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Replica of famed sword gifted to quake-stricken Kyushu shrine：The Asahi Shimbun
ASO, Kumamoto Prefecture--A replica of a long-lost sword was presented to Asojinja shrine in a cerem

Shizuoka Pref. city gets thank-you visit from Kumamon for disaster aid - The Mainichi
NUMAZU, Shizuoka -- A special guest came all the way to this city from Kumamoto Prefecture on June 16 to thank a local volunteer disaster relief group -- superstar mascot Kumamon.

A note from the Kumamoto International Meteorology Desk: That our ancestors could somehow predict heavy rain without satellites is quite amazing - perhaps it's the oppressive humidity with an ominous south-eastern wind. Which is what we have now. My wife keeps her ear close to the ground through the other cronies in the neighborhood, who are annoyingly polite but know more than you'd suspect, and word has it that big rain is coming from tomorrow afternoon for the next week. If you don't want to get wet, you should probably leave the country for a bit.
Keep an eye on the rain front at http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/radnowc/ - William
気象庁 | レーダー・ナウキャスト(降水・雷・竜巻)

A while back, I conducted a survey on this page about how foreigners should be addressed (that is, to "-san" or not to "-san") when speaking Japanese.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/1420383221368439/?type=3&theater
The overwhelming result from non-Japanese who speak Japanese was "don't leave off '-san' just because I'm not Japanese."
At the time, I think I mentioned that the consistent practice of not addressing foreigners with "-san" or some other honorific suffix on a local TV show prompted my interest in this topic. Well, the program was TKU's Wakkatto Land (若っとランド). Through Facebook, I informed them of the survey results but, sadly, they chose to ignore me. Facebook indicated to me that my message to them was "seen" but they did not respond and yesterday's program proved that they also ignored the content of my message when they made their program.
The image you see is of the message I posted on their page in response to the latest program. Here's the URL for this message:
https://www.facebook.com/TKU.WakattoLand/videos/541869055936737/
If you go to this page and are unable to see a Japanese message from me, that would mean that TKU took it down or otherwise made it invisible to visitors.
I'm not sure what my next step should be. In a way, it's a small issue. In another way, however, I think the symbolism is important. By their refusal to even discuss the results of a survey completed by 80 people, they have indirectly given me the message that they will portray foreigners in whatever way they damn well please and that they have no intention of taking the concerns of Kumamoto's foreign community into account when they use foreigners as fodder for their programming. That's something I'm hesitant to let stand.
-- Kirk
😡

This isn't Kumamoto specific, but it's as much a part of life here as it is in the rest of Japan. :)
-- Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC5Dr9lV6ro
Japan Has The Robo-Toilets Of The Future | Elise Tries | NPR
Japanese toilets have come a long way from the early 20th century, when many people still used "squatters," which were commodes built into the floor to squat...

A limited-edition, Kumamoto-themed coke bottle has been issued. -- Kirk
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2017/06/14/coca-cola-releases-five-new-gorgeous-limited-edition-bottles-in-japan/
Coca-Cola releases five new gorgeous limited-edition bottles in Japan
Each of the locally-themed designs will be limited for sale in different regions of the country.

Sounds like good news for Kumamoto's tourism industry:
"The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will designate six ports, including Yokohama, as targeted international cruise ship hubs and consider making additions to the list in the future. The five other ports are Shimizu in Shizuoka Prefecture, Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture, and Motobu and Hirara in Okinawa Prefecture."
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/02/national/diet-enacts-law-upgrade-ports-cruise-ship-boom/#.WUHi4MaB2-q
Diet enacts law to upgrade ports for cruise ship boom | The Japan Times
The Diet enacted a law Friday for upgrading key ports across Japan to attract more tourists on cruise ships under joint efforts by the public and private s

