Preparing for spring quite early, the New Years' kadomatsu stand at Ishiwara Temple's torii gate.

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20121201-00000302-rtn-l26

Distributed by the Sankei Shinbum (http://sankei.jp/) on Saturday, December 1, 2012, 6:36 PM

Kadomatsu alongside the torii gate.

Spring preparations have come even earlier. At the Ippin Temple of Ishiwara, Fukuchiyama City, a set of kadomatsu stand across from each other. Created by a local man of 70 years, people strolling by are reacting with surprise. "There's already some kadomatsu. It's sure early..."

The kadomatsu are each 1.5 meters high. Besides being made with bamboo, plum wood and pine, nandina  and atukan are added as decorations. Additionally, kale sprouted from seeds of this year's summer decorate the gates.

Before, the local man worked a job where he decorated kadomatsu by hand. "Because of how hot it got during the summer, I was worried about the growth of the cabbage, but it turned out quite beautiful. This is a most excellent kadomatsu," he said, appearing full of satisfaction.


Original text:
早くも迎春準備　石原の神社に正月用門松立つ
両丹日日新聞 12月1日(土)18時36分配信

鳥居のそばに立つ門松

早くも迎春準備－。福知山市石原、一品神社に門松１対が立てられた。地元の男性（７０）が作ったもので、散歩の人たちも「もう門松。早いなあ」と驚いている。

門松の高さはそれぞれ約１・５メートル。竹や梅、松のほか、ナンテン、センリョウを配している。今夏に種をまいて育てたハボタンもあしらった。
 　
男性は以前に勤めていた職場に、手作りの門松を飾ってきた。「ハボタンが夏の暑さで育つか心配だったが、きれいになり、門松も上々の出来」と満足そうに話していた。