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This Newsweek article has two stunning photos of Mt Aso's recent activity.
http://www.newsweek.com/mount-aso-one-worlds-largest-volcanoes-erupts-japan-287923
Mount Aso, One of World's Largest Volcanoes, Erupts in Japan
So far, no injuries have been reported, though dozens of flights in the area have been canceled.

It you are interested in Soseki NATSUME (one of Japan's literary giants) and can understand explanations in Japanese, you may enjoy this video. Soseki came to Kumamoto in 1896 to teach English and lived here for about 4 years before going to England. For more information in English see
http://tul.library.tohoku.ac.jp/modules/coll/index.php?content_id=17
http://youtu.be/U50caSSkYMc
熊本に生きた夏目漱石 Soseki NATSUME, who lived in Kumamoto.
明治の文豪、夏目漱石。 実は、ここ熊本は漱石にとって特別な場所。 ゆかりの地を巡れば、知られざる漱石の素顔に出会えます。 Soseki NATSUME, a great writer in the Meiji period. In fact, Kumamoto was a special place for hi...

Here's a news report from RKK about the Mt. Aso's volcanic activity.
http://youtu.be/NXJXvYKq5UM

"Since September 2013, volcanic warnings issued for Mount Aso have wavered between Level 1, meaning the mountain is in a normal state, and Level 2, whereby the crater is placed off limits. In August, the warning was bumped back up to Level 2."
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201411270066
Mount Aso eruptions disrupt flights - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Mount Aso continued to erupt on Nov. 27, causing the cancellation of flights and prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a warning to residents around the volcano in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Santa Kohei Yamashita has gone all the way to win the "Santa of the year 2014" title in Gällivare, Swedish Lapland. A Japanese report I read says that Santa Yamashita hails from Amakusa, where the contest to choose the Santa to represent Japan is held each year. Amakusa seems to have been chosen because of the long history Christianity there.
http://visitgellivare.wix.com/santa-winter-games

There were a couple of small eruptions at Mt. Aso today.
http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00281475.html
阿蘇山で小規模噴火　火口周辺1km以内に立ち入らないよう呼びかけ

Joe Tomei here and we've restarted the JALT chapter and the first order of business is, of course, a bonnenkai (year-end party), which we are hoping to have it starting at 7:30 on 12 Dec (Friday). You don't need to be a member to attend; and you can let us know through this form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f--HJqdlrRSpoJUwLx0DvOjr4czbklGe3Gss2wzjHj8/viewform
or, if you have any problems, sending a mail to me at tomeiter (at) gmail.com with your name, a way to contact you by 3 Dec (Wed) evening, so we can make sure we have enough space.
If you are interested in joining JALT, you can join online at http://jalt.org/joining; just choose NanKyu as your chapter.
JALT has a number of other groups doing interesting things, too, so if you'd like more information, please contact us at nankyujalt (at) gmail.com
NanKyu JALT chapter end of the year party
The party will be Friday Dec 12th. We will close this form Wednesday evening, Dec 3rd, and then contact you if you express interest, asking for an RSVP and reserving a place. Thanks and hope to see you!

Here's a Kyodo news report about Kumamon's most recent triumph.
http://english.kyodonews.jp/photos/2014/11/323400.html
Kumamon receives Word of Mouth Marketing Association award | Photos | Kyodo News

The new mayor of Kumamoto is ONISHI Kazufumi. I did not post the election results sooner because I was waiting for something to be published in English about the election that I could merely share. Since nothing has come my way in English, I decided to share a Japanese article.
http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASGCG748LGCGTLVB01C.html
熊本）大西氏に指定市託す　熊本市長選で初当選：朝日新聞デジタル
　政令指定都市に移行して初めてとなった熊本市長選は、序盤から優位とみられていた前県議の大西一史氏（４６）が、他の新顔２人をおさえ、初当選した。早い段階からマニフェストを意識した対話集会を開き、一方で自

A national scandal with local connections . . .
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001727804
Tokuda ‘took kickbacks, dodged tax on ¥100 million’ - The Japan News
Torao Tokuda, former head of the Tokushukai hospital group, has been accused by the Kumamoto Regional Taxation Bureau of keeping a secret fund of about ¥100 million, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned from sources.

