Posts

Hi friends.
You might know and love this song if you are residents in Kumamoto.
Yes, it's おてもやん Otemoyan, very famous Kumamoto local song.
They are 熊本北高 Kumamoto Kita High school students. They are members of its brass band team.
Of course, they couldn't go to school and practice together. But they tried to make remote music.
Yes, don't complain what you can't.
Yes, Let's do and try what we can now!
I would like to cheer and share their wonderful music and smiles.
Hoping their music makes you Happy too.ーAtsuko٩( ᐖ )۶
https://youtu.be/dzHZfs2eEyc
https://higojournal.com/archives/kitakou_remote.html
熊本北高等学校吹奏楽部 リーモト演奏会で「おてもやん」
熊本北高等学校の吹奏楽部のみなさんが、休校によりみんなで一緒に練習できない中、それぞれが演奏した映像をまとめて、１つの動画にしました。 演奏したのは「おてもやん」。 会えなくても、みんなで１つの曲を。 詳...

Joe Tomei here, with another update from the JET Prefectural advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott.
=============
State of Emergency
A decision will be made tomorrow about whether the state of emergency can be lifted in the remaining 8 prefectures. One of the numerical targets proposed by the government panel of experts for lifting the emergency in the remaining prefectures is whether there is an average of 0.5 or fewer new cases per 100,000 people in a given one-week period.
In light of this criteria, the government is currently planning to withdraw the state of emergency for the remaining 3 prefectures in the Kansai area -- Osaka, Hyogo and Kyoto, tomorrow afternoon, barring the emergence of any new clusters.
Although new confirmed case totals have recently reached the single digits in Tokyo, the national capital region and Hokkaido still do not yet meet the numerical target and may remain under a state of emergency until the end of the month.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200520/k10012436861000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_001
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/20/national/japan-lift-state-of-emergency-osaka-kyoto-hyogo/#.XsSKSVOLTIU
Meanwhile in Kumamoto
The final category of business that until now remained under a request to close will be allowed to open tomorrow, 21 May. This includes businesses such as karaoke boxes and cabarets. The prefecture has released new checklists for these businesses as well. At places such as cabarets and host clubs, staff are being asked to avoid having conversations in front of or beside customers, and interact with customers from a distance of at least 1 metre.
https://this.kiji.is/635458731565220961?c=92619697908483575
The prefecture is asking residents to avoid patronising businesses where safety measures are not being taken or which fail to display the prefecture's safety checklists.
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji_33007.html
Updated Translations of Health Ministry's Basic Policies, Situation Reports etc.
Since the state of emergency was partially lifted last week, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released translated documents containing its revised basic policy on how it will approach COVID-19 going forward, an English translation of the expert panel recommendations, conceptual diagrams, etc., and a PPT presentation summarizing the current situation in Japan as of 18 May.
As we move forward into our "new lifestyle" in which we are being asked to balance the continuation of economic activity with measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we think it would be a good idea for JETs to familiarise themselves with current Japanese government policy. Here is the recommended reading list:
Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control by the Government of Japan (Summary) - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000631465.pdf
Summary of 14 May 2020 Expert Meeting on the Novel Coronavirus Disease Control (Analysis of the Response to the Novel Coronavirus and Recommendations) - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000631466.pdf
PPT with Updates on COVID-19 in Japan as of 18 May 2020 - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000631469.pdf
Novel Coronavirus Control Measures by Region (Conceptual Diagram) - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000631468.pdf
Example of practicing "New Lifestyle" - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000628611.pdf
緊急事態宣言 関西は解除の方向 首都圏はギリギリまで見極め | NHKニュース
【NHK】緊急事態宣言が継続している8都道府県のうち、政府は、21日、大阪、京都、兵庫の関西2府1県で、宣言を解除する方向で詰めの…

Joe Tomei here. This is an English translation of the Japanese information located at
https://note.stopcovid19.jp/n/nb95f34cc9fb4
Be prepared for COVID-19
What to do when you feel unwell
We are doing this in order to pass on the information that is coming out in Japanese. While the translations are done to the best of our ability, please be aware that we take no responsibility for any issues that may arise based on actions taken on account of these translations. We are doing this in English, but would welcome help not only for that, but also for translations in other languages. Contact me off list if you can help.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KD4-kzbYhVW25CV64sTNBFN0W8kaxd8mxnMGHsqgNlg/edit?usp=sharing
Be prepared for COVID-19 = #感染時に備えよう What to do when you feel unwell (updated on 5 May)
＃感染時に備えよう　体調が悪いときにすること（5/8更新版） Original article published on 27 April 2020 Be prepared for COVID-19 = #感染時に備えよう What to do when you feel unwell (updated on 8 May) Public Advisory Group of Experts on COVID-19 5 May 2020 23:35 This ...

