Posts

Kirk here. Mercury poisoning (particularly low-level mercury poisoning) is a global problem. This couple from Minamata has some lessons about it for the world.
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Hideki, 68, said, "The damage caused by mercury is still occurring all over the world. I hope many countries and regions will participate (in) the convention and make efforts to achieve its goals."
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https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/11/9499001b63ab-japan-couple-urges-fight-against-mercury-at-minamata-treaty-meeting.html
Alternative URL:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/01/japan/society/minamata-mercury-geneva-couple/
Japan couple urges fight against mercury at Minamata treaty meeting
A Japanese couple affected by the mercury-caused Minamata Disease has called on more countries to get involved in the global fight against water pollution due to the substance under a 2013 international convention.

(Fiona) I am planning to host a Quiz Night to raise funds for this year's Team Tonakai Toy Drive. It will be held on Saturday November 25th from 7:30pm. Check the event page for location and further details. Please book a spot as soon as possible if you plan to come!
https://facebook.com/events/s/team-tonakai-quiz-night-fundra/6964605423577999/

Kirk here with old but still very relevant news from local author Sean Micheal Wilson. In some personal correspondence with Sean, he pointed out to me that Kumamoto City has no policy to require home builders to replace trees they remove due to construction. I hadn't thought about the need to create legal incentives to plant trees until Sean pointed it out to me but his word certainly ring true. Much of my neighborhood, some of which had been cultivated land bordered by trees until very recently, is now almost all paved over. Most of the land has become plots for houses but many of the home owners have elected to cover all of their land in pavement -- no dirt, no trees. :(
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Call that progress?: In the city of Kumamoto, a Meiji Era house and its beautiful old Japanese-style wall were knocked down recently, with 90 percent of its trees torn down too. The small area left at the back gives an idea of what the trees were like in the main garden. The plot is now a car park. | SEAN MICHAEL WILSON
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https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2017/09/20/voices/every-new-construction-japan-less-trees/?fbclid=iwar1wfoncjittebbhcumln1f2yxddnbhl8pqwtoup4re0adto-7bjs_heyqa
With every new construction in Japan, fewer trees
When houses are demolished, there is a very bad habit here of cutting down all the trees on the plot, leaving the ground cleared and empty for new construction.

(Claire) Tomorrow November 3rd is the festival at Rengei in (蓮華院祭り) outside Tamana city.
It was last held 4 years ago. There is a lot of parking at the temple but it’s not walkable from the station and there are no extra buses being laid on this year afaik.
The Yokozuna won’t be in attendance but it is still a really good festival. The temple is on top of a mountain with gorgeous views over the Ariake sea.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/627093686169888?mibextid=kcDB8O

(Claire)Tamana city has a busy weekend coming up. November 4th Saturday is our Firework Festival. Very near to Bonfire (Guy Fawkes) Night for any Brits missing home. There are half the amount of fireworks compared to pre Covid days but 5001 is still a good few I think! The city is usually gridlocked afterwards but this is the first time to try holding the festival in November so not sure about this year.
It was moved to November because the soaring summer temperatures make preparations really hard for the volunteers in August who work all through the day to prepare for the evening events. My husband (Sezakinosake) is one of those volunteers so if you buy a draft beer please say hello !
Scroll down this link to find train times etc.
もしもの時に備え全国商工会議所のスケールメリットにより低廉な保険料でご加入いただけます。

