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History and airplane fans, pen this in for your Tuesday, May 31 schedule.
Ishitsuka Masahide, 55, an entrepreneur who renders sheep into flight jackets (company Website here http://www.thefewmfg.com/top.html ), has lived in Christchurch, New Zealand for 30 years, so he certainly is no stranger to earthquakes. His business has apparently been sufficiently lucrative to afford him the purchase in 2010 of one of the few remaining functional Zero fighter planes from a collector in America (the photo at the link shows the plane flying over California; more photos here http://tinyurl.com/hgnm2b8 ). After being transport back to Japan, the plane took its first test flight over Kagoshima in January of this year. He had planned to first publicly exhibit the craft in April, but the Kumamoto quakes caused a rethink.
Instead, the plane is now scheduled to make the 30-minute flight from Kagoshima to Kumamoto airport, arriving around 11:30 on Tuesday, May 31. After checks, the plane is expected to depart at 13:00 for a flight over Mashiki and Minamiaso. Ishitsuka-san, whose factory suffered damage in the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, said, "I know that the continuing aftershocks stain the soul with fear. Psychologically, it is a difficult time. I hope the sight of the Zero will be of some help to alleviate this."
Kumamoto has a deep relationship with Mitsubishi, the builder of the Zero, and while that model was never built here, others were. I'll introduce this in a future post. - William
http://this.kiji.is/109471712255016969?c=92619697908483575
被災地の空、ゼロ戦飛行を計画　 - 熊本日日新聞
　熊本地震の被災者を勇気づけようと、ニュージーランド在住の会社社長石塚政秀さん（５５）は３１日、所有する旧日本海軍の零式艦上戦闘機（ゼロ戦）の飛行を益城町や南阿蘇村上空で計画している。 　石塚さんは２０１０年、米国人コレクターが所有していた...

Those familiar with Kamitori know well the Kappa statue which has welcomed guests to the Marubun book store since 1970. Though constructed of fragile bronze, light enough to be lifted by a single person, and not affixed to its base, the statue fared far better during the quakes than did the store itself, which has suffered severe structural damage and is not expected to reopen until August at earliest. In the meantime, the Kappa statue has become a symbol of the resilience of Kumamoto, with fans affixing notes to the lowered store shutters encouraging the store's revival.
Kappa are known Anglophiles, so notes written in English would also be welcome.
http://this.kiji.is/109471724423217158?c=92619697908483575
シンボル　かっぱ像、奇跡の鎮座　被災の上通の老舗書店 - 熊本日日新聞
営業再開を目指す「金龍堂まるぶん店」の従業員たちと名物のかっぱ像。小型の２体を含め無傷だった＝熊本市中央区 　熊本市の上通アーケードで「かっぱの本屋さん」として親しまれている老舗書店「金龍堂まるぶん店」が、熊本地震で被災し、長期休業している...

Despite sustaining a fair amount of damage in the earthquake, Honmyouji Temple is still a lovely place to visit.
- Celia
http://promotekyushuproject.blogspot.jp/2016/05/earthquake-damage-at-honmyouji-temple.html

Yuji Hashimoto, when not playing a mean sax, spends his time promoting Kumamoto food. He was recently photographed and quoted in a Nishinihon Shinbun article at a Thailand exhibition promoting Kyushu cuisine. "Thailand has a noodle-eating culture, and is thus a very attractive market. Our exports to the country have doubled," he said.
Yuji-san can be found wherever fine jazz is played.
http://qbiz.jp/article/87582/1/
九州の味をタイへ　国際見本市に地場４社出展
　【バンコク浜田耕治】東南アジア最大級の国際食品見本市「タイフェクス２０１６」が、タイのバンコク郊外で開かれている。世界各国から食品メーカーや商社など計約１６００社が参加。九州の地場企業４社も ...

