Kumamoto International Archive

Archive of the Kumamoto International Facebook group, 2011–present.

I'd like to recommend this article for its explanation of the type of eruption scientists believe occurred (a steam or phreatic eruption).
-- Kirk
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003269764
Boiling water likely cause of Mt. Aso blast
An eruption at Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture early Saturday morning was likely a phreatic eruption, in which underground water in the volcano was heated by magma to cause an explosion, a volcanic expert said.

In addition to the details this article provides via text, I'd like to recommend it for several memorable photos it contains.
-- Kirk
http://phys.org/news/2016-10-volcano-southern-japan-erupts-injuries.html
Volcano in southern Japan erupts; no injuries
Mount Aso in southern Japan sent huge plumes of gray smoke as high as 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) into the air on Saturday in one of the volcano's biggest explosions in years.

One would think that a volcanic eruption would be enough excitement for one day but Mother Nature has followed up with heavy rain. It should not be a problem for most of us, but if you live in a vulnerable area, take care.
-- Kirk
P.S. Some evacuation recommendations have been made for parts of Amakusa:
http://crisis.yahoo.co.jp/evacuation/43/
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/

Here's a video report about a window in a building about several kilometers from the volcano that was broken by a small rock from the eruption. The facility is Aso Seishonen Koryu no Ie (国立阿蘇青少年交流の家). Here's a Google map showing the location:
https://goo.gl/maps/1j8p6Du2YYM2
-- Kirk
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20161008/k10010722721000.html
宿泊施設で窓ガラス割れる噴火で石飛ばされたか | NHKニュース
阿蘇警察署や福岡管区気象台によりますと、阿蘇山の火口から北東に４キロあまり離れた阿蘇市一の宮町にある宿泊施設、「国立阿蘇青少年交流の家」で、…

As far as I know, no one was hurt as a result of the eruption. It's probably a good thing that it occurred in the middle of the night, when tourists were not nearby and people were mostly in their homes. Aside from worry about the possibility of more eruptions, the main problem for people in the area seems to be the heavy coating of volcanic ash that they found over everything this morning. People need to be careful when they wash cars because the ash contains abrasive material. One woman interviewed said that she was just trying to avoid damage to her car by merely spraying water on it without wiping.
I also saw a report about a window that had be broken by small rocks from the eruption.
-- Kirk
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/photograph/news/article.html?id=20161008-OYT1I50008
【ニュース写真】：写真：読売新聞　読売新聞（YOMIURI ONLINE）
阿蘇中岳第１火口の爆発的噴火で火山灰が積もった車（８日午前６時１８分、熊本県阿蘇市で）＝秋月正樹撮影

The image you see was taken at 9 AM this morning. Go to the Japanese article to view the entire image, only a portion of which is visible here.
-- Kirk
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG08H0M_Y6A001C1MM0000/
　８日午前１時46分ごろ、熊本県・阿蘇山の中岳第１火口で爆発的噴火が発生した。気象庁は噴煙が高さ１万１千メートルまで上がっているのを気象衛星で観測。阿蘇山で爆発的噴火が起きたのは1980年以来で36年

Here's a live stream from Aso. It's remarkably peaceful, considering the magnitude of eruption that occurred early this morning.
-- Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAeAumZNl-I
現在の火山状況を鑑み、臨時的にこちらのチャンネルで配信しています。阿蘇火山博物館屋上からのRKKライブカメラの映像です。回線の関係で映像が乱れたり止まることがあります。以上、ご理解のうえ、ご視聴いただきますようお願いいたします。「●ライブ」の●が赤になっているときは、現在の映像です。赤になっていないとき...

Here's the Guardian's take on the eruption. It is rather understated. For example, it says that the volcano belched "a column of ash several thousand feet into the air" when several miles or kilometers would have been closer to what NHK reported -- 11,000 meters.
-- Kirk
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/07/mount-aso-japan-volcano-eruption-warning-heavy-ash-fall
Japanese authorities issue alert as Mount Aso volcano rumbles to life
People are warned not to approach popular tourist attraction as meteorologists forecast heavy ash fall for area north-east of volcano

As William just posted, Aso erupted early this morning. I've added English captions to the video. If you don't see them, click on the gear to select them. Here's the text:
"As we have been reporting, early this morning an explosive eruption of Mt. Aso's Nakadake No. 1 crater occurred.
According to satellite observations, the volcanic plume rose 11,000 meters.
As a result, the alert level has been raised from 2 to 3 and people have been warned of the danger of falling rocks within 2 kilometers of the volcano.
This is the first explosive eruption of Mt. Aso since 1980, 36 years ago."
-- Kirk

