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About a month ago, William posted about rules related to garbage disposal:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134/2553223608084389/
That led to a discussion in which the following question came up: "Does Japan do their own recycling or do they ship it to China?" I couldn't find a good answer but responded with a posted about Japan's surprisingly low recycling rates:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/2565431110196972?__tn__=-R
Well, NHK came to the rescue and answered the question about whether Japan does its own recycling or sends it to China. And the answer is that, so far, they've been sending it to China but that China is now refusing to accept such garbage. The NHK program explained that in 2017 both the U.S. and Japan were major exporters of recyclable (?) plastics to China: 1,670,000 tons from the U.S. and 1,430,000 tons from Japan. So, the U.S. sent a larger total amount of plastic trash to China but, on a per capita basis, Japan was actually a bigger exporter. Japan is closer to China so that might account for part of the reason that Japan's per capita rate was higher. Still, whatever the reasons, that's a lot of plastic trash.
The point of the NHK program was that both the U.S. and Japan are going to have to learn to reduce their production of plastic trash and learn how to recycle it themselves.
Let's all carry cloth bags to stores so we don't need plastic ones.
-- Kirk
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20190512/k10011913361000.html
プラスチックごみ 輸出入規制で日米は対応に苦慮 | NHKニュース
リサイクルに向かない汚れたプラスチックごみの輸出入を規制する新たな国際ルールが10日定められ、国をまたいだごみの移動が一…

Tristan Vick here.
I have to renew my passport in a year. Always a pain. But necessary.
At the same time, I have to renew my daughter's passport and get my boys first-time passports too.
The thing is though, the government wants to make it as difficult as possible to obtain.
The boys can't get an American passport without a Social Security Number. Makes sense. But they can't get a Social Security number without a *Consular Report of Birth*.
So, this requires 3 separate trips to the U.S. Consulate. Before this, however, I need to have an entire checklist of TRANSLATED documents from the ORIGINAL Japanese documents.
So, I have to go the City Ward Office and obtain the Japanese documents and then translate them all so I can take them to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
Each of these trips requires a notary to prove that the Japanese documents came with a translation and that all the documents required were presented.
Notaries only work on Thursdays at the Consulate. So, I can't just take any day off I like, but it has to be Thursday specifically.
Now, the cost is ridiculous. Here's the cost breakdown according to the U.S. Embassy in Japan:
Adult Passport renewal: $145
Child (under 16) passport renewal: $115
Report of Birth: $100
Notarial Seal: $50 (If needed)
So, let's do the math for me and my three children.
Me: $145 (no notary needed)
Daughter: $115
Son 1: $115 + $100 RoB
Son 2: $115 + $100 RoB
That's $690 USD and that doesn't even factor in the fact that we have to travel across the country to a different city separate times. Multiply $50 for gas money x3 = $150 and lunch for the kids while we're in town with is $50 and that's an additional $200.
Now, the Japanese documents each cost approximately $30 USD. So I need a:
1. Marriage certificate
2. Birth certificate
3. Acceptance of Birth certificate
4. Family Register
(Divorce is the only document I don't need —also if you have any of these documents on hand you are already saving lots)
So, that's an additional $30 x4. Another $120.
So, now we're looking at $1,010 USD just to get my kids passports.
UPDATE:
There are some folks who’ve rightly pointed out you don’t necessarily need the notary for the applications (only if one parent can’t make it) and you can fill out and file all the forms at once, saving a few steps.
So maybe save a few hours and a few hundred dollars. But the cost is still substantial.
Also, as Joe Tomei pointed out, you must book the appointment ahead of time online. They no longer accept same day phone call registration or walk-ins.
Here's the U.S. Consulate / Embassy website for more:
https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/

San is a 10-year old lion. Kuriya is a 5-year old lioness. They live at Kumamoto Zoo and apparently have become smitten as they have produced three cubs. The cubs have not been sexed yet because the mother would maul to bits any volunteer who would volunteer to sex them. They will be sequestered until weaned; only then will we know.
Warning: the below photo is deadly both in cuteness and actual deadliness. - William

