Posts

Onsen fans should check out this blog.
http://kurokawa-onsen.com/onsen-hop-6-nishimura-ryokan/
Onsen- hop # 6 `Nishimura`
.....at last the weather has cooled down enough to allow me back into hot (spring) water! It was a rather dull and wet Friday afternoon when I decided to pop

Kumamoto is a major producer of igusa, the raw material for tatami mats. It is also the home of Kumamon. Now, the two have been put together.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/09/18/kumamoto-prefectures-popular-mascot-can-now-be-found-on-your-floor/
Kumamoto Prefecture's popular mascot can now be found on your floor
If recent reports are to be believed, tatami, the traditional Japanese flooring made of soft rush straw, may soon be a thing of the past as people begin to favor easier-to-clean western style flooring. It's really a shame because there's nothing quite like the smell and natural feel of tatami under…

"A prison in the bottom of hell"?
I had heard that Lafcadio Hearn was not a fan of Kumamoto but I had never read this quote:
=== start quote ===
The Hearns moved to Kumamoto — where for three years he developed a particular contempt for the city, writing, “(Kumamoto is) my realization of a prison in the bottom of hell”
=== end quote ===
You can visit a prison in the bottom of hell . . . er, I mean the Hearn residence in downtown Kumamoto:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4505.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/09/20/lifestyle/lafcadio-hearn-japanese-thru-tru/
Lafcadio Hearn: 'Japanese Thru and Tru'
A small cage was opened at Lafcadio Hearn's funeral, setting birds into the air, the soul of the deceased presumably taking flight with them. His coffin was draped in chrysanthemums ...

The headline I found when I opened the link was "Kumamoto teen charged for allegedly bringing down Tokyo game server"
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/09/18/national/crime-legal/teen-faces-prosecution-for-game-server-overload/
Teen faces prosecution for DDOS attack on game company
Tokyo police on Thursday filed charges with prosecutors against a 16-year-old boy who allegedly disabled a game company's server using denial-of-service attacks, in the first legal case of its kind ...

Here are maps showing the routes for the morning and evening parades tomorrow (Sunday, the 21st) in the Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine Grand Festival. My understanding is that the morning parade provides the best viewing (people and horses are fresh and sober). The parade begins at 6 AM. For more information see
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/700263330047102

Here's an article about Miyamoto Musashi, Kumamoto's most famous samurai (well, most famous in the West -- Kato Kiyomasa is probably No. 1 among locals).
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/08/16/travel/chasing-ghost-musashi-kyushu/
Chasing the ghost of Musashi in Kyushu
In the spring of 1645 a man lay dying in Kumamoto, on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. He sensed that his time was near, asked for someone to help ...

"XZERES recently installed a 10kW ClassNK certified wind turbine system at a composite fabrication plant in Kami-Amakusa, Kumamoto, Japan. The installation marks the company's first system deployed in the country, which in this particular location is expected to generate an internal rate of return of 14%."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/xzeres-10kw-small-wind-turbine-123100102.html

You can get a direct look at Tamana's tambo (rice paddy) art until the end of this month.
http://www.city.tamana.lg.jp/kikakukeiei/machidukuri/kirari_ouen_hojyo/kirari_oshirase/kirari_oshirase_2.html
玉名市 『たまな稲！田んぼアート』プロジェクト in 新玉名駅　ただいま鑑賞期間中！
『たまな稲（いいね）！田んぼアート』プロジェクト実行委員会では、昨年に続いて田んぼアートを実施しています。この田んぼアートは、鑑賞期間を9月30日まで予定しています。多くの皆さんに鑑賞いただけるようご案内します。なお、観光ホットプラザたまララ（新玉名駅構内）において、鑑賞期間限定グッズ「くまモンうちわ」300円を販売中。ぜひご利用ください。「くまモンうちわ」300円に含まれるもの　・鑑賞スポット（新玉名駅下りホーム）への入場料160円　・たまララ内　薬草ダイニングTanpopoで提供するオオバコソフトクリーム（ミニ）の料金

I just posted about a man from Ushibuka being chosen to represent Japan in the World Santa Claus Winter Games. Here's a video from 2012, in which the Japanese Santa came in second.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-IgvTfwCs4
2012 World SantaClaus Winter Game in Gallivare SWEDEN
世界サンタクロースウインターゲーム競技会 2012 北極圏 スウェーデン イェリヴァーレ大会 公認サンタクロース日本代表 パラダイス山元「ライスプディング早喰い競争」香港代表に判定で敗れ、３連覇ならず。総合４位確定。

I got a question about beaches in Kumamoto. It's getting a bit late in the year for going to the beach but here's a page that you can read in English thanks to Google translate:
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fe-kumamoto.info%2Fswim%2Fsea.htm&edit-text=
http://e-kumamoto.info/swim/sea.htm
ŒF–{ŠC…—êˆê—— - ŒF–{ƒŒƒWƒƒ[î•ñ

