On January 3rd, 2012, the head office of the Kintetsu Department Store Company (Abeno Suji 1 (Road), Abeno Ward, Osaka City) will be holding a "Trick Art Exhibit" on the 9th level of the Kintetsu Art Hall.
The exhibits do such things as take advantage of the eye's perspective to create an optical illusion. What appears to be three dimensional is completely different, just a flat picture. 40 works of trick art will be displayed.
The main types of works are the following: In what appears to be a normal room, the perceived size of objects transform according to their placement (Ames Room). Blocks seemingly floating in mid-air (A world without gravity). Appearing to be trapped inside of a wine glass held by Dracula (Dracula's Snack), etc. In the venue, photos as well as video can be taken.
Set up in addition, is a small store selling 3D cards, pop-up books, etc.
The exhibition time is 10:00am until 8:00PM (On the final day, it closes at 5:00PM). Entrance rates are 600 Yen for middle school students and older, 300 yen for ages 4 to elementary school, children under 3 are free. Open until January 10th.
Caption: People looking to buy Shimenawa crowd the stores lining the road to the Kiyoshikōjin Seichō-ji temple=The afternoon of the 28th, Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture (Taken by Torigoe Mizue) (Photo: Sankei Shinbun)
On the 28th, believers of Kōjin-San (The God of fire and kitchen) gathered at the Kiyoshikōjin Seichō-ji temple of Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture in order to connect with him. Many visitors gathered at the Sambō (Three Jewels) Kôjin Grand Festival, where they gave thanks for the miracles of this year and prayed for blessings in the next year.
From the Hankyu Kiyoshikōjin railway station to the main gate, the temple road (1.2 kilometers long) is lined up and packed with stalls selling supplies for New Year's. Temple visitors, one after another, come seeking to buy various good luck charms, such as Shimenawa.
Akiko Nishida (36, self-employed), traveling from Torinaka city, Osaka prefecture said: "I wished that next year will be free of disasters."
Caption: A dragon vigorously climbing towards the heavens, drawn on a jumbo Ema.
On the 25th, at the Goryo Temple of Nakano, Fukuchiyama City, a jumbo-sized Ema depicting the dragon of next year's Chinese zodiac was placed on the front of the worshipping hall. 38 workers of the temple's ceremony association also placed banners and lanterns, in preparation for the New Year.
The size of the Ema is 97 inches high and 125 inches wide. It was drawn with acrylic paint by shrine maiden Arata Kumiyo. Beginning from the year of the horse (2002), 11 (Ema) have now been completed.
A vivid scene was drawn, the dragon piercing the clouds and ascending towards heaven. One week from entering this month, the finishing touches were applied. "For the facial features of the dragon, I kept switching between it looking scary or cute before I was finished drawing," explained Arata.
On the upper right of the ema, Chief Priest Adachi Tsuneaki wrote, with a brush in red ink, the characters for "Rebirth". He explained: "Just as the Goryo Temple is grieving for the townspeople of the disaster, we've (in the past) been grateful for the excellent governing of Akechi Mitsuhide. The temple wishes that Fukuchiyama moves along with peace of mind and has created this request. The characters for "Rebirth" are for the reconstruction from the great disaster of Eastern Japan, written with prayer that they enter a year of restoration.
Caption: Using an eye mask, participants are led on a walk by a seeing eye dog=Kanagawa training center of Yokohama city, Kōhoku ward.
On the 25th, the "winter break seeing guide dog experience day" was a project held to educate about vision disability, by blocking a person's vision and having them interact with a seeing eye dog. Conducted by Japan's Seeing Guide Dog Association, it was held in the Kanagawa training center of Yokohama city's Kōhoku ward.
Seeing guide dog users Terasawa Masako and Ikariyu Junko presented lectures on the differences between using a white cane and walking with a guide dog. "There's a sense of anxiety that comes with striking objects with a cane. A guide dog will allow me to evade obstacles, and I feel that I'm free to do such things as enjoy the smell of the season's flowers," explained Ikariyu.
Participants were challenged to go on a walk led by a guide dog, while wearing eye masks. With cones chosen as obstacles and laid out, they walked past them without contact. "Amazing!" the participants’ voices rose, in admiration of the guide dogs.
