Kirk here. I got this general announcement from a reader. Here's what ChatGPT says about it, which fits my own reading.

--- Start quote from AI ---
The Immigration Services Agency says that foreign residents affected by the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake may receive special consideration for residence-status applications.

If the disaster prevented you from applying before your deadline, the immigration office may still process your application on an individual basis, even after the deadline has passed. Please consult your nearest immigration office as soon as possible.

Also, if you have temporarily moved or evacuated from your registered address, you may apply at the immigration office responsible for the area where you are currently staying.

This is not an automatic extension, so anyone affected should contact a nearby immigration office for advice.
--- End quote ---