Posts

Kirk here. I wrote earlier that Mr. Kihara (politician from Kumamoto who has become defense minister) has a reputation of being quite conservative. He's also considered to be very pro-Taiwan, as this article indicate. HIs pro-Taiwan stance no doubt has something to do with the growing importance of Taiwan to Kumamoto's economy but I think it's fair to say that it's also an extension of his view of China as a threat to Japan and of Taiwan as an ally in that context. I don't know the details about his proposal that "Japan use 'counterattack capabilities' to resist a People's Liberation Army (PLA) invasion" but I hope his hawkishness on China doesn't lead to an escalation of tensions.
Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan politician as defense minister | Taiwan News | 2023-09-14 15:43:00
Kihara Minoru counterattacked PLA forces during tabletop exercise simulating Chinese invasion of Taiwan | 2023-09-14 15:43:00

Kirk here. A while back I complained that the prefecture's website doesn't seem to have a section devoted to providing information to foreign residents. Since then, I've learned that the prefecture has a "Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents" and that such information can be found there. Here's the address of the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/KumamotoSupportCenterforForeignResidents
You'll find a link there to the free online Japanese classes that caused my complaint in the first place. Similar information is available on the Center's webpage:
http://www.kuma-koku.jp/support-center/hpkiji/pub/List.aspx?c_id=3&class_set_id=6&class_id=582
I think the "Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents" provides important information and services but am worried that it's a little hard to find. When you go to the prefecture's main website, you'll find a link to "Foreign Language" (should be "Foreign Languages"?) and this takes you to machine translations of the entire website in various languages, including English. However, you won't find a link to the "Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents" there. So, I wonder how they expect people who need help to find it.
If any of you have used the services of "Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents" and would be willing to comment on your experience, either positively or negatively, please do so here.

William Personal note: I've been somewhat disabled with a knee injury and have become addicted to spy/action novels (Tom Clancey and the like). If any have some to give/trade, I would be grateful.

Sean here – Looking for a couple of kids who might be interested in being involved in this event. A good opportunity for the right kid. English in not needed. Teens are involved from planning to completion. Last year, they raised 30,000 and introduced the concept of the 4 R's to 30 kids. Win, Win, Win
They also get a letter of accomplishment to be used as part of Uni entrance or HS entrance applications.
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We launched the 4th annual 2023 Ezuko, Trick or Trash Halloween Party, planning committee. October 29th 2023
Protecting the environment – Supporting our community
We currently have openings for 3 more teenagers who would like to be part of this event. Women encouraged to participate.
Requirements: Teenager - Highly motivated -Friendly- Positive attitude – Dependable –
English is NOT a requirement.
If you or you know someone who can rise to the challenge or you have any questions, please message me, or our volunteer liaison Yuri san at: [email protected]
私たちは恒例の「江津湖トリック＆トラッシュハロウィーンパーティー」開催へ向けての活動を、昨日始動しました。
毎年開催しているこのイベントも4回目。
今年は2023年10月29日に開催します。
環境を保護し、地元を応援する企画です。
私たちは現在、3名のティーンボランティアを募集しています。
募集条件: ティーネイジャー（特に女子）／意欲的／社交的／前向き／責任感がある
*英語が話せなくても問題ありません
あなた自身やあなたのお知り合いで挑戦してみたい人がいれば、ぜひ私、もしくはチームの連絡係のユウリさん（ [email protected] ）までご連絡ください。
質問なども遠慮なくどうぞ。

Kirk here with news for sunflower fans. The place is Minamiaso and the photo was taken on the 12th.
Japan Photo Journal: Sunflowers bloom in village struck by 2016 Kumamoto quake - The Mainichi
Sunflowers are seen in the Kumamoto Prefecture village of Minamiaso on Sept. 12, 2023. The yellow flowers of some 13,000 plants swaying in the highlan

William A friend had mentioned that he'd signed up for Kumamoto Marathon. Aside from its high entry fee (14,500円! - that's an expensive T-shirt), their desire to make it a fast, easy to maintain course means it is incredibly boring.
When I still had knees, my favorite marathon route went along Shirakawa to Kita Bypass, across the bridge, then along a route called "Cypress Road" (read about it here: https://www.kikuyotsu-rizumu.jp/route01_07.html) to Milk Road in Ozu. This road is also very historic: it was this which, during the Edo era's required residency of lords (called "sankin-kōtai https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankin-k%C5%8Dtai), the Hosokawa clan travelled to Oita and took a boat from there. From my house to Milk Road entrance was exactly marathon-distance - plus, there's a 7-11 at the turnaround for refreshments! As the route follows the railroad, there are very few traffic lights.
Get a few friends and enjoy your marathon on an historic route for free! - or create your own using Google Maps.

