Posts

I've already introduced this page, which has links to a calendar of events, a way to search for posts that have been made to Kumamoto International, and a link to the YahooGroups mailing list, but when Facebook prompted me to make a post with a picture, I mindlessly obeyed. I took the picture of Okoshiki Beach from the internet. It's beauty has not been diminished by the quakes of 2016.
-- Kirk
Kumamoto International links
Kumamoto International Calendar Search for a post on Kumamoto International Click on the following url https://www.facebook.com/search...

The Emmy Award winning documentary "Hello?! Orchestra" will be shown Saturday, beginning at 5:30 PM. This is part of the East Asian Citizen Coexistence Film Festival being held at Kumamoto Gakuen University.
As the article indicates, the documentary stars Grammy-nominated violinist Richard Yongjae 0'Neil. As you can hear in the follow YouTube trailer, much of the documentary is narrated in English by O'Neil, though there are sections where you will hear Korean, and Japanese subtitles will be shown on the screen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-7yWOeNXBs
By the way, here's the website (in Japanese) of the film festival:
http://film.witheastasia.org/2017/
-- Kirk
http://enkr.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/989297/south-korean-documentary-hello-orchestra-wins-emmy
South Korean Documentary “Hello?! Orchestra” Wins Emmy | BLOUIN ARTINFO
South Korean documentary “Hello?! Orchestra” starring Grammy-nominated violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill shined at the 41st International Emmy Awards on November 25. It won the Arts Programming category along with the U.K.’s “Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender.”

This documentary will be shown Saturday afternoon at 4:10 PM. This is part of the East Asian Citizen Coexistence Film Festival being held at Kumamoto Gakuen University.
Here's a summary of the documentary from the International Movie Database:
"This film unveils a hidden history starting in the Dutch East Indies under Japanese occupation during WW2. The protagonists were born of Eurasian (some local) mothers and Japanese fathers as children of the enemy. They moved to the Netherlands with their mothers, while their fathers went back to Japan after the war. The absence of their fathers becomes a missing piece in their lives, and the ensuing search stretches across continents. One of the protagonists, Nippy Noya, is an international percussionist, recording with John McLaughlin and touring with Billy Cobham and Chaka Khan. He discovers the secret of his musical gift as the other protagonists each experience their own emotional rebirth."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4147990/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
This film is mostly in English with Japanese subtitles but there are sections (about 10% according to the organizer of the festival) that are in Japanese.
Yesterday, I posted about a documentary to be shown in the morning called "The True Cost":
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1627388270667932
That post has more information about the film festival.f
-- Kirk
http://www.childrenstears.net/index_en.html
Childrens tears

I just updated the Kumamoto International events calendar. You can find the calendar by clicking on the "Learn More" button on the page.
-- Kirk
P.S. In case you have trouble locating the "Learn More" button, here's a link that will help find the calendar:
https://kumamotoi.blogspot.jp/p/kumamoto-international-link.html

A little mailing list called "Kumamoto-i" was born 18 years ago today. Wow, 18 years! In internet years, that's about a century! :) The internet was capitalized back then!
In commemoration of this milestone, I thought I'd finally try to get around to adding a link to the "Learn More" button on this page that wil take you to a few more links that I think you may find useful. One is to a Google spreadsheet with events that have been shared here. Another is a link that allows you to search for keywords in Kumamoto International posts. (I use this pretty regularly to check on information that's been shared already but that I can't find.) The last one is to the Kumamoto-i mailing list. I've been neglecting it recently but it's where this network-building project got started.
https://kumamotoi.blogspot.jp/p/kumamoto-international-link.html
Thanks to the many, many people who have helped along the way.
-- Kirk

This documentary will be shown Saturday morning at the East Asian Citizen Coexistence Film Festival, which will be held at Kumamoto Gakuen University on Friday and Saturday. Not all of the films are in English but this one is and several others are mostly in English. I'll write more about them later.
Here's the URL of the festival website (Japanese language):
http://film.witheastasia.org/2017/
And here's the address of "The True Cost" website, which features a trailer:
https://truecostmovie.com
-- Kirk
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-true-cost-movie-review-20150529-story.html
'The True Cost' exposes hidden cost of cute, cheap fashions
Those cute, cheap fashions popular at H&M and other stores come at a big price to sweatshop workers and the environment, 'The True Cost' shows.

