Kumamoto International Archive

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

William here. I'll post over the next few days a bit more information about the Futagawa fault (布田川断層) and the geology of Kumamoto in general as recent events may have piqued interest in this area. This is an active fault zone that extends from Uto peninsula to the western slope of the Aso somma with a length of about 64km. It is a right-lateral strike-slip fault, which means that it creates raised areas on the southeast side - hence, Kumamoto Airport - and also the Tateno gap (立野火口瀬, たてのかこうせ）, without which the Aso caldera would be a large lake. Today, I'd like to introduce some Japanese mythology about how ancient people devised an explanation for the gap's existence: the legend of Takeiwatasunomikoto (健磐龍命 - don't even try to deal with this kanji).
He was said to be the grandson of the legendary first emperor of Japan, Jinmu, and chose Aso as his home due to its location in the center of Kyushu. After marrying the daughter of a local god, Asotsuhime, and settling in Takamori, he pondered how to turn the caldera, which at the time was a lake, into a lush agricultural area, and while pondering and wandering with his wife, she gave birth at the base of a mountain now called Ubuyama (産山, "birth mountain"). He then proceeded a bit further and struck the caldera outer rim with such force that it created Tateno gap. Fatherhood might do that to one.
As the water flowed out of the caldera, he noticed that it was not being replenished, and upon investigation, found that a giant catfish was blocking the flow. (Note that catfish are harbingers of earthquakes in Japan.)
This is where things get a bit difficult to believe.
Takeiwatasunomikoto tied the catfish by its nostrils with vines to some boulders at a spot in Ichinomiya now known as Hanaguriiwa (鼻ぐり岩, "nose-tying boulders"); the struggling catfish churned the river water, which is why the river is now known as Kurokawa (黒川, "black river"); and several deer came to see the water flowing from the caldera, which is why the waterfall is known as Sushikaryuketaki (数鹿流ヶ滝, "several deer waterfall").
The degree of credence you choose to attribute to these stories is entirely up to you. What is interesting, though, is the folklore behind the caldera, the absence of a lake, and earthquakes.
http://www.aso-dm.net/?%E5%81%A5%E7%A3%90%E9%BE%8D%E5%91%BD
健磐龍命 | 阿蘇ペディア
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Sara here.
The Fukuoka branch of the US Consulate has contacted me asking to spread the word that if American citizens and their families are in need of any assistance, they can reach Dominic at the Fukuoka Consulate by calling 092-751-9331. If you need assistance after hours, please call the Tokyo Consulate at 03-3244-5000 and they will be able to connect you with the right people.
Please continue to exercise caution during the following week as aftershocks are expected to continue.

Powerful earthquake in Japan leaves at least 10 injured
A powerful earthquake battered southern Japan on Thursday, causing some damage.

Sadly, 9 people lost their lives in the earthquake and over 900 people have be injured. Castle walls have also been damaged, as you can see in these photos from NHK. The tiles (kawara) on the castle have also been damaged, but I image that repair will be relatively easy.

Strongest earthquake since 2011 strikes Kumamoto area | The Japan Times
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 struck Kumamoto Prefecture and surrounding areas in Kyushu Thursday evening, the Meteorological A

Classes at Kumamoto University have also been cancelled. I assume that many other educational institutions in Kumamoto will also be closed tomorrow.
-- Kirk
http://www.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/daigakuseikatsu/kyoumu/news/280414
4月15日（金）の授業の休講について - 熊本大学
地域に根ざし、グローバルに展開する未来志向の研究拠点大学、熊本大学の公式サイトです。

Classes at Kumamoto Gakuen University have been cancelled for Friday, the 15th:
http://www.kumagaku.ac.jp/news/archives/997

Two confirmed dead thus far. :(

NHK has put an English video report about the earthquake on their web site:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160414_54/
Quake of 7 on Japanese scale hit Kumamoto- News - NHK WORLD - English
Officials at Japan's Meteorological Agency are warning people to be on the alert for aftershocks after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake rattled Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Thursday.

Kumamoto International received this message with many useful links from Kagoshima Koryu (https://www.facebook.com/kagosh):
みなさま　だいじょうぶでしょうか。情報を流します。よろしければお使いくださいませ　柚木　NHK WORLD in 18 languages
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/info/select.html
•NHKラジオニュース / NHK Radio News
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/program/16lang.html
Earthquake Information/Japan Meteorological Agency
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/menu.html
Information
http://www.fdma.go.jp/bousai_manual/e/index.html
NTT Docomo Disaster Message Board Service
https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/info/disaster/disaster_board/index.html
au Disaster Message Board is available.
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/mobile/anti-disaster/saigai-dengon/
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/?bid=we-we-gn-0002
SoftBank Disaster safety confirmation
http://mb.softbank.jp/en/disaster-message/
web 171
English http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/saigai/web171/web171manual_eng.pdf
中文　http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/saigai/web171/web171manual_chn.pdf
韓国　http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/saigai/web171/web171manual_kor.pdf
Dial 171 to inquire about somebody's safety (NTT Disaster Telephone Message Service)
NTT emergency messaging service
http://www.ntt-east.co.jp/saigai_e/voice171/
Select language - NHK WORLD - English
NHK WORLD is the international broadcasting service of NHK.

Here's the address of the "The Kumamoto Prefecture Earthquake
FACEBOOK SAFETY CHECK"
https://www.facebook.com/safetycheck/kumamoto-prefecture-earthquake-apr14-2016/?search_type=safe
Facebook Safety Check: The Kumamoto Prefecture Earthquake
The Japan Meteorological Agency has detected a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centered in Kumamoto city of Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu. Multiple aftershocks have been recorded.

Sorry for posting about Kumamon at a time like this. Actually, this was a post that I scheduled before the quake started.
-- Kirk
Kumamon still going strong after 6 years
KUMAMOTO — Kumamon, known for his red cheeks and chubby body, celebrated his sixth birthday on March 12. The character representing Kumamoto Prefecture became an instant star nationwide in 2011 when he won the Yurukyara Grand Prix, a popularity contest of yurukyara — adorable, cuddly or cool charact…

A portion of the castle walls has collapsed. When the report was underway on TV another very strong aftershock (I think it was the 6+ one) came and more rocks fell on live TV.
-- Kirk

We just had a 6+ (Japanese scale) aftershock.

On TV, I just heard that about 20 buildings in Mashiki have collapsed.
-- Kirk

BBC report (Thanks Mark!):
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36045140

Kirk
Tag: Media
Earthquake topples buildings in southern Japan - BBC News
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolts southern Japan, toppling several buildings, though no tsunami alert is issued.

On TV I just heard that about 50 people from the Mashiki area have been carried to Kumamoto Red Cross Hospital for treatment.
-- Kirk

I found the official English page with information about the various quakes. One interesting point is that, although 7 on the Japanese scale was registered in Mashiki, there are no reports of 6+. The next highest intensity rating is 6-. The part of Kumamoto where I live (near Oe) was 5+.
-- Kirk
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/6/20160414213615395-142126.html

The fire in Mashiki that I mentioned earlier seems to have taken in more than one building. Sadly, locals are saying that not everyone has gotten out safely.
-- Kirk

Prime Minister Abe commenting on the quake. His comments about asking his people to find out more about the extent of the damage, etc. are not particularly remarkable. I thought I'd post this, however, as an indication of the level of attention being given to this earthquake. It's definitely a national issue -- not just a local one. I've also heard that a request has been made for more Self-Defence Force personal to be sent to Kumamoto to help with relief and rescue efforts.
-- Kirk