Kirk here with a Kumanichi article that says that representatives of the foreign community have been invited to discuss the "foreigner as shimin" issue and other issues related to community building.
Here's an English-language translation of the Kumanichi article:
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Discussion with Foreign Residents: In Light of the Implementation of the Revised Municipal Basic Ordinance - Kumamoto Mayor on November 3rd
2023.10.28 Morning Edition
Mayor Kazufumi Ōnishi of Kumamoto City will set up an occasion on November 3rd to directly hear from foreign residents living in the city regarding challenges they face. The event is organized in response to the enforcement of the revised Municipal Basic Ordinance, which emphasizes that "diverse citizens work together" in city planning. It will be held at the city's International Exchange Hall in Chuo Ward, where 15 individuals will be invited to share their opinions.
During a regular press conference on the 27th, Mayor Ōnishi, while pointing out differences in language and lifestyle habits, stated, "It is important for both foreigners and local residents to understand each other's ways of thinking and values." He expressed an intention to increase opportunities for dialogue as a concrete measure to deepen mutual understanding.
Reflecting on the journey to the ordinance revision, Mayor Ōnishi emphasized, "There were various discussions, including critical opinions. There were ups and downs, but I want to take it positively and promote a multicultural coexistence society." As a strategy to deepen mutual understanding in the community, he said, "I want to actively engage with the public by expanding forums like the discussions with foreigners that are taking place at the local community centers throughout various regions."
(By Ayaya Uemura)
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I've been invited to participate in a forum with the mayor once before so I've already had my turn. I'm happy to sit this one out. But, I can't help wonder how the representatives of the community were chosen. Were there people who contacted the city and are those the people who have been invited? Or, did they have some other way of choosing participants? It's great that the mayor is speaking with people but I think it's important for the process to be open and accessible to those who are most deeply interested.

Sean here –
A bazaar event, not to be confused with the bizarre author 😉
Here is a neighborhood opportunity to help a local church that supports Jiaien, a home for kids who are either temporarily or permanently separated from their parents.
Maybe it is too late to donate for the bazaar, but give them a call just in case they will. If you miss the cutoff date, you can still make donations throughout the rest of the year.
Here is an opportunity to make a difference locally.
See the flyer for details

Sharing symposium announcement.
Atsuko (๑˃ᴗ˂)و

Kirk with a note on whether it's "Kinbozan" (my personal favorite) or "Kinpozan," another fairly popular reading of 金峰山. These are images of two signs that are very near Toge no chaya. People are told to say "Kinpo" when they head toward Kumamoto and then "Kinbo" when they leave. So, next time you think "Didn't that sign say something else when I came?" don't worry about your sanity; it really did.
I wonder what the locals think about these signs, frozen as they are in a perpetual argument. "Kinpo" "No, Kinbo!" "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, Kinpo!" "Now you listen to me . . ."
Thanks to Sean for sharing the images of these signs with me.

Atsuko.
This is information sharing for fans of Japanese sweets and craftsmanship.
There was a previous discussion on this page about a wagashi making experience, but unfortunately this time it is for parents and children. But it is a FREE workshop.
All workshops are fascinating, aren't they? My children are grown now, but I like these craftsmanship workshops and used to take them every year. Mini tatami mats are also nice. You can smell the nice smell of rush grass.
Even if you don't have children, it is fun just to watch.
I recommend this event.
Reservations are required on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't delay.
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Planter table
Wooden tree- shaped free rack
Flower decoration
Making mini tatami mats
Christmas flower arrangement
Hand- rolled sushi
Japanese sweets nerikiri (mandarin orange/ momiji)
Making Danish bread and melon bread
■Reservation reception starts from 10:00 on Wednesday, November 1st (first come first served) (096-325-6947)
■Reception hours weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00
■Please note that only one group can apply for one story. We will explain how we handle personal information.
@熊本市職業訓練センター
@Venue Kumamoto City Vocational Training Center 7-19-10 Hanazono, Nishi- ku, Kumamoto City (Next to Kakibaru Park)
Previous post about Japanese sweets
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=704791715015956&id=100064554018003
P.S. I visited Tomodachiya's owner and asked him about non-Japanese speaking foreigners. He replied that he had had some non-Japanese speaking foreigners before. He can't speak English fluently, but he welcomes foreigners well.
Yes, Just enjoy!!!!(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡

