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Atsuko here.(ง •̀_•́)ง
Information about earthquake drills.
Mizuno-san who organised the disaster preparedness drill (if you're from Kumamoto, you'll likely recognise his voice from FM radio), hopes many children, students and families with foreign roots will participate.
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Kumamoto Prefecture Prevention Training for Foreign Residents
Disaster Prevention Training
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes. Do you know what to do during an earthquake?
participation
Free
We will be conducting earthquake drills. Participation is free of charge (¥0).
For Japanese families too.
You can participate with your Japanese family and friends. We speak in simple Japanese.
Date and time (when)
Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:00 to 12:00
place
Kumamoto Castle Jyo-sai-en Tourist Information Centre Kumamoto City
(1-1 Ninomaru, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City)
Free of charge (¥0)

Whatcha up to this afternoon? Team Tonakai is at Sunatori Community Center until 5pm today so pop on by for a cuppa if you want to give a contribution 🎁 ✨🦌場所は神水の江津湖近く、八丁馬場電停から徒歩すぐです。

Comedian: It was so warm today in Kumamoto . . .
Audience: HOW WARM WAS IT?
Comedian: It was SO warm, kids were SWIMMING under the Kokai bridge!
-- Kirk (not a comedian)

Ruth here, passing on this request for presenters to register for next year's Kyushu English Language Teaching (ELT) Convention which will be held in Fukuoka City on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, with the cooperation of the English Teaching Japan (ETJ) community!!✨
It's a great opportunity for educators to share research and ideas, browse and buy teaching resources, make new friends, and mingle!! Registration for presenters is currently underway, so send your abstract and details through ASAP!! 📄
If you are keen to present your research, school or lesson enhancement strategies, student or personal project-work, specific contributions to education, or run a workshop, please sign-up now!!
Proposals are due by Wed., December 31st, 2025, via email or the link below.
📧 Please e-mail Tristan Scholze at tristan (at) rainbow-bridges (dot) com with the information below if you are interested in presenting as soon as you can. You can alternatively register using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwuWoaabvBNKtkRu1dGrjxBbZBALJWPrGpnvbBVnwFyRL-tQ/viewform
Presentations slots are 45 minutes long. You can end early but please do not exceed 45 minutes.
Join the Kyushu Convention Facebook page and help spread the word about the 2026 ExpoETJ Fukuokaa/
👉All educators welcome to attend! Please check the FB page and website for details!
👍Helpers are always needed, so send an email to Tristan if you can help with the setting up the day before or clean up after the event.
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What? 🧠 Kyushu ELT Convention & Expo
When? ⌚ Sunday, February 22, 2026
Where? 🌍 Seinan Gakuin University, Fukuoka City
Would you or perhaps a colleague of yours like to present at the Expo? We’re looking for local presenters at this time. It’s a great chance to develop your own teaching skills as well as to share your ideas with other teachers and contribute to the teaching community. 🎤✨🧠
Topic areas and target audiences can range through all aspects of teaching English, at all ages, and in all situations. Topics related to the business of teaching English or operating a school are also welcome.
*Due to space issue the remainder follows in comments ↓

Thanks for the super cool support, Jeff.
Christmas must be happy and warm for both children and adults! ଘ(੭ˊ꒳​ˋ)੭✧Atsuko
Team TONAKAI
https://www.facebook.com/share/17vuBaK42v/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1SYmrAjxMf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Kirk here. I've been waiting for Johnny Depp to come to Kumamoto (hoping to bump into him on Shimotori) but that hasn't happened yet. He has, however, met Minamata Disease patient Shinobu Sakamoto in Tokyo -- though it took him a while to do so.
Johnny Depp meets Minamata disease patient Sakamoto | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Johnny Depp, who portrayed photographer Eugene Smith in the 2020 film “Minamata,” met with Shinobu Sakamoto, a victim of the mercury-poisoning disease, for the first time in Tokyo on Dec. 2.

Atsuko here.
II attended a bamboo marimba-making workshop held at the International Exchange Hall. Aix En Provence in France is Kumamoto City's sister city. An artist who creates bamboo marimbas there held a morning performance and lecture at the International Exchange Hall, followed by a bamboo marimba-making workshop in the afternoon.
Kumamoto and France, music and art, measuring bamboo and considering angles involved maths, pitch involved science, and using saws and files involved technical skills. It was a STEAM education experience encompassing diverse learning.
I hear they plan to return next year. I do hope they might perform in front of the International Exchange Hall during the Mizuakari Festival's bamboo lantern display.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17x1XmB9Vg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Hi, all! Ruth here!! 🦌 Once again this year our Team Tonakai charity group is fundraising for gifts for about 300 children in 7 Kumamoto care homes... 4 in the city, and 3 that bit further away!! 🎁✨🦌
We'd love to see many of you next Sunday, 21st December at our bazaar and teatime at Sunatori Community Center anytime between 1-4:45pm!!
Sunatori CC address: 6-29 Kuwamizuhonmachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 862-0955
Come by to drop off a donation and mingle for a while, buy some Christmas bits'n bobs, or 'Rehome a Gnome' - kindly made by local students!🧶🎄🎁 If you can't join us that day we also take donations via transfer - see the pics or FB page for details!
砂取コミュニティセンター is nestled right behind the Kumamoto City Gym (ナースパワーアリナ), near Hacchobaba tram stop, and there is a small parking lot at the locatチーム トナカイmamoto

