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I'm not sure, but I think this may be a first: The advertisement of a house for sale on Kumamoto-i.
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We are moving, and our home of 12 years is for sale. It has had many improvements done over time. There are two kitchens and various separate living spaces--also a large separate office. There are five upstairs bedrooms, and parking for 5 cars. Suitable for a school, large family, two separate families, etc. A photo walk-through is available: http://bit.ly/1CQCcTZ
Located in Minami-Kumamoto (just south of Rte. 57), about a 20 minute drive to the castle. If interested, p;lease contact Ann by email:
[email protected]
You are welcome to view the house (Miukinishi 1-14-18) by appointment.
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https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/13191
Yahoo! Groups

I recently happened upon the results of the 19th “Kusamakura” Haiku Competition sponsored by Kumamoto City. As you can see, awards are given for submissions in English as well as in Japanese. The Japanese side of the website says that the detail regarding this year's competition will be announced on June 1st.
Posted by Kirk
http://kusamakura-haiku.jp/backnumber/2012/english_e.html

Kumamoto University is advertising three new academic positions. Applications are due by the end of April. For details please go to
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/13190

On March 20th, Japan marked the 20th anniversary of the subway nerve gas (sarin) attack by members of the Aum Supreme Truth cult.
This article looks at the cult's roots in Kumamoto. The "guru" at the center of the cult, Asahara Shoko (Matsumoto Chizuo) was born into a family of tatami mat makers in Yatsushiro City and later based the cult in Aso.
According to the article, if Kumamoto police had been able to cooperate better with other law enforcement agencies, the activities of the cult might have been significantly curtailed before they were able to commit major acts of terrorism.
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There had been a chance to cut deep into the cult before the incident when the group was charged by Kumamoto prefectural police with violation of the National Land Utilization Law in 1990.
But the police in Kumamoto and other prefectures concerned conducted investigations of the cult separately due to conflicts over jurisdiction, which made it impossible for law enforcement nationwide to establish a system under which they could work together to deal with the cult.
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http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002020444
Expert: Attack shows need to anticipate urban terror risks
Tetsuro Ito, former superintendent-general of the Metropolitan Police Department, discussed the matter in an interview with Yomiuri Shimbun staff writer Ryotaro Maeda. Ito was deputy chief cabinet secretary for crisis management from May 2008 to December 2011. The following are excerpts from the int…

A shot of some early bloomers near my home yesterday.
Posted by Kirk

"Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald, right, instructs a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member during sniper stalk lane training Dec. 2, 2014, in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan."
http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japan-s-ruling-coalition-reaches-deal-on-expanding-operations-of-self-defense-forces-1.335472
Japan's ruling coalition reaches deal on expanding operations of Self-Defense Forces
The deal would cover five key areas, including how to respond to so-called gray zone incidents, which cannot easily or immediately be deemed an armed attack, and support activities for military forces of other nations conducting operations that contribute to the peace and security of Japan.

Aside from the Kumamon connection, I think the potential for 3-D printing to facilitate creativity among ceramic artists is interesting.
"CEO Takayuki Higashigawa, 63, has used the printer to create figures of Kumamon, the mascot for Kumamoto Prefecture, among others. The 3-D design was based on multiple images and scans of the character."
Posted by Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/20/national/pottery-makers-may-embrace-3-d-printing-hone-designs/#.VQvrjxCUdSs
Pottery-makers may embrace 3-D printing to hone their designs | The Japan Times
In a field renowned for its handcrafted artistry, 3-D printers are gaining a foothold in the pottery industry. Artists can now create original models using

"The birds are found mostly in East Asia and the local rise in wintering spoonbills is in line with a 23 per cent overall increase in numbers across the region spanning Deep Bay to Taiwan, Korea and Japan's Kumamoto prefecture."
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1741280/return-black-faced-spoonbill-hong-kong
Return of the black-faced spoonbill to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a favourite wintering spot for the endangered birds who suffered a drop in numbers last year; this year is a different story

According to this article, Japan's Self-Defense Forces are operating surveillance drones in the Aso area.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201503160028
SDF failed to disclose crash of unmanned drone in Oita in November - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
An unmanned Ground Self-Defense Force surveillance aircraft crashed on a training range in Oita Prefecture late last year in an accident that was never disclosed publicly, The Asahi Shimbun has learned.

