Posts

Kirk with an article about what may be behind recent extreme weather:
"During the 2020 Kyushu floods, rivers flooded as linear precipitation zones formed in the predawn hours, meaning many were late in fleeing the disaster. Fourteen residents of Senju-en, an elderly nursing care home in the village of Kuma, Kumamoto Prefecture, lost their lives."
The picture is of Hitoyoshi.
El Nino may explain frequent rain-related disasters across Japan in early July: expert
FUKUOKA -- While Japan's rainy season usually peters out around early July, recent years have seen record rainfalls on the scale of "once every severa･･･

Kirk here reporting that I have a new reason to love Yamaga: high quality traditional uchiwa (fans).
If the article piques your interest and you'd like to learn more, you can check out Kurikawa Shoten's website here:
http://www.uchiwa.jp/
If you search this page for "Yamaga," you'll find lots of posts about Yamaga Toro (山鹿灯籠). These decorative lanterns are made of washi (traditional Japanese paper) with techniques that allow the construction of elaborate paper replicas of buildings and other structures. The master of the art form was Mr. Kiyoshi Nakashima, who passed away a few years ago. When he was alive, he was easy find find at his disk in his shop working away at some project or other. I remember visiting once and seeing a nearly complete replica of the Sydney Opera House on his table. I assume that someone had commission the work but can't find any reference to it now. If you'd like to see a video with English subtitles showing Mr. Nakashima at work, please check out the following:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meVNdZZ5xRI
At any rate, though I knew about the Yamaga Toro tradition, I was ignorant of the production of traditional uchiwa in Yamaga. One of many reasons (too many to list completely here) to want to visit Yamaga again.
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/japan-focus/20230701-119619/
Kumamoto: Fans Bring Breeze in Elegant Way
YAMAGA, Kumamoto — Uchiwa fans made of Japanese washi paper are just one traditional Japanese item that brings coolness in summer. The surface of shibu uchiwa fans are coated with persimmon tannin and are particularly popular. They are made in the Kutami district of Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture. Fe...

Kirk here with some news about the heavy rain. The alert level for landslides is at the highest level in the Aso region.
https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/#lang=en&area_type=offices&area_code=430000&pattern=rain_snow
By the way, if you're confused about the distinction between "inundation" and "flood," the government uses "flood" to refer to overflowing rivers while "inundation" refers to other kinds of flooding (e.g. intense rain that overwhelms drainage systems, etc). I've written to them to tell them that these English words don't convey the meaning of the Japanese terms (shinsui and kouzui). To their credit, they wrote back but, unfortunately, chose to blow me off with nonsense about the need to observe scholarly trends. :(
At any rate, depending on your location it's possible for things to get dangerous quickly so be careful.

Kirk here. When Kumamoto Airport first began accepting international flights I remember wondering if there would be enough traffic to justify the expansion of service. With the arrival of TSMC, it's now pretty clear that international flights are here to stay.
China Airlines to launch Kumamoto route – Business Traveller
The SkyTeam member from Taiwan will deploy a new Airbus A321 neo on the service…

Kirk here, happily reporting a bit of news that I hope will help to counter the "more foreigners = more crime" stereotype. A female Lawson employee who hails from Nepal received an award from local police for helping an elderly customer avoid falling victim to a scam. It seems the elderly woman had been convinced by scammers that she needed to deposit money in a bank account. When she asked the Lawson employee, whose name is rendered タマン・サルミラ in Japanese, how to do that, タマンさん recognized the pattern and suggested that she contact the police. Good job タマンさん!
「助けてください」ネパール人女性のローソン店員　80代女性を詐欺被害から救った とっさの判断 | 熊本のニュース｜RKK熊本放送
５月、熊本市内のコンビニエンスストアで、来店した高齢の女性を還付金詐欺の被害から救ったとして店員2人に感謝状が送られました。熊本中央警察署 西村博署長「『電話でお金詐欺』被害防止に貢献されました」感謝…

