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Kirk here with a recommendation for people in need of a good lawyer who speaks English. The man whose image you see is KITAZATO Toshiaki. My wife needed some legal advice (NOT regarding how to divorce me, thank goodness ;) ) and decided to enlist his services. I first met him when my wife and I visited his office. It was only then that I learned that he had studied at Harvard Law School, which seems to be considered to be a pretty good place to study law -- at least that's what I hear. ;)
Actually, I met Kitazato-sensei a long time ago but never got around to posting about him on this page. I'm only posting now because I got an inquiry about a good divorce lawyer that speaks English. As I wrote above, that's not what my wife and I were talking to him about but I see on his website that he does deal with divorce, in addition to many other legal issues. If any of you have any other tips about good English-speaking lawyers (particularly divorce lawyers), please share your wisdom here. Comments to this post are particularly welcome but, if you prefer, please feel to write to me directly, or to the page, with recommendations.
Addendum: As one might expect from his study at Harvard, I would put Kitazato-sensei in the "high-powered" category of lawyers. It became clear in talking with him that he hobnobs with politicians and is generally well-connected. That's good but that means that his fees may be a bit higher than others. By the way, though I don't think he charges extra for it, he's a related to KITASATO Shibasaburo, the famous physician and bacteriologist from Kumamoto who is "remembered as the co-discoverer of the infectious agent of bubonic plague in Hong Kong during an outbreak in 1894." (quote from Wikipedia)
http://www.kumamoto-keizai.co.jp/content/asp/kuma/detail.asp?PageID=21&id=2469&word=&k_id=37
https://kitazato.net/staff-introduction/

Kirk here with some information from Megan.
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Upcoming Used Book Fair in Mifune:
March 9 & March 10, 2024
A great way to support a wonderful local community!
2024年
3月9(土),10(日)
11: 00-18: 00 ( 10日は ~17 : 30 )
街なかギャラリー
〒861-3207 熊本県上益城郡御船町御船 794
【ミフネ古本市・大山鹿古本市について】
古本タケシマ文庫:096-223-5145
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Apologies to Megan for being so late. Megan, do you have any idea about whether or not any English-language books might be available? Even if not, I think this will be worth visiting. Ikeda Movable Print (my translation of 池田活版印刷所) is participating in the event. It's a Japanese typesetting printshop that started in 1890 (!!):
https://ikedakappan.com/index.php/about/history.html
The area itself if very historic; it's on the old Buzen Kaido, the route traveled in the Edo period. I've enjoyed touring the stretch of the same old road in Yamaga and would love to visit this area, though I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it this weekend.
Here's a Kumanichi page that has a useful Google map:
https://kumanichi.com/event/1341231

William Kumanichi reports that Mt Aso is acting up a bit and provides two lovely photos. The article describes a "fire phenomenon" in which high-temperature volcanic gas ejected from underground causes the walls of a crater to become red-hot. The Japan Meteorological Agency raised the eruption alert level from 1 to 2 (restrictions around the crater) and warned of risk of volcanic blocks and pyroclastic flows within a radius of about 1 km from the crater. Click on the photos for a better view.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1347306

Kirk back after a bit of an absence. Today I read that YAMAMOTO Riken has won the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The statement on the Pritzker website includes the following sentence: "As founder and principal of architecture studio Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop, Yamamoto’s major works include Hotakubo Housing (1991) in Kumamoto, Japan, a complex of 110 units that share a central green space and adjacencies . . . " They listed the ken'ei jutaku (県営住宅; the low-cost housing development run by the prefecture) first!!
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/2024-pritzker-architecture-prize-riken-yamamoto
I'm particularly pleased that this public works project has received high praise because it's only a few minutes walk from my home; I'm happy to be living in proximity to greatness. :)
Hiring top-notch architects like Yamamoto to do public works projects was part of the Artpolis project. "The Kumamoto Artpolis project was the brainchild of the then Governor of Kumamoto, Morihiro Hosokawa, and architect Arata Isozaki."
https://www.japan-experience.com/all-about-japan/kumamoto/attractions-excursions/kumamoto-artpolis
Arata is another Pritzker Prize winner. Here's something I posted about his connection to Artpolis a while back:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02wmN7f6fWnPHeWKPJv5y2AqJNRWwu7RQEWFNEN3ackiRBhMGwmufkpKz5HQUtzAnxl
The Artpolis project also led to ANDO Tadao, yet another Pritzker Prize winner, designing buildings for Kumamoto. Click on the following to view previous posts about Ando's work here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search?q=Ando%20Tadao
All in all, it looks like Kumamoto is quite a mecca for modern architecture! :)

