In the Osumi peninsula, we will firstly visit Sakurajima volcano, which is currently very active, and generating vulcanian ash falls. We can see a rugged lava field erupted in 1914. Then, we plan to visit a buried torii (gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine) on the foot of Sakurajima volcano, which was covered with thick pumice-fall deposits in 1914. As Sakurajima volcano is currently active, we may see small eruptions and ash fallout during the conference. In the central area of the Osumi peninsula, east of Sakurajima volcano, we will see a large-scale pyroclastic plateau of Ito ignimbrite from Aira caldera (ca. 29 ka). This caldera-forming eruption also generated a widespread ash fall deposit, Aira Tn (AT) tephra, all over Japanese islands and surrounding ocean. We can observe the tephra sequence of Ito ignimbrite, a sequence of Sakurajima tephras, and Kikai Akahoya (K-Ah) tephra from Kikai caldera ca. 7.3 ka, which is one of the youngest widespread tephra deposits in the Japanese islands.

We visit one of the archaeological sites related to Sakurajima and K-Ah tephras. If we have time, we will visit the excellent archaeological museum of Kagoshima Prefecture (Uenohara Jomon no Mori).

Kuju volcano, next to Aso caldera, is composed of dacitic lava domes and andesitic stratovolcanoes. We can see the small-scale pumice and ash-fall deposits and block-and-ash flow deposits from there.

Yufu-Tsurumi volcanoes are situated in the eastern end of the area. Based on tephrochronology and radiocarbon dating, both volcanoes are active during the Holocene period. Yufu volcano is a small stratovolcano with several parasitic lava domes/flows. Block-and-ash flows were formed by the collapse of an ascending lava dome in the latest 2.2 cal ka BP eruption. The summit lava dome was also formed at the final stage of the eruption. Tsurumi volcano consists mainly of lava domes /flows. The latest magmatic activity is the 1.8 cal ka BP vulcanian eruption. The phreatic eruption occurred at Garandake, one of parasitic volcano, at least two times.

 The post-conference excursion will finish at Beppu city at 4PM, on Monday May 17. After reaching the JR Beppu Station, the bus will go to Oita airport by 5PM, enabling you to catch flights later to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya etc. Alternatively, after the tour concludes you may stay Beppu city (at your own expense) and visit various hot springs in the city. Confirmation of registration and cancel policy will be announced on April 1, 2010.

Participants will visit the volcanic area in central Kyushu during the three days. The area includes some important Quaternary volcanoes such as Unzen, Aso, Kuju and Yufu-Tsurumi volcanoes.

Unzen volcano, which consists of dacitic lava domes, is located in the western end of the area. It had been very active during 1990-1995. In 1991, a lava dome was growing and many block-and-ash flows were derived from it. One such flow killed 43 persons. We will see 1990-1995 pyroclastic flow deposits, and will visit the memorial museum. Unzen volcano has two small calderas that formed debris avalanches. Going up to the rim of younger caldera, we can observe the 1990-1995 lava dome. In 2009，this area was certified as Unzen Volcanic Area Geopark Japan by GGN (Global Geopark Network established by UNESCO).

Aso volcano, which is located at the center of the volcanic zone, is large-scale volcano with a wide and deep caldera and andesitic post-caldera stratovolcanoes. We can see a crater of the recently active stratovolcano, Nakadake, which erupts frequently. Around Nakadake and on the rim of caldera, tephra layers from post-caldera stratovolcanoes and from southern Kyushu will be observed. Four large-scale pyroclastic flows erupted when Aso caldera was formed. Aso-4 pyroclastic flow is the most voluminous of them, and associated co-ignimbrite ash fallout covered the whole of Japan. We will see the proximal facies of Aso-4 pyroclastic flow deposit.

We have planned two one-day field trips on May 12 and 13, 2010, visiting Kirishima volcanoes, the Satsuma peninsula, and the Osumi peninsula. In this field, there are various sorts of volcanoes which have erupted numerous tephras including large-scale ignimbrites in the Quaternary. 

Kirishima volcanoes close to the Kirishima City Hall (i.e. the conference venue) consist of more than 20 eruptive centers younger than 0.3 Ma. Those young volcanoes are classified as either stratovolcanoes or monogenetic cones, which have produced numerous tephra layers and lava flows around the volcanoes. We can observe a sequence of Holocene to Pleistocene tephras mainly on the eastern foot of the volcanoes. We also visit Kakuto caldera to observe the reworked Ito ignimbrite from Aira caldera ca. 29 ka which directly flowed into the ancient lake in the caldera. As well as visiting tephra locations etc., participants will see a wide variety of volcanic landscapes and cultural and archaeological features in this area.