Foreigners in Kumamoto who want to make contacts, set up their own business, or just mingle on a Saturday night🎯 Head to Shintoshin Plaza on July 1st where, from 6-8pm, Danny McGregor will give a talk including insights into Global Management and entrepreneurship in Japan (free event) 🍸🍻 Continue swapping cards, sharing ideas and socializing at the after-party (not free!) 🌠
If you've any Japanese entrepreneur friends with good English then certainly invite them, too!
Please sign up via the xosspoint link if you intend to go!
https://xosspoint.jp/event/geds0701/?fbclid=IwAR2Xz5g73A3U2NSQifWIwVTrmR_xMSWtL8E9OV_RMrAkQ5sq0lybzSZuFBI
Global Entrepreneur Development Seminars
Societies all over the world experienced sudden, radical changes to their structures and values in the wake of COVID-19. One significant change is that it is now easier than ever to connect to people worldwide. This could potentially lead to new business opportunities for Kumamoto.
That said, Japanese people generally have little contact with people from outside of Japan, which makes it comparatively difficult for Japanese businesses to expand overseas. Furthermore, non-Japanese people have to overcome several hurdles, including the language barrier, cultural differences and difficulties in acquiring a visa, in order to start up a business in Japan. Reforms to aid entrepreneurship need to be implemented if Japan is to take advantage of the new opportunities afforded to it.
Against this backdrop, we will hold the Global Entrepreneur Development Seminars, a series of three seminars which aim to provide aspiring entrepreneurs from within and without Japan the opportunity to connect with each other using a mixture of English and Japanese; to learn about each other’s culture and history; and to learn points to keep in mind when starting up business ventures in Japan or overseas.
◆Date and time of first seminar
18:00～20:00, Saturday, 1st July (free!)
※ After-party: 20:00～21:00 (not free!)
◆Venue
・XOSS POINT (2nd floor Kumamoto Shintoshin Plaza, 1-14-1 Kasuga, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City) https://goo.gl/maps/SDRiv2aZMmsSPAas8
More info in the comments below! - Ruth
グローバル起業家育成セミナー - XOSS POINT.
新型コロナウイルスの影響で、世界的に急激な社会・価値観の変革が起き、これまで以上に世界とも簡単につながることが

Kirk here with short video from NHK showing how pretty ajisai (Japanese hydrangeas) can be in the rain.
A colorful rainy season in Kumamoto | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
About 30,000 hydrangeas are in full bloom at a farm in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto. They are the pride and joy of a 74-year-old farmer who taught himself how to plant and grow the flowers. He has gradually expanded his fields and now the farm is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can enjoy the vibr...

Sean here
File under –
Awkward moments in nature - umm excuse me, I’m changing.
I was quite thrilled to come across this semi molting. For me, a first and I was happy to witness nature in action, albeit uber slow action.
Personally, I enjoy the “sounds of summer”. There is a rhythm to a semi orchestra that is quite soothing.
Fun facts –
They spend most of their lives underground, only to emerge briefly as adults to mate” Cicadas are found worldwide, and on every continent except Antarctica
The reason cicadas don’t annoy themselves or go deaf while calling is because they can “switch off” their hearing.

Kirk here. Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the 1953 floods that took the lives of over 500 people (198 of whom are still recorded as "missing"; their bodies were never recovered or identified). If you look at the RKK segment, you'll see some clips that will give you an idea of what the people who experienced the flooding went through.
The following Wikipedia page provides lots of interesting details:
* 1,009 homes swept away in Kumamoto.
* Oguni got 500.2 millimeters of rain in one day (6/26).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Northern_Kyushu_flood
Though missing from the English page, the following Japanese page says that Yamaga got 528.0 millimeters of rain in one day (6/25).
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%AD%E5%92%8C28%E5%B9%B4%E8%A5%BF%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B0%B4%E5%AE%B3
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/rkk/563335?display=1
Some things have improved since then. Civil engineering projects done on the Shirakawa should help protect Kumamoto City from flooding. On the other hand, I think that global warming has made extreme weather events more likely so I wouldn't assume that something similarly catastrophic could never happen again.
死者・行方不明者563人　2500戸を超える家屋が流された大水害の記憶　九州はこれから本格的な梅雨へ | 熊本のニュース｜RKK熊本放送
白川が氾濫し大きな被害をもたらした1953年の「6・26水害」からきょうで70年です。県内も本格的な梅雨のシーズンを迎えます。26日午前、熊本市の子飼橋（こかいばし）近くでは雨が降るなか、遺族や地域住民たち約7…

