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Here's a Japan Times article about the "Pokemon Go" project I introduced yesterday. -- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/03/03/national/pokemon-go-deploys-snorlax-quake-hit-kyushu/
'Pokemon Go' deploys Snorlax to quake-hit Kyushu | The Japan Times
The maker of "Pokemon Go" is now trying to draw visitors to quake-hit Kumamoto and Oita prefectures by increasing appearances made by a popular character i

Kumanichi provides an update on that symbol of Kumamoto resilience after the quakes, the Iida Maru Turret, left tiptoeing precariously on that single leg of cornerstones - hence it's nickname, Ippon Ishigaki (一本石垣).
Last time we checked in, Fukuoka-based Obayashi-Gumi had most miraculously constructed the cantilever support which currently stabilizes the turret (pictured below). Negotiations have resulted in the same company being selected to reconstruct that portion of the wall - an easy choice as Obayashi was the only company which bid for the job*.
The proposed procedure is quite complicated: (1) wrap the wall and turret in scaffolding; (2) provide support to that corner of remaining rock so that it does not collapse while (3) the turret is dismantled and (4) the cantilever is removed before (5) the remaining wall, including Ippon Ishigaki, is also dismantled. The project will then essentially reverse, rebuilding the wall and replacing the turret atop.
The project is expected to begin sometime after August 2018 and will cost a whole lot. (You really don't wanna know. It's like talking with your kids about how much their college education costs.)
Though some have criticized dismantling Ippon Ishigaki, engineers have pointed out that it is inevitable for complete restoration. "You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs," said one expert.** - William
*Technically their bid is in that "anyone have any better idea?" bureaucratic, final phase.
**Me, to be precise.
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170306007.xhtml

" . . . this is a special Japan-only event designed to stimulate tourism in the Kumamoto Prefecture, which was recently hit by large earthquakes. In that way, it's similar to the Lapras event last year that sought to help stimulate tourism in the Fukushima Prefecture."
Coming up on 3/13.
-- Kirk
https://mic.com/articles/170120/next-pokemon-go-event-increased-snorlax-spawns-are-coming-to-one-japanese-city
Increased Snorlax spawns in 'Pokémon Go' are coming to one Japanese city
Here's what we know about the game's next event.

Whether you're planning to do some budget travelling yourself of have friends from back home visiting who want some tips, this guide has lots of information about how to travel cheaply in Japan. It covers everything from international and local travel, cheap accommodation, where to eat of a budget, cheap times of year and peak seasons, travel passes and other tips.
- Celia
https://thetruejapan.com/japan-budget-complete-guide-cheap-travel-japan/
Japan on a Budget: The Complete Guide to Cheap Travel in Japan - The True Japan
How to Travel Japan on a Budget: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need Is is possible to travel to Japan on a budget? Definitely! Japan is one of the most fun and amazing travel destinations in the world. However, many travelers are reluctant to plan a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun because of the...

Sightseeing train offers aromas and flavors of Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
KITA-KYUSHU--With pleasant wood aromas filling the carriages of Kyushu Railway Co.’s new sightseeing

"Morrison shot The Missing Tourist in Yellowknife, Tokyo and Kumamoto over a period of several months in 2016."
-- Kirk
http://www.myyellowknifenow.com/21218/new-film-digs-deeper-into-the-death-of-atsumi-yoshikubo/
New film digs deeper into the death of Atsumi Yoshikubo
A forthcoming documentary seeks to bring closure to the disappearance and death of Japanese tourist Atsumi Yoshikubo two years ago. The 45-year-old ... more ›

