Posts

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:
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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.

William We seem to be experiencing an earthquake swarm centered on the central and north-eastern sections of the Futagawa fault, which has remained unruptured since the 2016 quakes.
Just in case, keep your bathtub full (water lines were out of service for a week in my neighborhood back in '16), secure your TV and other fragile items, and make sure you have a week's worth of food.
Earthquake notifications are available here: https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/#pattern=earthquake_volcano&area_type=offices&area_code=430000

Atsuko here with information about Noyaki, burning off the fields, workshop for foreigners.
Hoping you find and enjoy spring in Aso.
ଘ(੭ˊ꒳​ˋ)੭✧
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
On 25 February (Sat) a field trip for foreign residents will be held.
If you know someone who lives or works in Aso City or the surrounding area, we would be grateful if you could introduce them to us.
Saturday 25th February, 9.30am - 2.30pm
Meeting place: Higo Otsu Station at 9:30am
　　　　　　Aso Station at 10:10am.
Please board a private bus at either station.
Attendance fee: Free (packed lunch included)
Places to visit: Pastureland in Aso City.
If the field burning cannot take place due to weather conditions, a handicraft experience to learn about grasslands and field burning will be held.
Registration required*.
Please apply by email stating your name, age, nationality, address, telephone number, preferred meeting place and any dietary restrictions.
[Registration and Enquiries.]
Aso Green Stock Tel: 0967-32-3500
Email: [email protected]

Sean here -
With Valentine’s day around the corner, coupled with my desire to support local artisans/businesses, I am happy to share with all of you “Love Local, Treat yourself” Valentine's event at Cocosa, located next to the Freaks store.
Some featured locals are Licht Coffee and Cakes. Some of you may know them as Cluck café. Tien Tien Cafe an Aso favorite, as well as a local artisan who has been mentioned here on a few occasions, our very own one-woman, local small business operator, Chikae san’s “Out of Step Café”. The finest Bagels in Kumamoto.
See pics for more.
If you are looking for a place to get something special for your sweetheart while supporting your local small businesses, check out “Love Local, Treat yourself”.
It don't get any sweeter than dat!

William That was an interesting quake. Apparently, the epicenter was in Nishiharamura, which sits astride the Futagawa fault, the same guy responsible for our trouble years ago. Likely stress built up by southern quakes is gradually working its way north. But without that fault, we wouldn't have the Tateno Gap, and the caldera would be a huge lake.

Kirk here with sad news about vandalism. Some sort of fluid that left a red stain was thrown on a monument (reibyo; 霊廟)to HOSOKAWA Gracia in Kurokami, near Kumamoto University. First, who was HOSOKAWA Gracia?
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Hosokawa Garasha (細川ガラシャ), (1563 – 25 August 1600) was a member of the aristocratic Akechi family from the Sengoku period. Gracia is best known for her role in the Battle of Sekigahara; she was considered to be a political hostage to the Western army led by Ishida Mitsunari. She reneged on committing suicide (seppuku) because of her Catholic faith, breaking the code of conduct imposed on women of the samurai class.
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The vandalized monument is in the remains of Taishoji (泰勝寺), about which William has already written:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0C8rfqwxy39LstrBPL81D53gRRWfddg6y8V4j7F3anuzm6UDcFim2MKM8h6bWe9ukl
Here's the RKK news segment I saw:
【速報】泰勝寺で細川ガラシャの霊廟など４つの御廟に「やや赤色がかった液体」がまかれる　人為的にまかれた可能性 | TBS NEWS DIG
熊本市にある国指定文化財の「泰勝寺」跡で、2月２日、４つの御廟に液体がまかれたような跡が見つかり、熊本市は警察へ被害届を出す予定です。2月２日、熊本市中央区にある国指定文化財の細川家の墓所「泰勝寺」跡…

Kirk here. If you live in the Aso area and would like to study Japanese, this should interest you.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0dgwutMURwaY7RUKHMz1TzM9EQECnk9DKYkkzV5Evk5MNpvYiZVLKu8jM9Q9AsSxGl&id=100089958274988

William with two pieces of online software you should try.
Certainly most everyone has heard of ChatGPT. Queries are met with answers much less detailed than Wikipedia but in a more conversational style. When asked, "Tell about Kumamoto," it offered simply: "Kumamoto is a city located on the island of Kyushu in Japan. It is the capital of Kumamoto Prefecture and has a population of around 700,000 people. Kumamoto is known for its castle, which was originally built in the 1600s and is one of the most famous and well-preserved castles in Japan. The castle was severely damaged in a 2016 earthquake, but has since been rebuilt and is a popular tourist destination. The city is also known for its hot springs, nature parks, and traditional festivals. Additionally, Kumamoto is a hub for transportation, with a bullet train station, highways, and airports connecting it to other parts of Japan." An account can be set up here: https://chat.openai.com/
A second site, Rome2Rio, offers detailed travel instructions between any two points in the world. If you're interested in traveling from Kumamoto to anywhere else, the site will give you detailed suggestions, usually including air, rail, bus, and taxi. https://www.rome2rio.com/ Kumamoto is a convenient launch point to explore the wonders of Kyushu.
Rome2rio: discover how to get anywhere
Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

