Sakurajima is a volcanic island about 900 km southwest of Tokyo, inside the Kagoshima bay.
The island is heavily inhabited. At the foot of the volcano lives about 7.000 people, and just 10 kilometers
away is the town Kagoshima with about 600.000 inhabitants.

The volcano has 3 cones, Kitadake (North) 1117m, Nakadake (Center) 1060m
and Minamidake (South) 1040m.o.h.l. With Mt.Aso, Mt.Asama Mt.Mihara, it is amongst the 4 biggest volcanoes
in Japan, and the one having largest amount of energy. In the past the volcano was on a small island, but during a
lavaflow after an eruption in 1914, it became a bit of the greater island. (See map here)

Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 4-10 January explosions from Sakura-jima
produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.7 km (5,000-9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, SE, and S.
On 7 January an ash plume rose to an altitude 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE, then later dissipated.

Thurday, December 29th, 2011
Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 21-27 December explosions from
Sakura-jima produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.7 km (5,000-9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E, SE, S,
and NE. Satellite imagery on 23 December showed ash emissions that later dissipated.
On 27 December observations from satellite images and a pilot report showed an ash plume that rose to an
altitude of 3.7 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 9 km E.

August 22nd, 2010
By mid-August, Sakurajima Volcano-one of Japan's most active-had erupted ash at least once every week
during 2010. On August 19, 2010, an ash plume was sighted at 9,000 feet (2,700 meters), according to the
Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.

This natural-color satellite image shows the gray plume moving west (towards image top) from the volcano's summit. Simultaneously, a pyroclastic flow descended the eastern slopes.

Although Sakurajima's activity since 1955 has been characterized by frequent small eruptions, the volcano still poses a danger to the densely-populated surroundings. Notice the roadnet on pictures left side.
text above: © http://www.spacedaily.com

The image was acquired by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) aboard the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite.

15. mai 2004
Sakurajima erupted this morning, shaking the nearby area with an explosion and
spewing smoke high into the air. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
The explosion of  Sakurajima is registered as "large'' on the Meteorological Agency's
scale for both the sound and the strength of the tremors it caused.
Officials could not tell how high the smoke rose due to cloudy weather.

Sakurajima volcano seen from East.
Photo: International Air Photo Co.Ltd.

Explosive eruption with lightening and thunder from the crater of Sakurajima
rose up 2.500 minto the air. 18 mai 1991;
(photo ved SVO)

Photo by Mike Lyvers, December 30, 1991 .NODAK, USA