Posts

Kirk here with an article comparing Kurokawa's hot springs with Yufuin and Beppu. Of course, they all derive their heat from Mt. Aso.
The Ultimate Kyushu Onsen Guide: Kurokawa vs. Yufuin vs. Beppu
Kyushu’s Best Onsen Escapes: How to Reach Kurokawa, Yufuin & Beppu from Tokyo

Kirk here with a share I happened across today.

Kirk here with a screenshot from a news segment about an exhibit at the local museum (Kumamoto Hakubutsukan) about Lafcadio Hearn. The image you see is from a lesson Hearn gave to his son, helping him learn English. I was interested in how the standard English of the time was different from English today.
--> No, I do not have a dog. Do you have a cat?
I can't think of a good example off hand but I occasionally bump into English in dictionaries that may have be OK at one point but that is obsolete now. I suspect that good scholars of English taught their students what they learned in the Meiji period and that, in some cases, those lessons have been repeated without going back to check contemporary usage.
Anyone with concrete examples of outdated English that continues to be taught in Japan?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQZV9S3ADTo

Hey Kuma Friends!
I wanted to share some information about the local Book Club, Kumabon.
This month we’re reading “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan.
(We realize that this is short notice, we’ll be choosing March’s book at the meeting and sending information out right away!)
The meeting is on Saturday, February 28th at the Kurokami Community Center. (Address in the Flyer)
Come on over even if you haven’t finished the book (or maybe haven’t even started it yet!) as we’re a close group that loves to chat.
Sometimes our meetings are held online, sometimes in-person at a member’s home and sometimes downtown for a little food and drinks while we chat. 🙂
Hope to see you there!

Atsuko here.
[Notice] Kumamoto Castle will be open to the public for free.(੭˙꒳​˙)੭
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
In April, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquake, Kumamoto Castle will be open to the public free of charge.
Please come and see the state of Kumamoto Castle as it continues to be restored. We look forward to your visit.
Period: April 18th (Sat) and 19th (Sun)
Target All park visitors
Fee free
*Parking fees apply
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D8UAy867a/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Hi, Joha here.
An international mini-soccer tournament is planned in Kumamoto on March 1st, 2026.
Please refer to the info on the flyer for details.
Mixed (international) teams would be preferred, yet, it's not mandatory.
The registration deadline has been extended, so, don't care if you see the 13th there ;-)
Ciao!
The direct registration pages are here:
Japanese version
https://forms.gle/dazgBaxXZXd1Jgp97
English version
https://forms.gle/tq7qbqZ1YvQw42uTA

This Sunday, 15th February will see 1000s milling around for Kumamoto City Marathon 2026!! If you're participating and want a cheer let us know your bib number or tracker details! 🎽✨📣 If you hope to spectate with others, or if there's a foreign cheer group contingent, surely also holler here... for noise in numbers!!
A few of us intended to cheer from a friend's apartment near KumaDai hospital but, as they have been hospitalized, we may stay street-based around there! 頑張れ!! Good luck to all taking part! 🏁💦🔥👣 - Ruth

Kirk here. According to the report, Kumamoto is expect to join the frontlines of chip production. 3-nanometer chips are not the absolute frontline (2-nanometer chips exist) but they are near the frontline and amazingly small, nonetheless.
By the way, according to ChatGPT:
2 nm is the fastest growing advanced node, 3 nm is the current high-end workhorse, and 5 nm still represents the largest share among the advanced nodes — but in the overall market (all nodes), larger mature nodes like 28 nm and above still account for most products due to volume.
Also according to ChatGPT:
Human hair (which, of course, varies in thickness) is between 16,700 times to 33,300 times thicker than 3nm! So 3nm means you can pack a lot of circuitry into a tiny space.
TSMC to produce 3-nanometer chips in Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
The world's largest contract chipmaker says it will produce advanced 3-nanometer semiconductors in Japan.

Fiona here, posting an opening for a teaching position in Kumamoto city.
Baker’s English House requires an enthusiastic native English Teacher. The job is full time, a total of 32 hours with a maximum of 24 teaching hours a week. With Sundays and Mondays off. Some Japanese ability and teaching experience would be helpful but not required.
Location - Higashi Ku, Kumamoto City� Benefits: From 260,000 yen/month (Negotiable). 20 paid holidays per year.
Starting Date: Immediately but can wait till start of April�
Please send resume and recent photo to:�[email protected]�Only successful applicants will be contacted. Thank you.

