Following the recent devastating earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, which led to a decline in tourism, a travel discount program has been launched.
It’s called the “Kyushu Recovery Support Discount（九州復興支援割）.”
Under this program, a discount of up to 60% is applied to accommodation and travel costs in Kyushu.
As part of this campaign, several fascinating highlights of Kumamoto Prefecture are featured in a Japan Times article. （Correction: “The Japan Times” should read “The Japan News.”）
Among them are dolphin watching, tasting Akaushi beef, and rafting down the Kuma River.
They all sound appealing. Which one would you prefer?
Personally, I’d definitely go for the Akaushi beef.
When I looked it up, it turned out Akaushi beef is a brand of Wagyu raised in the area around Mount Aso, known for its rich flavor.
Apparantly, its deep umami comes not from marbled fat（霜降り） but from the lean meat（赤み） itself.
The most popular way to enjoy it seems to be as a rice bowl（どんぶり）. The photos I saw online looked really tempting.
You can also switch up the flavor by adding a special miso sauce or mixing in a soft-boiled egg.
What an appetizing combination!
If you’re planning a trip this autumn and haven’t decided where to go yet, why not visit Kumamoto?
That’s it. See you next time.
---
Thinking FOXによる1分英語スピーチです。
熊本県で最近起きた甚大な地震により観光客が減少したことを受け、旅行割引制度が始まりました。
その名も「九州復興支援割」です。
この制度のもとで、九州での宿泊費と旅費に最大60％の割引が適用されます。
このキャンペーンの一環として、ジャパンタイムズの記事でいくつかの魅力的な見どころが紹介されています。 （訂正：「The Japan Times」は「The Japan News」の誤りです。）
