A note from the Kumamoto International Nerd Desk (we don plastic shirtpocket pen cases): Train nerds know the main Kyushu Shinkansen trainyard is in Kumamoto’s Tomiai Machi. Geology nerds know it’s in a very low location surrounded by rivers. Meterological nerds know that it’s flooded twice in recent history (fortunately, before the trainyard was placed there). In the aftermath of Tohoku Shinkansen loosing half of their fleet to flooding following the typhoon, the nerds are getting together to figure out what to do. No doubt they’ll use slide rules. Their options are to elevate the yard (expensive!) or move it (more expensive!) Kumanichi has the details on deliberations. - William