The experience day is also open on the 26th, January 5th and 6th.
Caption: The increasingly popular red panda "An" brings many park visitors=The Yumemigasaki Public Zoo of Kawasaki City, Saiwai Ward.
The newest animal to join the Kawasaki City Yumemigasaki Public Zoo (Minamikase, Saiwai ward) is the red panda, An (Female, 1 year and 6 months old), who quickly became quite popular. After the public unveiling on the 23rd, the area of the exhibition room has been endlessly visited by spectators. As far the children are concerned, the red panda would make a quite appropriate Christmas present.
On the 12th of this month, An arrived from Saitama prefecture's Children's Animal and Nature Zoo. After training to accustom her to the enclosure and exhibit room, she was introduced to the public on the 23rd.
According to Mr. Hasegawa Makoto (zoo keeper), at first, threatening gestures were displayed towards the zookeepers. After about three days, An's wariness seemed to thin. It was said that when given her favorite foods of apples and bamboo, her energy evened out. In the display room, she busily moves around. Trying to climb through the wire net and get as close as possible to the visitors, she seemingly services them with her heart and overflowing energy.
A son (Age 5) visiting with his father said: "I'm grateful for being able to come. The tail is so long furry, it's very cute.
The same park was left with no red pandas after a pair died from illness during November of last year. With the addition of An one year later, the exhibit room has been renewed.
Original Text:
レッサーパンダ早くも人気者に、夢見ケ崎動物公園の「アン」/川崎 2011年12月26日
Caption: Participants at a Christmas party sing hymns=Yokosuka Municipal Cultural Meeting Hall
Wishing to offer happiness to the disaster victims; on the 25th, in Fukudadai, Yokosuka City’s Municipal Cultural Meeting Hall, the local church held a Christmas party. One hundred townspeople participated, including members of Yokosuka's American military base and registered Filipino immigrants living in the town. Looking back at the world's many disasters that took place over the year, they prayed for the sake of the victims.
The church continues to periodically support the disaster area in East Japan. This month, in Mindanao Island, in the Southern Philippines, Typhoon Washi inflicted numerous casualties. On the 24th, Christmas Eve, worshippers collected financial support for the victims.
Pastor Raymond Mercer said to the participants: "This Christmas, besides what presents our children will be receiving, what about the disaster victims? Let's ask what we can do for them." For the victims of the earthquake disaster, they're facing the cold weather of the North-East. In order to help them find hope, the church participants all together extended their thoughts towards them.
Caption: Volunteers gather to pick up beached trashed from the ocean front=Verny Public Park, Yokosuka
Giving the ocean the Christmas present of a cleaning. On the 23rd, at the beach front (Yokosuka beach) of Verny public park (Honcho, Yokosuka city), a major cleaning was conducted. While exposing themselves to the north wind, fifty volunteers from the city gathered trash from the ocean and land.
With the United States Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force illuminating their fleets on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve respectively, lots of foot traffic will be generated from the events. The parties of the City, the (Non-Profit Organization) Yokosuka Bay Defense Assistance Association, and the (Non-Profit Organization) Yokosuka Yacht Association have cooperated with the citizens to stage a committee for the business of cleaning the sea’s surface.
Today, just as the north wind is moving through the atmosphere...cans, plastic, lumber etc., rest and bury themselves in the beach and wharf. Participating volunteers, all wearing matching red Santa hats, quietly gather trash into one plastic bag after another. Among other things, a bicycle someone threw away is pulled from the ocean.
Volunteers loaded trash picked up from the ocean into three special trash collection boats as well as one regular boat.
Until the 28th, at the Izu Shaboden public park (Itō City, Shizuoka prefecture), the "Original Capybara Open Bath" lemon bath is on display.
While raising the capybaras at the park in 1982, it was discovered that what is called the "world's largest member of the rodent family" enjoys taking warm baths. Afterwards, every year from November to March, an open bath was prepared for them. After winter solstice, a special lemon bath is put into place. Currently, a family of five capybaras are enjoying the onsen(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen).