Joe Tomei here. This is an English translation of the Japanese information located at
https://note.stopcovid19.jp/n/n46f8429a2348
Be prepared for COVID-19 infections. What to do when you become a patient with “mild symptoms”
We are doing this in order to pass on the information that is coming out in Japanese. While the translations are done to the best of our ability, please be aware that we take no responsibility for any issues that may arise based on actions taken on account of these translations. We are doing this in English, but would welcome help not only for that, but also for translations in other languages. Contact me off list if you can help.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nxdlq2RLDEkjjqtusmtE9AKrLcYpw0H0/view?usp=sharing
Be prepared when you are a patient with _mild symptoms_.docx

Hi friends.
Sorry for late updating.
My English level is poor and I’m not professional about these papers but I’d like to explain how to fill out this 100000 yen getting documents.
I think we have 2 most important points.
First,
you should write your daytime contact phone number.
If your documents have something wrong, government staff might contact with you by calling. So never forget to fill in your “daytime contact phone number “ If you don’t have your own cellphone, it’s OK the phone number is your company,your friend’s cellphone. Anyway you should write the best phone number to be able to catch you in daytime.
Secondly,
Never check the box written “不要” .不要 means “no need”
If you check this box, you CANNOT get 100000yen. You should check “希望する”. 希望する means “ I want the 100000yen. You should check 希望するbox.
This is the document in Kumamoto city version. Each government might make different version. Anyway, you never check like不要 and 辞退(jitai, it means also you don't need to accept the money) and 希望しない(kibousinai, It also means I don't want the money) boxes.
If you are so rich man and no need to get 100000yen, please donate to somewhere needed.
I wrote some details in these documents.
Sorry for my English is not smart and it’s little bit confused.
I just want to explain and share, hoping this post helps my friend, you, even for just a bit.
If you have any questions,please ask me and text comments freely ーAtsuko(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)

Good morning friends!
Don't throw away!
This is the documents to get 100000yen in Kumamoto city versionーAtsuko(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡

Hi friends.
Sharing beautiful Aso, especially ミヤマキリシマ, Miyamakirishima, bloom season in 仙酔峡Sensuikyo.
I shared the beautiful view not to go and gather many tourists there, just share to enjoy them at your house.
The isolation days were so board and tired.
So, we should keep this peaceful level by our own efforts, not by the emergency declaration.
ーAtsuko(*Ü*)

Joe Tomei here. This is an English translation of the Japanese information located at
https://note.stopcovid19.jp/n/n46f8429a2348
What changes / does not change with the extension of the State of Emergency (5 May updated)
We are doing this in order to pass on the information that is coming out in Japanese. While the translations are done to the best of our ability, please be aware that we take no responsibility for any issues that may arise based on actions taken on account of these translations. We are doing this in English, but would welcome help not only for that, but also for translations in other languages. Contact me off list if you can help.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1STegef47XdHw0wM_8fyrgiyRndgcEY3UeG2vMIfLTK0/edit?usp=sharing
What changes / does not change with the extension of the State of Emergency (5 May updated)
全地域の皆さまへ 延長された緊急事態宣言で変わること・変わらないこと（5/5更新版） What changes/does not change with the extension of the State of Emergency (5 May updated) Public Advisory Group of Experts on COVID-19 5 May 2020 01:20 On 4 May, the Prime Minister ...