William Marijuana is a tricky subject. When I lived in China, I travelled to Manchuria and found wild plants growing the size of Christmas trees (though being wild, I found, they contained little THC). Legalization is spreading in America from medical marijuana to recreational use. I know from experience that, when my wife was dying from cancer and had lost her appetite, a THC-infused gummy would have helped her immensely.
"When in Rome, do not do what is illegal" is my policy, so I refrain from partaking while in Japan. Some do not share that agenda, as police noticed when they found a greenhouse full of the green in Hagiwaramachi worth 9400万円 (not sure how they figured that figure - some dude in blue must have known the street price).
大麻栽培容疑などで3人逮捕　9400万円相当の乾燥大麻押収　県警｜熊本日日新聞社
この記事は「プレミアム会員（熊日定期購読の方）」限定です。登録すると続きをお読みいただけます。

Ireland's Saint Patrick's Day parade will be held in Kumamoto next Saturday, 9th March from 2:30pm, with the start at SunRoad Shinshigai 🎶🎻 We'll gather from 2pm!! ☀️ The real date is always March 17th, so don't forget to wear something green both days this month - to keep your lucky charms intact!! Anyone can join in the parade, so bring your 'green genki', tricolour or spoons!!! アイルランドのセント・パトリックス・デーのパレードが来週の3月9日(土)の14時半〜、熊本市で開催されます - サンロード新市街で、14時から集合。本番は3月17日なので、今月は2日間とも緑色の服を着るのをお忘れなく💚 自分の"グリーン元気"を見せてください!!!! ☘️ Ruth from Ireland!
**Please note that the start is at SunRoad Shishigai, and we'll move up Shimotori and will loop back to the starting place**スタートはサンロード新市街で、下通を上がって新市街のスタート地点に戻りますのでご注意ください**

William A nice thing about having my daughter (who is Higokko to the core) home is that she does the shopping and buys stuff I wouldn't know about.
She recently brought home some "Aso Jersey Milk Donutsbou" (which also come in donut shape), and they're my new favorite thing - caramelly, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. They are made in Kumamoto from locally-sourced ingredients. Put them on your shopping list.

For parents and children who came from foreign countries to Kumamoto!
Do you have any troubles before starting school or advancing to a new grade in the spring?
NPO Kumamoto Support Network for Children from Abroad (NPO法人 外国から来た子ども支援ネットくまもと) is going to organize a consultation session for parents with children aged 5-8 years in collaboration with KIF and other organizations on March 10 (Sunday). Please join if you have any issues or please share among your friends who might be interested to join.
Location: Kumamoto City International Center 5F
Date and time: Sunday, March 10, 2024, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Participants: Children aged 5 to 8 and their parents
Participation fee: Free
(Post by Hari)

Kirk here with an inquiry from our friends Chuck and Julie Waterman:
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Julie and I are paying 介護保険. (we're both over 65 now.) Since we're returning to the US in Spring of 2025, and won't need any special nursing care before then (knock on wood) I wonder if we really need to pay this? We don't want to be bad citizens, but it's 20,000+ a month for the two of us....
Can anyone shed light on the requirement, expectation on foreign non-permanent-residents paying this?
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Please share any experiences or words of wisdom you might have in a comment so that other people might benefit too.

