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We're gonna have a whole lotta rain in the city from the evening. Brace yourself. - William
気象庁 | 雨雲の動き（高解像度降水ナウキャスト）
このページでは、1時間先までの降水分布の予報をご覧いただけます。また、強い雨の領域や雷の活動度、竜巻発生の確度などを重ねて表示できます。

Kirk here, back again after a long absence. Special thanks to Atsuko for the useful information about Hitoyoshi. I'll try to pitch in with some news articles. This is from today's Japan Times:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/05/national/seven-confirmed-dead-deluge-hits-southern-japan/
On yesterday's news I heard that close to 500 millimeters of rain were dumped on parts of Hitoyoshi and on Minamata. These were record numbers for the various locations. 500 millimeters is more than a foot and a half for metric-challenged Americans like me. Just standing in a foot and a half of water is deep enough but when you imagine how water runoff tends to become concentrated in certain spots, I think you can imagine the catastrophic torrents that such rain would cause.
35 confirmed or feared dead as unprecedented downpour wreaks havoc in Kyushu | The Japan Times
Rescuers plucked people from their homes in Kumamoto after heavy rain triggered floods and landslides.

Hi. again.
This is evacuation center and the place water supply map.
It is said the heavy rain will come tonight also.
I recommend to move to more safe place.
Be careful, stay safe.
Don't go to check river especially midnight.
Please cheer up each other to be strong!
ーAtsuko╰(*´︶`*)╯
2020年7月 熊本豪雨 支援地図 - Google My Maps
最終更新 (Last update): 2020-07-05 18:36 熊本県内の給水・開設済み避難所スポットのまとめです。 内容には万全を期しておりますが、ご利用は各自の責任でお願い致します。 各ポイントについて出典を明記しておりますので、そ....

Hi friends.
It's so sorry we had terrible disaster in South of Kumamoto. There might be lots victims.
I couldn't catch up detailed information well but I would like to share some for them, hoping it helps them.
Please be safe!
Please help each other!
Please be strong!!ーAtsuko(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑
PS, If you have something trouble or ask, Please let me know, I'll try to search and answer!! (｡•̀ᴗ-)و ̑̑✧
These are evacuation center map in Yatsushiro city.
https://www.navitime.co.jp/category/0511004/43202/
These are evacuation center map in Hitoyoshi city.
https://www.navitime.co.jp/category/0511004/43203/

Hi.
These are catching up information about the damage, disaster of heavy rain.
Be careful and share good information.
Help each other!!ーAtsuko(*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑
https://www.facebook.com/102578774767337/posts/150888426603038/
NHK
https://www.facebook.com/461895657190529/posts/3714036775309718/

Hi again.
Fortunately, the government said they don't open Ichifusa dam because of reducing rain.
But Unfortunately, I heard lots flood suffered places like Hitoyoshi, Ashikita.
At first, be safe!! Be careful !!
And Let's help each other!!
This is my supporting volunteer team's facebook page. They share lots information about this heavy rain, flood, emergency notice.
It's written in Japanese but you might know how dangerous it is.
Please escape,
Please be safe.
Even if you don't have heavy rain, Please share the information to safe lives.ーAtsuko🙏
https://www.facebook.com/NpoBondandjustice/

Sorry notice again.
The post is now (around 8:30am)at Hitoyoshi city.
From 9:30, the Ichifusa dam will open to prevent its overflow.
Yes the river level will become more high.
Please be safe! Help each other!!
This is my supporting volunteer team's facebook page. They share lots information about this heavy rain, flood, emergency notice.
It's written in Japanese but you might know how dangerous it is.
Please escape,
Please be safe.
Even if you don't have heavy rain, Please share the information to safe lives.ーAtsuko🙏
https://www.facebook.com/NpoBondandjustice/
I shared the warning to escape from Ichifusa dam opening.
https://www.facebook.com/123734781033296/posts/3911956915544378/

