Posts

Kirk with what I think is an interesting article about using cheap cameras to monitor roads and rivers for flooding. The article doesn't provide a link so here's a link to the organization doing the work.
https://kumaguma.net/activities/kumacam/
I think what they are doing is great and it seems to be a volunteer effort which makes it that much cooler. One minor concern I have, however, is publication on LINE. I realize that LINE is very convenient in many ways and that lots of people use it. The problem is, though, that it's a "walled garden" -- what starts in LINE stays in LINE. Of course, I notice that because I can't share anything from LINE here. I've found that aspect of Kumamoto City's use of LINE to be problematic too.
And, Facebook is a walled garden as well. I'm in the process of trying to overcome that, though. Here's a link to my work in progress -- an archive of Kumamoto International posts that you don't need Facebook to view.
https://kumamoto.kirkmasden.com/
Mainichi article
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260721/p2a/00m/0na/003000c
Affordable cameras help disaster monitoring, readiness in Japan's Kumamoto Pref. - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- Low-cost internet connected cameras are being installed in communities across Kumamoto Prefecture to help residents survey conditions in t

Kirk here. I enjoyed watching this fun little segment about KKT about foreigners struggling with Kumamoto dialect and the pamphlet picture (which has come up on this page several times). I made the mistake of calling KKT to tell them that they had a misspelled word in one of the titles in the video and I'm afraid that that is why the video is no longer accessible. :(
Personally, I'm not sure how valuable the English on the pamphlet is, particularly when not all of the people using the pamphlet understand English. Rather, I suspect that the most valuable aspects are
1. listing words/expressions that are good to know
2. connecting them to standard Japanese equivalents (most have such equivalents, though a few, like atozeki [あとぜき] are more unique)
You can read or download a PDF of the pamphlet here:
https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/uploaded/life/258611_794494_misc.pdf
One other thing I would like to see on it is some sort of rating, by word or expression, of the usefulness. For example, I would guess that ごら or ごーら for "head" and かんげ for hair are probably in the nearly obsolete category but these are included in the "let's learn the names of body parts" section. Conversely, words like "-ken" (meaning から or だがら, placed at the end of a sentence or phrase) are very common. The pamphlet indicates regions and perhaps a generational indication would be good too; I doubt that younger people say かんげ (for hair), but perhaps you need to learn this word if you are working with the elderly.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e3f8005c8dd2bea75bdcd6f0a762295b4e1280dd/images/001
｢とっとっと｣｢せからしか｣…外国人に熊本弁は難解!?熊本県がハンドブック作成 (ＫＫＴ熊本県民テレビ) - Yahoo!ニュース
KKT熊本県民テレビ - Yahoo!ニュース(ＫＫＴ熊本県民テレビ)

Kirk here with another article about water use by TSMC. It favors the view that there's no concern about the water usage:
--- start quote ---
The current groundwater usage in Kumamoto Prefecture, home to 1.67 million people and businesses, is around 300–400 million tons per year. The saying “water is overflowing” is not an exaggeration. The water usage of JASM (pronounced “Jasumu” in Japanese), a joint venture between TSMC and Japanese companies, is 3.1 million tons annually, less than 0.1% of Kumamoto’s total groundwater. Okano Hideyuki, executive director of the Kyushu Economic Association, said, “Kumamoto’s groundwater has little to filter out, so the cost of purifying ultra-pure water (Ultra Pure Water) for semiconductors is much lower.”
--- end quote ---
I think, though, that there are some reasonable counter arguments -- reasons to be concerned if not apoplectic. I'll try to follow up later if I can.
TSMC Chooses Kumamoto for Water, Power, and Semiconductor Ecosystem

I don't feel qualified to evaluate the degree of risk to Kumamoto's groundwater posed by the TSMC plants but it certainly does seem to be a reasonable concern. -- Kirk
P.S. Just did a little research with help from AI. The groundwater issue is something I'd like to post on again later.
TSMC plant's massive water demand in Japan raises sustainability concerns for local farmers - The Mainichi
KIKUYO, Kumamoto -- When we think about the costs behind the convenience of the digital age, what perspective is needed? There is a place in Japan whe

Not exactly surprising but, nonetheless, interesting in my view. -- Kirk
https://japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/There-is-an-undeniable-rule-of-thumb-the-higher-the-tension-in-the-Taiwan-Strait-the-greater-the-demand-for-real-estate-in-Kumamoto-Prefecture

Personally, I tend to lean toward the bullet train; I like to be able to work on my computer during the trip. At any rate, I think this article does a good job of laying out the pros and cons. -- Kirk
Tokyo to Kumamoto: Fly or Take the Bullet Train? A Real 2026 Time, Comfort and Cost Breakdown
Central Kyushu's castle city is one of the few destinations where flying and the bullet train are both compelling options — here's the honest comparison.