I may have mentioned this before, but this article says that "Taiwan's CTBC Bank has operated in Japan for a decade and recently expanded to Kumamoto to capture demand related to the chip industry boom." It also presents an overview of the huge investments being made here. -- Kirk
TSMC's Japan chip venture spurs investment rush
In Kumamoto and beyond, companies cash in on the Taiwanese chipmaker's expansion

Atsuko here.
Information about consultations to help you prepare for and address concerns related to new enrollment and daily school life at a public elementary school.
Children with foreign roots are quite common in Kumamoto City.I hope that they will look forward to the new school year with less anxiety.It is very good for both children, parents, and schools to be informed and communicated in advance. For this reason, I think it is very important to exchange information.I hope you will consult with your school and teachers carefully and increase the number of friends.(*´▽`*)❀
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
ORUGATTA SOUDAN
Children, mothers, fathers, who come from
foreign countries,
Do you have any troubles before starting school or advancing to a new grade in the spring?
★Aren't your children nervous before entering school or going on to the next grade?
★Are mothers and fathers having trouble before their child enters school?
Is there anything you don't understand about letters you receive from your kindergarten or elementary school?
What classes will they have? Will they be able to make friends?
Will they be able to eat school lunch? What should we prepare? Where can we buy it?
Can you write your child's name on all the things by yourself?
Are you worried about your child's Japanese?
Let's check together what you don't understand.
We will hold a consultation meeting together with education experts.
Please come and have a consultation!
Location: Kumamoto City International Center, (5F, Japanese-Style Conference Room)
Date and time: Sunday, March 10, 2024, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00a.m.
Participants: Children aged 5 to 8 and their parents
Participation fee: Free
***Reservations are required via QR code or email. ***
Application: Kumamoto City Consultation and Support Plaza for Foreign Residents
Phone: 096-359-4995
Email: [email protected]
Host:NPO法人外国から来た子ども支援ネットくまもと,
Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kumamoto Health Science University. Kumamoto City International Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/a34XpBjTjk5VpEBX/

Here's a video (TV news report) of some students from Kumamoto University and the Prefectural University of Kumamoto making wagashi, tasting halal dagojiru, and talking about places to see and things to do in Kumamoto. The narration is in Japanese but the students all speak in English. -- Kirk
外国人留学生を対象にした観光ワークショップ【熊本】 (24/02/22 19:00)
空港が主催する全国でも珍しい取り組みです。県内の留学生を対象にした観光ワークショップが21日開かれました。観光ワークショップは国際路線の新規開拓やインバウンド客の増加を目指し、外国人目線で観光の新たなニ....

William I had the pleasure of living in Taiwan twice, once for a month as a college freshman with a paltry three months of Chinese language and history study to shakenly rely on; second following graduation for 18 months, after which I came on a one-way ticket to Japan by freighter with $100 and a phone number. I learned much about Taiwan and retain a deep love for the country.
With TSMC moving in, those with little knowledge of Taiwan may want to fill in gaps of this tumultuous and controversial time. Of surprise to me during my first visit was that the elderly only spoke the Taiwanese dialect - and Japanese, due to the 50-year period under Japanese rule. A movie popular during my time there portraying the time in '45 when the defeated Japanese colonists were leaving for the uncertainty of their war-devastated country was quite controversial as it portrayed positive aspects of Japan's colonial rule. I couldn't find that exact movie, but it turns out many in the same vein have been made since - IMBd reviews many, as this list http://tinyurl.com/5dhs3t39 shows, some of which are available with English subtitles on Youtube. In addition, this short article from Asianometry titled "How Japan Nurtured Taiwan's Colonial Economy: A complicated legacy, with long-lasting repercussions" is a must-read: http://tinyurl.com/yc57hs35
TSMC's move is an historical game-changer for our city. Let's catch up with the history behind it.
How Japan Nurtured Taiwan's Colonial Economy
A complicated legacy, with long-lasting repercussions

Kirk here with more TSMC-related news. The article says that "TSMC's new fab in Kumamoto, Japan, scheduled to open on February 24, has already had a positive impact on the local housing market." Well, I guess if you have housing that you want to rent or sell the tight housing market might be good for you but I'm rather surprised to see the housing shortage portrayed as a "positive impact." I would agree, though, that it's good that the number of flights between Kumamoto and Taiwan will increase.
Taiwanese airlines add more flights to Kyushu region│TVBS新聞網
Explore the economic ripple effects of TSMC’s new fab in Kumamoto, Japan, on local markets and Taiwan’s airline industry, with increased flights and market potential for business and tourism.