Mt. Aso burped at 1:46 this morning which, according to JMA, rose to an altitude of 11,000 meters; however, it does not seem to be a precursor to anything more serious. Emissions erupted from the Nakadake #1 crater for the first time since 1980. In response, authorities have ratcheted up the warning from 2 (stay away from the crater!) to 3 (let's not even think about approaching the peak!)
Ash falls caused power outages in various locations, and JMA warns of projectiles hurled up to one kilometer from the crater. (Note: much further than I have ever hurled.) A different crater on Aso acted up on 9/14 last year, and then everything went back to normal - well, at least until April. If you're in the city, find a good vantage point for some photographs! The Mt. Kinpo peak and areas to the north of Mt. Tatsuda are recommended. - William
https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/mt-aso-in-southwestern-japan-erupts
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161008002.xhtml

Kitaoka Shizen Kouen, the burial site of the Hosogawa lords since it was founded by the first Hosokawa lord of Kumamoto, Tadatoshi, was bequeathed by the Hosokawa estate to the city in 1955. In addition to several tombs, it includes many architectural features unique to the early-Edo era, in particular, the karamon (唐門, a type of gate based on Chinese architecture, 唐 meaning "China"; the article notes that there are no records of the gate having toppled since its construction). Closed since the quakes, it reopened on 10/6, though some areas remain inaccessible. Complete restoration is expected to take three years.
The area is a gem, particularly in the fall. The hill is just before Hanaoka-yama, with best access from either the streetcar Gofukumachi or Gionbashi stops. Admission is free for the time being. The area is wonderful for photography and also for shinkansen-spotting. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161007002.xhtml

"Excessive smartphone discounts still continue" is a strange title. One might wonder "How can discounts be excessive?" But the point is that carriers are trying to entice people into accepting contracts on which that will lose money in the long term.
"The ministry implemented the guideline because it thought the continuously high communication fees put a heavy burden on household finances."
This not a Kumamoto-specific issue but, on the other hand, most of us need some kind of mobile communication so it's definitely relevant to life here in Kumamoto.
-- Kirk, a disaffect AU user who is waiting for his contract to expire
P.S. If you search this page (there is now a search box on the Kumamoto International page) with the word "mobile" you can learn about alternatives to the major providers.
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003230398
Excessive smartphone discounts still continue
Excessive smartphone handset discounts have continued — despite about six months passing since the implementation of a government guideline requiring the three major cell phone carriers to stop the business practice.

Here's an item from the Kumamoto JET site:
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/2016/10/06/
2016 October 06 Kumamoto JET
Events Event – Mizuakari Festival October 6, 2016 Published by: kumamoto Still looking for something to do for the three-day weekend coming up? Come see some beautiful handmade lanterns in Kumamoto City! There will be bamboo and paper lanterns all around the Hanabatacho area of the city and near Kum...

"Let's Reflect and Learn Together!"
Six months after Kumamoto Earthquake and five years after Tohoku Earthquake, Leading Graduate Schools of Kumamoto University (HIGO Program) and Tohoku University (G-Safety Program ) are going to organize a public lecture "Let's Reflect and learn Together!" .
Date: October 8 (Sat.), 2016, 13:00-16:00
Venue: Kumamoto University, School of Pharmacy, Multipurpose Hall (5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City)
Although the lectures will be in Japanese, simultaneous translation in English will be provided.
Pre-lecture (12:00-12:50) and Exhibitions and participation Sections (12:00-18:00) will also be organized in separate lecture rooms. HIGO Program Students will also present about their lessons from study tour about Nepal Earthquake 2015.
English Poster : http://higoprogram.jp/wp-content/themes/higo/images/kouza/poster_2016_en.pdf
Japanese Website: http://higoprogram.jp/public2016/
japanese Poster: http://higoprogram.jp/wp-content/themes/higo/images/kouza/poster_2016.pdf
HIGO Program: http://higoprogram.jp/en/
G-Safety Program: http://g-safety.tohoku.ac.jp/en/
- Hari Devkota

I couldn't resist the temptation to give this a try. It works pretty well.
-- Kirk
http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2016/09/post-earthquake-kumamoto-google-earth-3d.html
Post-earthquake Kumamoto in Google Earth 3D - Google Earth Blog
In April this year, the city of Kumamoto, Japan, suffered a series of large earthquakes. Google managed to capture aerial imagery of the city essentially during the event, after the first major event but before the largest shock and then captured another set of imagery from after the event. We had a...