Before reading this article, I wasn't aware of the so-called Den'en Symphony train. After doing a little searching on the web I found out that it runs between Hitoyoshi and Yunomae on Saturdays and Sundays, one round trip per day. If you click on the following link you'll see a picture with Kumamon showing the interior of one of the trains:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1300566876686274&id=521116031298033
Kumamon links to a Japanese site that has the details about prices, departure times, etc.
After looking into this I'd like to note that I had to wade through a lot of extraneous information on several different web pages to find the basic what, when, and where of this train. Even if you understand Japanese, poor presentation of information on Japanese web sites can be a problem. -- Kirk
http://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/95-year-old-stationmaster-livens-Kumamoto-11216508.php
95-year-old 'stationmaster' livens Kumamoto railway in Japan
KUMAMOTO, Japan - Kumagawa Rail Road in the southern part of Kumamoto Prefecture is known for its sightseeing train running through the countryside. Dressed in clothing usually worn when picking tea leaves and sporting a stationmaster's cap, Shimoda welcomed passengers with smiles and posed for phot...

This is not specifically related to Kumamoto, but I suspect that, like me, quite a few readers of this page have used H.I.S. to arrange international travel. I had no idea that I was using a company that has been accused of abusing its employees.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/14/national/crime-legal/travel-agency-h-s-referred-prosecutors-labor-violations/
Travel agency H.I.S. referred to prosecutors for labor violations | The Japan Times
Labor authorities on Wednesday referred H.I.S. Co. and two of the travel agency's senior officials to prosecutors for allegedly forcing employees to work o

As the article indicates, this is pretty close to Kumamoto.
-- Kirk
http://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/japan-court-clears-way-for-nuclear-reactor-restarts/715339/
Japan court clears way for nuclear reactor restarts
A Japanese court today gave the green light to switch on two more nuclear reactors despite heavy public opposition, in the latest victory for the government's pro-atomic push.

Over the years, we've had few inquiries about getting things notarized. If you need notarization for something related to the U.S., it may now be possible to have this done electronically. -- Kirk
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/06/12/532586426/notaries-are-starting-to-put-down-the-stamp-and-pick-up-a-webcam
Notaries Are Starting To Put Down The Stamp And Pick Up A Webcam
Technology and new laws are taking notarizations digital, adding them to the list of things you can do on your phone or computer. However, America's 4 million notaries are split on the idea.

Reduction in voter representation disparities is good for democracy in Japan but bad for Kumamoto, which will lose a seat:
"The 295 lawmakers currently elected from single-member districts will be reduced to 289, with Aomori, Iwate, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Mie and Nara prefectures each losing a seat."
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/09/national/politics-diplomacy/diet-finally-enacts-electoral-redistricting-law-correct-vote-weight-disparities-across-japan/#.WTv3TsaB3m0
Diet finally enacts electoral redistricting law to correct vote weight disparities across Japan | The Japan Times
After years of stalling, the Diet enacted a law Friday to revise Lower House electoral districts to reduce voting weight disparities between densely and sp

Japan beat Romania today. The YouTube video presents highlights and an interview with Michael Leitch. Kumamoto International readers may be particularly interested in Leitch's multicultural background. Here's a paragraph from the English-language Wikipedia article about him:
"Leitch was born in New Zealand to a New Zealand father and a Fijian mother, but moved to Japan at age 15 to study. He learnt the Japanese culture and language which he says he now speaks better than his native English and is considered well integrated to Japan. In 2008 he captained Japan at the Junior World Championship. He became a Japanese citizen in 2013."
-- Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvNLtNONujc
Rugby Football Japan vs Romania Highlights scenes -日本 vs ルーマニア- ハイライトからの...
リポビタンDチャレンジカップ2017 -日本 vs ルーマニア- ハイライトからのリーチ・マイケルのインタビュー

If you are in the Kumamoto area but not watching the test match tomorrow, you can see it on KKT beginning at 2:30 PM.
-- Kirk
http://www.ntv.co.jp/rugby2019/
Road to JAPAN 2019 ラグビー日本代表戦｜日本テレビ
日テレ「Road to JAPAN 2019 ラグビー日本代表戦」公式サイトです。

