Joe Tomei here, passing on a notice about French classes. Allons-y!
Posts
Kirk here. It seems that a helicopter carrying two Taiwanese tourists and one pilot has gone down in the Aso crater. I just saw an image of the wreckage inside the crater on NHK's national news program. In the NHK segments I saw, the people involved in the search were all wearing gas masks to protect themselves from the intense fumes. Even if the passengers and pilot survived the crash, I doubt they would be able to remain alive for long inside the crater. NHK said that the search will resume at 7:30 AM tomorrow.
Helicopter with 2 Passengers from Taiwan Goes Missing Over Aso, Kumamoto Pref., Did Not Return at Scheduled Time
This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content, and analyzing our website traffic. By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies.
Report on the earthquake evacuation drill.
Ten years since the Kumamoto Earthquake.
I believe we must widely share
what we experienced and learned,
Atsuko (ง •̀_•́)ง
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1a9Amzr2Vr/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Post
Kirk here. First of all, happy new year! Secondly, sorry to post something that is not Kumamoto-specific. The topic is "expat-specific" and, as many expats read the page, I hope you'll agree that it's not too far off topic.
In many ways, I have considered the U.S. to be more enlightened regarding issues of immigration or the treatment of non-citizens (well, that is, before 2016). And, even though Japanese politics have taken a fairly anti-foreigner turn recently, it hasn't gotten THIS bad. Once upon a time, if the Japanese government had put such a discriminatory policy in place, I would have been indignant and thought "this could never happen in the U.S.!" Well, here's hoping it doesn't happen in Japan in 2026!
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1kpnxvpgy2o
P.S. No explanation about how this will actually be administered. "OK. Five people in this car. So, I need to see five IDs proving citizenship. That's five passports or birth certificates, alien registration cards, or the equivalent. Driver's licenses are not acceptable because they don't show citizenship. Anyone without a proper ID will be treated as a non-resident foreigner."
US hikes national park fees for foreigners to put 'American families first'
Non-residents will soon have to pay $100 per person to enter 11 of the United States' most popular parks.
Got snow around Ezuko. Atsuko ☆。.:＊・゜
In Ezuko today. Even the best strike out occasionally. -- Kirk
P.S. Facebook made it very hard to get this video into this post. It basically tried to force me to publish it as a REEL, making me REELy unhappy. I'm wondering how to leave Facebook with Kumamoto International in tact.
Kirk here. Munetaka Murakami has signed with the Chicago White Sox. A Japanese TV show I saw noted that he's been in pinstripes since Kyushu Gakuen High School, here in Kumamoto (his Yakult Swallows uniform also featured a pinstripe pattern). If you would like to check out how he greets fans in English, you can do that here:
https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/munetaka-murakami-says-hello-to-white-sox-fans?t=t145-default-vtp
Atsuko here.(ง •̀_•́)ง
Information about earthquake drills.
Mizuno-san who organised the disaster preparedness drill (if you're from Kumamoto, you'll likely recognise his voice from FM radio), hopes many children, students and families with foreign roots will participate.
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Kumamoto Prefecture Prevention Training for Foreign Residents
Disaster Prevention Training
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes. Do you know what to do during an earthquake?
participation
Free
We will be conducting earthquake drills. Participation is free of charge (¥0).
For Japanese families too.
You can participate with your Japanese family and friends. We speak in simple Japanese.
Date and time (when)
Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:00 to 12:00
place
Kumamoto Castle Jyo-sai-en Tourist Information Centre Kumamoto City
(1-1 Ninomaru, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City)
Free of charge (¥0)
Whatcha up to this afternoon? Team Tonakai is at Sunatori Community Center until 5pm today so pop on by for a cuppa if you want to give a contribution 🎁 ✨🦌場所は神水の江津湖近く、八丁馬場電停から徒歩すぐです。
Comedian: It was so warm today in Kumamoto . . .
Audience: HOW WARM WAS IT?
Comedian: It was SO warm, kids were SWIMMING under the Kokai bridge!
-- Kirk (not a comedian)
Ruth here, passing on this request for presenters to register for next year's Kyushu English Language Teaching (ELT) Convention which will be held in Fukuoka City on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, with the cooperation of the English Teaching Japan (ETJ) community!!✨
It's a great opportunity for educators to share research and ideas, browse and buy teaching resources, make new friends, and mingle!! Registration for presenters is currently underway, so send your abstract and details through ASAP!! 📄
If you are keen to present your research, school or lesson enhancement strategies, student or personal project-work, specific contributions to education, or run a workshop, please sign-up now!!
Proposals are due by Wed., December 31st, 2025, via email or the link below.
📧 Please e-mail Tristan Scholze at tristan (at) rainbow-bridges (dot) com with the information below if you are interested in presenting as soon as you can. You can alternatively register using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwuWoaabvBNKtkRu1dGrjxBbZBALJWPrGpnvbBVnwFyRL-tQ/viewform
Presentations slots are 45 minutes long. You can end early but please do not exceed 45 minutes.
