Watching the street corner: A tree of Totoro at a middle school

Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2011/11/22/004434.html

Picture: The shrub before the entrance of Nisshin middle school

In Maeda, Fukuchi City, before the entrance of Nisshin Middle School, is some rather interesting shaped shrubbery. Vaugely resembling Totoro, who appears in the animated movie (My Neighbor Totoro), it's a become a topic amongst students visiting the school.

The bush seems to have been planted in 1978, the approximate opening date of the school. Before, the height of the bush was short, and the trimming was the responsibility of the school staff. Each year during trimming time, the top portion of the foilage was left to stretch, as if ears were appearing. No one noticed that it was coming to resemble Totoro.

Now, it's grown to about 5 meters. At the area where a "face" would be, holes have been trimmed in at two points, resembling eyes.

Now, the resemblance is close. Staff members and others going up and down the stair landing find themselves looking directly into the eyes of Totoro.


Original text:
街角ウオッチング：中学校にトトロの木

写真＝日新中学校玄関前にある植え込み

福知山市前田、日新中学校玄関前に、おもしろい形をした植え込みがある。どことなくアニメ映画「となりのトトロ」に登場するトトロに似ており、来校者の話題となっている。

この木は、１９７８年の開校当時から植わっているらしい。以前は今より背が低かった。刈り込みは校務員が担当。毎年刈っていくうちに、上部の枝葉が耳のように伸び、いつしかトトロに似てきた。

今では高さ５メートルほどに成長し、顔の部分にあたる場所には、穴になるよう２カ所を刈り込んでいて、目のように見せている。

 近くでも良く分かるが、職員室などがある校舎の昇降階段の踊り場からだと、トトロの目が真正面に見える。

54 disaster rescue dogs take examination and are officially recognized as showing improvement in their ability/Hakone

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1111200014/

Caption: Inside a closed-down school in the town of Hakone, the International Rescuedog Organization　conducted exams and accreditation

Disaster rescue dogs excelling in searching ability undertook a certification exam with the International Rescue Dog Association from the 18th until the 20th. Conducted in a closed-down school in the town of Hakone, 54 dogs participated. The Rescue Dog Trainer's Association nonprofit corporate body is based out of Kuzuhara Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Training that included searching, obedience, etc were split into three subjects and carried out. Three international judges from Holland, Austria and Germany gave decisions.

The searching portion was carried out in the town of Hakone's former elementary schoolhouse, both inside the building and in the courtyard. For advanced levels, there was a thirty minute time limit established to search out for three survivors hidden in the area. According to the dog handler's instructions, sheperds and labradors searched about the premises. When survivors were discovered, the dogs howled for the handlers to come and confirm, after which they began their search for the next survivor. After the exam, the handlers received comments from the judges by way of an interpreter.

The three survivors were discovered, and the dogs received the IRO's rescue dog certification, for which the IRO had exactly two special reasons for granting them. The organizers explained that after East Japan's earthquake disaster, the public agencies' involvement and concern with rescue dogs was high. And upon undertaking the exam, as many locations as possible could be prepared with rescue dogs.



Original Text:
災害救助犬５４頭が“お受験”、能力向上へ公認試験/箱根

箱根町の廃校で行われた、国際救助犬連盟公認試験

災害救助犬の捜索能力を高めようと、国際救助犬連盟（ＩＲＯ）公認試験が18日から20日まで、箱根町の廃校で行われ、54頭が受けた。ＮＰＯ法人救助犬訓練士協会（藤沢市葛原）主催。

捜索、服従訓練などの３科目に分かれて実施され、オランダ人、オーストリア人、ドイツ人の３人の国際審査員が判定した。

「捜索」は箱根町箱根の旧箱根小学校の校舎内と中庭で行われた。上級は、30分間に隠れている３人の生存者を捜し出す設定。指導手の指示で、シェパードやラブラドールが駆け回った。生存者を発見し、犬がほえると指導手が確認。次の生存者の捜索に取り掛かった。試験後に指導手は審査員から、通訳を介して、講評を受けた。

