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Apparently there is a band called Yuzu (ゆず) which had hinted at a free concert somewhere in Kumamoto on 12/22. Our friend Junichiro Mishima has discovered that it will be held at 14:00 in Ninomaru Park. Umbrellas are verbotten, so wear a raincoat. - William
ゆずが12月22日熊本で路上フリーライブを開催！！！ゆず 冬至の日ライブ 2016 in 熊本2016年12月22日(木) 午後2時 熊本県内某所8年ぶり野外フリーライブ開催。 pic.twitter.com/bwZdLKFlXb— ゆず公式ツイッター (@yuzu_official) 2016年12月21日って・・・

If you're like me, you're not worried about gifts for your loved ones during the holiday season as you've already given them all of your money during the year and are now penniless. If you're not and are scrambling for last-minute gift ideas, you're in luck!
Turns out a boulder which, in scientific terms, is classified as "friggin' big" was loosened during the quakes, slid down a hill, and ended up smack in the middle of a small lane connecting to a chestnut orchard in Mifune, rendering the lane impassable. At a loss, the village finally decided to auction it off. Bids started today at Yahoo Action 「ヤフオク！」. So, if there is someone on your shopping list who already has everything - well, they likely do not have a friggin' big boulder. Better act fast! (Delivery costs are, apparently, extra.)
(A village resident said, "We don't expect it to sell, but we hope the publicity draws attention to our plight.") - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161220002.xhtml

This post is from a while back. Sorry for not noticing it sooner. If you love to read and discuss books, take a look!
-- Kirk

This article reports on an event held in Amakusa on November 27th.
-- Kirk
Kumamoto residents welcome visitors with open arms
After a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the southern Kyushu area in April 2016, it was clear that once initial recovery…

Sorry to rain on the parade of good feeling after Saturday's event but today there was a fire on the 10th floor of the Shiyakusho (Kumamoto City Hall). I couldn't find a report in English (probably too early) but here's a report in Japanese (including video) from NHK.
-- Kirk
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20161218/k10010811121000.html
震災復興に当たる熊本市役所で火事 書類やパソコン焼ける | NHKニュース
１８日未明、熊本市役所で火事があり、１０階の一部が焼けました。けが人はいませんでしたがパソコンや書類が焼けるなどし、熊本市の大西市長は「地震…

Back in high school (and, briefly, in college), I worked at Disneyland and became well-acquainted with the habits of the characters "backstage." Let's just say that this has left my image of Disney more akin to that of my wife now rather than the girl I used to date - more impressed by many facets but no longer in any way starry-eyed. As such, I gave the parade a pass, but was pleased to watch the video. According to Kumanichi, 110,000 people attended (which is about 109,900 more people than I would like to see on any given day), and all had a grand time. Still, Mickey in the employee canteen eating french fries in his underwear remains for me an indelible image. Video at the link. - William http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161217005.xhtml
被災地に笑顔を　熊本市でディズニーパレード－熊本のニュース│ くまにちコム
熊本日日新聞社が取材した熊本のニュース。新聞紙面に掲載前の記事もお伝えします。

Parade time approaches . . . and the weather is great! I won't be there but I hope those of you who will have a great time!
-- Kirk
熊本市内でディズニーのパレードが行われます！！！銀座通り角の電車通りを出発し電車通りを通行止めにし市役所前、鶴屋前、水道町交差点まで30分かけてパレードをするそうです。ということは・・・熊本にミッキーが来るの？？？車にはミッキーマウス,ミニーマウスドナルドダック、ミーフィー,プルートなど人気のキャラクターが多数乗る予定

Normally, I would be happy to hear that Kumamoto is No. 1 in the world, but not in this case. :(
"The Kumamoto earthquake was the most expensive catastrophe loss for insurers in 2016, just surpassing claims from Hurricane Matthew, according to Swiss Re Sigma estimates."
-- Kirk
Kumamoto quake leads 2016 catastrophe losses | The Insurance Insider
:- Kumamoto quake leads 2016 catastrophe losses

" . . . six deaths between April and September have been confirmed as being related to the Kumamoto Earthquake, bringing the related death total -- separate from direct deaths -- to 102."
-- Kirk
Kumamoto Quake-related deaths top 100 - The Mainichi
ASO, Kumamoto -- Municipal authorities here announced on Dec. 14 that six deaths between April and September have been confirmed as being related to the Kumamoto Earthquake, bringing the related death total -- separate from direct deaths -- to 102.

