No latest activity reported for Kuju.

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Japan Meteorological Agency, 1996. {National Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes in Japan (second edition)}. Tokyo: Japan Meteorological Agency, 502 p (in Japanese)

Kamata H, Kobayashi T, 1997. The eruptive rate and history of Kuju volcano in Japan during the past 15,000 years. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 76: 163-171

Kuno H, 1962. Japan, Taiwan and Marianas. {Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields}, Rome: IAVCEI, 11: 1-332

Nakano S, Yamamoto T, Iwaya T, Itoh J, Takada A, 2001-. {Quaternary Volcanoes of Japan}. Geol Surv Japan, AIST, http://www.aist.go.jp/RIODB/strata/VOL_JP/

Ono K, Kubotera A, Ota K, 1981. Aso volcano. {In}: Kubotera A (ed) {Symp Arc Volc Field Excur Guide to Sakurajima, Kirishima and Aso Volcanoes, Part 3}, Tokyo: Volc Soc Japan, p 33-52

Smithsonian Institution-GVN, 1990-. [Monthly event reports]. {Bull Global Volc Network}, v 15-33

Sudo Y, Ono H, Hurst A W, Tsutsui T, Mori T, Nakaboh M, Matsumoto Y, Sako M, Yoshikawa S, Tanaka M, Kobayashi Y, Hashimoto T, Hoka T, Yamada T, Masuda H, Kikuchi S, 1998. Seismic activity and ground deformation associated with 1995 phreatic eruption of Kuju volcano, Kyushu, Japan. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 81: 245-267

Sumi K, Takashima I, 1976. Absolute ages of the hydrothermal alteration halos and associated volcanic rocks in some Japanese geothermal fields. {In}: {Proc 2nd United Nations Symp Devel Use Geotherm Resour, San Francisco}, 1: 625-634

Yamasaki T, Hayashi M, 1976. Geologic background of Otake and other geothermal areas in north-central Kyushu, southwestern Japan. {In}: {Proc 2nd United Nations Symp Devel Use Geotherm Resour, San Francisco}, Washington D C: U S Government Printing Office, 1: 673-684

Kuju volcano is a complex of stratovolcanoes and lava domes lying NE of Aso caldera in north-central Kyushu. The Kuju volcano group consists of 16 andesitic lava domes, five andesitic stratovolcanoes, and one basaltic cone. Activity at the Kuju group dates back to about 150,000 years. Six major andesitic-to-dacitic tephra deposits, many associated with the growth of lava domes, have been recorded during the Holocene. Eruptive activity has migrated systematically eastward during the past 5000 years. The latest magmatic activity occurred about 1600 years ago, when Kuro-dake lava dome at the eastern end of the complex was formed. The first reports of historical eruptions were in the 17th and 18th centuries, when phreatic or hydrothermal activity occurred. Many hot springs and hydrothermal fields are located at the Kuju complex. A fumarole on Hosho lava dome was the site of a sulfur mine for at least 500 years. Two geothermal power plants are in operation at Kuju.