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Welcome to tonight's Kumamoto International astronomy corner.
If you venture outside sometime after 22:00 and look at the eastern sky, you might exclaim, "Crikey, what tremendous orange globe is that?!" That would be Mars.
As Earth is approaching aphelion, our farthest point from the Sun, Mars is also approaching perihelion, its closest, so this brings the two planets to the nearest proximity they'll be in for the next six years. (Note: not as close as the below image might indicate, thank God - We've enough to worry about as it is.)
To add to the celestial excitement, the moon is now waxing, and though it currently rises earlier and precedes Mars, their positions in the sky will equate over the next few days.
The weather should be fine through the weekend, leaving us much time to enjoy this spectacular event. - William
http://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2016/04/18/mars-gears-up-for-its-closest-approach-to-earth-in-over-a-decade/#66a507c57210
Mars Gears Up For Its Closest Approach To Earth In Over A Decade
On May 30th, Earth will be at its closest to Mars since 2005.

William's recent post about the Tatsudayama (also read Tatsutayama) fault
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1040992629307502
prompted me to do a little search on the web. I happened upon this page
http://www.city.kumamoto.jp/hpkiji/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=5&id=2121
which was published in 2012 and has a link to a hazard map (pdf) that correctly shows that an earthquake along the Futagawa-Hinagu fault would cause the greatest shaking in the Mashiki area. I thought this was interesting because I had not been aware that the Mashiki was known to be a risk since before the quakes hit. The Mashiki area had quite a few older homes that were not quake resistant. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but I still wonder if more could not have been done since experts knew beforehand that the Mashiki areas was vulnerable.
By the way, I'd also like to recommend
http://sakura1.higo.ed.jp/ws/kchigaku/hp/kumamoto_c/tatudayama_f/tatudayama_f.htm
because it shows the location of the Tatsutayama fault very clearly.
-- Kirk

Discussion with colleagues brought to mind the existence of the Tatsuda fault, which I'd thought to bring to your attention in the off chance that you're getting too much rest.
Tatsudayama, as anyone who as ever hiked it knows, is a large mound of clay; gravel must be poured on its paths lest hikers slip all the way back down. (Friendly advice: don't stray off the gravel, particularly on wet days!) The cause of its composition is that it was once riverbed that was thrust to its current height by its eponymous fault, which runs east of Mt. Kimpo and west (to the far side) of Tatsudayama. A look at the shape of the mountain shows the west side to be a straight line accompanied by a depression with river and springs.
I'd then Googled it, and the best site I could find was that from a real estate company, of course. First, for nostalgic and/or entertainment sake, note that the site had put the probability of a M7.2 - 7.6 on the Futagawa/Hinagu fault over the next 30 years at 0-6%. Ha ha! - well, seismic analyses is hard, but they were accurate on the intensity map. Okay, "been there, done that" - let's move on.
The second map on the page shows an estimated shindo range in the event of a possible M6.5 on the Tatsuda fault, of which the chances are unknown (but, given the above prediction, would be as unreliable even if predicted).
Anyway, no need for worry! Geologic time and human time work on vastly different clocks, and the Tatsuda fault may rupture now or never (meaning after we're all gone). The geology is quite interesting, though. - William
http://ameblo.jp/goddess-si/entry-12155262208.html
『断層帯周囲は避ける；土地探しの鉄則に！ ハザードマップは必ず確認しましょう。』
熊本地震で悲観的な事ばかり記載しても仕方がないので、小生が熊本地震を経験した中で、改めて家造りにおいて重要だと感じたことについて何回かに分けて記載します。 …

This is a detailed editorial on prospects for the reconstruction of Kumamoto Castle. Language learners may be interested in the link at the end of the editorial to the original Japanese text.
In regard to content, one key point is that the "restoration work is expected to take more than 20 years to complete."
-- Kirk
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002951919
Kumamoto Castle restoration should be promoted as reconstruction symbol
Turrets and their stone walls collapsed, and the Tenshukaku main castle tower tilted to one side. Kumamoto Castle, known as one of the finest castles in the country, suffered enormous damage in the Kumamoto Earthquake. A long, sustained effort is needed to restore it.

Kumanichi and other sources report that the Emperor and Empress will visit Kumamoto tomorrow, May 19, to view damage and encourage reconstruction. Details are sparse, but apparently they will depart Haneda in the afternoon and return from Kumamoto in the evening, so it will certainly be a whirlwind tour (they are in their 80s, after all). Another site stated that the ASDF will provide a helicopter so that they can see from above damage to the Aso area. Kumamoto residents will likely notice a large increase in security and air traffic during this time.
UPDATE: Our hero-on-the-ground-in-Aso Rene reports that the royal couple are scheduled to chopper into Minami Aso Mura around 14:00. Ongoing security measures had apparently been annoying his dog, Mana, but she has reportedly grown accustomed to them. More information on Mana's disposition will be posted as it becomes available.
- William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160517014.xhtml

Another change in the Aso landscape . . .
The article also contains a video that I recommend viewing.
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605170067.html
Quake crumbles nose of Buddha silhouette in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
ASO, Kumamoto Prefecture--Springs dried up, a lucky “floating” boulder tumbled to the ground, and a

Construction of Kumamoto quake victim housing begins
KUMAMOTO — The Kumamoto prefectural government on Tuesday started construction of a large-scale temporary housing complex for quake victims in Mashiki, Kumamoto Prefecture, which was hit by two earthquakes that registered the maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, causing a large nu...

