In a fateful encounter, a dying sparrow is discovered by a dog. Now living together, the dog watches over the sparrow like a mother. (Chiba Prefecture)

Translated from the original article at: http://karapaia.livedoor.biz/archives/52117938.html

February 14, 2013

A dog and a bird met 5 years ago. During a walk, Momo (female, 5 years old at the time) suddenly became agitated, barking and running around the area. Momo's owner, Mr. Yamashita, took a look around and found a weakened sparrow that was unable to fly.

Mr. Yamashita returned home with the sparrow, who Momo seemed eager to take care of. The bird was able to recover, but was still unable to fly. Not able to return to the wild, it was registered with Chiba Prefecture's Volunteer Wildlife Protection Group and scheduled to be taken in.

From the beginning, Momo presented no danger to the sparrow. On the contrary, she seemed concerned with it's welfare. Mr. Yamashita hesitated on transferring it to the center. Momo's feelings towards the sparrow deepened, always transfixed and licking at it. Seeming to be completely endeared by the sparrow, Momo never leaves it's side.

5 years have passed since then. Now, Momo is 9 years old. The sparrow is estimated to be 5, greatly exceeding the 1-3 year lifespan of wild sparrows.  Compared to humans, both the dog and sparrow have reached an advanced age. But even today, they're said to still be spending their lives together in great health. Mr. Yamashita wishes they can continue to live as full of energy as they are now.


Original text:
運命の出会い、瀕死のスズメを発見し母のように見守りながら共に生きる犬（千葉県）
2013年02月14日

1匹と1羽が出会ったのは5年前。散歩中のモモさん（メス、当時5歳）が突然走りだしある場所でワンワン吠えはじめた。飼い主の山下さんがついていって確認してみると、そこには弱って飛べなくなっている1羽のスズメが。

モモさんを手当しようと家に連れて帰ってきた山下さん。治療したものの飛べるようにならなかった為、千葉県の鳥獣保護ボランティア団体に登録し、このスズメを保護することに。

当初はモモさんがスズメに危害を加えないかと心配していたそうなのだが、ところがどっこい。モモさんはスズメを愛情深いまなざしで見つめ、ペロペロと体を舐める。スズメの方もモモさんにすっかり懐いているようで、モモさんの側を離れない。

それから5年。今ではモモさんも8歳、スズメの方も推定5歳と、スズメの野生の寿命（1～3年）を大きく上回り、今日も元気に一緒に暮らしているという。人間だと1匹と1羽は高齢にあたる。飼い主の山下さんも、このままずっと元気で生きていてくれたらと願うばかりだ。

(Movie) Wishing for a rich harvest at the Sogabairin Yabusame Shinto Ritual (Odawara Plum Festival)/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1302110006/

February 11, 2013

 

A yabusame travels through the plum grove on horseback=Sogabairin, Odawara City

On the 11th, at the Sogabairin Plum Grove of Odawara City, the yabusame Shinto ritual was conducted. Performed for peace over the world and a plentiful harvest, it's the central event of the 27^th annual Odawara Plum Festival.

(Movies)

　

Following the signal of a giant fan being woven, the archer and his horse gallop down a 240 meter straight line. As the horse runs the track, the archer powerfully fires arrows towards three targets set up along the side. Giant rounds of applause erupt from the crowds according to his degree of accuracy.

On an average year, the viewing season for some 35,000 plum trees within the grove arrives right about now. However, this year the blooming has been late. Everywhere on the trees, the buds have remained standing dormant.

Original text:

【動画】曽我梅林で流鏑馬神事、五穀豊穣を願い小田原梅まつり/神奈川

2013年2月11日

梅林を背に行われた「流鏑馬」＝小田原市の曽我梅林

小田原市の曽我梅林で11日、天下太平と五穀豊穣（ほうじょう）を願う神事「流鏑馬（やぶさめ）」が行われた。「小田原梅まつり」の中心行事で、今年で27回目。

【動画】

射手は、特大の扇が振られるのを合図に馬を走らせ、約240メートルの直線沿いに設けられた三つの的へ力強く矢を放ち、的中するたびに観客からは大きな歓声が上がった。

例年なら約３万５千本の梅が見ごろを迎える時期だが、今年も開花が遅く、まだ全体につぼみが目立っていた。

(Movie) Praying for world peace and the nation's welfare at Chōshō-ji Temple's Daikokutōe Festival/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1302110004/

February 11, 2013

At the Daikokutōe Festival, an ascetic ritual is performed in prayer of world peace and Japan's welfare=Chōshō-ji Temple, Kamakura

Wearing only a shimekomi (also called a fundoshi), monks cover themselves in freezing water while chanting a sutra, in prayer of world peace and Japan's welfare during the Daikokutōe Festival. It was held on the 11th at the Chōshō-ji Temple of Zaimokuza, Kamakura City.