The Kumanich supplied a handy chart showing number and intensities on the shindo scale of quakes since the first on April 14. The article notes that May 23 marked the first day since then during which quakes of shindo 1 (considered the lowest noticeable to humans) or higher marked less than 10, with numbers continuing in single digits since.
The article also notes, though, that history shows this number may fluctuate over several months after such a large quake, and authorities call for continued caution.
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160526010.xhtml
１日当たり地震回数、３日連続１桁　気象庁－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。

If you are interested in listening to high-quality audio documentaries and, after the Kumamoto earthquakes, would like to learn about problems associated with recovery from a disaster in the United States, you may enjoy this.
https://soundcloud.com/frontlinepbs/business-of-disaster?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FrontlineAudiocastPbs+%28FRONTLINE+-+Audiocast+%7C+PBS%29
You can download the mp3 here
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FrontlineAudiocastPbs/~5/gavvX8v5mCo/265851073-frontlinepbs-business-of-disaster.mp3
Business of Disaster
Who profits when disaster strikes? FRONTLINE and NPR investigate.

FedEx delivers aid to earthquake affected Kumamoto, Japan
Air Cargo News, Airlines Newsletter, Aviation News, Logistics News, Air Cargo World, Cargo News Asia, Airlines Breaking News, Priority Cargo, Airlines News, Pharmaceutical Exports

Not cool . . .
http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2016/05/24/civic-employee-sent-to-kumamoto-used-offical-car-to-visit-love-hotel-with-hooker/
Civic employee sent to Kumamoto used offical car to visit love hotel with hooker | The Tokyo...
Takeo City employee parked an official vehicle at a love hotel in Kumamoto and ordered a 'delivery health' prostitute

Our dear friends Helen Mcnamara and Liz Suenaga shared this:
"This is a very short video about the shrine a friend and I are trying to help. Every click on the video will give a teeny tiny donation to Aso Shrine, and we want to get as many views as possible, so please watch on repeat and share with as many people as you can and help send this around the world!
(If you click on settings you will be able to activate the English subtitles.)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKp_zR6Ukbc&sns=fb
#1【阿蘇神社 権禰宜 内村泰彰さん】Hiroaki Uchimura -Aso Shrine Gonnegi-
4月16日未明に発生した熊本地震により阿蘇神社が甚大な被害を受けました。阿蘇神社で神職を務める内村泰彰さんに復旧に向けてお話を伺いました。 The huge earthquake hits Kumamoto prefecture on April 16. The simbolic two-storey tower...

Traffic access through Aso is improving, according to the Kumanichi, with a 6.6 kilometer stretch of Yamanami Highway blocked by landslides reopened and a road from Kikuchi to Aso now clear (both indicated by blue on the linked map - red is still no-go). http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160525012.xhtml
If you have never driven Yamanami Highway in the sunshine - where the days are longer, the nights are stronger than, well - check it out here (substitute Ventura Highway and you'll get the gist). It is a lovely drive that you will never forget. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQCjHC0m54E

Here's a link to an article and a question about capitalization. The article begins "The east of Kumamoto city on the island of Kyushu . . ." I've seen "Kumamoto city" several times since the quakes. I think this is a mistake that should follow the following examples:
New York City (not "New York city")
Kumamoto High School ("high school" is capitalized because it's part of the name)
Boston Marathon (not "Boston marathon" because "marathon" is part of the name)
etc., etc.
Am I missing something or were the people writing "Kumamoto city" in this and other articles just not paying attention in school?
-- Kirk
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160524/1040134449/japan-earthquake-damages.html
Japan to Suffer Up to $41.8Bln in Damages From Deadly April Earthquake
Damages from last month’s deadly earthquake in southern Japan are estimated at 2.4 trillion yen to 4.6 trillion yen ($21.8 billion to $41.8 billion), according to government data published in the Japanese press Tuesday.

Kumanichi reports on the evacuee tent village set up primarily by Tokyo-based mountaineer Noguchi Ken in the area around Athletic Park in Mashiki, where some 600 evacuees currently reside. Concerns regarding rising temperatures and the approaching rainy season have led authorities to begin nudging evacuees to move to six indoor evacuation centers, primarily the gymnastic arena located in the park, and plan to close the tent village by the end of May. Mashiki town officials visited the tent village to gather opinions, many of which expressed a desire to remain in the tents. The following were reported.
"I'm afraid to sleep indoors."
"The area is spacious and ideal, but the single-sheet partition between living areas makes me anxious."
"My husband and daughter arise early for work and school, and I do not want to trouble others."
"If I cannot overcome my fear of earthquakes, I may return to living in my car."
Noguchi noted his understanding of safety issues behind the move, but also said, "All efforts must be made to prevent a return to living in cars. We can create an environment allowing escape from midday heat. I am currently searching for a private site where the tent village can be relocated."
- William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160524011.xhtml
テント村「まだいたい…」　閉鎖予定の益城町－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。

