Fixing up a "vacant house," birds take up residence inside a hornet nest.

Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2012/04/21/005068.html

April 21, 2012

Upper photo: The hornet's nest, used by Brown-eared Bulbuls (Photo taken on the 20th)

At the Oni Soba Restaurant of Ooeyama Mountain in Kumohara, Fukuchiyama City (Managed by Aresa Kazuhiro), a nest of the Asian giant hornet was built in the eaves of the main building's second floor. Though the hornets have been gone for a while, the 40 centimeter in diameter nest was left to remain as it was, for good luck. Unexpectedly, it became home to some new residents. Brown-eared Bulbuls have reconstructed the nest into their new home.

The hornet's nest was set up near a beacon light on the store's wall, next door to an electric wiring factory. On the 18th, a factory worker on top of the roof stared motionlessly at the nest, seeing that chicks were inside its hole.

　

The hornet nest is located in the eaves of the second store, the area in front of it (usually) being concealed. It was able to endure rain and wind, without the presence of people. When it comes to business of raising a bird family, it appeared to be a good property,

Lower photo: Chicks at the open entrance, in their new hornet nest home. (Taken on the 18th, provided by Mr. Aseda)

Using an open hole as an entrance into the nest, straw was spread all over the inside. The birds made a good second use of it.

Mr. Aresa commented "Watching the parent birds moving around the nest, it seemed to stir up some worry in me.　That being said, I'm not too concerned. The hornet nest has been there for a long time...however, I never imagined it becoming a bird's nest..."

　

Gazing inside the bird's home, it seems that the chicks have safely left the nest. On the 20th, the bulbul chicks were seen practicing their flying in front of the store. Looking towards a bird, Aresa said with a smile "I wonder if that is one of the children who left..."

Original text:

“空き家”をリフォーム　ハチの巣に鳥が住む

2012年4月21日

福知山市雲原、大江山鬼そば屋（荒砂和浩さん経営）の母屋２階軒下に、直径４０センチほどの大きなスズメバチの巣がある。ハチがいなくなって久しく、縁起ものとしてそのまま置いていたが、ひょんなことで新しい住人がいることが分かった。ヒヨドリがハチの巣をリフォームして新居を構えていた。

ハチの巣近くの壁に店のパトライトを設置する電気配線工事の最中に分かった。１８日に屋根に上った工事業者が目を凝らすと、ハチの巣の中でヒナたちが口を開けていたという。

ハチの巣がある場所は、２階の開かずの間の前にある軒下。人の気配がなく、雨風もしのげるとあって、子育てする親鳥にとって「良い物件」だったようだ。

　

入り口用に穴を開けて、中にはワラを敷き詰めてうまく再利用している。

一家に見守られ、ヒナたちは無事巣立ったよう。２０日に店の前で飛ぶ練習をしているヒヨドリを見て「あの鳥は巣立った子かな」と荒砂さんは笑みを向けた。

写真上＝ヒヨドリが巣に使ったスズメバチの巣（２０日撮影）

写真下＝ハチの巣の新居で口を開けるヒナ（１８日撮影、荒砂さん提供）

Pear tree pollination begins, making this year even more delicious/Yamoto

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1204160032/

April 17th, 2012

Mr. Yasuda performs the pollination process=Daikan, Yamato City

In the corner of a residential town in Daikan, Yamoto City, farmer Yasuda Yoshio's (Age 68) white pear fields (35 Ares large) have begun to bloom. To carry out the business of pollination, he handles a device resembling an ear pick. Covered in red pollen, he places it onto the pistils of each flower.

After the period has elapsed for picking flowers and the fruit has sprung, the harvest season lasts from the end of July until Mid-September. It's said that if a kousui or housui pear of 350-450 grams doesn't reach the marketplace, 500 customers are ready for the pears to be delivered to their homes. Word of his fruit has spread all over the country, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

Mr. Yasuda, working the pear fields for 28 years: "Thanks to couriers, fully ripened pears can be harvested and delivered onto people's dining tables the next day. At any rate, fresh (and therefore) juicy pears are delicious," he commented, stretching his torso. But, being in a residential area, it's difficult to have an expansive pear field. Regrettably, once production has reached a limit, new orders cannot be accepted.

Original text:

今年も美味に、ナシの花粉付け始まる/大和

2012年4月17日

花粉付けを行う保田さん＝大和市代官

大和市代官の住宅街の一角にある農家保田嘉雄さん（68）の35アールの畑で白いナシの花が開き始め、花粉付けの作業が行われている。耳かきのような道具を手に赤く着色された花粉をめしべに付けていく。

摘花や摘果を経て、収穫は７月下旬から９月半ばごろまで。一つ３５０～４５０グラムほどという大玉の香水や豊水などを市場を通さず、口コミで広がった北海道から沖縄まで全国の顧客５００人に宅配で届けている。

ナシ栽培28年という保田さんは「宅急便のおかげで、完熟状態で収穫したナシを、翌日には食卓に届けることができる。新鮮だから、みずみずしくとにかくおいしい」と胸を張る。ただ、住宅街ゆえに畑は拡大するのは難しい。生産が追いつかず、残念ながら新規の注文を断らざるを得ない状態という。

6 police stations of the Miura Peninsula cooperate in emergency dispatch training, during a staged convenience store robbery/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1204170013/

April 17 2012

Due to multiple convenience store robbery incidents, (police) prepare with emergency dispatch training.

