Breathing life into a fusuma painting, the panels are completed at Kenchō-ji Temple/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207130031/

July 14, 2012

The completed "dragon king" fusuma painting=Kenchō-ji Temple, Yamanouchi, Kamakura City

At Kenchō-ji Temple of Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, a "king dragon" fusuma painting has been completed. It was produced by the ink-wash painting artist Mr. Hakurō (age 67), who was born in China.

With the sun and moon being placed across the right and left of the scene, the painting represents "the ruler of heaven and earth". On the 14th, the panel decorated the temple's own dragon king hall.

The drawings were done on 4 sheets of “echizen washi” paper, each roughly 2 square meters in size. 20 different fur brushes of various sizes were used. Light touches were used for dots, vigorous strokes for lines, and sliding spin strokes for the parts of the surface covered in ink. "I attached…breathed my life into it," said Mr. Hakurō.

Lining up both sides (of the room they're placed in), the temple grounds have 16 fusuma panels, also displaying juniper, Mount Fuji and the Shounan Sea. The dragon fusuma was newly created to coincide with 2012's Year of the Dragon. One year was spent on the design. Two weeks were necessary for production.

Original Text:

ふすま絵に吹き込む命、建長寺で完成/鎌倉　

2012年7月14日

完成した竜王のふすま絵＝鎌倉市山ノ内の建長寺

鎌倉市山ノ内の建長寺で、中国出身の水墨画家・白浪（はくろう）さん（67）が竜王のふすま絵を完成させた。

左右に太陽と月を配し、「天地の支配者」を表した。龍王殿に14日、飾られる。

およそ２メートル四方の越前和紙のふすま４枚に描いた。大小20の毛筆を操り、かすらせて「点」、立てて「線」、滑らせて「面」を紡いだ。白浪さんは「命を懸けて命を吹き込んだ」。

両脇に連ねるふすま16枚に境内のビャクシン、富士山、湘南の海をあしらった。辰（たつ）年に合わせて新調。構想１年、制作２週間を要した。

A summer scene at the Yasukuni Shrine. As the Mitama festival begins, the lanterns’ light flows throughout Chidori-ga-fuchi

Translated from the original article at: http://ichigaya.keizai.biz/headline/1425/

July 13, 2012

A scene of summer, as the Mitama Matsuri (Spirit Festival) begins at the Yasukuni Shrine.

On July 13, at Yasukuni Temple (Location: Kyuudan, Kita San, Chiyodaku), the Mitama Festival, the single most familiar reminder of summer, has begun.

Enjoying the cool evening.

Beginning in 1947, this year marks the 66th occasion of the festival. During the festival period, over 30,000 visit. Groups of various sizes visit the temple grounds for the lantern and Kake-Bonbori events. Each night at the main temple, rituals are held to comfort the spirits of fallen warriors.

Enjoying the festivities are families, foreigners, businessmen returning from work, groups wearing yukata and more. 30,000 people pay a visit to the shrine each year. Crossing all ages and genders, many visitors can be seen packing the shrine. From the opening night going into today, Edo period kappore, wind instrument parades and Tokyo's earliest lantern dance rallies are conducted.

Scheduled inside the shrine grounds: A carrying of the mikoshi and an Aomori Nebuta festival on the 14th. On the 15th, among 50 performances done in offering, Hiro Tsunoda will perform a special outdoor concert. The main road approaching the shrine is enveloped in light, as 200 shop stalls line the way.

The festival will be held until the 16th. According to the Chiyadaku Travel and Tourism Association, people will be able to take in the cool evening at the neighboring Chidori-ga-fuchi boat pier, open during the festival. From the boats, participants will be able to float lanterns on the water's surface.

Original text:

靖国神社、夏の風物詩「みたままつり」始まる－千鳥ケ淵で灯ろう流しも

（2012年07月13日）

靖国神社で夏の風物詩「みたままつり」が始まった

靖国神社（千代田区九段北3）で7月13日、夏の風物詩の一つとして親しまれている「みたままつり」が始まった。

【画像】「納涼の夕べ」の様子

1947（昭和22）年から始まり今年で66回を数える「みたままつり」。期間中、境内には大小3万個を超えるちょうちんや懸雪洞（かけぼんぼり）が掲げられ、本殿では毎夜、英霊を慰める祭儀が執り行われる。

