Kumamoto International Archive

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

One thing I learned from this article is that, after the Tohoku earthquake of 2011, Kumamoto City and other municipalities had been asked to designate sites for the construction of temporary housing in the event of a disaster but failed to do so. For more information in Japanese about this point see
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/national/article/245425
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/16/national/kumamoto-marks-one-month-since-devastating-main-earthquake/
Kumamoto marks one month since devastating main earthquake | The Japan Times
Kumamoto and other southwestern prefectures on Monday marked one month since the second of two massive earthquakes struck the region in quick succession, l

Kumamoto couple survived sliding home in earthquake：The Asahi Shimbun
When a massive earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture early on April 16, Michiya and Masuyo Ikeda wer

Here's a message Kumamoto International received:
I'm Holly, a past jet from 2006-2011 in Kumamoto. After leaving Kumamoto I lived in Sapporo for five years and just returned to Kumamoto in April for a few months.
I released my second CD called "Atlantic Canada Meets Japan 2" in March. It's a compilation of well-known Japanese songs and Nova Scotian music. You can probably guess from that, that I'm from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Until July 1st, I will be donating 500 yen per CD sold for relief to those affected by the awful earthquakes in Kumamoto on April 14th and 16th.
I hope that people can relax and feel healed by my music. More information and CDs can be purchased at:
www.hollysamson.wordpress.com
Holly Samson
Music, Photography and Adventures by the artist

TV reports I have seen have shown photos of a yellow fragment that may have been part Hikaru Yamato's car. The father is using this evidence to try to convince authorities to resume their search for his son.
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605150024.html
Parents continue search for son still missing in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
MINAMI-ASO, Kumamoto Prefecture--One month after Hikaru Yamato went missing in a powerful earthquake

This is a 30-minute segment of yesterday's Hodo Tokushu (TBS). The program is in Japanese and looks at the situation in Kumamoto one month after the quakes hit. Hodo Tokushu is one of may favorite Japanese news programs. I mentioned this particular program in a post I made earlier today:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1038655949541170
I was not aware, however, that it could be viewed on the web until I got a notice from Joha in Vienna! Thanks Joha!
-- Kirk
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ajnb4_先が見えない-熊本地震１ヶ月20160514houdoutokusyu_news
先が見えない～熊本地震１ヶ月20160514houdoutokusyu - Dailymotion動画
Dailymotionで先が見えない～熊本地震１ヶ月20160514houdoutokusyu から送信された動画 «gomizeromirai» を視聴する。

Kumamoto Earthquake 1 month on / Lost wife remembered in driver’s license photo
MIFUNE, Kumamoto — On Saturday morning, Takehisa Mochida, 75, a farmer in Mifune, Kumamoto Prefecture, gently took out his wife’s driver’s license in front of the collapsed house he had shared with her. His wife, Tetsuko, 70, died there in the series of earthquakes that hit Kumamoto Prefecture.

In posts I've made since the earthquakes began, I have occasionally pointed to ways in which lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 are being applied in Kumamoto. While it is undoubtably true that many NGOs and volunteer organizations have built upon their experience in previous disasters, this interesting article indicates that the government failed use the 2011 disaster as an occasion to take steps to prepare a centralized and well-organized response for future calamities.
Actually, I saw a TV news show yesterday (Hodo Tokushu, TBS) that pointed to the disparity in recovery between the central area of Kumamoto City and the more rural areas of Mashiki and Tateno. Of course, the level of the damage is also different but, even so, the TBS announcer opined that the response seemed to be slower than what he saw in 2011. This may be due in part to lack of preparation at the national level.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/u-s-expert-questions-if-japan-applying-2011-lessons-at-kumamoto
U.S. expert questions if Japan applying 2011 lessons at Kumamoto
A former U.S. government expert on emergency management has questioned whether Japan is applying the lessons from the 2011 massive…

