Posts

Kirk here with some information from Sean Benward. I have a mindfulness practice that I've enjoyed for a long time so anything related to mindfulness strikes me as a good idea. I haven't attended Sean's sessions but if I didn't have my own routine already, I think I would. (If you can't see it immediately, there's English text below the Japanese text.)
Sean, if you have time, please write a note in a comment about how you usually handle English and Japanese. Is everything bilingual? Or, are sessions usually mostly in English or Japanese?

William The Japan Meteorological Agency has a useful site with life info regarding rainfall and other bits of info useful during rainy season - in English! Click on "Heavy Rain, Typhoon," then the "Extra Detail" button on the rain box. Scrolling will magnify/demagnify the area. Clicking the play button on the console will display the previous three hours of rain movement and prognosis for the next hour. Other gizmos on the tool bar are fun for weather nerds.
Japan Meteorological Agency | Nowcasts (Precipitation, Thunder, Tornados)
High-resolution Precipitation Nowcasts (HRPNs) provide short-range precipitation intensity predictions with a spatial resolution of 250 m.

Kirk here. I'm enjoying a pleasant late-afternoon breeze as I write this but it won't be long before we enter the rainy season, which overlaps with typhoon season. Those seasons bring increased risk of flooding which is the subject of this article.
It includes a fairly long section on the Kawabegawa dam project, which was planned, then cancelled, and is now planned again to prevent catastrophic flooding in the Hitoyoshi area. I'm pretty sure that the article is mistaken in saying that "plans emerged to build a dam upstream on the Kuma River" because the plans are for the Kawabegawa River, which feeds into the Kuma River (Kumagawa) and causes it to flood -- but is a different river. Otherwise, I think the summary in the article is pretty good:
--- start quote ---
In the aftermath of torrential rains that hit Kumamoto Prefecture in July 2020, plans emerged to build a dam upstream on the Kuma River. The project did not go ahead due to concerns about the impact on the ecosystem and criticism that the huge cost would be wasteful.
In 2008, Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima had demanded a blanket withdrawal of the dam project. In 2009, with the Democratic Party of Japan in power nationally, he announced that construction had been suspended. The DPJ administration was critical of large-scale public works projects and promoted what it called a "from concrete to people" policy in which budgetary outlays were to be shifted from public works to welfare programs.
Eleven years on, however, Kumamoto was inflicted with damage that cost lives, causing Gov. Kabashima to approve the construction of dams. "Global warming," he said, "has changed the way rain falls."
But the cost of another round of flood control projects across Japan remains prohibitive. Kumamoto's flood hazard has highlighted a challenge: How can Japan balance its national finances?
--- end quote ---
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/Staying-afloat-Japan-s-growing-battle-against-climate-change?fbclid=IwAR2XYaEGlJrSvahpsqjX2A0IYP1dYh0_PgCc__ShrchZocsoegDnT5IX52s
Staying afloat: Japan's growing battle against climate change
Rising rainfall and frequent typhoons test the archipelago's flood defenses

Carlton. This is an American-specific note--My US passport needs to be renewed before the end of this year and I'd like to get the ball rolling. I understand from looking online that I can do so by mail in Japan sending the documents to the Osaka consulate.
Are there any Japan-resident Americans reading this who have gone through the process recently? If so, any advice or hints? Much appreciated and you can reply to me privately--Carlton McCycle. Thank you.

Kirk with a little note about wildlife in Kumamoto City. For the most part, the wildlife we are likely to see in our day-to-day lives in the city tends to be limited to birds and bugs. But, other animals are around and occasionally wind up showing themselves to us. One such animal is the itachi (Nihon itachi; Japanese weasel). Yesterday, I was sitting by a window looking out at a small garden on our property and got a glimpse of a little critter like the one in the picture. I didn't have time to get a picture myself but in the bright sunlight the orange color was very much like what you see here.
My only other encounter with an itachi was when one got into our big plastic trash can, which we keep in the back of our house. It was the kind that you close by twisting the lid. Apparently, it was open enough for the little guy to get in but then he inadvertently twisted the lid shut upon entry and then couldn't get out. He kept jumping up against the lid, making the whole can seem like a big jumping bean. It was the very loud noise of him crashing around in can that alerted us to his dilemma. As soon as I opened the lid, he was gone.
If you search for イタチ in Japanese, you may find information about extermination. I suppose the animals can cause trouble for some people but, in our case, we haven't noticed such issues yet so I'm more than happy to live and let live. Who knows -- perhaps someday an itachi will repay the favor and help me extricate myself from bad situation I've gotten myself into. ;).
P.S. The cute photo is from a web page advertising extermination services. Personally, I think that if they want to sell extermination, they should have looked for a less attractive, more menacing looking model:
https://www.熊本シロアリ駆除.com/itachi-marketprice/

