Remembering a saint with green in Motomachi, in an Ireland intercultural exchange parade/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1403150025/

March 15, 2014

Participants assemble, dressed in traditional Irish outfits.

With the arrival of spring, a celebration is held with the color green. To deepen relations between Japan and Ireland, a Saint Patrick's Day Parade takes place each year. On the 15th, it was held at the Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street in Naka-Ku, Yokohama City.

Part of a holiday observed throughout the world, the parade commemorates the date of Saint Patrick's death (March 17), a priest who brought Christianity to Ireland. In Yokohama, this year marked the 10th anniversary of the parade.

Wearing traditional Irish clothing, 300 participants assembled to perform music and dance in the parade. From the sides of the street, customers of the shopping street smiled as they viewed the event. Many dressed in freshly purchased green clothing, Ireland's national color.



Original text:
緑色で聖人しのぶ、元町でアイルランド交流パレード／横浜
2014年3月15日

アイルランドの民俗衣装などをまとった参加者ら

春到来、グリーンで祝う－。日本とアイルランドの交流を深めようと毎年行われている「セントパトリックデー・パレード」が１５日、横浜市中区の横浜元町ショッピングストリートで開催された。

パレードは、アイルランドにキリスト教をもたらした宣教者・聖パトリックの命日（３月１７日）にちなんで世界中で開催されており、横浜での開催は今年で１０回目。

アイルランドの民俗衣装などをまとった約３００人が音楽やダンスを披露しながら行進、沿道では同国のナショナルカラー・緑色の服などを身に着けた買い物客らが笑顔で眺めていた。

Dressing however they please, 3500 people participate in a 1.5 kilometer Halloween parade/Kawasaki

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210280018/

October 28, 2012

3500 participated in the Halloween parade.

Japan's largest Halloween event, the Halloween parade, took place at Japan Railroad's Kawasaki east gate area in Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City.

This year was the 16th occasion of the event. Dressed as zombies, monsters, pumpkins or whatever they wanted, 3500 participants marched to uptempo dance music along the 1.5 kilometer (.93 course).

Original text:
思い思いにハロウィーン、約３５００人が１．５キロをパレード／川崎
2012年10月28日

約３５００人が参加したハロウィン・パレード

国内最大級のハロウィーン・イベント「ハロウィン・パレード」が川崎市川崎区のＪＲ川崎駅東口一帯で行われた。

今年で１６回目。ゾンビやお化けカボチャなど思い思いに仮装した約３５００人が参加し、アップテンポのダンスミュージックに合わせて約１．５キロのコースを練り歩いた。

At the Kamakura Goryō Shrine, the annual Menkakegyoretsu (Masked Parade) is held, in prayer of a rich harvest, fortune and protection from disaster/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1209180030/

September 19, 2012

A masked group marches in the Menkakegyoretsu=Kamakura City

On the 18th, from the Goryō Shrine in Saka No Shita, Kamakura City, the annual Menkakegyoretsu (Masked Parade) was held. Wearing masks that included the Oni and Okame, a group of ten slowly marched the streets. Over one hundred shrine parishioners followed closely. The event is held to appeal for a rich harvest, the invitation of good fortune and the removal of disasters.

Being a part of the shrine's annual festival, the Menkakegyoretsu has been designated as an invaluable cultural asset of the prefecture. The event recognizes the anniversary of Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa's death, a warrior of the Heian Period whose family were pioneers of Kamakura City.

The large crowds were grateful for the parade, as there was a concern that it might be halted due to the possibility of rainfall ruining the wooden masks.

