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Kirk here. Kedah State is in Malaysia and is famous for its rice paddies. The group seems to have come to learn about groundwater recharging in Kumamoto:
--- start quote ---
In a statement issued today, it clarified that Sanusi is in Kumamoto City to learn about underground water catchment management to be built in Langkawi, which is slated to become the first-ever project of its kind in the country and Southeast Asia.
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I feel compelled to comment on the sign, which has an obvious error (it should be "delegation" not "delegate"). As one who has made thousands of typos and other types of errors on this page, I understand that we all make mistakes. On the other hand, if you're going to make a big sign that will be recorded in a commemorative photo and then published on the internet, I think you should double-check to make sure it's OK. It shouldn't be too difficult to ask a native speaker but today one can just ask an AI chatbot. Here's how ChatGPT responded to my question.
--- start dialogue transcript ---
Kirk:
Many representatives of Kedah State in Malaysia will be coming to Kumamoto. We'd like to make a big sign to welcome them. Our current plan is to put the following words on the sign. What to you think?
WELCOME TO KUMAMOTO
KEDAH STATE DELEGATE
ChatGPT:
The sign looks great for a warm welcome! However, I'd suggest using "DELEGATION" instead of "DELEGATE," since it refers to the group of representatives collectively. Here's the updated version:
WELCOME TO KUMAMOTO
KEDAH STATE DELEGATION
This should convey a more formal and inclusive message. What do you think of this revision?
--- end dialogue transcript ---
What do I think? I think people should get their English checked before making big signs.
Sanusi's office refutes holiday claims, in Japan for official work visit | New Straits Times
ALOR STAR: The office of the Kedah Menteri Besar has clarified that Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is away in Japan for a scheduled work visit and not on a holiday with his wife.

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Kirk here with a ChatGPT translation of a nice article about the 30th anniversary of Kumamoto City's International Foundation. If you've had any interaction with the foundation or the International Center downtown (which I suspect many of you have), I highly recommend that you read the article (I think this English translation is quite readable).
--- start translation ---
Supporting Foreign Residents in Kumamoto for 30 Years: Kumamoto City International Center Contributes to Mutual Understanding and Coexistence through Consultation Services and Japanese Language Classes
September 18 (Wednesday) 8:59 AM
Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun
Photo captions: Foreigners learning Japanese at the Kumamoto City International Center, August 23, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City.
Kumamoto City International Center (Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City) has marked its 30th anniversary. Over the years, the center has adapted its role to meet the changing times, supporting foreign residents living in Kumamoto through various activities, such as holding exchange meetings between locals and foreigners and offering consultation services. With the recent influx of foreign residents due to companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) expanding into the city, the center is expected to provide even more detailed support.
"Sorting garbage is complicated." "Some Japanese people don't return greetings." "I want to interact with Japanese people, but there are no opportunities." These were some of the issues raised by foreign participants during an exchange meeting held by the Kumamoto City International Exchange Promotion Foundation, which manages the center.
The center was built in 1994, with a budget of approximately 4.1 billion yen. It has seven floors above ground and two basement levels, housing a large hall, a tea ceremony room where visitors can experience Japanese culture, and other facilities. Since its opening, the foundation has been managing the center as a hub for the city's international exchange strategy.
When the center first opened, international exchanges between cities were popular nationwide. Kumamoto City also established sister and friendship city relationships with cities like Guilin in China and Heidelberg in Germany. The center's primary mission back then was promoting "international understanding." Over time, this mission has shifted toward "intercultural understanding" and "multicultural coexistence." Tomomi Katsuya, the foundation’s director, who has been involved since the center’s opening, reflects: "While the activities themselves haven't changed, the roles we take on have evolved with the times."
Photo caption: Participants at an event on August 23, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, learning French from a French instructor (second from the left).
With the steady increase in foreign residents, the city established the "Foreign Residents General Consultation Plaza" inside the center in 2019. The plaza offers support in various areas, including healthcare, housing, administrative procedures, and mental health, with specialists such as lawyers and administrative scriveners providing expert advice. In fiscal year 2023, the center handled about 700 people and a total of 900 consultations.
A 29-year-old company employee from the Dominican Republic, living in Kumamoto City, who used the plaza for visa consultation, said: "There are many foreigners struggling with life in Japan due to language and cultural differences. The staff here work hard to support us."
According to the city, as of August 1 this year, the number of foreign residents in the city was 9,970—3.4 times the number 30 years ago. This number is expected to continue rising. As mutual understanding and smooth communication between local residents and foreign nationals become increasingly crucial for achieving a harmonious society, Shinichiro Nakajima, the 69-year-old representative of the civic group "Kumustaka—Living Together with Foreigners," emphasizes: "The responsibility should not be left solely to the foundation; the government must also work together to provide support."
One key to promoting coexistence may lie in the Japanese language classes the foundation holds across the city for foreign residents. These classes help foster good relationships in the community and workplaces. Additionally, the center regularly organizes events aimed at Japanese people, offering deeper insight into the culture and languages of around 10 countries, including Mexico and Germany. A 19-year-old female student at Kumamoto Prefectural University commented: "It's great to have the chance to casually learn from native speakers. It makes it easier to understand the culture of those countries."
Looking toward the future of Kumamoto City, where Japanese and foreigners will live together, Director Katsuya said enthusiastically: "We want to contribute more than ever to building a society where people from diverse backgrounds support each other, using the International Center as a base to connect the community with foreign residents."
(By Mitsuhiro Yonemoto)
--- end translation ---
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/779ba1b764d749bcf0a3be82c3f9938ae2649a5c