In anticipation of tomorrow's test match between Japan and Romania, the Romanian athletes visited Karyo Junior High School in Kumamoto City. The video shows how their good-natured rugby lesson made a very favorable impression on the students (both male and female). I think this is a great example of how international sporting events can foster good will!
-- Kirk
P.S. For more about tomorrow's event (venue, tickets, interviews, etc.) see
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/1471703799569714/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1471786552894772?match=cnVnYnk%3D
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1475945439145550?match=cnVnYnk%3D
http://rkk.jp/news/index.php?id=NS003201706081741230111
RKKラジオAM1197kHz・ワイドFM91.4/92.3/94.2MHz、RKKテレビは3ch！九州・熊本のラジオ＆テレビ放送局(TBSテレビ系列)です。

Articles in this pdf edition of the Spring 2017 YOKA!:
AJET All Kyushu Hanami by CJ Fischer
Mono no Aware by Chase Sutherland
Adapting Is Awareness: Working in Japan by Aaron Maisler
Surya Restaurant Review by Caitlin Puzzar
A Week in the Life of a CIR by Erika Egner
4 Things I’ve Realized After Learning a Language for 5 Years by Josh Anderson
Language Exchange by Zaynab Nakhid
Kumamoto Summers by Jonny Cornish
The Beach House by Rebecca King
Photos by Caitlin Puzzar, CJ Fischer, Erika Egner, Joyce Tan, Laura McGhee, Olivia Poole, Preston Sangster, Rebecca King, Susannah Roberts, Tanya Leonard
-- Kirk
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/
by Caitlin Puzzar, CJ Fischer, Erika Egner, Joyce Tan, Laura McGhee, Olivia Poole, Preston Sangster, Rebecca King, Susannah Roberts, Tanya Leonard

A manga guide on how to make-do after a natural disaster：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--A manga artist found herself in the soup after evacuating following the Kumamoto earthquak

Kumamoto-related computer or smartphone wallpaper, anyone? Free downloads are available at the following address:
http://www.kininaru-k.jp/wallpaper/
-- Kirk
〒862-8570 熊本県熊本市中央区水前寺6丁目18番地1号 TEL（096）333-2027／FAX（096）386-2040 運営：株式会社カラーズプランニング ©2001 Kumamoto Prefecture All Rights Reserved.©2010kumamoto pref.kumamon

MetLife Foundation and Sesame Workshop Bring Financial Empowerment Initiative to Families in Kumamoto
"TOKYO, Jun. 05 /CSRwire/ - MetLife Foundation and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, introduced “Dream, Save, Do: Financial Empowerment for Everyone” to Kumamoto children and their families at the Hiroyasu Nishi Elementary School on June 2-3."
http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/40065-MetLife-Foundation-and-Sesame-Workshop-Bring-Financial-Empowerment-Initiative-to-Families-in-Kumamoto
Copied and pasted by Kirk

Lotsa work going on around Shirakawa, some of which seems to proceed at a pace noticeable to humans, most not ("glacial" would seem rapid in comparison). Yet they did manage to finish this bend in Tatsuda. I mention this because its an interesting case of humans succumbing to nature and just letting it have its way - after the floods in 2012 which subsumed this little spit, they decided not to rebuild but to give the land back to the river. (It was also one of my favorite running courses before my body gave out.)There are a few good photos at the link. - William
https://this.kiji.is/244990849245446147?c=92619697908483575
白川、河道切り替え完了　12年九州北部豪雨で氾濫　龍田陳内 - 熊本日日新聞
九州北部豪雨で氾濫した白川の河道を切り替える工事が完了した龍田陳内地区＝６日、熊本市（高見伸・岩下勉、小型無人機で撮影）蛇行する白川に囲まれ、浸水被害に遭った龍田陳内地区＝２０１２年７月１９日、熊本市　２０１２年７月の九州北部豪雨で白川が氾...