Posts

Kirk here. The "quiz" in the article is "くまモン検定" (Kumamon kentei, shown on the screen in back of Kumamon and in the Japanese article to which the English links). Japan has lots of kentei (certification) tests, one of which is Eiken (English kentei). If you'd like to take the test, the link is here:
https://kumamon-kentei.com
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20221028/p2a/00m/0na/016000c
Kumamon quiz: Japan's Kumamoto Pref. to launch knowledge test about popular mascot - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- An online test of knowledge about the activities of Kumamon, the popular mascot of southwest Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, and the prefectu

William with the long read:
Japan has a long history of emigration, with peaks during the Great Depression and the post-war period. Due to America's Chinese Exclusion Act (a sad period of xenophobia enacted in 1882, abolished in steps between 1943-1965 https://tinyurl.com/28szuk29), immigration from China fell to virtually zero. At the time, however, Japanese were considered "honorary whites https://tinyurl.com/yeyatz88," and many, particularly Higokko, emigrated to Hawaii and California.
At a time when even travel within Japan was unusual, people from all over the country intermixed in California; this article states how the Nisei regarded each other: "Hiroshima people were said to be industrious and tight-fisted; Wakayama people aggressive and hot-tempered; Tokyoites generous; Okayama shrewd and clever; the northern provinces patient as a result of their long cold winters; people from Kumamoto stubborn.” (https://tinyurl.com/jvwwpd9t) Heh. Ask my wife.
Kumamoto (and other Kyushu prefectures) have thus had an oversized influence on Japanese-American culture, particularly cuisine. One example is the satsuma (an Edo-era term for Kagoshima), which in English refers to a variety of tangerine. Another fun-fact is that most all restaurants in California serve tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen, native to Fukuoka and Kumamoto (Tokyoites eat shoyu ramen https://tinyurl.com/2rh7j2e) - ask an Angeleno what ramen is and that is what they will imagine.
Tangentially related is the Kumamoto oyster, native to Yatsushiro Sea, which has an interesting history: "In October 1945, two months after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, General Douglas MacArthur asked the Japanese government to export 80,000 boxes of oyster seeds to the United States. This marked the end of the wartime embargo on Japanese goods. Unfortunately, lack of manpower and low oyster stocks threatened Japan’s ability to fill the order. Seeds from the little-known Kumamoto oyster were used to help fill the shipments." (Interesting read: https://tinyurl.com/4b2vhnet .)
The article mentions that the variety has been extirpated from the Shiranui Sea due to pollution; however, I have read about attemps to reintroduce the variety from healthy stocks in America's Pacific Northwest. What goes around, comes around. Photo: Kumamoto oyster

Kirk here with a post that could be put in the category of "useless information that might be mildly interesting if you happen to pass by the place from time to time" (a category with very very few posts ;) ).
The place is the Kuwamizu Intersection (神水交差点) near Ezuko (see map image).
The picture you see is one I took on Saturday of the building that houses the Kumamoto branch of the what has been known as the Unification Church ("Family Federation for World Peace and Unification" or "the Moonies"). I got the address from their official website:
https://ffwpu.jp/admission/church/nearest
I was in the area on Saturday and thought I'd take a look. It's completely unmarked but there was a steady stream of people entering the stairway to the third floor venue (entrance on opposite side from the store fronts in the picture) when I was there. They were nicely dressed people (seemed to be individuals and families).
I didn't want to harass them at all so I kept to myself and left the area after a short time.

Kirk here sharing an article about an island in the Amakusa area called Yushima (湯島, "Island of Hot Water"), also known as Dangojima (談合島, "Island on which Locals Conspired in the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637). According to the article, it has one more name: "cat island."
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/travel-spots/20221008-62999/
William has written about this place here:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02uw3b1GbatjMbLi6vUt2APB26haJWJZ99McMGGChJG2FzJAUWGYNSvSvdovaiwJyfl

