Moderation reduces police burden. -- Kirk
2026-08-11 17:28 JST 2026 Moderation reduces police burden. -- Kirk Police ask Kumamoto residents to not get blackout drunk as much during earthquake relief effortsHard times and hard drinking don't mix. https://soranews24.com/2026/08/11/police-ask-kumamoto-reside … ↗ View original post on Facebook For a link to the original post on Facebook, open this page on a computer. Reactions: 1 ← 2026-08-11 10:38 JST 2026-08-12 07:12 JST → Around this time … 2026-08-13 10:04 JSTAt 1PM today (Thursday), Ariake plays Nagasaki Nichidai. Second game of the Koshien series for Ariake. 2026-08-13 07:56 JSTThe 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. -- KirkOver 30,000 buildings without water two weeks after Kumamoto quake | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News 2026-08-12 09:49 JSTMy 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. -- KirkKumamoto Castle set to reopen to visitors 2 weeks after M7.1 quake 2026-08-12 07:34 JSTKirk 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 EarthquakeSupport 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/ 2026-08-12 07:12 JSTIf 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. :( -- KirkAeon says staff allowed to reenter quake-hit mall despite ban before blast - The Mainichi 2026-08-11 17:28 JSTModeration reduces police burden. -- KirkPolice ask Kumamoto residents to not get blackout drunk as much during earthquake relief efforts (this post) 2026-08-11 10:38 JSTGood news about a local boy's world-class success. If you can't read the Japan Times article, try the Nippon.com one. If you'd like a little sample of how amazing Sora was a year ago, check out the YouTube link. -- Kirk https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/10/japan/12-year-old-kumamoto-violinist-ny-performance/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntrt-8GYB3Qhttps://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026080800240/12-year-old Kumamoto violinist performs at New York’s Carnegie Hall 2026-08-11 07:33 JSTKirk here. This translation of a Japanese article by AAR Japan [Association for Aid and Relief, Japan] describes two relief-supply distribution hubs intended especially to reach foreign residents in Hikawa Town and Yatsushiro City. The article makes clear that the supplies are not restricted to foreigners; nearby residents who need them can receive them as well. The effort to make the service accessible to the foreign community includes the use of simple Japanese and hiragana on signs and flyers, and, in Yatsushiro, the use of a Vietnamese restaurant and grocery store as a distribution point.--- begin ChatGPT translation ---Distribution Hubs Opened for Foreign Residents Affected by the Disaster: Emergency Assistance for the Kumamoto EarthquakeAugust 10, 2026AAR Japan [Association for Aid and Relief, Japan] has opened distribution hubs in Hikawa Town and Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, both of which suffered extensive damage in the Kumamoto earthquake, where foreign residents affected by the disaster can receive relief supplies and information. Drinking water, food, hygiene products, and other supplies are being distributed free of charge. Supplies are also being provided to nearby residents who need them.[Filipino residents receiving relief supplies in Yatsushiro City on August 9]Assistance and Information Remain Difficult to AccessPeople from a wide range of countries, including Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Nepal, live in the disaster-affected areas. Many work in Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program or with Specified Skilled Worker status.As residents continue to endure difficult living conditions, including water outages, foreign residents in particular are still having difficulty obtaining assistance and information. Since the earthquake, AAR has received reports such as, "Foreign residents are pooling their own money and buying supplies themselves," and "There are international students who say they are too frightened to sleep."While searching for a base from which to distribute relief supplies, AAR received an offer of help from BAR.BASE, a bar in Miyahara, Hikawa Town. Located along one of the town's main roads, it has a parking lot as well as space for storing supplies. Because the bar normally opens after 9:00 p.m., its owners generously told AAR, "Until the water supply is restored, please feel free to use it during the daytime."[AAR's Mitsuru Namatame coordinating relief activities with Tuan, left, of the Vietnamese restaurant San Pham Viet Yatsushiro]AAR has also received assistance from San Pham Viet Yatsushiro, a Vietnamese restaurant in Yatsushiro City. The restaurant itself is closed because of the water outage, but the adjoining Vietnamese grocery store remains open. During business hours, the store and an adjacent warehouse are being made available for the distribution and storage of relief supplies.Using Easy JapaneseSince August 8, the two distribution hubs have been providing drinking water, powdered sports drinks, emergency food, including alpha rice and halal food, body wipes, portable toilets, and other supplies. AAR staff are stationed at the Hikawa Town hub and are also available to provide advice to people facing difficulties.