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I wrote about this earlier but now I can introduce this English article.
-- Kirk
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-10-31/one-piece-campaign-raises-money-to-revitalize-kumamoto-prefecture/
One Piece Campaign Raises Money to Revitalize Kumamoto Prefecture
Trains and One Piece-related rewards for philanthropy

I've received an interview request from RKK. They are interested in what foreigners living in Kumamoto think of the election results. I don't presume to speak for the entire community so I suggest you chime in here. I'll give RKK the URL to this post and they may (it's up to them, of course) choose to use images from this in their TV broadcast. As they probably won't have time to translate a lot of sophisticated commentary, I would suggest a thumbs up or down or a sticker and a brief reason for your reaction.
-- Kirk

I was on TKU News tonight and got asked about the election result. I'm sorry if you disagree with the opinion I expressed.
-Noel

This Asahi news item includes the video, which shows the inside of the castle.
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201611070063.html
Peek inside Kumamoto Castle shows massive damage：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--In a glimpse of the difficult reconstruction ahead, video images of the interior of the ma

Earlier today Joe posted about a symposium "on some of the early pioneers of internationalization here in Kumamoto, L. L. Janes, Yokoi Shonan, and Yajima Kajiko":
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1190843200989110
That reminded my that I had seen news about the rebuilding of the Janes Residence for about 5 million dollars US:
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/kumamoto/article/287517
The article says that they need to study the remains in order to rebuild it faithfully and that they hope to actually begin construction in 2020. Before it was destroyed in the earthquake, the Janes Residence was the oldest Western-style structure in Kumamoto Prefecture. I was first built in 1871 then moved to its current location in 1970. The following site says that carpenters were brought Nagasaki, where they had worked on the Glover residence, to build the Janes residence. The Glover residence has outlived its younger cousin and is the oldest Western-style wooden structure in Japan.
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-museums/janes-residence-kumamoto
-- Kirk
ジェーンズ邸復旧に５億円　熊本市方針
熊本地震で全壊した県指定重要文化財の洋学校教師館「ジェーンズ邸」（熊本市中央区水前寺公園）を管理する熊本市は７日、...

Joe Tomei here
This Saturday (12 Nov), there will be a Symposium on some of the early pioneers of internationalization here in Kumamoto, L. L. Janes, Yokoi Shonan, and Yajima Kajiko. The symposium starts at 2 and goes to 5:30. The event will be at the Takahashi Morio Hall at Kumamoto Gakuen University, and admission is free.

Today, November 7, marks the first day of winter (立冬, りっとう） according to the traditional calendar. Kumanichi reports that migratory birds have been flocking to Lake Ezu to spend the winter; apparently, some 3,000 birds of ten species winter in the area. You'll likely see flocks in V-formation flying overhead; visit the lake in winter and the warmth of the water relative to the early morning air leaves it covered with a layer of mist. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161107001.xhtml
きょう立冬　渡り鳥のシルエット優雅に　江津湖－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。

As some of you probably know, Kumamoto University now has a Global College, in which classes are taught entirely in English (or at least that's my understanding). Cultural festivals are in full swing at many universities in Kumamoto and the global college has three events going the you can participate in tomorrow. First, from 10:00 to 11:30, there will be a bilingual (English and Japanese haiku event. Second, from 11:30 to 13:30 you can learn to make Korea food (but you may need to register in advance for this). Third, from 13:30 to 15:30 there will be an event related to Natsume Soseki with intercultural games.
Actually, the event started today. Sorry this announcement is so late. I hope those of you who are interested can participate tomorrow (Saturday, the 5th).
-- Kirk
Contents
Friday November 4, Saturday November 5
“Natsume Soseki Haiku Relay ①” (10:00 – 11:30)
・Enjoy reading haiku written by Natsume Soseki and winners of the International “Kusamakura” Haiku Competition in both English and Japanese! (Haiku will be prepared for you to read)
・Participants will receive a prize after reading!
“Learn How to Make Traditional Korean Food” (11:30 – 13:30)
・Watch and learn as Korean international students make toppoki, sudubu jigae, and chijimi!
・Enjoy eating the food afterward!
“Natsume Soseki Haiku Relay ②” (13:30 – 15:00)
Other Events　(All Day)
Traditional games will also be held throughout the day. Feel free to join any time!
Presentations about study abroad will also be held throughout the day.
http://www.c3.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/en/2242/
内容
11月4日（金）、5日（土）
「夏目漱石の俳句音読リレー①」(10:00 – 11:30)
・夏目漱石の俳句集と「草枕」国際俳句大会入賞作品の中から5句選んで、英語と日本語で読んでみよう！！（俳句集は用意しています）
・参加者全員景品ゲット！
「韓国の家庭料理を作ってみよう」 (11:30 – 13:30)
・熊本大学の韓国出身留学生がトッポギ、スンドゥブチゲ、チヂミの作り方を教えます！
・試食もあります
「夏目漱石の俳句音読リレー②」(13:30 – 15:00)
その他　(終日)
国際交流ゲームなど自由にご参加ください！
学生による留学体験紹介もあり！

http://www.c3.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/2076/
403 Forbidden

