Typhoon Month

- A couple of typhoons, outside BBQ, and more setting up.

Picture - Storm surge and waves hitting a pier along the west coast.

The important news for this month was a couple of strong typhoons which hit the island within a week of one another. For a total meteorology geek like me these storms were way cool, albeit strong storms which decimated the farm and sections of the house.

This month we actually got around to setting up the BBQ, do a little fishing, and continued to work on this place.
Seiyu Purchase and Friends Visit

- Today our first purchase online from Seiyu came. Me and Shai watched a house in the neighborhood get demolished.

Picture - Home - The Seiyu purchase came 1.
Picture - Home - The Seiyu purchase came 2.
Picture - Home - A neighborhood house is being demolished 1.
Picture - Home - A neighborhood house is being demolished 2.
Picture - Home - A neighborhood house is being demolished 3.
Picture - Home - A neighborhood house is being demolished 4.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 1.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 2.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 3.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 4.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 5.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 6.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 7.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 8.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 9.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 10.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 11.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 12.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends tonight 13.
Friends Return Home

- We were hanging out with our friends who stayed overnight and then went home today.

Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends again today 1.
Picture - Home - We were hanging out with friends again today 2.
Typhoon Phanfone

- Typhoon Phanfone was our first typhoon since we moved to Tanegashima about a month before. The storm hit the island as a strong category 2 typhoon. The strong winds and rain pretty much decimated the newly sown veggies in the farm. Ah but at least we were able to enjoy a typhoon party. lol.

Picture - Us all ready for our typhoon party.

Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Waves slamming into the pier.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Incredible storm surge.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Utility pole swaying in the wind.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Farms close to Maenohama.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Almost blown off Kadokura Cape.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Trickle stream became torrential.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Tons of debris all over the roads.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Barn door was blown off.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Roads were a mess.
Picture - Home - A picture of the upper farm during the storm.
Picture - Home - A flooded out farm.
Picture - Home - The farm continued to receive strong winds and a lot of rain.
Picture - Home - The rain continued and the newly sown seeds where getting washed away.
Picture - Home - The lower farm located on the other side of the house really became flooded thanks partially to a lack of good drainage.
Picture - Home - Hey what is a typhoon without a party. We decided to visit the local grocery store, which was actually open.
Picture - Home - Yeah we were smiling but a bit nervous as debris began to fly all over the farms.
Picture - Home - Um a bit of beer, juice, milk tea, and a bunch of fried food and snacks....only for today.
Picture - Home - Basically a better picture of the same food.
Typhoon Phanfone Storm Damage

- Typhoon Phanfone did a pretty good job rearranging the house and destroying the farms.

Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 1.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 2.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 3.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 4.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 5.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 6.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 7.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 8.
Picture - Home - Typhoon Phanfone storm damage 9.
Before Launch

- Today was a really busy day for us. We spent most of today at Hase Park watching a rocket launch from the Tanegashima Space Center. They pick up the garbage in this neighborhood every Tuesday and Friday at about 8:00 am. The residents of this community put their trash in special bags sold at the grocery store and then put the bags in a small building for pick up.

Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - This is a typical garbage collection building in Minamitane town.
Picture - Home - And More Typhoon Phanfone storm damage.
Picture - Hase Park - A map of the park.
Picture - Hase Park - Our lunch menu for today.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 1.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 2.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 3.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 4.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 5.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 6.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the playground 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the playground 2.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the playground 3.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the playground.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the playground again 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the playground again 2.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the playground again 3.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the park 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Shai playing in the park 2.
Picture - Hase Park - The crowd before the launch 1.
Picture - Hase Park - The crowd before the launch 2.
Picture - Hase Park - The crowd before the launch 3.
Picture - Hase Park - The crowd before the launch 4.
Launch Sequence

- This is a nice rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center today. Actually all of the 22 pictures span only a couple of minutes.

Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 1
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 2
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 3
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 4
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 5
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 6
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 7
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 8
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 9
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 10
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 11
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 12
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 13
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 14
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 15
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 16
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 17
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 18
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 19
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 20
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 21
Picture - Hase Park - The rocket launch sequence from JAXA Tanegashima Space Center 22
After Launch

- Yup even after the rocket launch was finished, we continued to be busy.

Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out with new friends today 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out with new friends today 2.
Picture - Hase Park - The crowd after the launch.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together with a friend today 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together with a friend today 2.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together 2.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 1.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park 2.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together again 1.
Picture - Hase Park - Us hanging out together again 2.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park again 1.
Picture - Hase Park - A view of the park again 2.
Picture - Hase Park - A poster for the launch today.
Picture - Hase Park - A map of the park.
Nice Views

- After the rocket launch we decided to do a few more fun things.