Hi friends.
Just Hoping all friends safe.
The notice is for the people who live around the KUMAGAWA, Kuma river.
Please escape to high place!!
当初の午前8時半から1時間遅らせて、9時半からとしました。
Kumamoto government plan to open the Ichifusa dam to prevent its overflow at 9:30( at first they planed at 8:30 but postponed to 9:30)
県は、球磨川のダムの下流にあたる、▼水上村、▼湯前町、▼多良木町、▼あさぎり町、▼錦町、▼人吉市、▼球磨村、▼芦北町、▼八代市の住民に対し、川の水位の急な上昇や氾濫に備えて、命を守る行動を取るよう呼びかけています。
Because of opening the dam, the KUMAGAWA water level will become MORE HIGH!!
PLEASE ESCAPE TO HIGH PLACE TO BE SAFE!!
The notice is for the residents who live in
水上村Mizukami mura ▼湯前町 Yunomae machi▼多良木町Taragi machi▼あさぎり町 Asagiri tyou、▼錦町 Nishiki machi ▼人吉市 Hitoyoshi shi▼球磨村 Kuma mura▼芦北町 Ashikita machi ▼八代市 Yatushiro shi
Around KUMAGAWA area.
Be careful about suddenly water level going up.
I live in Kumamoto city, no heavy rain fortunately but,
Please be safe.
Share and help each other!! ーAtsuko٩(°̀ᗝ°́)و
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200704/amp/k10012495531000.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200704_08/amp.html
Emergency discharge for Kumamoto's Ichifusa Dam | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Kumamoto prefectural officials have announced they will discharge water from a dam in Mizukami village to prevent it from overflowing.

Hello all!! If you've ever donated blood in Japan you may (or may not) know that most Irish & British people can not give blood here due to BSE(狂牛病). Mad, eh!?!
Today I was prompted to once again look at the restrictions on giving blood in Japan as a foreign mother's friend's husband in Kyoto was appealing for O-Negative donors for an urgent transfusion 👍🏥💉💉 It seems like those precious stocks are being replenished in the Kinki Region but, if you are also O-Negative you may consider joining the RH Negative Japan group. Some of you may be able to help others as it can be an especially worrying situation if hospitals are running low, yet won't let people 'stock' THEIR OWN blood if they are from the UK&Ireland!
Looking at the Kumamoto Red Cross Blood Bank site, it seems that Kyushu is also running low at present. I'm sure that Covid-19 has had something to do with this current shortage, but if you're willing and able, please consider donating blood. You can check the whereabouts of the Kumamoto Blood Bus in the links below if that coincides better with your own location. Many thanks in advance! - Ruth (O+)
Donating blood in Japan: https://ajet.net/jet-community/volunteering-charity/donating-blood-in-japan/
RH Negative Japan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2649969878566467/
Japanese Red Cross (Kumamoto): https://www.bs.jrc.or.jp/bc9/kumamoto/index.html

Kumamon visited Tokyo for the first time in three months. Traveling is difficult for him as he has to book two adjoining seats to accompany his girth. - William
くまモン、再開だモン　東京に３カ月ぶり登場 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
新型コロナウイルスの影響で東京での活動を休止していたくまモンが１日、東京都中央区の銀座熊本館にサプラ...

Was there just a power outage, or was it only my house?

I live in the house built by my father-in-law's brother. For decades, it was used as a dormitory for local high school students, and the graffiti they carved into the walls remains, which I enjoy reading. I once punched my way up into the attic and was startled by a giant 御幣 (gohei, a Shinto relic used for purification). Obviously, I let it be: it's worked so far. - William

Combine a disposable culture (beverage bottles, bento boxes) with a lack of garbage receptacles is a recipe for disaster, and that is exactly what is happening in Kumamoto, as Kumanichi points out. To be sure, there are bright spots: many companies begin their morning by tidying up their nearby parks, and some areas have mini tori to deter dumpers, but this really shouldn't be necessary. Where I come from, if you leave litter, others will jump in your face for it. Perhaps that is what is required in Kumamoto. - WIlliam
繁華街の〝顔〟ごみだらけ　熊本市の辛島公園 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
熊本市中央区の中心繁華街で、市民の憩いの空間となっている辛島公園で最近、植え込みやトイレ周辺に空き缶...

Hola, Soy Joe Tomei. Here is another set of Spanish translations of the COVID information. If you are a Spanish speaker and know of a similar list in Japan for Spanish speakers, feel free to pass these on and contact me if you'd like to get them more directly. If you do post them to a Spanish speaking list, here is a disclaimer in Spanish
This is a Spanish translation of Japanese information located at https://note.stopcovid19.jp/. We are reporting COVID-19 sobte to transmit the information coming out in Japanese. The measures taken by these translations, in case problems arise, we inform you that we are not responsible. We're doing this in English, but we'd appreciate help not only for that, but also for translations in other languages.
¿Cuál es la importancia de examinar los anticuerpos del nuevo coronavirus?�https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JnPWGAu8mQ1dPynHyZ521vLi7jUTKxR0/view
¿Qué está pasando con la investigación del estado de infección del COVID-19 en Japón?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/104tT710YqO9qynxf_1gRmgDuWAlJ0jFwibSZhdHRftU/edit?usp=sharing
Expertos × Medios de comunicación Hacia la realización de una sociedad que "teme justamente y se cuida a las personas" (artículo largo)�https://docs.google.com/document/d/17eHLuPsYIYc4yz7pN3Efmm2SVwFzsC4VXo26pVShlS8/edit?usp=sharing
Para los que viven con mascotas
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17eHLuPsYIYc4yz7pN3Efmm2SVwFzsC4VXo26pVShlS8/edit?usp=sharing
Cuál es la importancia de examinar los anticuerpos de la nueva corona.docx

