Posts

Kirk here with an update on the Janes Residence, which was severely damaged and then completely destroyed by the double punch of two strong earthquakes in 2016. Many posts about the Janes Residence have been made to to this page over the years, both before and after the quakes. If you're interested click on the following link:

(Douglas) Today's offering from our recently opened can of old videos is about the Higo Mondo biscuit.
Higo Mondo Biscuits
This is another of our early videos. From 2006 to be exact.Ask any Japanese what they remember most about any place they have ever visited and they will almo...

Hi, Atsuko here.
Earth from Space: Mount Aso, Japan
In this week's edition of the Earth from Space programme, Copernicus Sentinel-2 takes us over Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan.See also Mount Aso, Japan to download the image.

Kirk here with some news for skateboarders and/or skateboarding fans. For a fee (adults 1,200 yen; kids 1,000 yen) you can use the skateboarding facilities that have been installed temporarily in front of Amu Plaza Kumamoto (near Kumamoto Station). On the 8th of May, two olympic medalists (Momiji Nishiya and Funa Nakayama) will come to show you how it's done.

(Douglas) Here is another of our older video productions. This is from 2007.
Higo Tops

Kirk here with a little news about Aso. KKT (local TV station) reported that visitors could observe a beautiful unkai (sea of clouds) in the Aso valley on the 20th:

Kirk here with a follow-up to my post about the Syugakukan High School issue. Here's what I posted the other day:

Kirk here with a "handicapped parking" sign in Kumamoto-ben (dialect). The top part is standard Japanese meaning: "This parking spot is for people with handicaps." The bottom is in Kumamoto dialect. I'll do my best to translate each phrase from the dialect to standard Japanese and then to English. My Kumamoto-ben is even worse than my standard Japanese so I hope native speakers of Kumamoto-ben will let me know if I've gotten something wrong:

Kirk here reporting that Syugakukan High School has made international news -- and that ain't good. The image you see on top is from the following news story:

Kirk here with a question that came to me personally from a participant in Kumamoto International. I had no idea so I said that I could post it to Kumamoto International to see if anyone had anything to offer.
Employment & Labour Law Report 2022 Japan
Employment & Labour Laws and Regulations covering issues in Japan of Terms and Conditions of Employment, Discrimination, Business Sales

Kirk here with a Kumamoto-related share from "Engrish in Japan." Last week, I wrote about how I wish that people making signs and websites, etc. would ask for feedback at an early point in the planning process. I still feel that way but I have to admit that many Japanese people probably don't know who to ask. Does anyone know if there's a Facebook group or page or something where someone might post a draft version of something to get some feedback? I'd love to be able to tell Japanese people to "Just post a draft of your sign at such-and-such."

Kirk here reporting that quite a few heads of state participated in the Asia-Pacific Water Summit, held this weekend in Kumamoto. Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia is pictured in one of the articles I'm sharing today with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan, both of whom came to Kumamoto. Another article I'm linking to shows Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh of Laos addressing participants directly. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines gave speeches virtually (among others, I'm sure; I don't have a complete list of the speakers). And, Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote as follows:
Outcome of Cambodian PM’s participation in the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Japan - Khmer Times
Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sunday issued a press release on the outcomes of the participation of Prime Minister Hun Sen in the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Japan.

(Douglas) I have just finished uploading 5 more video I have made about things around Kumamoto. You can view them on the Gaijin-Eyes YouTube channel.
Gaijin-Eyes - YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

Hi Atsuko.

(Douglas) During today's ZOOM chat with some members of Kumamoto-i, I was asked about my 360º photos and videos.
Takahashi Inari Jinja
Virtual Tour | 高橋稲荷神社 | Opening image wide

Kirk here noting that Earth Day came and went without much notice in Japan (or Kumamoto) this year. It was Friday. The Water Summit that is underway now could have been connected to Earth Day but as far as I can see, it wasn't. Earth Day was once a bit more of a "thing" in Kumamoto. I searched in Japanese (アースデイ、地球の日) and found stuff from several years ago but came up almost completely empty-handed for events, etc. in Kumamoto this year.
Check out this cartoon via The Week
Editorial Cartoons from The Week

Kirk here with news, and a video in English, about the water summit. Prime Minister Kishida used the occasion to meet with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, and Tuvalu. The Emperor also delivered a message (in English) from the Imperial Palace, but that's not included in this particular video.
Asia-Pacific Water Summit opens in Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
High-level delegations from Asia-Pacific nations and international organizations have gathered in Japan to discuss water-related issues.

Hi Atsuko here with some photos of the beautiful deep green scenery of Aso.

Kirk here with a little update on the water summit currently being held in Kumamoto. Thanks to my friend Yuka Ogata, who is a member of the Kumamoto City Council, the issue I raised the other day was addressed; the website now features a link to an English-language video on Kumamoto's groundwater:

William Interesting about Kumamoto is their diaspora. I've met in my hometown of Orange County people from Uto (for some reason, lotsa Uto people there) who were surprised to hear how it had grown. And they have festivals.
リオのカーニバル最高潮　２年ぶりに開催（共同通信）｜熊本日日新聞社
　【リオデジャネイロ共同】南米最大を誇るブラジル・リオデジャネイロのカーニバルは２２日夜（日本時間２３日午前）、市中心部のメイン会場「サンボドロモ」でトップチームによるパレードが始まり、最高潮を迎えた...