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I noticed some cumulonimbus clouds yesterday, which indicates the shift from rainy season to summer season. JMA confirmed this today. However, be careful of these clouds: they can and will produce tremendous showers and lightning storms at a moment's notice. - William
熊本県内が梅雨明け ｜ 熊本日日新聞
気象庁は２４日、熊本を含む九州北部（山口県を含む）、九州南部、四国、近畿、北陸が梅雨明けしたとみられ...

I'm sure most of you are aware of the deadly arson attack on Kyoto Animation that has been in the news recently. Another case on arson has been in the news in Kumamoto but fortunately no one was killed or injured. A 14-year-old has been arrested as a suspect in an arson incident that destroyed a building in Tatsutayama that was owned by Tokai university. The fire occurred on June 29th but the suspect was only arrested recently. The link is to a video news report in Japanese.
-- Kirk
http://rkk.jp/news/backno_page.php?id=NS003201907161837050111

A six-year old male polar bear named Maruru lives at the zoo. I would imagine he's not happy about it. Notice how he's green? - polar bear skin is actually black, but their fur is unusual: it is hollow. This not only provides insulation by trapping air in the folicules, it also helps them float when they make their long swimming journeys. But in such warm climates as Kumamoto, algea grows within the folicles, leaving them with a green tint.
Anyway, at this time of year, to mark the advent of the hot season, they give Maruru blocks of ice containing various fish types. Apparently, he went after the salmon first, which is what I would have done - though I'm sure he'd most prefer just to be released back in the Arctic. - William
ホッキョクグマ「マルル」に魚入りの氷　熊本市動植物園 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本市動植物園（東区健軍）で２１日、雌のホッキョクグマ「マルル」（６歳）に氷がプレゼントされた。１年...

Despite the myriad of policy challenges Japan faces, from abolishing the pacifist constitutional Clause 9 to reforming the pension system to a consumption tax increase, participation in yesterday's election was at an historic low. I guess it's the "shikata gá naí" mindset. - William
熊本県内投票率過去最低４７・２３％　 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県選挙管理委員会が２１日発表した参院選熊本選挙区の投票率は４７・２３％だった。前回２０１６年の５...

The three lion cubs born at Kumamoto Zoo have been named: the male, Reo, after the new reign era, Reiwa; one lioness, Koko, after their birth date (May nineth - it makes more sense in Japanese); and the other lioness Sanniichi, a play on her father's name, Sanii, and that she was the third cub born. Investigations are ongoing into transferring the siblings to a facility in Oita, but no decisision will be made until they are weaned in about a month. - William.
レオ、ココ、サニーよろしくね　赤ちゃんライオンの名前決まる ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本市動植物園は２０日、５月に同園で生まれたライオン３頭の名前を発表した。雄は「令和に生まれた男の子...

Fiona here, with the final week's timeslots at Escape from Britz. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SPIES will be closing on July 29th, with no further games planned. Thanks to everyone who has supported the escape room so far, and if you were interested but never got a team together, this is your final call!
Here's the schedule for the last few days of play:
Sunday (today): anytime! I can even give you a lift to avoid the rain!☔🚕
Monday (tomorrow): I work in Amakusa all day but after a cuppa I should be ready to go after 7pm.🏖🌴☕
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday: after 8pm if you're really desperate and this is the only time you've got. I'll be tired and cranky.😴
Friday: I've got the morning off! Come over! Anytime before 4pm or after 7 (I'll be clearing up Monopoly from the last Friday kids class).🎲
Saturday: Anytime until the Spy Night party starts at 8...and don't think you can suddenly unbusy yourself to turn up for that if you never found time to do the escape room 😁🕵😎
Sunday: Anytime, but not too early after the martinis from the night before!🍸🍸🍸
Monday: No classes today! If you want the honour of being the last team ever to play at Escape from Britz, this is your chance for glory! And if you can get a 100% score in under 57 minutes you will genuinely be victorious.🏆🏁🏅

Here's a little item from my personal Facebook page.
"We have an imaginary pond in our garden. The rocks have been placed so as to make the ground they surround look like a pond if you let your imagine run freely -- or if you've been drinking too much. Well, today, I think our pond must have gotten some help from the blue fairy that turned Pinocchio into a real boy. 'Look everyone. I'm a real pond!'"