Park entrance fees for adults and high school students - 1800 yen, elementary and middle school students - 900 yen, children above 4 - 300 yen. For questions, the park telephone number is 0557 (51) 1111.
Caption: A mother and daughter's picture is taken, holding the message "This is certainly a happy time! Look up while you walk!
With a goal of completion within December, victims of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami will be sent an encouraging message, along with photos of people's smiles. At the Bellenade strip mall(http://www.bellenade.com/about) (Formerly the Kawasaki Daimaru), an event took place to photograph smiles [The town of Haman's Christmas ★S★mile Project]. The event was sponsored by six companies in Haman.
One of the disaster areas is Sendai City, in Miyagi prefecture, a distance of 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) away from Nagasaki City. It's said that people will be made aware of the project until 1000 give energetic smiles to be photographed and delivered to Sendai. On March 11 of next year, the Clis Road shopping center (http://www.clisroad.jp/index.html) of Sendai City plans to display the photographs.
A photography event was held on the 17th and 18th of this month, with 360 people participating between both days. Passing families, couples, shoppers etc. wrote down inspiring messages to use as they faced the camera with a smile.
As the event staff was calling out for participants, they said: [The goal is 1000 people. A smiling face is the source of energy. We think a smile is the greatest offering the people of Kawasaki can give to the disaster victims.
The remaining exhibition days are December 23, 24 and 25. Pictures are taken from 11:00AM until 6:00PM.
Caption: This is the second (trial) of the maid train.
On January 14th of next year, the Seibu Railroad company is conducting a second run of the maid train. The BS Visual company (Japanese site) (Bunkyō, Tōkyō) is co-operating in the operation.
The event is the same as before, a round trip between Seibu's Ikebukuro station and Chichibu station. Last time, 360 seats were available for sale, which sold out within two weeks. The average age of the participants was 34.5 years, 94% said to be male.
The railroad cars being used are the Red Arrow Classic (models), which went into operation on November 27th of this year. The train is made up of 7 cars, of which 6 are used for seating, with a total capacity of 300 people. There's a maid for each car. Two of the cars will have a support maid, for a total of 9 maids arranged to ride the train.
Arranged for all of the cars: In addition to announcements, the maids offer drink service, goods for sale, and will be holding game tournaments. There will be a photography event at the stations, and a talk show event at the shops lining the Chichibu station.
For the round trip, the departure time is 9:25AM from the Seibu Ikebukuro Station. Arrival at the Seibu Chichibu Station is at 11:14. The train departs from Chichibu at 2:31PM and arrives back at Ikebukuro at 4:32.
Travel prices: Adults=5,500 yen, Children=5,000 yen. Accepting applications until January 1st, from the home page only. (Order of arrival depends on application completion.)
Caption: Chief Priest Tamagawa stands at the side of the completed monument (containing an inscription of a poem by MasaokaShiki=Ankokuron-Ji Temple
At the Ankokuron-ji Temple in Oomachi, Kamakura city, which is connected to the haiku and tanka artist Masaoka Shiki, a monument in his honor has been completed. For a time, Shiki visited Kamakura to recite poetry. Within the temple, talk began of using the space as the location of his monument in Kamakura city.
(The famous buddhist) Nichiren would take retreats at the temple, where his missionary work was connected to. This is where Hōjō Tokiyori presented the Risshouankokuron, a Buddhist text compiled by Nichiren.
In 1888 and 1893, Masaoka Shiki visited Kamakura, travelling through the temple on foot as well. Also, Nichiren left behind many Waka and Haiku.
The monument is 180 centimeters tall and 110 centimeters wide. Written on the moument is a waka of Shiki's, recited in the year 1900 [The pine leaves of kamakura, in the roads and area of the valley, they explain the way. -Bodhisattva Nichiren]. Kishiki's profile is sculpted in a relief.
Chief Priest Tamagawa Gakushou knows of the poem recited at the Matsubagayatsu (an area including purification grounds), "It was recited from here," where the monument was drawn up and erected. The relief was a work of the son of one Shiki's students, it's construction expressing the depth of Shiki's connection (with his students). Tamagawa Gakushou said "Understanding that this is the first monument of Kishiki in Kamakura, we want to send him deep affection."
