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Livestock farmers from Ozu Machi smashed auction records with a Japanese Black female calf named Yasuhana sold for almost 4 million yen. Good for them! The only comment I have regards how the picture caption indicates the succesful bidder as "center" and the breeder as "right" yet gives us no info on which is Yasuhana-chan (perhaps left?). William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161209005.xhtml

Tsujunkyo (通潤橋), built in 1854, was not built to be a bridge but as an aqueduct to water the Shiroito Plateau south of Yabe. To save on material costs, the center of the bridge is lower than either side. Knowing that this could result in an accumulation of sediment, the bridge architects incorporated a flushing system, which is what the bridge is most famous for now.
Damage to the aqueduct due to the quakes was significant, but Kumanichi reports that Yabe has contracted with a local company for repairs which are expected to be completed by 2018. The construction will include stabilizing stones shifted in the quakes and replacing mortar to again allow water flow. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161209001.xhtml

YOKA is always beautifully prepared and then published in an easy to utilize pdf format. Enjoy the latest edition!
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/2016/11/22/autumn-2016-yoka/
-- Kirk

The film "Girl Rising" will be shown in the AV Hall in the library of Kumamoto Gakuen University on Saturday, December 10th. Show times are 10:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, and 19:00 (5 showings). Admission is free and open to the general public. The movie is in English with Japanese subtitles. It is rating 7.3 (quite high) on the IMDb (International Movie Database) website. Here's the opening of a user review:
"I recently had the privilege of seeing Girl Rising, 10x10's gripping documentary about nine girls from around the world, and why educating them—and every girl—is vitally important to our future.
Each of these amazing, resilient girls comes from one of nine countries: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Peru and Sierra Leone. They all have incredible stories to tell, each with unimaginable hardships, but also with hope."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2444946/reviews?ref_=tt_ql_op_3
Here's the address of the official website:
http://girlrising.com
And here's the Japanese announcement about the showing at Gakuendai:
http://www.lib.kumagaku.ac.jp/news/news1888.html
-- Kirk

Famous designer, manga artist add lustre to Kumamoto rail line
Kumagawa Rail Road, which runs in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region in southern Kumamoto Prefecture, boasts a tourist excursion train full of great ideas.

Punk mascot Kikuchi-kun pulls no punches in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
KIKUCHI, Kumamoto Prefecture--He has green hair and a blue face. His eyes, wide open, look dried up.

Bali seeks cooperation from Kumamoto to combat rabies
Bali Province Administration is seeking cooperation from Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan to understand the methods of combating rabies, which is transmitted by infected dogs. Head of Livestock and Animal Health Office of Bali I Putu Sumantra said here on Monday that Kumamoto Prefecture has done ...

A note from the Kumamoto International Volcanology and Seismology Desks (merged due to budget cuts): Kumanichi offered an update on Mount Aso's mood on the second month anniversary of it's 36-year record-breaking burp. Apparently - nobody knows. Its gas output is fluctuating between 1,000 (normal) and 3,000 (lots) tons per day, and it continues to vent much heat (these conditions are how my wife normally describes me).
Of particular concern is the prevalence of what the article called 「Ｂ型地震」, something I correctly guessed would be expressed in English as "B type earthquake"; apparently, these are very low-frequency, shallow (>1km) quakes (in reference, the Tokai quake depth was around 600km, while most of the Kumamoto quakes have been at 10km) thought to be caused by expansion and contraction of magma or gas bubbles and are occuring at a rate of several dozen daily not just at the peak but in surrounding areas. The science is still out on this, so maybe we'll all die tomorrow, but probably not.
Below are two links, the first to the Kumanichi article (Japanese) and the second to an introduction to volcano seismology (English - nothing impresses your friends more than stating with confidence, "Nah, that was just a Ｂ型地震"). Enjoy! - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161206006.xhtml
http://kiska.giseis.alaska.edu/input/sanchez/volcseis.html#HighFreq

Another article about the 'One Piece' train . . .
‘One Piece’ train helps efforts to get Kumamoto back on track：The Asahi Shimbun
TAKAMORI, Kumamoto Prefecture--“One Piece” creator Eiichiro Oda, one of Kumamoto’s favorite sons, te

Librarians save valuable lessons from Kumamoto earthquakes：The Asahi Shimbun
MASHIKI, Kumamoto Prefecture--Ephemera used at times of disaster often gets forgotten or thrown away

Joint training kicks off in Kumamoto, Japan
CAMP KENGUN, Komamoto Prefecture, Japan - Yama Sakura 71 officially commenced with an opening ceremony held at the Japan Ground Self Defense Force Western Army Headquarters on Camp Kengun, Japan, Dec. 5, 2016. This annual command post exercise is co-sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and the Japan Groun...