Hello international friends. It's nice weather today. I've recommended many workshops in Kumamoto before.
I work at Kawashiri elementary school now. Kawashiri has lots traditional buildings and shops and places, like shrine, temple, Japanese sweet shop, 刃物 cutlery shop, and 瑞鷹 ZUIYOU (famous Sake maker), 銭湯sentou(traditional spa) ,,,more. Now, 3rd grade students study about their school's, their town environment as social subject. You also might see lots students go around the town to see, to search with line this week.
Even in 30 munites walk, you can find many interesting, historical places.
If you are afraid where you should go, you may go to 工芸会館 Kougeiaikan at first. It also tells and shows many traditional products.
During your short trip, you might see lots local trains and Sinkansen easily.
I hope you enjoy the small traditional town!!ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
It's a map of Kawashiri. https://www.zuiyo.co.jp/KAWASHIRI/INDEX.html
This is URL.
For friends who want to try to taste ZUIYOU SAKE, SHOTYU.
https://www.japanhoppers.com/ja/kyushu_okinawa/kumamoto/kanko/2340/

Headline: English skills of students in Kumamoto even worse than you thought!
" . . . Mainichi Shimbun . . . found that 13 institutions would accept A1-level English test results for admission . . . The schools are: Obihiro . . . and Kumamoto University."
I wanted to try to find out where A1 is on the TOEFL scale and found this:
---- start quote ----
There are no TOEFL score comparisons for the A-level. This is because this is a very “basic” level, and speakers at this level are probably just starting their language-learning journey. 🙂
---- end quote ----
https://magoosh.com/toefl/2015/how-to-compare-the-toefl-and-cefr/
Under the old system, universities made their own tests. That made it much easier for those of us at universities to hide the extent we had lowered our standards.
-- Kirk
P.S. Here's the address of the Japanese version of the article:
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190507/k00/00m/040/242000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190508/p2a/00m/0na/024000c
13 nat'l universities to allow applicants with rock-bottom private English test level - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- At least 13 of Japan's 82 national universities will accept applications from admissions candidates with junior high school-level scores on p

This image from weather.jp gives us a clearer idea of how big yesterday's earthquake was:
https://weathernews.jp/s/topics/201905/100848quake/
It says the quake was M 6.3 which explains why it felt so strong even though the epicenter was fairly far away. M 6.3 is a big release of energy. Perhaps the distance explains why it seemed to sway in Kumamoto instead of lurch.
The Japan Meteorology Agency (JMA) has pretty much the same information (in English) on the following page:
https://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/6/20190509235307493-10084852.html

-- Kirk

Kawaramachi is stepping up it’s game(sorta). The space above Out of Step Cafe will have an event on June 1st.That place is called Helping Hand Cats(sorta). That event looks like a mixture of jazz and indie folk/pop.Tonite at Jogglejog we have a free show with Okura Ken and Handa Masayuki. Both of these dudes play some good folk/pop and rock. After their individual sets they will do a Beatles set. Okura Ken also teaches Ukulele once a month at Out of Step. It’s about 2500 yen for an hour of instruction with a drink and treat from Out of Step. If you don’t a have a Ukulele. I can provide a tenor or a soprano Ukulele free of charge for you to join the lesson. Jay Onyskin

This is old news -- at least news that we've already discussed here but NATURE has just published a short piece on it. -- Kirk
Deadly Japanese earthquake study retracted over false data
The paper is the third study about the 2016 Kuamamoto earthquake to be retracted.

This article from NHK assures as that yesterday's quake was not a major disaster. Nonetheless, I found being reminded of the Sendai nuclear power plant (located just south of Kumamoto) a little disconcerting. "Don't worry. The big bad nuclear monster is still inside the box. We probably won't need to evacuate any time soon." Er, thanks. I feel better now . . . I think.
-- Kirk
No major damage in Miyazaki quake- News - NHK WORLD - English
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Friday morning.