[Signs and flyers designed to be easy to understand for foreign residents who are not proficient in Japanese]To make the information easier to understand for people who have difficulty reading and writing Japanese, AAR created signs and flyers written in hiragana, using phrases such as "ものを くばるところ" ("Place where supplies are distributed") and "おかねは いりません" ("No money is needed"). AAR is also working with the local Junior Chamber and the Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents to spread information about the distribution hubs.Even now, AAR continues to receive requests every day in the disaster-affected areas for relief supplies and advice on rebuilding people's lives. While listening to concerns such as "I don't know how to apply for a disaster victim certificate," AAR will continue its activities so that assistance reaches everyone affected by the disaster, including foreign residents.AAR asks for your support for its emergency relief efforts following the Kumamoto earthquake.--- end translation ---Here is access information for the two distribution points mentioned in the article.Hikawa Town:BAR.BASE689-2 Miyahara, Hikawa-machi, Yatsushiro-gun, Kumamoto 869-4602熊本県八代郡氷川町宮原689-2Entering "BAR.BASE Hikawa" or the Japanese address "熊本県八代郡氷川町宮原689-2" into Google Maps or another map service should show the location.The AAR article says that BAR.BASE is being used for relief activities during the daytime while the water outage continues, but it does not give specific opening and closing times. AAR staff are stationed there to distribute supplies and respond to questions and requests for assistance.BAR.BASE's listed telephone number is 070-7793-5486. This is the bar's own telephone number; AAR does not identify it as a relief-information hotline.Yatsushiro City:San Pham Viet Yatsushiro5-9 Tanaka Nishimachi, Yatsushiro, Kumamoto 866-0876熊本県八代市田中西町5-9The location is in Tanaka Nishimachi, on the northwestern side of central Yatsushiro. Entering "San Pham Viet Yatsushiro" or "熊本県八代市田中西町5-9" into Google Maps or another map service should show the location.According to the AAR article, the Vietnamese restaurant itself is closed because of the water outage, but the adjoining Vietnamese grocery store remains open. Relief supplies are being distributed there during the grocery store's business hours, and the store and an adjacent warehouse are also being used to store supplies.https://aarjapan.gr.jp/report/22634/ 2026-08-10 21:30 JSTHere's a pretty amazing story about an izakaya in downtown Kumamoto, not too far from Tsuruya Department Store. In the short-term being flooded with hot onsen water as a result of the quakes is terrible for the establishment. If would be cool, though, if this could eventually work out well for both the owners and hot spring fans in the area. -- KirkKumamoto earthquake may have created Japan’s newest hot spring inside flooded restaurant [Video] 2026-08-10 12:38 JSTSharing a Safe Summer in Kumamoto.Although the weather was not great this weekend because of the approaching typhoon, I went with my family to Onikizaki Beach in Amakusa.As many of you know, the earthquake damage in southern Kumamoto has been severe. At the same time, I've heard that even in areas with little or no damage, many hotels, restaurants, and tourist facilities have suffered from a large number of cancellations during the summer holiday season.There was another earthquake yesterday, but we didn't feel any shaking where we were. Instead, my family and I enjoyed a relaxing seaside camping trip.Mogushi Beach is beautiful, but Onikizaki Beach was amazing as well. We saw many colorful fish with bright red, blue, and yellow stripes swimming in the clear water. The beach house rents life jackets (¥300) and snorkeling gear (¥500), making it easy for families to enjoy the ocean safely.The photos aren't very good because it was cloudy and I took them with an old smartphone sealed in a 100-yen-store waterproof plastic bag, but the water and the fish were truly beautiful.There are many ways to support Kumamoto's recovery. I hope people will get accurate information, make safe choices, and continue to enjoy what Kumamoto has to offer.Small risks, big adventures.Stay safe and explore boldly.Let's support local shops, restaurants, hotels, and communities while enjoying all that Kumamoto has to offerhttps://share.google/LklKmooT1NOakRqzxhttps://share.google/ugzHVkUlJ8huXV8X3Atsuko (*•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ 2026-08-10 07:44 JSTHere's a good photo of the Hinagu Fault, the cause of much of Kumamoto's seismic troubles.
