The tradition of dancing with flames in the darkness, protection-by-fire festival at Odawara /Kanagawa December 7, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112070010/

Caption: A mountain priest draws a Sanskrit character with two torches.

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 6^th, 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 6^th.

Original Text:

闇に舞う伝統の炎、小田原で「火防祭」/神奈川

2011年12月7日

山伏が２本のたいまつで梵字を描く

ことし一年の厄をはらい新年の繁栄を願う火防（ひぶせ）祭が６日夜、小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚院で催された。全国から集まった山伏約30人が、伝統の儀式で師走の夜を厳かにともした。

辺りが闇に包まれた午後６時半ごろ、境内に積み上げられたまきに火がたかれた。山伏は問答を交わした後、弓や剣による作法で場を清め、２本のたいまつで梵字（ぼんじ）を描いた。山伏による「火渡り」に続いて、参拝者もおき火の上を素足で渡り、無病息災を祈願した。

火防祭は約１３００年前から続く伝統行事で、毎年12月６日に行われている。

Reaching the summit of Mount Fuji this year at 95, Mr. Minoshima of Hiratsuka city is certainly the oldest to have accomplished this feat/Kanagawa December 6th, 2011

Translated from the original article at:  http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112050022/

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.

Original Text:

95歳で富士山登頂、平塚の蓑島さんが今年の最高齢者確実に/神奈川

2011年12月6日

友人の小清水さん（右）と一緒に富士山頂に立つ蓑島さん＝８月７日撮影

平塚市土屋に住む蓑島兵蔵さん（95）が、富士山に今年登った人の最高齢者になることが確実となった。２０１０年に次いで２度目の快挙。蓑島さんは「健康に感謝し、元気なうちはずっと登り続けたい」と体力づくりに精を出している。

 蓑島さんは８月６日朝、息子の三郎さん（57）と近所の友人の小清水四郎さん（79）の３人で５合目を出発。途中、雷雨に見舞われ、足が上がらなくなった。山小屋に泊まって体調を回復させ、２日間で15時間かけて翌午後３時に山頂へたどり着いた。

富士山頂で高齢の登山者が記帳した名簿を管理する富士山本宮浅間神社によると、今年富士山に登った70歳以上の人は１３１９人。蓑島さんに次ぐ２位は川崎市幸区塚越の三浦正治さん（90）だった。記帳の受け付けを終えた９月初め以降は、気象状況などから「90歳代の登山者はいない」（同神社）とみている。

蓑島さんは20代のとき、初めて富士山に登った。絶景に魅せられたが、家業の農業に追われ２度目の登山は65歳のとき。通算では13回を数え、最近は９年連続で山頂に立っている。

２年連続の最高齢登山者の知らせに、「日本一の山で日本一になったことは格別。健康のありがたさをかみしめている」と蓑島さん。ゲートボールを楽しみ、２キロの散歩を欠かさない毎日で体力を鍛えている。

Waterspout at Sagami Harbor? Occurrence in Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112040020/

December 4, 2011

Caption: Above Sagami harbor, a naturally occurring waterspout was seen on the 4^th, at around 7:05 AM. It was viewed from Izuō island, near the Enoden electric company’s Kamakura Koukoumae train station, in Kamakura city. (Photo provided by Mr. Izumida Takayuki).

Above Sagami harbor on the morning of December 4^th,  a water spout that appeared to be naturally occurring emerged. The picture was taken by Mr. Izumida Takayuki (Age 48). According to the Southern district of Yokohama harbor, from 6:45 AM until 7:00 AM passed, it appeared in the area of Izuō island, near Enoden electric company’s Kamakura Koukoumae train station, in Kamakura city.

According to Mr. Izumida, a cloud connected with the sea in a single spiral. For the span of several minutes, it is said that the waterspout was seen intermittently disappearing and re-emerging.

According to the Yokohama area meteorological observatory, waterspouts/tornados occur when warm and cold air flow into each other. The intense temperature change within the atmosphere causes a condition of instability, where during that time, such occurrences easily spring forth. No advisories for tornados/waterspouts were issued.

Original Text:

相模湾で竜巻？発生/神奈川

2011年12月4日

相模湾上に出現した竜巻と見られる自然現象＝４日午前７時５分ごろ、鎌倉市の江ノ電鎌倉高校前駅近くから伊豆大島方面を望む（泉田隆行さん提供）

相模湾上に４日朝、竜巻のような自然現象が出現した。写真を撮影した泉田隆行さん（48）＝横浜市港南区＝によると、午前６時45分ごろから７時過ぎにかけて、江ノ電鎌倉高校前駅（鎌倉市）近くから伊豆大島方面を望む方向に現れた。

泉田さんによると、上空の雲と海上とを結ぶ一筋の線のような状態が、数分間現れては消えるということが断続的に続いたという。

横浜地方気象台によると、竜巻は暖かい空気に冷たい空気が流れ込み、激しい温度差で大気の状態が不安定なときに発生しやすいという。竜巻注意報は出ていなかった。