For the 50th anniversary of the Toshiba Science Museum, a commemorative display of 100 inventions from (Toshiba) founder Tanaka Hisashige/Kawasaki December 16, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112160008/

Caption: A karakuri doll writing characters, invented by Toshiba founder Tanaka Hisashige=Toshiba Science Museum

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

東芝創業者の田中久重が発明した文字を書くからくり人形＝東芝科学館

企業博物館の草分け的存在で、科学技術や産業文化を紹介している東芝科学館（川崎市幸区小向東芝町）が、開館50周年を迎えた。東芝創業者の田中久重（１７９９～１８８１年）にちなんだ記念企画展のオープニングセレモニーが15日、同館で開かれた。

同館は同社創業85周年記念事業の一環として１９６１年11月に開館。同社ゆかりの製品や技術などを展示している。学校団体や家族連れなど幅広い層に親しまれ、累計来場者は約８７０万人に上り、最近は産業観光ブームもあって来場者が増えているという。

企画展のタイトルは「田中久重ものがたり～情熱と飽くなき探求心～」。久重は幕末から明治期にかけて数多くの発明品を世に送り出し、「天才機械技術者」ともいわれた。１８７５年、東京・銀座煉瓦街に開業した店舗兼工場が東芝の起源になっている。

同展では発明品の万年時計やからくり人形、蒸気車模型など約１００点を展示している。江戸期のからくり人形の最高傑作の一つである文字書き人形は、人形が筆を巧みに操りながら「寿」や「松」の字を書くことができる。

 東芝の佐々木則夫社長はセレモニーで「東芝科学館は地域交流とともに科学技術を広める場でもあり、今後も発展させていきたい。田中久重は幕末の不安定な時期に時代の変化を先取りしながら人々の暮らしを変えていった。われわれも脈々と受け継ぐＤＮＡを活性化しながら世界初、世界一の技術を探求していきたい」と述べた。

企画展は来年４月27日まで。日曜・祝日・特定日休館。開館時間は午前９時～午後４時45分。入館無料。問い合わせは、同館電話０４４（５４９）２２００。

The Abeno Cues Mall donates (several) Rock Hyrax to the Tennōji Zoo December 15, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://abeno.keizai.biz/headline/274/

Caption:  The Abeno Cuex Mall donates (several) Rock Hyrax to the Tennōji Zoo

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.

Original Text:
 あべのキューズモールが寄贈したケープハイラックス、天王寺動物園に

 あべのキューズモールが天王寺動物園に寄贈したケープハイラックス

天王寺動物園（大阪市天王寺区茶臼山町）で12月15日、あべのマーケットパーク キューズモールが寄贈したケープハイラックス3頭のお披露目と命名式が行われた。

寄贈された有蹄（ゆうてい）類の草食動物ケープハイラッックスは雄1頭、雌2頭。あべのキューズモールが開業時から取り組んでいる地域還元施策「あべのスマイルプロジェクト」の一環で「天王寺動物園プロジェクト」を立ち上げ、同園アフリカサバンナゾーンで2010年から不在になっていたケープハイラックスを復活させた。

 寄贈は、ポイントカード利用者が任意で地域還元の寄付することができ、積み立てたポイントと催事収益金を活用した。

名前は両施設で一般公募し、応募総数540通から選考。雄が「そら」、雌が「ゆめ」「ひかり」と発表。15人の命名者（重複含む）のうち、7人が参加して記念品が授与された。

あべのキューズモールからは、これからの地域還元施策として、大阪市立大学医学部付属病（阿倍野区）の小児病棟に絵本を購入し寄贈する「（仮）絵本寄贈プロジェクト」を同日から始めることも発表された。

Sweeping away evil as the new year approaches, soot cleaning at the Tsurugaokahachiman shrine /Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112140001/

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.


Original Text
厄はらい新たな年へ、鶴岡八幡宮「すす払い」/鎌倉

１年の厄や穢を払い落とす年末恒例の鶴岡八幡宮「すす払い」＝鎌倉市雪ノ下

１年の厄や穢（けがれ）を払い落とす年末恒例の「すす払い」が13日、鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）で行われた。

 神職や巫女（みこ）ら約１５０人が参加。長さ約５メートルの竹の先にササの葉がついた「すす竹」を使って本殿前の楼門など境内各所の汚れを掃除した。

 この行事は、13日が新年の準備に取り掛かる「事始め」であることにちなむ。

[Seeming quite dramatic], The Russian training sailboat "Nadezhda" stops at the port of Yokohama/Kanagawa

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.


Original Text:
「まるでドラマ」、ロシアの練習帆船「ナデジュダ」が横浜に寄港/神奈川

横浜港に寄港したロシア練習帆船「ナデジュダ」

ロシアの練習帆船「ナデジュダ」（２２９７トン）が12日、横浜港・大さん橋国際客船ターミナルに寄港した。横浜寄港は２００２年６月以来、２度目。代理店によると、15日午後６時に出港する予定という。

停泊中は３本マストに国際信号旗を飾り立てる満船飾を披露し、夜はイルミネーションを点灯させた。

 帆船が所属する海洋国立大学があるウラジオストクでは12年にアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）が開かれることから、10年の開催地・横浜を訪問したという。

 紺色のセーラー服を着た乗組員が甲板やブリッジで働く姿に、大さん橋から見学していた女性は「まるでドラマの１シーンのよう」と見入っていた。

The disaster area is not forgotten; picture exhibitation in the town of Ooe

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.

