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Today is the... Charity Teatime Fundraiser for Kumamoto Orphans ☘️🍪🧁☕️🇯🇵
今日だよ‼チャリティーティータイムにぜひ来てください☀️🌈☔
️12月7日(土)の1:30pm-4pm - Sunatori CC, right behind Shiritsu-taiikukan.
お時間を少しいだだいてもよろしいでしょうか。立ち寄って、10分、20分で腰を 掛けてください。熊本児童養護施設にクリスマスプレゼントを届ける活動です。Drop by for a while for a cuppa, nibble and chat! ✨💖🎄
❉ Directions in attached picture! Short walk from Shiritsu-taiikukan tram stop. Parking available, too!
❉ Where? Sunatori Community Center・砂取コミュニティーセンタ (熊本市中央区神水本町6番29号) 🚙駐車場有・市立体育館前駅から歩いてで4分🔍 Roads are narrow - grey route best for cars!
❉ What? Irish-style teatime・Selection of teas and biscuits (bought and homemade)... アイルランド風なビスケットと色々な紅茶など...
Busy day? No problem! Just drop by for 10-20 minutes and enjoy a cuppa and some chat! ふるってご参加ください。
❉ How much? 募金活動ので... Donations, please! ☘️🍪☕️入場無料ですが、Team Tonakaiのクリスマスプレゼント活動のためにお気持ちをおささげください😇☕️💸🙏
❉ Who? 誰でも歓迎します!! Anyone welcome! But there'll be hot tea so please keep young children under control!!
❉ Why? Kumamoto's Christmas Toy Drive was active for 30+ years, but after the earthquakes in 2016 the main organizers had to leave Kumamoto and since then smaller groups have taken care of fundraising activities and present donations to individual orphanages in the Kumamoto Area. We are part of @チームトナカイ
**Donations accepted from individuals who can not attend, but who want to contribute**Please forward your donations in a sealed envelope by Dec. 21st** - Ruth & Atsuko

Olivia here,
I went to watch World Women Handball tournament yesterday and the game was awesome.
Game is indoor so it’s warm and comfortable even if you bring kids along.
Tickets, I believe, are not too expensive. It’s just the matter how you reach the stadiums.
There were food booths outside the stadiums, and you could bring food inside and enjoy them while watching the game.
Here is the website address to check the status of the game.
https://japanhandball2019.com

Hello friends.
Sometimes international friends know about Kumamoto better than local people, me. They tell and show me how beautiful, how interesting, how valuable Kumamoto is. Each time, I was impressed and glad to know that.
Last Saturday, I met foreigners at bar in downtown. They are Swedish TV crew to report World handball Championship in Kumamoto.
We talked about Kumamoto recommended things and places. Now, we keep in touch.
He shared me his photos in Kumamoto. It's so beautiful and cool. He stays Kumamoto short days but He feel Kumamoto more brilliant. I'm glad to watch them. The photos tells us Kumamoto is beautiful prefecture and international guests seem to enjoy Kumamoto stay.
Now, you might see and meet lots of guests in Kumamoto, Please be kind for them. Hoping they can enjoy Kumamoto well.ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
Damernas handbolls VM i Kumamoto Japan

I was quite poor when I first arrived in Kumamoto. During a jog one day, I stumbled across a discarded tent in the garbage, so I hauled it home. A gas lantern, a konro, and two sleeping bags later, and my wife and I were ready to go. We didn't have a car then so took buses, found a decent plot nearby and just camped there. Once, we were camping on the grounds of a hotel in Aso (it was the only flat space available), and an attendant came out to check on us. All he said was, "Be careful with your fire." Another time, I was camping on a beach in Ashikita directly beneath sign that said "No Camping," and when the patrol came by, they didn't bother me.
Point: if you're quiet and leave the area cleaner than when you arrived (the locals WILL notice this), you can camp pretty much anywhere in Japan - for free. Train, bus, car - get out there and enjoy the beautiful nature Kumamoto has to offer This New Yorker article prompted this thought. - William
How Hipcamp Became the Airbnb of the Outdoors
Can a startup save the wilderness by disrupting it?