Kirk here with news about Kumamoto International's own (well, we don't "own" him but he's been a participant) Andrew Mitchell. Go Andrew!!
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In another workshop, Andrew Mitchell, 38, the U.K.-born representative of "Kumamoto Earthquake Experience Project," an international students' group in Kumamoto that thinks about issues relating to disaster management for foreigners, talked about his disaster experience. The Fukuoka Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency also gave a lecture about quakes and tsunami.
--- end quote ---
Int'l residents, Japanese volunteers in Fukuoka join 'easy English' workshop for disasters - The Mainichi
FUKUOKA -- Aiming to better convey information to foreigners during times of emergency, a seminar including a workshop on speaking in

William Heads up on the Kumamon front: in order to publicize the existence of Kumamoto to those who've apparently been living under a rock, Kumamon has been on a national tour. To celebrate his (her?) homecoming, Those That Be will publicize from 2/8 a series of short, FX-heavy videos showing the ol' guy (gal?) at various famous spots in Kumamoto. Keep an eye on this site: https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/specialsite/ and we at KI will keep you up to date.
熊本県復興プロモーション「くまモン、帰省中。」スペシャルサイト。くまモンのオリジナル動画（全7話）を随時公開。プレゼントキャンペーンもチェック！

Fiona here, with a post for Kumamoto-i readers to share photos and locations of their favourite vending machines. I've spotted machines selling pig's trotters, gyoza and of course the edible insects sold outside the balloon store at the end of the Kokai shopping arcade. What other delicacies and delights are out there?

Atsuko here with some information about the vegetable-picking workshop for children and parents in Nishi Ward(๑˃ᴗ˂)و♡
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Would you like to experience a vegetable harvest with your children?
How about picking sweet spring vegetables?
Let's have fun harvesting fresh vegetables grown in the local Nishi Ward with your parents and children!
Date & Time] 19 March (Sun), 2023 10:00-12:00 *In case of rain, it will be held on 26 March (Sun).
Meeting place: Western Exchange Centre
Number of people wanted] Approximately 10 parent/child pairs (booking required).
Children must be between elementary school and primary school age. Please contact us for more details.
Please wear clothes that are easy to move in and can get dirty on the day.
Please bring your own military gloves and boots. Please bring a saw and sickle for picking vegetables.
Participation fee] Free of charge
Registration and Enquiries] Please contact the office or call (096-273-6996).

Kirk here. A facility is being built in Yatsushiro to derive energy from woody biomass (not to be confused with facilities intending to produce energy from Woody's biomass ;) ).
First of all, a quick definition of woody biomass:
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Woody biomass is biomass derived from trees. It can be classified into construction scrap wood, sawmill residues, and forest residues (such as branches and leaves shed in the mountains).
--- end quote ---
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/woody-biomass
I became aware of this project through the following article:
--- start quote ---
Nippon Paper also operates the 149MW Ishinomaki Hibarino biomass power plant in northeast Japan's Miyagi prefecture and the 6MW Yatsushiro biomass power plant in south Japan's Kumamoto prefecture.
--- end quote ---
https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2416025-japans-yufutsu-biomass-power-plant-starts-operations
However, the "operates" statement seems to be inaccurate in regard to the Yatsushiro plant, as it is not scheduled to start to function until 2024:
--- start quote ---
The Project Company will construct and operate “Yatsushiro Biomass Power Plant,” a wood-burning biomass power plant that will generate 75 MW and aims to commence operation in June 2024.
--- end quote ---
https://www.chuden.co.jp/english/corporate/releases/pressreleases/1206271_5163.html
Woody biomass has its promoters and detractors:
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Energy from woody biomass can be very positive for the climate, particularly when applying sustainable forest management practices, and when the biomass is used efficiently.
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https://www.ieabioenergy.com/iea-publications/faq/woodybiomass/
--- start quote ---
Current biomass policy frameworks are not fit for purpose and require substantial changes to ensure they contribute to mitigating climate change rather than exacerbating it.
--- end quote ---
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2017/02/woody-biomass-power-and-heat
Woody Biomass - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
SCIENCEDIRECT.COM
Woody Biomass - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Woody biomass particles also display anisotropic behavior where physical properties depend on whether they are measured along, across, or tangential to the grain of the wood.

Kirk here with some news that I don't understand very well:
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Among those embracing the digital trend is Metagri-Labo, a community launched in March 2022 that aims to merge agriculture and blockchain technology to increase farming revenues while revitalizing regional areas.
. . .
The collaborative project with Shimada watermelon farm in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, issued 20 limited edition "MetagriLabo Suica Collection" NFTs, with actual watermelons and other benefits delivered to those who purchased them.
--- end quote ---
Japan startups team with farmers to put tech to work in agriculture - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- From robots to artificial intelligence and blockchain-based marketing, technological innovation is increasingly being harnessed in Ja