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Here's an English video update (with the text read by the announcer) from NHK:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160504_01/
Kumamoto struggles with aftermath of disaster- News - NHK WORLD - English
Earthquakes continued on Tuesday in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto as residents struggle to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.

Woody Hodgson, who is handling the yahoo groups list, writes the following:
In my daily bicycle trips I'm seeing all over the city mountainous piles of unseparated trash building into health and fire hazards and even road hazards on the narrow neighborhood streets. People are taking advantage of the earthquakes to now empty their residences not just of quake-damaged goods but also of all the things that were too troublesome to dispose of in the past--analog TVs, old bedding, furniture, appliances, PCs, etc.
With organic burnable garbage liberally mixed in as well it's pretty difficult to expect the sanitation crews on the trucks to try to sort through the messes themselves on designated pick up days.
What's to be done? With whole demolished houses and buildings needing to be disposed of I guess this issue is still on the back burner. But it is seriously worsening and warm weather and rain are going to reduce these accumulations into even more toxic stews.
I'm not sure if volunteers can be of help in this, but I think it's worthy of attention. Is there a plan of any kind?
OR..if information is available on this subject, please post a link.
Thank you,

Classes are scheduled to resume on Monday at several universities in Kumamoto City as well.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/03/national/social-issues/80-kumamoto-schools-resume-classes-tuesday-quakes/
80% of Kumamoto schools to resume classes Tuesday after quakes | The Japan Times
About 80 percent of public schools in Kumamoto Prefecture will have resumed classes by Tuesday after their buildings were damaged or used as evacuation cen

Chosen to host the National Athletic Meet in 1998, Kumamoto built a stadium officially called 熊本県民総合運動公園陸上競技場, but which quickly acquired the moniker "KKWing." Recently, I've noticed it referred to as "Umakana-Yokana Sutajiamu" (うまかな・よかなスタジアム); apparently, Roasso acquired naming rights in 2013, and that's what they came up with. Of course, people immediately abbreviated that to "Umasuta" (うまスタ) because why not. Ask your friends what they call it! - probably older people like me call it KKWing, while younger call it Umasuta.
Whichever you call it, it will be out of action likely at least through July to repair light fixtures and seating and confirm safety. This will greatly affect the Prefectural High School Athletic Meet. The entrance ceremony scheduled to be held there has been cancelled and various events shifted to venues both inside and outside the prefecture. Not so yoka for the high school kids. - William
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160503003.xhtml
県高校総体、開会式を中止　開催地など大幅変更－熊本のニュース│ くまにちコム
熊本日日新聞社が取材した熊本のニュース。新聞紙面に掲載前の記事もお伝えします。

" . . . evacuees will likely have to stay at these facilities for extended periods of time."
The evacuation center that was set up at the local elementary school near my home (Obiyama) has closed down and evacuees are being asked to move to other centers. As the article indicates, it will take a good deal more time to find homes for all of the evacuees.
-- Kirk
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002920141
Kumamoto to improve shelters
KUMAMOTO — The Kumamoto city government is set to implement measures aimed at improving the living conditions of 18 evacuation shelters for quake victims, such as setting up partitions between the spaces allocated to each family.

More than a week has passed since Peace Winds Japan posted this on their website so it's no longer "news" but I still found it to be interesting. The reason is that Peace Winds Japan is one of several organizations that have focused on helping people in other countries and are now using this expertise in Japan. Here's a quote from the "About" tab on their web site:
"Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the support of people in distress, and threatened by conflict, poverty, or other turmoil. With its headquarters in Japan, PWJ is operational in many parts of the world."
One of the things I've learned through this disaster is that helping people in other countries is good preparation for helping people in your own country when the need arises.
By the way, if you look at their website, you'll find that they are accepting donations.
-- Kirk
P.S. Thanks to The Source -Kumamoto Earthquake- (https://www.facebook.com/thesourcekumamotoearthquake/) -- my source in this case. :)
http://peace-winds.org/en/news/1134
Kumamoto: More shelters and relief items for the evacuees
Even though it is more than a week ago that Kumamoto was first struck by the large earthquakes on 14 and 16 April, there

To see a recent post on Kumamoto International about Kumamoto City FM go to
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1030924053647693
-- Kirk
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605030001.html
FM stations stay on the air to serve displaced in Kumamoto：The Asahi Shimbun
KUMAMOTO--In a revival of old-fashioned radio, a local FM station is serving as a vital lifeline in