A new mini video in the series about Aso Shrine is now ready to view and share! Please make sure you watch the video on YouTube,as this is how the 0.1¥ per view donation to Aso shrine from various advertisers is generated.
-Posted by Charmaine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2aZj4badso&list=PLbxBXy6IJCdd2pSwdmVZOJj1PhgLrW35a
阿蘇神社 災害復旧工事着工 Aso Shrine Restoration -Taking on the Challenge-
皆様にご心配いただいておりました阿蘇神社の災害復旧工事は１１月１日より本格的に着工する運びとなりました。楼門はおよそ1年をかけて解体工事が行われ、拝殿に関しましては年内には解体が完了する見込みです。今後も皆様の変わらぬご支援を賜りますよう心よりお願いを申し上げます。 ※この動画の再生中に広告が表示されます。その広...

Higo temari are decorative balls unique to Kumamoto and associated with Hina Festival (ひなまつり 、雛祭り). Our friend AnnMarie spotted one with a more modern Kumamon motif. The video linked below shows how they are made. Fun fact! - they serve well as Christmas ornaments and thus make excellent presents for the folks back home. - William
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdajfFJAVQo

"Following the biggest tremor, the number of displaced people surpassed 180,000. At one time, there were 855 shelters that had sprung up around the prefecture." -- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201611010061.html
All Kumamoto shelters for quake evacuees to close for good：The Asahi Shimbun
MASHIKI, Kumamoto Prefecture--Six months after a series of earthquakes devastated the region, three

Someone had asked if there was a "Trap neuter release" program for stray cats in Kumamoto. This vet is doing this from Nov 22nd- Nov 28th. You'll need to make a reservation though. Check out this site for information.
-- Levy
http://ryunosukeah.wixsite.com/boxryunosuke

"Kumagawa Railroad launched the sightseeing train operated under the “One Piece” theme between Hitoyoshi-Onsen Station in Hitoyoshi and Yunomae Station in Yunomae, both in Kumamoto Prefecture, on Oct. 29." -- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201610310064.html
‘One Piece’ train begins runs to help Kumamoto rebuilding：The Asahi Shimbun
HITOYOSHI, Kumamoto Prefecture--Usually sailing the high seas, the Straw Hat Pirates of the popular

From collapsed houses to concrete: Disposing of debris resulting from the quakes was a huge problem, but governments came together to find an optimal solution: recycling. As part of this program, some seven thousand tons of wood waste were transferred to Yatsushiro, where it was chipped and loaded onto ships to be sent to a Taiheiyo Cement plant in Niigata for use as fuel (Kumamoto does not have facilities equipped to handle such fuel, so over half of wood waste was transferred to facilities outside of the prefecture). The resulting ash was then used as an ingredient in the cement.
On October 31, the first of several return shipments arrived back in Yatsushiro to deliver the cement, which will be used in reconstruction. Though transport costs added to the financial burden of local governments, as one official said, "The method was necessitated by the haste of recovery." A Taiheiyo official remarked, "Separation of recyclable items is complex, but we hope to increase recyclable categories in future." The photo below shows three tons of resulting cement being pumped from a transport ship to a holding facility in Yatsushiro. - William
http://this.kiji.is/165991313032282117?c=92619697908483575
災害廃棄物セメントに　県内の復興事業に利用 - 熊本日日新聞
専用船からホースを使って荷揚げされる木くずを利用して製造されたセメント＝３１日、八代港 　熊本地震で被災した益城町の住宅の解体で出た木くずを製造プラントの燃料に使い、その焼却灰を混ぜてつくったセメントの第１便３千トンが３１日、新潟県から八代...

Suntory Holdings on October 31 announced a further donation of 300 million yen for earthquake relief activities in Kumamoto. Dubbed "Water Country Kumamoto Support Project," donations were split in two, with half earmarked for water-related projects and half for cultural and sports support for youth.
In Mashiki, headwater conservation and paddy restoration will be targeted, with research to be conducted on aquifer mechanisms and the results used for the expansion of water conservation measures. In addition, facilities for music and sports will be created for youth in Mashiki, and members of various Suntory-sponsored sports teams are slated to visit to provide instruction to local youth.
Additionally, Suntory's facility in Mashiki-neighboring Kashima Town will begin limited production on November 8, with full-scale production expected next spring. If you drink beer, make it a Suntory. Thanks, guys! - William
http://this.kiji.is/165991344221143045?c=92619697908483575
サントリーが復興支援に３億円　地下水保全や芸術・スポーツ - 熊本日日新聞
熊本地震からの復興支援活動について発表したサントリーホールディングスの福本ともみ執行役員（左）。右は田嶋徹副知事＝３１日、県庁 　サントリーホールディングスは３１日、新たに３億円を拠出して熊本地震からの復興支援活動を始めると発表した。地下水...

