Warning level for Aso volcano back to 1 (lowest level). Access to the crater should be good this summer. -- Kirk
Posts
We'd written recently about Shimabara, on the Nagasaki peninsula just across Ariake Sea. Below is an addendum.
Kirk here with three questions I've received and need to respond to when I get some time:
Hi there! We'd like to ask our members to share information about reliable, professional mental health options; in-patient or out-patient in Kumamoto are preferred, but further afield or online mental health counselling is very welcome too.
As you can see from the numbers of average cases per medical institutions on the map, Kumamoto is ranked 4th (behind Okinawa, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki) in terms of new COVID-19 cases. People around me are getting sick. Take care! -- Kirk
A place to go to beat the heat: Kashima Machi is an attractive farming town that has grown in recent years due to a major shopping mall. It is also known for its natural spring-fed pool (嘉島町湧水公園天然プール, Kashima-chō yūsuikōen ten'nen pūru). There are two pools, one shaped like a normal pool and one a bit more natural. They were formed by runoff from Aso meeting an ancient volcanic substrate. You'll need a car to get there, but there is plenty of free parking. Pack a picnic and the kids and bring inflatable toys! - William
Kirk here with an inquiry from someone who is looking for a good place to swim:
Kirk here. This article is fairly old now but I think the "stay tax" (宿泊税) is still in the works. The headline refers to the "negative effects of foreign tourism" but the article doesn't explain those effects in detail. As far as I can tell from looking at a few Japanese articles, Kumamoto City needs to find funds to allow it to provide appropriate services for the growing numbers of visitors, but I'm not exactly sure what services are needed. At any rate, the tax would be a few hundred yen per hotel guest, regardless of citizenship.
Kirk here with an update about Minamata disease. I think I wrote earlier that Minister Ito finally promised to start health surveys in a couple years. (Amazingly, a proper health survey of affected areas has never been undertaken; we only know about the people who have come forward on their own.) The first line of this article points to an even more serious issue -- the refusal of the government to relax the certification criteria:
To our American friends: That the upcoming election is important does not need to be impressed on anyone paying attention. The Center for US Voters Abroad allows confirmation that one is registered to vote in one's state and links to register if not.
Mudball - Japanese new sport PK (Football) World Cup in Rice Field
Kirk here with something that is not specific to Kumamoto but is definitely relevant to the lives of folks in Kumamoto who are working as ALTs. I saw this article you see pictured in Japanese and thought it would surely have been published in English but, at this point, no such luck. But, never fear, AI to the rescue -- I'll append a ChatGPT translation of an abridged version of the article to this post.
Special Opening of the Inside of the Uto Tower Roof
Shimabara Peninsula is a cool 30-minute ferry ride from Kumamoto New Port on an air conditioned ferry which takes both cars and passengers (those on foot can take a bus from Kotsu Center). The small town, known as "the city of water", has long had close connections with Kumamoto; it was the last refuge for rebels seeking refuge during the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion (島原･天草の乱, 1638), when Amakusa Shirō rebelled against the local daimyo's efforts to prohibit Christianity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimabara_Rebellion
Fukuoka makes for a wonderful day trip from Kumamoto, with beautiful beaches, a deep culture, fascinating history, and excellent food. It is a magnet for Kumamoto youth who find our town too small (it's said that the town has the most beautiful women in Japan as it attracts many Kyushu lasses who long for city life but don't want to venture so far as Kansai or Kanto). And no trip is complete without an evening meal at the yatai located at the southern end of Nakasu Island.
Kirk here with Tsuruya Department Store news:
Kirk here with an article about continuing talks related to Minamata disease.
Another place to beat the heat, this time not too far from the castle. According to chronicles, a son of Emperor Jinmu (born 711 BCE) was sent to tour Hinokuni and, looking for a cool spot to wash his hands, found a spring which resulted in a delightful waterfall - hence, its name, Ochyouzu (お手水 - funky reading of that kanji). Its proximity to the sweltering castle later made it a favorite cooling-off spot for Kato Kiyomasa and the Hosokawa lords.
Another installment on places to go to cool off in summer. In 昭和48年 (1973), the national government began work on a tunnel to connect the southeastern corner of Aso's caldera to Takachiho. They dug a bit and water spurted out; they dug more, and more water spurted out. Turns out, the further they dug, the more water there was, so they gave up. Now, it is a prefectural park called Takamori yūsui ton'neru kōen (高森湧水トンネル公園).
Celebrating new currency featuring Shibasaburo Kitazato in his hometown. -- Kirk