Original text:
鎌倉御霊神社で恒例の面掛行列、除災招福と五穀豊穣を祈願／神奈川
2012年9月19日

面掛衆が練り歩いた面掛行列＝鎌倉市

鎌倉市坂ノ下の御（ご）霊（りょう）神社（小林孝男宮司）で１８日、恒例の面（めん）掛（かけ）行列が行われた。鬼やおかめなど１０の面をつけた面掛衆と氏子ら１００人以上が近くの通りをゆっくりと練り歩き、除災招福と五穀豊（ほう）穣（じょう）を祈った。
 　
同神社の例大祭の神事で、県の指定無形文化財。鎌倉開拓の祖と伝えられる平安時代の武士、鎌倉権（ごん）五（ご）郎（ろう）景（かげ）正（まさ）の命日に毎年、行われている。
 　
雨で木製の面がぬれるため中止の懸念もあったが、出発時にはやみ、大勢の観光客らを喜ばせた。

The Odawara Hojo Godai Festival, a parade of 1250 daring soldiers/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1205030020/

May 4, 2012

A parade of heroic soldiers emerge from Odawara's Castle Ruins Park=The castle grounds of Odawara City

Odawara City's most attended event, the 48th Odawara Hojo Godai Festival (Celebrating 5 generations of the Hojo Clan), was held on the 3rd in the area of Odawara Castle. It was organized by the city's tourism association. Despite a portion of the festivities having to be changed due to rain, the organizers announced that 12,000 visitors packed the castle's interior and it's surrounding roads.

A battle commencement ceremony took place in Odawara's Castle Ruins Park. As a voice yelled "Okay, set-off!" figures of ninjas and armored warriors took off in a line. The army of 1250 marched 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) to the Odawara train station area.

An ambassador for his hometown of Odawara, actor Kai Ato dressed up as the first generation Hojo Soun. Mounted on a horse, he selected from the audience someone to perform the important task of playing third generation Hojo Ujiyasu. Five participants of the parade came from Souma City of Fukushima Prefecture, which was damaged by the disaster of Eastern Japan.

Original text:
小田原北條五代祭り、１２５０人が勇壮に武者行列/神奈川
2012年5月4日

勇壮な姿で小田原城址公園を出発する武者行列＝小田原市城内

小田原市最大の観光イベント「第48回小田原北條五代祭り」が３日、小田原城周辺で開かれた。市観光協会の主催。雨の影響で予定が一部変更されたものの、城内や沿道には観光客ら約12万人（主催者発表）が詰めかけた。

小田原城址公園で行われた出陣式では、「いざ、出陣」の掛け声で、甲冑（かっちゅう）姿や忍者姿の武者行列がスタート。総勢約１２５０人が小田原駅の周辺約２．４キロを練り歩いた。

俳優で小田原ふるさと大使の阿藤快さんが初代北条早雲に扮（ふん）して馬にまたがったほか、一般公募で選ばれた市民が３代氏康の大役を務めた。東日本大震災で被災した福島県相馬市からも５人が行列に参加した。

The flower festival begins on Kodo Mountain. Praying for recovery during a talent summit/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1204010027/

April 1, 2012

A Thai Flower Dance Parade.

The Kodo Mountain Flower Festival began on the 1^st , on Kodo Mountain in the Kanagawa Ward of Yokohama City. The citizens of the area enjoyed a girl scout color guard group, brass band, children's parade, Mikoshi parade and a Thai flower parade, made up of young female followers of Thailand’s religions, spanning 1 kilometer (.6 miles). The festival lasts until April 10.

Reaching the 60th anniversary of the festival, this year's theme is "The flower festival, tying together happiness". Last year's parade was interrupted due to a Buddhist Memorial service in the area, being held to mourn all those who passed away in the Eastern Japan disaster. This time, the festival has moved to a period of praying for recovery. On the 7th and 8th, an exhibit of goods from the North-Eastern Japan area will be on display. On the 8th, a traditional folk entertainment gathering will be held.

The products scheduled to be on display include shark fin sushi of Kesennuma, Miyagi and salted wakame of Iwate Prefecture. Performing in the folk entertainment convention will be Kesennuma's Namiita Tiger Dance  Preservation Association and a Jangara Dance Group from Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.

Kodo Mountain is embraced by the country’s believers of filial piety, as it the location of the Head Temple for the Religious Association of Filial Piety (Uniformly governed by Okano Masazum). Kodo Mountain invited the Enraku Temple (of Mount Hiei's) Bone of the Buddha and Immortal Light of the Buddhists festivals to be performed within Kodo Mountain Temple, in 1952 and 1960 respectively.