Post

From the Kumamoto International Slow News Day Desk: The Kumanichi reports that police in Oyano, Amakusa have taken into custody a goat found loitering at a local seaside park. Wearing a collar and comfortable with humans, the goat exhibits evidence of once being someone's goat, but despite a thorough questioning of local residents, that someone remains obscure.
The goat has been registered with the police as a lost and found item. If not claimed within three months, the goat will either be auctioned or, (according to the article), "police will redouble their efforts to locate its owner."
In the meantime, the goat was tethered inside the police station grounds but had eaten well over half the grass there so has since been entrusted to a local citizen. The article quotes the goat as commenting only, "Umeiiii～."
- William
迷いヤギ、飼い主どこに？　上天草署が保護 - 熊本日日新聞
上天草署が拾得物として保管しているヤギ＝上天草市　上天草市大矢野町で飼い主不明のヤギ（全長約６０センチ、全高約４０センチ）が見つかり、通報を受けた上天草署員が保護した。拾得物として署が預かっている。 　９日、「宮津海遊公園付近をヤギがうろう...

Here's some information about an event that planned for November 3rd. Personally, I'm a fan of these mini fireworks. I think they're a nice example of "compact culture" in Japan (the idea that bigger isn't always better).
-- Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/events/135731733840625/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3A%22plan_user_invited%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&notif_id=1508064149796986&notif_t=plan_user_invited

The fireworks were held in Ezuko as scheduled, despite the rain. I didn't go but I could hear the explosions and was able to see some of the bursts of color from a footbridge in my neighborhood.
Meanwhile, some natural pyrotechnics have been on display to our south in the Kirishima area (only about 40 kilometers or so from Kumamoto's southern border). I found the YouTube video here:
http://mashable.com/2017/10/13/volcano-japan-drone-eruption/
-- Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hud-QRuFPJA
Aerial Footage Shows Eruption at Shinmoedake Volcano
To use this video in a commercial player or broadcast, contact [email protected] Credit: James Reynolds via Storyful Original video: https:/www.youtube....

This movie about the Kumamoto earthquake will be broadcast on Monday beginning at 15:55 on KAB. A French-speaking foreigner, played by Loic Garnier, is a central character in the drama. The reviews are pretty good but I'm a bit apprehensive about the portrayal of a bewildered foreigner who insists of speaking French to all of the Japanese people he meets. I doubt that a French-speaking person who had some reason to come to Kumamoto would be unable to string a few basic English words together to at least attempt to communicate with people. Still, at this point I've only seen the YouTube trailer so I should reserve judgment.
Here's the programing note I saw:
http://tv.so-net.ne.jp/schedule/157384201710161555.action
-- Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u2FioiLZ7k
うつくしいひとサバ？ 予告篇

Yamaga in Taiwan . . . but Vice Governor Ono's name is misspelled.
-- Kirk
Carrefour’s Japan Week reaches climax with Kumamoto dance and cookie workshop | Taiwan News
The rice cookie workshop and lantern dance performance rendered customers a unique cultural experience..The Japan Week taking place each October is one of the most important activities for Carrefour in a year, and this time, the French supermarket chain has put on sale more than 100 local products f...

This is not a Kumamoto-specific item but when I shared a bit of news about Ishiguro and his roots in nearby Nagasaki, quite a few readers seemed to be interested so I thought I'd share this as well. It's a link to re-edited versions of WNYC (a New York City public radio station) interviews with the author from 2005 and 2015. Actually, if I had known in advance, I would have posted about a lecture by Ishiguro that NHK broadcast recently. The NHK broadcast allowed viewers to choose between the original English and Japanese overdubbing. I happened to catch that and was very impressed with Ishiguro's description of the importance of the Japanese side of his identity and his quiet, modest way of speaking. I haven't had a chance to listen to this compilation of WNYC interviews yet but I have no doubt that literature fans will find it to be of interest. The interviewer, Leonard Lopate, is also very good, in my opinion. You can download the mp3 to listen on favorite device at your leisure.
-- Kirk
Kazuo Ishiguro: Winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature
The Nobel Prize in Literature was just awarded to Kazuo Ishiguro. Leonard spoke with the author in 2005, and 10 years later in 2015.