I saw something about this on RKK. They said that turnover had been a problem in Singapore. This is a relatively rare example, I think, of operations being moved from overseas back to Japan.
http://www.marinelink.com/news/planning-kumamoto-center376117.aspx
NYK Opens New Planning Center in Kumamoto
On September 1, 2014, NYK and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. established a stowage planning center for container shipping at the

The other day, I posted about the Hassaku Festival which was held in Yamato Machi. Here's a report about the festival that was aired on RKK:
http://youtu.be/seEidIsUeiQ

A new way to get kids to eat, I mean drink their vegetables has been developed at Kumamoto University and is promoted in this stunt ad for Kagome.
http://sploid.gizmodo.com/watch-vegetables-get-turned-into-juice-with-underwater-1630268005
Watch vegetables get turned into juice with underwater shockwaves
Screw juicing or making kale smoothies, here's the next big trend in what to drink: turning fruit and vegetables into juice with underwater shockwaves. The outside of the vegetable look the same after the explosion but the inside has turned into juice. Just stick a straw in and enjoy.

The other day I posted about a heightened state of alert at Mt. Aso. If you can make sense of the Japanese, you can check on the current status of the volcano (i.e. whether restrictions are in effect or not) at the following URL.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/fun_spots/AJ201409040040
On a related note, you might want to take in the following exhibition at the Yunomae Manga Museum (Yunomae is near Hitoyoshi).
Tezuka exhibition featuring Mount Aso opens in Kumamoto - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
YUNOMAE, Kumamoto Prefecture--An exhibition focusing on Mount Aso in the works of manga legend Osamu Tezuka has opened at a museum here in Kumamoto Prefecture where the volcano is located.

Some shots of Charlie Nagatani and Country Gold in Aso
Far Western
The fascinating story behind Japan's little known obsession with American country music.

The photo is from April 27, 1953. Students on a school excursion are shown trying to flee the Mt. Aso volcano after it erupted unexpectedly. Unfortunately, five students were killed and about 100 were injured by debris from the eruption.
I was prompted to post this when I learned today that the volcano is currently under a heightened state of alert. Tourist are not allowed within one kilometer of the volcano because there is a possibility that it might erupt again.
http://showa.mainichi.jp/news/1953/04/post-a5fa.html
昭和毎日：阿蘇・中岳噴火 - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)
熊本県・阿蘇五岳の一つ、中岳が大爆発した。修学旅行中の高校生らが噴石に直撃され、5人が死亡、約100人が重軽傷を負った。雨で火口がふさがれ、爆発を誘発したと推測された。世界最大級のカルデラを誇る阿蘇山は有史以来噴火・爆発を繰り返し、いまも活発に活動を続けている。

Though I don't think you can see it below, the link I'm sharing has the following English explanation:
"Please join Ezu Lake Park Cleanup Activity on Saturday, September 13, 2014!
Regional Art-Activities Department and Student Planning Committee conduct the environment Activity. A regional contribution start with picking up trash. We would welcome as many volunteers as possible to attend."
https://www.facebook.com/kumamotokibiru/posts/898178133543637
9/13(土) 9:00～　江津湖湧水清掃　参加者大募集！
大学コンソーシアム熊本では、地域創造部会と学生企画委員会が合同で環境整備活動を行っています。今年度は、下記のとおり江津湖の湧水清掃を行います。ゴミ拾いからはじまる地域貢献。一緒に一汗かきませんか？ひとりでも多くのご参加を、お待ちしています。　　　　日時：平成26年9月13日（土）　8：45 集合／9:00～11:30 清掃活動　集合場所：江津湖エントランス広場（※地図をご覧ください） グーグルマップの地図はこちら→http://goo.gl/map…

This is not specific to Kumamoto -- or even Japan. On the other hand, as a lot of people who read this page are expats (or ex-expats, or future expats, or friends of expats, etc.) I suspect a lot of you will enjoy clicking on this map to learn about international comings and goings.
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/09/02/global-migrant-stocks/
Origins and Destinations of the World’s Migrants, from 1990-2013
The figures in this interactive feature refer to the total number (or cumulative “stocks”) of migrants living around the world as of 1990, 2000, 2010 or 2013 rather than to the annual rate of migration (or current “flows”) in a given year. Since migrants have both an origin and a destination, intern…

A seminar about Peru will be held at the Kumamoto City International Center (Kokusai Koryu Kaikan) on Friday the 5th starting at 13:30. I think the event will be held in Japanese. For more information, see
http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/soshiki/169/peru-seminar.html

Wow! Does this mean someone at Jetstar reads this page?
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/690928437647258
At any rate, the change is welcome!