Posts

Kirk again. I just posted about how RKK and other local media don't seem to be inclined to tell people about local demonstrations against missiles in Kengun. For reasons that are not hard to understand, the PRC is keen to do so. I'm not a fan of Chinese propaganda but, just the same, it's interesting to me that one can learn things from foreign news reports that the local media (at least RKK in this case) doesn't cover.
Over 1,000 Japanese protest govt's plan to deploy long-range missiles in Kumamoto
More than 1,000 Japanese people gathered on Monday in front of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Kengun base in Kumamoto Prefecture, protesting the government's plan to deploy long-range missiles at the facility.

Kirk here with a share from Mieko Ueno, our local (my neighborhood) member of the city council. Here's an AI translation of the Japanese text:
--- start quote ---
Stop Long-Range Missile Deployment at Kengun Self-Defense Force Base! Ring of Peace
On February 23rd, an action called "Stop Long-Range Missile Deployment! Ring of Peace" took place, forming a human chain around the Kengun Self-Defense Force base in Kumamoto City to demand the withdrawal of plans to deploy long-range missiles there.
A "Ring of Peace" made up of 1,200 people.
We don't need missiles at the Kengun SDF base!
We don't need ammunition depots either!
What we want to pass on to our children is "peace."
--- end quote ---
I am not sure yet, but my impression at this point is that this hasn't been reported on TV. I just checked RKK's online archive and nothing. Plenty of "soft" topics but nothing about this. :(
https://www.facebook.com/mieko.ueno.37/posts/pfbid02jPw3GuYgqsYr66anmdFhdEJtqr8QSFv2CMkLq8z39ae3ExbCuq4RN74rWrYunE8Vl

Kirk here. Yesterday the weather was nice so my wife and dog and I went for a little walk in the Ezuko area. I forgot the name of this kind of sakura but every year it blooms quite early in the season. Spring is on its way!

Kirk here with a local issue that is part of a global phenomenon: bees are in trouble. Here's a summary from Claude (my favorite AI service) that I think helps put the issue in Kumamoto in perspective:
----- start of text from Claude -----
This article fits into a genuinely concerning global story that has been building for about two decades. Let me put the pieces together for you.
The US "Colony Collapse Disorder" backstory
Starting around 2006, American beekeepers began reporting massive, mysterious losses where worker bees simply vanished from hives. It was alarming enough to get a name — Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) — and serious scientific attention. The "mystery" framing held for a while, but the scientific consensus gradually converged on a combination of causes rather than a single smoking gun: neonicotinoid pesticides (which impair bees' navigation and immune systems), the Varroa mite (a parasitic mite that weakens bees and spreads viruses), habitat loss and monoculture farming reducing floral diversity, and pathogens. The pesticide piece became especially politically charged, leading the EU to ban several neonicotinoids in 2018. US losses have continued at roughly 30-40% of managed colonies per year
even after the initial panic subsided.
What the Kumamoto article adds to the picture
The Japanese situation reflects the same multi-factor stress pattern, but with heat emerging more prominently as a driver — which makes sense given Japan's increasingly brutal summers. Kumamoto is in southwestern Japan, which has seen some of its hottest summers on record in recent years. Heat stresses bees directly (disrupting colony thermoregulation and brood development) and also alters the timing and availability of flowering plants that bees depend on. The Varroa mite appears here too, just as in the US and Europe.
The fact that Kumamoto ranks second in Japan for honey production and is still allocating $3.27 million in emergency response money signals how serious the agricultural downstream effects are — bees there pollinate tomatoes, watermelons, and strawberries, which are major commercial crops.
The global pattern
Bee population stress is now documented across North America, Europe, East Asia, and parts of South America. The stressors vary somewhat by region — pesticide exposure is more central in the US and Europe debates, heat and abnormal weather are increasingly prominent in Japan and other parts of Asia — but researchers generally describe a "perfect storm" dynamic where bees weakened by one factor become much more vulnerable to others. A colony that can handle Varroa mites under normal conditions may collapse when also dealing with heat stress or a bad forage season.
The agricultural stakes are high globally because roughly a third of the food humans eat depends on insect pollination, with honeybees doing the largest share of that work among managed pollinators. The Kumamoto article's mention of exploring "alternative insects" for pollination is a sign that some planners are beginning to think about contingency strategies — other bee species, or even other insects — rather than assuming honeybee populations will recover.
The headline cause may differ depending on where you're reading the news, but the underlying story is the same: managed honeybee populations are under sustained, multi-front pressure worldwide, and the agricultural systems that depend on them are starting to feel it in practical, budgetary terms.
----- end of text from Claude -----
Japan's Kumamoto Pref. boosts honeybee loss measures with $3.27 million budget - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- The Kumamoto Prefectural Government is boosting its honeybee shortage response with an about 502-million-yen (roughly $3.27 million) budge

