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With another come-from-behind victory, Ariake has made it to the final eight. -- Kirk
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Ariake Comes From Behind in the Eighth! Perfect Double Steal Sets Up Pinch Hitter Hirosawa’s Two-Run Go-Ahead Hit; Four-Run Rally Erases 1–0 Deficit
August 16, 12:09 p.m.
[Higashi Nippon International University Shohei vs. Ariake: In the eighth inning, Ariake pinch hitter Hirosawa delivers a two-run go-ahead single. Photo by Yuka Hasegawa.]
108th National High School Baseball Championship, Day 12, Third Round: Ariake vs. Higashi Nippon International University Shohei (August 16, 2026, Koshien Stadium)
Ariake of Kumamoto, making its first-ever appearance at Koshien in either the spring or summer tournament, faced Higashi Nippon International University Shohei of Fukushima on Sunday, August 16, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake. Shohei is likewise making its first appearance in either the spring or summer tournament. Trailing by one run in the eighth inning, Ariake came from behind to take the lead.
Ariake had already advanced with comeback victories in each of its first two games, and once again produced a dramatic rally in the late innings.
Ariake entered the eighth trailing 1–0. After leadoff batter Yamazaki struck out swinging, Nagata laid down a perfect safety bunt on the first pitch and reached base. Nishiyama then drew a walk, finally forcing opposing ace Terunuma, who had kept Ariake’s hitters in check until then, out of the game.
With one out and runners on first and second, Ariake immediately put pressure on Shohei’s second pitcher, Shirata, by executing a perfect double steal, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Saneda then hit a sharp ball, but the drawn-in defense made an excellent play to record the second out. Jumonji was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and pinch hitter Hirosawa followed by lining a single into left field. Nishiyama, who had started the play on second, came home with the go-ahead run.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Sakai then delivered a two-run single to right, giving Ariake four runs in the inning.
Note: The Japanese headline gives the pinch hitter’s name as 広田 (Hirota), while both the photo caption and the body of the article give it as 広沢 (Hirosawa). I have followed the caption and article body.
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https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d9321c390ae8e7789b70f97ac0a37ef21a4694b9

"Kumamoto currently has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Japan. As of the end of June 2025, the prefecture had over 7,050 Vietnamese people, accounting for approximately 23% of the total foreign residents in the prefecture." -- Kirk
The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan surveys the situation and provides support to the community following the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.
On August 15th, a delegation representing the Standing Committee of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan (VUAJ), led by Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, President of VUAJ, and Ms. Mei Phuong, Secretary General of VUAJ, visited Kumamoto province to assess the situation, visit Vietnamese communities affe...

Disinformation is something that has come up several times on this page since the quakes. I think this article presents a good overview. -- Kirk
Disinformation abounds online in aftermath of Kumamoto quake
AI-generated images, anti-immigration sentiments and hoaxes are flourishing online following the quake.

This may look like AI but it's from a reputable TV report (TBS) about the recent Kumamoto Earthquake. You can read a more detailed report about the moment a fault appeared on the surface at the following address. The full video report I made this clip from can also be found there. -- Kirk
https://newsonjapan.com/article/150361.php

Kirk here with a little history lesson. In 2016, after the earthquakes, the Aso volcano woke up. The video shows part of what happened. Aside from the dramatic eruption (the fireworks), the volcanic ash that fell over a wide area was a significant problem for people. I hope we are not about to have an encore.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1157743610965736

Kirk here with an article related to Joha's post about the Aso volcano.
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20260814-343508/

Liz here with the hope that someone can remember a query a few years back from a former Kumadai/ Blue Angels ice hockey team member who came back to Kumamoto for a visit, and was hoping to reconnect with former teammates. I , of course, have forgotten his name but recently I met another team member who would like to contact him. He did visit and I think he was able to meet up with some of his old friends. Does anyone have any idea what his name is? Not much information to go on , but any help would be appreciated.

joha here:
For people living near Mount Aso:
The volcanic alert level has been raised from Level 2 to Level 3 this afternoon.
Mount Aso also erupted around the time of the 2016 earthquake. However, Mount Aso does not normally release magma, so please do not be overly worried about that.
Volcanic eruptions often produce ash. If ash gets into your eyes, it can be painful. Use eye drops if necessary.
When you return home, wash or wipe the ash off your face.
People with asthma or other respiratory problems should wear a mask.
If you notice a rusty or metallic taste in your mouth, rinse and gargle with water.
If volcanic ash gets on your car windows, wash it off with water. Do not try to remove the ash with the windshield wipers, as this may damage or scratch the glass.
When the alert level is Level 3, always remain aware of volcanic activity when going about your daily life. Check official announcements, warnings, and local information regularly.
Last, but not least, you shall not enter the area within 2 km of the Nakadake crater.

