Sayonara, “reba sashi” (raw liver slices). The prefecture’s restaurants become crowded before the ban/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1206290014/

June 29, 2012

A group of smiling women reach for the plate of reba sashi. "Tomorrow, we have reservations at more restaurants," they said, intent on eating it while they can=Koukiya Restaurant, Naka Ward, Yokohama City

The popular raw beef liver dish, called "the king" of items listed on raw meat menus will completely disappear this month. In July of last year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/ requested the entire country's restaurants to refrain from serving reba sashi, drawing the request from food sanitation laws. On the 12th of this month, a formal ban was decided upon. Every day afterwards, customers within the prefecture have been travelling between various steakhouses by foot, keeping them packed as they seek to eat the dish while they still can. "A part of culinary culture is being erased". Throughout the night in Yokohama's China Town, voices expressing regret could be heard.

After 8:00PM, the restaurant became fully seated. This was on the 26th, a Tuesday evening. "So far, most of our customers have come to order reba sashi. This has been going on continuously since last week." said Takatomo Kawai (33), the manager of Koukiya (Naka Ward, Yokohama City), a grill that serves organ meat. "This is the flyer of our dishes. While being under continuous sanitary supervision for the 5 years since we've opened, we haven't had a single issue. It's regrettable that the method decided was that of a ban." From next month, the restaurant plans to offer stove-cooked reba sashi.

3 co-workers from the Kounan Ward of Yokohama visited the restaurant. Nursing assistant Naomi Ono (40) signed an internet petition opposing the ban. "I like the sweetness and feeling of reba sashi. I want to be able to keep eating it" she said, showing regret as she reached for the remainder with chopsticks.

San Sei An Grill, also located in the Naka Ward, displayed a "Reba Sashi Ban Countdown" on their storefront. With the swelling demand, they were undecided on how much to order, stopping on the 26th.

"First, raw meat has to be cooked before eaten. Now, cold noodles are becoming popular. This has become my highlight for this half of 2012," lamented restaurant manager Jun Oe (53).

With up to twenty people a day showing up for reba sashi, losing their "top earner" will be a serious wound to business. "Dealing with inventory going forward, we'll have to strive towards carrying items that don't go beyond “zero risk”. A part of dining is being completely erased. It's regrettable for things to go this way," he said with a lowering voice.

In April of last year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare received word of a number of food poisoning cases coming from a grill chain offering Yukhoe and tightened standards for the handling and preparation of raw beef. By December of that year, receiving a number of food poisoning cases, many still dealt with beef liver. Additionally, upon seeing the report of Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli 0157 coming from beef liver, they decided to implement a ban that goes into effect after July 1st of this year. Those violating the law are subject to up to 2 years of imprisonment, as well as being punished with a fine up to 200,000 Yen ($25,000).

Original text:

さよなら“レバ刺し”、禁止目前で県内飲食店にぎわう/神奈川

2012年6月29日

笑顔でレバ刺しに手を伸ばす女性客。「明日も別の店に行く予定」と食べ納めに意欲的だった＝横浜市中区の幸喜屋

生肉メニューの“王様”として人気の「牛のレバ刺し」が、今月いっぱいで姿を消す。厚生労働省は昨年７月、食品衛生法に基づき全国の飲食店に牛の生レバー（肝臓）の提供自粛を要請してきたが、今月12日に「禁止」を正式決定。以降、県内の焼き肉店などは「食べ納め」へと足を運ぶ客で連日にぎわっている。「一つの食文化が消える」。別れを惜しむ声が、夜の繁華街に響く。

午後８時を過ぎると、店内は満席となった。26日、火曜日の夜。「ほとんどレバ刺し目当てのお客さまで、先週からずっとこの状態です」。横浜市中区のホルモン屋「幸喜屋」の川合崇友店長（33）は「うちの看板商品。衛生管理を徹底して開店以来５年間、一度も問題になったことがない。禁止が決定されたものは仕方ないが、悔しい」と話す。来月からは、コンロと一緒に「焼きレバー」として提供する予定だ。

