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Lacking the pleasure of yet meeting this madame, there is nothing I can say as to her character other than her not having yet taking up my society is likely a positive point for the ol' gal. I'll try to track her down. - William
89-Year-Old Japanese Grandma Discovers Photography, Can’t Stop Taking Hilarious Self-Portraits Now
Most people think that technology is for young people, but nobody told Kimiko Nishimoto that. She's an 89-year-old Japanese grandma who's been snapping and editing her own pictures for the last 17 years, and as

Sometimes the earth rotates more quickly (mornings!) and sometimes more slowly (class time!), and these rotational differences are due to what scientists call "lots of stuff." (These could include icecap thicknesses, magma movements, earth/moon orientations, how Trump feels today, etc.)
Anyway, said scientists believe that next year MAY bring a millisecond delay in the earth's rotation, which, not only causing JR to send out apologies for any inconvenience, might also trigger (gasp!) EARTHQUAKES! The key point is not to panic, so please unread this if you can. Otherwise, prepare yourselves for refugees streaming across the island from Miyazaki as the Nankai Trough ruptures. Or it could be somewhere else. Or nowhere. It's just probability, after all. - William
Upsurge in big earthquakes predicted for 2018 as Earth rotation slows
Scientists say number of severe quakes is likely to rise strongly next year because of a periodic slowing of the Earth’s rotation

This post is not specific to Kumamoto. It has to do with the treatment of consumers in Japan vs. other countries more generally.
Today I am finally getting around to unsubscribing from e-mail services (commercial ads and non-commercial announcements, exhortations, etc.) I don't need and that are making it harder for me to get to the messages that are important to me.
Well, since I'm doing this all at once, I've noticed a significant difference between the relative difficulty / ease of unsubscribing from Japanese vs. non-Japanese services. The non-Japanese services usually have an "unsubscribe" link at the end of the e-mail that takes you to a webpage where you complete the unsubscription process with one additional, easy click. The Japanese services, however, tend to be a pain in arse (pardon my Old Norse). The "no more mail, please" process usually involves several steps, such as typing in a password, responding to an e-mail, going through many pages on a website, etc. Finding the appropriate places to click on the websites can also be like finding a needle in a haystack. My Japanese is fine (I have no difficulty reading Japanese) but still the process can be a major pain nonetheless.
The worst one I experienced today was JR Kyushu. I had to log in and was then was presented with menus that had nothing to do with unsubscription (in fact, I appeared to be registering for something new, though that was not actually the case). I had to look for instructions on how to unsubscribe before I was finally able to figure it out.
Japan is often lauded for it's excellent service. Indeed, there are many examples of fine service to be observed here. But it is also true that consumers can be treated rather badly in certain circumstances, either because of poor design and/or ignorance or because corporate interests are allowed to come before consumer interests. I think the stark difference I have observed between unsubscription systems in Japan and English-speaking countries probably results from a mixture of both.
-- Kirk
P.S. The image is the one I was first presented with when I attempted to enter JR Kyushu's unsubscription labyrith.

An unusual story about something that looked like attempted murder (fortunately, the woman survived) but seems to have been a nasty cat attack -- complete with stock photo of an evil cat.
-- Kirk
Murder bid in Kumamoto leads to feline suspect | The Japan Times
A police probe into the attempted murder of an elderly bedridden woman has reportedly led to an unlikely suspect: a stray cat. Mayuko Matsumoto's daughter

You can find a YouTube video news report on the linked page. You can also hear the audio of a Montana Public Radio segment about the event here:
http://mtpr.org/post/montana-celebrates-35th-anniversary-japanese-sister-state
Finally, here's a newspaper article:
http://missoulian.com/news/local/japan-friends-gather-to-celebrate-kumamoto-sister-state/article_922a90ca-7936-544c-8fd3-a363fed2a2a0.html
-- KIrk
http://www.kxlf.com/story/36855432/kumamoto-and-montana-celebrate-sister-state-status
Kumamoto and Montana celebrate "sister state" status
Kabashima and 20 other dignitaries from Kumamoto are spending three days in Montana.