Kirk here for anyone who might be interested in vintage 'gacha'.
Kumamoto Station debuts limited edition 'gacha' capsule machine - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A limited-edition capsule toy machine called the

Atsuko here.
Sharing a beautiful winter sunset viewpoint in Kumamoto.(⁎ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈⁎)
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BdKXru4Pm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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21 February 2026
Day two of spectacular views.
By evening, approximately 350 visitors had gathered, quietly captivated by the breathtaking sight of the setting sun merging with the sandy tidal flats.
We are grateful to have shared this moment with everyone who came!
Tomorrow the weather will take a turn for the worse, but the day after tomorrow promises clear skies all day long!
We look forward to meeting you all at the Okoshiki Coast Viewing Point.
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Okoshiki Kaigan place
https://www.facebook.com/share/1CixwD9tuj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
The season of spectacular views has arrived!
【Guide Map to Okoshiki Coast Viewpoint】
※The name "Okoshiki Coast Mudflat Scenic Area" has been changed to "Okoshiki Coast Viewpoint" from May 2025.
Ground Course: https://youtu.be/mF_VZwRFGNM
Viewable on YouTube via the link.
For the return journey, follow the directions via the QR code on the observation point's information board POP.
【Okoshiki Coast Tide Table - February 2026】
This month's spectacular viewing days are four days from 20th to 23rd February.
Additionally, from 4th to 7th February and on 19th February (five days in total), whilst not quite reaching spectacular viewing day levels, you can witness the collaboration between the sandy tidal flats stretching into the distance and the setting sun.
We look forward to welcoming you at the Okoshiki Coast Observation Deck.
Yellow and orange on the tide chart indicate low tide coinciding with sunset.
Yellow (Spectacular View Days)・・・View the vast tidal flats and sunset.
Orange・・・・・・View the expansive tidal flats and sunset.
Blue .................. Offers views of the vast tidal flats, though not coinciding with sunset.
Additionally, the car park being constructed above the Okoshi Coast Observation Point is nearing completion. Work on the existing car park is scheduled to commence in early January.
Please also note that the road from the Toguchi side is closed to traffic on weekdays due to widening works.
Details regarding the construction works will be posted once information is received from the relevant department at the City Office.
※ The Okoshi Coast tide table has used values from "Tide MieYell" since 2015. Please note that low tide times and tide levels may differ slightly depending on the tide table used.

Kirk here. Now, at least the families can get some closure and mourn.
3 Bodies Found on Volcano's Crater 4 Weeks After Sightseeing Helicopter Crashed at Tourist Attraction
Three bodies were found on Thursday, Feb. 19, after a helicopter crashed on a crater of Japan’s Mount Aso volcano, almost a month ago on Tuesday, Jan. 20

Joe Tomei here with an exchange event at my school, Kumamoto Gakuen on 3 March. It's an exchange event where my colleague, Dr. David Iwashita, will first give a presentation to be followed by short talks by students who are returning to Kumamoto and some opportunities to discuss
March 2 (Monday) 13:00-14:30
Shin 1 gokan, Kumamoto Gakuen University
If interested, please contact [email protected]. Hope to see you there!

