Interest
Mountain Setting of Yowamushi Pedal Movie Erupts
posted on by Carlos Cadorniga
It's a good thing the Sohoku High School Bicycle Club wasn't racing during this.
A recent NHK report has stated that Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, suddenly erupted at 9:49am (JST) on September 14. The volcano served as the main setting for the recent high-grossing Yowamushi Pedal film, in which Sakamichi and his club face off against expert bicycle teams from around the country.
The smoke from the eruption rose to over 1,500 meters (4,921 feet). While no casualties have been reported, but NHK has urged caution towards mountain climbers and other citizens in the area. According to studies performed by the Japan Meteorological Agency last summer, the volcano's supply of magma has been decreasing as of late, lessening the chance of a literal full-blown eruption. Its last known eruption was April 26.
Mount Aso stands at 1,592 meters (5,222 ft). Its last fatal eruption occurred in 1979, killing three people. Earlier in 1953, an eruption at Mount Aso killed six people and injured over 90. In 1958, an eruption killed over 12 people.
Mount Hakone in Ōwaku Valley erupted on a small scale this summer. Hakone is famed among anime fans as the setting for Tokyo-3 in Neon Genesis Evangelion and numerous car races in Initial D: Fifth Stage. The area is a popular tourism spot for fans of the franchises.
[Via Hachima Kikō]