Joe Tomei here with another update from the JET prefectural advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott. As always, we thank them for sharing these with us.
=====
Yesterday, the national government decided to lift the state of emergency for 39 prefectures, including Kumamoto. A state of emergency remains in place for Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Hokkaido. The government will revisit the question of whether it is possible to lift the state of emergency for any of the remaining prefectures on 21 May next week.
https://corona.go.jp/news/pdf/kinkyujitaisengen_gaiyou0514.pdf
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200514/k10012430241000.html
What this means for Kumamoto
In his address to the people of Kumamoto (following the partial lifting of the state of emergency last night), Governor Kabashima announced the following:
The prefecture's request to refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent outings was lifted earlier this week. However, although the number of new confirmed infections is decreasing, there are still areas of the country which remain under a state of emergency, and the movement of people may result in the spread of infection. Even after the lifting of the state of emergency, the prefecture is continuing to request that people:
① Avoid unnecessary travel
② Avoid visiting/returning to Kumamoto (to those who live/work in other prefectures)
③ Avoid moving across prefectural lines, and
④ Avoid going to places in which the 3 Cs are present
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji_33007.html
Even though the state of emergency has also been lifted for Fukuoka (meaning that no part of Kyushu is under a state of emergency at this time), the existing agreement between the governors in the Kyushu region is still in place, and residents are asked not to travel between different prefectures in Kyushu until at least the end of this month (31 May).
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=32686&sub_id=5&flid=233423
Strengthening Kumamoto's health care system in preparation for a potential second wave of infections
In his address last night, the Governor raised the following points about Kumamoto's response and preparedness:
Kumamoto is working hard to both enhance testing capacity and expand the provision of health care.
In terms of per capita PCR testing rate, Kumamoto Prefecture ranks 4th highest of all 47 prefectures in Japan, and there is enough capacity to ensure that everyone can be tested promptly whenever a doctor determines it is necessary.
Kumamoto has from the beginning implemented testing standards different to the nationwide standards, resulting in the early detection of more cases. For instance, the national testing guidelines for people who may have been involved in a cluster are: close contact with a confirmed infected individual within 14 days and having symptoms. However in Kumamoto, since 11 March, if you have any connection at all with a cluster, you can be tested even if you lack symptoms or more that 15 days have passed. https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=33007&sub_id=1&flid=233954
A total of 312 specialised hospital beds have now been secured for infected patients. For mildly ill patients, agreements have been made with 10 hotels/accommodation facilities, totalling 867 rooms. This is the largest number of secured rooms nationwide (outside of special alert prefectures). https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=33007&sub_id=1&flid=233953
The prefecture is currently studying the establishment of a specialised testing centre, and prefab testing facilities with drive-through capacity have already been implemented at regional health centres throughout Kumamoto. (Note: Kumamoto City's specialised PCR test centre with drive-through services, capable of conducting 80 tests per day on referred outpatients without having to go through a local health center, will be opened by the end of June. https://this.kiji.is/633846618248823905)
Osaka Prefecture established its own independent numerical criteria regrading when to withdraw business closure requests based on the positive-test case rate, number of cases for which the route of infection is unknown, and rate of hospital bed usage. Kumamoto's current situation clears all three of these categories.
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji_33007.html
Industry guidelines for preventing the spread of infection
As part of adopting the "new lifestyle", every industry in Japan is being asked to co-operate in taking stronger measures to prevent the spread of infection. A full compilation of all of the various operation guidelines created by different industry groups is available on the official government COVID-19 website. You can check out the guidelines for all types of businesses such as cinemas, gynmasiums, museums, driving schools, restaurants, waste management, media, hospitality, food, finance, manufacturing, transport (divided by industry type and regulating ministry) here: https://corona.go.jp/prevention/pdf/guideline_20200514.pdf
Kumamoto City releases detailed annotated translation for Special Fixed Benefits application form
You can see information about the application for Kumamoto City here: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/corona/hpkiji/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=5&type=top&id=28055
The translated form here is here: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileDsp.aspx?c_id=5&id=28055&sub_id=4&flid=205102
*Please note that the application form will vary by municipality.

