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The announcement that I'm sharing is in Japanese but you don't need language skills to enjoy good pottery -- Shodaiyaki, to be specific. The dates are as follows:
2/6(水)〜2/11(月・祝) 10:00～17:00(最終日は16:00まで)
That's Wednesday to Monday, closing an hour early on the last day.
The venue is the Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center:
https://kumanago.jp/en/spots/detail/430000001521.html
There's a Google map on the Japanese page.
Admission is free.
-- Kirk
https://tankuma.com/event/shuntousai-20190202/?ref=fb20190202&fbclid=IwAR20a_ZmiwVhuDyvtdAJQPNCb4VUa4Wrbg9auQhnNnZO6OXmqf7MpeYPWMU
【ART】第七回 小代焼春陶祭
国指定の伝統的工芸品である小代焼11窯元の合同展示販売会。特別企画や、福袋の数量限定販売も！

Here's one of many worth-while articles from Kuma Visit. If you haven't "liked" the page already, I recommend it. I'm not always able to share the posts.
-- Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/2220970928154541?__tn__=-R

There was a major hate speech rally in Kumamoto today. I was completely unaware that such an event had been planned until I saw these
pictures posted by friend and Kumamoto International participant Otis McCulloch. (Thanks Otis!)
I did a little research and learned that this was the real deal, so to speak. This even was coordinated with another one in Shinjuku, Tokyo that occurred simultaneously. It was led by none other than Japan's most infamous hate monger, Makoto Sakurai:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makoto_Sakurai
Here's a YouTube video of Sakurai spewing invective today in Shinjuku:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDE8LL7TWYs
Start viewing at about 43:45 to hear Sakurai's hate speech. At 45:40 or so he mentions the connection with today's demonstration in Kumamoto. At 46:10 he says 朝鮮人を叩き出せ (beat Koreans out of Japan!). I thought that he was going to try to uphold a superficial pose of criticizing the government of Korea but, in resurrecting this slogan, he affirmed that he is still an unabashed purveyor of hate toward people of Korean ancestry in Japan.
There were warnings in Japanese and English about this event as planned for Tokyo:
https://twitter.com/hashtag/0203NoPasaran?src=hash
---- Quote starts ----
DATE & TIME: Feb 3, 2019 (Sun) 13:00
GATHER AROUND: Shinjuku Central Park (Shinjuku Chuo Koen)
TARGET: Anti-Korea Demonstration by Japan First Party
CALLED BY: Counter-Racist Action Collective
Counterprotest against hate march held by racist JFP.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government enacted anti-discrimination ordinance last year but it was just for show for forthcoming Olympic games. Meanwhile Shinjuku ward office decided to stop issuing rally permissions in all the parks it runs except Shinjuku Central Park. The decision is also made for purpose of reducing hate speech rallies in Shinjuku but has obviously derived no effect at the moment.
And now Japan’s worst and ugliest hate mongers, Japan First Party are planning rally and march just in front of Metropolitan Government building. All we should do is to show Mayor Koike and officers what happens as a result of their omissions. No Pasaran.
[ATTENTION]
・The march does'nt go straightforward from the park exit. It will turn left or right just after the start.
・Take subway Oedo Line for your swift move to Shinjuku station area.
・Beware of violent right wingers under screen of antifascist crowd (see pictures above).
--- Quote ends ---
http://crac.jp
I wasn't able to find much about the event in Kumamoto, however.
I think it's interesting that the media seems to be ignoring this. Neither Otis nor I have been able to find a Japanese news report, much less anything in English (admittedly, it's probably too soon for English but Japanese should be pretty quick). On the one hand, I know from experience that the Japanese media tend not to want to give these folks the publicity they seek. Part of my sympathizes with that sentiment but, on the other hand, I think that citizens have a right to know what has happened in their communities and why. As Otis has pointed out, Japan has an anti-hate-speech law that one might expect to preempt such rallies:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_Speech_Act_of_2016_(Japan)
Citizens have a right to know who approved the rallies and why. And why was Kumamoto the partner site? Perhaps because other communities said "no"? That's something else I think Japanese citizens have a right to know about. For these reasons, I'm troubled by the idea that the "silent treatment" is the best approach.
-- Kirk
P.S. Here are some Japanese announcements about the event here in Kumamoto:
https://ameblo.jp/doronpa01/entry-12436280081.html
http://www.koudouhosyu.info/kyusyu/scheduler.cgi?mode=view&no=144
Now I see that they were trying to connect this to Setsubun, today's holiday, but suggesting that Koreans are devils and that Setsubun is the day when devils must be exterminated (鬼退治).