Kirk here. I have a long-standing interest in the variety of work that non-Japanese do here in Kumamoto. Of course, quite a few people are involved in education, particularly the teaching of English, but there's actually an amazing amount of diversity. Here's a story (video included / narration and text in Japanese) about a taxi driver from Kenya.
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/rkk/2340688?display=1
I thought the actual news segment was quite good but, personally, I would prefer fewer question marks in the headline. ;)
David, if you are out there, I hope I have the occasion to take your taxi someday. :)
ん？アフロ？タクシー運転手？ケニア出身？　道路事情も熊本弁もバッチリ「よかば〜い！」 | 熊本のニュース｜RKK NEWS｜RKK熊本放送
熊本でタクシーを走らせるナッサン・デビッドさん（54）出身は東アフリカのケニアです。デビッドさんは、8年前に熊本へやってきました。なぜ、熊本でタクシー運転手をしているのでしょうか。

Ruth here passing on some information about free HIV and syphilis screening at Sakuramachi this Sunday, 7th December.
It seems to be in conjunction with an AIDS conference and this free health service will be available from 1-3pm. You get the results about 2 hours later, from 3-5pm on the same day. No appointment, fast and anonymous.
HIV is on the rise in Japan (and elsewhere), so this is a good opportunity to get checked.
For more information please check the link here:
12/7(日)に予約不要のHIV無料検査を実施します / 熊本市公式サイト

Kirk here. If you live in the Kumamoto City area, I highly recommend walking in the Tatsutayama area -- particularly on sunny autumn days like today.
Location via a Google map:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tatsudayama/@32.824716,130.7316399,14z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3540f140c219c885:0x61c82f702414503!8m2!3d32.8269205!4d130.7322642!16s%2Fg%2F1224zml2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTEyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Joe Tomei, passing this on from Huy Tran. It looks like it is Sunday 30 Dec?

Atsuko here.٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و♪
The Christmas market in front of Kumamoto Station has started!
Sofas to relax on, beanbag cushions.
Chocolate drinks, chocolate-infused alcohol.
A log circuit kids climb all over.
Christmas is for families to enjoy together,
but also for couples.
Adults and children alike can have fun.
That kind of planning,
and the city's ability to make it happen,
made me incredibly happy and moved.
It was delicious 💕
Tatami-floored sake festivals are nice,
but the Christmas market with its luxurious sofas comes even more highly recommended ✨
Amu plaza is formidable 👍👍👍

Kirk again. Yesterday I posted about the demonstrations, studiously ignored by most local television stations, against the deployment of long-range missiles in Kumamoto. Here's a related article.
Japan set to deploy long-range missiles in Kumamoto in 2026
Japan will deploy long-range missiles in Kumamoto on the southwestern island of Kyushu next year as it seeks to build "counterstrike capabilities" to hit enemy targets in a national security emergency, the government said Friday.

Kirk here. There was newspaper coverage of this demonstration (which occurred on the 9th, 1200 people) against the placement of long-range missiles in Kengun. However, only KKT provided a video report; all other TV stations ignored it.
I was oblivious to this major political uprising until I saw a report about it today on TBS's Hodo Tokushu, a national program. Sometimes it's necessary to watch national TV programs to find out what the local broadcasters don't want to cover. :(
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1195631839111794