Joe Tomei here, I've received a request to post the information below. We have, from time to time, accepted these requests, but I'd like to know how readers feel about them. I'll be trying to make a poll in a few days about this. Stay tuned!
=====
Dear Kumamoto International Members,
I ask you to take a few minutes to read this post. My good friend and pastor, Norman Smith, will be running 100 miles (160km) on Friday and Saturday, May 22nd and 23rd, respectively. He is running to raise money for Siloam Home for Orphans and Widows in SE India. The Siloam Home for Orphans and Widows has fallen on hard times the last few years as the number of supporting churches has dropped, and inconsistent support has lead them to take out loans for necessities several times.
Norman volunteered to lead the charge for a special fundraiser to wipe out the debt and set the stage to put a better plan in place for the orphanage’s support going forward. His goal is $20,000 by the end of May 2020. He plans to run across Kyushu from the Kumamoto coast over the mountains 100 miles away to the Oita coast. He has set up a site to collect pledges and is suggesting $1 per mile. However, larger donations are more than welcome.
For Norman, this is an opportunity to encourage someone else, help people in need, meet new people and grow spiritually along the way. We grow through adversity, and he expects that those 100 miles will provide plenty of that! He is excited to see how God draws the church family together, meets needs and glorifies God.
Though I will not be running, I am part of the crew to support him during the run. My shift is from 10pm on Friday, May 22nd to 8am on Saturday, May 23rd.
Please consider donating to help the cause. I have included a few links below. If you have any questions, please contact me directly.
Explanation of Run This is an in-depth explanation of why Norman is running.
https://www.abwe.org/blog/running-siloam
…
Facebook Page: KO100 (Kumamoto Oita 100 Miles) This page documents Norman’s training since October 2019.
https://www.facebook.com/ko100japan/
Snowball Donation page
https://siloam-home-for-orphans-and-widows.snwbll.com/giving-portal?fbclid=IwAR0VZ9u6mXlZn0GeW4--I654lex6HxP9PGKJ3lUltpMyIC1ozRqYQ_F-FRY
(Donation) ABWE Giving Portal – Siloam Home for Orphans and Widows
https://www.abwe.org/work/missionaries-and-projects?s=Siloam

Post

Joe Tomei here. A bit of a different piece, perhaps people have been hearing about COVID causing Kawasaki syndrome (though most of the stories now list it as a mysterious inflammatory ailment that is similar to Kawasaki syndrome or have given it the name pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS)) As my daughter had Kawasaki syndrome about 18 years ago, I thought that I would relate our experience, not only so parents can keep on the lookout, but also because even in the absence of COVID, you probably want to know about it.
So, we were going to the states to take my oldest daughter to see my parents. We agreed to meet in LA and go to Disneyland. Because of timing, we got hotel near the airport with my folks and then I would drive a rental car to Anaheim Sunday morning.
Getting together was magical and it looked like everything was going well and we went to bed with dreams of Mickey and Snow White. But when we woke up, my daughter said that her neck hurt and my mom, who was a nurse, noted that her lymph nodes were swollen (symptom 1), so we went to an emergency room near the airport. It was packed, with people who didn’t have insurance but couldn’t afford to take a day off. She was running a fever (symptom 2) and we filled out forms etc. Unfortunately, we had a long wait, so long that she became dehydrated and they had to try multiple times before we realized she was dehydrated. Her lymph nodes were getting worse, and so they recommended we take her by ambulance to a hospital with a pediatric department and an ICU.
Her condition worsened, they would administer aspirin to reduce her fever, which would climb back up and so they put her into the ICU. My cousin worked at the hospital, so we were able to arrange a place for my parents to stay and we waited. My daughter stabilized, though began having swelling (symptom 3), though I don’t think the doctors picked up on it as much as we did (and we were even shocked when we say pictures, not realizing how different she looked). They said that she was stable, they didn’t know what to do, and we didn’t either. So we went to our hotel by Disneyland and settled in. After a few days, her temp went thru the roof and we were back in the hospital, but fortunately, a 4th symptom appeared, the ‘strawberry’ tongue. Kawasaki syndrome does not have a test, and can only be clinically diagnosed by the appearance of symptoms (other symptoms are cracking of the lips, rash on the trunk, red eyes (conjunctival injection)) It is especially difficult to diagnose in infants and if patients exhibit 3 of the criteria with a fever, treatment is often recommended.
It’s called a syndrome rather than a disease because no one knows what causes it. I have not kept up with the research, but there is a very strong genetic component, with Japanese and Korean children falling ill much more often, which is one reason why the US doctors did not pick it up quickly. The treatment is intraveneous immune globulin (IVIG), the collected antibodies from blood plasma, which can quickly deal with it.
The primary danger of Kawasaki syndrome is the risk of acquired heart disease, so it is important to treat the condition quickly. This parallels with discussions about how COVID damages a number of organs, leaving the patient breathless even after recovery.
I think it is particularly important for this group because if are in a mixed marriage and this strikes overseas, because of the genetic component, overseas doctors will not be familiar with it.
Anyway, that’s a short tale about our family’s experience with Kawasaki syndrome that I pass on to help folks make sense of some of the reporting about this in relation to COVID and to give parents with mixed kids a warning.