"Last month, the Kumamoto District Court ordered a local bank to pay ¥130 million in compensation to the family of a 40-year-old employee who committed suicide after suffering from depression that the court determined had been induced from overwork."
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/11/15/editorials/getting-a-grip-on-karoshi/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=getting-a-grip-on-karoshi#.VGvW4Ieyty4
Getting a grip on karoshi | The Japan Times
A new law aimed at preventing death from overwork is just the first step toward protecting employees' well-being.

Japanese Cultural Experience Day at the Kumamoto City International Center
Details about this event are presented in English in the attached image.
For information in Japanese, go to
http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/kcic/news/topics_detail.asp?LC=j&PageID=6&ID=9652&type=1

Here's some information about the upcoming Myoken Festival.
http://kumanago.jp/en/events/detail/430000003709.html
Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Kumamoto Nagomi Tourism Site
Why not take it easy in the breathtaking nature of Kumamoto, the “Land of Fire”? Nagomi Travel Journal, the sightseeing website of Kumamoto Prefecture, features a wealth of information on Kumamoto, including diverse sightseeing areas, delicious local specialty products, traditional handicrafts, even…

This was a major story on NHK's national evening news broadcast (7 PM, Friday).
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/07/business/corporate-business/higo-and-kagoshima-banks-talk-of-merger/
Higo and Kagoshima banks talk of merger | The Japan Times
Higo Bank and Kagoshima Bank are finalizing talks on a merger, officials said on Friday, amid broader realignment moves in the regional banking sector. The

Joe Tomei here. Am in Ashikita for an Iaido grading and saw this poster for an exhibition sumo match on 30 November. Details at the bottom of the poster

I have a request from a friend. She says that the mother of an Egyptian student studying in Kumamoto is visiting now and would like to attend the festival in Kengun this weekend. Unfortunately, though, the mother does not speak Japanese or English. If you are planning to come to the event on Sunday and you speak Arabic and wouldn't mind helping a little, could you please send me a message? If you are willing to help, just send a message to this page, if you don't mind.
-- Kirk Masden

Congratulations to Prof. Mitsuya!
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001684972
HIV treatment developer wins 21st Yomiuri award - The Japan News
Kumamoto University Prof. Hiroaki Mitsuya, 64, who is committed to saving the lives of poor people in developing countries by developing drugs for HIV/AIDS, will be awarded the 21st Yomiuri International Cooperation Prize. Special prizes will go to three organizations — the Japan Overseas Cooperatio…

I'm posting this sad news here because I read in other reports that Ms. Yoshikubo was originally from Kumamoto.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/atsumi-yoshikubo-missing-woman-in-yellowknife-presumed-dead-1.2823016
失跡目的で現地入りか　吉窪さん捜査、カナダ警察
　【ニューヨーク共同】カナダの連邦警察は４日、北部ノースウェスト準州イエローナイフを訪問中に行方が分からなくなっている日本人女性、吉窪昌美さん＝失跡当時（４５）、熊本県宇土市出身＝は、当初から消息を絶つ目的で現地入りしていたとの見方を示した。
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2014110501001256.html
Atsumi Yoshikubo 'planned to go missing' in Yellowknife: RCMP
Yellowknife RCMP now say Atsumi Yoshikubo, a Japanese tourist reported missing two weeks ago, ‘arrived in Yellowknife with a plan to go into the wilderness alone and become a missing person.’ She’s now presumed dead.

This is national news that some in Kumamoto may want to make use of. By the way, I (Kirk Masden here) am an Amazon user who enjoys the convenience but is also uncomfortable with the size and influence of the company.
http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Consumers/Tie-up-extends-Amazon-s-reach-to-Lawson-stores
Tie-up extends Amazon's reach to Lawson stores- Nikkei Asian Review
TOKYO -- Visitors to Lawson convenience stores can order goods from e-commerce giant Amazon Japan for pickup later under a partnership announced Tuesd

Most of Kumamoto Castle was destroyed in the Satsuma Rebellion (called the "Seinan Senso" in Japanese) of 1877 -- but not all of it. As this article reminds us, the Utoyagura (the turret shown in the picture, which is near the main castle) was left untouched. If you visit the castle, be sure to take a look inside this smaller but completely authentic structure.
"For example, the Yomei Gate of Nikko Toshogu shrine in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and the Utoyagura turret of Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto — both visited by Bird during her trip to Japan — are virtually unchanged."
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001658295
Landscapes a century ago and now: Photo book retraces footsteps of British explorer Isabella...
KYOTO — A collection of photographs retracing the footsteps of famed 19th-century British explorer Isabella Bird has been published with the expressed aim of visually comparing travel during her time and today.