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The privatization of Kumamoto Airport is in the air.
https://centreforaviation.com/news/mlitt-publishes-guidelines-for-kumamoto-airport-privatisation-tender-under-48-year-contract--688689
-- Kirk
MLITT publishes guidelines for Kumamoto Airport privatisation | CAPA
3-Jul-2017 12:18 PMMLITT publishes guidelines for Kumamoto Airport privatisationJapan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) reportedly published the tender guidelines for the privatisation of Kumamoto Airport on 30-Jun-2017 (Sankei Shimbun/NHK News/Mainichi Shimbun, 30-Ju...

A "technical trainee" (技能実習生) from Vietnam has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and attempted murder in Asagiri-cho (a small community near Hitoyoshi). According to the report, a women was attacked with a knife and severely injured but, thankfully, is expected to survive. The accused technical trainee may indeed be guilty but I was appalled by TKU's coverage of the arrest. They didn't even bother to use words like "is accused of" or "is suspected of" or "according to so-and-so he . . ." when describing the crime. They just said "He did this, and then this," etc. and then finished the report with a sentence about how the police are looking into the motive (for the crime that TKU has already rendered their verdict on). According to this and other reports, the accused person has not admitted anything.
"Innocent until proven guilty" (suitei muzai; 推定無罪) is supposed to be a key principal in Japan's judiciary system but it seems as though TKU doesn't think the principal applies to journalism. Or, perhaps they see it as something that can be dispensed with if the accused is foreign.
If you understand Japanese, you can check out TKU's video yourself at the following address.
https://www.tku.co.jp/news/あさぎり町強盗殺人未遂事件%E3%80%80ベトナム国籍の男/
By the way, here's a link to the government's page of the trainee system:
http://www.jitco.or.jp/english/overview/itp/index.html
-- Kirk
[TKU-NEWS 夕方 17.07.17 ] あさぎり町強盗殺人未遂事件　ベトナム国籍の男を逮捕・送検
水の国くまもと 応援プロジェクト進行中。TKU

Over the weekend, I went to Minamata with a group of students. We had been concerned about the weather but, other than being a bit hot, it was great. Here's a photo one of the students took from Akasaki Observation Point.
https://goo.gl/maps/mGJn3Disku32
-- Kirk

First the deluge, then the flood - of resort cancellations. Japan Today reports that Minami Oguni and other northern Kyushu onsen resorts have seen their bookings halved. This would be a good time for us locals to visit - Oguni weather is certainly far less hellish than the city. - William
https://japantoday.com/category/national/northern-kyushu-faces-growing-trip-cancellations-after-rain-disaster
Northern Kyushu faces growing trip cancellations after rain disaster
The northern Kyushu region of southwestern Japan, where people are struggling to restore lives following recent torrential rains, now faces another problem -- a growing number of trip cancellations to the area. Tourists appear to be shying away from famous resorts near the disaster-hit areas, such a...

Mr. Yagi of the Kumamoto International Foundation (KIF) has been a supporter of this network since its inception as a mailing list in 1999. In addition to supporting the mailing list and this page he has always listened quite carefully to me when I have made suggestions regarding the presentation of English information on the KIF website. One suggestion I made was to add a link to the original Japanese text when a translation of Japanese information is published on the site. My thought was that, if English speakers had access to the Japanese text, they could use it to double check the meaning (perhaps with the help of a Japanese friend) or to share with Japanese friends, etc.
Well, Mr. Yagi came through and now all of the English translations of Shisei Dayori (Kumamoto City News) articles on the website have links to the Japanese text. The image I have added to this post is of an article about the National Health Insurance Card but there are many other useful articles. To find them go to
http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/topics/topics_list.asp?LC=e&PageID=5
The Shisei Dayori articles are usually intended for Japanese readership. The English translations give us an idea of what kinds of information are being presented to the citizens of Kumamoto in Japanese.
The English translations may not always be perfect but I think they are good enough to get a basic idea of the original article etc. If you are interested in the topic of a post but a little puzzled by some of the English expressions, you may wish to print out the Japanese (if you don't read Japanese yourself) to show a friend in order to get clarification.
At any rate, I'm very please with the addition of links to the original Japanese on this page and would like to thank Mr. Yagi for his help. :)
-- KIrk