Joe Tomei here. I've gotten a few off list messages asking about William and I just spoke to William's wife, and I'm really happy to say that after a check, William _did not_ have COVID. I'm sure everyone on Kumamoto-i joins me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

This is Masaki Koreishi.
I am sorry that this is a late notice but if you are interested in Japanese art and have free time today or tomorrow, Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art (not the one in front of Tsuruya but the one near the Castle) currently has a special exhibition titled "Modern Art Nippon!". The most famous among the exhibits is "Portrait of Reiko" drawn by Ryusei Kishida. But other paintings are good as well.
It is so pity that this special exhibit was originally scheduled to start from March 20 but due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we only have the shortened term from May 7 to May 15 (this is actually an extended term). So today and tomorrow are the only days left.
The opening hours is 9:30 till 18:15 (last entry: 17:45) (extended by one hour from the usual hours due to the number of visitors).
(Note that they may sometimes limit the number of people that go in to avoid the 3Cs (crowded places, closed spaces, close-contact settings).
English / 熊本県立美術館

Joe Tomei here with another update from our intrepid JET Prefectural Advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott
=====
Hello Kumamoto,
Here are the updates for today:
End of request to avoid unnecessary and non-urgent outings
Kumamoto Prefecture has lowered its classification from "an area in which infections are increasing" (感染拡大地域, kansen kakudai chiiki) to "an area in which infections have been confirmed" (感染確認地域, kansen kakunin chiiki).
As of the governor's press conference yesterday (12 May), the prefecture is no longer requesting residents to avoid all unnecessary and non-urgent outings. However, residents are still being asked to avoid the 3 Cs and to continue avoid moving across prefectural boundaries for the time being.
https://this.kiji.is/632855771807056993?c=92619697908483575
National expert advisory committee tomorrow, government considering partial end to state of emergency
The next meeting of the government's coronavirus response expert committee is scheduled for tomorrow. The advisory committee is expected to provide advice to the government on whether to lift the state of emergency early, as well as provide guidelines about what conditions would need to be met for the state of emergency to be lifted along with the conditions which would prompt the re-declaration of a state of emergency.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200513/k10012427911000.html?utm_int=nsearch_contents_search-items_002

The national government is currently considering lifting the state of emergency for all of the 34 prefectures which have a "limited number of new cases" (which includes Kumamoto). The government is also considering lifting the state of emergency for some of the prefectures which are currently classified as "special alert" prefectures (特定警戒都道府県, tokutei keikai todо̄fuken) but nevertheless have recently had few confirmed instances of new infections, such as Ibaraki, Gifu, Fukuoka and Aichi prefectures. Even with a partial lifting, Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo and Hokkaido are expected to remain under the state of emergency. The national government is expected to make this decision tomorrow after the meeting of the government's expert committee.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200513/k10012427921000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_004
Prefectural BOE announces intention to re-open schools as early as 18 May
Assuming the state of emergency is lifted for Kumamoto Prefecture (the national government will make this decision tomorrow, 14 May), the Prefectural BOE may partially re-open as soon as 18 May. If the state of emergency is lifted, schools will return to their normal schedules on 1 June.
https://this.kiji.is/632837422253294689?c=92619697908483575
Schedule for each municipality to send out Special Fixed Benefits application forms
Many municipalities, including Kumamoto City, have begun sending out application forms for the 100,000 yen Special Fixed Benefit. The Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents released a chart which includes the planned postal date, dates for the opening of online applications, and the application period (deadline to apply for benefit), as well as the estimated time to receive the benefit. Please confirm your municipality's timeline here:
http://www.kuma-koku.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=156&sub_id=27&flid=474
Health ministry approves antigen test
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved the use of antigen test kits. The test kits return results in as little as 30 minutes, but have lower sensitivity. As result, positive antigen test results will be treated as confirmed cases, while people who test negative with an antigen test will have to undergo a follow-up PCR test to confirm the negative result.
Read more:
English - https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200513_05/
Japanese - https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200513/k10012427581000.html?utm_int=nsearch_contents_search-items_001
＜速報＞熊本県が外出自粛の要請解除　新規感染者の減少で ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県は１２日、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大防止のため、県民に呼び掛けてきた外出自粛要請を解除した。新...

