Posts
Some Kumamoto Castle news (including a video) from late last year:
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201812280032.html
-- Kirk
Kumamoto Castle’s fortified curved stone walls rise again：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Curved stone walls at Kumamoto Castle that once thwarted enemy attackers but fell victim t
Looks like disasters make the birth of a boy less likely than that of a girl, including in Kumamoto:
"A study published in August this year by Misao Fukuda at M&K Health Institute in Kariya, Hyogo, looked at births in areas hit by events that caused extreme stress. They included Hyogo Prefecture, after the Kobe earthquake of 1995; Tohoku, after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and subsequent nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daichii power plant; and Kumamoto Prefecture, after the 2016 earthquakes. It turns out that nine months after such disasters, the proportion of male babies born in those prefectures dropped by 6 to 14 percent.
What’s going on here? Perhaps sperm carrying the Y chromosome are more vulnerable to stress, or the male embryos themselves are more vulnerable. No one knows the answer. We also don’t know why, by the way, that even under normal conditions there is an inequality in the number of babies born of each sex: on average 105 boys are born for every 100 girls."
-- Kirk
2018 in science in Japan: Climate change, space exploration and water bears | The Japan Times
In casting an eye back over memorable science and environment stories from Japan in 2018, it is impossible to ignore the extreme weather that hit the count
We got a big scare with the quake last night. Fortunately, however, its direct impact was not as severe as the "level 6 lower" shindo level seemed to indicate. Nonetheless, NHK spend a lot of air time (way over an hour) providing continuous coverage (which I think was mostly national). In this case, it turned out to be overkill, but I support the "when in doubt, err on the side of caution" approach.
Ultimately, it seems like the people who suffered the most as a result of the quake this time were those who depended on the Shinkansen to travel between Fukuoka and Kumamoto.
Of course, this quake could wind up being a prequel to a more serious one -- as happened in 2016. So, it's better not to assume that we have heard the last from Mother Nature in regard to this matter. I'm relieved, though, that last night, at least, it wasn't as bad as it might have been.
-- Kirk
No deaths, no houses toppled from big quake in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--No fatalities, one injury and only minor damage to buildings were reported in a strong ear
Joe Tomei here, this is a translation of an announcement I received concerning the recent earthquake, just in case anyone is wondering
——-
Regarding the earthquake occurred on 1/3 at kumamoto pref.
There are no damage report from hotels and other tourism facilities.
Kyushi express way and other transportation ( bus train air) are operating normally.
This for anyone in the Nagomi area.
Has anyone signed up for the Kumamoto International Foundation's (or the International Center's) "Disaster and emergency e-mail information" service? Actually, I attended planning sessions about this so I should know about it but I neglected to sign up in advance. Now, when I go to the foundation's web page, I can't figure out how to sign up:
http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/default_e.asp
If any of you signed up earlier and are receiving information about the most recent quake, could you please share it here? Thanks!
-- Kirk
Here's an English-language newspaper report. I'll post links to other articles as comments to this post.
-- Kirk
Powerful earthquake jolts Kumamoto in southwestern Japan - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- A strong earthquake jolted Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Jan. 3, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Kumamoto International participate Atsuko Furue shared the following information for people near the epicenter of the quake:
"和水町防災連絡
自主防災避難所を中央公民館(旧菊水町)と三加和公民館(旧三加和町)を解放されました。
For victims who wants to escape from earthquake in Nagomi town.
Now 2 Evacuation centers are opened
One is at Tyuou Kouminkan at Kikusui area,
One is at Mikawa Kouminkan at Mikawa area."
Thanks Atsuko! You're ahead of the Nagomi Town website. I suspect that they are sending information out via e-mail but I think updating the website is also important at times like this because not everyone has signed up for e-mail notifications in advance.
-- Kirk
http://www.town.nagomi.lg.jp/kinkyu/pub/Default.aspx?c_id=13
From the Kumamoto International Desk of Rattling (moved a few centimeters to the south due to recent events): an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale and six on the Japanese scale occurred with its epicenter at Nagomi-machi, in northern Kumamoto. That's a rather strange place for a quake and makes me worry about tectonic activity moving under the Ariake Sea north.
