Posts

Only Kumamon can get away with acting this way in front of Japanese royalty.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/28/national/kumamoto-mascot-kumamon-greets-imperial-couple/#.UnDNHZFblhg
Kumamoto mascot Kumamon greets Imperial Couple
Kumamoto Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were greeted by Kumamoto Prefecture's official mascot, the popular black bear character called Kumamon, at the prefectural office Monday. The ...

Make that "Kumamoto to host . . . "
http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/handball/1016690-japan-to-host-2019-women-s-world-handball-championships-denmark-and-germany-to-stage-men-s
Japan to host 2019 women's World Handball Championships, Denmark and Germany to stage men's
Japan has been awarded the 2019 women's World Handball Championships while Denmark and Germany jointly host the men's event that year, it was announced in Doha today.

Developed by a Kumamoto-based company . . .
http://akihabaranews.com/2013/10/28/article-en/hikari-tatami-traditional-japanese-tatami-flooring-gets-led-upgrade-1169254089
HIKARI-TATAMI - Traditional Japanese tatami flooring gets an LED upgrade
Luminous tatami: the 1300-year-old Japanese tradition of tatami flooring finally reaches the next level. Tatami is unique, traditional Japanese flooring, which is made by weaving soft rush grass. Aside from the fact that it smells good and looks beautiful, it has extra advantages, such as good sou...

Imperial couple visits sanatorium for Hansen’s disease patients - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
KOSHI, Kumamoto Prefecture--Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited a national sanatorium for Hansen’s disease patients here on Oct. 26, as part of their long-running efforts to banish the past, where leprosy patients were the subject of forced segregation.

We've just hit the 500-likes mark! Thanks for your support. I'll try to get back to posting more regularly again.

We are quite likely to have tropical storm winds (but lower than Cat 1) in the next 12 hours.

http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

This shows the probability of Category 1 or greater winds in the next 24 hours.

http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

I received the following information in an emergency weather e-mail from the Prefecture. It says that Typhoon No. 24 will come closest to Kumamoto after sunset on the 8th. The tide tends to be fairly high this time of year so people near the ocean are encouraged to be particularly careful.
熊本県危機管理防災課です。
現在、台風２４号が熊本県に接近しています。
気象台によれば、８日（火）夜のはじめ頃から夜おそくにかけて熊本県に最も接近する見込みとのことです。また、現在、平常時の潮位が年間で最も高い時期となっていますので、沿岸部にお住まいの方は台風接近に伴う高潮にも厳重に注意してください。

The typhoon is currently a Category 4 (winds of 130-156 mph) -- take it seriously.

A typhoon is approaching. I know of at least one high school in Kumamoto City that will be closed tomorrow because of the weather.
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/132424l.html

This wadaiko (Japanese drumming) group from Australia, called RINDO, will be performing with the Kumamoto-jo Omotenashi Bushotai at Kumamoto Castle (Hommaru Goten, Central Garden [Naka Niwa] Stage) on Saturday (Sept 21), from 11 - 12 and again from 1 to 3 PM. From 12 to 1 Breath (the group I introduced in my previous post https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/528668377206599) will perform.
RINDO will also perform from 11 - 12 on Sunday, the 22nd, at the Kumamoto Zoo.
http://youtu.be/EshgREf9Yng
Wadaiko Rindo taiko drumming at the Japanese Summer Festival 2010
Wadaiko Rindo performing on the taiko drums at the Japanese Summer Festival, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia - 27 February 2010

These musicians from Australian will be performing at the Sojo University Gallery (which, despite the name, is not far from the International Center in downtown Kumamoto) from 4 PM to 5:30 PM on Saturday, Sept. 21 (tomorrow). They will also be performing at the Kumamoto Shintoshin Plaza (near Kumamoto Station) beginning at 1:30 PM on the 23rd (a holiday). I will post more about this and related events on the page in the coming hour. Be sure click on the link to hear the amazing music (featuring didgeridoo, beatbox and shakuhachi).
http://vimeo.com/70708504
Bareback on the Beach
a pre-release, pumping, teaser track from Breath, featuring didgeridoo, beatbox and shakuhachi Bareback is one of the more upbeat numbers on their new album entitled…

Voting under way for ‘yurukyara’ - The Japan News
Voting is under way for the Yurukyara Grand Prix 2013, the annual popularity contest for cute and often cuddly yuru-kyara mascots representing cities and prefectures.

We visit the World Santa Congress in Kumamoto Prefecture and still feel exactly like jaded adults
Located in a remote section of a remote prefecture of Japan, Kumamoto’s Amakusa City faces the same problem a lot of rural towns do: its population is dwindling as children born there generally have to leave to pursue an education or career, and few move back. As part of an effort to boost the remai...

Wagyu (Japanese beef) production in the U.S. began with bulls from Kumamoto.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/back-school-beef-101-american-133000651.html
Back to School With Beef 101: American Wagyu
Just in time for back-to-school, Snake River Farms has devised a special "lesson" for beef-loving foodies. Today's class? Beef 101: American Wagyu beef. Snake River Farms, the quality producer ...

Seven Star luxury train unveiled Kyushu, rides begin in October for only $5,500
Kyushu Railway Co (JR Kyushu) showed off its brand new Nanatsuboshi (Seven Stars) luxury sleeper cruise train which is the first of its kind in Japan. Operations are set to begin by October 15, but...

Delicious rice balls made with Mori no Kuma-san, or “bear from the forest” rice impress critics.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/09/07/kumamoto-prefecture-shows-us-that-less-is-more-with-simple-yet-mouth-watering-rice-balls/
Kumamoto Prefecture shows us that less is more with simple yet mouth-watering rice balls
One of our reporters recently drew the enviable assignment of visiting this year’s Nippon no Umai, an annual event sponsored by Kirin that brings the best of Japan’s regional delicacies together under one roof. With so many tasty options on display, those of us not lucky enough to attend the tasting...

Japanese Farmers are Growing Heart-Shaped Watermelons -
FOODBEAST is the premiere food news resource. A one-stop location for food news, culture and entertainment.

Here's a jpg of the pdf I linked to in my last post. It shows the route of the festival and the times.

This map shows the parade route and times for Monday's Fujisakigu Autumnal Reitaisai. I recommend catching the parade very early in the morning (at starts at 6 AM) while everyone is fresh and full of energy (and not too drunk).
http://www.fujisakigu.or.jp/reisai/onmitisuji.html
熊本市の総鎮守といわれる藤崎八旛宮。秋には1070余年の歴史と伝統を誇る秋季例大祭が行われています。