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Did you know that Jesus Christ was actually buried in Northern Japan? It may also surprise you to know that there is a rock in Oguni (north of the Aso region) that is engraved with Sumerian lettering (from what is now Iraq). Amazingly, such crazy theories are actually endorsed by the local governments where these "historic" sites are located. As you see from the picture, the town of Shingo thought enough of the theory that Christ was buried there to erect an official sign showing the location. In Oguni, the local school board thought enough of the idea that the marks on the rock are "Sumerian" to erect a sign that proclaims the theory as though it were a matter of established fact. Promoting your hometown is nice, but you subject yourself and your town to international ridicule when you embrace crazy theories in order to do so.
Link to English article about "Christ's grave":
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/106700.php
Link to Japanese article (with pictures) about Sumerian lettering on a rock in Oguni:
http://washimo-web.jp/Trip/Oshido/oshido.htm
Jesus in Japan: The dodgy documents that reimagine Christ's life
Remember the part at the end of the Bible where Jesus sneakily avoided crucifixion and headed to Japan to become a rice farmer? And who could forget how his younger brother ended up being crucified instead, in a case of the old switch-a-roo?

In March, some skeletal preparations of dinosaurs that are normally housed in the Mifune Dinosaur Museum will be on display at the Kumamoto Shintoshin Plaza, which is located near Kumamoto Station.
Map:
http://stsplaza.jp/foreignlanguage/en/accessmap.html
Japanese flier about the event
http://stsplaza.jp/sightseeing/news/mifune%20dinosaurs.pdf

"An official of the JA agricultural cooperative in Kumamoto Prefecture with some experience of exporting rice, said: “We’ve exported only a limited amount so far. It’s better for various prefectures to work together.” The organization will promote its locally grown rice and tomatoes at the event."
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/25/business/kyushu-farmers-join-forces-for-hong-kong-fair/
Kyushu farmers join forces for Hong Kong fair
Producers of agricultural and fishery goods in the seven prefectures of Kyushu on Wednesday and Thursday are jointly holding their first export promotion event in Hong Kong to promote a ...

Japanese city targets incentive travel - CEI Asia
Kumamoto officials launch subsidy for groups of 30 or more

The article includes a map, showing the location of this discovery:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201402240068
Canopy of 'last kamikaze' WWII fighter found in Kumamoto - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
NISHIKI, Kumamoto Prefecture--An unused aircraft canopy discovered in Kumamoto Prefecture has been confirmed to be that of a Ryusei “Shooting Star” torpedo-dive bomber, used in kamikaze attacks, making it the only known part of the World War II aircraft to exist in Japan.

I received an inquiry about homeopathy. Apparently, there are several practitioners in Kumamoto, but the information I was able to find on the web was only in Japanese.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/601620739911362

This article includes some information about Kumamon's "birth":
"TV show writer Kundo Koyama, best known for his work on the Iron Chef cooking series, was charged with promoting the prefecture when a new bullet train service linking Kumamoto with the commercial hub of Osaka was being launched in recent years. Koyama then asked celebrated art director Manabu Mizuno to create a campaign logo, and threw in the cuddly Kumamon as a bonus."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/world/a/21647953/japan-mascot-shows-bear-necessities-for-marketing-success/
Japan mascot shows bear necessities for marketing success
Tokyo (AFP) - A clumsy bear mascot for a remote Japanese farming region has rocketed to superstar fame and notched up an unlikely marketing triumph in a nation obsessed with all things cute.

Here's a poster promoting local universities. It points out that the cost of living is lower in Kumamoto than in many other cities. (I added the English to the graph in the lower lefthand corner.)

An answer to something I wonder about from time to time.
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/106640.php
Why do Japanese people wear surgical masks?
The number of people you'll see in Japan wearing surgical masks is pretty surprising. Sure, Japan is a hard working society, and the spread of productivity-sapping sickness is always a concern at schools and workplaces, but that doesn't seem like reason enough for the proliferation of facial coverin...

Employees at Kumamoto Bank (among others) will be testing this out.
http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/fujitsu-worlds-first-tablet-built-104800515.html
Fujitsu to Provide World's First Tablet with Built-in Palm Vein Authentication Sensor to Fukuoka...
Deployment of 2,000 tablets will enable safe and secure handling of customer data anytime, anywhere, through a virtual desktop Tokyo, Feb 20, 2014 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced that it has commenced work on a project, ordered by Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc., to provide 2,000 tablets wi...

The article describes the fascinating life of a man who was born and raised in Hitoyoshi.
http://chestnuthilllocal.com/blog/2014/02/21/strings-attached-hills-roy-miyahara-guitar-ceo-superstar-now-rubs-people-right-way/
No strings attached with Hill's Roy Miyahara - Guitar CEO superstar now rubs people the right...
by Carole Verona When you meet Roy Miyahara, the first thing you want to know is why he gave up a lucrative position as president of a successful international company to become a message therapist and, subsequently, the owner of Diamond Spa in Chestnut Hill. For him, the answer is simple: “I was wi...

We've started a little conversation about how to send money abroad. If you are interested in the topic, please join us!
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/600135043393265?comment_id=4564305

At the Fish Spa Kurokawa Ashiyu, you can have fish eat your face clean -- if that sort of thing appeals to you.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/02/20/oh-my-our-brave-reporter-feeds-his-face-to-a-group-of-flesh-eating-fish/
Oh my! Our brave reporter feeds his face to a group of flesh-eating fish
While the thought of feeding on dead skin cells may not sound particularly appetizing to you or me, it can actually be a treat for some creatures, including the fish Garra rufa, or doctor fish as they're commonly known. These little aquatic "doctors" are well-known in Japan as a form of skin treatme...

