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I needed to buy something in Tsuruya Department Store today and while I was there I noticed that they too are having an exhibition of Yayoi KUSAMA's work. Very impressive -- and free if you are just looking. The majority of the items on display are screen prints, signed by the artist and for sale -- but they are not cheap by any means.
Part of the exhibit ends on the 8th and the rest ends on the 15th.
The exhibition of Kusama's work at the Contemporary Art Museum of Kumamoto begins on the 5th (tomorrow) and runs until the 15th of June. So, from the 5th through the 8th, you can take in one exhibit and then cross the street to take in the other!
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/618939124846190
http://www.tsuruya-dept.co.jp/event/week/saiji03.html
こだわりと上質なくらしを提案する熊本郷土のデパート鶴屋百貨店です。お中元や内祝、お祝いに好適な贈り物や、リビング商品、フード、コスメ、熊本の逸品など多数ご用意いたしております。熊本県熊本市中央区手取本町6−1 ／ 電話 096−356−2111

Drum Rock "17 Samurai" concert to be held in Kumamoto.
http://www.drum-tao.com/main/archives/schedule/4153
DRUM ROCK「続・十七人のサムライ」 熊本県/熊本県立劇場 « DRUM TAO｜世界600万人を動員！世界が認めた和太鼓を使ったエンターテイメント
DRUM TAOオフィシャルサイト 世界600万人を動員！世界が認めた和太鼓を使ったエンターテイメントショー

The other day I posted about Jared's tragic accident.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/618953184844784/
Today I learned from a friend about this fund raising campaign.
gofundme.com/80wbd4
Click here to support Bring Kathe and Jared Home by Sara Rae
As many of you know we have lost a great and loving person this week. Jared was teaching English and living with his fiance Kathe in Japan when he lost his life in a tragic accident. Our main goal is to get the both of them home and these expenses can be exorbitant. This fundraising is both for t...

Kang Sang-jung is a well-known native of Kumamoto. He was the first Zainichi Korean to become a full professor at Tokyo University. Now, he has become president of Seigakuin University in Saitama Prefecture.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/people/2014/04/178_154552.html

I have sad news to report. I just took a look at the local news report from RKK that I record every day and learned that an English teacher died in a car accident near Minamata. I'm not sure about the correct spelling but, judging from the name reported on TV, I think the name is Jared Paul, an American citizen, age 32. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140330/kumamoto-confab-seeks-develop-spread-fair-trade-towns-
A shorter version of this same Kyodo news story appeared in the Japan Times as well:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/31/national/fair-trade-advocates-look-forward/#.UztzTNwia0w
Promoters of "fair trade towns" agreed Sunday to take an inclusive approach in developing and spreading the idea of an ethical consumption movement aimed at helping solve wealth inequalities at global, national and local levels.

The headline makes this sound like a victory but if fact the verdict was considered to be a major defeat:
" . . . lawyers for the plaintiffs said they effectively lost because the court rejected damages for five of the eight plaintiffs."
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/31/national/court-rules-in-favor-of-three-minamata-sufferers/
Court rules in favor of three Minamata sufferers
The Kumamoto District Court on Monday ordered the state, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government and Chisso Corp. to pay damages to three of eight unrecognized Minamata disease sufferers who sued them. ...

Kumamon to star in new version of Ruroni Kenshin.
. . . and who says Japanese people don't understand April Fool's?
http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/rurouni-kenshin/index.html
映画『るろうに剣心 京都大火編/伝説の最期編』公式サイト
映画『るろうに剣心』公式サイト！京都大火編8/1（金）／伝説の最期編9/13（土）二作連続超拡大全国ロードショー

We got a question on the Kumamoto-i mailing list about pools in Kumamoto. I responded with a map that shows the location of public pools and fitness clubs that have pools:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/12822
By the way, one really unique pool is in Kashima. It's unique because it fed by natural spring water . . . and very, very cold. (I wouldn't recommend actually trying to swim there until August and even then you may find it hard to stay in the water very long.)
Check out the following blog post for more information, including a map:
http://bunkaseminar.blogspot.jp/2012/05/spring-water-tour.html

I recently posted information about the number of foreigners working as trainees in Kumamoto:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/610704009003035
The Japanese government is planning to expand this program to met increased demand for construction workers arising from preparations for the 2020 Summer Olympics:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140329_04.html
Govt. to expand stay for foreign workforce -NHK WORLD English-
NHK WORLD is the international broadcasting service of NHK.