Kirk here with an article comparing Kurokawa's hot springs with Yufuin and Beppu. Of course, they all derive their heat from Mt. Aso.
The Ultimate Kyushu Onsen Guide: Kurokawa vs. Yufuin vs. Beppu
Kyushu’s Best Onsen Escapes: How to Reach Kurokawa, Yufuin & Beppu from Tokyo

Kirk here with a share I happened across today.

Kirk here with a screenshot from a news segment about an exhibit at the local museum (Kumamoto Hakubutsukan) about Lafcadio Hearn. The image you see is from a lesson Hearn gave to his son, helping him learn English. I was interested in how the standard English of the time was different from English today.
--> No, I do not have a dog. Do you have a cat?
I can't think of a good example off hand but I occasionally bump into English in dictionaries that may have be OK at one point but that is obsolete now. I suspect that good scholars of English taught their students what they learned in the Meiji period and that, in some cases, those lessons have been repeated without going back to check contemporary usage.
Anyone with concrete examples of outdated English that continues to be taught in Japan?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQZV9S3ADTo

Hey Kuma Friends!
I wanted to share some information about the local Book Club, Kumabon.
This month we’re reading “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan.
(We realize that this is short notice, we’ll be choosing March’s book at the meeting and sending information out right away!)
The meeting is on Saturday, February 28th at the Kurokami Community Center. (Address in the Flyer)
Come on over even if you haven’t finished the book (or maybe haven’t even started it yet!) as we’re a close group that loves to chat.
Sometimes our meetings are held online, sometimes in-person at a member’s home and sometimes downtown for a little food and drinks while we chat. 🙂
Hope to see you there!

Atsuko here.
[Notice] Kumamoto Castle will be open to the public for free.(੭˙꒳​˙)੭
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In April, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquake, Kumamoto Castle will be open to the public free of charge.
Please come and see the state of Kumamoto Castle as it continues to be restored. We look forward to your visit.
Period: April 18th (Sat) and 19th (Sun)
Target All park visitors
Fee free
*Parking fees apply
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D8UAy867a/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Hi, Joha here.
An international mini-soccer tournament is planned in Kumamoto on March 1st, 2026.
Please refer to the info on the flyer for details.
Mixed (international) teams would be preferred, yet, it's not mandatory.
The registration deadline has been extended, so, don't care if you see the 13th there ;-)
Ciao!
The direct registration pages are here:
Japanese version
https://forms.gle/dazgBaxXZXd1Jgp97
English version
https://forms.gle/tq7qbqZ1YvQw42uTA

This Sunday, 15th February will see 1000s milling around for Kumamoto City Marathon 2026!! If you're participating and want a cheer let us know your bib number or tracker details! 🎽✨📣 If you hope to spectate with others, or if there's a foreign cheer group contingent, surely also holler here... for noise in numbers!!
A few of us intended to cheer from a friend's apartment near KumaDai hospital but, as they have been hospitalized, we may stay street-based around there! 頑張れ!! Good luck to all taking part! 🏁💦🔥👣 - Ruth

Kirk here. According to the report, Kumamoto is expect to join the frontlines of chip production. 3-nanometer chips are not the absolute frontline (2-nanometer chips exist) but they are near the frontline and amazingly small, nonetheless.
By the way, according to ChatGPT:
2 nm is the fastest growing advanced node, 3 nm is the current high-end workhorse, and 5 nm still represents the largest share among the advanced nodes — but in the overall market (all nodes), larger mature nodes like 28 nm and above still account for most products due to volume.
Also according to ChatGPT:
Human hair (which, of course, varies in thickness) is between 16,700 times to 33,300 times thicker than 3nm! So 3nm means you can pack a lot of circuitry into a tiny space.
TSMC to produce 3-nanometer chips in Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
The world's largest contract chipmaker says it will produce advanced 3-nanometer semiconductors in Japan.

