File:Plume from Asosan, southern Japan (MODIS 2015-01-01).jpg

English: On November 25, 2014 the Asosan volcano located in central Kyushu began erupting from its Nakadake Crater, sending ash plumes and incandescent lava bombs thousands of feet into the air. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that, based on seismicity and infrasound data, the eruption continued intermittently during 22-26 December. On December 27, the Volcano Discovery website reported that a second vent inside of the crater has been producing a dense steam plume, and may also have experienced explosive activity. The Alert Level remained at a 2, on a scale of 1 to 5.

The Asosan volcano sits in central Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan. The large caldera was formed between 300,000 and 90,000 years ago. The caldera holds not one, but 17 cones, five of which are considered active. The Nakadake cone has remained active throughout the Holocene and into the present day.

Although frequently active, the volcano has become an interesting part of local life, rather than a fearful figure, and it is a popular tourist destination. The following description is from a travel website: �Nakadake can be reached by car, on foot, via a helicopter ride or via the Mt. Aso Ropeway cable cars � it is not always open for viewing because of the regular emissions of ash and fumes. When open, the crater can also be visited at night, during which it transforms into an even more awe-inspiring sight, the lava seeping out of its fissures creating fiery streaks in the dark. The outer rim of Nakadake, in contrast, is very peaceful, like that of the other craters, coated with grassy plains where cows and horses graze, and where visitors can take a relaxing stroll or have a family picnic. There are designated campgrounds as well.� At the present time, however, with the volcano actively erupting, tourists are not permitted close to the Nakadake cone.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying aboard NASA�s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on December 26, 2014. The large circular caldera with its green-tinted interior plains, is clearly visible. A large plume rises from the southeast section of the caldera (from the Nakadake cone) and drifts to the southeast.