Here's something I got via email from the International Center on the 3rd. Sorry for the delay in sharing.
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The Kumamoto Consultation and Support Plaza for Foreign Residents provides consultation and information services for foreign residents regarding daily life in Japan, including matters related to residence status, employment, medical care, welfare, childbirth, childcare, and education.We also offer consultations related to the recent Kumamoto Earthquake.If you have any concerns or worries, no matter how small, please don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation.
〇Location: 2nd Floor, Kumamoto City International Center
〇Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
〇TEL：096-359-4995
Note: The Kumamoto City Consultation and Support Plaza for Foreign Residents is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, the Kumamoto City International Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
〇Telephone: 096-359-2121
--- end quote ---

According to the article, most trainees who came from Vietnam to work in Kumamoto didn't expect to be able to go to a public shelter after a disaster. -- Kirk
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Foreign Residents Isolated in Disaster Areas Turn to One Another for Help; Cultural Barriers Cause Hesitation About Using Evacuation Shelters — Kumamoto Earthquake
Jiji Press Social Affairs Department
August 14, 2026, 7:03 a.m.
[Relief supplies being provided to foreign residents affected by the disaster by the Association of Vietnamese Residents in Kumamoto (在熊本ベトナム人協会) in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, on August 6]
Many foreign residents of Japan who had never experienced a major earthquake were also affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, which registered a maximum seismic intensity of 7 on the Japanese scale. Language barriers and cultural differences have made many hesitant to use evacuation shelters or left them unsure where they can obtain relief supplies, revealing situations in which foreign residents have had little choice but to rely on mutual assistance among themselves.
In Yatsushiro City, which was struck by shaking of upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, a vehicle loaded with emergency food, drinking water, and other relief supplies arrived in front of an apartment building on August 6. Cheers went up from the approximately 30 foreign residents affected by the disaster who had gathered there. Many of the residents had come to Japan as technical intern trainees. A 22-year-old Indonesian technical intern trainee smiled and said, “We were running short of food, so I’m very happy.”
The supplies were delivered by the Association of Vietnamese Residents in Kumamoto (在熊本ベトナム人協会), which provides consultations and other assistance to Vietnamese people living in the prefecture. Its chair, Le Thi Cham, 48, said, “Unlike in Japan, there is not much of an established practice in Vietnam of going to evacuation shelters. There is also the language barrier, so many people are reluctant to go to shelters or do not know where they are.” After the earthquake, many Vietnamese residents were afraid to remain in their homes because of the danger of buildings collapsing and reportedly slept outdoors on blue sheets.
The association was established in 2022 and is connected through Facebook with approximately 3,000 Vietnamese residents of the prefecture, about half of the Vietnamese population living there. After the earthquake, it began receiving messages asking for help, such as “We have no water,” and started delivering food and other supplies. On August 6, association members traveled around Yatsushiro and Uki cities, delivering supplies to approximately 200 foreign residents affected by the disaster.
Cham and the other members provide relief supplies to foreign disaster victims who are liable to be left out of public assistance, regardless of whether they are Vietnamese nationals. “This earthquake has revealed a variety of problems,” Cham said. “Through our regular activities, we would like to start by explaining what evacuation involves and how it works.”
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https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2026081300689&g=soc

"After the twin Kumamoto Earthquakes in 2016, seismic dampers were installed in the main keep to reduce shaking, a measure that helped limit the recent damage and allowed for a quick safety confirmation for visitors." -- Kirk
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16806500

