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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Soseki letter with unpublished haiku about wife turns up at used bookstore in Tokyo - AJW by The...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
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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

Yesterday I wrote that "There will be a huge hanabi (fireworks) event in Tamana tomorrow (Aug 1)." Apparently due to the weather, however, the fireworks show has been postponed until Thursday, August 7.
玉名市 玉名納涼花火大会
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Here's another item that is not specific to Kumamoto, but that I hope many readers will be interested in. The article is also available in Japanese -- something that might come in handy if you have a Japanese friend who cannot believe that there is no connection between blood type and personality.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20140719-OYT1T50087.html
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001458735
Blood type ‘plays no role’ in personality - The Japan News
A belief widely held in Japan that blood type is linked to personality has no scientific basis, according to a recent statistical analysis conduced by a Kyushu University lecturer. Kengo Nawata, who specializes in social psychology, analyzed survey results encompassing more than 10,000 people from J…

This is a national issue, but Kumamoto is certainly affected by it.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201406260058
Japan's population drops for 5th straight year - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Japan's population as of Jan. 1 stood at 126.43 million, down 243,684 from the previous year, for the fifth consecutive year of decline, according to the internal affairs ministry.

Here's a video (in Japanese) about curry served in Ashikita.
http://youtu.be/ceBJbqtJQIw
くまもとのカレーなる物語 ～芦北伽哩街道（あしきたカレーかいどう）～ A Great Curry Story in Kumamoto 〜Ashikita Curry Kaido Street〜
2006年に芦北町で始まった「芦北伽哩街道」。毎年夏限定で、地域の飲食店では地元の食材を使ったさまざまなカレーが登場し、食べ歩きが人気を呼んでいます。地域おこしのために始まったこの取り組みには、戦後日本の家庭料理の普及に貢献した、ある女性の物語が秘められていました。 A Great Curry Story in ...