Sad news. -- Kirk
Baby dies after being left in car amid summer heat in southwestern Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
An 11-month-old boy has died after being found unconscious in a car in a parking lot in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Police suspect heatstroke as the cause of death.

Kirk here with an article about bring foreigners to Kumamoto to do housework.
--- ChatGPT translation starts ---
Kumamoto Prefecture Certifies First Company to Employ Foreign Household-Support Workers: “We Hope This Will Ease the Burden” — National Special-Zone Program Utilized [Kumamoto]
Published July 14 at 9:03 p.m.
TKU Television Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture has announced that it has certified a Tokyo-based company as part of a program to accept foreign workers who provide household support services under a national special-zone scheme.
Bears Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, is the first company to be certified by Kumamoto Prefecture to accept foreign workers under the special-zone program.
According to the prefecture, approximately ten Filipino nationals who understand basic Japanese are expected to work within Kumamoto Prefecture. They will be permitted to reside in Japan for up to five years under the “Designated Activities” status of residence.
In March 2026, Kumamoto Prefecture established a third-party oversight council together with relevant national government agencies. Through this council, the prefecture will be able to centrally manage information concerning both the companies accepting the workers and the foreign workers themselves.
Kumamoto Prefecture says it hopes the program will help ease the burden on dual-income households and families raising children.
--- end translation ---
The following page says that Kumamoto is one of several regional governments (including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo, Aichi, Fukuoka City, and Chiba) that have been designated as special zones (tokku) for this program:
https://www.chisou.go.jp/tiiki/kokusentoc/menu/gaikokujinzai.html
And, as I have indicated in previous posts, anti-immigration forces think it's terrible that a few more foreigners might come here to help with housework.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6d2002c2d61f285d0d2c6a4dc4e5c0487f69ee79
熊本県が家事支援の外国人材の受け入れ事業で企業１社を初認定「負担軽減に」国の特区を活用【熊本発】（TKUテレビ熊本） - Yahoo!ニュース
熊本県は国の特区を活用した家事支援の外国人材の受け入れに向けて、東京の企業１社を認定したと明らかにしました。 特区を活用した外国人材の受け入れ企業として、熊本県が初めて認定したのは、東京に本社を置

Professor Iimura has quite a record of success in guiding his students.
For more examples, click on the following:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=Iimura
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260715/p2a/00m/0na/016000c
Kirk
Student in Japan wins Apple contest prize for music app on world music scales - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A Prefectural University of Kumamoto student won a prize in a global app development contest for students hosted by Apple Inc. this past s

Kirk here. This article about beef subsidies for students at Kumadai reminds me of the promotion of beef by LL Janes:
--- start quote ---
Janes was also instrumental in bringing needed reforms to the feudalistic society that had resulted from the long national seclusion policy. The vegetables grown in Kumamoto were few and lacked nutritive value, so he ordered many new kinds of vegetable seeds (such as cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce) from the U.S.A. and cultivated them in Kumamoto. In addition, he himself killed a cow in order to feed the Western School students, who were often suffering from malnutrition, a hearty beef and vegetable stew. This was the first time for people in Kumamoto to taste beef, milk, and bread.
--- end quote ---
The quote is from an article by my colleague at Kumamoto Gaken U, Judy Yoneoka:
Janes Promotion and Education Society
https://www2.kumagaku.ac.jp/teacher/~judy/cgi/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Janes.English
In the world we live in today, I lean heavily toward Michael Pollan's dictum: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants. But, to each his own.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260713/p2a/00m/0na/016000c
'Let students eat meat': Campaign by Japan's Kumamoto Univ. to discount 6,300 beef meals - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- Kumamoto University is set to offer 6,300 discounted beef dishes over five days starting July 13 to support students struggling with risin