The Battle of Guam ended on August 10,1944, with the Mariana Islands under American control. This put the Japanese home islands in range of America's B-29 bombers. The Battle of Okinawa concluded on June 22, 1945, giving America more, closer airfields. With that done, American strategists began planning for the invasion of Japan's main islands, dubbed Operation Downfall. (Wikipedia it). The idea was that Allied forces would storm the beaches in eastern Miyazaki and western Kagoshima, meet up at a central point, and thus cut the island in half.
To facilitate this, massive bombing campaigns were undertaken to eliminate facilities across Kyushu, including in Kumamoto. Not many know that Kumamoto was home to several important military bases during the war, some of which still exist (in particular, the 北駐屯地 in Tatsuda and 健軍 - in Kengun, of course - both of which I used to teach at; the latter is still headquarters of Japan's Western Army). A very large base was located in Oe machi, where I live, and its destruction explains the current presence of the library, theater, and Gakuen University: all open space following the war.
Several bombing runs on Kumamoto occurred in July and August of 1945 which destroyed some 11,000 houses, injured 552 people, and killed 469. That this happened during the Obon season is perhaps poetic.That atomic thingy obviated need for the invasion, but older people here will remember the bombings; talk with them. There is a monument erected by the Lion's Club on Shirakawa near Suidocho which commemorates this; have a look if you're nearby. The link below contains a transcript of what is inscribed.
A favorite jogging course took me by a small graveyard in Shimonabe, where I'd often stop for a drink from a garden hose. One day, I noticed two tomb stones belonging to brothers who had died just days apart - one in the Philippines, the other in the Kumamoto bombings. Numquam iterum. - William
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~un3k-mn/kusyu-kumamoto.htm

From the Kumamoto International Wow, I'm Glad I Don't Live There Desk: After suffering that 5.2 earthquake yesterday, northern Kagoshima/southern Kumamoto finds itself in the crosshairs of the jet stream. Those down south, please take care. - William

A note from the Kumamoto International Squamate Reptile Desk (merged with the General Reptile Desk because - what, "squamate"?!):
Geckos are known scientifically as cute little guys who eat lots of bugs. As such, in Japanese, they are called yamori (家守), which literally translates as, "Dude - just leave the genkan unlocked. I've got this."
Gecko do not have eyelids; they clean their eyes by licking them, so if one seems to be staring at you, give him a break. There are some 1,500 species worldwide, most which are represented in my bathroom. They have excellent, multi-focusable vision which, incidentally, allows them to see your dreams. Some species are parthenogenetic, which means the female is capable of reproducing without copulating with a male - though, if from abroad, they still require a spouse visa to live in Japan.
Probably the coolest thing about geckos is their footpads, which contain spatula-shaped setae arranged in lamellae to enable attractive van der Waals' forces between the β-keratin lamellae/setae/spatulae structures and the surface. This makes about as much sense to you as it does to me. Basically, it means that the little divisions on a gecko foot divide into smaller divisions which further divide into smaller divisions until nature finally says, "Okay - let's not go overboard. Just stick with us." It's kind of like the Kardashians but with a purpose.
Wherever you live, many gecko live along with you, even if you're unaware of them. They're good guys, so leave them be. Especially as they know the content of your dreams. Below: Gecko foot. - William

Fortunately, it looks like we'll have a sunny enjoyable weekend in the Minamata area. 幸い、週末の水俣旅行では天気に恵まれそうです。We have a good group but a few more university students would be welcome. ほどほどの人数のグループになりそうですが、まだ少し余裕があります。If you're interested, please fill out the following form. 興味があれば、次のフォームを記入してください。
https://goo.gl/MuF6Zk
-- Kirk

A student at Gakuen University is conducting a survey on impressions non-native Japanese have regarding the type of English spoken by that ubiquitous comedian, Tetsuro Degawa. Those who have ever watched TV in this country are likely familiar with him even if unaware of his name. The way he speaks English certainly inspires strong reactions. If you have a moment, please respond. This link leads to an introduction by the the student, a few Youtube videos, and the survey. - William
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrStZLYMRRR3AAB-s1jvieFsr8DMXiIwWvhrGcCzwTn9O4gg/viewform
What do you think of this Japanese comedian's English?
Hello. I’m Keishi Otsubo. I’m a fourth year student at Kumamoto Gakuen University. I am doing a survey about communication between Japanese and foreigners and I am interested in your impressions about Tetsuro Degawa's English. Please watch these videos before you answer the questions. https://youtu....

