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Demolition of the Uto Shiyakusho (city hall building) has begun. I saw one TV show about a robot-like device that was sent into the building to explore and take pictures of the damage; no one has been able to enter the building since the quakes due to safety concerns. I'm not sure what their plan is in regard to all of the important official documents in the building.
Japanese video report:
http://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newseye2848026.html
-- Kirk

Shugakkan beat Ibaragi Prefecture's Sojo Gakuin 4 - 1. This means that they will play in one of the semifinal games on Saturday. On TV I heard that this is the first time in 20 years that a school from Kumamoto has made it to the semifinals.
-- Kirk

Though I haven't been able to find any mention of this in English language media, parts of Kumamoto have again been designated as "disaster with extreme severity" (激甚災害) areas. This time, the designation is for areas hit hardest in the heavy rains of June and July. To read about the designation in response the earthquakes go to
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1025249570881808
To see a web page in Japanese containing a video about the latest designation go to
https://news.nifty.com/article/domestic/government/12198-66110/
-- Kirk

Kumamoto lantern festival casts a glowing, dream-like scene：The Asahi Shimbun
YAMAGA, Kumamoto Prefecture--Even a series of massive earthquakes this spring could not put out the

The number of people who have seen the exhibition of French art at the Prefectural Art Museum has passed the 10,000 mark, according to a Kumanichi article. The museum does not have anything in English or French about the exhibit but you can use the translate function on the the Chrome web browser to get more information in the language of your choice from the following page:
http://www.museum.pref.kumamoto.jp/event_cal/pub/Detail.aspx?c_id=10&id=87&type=top&trk_kbn=N
The image you see with this post, by the way, is of a painting by Paul Gauguin that is on display.
-- Kirk
P.S. Here's a link to the article about the 10,000th visitor that I saw on the Kumanichi Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/KUMANICHIs/photos/a.438935026193855.1073741828.438505469570144/1113065055447512/?type=3&theater
展覧会 / 熊本県立美術館

Kumamoto quakes raise fears over restart at Ikata nuclear plant | The Japan Times
People living near Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata nuclear plant in Ehime Prefecture fear a repeat of the Fukushima disaster, especially after devastati

Manga library tours quake-hit Kumamoto to soothe evacuees：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--A nonprofit group here is generating smiles from all ages in quake-ravaged areas of the pr

1,800 still living in evacuation centers in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Four months after the first of several powerful earthquakes shook the Kyushu region on Apr

Kumamoto's Shugakkan beat Inabe Sogo of Mie Prefecture 6-1. Their next game is Thursday at 8 AM but their opponent has not been determined yet. This victory puts them in the top eight.
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/koshien/articles/ASJ8J25Z5J8JPTQP00D.html

To see a Japanese news video about the identification of Yamato Hikaru's remains, go to
http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_society/articles/000081328.html
Kirk
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/body-found-in-car-in-quake-hit-kumamoto-identified-as-missing-student
Body found in car in quake-hit Kumamoto identified as missing student
A body found in a car buried under sand and rocks has been identified as the last person missing since…

Thanks to Franck and Michi No Eki Aso for this encouraging news.
-- Kirk
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/denku_franck2711/56144002.html
Mount Aso: Partial reopening in mid September - Michi No Eki Aso
Hello everyone ! Bonjour ! A very good news appeared on the newspaper this week. The road to Mount Aso is planned to par...

Shugakkan plays their next game in the Koshien series of Tuesday at about 10:30.
-- Kirk

Shugakkan won their first game in the Koshien tournament.
-- Kirk
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2016/08/12/kiji/K20160812013152340.html

I never had the pleasure of meeting Hikaru, but he had signed up for one of my classes. Today, I held the final exam in that class. Seating was done according to the class roster so, of course, Hikaru's seat was empty. I pointed this out to the other students and asked them consider how it was only chance timing and circumstance that allowed us to survive while Hikaru did not.
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201608120044.html
Skeleton, likely last person lost in quakes, found in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
MINAMI-ASO, Kumamoto Prefecture--A skeleton, strapped in a car with a seat belt, has been recovered

The forecast for Friday is 37 C (98.6 F) for Kumamoto City and 39 C (102.2 F) for Kikuchi.
-- Kirk
http://www.tenki.jp/forecast/9/46/

Today's (or yesterdays, depending on when you are seeing this) holiday was new. I had a vague "?" sort of feeling when I saw the holiday name on my calendar but didn't realized what was going on until I read this article.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/10/national/third-japan-unaware-mountain-day-holiday-makes-debut/
Third of Japan unaware of Mountain Day as holiday makes its debut | The Japan Times
Nearly a third of the public surveyed by a weather news company said they have never heard of Mountain Day, as the newest official public holiday is set to

If you can get away from city light pollution (or if you happen to live in such a place) you might want to take a look at the night sky.
-- Kirk
See also:
http://www.vox.com/2016/8/9/12411932/perseid-meteor-shower-schedule-peak-time-viewing-live-stream
http://www.spacedex.com/perseids/locations/perseid-asia-japan.php
Meteor shower coming soon, view inormation and viewing times!
Get viewing times, information, and plan meet-ups for all upcoming meteor showers!

Today's NHK evening news reported that the body found in Minami Aso appears to be that of Yamato Hikaru, though final identification is yet to be made. The Kumamoto Gakuen University student's bank book and other documents were found in the car. The body was taken from the scene by helicopter.
-- Kirk
P.S. If you would like to see a video report in Japanese, click on the photo.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20160811/k10010631841000.html
熊本地震で不明の大学生か 南阿蘇村で遺体を収容 | NHKニュース
一連の熊本地震でただ１人行方がわかっていない大学生の捜索が行われていた熊本県南阿蘇村で、警察や消防などは１０日に車の中から見つかった遺体を１…

Kumamoto cops nab earthquake volunteer for pot | The Tokyo Reporter
Suspect allegedly passed 10 grams of marijuana to a fellow volunteer

Body found in quake-hit Kumamoto may be that of last missing victim | The Japan Times
A body found Wednesday in a car buried under sand and rocks in Kumamoto Prefecture is thought to be that of a university student missing since tremors deva