For 100 days, from November until the arrival of the festival, the ascetic monks endured the practice of slurping on nothing but rice porridge day and night. Besides being forbidden from trimming their hair and beards, they weren't even allowed to clip their nails. Leading up to the festival, each day was spent dousing themselves in freezing water, wrapped only in white robes.

Original text:
【動画】世界平和と国の安泰を祈願、長勝寺で「大国祷会」/鎌倉
2013年2月11日

世界平和と国の安泰を祈願する荒行「大国祷会」＝鎌倉・長勝寺

経文を唱えながら締め込み一つで冷水をかぶり、世界平和と国の安泰を祈願する荒行「大国祷会」が11日、鎌倉市材木座の長勝寺で行われた。

修行僧らは昨年11月から１００日間、朝晩に粥（かゆ）をすするだけの苦行に耐え、この日を迎えた。髪やひげ、爪さえも切ることが許されず、白装束をまとい冷水をかぶる日々を送ってきた。

[Movie] At the Maru Yama Inari Shrine’s Hatsuuma Festival, shrine maidens dance in prayer of a rich harvest/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1302090015/

February 9, 2013

Praying for harvest, Miko (shrine maidens) perform the "Yorozuyo No Mai" (Dance of Eternity)=Maru Yama Inari Shrine

On the 9th, at the Maru Yama Inari Shrine within Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City's Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū , the Hatsuuma Festival was held. (Hatsuuma is February’s first day of the horse, according to the Earthly Branches).

(Movies)

Before the start of the spring's farming operations, a Shinto ritual is held for the God of Food to pray for that year's harvest. A legend is told that in the year 711 (Year 4 of the Wadou Era), the Inari God appeared at Mitsugamine Cliff, located at the Fushimi Inari Head Shrine. Since then, the festival is held each year on the first Hatsuuma of February.

As the miko performed the Yorozuyo in offering, parishioners and visitors passed, one after another, to pray for success in their business.

Original text:

【動画】丸山稲荷社で初午祭、豊作祈願し巫女舞う／鎌倉

2013年2月9日

豊作を祈願し「萬代の舞」を奉納する巫女＝丸山稲荷社

鎌倉市雪ノ下の鶴岡八幡宮境内にある丸山稲荷（いなり）社で９日、初午（はつうま）祭が行われた。

【動画】

春の農作業が開始する前に、今年一年の豊作を食物の神に祈願する神事で、和銅４（７１１）年に稲荷の神が伏見稲荷の三ケ峰に現れたとの言い伝えから、毎年２月の初午の日に開催されている。

巫女（みこ）による「萬代（よろずよ）の舞」が奉納され、氏子や参拝者が次々に商売繁盛などを祈願していた。

Kindergartners bravely chase off oni (demons) at Chiisaki Hana Kindergarten’s bean throwing festival

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20130202-00000301-rtn-l26

Transmitted at 4:19 PM on Saturday, February 2 by the Ryoutan Daily Shinbun

“I’m defeated!” The oni flee, their arms raised after the kindergartners unleash their devastating attack.

At Hooji, Fukuchiyama City's Chiisaki Hana Kindergarten held a Setsubun bean throwing event on February 1^st (Kuniko Sanaka is Principle of the school's 151 students).  Throwing "beans" created from crumpled up paper, the children were able to bravely drive off the frightening oni.

The children were gathered in a play room, singing the lyrics to "The Demon's Pants". From outside the room, the "don don" of taiko drums could be heard, quickly becoming quite loud. A moment later, the doors burst open. Barging in were a couple of parents dressed up as oni.

　

With horns and large, shining fangs growing from their frightening faces, the children were startled by the sight of the oni. All at once, they escaped to the middle of a "safety zone" which the oni could not enter.

"The oni are outside, let's go over there." Led by the oldest kindergartners who were a bit used to the oni, they moved in a vanguard formation with the mid-aged children. The youngest continued behind them. Protecting a crying girl, the boys stood before the Oni.

Hit with a countless number of beans, the Oni yelled out in surrender and ran for their lives with their arms raised. Afterwards, the kindergartners yelled out "Yatta!" celebrating their victory.