A major earthquake occurred in Kagoshima. I think it was probably strong enough for people in parts of southern Kumamoto to feel. I'm not aware of any mudslides being triggered by this quake. That may be quite lucky. Heavy, slippery mud and earthquakes are not a good combination.
Magnitude: 5.2
Highest intensity on Japanese scale: 5+
-- Kirk
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/6/20170711120030495-111156.html

Mobile vendors in Japan have assumed a number soft melodies to announce their presence. There is the whistle-like "tooo-fuuu" to announce the tofu truck which comes around in the morning and the mournful ramen melody heard around midnight for those having not yet eaten. In winter, there is the yaki-imo truck, which promises the potatoes are rock-roasted, and on weekends, when dad is home, trucks pass by with rather rackety announcements to sell you laundry polls (always the same price as 30 years ago, they claim) or to collect your used electronics.
They each have a sound and a predictable appearance, but perhaps none is more beloved than Donkey Bread (robanopanya「ロバのパン屋」). Its melody is evocative of the jaunty gait of the donkeys used before today's minivans, and it generally appears 'twixt that time when housewives have finished their housework and must begin preparing lunch - exactly when toddlers too young for kindergarten grow stir-crazy. (I know this because I remember. Trying hard not to cry here.)
Donkey Bread was born in Kyoto in the early Showa era to sell steamed bread, and by 1950, there were 200 outlets nationwide, though few are left. Tani Hideo-san (78) is the last in Kumamoto. Since 1961, he and his wife (77) have awoken at 3:00 to steam some 1,500 pieces of bread filled with various flavors which he sells for 50 yen apiece ("Or two for 100 yen!" he jokes). Until the late '70s, he used a donkey cart, then switched to the same van he uses today. He reflected, "Long ago, I'd travel as far as Misumi, which took seven hours, including grazing time for the donkey."
Sadly, Tani-san has decided that it is time to hang up his baker's spurs, largely due to a neck injury he suffered in a fall last year. However, he is aware of his legacy. "I know that many are nostalgic of this melody. I hope there will be someone to succeed me."
Tani-san's equipment is all well maintained and stored at his house, simply waiting for a successor. Let me know if you are interested.
A photo of a young Tani-san with his donkey and the original article from Kumanichi are at the link. - William
https://this.kiji.is/256946125467844610?c=92619697908483575
移動販売「ロバのパン屋」愛された60年　店主、体調崩し閉店 - 熊本日日新聞
営業車として使っていたワゴン車と谷秀夫さん。棚には販売していた８種類の品名も＝熊本市南区１９７０年１０月、台車を引く馬の世話をする谷秀夫さん＝熊本市　「♪ロバのおじさんチンカラリン」のメロディーで、約６０年親しまれてきた移動販売の蒸しパン店...

Rick Brezina of Amakusa continues to hold his own in the Red Bull X-Alps competition. He's near the middle of the pack right now, which, considering the level of the competition, is an amazing feat! And, of course, it ain't over 'til it's over! Click on the image from to see a video of him coming in for a beautiful landing (the image is from the video). Click on the following link to see another post I made about the competition with links to more information, including information about how to follow his progress live.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1509281062478654
More importantly, I'm planning to following this post up with a comment about how to cheer him on so please take a look at the comment and send him your words of encouragement!
-- Kirk
got you! moving on...Got it! #ricksxalps #redbullxalps #montbell ＃熊電 #YAESU #APRS ＃モンベル #リック ＃偉大なる小さな一歩 #GAIN #gorickgo #TP3

A note from the Kumamoto International Scary Things Desk (which, in Japan, is jishin, kaminari, kaji, oyaji 『地震雷火事おやじ』): The thunder you're currently hearing is likely cloud-to-cloud, which explains the absence of visible lightning. The cool, dry jet stream.from the west is scooting above the warm, wet air from the south with a high speed differential, creating electrically charged regions between the two cloud layers which must be equalized; hence, my dog spending the morning under the table (for every action, there is a reaction). Since it's another rainy Sunday, one may as well ponder this. Below is a chart to help you start. - William