The world's largest tsunami experimentation facility opens to the public, to educate about the workings and destructive power of tsunamis/Kanagawa prefecture

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1111190003/

Caption: The world's largest tsunami experimentation facility opens to the public=Yokasuka City

The world's largest tsunami experimentation facility was installed by the Sea and Airport Research institution  (Nagase, Yokosuka city) on the 18th. On the general public opening, over two hundred local elementary students learned of the workings and destructive power of tsunamis.

In the constructed canal for large scale synthesized waves, the largest mad-made tsunami to occur was 2.5 meters high (184 meters long, 3.5 meters wide, and 12 meters deep). During the performance, secondary waves reached .5 meters high. The water rushed through corrugated sheets constructed out of iron, with the water level rising as the tsunami advanced.



Also, at the adjoined National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, senior researcher Kentarō Kumagai, has made a new assumption regarding the Keichō earthquake of 1605. "Despite there not being a large amount of seismic activity, a tsunami did advance (Tsunami Earthquake), he explained.



Original Text:
世界最大級の津波実験施設を公開、津波の仕組みや威力を学ぶ/神奈川

世界最大級の津波実験施設を公開＝横須賀

世界最大級の津波実験施設を備えた港湾空港技術研究所（横須賀市長瀬）で18日、一般公開があり、地元小学生ら２００人余りが津波の仕組みや威力について学んだ。

最大２・５メートルの人工津波を起こせる「大規模波動地盤総合水路」（長さ１８４メートル、幅３・５メートル、深さ12メートル）では、高さ０・５メートルの津波を繰り返し実演。鉄製の「造波板」が水を押し込むと、水面が盛り上がりながら押し寄せた。

 また、隣接する国土技術政策総合研究所の熊谷兼太郎主任研究官が、県内沿岸部に最大の津波をもたらすと新たに想定された１６０５年の慶長地震について「揺れが大きくないのに津波が押し寄せる『津波地震』だった」と説明した。

Terrorist counter-measure training at Yokohama Harbor: violent terrorists encircle and take over Ōsanbashi Pier’s deck-top

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1111180026/

Caption: One hundred fifty three people from Yokohama City’s coast guard and prefectural police participated in congruent counter-terrorism training

Yokohama Harbor’s public order agency added congruent terrorist counter-measure training on the 18^th. It took place inside of Yokohama city, on the Ōsanbashi Pier, an international passenger boat terminal.

At the same time, in the United States of America, ten years have passed since it received multiple terrorist attacks. Yokohama Harbor’s objective is the prevention of such terror attacks. One hundred fifty three from Yokohama’s coast guard and prefectural police participated. Six vessels, one aircraft, and eleven land vehicles were confirmed as cooperating in the activities.

For the training, a passenger ship of suspicious people proclaiming an imminent explosion arrived at the Ōsanbashi Pier. Patrol boats from Yokohama’s coastguard arrived and boarded the passenger ship as the upper deck of the pier was violently seized.

Also, the immigration bureau was investigating particular escaped terrorists and the prefecture police’s riot squad made arrests at the wharf. Suspicious articles left behind were judged on whether they were explosive or not, and the prefecture’s explosive handling unit used special vehicles while cautiously dealing with the articles.

