A frog that enjoys baths? At a tree above an open bath, a spawning nest is discovered in its growths/Yamakita

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207040026/

July 5, 2012

At the tree above the outdoor bath, Mr. Kurakara (inn manager) confirms the spawning of eggs=Yamakita-cho, Nakagawa

The onsen welcomes a "special visitor". At the Nakagawa onsen open baths of the Ao no Sansou (Japanese site) mountain villa (Yamakita-Cho), a spawning nest of the rhacophorus arboreus frog was discovered on the branch tips of a tree, quickly becoming news

A part of the rhacophoridae family, the rhacophorus arboreus frog first falls into the water as a tadpole upon hatching. They are born from the foam-like nest in the branches of trees growing in the water.

However, this nest was discovered above an open bath, which is usually boiling at close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). A female guest first  discovered a frog nest in the middle of June. Afterwards, one by one, more 10-15 centimeter nests were spotted. As of now, this is the 7th confirmed discovery.

With the onsen water presenting a danger to the tadpoles, upon discovery, inn manager Narioki Kurakara (45) transferred the nest to a waterway above a garden. This location is said to be suitable for the hatching and growth of tadpoles.

Kazumasa Arai, curator at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History (Japanese site) commented "Whether or not the waters in the area were appropriate, did (the frog)  simply make a mistake? I haven't often heard of a tadpole being born at an onsen."


Original text:
風呂好きカエル？　露天風呂の上に茂る木に産卵/山北
2012年7月5日

露天風呂の上に茂る木に産みつけられた卵を確認する倉形さん＝山北町中川

温泉に“珍客”―。山北町・中川温泉の旅館「蒼の山荘」の露天風呂で、モリアオガエルの卵の塊が木の枝先に産みつけられているのが見つかり、ちょっとした話題になっている。

アオガエル科のモリアオガエルは、ふ化したオタマジャクシが水中に落ちるよう、水面上にせり出した木の枝に泡状の卵塊を産む。

しかし、今回卵塊が見つかったのは、常時40度近い湯が沸く露天風呂の上。宿泊客の女性が６月中旬に発見したのを皮切りに、直径10～15センチの塊が次々と見つかり、これまでに計七つが確認された。

オタマジャクシには危険なため、旅館経営者の倉形興斉さん（45）が発見のたびに庭の水路の上に移している。今のところ順調にふ化し、育っているという。

県立生命の星・地球博物館の新井一政学芸員は「周囲に適した水場がなかったか、単純に間違えたのか。温泉で産んだというのはあまり聞いたことがない」としている。

A young tanuki wandering through a residential town in Kanagawa-ku is now under protection/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207020032/

July 3, 2012

The wild tanuki, under custody.

On the afternoon of July 2nd, a young wild tanuki was captured in a residential area of Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City. Fitting perfectly into a pair of hands, the tanuki was transferred to the Nogeyama Municipal Zoo.

According to the zoo, the animal under custody is of the Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus tanuki subspecies, appearing to be 3-4 weeks old. While not having any noticeable wounds, it's quite thin. Consuming food on it's own until reaching full growth, it's set to be returned to the wild in the fall.

According to Kanagawa police, at about 1:45PM on July 2nd, a 37 year old man on his way home from work spotted the tanuki wandering the ni-choume road of Shinkoyasu and captured it. Being given to the police, it was then handed over to the zoo.

The spot it was captured was neighboring a thicket. The zoo stated that 20 incidents occur per year of wild tanukis being captured and delivered. This was said to be the 3rd young tanuki under their care this year.


Original text:
子ダヌキ「ウロウロ」、神奈川区の住宅街で保護/横浜
2012年7月3日

保護された野生の子ダヌキ

横浜市神奈川区の住宅街で２日午後、野生の子ダヌキが捕獲された。両手に収まるほどの大きさで、市立野毛山動物園に引き渡された。

同園によると、保護されたのは、生後３～４週間とみられるホンドタヌキ。目立ったけがはないが、かなり痩せており、自分で餌がとれるまで成長するのを待ち、秋には自然に戻す。

神奈川署によると、同日午後１時45分ごろ、同区新子安２丁目の路上で歩き回っているタヌキを、帰宅途中の男性（37）が捕獲。同署を通じて同園に引き渡した。

捕獲現場の付近には雑木林がある。同園には年間約20件、保護された野生のタヌキが届けられている。子どものタヌキが保護されたのは今年に入り３件目という。

Praying for a safe summer, at the waterfall connected to Kentaro (The opening of Yuuhi No Ryuu waterfall)/Minamiashigara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207010018/

July 2, 2012

Praying for the safety of the spectators, a yamabushi (mountain priest) shoots an arrow=Yagurazawa's Yuuhi no Ryuu (Waterfall of dusk), Minamiashigara City

According to legend, Yuuhi no Ryuu (Yagurazawa, Minamiashigara City) is the site of Kintaro's first bath. On the 1st, the prayer event, “The opening of Yuuhi no Ryuu” was held for hikers and river goers visiting during the summer.

Organized by the city's tourism association, this marks the 46th occasion of the event. Through the reverberation of a horagai, a Yamabushi of the Mount Akiba Ryōgaku Temple (Itabashi, Odawara city), performed a ritual for the safety of vacation-goers. A great cheer arose from spectators and families as he faced the waterfall, firing an arrow at its surface.

Yuuhi no Ryuu is 23 meters long and 5 meters wide. The surrounding area contains the "vacation rock," wild animals and the ruins of houses, making it a popular vacationing spot. The area has been handed down through folklore as the spot Kintaro was raised at.

Original Text:

金太郎ゆかりの滝で、夏の安全祈る「夕日の滝びらき」/南足柄

2012年7月2日

観光客の安全を祈願し、矢を放つ山伏＝南足柄市矢倉沢の夕日の滝

金太郎が産湯を使ったと伝えられる南足柄市矢倉沢の「夕日の滝」で１日、夏のハイキングや川遊びの安全を祈願する「夕日の滝びらき」が行われた。

市観光協会の主催で46回目。ほら貝の音が響く中、秋葉山量覚院（小田原市板橋）の山伏が行楽客の安全を祈願。滝に向けて矢を放つ場面では、集まった関係者や家族連れらから大きな歓声が上がった。

 夕日の滝は高さ約23メートル、幅約５メートル。周辺には生家跡や動物たちと遊んだ「遊び石」など、金太郎にちなんだ伝承が残る。