Original text:

園児が勇ましく鬼を追い払う　小さき花幼稚園で節分の豆まき

両丹日日新聞 2月2日(土)16時19分配信

園児たちの猛攻に「まいった」。両手を上げて鬼が退散

福知山市報恩寺の小さき花幼稚園（佐中邦子園長、１５１人）で１日、節分の豆まき行事があり、園児らが怖い鬼たちに紙を丸めて作った「豆」を勇ましくぶつけて追い払った。

遊戯室に集まった園児たちが童謡「鬼のパンツ」を歌っていると、部屋の外から太鼓の音が「ドン、ドン」。音はだんだん速く大きくなって鳴りやんだ。次の瞬間、扉が開いて、保護者が扮した鬼たちが乱入した。

角を生やし、大きな牙が光る怖い顔に園児たちは騒然。鬼が入れない安全地帯の囲いの中に一斉に逃げ込んだ。

少し慣れてくると年長児、年中児たちが「鬼は外」「あっち行って」と先陣を切り、年少児も続いた。泣く女の子を守ろうと鬼の前に立ちはだかる男の子たちもいた。

無数の豆をくらった鬼は両手を上げて「まいった」と一目散に逃げ帰り、最後は園児たちが「やったー」と勝利を喜んだ。

The Fire Protection Festival at Manpuku Temple. Praying for health and well-being while crossing a fire barefoot/Odawara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1301280033/

January 29, 2013

A Buddhist priest crosses barefoot over the blazing flames=Manpuku Temple, Nakazato, Odawara City

On the 28th, Buddhist priests engaged in the practice of walking barefoot over a fire during the Fire Protection Festival of Manpuku Temple, Nakazato, Odawara City.

The event began 300 to 400+ years prior. Attempting to take on the same form as Acala "The Immoveable One," the ritual is meant to extinguish such things as misfortune and the state of kleshas.

Dressed as yamabushi, 20 Buddhist priests gathered from all over the Kanto region. They assembled together at the call of a horagai. After conversing with each other, they fired arrows in each direction in a type of Buddhist arrow ceremony. Afterwards, a bonfire made up of gomafuda, brushwood and firewood was started.

While chanting a sutra, a barefoot priest crossed the fire, waving a katana overhead. Shrine visitors continued walking the flames as well, praying for health and peace of mind.

Original text:

満福寺で「火伏まつり」、無病息災を祈り素足で「火渡り」／小田原

2013年1月29日

燃え盛る炎の上を素足で渡る修験者＝小田原市中里の満福寺

修験者らが素足で「火渡り」の修行をする「火伏まつり」が２８日、小田原市中里の満福寺で行われた。

３００～４００年以上前から伝わる行事。不動明王と同じ姿になることで、煩悩や災難などを焼き尽くす意味があるとされる

関東一円から集まった山伏姿の修験者約２０人が、法螺貝（ほらがい）を吹きながら集結。問答や各方角に矢を放つ宝弓の儀式などの後、護摩札や柴（しば）が薪（まき）で焚（た）き上げられた。

読経の中、素足の修験者が刀を振りかざして火を渡ると、参拝者も続いて歩き、無病息災などを祈っていた。

A pearl sinks into a volcano. At Araihama Beach, Mount Fuji and the full moon perform together/Miura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1301270009/

January 28, 2013

The dreamy scenery of the "Mount Fuji Pearl"=6:00AM, January 27, Araihama Beach, Misakimachi Koajiro, Miura City

The full moon slowly descended behind the summit of Mount Fuji, appearing as if it was being sucked inside. The surreal "Mount Fuji Pearl" could be seen at about 6:00AM, January 27th at Araihama Beach of Misakimachi Koajiro, Miura City.

Because the sky quickly darkened once the moon passed over the rising sun, this created an ideal condition for photography. Along Arai beach, 10 amateur photographers had their tripods set up, their shutters busily snapping pictures. On that day, Miura's Aburatsubo Bay was also an ideal spot to enjoy the "Fuji Pearl." Cameramen were seen lined up around the neighborhood, gazing towards Mount Fuji.


Original text:
火口に沈む真珠の玉、荒井浜で富士と満月が共演／三浦
2013年1月28日

幻想的な光景「パール富士」＝２７日午前６時ごろ、三浦市三崎町小網代の荒井浜

富士山頂に吸い込まれるように、満月がゆっくりと沈む－。幻想的な光景「パール富士」が２７日午前６時ごろ、三浦市三崎町小網代の荒井浜で見ることができた。

月の入りが日の出よりかなり早く暗いため、撮影条件は良くなかったが、浜には約１０人のアマチュアカメラマンが三脚を立て、盛んにシャッターを切っていた。この日は同市の油壺湾周辺が「パール富士」観賞の適地だったため、富士山を望める付近のスポットにもカメラマンが並ぶ姿が見られた。