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This article is one of several we have posted on this topic. Personally, this one helped me see that illegal use of Kumamon's image is being cited as a reason for opening the system up. The rationale strikes me as similar to that for the legalization of pot in the U.S. -- people are going to do it regardless so the government may as well try to regulate it and earn some revenue in the process.
"Many fake items based on the mascot have been reported outside Japan. A bath facility in Shanghai even used a Kumamon look-alike to promote itself without permission.
The prefectural government has raised a protest for each violation uncovered.
In the Jan. 15 meeting, a prefectural government official told the companies that there is no option but to enable Kumamon’s overseas use and collect fees to protect the brand image of the mascot."
-- Kirk
Firms roaring mad over lifting of overseas ban on Kumamon：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Kumamoto Prefecture has lifted the ban on overseas use of the Kumamon mascot design, spark

Following is a request from a Filipino friend whose Japanese grandfather was from Ozu. If anyone recognizes the name, please PM us. - William
Our great grandfather was a former veteran Japanese soldier who died in World war II. His name is Masumi Konishi. His address is Kumamoto ken, Kikuchi Gun, Ootsu Cho, Ooaza OObayashi, 455-Banchi.. We have no contacts and knowledge about his family there. All we have is just his family registry. We just wanted to inform our relatives there that there are still living descendants of Masumi here in the Philippines. Maybe they're looking for us also for a long time. Maybe this is just the only way to find and communicate with them.
This is the only way I have thought to in order to find our living relatives there if there is still any. We just want to inform them that our great grandfather Masumi got married here in the Philippines and have three children, namely Modesto, Solidad and Rizaldo. Modesto and Rizaldo are already dead and Solidad is the only one living alive. I am one of the 8 children of Modesto. I'm Modesto Jr Konishi.

For those who like snowboarding and skiing, we went to Gokase Ski resort last weekend.
Weather was bright and sunny.
Snow was not much, the ground was hard.
I wonder if anyone experienced lots of snow over there before.
We brought kids there to experience the sport and have fun.
Another option for ski resort will be at Kuju side, but I am a bit worried how to reach there without taking any tour buses.
Anyone has ever been to Kuju ski resort before?
We used this tour operator for our trip this time. (the site is in Japanese)
http://www.whitedolphin.jp
They have pick up location at Kotsu Center.
And this is the resort website,
http://www.gokase.co.jp/ski/
-Olivia-

A message (request for volunteers with debate event) from the Consortium of Universities in Kumamoto (relayed by Kirk):
---- begin quote ----
Dear international students in Kumamoto.
This is consortium Office.
We'd like to inform you a volunteer opportunity.
If you are interested in it ,please let us know. Thank you!!
----Looking for volunteers! ----
Let's join and help high school students with Parliamentary Debate!!
Are you interested in interacting with high school students in Kumamoto?
They hold the seminar for the Parliamentary Debate.
Why don't you join it and support students with your English skill?
Date :Feb 4(Sun)　 10：20-16：10
Place: Shinwa High School in Kumamoto City 　
MAP : https://goo.gl/fjQhbo　
*Please access the application form, fill it up and send it back by Jan.31st!!
Japanese skill is not required. If you have higher English skill, big welcome to join!!
*Please bring a lunch with you!!
Application form URL： https://goo.gl/Kciovq
---- end quote ----
Shinwachugaku Koto School
3 Chome-1-1 Kuhonji, Chūō-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 862-0976, Japan

More on the lunar eclipse. Vox quite poetically explains the blood-red color which the moon casts off when in Earth's shadow:
"A total lunar eclipse is like projecting all the sunsets and sunrises onto the moon."
This is because the atmosphere at the edges of Earth’s shadow (i.e., sunsets on one side, sunrises on the other) scatters spectum blue light, allowing only red, orange, and yellow wavelengths to pass through. The resulting filtered light bends and subsequently is reflected from the moon.
This is an informative article for selenophilic Kumamotoites. - William
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/1/23/16911140/total-lunar-eclipse-2018-blue-moon-supermoon-blood-explained

Selenophiles take note. Let us first define our terms.
→ Super moon: when the moon is at perigee and about 14% brighter than usual.
→ Blue moon: the second full moon in a calendar month.
→ Blood moon: the moment during a lunar eclipse when the moon, in the Earth’s shadow, takes on a reddish tint.
Now, I know what you're saying: "William, I'm a busy person。 I don't have time to wait, neck craned, for each of these events to occur separately。Also, I like to use Japanese-style periods as they look like tiny moons。＂ Well, you're in luck! (and no need for thanks as I had nothing to do with it), for on Wednesday, we'll have a “super blue blood moon” － yes, the full trifecta at once! Even if you cannot read Japanese, the link has an informative video, and the charts will tell you what is happening, when (in North America, they'll have to get up early; here, we can view it just before nighty-night time), and where (hint: sky). The last time this trifecta happened was 1866.
Bad news: Weather is forecast to be cloudy. Cross your fingers that we may see the super blue blood moon, selenophilic Kumamotoites! - William
https://www.nao.ac.jp/astro/feature/lunar-eclipse20180131/

