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Japanese law is pretty relaxed (some would say arbitrary) in many areas, but one requiring strict conformance to rules is garbage disposal. Put out the wrong stuff on the wrong day or mix your garbage and the bag will be slapped with a sticker checkmarked with your sin, and then you'll have to perform the walk of shame by carrying it back home - and you'd better do that because the neighbors WILL be watching.
The gentlemen bowing in this photo are apologizing for an Amakusa elementary school teacher (59) who had repeatedly not correctly sorted his garbage. He was fined 300,000 yen by the city and his salary was reduced by 10% for three months. Don't let this happen to you.
(As an afterthought, the article also mentioned that he was accused by a female coworker of sexual harassment. He excused this by claiming he was drunk - but this, apparently, doesn't equal not separating your garbage.) - William
ごみ不法投棄、セクハラ…教諭ら２人処分　熊本県教委 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県教育委員会は１１日、自宅にため込んだ家庭ごみの不法投棄を繰り返した天草教育事務所管内の男性小学...

In college, my Asian studies professor asked us to consider how Asia would be different if bamboo didn't exist. From scaffolding which allowed the building of tall pagodas (I'm old enough to remember when Hong Kong buildings were clad with bamboo scaffolding) to ochasen (お茶筅), those whisks used in tea ceremony, bamboo is an integral part of Asian society.
The new Sakuramachi complex has figured out a new use for bamboo: Make a Christmas tree out of it! I mean,why not? It is illuminated by about 1,000 LEDs (which, for you language nerds, is called "hakko daiode" - 発光ダイオード - but LED is probably better understood). A photo of this would probably make a good Christmas card for your folks back home. - William

Seems like Kumamon is out of the Olympic torch relay due to the fact that he's (she's?) not human.

I used to work at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, and often ate at the employee canteen (most of the kitchens are below ground with the food shuttled by dumbwaiters, so we ate the same hamburgers and fries as the guests did). Outside the canteen was a rack where the characters could hang their costumes - even the "face actors" - Snow White, etc. - would hang their costumes on the rack to prevent staining their costumes. They'd wander around in their white long underwear and were demonstrably human. Seeing Snow White dragging on a cigarette in her long underwear was always entertaining.
I'd suggest Kumamon should be considered in the same way.
Kumamon rejected as 2020 Olympic torch runner for not being human
Kumamon, the cuddly Japanese black bear-like character whose fame has spread overseas, has missed out on becoming a runner for the 2020 Olympic torch relay, officials familiar with the matter said Saturday. The Kumamoto prefectural government had sounded out the organizing committee of the Tokyo Oly...

An update on the 600 kilos of stimulants seized in Amakusa: the small fishing vessel, registered in Miyazaki, was intercepted at sea and towed to Ushibuka Port. According to the Ministry of Finance, stimulant seizures in Japan has exceeded 1 ton for three consecutive years, but by this point in 2019 has already reached 1.46 tons worth 87.6 billion yen.
This is partly due to the diversification of smuggling techniques. 2018 saw 92 aircraft passengers (down 7 from the previous year), 52 “International Mail” (up 14), and 24 “commercial cargo” (up 13). In some cases, overseas tourists became “carriers”.
It seems Kyushu is becoming the gateway for drugs. My hometown in southern California is similar, with drugs imported from China smuggled in on cheap "panga" wooden motorboats which are then abandoned. Despite losses from seizures, the profits greatly exceed this. - William
覚醒剤押収量、４年連続１トン超　密輸手口が多様化　 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県天草市の魚貫［おにき］港の漁船から１１日、密輸とみられる覚醒剤約６００キロが押収された。財務省...

Final timeslots available in the last week of INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SPIES. After 15 months it's time to close down Escape from Britz. 90 minutes is all you need, and a team of up to 6 players. It's 1000 yen to participate in the experience, all of which goes to the Kumamoto Christmas Toy Drive. I'm also giving Christmas cake and chocolates to December players. You can make a reservation via the Escape from Britz Facebook page.
Thanks to everyone who supported the escape room by coming to play the game, sharing posts and writing reviews. Keep an eye out for news of my next book, due to be published in early 2020, which should be of interest to escape room fans.
Sunday December 15th 10:00 -11:30am
Monday December 16th 7:30 - 9:00pm
Friday December 20th 7:30 - 9:00pm
Saturday December 21st 10:00 - 11:30pm; 1:00 - 2:30pm; 3:30 - 5:00pm
Fiona

