(A fisherman's) "Otoshidama" dances through the air. Tossing oranges for a large catch/Zushi

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1301020004/

January 3, 2013

Families catch oranges being thrown in the air=Kotsubō Fishing Port

On the morning of January 2nd, the annual Orange Throwing Festival took place. The New Year’s ritual is held in prayer of a year of bountiful fishing and safety at sea. Taking place at Kotsubō Fishing Port of Kotsubō, Zushi city, large groups of families scrambled to catch (their version) of the "Otoshidama" being flung through the air.

Stopping by with a truck of full of oranges, the Fishing Industry Union of Kotsubō, sponsors of the event, began tossing them to the crowd. As the fishing union completed the orange throwing at the shore’s edge, fishing boats began sailing though the harbor with their tairyo-bata raised. Making their way through the mist and an occasional strong wind, one boat after another began to throw oranges and candies to a packed crowd, who could be heard calling out "Throw it over here, Please throw them further!"

Bringing cardboard boxes and plastic bags, even children tried with all their might to catch the oranges and candy coming from the boats.

Original text:

空中舞う“お年玉”、豊漁願い「みかん投げ」／逗子

2013年1月3日

投げられるミカンを受け止める家族連れら＝小坪漁港

一年の豊漁と安全を祈願する正月恒例の伝統行事「みかん投げ」が２日朝、逗子市小坪の小坪漁港で行われ、大勢の家族連れが「われ先に」と空中を舞う“お年玉”を受け止めていた。

みかん投げはこの日、主催する小坪漁業協同組合前に止められたトラックから始まった。

同漁協前のみかん投げが終了すると、同漁港の波打ち際に陸揚げされ、大漁旗が掲げられた漁船へと移動。強風が時折、波しぶきを運ぶ中、次々に各漁船からミカンやお菓子が投げられると「こっちにも投げてー」「後ろもお願いします」と詰めかけた人々の歓声が響いた。

子どもたちも段ボール箱やポリ袋などを持参し、漁船から降ってくるミカンやお菓子を一生懸命に受け止めていた。