The rice harvest has already begun. Using a parasol on his combine, Ooe-Machi's Mr. Murakami escapes the sun.

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120810-00000303-rtn-l26

Transmitted at 5:13 PM on Friday, August 8 by the Ryoutan Daily Shinbun

In the intense sunlight, the drooping, mature rice stalks are cut one after another. (After 10:00AM on August 10)

Along the Yuragawa River of Ooe-machi, Fukuchiyama City, rice harvesting has already begun. On the 10th, Yahiro Murakami (Age 70) of the Kitaariji area began cutting down the golden, mature rice crops.

Since long ago near Ooe-Machi's Yura River Bank, in order to yield a harvest before the  fall's typhoon season, the area's farms have planted rice early in the spring. By the (late summer) lantern festival season, it's ready for harvest.

Mr. Murakami owns 4 rice fields, covering 50 ares of land. From the 10th, harvesting commenced. First, he went to work on his largest field, measuring 37 ares. Continuing to work under the intense heat, he attached a colorful umbrella to his combine. Boarding the vehicle while also covered under a straw hat, one mature, swaying rice stalk is cut after another.

"What's needed the most is water. With the rain stopping after the beginning of July, there's a bad possibility that this year will have a small rice yield. After all the rice has been harvested, we'll begin again around September." said Mr. Murakami.


Original text:
早くも稲刈り始まる　コンバインに日よけのパラソルつけて大江の村上さん
両丹日日新聞 8月10日(金)17時13分配信

強い日差しの中、たわわに実った稲が次々と刈り取られていった（１０日午前１０時すぎ）

福知山市大江町の由良川沿いで、早くも稲刈りが始まっている。１０日は北有路の村上八弘さん（７０）が黄金色に実った稲を刈り取っていった。

町内の由良川筋では、秋の台風シーズンを避けて収穫するため、昔から春の早い時期に田植えをして、盆ごろに稲刈りをする農家がある。

村上さんは４枚の田んぼ約５０アールを所有。１０日から収穫を始めた。まず一番広い３７アールの田で作業。まだ厳しい暑さが続く中、コンバインにカラフルなパラソルを付け、麦わら帽子をかぶって乗り、たわわに実った稲を次々と刈っていった。

「一番水が必要な７月上旬に雨が降らなかったので、今年は少し生育が悪いかもしれない。全部の稲刈りが終わるのは９月初めぐらいになります」と村上さんは話している。

August 6, the anniversary of Hiroshima's nuclear bombing: Each area of Japan sounds a bell in request of peace and total abolition of nuclear weapons

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120806-00000302-rtn-l26

Transmitted at 5:08 PM on Monday, August 6 by the Ryoutan Daily Shinbun

Praying for peace after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a bell is struck at 8:15AM (At Ennōji Temple)

The morning of August 6 marked the 67th anniversary of Hiroshima's atomic bombing. Not wanting to repeat the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in places such as the temples of Fukuchiyama City, the echoes of bells calling for peace could be heard. After the 2011 Eastern Japan disaster, the issue of nuclear power has rocked Japan. Citizens sound their bells, also requesting the removal of nuclear reactors.

Each year, the Fukuchiyama Atom and Hydrogen Bomb Society (Japanese site) and other groups call to the city's temples and citizens against nuclear weapons. At 8:15AM, August 6 (1945), the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Now, people everywhere within the city sound their bells at that time, in peace and mourning for those sacrificed.

At the Ennōji Temple located in Shimosasō, Chief Priest Ōyama Yoshinori and local residents performed the heart sutra. During the requiem, echoes of bells could be heard, as those present closed their eyes and clasped their hands in a moment of stillness.

A man who sounded his bell said. "This is for us not to be defeated by nuclear weapons, energy or the hands of man. I think nuclear power is something to be feared."

On April 9, 11:02 AM, the time that the bombing of Nagasaki occurred, bells of peace will also play everywhere within the city.

 　

Original Text:

きょう原爆の日：核廃絶と平和願い　各地で鐘の音響く

両丹日日新聞 8月6日(月)17時8分配信

平和を願い広島に原爆が投下された午前８時１５分に鐘をついた（円応寺で）

６７回目の広島・原爆の日を迎えた６日朝、広島、長崎の悲劇を繰り返さないためにと、福知山市内の寺院などで今年も平和の鐘が鳴らされた。東日本大震災以降、原発問題で揺れる日本。脱原発を願い鐘をつく市民もいた。

 毎年、福知山原水協などが市内の寺院や市民に呼びかけ、広島に原爆が投下された６日午前８時１５分に市内のあちこちで平和の鐘を鳴らして犠牲者を追悼している。

下篠尾の円応寺では、大山義典住職と地域住民が般若心経を唱えて鐘をつき、鎮魂の音色が響く間、じっと目を閉じて手を合わせた。

鐘をついた男性は「核兵器も原発も人の手に負えないという意味では一緒。核は怖いものだと思う」と話していた。

長崎に投下された９日午前１１時２分にも市内の複数箇所で平和の鐘をつく。

Making a vow of peace and opposition to war, the Commonwealth for Prisoners of War and Those Lost in Battle holds a mourning ceremony/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1208050007/

August 5, 2012

Attendants of the mourning service offer flowers= The Common Wealth War Cemetery of Hodogaya Ward, Yokohama City

On the 4th, the commonwealth for POWs held a mourning service for those lost in Japan during WWII, praying for their souls in the afterlife. The service was held at the Common Wealth War Cemetery in Karibo-chou of Yokohama City's Hodogaya Ward. One hundred fifty embassy personnel and citizens attended, pledging to maintain successive generations of peace.

Held by the Commonwealth Committee to Mourn those Lost and Imprisoned in War, the ceremony began in 1995, 50 years after the war's end. This year marks the 18th occasion of the event.

Giving a speech during the ceremony, Pastor Kensaku Iwai of Meiji University Church reflected: "To those resting in various graveyards, I say to them "Please rest in peace.". In addition, I wish for people to possess the bravery to say "No" when the time comes for them to face war."

Representing the Common Wealth, Wing Commander Malcom Selkirk of the Australian Embassy addressed the crowd "Not wanting the experience of how I was treated as a prisoner of war to be repeated, I wish that (the world) strengthens its resolution (for peace)."

Additionally, a male choir made up of alumnus from Tokyo Agricultural College performed hymns in dedication. Students of Yokohama Business School also made a flower offering to a monument of the cross.

Original text:

反戦と平和誓う、英連邦戦没捕虜を追悼/横浜

2012年8月5日

追悼礼拝で献花する出席者＝横浜市保土ケ谷区の英連邦戦死者墓地

第２次世界大戦中に日本で亡くなった英連邦兵捕虜の冥福を祈る追悼礼拝が４日、横浜市保土ケ谷区狩場町の英連邦戦死者墓地であった。大使館関係者や市民ら約１５０人が出席し、平和の継承を誓った。

有志でつくる「英連邦戦没捕虜追悼礼拝実行委員会」が主催。戦後50年を機に１９９５年から始まり、今回で18回目。

追悼の辞で、明治学院教会の岩井健作牧師は「墓地に眠る方々に『安らかにお眠りください』と言うためにも、戦争への方向をたどる時にはノーと言える勇気を持ちたい」と述べた。

英連邦代表のオーストラリア大使館のマルコム・セルカーク空軍大佐は「戦争捕虜のような扱いが二度と繰り返されないよう、その覚悟を確かなものにしたい」とあいさつした。

このほか、東京農大ＯＢら男声合唱団による賛美歌がささげられ、横浜商業高校の生徒らが十字架をかたどった記念碑に献花した。