Picture - Minamitane Town - A nice view of the coast 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - A nice view of the coast 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - A nice view of the coast 3.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Us hanging out together 1.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Us hanging out together 2.
Picture - Minamitane Town - A nice view of the coast again.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - Shai with his really cool three wheel bike.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - Us hanging out together 1.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - Us hanging out together 2.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - Shai with his really nice smile.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - An interesting cloud formation.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - A nice view of the coast.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - A nice sunset behind rock formations.
Picture - Tanegashima Space Center - Us hanging out together and a nice sunset behind rock formations.
Picture - Yasubei Okonomiyaki Restaurant - Us hanging out together.
Picture - Yasubei Okonomiyaki Restaurant - Shai drinking orange juice.
Picture - Yasubei Okonomiyaki Restaurant - The menu for the restaurant 1.
Picture - Yasubei Okonomiyaki Restaurant - The menu for the restaurant 2.
Rainbow Over Nishino

- This a picture of a rainbow which formed close to Minamitane west coast fishing pier number 6.

Picture - Home - And More Typhoon Phanfone storm damage.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Nice picture albeit not that striking.
Propane Fuel Setup

- The propane for the kitchen stove was set up in the house today. This is not really the most exciting post. lol.

Picture - Home - The company came to set up the propane today.
Picture - Home - Another similar picture.
Typhoon Vongfong Preparation

- Geez another typhoon. Typhoon Phanfone, which hit the island about a week earlier caused a considerable amount of damage to the house and the farms. Typhoon Vongfong, now on the way, seemed even stronger. More preparation was definitely in order.

Picture - Home - This is the new dog gate next to the entry of the house.
Picture - Home - Pieces of bamboo where tied up to the patio.
Picture - Home - The wheelbarrow was tied securely to the wall.
Picture - Home - The last typhoon scattered farm supplies all over the upper farm. This time everything was going to be secured.
Picture - Home - A new door for the storage room was built from the wood blown out during the last typhoon.
Picture - Home - The storage room was now the new dog run and this was the temporary cover.
Picture - Home - A view of the new door and roof cover from the front of the dog run.
Picture - Home - The doggies decided to inspect their new area and make sure it was ready for the approaching typhoon.
Picture - Home - Another vinyl sheet was place over the door to keep out the wind and rain.
Picture - Home - The dog run was ready for the storm. Incidentally all of the farm tools in the picture were completely secured to the wall.
Picture - Home - The storm doors were all closed to make sure they all worked. A few of these doors were partially rusted out.
Picture - Home - A useless attempt to protect the flowers the neighbors were growing after the bamboo was cut.
Picture - Minamitane Town - This is the small farmers market in town all boarded up and ready for the typhoon.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Being on Tanegashima means dealing with food and supplies not making it to the island during a typhoon.
Picture - Minamitane Town - The eye of the storm came to the grocery store. Um actually this is the eye of a tuna.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - This is the house of our neighbors across the street. Pretty easy to tell they went though this before. Take a look at the brackets connected to the wall and the wood poles used to hold the wood up over the windows. When these folks board up then you need to worry a bit.
Typhoon Vongfong Arrives

- The second typhoon within a week arrived today. Ahead of the storm were strong winds and an equally strong storm surge. This storm basically wiped out the few things still growing in the farm.

Picture - Waves hitting the fishing piers close to the house.

Picture - Unknown Beach - Really not sure if this was at the beach.
Picture - Unknown Beach - Similar picture of us again.
Picture - Unknown Beach - And again.
Picture - Unknown Beach - And again and again.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - Storm surge changed the beach.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The waves were pretty huge today.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - This river flows to the beach.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Waves around the pier.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Storm surge between piers.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Waves slamming high pier.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Another similar picture.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Wall being slammed.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - We are hanging out at the rock beach close to the house watching the waves.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Yup we were really enjoying hanging out and waiting for the storm.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - The waves were really slamming more rocks onto the beach which became pretty loud.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - The winds were getting stronger now and it seemed like we should return home.
Typhoon Vongfong Continues

- Now the second day of the second typhoon to hit Tanegashima within only a week. This storm had really strong winds, and although we were much more prepared this time around, there was still plenty of damage. Today was not much rain but really strong winds continued to slam the island.

Picture - Home - Really difficult to show the effects of the wind in a picture.
Picture - Home - Actually this was supposed to be a picture of sea foam being blown into the upper farm....probably.
Picture - Home - The trees were really moving back and forth today.
Picture - Home - The few things growing in the farm were pretty much wiped out now after this storm.
Picture - Home - This is a picture of the wind protection sheet and bamboo which was shredded during the storm.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - The fluffy stuff shown in the picture is a collection of sea foam which was blown up onto the beach.
Picture - Maenohama Beach - This is the access road to Maenohama beach which was washed out today.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - This is the fishing pier at the rock beach close to the house.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - This is our favorite fishing pier.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - This is the high pier.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - This picture is showing the waves and storm surge coming between the piers.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - This is a fishing pier along the coast road.
Beautiful Sunset

- Another beautiful sunset behind Yakushima.

Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - An orange glow compliments of the setting sun behind Yakushima.
Picture - Minamitane West Coast Pier #6 - Fishing pier damage from Typhoon Vongfong.
Unusual Rainbow

- This rainbow formed close to Minamitane west coast fishing pier number 6 and another beautiful sunset over Yakushima.

Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - The sky was almost cloudless making this rainbow somewhat unusual.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima.
Beautiful Sunset

- Another beautiful sunset over Yakushima.

Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima.
Laundry Pole and a Beautiful Sunset

- A laundry pole and another beautiful sunset over Yakushima.

Picture - Home - Made a nice laundry pole for the yard.
Picture - Home - Made a nice laundry pole for the yard.
Picture - Home - Made a nice laundry pole for the yard.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima.
Relaxing BBQ and A Beautiful Fishing Place

- This was actually our first barbecue on Tanegashima. We bought a little BBQ set online and worked perfectly. the menu for today was sanma, our favorite Autumn fish.

Picture - A nice day of fishing.

After lunch we went to Minamitane East Coast Pier Number 3 to do some fishing. Tanegashima has an incredible amount of beautiful fishing places. This particular location is adjacent to the very famous Tanegashima Space Center. The views are fantastic and the fishing is supposed to be great.

Picture - Home - Made a nice patio cover for the yard 1.
Picture - Home - Made a nice patio cover for the yard 2.
Picture - Home - A new barbecue set.
Picture - Home - We were ready to eat now.
Picture - Home - This was a very relaxing and quiet afternoon.
Picture - Home - Certainly is nice to sit out next to the farm.
Picture - Home - Another nice picture.
Picture - Home - This is sanma, our favorite fish.
Picture - Home - Ready to be served with daikon and soy sauce.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - Such a beautiful place.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - Shai could not wait for fishing.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A beautiful rock formation.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - This fishing spot also had many nice caves.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - Hey Shai really nice smile.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A fantastic picture of Shai at a beautiful place.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A pretty cave picture.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A really nice view 1.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A really nice view 2.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A really nice view 3.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A really nice view 4.
Picture - Minamitane East Coast Pier #3 - A really nice view 5.
Scratching Post and Another BBQ

- We spent a pretty relaxing day at home. Shai worked on the cat scratching post and then we enjoyed a nice BBQ again.

Picture - Home - Shai was taking the bark off of this tree which would then be used to make a cat climbing pole and scratching post.
Picture - Home - A funny picture of us from behind.
Picture - Home - A nice picture of us from the front.
Halloween Decorations

- A few Halloween decorations were set up outside today.

Picture - Home - A few Halloween decorations.
Recycle Trash Day

- The Nishino district of Minamitane town designates the fourth Wednesday of each month as recycle trash day. There is actually a recycle center in town where you can go anytime but the recycle trash day is much more convenient.

Picture - Home - The car all packed up and ready to go.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - A fantastic view even at the recycle trash place.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - The town has very strict rules for throwing out garbage.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - This is another view of the garbage collection area.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - The garbage was now separated and ready for pick up.
Picture - Home - The display area all washed up 1.
Picture - Home - The display area all washed up 1.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 1.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 2.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 3.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 4.
Strange Farm Vehicle

- We saw this really strange farm vehicle and followed it in order to take a picture.

Picture - Minamitane Town - This is a really strange farm vehicle.
Picture - Minamitane Town - This is a close up picture of the strange farm vehicle. And still no idea what this could possibly be used for.
Beautiful Sunset

- Another beautiful sunset over Yakushima.

Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima.
New Meter Installed

- A pretty boring post of the new meter being installed.

Picture - Home - A new meter was installed today.
Picture - Home - This is done periodically for each house on the island.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 1.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 2.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 3.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 4.
Picture - Minamitane Nishino District - Beautiful sunset over Yakushima 5.
Stylish Decor

- The walls of this section of the house were covered with the typical textured mud you find in most older Japanese homes. This was peeling off as it usually does and the decision was made to remove this mold filled covering.

Picture - Home - This is usually a religious area of the house but can also be used for decorative purposes.
Halloween Decorations

- We made a lot of nice Halloween decorations today.

Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 1.
Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 2.
Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 3.
Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 4.
Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 5.
Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 6.
Picture - Home - A lot of crazy decorations set up outside 7.
Picture - Home - The dog gate was decorated.
Picture - Home - The decorations in the window of the house.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 1.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 2.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 3.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 4.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 5.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 6.
Picture - Home - The dogs with the decorated gate 7.
Picture - Home - A nice collection of crazy decorations.