Kirk here. I'm posting this because I assume that Steffen Riley has some friends who read this page (but, personally, I don't happen to have had the pleasure of meeting him).
One point: Kumamoto FEELS tropical (especially this year) but, technically, the climatic designation of Kumamoto (except the Aso region) is "humid subtropical" (温暖湿潤気候), not "tropical."
From Potlatch to Kumamoto: How a small-town lad found his spiritual path with ELCA in Japan
Discover the fascinating spiritual journey of Steffen Riley, from a small Idaho town to working with the ELCA in tropical Japan.

Kirk here. Here's a URL of a video with some scenes from Monday's festival.
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/kyushu/news/20240917-OYTNT50054/

Kirk here. Looks like people with land in Kikuyo-machi area are in a position to make some money. Unfortunately, though, this isn't good news for people who might want to live there in the future.
TSMC Plants Fuel Japan’s Biggest Land Price Rises for Second Year
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s new chip plants on the southern island of Kyushu have triggered Japan’s fastest rises in land prices for the second straight year, in an indication of the project’s impact on the economy.

Kirk here with a rather extensive article on the new Children's Book Forest, designed by Tadao ANDO. We discussed the library on this page before. You can find some of those posts here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=Book%20forest
A new forest of books: Tadao Ando’s project in Kumamoto
https://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/gallery/2024/09/04/tadao-ando-children-library-project-kumamoto-books-forest.html
A new forest of books: Tadao Ando’s project in Kumamoto
The fourth Children’s Book Forest designed and built by the Japanese studio is dominated by a wooden lattice ceiling of local cypress.

Attention cyclists! (Kirk)
--- note from an insider ---
. . . we are looking for (international) cycling fans to attend the finish of the final stage on Mon. Oct 14 - public holiday - and their is some “hospitality” for those who are selected. It’s a ways from Kumamoto - but if you or anyone you know is a cycling fan - this will be fun
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https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/event/tour-de-kyushu-fan-zone/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFWWOpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHX3Mpv69GJOdhycR12buAW-vcjBrnsC8GPwHiu8Mb4jkdommp8j70rW7hQ_aem__TJZZnCeFY8Asc5bopXFvQ
Tour de Kyushu Cycling International Fan Zone Event - Free Food and Drinks! | Fukuoka Now
Join us for the Tour de Kyushu, a prestigious UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) sanctioned cycle road race, returning for its second year in Kyushu! ...

Kirk here. If you've been in Kumamoto for a while, you probably have at least some familiarity with "shiranui." The basic meaning is "unknown fire" or "unknown light" (in reference to an optical illusion) but it has come to be used in a variety of proper nouns (see the following Wikipedia "disambiguation" for an English-language list of all of the usages):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiranui_(disambiguation)
Well, some high school students have succeeded in reproducing the "rare type of atmospheric optical phenomenon that can be glimpsed in the Yatsushiro Sea and nowhere else in Japan."
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15400093
Wow!
P.S. To see a long list of posts on this page that include the word or proper noun "shiranui", see the following.
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=shiranui
Kumamoto high school’s quest to get a fix on elusive mirage | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
UTO, Kumamoto Prefecture--A high school science club here enlisted the help of local fishermen to reproduce a rare type of atmospheric optical phenomenon that can be glimpsed in the Yatsushiro Sea and nowhere else in Japan.

Kirk here with a share from Kuma Visit.
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/pfbid0ThooCHcAvbyGNh7sPYQNKQadXLtx6Rg7Qsqc5oSDre4bzSMbpBzB9sBMLQbkuReyl
If you haven't already "liked" Kuma Visit please do so. I think you'll find many worthwhile posts there . . . and I'm only able to share a few of them here.

