Posts

Here's a video about Arao's tidal flats:
http://youtu.be/0NZ_6xQk7eo
ラムサール条約登録！世界が認めた「荒尾干潟」　Internationally acknowledged "Arao Tidal Flat"
2012年、荒尾市にある「荒尾干潟」が、ラムサール条約に登録され、国際的に重要な湿地として認められました。多様な生き物がすむ「荒尾干潟」には、自然と共生する人々の姿があります。 Registered under the Ramsar Convention! Internationally acknowledged...

Good news about the natural environment -- sort of. Part of the bounce back may be due to global warming.
Kumamoto Prefecture has mudflats (or tidal flats) with mudskippers in Arao. Here's the address of an post about them:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kumamoto-i/message/11812
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/30/national/mudskipper-numbers-jump-eightfold-report/#.Uaf9lpWc1K4
Mudskipper numbers jump eightfold: report
The population of mudskippers in Kyushu's Ariake Sea has increased eightfold in the first survey in 16 years, as the fish have been able to easily survive mild winters amid ...

Rainy season starts in southwestern Japan
Japanese weather officials say the rainy season has started in 3 southwestern regions.

I think this site is extremely interesting. Notice how much worse the air quality in Kyushu is than Korea -- in spite of Korea's proximity to China. Also, notice that there are many areas in China that seem to be better the Kyushu. Hmmm.

http://aqicn.org/?map

The food company is Marukin Shokuhin, the maker of a brand of natto that is quite popular here:
http://www.marukinfoods.co.jp/company/company_top.html
http://japandailypress.com/food-company-chairman-arrested-for-hiding-86-guns-1428790
Food company chairman arrested for hiding 86 guns
The chairman of a food company in Kumamoto was arrested by police after it was discovered he was hiding 86 modified guns in his possession. 73 year old Motoo Kira was arrested on Monday for conceal...

Here's a message from Kumamoto-i on YahooGroups about a bicycle for sale:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kumamoto-i/message/12504
Yahoo! Groups

Kumamon featured in The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/12/kumamon-japan-mascot-plutokun
Kumamon leads Japan's mascot craze, but don't mention Pluto-kun
They help collect taxes, promote tourism and save the environment, but Japan's mascots cannot escape controversy

Nabegataki Falls will be lit up at night until the 6th.

http://kumanago.jp/en/events/detail/430000004285.html

The text you see below may be in Japanese but fi you click on the link you should find English text talking about the rose festival that is currently underway in Minamata.
Blog Kumamoto Nagomi Tourism Site
「火の国」くまもとの雄大な自然の中でゆったりのんびりくつろぎませんか。くまもとの多彩な観光地、美味しい特産品や伝統ある工芸品、イベント、キャンペーン、グルメなど盛り沢山の情報をご紹介した熊本県観光サイト・なごみ紀行です。

Here are some picture the baked goods offered at Biggi. Click the following link for more information. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kumamoto-i/message/12483

Here's one of the performances of the "Kumamoto Castle Hospitality Samurai" I just posted about:
http://youtu.be/vM1ojj8LE_w
熊本城おもてなし武将隊 甲冑ダンス～写真撮影会 2012.12.11＠天守閣前広場
本日の出陣武将方：加藤清正公、八十姫様、加藤嘉明殿、飯田覚兵衛殿、森本儀太夫殿、木村又蔵殿。 今回は左側から、とある武将の方をユルく追いかけてみました。 さて、それはどの武将様でしょうか？ （甲冑ダンス参戦、初撮影！）

Kumamoto may get more JETs in the coming years!
LDP looks to double JET Program's ranks in three years
The number of teachers hired for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program would be doubled in three years under a proposal drafted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to boost ...

Great little India restaurant near Kumamoto Airport that offers take out as well as dining in. Run by two Indian chefs and one Japanese lady. Prices are quite reasonable. Click on the link to find a Google map:
http://asopalav.jimdo.com/プロフィール/
プロフィール - インドレストランAsopalav（アソパラウ）　本場インドの味

Next Saturday, a German bakery called Biggi will open in Obiyama (Kumamoto City). It will be run by a Japanese woman who learned her craft in Germany. Here's a Google map showing the location:

http://goo.gl/maps/mfpSF

Spring Ceramic Art Festival on the West Coast of Amakusa, 2013.04.27 - 2013.05.06:
http://kumanago.jp/en/events/detail/430000003577.html
http://kumanago.jp/thumb.php?path=./photo/430000003577/1245992766.jpg&mw=346&mh=246

The alloy described in the news article was developed through the "KUMADAI Magnesium Alloys Practical Use Project":
http://www.msre.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/english/project.html
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/technology/AJ201304180051
Scientists develop heat-resistant magnesium alloys for aircraft - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Japanese scientists have developed two strong, nonflammable magnesium alloys that could be used in aircraft construction.

As far as I know, this is the most detailed article to be published in English on the recent Minamata disease Supreme Court ruling. It's a fairly meaty article -- worth reading. Here's one quote that I think is representative of the terrible treatment patients have received:
"Chie Mizoguchi, who started suffering health problems around 1955, applied for certification as a Minamata disease patient in 1974. She would have had to live around 18 more years to hear the first decision on her application: the Kumamoto prefectural government’s rejection in 1995."
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201304170076
Supreme Court ruling on Minamata disease comes 36 years after patient's death - AJW by The Asahi Shi
Chie Mizoguchi started feeling numbness in her limbs when a mysterious ailment spread in seaside communities in Kyushu, leading to sensory, vision and motion disorders.

Mercury in the environment (in Japan and throughout the world) is also a contemporary issue:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201304160101
Researchers: Air pollution from China raises mercury levels around Mt. Fuji - AJW by The Asahi Shimb
Levels of mercury in the skies around Mount Fuji were found to be 10 times higher than that of the average urban area in 2007, a new survey says.

This video about the Minamata disease ruling is in Japanese but quite good. It was broadcast by NHK on their 7 PM national news show.
http://youtu.be/7kd3hgkPxQk
水俣病裁判 16日最高裁判決

Landmark Minamata disease ruling: The Japan Times published the Kyodo article on the ruling that I posted yesterday. There's a great photo on the web page (different from the one you see here).
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/04/17/national/supreme-court-recognizes-woman-as-minamata-victim/
Supreme Court recognizes woman as Minamata victim
The Supreme Court upheld on Tuesday a high court ruling that posthumously recognized a woman as a victim of Minamata disease, an industrial-related malady caused by mercury poisoning. The top court's ...