Caption: A giant slot car racing circuit has been prepared. 8 meters wide, 30 meters total length, and a varying depth of 70 centimeters.
In the New Yokohama Ramen Museum (Yokohama City, Kōhoku Ward, New Yokohama 2nd Ward), a slot car racing circuit is now open on the first floor gallery.
In the museum, a 1960's working class neighborhood reappearers out of thin air, containing famous ramen branches from throughout the entire country. Presently, for the masses of younger generations (1970-1980's) who've passed and yearn for that time period, all sorts of themes and designs from the 60's are on display.
At that same time, slot car racing toys were very popular. Super cars on a scale of 1 to 24 or 1 to 32 would be inserted into a slot (ditch) to be raced. The car moves via a motor inside, powered by electricity running through the slot. A hand controller is used to adjust the amount of electicity during the race.
At the museum, a giant slot car racing circuit has been prepared. 8 meters wide, 30 meters total length, and a varying depth of 70 centimeters. Rental slot cars can be enjoyed. In addition, a plastic model shop has been established, which includes copies of models no longer in production. Approximately 3000 slot cars are for sale, from 2000 yen. Original car designs are able to be produced.
Manager of public relations, Mr Takigami Masaki, commented: Slot car racing is a splendid taste. It's a way for an individual to tune up cars that they love. In a car that's only available in one make across the entire world, you can be the one to race it.
Slot cars can be raced for 200 Yen per 5 minutes. Admission fees for the museum: Middle-schoolers and above=300 Yen, elementary schoolers and seniors (older than 60) = 100 Yen, pre-elementary schoolers pay no admission. Business hours vary according to the day.
The Oohara Temple in the town of Sanwa, Oohara, in the city of Fukuchiyama is known for (representing) the God of Fertility. The Chief Priest is Hayashi Hidetoshi. On the 18th, a large Shimenawa will be produced and put up, which occurs every two years. Area locals put the finishing touches on the straw, where it was then placed on the main temple, in preparation for welcoming the new year.
The production of large shimenawas continues from ancient times. In recent years, the local elder group (Presided over by Kobayashi Hideo) has been in charge. From last time (two years before), a local village, Oohara Ubaya No Sato began operation of a promotion council (also presided by Kobayashi).
The Shimenawa for the main shrine is eight meters long. On the sides of the main temple, are shrines for “Hino,” a Fire God, using six meter ropes. The flood gate shrines use a triad of three meter ropes. The straw came from a sacred rice field near the shrine, whose harvest was used to make 250 bundles of glutinous rice.
A total of twenty members combined from both associations gathered. From the morning, they started work at the Ema shrine. The thickest Shimenawa was used at the main shrine, measuring 30 centimeters in circumference, being braided from three ropes. The elders indicated that the Shimenawa were skillfully made. While traveling through the three locations, they attached tassels and shide to the Shimenawa.
Finished with the Shimenawa, ladders were used to place it upon the gable on the front of the main shrine, where a three dimensional dragon had been carved.
Chief Priest Hayashi (Age 55) explained: "We were given enough time to beautifully create and finish the Shimenawa. Next year is the Year of the Dragon. We pray that year gives us the energy to ascend to the heavens."
At the same shrine, from the last day of the year until the third day of the new year, the main temple will be lit up, and front will be conferred with lucky talismans and evil-warding arrows.
Caption: Various kites lined up in the event forum on floor 1 of the children’s science museum (In Fukuchiyama)
Izaki, Fukuchiyama city: In the city's children's science museum of Sandanike park (Directed by Morishita Taichi), the final month of the year was specially planned for displaying kites from everywhere in Japan. The reason for all the various colors, shapes and flashiness of the kites, is to quickly create and envelop the meeting room with a mood that welcomes the new year.
The kite is considered to have originated in China. Afterwards it traveled to the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Originally used in warfare, it’s uses were divided as signal and beacon equipment. In the Edo period, it became a lucky talisman to ward off evil, produce an abundant harvest, etc.
For the display, city resident Ishida Miyoko gathered a portion of the 80 kites. Themes including warriors, the earthly branches, large mouths with emerging tongues, circular and miniature designs, and other distinctive styles decorated the area.