On the 17th, due to multiple incidents of convenience store robbery, 6 police stations of the Miura Peninsula cooperated in emergency dispatch training. Cooperating together upon confirmation of the incident, an estimated 300 people participated, including the transit police, dispatch department, aviation groups and police stations from Yokosuka, Uraga, Taura, Suji, Hayami, and Misaki.

In the training scenario, a group of 4 men wielding knives broke into a convenience store in Oyabe, Yokosuka City, demanding money as they threatened the clerk. From the store register, 90,000 Yen ($1,115 Dollars) in cash was stolen.

The four men boarded vehicles and trains, each escaping in separate directions. Police officers in each area were deployed to inspection points, where they were lectured on which measures to take. 15 vehicles, including patrol cars and helicopters, set out in pursuit of the criminals.

Officers from Yokosuka and Uraga captured a man who escaped by vehicle on the roads of Sawara. The other three were apprehended in Natsushimacho, Hayamacho and in front of the Keikyu Line's seaside Miura Station.

Original text:

三浦半島６署合同でコンビニ強盗想定し、緊急配備訓練/神奈川

2012年4月17日

複数によるコンビニ強盗事件に備える緊急配備訓練

複数によるコンビニ強盗事件に備える緊急配備訓練が17日、三浦半島６署などの合同で行われた。横須賀、浦賀、田浦、逗子、葉山、三崎の６署や県警鉄道警察隊、通信指令課、航空隊などから計約３００人が参加し、事件発生時の連携を確認した。

横須賀市大矢部のコンビニに刃物を持った４人組の男が押し入り、「金を出せ」と店員を脅迫、レジから現金９万円を奪う強盗事件を想定した。

犯人役の男４人は乗用車と電車で４方面に別れて逃走。署員らは各地に検問所を配備するなどの措置を講じたほか、出動した約15台のパトカーと航空隊のヘリコプターが犯人を追跡した。

横須賀、浦賀の両署員が乗用車で逃走していた男を同市佐原の路上で逮捕。ほかの３人も同市夏島町、葉山町、京急線三浦海岸駅前で取り押さえた。

The final glimpse of the cherry blossoms. Resembling the Milky Way, flower petals cover the Ōoka River.

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1204160004/

April 16, 2012

At the river bank, a final look at the cherry blossom trees in bloom. Scattered flower petals cover the water’s surface=Ōoka River

The "Painted Scene" of the flower petals. On the 15th, in the flowing Ōoka River of central Yokohama City, the final days of the viewing season for the cherry trees have arrived. The petals of the Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees along the river bank scatter and cover the water’s surface.

800 Yoshino Cherry blossom trees are in the full bloom along both sides of the river, from downstream (in the central ward) to midstream (in the southern ward). As the water’s surface stretches over the distance, being pulled by the tides, the flowing river mouth full of flower petals resembles the "Milky Way.” Called the final flower viewing spot, sightseers enjoy riding down the river in canoes. An amateur cameraman took the popular shot above.

Original text:

見納めの桜、大岡川の川面に花びらの天の川/横浜

2012年4月16日

川岸の桜が見納めとなり、散りゆく花びらが川面を染める＝大岡川

花びらの“絵模様”―。横浜の市心部を流れる大岡川で15日、川岸の桜（ソメイヨシノ）が見納めとなり、散りゆく花びらが川面を染めた。

大岡川は下流の中区から中流の南区にかけての両岸に約８００本のソメイヨシノが咲き誇る。潮が引いて、川の流れが河口に向かうと花びらが“天の川”のように川面に延びる。「最後の見せ場」にカヌーを楽しむ人たちや花見客、アマチュアカメラマンが盛んにシャッターを切っていた。

Cheers in the ancient city. The final event of the Kamakura Festival, horseback archery/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1204160002/

April 16, 2012

From atop a horse, the archer displays his wonderful skill= Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Temple, Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City

On the 15th, the final decoration to the Kamakura Festival was held, horseback archery. It took place at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Temple of Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City

After the "Enduring as the Heavens Ceremony," a Shinto event requesting an abundant harvest and the well being of the entire nation, Takeda-Ryu archers straddled their horses and dashed across 250 meters of racing ground in dedication.

Three targets were set up along the raceway. Accompanied by a "Ba-n!" sound, the were hit one after the other, drawing huge applause and cheers from the spectators.

(Footage from 2008)

Original text:
古都に歓声、フィナーレ飾る「鎌倉まつり」の流鏑馬/鎌倉
2012年4月16日

馬上から的を射抜く妙技が披露された＝鎌倉市雪ノ下の鶴岡八幡宮

「鎌倉まつり」のフィナーレを飾る流鏑馬（やぶさめ）が15日、鎌倉市雪ノ下の鶴岡八幡宮で行われた。

流鏑馬を奉納したのは武田流の射手ら。五穀豊穣（ごこくほうじょう）や万民息災を願う神事「天長地久の儀」が執り行われた後、馬にまたがった射手が約２５０メートルの馬場を疾走。

「バーン」という音とともに、設置された三つの的を次々に射抜くと、見物人から大きな歓声と拍手が起こっていた。