Join the Kyushu Convention Facebook page and help spread the word about the 2026 ExpoETJ Fukuokaa/
👉All educators welcome to attend! Please check the FB page and website for details!
👍Helpers are always needed, so send an email to Tristan if you can help with the setting up the day before or clean up after the event.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What? 🧠 Kyushu ELT Convention & Expo
When? ⌚ Sunday, February 22, 2026
Where? 🌍 Seinan Gakuin University, Fukuoka City
Would you or perhaps a colleague of yours like to present at the Expo? We’re looking for local presenters at this time. It’s a great chance to develop your own teaching skills as well as to share your ideas with other teachers and contribute to the teaching community. 🎤✨🧠
Topic areas and target audiences can range through all aspects of teaching English, at all ages, and in all situations. Topics related to the business of teaching English or operating a school are also welcome.
*Due to space issue the remainder follows in comments ↓
Thanks for the super cool support, Jeff.
Christmas must be happy and warm for both children and adults! ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧Atsuko
Team TONAKAI
https://www.facebook.com/share/17vuBaK42v/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1SYmrAjxMf/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Kirk here. I've been waiting for Johnny Depp to come to Kumamoto (hoping to bump into him on Shimotori) but that hasn't happened yet. He has, however, met Minamata Disease patient Shinobu Sakamoto in Tokyo -- though it took him a while to do so.
Johnny Depp meets Minamata disease patient Sakamoto | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Johnny Depp, who portrayed photographer Eugene Smith in the 2020 film “Minamata,” met with Shinobu Sakamoto, a victim of the mercury-poisoning disease, for the first time in Tokyo on Dec. 2.
Atsuko here.
II attended a bamboo marimba-making workshop held at the International Exchange Hall. Aix En Provence in France is Kumamoto City's sister city. An artist who creates bamboo marimbas there held a morning performance and lecture at the International Exchange Hall, followed by a bamboo marimba-making workshop in the afternoon.
Kumamoto and France, music and art, measuring bamboo and considering angles involved maths, pitch involved science, and using saws and files involved technical skills. It was a STEAM education experience encompassing diverse learning.
I hear they plan to return next year. I do hope they might perform in front of the International Exchange Hall during the Mizuakari Festival's bamboo lantern display.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17x1XmB9Vg/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Hi, all! Ruth here!! 🦌 Once again this year our Team Tonakai charity group is fundraising for gifts for about 300 children in 7 Kumamoto care homes... 4 in the city, and 3 that bit further away!! 🎁✨🦌
We'd love to see many of you next Sunday, 21st December at our bazaar and teatime at Sunatori Community Center anytime between 1-4:45pm!!
Sunatori CC address: 6-29 Kuwamizuhonmachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 862-0955
Come by to drop off a donation and mingle for a while, buy some Christmas bits'n bobs, or 'Rehome a Gnome' - kindly made by local students!🧶🎄🎁 If you can't join us that day we also take donations via transfer - see the pics or FB page for details!
砂取コミュニティセンター is nestled right behind the Kumamoto City Gym (ナースパワーアリナ), near Hacchobaba tram stop, and there is a small parking lot at the locatチーム トナカイmamoto
Kirk here. I have a long-standing interest in the variety of work that non-Japanese do here in Kumamoto. Of course, quite a few people are involved in education, particularly the teaching of English, but there's actually an amazing amount of diversity. Here's a story (video included / narration and text in Japanese) about a taxi driver from Kenya.
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/rkk/2340688?display=1
I thought the actual news segment was quite good but, personally, I would prefer fewer question marks in the headline. ;)
David, if you are out there, I hope I have the occasion to take your taxi someday. :)
ん？アフロ？タクシー運転手？ケニア出身？ 道路事情も熊本弁もバッチリ「よかば〜い！」 | 熊本のニュース｜RKK NEWS｜RKK熊本放送
熊本でタクシーを走らせるナッサン・デビッドさん（54）出身は東アフリカのケニアです。デビッドさんは、8年前に熊本へやってきました。なぜ、熊本でタクシー運転手をしているのでしょうか。
Ruth here passing on some information about free HIV and syphilis screening at Sakuramachi this Sunday, 7th December.
It seems to be in conjunction with an AIDS conference and this free health service will be available from 1-3pm. You get the results about 2 hours later, from 3-5pm on the same day. No appointment, fast and anonymous.
HIV is on the rise in Japan (and elsewhere), so this is a good opportunity to get checked.
For more information please check the link here:
12/7(日)に予約不要のHIV無料検査を実施します / 熊本市公式サイト
Kirk here. If you live in the Kumamoto City area, I highly recommend walking in the Tatsutayama area -- particularly on sunny autumn days like today.
Location via a Google map:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tatsudayama/@32.824716,130.7316399,14z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3540f140c219c885:0x61c82f702414503!8m2!3d32.8269205!4d130.7322642!16s%2Fg%2F1224zml2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTEyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