If you'd like to read about this in Japanese, you can find an article at
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017101100157&g=eco
-- Kirk
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003996767

Joe Tomei here. I usually don't pass on student surveys (though I don't mind if people do so), but this one, from a student of Simon Bibby in Kobe was actually quite thought-provoking. I encourage Japanese readers of the list to fill it out, I think it is an interesting challenge to possible preconceptions! The message and link are below
=====
Hi everyone,
Miku from my graduation thesis class asked me to post this, to reach a more international audience. Topic of thesis, and this super-short questionnaire: What is 'made in Japan'?
She'd be very grateful if people can fill in a quick 2-3 minute survey. Thank you, I appreciate it too!
Particularly timely, noting the recent Nobel Prize for Literature award - Ishiguro was actually in the survey before.
Thank you all! :)
Questionnaire　アンケート
I am researching about "What does 'made in Japan' mean?" for my graduation thesis. Please rate '1' to '5' the extent to which you think these items below are 'made in Japan'. 1 is lowest, meaning 'not at all made in Japan'; and 5 is highest, meaning 'certainly made in Japan' The questionnaire will t...

Today, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl Child. I saw something on the web reminding me of that fact a few minutes ago and thought I'd check to see if anything had been planned for Kumamoto. I searched in both English and Japanese but came up mostly empty-handed in both languages. This post is from five years ago.
As I see it, there are many places in the world where girls face far more severe challenges than they do here in Japan. Still, it seems like a nice occasion to send positive, encouraging messages to the girls of Kumamoto. Perhaps next year some event will be planned. :)
-- Kirk
Celebrating the International Day of the Girl Child in Tokyo
Did you know the UN has over 60 information centres around the world? From time to time, we promote their activities and special events on this blog. The first-ever International Day of the Girl Ch…

Hello all - I just wanted to piggyback on Mark and Kirk's posts and share a bit more information about the Kumamoto Mizuakari festival with you, as it's an event that's very close to my heart (and I'm sad not to be in Kumamoto this year to experience it). If you're in Kumamoto and didn't get to see all of the lights and lanterns yesterday, please think about going today!
The festival was started in 2004 as part of an effort to celebrate the unique beauty and heart of Kumamoto and the diverse people who live there. In recent years it has featured over 50,000 candles, thousands of lanterns, and the hard work of thousands of craftspeople, volunteers, and organizers. I first saw it in 2012 only a few short weeks after arriving in Kumamoto. It was my first time living in another country, and to say that I was stressed is an understatement. The Mizuakari festival was one of the first events that made me feel like I was living as part of a community, and it will always be one of my dearest memories.
This year and last year, though, it's taken on a deeper meaning as a symbol of support and perseverance in the face of the damage caused by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. Not only does it show the creativity and dedication of the crasftpeople and volunteers who make the festival possible (not just in Kumamoto but also around the world - thanks, Mark!) - it's also a way for people to come together and express hope for the future. Working together is what makes us strong.
I wanted to share a short video with you about last year's festival. If you can read Japanese, you'll note that many of the lanterns are decorated with messages of love and support in face of the earthquakes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MhyGvI3u24
I also wanted to share one of my Mizuakari photos from when I was living in Kumamoto. If you were able to go this year, please think about sharing some of your photos with us!
-Grace

Hi everyone, joe tomei here. Apologies for the slightly selfish post, but it is less than a month to The Sinfonietta concert, a all Brahms concert featuring the Brahms Double Concerto and Brahms 3rd Symphony. The concert is scheduled for Sun Nov 5th doors open at 1:45, concert starts at 2:30. I do have tickets for pre-purchase. Feel free to contact me at tomeiter (at) gmail
The Sinfonietta is a local orchestra so if you play an instrument (especially strings) and would like to join, please let me know. We play one concert a year and you can see the rehearsal information and previous concerts at this website
http://www.the-sinfonietta.org/

This images shows the morning route for Monday's festival parade. Personally, I'd recommend the beginning at about 6 AM that day. That's when everyone is fresh, sober (for the most part) and looking their best.
-- Kirk
P.S. I took the image from a pdf put out by the police to show areas where traffic will be restricted that day:
http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/police/page1060.html

I don't share all of the news leads that I get about medical research at Kumamoto University but this one is especially intriguing. In this and other articles, research at Kumamoto University is cited as having the potential to lead to an actual cure -- not just a treatment -- for HIV infections.
The first article I saw on this topic (which I'm not sharing this time) sounded a bit sensationalistic so a did a little more digging on the web and found the following article on a medical website:
A new method for removing cells infected with the AIDS virus
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-method-cells-infected-aids-virus.html
It looks like the claim of "promise" is legit.
-- Kirk
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/new-breakthrough-could-one-day-lead-to-aids-cure/
New Breakthrough Could One Day Lead To AIDS Cure
HIV affects 1.1 million people in the US, and around one in seven of these people aren’t aware they have it. So far, there is no cure for the virus, but ne