Emergency services are calling for care as this may be a preshock. In particular, secure items which may cause fire or which may fall on your head. - William
Personal note: my daughter is back in town with California boyfriend in tow. He'd done some basic research which piqued his desire to deck out in hakama for photos at Suizenji, and this led us to a most delightful shop, Wa Collection Mito, located steps away from the park's gate. There, males and females can choose kimono (including footwear), be dressed and photographed, and be let loose so clothed for the entire day, all for 2,600 yen. Their service was very impressive. For out-of-towners, the experience is highly recommended. English Website follows. (Please don't tell my daughter I posted this - she'd kill me.) - William
http://www.wa-collection.jp/english/
Happy New Year! If you have an hour or two of free time and want to challenge yourself with some crazy puzzles... Escape from Britz is open again from January 3rd until the end of the month. You'll need a team, ideally 3-6 players (post in the comments if you want to get a team together). No physical skills or prior escape room experience required. Although there are some English language word puzzles, the game can be played by speakers of any language and is family-friendly. It costs 1000 yen per adult/500 yen for children and there's still a prize on offer for the first team to complete the game in under an hour. The record stands at 1 hour 3 minutes. 20% discount if you send the answer to the puzzle below when you make a reservation (please don't post the answer in the comments!) The game is based inside my classroom at Britz English School in Onoue, Higashi-ku. Parking available, and it's just a few minutes walk from the Kuwamizu streetcar stop. Visit the Escape from Britz Facebook page to make a reservation. Also check the page if you're interested in playing boardgames or quizzes as there will be some events coming up later this month.
Fiona
Ozu has many high-tech fabs, but it also has the little Honda scooter factory that could. The only scooter factory Honda operates in Japan, it was shifted to China in 2012 but repatriated in 2017. To celebrate their 60-year anniversary of Kumamoto production, Honda announced a Kumamon-themed scooter. It's got Kumamon colors, Kumamon medallions here and there, and even a Kumamon key fob, and comes in 50 and 110 CC versions. You'd be the envy of your friends if you had one. - William https://this.kiji.is/452607374416708705?c=92619697908483575
Olivia here, Blessed New Year 2019!!
This is “メガトン” (read: Megaton), one of GreenLand Amusement Park Ride in Arao, Kumamoto.
We brought our family to the park few days back and I had the opportunity to ride it. It was a quick ride but I’m glad I tried.
I am thankful that Japan has long holiday in this beginning of year so I can spend more time with my family.
This is the website of Greenland amusement park in Arao.
http://www.greenland.co.jp
We spent great time there. I will write more about my experience in my future posts.
-Olivia-
Joe Tomei here with a Happy New Year's greeting and a stand-up comedy event invitation. It's at Jeff's World Bar, a notable landmark downtown. Details are here.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2331925870210918/
If you go outside at night anytime soon, you'll notice it's dark. Also, you might notice a very bright object somewhat low on the horizon, east-west. That would be Sirius, also known as the Dog Star. As Etymonline not so helpfully explains:
"The heliacal rising of Sirius has shifted down the calendar with the precession of the equinoxes; in ancient Egypt c. 3000 B.C.E. it coincided with the summer solstice, which also was the new year and the beginning of the inundation of the Nile. The "dog" association apparently began here (the star's hieroglyph was a dog), but the reasons for it are now obscure."
