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Ruth here sharing information about a fun 'widegame' in Hitoyoshi on Sunday, 9th March!!!! 🔏📲🖲 👣 It's a race against the clock to all the checkpoints!! It's surely a great way to explore, exercise and excite your senses!! The deadline to sign-up is February 23rd. You can enter as an individual or team (2-5人) running and walking over 3 or 5 hours, or cycling within 3 hours. Full details here: https://local-gain.com/hitoyoshi-rogaining/

Hi, Joe Tomei here, passing on some information about Japanese language lessons. Please use the contact below!
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Hello! I'm Takae. I am a freelance Japanese language teacher. I would like to announce that I have more hours open for online lessons during the day (around 9a.m. to 5p.m.) on weekdays. I teach from beginner level to advanced level, for all levels of the JLPT. If you are interested in taking online Japanese lessons, please contact me through my Facebook page. Students do not need to be Kumamoto citizens, they can be from anywhere in the world as long as the time differences work and payment can be done via Paypal. Currently there are no open slots in the evenings (Japan time).
https://www.facebook.com/kaseczek.cc
Thank you for reading!
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Kaseczek - カセチェク
日本語教育を中心に、言語サービスを提供しています。

Joe Tomei here. Haven't had much to report on the restaurant front as we have our rotation of places and I've been on a diet, however, happy to say that a new restaurant has been added! It's Saigon Pho, it was originally in Nishi-ku, but has moved to in front of the Kengun Jietai base, across the street from Kono's Coffee
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FgqKVgxaw6GSQm3r8
Had the Banh Mi and Pho set as well as some Cha Gio (deep fried Spring rolls) and Vietnamese coffee. Two parking spaces in the front, or you can walk up from the Kengun tram terminus (about 15 minutes)

Atsuko here.
Kumamoto Castle and Dondoya.
The PTA of Joto Elementary School and local residents held a Dondoya right near of Kumamoto Castle. Wishing everyone in Kumamoto good health and prosperity in 2025.
It was wonderful to have a traditional annual event in the middle of the city of Kumamoto. We grilled rice cakes and ate them. The children roasted marshmallows. It's so modern. I have been roasting marshmallows every time I go to Dondoya since I saw the Sponge Bob cartoon.
I share this with you all for your health and prosperity!(*´︶`*)ﾉ

For those interested, here are details of full-time work in Kumamoto. Please get in touch with Mr. Greg Howes as per the details below 📧
Freedom English School, located in Kamitori, Suizenji, and Musashigaoka in Kumamoto City, is seeking an English teacher for a full-time position with an immediate or as soon as possible start.
Applicants should be comfortable teaching children of all ages, ranging from kindergarten age through to Junior High School students. Experience is preferred, but not essential for the correct candidate. Pre-employment and on-the-job training will be provided.
We offer a competitive financial package - details of which will be provided on request - and an excellent working environment.
If you are interested in joining our growing teaching team and would like to find out more information, please contact Greg Howes at [email protected] or 096-322-7100.
- Uploaded by Ruth
Send a message to learn more

Kirk here. Sonoda is the oldest continuously operating business in Kumamoto -- a business that has been up and running for over 400 years! They make Chosen-ame, a mildly sweet sort of mochi that got its name because it was carried into Korea as food for soldiers when Kato Kiyomasa led troops there at Toyotomi Hideyoshi's behest. They are a luxury item (a sort of dessert) now but at the time they were carried into war because the soft mochi would dry (not spoil) and then simply adding water would make it edible again.
The store is worth a visit but will be closing for renovations soon. It's on Kamitori fairly far from Shimotori. The address is:
〒860-0848 熊本県熊本市中央区南坪井町６−１
The photo you see is from the following RKK report:
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/1124846?page=3
You'll have to hurry, though. It will close this Saturday (or Saturday will be the last day?) and then the sweets will only be available online and at other shops for about three years while the renovation is done.
I saw something about this on RKK recently but, oddly, couldn't find anything on the web about the closing for renovations.