In a stunning turn of events, Kumamon toppled Funashii (ふなっしー, Chiba Prefecture's Twinkyesque, pathetic excuse for a mascot) in this year's Japan Research Center poll, achieving the top position for the first time ever due to support spread over a wide range of age demographics. Third place went to that raggedy band of mascots, Mickey and Friends, likely as their sponsor is stingy with funding. (Oh - they're slated to visit this month. Best play nice, though we'd all rather see Kumamon.) - William
http://this.kiji.is/178317555886884342?c=92619697908483575
くまモン好感度１位　悲願の「ふなっしー」超え - 熊本日日新聞
都内のイベントで共演したくまモン（右）とふなっしー＝２０１５年９月　日本リサーチセンター（東京）が１０月に行ったキャラクター好感度調査で、熊本県のＰＲキャラクター「くまモン」が１位を獲得した。調査は３年目で、これまではトップは「ふなっしー」...

Scoring a job as a miko (巫女, shrine maiden) for the New Year's rush is highly coveted among upper-grade high school and college students; not only does the position add prestige, it also supplements the otoshidama (お年玉、New Year's cash gift - which, at their age, tends to fall off precipitously, if not in amount, in accordance with need). Here, Kumanichi reports on young women attending an orientation at Kato Shrine, learning how to don their hakama. One woman was quoted as saying, "The traditional dress awakened me to the solemn atmosphere."
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161205001.xhtml

It's the most magical time of the year - Yes! Almost time for dried mullet roe (からすみ)! Kumanichi reports on preparation for this New Year's delicacy; the roe is set on a roof to enjoy two to three weeks of Ushibuka weather before being sold for some 6,000 yen per hundred grams (this being Sunday, I don't feel like doing the math, but off the top of my head, I'd figure that's about one yen per fish egg). On a related note, dried squid (スルメ) is also available now at many stores, including Cosmos. If you buy a small hibachi, surume makes a great party. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161204002.xhtml
ツヤツヤ「からすみ」天日干し　天草市牛深町－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。

Exhibition of manga art supporting Kumamoto
KUMAMOTO — A special exhibition is being held at two museums in two towns in Kumamoto Prefecture, showcasing popular manga artists’ illustrations supporting the prefecture hit by the Kumamoto Earthquake in April.

Hi! I have a Japanese student who has begun studying Indonesian. He is particularly interested in becoming friends with people from Indonesia who would be willing to help him learn the language in exchange for help with Japanese. If you are interested, please send a message to this page with your e-mail address. I will give him any e-mail addresses that we receive and he will contact you directly. Terima kasih banyak!
-- Kirk

Hi, Joe Tomei here. We have a kenkyukai at Kumamoto Gakuen on the recent presidential election and the TPP this Saturday. We planned this before the election, with a much different political landscape. While the meeting will be in Japanese, it will give you a chance to hear Japanese opinions on the incoming administration and other related issues.

This is not directly related to Kumamoto but to Japan in general and the use of nuclear power when operators go "Whoops!" The sarcophagus covering the Chernobyl disaster site has been moved into place. The article states, "Ukraine’s president, Petro Poroshenko, speaks at a ceremony celebrating the construction of the shelter" - though "celebrate" may be an inappropriate word here. The Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima, just south of Kuamamoto, is currently the only operative nuclear facility in Japan.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/29/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster-site-covered-with-shelter-prevent-radiation-leaks-ukraine
Chernobyl disaster site enclosed by shelter to prevent radiation leaks
Ukraine plant reactor, scene of worst nuclear accident in history in 1986, covered with airtight structure after years of work

Amakusa is famed for, among other things, its five bridges, the first of which connects Misumi and Oyano towns. It is that type of bridge that you hope will still be there by the time you reached the other side.
As part of a major roadworks project to connect a planned new interchange on the Kyushu Expressway between Ueki and Kumamoto ICs with Hondo, a new bridge is being built to supplement the No. 1 bridge. Its arch was completed yesterday, as can be seen in the below photograph.
More information on the new and very-welcomed route can be found at the link. I'll write more on this topic later. - William
http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/amakusa/kiji_1911.html

Joe Tomei here. Not only not as erudite as William or Kirk, but also about Oita, not Kumamoto. But I have to note that the mayor of Beppu is promising to create a 'Spamusement Park' with 1 million views of this Youtube video.
100万再生で実現！別府市・湯～園地計画！ “1 Million Views Make it a Reality!” Beppu City Spamusement Park Project
人が入れる温泉として世界一の湧出量を誇る大分県別府市では、 この度温泉都市別府の魅力を国内外にむけて幅広く発信すべく、 新たな都市ビジョンとして“遊べる温泉都市構想”を策定。 構想実現にむけた取り組みの第一弾として、 「湯～園地」計画公約ムービーを別府市内で開催中のイベントONSENアカデミアにて発表、 同日We...