William A bit more about the Kumamoto Autumn Festival (colloquially known as "Boshita Matsuri": The festival originated in Ho-jo-e (the ritual for releasing living beings), a festival of letting wild animals go into the fields, a Buddhist custom (many local shrines are called "放牛" for this reason). The Zuibyo, or parade of following samurai, originated from the returning samurai of Katō Kiyomasa from Korea during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). The decorated horses were originally those for Shinto priests (kannushi), twelve in number,　and in the Hosokawa clan period, only upper-class samurai families presented horses. Neighborhoods or trade associations bond to create the groups, which have ballooned to more than 50.
The festival has undergone many alterations since its inception. In particular, following Kato Kiyomasa's invasion of Korea (1592-1598), the phrase "Boshita! Boshita! Horo boshita!" (We destroyed! We completely destroyed!" was introduced. Due to completely understandable reasons, this was replaced in the '80s with the (lame) "Dokai dokai!", which is Kumamoto dialect for "How's it going?"
The procession winds through city streets to the castle, where participants take a break, and then back to Fujisaki shrine in the evening. In my opinion, the evening return is the best time to watch: the participants, particularly the horses, are exhaust, and one can easily mingle with the throng.
Many valid complaints regarding cruelty towards the horses are presented. It is, though, just one day, and the horses are treated as humanely as possible given the situation. Perhaps it is better than eating them (though I do so love basashi!) Photo ripped from the Web.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Festival_of_Fujisaki_Hachimangu_Shrine

Kirk here with a map of the parade route tomorrow, which I found here:
https://nikko-kumamoto.co.jp/_data/files/2024/09/11/abbeef1fe6c27751131f7b02a35110a6a93c911d.pdf
or
https://fujisakigu.or.jp/reitaisai/koutsukisei/
Check the URLs for the afternoon map.
It starts at (A) on the map (Fujisakigu Shrine) and proceeds to Otabisho, north of (I). The area with dark red lines near G is where "horse chasing" (umaoi) occurs. I feel rather conflicted about promoting it, especially because I fear that some of the horses are likely to suffer from heat exhaustion tomorrow, but as I assume that some of you might want to witness the event, I'll share the following translation of a Japanese-language description:
--- start translation ---
This festival is also called the "Horse Chasing Festival" (umaoi matsuri). On the procession route, the area in front of the Kumamoto branch of the Bank of Japan is referred to as the "Horse Chasing Course" (umaoi course) because groups of horses and their handlers vigorously dash through the town one after another. It's a must-see spectacle to watch how skillfully they handle the ornately decorated and excited horses.
--- end translation ---
https://www2.myjcom.jp/special/jch/matsuri_hanabi/column/column_05.shtml

Kirk here with information about tomorrow's festival with I've used ChatGPT to translate from the following web page:
https://fujisakigu.or.jp/reitaisai/info/
神幸式ー随兵行列　　　飾馬（60頭）
Shinkoshiki - Retinue Procession with 60 Decorated Horses
午前2時　朝御食祭
2:00 AM - Morning Meal Ceremony
午前6時　本宮 御発輦
6:00 AM - Departure from the Main Shrine
午前8時30分　御旅所 御着輦
8:30 AM - Arrival at the Otabisho (temporary resting place for the deity)
午前9時　御能（於御旅所）
9:00 AM - Noh Performance (at the Otabisho)
午後2時　御旅所 御発輦
2:00 PM - Departure from the Otabisho
午後4時　本宮 御還幸 御還幸祭併せて夕御食祭
4:00 PM - Return to the Main Shrine and Evening Meal Ceremony
終日　奉納挿花　ー熊本いけばな芸術協会ー（廻廊）
All Day - Dedication of Flower Arrangements by the Kumamoto Ikebana Art Association (Corridor)
I don't know if there's anything to see at 2AM but if you plan to observe the festivities, I highly recommend being there for the start of the parade a 6AM. If you can get to the shrine (Fujisaki Hachiman-gu) a little before 6AM you should be able to see where people are lining up to view. If I can get around to it, I'd like to post a map of the route so you can choose a spot farther away from the starting point (the shrine) if you like. But, it's going to be really hot tomorrow so that's one reason (in addition to others) that I strongly recommend getting there early.