Hi friends.
Tomorrow night, on 13th Wednesday night, from 7pm to 9:30pm at RKK.
There is a TV program'' 出川哲朗の充電させてもらえませんか''
Degawa Tetsurou is a famous TV comedian. He and his friends went across Kumamoto prefecture, 120km from Aso to Omuta city by electric bike. He should have asked to charge battery for local people and interact with them.
He is so friendly that many Japanese accept and invite him.
My friend met the TV clue at Arao city on that time.
We can't travel and watch, we can't interact many local people now. But if you watch it, you might feel you also travel with him.
Don't miss it !!ーAtsuko(｡•̀ᴗ-)و ̑̑✧
出川哲朗の充電させてもらえませんか? - Gガイド.テレビ番組表
美しき“阿蘇"から熊本横断!“名湯"続々温泉街道120 キロ!目指すは世界遺産三池港“光の航路"!ひゃ〜濱口&アッキーナ夫婦がシアワセすぎてヤバいよヤバいよSP

Joe Tomei here with a job posting from Kenta Ishii from the NPO GLAD. (http://alt.npo-glad.org/) Please address any questions to his email, listed at the bottom.
========
Now we’re looking for an ALT who wants to work in Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
So please let me know if you are interested in!
What if you were given the chance to work in a company with a strong support system
- A company which allowed you to explore new areas, get competitive pay, and took care of you by helping you and handing all the pains of trying to find a new place?
Would you take that opportunity to embark on a new adventure from June?
If so...
Teach as an ALT in Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture. We will support you as much as we can so that you can enjoy your adventures as much as possible (Driver's license required)
Shoreline drives, picturesque west-Japan sunsets, and starry-skies, this port-town is quite charming.
We will provide you with the warm support and stability through these new adventures of yours.
*Please read the awesomeness of Uki City at bottom of this page*
[About Us]:
Hi, We're NPO GLAD. We were founded by a group of former Japanese teachers with a vision to support the growth of Global-minded students in Japan.
We believe that foreign teachers will be the bridge between the world and the key to modernizing Foreign Language Education here.
In addition to our strong and genuine support system here at NPO GLAD, we try to make living in Japan as easy and stress-free as possible.
With us and you can enjoy your time here as much as you can. We welcome you to our family!
[Position details]:
The placement will be in Elementary School(s) and/or Junior High School(s) across Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Contract term: June 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021 - Must be willing to move before this date
[Conditions]:
・Competitive compensation: From ¥240,000 per month + transportation allowance
・Consistent working hours: Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
・Placement: Elementary School(s) and/or Junior high school(s) throughout Uki City
[Benefits]:
・Weekends, national holidays, BOE calendar holidays
・Transportation subsidized
・Housing and relocation assistance
・Continual training and support
・Rental Car provided if you need
[Successful Candidate Criteria]:
・Native speaker of English or individual who has acquired an education in English for at least 12 years
・Holder of a university Bachelor's degree (or higher) in an English-speaking country
・One year of Assistant Language Teaching experience or equivalent
・Holder of a valid visa status that allows work in Japan
・Able to drive in Japan legally
・Able to speak conversational Japanese
Note:
For us, communication is crucial for planning and creating lessons with Japanese teachers of English.
We also highly encourage that teachers be able to be involved with the communities here. Our mission is to foster global understanding, after all.
[About Uki City, Kumamoto]:
Uki city is located right in the center of Kumamoto prefecture in the Kyushu area of Western Japan.
It is easily accessible by train, and 2 hours away from Fukuoka by car. The population is nearly 60 thousand people. Uki city is surrounded by mountains and the sea. There is a World Heritage site of Triangle West port which was established at Meiji era (1887). The quiet port town is full of historical buildings and reminiscent of ancient mystery. There are some famous hot springs as well. A neighboring city to the East, Misato provides natural outdoor activities within the mountains. To the north, Uti City holds the Taiko Drum Collection House filled with the tradition of Taiko. You will find many great views and things around Uki city! Check out this cool video of Uki City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcOsVFROCqU
[Apply Now!]:
Apply now, and get a head start on your application process! There isn't much time! We have many applicants applying from all over Japan and will close our shortlist on the end of May.
Thank you and we are looking forward to hearing from you!
https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/job/view/lang/ja/keywords/uki/job_id/137455#.Xri4PC8_B0s
If you have any questions, please kindly send me email as below.
[email protected]
UIMA世界遺産を撮影～三角西港～ （熊本県宇城市）
撮影者：ささもも 熊本県宇城市 http://www.kankou-uki.jp/ 2015年、世界文化遺産に登録された「三角西港」 そこで行われた撮影コンテスト「DRONE CHALLENGE in 三角西港」に エントリーした作品です。 是非ご覧ください。