Anyone who likes drones should also like programming and English.Atsuko ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bqq8xj2S5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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On 7th December, as part of the global educational campaign 'Hour of AI', we will host an event in Kumamoto where participants can learn about AI in English from North American engineers. This is an excellent opportunity to experience the joy of mastering technology 'using English', rather than just attending a lecture.
▼ This year's 'Hour of AI' features a miraculously impressive line-up! This event has realised a miraculous collaboration connecting the world with Kumamoto.
Composer Kazuma Jinnai (Music for the film 'Suzume no Tojimari') (Special Online Guest)
Associate Professor Masanori Kanasaka, Berklee College of Music
【Kumamoto Venue Guest】 Yune Sasaki from the girls' performance unit "Setsugekka"
A performance featuring dancing with digital characters is planned!
NPO Waffle (Advertising Partnership)
Furthermore, our activities are featured on the official website as a partner of CSforALL (US). https://csforall.org/en-US/hour-of-ai/partners#sponsor
We promise this will be a day where children learning English truly realise, "Being able to speak English opens up the world like this!" We would be delighted if you could kindly inform your students and their parents/guardians.
【Event Overview】
Event Name: Computer Science in English Season 7 Special Edition
Date & Time: Sunday, 7th December 2025, 9:20–12:00
Kumamoto Venue: Ueki Future Space (72-1 Tekisui, Ueki-machi, Kita-ku, Kumamoto City)
Participants: Primary & Secondary School Students (Groups organised by English level; Japanese support available)
Participation Fee: Free
Capacity: 15 participants (first-come, first-served)
▼ Details & Registration (Common for Kumamoto, Kawasaki, Kobe)
https://kidscodeclub.jp/csinenglish_on-site_20251207
▼ Media Coverage This event has attracted significant attention and has been featured in the following media outlets:
PR TIMES https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000016.000036248.html
https://kidscodeclub.jp/csinenglish_on-site_20251207
【12/7 熊本、東京・神奈川（川崎）、神戸、能登（珠洲市）地区オンサイト開催決定！】英語でまなぶコンピュータサイエンス Season 7 特別編 「Participate in the Hour of AI at CS in English / Hour of
✏️申し込みはこちら！▼ 熊本、東京・神奈川（川崎）、神戸https://forms.gle/gExXiPS8fC1m4tAc7▼ 能登（珠洲市）https://qisg1.sha...

Atsuko here.☆٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و☆
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【Surprise Drone Show @ Kumamoto Castle This Weekend】
This weekend, Saturday 22nd November, we'll be holding a surprise drone show in the night sky over Kumamoto City, symbolising support for disaster recovery!
The first-ever drone show in Kumamoto City!
Though it's a surprise, we want as many people as possible to enjoy it, so we're announcing it via social media.
Please spread the word to those around you.
A drone show viewable from all over Kumamoto City.
From Shimotōri to Sakuramachi...
It will take off and land towards the night sky from Fujisakidai Baseball Stadium near Kumamoto Castle.
A drone show loses half its impact without sound.
No need to worry about that!
We'll take over City FM Kumamoto (FM79.1) and broadcast proper background music on the day.
Saturday 22nd November, 8pm ~ 15 minutes
Look up at the night sky, tune in to FM, and get ready!
If you don't have a radio, click on internet radio via your smartphone → https://www.jcbasimul.com/kumamotocityfm
If the response is positive this year, we plan to make next year's event even more spectacular.
Your support is greatly appreciated!
On Saturday, 22nd November, let's connect in the night sky with 800 drones and everyone!

Funky Friday Find for all you board gamers - and just anyone who just likes to try new spots!! 🎲👑⏳ 大江6丁目27-28 has a new board game cafe, Ludoni, and the grand opening is happening this weekend!!
Look for Ludoni next time you're in that part of Oe 🏰🃏🪄🎟️🌎🐺 They have about three times as many games as pictured here! - Ruth
Check them out on IG, too! https://www.instagram.com/ludoni_kumamoto?igsh=bDNhNjNqcWxzbTRr

Joe Tomei here with another Funky Friday Find. Actually, my wife noticed this place and we went the day after we visited Spice Restaurant Bonga. It's called Teishokuya Suiyougohan and is a Japanese shokudo. It's across the street from Jikka, a Thai/SE Asian curry place and is your traditional Japanese lunch. They also do a lot of takeaway, so you need to get there early. The lunches were big and tasty and I'm hoping to pick up two of the bentos and going Ezuko park to eat next to the lake. As always, thanks to the official FFF fotographer!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2djHBYiiD9keGvm6

Joe Tomei here, it's been a while, but here is another Funky Friday Find for all of you. (It may have gone up on Kirk's Instagram, which is connected to this, so apologies if you see this two times)
My wife and I wanted to get some steps in our Pikmin Bloom app (ask me if you are curious), so we went to Kawaramachi. A bit down from the station, there is a side street that actually has three or four places, but on this day, they were closed except for Spice Restaurant Bonga
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mXLyBxvAgZz4JDoT8
It's a tiny place and seems to do big take out business. The dish pictured is my wife's ボンが流カーレ(Bonga style curry) (she's the better photographer), while I had the unpictured but also delicious Butter Chicken curry. We were fortunate, the Google review says that the place often sells out.
Kawaramachi was the wholesale textiles and clothes district of Kumamoto, which has pretty much disappeared with the advent of fast fashion, so some of the buildings and the side alleys have been converted into studios for artists and cafe/restaurants. The whole area has a Showa feel to it and the side alleys remind me of a lot of placess you see in other countries in Asia. Here are two articles (in Japanese) with photos, check it out and report back!
http://www.asahi.com/area/kumamoto/articles/MTW20999999440160179.html
https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/travel-rock/39686/