(Movie) Egata Shrine’s Brush Memorial Service; students preparing for exams pray for their success/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1301250014/

January 25, 2013

The ritual of visitors offering their old, used brushes=Egaraten Shrine

Celebrating the God of Scholarship, Sugawarano Michizane, a brush memorial service was held on the 25^th, at the Nikai Hall of Kamakura City's Egaraten Shrine. A New Year's tradition, where old, used brushes and pencils are placed into a bonfire.

(Movies)

Calligraphers and students preparing for their exams brought a total of 3000 brushes and pencils, adding them to the flaming hibachi in front of the main worship hall.

Within the temple grounds, emas written with prayers for the exams are set up. A bell could be heard ringing, as visitors clasped their hands and prayed at a sacred fire for progress in calligraphy and for passing exams.

Original text:

【動画】荏柄天神社で筆供養、受験生ら学業成就願う／鎌倉

2013年1月25日

使い古した筆を供養する参拝者＝荏柄天神社

学問の神様・菅原道真を祭る鎌倉市二階堂の荏柄天神社は２５日、新春伝統の「筆供養」で、使い古された筆や鉛筆を焚（た）き上げた。

【動画】

書家や受験生らが持ち寄った約３千本が、拝殿前の火鉢にくべられた。

合格祈願の絵馬が鈴なりとなった境内で、浄火に書道の上達や学業成就を願い、参拝客が手を合わせた。

(Video) Young adults celebrate in the New Year's sea. A mid-winter mikoshi training event at Katase Beach/Fujisawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1301200011/

January 20, 2013

Together, yelling out with enthusiasm, young adults who recently came of age enter the New Year's ocean, shouldering a mikoshi=Eastern Katase Beach, Fujisawa City

Young adults celebrated and prayed for a year of health and well being at a mid-winter mikoshi training event. It was held on the 20th on East Katase Beach in Fujisawa City.

(Videos)

After a cleansing was performed on shore, new young adults wearing red and white tasukis began guiding 4 mikoshi. Yelling out together, they entered the New Year's ocean.

Put together by the Fujisawa*Kamakura Mikoshi Federation, this year was the 32nd occasion of the event.

Original text:
【動画】新春の海で新成人祝う、片瀬海岸で「寒中神輿練成大会」／藤沢
2013年1月20日

威勢のいい掛け声とともに、新春の海に入る担ぎ手＝藤沢市、片瀬海岸東浜

新成人のお祝いと一年の無病息災を祈る「寒中神輿練成大会」が２０日、藤沢市の片瀬海岸東浜で行われた。

【動画】

浜でお祓いを済ませ紅白のタスキをかけた新成人は、４基の御輿（みこし）を先導。威勢のいい掛け声とともに、新春の海に入っていった。

藤沢・鎌倉神輿連合会の主催で今年で３２回目。