The image you see did not come with this Japan Times article. It's a screenshot from a TV news program I happened to save because it discusses how Kumamoto City's International Center responded to the quake (I'll post about that aspect of the program some other time).
I didn't think much about the image when I first saw it but the article made me realize that it is no coincidence that people like the owners of this cat were staying in their cars.
By the way, those of you with an interest in pets and animal rights issues should also check out this post from Nick May:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/1030867886986643
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/05/02/language/lets-discuss-pets-quake-hit-kumamoto/
Let's discuss what to do with pets in quake-hit Kumamoto | The Japan Times
As evacuees with pets in quake-hit Kumamoto shy away or are even banned from moving into evacuation shelters, Ryunosuke Animal Hospital has opened its doors to pets and their owners.

The Kumamoto International Foundation get some well-deserved recognition. Remember, if you need help getting back on your feet after the quake, another consultation will be held at the Kumamoto City International Center this Sunday:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/photos/a.129499733790134.25925.123734781033296/1030879910318774/?type=3&theater
-- KIrk
http://asia.nikkei.com/Features/Kyushu-earthquakes/Language-barrier-piles-more-pain-on-foreigners-in-quake-hit-Kumamoto
Language barrier piles more pain on foreigners in quake-hit Kumamoto- Nikkei Asian Review
OSAKA -- Many non-Japanese residents of Kumamoto Prefecture continue to struggle after April's earthquakes, with language difficulties often isolating

Because of the heavy rain, the residents of Nishihara were asked to evacuate this morning. According to a page provided by Yahoo (see link below) this is the only evacuation notice that has been issued in the prefecture today. Amazingly, we have to rely on Yahoo for this information because the prefecture does not provide a similar service. More troubling still is that the Yahoo page
http://crisis.yahoo.co.jp/evacuation/43/
does not work with services that automatically add hiragana
http://www.hiragana.jp
or machine translation
https://translate.google.com
so it is not accessible unless you are quite good at Japanese.
This is not a new problem. I've tried to talk to officials in the prefectural government about this in the past but to no avail. Very frustrating. :(
-- Kirk

More options for those willing to donate . . .
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002904988
Donations to Kumamoto made easier
A variety of organizations are raising funds for the victims of the Kumamoto Earthquake. While many people donate cash, it is also possible to use the Internet to donate miles from frequent-flyer programs or points accumulated on loyalty cards.

Joe Tomei here. This Asahi Shimbun article about Kumamoto City FM which stayed on the air to help provide information is certainly worth a look. The webpage for the Kumamoto City FM is http://fm791.jp/
The article notes that Kosa began similar broadcasting on the quake disaster on April 23, Mifune on April 25 and Mashiki on April 27. If anyone has more information about how to listen to these stations, feel free to share them in the comments.

The list of volunteer opportunities has just been updated (thanks to Beau Retallick!) with information about requests/requirements.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SdUOqe4bo4T3iY-MvMuA5J7ktmkrE5zfF0I9ZfuRqOk/edit?usp=sharing
Kumamoto volunteer opportunities
Sheet1 City name, need volunteers?, Who can join?, Contact number Kikuyo, No, They have enough volunteers at the moment, Email( from Shakai fukushi kyogikai) Mashiki, Yes, but, Kumamoto people only, GW( Golden week) only Kumamoto citizens( 4/ 29~ 5/ 8), Please check for more details on facebo...

A giant boulder wedged into a crevice of a cave in Minamiaso Mura called Men no Ishi, well-known to locals and trekers across Japan as "the rock which will never fall," has fallen, the Kumanichi reports. "The legend that the boulder has stayed put no matter the earthquake has been handed down over generations," a dejected resident noted. Photos can be found here.
http://kumanichi.com/news/local/main/20160503010.xhtml
「免の石」落ちた…　南阿蘇村、住民ら落胆－熊本のニュース│ くまにちコム
熊本日日新聞社が取材した熊本のニュース。新聞紙面に掲載前の記事もお伝えします。

The consultation event held this past Sunday was a big success. Many people came and enjoyed the free food and opportunities to socialize and get questions answered. If you missed it (or if you'd like more of the same), you can attend a similar event this Sunday.
-- Kirk