Hi friends.
It's not about Kumamoto article but Kumamoto - i might have many English teachers in Kumamoto. I'm also a public elementary school teacher, not an English teacher😅. Many students like this song '' Paprika''. Sometimes they song at school music day, they dance at sports day with this song.My school also, my daughter also. Many students can sing and this song.
This is English translated, English version ''Paprika''. I think it might be interesting and useful for students to learn lots words. It might be spread sooner ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
English version ''Paprika'' is
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=_HH3O6qgDac
Someone wants to know and compare the original version😉
This is original Japanese one.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T0valuAksuo&feature=youtu.be
https://www.facebook.com/6321018343/posts/10156678217113344/

Olivia here,
There is Christmas service at Hilltop International school on December 22nd, at 1330pm.
This is the address of the school.
〒861-8005 熊本市北区龍田陳内 2-31-18
tel/fax. 096-274-2050

A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Inappropriate Footwear (we all wear loafers): A survey of our desk members resulted in not a single answer of when these shoes would be appropriate - particularly not on a gravel road. (Note: the victim of these shoes is the new Miss Kumamoto, 20-year old Yoshida Towa-san of Ozu, who plays basketball - presumably not in those shoes - and dreams of becoming a newscaster.) Warning: the shoe photos at the link may be disturbing to some. - William
ミス・クマモトに古田とわさん（阿蘇市） ｜ 熊本日日新聞
女性たちが美や向上心を競う「２０２０ミス・クマモト」に、熊本県阿蘇市の古田とわさん（２０）＝県立大２...

Hi friends.
Now, you can see the direction and its work of Mt.Aso clearly. My working place is Minamiku in Kumamoto city, far from ASO. You also might be able to see and find its active works.ーAtsuko(*Ü*)

A friend of ours is seeking recommendations for an oncologist specializing in breast cancer in the Kumamoto (preferably) or Hakata area. Any information regarding good hospitals and/or care experience would be greatly appreciated.
English fluency of the medical staff is not a requirement.
Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Please note them in the comment section below. - William

A plethora of law enforcement agencies swept in to seize approximately 600 kilos of stimulant worth some 36 billion yen from a small fishing boat off the coast of Amakusa on December 12th. No word about what exactly the drug was, but shabu is likely. Eight people, a mixture of Taiwanese and Japanese, have been arrested in what is suspected to be a case of "setori" 「瀬取り」, in which drugs are transferred from a mother ship to a more innocuous appearing one. Investigators suspect that a large-scale international smuggling organization is involved. This would explain the large number of police cars swarming Kumamoto today.
Two uneducated guesses: that the drugs originated in China, were smuggled to Taiwan, and then to Japan; and that someone tipped off the authorities. Do not dabble in drugs; eventually, someone will betray you, and your life here will be finished forever. - William
天草沖で覚醒剤６００キロ押収　福岡県警など合同捜査本部 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
福岡県警や税関、海上保安庁などの合同捜査本部が熊本県天草沖で船を使って密輸したとみられる覚醒剤約６０...

A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Weird International Trade Rules (we deposit our logic at the entrance): I learned a new word today: chiritekihyouji (地理的表示), which is actually a legal term, called "geographical indication" (GI) in English. This is why, for example, Spanish Cava cannot be termed Champagne.
Among the fish that you probably don't want to eat is the horsetail, which has nothing to do with horses or tails (たちうお, 太刀) but are apparently popular somewhere. This prompted Ashikita, in southern Kumamoto, to GI their brand with the grand name of "Taura Gindachi" (田浦銀太刀, ぎんだち). So be warned: If you buy a horsetail - which, remember, is neither horse nor tail - which has somehow wandered out of the Ashikita zone, it is not 田浦銀太刀 (but maybe you can get a discount). - William
地理的表示保護制度の対象に　芦北町漁協のブランドタチウオ ｜ 熊本日日新聞
農林水産省は１０日、地域の農林水産物や食品のブランドを守る地理的表示（ＧＩ）保護制度の対象に、芦北町...

Kirk here. Here's a notice from Mr. Etoh of the International Center. I see that Atsuko has already posted about this but I hope this second post serves as a reminder or that some people who missed the first post may see it.
I may not be able to attend myself but it sounds like a good opportunity to meet people and enjoy a pleasant evening.