Fireworks in Asagiri Machi (near Hitoyoshi) on October 14th. -- Kirk
https://kumanichi.com/event/1169390

William Times are one wants free money and might be tempted to make it oneself. Kumanichi reports on the arrest of four Vietnamese nationals (coulda been any nationality - counterfeiting knows no borders) in Nagasu who attempted to exchange six "old" ￥10,000 notes (the ones with Fukuzawa Yukichi, a Meiji era philosopher and the founder of Keio University) for new ones (which also feature Fukuzawa but add additional patterns and security features) in Tamana. Apparently, the suspects imported 100 counterfeit old 10,000 yen bills from Vietnam to Fukuoka Airport. In 2024, we'll see an entirely new ￥10,000 note featuring Shibusawa Eiichi, known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism."
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1171799

Kirk here. In addition to the availability of lots of clean ground water and proximity to Japan, TSMC seems to like Kumamoto because of its assessment of the local work ethic:
"TSMC sees workers in Japan, which is known for long hours and strong commitment to employers, as more willing to work a punishing schedule with overtime as chipmaking machines run around the clock in sterile clean rooms, the sources said."
TSMC prizes Japan's chips skills after U.S. stumbles
The chipmaker is taking an increasingly optimistic view of Japan as a production base, as problems persist at its new factory in Arizona.

Kirk here with a share from Explore Kumamoto. This is just one of several posts I'm tempted to share. If you're not familiar with the page check it out. There have been some interesting posts about Yamato-machi recently (Tsujunkyo, Gorogataki, the Hassaku Festival etc.).
https://www.facebook.com/reel/6850294051658115

William A bit of history regarding the Autumn Great Festival (or Boshita, or 藤崎八旛宮秋季例大祭): apparently, its roots go back to a type of festival known as "Hojo-e" (放生会), which (somewhat ironically given allegations of cruelty towards the horses) was held with the aim of ``having compassion for all life, admonishing killing, and giving thanks for the autumn harvest.'' This in turn comes from the principle of non-killing in East Asia's Mahayana Buddhism. Memorial services held during this period included those for such animals as those killed due to unavoidable circumstances and dead pets. Records appear to exist dating a Hojo-e held in Fukuoka in 919.
Two Websites for reference:
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%94%BE%E7%94%9F%E4%BC%9A
https://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/omatsuri/houjoya/
放生会 - Wikipedia
放生会（ほうじょうえ）とは、捕獲した魚や鳥獣を野に放し、殺生を戒める宗教儀式。放生会はインドに起源をもつ行事で、中国や日本にも伝えられたという[2]。また、インド由来の六道輪廻説と中国の孝が一体化したもの...

The Fujisaki Hachimangu festival got started yesterday with lion dancing (shishimai; 獅子舞), a 400-year-old tradition. Then, the lions went around biting (or pretending to bite) people. Getting bitten by a lion is considered to be good luck. The idea seems to be that the lion is eating any evil spirits that might be attached to you -- kind of like a monkey picking bugs off another monkey for lunch. But, some kids who got bitten weren't buying it. ;)
Horses were not involved in this part of the festival. The parade in which the decorated horses will appear is Sunday. I think that some readers of this page might have enjoyed viewing the lion dancing. Sorry I wasn't able to give you a proper heads-up.
熊本・藤崎八旛宮例大祭、獅子舞奉納で始まる　57団体参加の神幸行列は17日｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本市の秋の風物詩、藤崎八旛宮の例大祭が13日、熊本市中央区の同宮で始まった。初日は獅子飾り卸しがあり、熊本新町獅子保存会が市無形民俗文化財の獅子舞を奉納した。祭りの無事や五穀豊穣［ほうじょう］、子孫....

Kirk here with a followup to Williams post about the British Fair (英国フェア) underway at Tsuruya, which will last until next Tuesday (the 19th). Actually, I didn't notice William's post before started writing this one; please for give some overlap.
The picture of the scones is from the Tsuruya website, which has the details about the event:
https://www.tsuruya-dept.co.jp/saiji/britishfair/index.html
The spot I saw about this on RKK showed fish and chips being made and sold. That wasn't on the Tsuruya website so I took the fish-and-chips photo from the following Kumanichi article, which was published today on the opening of the fair:
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1170452
I'm posting this not as an advert for Tsuruya but in the hope that folks who love British food might be interested. If, however, there's someplace better for Brits to find comfort food, please let me know in a comment.