毎年30万人の参拝者が訪れ、毎年家族連れや外国人、仕事帰りのビジネスマンなど老若男女問わず多くの参拝客でにぎわいを見せる。初日となったこの日は、江戸芸かっぽれや吹奏楽パレード、都内で最も早い盆踊り大会などが行われ、浴衣姿のグループや家族連れ、仕事帰りのビジネスマンなど多くの人たちが祭りを楽しんでいた。

境内では期間中、みこし振りや青森ねぶた（14日）、つのだ☆ひろさんによる奉納特別野外コンサート（15日）など50の奉納芸能が繰り広げられるほか、光に包まれた参道には200店もの露店が軒を連ねる。

 開催は16日まで。隣接する千鳥ケ淵ボート場ではこの日、千代田区観光協会主催による「納涼の夕べ」が行われ、参加者が船上から灯ろうを水面に浮かべた。

Overcoming illness with a strong friend. Kanagawa prefecture's first therapy dog "arrives for work" at a children's health care center/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207070005/

July 7th, 2012

The arrival of Bailey, a golden retriever therapy dog.

Easing the worries of patients with his support, a therapy dog arrived for work at the Municipal Children's Health Care Center of Mutsukawa, Minami Ward, Yokohama City, on the 6th. This is the second time in the whole country that a therapy dog has been stationed at a children's hospital and the first time within Kanagawa prefecture. Children being admitted to the hospital with serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease can now expect a "strong friend" in the dog.

The newly arrived therapy dog is named Bailey (Male, Age 4), a golden retriever born in Australia. Requests for the dog were sent by the families of childhood cancer patients staying at the center. The requests went out to the Tyler Foundation, a non-profit organization providing therapy dogs free of charge.

According to the children's center, from the age of 6 to 12 months, Bailey received specialized training at a facility in Hawaii. From January 2010, Bailey spent 2&1/2 years working at the Shizuoka Municipal Children's Hospital (Shizuoka City) as Japan's first therapy dog. Along with his partner Yuko Morita (age 30), through animal assistance therapy they aid in training patients to walk, recovery and providing care for their emotions.

On that day, an arrival ceremony was held for Bailey. Forty hospitalized children, parental guardians and center staff participated. Upon receiving a letter of appointment (Titled: Dispatched and stationed as an employee) from Children's Center President Seiyou Yasui, Bailey immediately made the rounds through the ward. Children called out "Cute," "He's warm," etc. as they eagerly pet his head and back, no longer showing a care in the world. "He has a friendly and gentle personality," said Morita. As they toured the room, smiles were seen widening.

In regards to the healing effects that can be expected: In present western medicine, it's said that therapy dogs have been shown to be highly effective in healing and their rate of use is in a continual progression. As the children have their stress and unease alleviated during the fight for their lives, the center looks forward to receiving positive results. "Japan is still just beginning to look into therapy dogs. Our work will serve as the foundation for their widespread use," said Morita.

Original text:

病克服へ強い味方、こども医療センターに県内初セラピー犬“着任”/神奈川

2012年7月7日

着任したセラピードッグのゴールデンレトリバー「ベイリー」

患者の不安を和らげ、治療をサポートするセラピードッグが６日、横浜市南区六ツ川の県立こども医療センターに“着任”した。こども病院に常駐するのは全国２例目で、県内では初めて。がんや心臓病など重い病気で入院している子どもたちの「強い味方」として期待されている。

着任したセラピードッグは、オーストラリア生まれのゴールデンレトリバー「ベイリー」（雄、４歳）。同センターが小児がんの子どもとその家族をサポートするＮＰＯ法人「タイラー基金」に派遣を要請し、無償提供された。

同センターによると、ベイリーは生後６カ月から１年半、米国ハワイの訓練施設で専門的なトレーニングを受け、２０１０年１月から２年半にわたって静岡県立こども病院（静岡市）に勤務した国内初のセラピードッグ。パートナーの森田優子さん（30）とともに、患者の心をケアしたり、治療や歩行訓練に付き添ったりする「動物介在療法」に取り組むという。

この日の着任式には入院している子どもたちや保護者、同センターの職員ら約40人が参加した。康井制洋総長から「派遣常駐職員」の辞令が交付されたベイリーは早速、病棟内を巡回。子どもたちに「かわいい」「あったかい」などと頭や背中を無遠慮になでられてもどこ吹く風。「人懐っこく、おっとりした性格」（森田さん）のベイリーの周りに笑顔が広がった。

　

 欧米の医療現場では、癒やし効果などに期待し、セラピードッグによる治療効果を高める取り組みが進められているという。同センターも闘病生活を続ける子どもたちのストレスや不安を解消し、治療に前向きに取り組んでもらえる効果に期待する。森田さんは「日本での取り組みはまだ始まったばかり。わたしたちが普及の礎をつくれたら」と話していた。

"Tanabata Man" appears in Abeno. Holding a bamboo stick, he calls out for people’s wishes.