Hello friends, sorry for my post again and again.
It's not about Kumamoto news but I met Dr. Nakamura at his lecture in Kumamoto city. He is from Fukuoka, very close to us.
http://www.peshawar-pms.com/eg/index2.html
It's so sad news for me.
He told us not only his Great works but also Afghanistan Beautiful Nature!!!
I told him, I'll send my daughter to him. I also wanted to meet him again. I wanted to meet him at Afghanistan and watch beautiful stars he introduced, with him, with his coworkers.
In addition, I think we, Japanese should not, never tell bad about Afghanistan and Afghanistan citizens even if how terrible accident Dr. Nakamura had.
Many Afghanistan might be sad same as me.
He runs and organized next generation manager to built water line. We just support more closely with Nakamura mind, ''No violence, and help and live together!''
It's sooo sad news, but we just should keep going with his wish!! ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191204/p2g/00m/0na/071000c
#nakamura
Official: Japanese doctor Tetsu Nakamura dies after attack in Afghanistan - The Mainichi
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A Japanese physician and aid worker in eastern Afghanistan died of his wounds after an attack Wednesday that also killed fi

Hello friends again.
My friend planed and supports to this interesting event.
You might enjoy Japanese culture well together.ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
【Fun Fun English Day in the Temple!】
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Hi there! We are the team JASK Youth. We will hold our new event in the Japanese temple(✨お寺✨)!
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If you attend this, you are able to experience authentic Japanese culture about 雅楽(Gagaku, the traditional and sacred Japanese music), and お経(Okyou, Japanese sutra)! Many Buddhist priests will play and pray that!!
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This is so precious and great time! 🙂 Especially if you are interested in Japanese culture and you should definitely come this event and share the experience new friends!
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https://facebook.com/events/453140145397975/?ti=icl
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■■Application form■■
If you would like to attend this event, please fill out the attached form by 20th Dec.
https://forms.gle/51MSxwELGRzuuDGb6
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■■Information■■
◆Date：22th Dec. 13:30~16:30(Reception starts at 13:00)
◆Venue：Hongan-ji Betsu-in (https://goo.gl/maps/ha4hjH7AFgFrvMTc7)
◆Participation fee：1,500 yen
◆Inquiry：[email protected]
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2316791955298070&id=1824498237860780

In addition,
if you are also free on 21st December, Saturday from 6pm to 9pm, Please come to join us!!
We'll have year end and X'mas donation Party @ Socialsquare.
The fee is 2000yen for adult,
1000yen for students,
500yen for kids.
ALL THE MONEY OF FEE BECOMES THE DONATION OF X'mas PRESENTS for ORPHANS.
The Party is Potluck style Party. So please bring something to drink, to eat, to share.
We are Team TONAKAI.
https://www.facebook.com/teamtonakaikumamoto/
Fiona Wall Minami shared here our, Ruth Rowntree-Kai organized, donation tea party. Thanks Fiona. We are same team, Team TONAKAI. We also made donation money by selling 14kg potatoes at English market, Thanks kind friends, customers!! Our donation and work is same, for ORPHANS' X'mas PRESENTS.
If you join us, you become TONAKAI too.
TONAKAI is reindeer. We support Santa Claus work!, Orphans dream!!
Many guests make much donation, many kids' smile!!
We are looking forward to seeing you there too.ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2203781303247829/

See you there this year also😉💕
ーAtsuko(*Ü*)

