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Although I am not aware of damage in Kumamoto City, parts of the prefecture have been hit pretty hard by recent heavy rains.
Japan hit by floods and landslides after heavy rain – video
Incessant rain over three days triggered flash floods and mudslides in southern Japan, killing at least 26 people

Kumamoto Castle Sengoku Warriors (Omotenashi Bushotai).
http://youtu.be/KrRhDXr3Nsc
戦国武将がおもてなし ～熊本城おもてなし武将隊の熱き思い～　Warm Welcome by Sengoku Warriors
400年前の戦国武将たちが現代によみがえり、熊本城でおもてなしをしています。 2012年７月に誕生した「熊本城おもてなし武将隊」は、毎日、熊本城にて華麗な演舞を披露したり、城内を案内したりして、訪れた観光客をもてなしています。今や熱烈なファンがいるほどの人気を誇る武将隊。彼らの魅力と熱い思いをご紹介します。 Wa...

ANIME NEWS: Sojo University in Kumamoto to offer manga course next spring
"Sojo University in Kumamoto is drawing up plans for an undergraduate course specializing in manga education."
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/anime_news/AJ201307300071
ANIME NEWS: Sojo University in Kumamoto to offer manga course next spring - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Sojo University in Kumamoto is drawing up plans for an undergraduate course specializing in manga education.

German resident of Kumamoto arrested for braking plastic plate at Kumamoto Shiyakusho. From the description, I would say that Mr. Sebastian behaved rather badly. On the other hand, I'm surprised at the media coverage. I first saw this on RKK. This video is from TKU. 　I don't know what other media outlets covered this but it strikes me as a level of coverage that is usually reserved for more serious crimes.
http://youtu.be/WMSkzhQR8v0
２９日夕方熊本市役所１階の窓口に置かれたプレートを叩きつけて壊したとしてドイツ国籍の男が現行犯逮捕されました。逮捕されたのはドイツ国籍で熊本市北区下硯川に住む会社員　ゲーリックセバスティアン容疑者です。警察によりますとゲーリック容疑者は２９日午後５時半頃、熊本市役所１階にある水道料金の支払い窓口にあったプラスチック製のプレートを叩きつけて壊したものです。壊されたプレートは業務終了が書かれたものでゲーリック容疑者は水道料金の支払いに窓口を訪れましたが、窓口の業務は午後５時１５分ですでに終了。目撃者の話ではゲーリック容疑者は「何で払えないんだ、この国は何だ」などと怒鳴りちらしていたということです。警察はゲーリック容疑者が水道料金が払えなかったことに腹を立てプレートを壊したとみて調べています。
http://www.tku.co.jp/tku2012/news_article/熊本市役所でプレート壊しドイツ人逮捕?iframe=true&width=560&height=420
20130730am 1

When will the rain stop? This web site seems to provide an answer. The animation begins a couple of hours ago and provides a prediction of where the rain clouds will be in about an hour. Here's the URL:
http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/zoomradar/

Huge fireworks show in Tamana on Friday, August 2. Click to see a Google map and to get the details in Japanese.
http://www.city.tamana.lg.jp/shokan/kanko/kankoannai/matsurieventjhoho/tamananomatsurievent/tamananouryouhanabitaikai.html
玉名市 玉名納涼花火大会
玉名市観光情報　玉名市商工観光課住所：熊本県玉名市高瀬290－1玉名商工会館2階ＴＥＬ：0968－73－2222　ＦＡＸ：0968－73－2220　お問い合わせ全てのページに掲載の写真・音及び記事の無断転載を固く禁じます。

This is in Yatsushiro. If you're hungry and in the area, you might want to give it a try.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/26/road-trip-all-you-can-eat-tempura-for-just-700-yen-in-kumamoto-prefecture/
Road trip! All-you-can-eat tempura for just 700 yen in Kumamoto Prefecture
Over the last few years, more and more restaurants have been offering what people in Japan call “one coin meals,” costing less than 500 yen (US $5), the highest denomination coin here. We recently found a restaurant in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu, that just barely misses th...

