Posts

Kirk here with bad news about English education in Japan in general and Kumamoto in particular. The graph you see here is from the following article and indicates that Japan's rank among other nations in which English is not an official language has dropped precipitously:
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01509/
Within Japan, Kumamoto is in the bottom half of prefectures -- ranked 33rd among 46 prefectures according to the government. Here's that ranking:
Rank Prefecture Score
1 Fukui 59.6
2 Toyama 59.3
3 Shizuoka 54.4
4 Akita 53.7
5 Hyogo 53.1
6 Kanagawa 51.7
7 Nara 50.5
8 Tokyo 50.0
9 Fukuoka 49.7
10 Shimane 49.6
11 Kyoto 49.4
12 Tokushima 49.4
13 Iwate 49.0
14 Ishikawa 49.0
15 Yamanashi 48.9
16 Hiroshima 48.7
17 Okayama 48.5
18 Osaka 48.2
19 Ehime 48.2
20 Nagasaki 47.7
21 Aomori 46.9
22 Yamagata 46.9
23 Tochigi 46.9
24 Saga 46.8
25 Oita 46.5
26 Niigata 46.3
27 Tottori 45.8
28 Hokkaido 45.0
29 Gunma 44.3
30 Yamaguchi 44.1
31 Nagano 43.8
32 Wakayama 43.2
33 Kumamoto 43.2
34 Gifu 42.5
35 Okinawa 42.3
36 Chiba 42.0
37 Saitama 41.8
38 Mie 41.8
39 Miyagi 41.2
40 Kagawa 40.8
41 Kochi 40.3
42 Aichi 40.0
43 Miyazaki 38.7
44 Ibaraki 38.3
45 Kagoshima 37.1
46 Fukushima 36.3
I translated the data from a 2021 government survey published here:
https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/kokusai/gaikokugo/1415043_00001.htm
Then I rearranged it in descending order by overall score (the original data isn't ranked).
The overall scores seem to be based largely on the number of pupils thought to be at or above the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A2 level.
So, if you've found teaching and/or communicating in English here to be hard, it's not just you. ;)

Kirk here with news about an event at Kurokawa Onsen:
"An illumination event is being held in Kurokawa Onsen in Minami-Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, in which the hot spring resort town is lit up with bamboo lanterns. . . The lanterns are lit from dusk to 10 p.m., and the event runs through April 2."
Bamboo Lanterns Illuminate Hot Spring Town in Kumamoto Pref.
An illumination event is being held in Kurokawa Onsen in Minami-Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, in which the hot spring resort town is lit up with bamboo lanterns.

Sean here-
Had this happen last night at the MK Restaurant.
First time and an interesting experience being served by a bot.
I won't comment on the restaurant.
Edited for your viewing pleasure.

Kirk here reporting that cherry blossoms in Kumamoto are likely to come about three days earlier than usual -- just over a month away.
Cherry blossoms in Tokyo forecast to be in full bloom on March 29
Temperatures in the capital are likely to be higher than average in February and March, contributing to the earlier-than-usual blossom.

Kirk here with a reminder that the marathon will be held tomorrow. It will affect traffic the most in the morning but events will continue into the afternoon. The map is in Japanese but the times that are listed should give you an idea of when various parts of the city will be busy even if you don't read Japanese.
By the way, I posted about cheering runners on here:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0X7NZb476Hyfr8v2s5dSdLtU77YbtYM4AzKF2np3K39XSZZq7o8BDdSnRTjs6JVjcl
＜保存版・熊本城マラソン情報マップ＞交通規制大渋滞の予想も　中心街など「マイカー利用控えて」 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
19日の熊本城マラソン開催に伴う交通規制は、熊本市中央区の通町筋など中心繁華街のスタート地点周辺で午...

Hi Atsuko here.
Sharing an interesting article about Kumamon and Kumamotojin.
Verifying the theory that "every household in Kumamoto Prefecture has at least one Kumamon".
Does "Kumamon" really exist in all households in Kumamoto Prefecture?
It did not go as far as "all households", but in fact 98.2% of the people in the prefecture answered that they "have Kumamon products at home", which almost supports the content of the TV program.
Do you have a Kumamon in your home?
If you have a Kumamon, you are a Kumamoto person.(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
「くまモン」は本当に熊本県内の全世帯に存在するのか？「水曜日のダウンタウン」の説を検証してみた | TBS NEWS DIG (1ページ)
2月1日よる10時にRKKでも放送した「水曜日のダウンタウン」（TBS制作）で「熊本県ならどの家庭にも必ずくまモン1匹はいる説」を検証していましたが、果たして本当にそうなのか、地元・熊本としては居ても立っても… (1ペ....