Kirk here with a little image comparing a still from Hotarubi no Mori e with a picture of the staircase leading to Kamishikimi Kumanoza Shrine (上色見熊野座神社). The still from the animated movie was taken from an official Japanese-language trailer that can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXLSRH31Yao&t=14s
Information in English about the movie is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotarubi_no_Mori_e
The picture of the actual shrine comes from the following post on Kumamoto Japan Tourism (a Facebook page):
https://www.facebook.com/kumamoto.en/posts/pfbid02d9gRJrbwESrDvLBHjFTtUCgsEhcRMhfwoDzbvtFYp53KQge9tDWsSU17tTZHjWmHl
The post on the Kumamoto Japan Tourism Facebook page has a link to a Google map showing the location.
There are lots of YouTube videos that show the approach to the shrine. Here's on I think is particularly well done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imRw2zL17qQ

Kirk here reporting that the TSMC plant that is being built here already has lots of orders. As far as I know, none of those orders have been placed by the Phat Kat in Ezuko that Sean reported on earlier today. He probably has other matters to attend to. ;)
Chip orders exceed production capacity at TSMC’s Kumamoto plant · TechNode
TSMC’s first chip plant in Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture has reached full capacity for bookings, despite not having commenced mass production.

Sean here reporting on a local Ezu Ko celeb -A Phat Kat who will not be named (unless Phat Kat sticks).

Kirk here. The high-tech news keeps rolling in. This article is about a second image-sensor manufacturing facility to be built by Sony in Kumamoto:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230623/p2g/00m/0bu/046000c
"The plant, which is expected to produce smartphone sensors, will be built on a 270,000-square-meter site it plans to acquire this year in Koshi in the southwestern Japan prefecture, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp. President Terushi Shimizu told reporters."
The article doesn't mention that Sony already has a plant here but we've discussed the existing plant on this page several times in the past. Here's a link to a major article on it:
Inside Sony Kumamoto: A rare glimpse inside Sony’s super-secret sensor factory
https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2017/09/05/sony-kumamoto-sensor-factory-tour-a-rare-glimpse?fbclid=IwAR2yfgcmaxwDXaXG_RdUMrRpim_XiXSqXiSGjnmklz_1Q985YU7SHvVOqdg
And, a visit to that plant was one reason for Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent trip to Kumamoto:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02eTac41DzvrNVtBXN94LUX9YxZUaXWzKAvmhgPMKoV985pDPJ4aGcwtB6tKJZMeLbl
So, two big TSMC plants and two big Sony plants. This has got to be a huge boost to the local economy. And, of course, there will be some associated problems (traffic jams, increased cost of living in some areas, etc.).
By the way, I was trying to wrap my head around just how big 270,000 square meters is so I asked Google to give me the square root of the number. That turns out to be about 500 -- so we can imagine a square facility that is 500 meters by 500 meters. That strikes me a pretty darn big.
Sony to build new image sensor factory in Kumamoto in chip push - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Sony Group Corp. will set up a new image sensor factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, the head of its semiconductor unit said Friday, as it

Kirk here. This Kumamoto-related story was featured prominently on NHK's evening news today. Tsujunkyo will be the first arch bridge in Japan to be designated a national treasure.
https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2023062300889/
By the way, here are some previous posts about Tsujun Bridge by Willian that you may enjoy:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0yzdr7uVvCMZrGGSoasRyuMwuChbr6vXHErtzhErfaKpTciCFqAhD9k8NHqR9ELA2l
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0t1M7NBoW9GTCfSWzZ6fxXModjJFRwmkp1297jqYXBH8Nb7PrcC2g8LZ1fJzW9nfrl
Tsujun Bridge in Kumamoto Recommended for National Treasure
Tokyo, June 23 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese government panel on Friday proposed the designation of Tsujun Bridge, …