Original text:
被災地のこと忘れない　大江で写真展

:写真＝被災地の状況を伝える写真

福知山市大江町河守の大江町総合会館１階ロビーで、東日本大震災の被災状況を撮影した写真パネル展が、震災発生から９カ月目となる１１日から始まった。１８日まで。

悲惨な被災地のことが忘れ去られようとしており、放射能の風評被害で人権侵害も発生していることから、正しい認識を持ってもらおうと、人にいちばん近いまちづくり福知山市実行委員会が実施している。

ロビーには、沖縄のＮＰＯ法人アジアチャイルドサポートの池間哲郎代表が撮影した写真３４枚が並ぶ。船が陸に乗り上げたり、家屋の２階部分がひきちぎられて流れ着いたりと、信じられないような被害の写真が何枚もある。

放射能汚染の風評被害で再興がままならない、大きく傾いた漁船がいくつも並ぶ漁港。懸命に行方不明者の捜索をする自衛隊員。多くの知り合いや友だちを亡くし、瓦礫の近くにたたずむ幼児の写真もある。

それぞれに池間代表がつづった説明が付けられ、被災地の人たちが苦しんでいる現状、復興・再興へ頑張っている様子を伝えている。

Autumn leaves and snow appear together in Tanzawa/Yamakita December 10th, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112090046/

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.

Original Text：

紅葉と雪が丹沢で共演/山北

2011年12月10日

紅葉の西丹沢に降雪

初冬の西丹沢で雪と紅葉が共演―。今年は秋の高温の影響で山間部では紅葉がまだ見られるが、９日は真冬並みの冷え込みで雪が積もった。

県立西丹沢自然教室（山北町中川）によると、同日朝の段階で気温は０度近くまで低下。檜洞丸（ひのきぼらまる）などの山頂は氷点下となり、前夜からの雨が雪に変わったという。

カエデなど色づいた木々が一斉に雪化粧。丹沢湖周辺では「三段染め」のような県内では珍しい景色も見られた。午後に入り天候が回復、雪は次第に消えた。

[A Blue Full Moon] from the space between the Futami married rocks. Will tonight's total lunar eclipse be a red full moon? December, 10 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://iseshima.keizai.biz/headline/1270/

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).

Original Text:

[青い満月」二見夫婦岩の間から－今夜の皆既月食は「赤い満月」か？（2011年12月10日）

「青い満月」二見夫婦岩の間から－今夜の皆既月食は「赤い満月」か？

二見興玉神社（伊勢市二見町）の夫婦岩の間から12月10日、青い満月が現れ、月の光で空と海が青く染まった。

夫婦岩の間から朝日が出るのは、4月～8月の期間だけ。特に夏至の日には富士山と太陽が重なる可能性があるため近年、撮影スポットとして人気が高いが、冬至前後の11月～2月の満月が同じように夫婦岩の間から出ることは、まだあまり知られていない。

古来より夫婦岩としめ縄は、沖合700メートルの海底に沈む猿田彦大神ゆかりの「興玉神石（おきたましんせき）」を、その間から出る太陽を、そして直線距離で約200キロの位置にある日本一の霊峰富士を祭る鳥居と考えられてきた。

この日の月の出時刻は16時25分。水平線のすぐ上にうっすらと雲がかかっていたため予定時間になっても月の姿が現れなかった。

16時43分、一人のカメラマンが「出た」と叫ぶとカメラのシャッター音が一斉に鳴り響いた。たまたま訪れた参拝者は「何を撮っているの？」「月食？」「夕日？」などと首を傾げながらレンズの向かう方向を見ながら足を止めていたが、親切なカメラマンが月の出を撮影していることを説明すると目を凝らしながら満月を探していた。 

17時5分、夫婦岩の間から現れた満月が、青い光を放ち空と海を青く照らし、月の青白い光が揺らぎながら自分に向かうムーンリバーを作った。

今夜、赤い満月になる皆既月食が23時5分ごろから23時58分ごろまで日本全域で観測できる。昨年の12月21日は、月の出と同時に皆既月食が始まることから約500人のカメラマンと参拝者が同境内に詰めかけたが、あいにく雲が厚く見ることができなかった。

明日以降の月の出時刻は、11日が17時18分、12日が18時15分、13日が19時15分、14日が20時16分、来年1月7日が15時9分、8日が16時5分、9日が17時4分、10日が18時7分、11日が19時11分となっている。11日は、高さ約9メートルの男岩と高さ約4メートルの女岩に長さ35メートルの大注連縄5本を張り替える「大注連縄張神事」が執り行われる。