A fragment of wall from the Kita Ote Turret Gate ruins (北大手櫓門跡, near the present-day location of Kato Shrine) was found to contain a carved image of Kannon Bodhisattva (観音菩薩) of about 40 centimeters in area, depicted surrounded by a halo and riding atop a lotus leaf. According to the Kumamoto Castle Research Center, this is likely the remains of an "itabi" (板碑), a stone monument used as a memorial to ancestors during the Warring States Period, which preceded the Edo Era.
The article notes that stone from a variety of nearby sources was utilized during the rush to build the castle, and that this figure was likely conscripted in the campaign, spending the next 400 years as part of the wall. The Center's director was quoted as saying, "We came across an artifact allowing a glimpse of an era predating the castle itself."
There is no word on any search for its original owners. - William
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160513/k10010519781000.html
崩落した熊本城の石垣に「観音菩薩」が出現 | NHKニュース
一連の地震で大きな被害を受けた熊本城で、崩落した石垣の石から戦国時代に彫り込んだとみられる観音菩薩が見つかり、インターネットで話題になってい…

I posted a link to a Japanese report about this yesterday:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1038089376264494
Here's an article in English. It provides a good statistical summary of the impact of the quakes of the lives of people in Kumamoto.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/over-10000-people-still-in-shelters-one-month-after-kumamoto-quakes
Over 10,000 people still in shelters one month after Kumamoto quakes
Despite some signs of recovery including resumption of railway and expressway operations, more than 10,000 people were still taking refuge…

Scientists from Hiroshima University analyzing satellite data noticed elevation discrepancies pre- and post-quake along an area running roughly from Lake Ezu passing by Prefectural Hall then through Oe Machi to Shirakwa (a map is at the link). From this, the existence of two previously unknown faults was surmised.
Later on-site inspection revealed evidence of cracking in asphalt and concrete. Also, a low escarpment between the supposed faults indicates past tectonic activity. One scientist noted that the drying of the pond at Suizenji Park may be related to these faults.
On a personal note, several editors on this page might be moderately alarmed at this news as the faults seem to run quite close to Gakuen University. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160515002.xhtml
活断層か？熊本市市街地に亀裂　広島大調査－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。

Supporting tourism in Kumamoto following the earthquake will be of key importance to local businesses - in this article I have outlined what effect a natural disaster has on tourism and why it is so important to promote tourism following a natural disaster.
Thanks, Celia
http://promotekyushuproject.blogspot.jp/2016/05/supporting-kumamoto-post-natural.html
Promote Kyushu Project: Supporting Kumamoto – The Post-Natural Disaster Effects on Tourism

When the quakes hit, the Contemporary Art Museum of Kumamoto had just begun an exhibition of works by M. C. Escher and other artists who incorporated visual illusions in their work (that is, made so-called trick art or trompe-l'oeil). The quakes put that on hold but a recent Facebook post indicates that the exhibition will be held beginning on May 18th:
展覧会名：だまし絵王エッシャーの挑戦状
会　　期：2016年 5月18日（水）～ 6月12日（日）
会　　場：ギャラリーⅢ・井手宣通記念ギャラリー
開館時間：10:00～18:00（※5月末まで）　
　　　　　※6月からは20:00までの開館を予定しておりますが、
　　　　　余震の状況によりましては変更する場合があります。
休　　館：毎週火曜日
入場料金：無料
特別協賛：タキヤ株式会社
https://www.facebook.com/181283245248787/photos/a.244153785628399.56576.181283245248787/1071087212935048/?type=3&theater
http://www.camk.or.jp/event/exhibition/escher/
熊本市現代美術館｜だまし絵王エッシャーの挑戦状
熊本市現代美術館の展覧会情報ページです。

The first floor and two lower floors (where groceries are sold) of the Tsuruya Department Store are back in business.
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160514011.xhtml
鶴屋本館が営業再開　１階と地下１、２階で－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。

