Posts
Joe Tomei here. This came in another email list and I thought it would be worth passing on.
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Medical Insurance -- when to schedule operations
I have found out that it is very important as to when you schedule a
major medical procedure here if you are using the National Health
Insurance (NHI). I just had both knees worked on -- a 90 man procedure that cost me 16 man because I had it done at the end of the month. If I had had it done at the beginning of the month, it probably would have
cost 10 man. Why?
Each of us under the 30-70 rule pays 30% up until a cap that is
determined by our current income. Each of us on this list probably has a different cap. When the cap is reached for that month, the 30% becomes 1% for all additional charges and NHI or the Prefecture pick up the balance. NHI does this on a monthly calendar basis so it costs more if your hospitalization/treatment goes into a second calendar month.
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The other day I expressed my puzzlement at why a World Order video focusing on Kyushu was only promoted in Chinese. This article may constitute a partial explanation -- but I still think they should take advantage of the new video by promoting it in other languages as well.
http://fukuoka-now.com/news/kyushu-ups-pr-efforts-as-weak-yen-draws-more-chinese-to-kyushu/
Kyushu Ups PR Efforts As Weak Yen Draws More Chinese To Kyushu | Fukuoka Now
Your guide to the best of Fukuoka!
Here's another article related to the joint exercises between the U.S. Marines and Japan's Self-Defense Forces that are being held in Kumamoto.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/09/marines-japanese-students-share-culture.html
Marines, Japanese Students Share Culture
KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE, Japan – U.S. Marines participating in exercise Forest Light 15-1 visited with high school students here Dec. 5. A group of 11 Marines took time out of their bilateral training to speak with students at Kumamoto’s Kaishin and Chinzei high schools. The school visits centered ...
The osprey (the introduction of which to Okinawa was quite controversial) flew in and out of Kumamoto Airport. I saw something on TV about the governor taking a ride. (Posted by Kirk)
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/895648.shtml
You can find another article about the military maneuvers here:
http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/555400/one-shot-marines-jgsdf-complete-sniper-training.aspx
On light maneuvers - Global Times
A US Marines MV-22 Osprey takes part in the joint military exercise Forest Light 15-1 with the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.
World Order does Kumamoto and other spots in Kyushu.
This promotion is intended for Chinese audiences. The video has been put up on China's YouKu, not YouTube. But you don't need knowledge of Chinese to enjoy the video if you are a World Order fan:
http://welcome2japan.cn/vj2014/worldorder/index.php
These images are from the December 3rd edition of NHK's morning news program (おはよう日本). The expert from Kumamoto University is saying, based on past experience, that the eruptions are likely to continue for 4 or 5 years.
This article says that the restricted area around the Aso volcano has been extended to 1.5 km at night. During the day, the restriction remains at 1 km.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/kumamoto/news/20141204-OYTNT50288.html
阿蘇中岳の立ち入り規制 夜間は半径１．５キロに拡大
阿蘇市などでつくる阿蘇火山防災会議協議会（会長・佐藤義興市長）は４日、阿蘇中岳第１火口の噴火を受け、臨時総会を開いた。火口から半径１キロ圏内としている立ち入り規制区域を、夜間に限って１・５キロまで拡大することを決めた。実施時期は早急に詰める。
It's cold! If you are driving into the mountains, you will probably need to have snow chains.
http://youtu.be/O8SyZwkvkeQ
US Marines and Japanese Self-Defence Forces held joint exercises in Yamato, Kumamoto.
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/149339/forest-light-brings-japan-forces-and-us-marines-together#.VIAqcYuyty4
Forest Light brings Japan forces and US Marines together
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and U.S. Marines came together in a ceremony Dec. 1 to open up exercise Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.
Mt. Aso's activity continues. Here's a video put out by TKU on the 3rd:
http://youtu.be/4EE2GWh21fo
20141203sp 1
Here's a photo by Gonzaga Barreira that was published on the BBC site. It came with the following caption:
"Nakadake volcano in Japan erupted for the first time in 25 years, covering surrounding villages in volcanic ash. Gonzaga Barreira was in Mount Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, when he took the picture. He said: 'It's the biggest volcano in Japan and has one of the biggest calderas in the world, with a few thousand people living inside the caldera.'"
http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-30258960
Your week in pictures
News events from around the world as photographed by you.
One problem with volcanic activity is trouble that is caused by the ash. The ash can cause flights to be canceled (as has already happened) and the particles in the ash can damage car paint, etc. So, to help people cope, the Japan Meteorological Agency has started to issue predictions of areas that will be affected by the stuff. Unfortunately, I think the information is only available in Japanese:
http://www.data.jma.go.jp/svd/vois/data/tokyo/STOCK/kouhai/kouhai.html
They don't issue reports every day. I assume that the reports are only issued when the ash is expected to cause significant problems.
This article is already old but I thought I'd post it because I think many readers who have actually visited the volcano might remember the shelters shown in the picture. I wonder when the public will be allowed to visit this area again.
(Posted by Kirk)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/28/national/mount-aso-spews-first-magma-in-over-two-decades/#.VHt1WIuyu0w
Mount Aso spews first magma in over two decades | The Japan Times
Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture is experiencing its first magmatic eruption in 21 years, the Metrological Agency's regional headquarters in Fukuoka announ
This video from RKK contains some good moving images of what is happening at Mt. Aso.
http://youtu.be/NJ0-DQTvorE
More stunning images and one video of recent activity can be found on this page:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2852674/Volcano-south-Japan-erupts-disrupting-flights.html#v-3913822008001
Volcano in south Japan erupts, disrupting flights
TOKYO (AP) — A volcano in southern Japan blasted out chunks of magma Friday in the first such eruption in 22 years, causing flight cancellations and promptin...
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.