Original text:

横浜港でテロ対策訓練、甲板上で暴れ回るテロリストを制圧/横浜

横浜海上保安部や県警など１５３人が参加したテロ対策合同訓練

横浜港の治安関係機関が参加するテロ対策合同訓練が18日、横浜市中区の横浜港大さん橋国際客船ターミナルで行われた。

米同時多発テロから10年が経過したことを受け、横浜港のテロ防止を目的としたもの。横浜海上保安部や県警など１５３人が参加し、船艇６艇、航空機１機、車両11台を活用して連携を確認した。

訓練では、大さん橋に着岸している客船の不審者情報と爆破予告を受けた横浜海保が巡視艇から客船に乗り込み、甲板上で暴れ回るテロリストを制圧した。

また、入管の審査中に逃走した別のテロリストを県警機動隊が岸壁で捕まえた。放置された不審物が爆発物と判明すると、県警爆発物処理隊が特殊車両を使って慎重に処理した。

After eight years, the Iwataya (corporation) head office resurrects Libro brand bookstores /Fukuoka City

Translated from the original article at: http://tenjin.keizai.biz/headline/3266/

On November 18^th, the Libro Fukuoka Tenjin Store will open. It’s located at the Iwataya corporation’s head office (Fukuoka City, Chūō ward, Tenjin building 2, on the 7th level.)

Caption: The Wamupamu special interest picture book zone in the Libro bookstore. Resurrected after eight years, it's located in Iwataya’s main office building.

Libro, whose head office was located in the Toshima ward of Tokyo, began selling books in 1996 in branch stores of the same name, then closed in 2003. Eight years later, it’s being brought back. The area of the store covers 1095 square meters (11,786 square feet).

“The world meeting with a plaza of books” was the concept and business model for the creation of the stores. A special interest corner in the Ikebukuro store ended up expanding to full picture book zone called Wamupamu. There was a collection of products and themes to cater to all ages (“I want to read this book with dad.” “A book to give to mom.”). On every Saturday, a reading of picture books took place.

In addition, there was an original compilation corner (cult graphic novels, books with the theme of an unraveling adventure throughout one’s life, etc.) Also established was a collection of books associated with miscellaneous goods such as Art Nouveau.

Business hours are from 10:00am until 8:00pm

Original text:

岩田屋本店に書店「リブロ」－8年ぶりに復活　／福岡

岩田屋本店（福岡市中央区天神2）本館7階に11月18日、書店「リブロ福岡天神店」がオープンする。

岩田屋本店に書店「リブロ」が8年ぶりに復活。目玉は絵本ゾーン「わむぱむ」

リブロ（本社＝東京都豊島区）は1996年にも同店に出店したが、2003年に退店。8年ぶりの復活となる。店舗面積は1095平方メートル。

「本の広場で、世界と出会う」をコンセプトに情報発信型店舗として売り場を構成。目玉コーナーは池袋本店でも展開している絵本ゾーン「わむぱむ」で、0歳からの年齢別や「パパと読みたい絵本」「ママに贈る本」などテーマ別に商品をそろえるほか、毎週土曜には絵本の読み聞かせも行う。

そのほか、独自編集コーナー「カルトグラフィア」、暮らしや旅など生活をテーマにした本と、その本にちなんだ雑貨をそろえるコーナー「アトリエ ヌーヴォー」なども設ける。

営業時間は10時～20時。

Yokohama - "Big Japan" pro wrestlers play a part in anti-criminal activity, in agreement with city officials in the ward of Tsuduki

Translated from: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20111115-00000045-kana-l14

Caption: The campaign goes underway with "Big Japan" pro wrestlers in the Tsuduki ward of Yokohama City

Located in Ikonobe City, in the Tsuduki ward of Yokohama are wrestlers from the "Big Japan" promotion. In cooperation with city officials, they are wrestling with criminal activity in the region. On the 10th, two wrestlers combined their strength with Ikonobe's crime prevention force. Immediately on that same day, at the south entrance of the city's municipal train station center, a campaign was announced against pick-pocketing.

Big Japan Pro Wrestling was established in 1995. Presently, approximately 20 people belong to it, where it holds events in every part of the country. In May of this year, a female wrestler belonging to Big Japan Pro Wrestling accused a man of threatening her. The same city officials arrested the man, and the incident deepened the bond with the city. From there, it's said that they agreed on the spirit of contributing to the region together.