Kirk here with a note for folks who understand Japanese and/or know Alan Rosen. For those of you who don't know, Alan is an American with a long history of teaching at Kumamoto University. You can read about his books (both English and Japanese) and get a little sense of his expertise regarding Lafcadio Hearn from the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=Alan%20Rosen
Tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 7) beginning at 8:15, NHK will broadcast a program that deals with Hearn's time in Kumamoto. The occasion is the beginning of the depiction of Hearn's time in Kumamoto in the TV drama "Bakebake." You can see a Japanese notice about the Saturday morning show (including the video I took a screenshot of) at the following address:
https://www.nhk.or.jp/kumamoto/info/articles/310/033/11/
Come to think of it, when it comes to Americans in Kumamoto, there was Hearn, LL Janes, Alan Rosen, and then the rest of us. ;) I've set my HDD to record it and, if you can, I recommend that you do so too.

Liz here , with a recommendation for anyone interested in heading to Minamata for the day . A few days ago , on the recommendation of a friend , we headed to the private Minamata Disease Museum there. https://www.minamatadiseasemuseum.net Sorry that my explanation didn't copy paste correctly as text, but became a photo instead!

Kirk here with news about some young Indonesian women who may have saved the life of an elderly Japanese woman that was unable to get out a a drainage channel on her own. The English below was translated from the Japanese by Claude, my favorite AI service. I asked Claude to translate the article into Indonesian too. That translation follows the English. Terjemahan bahasa Indonesia dari artikel ini mengikuti terjemahan bahasa Inggris. Silakan gulir ke bawah untuk melihatnya.
--------------
"Help me..."
On a cold January night, an elderly woman was stranded in a drainage channel.
The ones who saved her life through quick thinking and teamwork were technical intern trainees from Indonesia.
[Photo] Irrigation channel near the scene
A "Voice" from the Channel on the Way Home
Around 8:30 PM on January 15th, three agricultural technical intern trainees—Puji Atyun (24), Novita Rohma Danti (24), and Wivia Wati Firda Saputri (21)—were cycling back to their dormitory from their workplace in Nishi Ward, Kumamoto City.
Along the way, they heard a woman's voice coming from the drainage channel.
Three Who Acted Despite the Language Barrier
The three discovered an elderly woman who had fallen into the channel, approximately one meter deep. The woman, in her 80s, had fallen while out for a walk and had injured her leg.
Although no water was flowing through the channel, she was unable to climb out on her own and had apparently been stranded for over two hours.
The woman was calling out "Help me, help me" from inside the channel.
Having arrived in Japan only in October of last year, the three women didn't understand the words, but they lifted the elderly woman out of the channel by supporting her legs and upper body.
Under Cold Skies... Transcending the Language Barrier
With help from Japanese-speaking colleagues Nila Nur Marisa (30) and Erli Widiyawati (40), they called the police.
"Where is your home? Are you injured?"
While they waited for police to arrive, with the woman seated, Nila continued talking with her.
Nila Nur Marisa (30): "It was cold, and when I touched her hands, they were freezing. I gave her my gloves and hat."
The woman was subsequently taken into police custody and transported to a hospital as a precaution.
"She Reminded Me of My Family"
On January 29th, certificates of appreciation were presented to the five women at the Kumamoto Minami Police Station.
Nila: "Looking at the grandmother reminded me of my own family. [About the award] I was nervous at first, but I was happy. When someone is in trouble, you have to help them. It's just the natural thing to do."
Police stated, "If the discovery had been delayed, it could have become a life-threatening situation. We are grateful that they overcame the language barrier to contact emergency services."
--------------
Indonesian translation:
"Tolong..."
Pada malam bulan Januari yang dingin, seorang wanita lanjut usia terjebak di saluran air.
Mereka yang menyelamatkan nyawanya melalui keputusan cepat dan kerja sama tim adalah para peserta magang teknis dari Indonesia.
[Foto] Saluran irigasi di dekat lokasi kejadian
"Suara" dari Saluran Air Saat Perjalanan Pulang
Sekitar pukul 20.30 pada tanggal 15 Januari, tiga peserta magang teknis pertanian—Puji Atyun (24), Novita Rohma Danti (24), dan Wivia Wati Firda Saputri (21)—sedang bersepeda pulang ke asrama mereka dari tempat kerja di Distrik Nishi, Kota Kumamoto.
Di tengah perjalanan, mereka mendengar suara seorang wanita dari saluran air.
Tiga Orang yang Bertindak Meski Ada Hambatan Bahasa
Ketiganya menemukan seorang wanita lanjut usia yang telah jatuh ke dalam saluran air sedalam sekitar satu meter. Wanita tersebut berusia 80-an tahun, jatuh saat sedang berjalan-jalan dan kakinya memar.
Meskipun tidak ada air yang mengalir di saluran tersebut, ia tidak mampu keluar sendiri dan tampaknya sudah terjebak selama lebih dari dua jam.
Wanita itu berteriak "Tolong, tolong" dari dalam saluran.
Baru tiba di Jepang pada bulan Oktober tahun lalu, ketiga wanita ini tidak mengerti kata-katanya, tetapi mereka mengangkat wanita lanjut usia itu keluar dari saluran dengan menopang kaki dan tubuh bagian atasnya.
Di Bawah Langit Dingin... Melampaui Hambatan Bahasa
Dengan bantuan rekan kerja yang bisa berbahasa Jepang, Nila Nur Marisa (30) dan Erli Widiyawati (40), mereka menghubungi polisi.
"Rumah Ibu di mana? Apakah Ibu terluka?"
Sambil menunggu polisi datang dengan wanita tersebut dalam posisi duduk, Nila terus berbicara dengannya.
Nila Nur Marisa (30): "Cuacanya dingin, dan ketika saya menyentuh tangannya, sangat dingin. Saya memberikan sarung tangan dan topi saya kepadanya."
Wanita tersebut kemudian diamankan oleh polisi dan dibawa ke rumah sakit untuk berjaga-jaga.
"Beliau Mengingatkan Saya pada Keluarga Saya"
Pada tanggal 29 Januari, piagam penghargaan diberikan kepada kelima wanita tersebut di Kantor Polisi Kumamoto Minami.
Nila: "Melihat nenek itu mengingatkan saya pada keluarga saya sendiri. [Tentang penghargaan ini] Awalnya saya gugup, tapi saya senang. Kalau ada orang yang kesusahan, kita harus menolongnya. Itu hal yang wajar."
Pihak kepolisian menyatakan, "Jika penemuan terlambat, situasinya bisa mengancam jiwa. Kami berterima kasih karena mereka berhasil melampaui hambatan bahasa untuk menghubungi layanan darurat."
水路から『助けて 助けて』　日本語が分からなくても 手を差し伸べたインドネシアの技能実習生たち　帽子や手袋も渡して高齢女性の命救う | 熊本のニュース｜RKK NEWS｜RKK熊本放送
冷え込む1月の夜、水路に取り残された高齢女性。とっさの判断と連携で命を救ったのは、インドネシアから来た技能実習生たちでした。 1月15日午後8時半ごろ、農業技能実習生として働くプジ・アテュンさん（24）、…