Fiona here, posting an opening for a teaching position in Kumamoto city.
Baker’s English House requires an enthusiastic native English Teacher. The job is full time, a total of 32 hours with a maximum of 24 teaching hours a week. With Sundays and Mondays off. Some Japanese ability and teaching experience would be helpful but not required.
Location - Higashi Ku, Kumamoto City� Benefits: From 260,000 yen/month (Negotiable). 20 paid holidays per year.
Starting Date: Immediately but can wait till start of April�
Please send resume and recent photo to:�[email protected]�Only successful applicants will be contacted. Thank you.

Kirk here with a note for folks who understand Japanese and/or know Alan Rosen. For those of you who don't know, Alan is an American with a long history of teaching at Kumamoto University. You can read about his books (both English and Japanese) and get a little sense of his expertise regarding Lafcadio Hearn from the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064554018003/search/?q=Alan%20Rosen
Tomorrow (Saturday, Feb 7) beginning at 8:15, NHK will broadcast a program that deals with Hearn's time in Kumamoto. The occasion is the beginning of the depiction of Hearn's time in Kumamoto in the TV drama "Bakebake." You can see a Japanese notice about the Saturday morning show (including the video I took a screenshot of) at the following address:
https://www.nhk.or.jp/kumamoto/info/articles/310/033/11/
Come to think of it, when it comes to Americans in Kumamoto, there was Hearn, LL Janes, Alan Rosen, and then the rest of us. ;) I've set my HDD to record it and, if you can, I recommend that you do so too.

Liz here , with a recommendation for anyone interested in heading to Minamata for the day . A few days ago , on the recommendation of a friend , we headed to the private Minamata Disease Museum there. https://www.minamatadiseasemuseum.net Sorry that my explanation didn't copy paste correctly as text, but became a photo instead!