That is, the star that reached its peak during summer when the pyramids were built now does so in midwinter. (This is because global rotation is slowing, so star rises shift relative to earth time.) Interestingly, while mostly referred to by its katakana シリアス in Japanese, its kanji (shared with China) translates as "celestial wolf" (Tenrou, 天狼). Kinda weird how Egyptian hieroglyphs and kanji settled on a common name for this star. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - William
New Years is imminent, and Kumanichi reports the Shinto priesthood (shinshoku, 神職 - a new term for me, literally "god job," as I've always referred to them as kannushi 神主, but perhaps the latter only includes males, while the former may include the female miko 巫女) is as busy as KFC workers on Christmas eve. There's lots of stuff to buy: the hamaya (破魔矢, a ceremonial arrow to drive off evil in case that's necessary), figurines of Ebisu (god of prosperity) and Daikokuten (大黒天, god of good fortune, but rather more aggressive than jolly Ebisu), Daruma (達磨, red-painted good-luck doll in the shape of Bodhidharma with a blank eye to be filled in when a year's goal is complete - he's always watching, see), and sundry other items.
New Years here is absolutely silent until the stroke of midnight, when people begin their Hatsumōde (初詣, the first shrine visit of the year), when all pandemonium is unleashed. This lasts for about three days. My house borders Zehou Shrine (是法神社) so the period is rather cacophonous - but enjoyable. We visit several shrines during this time.
To our readers: Which shrines do you recommend?
Happy New Year from all at Kumamoto International - William
初詣客待つ「笑顔」 熊本市の高橋稲荷神社、福かきなどずらり - 熊本日日新聞 ｜ This Kiji
福かきや破魔矢を並べ初詣の客を迎える準備に追われる神職＝３０日、熊本市西区の高橋稲荷神社 年の瀬も押し迫った３０日、熊本県内各地の神社では、初詣の客を迎える準備に追われた。 熊本市西区上代の高橋稲荷.....
Joe Tomei here with a sentou tour! This was passed on to me by Machida san, who I met at the shochu bar Glocal Vibes. Unfortunately, I will be in Tokyo that weekend, but I'm hoping there is enough interest for a second run!
A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Delightful Kumamoto-Specific Terms Recently Brought to Our Attention (it's a small desk, out in the hallway): 肥後の猛婦 - "Higo no moufu."
The expression is attributed to sociologist Ooya Souichi (大宅 壮一, 1900-1970), who studied advances during the Meiji Era of female roles and literally translates as "fierce housewives of Higo;" the contextual nuance is positive.
To paraphrase a paraphrase of Ooya, "An army of female leaders forced initiatives to prompt the ladies' masses to resolve vices and bad habits long rooted in male-dominated Japanese society. They were known as the 'fierce woman.'" Not surprisingly, Kumamoto women were well-represented. (On a personal note, my wife's mother, daughter of a fishmonger, was the first female in Yabe to obtain a driver license - she had to drive down and up that steep mountain road to Tasaki market before daylight each morning to fetch fish.)
So now I have a new, very appropriate nickname for both my wife and daughter. Info on the phrase derivation is below. - William
トップ ＞ 熊本の年表 ＞ 熊本の猛婦(もうふ) 社会評論家の大宅壮一は熊本の風土人物について...
A New Year's Primer (Please add additional ideas in the comments):
- Kagami-mochi (鏡餅 ), literally "mirror mochi" due to their resemblance to ancient mirrors, are two- or three-stacked piles of mochi which symbolize continuation of generations.
- Kadomatsu (門松), literally "door pines", are generaly placed within a bamboo container on either side of the entrance way to welcome ancestral spirits or whatever other benevolent kami may be wandering by.
- Shimekazari (しめ飾り or しめ縄) goes way back to a fight between Amatera Oomikami (天照大神), the mythical Sun Goddess, and one of her naughty disciples, whom she banished to the sea, which is why such ropes are often seen connecting two sea rocks together. They are hung at the entrances to shrines and houses as a barrier to evil.
- Otoso (お屠蘇) means to slaughter 'so' (蘇), a kind of demon; you might notice 蘇 is the same kanji as 阿蘇, which might be translated as "hidden demon."
- Dondoya (どんど焼) is an event held usually around January 15 - but may be held quite earlier at your local shrine - at which religious artifacts are burnt. All of the above items are not simply tossed in the trash; they are brought personally to the dondoya or entrusted to a shrine, who will presumably conduct the rites.
Images of each are shown respectively below. - William