Japanese is a funny language. For example, the Kumanichi today used the term 「馬食文化」(horse eating culture), noting that the drop in foreign visitors due to the virus has led to a plummet in basashi sales.
An interesting thing I learned is that rendering horses for meat is illegal in America. However, live horses can be exported to Canada, where they are there rendered and sent to Japan. So when you eat basahi, it is likely an American-bred, Canadian processed product. - William
熊本の「馬食文化」守りたい　コロナで需要減、国支援乏しく ｜ 熊本日日新聞
生産量日本一で、熊本の食文化を代表する馬肉の需要が、新型コロナウイルスによる観光客減少や外食離れの影...

I love it when people here ask me for directions. They'll approach and make an inquiry but suddenly recoil when they notice I'm a gaijin. However, I know Kumamoto like the back of my hand and am well-versed in keigo (formal Japanese), and this soothes them. They'll probably tell their friends about this experience. - William

Hi there
I'm hoping to get this information out to foreign students or ALT's ( plus anyone else who might be interested !) and thought you might be able to share the post on to the Kumamoto International page.
Since March I have lost all my business due to Corona virus but I'm hoping some people might be interested in taking a day trip with me over the summer. I'm not part of the Japanese government's travel stimulus plan but thought I'd also spread some happiness by discounting the tours as well. If you can share, that would be great.
Thank you
Helen
https://www.explore-kumamoto.com/kumamoto-summer-tour-campaign/
Kumamoto Summer Tour Campaign!
Kumamoto Summer 2020 tour campaign 50% discount available! Visit the top sights around Kumamoto in a fun,friendly tour with a native English speaking guide.
explore-kumamoto.com

Hi friends.
Kumamoto city government announced the warning about ground slide because of heavy rain from tonight to tomorrow early morning.
It's not order but warning for especially olders and handicapped people who live near mountain, hill.
The evacuation centers are also opened for residents at 公民館 Kouminkan and some. Please check by yourself each.
It's often cases for Kumamoto, we have heavy rain from end of June to first of July.
Residents who've lived in Kumamoto long time might know where is dangerous to ground slide but new comers and international students might not know about it.
Please help each other, together, with neighbors.
I attached Japanese version but you can change English, Korean and Chinese version.
Be careful.
Please help and support each other!! ーAtsuko(｡•̀ᴗ-)و ̑̑✧
https://city-kumamoto.secure.force.com/K_PUB_VF_Top?kuiki=%E5%8C%97%E5%8C%BA&x=0&y=1249
Especially, evacuation center page
https://city-kumamoto.secure.force.com/K_PUB_VF_HinanjyoList
***Kumamoto city hazard map.
http://kumamoto-hazard.sakura.ne.jp/
＜補足情報＞ 熊本市内の山沿い、がけ地付近で土砂災害の恐れのある地域の方は避難の準備を整え、気象情報に注意して、危険だと思ったら早めに避難してください。また、お年寄りの方など避難に時間のかかる方は避難.....

Entertaining is when Japanese fight over correct kanji usage. Kumanichi notes that many denote the corona-virus pandemic as 『コロナ渦』when it should be 『コロナ禍』. Though homonyms (both pronounced ［か］) , the former means "whirlpool" while the latter means "pandemic". Pay attention: this might be on the test. - William
「コロナ渦（うず）」ではありません　「禍」の間違い多発 ｜ 熊本日日新聞
「『コロナ禍［か］』を『コロナ渦』と間違えている人が目立ちます。先日も職場の上司が『コロナうず』と堂...

I remember visiting a sushi bar in California where items were ranked by "challenge" - toro, for example, was a 1, but uni was a 3. Perhaps McDonald's should adopt a similar system: a salad would be a zero (depending on the dressing), while a Big Mac would be a 5.