[We look kind of like these scary people we're going after], said the masked wrestlers during their work on the 10th, as elementary and middle school students returning home from school showed deep interest. Itō Ryūji, age 35 said "Pro wrestlers have an image of being violent, but we also want to have a close relationship with people in the region. We're grateful for being able to do however little to decrease crime." Afterwards, he carried out such activities as distributing fliers.


Original text:

大日本プロレスが防犯活動に一役、都筑署と協定結ぶ/横浜

キャンペーンを行う大日本プロレスのレスラー＝横浜市都筑区

横浜市都筑区を拠点とする「大日本プロレス」（同区池辺町）が都筑署と協力して、地域の防犯活動に取り組んでいる。10日に両者は協定を結び、「池辺町防犯隊」を結成。早速同日に市営地下鉄センター南駅前で「空き巣に気を付けよう」などと呼び掛け、キャンペーンを行った。

大日本プロレスは１９９５年に結成。現在約20人が所属し、全国各地のイベントなどで活躍している。今年５月、大日本プロレスに所属する女子選手を脅迫した容疑で男が同署に逮捕された事件を機に親交を深め、「一緒に地域貢献を」と意気投合したという。

「俺みたいな怖い人について行くなよ」。10日の活動でマスクマンらが声を掛けると、下校途中の小中学生らも興味津々。伊東竜二選手（35）は「プロレスは暴力的なイメージを持たれがちだが、地域の人にも親しみを持ってほしい。少しでも犯罪を減らしていけたらうれしい」。今後もビラ配りなどの活動に携わる予定だ。

Miwa-Chan takes a bath. Ahhh, it's boiling!/Fukuchiyama City Zoo

Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2011/11/12/004398.html

Miwa-chan feels as if she's at the sauna. (Photo taken by zoo director Nihonmatsui Toshikuni)

A young monkey named Miwa-chan is being raised at the zoo of Sandanike Public Park (Japanese site) in Iyazaki, Fukuchiyama City. It appears that every day, the monkey enjoys entering a bucket of hot water and taking a bath. In the bucket, she even resembles a person taking a bath in a "Goemon Buro".

About three weeks before, Zoo Director Nihonmatsui Toshikuni, put a dirty Miwa-chan into a bucket of warm water for a bath. Disliking the act of sitting in the bucket, the warm water had little effect on cleaning Miwa-chan.

But after continuing for a little while, Miwa-chan got accustomed to it. About one week before today, Miwa-chan was even said to be entering the bucket herself.

Now, every morning, soaking in the water has become a daily routine. While in the water, take a look in her eyes and they'll read "This feels like a sauna!"

Zoo Director Nihonmatsui Toshikuni commented "Since the arrival of winter, the city's saunas have been receiving warm water. We want to do the same here (with our bucket). But now, I think it's time to dry off her head with a towel."


Original Text:
ミワちゃんバケツで入浴　あ～いい湯だなぁ／福知山市動物園

写真＝温泉気分を味わうミワちゃん（二本松園長撮影）

福知山市猪崎、三段池公園内の市動物園で飼育されている子ザルのミワちゃんが、このところ毎日のように、湯を入れたバケツの中での入浴を楽しんでいる。気持ち良さそうに湯につかる姿は、人が五右衛門風呂に入っているように見える。

３週間ほど前に、ミワちゃんの体が汚れたため、二本松俊邦園長が湯を入れたバケツの中に入れて洗おうとしたが、嫌がったため、バケツの横に座らせ、湯を少しずつかけて洗った。

しばらく続けていくうちに湯にも慣れ、１週間ほど前から自分でバケツの中に入るようになったという。

今では毎朝、湯につかるのが日課に。湯の中ではじっとして目を細め、“温泉気分”を味わっている。

二本松園長は「冬になったら、市内の温泉で湯をもらい、その中に入れてやりたい。その時は頭にタオルを載せてやろうかと思います」と話している。