This Japan Times article features a YouTube video (in Japanese) about the importance of the igusa crop (the raw material used to make tatami mats) in Kumamoto. It ends with the female model eating her chop sticks, which are made from igusa.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/08/business/corporate-business/tatami-promoters-kumamoto-develop-rush-flavored-edible-chopsticks/
Tatami promoters in Kumamoto develop rush-flavored 'edible chopsticks' | The Japan Times
When you have finished your meal, you can eat your chopsticks! A group in Kumamoto Prefecture promoting the wider use of tatami has developed "edible chops

Earlier today I wrote about rain warnings issued for today:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/1516140385126055/?type=3&theater
I found the official warnings to be puzzling because the weather seemed good and stayed good for quite a while. Then, on the news this evening, I saw a video similar to the one I've uploaded predicting heavy rain in the middle of the night. "Oh, so that must be what the warning was about -- something predicted to happen in about 12 hours!", I thought. I was watching NHK TV but I found a similar animated prediction at the following address:
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/radame/index.html?areaCode=214
Warnings would be much more helpful with links to more information about what the warning is based on, when the bad weather is predicted to arrive, etc.
-- Kirk
P.S. I saw another program indicating that the meteorology agency has trouble getting good data at sea. So, perhaps the early warning had something to do with such uncertainty. The TV program said that the weather agency was unable to predict the severity of the rain that hit northern Kyushu because they don't have good real-time measurements of what is happening at sea. Still, adding some probability estimate or other explanation about timeframe etc. to severe weather warningss would be helpful, I think.

Wow! A T-rex type creature in Amakusa! If true, the Wikipedia page on gorgosaurus will have to be rewritten, as no Asian finds are mentioned.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201707060047.html
-- KIrk
Dinosaur tooth from Kumamoto dig may be of a gorgosaurus：The Asahi Shimbun
KATSUYAMA, Fukui Prefecture--In the home of dinosaur fossils here in Japan, scientists have a new di

It's sunny out but new warnings have been issued. What you see is a Google Chrome translation of a web page that records e-mail warnings that are sent out in Japanese:
http://www.anshin.pref.kumamoto.jp/rireki/saigai/430000.html
This information seems to match up reasonably well with the information on the JMA site:
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/349_table.html
By the way, this page is indexed here:
http://www.anshin.pref.kumamoto.jp/now.html
What follows is a bit of tangent but I'd like to write a little note about a similar kind of announcement that was sent out to to smartphones yesterday but was surprisingly unhelpful. Yesterday at a little after 1 PM, many of my students got a sudden warning message (I think it's called a 緊急速報, "emergency alert") on their phones that said to check the prefecture's website, but did not give a URL. We looked at the top page of the website but could find anything that might explain the sudden warning. I'm not sure who is responsible for such messages. I looked on the web to try figure the system out or to find an archive of the messages that have been sent out but didn't have much luck. At any rate, whoever is responsible, it was disappointing to see that people were being made to search for a needle in a haystack when one bureaucrat somewhere (again, I'm not sure who is responsible) could save everyone that trouble by simply adding a link! I didn't get the notice on my phone but all of my students told me that they couldn't find a link in the notice they got.
-- Kirk
P.S. I can't find it on the internet but I once saw a cartoon of a guy standing in front of a sign that says "IN CASE OF FIRE" (or was it "emergency"?) and reading an extremely long page of fine-print text as the flames of a fire are clearly approaching. The way officials put out emergency information on the internet here often reminds me of that cartoon.