Kumamoto's deployment of 'One Piece' heroes is old news on this page and I doubt that this newesh article (May 9th) presents any information that hasn't already been shared here. On the other hand, it gives me an opportunity to share two observations:
1) I occasionally jog by the statue (I live nearby) and, regardless of the time of day or night, I have NEVER seen Luffy without a contingent of reverent admirers. Of course, I recognize that there probably are occasions when Luffy can enjoy a moment of solitude and rest his weary right arm -- but I haven't seen it yet. He's one popular guy!
2) Any post having to do with One Piece gets lots of eyeballs on this page (we employ a professional eyeball counter -- in fact, he's counting your eyeballs right now!!!!). Again, One Piece is very popular.
-- Kirk
‘One Piece’ pirate gang deployed to Kumamoto to buoy recovery：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Statues of pirates from the popular manga “One Piece” will be erected to demonstrate their

Hi, international friends. We, YWCA Kumamoto will have a bazaar tomorrow afternoon.
We will also have an Onigiri making workshop from 10 to 12.
You can enjoy chatting and interacting, and buying cheaper households there.
Please check the details.
Please come and join us freely. ーAtsuko(*Ü*)
https://m.facebook.com/events/295229201390464?acontext=%7B"ref"%3A"98"%2C"action_history"%3A"null"%7D&aref=98
YWCA is next to KUMADAI. Beside of KUMADAI pool.Please make sure the place. You can know the place in the YWCA facebook page.

A friend of mine who works for the Kumamoto Prefectural government disscussed with me plans to receive evacuees from the Kyushu east coast in the event of a large quake accompanied by tsunami. They have no other place to go, really, other than over the mountain. A 6.3 quake just occurred in the same location as this morning's quake. Let`s hope it stops here.　ー　　William

A quake measured of M5.6 occurred at 07:36 off the coast of Miyazaki. I didn't notice it. However, the area is of concern for something big. ー　William

A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Avoiding a Quarrel with your Brother in Law over a Major Household Purchase (we usually post from under our desks): Higo Mokkosu (肥後もっこす) may be translated as "Higo stubbornness." A Wikipedia search showed that Higo Mokkosu ranks among the three top Japanese stubbornness types, along with Tsugaru Jyoppari and Tosa Gossou, (津軽じょっぱり、土佐いごっそう), so we've got that going for us - but ours is best. Apparently, stubbornness subtly differs. Though this Wikipedia site is in Japanese, if you don't run it through Google Translate both to understand the character of Higokko and also for the giggles, I'll never talk to you again. - William
肥後もっこす - Wikipedia
肥後もっこす（ひごもっこす）は、熊本県人の気質を表現した言葉[1][2]。津軽じょっぱり、土佐いごっそうと共に、日本三大頑固のひとつに数えられる[3]。

Olivia here,
We received message from Kumamoto International Convention and Tourism Bureau for some activities they do around Kumamoto for all ages.
You can try opening the links below :(information is written in Japanese)
作ってみる (Tsukutte Miru, meaning, “Making something” Workshops)
http://www.kumamoto-icb.or.jp/map/pub/List.aspx?c_id=13&mst=26&fbclid=IwAR0I13dBtWb2YN1ubiY6GF2O8dZuT--wbCgk7IlKuLHzGIZTIeRG2WkAiUY
見て聞いてみらんね！(“Mite Kiite Miran ne”, meaning “Check it out!!” )
“Mite Kiite Miran ne” is Kumamoto dialect, that is similar with “Mite Kiite Mite ne”
http://www.kumamoto-icb.or.jp/map/pub/List.aspx?c_id=13&mst=25&fbclid=IwAR12OXTYnxsVIMbtlrReBDTkB5FGHTeUbpshnyzof4xHaxY36W-NfQLM4ew
遊んでみらんね！(Asonde Miran ne! ; meaning, “Experience !!”)
http://www.kumamoto-icb.or.jp/map/pub/List.aspx?c_id=13&mst=27&fbclid=IwAR0KrDz8QswMWx5uw-_XGUmDOABv6v-WwL8mI_d0PfeqOK70QbcxMYesHCI
(Walk with kimonos, Meet mascots at Kumamoto Castle, planting rice in paddy fields, etc)
The English link is this:
https://kicb.jp
Hope that helps 🙂