Kirk here. There was a fairly powerful earthquake in Miyazaki. Seismic intensity (Japanese scale) of -5 near the epicenter and quite a few 4s and 3s in Kumamoto. The magnitude was 6.4 and the depth was 30km.
https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/quake/quake_detail.html?eventID=20250113212438&lang=en

Job seekers among us! Here's a job posting for your consideration. Please direct your inquiries to Mr. Baker at the email below 📧
A small eikaiwa requires an enthusiastic native English teacher for full time employment primarily teaching kids. The job is full time, a total of 32 hours with a maximum of 24 teaching hours a week. With Sundays and Mondays off. Some Japanese ability and teaching experience would be helpful but not required.
Part time positions also available. If interested please indicate what days you are available to work.
Location - Higashi Ku, Kumamoto City
Benefits: 230,000 - 260,000 yen/month. 20 paid holidays per year.
Starting Date: Immediately
Please send resume and recent photo to:
[email protected]
Only successful applicants will be contacted.
Thank you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Posted by Ruth

Sharing beautiful Mt. Aso. /•᷅‎‎•᷄\୭Atsuko

Japanese Culture Experience Day for Foreigners
٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶Atsuko
Date： 26th of January, Sunday
Time： You can reserve the following time slots
Venue: Kumamoto City International Center 5th floor
Participation fee: 500 yen

Kumamoto Children's Home Christmas Gift-Giving!! Team Tonakai Fundraiser this Sunday, near Ezuko, 9:30-4pm, and today until 14:30pm✨🦌See images for details! 22日(日)、砂取コミュニティセンターで、チーム・トナカイによるTatami Teatimeが開催されます!! 🧣ご寄付と引き換えに、クリスマスの宝物をゲットしてください🎄💛☕お時間があれば、温かいお茶もお楽しみください!! Drop by with a donation and get some Christmas treasures - or just a cuppa if you don't need any more tinsel or teddies! 🎁 PS: Some freshly-baked, pumpkin and chocolate chip cakes still available!! 😋 - Ru...Dolph AKA Ruth

(Fiona) Looking for some festive music to listen to this Christmas? Local band Eirfoyl, featuring Irish, Dutch and American musicians have recently released their song Under the Mistletoe, available to download in all the usual places. They will also be performing live at the Christmas market outside Sakuramachi on Sunday December 22nd from 18:40. With a sound reminiscent of The Pogues, they are well worth checking out!
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5LFMuWKlqxLtrisFNeQSBc?si=6kq-0d06SDmWeCC4mI-8eQ&utm_source=copy-link
Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/ie/album/under-the-mistletoe-feat-nicky-boriban-single/1785175504?ls
YouTube:
https://youtu.be/c7q2GEfPrZU?si=XiV83zPJh0fupshg

Projection Mapping Information.Atsuko( * ॑꒳ ॑*)
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Santa Claus will be projected on Tawarayama: ✨️
Projection mapping will be held on December 20 and 21 at Moe-no-sato in Nishihara Village!
Fantastic images will color the night sky in the magnificent nature of Tawarayama!
There will also be many stalls where you can enjoy Nishihara Village's attractive specialties and gourmet foods, and there will be a bonfire spot!

Hi there, lovely people!🤩🥳 If you're feeling generous, please donate to the Kumamoto 'Team Tonakai' Christmas Gift-Giving which fundraises and buys gifts for about 300 kids in 7 Kumamoto care homes. JETs may remember us from the SDC last year, and thanks to foreign friends in the community, many other fundraising events have been hosted over the years 💕
If you're able to pop along to an event this year please do so!
① 13 Dec. at 県立大学 from 4-7pm🎄
② 20 Dec. from 9:30-2:30pm near 渡鹿昇立公園 🎁
③ 22 Dec. at 砂取コミュニティーセンター from 9:30-4:30pm ☕ For more details see the images attached!
Donations via the P.O account are always welcome - and your generosity is acknowledged on the FB page unless you specify otherwise. Check out the Facebook page for other information, including a rundown on how this group started in 2017✨🦌 - Ruth