Most Kumamoto mayors predict long road to quake recovery：The Asahi Shimbun
Most of the mayors of cities, towns and villages in Kumamoto Prefecture that were severely damaged b

" . . . he warns of the possibility of further quakes with an intensity of up to 6 minus and urges people to remain alert at least for another 2 months."
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/116282.php
Tremors continue 1 month after Kumamoto quake
Tremors are still hitting Kumamoto and neighboring Oita prefectures in southwestern Japan.

In addition to discussing the needs of children who have been traumatized by the quakes, this article also discusses the needs of persons with autism and other psychological problems.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/17/national/around-2100-students-kumamoto-need-post-quake-counseling/
Around 2,100 students in Kumamoto need post-quake counseling | The Japan Times
Roughly 2,100 municipal elementary and junior high school students in the city of Kumamoto are in need of counseling for trauma, a survey has found. About

Despite the title, this article doesn't actually discuss the challenges that Kumamoto faces now. However, as a summary of the impact that the quakes have had thus far, I think it's very useful.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/14/national/kumamoto-faces-host-challenges-month-first-quake/
Kumamoto faces a host of challenges a month after first quake | The Japan Times
A month after the first of a series of strong earthquakes struck on April 14, affected areas in and around Kumamoto Prefecture face a host of challenges, i

Hats off to the folks managing the Kumamoto JET website. One month since the earthquakes struck, their site continues to be a valuable source of up-to-date information about how to donate, volunteer and the current state of the Kumamoto's recovery. On a personal note, I knew that the Youme Mart in my neighborhood (Obiyama) was still closed but I was not aware that they were planning to reopen in late May until I read the May 16 update:
http://kumamotojet.com/shin/index.php/2016/05/16/may-16-updates/
May 16 Updates Kumamoto JET
May 16 Updates May 16, 2016 News Here is a summary of some the latest earthquake related news/updates. If there is any information you need specifically, please contact the PAs and we will try and get it out to you. Volunteering The Kumamoto City Volunteer Center is registering volunteers to help wi...

I'm pretty sure I've seen and heard big choppers like this one flying over Kumamoto. According to the article, however, more should have been available.
-- Kirk
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/116299.php
80% of SDF big choppers couldn't fly for Kumamoto
About 80 percent of the Self-Defense Forces' CH-47 large transport helicopters could not fly on relief missions after the Kumamoto Earthquake, mainly because they were undergoing emergency checks, according to sources.

This article presents that background story behind this iconic photo of a plea for water, bread, paper from evacuees on the grounds of Kokufu High School.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605160034.html
VOX POPULI: Vital lessons from Kumamoto 1 month after earthquakes：The Asahi Shimbun
An SOS laid out with folding chairs on a high school sports field was an early powerful image of the

This is a soundless collection of drone footage of damage to Kumamoto Castle, Mashiki, and Minami Aso, several scenes of which were new to me.
-- Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXd90dJ_EwQ
多い建物損壊、続く余震 熊本地震、遠い復興
熊本地震は１４日で１カ月。２回の震度７や余震による建物の損壊はすさまじく、避難者は依然として約１万人いる。仮設住宅建設は始まったばかりで、有数の農業県に与えた被害も甚大。復興への道のりは遠い。

"At the May 15 game, Roasso supporters, including those who traveled from Kumamoto, enthusiastically cheered for the team."
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605160021.html
Kumamoto J.League team plays first game since quakes：The Asahi Shimbun
CHIBA--Professional soccer team Roasso Kumamoto played for the first time in about a month here May

William has already written about this topic:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1038759229530842
The article mentions a Japanese-language post on the Kato Shrine Facebook page that went viral. The address of the post is
https://www.facebook.com/katoujinja/posts/1588776678100412
The author of this Asahi article is Chihiro Ara who is also the author of a Japanese article that introduced this page:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1033409763399122
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605160011.html
Buddhist deity image emerges from Kumamoto Castle rubble：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--Amid the damage and despair that have befallen historic Kumamoto Castle in the recent seri

One thing I learned from this article is that, after the Tohoku earthquake of 2011, Kumamoto City and other municipalities had been asked to designate sites for the construction of temporary housing in the event of a disaster but failed to do so. For more information in Japanese about this point see
http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/national/article/245425
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/16/national/kumamoto-marks-one-month-since-devastating-main-earthquake/
Kumamoto marks one month since devastating main earthquake | The Japan Times
Kumamoto and other southwestern prefectures on Monday marked one month since the second of two massive earthquakes struck the region in quick succession, l

Kumamoto couple survived sliding home in earthquake：The Asahi Shimbun
When a massive earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture early on April 16, Michiya and Masuyo Ikeda wer

Here's a message Kumamoto International received:
I'm Holly, a past jet from 2006-2011 in Kumamoto. After leaving Kumamoto I lived in Sapporo for five years and just returned to Kumamoto in April for a few months.
I released my second CD called "Atlantic Canada Meets Japan 2" in March. It's a compilation of well-known Japanese songs and Nova Scotian music. You can probably guess from that, that I'm from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Until July 1st, I will be donating 500 yen per CD sold for relief to those affected by the awful earthquakes in Kumamoto on April 14th and 16th.
I hope that people can relax and feel healed by my music. More information and CDs can be purchased at:
www.hollysamson.wordpress.com
Holly Samson
Music, Photography and Adventures by the artist