Japan Today wrote about the influenza epidemic raging across Japan, uh, today, and noted that it particularly centers on Kyushu: "By prefecture, Kagoshima had the highest number of flu patients per clinic at 86.53, followed by Miyazaki at 84.97, Fukuoka at 83.99, Oita at 82.40 and Saga at 69.64. They all are in the Kyushu region located in southwestern Japan." The article continues, "The remaining Kyushu prefecture, Kumamoto, is not on the list as its inhabitants are far too stubborn to get sick."
(Okay, I made that last part up. It's probably true, though. Still, take care, Kumamotoites.) Pictured below: Not a Kumamotoite. - William
Flu epidemic rages in Japan with record-high number of cases reported in one week
A flu epidemic is raging in Japan with the number of patients in one week estimated to have reached a record-high of 2.83 million, the health ministry said Friday. The average number of patients per medical institution reported in a week through last Sunday stood at 51.93, the highest since…

A note on mikan (tangerines). Now is peak mikan season. Go to any yaoyasan (greengrocer) and you'll see multi-kilogram bags for crazily low prices. You'll also notice that price is proportionate to size. A burning question I know you all have is how they keep the prices so darn low.
Answer: mechanization! Picking is done by hand, after which the mikan are whisked down the mountain by a mikan monorail (ミカンを運ぶモノレール) to a size sorting machine (自動選果機、jidōsenkaki), deposited directly into boxes, and sent to market. Both devices are shown below.
The monorail looks like an ill-advised amusement park attraction designed by sadistic dwarves, serpentining up and down impossible slopes and hairpin curves. The sorting machine works by sending the fruit by conveyor over a series of holes of increasing size, allowing the 70-old farmers to sit around all day chatting and occasionally shifting a box ("Taro, your turn!") but still able to complain to their wives when they get home about how hard they'd worked (note: the wives know but let it slide).
The best place to see this is the terraces on the far side of Mt. Kimpo. Choose a sunny day, pack some food, beverages, and a camera (zero stores), and get yourself lost in the mikan labrynth. And feel free to sample from the trees - the farmers don't mind. - William

If you ever want to try Hormon dish in Kumamoto, we went to this place last week.
My husband is a fan of Hormon dish, and this place is famous among local people of Kumamoto. I heard that sumo wrestlers went there too. The place has strong smell of Hormon (pig offals)
This place serves a decent (inexpensive) price of Basashi (Horse Meat) set meal too.
I did not order that, so I didn't know if it was good. But other guests ordered that. It may be good.
Name: Katsumi Shokudo
Address:
7-11-18 Nagaminehigashi, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
Tel.: +81-96-380-2987
Business Hours; 11:00-21:00
Close on Sunday
-Olivia-

A quick reminder to people that we'll be holding our annual Kumifest international festival at the 100th Anniversary Hall, Kurokami South Campus, Kumamoto University, from 2pm (door open 1:30pm).
So far we have around fifteen performances from around the world, a collection of photos submitted by foreign residents showing Kumamoto through their lenses, and a number of contestants for the Mr & Ms Kumisa event.
Entry is free, hope to see you there :) -- Andrew

I'm sharing this announcement about a teaching opportunity to help more people see it.
-- Kirk
P.S. I should have shared it sooner but didn't notice it until this morning. Sorry Marvin.

William has already written about this:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1744619988944759
This Nikkei article indicates that, despite the criticism and complaints, Governor Kabashima plans to stay the course.
-- Kirk
Drive to push local character Kumamon overseas hits local snag- Nikkei Asian Review
KUMAMOTO, Japan (Kyodo) -- Kumamoto's drive to promote its popular black bear mascot Kumamon overseas by allowing foreign companies to use its image r

Testing of an eco-friendly, battery-powered bus prototype began on the 19th. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may see this Yoka ECO Bus running around town.
-- Kirk
P.S. You can see a Japanese report with video here:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/kumamoto/20180119/5000001342.html
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/01/20180119-kumamoto.html
Kumamoto University project to use Nissan LEAF technology in electric bus test in Japan; 3 packs, 3 motors
Technology developed by Nissan for the battery-electric Nissan LEAF will be used in an electric bus project led by a team from Kumamoto University, that starts testing next month in Japan, with the goal of making zero-emission public transit more widespread and affordable. The bus, named “Yoka ECO...