The display lasts until January 22 of next year. The museum is closed on Wednesdays (In the situation that the following Thursday is a holiday.) Closed from the 28th until New Years Day. Admission Fee.
The pioneering spirit exists in a corporate museum. The Toshiba Science Museum (Kawasaki City, Saiwai Ward, Komukai Toshiba Town) introduced scientific/technological industrial culture, and is now upon the 50th anniversary of it's opening. On the 15th, Toshiba's founder, Tanaka Hisashige (1799-1881) had a commemorative display of his designs featured in the opening ceremony as the museum opened.
During the museum's opening in November, 1961, they commemorated the 85th anniversary that Toshiba was initially founded (Note: Tanaka Engineering Works was established by Tanaka Hisashige in 1875, which would go on to merge with Tokyo Electric in 1939, forming Toshiba). Products and science/technology connected with the company are on display. With school organizations and families across all classes widely and intimately connected with the company, a calculated total of over 8,700,000 have visited the museum. Lately, with the boom of industry tourists, the number of visitors is said to have further increased.
The design exhibit is titled "The Story of Tanaka Hisashige~passion and inexhaustible pursuit~." From the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate until the Meiji period, Hisashige sent out a number of inventions to the world, and was called "The Genius Machine Engineer". In 1875, in the Ginza Brick Town of Tokyo, he opened up business with a store and factory which became the origin of Toshiba.
The exhibit is displaying such inventions as the thousand year clock, karakuri dolls, replicas of steam powered vehicles, etc. The Edo period's most spectacular karakuri is the character writing doll. While skillfully controlling a brush, it's able to write the characters for "寿,Long Life" and "松,Pine Tree"
Toshiba's president, Sasaki Norio, said the following at the ceremony: "The Toshiba Science Hall interacts with as well as expands science and technology throughout the region. We will want to have more exhibits after this. For Tanaka Hisashige, the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate was a period of instability and an era of change, where people picked up where others left off and their daily living transformed. We want to constantly continue to receive the DNA of revitalization while being the world's first and best in our pursuit of technology."
The design exhibit is open until April 27th of next year. Closed on Sundays, Holidays and specific dates. The hall is open from 9:00AM until 4:45PM. Admission is free. For questions, the hall's telephone number is 044 (549) 2200.
Original text
東芝科学館50周年、記念展に創業者の田中久重発明１００点展示/川崎
2011年12月16日
On the 15th of December, at the Tennōji Zoo (Osaka City, Tennōji Ward, Chausuyama Town), an unveiling and christening ceremony was held for three Rock Hyrax donated by the Abeno Cues Market Park Mall.
The Rock Hyrax is a herbivore of the ungulate （hoofed animal） group. One male and 2 females were donated. Since opening business, the Abeno Cues Mall has been dealing with area reduction measures (Titled the the Abeno Smile Project, part of the larger Tennōji Zoo Project). In 2010, the park added an African Savannah, reviving (interest) in the Rock Hyrax.
The donation was made possible by point card users (of Abeno Cues mall) contributing a discretionary amount towards the area reductions. The saved points were put to use as special event revenue.
Both facilities publicly recruited (submissions) for names of the animals. 540 applications total were screened. The male was announced as Sora (Sky) and the females Yume (Dream) and Hikari (Light). Fifteen people named the Rock Hyrax (including duplicate submissions). Of those, seven participants were awarded a commerative gift.
Apart from the area reduction measures for the Abeno Cues mall, the city of Osaka's municipal university hospital (Abeno ward), on the same day announced the (interimly named) Picture Book Donation Project. Picture books can be purchased and donated towards the hospital's children's ward.
Caption: The evil and filth of the year is swept out in a customary end of the year practice at the Tsurugaokahachiman shrine (Soot cleaning)= Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City
On the 13th, the year's evil and filth is swept away in a customary end of the year practice (Soot cleaning). Underway at the Tsurugaokahachiman shrine in Yuki no Shima, Kamakura City.
Approximately 150 Shinto priests and maidens participate. Using 5 meter long bamboo sticks, the ends fitted with bamboo leaves, the tower gates and the front of the main palace within the premises are completely cleaned of dirt.