Here's an inquiry about where to eat American Thanksgiving style turkey. Any ideas? Also, any information about planned celebrations, etc. that interested persons might be permitted to attend would also be welcome. -- Kirk
"American Thanksgiving is coming up in a couple of weeks, November 23, a Japanese national holiday as well. And despite the fact that the USA has a turkey for a president, the desire to eat turkey on that holiday is not indicative of cannabalistic tendencies amongst its citizens. Does anyone know of any restaurants in Kumamoto that might be serving turkey on Turkey Day?" -- Carlton McCycle
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1656114997795259

Here's some information about an opportunity to hear traditional Japanese music, with explanations in English. The event is scheduled for December 10th. Higo inlay (zogan) will also be on display.
-- Kirk

It has taken a while but TKU seems to have yielded to my request that, when being interviewed in Japanese, foreigners be addressed as are Japanese people -- with the honorific "-san." I pointed to the survey results I am quoting here in my attempt to convince them that a plurality of non-Japanese are actually annoyed by sub-Japanese treatment. Actually, TKU has been extremely slow to respond positively to my request, despite the very clear survey results. Even after I had notified them of the issue, they continued to air programs in which they addressed their foreigner interlocutors in a manner that would not be tolerated if the interviewee were Japanese and giving me lame excuses for this treatment. At long last, however, I've seen a change. In their most recent "Foreign Love" segment (November 4th), the guest from Russia was more-or-less consistently (well, with the exception of one lapse by Ms. Ogata) accorded the dignity of being addressed with "-san." Hallelujah!
I wrote a short thank you note to them which can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/TKU.WakattoLand/videos/612147758908866/
-- Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/1420383221368439/?type=3&hc_location=ufi

Kumamoto native Yuko Takahashi's annual recital will be held on the 22nd of this month. Yuko studied in Italy and currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand. She is married to Farrell Cleary, who advised me as I started Kumamoto-i (the mailing list that led to this Facebook page) some 18 years ago.
-- Kirk

A note regarding the planned new JR Kumamoto Station: JR and the city government released plans for a 12-floor building with a single basement floor (which would make 13, I guess). The facility is slated to be occupied by retailers, a hotel, a wedding venue, and a movie theater. Exterior facade is planned to mimic the austere sense of the castle, though part will be glass-clad with a third-floor entrance to the railway set with trees and spaces to take in the views of the city and space for performances and other activities. Expansion will be aided by moving the existing railroad car service facility underground.
The area is hamstrung by the hills behind it and, according to my wife (who somehow seems to know this!), has a dark history of prostitution. Still, it's nice that some people in the planning department have been busy, and perhaps new buildings will bring a new atmosphere. A schematic is available at the link. - William
熊本駅ビルと駅前広場の概要発表　にぎわい、防災拠点に - 熊本日日新聞
熊本駅ビル（写真中央）の外観イメージ図。駅ビル奥は計画している高層マンション（ＪＲ九州提供）　ＪＲ九州と熊本市は８日、２０２１年春の開業を目指す同市西区春日の熊本駅ビルと白川口（東口）駅前広場の開発概要を発表した。駅ビル入り口上部に大屋根を...

Following up on William's post from the 4th of November about Kumamoto Castle repairs, I wanted to share some info about another extremely important regional site damaged in the earthquake - Aso Shrine. Aso Shrine is one of the oldest remaining Shinto shrines in the entire country, and as such many of its structures suffered heavy damage in the quake. The romon (the big tower gate that you pass through to access the main areas of the shrine) completely collapsed.
The website for Aso Shrine provides a lot of information in English, and also provides a monthly progress report to explain what's been going on with repair efforts (though as far as I can tell the progress reports are only available in Japanese). The reports give a small amount of information about the repair efforts undertaken in the given month and also include pictures, so I think they're worth looking at even if you don't read Japanese.
While it's natural that repair efforts would proceed slowly, it makes me happy that so many people are working so hard to help protect and repair such a beautiful and important site.
-Grace
The Aso Shrine Restoration Project

Cats. Their murderous intent is clear to dog-lovers ー yet how long must we continue under the guise of feline innocence? (Note: I may not be entirely unbiased on this matter.) Here, a cat in Mifune has left clues to their nefarious ways. / sarcasm. Best wishes to Matsumoto-san for a speedy recovery. - William
Stray cat a suspect in 'attempted murder'
A Japanese police probe into what looked like the attempted murder of an elderly bedridden woman has reportedly led to an unlikely suspect: a stray cat. Mayuko Matsumoto's daughter found her bleeding profusely from about 20 cuts to her face on Nov 6 at her home in a mountainous region…

Results on Kumamoto tourism are in, clarifying that earthquakes are not a big draw. The blue bar indicates day-trippers and the brown over-nighters (left axis, unit 10,000) while the polygonal graph shows the number of foreign visitors (right axis, unit 10,000). In total, the number of visitors fell to a level not seen since 1997 (the year my daughter was born - and she's in college now!), with the Aso region seeing a 37% drop.
Of interest but not reported in the article is the "Kumamon effect." Our cuddly character was unveiled in 2010. This may have contributed to the steep increase in foreign visitors from 2011. So 2016 was not a good year for Kumamoto tourism, but considering the increased transportation links (air, sea), 2017 should see a return to the Kumamon curve. - William
熊本県内の16年観光客、1100万人減　地震影響、阿蘇37％減 - 熊本日日新聞
　熊本県内の２０１６年観光客総数は４８５４万４８３８人で、約６千万人だった前年から１１００万人超の大幅減となったことが１０日、県がまとめた観光統計で分かった。日帰り客の落ち込みが大きく、熊本地震による観光施設の被害やイベント中止などが影響し...

