Posts

The caption below the image identifies the location as in front of the Kumamoto Citizens Hall Sojo University Hall (Sojo Daigaku Shimin Hall), which is very close to the International Center in downtown Kumamoto.
http://mainichi.jp/graph/2015/08/26/20150826k0000m040070000c/017.html

Joe Tomei here, an orchestra I play with, The Sinfonietta, will be giving a concert on 6 Sept from 2 pm at the Prefectural Theatre. We'll be playing Beethoven's Children of Prometheus Overture, Haydn's 101st (The Clock) Symphony and Beethoven's Violin Concerto. The website is here
http://www.the-sinfonietta.org/
If anyone would like tickets, I have them, and if you come, please say hi, I'll be the horn player with the bad posture...

The storm has passed but as of 5 PM, many households are still without power. I see no indication of Kyuden's site as to when the power can be restored. Judging from the relative lack of progress since this morning, it may take a while.
http://www.kyuden.co.jp/emergency/kyushu.html

Here's a quote from the article:
"At least seven people were injured in Kumamoto, Oita and Kagoshima prefectures, and more than 470,000 households in Kyushu were without power as of 8 a.m. Municipalities in Kyushu issued evacuation orders and advisories and urged residents to stay alert.
According to Kumamoto Prefectural Police, strong winds overturned four trucks, injuring three drivers. A man in his 50s also sustained cuts on his leg from broken windows in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, police said.
Kyushu Railway Co. suspended all local train services and services on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line, and West Japan Railway Co. suspended services between Hiroshima Station and Hakata Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line."
See the article for more.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/08/25/national/powerful-typhoon-makes-landfall-lashes-southern-japan/
Powerful typhoon makes landfall, lashes southern Japan | The Japan Times
A powerful typhoon made landfall in Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday morning, lashing the main island of Kyushu and causing blackouts and disrupting air traf

A wall on the grounds of the Hosokawa Gyobutei (Hosokawa Mansion), near the castle, has been toppled by the storm. For more information about this traditional samurai residence (one of Kumamoto's tourist attractions) see
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-museums/hosokawa-gyobutei-former-hosokawa-mansion

Many people in Kumamoto are experiencing power outages. The percentages of households without power are indicated by the color code of this map.
http://www.kyuden.co.jp/emergency/kyushu.html

This Twitter image is identified as Tatsuta in Kumamoto City:
https://twitter.com/tiko03/status/635957163890880512/photo/1

This image from Twitter is identified as "central Kumamoto City." Apparently, a vending machine was blown by the wind and crushed a bicycle.
https://twitter.com/kanshima10/status/635923763956092928/photo/1

The typhoon has arrived in Kyushu at the Category 3 level -- considerably stronger that I had anticipated. Hurricane Katrina, which caused so much devastation in 2005 when it hit New Orleans, was also a Category 3 storm at landfall:
"Katrina made its second landfall at 1110 UTC on August 29 as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) near Buras-Triumph, Louisiana."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina
The bulk of the damage in New Orleans was caused by flooding. I doubt we will see anything like that in Kumamoto. Nonetheless, the Category 3 status tells us that his is indeed a strong and potentially dangerous cyclone.
http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

This animation of satellite images shows the approach of the storm to Kumamoto over the past 24 hours. The center of the storm is currently over Kumamoto. At my home in Obiyama, the wind is very strong -- hopefully not strong enough to cause any damage, though.
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/gms/index.html?area=0&element=0

This little animation comes from
http://kumamoto.wni.co.jp/radar/rnkg/info_frame.html
Go to the site at any time to get a clearer idea of where the storm is.

This NHK report, broadcast nationally at 7PM today, indicates that the gusts hitting Kyushu may be powerful enough (up to 215 kilometers per hour!) in some places to knock down poles supporting powerlines. I cut off the video a little too early but they also indicate that heavy rains may be a serious problem as well.

This image indicates when the storm is predicted to pass through Kumamoto. I've used an image from the Japanese side of the JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency) site because the times are local (the equivalent English page has the times in UTC -- a fairly clear indication that the information is intended for international researchers, not actual human beings who live in Japan). Note that, unlike the the TropicalStormRisk site (see my previous post), the JMA site predicts that the storm will hit Kumamoto directly. Fortunately, it's not a super typhoon but, on the other hand, you need to take it seriously if you live in a vulnerable area. I'll try to post evacuation notices and other information as it becomes available.
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/151524.html

The probability that Kumamoto will experience tropical winds has increased. I'm showing a projection for the next 36 hours but I think we can expect to begin to feel the effects of the storm as early as tonight (Monday) or early Tuesday. "Prepare to evacuate" notices have been issued in Amakusa, Minamata, Tsunagi, and Asagiri. More later . . .
http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

The probability of tropical storm winds hitting Kumamoto by Tuesday is fairly high:
http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

About a year ago, the body of the female victim was found in some mountains near Hitoyoshi:
"The Kumamoto Prefectural Police have set up a team to look into the case, suspecting it is that of Mayuko Arakawa, 17, who was reportedly killed and whose body was abandoned in the mountains, they said Sunday."
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/06/09/national/crime-legal/body-found-rural-kumamoto-believed-missing-teen-girl/#.VdglnbSyty7
According to this article, the murderer was given a sentence of 18 years for the crime:
"Akaishi received an 18-year prison sentence for murdering a third-year high school [student]."
Personally, I'm not in favor of the death penalty but 18 years strikes me as light punishment for the murder of a young person with a lifetime ahead of her.
http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2015/08/22/kumamoto-inmate-commits-suicide-with-underwear/
Kumamoto inmate commits suicide with underwear
Wataru Akaishi was found hanging from the bars of his cell on Tuesday night

The typhoon is predicted to arrive in Kumamoto on Tuesday the 25th.
http://rkk.jp/tenki/taihu.php

This typhoon, one of two being discussed regularly on Japanese news broadcasts, is heading in our direction. Fortunately, it is predicted to be much weaker by the time it arrives. I'll post more about this as the storm approaches.
The other typhoon is currently a Category 4 -- downgraded from a Category 5 super typhoon. Category 5 storms are fairly rare but extremely dangerous. It's a good thing that the storm was not near a population center when it was at its strongest.
http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

For Kumamon and/or anime fans . . .
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-08-01/kumamon-shows-his-kumamoto-school-spirit-in-yowapeda-campaign/.91142
Kumamon Shows His Kumamoto School Spirit in Yowapeda Campaign
Hot off his motorcycle racing tour with actor Keanu Reeves, lovable Japanese mascot Kumamon is setting his sights on cycling with the Yowamushi Pedal crew....

Here's a report on the recent festival in Yamaga:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201508180027
PHOTO: Centuries-old Kumamoto lantern festival evokes dreamlike world - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
YAMAGA, Kumamoto Prefecture--About 1,000 women dancing with glowing lanterns on their heads mesmerized crowds here in a performance during the Yamaga lantern festival.