very good English website.
https://www.daiz.inc/en/
DAIZ | PLANT-BASED FOODS

Kirk with volcanic news. Mt. Aso is now Level 2 (have to be at least a kilometer away, as I recall), up from Level 1. I hope it's just a temporary, minor increase in activity.
阿蘇山 噴火警戒レベル2（火口周辺規制）に引き上げ
【火山情報】今日13日(水)17時10分、阿蘇山の噴火警戒レベルが、レベル1（活火山であることに留意）からレベル2（火口周辺規制）に引き上げられました。中岳第一火口から概ね1kmの範囲では、噴火に伴う大きな噴石に警戒.....

Carlton here. I have a question to all those reading this who are native speakers of English and teaching English or who have taught English in Japanese schools. How many of you have the Japanese Ministry of Education-issued teaching license for teaching in a grade 1-12 school? Thank you in advance for replies.
By the way I have taught in Japan from Junior High School through college and have never obtained that license nor had it required for my employment.

Kirk here with a little iPhone photo I took at Ezuko Saturday. If you live in a part of Kumamoto City that isn't too terribly far from Ezuko, I really recommend taking time to sit by the water and take in the sights. Personally, I like the cooler evenings, especially when it's still hot as it is today. It's great to be able to enjoy a natural setting without leaving the city -- one reason I greatly prefer Kumamoto to Tokyo.
On this day, we could easily find an open spot in the parking lot by the restaurant in Kami-Ezuko ("upper" Ezuko, the part where this picture was taken). If you live close enough to walk, run, or cycle, that's probably even better.

William. As an addendum to Kirk's post, I'd like to recommend my favorite museum in Kumamoto, the Handicrafts Promotion Center In Kawashiri. The town is a hidden treasure, where rivers originating in the hinterland meet the sea, so Kumamoto's precious goods could be shipped throughout Japan, particularly metal work such as knives and Higo zougan. Train and bus access is available, and the town itself is worth the trip. http://www.kumamoto-kougei.jp/

I used to commute slowly (?) by car to from a job in Tomia to Aso. I'd stop at a MacDonald's for a cheeseburger set, as such was my subsistence, and I had to rush. Hint: if you're driving in Japan, give yourself a half hour over what you think you need. You'll thank yourself for this later.
迫真の演技、スタントマンが事故再現　熊本農高で交通安全教室 | 熊本日日新聞社
　交通事故をプロのスタントマンがリアルに再現する交通安全教室が１２日、熊本農高（熊本市南区）であり、１年生と教職員ら約３００人が、迫真の演技を間近に見て交通ルールの大切さを学んだ。県警とＪＡ熊本市など...

William. Hospitalized due to the flu, I searched desperately for reading material and found this Japanese-language book which coincidentally whose English version was recently reviewed on Amazon. Reading a Japanese novel for the first time is a challenge, but this was, like, my tenth. I'd skip the English version but would highly recommend it as a starter novel in Japanese. It is unusual.
Convenience Store Woman: A Novel

William. Kumanichi has an amusing article about the "correct" kanji for Tatsudayama. Most historians agree that it was named by the Kikuchi clan in the Heian Era (立田, the most powerful clan in what was then Higo, named after a subbranch of the clan.) But then it gets more complicated. The kanji「龍田」first appeared in 1889. In 1957, when Tatsuda Village (上立田村) was incorporated into Kumamoto City, it became Tatsuda Chome (then written as such: 竜田山), and the former Kamitatsuda Village became Tatsuda Town Kamitatsuda (上立田村は龍田町上立田). In 2000, all were unified as "龍田丁目," perhaps borrowing its name from Tatsuda Aso Sangu Shrine, built in the 1300s. This leads to confusion, as the pedestrian bridge leading to Tatsuda Elementary School (龍田小) reads "竜田町," as seen in the photo below, while the JHS is 龍田 but the kindergarten is 立田. So when we non-Japanese get confused about kanji, remember we're not alone.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/427337

Kirk here with an old article about a resident of Kumamoto who's doing remarkable work. Though language teaching is a common occupation for people from English-speaking or European countries, there's actually quite a lot of variety in the work that expats in Kumamoto wind up doing.
Swedish man preserving art of Japanese sword-crafting
A Swedish man in quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture becomes an unlikely protector of ancient Japanese swords by learning the art of sword-crafting