As the headline states, Kumamoto Airport is to be privatized, supposedly to speed up the rebuilding process. Personally, I have some doubts about the connection between privatization ("no more government support for you") and faster rebuilding but I hope it works out that way. An airport spokesperson says that, after privatization, they play to "tackle an unprecedented project to build a new terminal building with much enhanced seismic capacity uniting domestic and international terminals, after demolishing the domestic terminal building damaged by the earthquake."
-- Kirk
Operations at Japan's Kumamoto Airport to be privatised by 2020
The Japanese Government has made the announcement in order to speed up the rebuilding process and bring some private 'know-how' into the airport.

So I got a flyer for ordering Eho Maki yesterday.
I don't celebrate Setsubun, but there is a special corner at every supermarket which sells Beans for Mamemaki so everyone who lives in Japan will feel that Setsubun day is near (Valentine comes first though)
Here is information about Setsubun taken from Wikipedia,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun
And here is interesting article about Eho maki,
http://shun-gate.com/sp/en/power/power_style_25.html
At this article above ☝️ I found out that Kikuchi produce good eggs (Shicijo Eggs).
Anyone has ever bought them ?
I always thought Eho maki's ingredients are all vegetables, but apparently we can put sliced beef, seafood, and even Spiced Cod roe (明太子) for the roll.
Eho Maki is not cheap, I hope I will have the chance making it in the future.
-Olivia-

Kumamoto has a women's football (or soccer) team: Kumamoto Renaissance. The men's team is Roasso Kumamoto:
http://roasso-k.com
-- Kirk
P.S. I took the photo of star player Ayumi Kaihori from
https://www.soccer-king.jp/news/japan/nadeshiko/20170502/582960.html
Kaihori was "Japan's goalkeeper in the 2011 World Cup Final, where she saved two penalties in the shoot-out which saw Japan defeat the US by winning 3–1." (Wikipedia)
She joined Kumamoto Renaissance, where she's working as a player/coach, last year.
http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2018/01/17/afc-supports-kumamoto-renaissance-grant-earthquake-relief-fund/
AFC supports Kumamoto Renaissance with grant from earthquake relief fund - Inside World Football
January 17 – The AFC from its earthquake relief fund has made a $300,000 donation to the Japan Football Association (JFA). The money will be used to build new facilities for the Kumamoto Renaissance Football Club. Kumamoto Renaissance play in the first division of the Regional Women’s League in ...

An article in CNN about Japanese bamboo baskets ( http://edition.cnn.com/style/article/japanese-bamboo-art/index.html ) reminded of a gem of a little store in Oe called ＂Kougei Kikuchi" (工藝きくち - Kikuchi Artisans). The shop sells crafts of all types. Prices are quite reasonable considering the quality, and the proprietress is very friendly; she'll proffer a cup of tea while you browse. There are also many cats which wander in and out. Highly recommended. - William

Today, a "nude festival" (hadaka matsuri) was held in Reihoku-machi (Amakusa area). Today is officially "daikan" or "big cold" day. Fortunately for the revelers, it was relatively warm for this kind of year but even if I had been invited, I think I would have passed up this opportunity to swim in freezing water and then prance around the neighborhood with next to nothing on.
-- Kirk
P.S. If you click on the link you can see a video news report.
　熊本県苓北町で、男衆が神輿と海に入って無病息災を願う「裸まつり」が行われました。　さらしを巻いた男衆は水温１０度の海へ。大勢の見物人が見守る中、神輿を担いだ男衆たちは波にもまれながら、冷たい海を泳ぎ...

The portion of the video that features Charlie Nagatani starts at about 2:10. Thanks to Mark Frey for sharing this with us:
"Charlie Nagatani, owner of the Good Time Charlie country music club in Kumamoto and organizer of the Country Gold Festival in Aso, features prominently in this new film about the pioneers of country music in post-war Japan. The film receives its California premiere in February as part of the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, I hope I can see it! Try to catch this film however you can. Friends in Kumamoto may want to organize a local screening? https://www.facebook.com/farwesternmovie/"
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1741889519217806
-- Kirk

If you see this 🌺 flower around Kumamoto these days, it's called Tsubaki (Camelia).
Information taken from Wikipedia:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia
Camellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are 100–300 described species, with some controversy over the exact number. There are also around 3,000 hybrids. The genus was named by Linnaeus after the Jesuit botanist Georg Joseph Kamel, who worked in the Philippines and described a species of camellia (although Linnaeus did not refer to Kamel's account when discussing the genus).[1] Camellias are famous throughout East Asia; they are known as cháhuā (茶花, 'tea flower') in Chinese, tsubaki (椿) in Japanese, dongbaek-kkot (동백꽃) in Korean, and as hoa trà or hoa chè in Vietnamese.
-Olivia-