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Here's a link to an article about the celebration of Lafcadio Hearn (who spent part of his career in Kumamoto) in Greece:
"It was a marvellous night for a romance on the Ionian island of Lefkada in Greece recently as more than 1,000 people gathered after a glorious sunset in the outdoor Open Theatre looking out onto a beautiful blue lagoon to savour a magical performance by a leading puppet theatre from Kumamoto in Japan."
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/celebrating-lafcadio-hearn-1.1899523
Celebrating Lafcadio Hearn
An Irishman’s Diary about a protean literary genius and traveller

This link will take you to information about くらしのにほんごくらぶ. "Kurashi" means "living" or "daily life" so the idea is to help non-Japanese who live in Kumamoto to learn practical Japanese they can use in daily life. There are many volunteers who help tutor. So, as I understand it, you can get individual help with specific issues you might face. If any readers of this post have participated, please share your experiences here.
日本人の皆さんへ
ボランティアができます。興味があれば、国際事情団に問い合わせてみてください。
[email protected]
===== from the web page =====　
　日本語が分からずに困っていることありませんか？
　もう少し日本語が出来たらなぁとか思っている方いませんか？
　　そんな方、私たちと一緒に、おしゃべりを通して日本の習慣や生===== end quote =====
http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/event/event_detail.asp?1=1&kiji_id=7322&LC=j&yy=2014&mm=8&id=2&PageType=cal
Kumamoto International Foundation

Kumamoto's Johoku won their first game.
http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20140816/hig14081610380015-n1.html
　第９６回全国高校野球選手権大会第６日第２試合（城北－東海大望洋、１６日、甲子園）城北（熊本）は先発の安武、大西らの継投で失点を最小限にとどめたい。打線は当たっている４番楢原にいい形で回せるか。東海大望洋（千葉）は千葉大会の準決勝、決勝で２桁得点と打線は強力で１年生ながら５番捕手の峯尾に注目。速球が武器の先発・原田と制球のいい宇津木が二枚看板。

Kyushu has been called Japan's "silicon island."
"Sony Semiconductor Corp.’s Kikuyo plant in Kumamoto Prefecture is also forgoing the holiday to meet smartphone-driven demand for its image sensors."
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/08/15/business/corporate-business/chip-makers-skip-summer-break-to-meet-smartphone-demand/
Chip makers skip summer break to meet smartphone demand | The Japan Times
While much of Japan relaxes during the Bon summer holiday period, its top semiconductor makers are keeping their factories running to meet fierce demand fr

The Kumamoto Kenmin Department Store will close permanently in February of 2015. Most employees will lose their jobs but but a few will be retained to manage the dissolution of the company.
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLZO75581460S4A810C1LX0000/
熊本の県民百貨店、15年２月に閉店へ　市の再開発で立ち退き
　熊本市の桜町再開発事業を巡り、臨時株主総会で移転を採択していた県民百貨店（熊本市、松本烝治社長）は12日、営業継続を断念し来年２月28日に閉店すると発表した。同日午後、同店で記者会見した松本社長は「

"At the time, Soseki (1867-1916) was a lecturer at the Fifth High School in Kumamoto."
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201408130066
Soseki letter with unpublished haiku about wife turns up at used bookstore in Tokyo - AJW by The...
The operator of a used bookstore in Tokyo discovered a handwritten letter by Japanese literary giant Natsume Soseki containing two previously unknown haiku, one of which reveals the writer's deep affection for his wife.

Sakamoto Ayumi, originally from Kumamoto, is one of Japan's up-and-coming directors.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/08/13/films/film-reviews/female-anxiety-shot-every-angle/
Female anxiety shot from every angle | The Japan Times
The Japanese film industry used to be like much of the rest of Japanese society: male-centered and male-run. It made plenty of movies about women and for w