Senba-bashi (pictured below) lies in a delightful little corner of Kumamoto. It once was the destination of polled boats bringing their wares, particularly fish from Ariake Sea, along Tsuboi River to the castle area; in fact, the castle walls just north of the bridge (now occupied by Daiichi High School) are mostly overlooked but are wonderful for photography (particularly at this time of year, when the camellia are blossoming). It's kanji traditionally is 洗馬橋 ("wash horse bridge") but is also commonly written as 船場橋 ("boat place bridge") - though there is another famous bridge of that name in Uto, so the name is generally written in hiragana. It was for a long period the center of commerce in Kumamoto and has been immortalized in the folk song "Where are You" 「あんたがたどこさ」 - the song plays on the Kumamoto dialect tendency to say "sa" instead of "desu" and includes references to fish and tanuki (racoon dogs) that lived in the nearby hills, which explains the statues of those on the bridge today. Basically (though there are many versions) the lyrics are:
あんたがたどこさ　肥後さ　肥後どこさ　熊本さ　熊本どこさ　船場さ
船場川にはえびさがおってさ　それを漁師が網さで捕ってさ　煮てさ　焼いてさ　食ってさ
Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf-RqKPwMBE
The area is definitely worth a visit. The reason I've brought up this topic is that the Shimotori location of the former Daiei department store has chosen a name for its rebirth: COCOSA. No reason was given for why it was not romanized as "Kokosa" - sometimes in life, there are no reasons, so perhaps that is why. Building of the building is slated to commence from spring and will include a basement and eight above-ground stories. Kumanichi: http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161215003.xhtml - William

On Saturday, TKU will air a program that will include a segment with a foreign resident of Ubuyama-mura. That's fine but I was sorry to see that that person is referred to as "gaikokujin-san." "San," of course, is usually a respectful suffix for names but it has some other usages. It can be be added to certain occupations ("untenshu-san" [driver] or "sumo-san" [sumo wrestler]) and is occasionally added to the word "gaijin." The usage of "gaikokujin-san" in this blurb from TKU is not normal and makes me wonder what the implication is. I also wonder how the people at TKU would feel if I called them "Nihonjin-san."
This program has a history of making fun of foreigners (though they might say they are trying to have fun "with" foreigners -- but I don't take it that way):
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Kumamotoi/photos/?tab=album&album_id=818843191522448
Unfortunately, their playful (小馬鹿にしている?) addition of "-san" to the word "gaikokujin" fits the pattern of their previous shows.
-- Kirk
若っ人ランド　ウェブ検索
12/17 (Sat) 16:30 ～ 17:25 （55分） この時間帯の番組表
テレビ熊本(Ch.8)
番組を観た方だけに総額30万円以上のクリスマスプレゼントが当たるチャンス!まずは熊本の台所・田崎市場で和牛やマグロなどのうまかもんゲット!さらに大分別府の超高級お宿の宿泊券!若っ人と同級生の熊本パルコや洋食店のお食事券、なんとなんとあのジャパネットたかたから家電も!一年に一度の大盤振る舞い!今年最後の運試しで若っ人サンタにお願いしよう!他にも産山村で理想の田舎生活をおくる外国人さんにおがっち密着!