Atsuko here sharing Kumamoto city Twitter.٩(°̀ᗝ°́)و
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Alert!
On Thursday 22 June, a fire broke out in a refuse collection vehicle while it was collecting landfill waste.
The cause is under investigation, but it is believed that lighters, gas cans and other items were mixed with the landfill waste, causing the fire.
Please make sure you segregate your waste thoroughly!
Click here↓ for more information on sorting.
How to put out "specific items" such as fluorescent tubes, gas cans / spray cans, batteries, etc.
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp.e.fm.hp.transer.com/hpkiji/pub/Detail.aspx?c_id=5&id=6124
https://twitter.com/kumamotocity_/status/1671775022866923521?s=20

Kirk here with a share from Kuma Visit. Though I haven't had occasion to ride a local bus recently (I'm a cyclist), I can certainly imagine how this could make buses a more attractive option for getting around in Kumamoto. I've read that bus ridership in Kumamoto is about one fourth (1/4) of what it was in 1975:
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileDsp.aspx?c_id=5&id=48134&sub_id=1&flid=342426
The idea of merging the 5 different bus companies we have in Kumamoto into one has been discussed as one way to improve service and make busses more attractive to local residents:
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO54074270W0A100C2LX0000/
While no where near as ambitious as such a merger, improving amenities inside the buses strikes me as a step in the right direction. If more people left their cars at home and took a bus into the city it would alleviate traffic congestion, free up parking, a reduce CO2 emissions. Perhaps free wifi should be thrown in to sweeten the deal. ;)
https://www.facebook.com/kumavisit/posts/pfbid0xn5s63P77Rfv69HKbiBoxR57wf6ZTcqdcNCm5KSynPdDj1TyZfZBArN93q5VKoYhl

Kirk here. As their website explains, "The YOKA is an English-language newsletter published by the International Affairs Division with the help of current and former Kumamoto JETs." But, even if you aren't a JET or a former JET (as I am not), you can still enjoy the publication. The Winter 2023 (as in January-February of this year, I think) edition just came out. Enjoy it and previous editions here:
https://www.kumamotojet.com/reiwa/the-yoka/
P.S. Please note that this publication is copyrighted:
© Tourism and International Policy Division, Kumamoto Prefecture

Kirk here. This isn't exactly "news" for people who live here but, indeed, traffic can be pretty bad in Kumamoto -- one reason I sold my car and have been biking as much as possible. Now, with the arrival of TSMC in Kikuyo, traffic seems to be particularly bad there.
TSMC's first factory in Japan has to contend with horrible traffic
While construction on the facility in Kumamoto Prefecture proceeds at breakneck speed, little has been done to improve conditions on the area’s roads.

Kirk here. I'd like to pose some questions to readers working in or knowledgable about Japan's IT (information technology, programing, etc.) sector. In a nutshell, I'd like to find out what you think about IT job prospects in Kumamoto and/or Japan and, assuming that there are jobs to be had, whether you would recommend working here. I'm prompted to pose these questions by a discussion with an American student who knows Japanese well and is preparing to become a professional programmer.
The article I've quoted says that Japan is likely to hit a "digital wall" in 2025 -- demand for IT specialists far exceeding supply. I remember reading an article in the Japanese-language edition of the Asahi Shimbun about companies becoming so eager to make themselves attractive to foreign programers that they have decided to conduct all meetings, etc in English. Ironically, though, when I searched for articles in English I didn't come across the same kind of content. Rather, I found general articles (not about IT) that pointed to problems working in Japan.
My student likes Japan and understands that salaries might be higher in the States but would still like to consider working here. Do any of you have any thoughts that you might share on the topic?
日本はデジタル分野の専門人材不足が深刻化する「2025年デジタルの崖」に直面する。経済産業省によると、2020年には30万人、2030年にはデジタルサービスの需要次第で45万人から80万人にまで不足が拡大するとされて…

Kirk here. Prime Minister Kishida was in Camp Kengun in Kumamoto City today to eulogize the men lost in the helicopter accident in Okinawa.
Kishida eulogizes 10 GSDF members killed in Okinawa chopper crash | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has delivered a eulogy at a funeral service for ten members of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force killed in a helicopter accident in April off Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture. He called the deaths a "major loss" for the country.