William After the war, Japan, in a panic to quickly obtain material for rebuilding, replanted most of its deforested land with vast plantations of sugi (cedar, 杉), a fast-growing tree with the unfortunate characteristics of providing zero benefit to wildlife but triggering terrible allergies to anyone with a functioning nose. To walk in a cedar forest is to enter an eerie zone of complete silence. Fortunately, the gov't has recently noticed this immense mistake and is taking steps to replace sugi with trees more suitable to the environment.
One area left pristine, though, is in central Kyushu: Itsuki (五木). The village will hold a festival next weekend, 11/4-5, during the height of the autumn leaves season (紅葉, Kōyō). Festival info at the link; photo ripped from the Web.
https://itsuki-no-koto.com/articles/akimatsuri2023?fbclid=IwAR1hTakmwMQJoDOGsOGvri7ce5BQgp9_OMJDbrn9pTq0b4SqE7nJGt_u3g4

Kirk here with local labor news.
Myanmar man sues sawmill operator after losing finger in accident
A Myanmar man has sued the operator of a sawmill in Japan, alleging he lost his little finger in an accident during work in 2021 due to a lack of safety guidance in easy-to-understand Japanese, his lawyer said. The 36-year-old man demands the factory operator in Kumamoto Prefecture, pay some…

Sean here – Adding to Kirk's previous post -
File under – Our collective backyard - a Kinpo san update -
It seems that the observation deck which has been under renovation the last couple of weeks is complete.
What is interesting is what seems to be this temporary Green Vision adventure swing. Maybe someone else knows more about it.
As if the views of Unzen could not get better, add a little adrenaline rush to spice it up.
Also, an update on Kinpo San’s local Phriendly Pheasent Celebrity phowl.

Kirk here.
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The Kumamoto Flower Expo 2023, aimed at promoting the attractiveness of Kumamoto’s flowers and nature, opened in Kumamoto City on Saturday.
On the opening day, floral artist Nicolai Bergmann enlivened the event with his bouquet-making performance. Events for the expo will be held mainly on weekends through Nov. 26 at a venue in the central part of the city, Suizenji Ezuko Park and Mt. Kinbo.
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Kumamoto Flower Expo Opens
KUMAMOTO — The Kumamoto Flower Expo 2023, aimed at promoting the attractiveness of Kumamoto’s flowers and nature, opened in Kumamoto City on Saturday. On the opening day, floral artist Nicolai Bergmann enlivened the event with his bouquet-making performance. Events for the expo will be held manl...

Sean here again -
Super event today. 3 media outlets covered it. It is really good to see that there is an interest in kids doing positive things. I appreciated some of the comments of support displayed here. Local support by local kids, doing it locally.
We'll be doing it again next year -

William Our friend Luz de Leon is the leader of the tiny Mexican community in Kumamoto. She has organized a display for el Dia de los Muertos at the International Center and would like to remind readers that it will run until November 2.
Please do not mistake this very important festival with Halloween, a European, Americanized mess. El Dia de los Muertos is pre-Columbian and of great importance to the people of Mexico and other Hispanic cultures, perhaps most closely equated to the Japanese Obon holiday. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%ADa_de_Muertos

Kirk here with the following translation of an article that appeared in the Kumanichi on the 23rd.
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASRBQ7HC9RBPTLVB001.html
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Demonstration Against the Invasion of the Gaza Strip, Calls for Peace and Humanitarian Support
On the 21st, there was a demonstration in Shimotori, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, demanding the halt of the ground invasion into the Gaza Strip, an area of the Palestinian Autonomous Region, which the Israeli army is preparing for. About 40 participants raised slogans such as "Oppose violence against Palestine" and "Provide humanitarian aid, not weapons," advocating for peace.
The demonstration was organized by four individuals, including citizens and researchers interested in the Palestinian issue, who invited their acquaintances to participate. Muslims living in Kumamoto Prefecture also joined. They held a street gathering where each shared their thoughts.
Joshua Rickard, an associate professor on special assignment at Kumamoto University who researches the Palestinian issue, said that under the long-term blockade by Israel, residents of the Gaza Strip cannot adequately access electricity, water, and food. Many children are suffering from mental disorders. He asserted, "Their everyday life as humans has been taken away; it's a human rights issue."
Mana Kaikita (25) from Minami-ku, Kumamoto City, who participated, commented during an interview, "I was shocked to learn that many residents of the Gaza Strip are children." She added, "Considering the large number of young people living in the Gaza Strip and the situation where missiles are being launched there, I wondered if there's something we can do to help from as far away as Japan." (By Kei Yoshida)
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Personally, I share this concern for innocent civilians in Gaza. I would also like to express my concern for the innocent Israeli civilians who have lost loved ones and are suffering in various ways. Participants on this forum may have different opinions about the policy issues involved but I hope we can agree that we all want the carnage to stop.
ガザ地区侵攻に反対のデモ　平和、人道支援訴え：朝日新聞デジタル
　イスラエル軍が準備を進める、パレスチナ自治区のガザ地区への地上侵攻に中止を求めるデモ行進が21日、熊本市中央区の下通りであった。参加者約40人が「パレスチナへの暴力反対」「武器ではなく人道支援を」と…