A long time ago (936, to be precise), there was a war between the nascent Japanese state and pirates that stretched along the Seto Inland Sea through pretty much all land points adjoining, from Kyoto to Fukuoka.The nascent Japanese state won this war (called the Fujiwara no Sumitomo no Ran 藤原純友の乱 ーGoogle it; kinda interesting as the location of the seat of government - Fukuoka? Kyoto? - was still unsettled) and then set about building a bunch of shrines to glorify their victory.
This war's glorification is the origin of Kumamoto's main shrine, Fujiskai Hachuman Gu (藤崎八旛宮).Kagoshima's Shimizu clan were of course vital to the victory, and the clan used an emblem "Fujisaki" ("wisteria point") to indicate a horse's whip which from which buds, branches and leaves grew (or it might refer to a place - sources differ, but this explanation is cooler). There are several such shrines throughout Japan, and they tend to deify militaristic gods that oversaw the unification of Japan.
The current location of the shrine dates only from 1877, when its previous iteration behind what is now the baseball stadium was obliterated during the Seinan War. So now you know more about Fujisaki Hachiman Gu than your average Kumamotoite. Our friend Frank Lamosa has provided us with this lovely photo of the shrine. - William

The Minamata Disease Exhibition will be held from Nov. 16 to Dec. 10.
-- Kirk
Minamata exhibition to be held in Kumamoto
An exhibition on the 60-year history of Minamata disease will open Nov. 16 in the city of Kumamoto

Kumamon in Hong Kong. -- Kirk
Anthropomorphised bear Kumamon introduces 12 days of buffets at The Mira Hotel. Obviously.
The adorable black bear whose rosy cheeks have had Japan swooning is set to introduce a series of buffet evenings at the luxury hotel’s Yamm restaurant in

One day, Katsuyuki Kitagawa, head of Aso Farm Land, was inspired by his work in the Japanese sweets industry to design a house in the shape of a "manju," that dome-shaped confectionery filled with red bean paste. Probably a good idea he wasn't daydreaming about taiyaki (たい焼き), that fish-shaped confectionery filled with red bean paste. - William
Japan's quirky, quake-resistant dome houses prove a big draw
Nestled near a volcano in southern Japan, 450 quake-resistant dome houses put up by a health resort and decorated with flowers and dinosaurs are drawing visitors from across Asia. A dozen polystyrene foam pieces, each so light that two adults can pick it up, are glued together to make the…

Long ago, the oosumo Kumamoto basho was held at the prefectural gymnasium, which was cool for me as I'd often return after the matches to "hang" (this being a regional event, the sumotori can relax and tend to depart to more salubrious, uh ... pubs ... quickly after the final bout) and once found Takanohana's cast-off yukata in a hallway corner (we apparently have the same arm length, while I lack the girth).
This year's event will be held at the far-more-inconvenient Aquadome on December 9. Tickets top out at 17,800 yen for a ringside seat ("Oh, but they're sold out!" you can truthfully tell your date) to 5,000 yen for the nosebleeder seats. Doors open at 8:00 while makuuchi and all of the good stuff starts at 13:30, continuing until 15:00.
Pro advice: Find "the" entrance and play paparrazi (bring a pen and a few "shikishi" autograph boards - and ask which pub they're headed to!) so as to have more fun for free. ー William
https://kumamotobasho.jp/

Please support the 2017 熊本クリスマス トイ ドライブ・KUMAMOTO Christmas TOY DRIVE - This is their 31st year bringing toy-joy to kids (0~18 years old) who spend Christmas at institutions and baby homes in Kumamoto 🎁✨🎄 **Monetary donations are most useful, though brand new gifts/toys are accepted. Bank/PO transfer info below. There are many ways to help... See below💡 Manpower and (social) media shares are also much appreciated - December 17th is the day assigned for sorting all the gifts so many things need to happen before then to get everything ready** Contact Yasuyo Koga at [email protected] ぜひシェアしてください 🙏 熊本クリスマス トイ ドライブ - Ruth

I enjoyed reading this account of a visit to Kumamoto.
-- Kirk
From shrine to shore: A trip to southern Japan
It’s doubtful that I would have traveled to Japan just to be a tourist. It’s too far outside of my comfort zone. And the older I get, the less I