Earlier today I posted about the scandal that a prefectural assembly member may have bet on golf. That made me wonder why various kinds of gambling are OK in Japan and others not so. This article gives a good answer in my view. -- Kirk
How Japan ensures you gamble exactly when and where it wants you to
Laws on gambling mean that the activity is prohibited in general, except for betting on something that is legally defined as “momentary amusement,” or on government-sanctioned events.

Kirk here was news about MASUNAGA Shin'ichro, a member of the Prefectural Assembly. He's accused of being involved in an extramarital affair and betting on golf. Granted, if true, the allegations are problematic. But, what about bigger scandals that have been swept under the rug? I'm thinking of MIZOGUCHI Koji, the politician who introduced the Moonie-sponsored bill called the "Kumamoto Home Education Support Ordinance" (くまもと家庭教育支援条例), leading it to become the first Unification-Church-related law of it's kind to be passed in Japan. I'll link to a page on Mr. Mizoguchi site where he explains his reasons for supporting the Moonie-sponsored ordinance (without, of course, mentioning his connections to the Unification Church). There's much more I could say about this guy but suffice it to say that, for some reason, deep corruption in the form of connections to the Unification Church is viewed as a less serious matter than betting on golf and infidelity to your spouse. Go figure!
https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20240219_1942411.html?DETAIL
https://www.k-mizoguchi.com/2012/12/20/blog121220133400/
　3月に知事選挙を控える熊本で、自民党県議らの肝を冷やす“告発”が浮上している。「自民党の増永慎一郎・県議（60）に関する情報が地元の各メディアに寄せられたのです。そこには女性問題だけ…

Another article from Kumamoto Scoop. -- Kirk Masden
9 Hot Springs in Kumamoto: Must-Visit Onsen and Nearby Spots | Kumamoto Scoop
Here, I'll introduce you to the crème de la crème of Kumamoto's hot springs, along with some fantastic nearby spots perfect for day trips.

Kirk here. Any of you been looking at the "Kumamoto Scoop" website? I just learned about it, ironically from a Japanese-language article reporting on this site with information for foreigners. Here's the article that's listed as its most popular. I'm particularly pleased to find this article because the spa is quite near where I live. :)
Suizen Luxury Sauna
https://en.akumamoto.jp/archives/220746
Japanese news article where I learned about this website
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000109953.html
Soothe Your Soul at Yuya Suizen Luxury Sauna & Spa | Kumamoto Scoop
Discover serenity at Suizen Luxury Sauna in Kumamoto's Suizenji, where the tranquil gardens meet the pristine waters of Aso. Unite mind and body in the Zen atmosphere of the private tea room-inspired sauna, offering a blissful experience to cherish.

Kirk here with information about an exhibition that is in progress and the Contemporary Art Museum of Kumamoto.
https://www.tokyoartbeat.com/en/events/-/Alfons-Mucha-Multitalented-Artist/30F1158F/2024-02-10
Unfortunately, English side of the museum's website only mentions previous exhibitions and not this one:
https://www.camk.jp/english/information/
It is properly listed, however, on the Japanese site:
https://www.camk.jp/
Alfons Mucha : Multitalented Artist （Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto）
Held at Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto. Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), the prominent artist of Art Nouveau, is well-known for his captivating a

Kirk here. Princess Kako will be coming to Kumamoto for the opening of the new TSMC facility:
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With the Kumamoto plant slated to open on Feb. 24, the report said TSMC founder Morris Chang (張忠謀), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Princess Kako will cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony.
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I guess I should have mentioned Prime Minister Kishida and Morris Chang too but, well, Princess Kako is cuter than the two of them combined. She's a real-life princess that could be in a Disney movie.
Princess photo copped from:
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15098667
Article on TSMC opening:
https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202402170009