An early Christmas gift for those in southern Aso: The Transportation Ministry has announced that the Tawarayama Tunnel and its accompanying roads are set to open on December 24.
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161213007.xhtml
俵山ルート、２４日に開通　国交省－熊本のニュース│ くまにちコム
熊本日日新聞社が取材した熊本のニュース。新聞紙面に掲載前の記事もお伝えします。

JAL has unveiled new livery on a plane flying between Narita and Kumamoto which includes the phrase ”Let's go to Kyushu!" 「行こう、九州へ, Ikou, Kyushu e」, apparently because no advertising is better than that on a plane taking one to a destination already determined (I mean, what - do you arrive at an airport and choose the plane with the most attractive livery?!) Anyway, it was a nice gesture. Photo is at the link. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161214006.xhtml

Japan Today reports on a bit of news from our neighbor to the south, Kagoshima: A cooperative of dried bonito flake (katsuobushi、かつお節) producers has opened the first European katsuobushi production facility in - of course - France. The cooperative has named itself Makurazaki (枕崎) after their town at the southern tip of Kagoshima, which is hugely famous for katsuobushi.
Three tips! First, there is a shop on Kokai shopping street which sells only one thing: Makurazaki katsuobushi; they go for about 2,000 apiece. Second, if you buy a whole katsuobushi, you might want to get a bonito shredder, as shown below (かつお節削り器, katsuobushi kezuriki). Finally, if you want to see katsuobushi made, I strongly recommend the town of Yamakawa, just south of Ibuski. It is much closer than Makurazaki and accessible from Kumamoto by public transportation. If you have any questions, please let me know. - William
https://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/japanese-cooperative-opens-bonito-plant-in-france

During the 4/18 quake, one of Kyushu Power's (九州電力) viaducts to their hydroelectric plant in Ozu ruptured; this was the main cause of the landslide that has since severed Route 57 through Tateno and, additionally, displaced nine households.
A meeting was held on 12/11 between the households and the company, during which the company agreed to provide housing nearby at no cost for a period of two years, by which time it is hoped their village can be restored. This is separate from other compensation issues, which the company had previously indicated willingness to settle amicably. It's nice to see everyone doing their best to get along. - William
http://this.kiji.is/181219174277103621?c=92619697908483575
自宅敷地を賃貸契約へ　九電貯水流出で住民側 - 熊本日日新聞
　熊本地震で壊れた九州電力黒川第１発電所（熊本県南阿蘇村立野）の貯水槽から大量の水が近くの集落に流出した問題で、土砂崩れで被災した９世帯が１１日、被災家屋のある土地を九電に賃貸する方針を固めた。 　住民によると、大津町の九電施設で会合を開き...

Agreement signed between Kumamoto University, Japan and the Institut Pasteur, France
Kumamoto University, Japan and the Institut Pasteur, France held a signing ceremony for institutional cooperation agreement followed by a workshop on reproductive engineering technology at the end of October 2016.

Hi! I wanted everyone to know about the Sojo University Teaching and Learning Forum which is a one - day conference for English language educators right in Kumamoto. If you'd like more information, check out our website: http://www.nankyujalt.org/sutlf/sutlf-2017
Sojo University Teaching and Learning Forum 2017
Conference Theme: Active Learning in a Globalized World
Conference Day: Saturday, 4 February 2017
Call for Presentations Deadline: Sunday, 25 December 2016
Early Registration Deadline: Sunday, 15 January 2017
Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/200412307031471/
-Levy
SUTLF 2017 - NanKyu Chapter
Homepage for the NanKyu Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT)

When you buy tickets through a JR Kyushu machine, you can choose an English interface. Unfortunately, this post on Debito.org indicates that the choice of English (or inability to read Japanese) can cost you more money. Check out the article to find out why.
-- Kirk
http://www.debito.org/?p=14343

I've already posted about this topic a few times but this article is more detailed than most of the others.
-- Kirk
Detours in Japan / Famous designer, mangaka add luster to Kumamoto rail line
HITOYOSHI, Kumamoto — Kumagawa Rail Road, which runs in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region in southern Kumamoto Prefecture, boasts a tourist excursion train full of great ideas.

Takashi Murakami's smiley balloons cheer Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
TAKAMORI, Kumamoto Prefecture--Artist Takashi Murakami's luminous balloons depicting smiling flowers