Tag: ‘Volcano’

Video: Kirishima volcano eruption

27 Jan 2011


+ Video

Shinmoe peak (Shinmoe-dake), part of the Kirishima volcano group in southern Kyushu, began erupting yesterday (Jan 26) in dramatic fashion. The eruption, thought to be the largest at Kirishima since 1959, sent a plume of ash 1,500 meters into the air, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a Level 3 volcano warning for the surrounding area. This spectacular footage of the eruption was captured by an observer in the area.


+ Video

Last night's action was also captured on a webcam at Kirishima [click "霧島山 猪子石(新燃岳)" in the menu on the right to display the latest image], and the still images were pieced together into a time-lapse video.


+ Video

Vintage PopSci: Volcano bombs, yubiwaza & more

11 Mar 2010

Popular Science recently put its entire 137-year archive online. Here are a few summaries of some of the older, more captivating stories about Japan from the collection.

* * * * *

"Can We Blast Japan from Below?" (January 1944) is an article by an eminent geologist who proposes bombing Japan's volcanoes as a strategy for winning the war.

Popular Science, Jan 1944 --

Given Japan's seismic instability and the explosive nature of volcanoes, dropping bombs into volcanic craters might, in the words of the author, "cause such a vomiting of lava and ash as to hasten the day of unconditional surrender."

* * * * *

"Japanese Home Life" (May 1893) examines daily domestic routines, including the telling of ghost stories around the fireplace at night. The article includes a spooky tale about shape-shifting badgers.

* * * * *

Popular Science, Jan 1971--

The January 1971 issue includes a short article about a "Wankel/electric hybrid concept car from Japan," an environmentally-friendly urban transport vehicle that resembles a helicopter cockpit.

* * * * *

"Upside-down Skyscrapers Proposed in Japan" (January 1929) describes a proposal to build an 80-floor subterranean building that descends 1,100 feet below ground. The envisioned structure -- dreamed up by architects seeking earthquake-proof designs after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 -- would include electric lights, telephones and high-speed elevators, and would cost an estimated $11 million to complete.

* * * * *

Popular Science, Oct 1917 --

"Nasty Job This -- Cleaning Customers' Ears" (October 1917) takes a brief look at what used to be a common service provided by Japanese barbers.

* * * * *

"Odd Rules Hamper Our Cars Abroad" (October 1930) examines some of the peculiar difficulties that American automakers faced when trying to sell cars abroad. In Japan, for example, the law used to forbid private citizens from owning maroon-colored cars -- this color was reserved for the royal family. Yellow cabs also proved to be unpopular because, according to the article, the color is associated with mourning. Japanese laws also required tail-light switches to be located at the rear of the vehicle, and special mudflaps had to be attached whenever it began to rain (to prevent pedestrians from being splashed). Taxis also had to be outfitted with two horns -- an electric horn and and a bulb horn -- and it was customary for each taxi driver to employ an assistant whose primary duty was to operate the auxiliary horn as they sped through the streets.

* * * * *

"Strange Medicines" (October 1887) discusses the spread of Western medicine through Japan. The author explores the back streets of Osaka in search of traditional medicine and explains, among other things, the old-school trade of kuroyaki (charred animals).

* * * * *

"Japan's Greeting to the New Year," (May 1921) briefly describes a Japanese New Year practice where children put on fantastic masks made of paper.

Popular Science, May 1921 --

According to the article, the symbolic masks often represent traditional figures and "have a special meaning, other than just being grotesque."

* * * * *

"Animal and Plant Lore" (July 1891) examines the use of human saliva in various forms of folk medicine from around the world. The article presents a Japanese folk remedy for curing the numbness in the lower extremities that inevitably occurs when sitting too long with legs folded in the traditional formal style. To restore feeling in your legs, you should wet a piece of straw with saliva, stick it to your forehead, and chant "shibire kyo e agare" -- lit. "numbness, go up to Kyo (Kyoto)."

* * * * *

The February 1964 issue includes a long and wordy advertisement for a $1.98 booklet that teaches the secret art of Yubiwaza, an easy-to-master self-defense technique that turns one's finger into a powerful weapon.

Popular Science, Feb 1964 --

According to the ad, Yubiwaza is an "effective means of defense against hoodlums, bullies, wise guys and juvenile delinquents who respect neither lives nor property."

[More: Popular Science articles on Japan]

Photos of Sakurajima volcano

25 Feb 2010

On a recent visit to Japan, alien landscape photographer Martin Rietze captured some spectacular images of Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima prefecture.

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Multiple lightning flashes caused by fast moving fine ash

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Lava bombs hitting the flank

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Strombolian eruption with lightning

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Detail with multiple lightning flashes

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Lava brightens the ash cloud

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Ash eruption causing lightning

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --
Violent eruption

Sakurajima volcano, photo by Martin Rietze --

The photos were taken between December 24, 2009 and January 10, 2010.

[Link: Martin Rietze]

Webcam footage of Mt. Asama eruption

03 Feb 2009

Mt. Asama volcano eruption --
[Video link]

Here is some awesome time-lapse footage of the eruption of Mount Asama, an active volcano straddling the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures north of Tokyo, which suddenly awoke in the early morning hours of Monday, February 2. The video was shot between 1:55 and 2:30 AM.

- - - - -

Other cameras captured the volcanic activity from different angles. The time-lapse videos below were created from photos shot at 10-minute intervals. The eruption occurs toward the end of each video.

Mt. Asama volcano eruption --
[Video link]

Mt. Asama volcano eruption --
[Video link]

Mt. Asama volcano eruption --
[Video link]

Latest photos of Mt. Asama: 1, 2, 3.

[Link: Maechan.net]