On the Kumamoto-i mailing list, we've been discussing places in Kumamoto to get good paella (a Spanish dish):
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/topics/12805

Like Indian food, especially chicken biryani? There was recently a post on the Kumamoto-i mailing list about a small restaurant called Rest House Orissa that offers chicken biryani:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/12818
Here's the address of the restaurant's web page:
http://resthouseorissa.wix.com/kumamoto

This article from the Telegraph recommends viewing the cherry blossoms on the grounds of Kumamoto Castle.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/japan/10724571/Japanese-cherry-blossom-2014-festival-and-viewing-guide.html
Japanese cherry blossom: 2014 festival and viewing guide - Telegraph
As the sakura cherry blossom season starts in Tokyo, Japan, we explore why it is so important to the Japanese and where and when best to catch it

"Kumamoto became Asia's first and only fair-trade town in 2011. To date, 1,444 towns in 24 countries have received the designation.
'Aside from the formal conference, citizens can drop by and meet producers of fair-trade products,' she [Akashi] said. 'Mangers of eco-friendly companies will be coming, students will organize a fair-trade university and a fair-trade card game event will be held,' she said."
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140327/japan-city-host-1st-intl-confab-asia-promote-fair-trad
See my previous post for a link to a podcast (mp3 file) about fair trade in Kumamoto.
Japan city to host 1st int'l confab in Asia to promote "fair" trade
An international conference of "fair trade towns" is to be held over the weekend in a Japanese city -- the first time the conference has taken place outside Europe -- as campaigners look to spur the growth of ethical consumption movement in Asia.

Yesterday I posted about the performance of Kinoshita Junji's play in English at Kumamoto Gakuen University:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/615760918497344
This book is about the main character -- Captain L. L. Janes, who came to Kumamoto to help spread "Western knowledge."

Take a look at these images to find out about a play that will be performed on March 29th in the Takahashi Morio Memorial Hall (Bldg. No. 14) on the campus of Kumamoto Gakuen University beginning at 4:10 P.M. The play is a translation of Furo by Kinoshita Junji. Kinoshita Junji is a key figure in the modern Japanese drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junji_Kinoshita
but this work has not yet been performed in English. (The translation was done by Judy Yoneoka for this occasion.) The scene is 1875 at the Kumamoto Yogakko. Part of the play will be in Japanese but much of it will be in English and the program (see image) will help you follow along.

Here's something I didn't know about the airline:
"Although it has just one 39-passenger plane making up to 10 flights per day between the four airports, Amakusa Airlines has served more than one million people."
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/03/24/amakusa-airlines-japans-smallest-airline-with-one-adorable-dolphin-turboprop-plane/
Amakusa Airlines: Japan's smallest airline with one adorable dolphin turboprop plane
If you are still mourning the loss of Japan's Pokémon jumbo jet and prefer to fly the friendly skies in something overbearingly cute, look no further than Amakusa Airlines and its dolphin-themed airplane. Although the Kyushuu-based company is the smallest airline in Japan, Amakusa more than makes up...

A "trick art" (visual illusions) exposition is being held at the Kumamoto Kenmin Department Store (near the Kotsu Center). I saw something about it on TV and what I saw looked interesting.

This wallpaper (for your computer screen) is a shot taken at Kumamoto Airport.
http://www.kininaru-k.jp/2013/wallpaper/140130.html
週刊メールマガジン『気になる！くまもと』。このサイトは、熊本県発行の週刊メールマガジン「気になる！くまもと」の関連情報を掲載しています。くまモンの限定プレゼントもあります！

Chinzei High School plays their first game in the Koshien baseball tournament on the third day at 2 PM. I'm not sure but, since today was the first day, I think that's Sunday.
http://www.asahi.com/koshien/