Here's one for One Piece and/or Pokemon fans:
https://www.cbr.com/one-piece-pokemon-go-kumamoto-revitalization-project-collaboration/
-- Kirk
One Piece Joins Pokemon GO in Kumamoto Revitalization Project Collaboration
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda is working with Pokemon GO for the Kumamoto Revitalization to raise money for earthquake relief efforts.

Here's an extended article on the international marketing of Kumamon.
-- Kirk
Kumamon, Japan’s billion-dollar bear, ventures abroad
Watch out Mickey Mouse, Kumamoto's popular mascot is going global

Now in custody:
"While serving as the private secretary to House of Representatives member Takeshi Noda in 2015, Fujiki was accused of using kakuseizai, or stimulant drugs. He was later handed an 18-month prison term, suspended for three years."
-- Kirk
Ex-Diet member's secretary apprehended after 5 days on run | TokyoReporter
A former secretary of a Diet member who fled from officers in Kumamoto City last week was apprehended after five days on the run

Hi fellow Kumamoto-ites,
Firework season is upon us, and sometimes it can be hard finding out where and when firework shows are. To make things a bit easier, here is a map with all(?) of Kumamoto's firework shows, ranging from big to small, for 2019 season.
The firework shows are listed in chronological order in the legend. Clicking on an event will bring up the name of the event (in Japanese) and a website with info (in Japanese). You can also click on the pins in the map if you are searching by region.
A lot of the events come at the tail end of festivals, so it might be worth showing up a couple hours early for some festival festivities.
Last, please be aware that sometimes event dates change.
Happy firework viewing!
p.s. This is Chris Ott writing here. I've been lucky enough to have been in Kumamoto for a not a short time, and have picked up some nuggets of knowledge during my time here. Throughout the year I'll be posting season specific ideas and info that can hopefully help make your time in Kumamoto and Kyushu a bit more enjoyable.
Kumamoto Festivals: 2019, summer - Google My Maps
Kumamoto's fortissimo firework festival season is upon us. Scintillating phalanxes of sulfurous flashes, yakisoba-takoyaki-karaage galore, shochu sipped under sweat-laced lips, and a sense of celebrity for those who saunter 'round more sylvan scenery as the lone foreigner foraying for a taste and se...

Thanks to all 20 players who have supported my pop-up escape room project so far. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SPIES will be closing at the end of July, and no further escape rooms are planned in Kumamoto at this stage. If you want to play the game before it closes, or have any questions, you can visit and send a message via Escape from Britz. It costs 1000 yen to play (500 yen for kids/students) and is for teams of 2-6 players. It's family-friendly, and you don't need any experience with escape rooms. You should have at least one English speaker on your team. The escape room is located close to Kencho - just search for Escape from Britz on Google maps!
Fiona

As William indicated, Kumamoto City and other parts of the prefecture experienced some extremely intense rain this afternoon. Click on this link in order to see a report in Japanese:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x-5kWlEic0
-- Kirk

A short note from the Kumamoto International Meteorology Desk (we have many umbrellas, most of which we "borrowed"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0i7JU9SijE
-- William
The Rain Rain Rain (came Down Down Down) English
I dont own anything remotely Disney. This is the English verison of the Rainy day song in the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Lyrics: the Rain Rain Rain c...