Original text:

孝道山で花まつり始まる、復興祈念し芸能大会も/横浜

2012年4月1日

タイ舞踊「フラワーダンス」のパレード

横浜市神奈川区の孝道山で１日、「孝道山花まつり」が始まった。ガールスカウトカラーガード隊、ブラスバンド、稚児行列、地元町内会のみこしや、女性の信徒によるタイ舞踊「フラワーダンス」が約１キロをパレード、地元住民らを楽しませた。10日まで。

60回目を迎えた今回のテーマは「幸せの縁をむすぶ花まつり」。昨年はパレードを中止し、東日本大震災の物故者を弔う法要を営んだ。今回は、大震災からの復興を祈念して期間中、東北地方の物産展（７、８日）と民俗芸能大会（８日）が開かれる。

物産展には、宮城県気仙沼市のふかひれ寿司や、岩手県産の塩わかめなどが出品される。芸能大会には、気仙沼市の浪板虎舞保存会や、福島県いわき市のじゃんがら踊りが参加する。

孝道山は、全国に信徒を擁する孝道教団（岡野正純統理）の本山。境内には１９５２年と60年にそれぞれ比叡山延暦寺から招来した「仏舎利」と「不滅の法灯」が祭られる。

Celebrating the 6th anniversary of the China Town's Mazu Shrine. The Goddess is sent out on a gorgeous parade/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1203200021/

March 20, 2012

The 6th annual Mazu Festival, a celebration of the Mazu Shrine's opening.

Celebrating the 6th anniversary of the Mazu Shrine opening, the annual Mazu Festival was held on the 20th in the Chinatown of Yokohama's Naka Ward.

During the evening parade, firecrackers echoed with an explosive "Do!" "Ra!" sound. Loaded onto a Mikoshi (Portable shrine), Mazu was led through Chinatown's main street by giant, 3 meter figures. With the addition of Shishi Lion  and Dragon dances, plenty of spectators continually filled the surrounding areas.

A real person who existed 1000 years ago in China, Mazu became widely believed by the people to be a Goddess who protected voyagers at sea.

Original text:
中華街・媽祖廟の６周年を祝う、女神載せ華やかに/横浜
2012年3月20日

媽祖廟開廟６周年を祝う恒例の「媽祖祭

媽祖廟（まそびょう）の開廟６周年を祝う恒例の「媽祖祭」が20日、横浜市中区の横浜中華街で行われた。

夕方のパレードでは、爆竹と銅（ど）鑼（ら）の音が響く中、媽祖を載せたみこしが約３メートルの巨大な人形に先導されて中華街大通りなどを行進。獅子舞や龍舞も行われ、たくさんの観光客で埋まった沿道を盛り上げた。

媽祖は約千年前に中国に実在した人物で、航海の安全を守る女神として広く人々に信仰されている。

In the middle of the rain, Motomachi is colored in green. A cultural exchange parade with Ireland/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1203180004/

March 18, 2012

150 participants dressed in green march throughout Motomachi.

With the aim of intercultural exchange between Japan and Ireland, a Saint Patrick's Day parade was held on the 17th. Organized by a committee, it was held on the shopping street of Motomachi, Yokohama City (Naka ward).

Saint Patrick was a missionary who became widespread in Irish Christianity. On March 17, the anniversary of his passing is celebrated as a national holiday. Within Japan, parades take place in only 10 locations. This year marks the 8th parade held in Motomachi.

In the middle of the falling rain, symbolically dressed in green under their raincoats, 150 advanced. Irish people dressed as Saint Patrick waved their country's flag, cheering as they marched around the town. Along the streets, spectators smiled as they held on to green balloons.


Original text:
雨の中、元町が緑色に　アイルランド交流パレード/横浜
2012年3月18日

緑色の衣装を着て約１５０人が元町を練り歩いた

日本とアイルランドの交流を目的にした「セントパトリックデー・パレード」が17日、横浜市中区の横浜元町ショッピングストリートで開催された。同実行委員会主催。

セントパトリックはアイルランドにキリスト教を普及させた宣教者で、命日の３月17日は祝日となっている。日本国内でも10カ所でパレードが行われており、元町での開催はことしで８回目。

雨が降る中、レインコートの下にアイルランドのシンボルカラーである緑色の衣装を着た約１５０人が行進。セントパトリックに扮（ふん）したアイルランド人や国旗を掲げた参加者が大きな歓声を上げながら街を練り歩き、沿道では緑の風船を手にした人々が笑顔で見守っていた。

Seeming to rebound against the uncertainty of society. The reappearance of the "Ee ja nai ka" Ise shrine pilgrimage from the Bakumatsu era.