William Cemeteries (墓地, bochi) lie in a delicate state: the soon-to-be deceased lay out their will and their survivors follow out of love, respect, and/or in the wish that their progeny will do likewise. Kumamoto is awash with cemeteries, some pocket-sized, some immense, and the fact that 99.8% of Japanese are cremated mean that each tomb is a condominium of family dead. "Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar?"
I passed a pocket-sized graveyard today surrounded by mansions, each mansion bearing the same family name: the mulberry plots of their ancestors turned to rentier gold. When passing a graveyard, pause to read their stones. They were set up for us to see, to read (inscription, hibun, 碑文), to learn - who, when, what great-grandchild of a matriarch has also found home this plot.
Indispensable starts for Higophilic thanatologiphiles: Hanaokayama, amongst whose dead lie soldiers, both Higo and Satsuma, killed in the Seinan War; and Tatsudayama Shizen Koen (Tatsuda Natural Park), where those of Hosokawa lineage lay; and the tiny plots you might find along a walk.
Below: Seinan War cemetery, Hanaokayama: Hosokawa family cemetery, Tatsudayama; lil' pocket cemetery up in the hills.

Kirk here with an update on Jikei Hospital's groundbreaking efforts to protect the lives of babies born to mother's who aren't ready to acknowledge them.
Southwest Japan hospital to accept 'anonymous births,' relays plans to city gov't - The Mainichi
KUMAMOTO -- A hospital in this southwestern Japan city revealed on June 6 that it intends to accept

William A note from the Kumamoto International Bummer Desk (whose content is usually left to our interns): The Lake Ezu Fireworks Festival, which was to have been held in August 7th, has been cancelled by the coronaphobic executive committee of the Ezu Lake Fireworks Festival, to whom vehement letters of protest should be addressed.
The only good to have come from this is my chance to have used the past perfect passive infinitive. As is said in past perfect stative, it was to have been a wonderful time.
https://kumanichi.com/articles/682921

Kirk here. Yesterday, RKK reported that Coto College, a technical school in Kumamoto, has welcomed Solomiia K (I'm abbreviating her family name in view of internet privacy concerns) as a new student. Solomiia is the first person to come to Kumamoto as a result of the war against Ukraine. She had been studying Japanese before she came and will continue her studies here. Solomiia, if you happen to read this, welcome to Kumamoto!
「日本の精神を発見したい」ウクライナから避難の学生　熊本市の専門学校に初登校 | 熊本のニュース｜RKK熊本放送
ロシアによるウクライナへの軍事侵攻が続く中、ウクライナの学生が熊本に避難し熊本市の専門学校に通い始めました。6月6日から熊本市の湖東（ことう）カレッジに通うのは、ウクライナ出身のソロミア・コティクさん…

William A unique feature of Japan is that every city has its own department store. Tokyo = Seibu; Kyoto = Takashimaya; Osaka = Daimaru; and Kumamoto = Tsuruya, which opened in 1952. Kumanichi reports on its 70th anniversary.
Tsuruya is named after a samurai residence once nearby called "Tsuruyashiki." A symbol of Kumamoto's reconstruction after the war, it opened with 3 floors above ground and 1 floor below. It gradually expanded thereafter, adding its famous "look-in escalator," a first in Japan, in 1973. When first opened, its employees numbered 285; currently, about 2,700 people work there, employed directly or by contractors. Its roof once hosted a popular amusement park; now, it is a children's playground and a beer garden in summer.
Kumamoto Pro Note: When giving an obligatory gift to a neighbor, it is de riguer to encase it in a Tsuruya paper bag even if you did not buy the gift there.
Link to Kumanichi article: https://kumanichi.com/articles/679560
Photos: Tsuruya at opening; opening of famous escalator; current rooftop (hint: good place for dads to hang out with kids while mom shops); rooftop beer garden.