Theaters of war and peace in Kumamoto
The pamphlet tells me this is a 'castle' — but the structure in front of me defies that description. Granted, my frame of reference is greatly informed by the impressive ...

I have an account at "Kumamoto Bank" (which recently changed its name from "Kumamoto Family Bank"). I didn't realize until I read this article that Kumamoto Bank is owned by Fukuoka Financial:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-22/fukuoka-financial-weighs-jgb-purchases-amid-abe-inflation-risk.html
Abenomics Goal No Deterrent to Fukuoka Financial Buying JGBs
Fukuoka Financial Group Inc. is considering adding to its Japanese government bond holdings, potentially easing concern that regional banks may dump the notes in anticipation of an end to deflation.

I haven't been to Nabegataki on a hot day but I'm sure it's nice. I'd also recommend Kikuchi Keikoku (Kikuchi Gorge). The ice cold water and the canopy of trees make the whole gorge feel like it's air conditioned.
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130721p2a00m0na004000c.html
Kumamoto waterfall a hit with tourists looking to escape the heat
OGUNI, Kumamoto -- The Nabegataki waterfall here is offering both beautiful scenery and escape from ...

Free study abroad prep in Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture will open a free cram school Sunday for junior high and high school students who want to enroll in universities overseas. 'Students nowadays have options to attend universities ...

Hiroshima, Kumamoto cops bust uncensored porn rings, arrest 16

A sequel to this movie will be filmed in Kumamoto and they seem to be looking for some foreign (British- and German-looking) extras.
http://youtu.be/bzeHq9blYC8
『RUROUNI KENSHIN』 Trailer2 （English）

If you'd like to meet Kumamon, this message from the Kumamoto JET mailing list tells you about an opportunity on Monday:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/kumamoto-jet/xAdoWDkuNZ0/SAqcUembZdAJ
Google Groups

Knife attack in Kikuyo.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.asp?id=154111

Normally, posts from the original Kumamoto-i e-mail group (what came before Facebook) are forwarded to this page via something called RSS. Unfortunately, however, the RSS feed for the list is broken so, if you would like to see what kinds of information are being exchanged there (e.g. a recent job offer, news, etc.) you need to take a look at the following page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kumamoto-i/
kumamoto-i : Kumamoto International
kumamoto-i: Kumamoto International

And the heat goes on! This web page shows the temperatures in Kumamoto for the past couple of weeks. Since last Monday the high temperatures have been between 33.2 C (91.7 F) and 35.2 C (95.4 F). This page also allows you to check the highs and lows in past years.

http://weather.goo.ne.jp/past/9999/12/819/

Here's an interview with the creator of Kumamon.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/globe/people/AJ201307140001
Popular broadcast writer Koyama believes new ideas spring from kindness - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
A bright blue twin-propeller plane appears at Kumamoto Airport, prompting cries of, "It's here! It's here!" "It's so pretty!"

PM2.5 hasn't come up on this list very much lately. Part of the reason is that I haven't gotten around to posting anything about it. Another reason is that back in February, the standard for issuing a "avoid outdoor activities" warning was doubled from 35 micrograms per square meter to 70. The image you see is from a report that RKK broadcast on February 27th.

This should be of interest to the ALTs out there, especially those that are working with elementary school pupils. A survey conducted by Eiken (the testing agency) of elementary schools in Japan found that about 74% say that English classes are not going well and that "lack of coordination with the ALT" is cited most as a specific problem. Actually, I suspect that "lack of coordination / communication" is probably a problem that many ALTs also feel.
If you want to see the full report (only available in Japanese, unfortunately), here's the address of the pdf:
http://www.eiken.or.jp/eiken/group/result/pdf/syou_2012_12.pdf
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20130708/k10015876071000.html
小学校英語必修化 ７割が「課題あり」　NHKニュース
おととし小学校で必修化された英語の授業について各地の小学校に実施状況を聞いたところ、回答した学校の７割が教員の指導力や外国人助手との連携など…