Here's a nice article about Johnny Depp playing Eugene Smith in Minamata, Kumamoto.
Thanks to Kuma Visit for introducing this article:
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/2223098447941789?__tn__=-R
-- Kirk
https://deadline.com/2019/01/johnny-depp-minamata-bill-nighy-weugene-smith-1202546395/?fbclid=IwAR1khFkdnNapJ7KskHpqo9_XSXUSZnRIp-r3Y3wGCj8NmtElOlCwI-td6wg
First Look At Johnny Depp As Photographer W. Eugene Smith In ‘Minamata’; Bill Nighy Joins Cast
Principal photography has begun on Andrew Levitas-directed feature Minamata starring Johnny Depp as celebrated U.S. photographer W. Eugene Smith. The production has released a first look at Depp. B…

Here's a little something about an exhibit that is in progress at the Contemporary Art Museum in Kumamoto.
https://hypebeast.com/2018/12/takashi-murakami-bubblewrap-contemporary-art-museum-kumamoto-exhibition
After you see the exhibit, if you're in a mood for more bubbles, you may wish to consider the bubble tea that Oliva introduced last month:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/2302660859807333
The two venues are very close to each other.
-- Kirk
Takashi Murakami Explores Traditional Japanese Art Movements in "Bubblewrap" Show
Practices that spurred his 'Superflat' practice.

Here's a little something from Explore Kumamoto for albino snake fans:
https://www.facebook.com/explorekumamoto/posts/2225305387493680?__tn__=-R
-- Kirk
P.S. Or, as William might say, "Here's something from the albino snake desk." ;)

At 12 years of age, my whippet has settled into a routine sufficient that I can walk him off-lead, but not on the road between our house and the park. A fault runs directly underneath that road; the asphalt is still fractured after the quakes as the eastern side has been raised. My dog's behavior is peculiar - tense - there. Perhaps he feels some type of magnetism created by tectonic strain that humans cannot.
The catfish is a symbol of earthquakes in Japan as behavioral anomalies supposedly predict imminent temblors. Another fish with supposed similar properties is the oarfish. Normally a deep-sea dweller, its appearance in shallow waters has traditionally been a harbinger of quakes. CNN writes that two have recently been netted in the northern prefecture of Toyama. It's probably nothing but worth keeping an eye on if just to judge how well non-human species can sense seismic activities. - William
Sightings of rare oarfish in Japan raise fears of earthquake and tsunami
Fears of an incoming natural disaster in Japan are swirling online after sightings of a deep-water fish believed to be a harbinger of earthquakes and tsunamis.

I don't have any details about this event. If any of you know more about the topics, who can participate, series schedule, etc., please post that information in a comment. -- Kirk

Eugenics has cast a dark shadow on Japan (not just Kumamoto) that has yet to clear.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190129/p2a/00m/0na/032000c
-- Kirk
Woman forced to abort 2nd child, be sterilized under eugenics law files suit - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A woman filed a lawsuit at the district court here on Jan. 29 seeking compensation from the government, saying she was forced under the eu

From the Kumamoto International Desk of Things You'd Rather Not Know: The sea cucumber (ナマコ, namako) defends itself by expelling sticky fibers from its anus. As a diver, I've learned to avoid them, but one man's gross-out is another's delicacy. (My son loves namako.)
Kumanichi reports that namako processing in Ushibuka is peaking. Guts are pickled and bottled, while the flesh is served as sashimi. "There is not one part of the namako which is disposed of," the chairman of the Ushibuka Fisheries Cooperative said. Comforting about this is the fact that you won't encounter various namako parts while out and about. - William
ナマコの加工ピーク　天草市 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本県天草市の牛深近海で水揚げされたナマコの加工作業が、同市牛深町でピークを迎えている。ウニ、からす...

According to this post from Explore Kumamoto, Aso Farmland is in good shape again.
-- Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/explorekumamoto/posts/2221002411257311?__tn__=-R

Today, a colleague mentioned to me that the Faculty of Foreign Languages at our university (Kumamoto Gakuen U.) is in a hurry to fill a full-time position in English that has just opened up. I just checked the formal announcement on the web and found that the deadline is TOMORROW (Feb 1). Sorry for the super late notice but I wasn't aware of it until today. If you happen to be in town and to have materials that you could deliver to the university by the end of working hours tomorrow, it may be worth applying. Or, perhaps they would accept electronically sent documents (but I'm not sure about that). They are particularly interested in finding someone with good Japanese skills -- someone who can handle the committee and other assignments and read the Japanese documents that such assignments entail, in addition to teaching. If you are interested and think you may be qualified, it may be worth hurrying to meet the deadline. -- Kirk
http://www.kumagaku.ac.jp/files/document/jinji/20190201_gai-english.pdf

The agricultural festival held along Shirakawa straddling the bridge to Kumamoto Station is prepared for its 2/1 start, says Kumanichi. The festival was moved to Toshima during reconstruction of the riverbank, a location everyone hated, so it's nice to have it back. I recommend a warm bowl of horumon (horse tripe stew) on one of the riverside prefabs where you can watch the seagulls, inland at this season, flight back and forth. Don't forget a generous portion of shichimi (七味, a powdered spicy condiment) - not for the seagulls but for your horse.
An 80-year old horticulturist was gifted the lovely name of 米山學 - literally, "Rice Mountain Scholar." He's lucky to be 80 as finding the kanji 學 on a PC is really hard, but he probably doesn't need to. He was quoted: "When the venue was returned to the riverside last year, participation soared, so I have high hopes for this year." Take the trolley to the station and it's a short walk. - William
春の訪れ、もう間近　「くまもと春の植木市」あす開幕 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
開幕に向けて準備が進む「くまもと春の植木市」の会場＝３０日、熊本市中央区　熊本市に春の訪れを告げる「くまもと春の植木市」が２月１日、中央区本山の白川河川敷左岸で開幕する。３月１１日まで。市と主催する、...