Leroy Lansing Janes was the first foreigner to live in Kumamoto - he came here as an English teacher in the late 1800's and a was a trailblazer in many ways. The museum dedicated to his life (which was also the birthplace of the Japanese Red Cross) was completely destroyed in the earthquake.
This photographic special includes my personal photographs of the museum, and a few shots taken this week of what is left of it.
- Celia
http://promotekyushuproject.blogspot.jp/2016/05/memories-of-teacher-janes-mansion.html

Is this true? Surely they could draft in some extra staff from an unaffected area and get things moving a little.....
Most relief money for quake-hit Kumamoto yet to reach victims
Most of the 750 million yen ($6.8 million) in relief money for victims of the powerful earthquakes that hit Kumamoto…

" . . . there are almost 10,000 people remaining in evacuation centres and many are in serious need of continued support from the Red Cross."
http://reliefweb.int/report/japan/months-hardship-ahead-kumamoto-earthquake-evacuees
Months of hardship ahead for Kumamoto earthquake evacuees
By Hler Gudjonsson, IFRC Two devastating earthquakes struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture on the 14th and 16th of May, killing 67 people and damaging or destroying around 75,000 houses. The earthquakes caused the displacement of more than 180,000 people but most evacuees have now found places to stay,...

This page soliciting donations to help rebuild the castle includes the following English explanation:
--- start quote ---
All donators will receive an e-book of Kumamoto Castle Special Edition, of weekly “Japan Castle”, published by DeAGOSTINI. (The e-book is only in Japanese.)
Kumamoto Castle is one of the three most magnificent castles in Japan. It was constructed on the order of Kiyomasa Kato in 1607. This truly grand and magnificent castle was seriously damaged by the massive earthquakes in April, and now needs your help for its reconstruction.
This fund raising will give you an opportunity to express your support for the castle.
Thank you for your kind and warm support.
--- end quote ---
http://donation.yahoo.co.jp/detail/5064001/
「天下の名城」熊本城が、地震で損壊！　修復再建に支援を！！ - Yahoo!ネット募金
安心して募金ができる団体が揃う募金のポータルサイト。クレジットカード、Ｔポイントが使えます！

Another one not to miss - Suizenji Park, top tourist attraction in the city, is FREE for the next 7 days. A few cracks here and there and the water level is lower than usual in the pond, but other than that the park is just as lovely as it always is. Beat the summer crowds and visit now!
Seeing as you're saving money on the entry fee, consider grabbing an ikinari dango at the entrance or a cup of green tea from the tea house in the park. #supportlocal
- Celia
http://promotekyushuproject.blogspot.jp/2016/05/suizenji-park-free-entry-for-one-more.html

The M.C.Escher exhibition at the CAMK has less than 3 weeks left - I highly recommend checking this out, particularly as entrance is free! Consider spending your ticket money in the gift shop (which is awesome) or in the cafe instead.
- Celia
http://promotekyushuproject.blogspot.jp/2016/05/mcescher-at-contemporary-art-museum.html

Kumamoto is home to quite a few important manufacturing facilities. This Sony plant is fairly near near Ozu (between Aso and Kumamoto City).
https://www.cinema5d.com/sonys-sensor-production-slowly-restarting-in-wake-of-kumamoto-earthquake/
Sony's Sensor Production Slowly Restarting in Wake of Kumamoto Earthquake | cinema5D
Japanese manufacturers suffered the closure of sensor and electronics manufacturing sites in Japan after the Kumamoto earthquake and aftershocks.

Another valuable resource from the Kumamoto JET website:
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/living-in-kumamoto/health/english-speaking-doctors-in-kumamoto/
English Speaking Doctors in Kumamoto Kumamoto JET
English Speaking Doctors in Kumamoto This is an up-to-date map of English Speaking Doctors in Kumamoto Prefecture. If you have been to an English Speaking doctor on your time on JET, please email the PAs with the information so we can include it! Regardless of which medical facility you visit, be su...