Kirk here with event news for jazz fans. The event will be held in Suizenji Jojuen (Suizenji Park) on the 29th of September and the price is right: free! Moreover, I think the quality of the performances will be very good. I'm kind of a snob when it comes to jazz so I didn't want to recommend the event without some evidence that the quality would be good. And I found very convincing evidence of that quality in the form of a YouTube video of the jazz pianist, Tomoko Sonoda:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsftYXpClF8
By the way, I originally found out about this event here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=683771053788517&set=a.632782172220739
You can find a calendar of more events announced on this page here:
https://kumamotoi.blogspot.com/2023/09/calendar.html

William Tsuruya is having what they call an "English Fair" 「英国フェア」from today through the 19th. Apparently, there are scones and tea and fish 'n chips. And antiques, and goods branded with the British flag.
This NSFW clip is about all I know re: London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=291kT7LvQ0k
https://kumanichi.com/articles/1170452
紅茶にスコーン、フィッシュ＆チップス　英国文化身近に味わって　鶴屋百貨店でフェア始まる｜熊本日日新聞社
　イギリスを代表するグルメやファッションをそろえた「英国フェア」が13日、熊本市中央区の鶴屋百貨店で始まった。会場には紅茶に合わせるスイーツや長く愛されるアンティーク品が並び、上品な雰囲気を演出している....

Kirk here with news about a run-away iguana.
P.S. Who would keep a 2-meter iguana as a pet?
2-meter-long iguana on the loose in Kyushu - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- An approximately 2-meter-long green iguana has escaped from a house in the Kumamoto Prefecture town of Asagiri in Japan's southwest island

Kirk here reporting that KIHARA Minoru (Kumamoto) is Japan's new Minister of Defense.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-PM-Kishida-to-replace-foreign-defense-ministers
I think his fans and detractors would both agree that he's quite conservative. He is, for example, an member of the very conservative (some would say reactionary) Nippon Kaigi:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Kaigi
If you'd like to see previous Kumamoto International posts about Mr. Kihara, please click on the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=kihara
Japan PM Kishida to replace foreign, defense ministers
Kamikawa to be new foreign minister; Kihara gets defense portfolio

Kirk here with pedestrian crossing (oudan hodou; 横断歩道) news. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians waiting at a crosswalk not governed by a traffic light. However, it has frequently be pointed out on this page that not all drivers will stop for you. But, you may have noticed that the situation is improving; I've certainly noticed a change on my daily walks. The graph shows the increase percentage of drivers who stop, as required, at crosswalks. The numbers start in 2018, where those who stop properly are clearly in the minority. By 2022 the figure for Kumamoto in 57.3%, considerably higher than the national average of 39.8%.
I think the change is due to efforts of the police to actually enforce the law (amazing, isn't it, what a little enforcement will do) and media efforts to help get the word out that stopping is important.
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/site/police/171906.html
For some perspective, here's a quote from William from 2019:
--- start quote ---
JAF notes that Kumamoto ranks among the lowest amongst prefectures for drivers following this rule. Nagano was highest, with 69% of drivers giving pedestrians priority; adherence seems to fall as one moves south (maybe lack of snow?). Kyushu prefectures bottomed out the list: only 11% of Kumamoto drivers yield to pedestrians (and this includes cyclists), far below the 20% national average, which in and of itself is shockingly low.
--- end quote ---
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02FHU3BG7TiL6icfkeo5znwRamesiRXM9hVGeP6PE2h4ZjXu9HWC5igzp6Lqa4Gg8Xl
The figures William quoted are reflected in this graph.
Here's a post I did about a Kumanichi report written by graphic novelist Sean Micheal Wilson:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02eQ2CYF87HchzikV5YEDnSHpRaEch9tJZA9GvMbaQt7VxWvP2Nx86DxyJzNZZWqqol
See? Kumamoto International isn't just a lot of hot air. We're making a difference (or, in this case at least, the direction our hot air is blowing in matches that of the local society ;) )!
P.S. I've noticed that compliance is not so good at night, where drivers assume that pedestrians have no reason to be out and about and that the roads are just for them. So, never assume that a car will stop for you, especially at night. Wait until you are sure they are stopping. Also, even though drivers are supposed to stop, I like to nod, wave or smile to show my appreciation and encourage them to keep it up. :)

I think lots of humans would like to live longer, healthier lives. Research at Kumamoto University on naked mole-rats (not those dressed-up mole rats) may lead to important discoveries that, in turn, may help us do so (maybe ;) ). -- Kirk
Japanese scientists may have unraveled the secret of aging resistance in naked mole-rats
Naked mole-rats have the longest life span among all rodents and can resist aging and the age-related diseases. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this ability are largely unclear.

Kirk here with something for sunflower fans about and event in Yanagawa:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=780399150759983
Yanagawa is just beyond the border with Kumamoto in Fukuoka prefecture. Yanagawa is also known for its canals, on which tourists can enjoy tours. For more information about that see the following page (which is the source of the second photo):
https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/destinations/fukuoka/yanagawarivercruising