In the national high school baseball tournament, Kumamoto's Johoku plays its first game at 10:30 AM on Saturday. Here's a bit about a previous game involving a different school from Kumamoto:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/views/vox/AJ201408120030
====== start quote =======
But one I can never forget is the final game of the 1996 season between Matsuyama Commercial High School of Ehime Prefecture and Kumamoto Technical High School of Kumamoto Prefecture.
Of course, the game just had to go into extra innings. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 10th, Kumamoto got a potentially game-deciding rally going by loading the bases with one out. When a big sacrifice fly arced its way into right field, it looked as if the game was over.
But it wasn't. Matsuyama's right fielder executed a laser beam throw to the plate, where Kumamoto's third base runner was tagged for a double play. The right fielder's feat is still celebrated today as "Kiseki no bakku homu" (miraculous throw to the plate).
====== end quote =======
VOX POPULI: What dramas will unfold at high school baseball's 'Field of Dreams' this year? - AJW...
The list of memorable games at the National High School Baseball Championship at Koshien Stadium is a long one.

Deco - a rare cheese cake produced in Amakusa

Here's some information about a symposium (in Japanese) to be held on September 1st to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Kumamoto International Center.
http://smilestation.blogzine.jp/blog/2014/08/20_f48b.html
SMILE Station: 熊本市国際交流会館設立20周年記念シンポジウム　〜未来への挑戦〜
　おかげさまで国際交流会館設立20周年、これを記念してシンポジウムを開催します。 　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　〜　未来への挑戦　〜

Local man with "nerdy roots" makes good.
http://www.techinasia.com/infoteria-pina-hirano-japan-entrepreneur-profile/
This university dropout turned down Japan’s top tech firms to follow his own entrepreneurial path
Infoteria founder and CEO Pina Hirano is the nail that stuck out but didn't get hammered down.

This event is part of the Kumamoto City International Center's celebration of its 20th anniversary.

Here's an example of tambo (rice paddy) art in Tamana. The Japanese reads "Tamana iine, mitsuketa." The second word, いーイネ, is a play on いいね (iine), the expression used in Japanese on Facebook to mean "like," and イネ (ine), the word for the rice plant itself (not to be confused with other rice-related words such as kome and gohan).
http://k-staff.blogspot.jp/2013/09/blog-post_27.html
「たまな稲（いいね！）田んぼアート」がスゴイ(*_*) | スタッフブログ｜週刊メールマガジン『気になる！くまもと』

Here's another article by Mandy Bartok, who lives in Kumamoto.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/08/02/travel/slow-food-fast-water-rural-corner-kumamoto/#.U-BJrVayu0w
Slow food and fast water in a rural corner of Kumamoto | The Japan Times
It starts off as a dull roar, prompting those of us sitting in the rice paddies to look skyward in anticipation. Then it builds, in the same way an orchest

The discovery was made near Miike Port, which is in Fukuoka, but everyone involved in the discovery seems to be from Kumamoto.
I hope this good news about the Ariake Sea continues. In recent years, most of the news about the Ariake Sea has been about its environmental decline.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201408030013
Endangered mussel species discovered off Fukuoka Prefecture - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--An endangered mussel species described as “a living fossil” has been found in Japanese waters for the first time in eight years.

Kumamon and Funassyi rule!
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/108911.php
2 characters stand out in Japan's 'yurukyara' local mascot fad
Kumamon and Funassyi stand out as well-known

Here's another video about the Otemoyan Dance last night:
http://youtu.be/yicnlUAvH4s
20140802pm 1

It looks like a lot of people had fun last night:
http://youtu.be/Mt4qwwnYPgs

Due to the weather, there was some doubt about whether or not the Otemoyan Dance could go on as scheduled. The official website site says, in essence, "the dance is on!" However, they also say that there's still a slim chance of cancelation due to the weather. I hope you all have a great time and that there is little no rain. The weather forecast indicates only light rain.
http://www.hinokunimatsuri.jp/contents.cfm?id=555

This image shows the steep decline in smoking rates among men by age group in Japan. It comes from the following article in the Japanese version of the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2014/07/30/tobacco-women_n_5636293.html
I'm posting it because it's a good visual indication of trend described in the following short article:
Japan smoking rate falls below 20 percent for 1st time
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/108842.php
Though it's a national trend, I've seen big changes in smoking culture here in Kumamoto since the 1990s.
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1940054/thumbs/o-TABAKO-570.jpg?1