Joe Tomei here with another update from the JET Prefectural advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott.
========
First new confirmed case in Kumamoto in 12 days (8 May)
On 8 May, Kumamoto City announced that a clinical technologist in his 20s who works at the Kumamoto Regional Medical Centre was infected with COVID-19. Last month, 2 nurses and another lab technologist at the same hospital tested positive. The hospital has once again halted taking on any new patients and emergency outpatients for the time being.
https://this.kiji.is/631505354396386401?c=92619697908483575
https://this.kiji.is/631989371595981921?c=92619697908483575
Two deaths of patients previously confirmed to be infected and hospitalised have been announced. One, the 32nd case in the prefecture, a male taxi driver who was in his 60s from Kita-ku Kumamoto City, passed away on 4 May. The 25th case, a doctor in his 70s at Kuma Hospital, Hitoyoshi, passed away on 9 May.
https://this.kiji.is/629876474870891617?c=92619697908483575
https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/606927/
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revises criteria for consulting health centre
The health ministry has revised its guidelines for people seeking to be tested for COVID-19. Previously, guidelines mentioned having a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher continuing for four days.
If you have relatively mild cold-like symptoms, you can contact the health centre after four days. However, if you have a high fever, difficulty breathing, or strong fatigue, you now are encouraged to contact your local health centre immediately without waiting for 4 days. Furthermore, if you are elderly or have underlying medical conditions, you may contact the local health centre immediately as soon as you experience any cold-like symptoms.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200508_32/
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20200508-00000167-kyodonews-soci.view-000
School re-opening decision to be made after 20 May expert meeting
In April, the prefecture decided to close schools until 31 May. However, on 7 May, Governor Kabashima indicated that schools may re-open. The Prefectural Board of Education is planning to make a decision on when to re-open schools after the City-Prefecture joint meeting of experts on 20 May next week.
https://this.kiji.is/631264595568821345?c=92619697908483575
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism orders nationwide extension of shaken validity
If your shaken (vehicle inspection, 車検) expires this month, its validity will be automatically extended until 1 July due to the extension of the state of emergency.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200508/k10012421711000.html?utm_int=all_side_ranking-social_003
Prefectural positive test rate figures
For the period between 3 May and 9 May, the average positive rate for PCR tests performed in Kumamoto Prefecture reached 0.4 per cent, the lowest since the period between 8 and 14 March. You can read more about the positive rate and the number of tests performed here:
https://this.kiji.is/632351760108307553?c=92619697908483575
【新型コロナ】熊本地域医療センターの技師感染　県内４７人目 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本市は８日、同市中央区の熊本地域医療センターに勤務する２０代の男性臨床検査技師（東区）が、新型コロ...

Joe Tomei here. A Kuma-i reader related that they had gone shopping and had their food in their bike basket and stepped away from the bike for a moment and returned to find a crow picking thru it and wondered if there was anything to be done/that should be done by the city, so I thought I would post it here for people to comment.
I can't imagine that the city can do anything, but I would remind everyone, the fact that there is a lot less food from restaurants etc going out means that scavengers like crows and other animals are going to be looking for other sources of food. Crows in particular can post a great threat because their nesting season is from late April to early July, they are very territorial and will be searching for food for their nestlings. They are also very intelligent, and so will take advantage of any habitual behavior on your part.
As a trivia side point, the Japanese soccer association has a three-legged crow as their mascot, which is related to an Asian mythological creature known as a 三足烏 in China (chinese:sān zú wū, Japanese: sanzoku) and 八咫烏 in Japan (yatagarasu)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-legged_crow
that represents the sun and rebirth. Despite that, you still shouldn't let them take your groceries...
Three-legged crow - Wikipedia
The three-legged (or tripedal) crow (simplified Chinese: 三足乌; traditional Chinese: 三足烏; pinyin: sān zú wū) is a creature found in various mythologies and arts of East Asia.[1] It is believed by East Asian cultures to inhabit and represent the Sun.

Joe Tomei here. This is the Foreign Workers Union in Osaka, but I think there might be some good information for people. While the focus is going to be on education workers, I think that other fields will be covered as well.