Posts

Kirk here. Public transportation (trains in particular) can get you to Aso, but how do you get around once you're there? I got a notice today about a place in Aso that rents mopeds (they say "小型モビリティ" [small mobility]) for 650 yen an hour.
This came to me because I have a Google alert for 外国人 and 熊本 and the article says, basically, "Foreigners OK too." Well, I should hope so! If they excluded foreigners that would be a real problem. But, on the other hand, it's good to know that they wanted to make a point of saying that they welcome rentals by folks like us. :)
モトライドツアーズ株式会社のプレスリリース（2023年10月10日 10時16分）熊本県阿蘇地域で小型モビリティを活用した観光MaaS実証実験開始（モトライドレンタル）

Kirk here with another news article.
--- start quote ---
Under the proposed reforms, local governments will be empowered to draw up plans and issue permits for the construction of factories in urbanization control districts (farmlands and forests), where development is currently restricted under the urban planning law. Japanese laws generally ban converting land set aside for agriculture for any other purposes.
--- end quote ---
I glad to see economic development but can't help but feel a little anxious about the loss of farmlands and forests.
By the way, the original article was published in by the Nikkei but it's behind a paywall so I chose this.
Japan To End Restrictions On Acquiring Farmlands, Forests To Promote Rapid Construction Of Factories In Strategic Areas Like Semiconductor, Batteries
The Japanese government is set to ease land use restrictions in a bid to promote the construction of factories for strategically important sectors such as semiconductors, storage batteries and biotechnology, Nikkei reported.

Kirk here with basketball news:
Kumamoto gets back at Kiefer’s Shiga in B.League Division 2
Kiefer's squad slips, Bolick rides bench as Fukushima wins, Roosevelt Adams misses Yamagata game

More high-tech news:
-- Kirk
MA-tek follows big clients as it expands - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

Roasso did very well this year against more highly ranked clubs. They got close to making it to the Emperor's Cup final but lost to Kashiwa. -- Kirk
Football: Kashiwa hammer J2 Kumamoto to reach Emperor's Cup final
https://www.nippon.com/en/news/kd1083651217298669644/
Photo from this Kumanichi article:
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1195848

Kirk here with another bit of TSMC news.
--- start quote --
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is making remarkable strides in its $8 billion chip plant project in Kumamoto, Japan. Contrary to challenges faced in the U.S., the Kumamoto project is surpassing expectations, with tool installations scheduled to commence this October and full-scale production slated for 2024. TSMC’s success in Japan can be attributed to the proactive support from the Japanese government and streamlined regulations, enabling swift progress.
--- end quote ---
TSMC's Japanese Chip project surges ahead, boosting Global Semiconductor Research - Gizmochina
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is making remarkable strides in its $8 billion chip plant project in Kumamoto, Japan.

Kirk here. Shibuya in Tokyo is being quite emphatic that they don't want people to celebrate Halloween there. Kumamoto, on the other hand, has a website devoted to promoting various Halloween events that are planned. One of them is this dance contest. Hey dancers, how 'bout struttin' you stuff?
Here's the website with videos and information in Japanese about other events:
https://www.kumamoto-halloween.com/
P.S. Being 6'4" (193 cm) and relatively thin, I've always wanted to get professional make up, a good outfit (including thick monster shoes to make myself that much taller) and walk as Frankenstein, around handing out candy while continuing to look as scary as possible. Probably won't be able to do that this year, though. Maybe someday. ;)

Kirk here with news about a bullying scandal regarding Ozu High School's soccer team. The Japan Times article is behind a paywall but the NHK article and video are available for free.
I heard on the news yesterday that the soccer team will be rendered inactive for the time being due to the issue.
Probe launched over 'serious' Kumamoto soccer team bullying
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/04/japan/society/kumamoto-school-soccer-bullying/
Japanese student criticizes school's response to soccer club bullying case
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231004_11/
Probe launched over 'serious' Kumamoto soccer team bullying
A member of the renowned school team was allegedly forced to kneel on the ground in apology while naked as he was filmed by senior members of the team.

Sean here-
この度私たちは、キッズ向けハロウィンイベント「トリック・オア・トラッシュ2023」を開催する運びとなりました。このイベントは、未来を担う子どもたちに環境問題を英語で学ぶ機会を提供するもので、今年で4回目となります。企画・運営は全て、Sean’s New York Language Club（SNYLC）所属の中高生ボランティアチーム「Teen Driven」が行います。
日程：2023年10月29日（日）
時間：13時～16時
場所：上江津湖・中の島
対象：5歳～小学校高学年
料金：1人500円
目的：①身近な遊び場である江津湖の豊かな生態系を通して環境問題を学ぶ
②未来を担う子どもたちに、生きた英語に触れる機会を提供する
③集めたお金は「熊本市母子寡婦福祉連合会」に寄付する
内容：５R（Reuse/Reduce/Recycle/Refuse/Rot）の紹介・アクティビティ・ゲーム・バザー・表彰式など
寄付、ボランティア、または参加に興味がある場合は、私にメッセージを送るか、Teen Drivenに連絡してください [email protected]
Good morning, everyone.
Support your community, our teens, our kids, our environment.
Please share -
The 4th annual Ezuko Trick or Trash fundraising Halloween Party is here.
Last year we raised 30000 for our partner charity.
This year all proceeds will be donated to Kumamoto City Federation of Maternal and Child Widows Welfare Association.
If you are interested in donating, volunteering, or participating, please message me, or contact Teen Driven at [email protected]