Ariake won yesterday! Oddly, nothing came into my feed in English. Here's a translation of the Japanese article I'm linking to. -- Kirk
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They Don’t Need to Carry the Disaster-Stricken Area on Their Shoulders — The Earnest Play of Ariake, Kumamoto’s Representative, Is What Matters
August 13, 2026, 12:30 p.m.
Updated August 13, 2026, 3:42 p.m.
Shinjiro Omiya
[Ariake players sing their school song after defeating Nagasaki Nichidai. Photo by Koichiro Yoshida]
(August 13, 108th National High School Baseball Championship, second round: Ariake 3, Nagasaki Nichidai 2)
When Ariake of Kumamoto came from behind with two outs in the ninth inning to win its first-round game on August 7, Haruki Nagata, who delivered the decisive hit, said in a postgame interview:
“We’re playing our hardest in the hope that we can give courage to the people affected by the Kumamoto earthquake in July.”
They were admirable words. News of the victory reached evacuation shelters in Kumamoto, and some people there reportedly shed tears.
Whenever a major disaster occurs, the school representing the affected area is expected to shoulder a larger “cause.”
About three years ago, I had an opportunity to ask Tomoya Saito, manager of Seiko Gakuin of Fukushima, about 2011, the year of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
About a month after the disaster, he said, he took his players by bus to the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture. When he saw several large ships that had been swept inland by the tsunami, he realized something.
“There’s really no way we can carry something like this on our shoulders.”
Sometimes there is only so much that sports can do. Some people have had their peaceful everyday lives taken from them for no reason and are in no position even to think about baseball. I do not think high school students need to be made to feel such a strong sense of mission that they believe, “We have to give people courage.”
That day, Nagata of Ariake was repeatedly asked about his feelings for Kumamoto. He also said this:
“Of course, thinking about the people affected by the disaster is important, but first we need to play our own game, and then, as a result of that, hopefully we can give them courage. That’s what we talked about as a team.”
Even in the late innings, Ariake aggressively attempted stolen bases and fought its way out of difficult situations. It was exactly the kind of baseball the team had developed. Riding that momentum, Ariake went on to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai in the second round as well.
There is no need for them to tense up under the burden of playing “for the disaster-stricken area.” It is fine to play for the teammates they have spent the past two and a half years with, for their families, or simply for themselves because they love baseball.
Their wholehearted effort may, as a result, encourage someone else.
Nagata’s words reminded me of the importance of getting that order right.
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被災地、背負わなくていい　熊本代表・有明の選手のひたむきな姿こそ：朝日新聞
　（13日、第108回全国高校野球選手権大会2回戦　有明3―2長崎日大）　7日の1回戦で有明（熊本）が九回2死からの逆転勝利を収めた際、殊勲打の永田晴輝はインタビューで言った。「被災された方たちに勇気…

The picture tells the story. -- Kirk
Twisted tracks, fallen poles keep Kumamoto rail link out of service | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
HIKAWA, Kumamoto Prefecture—Steel rail tracks are seen buckled in undulating waves, utility poles lean precariously, and some train carriages remain stranded on the line.

More fake news stupidity. The screenshot if from KKT but the article includes a different image. -- Kirk
https://newsonjapan.com/article/150325.php
P.S. Here's an interview in Japanese with the man who was made to look like he was happy about what happened. The rubble is what is left of his home. His younger brother was trapped inside but, fortunately, people from the area where able to pull him out. The persons(s) who did this may wind up being prosecuted and/or sued for damages. As you can imagine, the man who was turned into an AI joke is very angry.
https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/kkt/category/society/kkfb94b3ed9ab24913b62bd8d3534198db

This page on the Kumamoto City website links to pdfs in English about how to support people affected by the 2026 earthquake. I received an email notice more than a week ago and am only now sharing it with you. Sorry for the delay. -- Kirk
P.S. The information seems to be quite good but "for foreigners" seems to mean "in foreign languages only" (as if to say "Obviously, foreigners have no use for Japanese"). I'll contact the City about including Japanese in such announcements in the future. Otherwise, when the pdf gives the English name of a place to contact or a form to fill out, the hapless foreigner has to do detective work to figure out how to explain what they need to a real-life Japanese person (not some person in an imaginary world where everyone working in city government understands English, Chinese, and Korean and is able to back translate from those languages to figure out what department or form is being referred to).
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kiji00372163/index.html

At 1PM today (Thursday), Ariake plays Nagasaki Nichidai. Second game of the Koshien series for Ariake.

The recovery is taking time. On last night's NHK news I saw a segment about how water pipes crossing fault lines are particularly difficult to fix because they were not just broken -- the relative positions have changed. -- Kirk
Over 30,000 buildings without water two weeks after Kumamoto quake | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
More than 30,000 buildings in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture were still without water on Wednesday, two weeks after the area was struck by a deadly earthquake.

My impression is that the damage to various castle walls (in addition to the damage from 2016) will take a long time to repair. I assume, though, that there was no significant damage to the castle itself and that any areas that might be deemed unsafe will not be accessible. -- Kirk
Kumamoto Castle set to reopen to visitors 2 weeks after M7.1 quake
Quake-hit Kumamoto Castle will reopen to visitors later this week, the city said Tuesday, two weeks after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan.