Kirk here. Any Discord users out there? I've made a Discord server called "Kumamoto International" and am using Zapier to automatically share posts from this page there. The problem is that I'm completely new to Discord and don't know how to share information about the server with those who might be interested. Is just telling people the name ("Kumamoto International") enough?

William Plum blossom season has arrived. I prefer the more compact, fragrant plum to the cherry. A wonderful place to view them is to the south-west of Ninomaru, a place few visit (which makes it that much more attractive) called 野鳥園 (Yachō-en - "wild bird garden.") and 南側梅園 (Minamigawa baien - southern plum garden). There, horticulturalists have planted trees which provide succor to birds throughout the four seasons. An expansive plum garden exists there, along with with a forest of moss-encrusted, bird food laden trees. This weekend, when the plums are in full bloom, is the time to visit. Take the stairs next to the museum down and turn left - the gardens are between the baseball stadium and Ninomaru.
https://spice.kumanichi.com/outing/outing-feature/114540/

Kirk here reporting that Kumamoto City has shelved its proposal to include foreign nationals in the category of 市民 (shimin; "people of the city" or "citizens") because of the significant backlash they received. They acknowledge that much of the criticism was based on the misunderstanding that doing so would grant voting privileges to foreigners (which it would not do).
I think that leaders can't get too far ahead of the public. In that sense, I think the city's decision is reasonable. But, reading the following essay (in Japanese) in the Asahi Shimbun today helped me understand the motivation for Kumamoto City's proposal to include foreign national in the category of "shimin."
https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S15554856.html
In the essay, MENJU Toshihiro, Managing director of the Japan Center for International Exchange, points out that in 2018 the government issued the "Roadmap for the Realization of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals," which declares that Japan must become a "society where foreign national are included as members of Japanese society of the future." You can see an English summary of this report here:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001384664.pdf
Mr. Menju points out that this constitutes a significant shift in Japanese immigration policy. Indeed, my own perspective is that foreigners have typically been view as "tsukaisute" (disposable) labor, not as valued community members.
I think that Kumamoto City's proposal to include foreign nationals under the rubric of "shimin" was intended to send a message to foreign and Japanese residents alike that the Kumamoto City wants to welcome non-Japanese as members of the community. In his article, Mr. Menju points out that this is particularly important because the devaluation of the yen has reduced Japan's attractiveness to those who wish to earn money to send back to people in their home country.
I don't know if we will eventually be included in Kumamoto City's definition of "shimin" or if community membership will be expressed in some other way but I hope that the city will not abandon its basic goal of sending a message about inclusion.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7fd6980764b7d02101acf6a5a2b81c4e3a52d3c3
P.S. I'll append the URLs to two previous post on this topic:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02pR7z3KLRfZiuTiPLdSdWeReMsPjCjdGpy8AHyzG3P7Vw5smSVYothkRtF6uESnYLl
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid07GfQTqmSNJ3wd4ah9J5LPSU5KF99iiUMza5Jk1Sabjby7g3u8SEcgBr1uMc5pzHAl
熊本市自治基本条例改正案に反対意見多く提案見送り【熊本】（TKUテレビ熊本） - Yahoo!ニュース
熊本市の自治基本条例、『市民』の定義に外国籍を含むとした改正案に反対意見が殺到しました。 その多くが「外国人に参政権を与えるものだ」とする誤解による意見で、市は改正案を再検討すると明らかにしました

William If you've a chance, pop out in the early evening and look at the western sky. Jupiter and Venus are visible after sunset. The two planets appear closer together each evening, as they head for a conjunction on March 1.
https://www.universetoday.com/121041/venus-and-jupiter-meet-at-last/https://www.universetoday.com/121041/venus-and-jupiter-meet-at-last/

Kirk here with a belated report on efforts to "give back" to the people of Turkey who, as you all know, are suffering in the aftermath of a terrible earthquake. In the Japanese video, Governor Kabashima calls donating to Turkish victims "giving back" (恩返し; ongaeshi) because the people of Turkey came to Kumamoto's aid in 2016.
And, although this article focuses on victims in Turkey, I would never want to forget the victims in Syria.
I think there are many ways in which one might contribute to efforts to help the victims of the quakes in Turkey and Syria. I hope those of you with good information will share what you have (links and other information about how to donate) in comments to this post. Thanks.
「恩返しを」熊本県が募金箱設置トルコ地震（ＫＫＴ熊本県民テレビ） - Yahoo!ニュース
大地震で被害を受けたトルコを支援しようと、県庁などに募金箱が設置されている。 募金箱は県庁の本館や地域振興局あわせて１１か所に設置されている。９日は蒲島知事がくまモンと共に支援を呼びかけ「熊本地震や

Kirk here with some Kumadai news.
--- start quote ---
Kumamoto University will “hire” graduate students studying semiconductors from fiscal 2023 in hopes of eventually supplying top-level personnel to the burgeoning local chip industry.
--- end quote ---
Pay planned for Kumamoto master’s students studying chips | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
KUMAMOTO--Kumamoto University will “hire” graduate students studying semiconductors from fiscal 2023 in hopes of eventually supplying top-level personnel to the burgeoning local chip industry.