英語の後に日本語で書きます。Yesterday I met with the representatives of a group called Plan Japan:
https://www.plan-japan.org/english/
It is an international organization that has done work in disaster-struck regions of the world, with a particular focus on "psychosocial" care. They organize enjoyable events that not only serve as welcome changes of pace but can also become opportunities for children to express and come to terms with their disaster experience. One such event is djemba (African drum) performances by a South African musician. Plan Japan is currently looking for schools that would welcome such performances. If any of you could share the attached fliers with school personnel who might be able to organize such a event, the people at Plan Japan would deeply appreciate it.
次に日本語で書きたいと思います。まず、このページを読んでくださっている日本の方々にお礼とご挨拶を申し上げたいと思います。Kumamoto International では日本語の情報に英語の解説をつけて紹介することがありますが、直接日本語で書くことがほとんどないにもかかわらず、多くの日本の方に愛読していただいて、大変嬉しく思います。このページは今後とも英語中心に進めていくことになると思いますが、引き続き多くの日本の方にこのページでの情報交換やディスカッションなどに参加していただければ幸いです。よろしくお願いします。
さて、今回は「プラン・ジャパン」の企画を紹介したいと思います。このNGOは海外での災害支援等の経験を踏まえ、東日本大震災後に日本でも子どもたちの心のケアに携わってきました。今後、熊本で同様の活動を進めていこうとしているそうですが、地元の協力者が欠かせません。
添付のジェンベ演奏に関するチラシはそうした活動の一例にしかすぎませんが、「地域の学校に来てもらえれば子どもたちが喜ぶかもしれない」と思われるのであれば、ぜひ担当の船越さんに連絡して実現に向けて相談していただきたいと思います。
また、熊本にジェンベ演奏の「日の国AFRICA」
https://www.facebook.com/hinokuniAFRICA/?fref=nf
というグループがありますが、関係者をご存知であれば、ぜひこの企画について知らせて、船越さんに連絡されるようお話していただければ幸いです。よろしくお願いします。

"Twenty-three municipal elementary and junior high schools in quake-struck Kumamoto resumed classes Monday for the first time in 18 days after another elementary school reopened last Wednesday.
The city hopes to restart classes at 118 other schools and kindergartens on May 10, after the Golden Week holidays end. Some schools could see delays."
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/02/national/handful-schools-reopen-kumamoto-rescue-efforts-wind/
Handful of schools reopen in Kumamoto as rescue efforts wind down | The Japan Times
Twenty-three municipal elementary and junior high schools in quake-struck Kumamoto resumed classes Monday for the first time in 18 days after another eleme

The reduction in spring water feeding into Suizenji is an issue we've touch on before. Personally, this issue has made me wonder if a lack of water in Suizenji may not also be leading to a lack of water in Ezuko because, as a map image I'll add in a comment shows, Suizenji feeds into Ezuko.
The answer to my question is "It depends who you ask." The official answer is that the situation in Ezuko is basically unchanged:
http://www.ezuko-park.com/blog/?p=13216
However, an unofficial blog offers visual evidence to the contrary:
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/gangee0215/e/e88b48a648d357760ee4c8065a850d6b
I hope the official version is closer to the truth.
-- KIrk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/02/national/quake-hit-kumamoto-gardens-spring-fed-pond-dries/
Quake-hit Kumamoto garden's spring-fed pond dries up | The Japan Times
A traditional garden in Kumamoto Prefecture landscaped around a natural springs pond has mainly dried up since a series of huge earthquakes hit the area in

Bloomberg has a useful explanation of the shindo system for those unfamiliar or who would like to tell their friends and family. The article notes, "At shindo 7, the JMA says, it is 'impossible to remain standing.' People may be 'thrown through the air,' wooden buildings may fall down, and even reinforced concrete walls may collapse."
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-19/-impossible-to-remain-standing-japan-s-quake-scale-explained
Tag: Understandingwhathappened
`Impossible to Remain Standing': Japan's Quake Scale
On April 15, the day after the first in a series of damaging earthquakes struck a rural part of southern Japan, all of the nation’s major newspapers carried the same headline: "Shindo 7 in Kumamoto." No further explanation was needed.

"The nuclear village has also overcome massive demonstrations and opposition to nuclear power and revved up a reactor near quake-stricken Kumamoto despite having a dubious evacuation plan and its proximity to active volcanoes."
This article mentions the situation in Kumamoto the nuclear plant in Sendai (near Minamata) but it is primarily about the failure of the media to actively oppose government pronouncements.
-- Kirk
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/04/30/commentary/japans-meek-media-kowtows-government/
Japan's meek media kowtows to the government | The Japan Times
Last week I compared the Catholic Church in Boston and Japan's "nuclear village" of atomic-power advocates — two powerful institutions that stifled e