I'm sharing this in that hope that doing so will allow more people to see it.
2015-06-26 22:31 JST 2015 I'm sharing this in that hope that doing so will allow more people to see it. ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. ← 2015-06-26 16:47 JST 2015-06-29 15:34 JST → Around this time … 2015-07-01 09:00 JSTFirst and second period classes at Kumamoto University have been canceled but not at Kumamoto Gakuen University. I haven't checked to find out how other universities are handling the heavy rain. 2015-07-01 08:40 JSTThe first image is from a site that indicates which rivers are in danger of flooding. Currently, the Kikuchigawa is at the hanran keikai joho (flood warning information) level, the third highest. Tthe highest is confirmation of an actual flood and the second highest is the "danger" level, indicating that at flood is imminent. The water level in the Shirakawa, which runs through the heart of Kumamoto City, is also elevated. The photo is a screen shot of a live camera of the river. There does not seem to be much danger of flooding but the level is indeed higher than normal.To see the site with the flood warnings go tohttp://www.river.go.jp/nrpc0502gDisp.do?areaCode=89To see the live camera go tohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t0Mz9V2xZQ&feature=youtu.be 2015-07-01 07:55 JSTThe heavy rain has caused "sediment disaster alerts" (warnings about landslides) to be issued and evacuations called for in various parts of Kumamoto, particularly, but not restricted to, the Aso area. The evacuations I am aware of are:Minami Aso Mura: 4721 householdsMifune Machi: 7091 households (entire area)Many parts of Aso ShiGyokuto Machi (near Tamana): 1986 householdsThe information about evacuations that I have comes fromhttp://www.anshin.pref.kumamoto.jp/osirase/index.cgi?type=1001The two images have have shared in this post come fromhttp://www.jma.go.jp/en/doshamesh/349.html?areaCode=349andhttp://www.bousai.pref.kumamoto.jp/GmnDsp.exe?M100A0S0N1P0 2015-06-30 21:23 JSTThere are warnings about heavy rains that are likely to be at their strongest early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. The image you see is from http://www.jma.go.jp/en/warn/349_table.htmlTo see animated radar images of the Kumamoto area, go tohttp://kumamoto.wni.co.jp/radar/rnkg/info_frame.htmlIf there are calls for evacuations, they should be listed athttp://www.anshin.pref.kumamoto.jp/osirase/index.cgi?type=1001Unfortunately, however, this information is only presented in Japanese (and in a less than ideal format even in Japanese) so you have to make quite an effort to figure out what is happening.If you live near a river that might flood or a steep slope where a landslide might occur, it's a good idea to make sure you have people to provide you with any help you might need. 2015-06-29 15:34 JSTThis announcement from the June issue of Kumamoto City's Shisei Dayori is about health insurance for people between the ages of 65 and 74. If you are enrolled in the system, you should receive information in the mail about your insurance premium in the middle of July.http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/topics/topics_detail.asp?PageID=5&ID=7849&pg=1&sort=0&LC=eKumamoto International Foundation 2015-06-26 22:31 JSTI'm sharing this in that hope that doing so will allow more … (this post) 2015-06-26 16:47 JSTThis information is from the June issue of Kumamoto City's Shisei Dayori and is about screenings at various locations for lung cancer and tuberculosis. (The English doesn't mention that they can also screen for stomach cancer but the Japanese does.) Unfortunately, however, most of the screening dates have already passed. I'll check with my friends at the International Foundation to see if there's any way to make this kind of information available at an earlier date.-- Kirkhttp://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/topics/topics_detail.asp?PageID=5&ID=7861&pg=1&sort=0&LC=eKumamoto International Foundation 2015-06-26 07:37 JSTI should have posted about this sooner. Sorry -- but perhaps it's still in time to be of use to someone. http://kurokawa-onsen.com/summer-event-firefly-viewing-tour-for-guests-staying-at-ryokan-in-kurokawa/Summer Event: Firefly- viewing tour (for guests staying at Ryokan in Kurokawa) 2015-06-25 10:09 JSTThis is old news now but, for some reason, it reappeared in my RSS reader. As I understand it, the documentary is now in production -- the Kickstarter campaign was concluded last year.--- start quote ---Charlie Nagatani, one of the film’s main characters, is the founder of the Country Gold International Country Music Festival in Kumamoto, Japan. He has performed country music for over 60 years and has taken on the mantle of Japan’s ambassador of country music. His lifelong passion has taken him to the Clinton White House, made him an honorary Colonel in Kentucky, and found him playing the country music mainstay The Grand Ole Opry over 20 years in a row. “Country Music is most of my body inside. Without this I can’t live on,” Nagatani said.--- end quote ---Posted by Kirkhttp://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/09/prweb12151708.htmDocumentary Film Far Western Enters Final Week of Kickstarter Campaign 2015-06-24 17:48 JSTWhen I posted about this earlierhttps://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/843784712361629/?type=1former participants raved about how much fun it was. I think the primary target for the Consortium of Universities in Kumamoto is international students. If you are not an international student, it might be a good idea to look at the following page of the Kumamoto JET group for information about another way to participate.Posted by Kirkhttps://www.facebook.com/kumamotokibiru/posts/1080164045345044Looking for Participants! Otemoyan Dance in Hinokuni Matsuri in 2015 2015-06-24 12:33 JSTThe headline says it all!http://kurokawa-onsen.com/free-bathing-at-kurokawa-onsen-on-june-26th/FREE bathing at Kurokawa Onsen on June 26th!!!