Trick Art display at the Kintetsu Department Store of Abeno - 40 3D images on exhibition （December 30, 2011）

Translated from the original article at: http://abeno.keizai.biz/headline/287/

Caption: Trick Art (A world without gravity)

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.

Original text:

近鉄百貨店阿倍野店で「トリックアート展」開催へ－3D絵画40点展示 （2011年12月30日）

トリックアート「重力のない世界」

近鉄百貨店阿倍野本店（大阪市阿倍野区阿倍野筋1）9階近鉄アート館で2012年1月3日、「トリックアート展」が催される。

同展では、遠近法などで目の錯覚を利用し、平面の絵を立体的に見せたり全く違う印象に見せるトリックアート作品40点を展示する。

主な作品は、普通の部屋なのに立ち位置によって物体のサイズが変化するように見える「エイムズの部屋」、ブロックが宙に浮いたように見える「重力のない世界」、ドラキュラの持つワイングラスに閉じ込められたように見える「ドラキュラのおやつ」など。会場ではカメラ、ビデオの撮影も可能。

併せて、3Dカードやしかけ絵本などの販売コーナーも設ける。

開催時間は10時～20時（最終日は17時まで）。入場料は、中学生以上＝600円、4歳～小学生＝300円、3歳以下は無料。1月10日まで。

Good luck charms to attract prosperity at the Kiyoshikōjin Seichō-ji Temple (Home of Kōjin-San, the God of fire and kitchen) in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20111228-00000562-san-l28

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."


Original text:

「荒神さん」で招福祈願　「かまどの神様」兵庫・宝塚の清荒神清澄寺

 しめ縄を買い求める人で賑わう清荒神清澄寺の参道の店＝２８日午後、兵庫県宝塚市（鳥越瑞絵撮影）（写真：産経新聞）

「かまどの神様」として信仰を集め、「荒神さん」として親しまれている兵庫県宝塚市の清荒神（きよしこうじん）清澄寺で２８日、今年１年の御利益に感謝し、来年の招福を祈願する「納三宝（おさめさんぽう）荒神大祭（納め荒神）」が行われ、多くの参拝客らでにぎわった。

 阪急清荒神駅から山門まで約１．２キロ続く参道には正月用品を扱う露店がぎっしりと立ち並び、参拝客らは「しめ縄」などの縁起物を次々と買い求めていた。

大阪府豊中市から訪れた自営業、西田亜希子さん（３６）は「来年は災害がない年であるようにお願いしました」と話していた。

A jumbo Ema requesting restoration from The Great Earthquake and Tsunami, part of the Goryo Temple’s New Year preparation.December 26th, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2011/12/26/004570.html

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.

Original Text:

大震災からの復興願いジャンボ絵馬　御霊神社で迎春準備

写真＝天に昇る勢いのある龍が描かれたジャンボ絵馬

福知山市中ノの御霊神社で２５日、拝殿正面に来年の干支・辰にちなんで龍を描いたジャンボ絵馬が掲げられた。神社奉賛会の役員ら３８人がのぼりや提灯なども取り付け、迎春準備を整えた。

絵馬の大きさは縦９７センチ、横１２５センチ。巫女の荒田久美代さんが、アクリル絵の具で描いた。午年から始め、今回で１１枚目となる。

龍が雲間を抜け、天に昇る様子を鮮やかに描いている。今月に入ってから約１週間かけて仕上げた。荒田さんは「龍の顔つきが怖かったり、可愛かったりしないように描きました」と話す。

絵馬の右上には足立常秋宮司の筆で「再生」の文字が朱色で書き込まれている。足立宮司は「御霊神社は災害に苦しむ町人が明智光秀公の善政に感謝し、安心して暮らせる福知山であってほしいと願い造られた神社です。再生の文字は東日本大震災からの復旧、復興の年になるよう祈願して書きました」と話している。

Understanding the visually disabled. During winter break, a training center is holding a seeing guide dog experience day/Yokohama December 26, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112250021/

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.

Original Text:

視覚障害者に理解を、訓練センターで「冬休み盲導犬体験デイ」/横浜

2011年12月26日

アイマスクをして、盲導犬に先導され歩く参加者＝横浜市港北区の神奈川訓練センター

視覚に障害のある人や盲導犬について知る企画「冬休み盲導犬体験デイ」が25日、横浜市港北区の日本盲導犬協会神奈川訓練センターで行われた。

盲導犬ユーザーの寺沢正子さん、碇谷純子さんが講師役となり、白杖を使うのと盲導犬と歩くことの違いを「白杖では物にぶつかる不安がある。盲導犬は障害物をよけてくれるので、心にゆとりができ季節の花の香りも感じられる」（碇谷さん）と説明した。

　参加者たちはアイマスクをし、盲導犬に先導されるままに歩行に挑戦。障害物に見立てたコーンにぶつからずに歩けると「すごい」と感嘆の声が上がった。

体験デイは26日と１月５、６日も開かれる。

This Red Panda is quickly becoming popular, An of the Yumemigasaki Public Zoo/Kawasaki December 26, 2011

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112250020/

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

多くの来園者の人気者になっているレッサーパンダの「アン」＝川崎市幸区の市夢見ケ崎動物公園

川崎市夢見ケ崎動物公園（幸区南加瀬）に新たに仲間入りしたレッサーパンダの「アン（雌、１歳６カ月）が、早くも人気になっている。一般公開の始まった23日以降、展示室の周囲には見物客が絶えず、子どもたちにとっては格好のクリスマスプレゼントになったようだ。

アンは今月12日に、埼玉県こども動物自然公園から来園。展示室や獣舎に慣らすトレーニングを行った後、23日に一般客に初めてお披露目された。

 飼育員の長谷川誠さんによると、当初は飼育員を威嚇するしぐさを示していたが、３日ほどで警戒心も薄らいだようで、好物の竹やリンゴを元気に平らげているという。展示室内ではせわしなく動き回り、金網越しに観客のすぐそばまで近寄るなどサービス精神も旺盛のようだ。

 父と訪れた男児（５）は「来てくれてうれしい。しっぽが長くてふさふさで、とてもかわいい」と話していた。

 同公園は昨年11月にペア２匹の病死後、レッサーパンダが不在だった。アンの仲間入りで、約１年ぶりの展示復活となった。

Praying for a Merry Christmas for the disaster victims. One Hundred locals and (US) base residents gather/Yokosuka December 25, 2010

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112250017/

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.

Original Text

被災者の幸せ祈るクリスマス、地元や基地から１００人集う/横須賀

2011年12月25日

 賛美歌を歌うクリスマスパーティーの参加者たち＝横須賀市立文化会館

被災者に幸せの贈り物があるように―。横須賀市深田台の市立文化会館で25日、地元の教会が主催するクリスマスパーティーが開かれた。市民のほか米海軍横須賀基地関係者やフィリピン籍の市内在住者など計１００人が参加。世界で災害の多かった１年を振り返り、被災者のために祈った。

教会では定期的に東日本大震災の被災地支援を続けている。今月にはフィリピン南部ミンダナオ島を台風12号が襲い多くの死傷者が出たため、24日のクリスマスイブの礼拝で支援金を集めた。

教会のレイ・マーサ―牧師は参加者に「このクリスマスでは子供たちに『プレゼントに何をもらった？』だけでなく、（被災者に）『何をしてあげた？』と聞きましょう」。震災の被災者には「東北は寒いが、希望を見つけられるように」と、参加者とともに思いをささげた。