We would like to let you know that the Mt. Sakurajima is a volcano located close to Kagoshima city, and is relatively active these days. It is often the case you catch a certain amount of volcanic ash, just suddenly coming down from the sky. It is hard to forecast eruption of Sakurajima and it happens more than a couple of times a day. When we have east wind when erupted, all the ash falls down to Kagoshima city, but in case of west wind we do not have any volcanic ash at all. Fortunately, from autumn to spring the wind tends to blow from west to east, but you should be prepared just for bad cases. We recommend you to carry a small umbrella and a mouth-mask, and to put on bright colored clothes because the volcanic ash would be distinctive on dark/black colored clothes. It could be annoying to work after a big ash fall, but it should be noted that it is quite unusual to experience products of living active volcano that cannot be found in your usual daily life. Have fun of it! (T.Ueda)