Hi everyone!!!
So Sorry🙏🙏🙏
We have changed the Schedule!!!
It starts 1:30pm.
We'll hold the MOCHITSUKI from 1:30pm till 3pm on 14 December.
Please come and join us!!!
時間変更となりました。ごめんなさい🙏
1:30pm お昼のスタートです。
ゆっくりいらっしゃい!ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
https://facebook.com/events/808114949650964/?ti=as

Hi friends.
It's our friend Sean's book👍
Yes, 2020, Olympic year is comming soon! ーAtsuko(*Ü*)

The hearts of all of us in Kumamoto are extended to the victims of the recent volcanic eruption on Whakaari Island in New Zealand.
The eruption was reportedly phreatic, not Plinian. In the latter case, magma extrudes from the chamber towards the surface slowly enough that monitors are able to detect bulges in the terrain, allowing time for warning and evacuation. The former case is caused by "flashing" (instantaneous conversion of liquid to vapor) of supercritical fluids - water which would normally turn to steam is kept by immense pressure at a liquid state, but if any event removes the "lid," the pressure is released and steam, being 1,600 times less dense than water, bursts out, carrying with it tons of rock and toxic gasses.
Most eruptions of Aso are phreatic as the Philippine plate subducting under the Eurasian plate (we're here!) carries with it much water. Compared with Plinian eruptions, those phreatic are impossible to predict - they happen in an instant, with no warning. If visiting Aso, glance around at the shelters to familiarize yourself in the unlikely event you'll be unfortunate enough to be there should an eruption occur. - William

「武」(たけ, take) relates to martial arts - note that "take" is the onyomi and "bu-" is the kunyomi. It's used in many phrases such as 武士 (busshi, another word for samurai), 武芸 (bugei, martial arts), 武器 (bukki, martial weapons, armor, and all that stuff), 武家 (bukkei, a samurai family), and so on (people were really into the 「武」thing when not being really into it could cost you your life).
The Kumamoto Art Museum (the one abutting Ninomaru) is hosting a collection of 「武」stuff from both the Kato and Hosokawa clans to celebrate the reconstruction of the castle's keeps, exhibiting the history of Kumamoto Castle and the world of「武」 surrounding it from the castle's origins in the Momoyama era (1568-1615) through its expansion during the Edo period. Armor and swords related to the Kato and Hosokawa clans are on display along with historical materials such as pictures and ancient documents. Also, swords belonging to the Kikuchi clan and other predecessors of the Higo fief are exhibited. The exhibition will close on 12/15, so you'd better visit soon. - William

Ariake Sea, surrounded by Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto Prefectures, reminds me of the Chesapeake watershed on the US east coast in the 1970s: fed by parts of six states and the largest bay in the US, it became so polluted that its famed blue crabs and oysters were on the verge of extinction, and it wasn't until an interstate commission was established that the decay was turned around.
Nori is to Ariake what blue crabs are to the Chesapeake: canary in the coal mine. Kumanichi reports that the winter harvest was down 50% from the previous year. This was blamed on heavy rains during the seeding period reducing seawater nutrition; I find that explanation malarkey. The sea has been progressively walled in, cutting it off from or eliminating estuaries vital to its health. The four prefectures surrounding Ariake must coordinate to effect solutions. If not, Ariake will become a simple hot, sterile bathtub, and the nori growers will have to look for new jobs. - William
熊本県産乾のり初入札、前年比５０％減　過去最低１８００万枚、少雨影響 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
２０１９年の熊本県産乾のりの初入札が７日、熊本市西区の県漁連本所であった。出荷枚数は県内１２漁協から...

Hi friends.
We, YWCA will hold MOCHITSUKI workshop on 14th Saturday, from 10am to 12pm.
Some of you had some experiences of pounding steamed rice for rice cake.But have you ever to make, shape round mochi before??? It's little bit difficult and interesting.I think Chinese friends are good at making round the rice cake, because they make Gyoza and dumping well.
Please come and join us freely!!
Just Hoping you enjoy Japanese culture and food well.ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
https://m.facebook.com/events/808114949650964

In high school, I was a member of my cross country club. Lucky for me, I was really fast, so catching me for the traditional hazing was difficult, but they eventually did and drug me through a long, deep pothole, leaving abrasions on my back.We all laughed, and it was done in a spirit of lighthearted comradship, (though it did hurt a bit).More importantly, it was done: all left was talent, regardless of grade.
Seiseiko is well-known for its sports teams and are a perennial rival of my kids' school, Kyushu Gakuin. Neither of my kids suffered any sort of hazing, but apparently it is a problem at Seiseiko. My guess is that it is a combination of the kohai/senpai mentality and the immense pressure OBs (alumni) put on the various teams. Japantoday has an article regarding the dissatisfaction of a certain student who was hazed. From my perspective, the actions themselves don't seem excessive from an adolescent view; it's the cementing of the kohai/senpai relationship, which will last forever, that is a problem. Thoughts? - William
High school student 'forced' to quit school sues Kumamoto Prefecture for a single yen
School is supposed to be a place where you learn in peace, foster teamwork skills and build your social life, and ultimately put you on the path to a successful life as an adult. The key phrase there is supposed to; many schools fail to deliver on these counts, and house…