Kirk here with some strange news. A man named Katsuhiko Higuchi has been arrested because a company in Kumamoto says that he published an unauthorized Spanish-language version of his own autobiography. First, here's a blurb about who Katsuhiko Higuchi is:
--- start quote ---
Katsuhiko Higuchi, known as the king of the octopus, presents his biographical book, a pleasant account of the first and last Japanese who has supplied his country with abundant catches of cephalopods from Western Sahara. More than fifty years ago, when he arrived, almost no one fished octopus at the Saharan Bank. That is why his life summarizes the recent history of fishing in Morocco, that of the Port of La Luz and, specifically, that of the fishing town of Dakhla. He has been ruined and married several times, but as the Japanese encouraging proverb "Nana says. Korobi already oki "," if you fall seven times, eight times you get up. "
--- end quote
https://spainsnews.com/the-story-of-the-king-of-the-octopus-in-the-club-la-provincia-la-provincia/
Hmmm. Looks like he'll need to try to get up again.
Now, back to the reason for Higuchi's arrest. According to the article, Higuchi asked the company (unnamed) to put the book together (presumedly, including the writing of all the text describing material provided by Higuchi himself). It would seem that part of the deal was that the company would hold the copyright on the book. So, I guess the company considered Spanish-language publication to be a copyright infringement.
OK, I guess I can sort of understand that part. But, I have lots of questions about this.
1. I would think that such copyright infringement would usually lead to nasty "cease and desist" letters and then, as a next step, suing for damages -- not arrest. Maybe copyright law is different in Japan. Or, maybe it's because he's normally out of the country. Not sure.
2. What sort of damage to the Kumamoto company was involved? I looked and I couldn't even find any information about the Japanese version of the book (title shown in the image) on Amazon or any other website. The Spanish-language book, however, does have Amazon page, though I see that sales have been stopped:
https://www.amazon.sg/KATSUHIKO-HIGUCHI-REY-PULPO-Spanish/dp/1791536492/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
I guess you don't necessarily have to prove that the copyright infringement caused damages but I would think that a case with no clear damages might not be treated quite as severely as one with such obvious damages. Doesn't look like the Spanish version sold very much either.
3. Why isn't the company named? Why are those of us in Kumamoto not allowed to know which local companies tend to be litigious in this way?
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3ea327e6e035a17f207f5a473087487dfd900275

Kirk here with some news that is not directly related to Kumamoto but, as this is an international community, I think I should report that Halloween festivities in nearby Seoul ended in tragedy last night. My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by this. :(
Itaewon crowd crush: Horror as nearly 150 die in Seoul district
Halloween revellers pour into a narrow street in South Korea's capital, causing a deadly crush.

Liz here answering queries about local events : here is one happening tonight and tomorrow night in Shirakawa Park downtown. It is a traveling "gekidan" performance. I attended last year and it was great. When you enter the tent you are handed some origami paper which you use to wrap your change and/or bills in. This is their version of passing the hat for donations (no fixed entrance fee)and everyone tosses their donations on to the stage whenever you are moved to do so. It is entirely in Japanese, but don't let that stop you from going, it is visually satisfying even if you don't really get what they are saying/singing. They travel all over Japan , setting up in parks and performing no matter what the weather (last year I watched them performing on their homemade stage in the pouring rain) Show up around 6:30, grab a seat and enjoy. Starts at 7:00. Wear a sweater!

Kirk here. Oops! Just posted this as myself -- not the page. I'm too lazy to repost it so I'm just sharing it. It's about getting a booster shot for COVID-19.
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/8087772744629420

(Fiona) Is it just me? I always hear about interesting events happening in Kumamoto....after they've happened. This season in particular seems to have a lot of stuff going on - farmer's markets, culture festivals, bazaars, sports events and concerts. If you know of something taking place in November, please post about it in this thread so that more people can find out about cool events in advance.

William If you've no plans for Sunday, you could do worse than to visit the Kumamoto Products Fair (Kumamoto Busan Fair, くまもと物産フェア), which will be held in the square fronting Kumamoto Station. 113 entrants will be selling and giving out free samples of food and other Kumamoto specialties totaling 520 items. ("うまかもん" is Kumamoto dialect for "delicious" and "よか品" that for "good stuff.)
This is the 27th time this fair has been held but the first time in three years due to, well, you know.
うまかもん、よか品…一堂に　くまもと物産フェア開幕　熊本駅前など2会場で30日まで｜熊本日日新聞社
　熊本県内の特産品を集めた「くまもと物産フェア」が29日、熊本市西区のJR熊本駅前広場と中央区の花畑広場の2会場で始まった。113事業所が加工食品やスイーツ、雑貨など計520品目を出品し、多くの来場客でにぎわってい....

William If any of our readers are aware of or plan on holding an event, please PM us so that we may clue in the wider community .
It's cosmos (the flower, not the TV show) season. A wonderful place to appreciate them is the Kumamoto Zoological and Botanical Garden ("the zoo").
While there, note the abundance of springs. A main reason why the zoo was built where it is is precisely this: free water for the hippos. And ride the Ferris wheel. And go in the House of Glass (separately and try to find one another). If you're lucky and an elephant wanders over, you can pat him.
https://www.ezooko.jp/imgkiji/pub/Default.aspx?c_id=31

Kirk here with a reminder:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02DbsaQd1YdPhqbEtm7iBZ99Yvsj6eHd1LBMrYmH2LZzVpaHngqoPTdJdwzy4wSS5el

William The BOJ has raised its inflation expectation from 2.3 to 2.9 percent, partly due to the weak yen. One way to avoid this is to buy locally produced foods, and one way to do that is to shop at smaller markets, which tend to source locally. We often shop at Iwanaga, a delightful lil' spot in Oe on Meigobashi Street. If you have a favorite small market, please share.
Tasaki market is Kumamoto's main wholesale market. If you haven't visited, you should. Arriving very early (before 5:00) allows viewing of the fish market, with massive maguro being pared down to size (pay attention to the knives). There is also a basashi shop with windows from which one can watch huge hunks of horse carved into saleable size. Though primarily wholesale, most food is also available for purchase at wholesale prices. Not only a unique experience, it is a way to stretch your yen. Their most excellent website: https://kumamoto-tasaki-ichiba.co.jp/
The market is a rather long walk from the tram's Tasaki station, but there is plenty of free parking.