William We at KI are about as concerned with our readers' well-being as the law allows - sometimes more! (That rustling outside your window at night is probably just us checking on your well-being with a distance thermometer.) With rainy season upon us, we all get a little out-of-sorts, even Kumamon. As such, we provide below a link to a video showing how the lil' fuzzy guy handles the downs that inevitably accompany ups. See you tonight!
(Photo from official Kumamon homepage.)
https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm33930771

William "Kumamoto Yataimura" opened June 3rd in Jotomachi (between Kamitori and the post office), with wooden stalls lined up on both sides offering Kumamoto cuisine and plenty of alcohol with the purpose of promoting Kumamoto food and drink. This stretches ongoing revitalization from Kumamoto station through Sakuramichi on to the Kamitori area. Link to their site and another with plenty of photos (Japanese only):
https://kumamoto-yataimura.com/#main
https://higojournal.com/archives/kumamotoyataimura.html

Kirk with something about vegan cuisine in Kumamoto. UEDA Satoru, who is from Mifune and who won First Place in the Vegetarian Chance vegan cooking competition held in Turin, Italy in 2019, returned to Kumamoto to show people just how good vegan cuisine can be when it's done right. KKT reports that 25 or so influential Kumamotoites (KOYAMA Kundo, the guy who invented Kumamon, was one of those in attendance) were invited to tastes Chef Ueda's creations. (For some strange reason, they forgot to invite me :( )
I heard on an RKK report that Chef Ueda will return to Italy to continue his training. So, I'm not sure when ordinary folks like us will be able to try these dishes. Still, I think it's interesting that Kumamoto is the home of a world leader in vegan cuisine.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3d89d65ae8764d14d1c00e0c97b53b45afcf39f1
https://www.gettyimages.dk/detail/news-photo/ueda-satoru-first-palce-of-competition-and-pietro-leemann-news-photo/1180806335

William The Yamaga Tōrō Festival (山鹿灯籠まつり) is accepting from June 3, 2022 to June 30, 2022 female applicants (the parade consists of females only; 150 will be accepted), particularly from outside Yamaga, to participate in this year's festival, which will be held on August 16th from 20:00 - 21:00.
The lantern festival is said to have its origins in the semi-legendary 12th Emperor Keiko (景行天皇), whose rein is variously stated as in the 1st or 5th c. Apparently, while traveling around Kyushu, his boats landed on a Kikuchi River bank and his entourage became lost in heavy fog; local visitors bearing torches (まつあき、松明) saved the day. Since then, the event is celebrated at Omiya Shrine, located where the rescue supposedly took place, The festival consists of three dances performed: the Yohehobushi (performed twice), Yonabaru Chouja Kudoki Uta (once), and Yamaga Lantern Bon Odori (once). The dances are rather simple and (optional but likely fun) practice sessions will be held. Participants must register with free Yamaga's message service, Yamaga Mate, for information updates. Yukata are provided.
This is a rather major undertaking which should be approached seriously. However, if you have been accepted and find it overwhelming or suddenly inconvenient, cancelling with advance notice is fine.
The festival Website (Japanese) is here: https://yamaga-tanbou.jp/lanterndance-entry/ Should you have any questions, please address the organizers directly or ask KI via the comment section below or by PM. Likely festival organizers will be thrilled to receive non-Japanese participants, and it will likely be a thrill of a lifetime for you.

Kirk here with some real news and a funny mistake in English that the news reminded me of. The image on the top is the real news. Beginning yesterday, "pet sellers in Japan are now required to implant electronic microchips in dogs and cats as a revision to a law on animal welfare and management." Though the assembly-line type image of puppies being implated with microchips may seem somewhat disturbing, my impression is that it's a good idea. The chips should help lost pets to be returned to their proper owners and discourage irresponsible owners from abandoning their pets. As the article says, it's not retroactive; current owners are only "encouraged" to have a chip emplanted (in the pet, that is, not the owner). And, of course, this is a natioinal law so it applies here in Kumamoto as it does throughout the country.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14635012
So, personally, I have no reason to denigrate or make fun of the idea of protecting pets with microchips. Nonetheless, I couldn't resist chuckling because the picture in the Asahi article reminded me of the sign shown below. The original post can be found at the following URL.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/EngrishInJapan/posts/5160854523930721/