同市港南区から職場仲間３人で訪れていた看護助手の大野直美さん（40）は、インターネット上で禁止反対の署名に賛同した。「生レバーの甘さと食感が好き。できればこれからも生で食べたい」と名残惜しそうに箸を伸ばした。

同市中区の焼き肉店「燦星庵」では店先で「レバ刺し禁止カウントダウン」の表示を行っていたが、需要の高まりで入荷予定が定まらず、26日でやめた。

大江淳店長（53）は「まず生肉を食べてそれから焼き肉、冷麺というのが流れだったが、前半のハイライトがなくなる」と嘆く。

１日20人前ほど出る“稼ぎ頭”を失うのは、営業的にも痛手だ。「食品を扱う以上、限りなくリスクゼロに近づけるよう努力してきた。一つの食文化がなくなってしまうことは、残念で仕方ない」と声を落とした。

厚労省は昨年４月にユッケを提供した焼き肉チェーン店の集団食中毒を受け、生食用牛肉の提供基準を厳格化。より食中毒件数が多い牛レバーについても同年12月、肝臓内部から腸管出血性大腸菌Ｏ１５７が見つかったことが報告され、ことし７月１日以降の禁止が決まった。違反した場合には、２年以下の懲役または２００万円以下の罰金が科せられる。

At the peak of their production, paper lanterns are carefully created before summer festival season/Odawara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1206290013/

June 29, 2012

Patterns and letters being crafted by hand=Yamazaki Lantern Store(Iidaoka, Odawara City)

Right before the summer festivals, Yamazaki Lanterns of Iidaoka, Odawara City reaches it's busiest production period.

A 4th generation lantern maker, Yuu Yamazaki (71) primarily receives orders from within the Kanagawa prefecture, with others coming in from Saitama and Yamagata. Hand-making the lanterns one by one, he carefully adds the patterns and letters. Right now, he's producing many "stretched moon" lanterns as well as regular lanterns both to be used for decorating mikoshi. In one day, he completes upwards of 10 lanterns.

Because of last year's earthquake disasters, his store saw a decrease in orders by 2/3rds, as one festival after another restrained themselves. This year, it's said that orders have returned to normal.


Original text
提灯づくりがピーク、夏祭りシーズン前に手作業で丁寧に/小田原
2012年6月29日

手作業で模様や字入れを行う＝山崎提灯店（小田原市飯田岡）

夏祭りシーズンを前に提灯（ちょうちん）づくりが小田原市飯田岡の「山崎提灯店」でピークを迎えている。

４代目の山崎勇さん（71）は県内をはじめ、埼玉や山形からも注文を受け、一つ一つ手作業で丁寧に模様や字入れを行っている。この時期はみこしを飾る弓張（ゆみはり）提灯やほおずき提灯の製作が多く、１日に10張り程度を完成させていく。

昨年は震災の影響で祭りの自粛が相次ぎ、注文が３分の２ほどに減ったが、今年は例年並みに戻ったという。

Being called a "cannabis factory" by Fujisawa police, the discovery of over 100 plants was confirmed during a storage unit search/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1206290001/

June 29, 2012

A large quantity of cannabis plants being seized by investigators=Shindenjuku, Zama City

On the 28th, Fujisawa police suspecting cannibis laws were being violated via cultivation, searched a storage unit of a premises in Zama City, Shindenjuku. Within the storage unit, at least 100 cannabis plants were being grown. A man in his 50's, who police suspected of violating cultivation laws, was caught red handed at the scene and arrested. The investigation indicated a large scale operation, being called a "cannabis factory".

According to police and investigators involved in the seizure, the storage unit was a single story, 300 square meter building. Inside, a plumbing system that included PVC pipes 10 centimeters in diameter lined the room. It was said that inside the pipes, flowing water used for growing the plants was discovered. At least 100 plants were found, growing over 1 meter high. The building was divided among several rooms, where equipment dealing with the stages from drying to shipment were said to be arranged.