Here's a little news about the policing of the police. -- Kirk
"Japan's National Public Safety Commission has taken disciplinary actions against three police officials for receiving fees from a publisher without going through proper procedures for written work used in workbooks for police promotion tests."
One was working in Kumamoto.
3 Japan Police Officials Reprimanded for Paid Writing Work
Tokyo, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Japan's National Public Safety Commission has taken disciplinary actions against …

I'm glad to see this positive and important step toward resolution of this issue. It seems likely to bring healing to the victims and help the rest of us understand what they went through.
Actually, I've had the honor and pleasure of meeting some of the people involved in this struggle. I met Harumi Oku, the person standing in this picture, at a symposium held in 2015, at which I assisted with translation. Here's a very brief summary of her experience as a family member, based on notes I received at the time:
Ms. Oku's mother contracted Hansen's disease (leprosy) and was forced to enter a sanatarium when she was 4 years old. Her father did not have leprosy but had a bad leg, which seems to have led to his forced internment as well. Young Harumi was put in Tatsuda Dormintory (Tatsuda Ryo), a special facility for the children of leprosy patients located in Kurokami, near Kumamoto University. At first, the children in this dormitory were not allowed to attend elementary school with other children. Later, the Kumamoto City Board of Education decided to allow them to attend the local school (Kurokami Shoggako) but this brought a vicious backlash from the local community. Local activists brought megaphones to yell hateful slogans ("Leper kids, stay away from our school!") at the dormitory and its occupants.
Harumi's father was able to arrange for her to go to Amami Oshima (an island in southern Kagoshima Prefecture, part of the Ryukyu Achipelago) in order to avoid the trouble in Kurokami. However, Harumi interpreted being sent away as abandonment. She had a hard time in Amami Oshima, being treated as either a burden or merely a source of labor by the family that took her in -- not as a child to be cared for.
As you can see from even this brief account of Ms. Oku's experience, family members of Hansen's disease patients suffered terribly. Not only were they deprived of parents and loved ones -- they themselves were, by association, treated as social pariahs. The government's policies played a significant role in fostering such prejudice and discrimination, which is one reason that the government was found culpable in the latest court case.
-- Kirk
Abe apologizes to family members of former leprosy patients：The Asahi Shimbun
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe released a statement on July 12 formally apologizing to family members of

Much of this recent CNN article focuses on Yuka Ogata's contribution to the discussion.
-- Kirk
The child care crisis facing Japan's working moms
When Japanese politician Yuka Ogata decided to bring her 7-month-old child into Kumamoto's city assembly, she was hoping to set a precedent for working mothers. Instead, she embarked on a battle.

A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Inadvertently Amusing Surveys (we stock up on tissue as we laugh so much): Kumanichi conducted a survey of 100 Kumamoto residents regarding their opinion regarding an increase in non-Japanese workers. Of the respondents, 28 were cool with it, 11 were against, 13 didn't know, 21 were disinclined, and 27 were like "maybe." The Kumanichi article titled itself as "Those Supporting an Increase in Foreign Workers Exceeds 50%." We at the Kumamoto International Desk of Inadvertently Amusing Surveys have retitled the article as \ _(ツ)_/¯. - William
外国人労働者「賛成」５割超　参院選くまもと県民アンケート⑤ ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本日日新聞の県民１００人アンケートの今回の質問は「外国人労働者が増えることに賛成ですか、反対ですか...

Here's an item that has gotten quite a lot of national attention over the past 24 hours. He started running in Kumamoto but the latest report I saw sighted him in Fukuoka and Saga.
-- Kirk
Ex-Diet member's secretary flees police in Kumamoto | TokyoReporter
Kumamoto police are seeking the whereabouts of a former secretary of a Diet member after he fled from officers in Kumamoto City on Tuesday

Also, Joe Tomei here again, and this picture is from Jackie Bencke, who saw it at the Hamasen Starbucks and passed it on. It's a listing of all the fireworks displays in Kumamoto prefecture. I put it up without translation cause I think it is simply enough to figure out. For details of each event, you can go to
https://hanabi.walkerplus.com/list/ar1043/
(This is the link for the Kumamoto prefecture list)
which gives details of all the fireworks displays in Japan. If you've not attended a fireworks festival, people generally go early and it's a bit crowded getting back, but that's part of the Japanese experience, I suppose.