Thanks to this event on the 13th, the preparations for the new year kick off.
Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112130047/
Russian training sailboat (Nadezhda) stops in the port of Yokohama
Russia's training sailboat (The Nadezhda, weighing 2297 tons) stopped at the international passenger boat terminal Oosanbashi in Yokohama Harbor on the 12th. Since June 2002, this is the 2nd time it's stopped at Yokohama Harbor. According to an agent, it's arranged to depart at 6:00PM on the 15th.
While in anchourage, three masts are decked with international maritime signal flags, fully dressing the ship. At night, lamps are turned on, illuminating the ship.
The sailboat belongs to the national oceanic school of Vladivostok, Russia, who in 2012 will host the summit for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (A.P.E.C.). In 2010, the summit was held in Yokohama.
Crew members wearing dark blue sailor uniforms were moving amoung the deck and bridge, gazed upon by females watching from the Oosanbashi terminal, resembling a scene from a TV drama.
Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2011/12/12/004504.html
Caption: Pictures displaying the condition of the disaster area.
In the town of Ooe, Kōmori, Fukuchiyama City's meeting hall, an exhibit has been put together in the lobby, featuring picture panels of East Japan's great earthquake disaster. Nine months have passed since the disaster occured. The exhibit begins on the 11th and lasts until the 18th.
The tragic disaster seems to have passed, but for the matters of financially harmful rumors of radioactivity and occurences of human rights violations, proper confirmation is still pending. The people closest to Fukuchiyama City's community development (sector) are acting to implement a comittee.
In the lobby, Ikema Tetsurō, representing Okinawa's Non-Profit-Organization corporate body, "Asia Child Support," lines up thirty four photographs. Such things as ships running aground and the second level of houses tearing off were shown, but no amount of photos account for the true damage inflicted.
The revival of financially damaging rumors of radioactive pollution that can't be tempered. Fishing boats that remain lined up on a grand scale in fishing harbors. Members of Japan's self-defense force searching with all their might for missing persons. Large amounts of acquintances and friends that have been lost. Children loitering near rubble. All of this is pictured.
Representative Ikema continued to explain each photograph, and conveyed that people of the disaster area are presently suffering, but are doing their best to recover from their circumstances and restore their lives.
Caption: The autumn leaves of west Tanzawa in snowfall.
The beginning of winter in west Tanzawa has the snow appearing together with the autumn leaves. The effects of this fall's high temperatures among the mountain areas have left the autumn leaves still visible. On the 9th, the mid-winter's usual cold temperature entered and the snow piled up.
According to the nature science center of West Tanzawa's prefectural institute (Yamakita Town, Nakagawa), both Japan and North Korea's temperature levels dropped to near zero. The summit of Hinokiboramaru Mountain dipped below the freezing point, and the rain from the previous night was said to have turned into snow.
Maple trees in various states of colorization were instantly covered in snow. In the area of Tanzawa lake, the inside of the prefecture had three distinct layers of scenery, a mesmerizing view. In the afternoon, the weather recovered, and the snow immediately disappeared.
Caption: [Blue Full Moon] from the space between the Futami married rocks. Will tonight's total lunar eclipse be a red full moon?
From December 10th, in the space between the married rocks of the Futami Okitama Shrine (in the town of Futami, Ise city), a blue full moon appears, the moon's light bathing in the blue sea and sky.
The time period for the morning sun emerging from the space between the married rocks is limited to the months of April through August. Especially on the days of summer solstice, with the sun's ability to loom over Mount Fuji in recent years, the married rocks have become a highly popular spot to take photographs. From before and after winter solstice(November through February) the same full moon emerges from the space between the married rocks, though that fact is still not well-known.
TheShimenawa (Connecting ropes) of the married rocks came from long ago. 700 meters off shore, at the sea bed, lie the sunken Okitamashinseki (stones with a latent spirit) connected with the the Sarutahiko (Monkey God). Also, from the space between the rocks, the sun emerges. And in a straight line of 200 kilometres (in front of the rocks) a Torii gate has been placed, thought to have been used in celebrations of Japan's most spiritual mountain, Fuji.