Joe Tomei here. Wanted to pass on this job announcement. As always, please contact the email address below.
====
Freedom English School is looking for a part-time English teacher to teach at a music kindergarten for one hour, twice a month. The details are as follows:
Date and time: May 16th and 23rd, 10am - 11am. Future dates can be provided on request.
Location: Near YouMe Town Hamasen
Lesson structure: 3 x 20 minute lessons (All six lessons in each month can be the same content) Singing is fine but not absolutely necessary!
Pay: ￥5000 per one hour lesson
If you are interested, please reply to me, or contact Freedom English School on 096-322-7100 or [email protected]

Fiona here, with a couple of event announcements...
Firstly, on Saturday May 18th from 7pm, there's a Quiz Night, in English, open to all and free of charge, at Britz English School in Onoue, close to the Prefectural Office. You can find out the details, and sign up as a player or even a quizmaster at the Escape from Britz Facebook page. We also hold games nights pretty often, and are happy to welcome casual but competitive board game enthusiasts!
Secondly, as creator and gamesmaster at the only escape room in Kumamoto, it's the final call for anyone who would like to play my current game. It's The Great Britz Treasure Hunt and is aimed at escape room novices, families and teams of English learners (both adults and children). I'll be winding down this game shortly to make way for the third installment coming in June. Again, you can find out more and make a booking through the Escape from Britz page.
I'll be posting again once I'm ready to unveil my latest game...
Fiona

Sad news: Kumamoto airport ranks second to last of Japanese ports welcoming international passengers to Kyushu. At 2.2%, it just edged out Nagasaki port's 1.8%, a margin which statisticians refer to as a "smidgen."
Glad news: There is plenty of room for growth! Plans are afoot (alight?) to vastly expand international flights with the pending privatization of the airport. (The below graph includes all points of entry for non-Japanese visiting Kyushu, including sea ports.) - William
https://this.kiji.is/498268246206727265?c=92619697908483575

Shoubu (しょうぶ、菖蒲) are iris leaves. The kanji is homonymous with 勝負, meaning "victory or defeat" - that is, a battle, a symbol of spirit to meet challenge. Customary on Children's Day is to place shoubu above the house entrance (as are now on mine, though my children have long departed) and to have children bathe with them in what is called a 「しょうぶ湯」- "shoubuyu," or "iris bath".
Kumanichi notes that local sentos (銭湯、public baths) offered free admission to children on 5/5 and provided a cute photo. These baths were crucial after the quakes, admitting free those with no water or gas. If you've never visited a sento, you should. Here is a link to local sento. -William
https://tinyurl.com/y2uqzvu8
https://this.kiji.is/497724659564774497?c=92619697908483575
しょうぶ湯で健康に　熊本市内の７銭湯で伝統行事 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
こどもの日の５日、熊本市内の銭湯７カ所で「しょうぶ湯浴場まつり」があった。小学生以下は無料開放。多く...

Atsuko, who I think has been doing a great job since she became a Kumamoto International editor, posted about an e-book that contains information about various things one can experience here in Kumamoto:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/2599147313492018?__tn__=-R
The attached image is one item from that e-book. It's an opportunity to make your own Higo Zogan (silver or gold inlay, damascene) under the guidance of an expert craftsman. If you don't know about Higo Zogan, check out the following page:
https://japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/crafts/metal_work/99/
My image cuts off the address and phone number so I'll post another screenshot as a comment to this post.
-- Kirk