Translated from the original article at: http://iseshima.keizai.biz/headline/1295/

January 8, 2012

Caption: Seeming to rebound against the uncertainty of society. The reappearance of the "Ee ja nai ka”(Meaning: Isn't it great?) Ise shrine pilgrimage from the Bakumatsu (late Edo) era.

(Facing Japan) are the circular arguments of the National Assembly, stagnation of the marketplace, Eastern Japan's natural disasters and nuclear reactor accident, etc. Presently, the people of the world are under a feeling of unease. But on January 8th, that discomfort was seemingly blown off by the Ise Ee Ja Nai Group  (Japanese site) led by their President, Ishikawa Yuuichi. While marching along a distance of 3 kilometers (1.864 Miles) from the outer Ise shrine to the inner shrine, they cheerfully shouted "Ee ja nai ka, Ee ja nai ka" (Isn't it great?!, Isn't it great?!).

In the Bakumatsu era, the same group from the Ise shrine merrily shouted "Ee ja nai ka, Ee ja nai ka". Massive amounts of people seemingly drove away socities' anxieties as the phenomenon unfolded. Seeking to recreate this, each year the Ise pilgrimage is carried out, disguising the world in merriment and joy. This is the 8th occurrence of that event.

Groups of Kabukimono, cross dressers and people wearing disguises such as ninja outfits walked around while repeatedly calling out "Ee ja nai ka". The town inside of the temple grounds is now flourishing, as large groups of visitors approach the famous Oharai shopping district. Ordinary people get caught up in the fun, as chants of "Ee ja nai ka" flourish. After coming of age ceremonies conclude, the participants are surrounded by onlookers, chanting "Shinseijin, Shinseijin" (New adult, New adult) in celebration. (Note: Coming of Age Day takes place on January 9th of this year in Japan.

Someone just coming of age, born in the town and involved in the Ee ja nai kai group, commented: "It's implied that Japanese society is experiencing unease, however, I ask what I can do to contribute. Us who have come of age must have thought about what we can do to brighten up society. I was taken by surprise (from today's events), but felt it was awfully good that they occurred," were the thoughts he revealed.


Original text:
「ええじゃないか」と社会の不安を跳ね返そうと江戸幕末の伊勢参り再現
2012年01月08日

「ええじゃないか」と社会の不安を跳ね返そうと江戸幕末の伊勢参り再現

国会の空転、景気の停滞、東日本大震災、原発事故など今の世の人々の不安な気持ちを吹き飛ばそうと1月8日、「伊勢ええじゃない会」（石川雄一郎会長）が「ええじゃないか、ええじゃないか」と明るく騒ぎながら伊勢神宮外宮から内宮までの約3キロの距離を練り歩いた。

同会は、幕末に「ええじゃないか」「ええじゃないか」と明るく騒ぎ、社会不安を吹き飛ばそうと民衆の間から巻き起こった社会現象を再現し、明るく楽しい世にしていこうと毎年仮装による伊勢参りを実施、今回で8回を数える。

傾奇（かぶき）者や女装、忍者などに仮装し「ええじゃないか」と連呼しながら歩く集団が、内宮の門前町として栄え今も大勢の参拝客が行き交うおはらい町通りに差し掛かると、一般人も巻き込みながら楽しく「ええじゃないか、ええじゃないか」と盛り上がった。成人式を終えた新成人を見つけると取り囲み、「新成人、新成人」と掛け声で祝った。

 同集団に捕まった同市出身の新成人は「社会不安だらけのニッポンだけど、社会のために何か貢献し、私たち新成人が明るい社会を作っていかなければいけないと思った。捕まってビックリしたけど、とっても良い事が起こりそう」と感想を漏らした。