Kirk here. This article says that eighteen foreign technical intern trainees from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal took part in a relief effort for people affected by the Kumamoto earthquake, delivering water, daily necessities, and other supplies to three locations.
The trainees are currently studying at Kyushu International Academy (九州国際学院), a Fukuoka training school that provides Japanese-language and orientation courses for newly arrived foreign technical intern trainees. Some had only recently arrived in Japan and experienced the earthquake soon after coming here. According to RPJ Co., Ltd. (株式会社RPJ; I don't know what RPJ stands for), which operates the academy, the trainees themselves wanted to find a way to help people affected by the disaster, including people from their own countries already living and working in Kumamoto.
This article on the Nishinippon Shimbun website is based on a press release from RPJ.
--- ChatGPT translation ---
Foreign Technical Intern Trainees from Kyushu International Academy Provide Relief Supplies Following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
Support Delivered Across Nationalities — Trainees Act on Their Desire to “Do Something to Help”
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to everyone affected by the earthquake and sincerely hope that normal, peaceful daily life can return as soon as possible.
At Kyushu International Academy, operated by RPJ Co., Ltd. in Fukuoka City, foreign technical intern trainees currently undergoing training took the initiative in providing relief supplies to areas affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.
The supplies were delivered to three locations with which arrangements had been made in advance, including companies where graduates of Kyushu International Academy are working and facilities serving as distribution points for relief supplies. A total of 18 people participated, representing students at the academy, including technical intern trainees from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal.
They delivered water, daily necessities, and other supplies needed locally out of a desire to help people affected by the disaster and others living in the area.
The trainees actively helped unload and carry the supplies, carefully transporting the relief items one by one.
The academy plans to continue doing what it can while monitoring conditions in the affected areas and determining what kinds of assistance are needed.
Some of the technical intern trainees who participated had experienced the earthquake shortly after arriving in Japan.
They said that they had been frightened and anxious after experiencing such strong shaking just as they were beginning life in an unfamiliar country. Even so, they began thinking, “Is there anything we can do for the people affected by the disaster?” That led to this relief effort.
There are also people from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal who came to Japan before them and are now living and working in Kumamoto Prefecture.
“If people from our own countries who came to Japan before us are having difficulties, we want to help them, even if only a little.”
That feeling was another motivation for the relief effort.
A Vietnamese technical intern trainee said:
“There was an earthquake soon after I came to Japan, and I was very scared. I was still not used to life in Japan, but I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for people who were in trouble, so I took part in this relief effort.”
An Indonesian technical intern trainee said:
“There are people from my country in Kumamoto who came to Japan before me and are working hard here. I wanted to do something, even if only a little, to help them and other people in the community who are having difficulties. I’m glad I was able to take part in delivering supplies.”
Mizuki Noguchi, a director of RPJ Co., Ltd., commented:
“This relief effort was not something that RPJ initiated. The technical intern trainees themselves thought about whether there was anything they could do for people affected by the disaster and took action on their own.
“Crimes involving foreigners sometimes receive a great deal of attention. But we also hope that more people will become aware that there are foreigners in Japan who are studying and working hard and who want to take action to help people in need and the communities where they live.”
Kei Egashira, also a director of RPJ Co., Ltd., commented:
“We provided support with things that would have been difficult for the trainees to handle by themselves, such as preparing and transporting the supplies and coordinating with the organizations receiving them.
“We are very pleased and encouraged that the trainees thought for themselves and acted to help others across national boundaries. We intend to continue supporting necessary activities while respecting their desire to help.”
Kyushu International Academy has spent more than ten years working on educational issues related to support and post-entry training for foreign nationals, developing its own curriculum covering Japanese-language education, daily-life guidance, workplace manners, and cultural understanding.
In addition to teaching Japanese and the knowledge needed for work, the academy considers it important to foster connections with local communities and a willingness to think about and help people who are experiencing difficulties.
The relief effort provided the technical intern trainees with a valuable opportunity to learn the importance of helping one another.
RPJ and Kyushu International Academy say they will continue providing whatever support they can while remaining attentive to conditions in the affected communities.
--- end translation ---
https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/1525976/

If I had been there, I probably would have thought it would be OK to go back in too. But the people who designed the building must have known that an explosive gas leak after a major earthquake was at least in the realm of possibility. Somehow, that bit of insight seems to have been lost when Aeon Mall put its emergency manual together. :( -- Kirk
Aeon says staff allowed to reenter quake-hit mall despite ban before blast - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Major Japanese retailer Aeon Co. said Tuesday that employees were allowed to reenter a quake-hit shopping mall in Kumamoto Prefecture