One of this trio from Uto City was the 50 thousandth visitor to the Ghibli exhibition underway at the Kumamoto Contemporary Museum of Art. While, technically, they could not all have been the 50 thousandth visitor, considering sibling rivalry, the museum wisely opted to award it to them as a group. The clearly frazzled mother commented that she loves Ghibli because it calms her. Ganbatte, mom! The exhibition continues through January 9. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161031005.xhtml

Google provided a map of which countries had access to their Halloween Google Doodle that left me a bit perplexed. Of course, countries with no Internet access such as North Korea were excluded; others may have been due to a lack of awareness of the holiday, such as those in Africa, I assume. Still, why did Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh get it, but India did not? We are fortunate here in Japan to be connected to the Google "in" crowd. I killed three ghosts in as many seconds before deciding that was about as much time as I wanted to spend with it, but others may differ. The link offers more details, including said map. Happy Halloween! - William
https://www.google.com/doodles/halloween-2016
Halloween 2016
Happy Halloween!Grab your wand and help fend off a ghostly catastrophe. Press play to swipe spells, save your friends, and help restore the peace at the Magic Cat Academy.

The Marubun bookstore on Kamitori, aka "the kappa bookstore," has almost completed its renovation and is slated to open on November 18. A burst rooftop water tank and severe damage to the building's steel frame necessitated lengthy repairs. The interior of the shop has been completely remodeled, and to increase sales space, mounting the kappa statue on a wall was considered, but eventually it was decided to recreate the small pond that the kappa has graced since 1970. Two smaller kappa statues previously placed in other locations will now join the main kappa in the pond center.
We had written earlier on the multitude of hand-written notes the shop's fans had left on the closed shop's shutters. A shop spokesman noted, "The overwhelming support turned into great energy for us." - William
http://this.kiji.is/164556835394979316?c=92619697908483575
名物かっぱ像にまた会える　上通「まるぶん」 11月18日再開 - 熊本日日新聞
１１月１８日の営業再開に向け、改装工事中の「金龍堂まるぶん店」。名物のかっぱ像は新しい台座で客を出迎える＝熊本市 　「かっぱの本屋さん」として親しまれる熊本市中央区上通町の老舗書店「金龍堂まるぶん店」が、熊本地震の被害から復旧し、１１月１８...

Kumamoto-based Ajisen Ramen, which already operates shops across Asia and the United States, plans to open their first European outlet in Italy, presumably because the Italians need to be taught a thing or two about how to properly prepare noodles. The shop is scheduled to open on December 21 in the international terminal of the Aeroporto Internazionale Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino (less poetically known as Rome Airport). So now, when in Rome, you can do as the Romans do as the Japanese do. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161027006.xhtml
味千拉麺、欧州初出店へ　ローマに12月－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。

For your entertainment, Kumamoto-born comic Korokke-san (コロッケさん) has recorded his mimicked versions of several of his talento pals as announcements for seven of the Streetcar Line stops. They are: Shimura Ken (志村けん) for Kengun Kotsumae; Awatani Noriko (淡谷のり子) for Kengun; Mori Shinichi (森進一) for Suizenji; Segawa Eiko and Mikawa Kenichi (瀬川瑛子,美川憲一 ) for the respective uptown and downtown Suidocho stops; Takeda Tetsuya (武田鉄矢) for Shiyakusho Mae; and again Shimura Ken and Awatani Noriko for Gion Bashi and Kumamoto Station, respectively (hey, even a mimic runs out of inspiration). The recordings will begin on November 1 and will run through March 3. If this does not make you shiver with anticipation, nothing will.
This is a good excuse to ride the tram! (I'll wave to you from my car while you glide on past so smoothly.) - William
http://this.kiji.is/164176874917823995?c=92619697908483575
ものまねで「次は～水前寺」コロッケさん、市電の停留所案内 - 熊本日日新聞
　熊本市電の車内アナウンスに１１月１日から、タレントのコロッケさん（５６）の声が使われる。「水前寺公園」「熊本城市役所前」など七つの電停を知らせる案内を、志村けんさん、武田鉄矢さんなど６人のものまねで告げる。来年３月３１日まで全車両で流さ...