On this day, it was forecasted that the moment the moon will appear is at the time of 4:25PM. From the horizon of the sea, it will rise straight above through a thin veil of clouds.
At 4:43, a single cameraman called out as the sound of the camera's shooting reverberated simultaneously. A visitor to the shrine casually asked "What are you taking a picture of?" "The lunar eclipse?" "The evening sun?", as he stopped in his tracks and his head tilted towards the lens of the camera. The kind cameraman explained that he was devoted to searching for the lunar eclipse and taking a picture the moment the moon emerged.
At 5:05PM, the full moon appeared from the space between the married rocks. The blue light now released from the sky and ocean was reflected, and the moon's pale light swayed while creating it's own rendition of "Moon River".
This evening, a red full moon, becoming a complete lunar eclipse, can be observed in the entire area of Japan from 11:05PM until 11:58PM. At the same time the moon is emerging and the complete lunar eclipse begins, five hundred camera men and shrine visitors will be packed in the area (of the married rocks), where a thick cloud cover could render the eclipse unwatchable.
After tomorrow, the moon will emerge at the following times: 5:18PM on the 11th, 6:15PM on the 12th, 7:15PM on the 13th, 8:16PM on the 14th. Next year: 3:09PM on January 7th, 4:05PM on the 8th, 5:04PM on the 9th, 6:07 on the 10th, 7:11PM on the 11th. On the 11th, the 9 meter "male" cliff and the 4 meter "female" cliff will be re-upholstered in a ceremony with five new Shimenawa (connecting ropes).
The annual festival to exorcise misfortune and bring in a prosperous new year by imploring the power of fire took place on the night of December 6th, held by the Ryōgaku Temple on Mount Akiba, Itabashi, Odawara city. Approximately 30 mountain priests gather from around the country, the traditional ceremony being strictly performed during the night in the final month of the year.
Around 6:30 PM, with the area surrounded by darkness, kindling is piled and lit inside the temple grounds. After a dialogue between the mountain priests, bows and swords are cleansed according to etiquette, and Sanskrit characters are drawn with two torches. As a pilgrim places more fire onto the ground, the mountain priests continue to cross the ground barefoot, while praying for protection and health.
The protection-by-fire festival started thirteen hundred years ago, and has continued as a traditional event, conducted every year on December 6th.
Caption: Mr. Minoshima stands together with his friend Mrs. Koshimizu （Right) at the summit of Mount Fuji=Photo taken on August 7th.
Mr. Minoshima (Age 95), resides in Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka city. This year, he climbed Mount Fuji, certainly the oldest person to have done so. (Climbing the mountain) in 2010 was his second greatest feat. As strength and vitality emanated from him, Mr. Minoshima said "I'm grateful for my health, and wish to be well enough to continue completely scaling Mount Fuji."
On the morning of August 6th, Mr. Minoshima set off with his son Saburō (Age 57) and neighborhood friend Mrs. Koshizumi Shiro (Age 79). Although it was more appropriate for 5 (to go hiking), only the 3 of them went. Encountering thunderstorms along the way, their feet did not stop ascending. Resting in mountain huts to recover, during the next day at 3 in the afternoon, they finally arrived at the mountain summit.
According to the Mount Fuji Hongūsengen shrine, responsible for registering and recording the age of climbers who reach the summit, this year, 1319 climbers above 70 were recorded. Second after Mr. Minoshima is Mr. Shōji Sanpo (Age 90) of Tsukagoshi, Saiwai Ward, Kawasaki City. Registration at the reception (of the shrine) was finished after the beginning of September due to weather conditions, etc. However, that did not seem to stop mountain climbers in their 90’s from (passing) that same temple.
Mr. Minoshima began to climb Mount Fuji while in his twenties. Charmed by the scenery, he pursued climbing the mountain twice at the age of 65, while attending to his family business of farming. He's stood at the summit the last 9 consecutive years, and reached it a total of 13 times.
For the last 2 years, he's had this to say about being the oldest mountain climber: "To have become the top age at Japan's number one mountain is exceptional. I'm grateful for the health within me, said Mr. Minoshima. He enjoys playing gate ball, and walks no less than 2 kilometers everyday to train his strength.
