Kirk here. Here's an article about a consultation session we announced here. The English translation from ChatGPT:
--- start translation ---
Foreign Residents Affected by the Earthquake Seek Advice About Their Concerns and Difficulties
2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
September 3, 2026
Kumamoto Prefecture and other organizations held a consultation session in Hikawa on August 30 for foreign residents affected by the recent earthquake. Those who came for consultations spoke about difficulties in their daily lives and concerns about their jobs.
(August 30 / Hikawa Town Hall)
This was the first consultation session of its kind held since the July earthquake. It was organized by Kumamoto Prefecture and the Kumamoto International Association in cooperation with organizations including the Kumamoto Prefecture Administrative Scriveners Association and the Organization for Technical Intern Training.
Interpreters for English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and other languages were also available. They listened to the difficulties and concerns currently facing foreign residents in the disaster-affected area and offered advice aimed at finding solutions.
Saori Kitada, Assistant Manager, International Affairs Division, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“We learned that foreign residents are dealing with psychological anxiety as well as concerns that are particular to their circumstances as foreign nationals. So we arranged a consultation session like this one with the cooperation of a variety of specialized organizations.”
Ms. Uyen (ウエン), from Vietnam, whose workplace in Hikawa was affected by the disaster, was worried about whether she would be able to continue working.
Nguyen Thi Thu Uyen (グエン ティ トゥ ウエン), Hikawa resident / agriculture:
Interviewer: “Things like losing your water supply?”
Uyen: “Yes. There wasn’t much food either, and the roads became impassable.”
Interviewer: “So you haven’t really been able to do farm work?”
Uyen: “Right.”
Jomari (ジョマリ), who is from the Philippines, came to the consultation session with friends he lives with in Yatsushiro.
Lidem Jomari Tamondon (リデム ジョマリ タモンドン), Yatsushiro resident / construction worker:
“When there is shaking, I can’t sleep at night. When there’s an aftershock at night, we say things to each other like, ‘Did you feel that?’ What we’re having trouble with is water for everyday life — for cooking and doing laundry. We still can’t use the bath.”
Aya Yamaguchi had accompanied the people seeking consultations. She provides support for foreign technical intern trainees.
Aya Yamaguchi, Seibu Business Cooperative Association:
“This gave them a place where they could express exactly how they were feeling directly in their own language, so we decided to take part.”
After hearing Jomari say that they were having trouble getting water, AAR Japan — the certified nonprofit organization Association for Aid and Relief, Japan — told them about a place near where they lived where they could obtain water. The organization also said it could deliver a water tank to them right away.
Nineteen people came for consultations during the two-hour session.
Daniel Martinez (ダニエル マルチネス), International Affairs Division, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“A lot of people seem to be saying that their families are very worried about them, or asking what they should do if another major earthquake occurs. Foreign residents tend to stay within their own communities, but I would like to encourage them not to limit themselves to that — to build good relationships with Japanese people as well and work toward living together as part of the same community.”
(Yatsushiro)
Three hours after the consultation session ended, a water tank arrived for Jomari and the others.
Takumi Takagi, AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan), a certified NPO:
The character 高 in his name is written using the variant form known as はしごだか.
“No matter where an earthquake happens, or where there is flooding, we go anywhere in Japan to help. We also work around the world.”
Aya Yamaguchi:
“There was a small barrier that prevented them from simply going and getting water, and they had already experienced a situation in which they couldn’t obtain it easily. I think that is probably why they had not been able to go to the water distribution point.”
(After receiving water)
Jomari and the others:
“Thank you very much.”
Aya Yamaguchi:
“Even when there is a language barrier, I want to continue supporting them so that we can stay close to them and help in whatever way we can.”
The organizers said they received questions about matters specific to foreign residents, including residence status and housing. People who have only recently arrived in Japan often cannot communicate easily in Japanese, which must leave them feeling especially vulnerable. Hopefully, the support they need will reach them properly.
Further consultation sessions for foreign residents are scheduled for Sunday, September 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Education Hall in Uki City, and in Yatsushiro City in October.
The date and time of the Yatsushiro session are still being arranged.
© Television Kumamoto
Note: Katakana is shown in parentheses after foreign personal names where the exact spelling or romanization cannot be confirmed from the Japanese article alone.
--- end translation ---