Breathing life into a fusuma painting, the panels are completed at Kenchō-ji Temple/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207130031/

July 14, 2012

The completed "dragon king" fusuma painting=Kenchō-ji Temple, Yamanouchi, Kamakura City

At Kenchō-ji Temple of Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, a "king dragon" fusuma painting has been completed. It was produced by the ink-wash painting artist Mr. Hakurō (age 67), who was born in China.

With the sun and moon being placed across the right and left of the scene, the painting represents "the ruler of heaven and earth". On the 14th, the panel decorated the temple's own dragon king hall.

The drawings were done on 4 sheets of “echizen washi” paper, each roughly 2 square meters in size. 20 different fur brushes of various sizes were used. Light touches were used for dots, vigorous strokes for lines, and sliding spin strokes for the parts of the surface covered in ink. "I attached…breathed my life into it," said Mr. Hakurō.

Lining up both sides (of the room they're placed in), the temple grounds have 16 fusuma panels, also displaying juniper, Mount Fuji and the Shounan Sea. The dragon fusuma was newly created to coincide with 2012's Year of the Dragon. One year was spent on the design. Two weeks were necessary for production.

Original Text:

ふすま絵に吹き込む命、建長寺で完成/鎌倉　

2012年7月14日

完成した竜王のふすま絵＝鎌倉市山ノ内の建長寺

鎌倉市山ノ内の建長寺で、中国出身の水墨画家・白浪（はくろう）さん（67）が竜王のふすま絵を完成させた。

左右に太陽と月を配し、「天地の支配者」を表した。龍王殿に14日、飾られる。

およそ２メートル四方の越前和紙のふすま４枚に描いた。大小20の毛筆を操り、かすらせて「点」、立てて「線」、滑らせて「面」を紡いだ。白浪さんは「命を懸けて命を吹き込んだ」。

両脇に連ねるふすま16枚に境内のビャクシン、富士山、湘南の海をあしらった。辰（たつ）年に合わせて新調。構想１年、制作２週間を要した。

A summer scene at the Yasukuni Shrine. As the Mitama festival begins, the lanterns’ light flows throughout Chidori-ga-fuchi

Translated from the original article at: http://ichigaya.keizai.biz/headline/1425/

July 13, 2012

A scene of summer, as the Mitama Matsuri (Spirit Festival) begins at the Yasukuni Shrine.

On July 13, at Yasukuni Temple (Location: Kyuudan, Kita San, Chiyodaku), the Mitama Festival, the single most familiar reminder of summer, has begun.

Enjoying the cool evening.

Beginning in 1947, this year marks the 66th occasion of the festival. During the festival period, over 30,000 visit. Groups of various sizes visit the temple grounds for the lantern and Kake-Bonbori events. Each night at the main temple, rituals are held to comfort the spirits of fallen warriors.

Enjoying the festivities are families, foreigners, businessmen returning from work, groups wearing yukata and more. 30,000 people pay a visit to the shrine each year. Crossing all ages and genders, many visitors can be seen packing the shrine. From the opening night going into today, Edo period kappore, wind instrument parades and Tokyo's earliest lantern dance rallies are conducted.

Scheduled inside the shrine grounds: A carrying of the mikoshi and an Aomori Nebuta festival on the 14th. On the 15th, among 50 performances done in offering, Hiro Tsunoda will perform a special outdoor concert. The main road approaching the shrine is enveloped in light, as 200 shop stalls line the way.

The festival will be held until the 16th. According to the Chiyadaku Travel and Tourism Association, people will be able to take in the cool evening at the neighboring Chidori-ga-fuchi boat pier, open during the festival. From the boats, participants will be able to float lanterns on the water's surface.

Original text:

靖国神社、夏の風物詩「みたままつり」始まる－千鳥ケ淵で灯ろう流しも

（2012年07月13日）

靖国神社で夏の風物詩「みたままつり」が始まった

靖国神社（千代田区九段北3）で7月13日、夏の風物詩の一つとして親しまれている「みたままつり」が始まった。

【画像】「納涼の夕べ」の様子

1947（昭和22）年から始まり今年で66回を数える「みたままつり」。期間中、境内には大小3万個を超えるちょうちんや懸雪洞（かけぼんぼり）が掲げられ、本殿では毎夜、英霊を慰める祭儀が執り行われる。

毎年30万人の参拝者が訪れ、毎年家族連れや外国人、仕事帰りのビジネスマンなど老若男女問わず多くの参拝客でにぎわいを見せる。初日となったこの日は、江戸芸かっぽれや吹奏楽パレード、都内で最も早い盆踊り大会などが行われ、浴衣姿のグループや家族連れ、仕事帰りのビジネスマンなど多くの人たちが祭りを楽しんでいた。

境内では期間中、みこし振りや青森ねぶた（14日）、つのだ☆ひろさんによる奉納特別野外コンサート（15日）など50の奉納芸能が繰り広げられるほか、光に包まれた参道には200店もの露店が軒を連ねる。

 開催は16日まで。隣接する千鳥ケ淵ボート場ではこの日、千代田区観光協会主催による「納涼の夕べ」が行われ、参加者が船上から灯ろうを水面に浮かべた。