Atsuko here.(*´∀`)ﾉ
This is a continuation of the information on the Kumamoto YWCA from the other day.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/PvoBzyKDcMSfSiR3/
The YWCA, located next to Kumamoto University, holds a Nakayoshi Club every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:30.
The Nakayoshi Club was started by us 6 years ago to provide support for Kumamoto's international students coming from overseas, university teachers, their families, and children with foreign roots. It was also the reason I started to write in Kumamoto International.
Yesterday, Saturday, two children from Afghanistan and one foreign student from Ghana came to our club.
We are looking for both new users and volunteer staff.
The corona is subsiding and I plan to participate again from time to time.
We are looking forward to your participation and support.
NAKAYOSHI Club
Every Saturday 10ー12:30
YWCA bazaar
First Saturday 2ー4
@熊本YWCA

Kirk here with some information about an opportunity to study Japanese. A link the the online application form an other material is available here:
https://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/page357.htm

William https://www.kikuyouhp.jp/ (Kikuyou Byouin - Kikuyou Hospital) is a safe place so unique to Kyushu that patients visit from Kagoshima to Fukuoka. The second floor is for recovering alcoholics; the third, for those with miscellaneous issues. I had been in deep depression since my wife died and reached out for help, not having eaten for a week, and was assigned to the third floor ward - one can stay there for quite a while before asking why my roommates were there. We eat together and attend sessions together and walk the hall together and eventually become friends - even the most recalcitrant .
If you have any trouble of any kind, please do not hesitate to reach out. Shout out my name and they'll smile (patiently).

Cassie here. Here’s a great example of local kids doing amazing things in sports. Kyushu Gakuin’s high school and junior high school teams both won the national tournaments in August. They visited the prefecture office and met with the governor.
I put the article through translation software. It turned out pretty good. However the kendo coach’s name is Komeda not Yoneda. There are several ways to read his kanji.
On the 12th, the boys' kendo clubs of Kyushu Gakuin High School and junior high school visited the prefectural office to report that they had each won the national tournament in August.
Members of the boys' kendo club of Kyushu Gakuin attended the victory report meeting.
The high school team won the Inter-High team championship in August, held in Oita Prefecture, for the second year in a row and their 11th victory.
The junior high school team also won the team championship in the National Junior High School Kendo Championship in Niigata Prefecture in August, for the first time in two years.
Upon hearing the victory report, Governor Kimura said, "It is the pride of the people of Kumamoto that we have been able to make the name of Kendo Kingdom known throughout the country."
Captain Chikamoto Tadasuke, third year student, Kyushu Gakuin High School Boys Kendo Club
"Before the Inter-High, we lost in the Gyokuryu-ki tournament in Fukuoka, which was disappointing, so I think we used that experience as motivation to work hard and win."
Director and coach, Yoneda, Kyushu Gakuin Boys Kendo Club
"As for the high school students, I think they were able to overcome many obstacles while understanding their own position and of course putting in effort, which led to this result. I also think that the junior high school students were able to show more than their strengths in this tournament."
TKU テレビ熊本 - これからも、まんなかに、くまもと。リズム！TKU
水の国くまもと 応援プロジェクト進行中。TKU

Kirk here. Providing advance notice about festivals is something I've always wanted to do but haven't been able to follow through with for the most part. This video is a news report about the Hassaku Festival in Yamato-machi which was held recently.
Monday (the 16th) the Fujisaki Hachimangu Grand Festival will be held here in Kumamoto City. I've always thought that early morning (about 6 AM or maybe even a little earlier?) was the best view time. Now that autumn feels like midsummer, I think the case for getting out early in the morning is even stronger.
伝統の八朔祭　大造り物の引き廻し【熊本】 (24/09/09 19:00)
上益城郡山都町では、伝統の八朔祭が開かれ、８日は、祭りの呼び物『大造り物』の引き廻しが行われました。２５０年以上前から五穀豊穣を願い山都町の浜町商店街一帯で開かれている八朔祭。７日から始まった祭りは８...

Kirk here. I'm sure many residents of Kumamoto would like to have 60% more income as a result of TSMC's arrival but, personally, I'm not holding my breath. ;)
TSMC to boost Kumamoto's economy by 60%
Kyushu's anticipation for the economic impact brought about by TSMC continues to grow.

KIrk here. First, here's the basic information about the fireworks in Yatsushiro:
Date and Time
- Saturday, October 19, 2024
- Fireworks starts at 6:00 pm doors open 1:00 pm
*Rain-or-shine event, postponed to Saturday, November 9th in case of stormy weather
Place
- The flood plain of Kumagawa River in Yatsushiro City (Upstream of Shin Hagiwara Bridge)
Sponsored by the Executive Committee of Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition Festival
Now, here's an inquiry we received:
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I'm interested in going with Julie to the Yatsushiro Fireworks competition oN October 19th. I'd appreciate information from anyone who has gone in the past:
The website shows a "couple chair" but doesn't indicate the cost of that kind of seat. We'd like to know the cost and if it can be reserved.
--- end quote ---
Unfortunately the "couple chairs" seem to sold out now.
If anyone has some words of wisdom about how to enjoy this outstanding event, please share your thoughts in a comment.
37th Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition Festival: Paid Seat Ticket Reservation | Kumamoto
Witness the awe-inspiring "37th Yatsushiro National Fireworks Competition Festival" in Kumamoto! Experience the electrifying night