William. Near the Central Post Office is a bridge called Senba Bashi (洗馬橋) - "washing your horse bridge," I suppose as the couriers from southern Kumamoto wouldn't want to ride a lathered-up horse into the castle. A hundred years ago, a children's song was written for the bridge and has become an unofficial anthem of our city. Attached are the lyrics and a video of the song. You can't truly call yourself a Higokko if you haven't memorized this.
あんた方(がた)何処(どこ)さ　肥後(ひご)さ
肥後何処さ　熊本さ
熊本何処さ　せんばさ
せんば山には　狸(たぬき)がおってさ
それを猟師(りょうし)が　鉄砲(てっぽ)で打ってさ
煮てさ　焼いてさ　食ってさ
それを木の葉で　チョッとかぶせ
くまモン満を持して［あんたがたどこさ］☆＠きゅりあん（品川）　2014/07/01
2014/07/01＠品川区立総合区民会館（きゅりあん）。童謡の日記念コンサートで、まりつきに挑戦です。オシリふりふり頑張るモン☆P1320384

Carlton here. Recalling this October 1 story posted by Kirk <https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14452001> about Kumamoto joining in a test of “proof of vaccination” to gain entry to public travel & leisure places and large public events, has anyone yet experienced being asked for verification of having been jabbed?
Businesses to test vaccination requirements in 13 prefectures | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Trial runs on further easing COVID-19 restrictions will start this month in 13 prefectures at businesses requiring customers to show vaccination certificates or negative PCR test results, the government said Sept. 30.

William. Kumamoto is so off the beaten track that even those familiar with Japan are likely unaware of its existence. For those who would like to introduce family members to our wonderful town, please forward this video.
Quality Living City Kumamoto, JAPAN 4K 熊本市 Full ver
熊本城をはじめとした観光地や景勝地、豊かな自然や水、伝統文化や産業、うるおいある人々の暮らしなど、本市のあらゆる魅力を詰め込んだ総合的なプロモーション動画です。熊本城ホールやサクラマチクマモト、ルフィ...

Hello One piece fans, Atsuko here.
Robin statue had unveiling ceremony in Minamiaso-mura.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/427191
https://op-kumamoto.com/news/241/
■ HP: https://kumamotojishin-museum.com/
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Former Tokai University Aso Campus
■ Location: Kumamoto-ken,Minamiaso-mura, Aso-gun 5435, Kawayo (next to Tokai University Aso training field)
■ Hours: It’s until 4:00pm from the middle of　※ November to the end of February from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
■ Closed: Tuesday (It’ll be closed next Wednesday in case of a holiday.)
■ Admission: It’s free.

William. Coincidentally, I'm reading a book about the Black Plague, which took out a third of Europe's population and thus (arguably) ended serfdom and led to democracy. Kumanichi notes that ３カ月ぶり感染確認ゼロ - there have been no new cases of corona virus in three months. Attached is a view of what the plague was. Plagues in Japan are traditionally associated with a ghoul on a roof.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/426066

Kirk here with some links related to an NHK article about how a "pottery workshop in the Amakusa region of Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has recently begun producing figurines of next year's Chinese zodiac sign, the tiger."
The first URL will take you to the English article and the second URL is to a Japanese article on the same topic. I got the photo from the Japanese article. The third URL takes you to a page with an NHK video (in Japanese) about how the figurines are made. It seems that one reason that this is news is that Amakusa ware has been designated a "national traditional craft."
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211007_18/
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20211007/k10013295171000.html
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/kumamoto/20211006/5000013624.html

Kirk with a follow up to the Le Thi Thuy Linh case. Thanks to Monaco Speed, the petition now has an official English translation! Go to the page to check it out.
By the way, the number of signatures is getting close to 1,000. If you know someone who might be interested, please share this with her or him. Every little bit helps!
https://www.change.org/p/福岡高等裁判所-第2刑事部-裁判長裁判官-辻川-靖夫-御中-ベトナム人技能実習生リンさんの無罪を求めます?fbclid=IwAR3vUfITmb2Hc8SrjLa9_HIXfWx_a_KwUA6tOu9o2SAAMDuL9484mKeFqQc
ベトナム人技能実習生リンさんの無罪判決を求めます！

Kirk here with a follow-up to William's post about the escaped emus. This article has video of their capture.
Emus escape tourist farm in Kumamoto | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
A large group of emus -- giant flightless birds native to Australia -- has escaped from a tourist farm in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

William. Japanese hospitals are often difficult to navigate as the upper-level hospitals will not accept patients without a referral from a lower-level hospital. My wife has recently encountered a serious illness, and our local hospital, https://www.k-shinto.or.jp/, quickly (over two days) diagnosed her problem and referred her to a hospital which specializes in her condition. For those with serious medical issues, this hospital is highly recommended.
医療法人創起会 くまもと森都総合病院
くまもと森都総合病院。NTT病院の歴史を継承し、地域医療の中核病院としての役割を発揮し、地域へ貢献いたします。