Personally, I'm not a boxing fan but this bout relates to Kumamoto in a couple of ways.
In another article, Fukuhara said that he wanted to win the fight for Kumamoto:
「“I want to win and I want to deliver good news for Kumamoto,” Fukuhara said. “I want to thank the many people who made his title fight happen.”」
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/fukuhara-calleros-confident-victory-weigh-wbo-title-fight-395502
-- Kirk
Fukuhara claims WBO minimumweight interim title | The Japan Times
Tatsuya Fukuhara defeated top-ranked Mexican Moises Calleros to become the WBO minimumweight interim champion on Sunday. Second-ranked Fukuhara deployed le

A new kind of Onsen-hopping pass if you are planning on visiting Kurokawa Onsen in a group,substantial savings!
Posted by Charmaine
Kurokawa-onsen.com/new-shared-onsen-hopping
NEW Shared Onsen-hopping pass for groups!
Since the middle of January a new type of shared onsen-hopping pass 　（シェア入湯手形　sheya nytotegata)　 has been on sale at the Visitor Center

More travel-related news: the "hidden Christians" of the early Edo-era Nagasaki-Amakusa archipelago were able to remain both due to their remoteness, a situation which has proven disadvantageous for modern-day tourism. Kumanichi reports on plans to connect Nagasaki Port with Sakitsu Hamlet in Amakusa by a thrice-weekly ferry which may also pass by the Goto Islands and Hashima ( better known as Gunkanjima - "Battleship Island," a now-abandoned island famous for its coal mining) - each area filled with World Heritage sites. A one-way voyage is expected to take 90 minutes. Plans are still in their early stage, but we'll keep you up to date.
Photos are posted below: (1) Sakitsu Church, Amakusa; (2) Goto Islands; (3) Hashima
- William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170228001.xhtml

Local entities wake up to needs of foreigners in a natural disaster：The Asahi Shimbun
When the first Kumamoto earthquake struck last April, Karim MD Fazlul didn't know what was occurring

The Kyushu Expressway around Mashiki is one lane in each direction now as repairs from the quakes proceed, making navigating the zone a bit tricky. An accident occurred early this morning that killed one and injured six. The expressway southbound lane remains closed. http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170228/p2g/00m/0dm/035000c
1 dead, 6 others hurt in multiple pileup on highway in Kumamoto - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO (Kyodo) -- One man was killed and six others were hurt following a pileup on the Kyushu Expressway in Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, southwestern Japan, police said.

An article written by my go-to economist, Kevin Short, is not about Kumamoto specifically but about Japan in general. He provides a few graphs which neatly do away with the doom-and-gloomers re: the Japanese economy from a macroeconomic perspective. One quibble: he did not mention median income, which seems to me to have stagnated considerably and is a major source of sourness. The article is at the link. - William
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/02/enduring-mystery-japans-economy

Director Isao Yukisada helms Kumamoto film festival：The Asahi Shimbun
The Kumamoto Reconstruction Film Festival that will take place in April will mark the first annivers

Hi, I'm Yuichi Yoshida, a Japanese teacher of English at Shinwa High School. I studied one year in Montana State University in Bozeman, and another year in Georgetown in DC. Mr. Masden and Mr. Tomei are good friends of mine. I will be glad if I can post useful information for you on this from now on. My first post is about Special Olympics. Since my daughter is mentally challenged, I have been involved in Special Olympics for more than 10 years.
Next month, Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Austria. 54 athletes including two from Kumamoto will attend the games. A student at Kumamoto University started a crowd-funding project for raising money to support those 54 athletes representing Japan. Depending on which prefecture an athlete is in, s/he has to pay 100,000 yen to 20,000 yen. This project aims to give 10,000 yen for each athlete. If you are interested in sports for the challenged, this is THE chance. Please give them a hand. The project page is https://a-port.asahi.com/projects/WG2017Austria/
I'm sorry it's all in Japanese. You can get English explanation at https://connect.place/ase2016/
One of the two athletes is my daughter, Aya. Thank you in advance.
知的障がい者スポーツの世界大会　日本選手団54人の派遣費を援助し、応援したい！｜クラウドファンディング｜A-port 朝日新聞社
　今年３月にオーストリアで開催される、知的障がい者のスポーツの祭典「スペシ...