William Japan Today reports on how TSMC and its suppliers have upended the property market in Kikuyo as it turns from an agricultural town into a global hub for semiconductors. The article also mentions that other tech companies face difficulty in securing employees due to the higher wages TSMC offers. A must-read article: https://japantoday.com/category/tech/focus-tsmc-chip-giant-spurs-factory-land-shortage-in-small-kyushu-town
Worth a trip to Kikyo in and of itself is the café Herb & Garden Daisy, a short walk from JR Sanrigi station and close to Hikarinomori - giga smoothie photos at the link: https://tinyurl.com/bdhbp273 The café is run by the Yoshimoto family (disclaimer: their daughter, Natsuki, is a high school classmate of my daughter). The father also runs a small farm growing grapes and vegetables - it is well-known for its goats (who have names) - they keep the weeds down and enjoy attention. Combine this delightful café with shopping at Hikarinomori for a wonderful day trip - and bring the kids!. How explosive growth will affect this lil' café and farm is up for speculation.

Kirk here with a heads-up about a TV show in which a little bird told me that Mr. Yagi of the International Foundation is featured. The topic of the show is how to share information with foreigners during a disaster. It's scheduled to be broadcast on the 19th at 10 AM.
(73)「外国人住民を災害からどう守る?」 - 明日をまもるナビ
さまざまな国・地域の外国人が暮らす日本▽過去の災害では日本語が理解できない外国人が逃げ遅れるケースも▽災害時に外国人に情報を伝えるには？必ず役立つツールを紹介！

all that jazz....For those living here in Kumamoto who sometimes have a craving for a couple of hours of live jazz,
there are a few local spots that are coming back to life after the lessening of Covid restrictions which I would like to introduce over the next few days. There are a number of talented jazz musicians in Kumamoto, and most venues also offer performances by
musicians from other parts of Japan on tour . Prices for an evening of music usually start around ¥2500 .
Check the posters for prices as sometimes one drink is included in the price, and sometimes the purchase of one drink is required in addition to the basic music charge.
The first venue I would like to introduce is 九品寺Smile (Kuhonji). It is located in Kuhonji, down the
street from Shinwa and Chinzei high schools and Kumamoto University Pharmacudical campus. During the day (closed Tuesdays) it is a restaurant with daily luncheon specials (the owner's wife is a great cook). The irregular live schedule can be found on their facebook page. There are usually about 3 or 4 concerts a month.
The owner’s policy is to provide a venue where music lovers can immerse themselves in the music.
Each concert is reservation only, easily made on their facebook messenger. If you are late, it’s no problem , but be prepared to wait outside until the song finishes as the entrance basically opens onto the stage area. Drinks are available at ¥500, but usually no food is available at music events. The venue is on the second
floor, up some steep stairs. There are several coin parking lots nearby.The schedule is mainly jazz , but other genres are occasionally featured. Check out their Facebook Page, and here is the tabelog link if you are more interested in food than jazz :-)https://tabelog.com/kumamoto/A4301/A430101/43016257/?fbclid=IwAR3AQpsvkr8_2Hh3vUFW_Y_u1eG2uZE4pf37dahk6ubEqPFEM3lukoVwru0. . Photos from last Sunday's live featuring Oita and Fukuoka musicians.
Next time I will introduce a few jazz spots downtown. (posted by liz)

Kirk here with road rage news (not me, someone else ;) ). I have used the Sanko Bus service between Kumamoto and Fukuoka many times. It's a very convenient way to get to and from the airport. I'm not sure if the bus that became the victim in this incident was following that same route but it very well might have been. At any rate, this incident has become national news and the guy has been arrested. Check out the video to see the view from the bus's drive recorder. Yikes!
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/23c5bba501e2cedcbcf5910a9ec9324870410c51?fbclid=IwAR0cip0yVXSz3DMlieqxhrbsg8l5aCppYauM-yJKOGtoXGELhSJLmHDJTfE
スポーツカーで約1キロ“あおり運転”　高速バスに“幅寄せ＆急ブレーキ”　5人けが（テレビ朝日系（ANN）） - Yahoo!ニュース
熊本市内の高速道路を走る大型バスのドライブレコーダーの映像です。車がバスの前に入ってきて急ブレーキを掛けるなどの危険なあおり運転をしています。車を運転していた男が、乗客らにけがをさせた疑いで逮捕され

