[Video news] At Hiratsuka, the production of snake (Chinese zodiac) daruma dolls reach their peak.

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210240018/

October 24, 2012

The peak period for creating snake (Chinese zodiac) darumas.

2013 will the year of the snake. Founded 150 years ago, the long established Arai Daruma (Higashiyawata, Hiratsuka) store enters peak production of snake (Chinese zodiac) darumas.

With the money in 2004, the store began creating Chinese zodiac darumas. This year marks their 10th type of animal.

"The snake is associated with Bentensama (Benzaiten). In order to increase one's luck with money, the darama has been inlaid with gold and platinum lamé. The color is gorgeous," said Arai Seikan (57), 4th generation owner of Arai Daruma.

The darumas will be unveiled on November 4th at the Hiratsuka business festival. They will be sold at places such as the Yokohama and Yokosuka Tori No Shi festivals and the Iizumi Kannon Daruma City.

Original text:
【動画ニュース】平塚で巳（へび）の干支だるま製作ピーク
2012年10月24日

製作がピークを迎えた巳（へび）の干支だるま

２０１３年の干支、巳（へび）の干支だるまの制作が、創業１５０余年のだるま制作の老舗「荒井だるま屋」（平塚市東八幡）でピークを迎えた。

２００４年の申（さる）から作り始め、今年で１０体目となる。

「へびは弁天様の使い。金運が上がるよう、金色とプラチナ色のラメをちりばめ、ゴージャスにしました」と４代目店主の荒井星冠さん（57）。

初お披露目は１１月４日の平塚商業まつり。横浜と横須賀で開かれる酉の市、飯泉観音のだるま市などで販売される。

Remembering the Civil War era at Aikawa-cho's Battle of Mimase Festival/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210210008/

October 21, 2012

A battle scene depicted on a picture scroll unfolds at the the Battle of Mimase Festival=Mimise, Aikawa-Cho

The Battle of Mimase Festival is connected with the clashes during Japan's Civil War period. On the 21st, the festival was held in Mimise, Aikawa-Cho. Many arrived to remember the fierce battle which occurred 450 years prior.

This year marks the 13th occasion of the event, sponsored by a committee made up of interested locals (Presided by Takagi Masou). The festival is held in order to comfort the souls of those lost in battle and revitalize the area.

At the event location, interested locals recreated a battle departure ceremony. Other ceremonies such as (gun) firing performances took place. There was a kiso horse performance by the Kōshū Japanese Style Horsemanship Research Association, as well. Near the spot where Commander Asari Nobutane was said to be killed in battle, a short performance took place, which recreated the scene of a battle from a civil war picture scroll.

Additionally, Aikawa's Prefectural and Sagamihara's Kōmyō High School added to the atmosphere with Japanese taiko performances. Local vegetables were sold on the spot, and an area to take pictures while wearing cardboard armor was packed. President Takagi said "The first priority of the festival is to comfort the fallen spirits. We also want to promote interest in the area with the event if possible. At the same time, we wish for the next generation to continue (interest in) the festival."

At the same location, the Battle of Mimasetoge took place in 1569 (Eiroku year 12). The Hojo and Takeda clans met in a violent battle, said to be the largest incident of mountain warfare in Japan's history. The clashing of both armies led to over four thousand deaths in battle.

Original text:
戦国時代に思いはせ、愛川町で「三増合戦まつり」／神奈川
2012年10月21日

戦国絵巻が展開された三増合戦まつり＝愛川町三増

戦国時代の合戦にちなんだ「三増合戦まつり」が２１日、愛川町三増で開かれた。多くの来場者が約４５０年前の死闘に思いをはせた。

まつりは今年で１３回目、地元有志らでつくる実行委員会（高木雅夫会長）の主催。戦没者の慰霊と地域活性化のために開かれている。

会場では、地元有志らが合戦の出陣式を再現。儀式や鉄砲の演技などを行った。また、甲州和式馬術探究会の木曽馬の演技、同所付近で戦死したといわれる武将・浅利信種にちなむ寸劇なども披露され、戦国絵巻を展開した。

そのほか、県立愛川高校や光明学園相模原高校の和太鼓演奏が雰囲気を盛り上げ、地場野菜の即売、段ボールなどで作った甲冑を着けての記念写真撮影などでにぎわった。高木会長は「まつりは慰霊が第一だが、イベントで地域振興にもつながれば。ともに次の世代に続いてほしい」と話していた。

三増合戦は１５６９（永禄１２）年に同所で北条、武田両軍が激突した日本史上最大の山岳戦といわれている。両軍合わせて４千人を超える戦没者が出たとされる。

Silver flows though the autumn wind; susuki grass viewing season in Sengokuhara/Hokane

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210170005/

October 17, 2012

At Sengokuhara Heights, the viewing season for susuki grass has arrived.