Shutters and windows within the premises were sealed.


Original text:
倉庫に大麻草１００株以上確認、藤沢北署が「大麻工場」を家宅捜索/神奈川
2012年6月29日

大量の大麻草を押収する捜査員＝座間市新田宿

大麻草を栽培していたとして、藤沢北署は28日、大麻取締法違反の疑いで、座間市新田宿の倉庫を家宅捜索した。倉庫内には少なくとも１００株を超える大麻草が植えられており、同署は同法違反（栽培）の疑いで、50歳代の男を現行犯逮捕。大規模な「大麻工場」だったとみて調べている。

同署や捜査関係者によると、倉庫は平屋建てで広さは３００平方メートルほど。内部は配管などに使う直径十数センチの塩化ビニール管が張り巡らしてあり、管の中に水を流して大麻草を育てていたとみられるという。少なくとも１００株以上が確認されており、高さ１メートル以上に育ったものもあった。倉庫内は複数の部屋に仕切られ、乾燥から出荷までが可能な設備が整っていたという。

周辺は住宅地で、シャッターや窓には目張りがしてあった。

Discovered slowly crawling along a pathway...a snapping turtle/Chigasaki

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1206250015/

June 25, 2012

The snapping turtle found on the pathway.

At about 9:00 in the morning of the 24^th, a 28 centimeter (12 inch) long snapping turtle was discovered by a 49 year old man walking by, who then informed a nearby police station. It was spotted along a walkway at Sen No Kawa River in Ni-Chou-Me, Enzo, Chigasaki City. A Chigasaki officer brought it the Shin E No Shima Aquatic Center for an examination. It was confirmed to be a snapping turtle, which are an invasive species forbidden from being released in the wild. On the afternoon of the 25th, the officer transferred it to the prefecture’s nature preserve.

Original text:

遊歩道をのろのろ…カミツキガメ発見/茅ケ崎

2012年6月25日

遊歩道で発見されたカミツキガメ

24日午前９時半ごろ、茅ケ崎市円蔵２丁目の千ノ川沿い遊歩道で、通行人の男性（49）が全長約28センチのカメを発見、近くの交番に届けた。茅ケ崎署が新江ノ島水族館に持ち込んで調べた結果、特定外来生物で野外に放つことが禁じられているカミツキガメと確認されたという。25日午後、同署が県自然環境保全センターに引き渡した。

Mourning the passing of Michael Jackson, 70 dancers perform in front of Dotonbori's Glico sign

Translated from the original article at: http://namba.keizai.biz/headline/2267/

June 25, 2012

Performing “Thriller” in front of the Glico sign.

On June 23rd, the 4th event in remembrance of Michael Jackson's death was held on the Tonbori River Walk of Dotonbori, Osaka where participants proudly showed off their dancing.

The participants dance, cosplaying as zombies.

The "MJ Kansai-Let's Dance as Michael" event was organized across communities throughout various social network services. This year marks the first time the event was held in front of the glico sign of Dotonbori River Walk. The event was also put together to raise awareness for orange ribbon charities for the prevention of child abuse. An organizer commented: "I thought it was wonderful to be able to have the dance performed at one of Osaka's most well-known spots, before the glico sign. From now on, we hope to continue performing here every year."

On that day, 70 participants gathered to dance to MJ's music. Primarily being made up of inexperienced dancers, it's said they went through a crash course in training to prepare for the event. During the performance, participants cosplayed as zombies in the style of Thriller as they danced to the song. Additionally, they put on enthusiastic performances to Beat It, Billie Jean and Smooth Criminal. Travelling from Himeji City, members of the Michael Jackson Memorial Marching Band (Japanese site) participated, bringing a climax to the performances at Dotonbori over the weekend.