(Fiona) Here's an event taking place in Fukuoka early next year that may be of interest to English language teachers based in Kumamoto. For anyone wishing to give a presentation, the deadline is December 31st. It's also possible for writers/materials creators to have a display table at the convention.
INFORMATION, REGISTER TO ATTEND
https://ltprofessionals.com/conventions/
Presentations • Workshops • Book Fair • Jobs • Meet other teachers
ADMISSION FEE
ETJ members: ¥1,000. Non-members: ¥2,000 . Non-members can join ETJ when registering to attend. There is no fee for joining ETJ.
TEACHERS ARE WELCOME TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS
Share your ideas with other teachers. Both experienced and less experienced presenters are welcome. You can present by yourself or with other teachers.
FREE DISPLAY TABLES AVAILABLE
We are offering free display tables to teachers who would like to display a teaching project or promote self-developed supplementary materials, authors of specialist or academic materials , teachers who have developed a particularly valuable educational service, and non-commercial associations that support teachers.
COMMERCIAL DISPLAYS
Local independent publishers and educational services that are owned by teachers can apply to have a display table at the nearest convention. The aim is to support independent publishers and services in the local community.
English Language Teaching Conventions
Tokyo • Nagoya • Osaka • Fukuoka - Jan/Feb 2025.

Cassie Here.
I have a Japanese person I know in search of certified translation for a visa. Does anyone know or recommend someone that can do it in Kumamoto? I should add certified translation is different than a translation certificate.

Fiona here, sharing a heartwarming local news story related to Jikei Hospital's pioneering baby hatch.
Japan 'baby hatch' man empowers kids via program to live best life
The "baby hatch" door at the city hospital in southwestern Japan that Koichi Miyatsu was placed in the care of was etched in his memory when he was 3 years old. Miyatsu, now a 21-year-old university student who has launched a program to teach kids about the importance of life,…

Liz here.ART SPACE はね is featuring a solo show by Yukari Maeda , copperplate etcher and mixed media artist. Her work is amazing and full of detail and stories. Check out the Art Space Hane page for a video walkthrough, and then go and experience it in person.The gallery is also a wonderful space .( photo of the artist and her work)Location and information on hours can be found on the Art Space はねFB page.

Christmas markets have started and it is suddenly getting colder.
Today's news is not useful but personal, but I would love to share this surprise and excitement with Kumamoto International's readers, so I share it here.
Do you know what the plants in these photos are? If you are from a tropical country, you will know. It is my favourite fruit, which I was so impressed to share this year, even though it is grown in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B2k2DBtfh/
Yes, my favourite, papaya. I planted the seeds in the school field, but forgot about them and they grew into a magnificent tree. In six months, the tree is more than one metre tall. Six months ago, I was very impressed that papaya was being grown in Hitoyoshi, and I was really surprised and thrilled that the papaya seed had sprouted and become a magnificent tree with flowers before I knew it.
I didn't know it was a papaya tree, and I was super surprised when I found the word 'papaya' in a Google search. It was hot in Kumamoto this year, but it was hot enough for papaya to grow.
It's been cold for the past week or so, but I think November in Kumamoto was much colder when I was a kid. I am very sad to think that the papayas I have grown will die. In the future, if you see papaya trees growing in the flowerbed next to the playground from the Kumamoto Castle tower, and if a papaya festival starts in Josaien, please remember that the papayas in Hitoyoshi, planted by Atsuko, are the origin of the papayas.
It was a record that Kumamoto was hot in 2024.
Atsuko(*ᐛ*)ᒃ

Sean here:
My partner is looking for someone to fill this parttime position.
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興味がある方がいらしたらぜひ下のリンクよりご応募ください
ご紹介も大歓迎です
どうぞよろしくお願いします！
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