Joe Tomei here, passing on a notice about French classes. Allons-y!

Kirk here. It seems that a helicopter carrying two Taiwanese tourists and one pilot has gone down in the Aso crater. I just saw an image of the wreckage inside the crater on NHK's national news program. In the NHK segments I saw, the people involved in the search were all wearing gas masks to protect themselves from the intense fumes. Even if the passengers and pilot survived the crash, I doubt they would be able to remain alive for long inside the crater. NHK said that the search will resume at 7:30 AM tomorrow.
Helicopter with 2 Passengers from Taiwan Goes Missing Over Aso, Kumamoto Pref., Did Not Return at Scheduled Time
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Report on the earthquake evacuation drill.
Ten years since the Kumamoto Earthquake.
I believe we must widely share
what we experienced and learned,
Atsuko (ง •̀_•́)ง
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1a9Amzr2Vr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Post

Kirk here. First of all, happy new year! Secondly, sorry to post something that is not Kumamoto-specific. The topic is "expat-specific" and, as many expats read the page, I hope you'll agree that it's not too far off topic.
In many ways, I have considered the U.S. to be more enlightened regarding issues of immigration or the treatment of non-citizens (well, that is, before 2016). And, even though Japanese politics have taken a fairly anti-foreigner turn recently, it hasn't gotten THIS bad. Once upon a time, if the Japanese government had put such a discriminatory policy in place, I would have been indignant and thought "this could never happen in the U.S.!" Well, here's hoping it doesn't happen in Japan in 2026!
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1kpnxvpgy2o
P.S. No explanation about how this will actually be administered. "OK. Five people in this car. So, I need to see five IDs proving citizenship. That's five passports or birth certificates, alien registration cards, or the equivalent. Driver's licenses are not acceptable because they don't show citizenship. Anyone without a proper ID will be treated as a non-resident foreigner."
US hikes national park fees for foreigners to put 'American families first'
Non-residents will soon have to pay $100 per person to enter 11 of the United States' most popular parks.

Got snow around Ezuko. Atsuko ☆。.:＊・゜

In Ezuko today. Even the best strike out occasionally. -- Kirk
P.S. Facebook made it very hard to get this video into this post. It basically tried to force me to publish it as a REEL, making me REELy unhappy. I'm wondering how to leave Facebook with Kumamoto International in tact.

Kirk here. Munetaka Murakami has signed with the Chicago White Sox. A Japanese TV show I saw noted that he's been in pinstripes since Kyushu Gakuen High School, here in Kumamoto (his Yakult Swallows uniform also featured a pinstripe pattern). If you would like to check out how he greets fans in English, you can do that here:
https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/munetaka-murakami-says-hello-to-white-sox-fans?t=t145-default-vtp