Learned a new word today: nagaraunten 「ながら運転」- "distracted driving." It's kind of an interesting phrase, with "nagara" meaning "while doing something else." Long ago, there wasn't much else to do when driving other than to change your radio station (though the surprise of my escaped pet rat climbing up the inside of my trousers on a Maine turnpike once distracted me enough to verve into the median), but the advent of a plethora of online distractions has increased accident numbers. Also, they leave a digital history accessible by police (unlike my rat, who denied everything).
New laws have doubled or tripled punishment for distracted driving. Kumanichi reports that almost 12,000 drivers were cited here for this last year. Advice: Turn off your phone when driving, take care when observing your car nabi, and better cage your rat. - William
Tougher penalties for smartphone use while driving take effect
Stronger penalties for drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel took effect in Japan on Sunday in the wake of an outcry from families who lost loved ones in traffic accidents caused by such drivers. Under the revised traffic control law, drivers distracted by mobile phones face higher fines, a.....

Our friiend Jackie Bencke kindly forwarded this announcement regarding payment options for passport renweals from the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan. The closest U.S. consulate to Kumamoto is in Fukuoka. Keep an eye on your passport expiration date. - William
As of the close of business on December 30, 2019, Japan Post Bank (Yu-cho Bank – ＪＰゆうちょ銀行) will no longer issue International Postal Money Orders. After this date, it will not be possible to purchase money orders for mail-in passport renewals in Japan outside of U.S. military installations as noted below.
The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages those citizens who wish to renew their passports by mail to do so prior to the end of this service. As of January 2020, most passport renewals in Japan will require in-person application at the U.S. Embassy or consulate.
For details on how to purchase an International Postal Money Order prior to December 30, 2019 please click here.
NOTE: this change does not impact U.S. Postal Service money orders. U.S. Embassy/consulates in Japan will continue to accept U.S. Postal Service money orders. U.S. Postal Service money orders will continue to be available for purchase on U.S. military installations in Japan by authorized personnel/family members, or at any post office in the United States.
Remember to make sure you have adequate validity in your U.S. passport to cover the duration of your stay outside the United States. Many countries (not Japan) require you have at least six-months validity on your passport.

Fiona here with some breaking news for chocolate lovers. There have been sightings of the Royce (apologies, I can't bring myself to write the redundant apostrophe) van outside Aeon/United Cinema in Oe with reports that it will remain there until December 8th. There may be a few chocolate goodies🍫 hidden around my escape room in December, unless Agent _________ decides to eat them first.

Times are you'll see a shinto priest waving a shide (紙垂, 四手) - a zigzag-shaped paper streamer - at a site before construction begins. This ceremony is called anzen-kigan-sai (安全祈願祭), meant to seek the blessing of the gods in order to ensure the safety during construction work.
Classes at four schools in Mashiki remain conducted in temporary buildings. Three are expected to be complete within the year, and groundbreaking on the last, Mashiki JHS, began yesterday. It is expected to be completed in 2020. - William
熊本地震で被災した校舎、建て替え着工　プレハブ授業続く益城中 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本地震で被災し、プレハブ校舎での授業が続く益城町惣領の益城中の建て替え工事が始まった。２０２０年度...

Hello friends.
Lots of recommended foods are introduced in this article.
You are Kumamoto citizen you might know all of them!??? https://www.reuters.com/sponsored/article/kumamoto-japans-culinary-castle-city?fbclid=IwAR0uMii6d6q947SuKtSgVwgjEr7om12NrAguneiXtjFVT9ve2rydM3Jf8Fs
ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
Kumamoto: Japan’s Culinary Castle City
A historic city on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, Kumamo...