Kirk here with information about the marathon to be held this weekend and some informatioin about the English edition of Kumamoto City's Shisei Dayori (a newsletter).
First, regarding the marathon, the following page presents an overview:
https://kumamotojyo-marathon.jp/outline_en.php
It's too late to enter to run but it's not too late to get out and cheer on the participants. Kumamoto City's Shisei Dayori has a little article encouraging people to get out and cheer. Here's the address of an English translation:
https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/kiji0031517/index.html
One thing I like about how the International Foundation is currently presenting translations of the Shisei Dayori (city newsletter) publication is that it's easy to find the original Japanese to check meanings, etc. If you copy the Japanese text and paste it into DeepL, you may find the DeepL version to be easier to understand. In fact, I'm thinking about suggesting that translators start with a DeepL version and then tweak that if they feel the need. We now live in an age when a first-rate machine translation is often better than one done by a human volunteer (someone who is not a professional). And, unlike me, AI translations rarely have typos! :)
Other topics in the latest edition of the Shisei Dayori are as follows:
Japan-Germany Symposium, Fair Trade City Kumamoto, waste collection, financial aid for families with school-aged children, lung cancer screening　
Here's the main index to all versions and previous editions:
https://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/list00067.html
All of the languages are mixed together but if you go through them patiently I don't think you'll have any difficulty spotting the English articles.
熊本城マラソン2023の公式サイトです。「あの感動が再び走りだす。」2月19日(日) 9:00 スタート

Kirk here with an NHK video about the Yamaga Toro Hyakka Hyakusai. Here's the blub on the page:
--- start quote ---
The center of Yamaga City in Kumamoto Prefecture lights up on winter nights. A total of 5,300 bamboo tubes lit with candles and Japanese umbrellas illuminated by lights filled the street of 300 meters. The event called "Yamaga Toro (lantern) Hyakka Hyakusai" was launched 20 years ago by local businesses to attract tourists. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the event was held for the first time in three years.
--- end quote ---
Here's the schedule (in Japanese but the numbers are just the dates in February):
（２月３日（金）、４日（土）、１０日（金）、１１日（土）、１７日（金）、１８日（土）、２４日（金）、２５日（土））
Town in Kumamoto lights up | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
The center of Yamaga City in Kumamoto Prefecture lights up on winter nights. A total of 5,300 bamboo tubes lit with candles and Japanese umbrellas illuminated by lights filled the street of 300 meters. The event called "Yamaga Toro (lantern) Hyakka Hyakusai" was launched 20 years ago by local busine...

Kirk here with a bakery recommendation. The location is Honmyoji. It's still a bit early, but it's really very beautiful during cherry blossom season, as Liz's photos attest. In this post I am merely sharing screenshots of Liz's photos as they appeared in the following post by William:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02hSc2xTbhnf8KmEV6XExfCvf8szdA2c6pGWVrFxXp46iE1Zz3BfsMPNxKV1pvFcuQl
The bakery is Totoro Tei (トトロ亭; Totoro's Bus Stop?), which used to be in Kokai. The photo you see of the proprietors is from the following post and was taken before they moved out to Honmyoji:
https://www.facebook.com/kokaisyoutengai/posts/pfbid02DfD6Erqyra2BwK87h5VNbNCpMopxjgizrKc3vPs2ezpcsv7KdbZsDVP72RhUj7vKl
The current location is in a building that has a prominent Buddhist alter befitting its location on the grounds of a Buddhist temple. The contrast between the tasty baked goods and the Buddhist trappings seems to have caught the attention of the producers of ナニコレ珍百景 (Nani kore chin hyakkei; "What's this? 100 odd scenes") because the TV show came to record a segment with them. As far as I know it hasn't been shown yet. I'm hoping to record it and see it when/if they appear of the show.
At any rate, a few minutes ago I was enjoying some delicious curry bread (カレーパン) that my wife bought there and I thought "I should post to Kumamoto International about this!" Hence this post. :)

Kirk here with information about a good quality e-book that has been published about the Aso area.
--- start quote ---
Please have a look! the GIAHS ASO e-book
Aso has grown together with its grasslands and is blessed with bountiful farmland, rare plants and animals, and a strong agricultural tradition. These characteristics earned Aso global recognition, culminating in its designation as a World Agricultural Heritage Site in May 2013.
With Aso’s designation as a World Agricultural Heritage Site, Kumamoto Prefecture published the GIAHS ASO e-book to explain the unique agricultural traditions of Aso that play a large part in the preservation of the Aso grasslands.
GIAHS ASO also contains many great photos of Aso’s breathtaking landscapes. Please have a look!
--- end quote ---
https://furusato.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji003171/index.html
Personally, I'm not a fan of the e-book format. I'd rather be able to download the whole thing as a pdf. (You can download individual pages of this book but not the whole thing.) Still, it's nicely done and a good source of information and images, I think.