Viewing season for susuki grass has arrived in the Sengokuhara Heights of Hakone-Cho. Taking in the cool autumn breeze, the swaying stalks of grass cover the ground’s surface in silver.

Located at the lake of the mountain is a 1045 meter area called Daigadake, containing the 18 hectare susuki field. It's been chosen by the Kanto region as one of "Kanagawa's top 50 scenic locations".

According to the town's tourism association, the viewing season lasts for all of October. Departing from the Hokane Tozan Railway's Hakuno-Yumoto Station, one can reach Kojiri or Togendai in 30 minutes via the Hokane Tozan bus. From those areas, one can get off to reach the Sengoku Plains.

Original text:

秋風銀色に、仙石原のススキ見ごろ／箱根

2012年10月17日

見ごろを迎えている仙石原高原のススキ

箱根町の仙石原高原でススキが見ごろを迎えている。爽やかな秋風を受けて揺らめく穂が一面を銀色に染めている。

台ケ岳（１０４５メートル）の山裾に広がる約１８ヘクタールのススキ草原は関東最大級で「かながわの景勝５０選」に選ばれている。

同町観光協会によると見ごろは１０月いっぱい。箱根登山鉄道箱根湯本駅から箱根登山バス（湖尻・桃源台行き）約３０分、「仙石高原」下車。

[Video news] The Efudutsuku Festival and Brush Memorial Service is held at the Egara Tenjin Shrine. Manga artists display this andon (lamp) creations and more/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210140035/

October 14, 2012

The Efudutsuku Festival takes place at the Egara Tenjin Shrine, where old brushes are burned in a ritual=Nikaido, Kamakura City

On the 14th, the Egara Tenjin Shrine of Nidaido, Kamakura City held the Efudutsuku Festival, where 500 used writing brushes were offered in a ceremony. Manga artists involved with the temple also attended.

The manga artists had their andon lamps on display. With the festival focusing on Sugawara No Michizana, "The God of Scholarship" the term "合格" (Gokaku, "To pass an examination") connected 94 assembled works of the artists.

The event began with the favorite painting brushes of the late, well known manga artist Kon Shimuzu being offered in ceremony. In remembrance of Shimizu, who was famous for his depictions of the kappa a collection of his kappa manga was used in the ceremony.

Original text:

【動画ニュース】荏柄天神社「絵筆塚祭」で古筆供養、漫画絵あんどんもお披露目／鎌倉

2012年10月14日

荏柄天神社の「絵筆塚祭」で供養される古筆＝鎌倉市二階堂

漫画家ゆかりの鎌倉市二階堂の荏柄天神社で１４日、「絵筆塚祭」が行われ、古筆約５００本が供養された。

漫画絵あんどんもお披露目された。学問の神様・菅原道真を祭ることから、「合格」にちなんだ９４作が集まった。

この催事は、かっぱ漫画で知られる故・清水崑さんが愛用した絵筆をこの神社に供養したことから始まった。清水さんをしのび、かっぱの漫画絵も寄せられた。

"It's already time for Osechi?" Models of Osechi ingredients enter the final stage of production/Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1210100013/

October 10, 2012

Display models of Osechi in the final stage of production.

Is it already time for Osechi? Not quite, these are just display models. At food replica manufacturer Iwasaki Bei's Yokohama factory (Tsurumichuo, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City), the production of mock-ingredients for New Year's Osechi enters the final stage of production.

The various models are formed out of silicon. After being filled with a plastic resin, they're put inside of a heating oven to harden. The models are then colored with items used for oil painting. While looking at (actual) pictures of the foods, a painting brush is used to add and accentuate the colors.

"These products of the number one way to attract customers to restaurants. They do the job at getting people to spontaneously want to eat at the restaurant," explained a company representative.