The Kumamoto Reconstruction Film Festival will take place from April 7-9 and will feature open-air runs of Kumamoto-themed movies at Ninomaru as well as many other events. Prominent will be director Isao Yukisada, whose movie "Utsukushii Hito" (「美しい人」 - "Beautiful People"), which was released just before the quakes, contains a bit of dialog I love:
若い女は美しいでも・・・老いた女はもっと美しい ("Young women are beautiful, but old women are even more so.")
My wife appreciates my appreciation of this line. Following are a preview to this movie (Japanese) and a link to more information (English). - William
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aojmeFsWgVI
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201702210004.html
『うつくしいひと』予告篇 くまもと映画プロジェクト
くまもと映画プロジェクト「うつくしいひと」 このプロジェクトは、熊本県出身の映画監督 行定 勲氏及び都市部で活躍中の熊本にゆかりのある俳優、著名人や、熊本県内市町村及び地域活性化に取り組む人々等が「地方創生版チーム熊本」として連携し、熊本の地域資源を活かし、熊本での生活などの素晴らしさを実感できる映画を製作するプ...

Tokyo Marathon was held today with a vastly slimmed down Kumamon taking part (top right). He needs to partake of some of those 533 pieces of Valentine's Day chocolate he received, it appears.
https://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/fun-run

The southern portion of Kumamoto zoo reopened on 2/25 for the first time since the quakes. The area encompasses the giraffe and elephant pens, though the two are still apparently not on talking terms since that bucket of carrots incident (best not to take sides here). The main and west entrances remain closed, but two entrances from the Lower Ezu Lake side are open as indicated on the map below. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170225006.xhtml

More roadwork news: We had written recently of the grand plan for a new bypass connecting the expressway north of Kumamoto through the relatively unpopulated west to Amakusa. Kumanichi reports that one 4.1 kilometer segment bypassing Route 3 and Route 31 (which passes in front of Sojo University) - both notoriously packed - will open on March 26. The road is expected to cut 11 minutes from beleaguered morning commuters' hellishness (and these commuters include many university employees). - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170224005.xhtml

This headline caught my eye, but my excitement waned with the details. Long ago, there were flights between Kumamoto Airport and Seoul, which then connected to anywhere in the world. Not anymore. This article notes that Asiana Airlines' subsidiary Seoul Air (an LCC - low-cost carrier) will begin charter flights between Seoul and Kumamoto starting from April. Cool!, I thought - a more convenient way to get to Seoul!
Detail devils: These are charter flights, so you're likely not welcome. Their main purpose is to bring golfers from Korea to enjoy the lush Kumamoto fairways. 60 flights are scheduled between April and October, which, if you do the math, indicates that a surprisingly large number of Korean golfers long to putt in Kumamoto.
These international flights will add to the Gaoxiong, Taiwan charter flights; flights to Hong Kong, discontinued since the quakes, have remained so. I hope that at some point regular passenger service between Kumamoto and Seoul will resume.
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20170224001.xhtml

Here's a colorful announcement that I received in a message posted to the page. -- Kirk
🍀 2017 Kumamoto St.Patrick's Day Parade - Saturday, 18th March - 2:30pm~3:15pm 💚 Gather at the Kamitori (Higo Bank) from 2pm 💚🍀 Parade moves into the Shimotori, and ends at Shinshigai 🎶 Wear something green and join in as you like! 📩 Certainly feel free to share info and posters with friends, colleagues, schools and other groups 💡✨Táim ag súil go mór leis!! Looking forward to it!! 楽しみにしています!! 🍻👫🎵
http://parade.kumamoto-ireland.org
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!
第11回 熊本2017 セント・パトリックス・デイ・パレード 11th Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade Kumamoto 2017
西日本で初めて開催した熊本でのセント・パトリックス・デイ・パレード