The Yamaha-Honda rivalry over the nation's 50cc scooter market seems to have been resolved in Honda's favor, with Yamaha ceding all manufacturing to Honda under an OMA agreement. This article simply states the manufacturing will take place in "southern Japan" - more specifically, it will be at Honda's facility in Ozu. Another feather in Kumamon's cap: the 50cc scooter manufacturing capital of Japan! Take that, Shizuoka! - William
https://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/honda-yamaha-motor-announce-scooter-tie-up
Honda, Yamaha Motor announce scooter tie-up
Honda Motor Co Ltd and Yamaha Motor Co Ltd on Wednesday said they were joining forces to develop scooters for…

Here in Kumamoto I didn't experience more than a little windiness and some rain. Sadly, however, Kumamoto's sister city in Korea, Ulsan, was hit very hard.
-- Kirk
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/10/116_215404.html
Five dead, 1 missing after typhoon smashes southern Korea (PHOTOS)
Five people are dead and one missing after typhoon Chaba ripped into Jeju Island Tuesday afternoon and battered other southern Korean regions Wednesday. Among the dead is a man in his 60s who was swept away by floodwaters in front of an apartment in Ulsan. His body was found caught between road guar...

Certain universes exist entirely unnoticed under each one of our nose(s) [plural? singular? any ideas?], and their revelation is always a delight. It was as such that I learned of the existence of Kenny Roberts, now 64 and a motorcycle legend. Born in Modesto, California (the birthplace of George Lucas and the set for his movie "American Graffiti"), Roberts, shown below in the blue T-shirt, has been a pioneer of motorcycle racing, innovating all things two-wheeled and winning about every prize worth winning. It turns out that he has a deep fondness for Kumamoto, no doubt in no small part due to his wife, Tomoko, being a Kumamoto native.
The Kumanichi headlined their article, "Motorcycle King Cheers On his Beloved Aso." Apparently, Roberts has quite a following here as over 1,000 leather-clad bikers with motorcycle displacements likely far exceeding that of my kei car turned out to encourage Kumamoto along with him. Since 2010, Roberts has been the chairman of the Aso Riders Base Club; this event was sponsored by the Terabaru Driving School (suggested moto: "Be a terrible driver!")
Roberts was quoted as saying, "Though times have been difficult, look to the future - I pray for a wonderful Kumamoto!" before thundering off into the beautiful Aso countryside with his wife at his side (rear? sidecar? different bike? - the article does not clarify).
Thank you, Kenny! Below is a link to his Wikipedia biography. - William
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Roberts
http://this.kiji.is/156214782253793286?c=92619697908483575
バイクの元ロードレース王者　愛する阿蘇にエール - 熊本日日新聞
バイクにまたがったケニー・ロバーツさん、ともこさん夫婦（中央）を囲んで記念写真を撮るファンたち＝南阿蘇村　バイクの元ロードレース世界選手権チャンピオンのケニー・ロバーツさん（６４）＝米国＝が１日、南阿蘇村の「あそ望の郷くぎの」を訪れ、千人...

The typhoon is relatively close now, but things are still pretty quiet in Kumamoto. I hope we'll be spared high winds and heavy rain this time but, well, it ain't over 'till it's over.
-- Kirk
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/super-typhoon-chaba-south-korea-japan-flooding-winds-mudslides/60475022
Typhoon Chaba to rip across South Korea with violent winds on path toward Japan
Typhoon Chaba will threaten lives and property across mainland Japan and South Korea this week.

Applications have closed for Kumamoto Marathon, with entrants willing to pay an exorbitant amount for several hours of pain exceeding records. Over 20,000 males and 5,000 females answered this year's Siren call, an increase of 818 masochists. There were 2.12 applicants for this lottery of terror for every successful victim, a grim increase of 0.07% from the previous year. This macabre spectacle is set to unfold on February 19, along with shorter races for the less foolish. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20161003008.xhtml
熊本城マラソン、「フル」の応募過去最多－熊本のニュース│ くまにちコム
熊本日日新聞社が取材した熊本のニュース。新聞紙面に掲載前の記事もお伝えします。