Kirk here with news about some young Indonesian women who may have saved the life of an elderly Japanese woman that was unable to get out a a drainage channel on her own. The English below was translated from the Japanese by Claude, my favorite AI service. I asked Claude to translate the article into Indonesian too. That translation follows the English. Terjemahan bahasa Indonesia dari artikel ini mengikuti terjemahan bahasa Inggris. Silakan gulir ke bawah untuk melihatnya.
--------------
"Help me..."
On a cold January night, an elderly woman was stranded in a drainage channel.
The ones who saved her life through quick thinking and teamwork were technical intern trainees from Indonesia.
[Photo] Irrigation channel near the scene
A "Voice" from the Channel on the Way Home
Around 8:30 PM on January 15th, three agricultural technical intern trainees—Puji Atyun (24), Novita Rohma Danti (24), and Wivia Wati Firda Saputri (21)—were cycling back to their dormitory from their workplace in Nishi Ward, Kumamoto City.
Along the way, they heard a woman's voice coming from the drainage channel.
Three Who Acted Despite the Language Barrier
The three discovered an elderly woman who had fallen into the channel, approximately one meter deep. The woman, in her 80s, had fallen while out for a walk and had injured her leg.
Although no water was flowing through the channel, she was unable to climb out on her own and had apparently been stranded for over two hours.
The woman was calling out "Help me, help me" from inside the channel.
Having arrived in Japan only in October of last year, the three women didn't understand the words, but they lifted the elderly woman out of the channel by supporting her legs and upper body.
Under Cold Skies... Transcending the Language Barrier
With help from Japanese-speaking colleagues Nila Nur Marisa (30) and Erli Widiyawati (40), they called the police.
"Where is your home? Are you injured?"
While they waited for police to arrive, with the woman seated, Nila continued talking with her.
Nila Nur Marisa (30): "It was cold, and when I touched her hands, they were freezing. I gave her my gloves and hat."
The woman was subsequently taken into police custody and transported to a hospital as a precaution.
"She Reminded Me of My Family"
On January 29th, certificates of appreciation were presented to the five women at the Kumamoto Minami Police Station.
Nila: "Looking at the grandmother reminded me of my own family. [About the award] I was nervous at first, but I was happy. When someone is in trouble, you have to help them. It's just the natural thing to do."
Police stated, "If the discovery had been delayed, it could have become a life-threatening situation. We are grateful that they overcame the language barrier to contact emergency services."
--------------
Indonesian translation:
"Tolong..."
Pada malam bulan Januari yang dingin, seorang wanita lanjut usia terjebak di saluran air.
Mereka yang menyelamatkan nyawanya melalui keputusan cepat dan kerja sama tim adalah para peserta magang teknis dari Indonesia.
[Foto] Saluran irigasi di dekat lokasi kejadian
"Suara" dari Saluran Air Saat Perjalanan Pulang
Sekitar pukul 20.30 pada tanggal 15 Januari, tiga peserta magang teknis pertanian—Puji Atyun (24), Novita Rohma Danti (24), dan Wivia Wati Firda Saputri (21)—sedang bersepeda pulang ke asrama mereka dari tempat kerja di Distrik Nishi, Kota Kumamoto.
Di tengah perjalanan, mereka mendengar suara seorang wanita dari saluran air.
Tiga Orang yang Bertindak Meski Ada Hambatan Bahasa
Ketiganya menemukan seorang wanita lanjut usia yang telah jatuh ke dalam saluran air sedalam sekitar satu meter. Wanita tersebut berusia 80-an tahun, jatuh saat sedang berjalan-jalan dan kakinya memar.
Meskipun tidak ada air yang mengalir di saluran tersebut, ia tidak mampu keluar sendiri dan tampaknya sudah terjebak selama lebih dari dua jam.
Wanita itu berteriak "Tolong, tolong" dari dalam saluran.
Baru tiba di Jepang pada bulan Oktober tahun lalu, ketiga wanita ini tidak mengerti kata-katanya, tetapi mereka mengangkat wanita lanjut usia itu keluar dari saluran dengan menopang kaki dan tubuh bagian atasnya.
Di Bawah Langit Dingin... Melampaui Hambatan Bahasa
Dengan bantuan rekan kerja yang bisa berbahasa Jepang, Nila Nur Marisa (30) dan Erli Widiyawati (40), mereka menghubungi polisi.
"Rumah Ibu di mana? Apakah Ibu terluka?"
Sambil menunggu polisi datang dengan wanita tersebut dalam posisi duduk, Nila terus berbicara dengannya.
Nila Nur Marisa (30): "Cuacanya dingin, dan ketika saya menyentuh tangannya, sangat dingin. Saya memberikan sarung tangan dan topi saya kepadanya."
Wanita tersebut kemudian diamankan oleh polisi dan dibawa ke rumah sakit untuk berjaga-jaga.
"Beliau Mengingatkan Saya pada Keluarga Saya"
Pada tanggal 29 Januari, piagam penghargaan diberikan kepada kelima wanita tersebut di Kantor Polisi Kumamoto Minami.
Nila: "Melihat nenek itu mengingatkan saya pada keluarga saya sendiri. [Tentang penghargaan ini] Awalnya saya gugup, tapi saya senang. Kalau ada orang yang kesusahan, kita harus menolongnya. Itu hal yang wajar."
Pihak kepolisian menyatakan, "Jika penemuan terlambat, situasinya bisa mengancam jiwa. Kami berterima kasih karena mereka berhasil melampaui hambatan bahasa untuk menghubungi layanan darurat."
水路から『助けて 助けて』　日本語が分からなくても 手を差し伸べたインドネシアの技能実習生たち　帽子や手袋も渡して高齢女性の命救う | 熊本のニュース｜RKK NEWS｜RKK熊本放送
冷え込む1月の夜、水路に取り残された高齢女性。とっさの判断と連携で命を救ったのは、インドネシアから来た技能実習生たちでした。 1月15日午後8時半ごろ、農業技能実習生として働くプジ・アテュンさん（24）、…