Posts
Hi Johannes here.
As society gradually opens up to foreigners, religious life here in Kumamoto is also becoming increasingly diverse.
In this context, I would like to point out an interesting festival that will take place on Saturday at 10:00 am in the park of Kumamoto Castle. The Eid al-Adha is the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, which is the climax of the Hajj. Anyone is invited to join the venue.
Fiona here, passing on a job opportunity with a local English school.
Freedom English School, located in Kamitori, Suizenji, and Musashigaoka in Kumamoto City, is seeking an English teacher for a full-time position with an August or September start.
Applicants must be native-level speakers, and should be comfortable teaching children of all ages, ranging from kindergarten age through to Junior High School students. Experience is preferred, but not essential for the correct candidate. Pre-employment and on-the-job training will be provided.
We offer a competitive financial package - details of which will be provided on request - and an excellent working environment. If you are interested in joining our growing teaching team and would like to find out more information, please contact Greg Howes at [email protected] or 096-322-7100.
Kumamoto has its fair share of published authors among the international community. Tales of Old Zen was released just a few weeks ago and is written by long-term resident Alan Rosen who arrived here in the early 1970s. It's available in paperback and digital formats and looks like an interesting read for anyone who has ever spent time in Kumamoto. (Fiona)
Tales of Old Zen: From New Jersey to Japan
Beginning with his confusing arrival in Kumamoto, these stories introduce some of the eccentric people and head-scratching episodes the author experienced as an American from rough, tough New Jersey struggling to understand life in exquisitely polite Japan. The descriptions of cross-cultural enco...
William
An excellent photo of our castle.
A local gospel choir will be holding a concert next Saturday evening (24th May) at Shintoshin Plaza 🎵🎤 🎶
See the link to the advert on Instagram for more details! - Ruth
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJHhfvgTCLF/?igsh=OG9qYWhkeTl0dXFy
Fiona here, with a few suggestions for outdoor activities in Kumamoto.
Go Nature offers kayaking, SUP (Stand-Up Paddle boarding) and river trekking in various locations around the prefecture. Their new splash trekking tour also includes an optional onsen visit. While I haven't tried that yet, I can vouch for the Ezu-ko sunset and Midorikawa Dam kayaking tours as being very fun with friendly and professional guides.
https://go-nature.club/
Forest Adventure Misato has zip-lining, Tarzan swing and ropes courses in a beautiful setting with camping also available nearby. This place has great activities on offer for both children and adults.
https://foret-aventure.jp/park/fa-misato/
It's also possible to go zip-lining by the sea in Amakusa. I haven't tried this one out yet but I'm sure the views are amazing.
https://tenku-zipline.jp/
Thrill-seekers have the opportunity to try paragliding, bouldering, climbing, cycling , trekking and buggy rides in Aso with this company.
https://asonatureland.com/activity/
If anyone knows of other fun outdoor activities for the summer months, please post them in the comments.
SUP(サップ)＆カヌー・カヤック体験のGo Nature(ゴーネイチャー)でもっと川で遊ぼう！
Go Natureは「もっと自然と遊ぼう」をテーマに、SUP(サップ)やカヤックをはじめとするアウトドアアクティビティを提供します。熊本市の江津湖や美里町の緑川ダムで感動の体験をしてみませんか？心も体も癒してくれる時間....
Good day, everyone!
Sean here, and I’m offering a great opportunity for anyone interested in English or considering teaching in the future—perfect for high school or university students!
I’m looking for a co-teacher to assist me on the following dates:
• Shift 1: May 22nd (Thu) 15:30–18:30
• Shift 2: May 26th (Mon) 15:30–18:30
• Shift 3: May 28th (Wed) 15:30–18:30
• Shift 4: May 29th (Thu) 15:30–18:30
Pay: ¥2,500 per shift
Bonus: ¥2,500 extra if you work all four shifts!
This could also turn into a regular position for the right candidate. If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to reach out!
William here with one more word about water.
Granted, I'm a bit elderly so am more susceptible to heat. I have passed out on the street due to heat exhaustion twice.
As summer comes about, choose a bottle that you like, fill it with water every night, stick it in the fridge, and enjoy it the next day. Drink at least 500ml. And enjoy the sweet taste of Kumamoto water.
William here with a word about water.
Kumamoto is the largest city in the world to be served entirely by artisanal water. The granite substrate created by repeated Aso eruptions ensures that fresh water remains towards the surface. The water from your tap is far superior than anything you can buy at a store. (My sister, visiting from the States, once sent me out to get her a bottle of water, and the clerk looked at me as if I were insane.)
I fill up a pet bottle with tap water nightly, stick it in the fridge, and drink it the next day.
Stay hydrated.
JLPT preparation classes at KIF!
Are you living and working—or planning to work—in Kumamoto?
If you’ve registered for the JLPT exam on July 6th, don’t miss this useful preparation session!
Join these sessions organized by Kumamoto International Foundation (KIF) to learn, practice, and boost your confidence for the test.
-Hari
https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/kiji0032980/index.html
GW Enjoy Kumamoto Report by Atsuko( ᐛ )و
News of the new Kinpouzan Boys Nature House has been seen everywhere, but today I am going to introduce you to the Amakusa Youth House in Kumamoto, 熊本県立天草青年の家.
The plan is to promote family use on under-utilised and under-used Saturdays and Sundays, holidays.
Children under high school age can use the campsite for 100 yen and adults for 320 yen.
Tents, barbecue sets, rice cooking sets, etc. can be rented free of charge.
Sleeping bags, foodstuffs, etc. are prepared by the campers themselves, and the payment system is that you only pay for what you use.