Original text:
もう、おせち？　おせち料理のサンプル作りが追い込み／横浜
2012年10月10日

もう、おせち？　いえ、サンプルです－。食品サンプル製造「イワサキ・ビーアイ」の横浜工場（横浜市鶴見区鶴見中央）で、正月用おせち料理のサンプル作りが追い込みを迎えている。

追い込みを迎えている、おせち料理のサンプル作り

シリコーンでできたさまざまな食品の「型」を用意し、その中にビニール樹脂を流し込んでオーブンで加熱して固める。着色には油絵の具を使用。写真を見ながら、絵筆を使って色を重ねていく。

「お客さんに繁盛してもらうのが一番。思わず食べたくなるように仕上げています」と担当者は話していた。

Captured in Idehara, an Asian black bear has been released into a nature preserve within Tanzawa/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1209290012/

September 29, 2012

The captured Asian black bear (Photo provided by the Kanagawa Prefecture Nature Preservation Department)

Within a persimmon field in Koyasu, Isehara City, an Asian black bear was discovered in a cage trap. A man living nearby made the discovery at about 6:00AM of the 29th, alerting the city who then contacted prefecture officials.

According to the Prefecture Nature Preservation Department, the bear was a mature male at a body length of 149 centimeters (58.7 inches) and weight of 86 kilograms (189 pounds). In response to continuous neighborhood eyewitness reports since the middle of September, the cage was installed on the 27th.

30 Asian black bears inhabit the Tanzawa mountains. Because they're in danger of extinction, prefecture officials released the bear into a nature preserve deep within the Tanzawa mountainous area at about 2:45PM of the same day. On the occasion that a bear once again appears in an area inhabited by humans, it's said that a measure one can take is to spray them with substances they dislike, such as cayenne pepper.


Original text:
伊勢原でツキノワグマ捕獲、丹沢の鳥獣保護区に放す／神奈川
2012年9月29日

捕獲されたツキノワグマ（県自然環境保全課提供）

２９日午前６時ごろ、伊勢原市子易の柿畑に設置された捕獲用の檻（おり）に、ツキノワグマ１頭がかかっているのを近くに住む男性が発見し、市を通じて県に連絡した。

県自然環境保全課によると、捕獲されたのは雄で、体長１４９センチ、体重８６キロの成獣。付近では今月中旬からツキノワグマの目撃情報が相次いでいたため、２７日から檻を設置していた。

丹沢のツキノワグマは生息数が約３０頭で絶滅の恐れがあるため、２９日午後２時４５分ごろ、県職員が丹沢山地奥山の鳥獣保護区内に放した。その際、再び人里に出没しないよう、クマが嫌がる唐辛子などが入ったスプレーを吹き掛けるなどの措置を取ったという。

“Growing bigger towards being the town’s specialty”. The harvesting of Halloween pumpkins in Kiyokawa/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1209290009/

September 29, 2012

A yield of large pumpkins for Halloween=Susugaya, Kiyokawa

At an unused farming area near the public offices of Susugaya, Kiyokawa, Halloween pumpkins have been harvested. Halloween is an annual event taking place on October 31. It’s customary to create decorations by carving faces into orange pumpkins, then placing a candle inside for light.

Mr. Kenya Yamaguchi (58) began harvesting pumpkins five years prior. This year, he also made use of some unused farming space in the village, bringing in an additional three workers to grow the pumpkins, which reach a circumference of about 30 centimeters. The Yamaguchis said "We would like to grow our pumpkins into being the greatest product of the village."

Original text:

「村の逸品へさらに大きく」　清川村でハロウィーン用カボチャ収穫／神奈川

2012年9月29日

収穫されたハロウィーン用の大きなカボチャ＝清川村煤ケ谷

清川村煤ケ谷の清川村役場近くの遊休農地で、「ハロウィーン」用の大きなカボチャが収穫されている。ハロウィーンは毎年１０月３１日に開かれるイベントで、オレンジ色のカボチャを掘り抜いて顔の形にし、内側をろうそくで照らして飾る風習がある。

　同村では山口健也さん（５８）が５年前から作り始めた。ことしからは村の遊休農地も使い、生産者も３人に増えた。大きいもので直径３０センチほど。山口さんらは「清川村の逸品としてさらに大きく育てたい」と話していた。