(Douglas here) The following link is to an article on BBC News. Although it is not Kumamoto specific, it is an interesting description of something that affects us all in Japan - Kumamoto included.
Sliding yen: What is happening to the Japanese currency?
The country's central bank is expected to keep interest rates below zero even as the currency slides.

Kirk here with another Kumamoto-related news item. This is very positive development, I think:
Tokyo to get 1st ‘baby hatch’ for unwanted newborns in ’24 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Drawing on the success of the “baby hatch” system pioneered by Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto for unwanted newborns, plans are in the works to open the first one in Tokyo.

Kirk with some news about some really horrible behavior on the part of an "educator" that seems to have led to the suicide of a boy in Kumamoto three years ago:
--- start quote ---
The report noted that his sixth-grade elementary school teacher berated students in a loud voice, beat them about the head and verbally abused them, calling them “stupid” and "idiot” on a daily basis.
--- end quote ---
Later in the article we learn that the "teacher continues to work at another school." Amazing!
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14751634
If you are interesting in this issue, please be sure to check out an image that I will add to a comment to this post.
Panel: Boy’s suicide linked to abuse by former 6th-grade teacher | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
KUMAMOTO--An investigatory panel has concluded that the suicide of a junior high school boy here is partly attributable to the abuse he was subjected to by his teacher when he was in elementary school.

Kirk here. I posted about this the other day but that article I referenced was in Japanese. This article is in English so I'm posting again.
Post based on Japanese-language article:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid0C46ruYbfRKkMGPRt2rTLXvbfHwVyHBV98eFxSzW5iZdct2XtgqSBiPcbUcrA5adRl
English-language article
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20221026-66982/

William My liberal arts college forced me to take a laboratory science class, so I took the easiest: Geology. Turns out I'm glad I did. Sometimes one encounters a rock (or many) which shouldn't be there. In Maine, they were mostly moraines, which are piles of rocks, the tail ends of long vanished glaciers. In Kumamoto, they tend to be astonishingly large boulders of granite, intrusive igneous rock which Aso burped up over unimaginable distances in ancient eruptions. (Keep your eyes open: they are scattered throughout the city.) Ancient people not versed in geology attributed their existence to the divine - hence, the Shinto stuff.
One such is in Aso Ōmikami Ashiato Megami Ishi Park, Minamiaso Village (阿蘇大御神足跡女神石 - which literally means "Goddess Stone in the Footsteps of the Great Deity Aso Omikami).
Kumanichi reports on a bit of lichen growing in a circle on the rock which resembles, if one is colorblind, the Japanese flag, or Hinomaru. Take care in distinguishing between moss (苔, koke), which is a plant - it lives by photosynthesis; and lichen (地衣, chi'i - a beautiful word which literally means "earth's clothing"), which is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus (tough but cannot photosynthesize) and an alga (weak but can photosynthesize and by whose byproducts - algae farts - the fungus lives).
Anyway, on this immense megalith, a lichen in the shape of the Hinomaru may be found. Have yourself a field day.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/835161

Kirk here with a link to an article about the retirement of the SL Hitoyoshi. The steam engine that is currently pulling the train is 100 years old now. If you'd like to take one last ride (or your first ride) you have until March.
Personally, I can appreciate that affection that many people feel for old coal-burning steam engines. Part of me shares that sentiment. Still, another part of me is somewhat uncomfortable with environmental impact of even one coal-burning engine and the message that sends to the kids who ride it. So, while I'm sorry to see it go I think that perhaps it's time to move away from this particular engine type.
JR九州「SL人吉」再来年3月ごろめどに運行終了へ 老朽化などで | NHK
【NHK】長年にわたって多くの人から親しまれてきたJR九州の観光列車「SL人吉」が、機関車の老朽化などを理由に再来年3月ごろをめど…

Kirk here reporting that the Kumanichi kindly printed my request that they refrain from calling us "YOU" and just use a straight-forward "外国人" (gaikokujin) if it's necessary to refer to our identity as foreigners. Thanks Kumanichi!
Here's a link to the original post from Atsuko:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/pfbid02FMYc4N7KaZvK38zHX9jPMSR32sxm4PadjAQ7SJyb1qikH2RiiZ1FgW1g4VXp2cwjl
P.S. They featured my little letter prominently at the top of the page and didn't cut anything! :)