We've had a couple of inquiries about exporting cars, one on the mailing list and one on this page:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/12791
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/599633370110099
If you are interested in this topic, please share your thoughts or information.
Yahoo Groups

The Kumamoto-i mailing list can be a good place to make inquiries. Recently, a participant made an inquiry about how to obtain imported deodorants and perfumes. Here's a post with a couple of answers.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kumamoto-i/conversations/messages/12789
Yahoo Groups

A new photo exhibition is being held at the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum in Minamata and will continue until March 14. Here's a quote from the article about the photographer:
"Ishikawa was an aspiring photographer who began working with famed U.S. photojournalist W. Eugene Smith (1918-78) after a chance encounter with the lensman on the streets of Tokyo."
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201402180005
Photo exhibition portrays 40 years of living with Minamata disease - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
MINAMATA, Kumamoto Prefecture--A new photo exhibition chronicles the lives of sufferers of Minamata disease and how they have worsened with the passage of time.

This is about "a national competition to select the busho-tai squad champion has been arranged for Feb. 22 and 23." But even if you can't attend the competition, you may enjoy reading the article to learn more about the "omotenashi busho-tai" that performs on the grounds of Kumamoto Castle.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/culture/AJ201402160009
Warriors to battle in 'omotenashi' competition - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Carrying swords and often wearing armor, warrior squads are offering Japanese hospitality to tourists around the country.

There have been some interesting posts on Kumamon's page recently. I don't share all of them because they are in English and people interested in English information about Kumamoto can just "like" the page to follow the posts. If you haven't done so already, take a look!
KUMAMON’s Kumamoto Diary
This is a webpage of KUMAMON’s introducing the timely information of Kumamoto, Japan. We’ll share the information of Kumamoto’s tasty food and travel with KUMAMON!

This event is scheduled for the afternoon of February 22.
http://www.kicjapan.com/events-lets-try-hijab
Events: Let's Try Hijab
Kumamoto Islamic Center is a Muslim community trying to organize Islamic activities such as Friday prayer, Eid prayer and celebrationof Ramadhan, in Kumamoto, Japan

On his Facebook page, Mr. Yagi of the Kumamoto International Foundation shared this information about an opportunity to visit cultural spots in Yamato-cho and Misato-cho.
Here's the address of Mr. Yagi's original post:
https://www.facebook.com/hiromitsu.yagi/posts/772293169466966
The application deadline is coming up soon so, if you are interested, please hurry:
Here's the text of Mr. Yagi's message:
==== START QUOTE ====
Hello,
As I received UNESCO's invitation for foreign residents to visit Kumamoto's cultural heritages by bus,so I would like to email you, as follows:
1. Purpose:
To deepen the understandings of Kumamoto's culture, nature and history, and then to exchange friendships
2. Organizer: Kumamoto UNESCO Assocation
3. Date and time: 8:40am - 4:20pm on Sat. 8 March
4. Destination; The cultural spots in Yamato-cho and Misato-cho
5. For whom: Foreign residents (over elementary students)
* Capacity 35persons (bus seats are limited)
*Infant who do not go to elementary school are not allowed to join.
6. Participation fee 500Yen/person for adult
300Yen/person for elementary school students
*The fee be paid on the tour day.
7. Kumamoto Prefecture Government Building (6-18-1 Suizenji Chuo-ku
Kumamoto-shi)
*Please note that it is not the Kumamoto City Hall
　　http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/soshiki/3/access-map-add2009.html
8. Itinerary
8:40 Get together at the big Clock at the Kumamoto Prefecture Government
building
9:00 Start for the tour by bus
10:40 Seiwa Bunraku theater / View and experience the Bunraku
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunraku
11:50 Lunch at the Seiwa Bunraku no Sato (rest square in Seiwa)
12:40 Departure of the rest square
13:40 Tujyun bridge and Water fall (Gorogataki)
　http://www.town.kumamoto-yamato.lg.jp/map/pub/Detail.aspx?c_id=56&id=395
A great stone bridge with irrigation function
14:40 Departure of the bridge
15:15 Reitai bridge　(Viewing from the bus windows)
http://www.yado.co.jp/hasi/kumamoto/midorik/reidai/reidai.htm
16:20 Return to the Kumamoto Prefecture Government building
9. Lunch : Please be recommended to bring some lunch boxes as it will be crowed at the food shop there...
10. Note: Be punctual . The bus should depart on time without waiting the person delayed...
11. Application:
Please email to yagi at KIF at [email protected] following info.
(Deadline Feb 19, I make the list and email to UNESCO office on the following day.)
1. full name
2. nationality
3. phone number (and ,Keitai number in urgent)
4. Age. (for insurance)
5. Have you join the tour of UNESCO before? Yes or No
If you want to join with you family, please write names of all the family members who would like to join.
** If the applicants are over 35persons, lottery by the Kumamoto UNESCO association should be made. Then, the UNESCO will get back by Feb. 28 if you can join or not... So I will be able to email the result to each of you on March 1 at latest...
I hope this be interesting.
Cordially,
Hiromitsu YAGI
([email protected])
Kumamoto International Foundation
Phone +81 (0)96 359-2020
Fax +81 (0)96 359-5783
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