Translated from the original article at: http://abeno.keizai.biz/headline/503/

July 7th, 2012

The appearance of Tanabata Man in the Abeno ward of Osaka City.

On a road in front of Abeno Cues Town (Osaka City, Abeno ward, Abeno Line 1 ), a man appeared on the day of the Tanabata festivals, July 7th. Known as Tanabata Man, wearing a fox mask and holding a bamboo stick, he called out for people to write their wishes on tanzaku paper.

Tanabata Man's true identity is Yoshimichi Kirimoto (19), a part-time worker who lives in Abeno. "Because I've been hearing only bad news lately, my motive for doing this was born from my wish to brighten people's moods, one by one," explained Kirimoto. Until now, he was limited to requesting "free hugs" during Christmas time, exchanging chocolates on Valentine’s Day, etc. "Next, I'm going to put on a mask during Halloween and give out candy to kids," he added.

Attached to his bamboo stick are over 30 tanzaku with wishes written on them. It's said that the bamboo will be offered to the Seimei Shrine (Japanese site), located in the ward of Abeno.

On the same day, the Abe Seimei Shrine was decorated with kusudama, as the Tanabata festivals have gone underway.

  

Original text: 

阿倍野に「七夕男」登場－ササを持ち願い事を呼び掛ける

（2012年07月07日）

阿倍野に「七夕男」登場

あべのキューズタウン（大阪市阿倍野区阿倍野筋1）前の路上に七夕の日の7月7日、キツネの面をかぶってササを持ち短冊に願い事を書いてと呼び掛ける「七夕男」が現れた。

七夕男の正体は、阿倍野区在住のフリーター・桐本愛理（きりもとよしみち）さん（19）。桐本さんは、「最近暗いニュースばかりなので、一人一人の行動で変わることを伝えたかったことが今回の動機」と話す。これまで、クリスマスの時にフリーハグ、バレンタインデーの時にチョコレートをねだるなどの活動を行ってきた。「次はハロウィーンの時に面をかぶって子どもにお菓子を配る」とも。

ササには30以上の願い事が書かれた短冊が付けられた。ササは区内の安倍晴明神社に奉納するという。

同日、安倍晴明神社ではくす玉が飾られ、七夕祭が開かれた。

A frog that enjoys baths? At a tree above an open bath, a spawning nest is discovered in its growths/Yamakita

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207040026/

July 5, 2012

At the tree above the outdoor bath, Mr. Kurakara (inn manager) confirms the spawning of eggs=Yamakita-cho, Nakagawa

The onsen welcomes a "special visitor". At the Nakagawa onsen open baths of the Ao no Sansou (Japanese site) mountain villa (Yamakita-Cho), a spawning nest of the rhacophorus arboreus frog was discovered on the branch tips of a tree, quickly becoming news

A part of the rhacophoridae family, the rhacophorus arboreus frog first falls into the water as a tadpole upon hatching. They are born from the foam-like nest in the branches of trees growing in the water.

However, this nest was discovered above an open bath, which is usually boiling at close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). A female guest first  discovered a frog nest in the middle of June. Afterwards, one by one, more 10-15 centimeter nests were spotted. As of now, this is the 7th confirmed discovery.

With the onsen water presenting a danger to the tadpoles, upon discovery, inn manager Narioki Kurakara (45) transferred the nest to a waterway above a garden. This location is said to be suitable for the hatching and growth of tadpoles.

Kazumasa Arai, curator at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History (Japanese site) commented "Whether or not the waters in the area were appropriate, did (the frog)  simply make a mistake? I haven't often heard of a tadpole being born at an onsen."