Joe Tomei here, sharing a post from Andrew Mitchell on a publication he co-authored. Unfortunately, it is behind a paywall, but if you are interested, I'm sure he can provide you with an author's copy
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09555803.2026.2689944
=====
I'm pleased to share a new publication that I've co-authored with my colleague, Florian Axt:
Getting by but not getting ahead: Muslim families, community networks, and school lunch accommodations in Kumamoto City, Japan.
Our article explores how Muslim families in Kumamoto navigate school lunch accommodations and asks an important question: why do parents continue negotiating with schools individually, despite the presence of an organised local Muslim community?
Using interviews with Muslim parents and Japanese educators, we argue that the answer lies not simply in institutional willingness, but in the structure of community networks themselves. While strong bonding ties exist within the national and ethnic communities that make up Kumamoto's wider Muslim community, the diversity of halal interpretations makes it difficult to establish a shared position that could be communicated collectively to schools or local government.
Rather than seeing this as a failure of community organisation, we argue that it is a structural feature of a diverse community. This has important implications for policy: effective accommodation should not depend on communities speaking with a single voice. Instead, municipalities should develop frameworks that allow schools to respond flexibly to individual needs while providing clear institutional support.
The paper also identifies three different models of school lunch accommodation currently operating in Kumamoto, including one that we believe has strong potential for wider application.
Many thanks to the Muslim families, educators, and community members who generously shared their experiences and made this research possible.
Getting by but not getting ahead: Muslim families, community networks, and school lunch accommodations in Kumamoto City, Japan
As Japan’s Muslim population grows, religious accommodation in public schooling is increasingly pressing, yet existing research has focused on individual families and schools while overlooking Musl...

Coming to Kumamoto! Here's a Claude summary of the information on the web page I found in my news feed:
--- start Claude summary ---
NES-FES.: EXILE THE SECOND Special (Summary)
TKU's early-Saturday-morning music program "NES-FES.," VJ'd by EXILE NESMITH, is holding its first-ever live event as the show enters its 8th broadcast year, featuring a performance by EXILE THE SECOND — the group's first-ever live show in Kumamoto and NESMITH's first time performing at this venue. Timed to the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquake, the event reflects NESMITH's wish to encourage recovery among Kumamoto residents and let fans outside the prefecture see how Kumamoto is doing now. The event will include both live performances and a talk session.
- Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Time: Doors 17:45 / Start 18:30 / End 20:30 (tentative)
- Venue: KUMAMOTO-JO HALL, Main Hall
- Lineup: EXILE THE SECOND
- Organizer: TKU
- Program site: https://www.tku.co.jp/nes-fes/
--- end summary ---
https://www.ldh.co.jp/eng/news/detail.php?lang=eng&site=EXILE&newsid=0000054913
-- Kirk

This article renewed my appreciation of the architecture of the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. -- Kirk
Retro Japan: Kumamoto art museum with personality-packed ceiling boasts open, airy space - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- The Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art stands in a tree-filled corner of Kumamoto Castle Park.

Hey! It's been a minute. Joe Tomei here. I have a few Funky Friday Finds, but I've got a solid schedule of classes on Fridays, so apologies for an FFF on Saturday, but it is BBQ!
Piggy's BBQ is located at the end of Kami tori in a 2nd floor walkup. The owner's superpower is turning smoke into flavor. It's a bit pricey, but the BBQ plate can be shared with 3. They use tortillas instead of white bread, but other than that, it is pretty spot on. The place is small so I recommend you make a reservation. Here's google map link, with the phone number.

This article has lots of enticing photos that made me want to visit Kurokawa again. -- Kirk
Kurokawa Onsen celebrates 40 years of its beloved bathing pass with redesign, summer festivities
The bathing pass deal is a dream come true for anyone who likes going hot springs hopping.

The Kumamoto Rehabilitation Hospital gets high marks. -- Kirk
Japan’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Facilities 2026
Newsweek and Statista are proud to introduce our ranking of Japan's Best Physical Rehabilitation Facilities 2026.

New bank branches open. -- Kirk
Regional banks open new branches in Japan's Kumamoto Pref. as TSMC effect kicks in - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- Regional banks are opening new branches across areas of Kumamoto Prefecture in southwest Japan where the population is expanding.

Direct flights between Kumamoto and Cheongju return. This, now, in addition to flights connecting Kumamoto with Seoul/Incheon and Busan/Gimhae. -- Kirk
Air Busan Restores Kumamoto–Cheongju Connectivity With New Daily Route Launch - Travel And Tour World
Air Busan resumes Kumamoto–Cheongju flights on Sept 23 with daily A320 service, restoring Japan–South Korea connectivity after 3 years.

Here's a short little video of a surprised Kumamoto Mayor Onishi having a close encounter with an American alligator in Rome, Georgia (a sister-city of Kumamoto). It's true that alligators are native to southern Georgia, but I think Rome is a bit beyond the range of their natural habitat. -- Kirk
Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi and a native Georgia species
Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi and other member from a delegation from Kumamoto, Japan, Rome's sister city, visits Rome July 2-3 as guests of the Rome City Commisison. Here, Onishi is

Sorry to keep harping on rain-related topics but it's what I'm finding in my news feed. -- Kirk
Memorial held for 2020 rain disaster in Kumamoto
Participants included bereaved family members, land minister Yasushi Kaneko and Kumamoto Gov. Takashi Kimura.