The article "Kumamoto: It's waiting for you" is a general introduction to the sister state relationship between Kumamoto and Montana. It does not mention Minamata but I'd like to add that the article's author, Ian Marquand, has produced a very interesting documentary outlining the similarities between the Minamata mercury-poisoning disaster and asbestos contamination in Libby, Montana. See, for example, the following pdf:
http://www.umt.edu/mansfield/internationalprograms/files/minamata-libby-brochure.pdf
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Documentary film entitled “From Environmental Tragedy to Hope: the Libby and Minamata Stories,” created and produced by Ian Marquand, Special Projects Coordinator for Montana.
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http://helenair.com/news/opinion/kumamoto-it-s-waiting-for-you/article_75027315-deed-58dc-8eef-bb3410f89956.html
Kumamoto: It's waiting for you
March. The calendar page turns and my thoughts turn to the arrival of daylight savings time, the coming of spring and, as the president of the Japan Friendship Club of

Kami-Kumamoto Station has undergone some major renovations. I haven't seen anything in English but here's a news article in Japanese:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/kumamoto/news/20150314-OYTNT50286.html

This story put out by the Asahi Shimbun focuses on the plight of a technical trainee who came to Kumamoto:
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Shinichiro Nakashima, who heads Kumustaka (Association for Living Together with Migrants) in Kumamoto city, said, "She should have been given protection as a victim of human trafficking."
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http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201503140062
Hordes of foreign technical trainees go into hiding to escape debt, other problems - AJW by The...
Like many young Chinese women, the 24-year-old from northeastern China viewed Japan as a land of promise. After paying a broker, she got accepted as a foreign technical trainee and arrived in Kumamoto Prefecture in August 2012 to work on a chicken farm.

I hope yesterday's celebrations went well. The weather was certainly good. Ambassador Barrington is hoping such celebrations will lead more Japanese to visit Ireland:
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St. Patrick’s Day will probably be one big solution to her question.
. . .
Last year, about 1,500 people took part in the parade in Tokyo, according to the parade organizer Irish Network Japan. This year, a record 13 parades are scheduled to be held in various locations including Chiba and Kumamoto.
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http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002001990
Ambassador Barrington: Japanese invited to get to know Emerald Isle
Wishing “every day” that there was a direct flight between Tokyo and Dublin, Irish Ambassador Anne Barrington said one of her biggest objectives during her tenure is to attract more Japanese to visit Ireland.

Here's the address of a pdf of an English pamphlet about the Amakusa area. The file is rather large (9 MB) so it might take a while to download, but if you're interested in the Amakusa area, I think it may be worth the effort.
http://www.kumamoto-links.com/files/Link_68_file_en.pdf

Here's a little something for those of you with experience teaching in a Japanese high school, whether in Kumamoto or elsewhere. It may also be of interest if your children have taken English classes in a Japanese school. I've uploaded it to Facebook but the file is one I found on YouTube and then edited a little to correct a sync problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugDIYqWmbX8
Posted by Kirk

Here's a post from the Kumamoto-i mailing list about items for sale or to be given away. I'm not always able to forward information like this here in a timely manner so if you're interested in this kind of information, I recommend that you follow the Kumamoto-i mailing list directly:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/13168

A marathon will be held in Ashikita on the 22nd. Sorry for the last-minute notice. I just learned about it myself. Unfortunately, it's too late to apply to run in the race.
http://www.ashikitautase-marathon.jp
2015年3月22日(日) 不知火海の潮風と一緒に春を先どり！「2015芦北うたせマラソン大会」の公式サイトです。当サイトではコースマップ、エントリー情報などご覧いただけます。

"Kumamon-related items will be sold at 330 Circle K outlets in Hong Kong, the second largest convenience store chain in the city, behind the 7-Eleven chain."
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201503040075
Kumamon goods to grace shelves of Circle K Hong Kong convenience stores - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Kumamoto Prefecture's popular bear-like mascot, Kumamon, will ply its charms at a major convenience store chain in Hong Kong from March 7 as part of an effort to promote the prefecture’s industry and tourism.

It's "White Day" tomorrow (March 14 -- a month from Valentine's Day).
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/02/24/what-do-japanese-women-want-for-white-day-and-how-much-do-they-hope-a-guy-spends/
What do Japanese women want for White Day and how much do they hope a guy spends?
With the exception of the girls at a few high schools with especially generous male student bodies, women don’t usually receive presents for Valentine’s Day in Japan. Instead, it’s the guys who get gifts, returning the favor one month later on March 14, White Day. But while guys’ Valentine’s Day asp…

Check this page out to find free WiFi spots in Kumamoto.
http://kumanago.jp/en/benris/wifi/t
Wi-Fi Spots Kumamoto Nagomi Tourism Site
Why not take it easy in the breathtaking nature of Kumamoto, the “Land of Fire”? Nagomi Travel Journal, the sightseeing website of Kumamoto Prefecture, features a wealth of information on Kumamoto, including diverse sightseeing areas, delicious local specialty products, traditional handicrafts, even…