Original text:
風呂好きカエル？　露天風呂の上に茂る木に産卵/山北
2012年7月5日

露天風呂の上に茂る木に産みつけられた卵を確認する倉形さん＝山北町中川

温泉に“珍客”―。山北町・中川温泉の旅館「蒼の山荘」の露天風呂で、モリアオガエルの卵の塊が木の枝先に産みつけられているのが見つかり、ちょっとした話題になっている。

アオガエル科のモリアオガエルは、ふ化したオタマジャクシが水中に落ちるよう、水面上にせり出した木の枝に泡状の卵塊を産む。

しかし、今回卵塊が見つかったのは、常時40度近い湯が沸く露天風呂の上。宿泊客の女性が６月中旬に発見したのを皮切りに、直径10～15センチの塊が次々と見つかり、これまでに計七つが確認された。

オタマジャクシには危険なため、旅館経営者の倉形興斉さん（45）が発見のたびに庭の水路の上に移している。今のところ順調にふ化し、育っているという。

県立生命の星・地球博物館の新井一政学芸員は「周囲に適した水場がなかったか、単純に間違えたのか。温泉で産んだというのはあまり聞いたことがない」としている。

A young tanuki wandering through a residential town in Kanagawa-ku is now under protection/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207020032/

July 3, 2012

The wild tanuki, under custody.

On the afternoon of July 2nd, a young wild tanuki was captured in a residential area of Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City. Fitting perfectly into a pair of hands, the tanuki was transferred to the Nogeyama Municipal Zoo.

According to the zoo, the animal under custody is of the Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus tanuki subspecies, appearing to be 3-4 weeks old. While not having any noticeable wounds, it's quite thin. Consuming food on it's own until reaching full growth, it's set to be returned to the wild in the fall.

According to Kanagawa police, at about 1:45PM on July 2nd, a 37 year old man on his way home from work spotted the tanuki wandering the ni-choume road of Shinkoyasu and captured it. Being given to the police, it was then handed over to the zoo.

The spot it was captured was neighboring a thicket. The zoo stated that 20 incidents occur per year of wild tanukis being captured and delivered. This was said to be the 3rd young tanuki under their care this year.


Original text:
子ダヌキ「ウロウロ」、神奈川区の住宅街で保護/横浜
2012年7月3日

保護された野生の子ダヌキ

横浜市神奈川区の住宅街で２日午後、野生の子ダヌキが捕獲された。両手に収まるほどの大きさで、市立野毛山動物園に引き渡された。

同園によると、保護されたのは、生後３～４週間とみられるホンドタヌキ。目立ったけがはないが、かなり痩せており、自分で餌がとれるまで成長するのを待ち、秋には自然に戻す。

神奈川署によると、同日午後１時45分ごろ、同区新子安２丁目の路上で歩き回っているタヌキを、帰宅途中の男性（37）が捕獲。同署を通じて同園に引き渡した。

捕獲現場の付近には雑木林がある。同園には年間約20件、保護された野生のタヌキが届けられている。子どものタヌキが保護されたのは今年に入り３件目という。

Praying for a safe summer, at the waterfall connected to Kentaro (The opening of Yuuhi No Ryuu waterfall)/Minamiashigara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1207010018/

July 2, 2012

Praying for the safety of the spectators, a yamabushi (mountain priest) shoots an arrow=Yagurazawa's Yuuhi no Ryuu (Waterfall of dusk), Minamiashigara City

According to legend, Yuuhi no Ryuu (Yagurazawa, Minamiashigara City) is the site of Kintaro's first bath. On the 1st, the prayer event, “The opening of Yuuhi no Ryuu” was held for hikers and river goers visiting during the summer.

Organized by the city's tourism association, this marks the 46th occasion of the event. Through the reverberation of a horagai, a Yamabushi of the Mount Akiba Ryōgaku Temple (Itabashi, Odawara city), performed a ritual for the safety of vacation-goers. A great cheer arose from spectators and families as he faced the waterfall, firing an arrow at its surface.

Yuuhi no Ryuu is 23 meters long and 5 meters wide. The surrounding area contains the "vacation rock," wild animals and the ruins of houses, making it a popular vacationing spot. The area has been handed down through folklore as the spot Kintaro was raised at.

Original Text:

金太郎ゆかりの滝で、夏の安全祈る「夕日の滝びらき」/南足柄

2012年7月2日

観光客の安全を祈願し、矢を放つ山伏＝南足柄市矢倉沢の夕日の滝

金太郎が産湯を使ったと伝えられる南足柄市矢倉沢の「夕日の滝」で１日、夏のハイキングや川遊びの安全を祈願する「夕日の滝びらき」が行われた。

市観光協会の主催で46回目。ほら貝の音が響く中、秋葉山量覚院（小田原市板橋）の山伏が行楽客の安全を祈願。滝に向けて矢を放つ場面では、集まった関係者や家族連れらから大きな歓声が上がった。

 夕日の滝は高さ約23メートル、幅約５メートル。周辺には生家跡や動物たちと遊んだ「遊び石」など、金太郎にちなんだ伝承が残る。