上色見熊野座神社 Kamishikimi Kumanoza shrine.
Atsukoଘ(੭ˊ꒳​ˋ)੭✧
https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-oppo-rev1&sca_esv=571626697&hl=ja&cs=0&sxsrf=AM9HkKnB6YD4Xwc9Y2oXn05OfNgN9nJeRg:1696721136277&q=%E4%B8%8A%E8%89%B2%E8%A6%8B%E7%86%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%BA%A7%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE&ludocid=8464286624988710782&ibp=gwp;0,7&lsig=AB86z5UQk7DI_tXv0gzkQov1SeZI&kgs=c08de150ea6eee06&shndl=-1&shem=lbsc,lsp&source=sh/x/kp/local/m1/4
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=369265525435140&id=100070550876674

1-day only Free Ride.
They ask you to get SEIRIKEN. Maybe, they want to find out how many people got on board.
There is, of course, no charge.
Atsuko.(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡

Sean here -
File under: I dunno, you tell me. Somewhere in Oe.

Kirk here reporting that an inadvertent post here by Mr. Yagi of the International Center is EXTREMELY popular, with a post reach as of 1 PM Friday of well over 50,000. If, somehow, you missed it, Mr. Yagi's wildly popular post is here:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0wNEiLXP6R1oZwHMBwh7a3zpVcKTdbVmjDojzviok3h6r1R5j2DVNRcFefde93yPzl
I say that the post was "inadvertent" because Mr. Yagi later told me he meant to post it to his own Facebook page but posted it to Kumamoto International instead.
Personally, even though I've posted thousands and thousands of times in the decade or so that I've been running this page on Facebook, I've never posted anything that so many people liked. The one precedent is the following post by fellow editor Sara Brown (now Sara Kubota):
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02G2jC8bxJFnDPkNxay3JdfHWzKFyxqj695vruqECnq6ZCM1jkW1ymeoSY6wS5djHpl
Sara's post got shared a lot because it contained a link to a useful website showing where they could get (free?) food after the earthquake in 2016. The website itself was in Japanese so I wasn't really surprised that it got shared a lot.
Mr. Yagi's post is nice but, to be honest, I didn't expect it to take off like this. Maybe its popularity has something to do with it getting shared by Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber (just kidding ;) ).
Or, maybe it's just that a lot more people like trams than I realized. By the way, if you like trams, remember that you can ride free tomorrow:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=free%20bus

Sean here-
I saw this bird on Kinpo san this morning. It's the second time. It looks like a roadrunner, and it runs, rather than fly when trying to avoid me.
Sorry about the quality of the photo. Any idea what this might be?

Liz here, I am very sad and disappointed to have to announce that the 13 th gig with Michelle Rounds has been canceled. Apparently she was not able to get her musician’s working visa ( don’t ask about it , as it will trigger a long rant from me) . I don’t know how to remove it from the events calendar , so I have to ask Kirk to kindly do that for me. There is still lots of jazz going on in Kumamoto though. Venues that frequently have gigs are Swing, Jazz in Okura, kuhonji Smile ,Basement, and Green River . I am probably forgetting a few ….

Kirk here with information about Mizuakari events at various locations. "What's Mizuakari?" It's what you see in the picture.
The following ChatGPT translation is of Japanese text on the following page:
http://mizuakari.net/overview
--- begin ChatGPT translation ---
Event Overview:
Name: 18th Kumamoto Livelihood Festival "Mizuakari"
Date: 2023
October 7th (Saturday) Lighting time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Scheduled)
October 8th (Sunday) Lighting time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Scheduled)
Location: Various areas in Kumamoto City, Chuo Ward, Hanabata-cho
Hanabata Park
Hanabata Plaza (In front of NHK)
Road in front of the Citizens' Hall Sears Home Yume Hall
Misumi Park (In front of the Kato Kiyomasa Statue)
Tsuboigawa River and Nagabei
Josaien
Miyukizaka
Kumamoto Castle
Organizers:
Host: General Incorporated Association Kumamoto Livelihood Festival
Mizuakari Operation Committee
Co-hosts (Scheduled):
Kumamoto City
Supporters (Scheduled):
Kumamoto Prefecture
--- end ---

Sean here -
A quick note for cycling fans.
The second stage of the 2023 Tour de Kyushu is in Kumamoto / Aso region this Sunday.
Here is the link -
KUMAMOTO stage | STAGES | マイナビ ツール・ド・九州２０２３
2023年10月開催。福岡・熊本・大分を舞台に繰り広げられるUCI（国際自転車競技連合）公認のサイクルロードレース「マイナビ ツール・ド・九州２０２３」オフィシャルウェブサイト。

Reminder: As I posted a couple of days ago, they'll be free bus and trolley rides in Kumamoto City on the 7th! -- Shared by Kirk
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/pfbid0VVFJymMD9gDjnxEbfn1hyF4Vt3SgYxzzJb9Hzxjq7tcuyQm5vZP94ZmWgibth7b8l

Kirk here with a share from Michi No Eki Aso:
https://www.facebook.com/eng.michinoekiaso/posts/pfbid0v2hPgAEubPYwRmxrbCcmU5a6s1kdbZ4vxGwQ6jmqdz9t3jvZkG8Epsa2WdF3DQsMl

In the morning on October 4.