明日の4時半から熊本市でグローバル気候マーチが行われます💚🚧🆘🐾🌍🌡️🌧️☀️🍃 Global Climate March - TODAY 4:30PM - KUMAMOTO CITY!!! - Ruth

Kumamoto University Brass Band is holding a concert on December 14th. It's at the Prefectural Theatre (KenGeki) and admission is free.
Fiona

Good morning friends.
My friend asked me about the differences of オノマトペONOMATOPE and complainted the difficulty, so I explained and share these webpage.I also share them to learn Japanese well.
ガンバレ。
日本語テスト
For Japanese learners💖💖
To get ONOMATOPE and adverb, you should read lots sentences and feel the meaning and get Japanese sense.
https://www2.ninjal.ac.jp/Onomatope/category.html
https://www2.ninjal.ac.jp/Onomatope/manga.html
https://www2.ninjal.ac.jp/Onomatope/index.html
https://www.nippon.com/en/views/b05602/the-fascinating-world-of-japanese-onomatopoeia.html
https://www.nippon.com/en/nipponblog/m00092/sounds-to-see-and-feel-japanese-onomatopoeia-and-beyond.html
https://www.weblio.jp/parts-of-speech/%E5%89%AF%E8%A9%9E%E3%81%8A%E3%82%88%E3%81%B3%E5%90%8D%E8%A9%9E%28%E5%BF%83%E5%A2%83%29_1
大丈夫💕
しっかり読んで、じっくり考えて、ハッキリ違(ちが)いを理解して、スッキリしてね😜🤩💖
Alright!
Read slowly and deeply, think well and understand the differences clearly. Hoping it makes you fineー(*Ü*)Atsuko.
擬音語・擬態語　- 日本語を楽しもう！ - カテゴリー別 Index
このサイトは，擬音語・擬態語が持っている日本人の情意的な側面を，文字・音・画像などのマルチメディアを活用することによってWebサイトとして世界に発信し，擬音語・擬態語を通して日本文化に対する理解を深めても...

Anyone who wants to enjoy more of Autumn Foliage can go and check Former Hosokawa Mansion’s garden beside Kumamoto City Museum.
-Olivia-

Many types of non-Japanese live in Kumamoto. Some flit in and out; some are long-termers but never make a name for themselves (me!); some become experts at one thing or another; and some are our long-deceased predecessors.
This Saturday (11/30) from 2:00 PM (doors open at 1:30, admission 1,000 yen), our more talented long-termers will gather to celebrate one of Kumamoto's most famous foreign scion, the author Lafcadio Hearn. Alan Rosen, who has studied Hearn's work extensively as a professor at Kumamoto University, will first give a presentation on Hearn's life (which is unbelievably complex and fascinating - he came from Irish/Greek stock and somehow landed here when landing meant "getting off a boat"). Jeff Cairns, a shakuhach player of the highest forte, will then perform with his cohort of four other members (flamenco guitar, piano, wood bass, and drum). Google the address: 熊本市中央区花畑町１１－１４(Kohenビル2階）銀杏北通り. This is a not-to-be-missed event for Kumamoto aficionados. - William

A committee has been formed to reform Kumamoto labor standards, particularly regarding school teachers. Alarming stats: high school teachers whose monthly overtime exceeded 45 hours was 45.4%, and those whose exceeded 80 hours - considered the threshold of 過労死 (karoushi, or death by overwork) was 13.8%. The committee aims to cap overtime at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year, in line with standards set by the 文部省 (Monbusyo, Ministry of Education) by 2023.
Many amongst our readership serve in primary education. Your thoughts and stories would be appreciated. - William
教員の残業、年３６０時間を上限　熊本県教委が改革案 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県教委は２５日、熊本市中央区の水前寺共済会館で、教職員の働き方改革検討委（委員長・八幡英幸熊本大...

Japan has one of the longest life expectancies in the world, and people tend to be very active until their last breath (there might be a connection). Kumanichi reports on the soaring rate of workers over 70, now comprising a force surpassing 5,000, up from less than 2,000 five years ago. The article notes that, with the increase in age eligibility for the National Pension and among the worsening labor shortage, both supply and demand for elderly employees continues. - William
７０歳以上の労働者５０００人　熊本県内企業、５年間で３倍増 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県内企業で働く７０歳以上の労働者が、今年６月１日時点で５千人強と、５年前の３倍に増えたことが２４...