Here's a little tip from Kuma Visit about what to do if you find yourself in downtown Kumamoto with a lot of stuff you don't want to lug around.
-- Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/2210829005835400?__tn__=-R

Kumanichi notes that Kumamoto leads the country in the rate increase of non-Japanese workers at 31%, an increase of 2,412 with the total number exceeding 10,000 for the first time. Of these, the majority (6,295) work in technical fields, with the remainder in agriculture and part-time employment by university students.
The absolute increase was led by Vietnamese at 50% to 4,260, followed by Chinese and Filipinos; in terms of rate, Indonesians led with a 92% increase to 268 and Nepalese by 50% to 301. - William
外国人労働者が熊本県内で１万人突破　増加率は全国１位｜熊本日日新聞
　熊本労働局は２８日、県内で働く外国人労働者が、２０１８年１０月末時点で１万１５５人と過去最多を更新し、初めて１万人を突破したと発表した。前年同期と比べ３１・２％（２４１２人）の増で、増加率は全国の都...

It's interesting that an image of Kumamon is no good but that commercial advertisements, such as for Hakutake (a brand of shochu), are still OK. By the way, I checked the new uniforms and, yup, Kumamon is gone but Hakutake is still there.
https://qoly.jp/2019/01/25/roasso-kumamoto-2019-puma-home-away-kits-lfb-1
So, let me get this straight -- advertisements for an area in Japan are no good because they're "political" but advertisements for a strong form of alcohol that young sports fans are not allowed to drink and that can cause fatal accidents if adult fans consume before driving are just fine because they're not political. Hmmmm.
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201901260029.html
Soccer team drops ‘political’ Kumamon image from uniforms：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Kumamon may be the most popular prefectural mascot in Japan, but the cuddly creature is ap

The polar vortex is consists of two layers: one, the polar jet stream flowing at the height of an airplane and normally contained at the pole by the second layer, a higher frigid system called the stratospheric polar vortex. But when the stratospheric polar vortex is warmer than usual, the polar jet stream may go nuts, hurling frigid weather in random directions.
The image below shows global temperatures relative to the past four decades for this time. The warm winter we're enjoying explains why plums are blossoming so early here and why now is not a good time to visit North America. (Though my California surfing friends tell me the water is toasty and the air balmy.) - William

This Japanese language post has a link to information (again, in Japanese) about renting a sea kayak in the Amakusa area. A phone number is listed so if you or a friend can speak Japanese and are interested in sea kayaking in the Amakusa area, you might want to give them a call.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1919257411457407&id=212870155429483&__tn__=-R
-- Kirk

Spring is creeping in, as always shy but resolute and inevitable. She whispers her advent with the honey fragrance of plum blossoms. Kumanichi reports that plums (technically not plums but the Japanese apricot, or Prunus mume - "ume" ～ 梅) are blossoming 25 days earlier than usual. Feisty flowers, ume are more compact than the cherry and far more fragrant, and their trees tend to be stunted and gnarled. They are the national flower of Taiwan.
Many private gardens host ume to enjoy. The castle has a magnificent orchard in Sukiyamaru (数寄屋丸 from which Kumamoto International's banner photo was taken), but it is sadly still off limits. Instead, the plum blossoms at the Hosokawa Mansion (Hosokawa gyōbutei 細川刑部邸), located within the walls next to the science museum, give reason for visit. Also boasting sublime ume is Suizenji Shrine. The Kumanichi article suggests Taniosaki Bairin Kōen (谷尾崎梅林公園), on the eastern flank of Mt. Kimpo across from Hanaokayama. Respective photos snatched from the Net are below. Other suggestions are welcomed. - William
https://kumanichi.com/news/819685/

If you speak Spanish, you likely are well-versed in Portuguese. A Website I stumbled across, Portal Mie (as in the prefecture), provides Portuguese- and Spanish-language news regarding Japan. For those who want to read about Japan in either of those languages or who enjoy reading humorous headlines such as "Viaje do Aeroporto de Kansai em Osaka a Quioto em um vagão de trem colorido da Hello Kitty," this site is where to go. - William
Portal Mie - para o Japão e para o Mundo
O melhor conteúdo para os brasileiros no Mundo! Notícias, cobertura de eventos, fotos, vídeos, informações e mais. Simplesmente sua melhor fonte de informações.