These images are from a report on last night's NHK evening news. The point was that, in addition to strong waves with a frequency of about 1 to 2 seconds each, Nishihara also experienced waves with frequencies as long as 4 seconds -- the strongest such waves ever recorded in an inland area in Japan. The results were devastating for rural Nishihara but the NHK report indicates that such waves are particularly dangerous in areas with high-rise buildings because longer wave frequencies are more likely to "resonate" with tall buildings. The shaking in Nihihara exceeded the design standards for most high-rise buildings in Japan by a factor of three.
-- Kirk
P.S. For a limited time, the following link should take you to the video and Japanese text NHK prepared for this segment.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160514/k10010521261000.html

Joe Tomei here. On 13 May, a comment was posted on the top post (Kumamoto-i FAQ) about a job in Tatsuda
While we don't have a problem with people sharing job possibilities here (especially post-earthquake), I'd ask you not to post them as comments, but as visitor posts that we can then 'elevate'. Also, please include a contact name and address. The comment was posted by Monica Speed so if she could either message us or repost the job with her contact information, that would be appreciated.

Earlier today we posted an article about donations being solicited in San Antonio:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1037988312941267
In that post "three separate funds" were mentioned but the city's explanation indicates one fund that will be used in three ways:
"Led by the Japan-America Society of San Antonio (JASSA), funds will be used to help 1) the victims and survivors of the earthquake, 2) rebuild Kumamoto’s infrastructure and 3) help rebuild the Kumamoto Castle, a landmark that has relevance to our sister city akin to the Alamo in San Antonio."
http://www.sanantonio.gov/DepartmentNews/TabId/1439/ArtMID/6798/ArticleID/7393/Fundraising-Efforts-for-San-Antonio’s-Sister-City-of-Kumamoto-Japan-Kicked-Off-During-City-Council.aspx
If you click on the image you can follow the links to a site that allows you to donate.
-- Kirk
https://www.jetro.go.jp/usa/topics/san-antonio-kicks-off-fundraising-effort-for-sister-city-kumamoto-japan.html
[Press Release] San Antonio Kicks off Fundraising Effort for Sister City Kumamoto | Recent JETRO...
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - On Thursday, the City Council of San Antonio kicked off the Kumamoto Earthquake Relief Fund, a six-month fundraising effort for San Antonio’s sister city Kumamoto, Japan. The event was attended by local citizens of San Antonio, as well as 17 community partners.

Difficulties communicating in another language? I suspect this is a topic that many people who read this page can relate to in one way or another. This India film will be shown at the Contemporary Art Museum of Kumamoto at 2 PM on May 16 (Monday). Click on the following link to view the announcement on the CAMK Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/181283245248787/photos/a.244153785628399.56576.181283245248787/1070507322993037/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2181931/
English Vinglish (2012)
Directed by Gauri Shinde. With Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand. A quiet, sweet tempered housewife endures small slights from her well-educated husband and daughter everyday because of her inability to speak and understand English.

Sony to Resume Wafer Processing at Kumamoto After Earthquake
Sony Corp. will resume operations at its main factory for camera sensors next week, restarting a key plant suspended after an earthquake struck southern Japan last month.

Joe Tomei here. This appeal for aid to Heisei School of Music in Kami Mashiki was passed on to me. It's in Japanese, so we aren't going to do translation, but feel free to share it. My impression is that a lot of attention has been concentrated on Mashiki and Minami-Aso, and Heisei is located in the Kami Mashiki district, which has not gotten as much attention (though it's hard to keep track of things).
http://www.heisei-music.ac.jp/sien.html

Here's another example of how lessons learned during the Great East Japan Earthquake are being applied in Kumamoto:
"Interfaith chaplains have arrived from other parts of Japan. Some places of worship, such as a Buddhist temple and a Christian church, have opened themselves up as evacuation shelters. They are drawing on the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of five years ago, following which religious practitioners actively provided spiritual care."
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605130012.html
‘Interfaith chaplains’ cater to Kumamoto quake victims：The Asahi Shimbun
UKI, Kumamoto Prefecture--As an 86-year-old woman stared out the window, a priest checked on her at