Kirk here. Saw an add about this on TV yesterday. Seems like a good opportunity to see works from the Osaka City Museum that one would not normally have access to here.
URL: https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/site/museum/166519.html
Partial translation (courtesy ChatGPT):
RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting 70th Anniversary Celebration - Beauty Perfected: Osaka City Museum of Art Collection
Exhibition Period:
September 16th, 2023 (Saturday) to November 12th, 2023 (Sunday)
Venue:
Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art
Main Building, Exhibition Room 2
Opening Hours:
9:30 AM to 5:15 PM (However, please note that entry is permitted only until 4:45 PM.)
Closed Days:
Mondays (If it's a public holiday, the museum will be open and closed the following weekday.)
*Note: October 30th (Monday) is a special opening day (with a gallery talk provided through sign language interpretation).
Admission Fee:
Adults: 1,200 yen (1,000 yen for advance and group rates)
University students: 1,000 yen (800 yen for advance and group rates)
High school students and below: Free
*Note: The prices in parentheses are for advance purchases and group rates. A group consists of 20 or more individuals..

Sean here again 😀
A beautiful day. Not sure what to do today? Come celebrate/support the environment, the day, and tremendously awesome fantastic teens at Trick or Trash Halloween celebration/fundraiser at Ezuko. Global solutions start locally.

Atsuko.
I believe that the Kumamoto International page is a page that connects Kumamoto, a local city, with the world.
Today I would like to introduce a local but global event.
Next week, on 3 and 4 November, there will be a photo exhibition, workshop and fundraising event at the Global Building of Kumamoto University in support of street children, Ukrainian and Thai refugees who have become CDM. All proceeds from the pressed flower bookmarks made at the workshop will be donated.
We look forward to seeing you at the venue for lots of participation.ଘ(੭ˊ꒳​ˋ)੭✧
Supported by 小さな一歩の会
http://www.chi-sanaippo.com/
MASA Free school
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100047122544849
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Kumamoto University Festival,
Nov. 3 and 4
Flower Bookmark Workshop
Make your own pressed flower bookmarks!
Enjoy volunteering!
Flower Bookmarks,
150 yen per sheet All proceeds from the sale of the flower bookmarks will be donated to the Ukraine and Myanmar(CDM) people in Thailand.
Please note that the sales of flower bookmarks will end as soon when it sold out.
This is a great opportunity to make cute seasonal pressed flower bookmarks with your family and friends while having fun an volunteering!
Children are also welcome!
Let's learn about world's street children through photos!
Mr. Masashi Teramoto. the representative of NPO MASA FREE SCHOOL, which is the recipient of this year's support, is currently engaged in support activities in Ukrane. At the same time, he is holding photo exhibitions of street children around the world in various countries.
This time, you can leam about the current situation of street children around the world through photos taken at Kumamoto University Through the photos, we can leam about the issues and children in the world that we usually cannot get from newspapers or news only. Please come and see them!
Place
Kumamoto University
Multilingual Culture Lounge of the Education Bldg
Opening hours
From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.