Posts

If you've got a lot of money . . .
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/09/25/national/kyushu-cruise-train-full-steam-ahead-despite-high-fares/
Kyushu 'cruise train' full steam ahead despite high fares | The Japan Times
Wealthy travelers from Japan and abroad are continuing to flock to Kyushu Railway Co.'s luxury "cruise train," prompting other railways to offer similar to

See the following link for an essay in English about dolphin watching in Amakusa:
http://kumanago.jp/en/blog/2015/09/24/dolphin-watching-in-amakusa.html

While I'm on the subject of Kabuki and Yachiyoza (see previous post), I'd like to introduce this. It's even more expensive then the performance next week but the performer, Tamasaburo (and onna-gata, male performer of female roles) is probably Japan's most famous kabuki artist. It's expensive, but if you can afford it and have the time, I think it will be a performance you won't soon forget.
-- Kirk
http://www.yachiyoza.com/kouenguid.html

A bit pricey but this is a rare opportunity to see first-rate Kabuki at Yachiyoza in Yamaga. Performances start and noon and 4 PM on the days listed, but be sure to make reservations. I think performances are likely to sell out -- even at these prices. The weekend performances, for example, are already sold out.
-- Kirk
http://www.yachiyoza.com/kouenguid.html

If you'd like to see a news video in Japanese about the recent Santa Convention in Amakusa, click on the link below. In the picture you see Santa is practicing zazen.
http://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newseye2595154.html

Here's a video report on yesterday's festival. If you were there, you might want to look for yourself in the coverage. :)
I don't think it's mentioned in this report but elsewhere I heard that a man fell and was stepped on by one of the horses. Fortunately, however, the injuries were reported to be relatively light.
-- Kirk
https://youtu.be/cmj5a0P9skE
20150920am 1

This map shows the route and times for Sunday's parade. You can find the original at
http://www.fujisakigu.or.jp/reisai/onmitisuji.html

If you'd like to read a detailed description and analysis of Sunday's festival that was written by a Japanese academic, go to
http://www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp/ijcc/wp/cpjr/folkbeliefs/ashida.html

Here's an article about the upcoming festival. As I wrote earlier, I think the best viewing time will be early morning on Sunday, the 20th.
http://uncoveringjapan.com/2015/09/09/festival-focus-fujisaki-hachimangu-kumamoto/
Festival Focus: Fujisaki Hachimangu (Kumamoto)
The leaves may not be turning until November, but Kumamoto likes to kick off the autumn early with the five-day fall festival at the city's Fujisaki Hachiman Shrine. While the weather may still be ...

The main parade of the Great Festival of Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine (Fujisakigu Aki no Reitaisai) starts this Sunday morning a 6 AM. The festivities will continue for much of the day but people generally agree that the festival is best in the morning, when everyone is still fresh. I'll post more later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwhiaBGQ6eE
Kirk

A friend of mine posted about the need for host families:
https://www.facebook.com/Kumamotoi/posts/10206784289581455
The image you see below is from the website she linked to. Yoroshiku!!
-- KIrk

The researcher you see in the first picture is standing next to a large rock that was thrown out of the volcano during the eruption. The wooden guardrail in the second picture is presumed to have been broken by another rock, probably of much smaller size.
Links to these pictures may be found at
http://www.asahi.com/articles/photo/AS20150915004545.html
-- Kirk

A warning I posted yesterday said "due to possible volcanic rock activity, entry within 2 kilometers of the crater is prohibited." Kusasenri, where the volcano museum is located, is just over two kilometers away so tourists were there today to enjoy the view.
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20150915-00000094-san-soci.view-000
-- Kirk
阿蘇山噴火　警戒も観光客続々　消防職員ら対策本部常駐（産経新聞） - Yahoo!ニュース
噴火から一夜明け、警戒態勢が続くも阿蘇山周辺に多くの観光客が詰めかけた　＝１５日 - Yahoo!ニュース(産経新聞)

If you would like to see what the volcano is doing at any given time, try this live camera:
http://rkk.jp/livecamera/aso_live.php
The reports I've seen indicate that the volcano has settled down a bit since yesterday. On the other hand, I heard an expert on TV say that he expected the volcano to be relatively unstable (that is, to behave more-or-less as it has for the past year or so) for a few more years.
-- Kirk
RKK熊本放送 http://rkk.jp
九州熊本のラジオ＆テレビ放送局！(TBSテレビ系列) Ustream/Twitter/Facebook/foursquare にアクセス！

"The volcanic warning of the current Aso eruption, which began on August 30, 2014, has been raised from Level 2 (Do not approach the crater) to Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano)."
For more information, go to
http://kumanago.jp/whatsnew/?mode=detail&id=366
The image, by the way, is from
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/2124712/1442194697000/large16x9/640/360/mount-aso-japan.jpg
I did not realize that the eruption was this clearly visible from the city.
-- Kirk
Information on tourist destinations around the Aso area
The volcanic warning of the current Aso eruption, which began on August 30, 2014, has been raised from Level 2 (Do not approach the crater) to Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano).While entry within 2 kilometers of the crater is prohibited due to possible volcanic rock activity, areas such as the A…

Here's another highly accelerated view of the eruption. The original video can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnhktL7511Y

Here is an article from the Guardian with more detail about the eruption:
--- start quote ---
Mount Aso, a volcano on Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu, erupted on Monday, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said, blasting a plume of black smoke 2km (1.2 miles) high, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The 1,592-metre (5,222ft) Mount Aso is one of the most active peaks in Japan but is also a popular hiking spot. There were a handful of people at a parking lot near the peak but they were being evacuated safely, officials said.
--- end quote ---
Please read the rest of the article on line.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/14/japanese-volcano-mount-aso-on-island-of-kyushu-erupts
Japanese volcano Mount Aso on island of Kyushu erupts
Volcano sends plume of ash and smoke 2km into the air as Japanese power company says the recently restarted Sendai nuclear plant would be unaffected

This is a very condensed version of a YouTube video showing this morning's eruption of Mt Aso. Here is the URL of the original (and much slower) YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhPUHE3uXEo

This nuclear plant is located just south of Kumamoto Prefecture. If there were to be an accident, it would certain have a major impact on Minamata and probably much of the rest of Kumamoto. There have been many protests against the planned restarting.
Sendai Nuke Plant Set for Full Restart
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority began its final inspection of Kyushu Electric Power’s No. 1 reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture (Output: 890,000 kW). If the inspe...

"Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Kumamoto Prefectural Government (Kumamoto Prefecture Foreign Trade Association) opened its representative office in Hong Kong today (September 11), aiming to use the city to enhance promotion of the prefecture's tourism and agricultural and marine products in Asia."
To read the entire article go to
http://7thspace.com/headlines/516745/kumamoto_prefectural_government_opens_office_in_hong_kong.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/20689172834/in/album-72157658353069152/
Kumamoto Prefectural Government Hong Kong representative office
From left: The Director and Managing Executive Officer of the Higo Bank Ltd, Mr Satoshi Tsuchiyama; the Chief Director of the Kumamoto Prefectural Hong Kong Representative Office, Mr Hideki Nishiyama; and the Director, Distribution Planning Division of Kumamoto Prefectural Government, Mr Makoto Arak…