William The vast grasslands coating Mt. Aso grabbed my attention when I first moved here as they resemble so the grasslands of my native California after the spring rains. Unlike California, where grasslands exist due to sparse rainfall, they do so in Aso due to yearly brush burning, which both clears withered grass stalks (perennial roots survive to thrive in the ash-fertilized aftermath) and destroy saplings; the grassland also supports many rare animals. Without the burning, Aso slopes would quickly be forested, and grazing land for cow ranchers would vanish.
Kumanichi notes that aging is taking its toll on the annual grass burning (のやき、野焼), labor- and physically-intensive work to ensure the fires stay under control and do not spread to farmland (note the stand of private trees on the right of the photo below). Cases in which compensation has had to be paid to farmers have numbered 13 in 21 years. Minamiaso Village has taken out non-life insurance that can cover up to 200 million yen should the fires spread, but in other areas, 野焼 has been neglected. However, the article notes that young volunteers from the city and donations may allow other Aso villages to resume this practice, said to have continued for 1,000 years.　(Photos nabbed from Web.) https://kumanichi.com/articles/676696

Hi,Atsuko. Here is information about Ukraine support and assistance from Kumamoto.
Yesterday, my school invited a guest teacher to give a lecture to learn about Ukraine and connect with Ukraine.
He is from Tamana, Kumamoto and has visited many countries around the world to support street children, orphans, school establishment and operation.
Based on his experience and contacts in Ukraine, he connected with Ukraine via zoom and explained about Ukraine, war, and evacuation life to the students.
Through these lectures, he hopes to share the situation in Ukraine with elementary schools, high schools, universities, and citizens. He is fluent in English and might be very good at presenting in English.
His team is also trying to help Ukrainian citizens directly by collecting donations and being visible to their supporters.
I think this is a good way to support them from Kumamoto as an education or as a donation, so I share it here.╰(*´︶`*)╯
His team
https://www.masashiteramoto.com/copy-of-home
They send your donation to
https://charitymay.com/en/about/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=5029129897205341&id=100003251420963&sfnsn=mo

William With rainy season on our doorstep figuratively, let's hope it doesn't end up on our doorstep literally. The figure shows that the areas adjacent to the banks of Shirakawa are lower than the river and how flooding (kōzui、洪水 or hanran、氾濫) might be expected. The building on the left, City Hall, for example, may experience flooding up to five meters; my side of the river will fare better at one meter, with water flowing on to Lake Ezu. Shirakawa has been widened, but Kumamoto remains an alluvial plain prone to flooding. Kumanichi has some eye-opening photos at this link:
http://www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/kumamoto/site_files/file/river/sonotanokaigi/siryou1-8kai.pdf
and Kumamoto City provides an "entertaining" interactive flood hazard map (click site to see how far underwater it could go):
https://hazard.kumamoto-city.jp/sphone.html

William Fiona had written about fireflies and where to find them. A choice spot is behind the City Library, which sits adjacent to the Suizenji-Ezuko spring cluster and has its own street car stop.
The springs there are numerous and surrounded by a type of banana known as the 芭蕉 (bashō - yes, the same kanji as the eponymous poet; if anyone knows why, please inform).
The fiber banana has long been used by Okinawans to make cloth, called in English abaca cloth and in Japanese bashōfu (芭蕉布). Brought to Kumamoto by the Hosokawa lords as an ornamental plant, the fruit is inedible. The banana grove behind the library is flooded with dike-like paths, making for an enchanted walk, a heaven for fireflies, and an escape from summer heat. A link to the park's official firefly site: https://www.ezuko-park.com/blog/13354 more on abaca banana fiber cloth: https://kogeijapan.com/locale/en_US/kijokanobashofu/
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8A%AD%E8%95%89%E5%B8%83
and a bit about Bashō the poet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsuo_Bash%C5%8D
Note: photos nabbed from the Web.

William Kumamoto New Port, which provides ferries to Nagasaki's Shimabara peninsula, is too shallow for cruise ships. Yatsushiro Port handles large shipping container vessels but lacked facilities for tourists. This was rectified by a Kumamon-themed passenger facility funded by the national and prefectural governments and the US cruise ship company Royal Caribbean and completed, as bad timing might have it pandemically-speaking, in March 2020.
Kumanichi reports on the port's first usage by a cruise ship, the Nippon Maru, for Kagoshima and Yakushima, which departed on the 30th. While the line is designed to attract foreign tourists (elderly people love cruises!), this was entirely domestic. Given that Kumamoto Station is only ten minutes from Yatsushiro by Shinkansen (in itself an attraction), more tourists from abroad can be expected as pandemic restrictions are lifted. Below are links to the Kumanichi article and the Kumamoto Tourism Guide Website (Kumamon galore).
https://kumanichi.com/articles/673357
https://kumamoto.guide/en/season/detail/88