The peak season for traditional octopus vase fishing, “Delicious food is coming from here on out”/Miura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1308120018/

August 13, 2013

Fisherman Yuu Yamamori pulls up one octopus vase after another=Miura City

The peak season for Octopus fishing has arrived. Using the ancient method of octopus vases, the octopi are caught by taking advantage of their habit of concealing themselves within rocky areas.

During the day, in the Kaneda fishing harbor area of Miura City, an octopus fishing boat floats on the calm ocean. There, fisherman Yuu Yamamori (Age 80) pulls a 15 meter rope up out of the water. Attached to the rope are 25 octopus vases, which likely have octopi inside half of them.

Octopus fishing usually begins in mid-July, but this year the season arrived about a month later than average. There were plenty of medium sized octopi brought up, weighing about 1 kilogram (2.20 pounds) each. "The octopi are healthy and have eggs. Things will get delicious from here!" Mr. Yamamori said with a smile.

Original text:

伝統のタコつぼ漁が最盛期、「これからがおいしい時期」／三浦

2013年8月13日

タコつぼを次々と引き上げる漁師の山森優さん＝三浦市

岩間に潜り込むタコの習性を利用した、昔ながらのタコつぼ漁が最盛期を迎えている。

三浦市の金田漁港周辺では、波が穏やかな日にはタコを捕る船が浮かぶ。漁師の山森優さん（８０）は、約１５メートル間隔で縄に結ばれた２５個のタコつぼを次々に引き上げる。入っている確率は２割程度。

ことしは例年よりも１カ月ほど遅い７月中旬から捕れ始めた。１キロ前後の中ダコが多いが、山森さんは「卵持ちがいたり、身も締まり、これからがおいしい時期」と笑顔を見せる。

Continuing a 300 year tradition, the heroic Toya Lion Dance/Sagamihara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1308100006/

August 11, 2013

The Toya Lion Dance.

On the 10th, a tradition continuing over 300 years took place at the Suwa Shrine of Toya, Midori Ward, Sagamihara. There, the Toya Lion Dance was performed in a religious dedication.

The dance depicted a family of a father, mother and son. Dancing to the sounds of a flute, 3 people covered in white robes and lion masks performed, their heads twisting concurrently to the music.

The Toya Lion Dance began during the Japan's Kanbun Period (1661-73), to be later appointed as an intangible cultural asset of the prefecture. Local high school students took on the task of performing as the lions.

Original text:
３００年間続く伝統「鳥屋の獅子舞」勇壮に／相模原
2013年8月11日

鳥屋の獅子舞

相模原市緑区鳥屋の諏訪神社で１０日、３００年以上前から続くとされる伝統芸能「鳥屋の獅子舞」が奉納された。

父、母、息子３頭の獅子舞。笛の音が響くと、獅子頭をかぶった白衣姿の３人が、同時に頭をうねらせながら舞った。

獅子舞は寛文年間（１６６１～７３年）ごろから始まったとされ、県無形民俗文化財に指定されている。獅子役は地元の高校生が務めている。