My family of two adults and one junior high school student stayed in a tent, borrowed a tent, rice cooking set, barbecue set and used one bundle of maki, all for 1,040 yen!!!
You can also use the baths at the Youth House at set times.
All the staff were very friendly and helped us put the tent together, although they only spoke Japanese.
To use the facilities, call (in Japanese) and ask if there are any reservations available, and if there are, apply for a reservation.
https://www-k--seishonen-com.translate.goog/amakusa/contents/sengenkyanpuevent.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en
(Fiona) Looking for something a little offbeat and off the beaten path this Golden Week? This event comes highly recommended by a student of mine who said it's well worth the long drive to a remote village in Amakusa that is filled with scarecrows every spring.
Michi-no-Eki Miyajidake Kakashi no Sato was once an elementary school that closed down due to the shrinking population. Locals have turned the premises into a roadside station selling produce, and replaced the humans with hundreds of scarecrows, some of which are scarily lifelike. Tourists are challenged to search for the 'Wanted' scarecrows with prizes on offer.
Here's the website (in Japanese) with more details. There may be heavy traffic jams during Golden Week so allow for around three hours or more if driving there from Kumamoto city!
https://kakashinosato.jp/
Liz here. Information about the services for Allan to be held in Scotland on the second. I am still at a loss for words , but am sure Ayako and Hannah know how much Allan touched our lives, and how much he will be missed.
Join a workshop in Kumamoto to learn programming while using English.
Learn programming while using English, with on-site support in Kumamoto City (Ueki), while connecting online with children from around the world.
Teachers are engineers from Google.
Act Local, Think Global.( ᐛ )وAtsuko
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[5/11 Onsite event in Kumamoto, Noto, and Kobe!] Call for participants for the 4th session of "Learn Computer Science in English" Season 7 "Tree Algorithm"
https://kidscodeclub.jp/csinenglish_on-site_20250511
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CPsrLdC1J/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BouxDazVb/
Kirk here. In a comment to Joe's post informing us of Allan Sutherland's passing, I wrote that "Allan was a man of many talents: music, photography, cooking . . . a very erudite person." Here's a comment from Allan that gives you a sense of that erudition. Like Eugene Smith he was extremely knowledgable about jazz and photography, and a very sensitive person.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0RtKmLgidPXxN2kEqzZGqP2iA1zbicpKcFReDXCNnwiSWWhuL2rb8iusHzm6qcBHEl
Joe Tomei with the sad news that Allan Sutherland has passed away. Allan was part of the Kumamoto-i community early on, when it was a Yahoo group email list and he and his wife were key supporters of the the foreign teachers at Kumamoto Prefectural University. I'm sure that Kirk may have some things to say, but a memory that stands out for me was that Allan often organized informal home jazz concerts for jazz musicians visiting Fukuoka, and I went to a few of these. He's survived by his wife Ayako Chinen Sutherland and daughter Hannah.
KOINOBORI, Carp streamer season is here again.@ TSUETATE Onsen.Atsuko(^ _ ^)/~~
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The Carp Streamer Festival in Oguni Town, TSUETATE Onsen, a spring tradition in Kumamoto, is now under way!
The sight of over 3,000 carp streamers soaring through the sky is a sight to behold.
This is an announcement of a tourist guide training course organised by the NPO Discovery Kumamoto! ーAtsuko( ᐛ )و
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Tourist guide training course organised by the NPO Discovery Kumamoto!
Date: 24 May 2025 (Sat)
Place: Multipurpose Room, 2nd floor of Josaien Tourist Information Centre, Kumamoto Castle
Registration: 9am-
Part 1: 9:30-10:45
‘Transition of Kumamoto Castle - from Medieval Kumamoto Castle to Modern Kumamoto Castle’
Lecturer: Mr. Katsuji Aoki (Japanese)
Capacity: 60 (for those interested in becoming Kumamoto tourist guides)
Fee: Members free Non-members 500 yen
Part 2: 10:05 5-12:30
Kumamoto Castle English guided tour by members of Discovery Kumamoto
Capacity 20 people (those interested in guiding in English and those with no guiding experience are given priority)
Fee 500 yen (separate entrance fee required)
Application method: application deadline Saturday 17 May
Please apply via messenger on FB, stating the following
Name, address, contact details (phone number, email address)
Experience as a guide or not
Participation or not in the first part, participation or not in the second part
Membership
NPO Discovery Kumamoto is looking for new members (English and Chinese guides). Would you like to join us and show the attractions of Kumamoto to guests from home and abroad?"
Sean here – Discover zazen (meditation)
Open to all –
When: April 25th
Time: 20:00 ~ 21:00
Place: “Unusual”
〒862-0959 Kumamoto, Chuo Ward, Hakuzan, 2 Chome−13−9 富士ビル 1F
In this Zen meditation session, a priest (roshi or sensei) will guide participants in Japanese, but no language proficiency is needed—mindfulness is a universal language, and the essence of the practice transcends words. You’ll receive simple instructions on posture, whether seated on a cushion (zafu) in seiza, half-lotus (hankafuza), or full lotus (kekkafuza), or comfortably on a chair—with the reminder that there is no right or wrong way, only what feels natural to you. The session is entirely non-religious and open to all, with no expectations or beliefs required.
We’ll sit in zazen (meditation) for 30 minutes, focusing on the breath (susokukan), shikantaza ("just sitting"), or simply observing the mind—whatever resonates with you. Afterward, there will be time to share experiences (optional) in a relaxed, judgment-free space. The session operates on a voluntary donation basis (dana or fuse), honoring the Zen tradition of generosity.
Come as you are, and let mindfulness be your guide. 🌿