I happened to come across this promotion video for Minami Oguni today. I'm linking to the full version but there's also a shorter version at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY2r8dh1Ing
Scenes of an outdoor bath in Yamamizuki, a fantastic onsen ryokan in Kurokawa, are included in both versions. There's no text to indicate the name of the facility, but I recognize the distinctive location of the outdoor bath -- right next to an outdoor stream. I thought it was interesting that the video noted that the "scene has been taken in the men's open-air bath only for the commercial use" (0:59 in the short version). Actually, I don't think it's technically correct to say that this is the "men's bath." When I was there, modestly towel-clad women were able to enter the area, so it was actually a "kon'yoku" (open gender) bathing area. In reality, though, in modern Japan "kon'yoku" usually means "almost all men," with an occasional visit from an intrepid woman.
Speaking of "kon'yoku," the full-length version also shows some scenes of an outdoor bathing area in Manganji (skip to 3:10 if you're in a hurry). You don't see anyone bathing here but, actually, this is a "kon'yoku" bathing area as well. If you're a woman (or even if you're a man), you need to be considerably bolder to bath here than to merely enter the male area in Yamamizuki under towel cover. At this Manganji bathing site, the only place provided to undress and prepare for bathing is in full view of passersby. Many years ago, my wife and I took the plunge here after the sun went down (we didn't have the courage to attempt it in broad daylight). My wife was surprised to spoken to while bathing by an elderly man just a few feet away. It was an interesting experience but she hasn't requested another visit to that spot since. :)
If you're interested in kon'yoku see
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/12/25/dont-forget-your-wrap-towel-our-female-reporter-experiences-japanese-mixed-public-bathing-for-the-first-time/
"Don’t Forget Your ‘Wrap Towel’! Our Female Reporter Experiences Japanese Mixed Public Bathing for the First Time"
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/12/10/lifestyle/last-splash-immodest-japanese-tradition-mixed-bathing-may-verge-extinction/
Last splash: Immodest Japanese tradition of mixed bathing may be on the verge of extinction
http://metropolisjapan.com/the-konyoku-experience/
THE KONYOKU EXPERIENCE: Dipping into the diminishing culture of mixed-gender bathing
(illustration obviously done by someone who has never experienced the real thing)
Though I'm sure the topic of mixed bathing has been looked at by and discussed in English by academics, I don't have a good knowledge of that literature. All I could find is a book called "Japan: A View from the Bath"
https://www.amazon.com/Japan-View-Bath-Scott-Clark/dp/0824816579
but don't know how well or extensively it deals with the kon'yoku tradition.
In Japanese there's
混浴と日本史
https://www.amazon.co.jp/混浴と日本史-下川耿史/dp/4480858040/
which I haven't read yet but looks very interesting had has received good reviews.
-- Kirk
P.S. Here's the address for the full version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf-pHjO3sa8
（Full ver）Minamioguni tourismpromotion video（南小国町観光プロモーションビデオ フルバージョン）
Minamioguni It is a tourism promotion video of the town.I think that if you could touch the traditional life of Japan through the hot springs and experience....

A note from the Kumamoto International Deluge Diversion Desk (merged with the Alliteration Desk due to budget cuts):
There is a small town called Tsunagi which is sandwiched between Ashikita and Minamata on the Yatsushiro Sea. There is also an artist named Nishino Tatsu (西野達) from Tokyo, who is apparently world-renowned but not world-renowned enough for me to Google him because I do not do art. According to the article, though, he is famous for his temporary structures.
The two have collided in a collaboration to create a one-room hotel on stilts over the sea, which was enough to catch my attention. The purpose is to attract attention to the now-defunct Akasaki Elementary School, once known as the only "maritime elementary school" nationwide, and its surrounding scenery. And it deserves attention. Here are the specs:
- On friggin' stilts over the sea
- There is a nearby uninhabited island called Hadakashima (裸島, はだかじま); hence, it will be called "Hotel Hadakashima
- One room with toilet and shower
- The windows of the structure will be repurposed from Ahikita's Akasaki Elementary School
- Other materials such as shoji from the school will also be repurposed for the building
"We aim to make it a room of memories of the children of Akasaki Elementary" Nishino-san said. At the groundbreaking (seabreaking?) ceremony held yesterday, Nishino-san said, "Unlike a faceless business hotel, this will be a very personal room. The fascination is to be reunited with your childhood past." Construction starts in the middle of this month and is scheduled to be completed in early September. The hotel, being single-room, accepts only one group per day. Reservations will be taken from August for stays running from October through December (thus avoiding the typhoon season - but if you go, bring a jacket). No word yet on rates, maximum occupancy, how to make reservations - or even how to get to the hotel (boat?), but your faithful correspondent will keep you up to date.
The article has a photo from the groundbreaking ceremony and a sketch of the hotel by Nishino-san. - William
https://this.kiji.is/255859948855592438?c=92619697908483575
旧赤崎小の“思い出”移築　海上ホテル地鎮祭　津奈木町 - 熊本日日新聞
西野達さん（左端）らが出席してあった「ホテル裸島」の地鎮祭＝津奈木町西野達さんが描いた「ホテル裸島」のアイデアドローイング（イメージ図）　津奈木町が世界的現代アーティスト西野達さん（５７）＝東京＝の作品として、旧赤崎小付近の八代海（不知火海...