With the event being held at Dotonbori, large amounts of passerby’s stopped in their tracks, overtaken by the powerful sight of all the dancers. From the opposite side of the bank, people began clapping their hands to the music or applauding. A couple from Sakai City, vacationing in Namba said "Besides just hearing the Michael Jackson songs that we know, it was great seeing the dancers performing nearby." At the end of the event, an organizer called out to spectators to participate in and donate to charities. "Michael Jackson was someone who was highly interested in charity. Wishing to continue his wishes from here on, we would like everyone to participate in charitable activities."

Smooth Criminal

Thriller

Beat It, Billie Jean, kids performing Billie Jean

Michael Jackson Memorial Marching Band: Bad, Black or White

Original text:

道頓堀でマイケル・ジャクソンさん追悼－グリコ看板前で約70人ダンス

（2012年06月25日）

グリコ看板の前で「スリラー」を披露

大阪・道頓堀の遊歩道「とんぼりリバーウォーク」で6月23日、マイケル・ジャクソンさんの4回忌追悼イベントが行われ、参加者が自慢のダンスを披露した。

【画像】ゾンビーのコスプレをして踊る参加者

主催は、SNSコミュニティーなどで構成される「MJ関西 マイケルを踊ろう会」。今回は初めて、とんぼりリバーウォークのグリコ看板前での開催となった。子ども虐待防止運動「オレンジリボン」のチャリティー活動も合わせて実施した。主催者は「大阪の名物の一つであるグリコ看板の前で踊らせていただくことができてうれしく思っている。これからも毎年、続けていきたい」と話す。

当日は、約70人の参加者が集合し、マイケルさんの楽曲に合わせてダンスを披露した。ダンス未経験者がほとんどで、今回のために特訓を積んだという。中には代表曲「スリラー」のイメージ通り、ゾンビのコスプレをする参加者も。ほかにも「ビートイット」「ビリージーン」「スムースクリミナル」などの代表曲のダンスを熱演。姫路から「マイケルジャクソン メモリアル マーチングバンド実行委員会」も参加し、週末の道頓堀を盛り上げた。

イベントが行われた道頓堀では、多くの通行客が足を止めて、大人数の迫力あるダンスに見入った。対岸からは途中手拍子や拍手も起こり、堺市から難波に遊びに来たというカップルは「知っている曲が聞こえたのでのぞいてみた。間近でダンスを見られて良かった」と話した。最後にイベント主催者が「マイケルはチャリティーに関心が高かった人。これからもその遺志を継ぎ、慈善活動を行っていきたい」と話し、観覧者に活動への参加や募金を呼び掛けた。

Mikoshi bearers assemble from everywhere within the prefecture. The Mikoshi Collaboration at Isezaki Mall/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1206250009/

June, 25, 2012

The mikoshi bearers march on a course covering Isezaki-cho's block 7 to block 1=Naka Ward, Yokohama City

Gathering mikoshi from everywhere within Yokohama Prefecture, the Mikoshi Collaboration Parade Event was held on the 24th at the Isezaki Mall of Yokohama City's Naka Ward. The event was sponsored by the Yokohama Harbor Festival Mikoshi Collaboration Action Committee.

The Preservation Society of Yokohama added 16 mikoshi to this year's event. Marching in turn from Isezakicho's block 7 to block 1, they traveled 1.3 kilometers (.8 miles). Three thousand mikoshi bearers marched, yelling out "Dokkoi, Dokkoi!" as they paraded, enveloping the roads with their fervor.

Original text:
Title: 県内各地のみこし集結、イセザキモールで「みこしコラボレーション」/横浜
2012年6月25日

伊勢佐木町７丁目から１丁目までのコースを練り歩くみこし＝横浜市中区

県内各地のみこしが集まり、パレードするイベント「みこしコラボレーション」が24日、横浜市中区のイセザキモールで行われた。横濱開港祭みこしコラボレーション実行委員会の主催。

今回は県内の保存会のみこし16基が参加し、伊勢佐木町７丁目から１丁目までのコース約１・３キロを順々に練り歩いた。担ぎ手約３千人は「ドッコイ、ドッコイ」などの掛け声とともにみこしを担ぎ、通りは熱気に包まれた。