Entering in prayer as the new year approaches, the production of evil-warding arrows at the Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine/ Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112010013/

Caption:  Placing on the arrowhead, shrine maidens produce ceremonial evil-warding arrows = Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine

From today until the end of the year, talismans for new years, evil-repealing arrows, are in production at the Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine in Yukinoshita, Kamakura city. Various meetings are held to produce 245,000 arrows by the end of the year, in preparation for new years.

In the same temple of the arrows, the occasion where Minomoto no Yoriyoshi supressing the Zenkunen War  is celebrated. In the area of Yuiga Beach, the festival of the Hachiman God is held. The city of Kyōtō's Iwashimizu-Kachimanguu shrine sends the festival an offering of bows and arrows. The event was considered the inauguration of the Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine. The arrows come in two types, with a length of 60 centimeters and 94 centimeters.

The shrine maidens and Shinto priests divide the work. The arrowheads are wrapped with Japanese style paper and attached with a bell. The arrowhead is beaten on, where during that time the sound and sensation of knocking resounds strongly.


Original text:
新年へ祈り込め、鶴岡八幡宮で破魔矢作り/鎌倉

 矢に鏑を付けるなど、破魔矢作りをする巫女ら＝鶴岡八幡宮

今日から師走。正月の縁起物の破魔矢作りが鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）で進められている。年内に大小合わせて24万５千本を作製、新年に備える。

同八幡宮の破魔矢は、源頼義が前九年の役を平定した際、由比ケ浜の地に八幡大神を祭り、京都の石清水八幡宮から授かった弓矢を奉納したことにちなむといい、これが鶴岡八幡宮の草創とされる。長さは60センチと94センチの２種類。

 巫女（みこ）や神職らが手分けして、鏑（かぶら）を取り付けて和紙を巻き、鈴を付ける。鏑をたたいて付ける時の「コンコン」という音が心地よく響く。

Professional wrestler Keiji Mutō visits Mayor Fumiko Hayashi, invites 500 people entered into the social welfare institution to attend wrestling event/ Yokohama

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1111300020/

Caption: Mayor Hayashi (Left) is handed a list of 500 invitees from wrestler Keiji Mutō=Yokohama City Government Office

On December 4^th, in the Yokohamas Cultural Gymnasium (In the town of Furō, Yokohama City), Keiji Mutō will be in competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling’s world tag team championship match. On the 30^th, he visited Yokohama City’s governmental office, and offered Mayor Fumiko Hayashi a list of 500 citizens invited to the event.

The spectators invited to the match first had to fill out an application to All Japan Pro Wrestling in order to be considered. Within the city’s welfare institutions, 500 disabled, elderly as well as children were invited.

Keiji Mutō said: I absolutely want the mayor to see the match. This is a gift of our spirit, he saluted. Mayor Hayashi said: I’m grateful for having this talk. As the event draws customers, Yokohama city hopes to receive (greater) vitality, she spoke in gratitude.

Original Text:

プロレスラーの武藤敬司選手が林市長を訪問、福祉施設入所者ら約５００人を試合に招待/横浜

林市長（左）に約５００人分の招待目録を手渡した武藤敬司選手＝横浜市役所

12月４日に横浜文化体育館（横浜市中区不老町）で世界最強タッグ優勝決定戦を開催する全日本プロレスの武藤敬司選手は30日、横浜市役所を訪れ、市民約５００人分の招待目録を林文子市長に贈った。

試合観覧への招待は、全日本プロレス側の申し入れにより実現。市内の福祉施設に入所、通所している障害者や高齢者、子ども約５００人が招待される。

武藤選手は「市長にもぜひ試合を生で見てほしい。元気をプレゼントします」とあいさつ。林市長は「ありがたいお話をいただいた。イベントでお客さんを引き込み、横浜を元気にしてほしい」と感謝の言葉を述べた。

Bari-ba, the polar bear from Ehime prefecture's zoo, pays a visit to Zooasia.

Translated from the original article at: http://kohoku.keizai.biz/headline/449/

Polar Bear Bari-ba, zoo visitor

On November 29, The female polar bear Bari-ba will visit Yokohama's Zoo, Zoorasia (Yokohama City, Asahi ward, Kamishirane city).

With the trend of declining polar bear birthrates inside of the country, the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums encouraged a polar bear breeding project. The project has polar bears from all over the country individually moving among breeding zoos and forming new pairs, with the lone goal being to stimulate breeding activity.

In June, at the same park (Zoorasia), the female polar bear, Chiro, suddenly died. Since then, Janbui, a 19 year old male, has become the only one to be cared for. Meanwhile, Bari-ba (Age 20), the Ehime prefectural institution, as well as the zoo of Ehime prefecture, Iyo district, partnered together under the following condition: as part of a larger plan in this same project, Zoorasia will be the park decided for this visit.

In charge of the polar bears in that same park (Zoorasia) is Mr. Itou Sakura, who said the following: "Each breeding park collaborating in our system is aimed towards the breeding of polar bears. Before arriving at the breeding season, we wish to express our gratitude that the conditions of the pairing for both Janbui and Bari-ba have been decided upon straightaway. Also, with the objective being breeding, the age of both animals is considered, along with the remaining (breeding) time for both Janbui and Bari-ba, who are seemingly carefree and relaxed. We wish to spend this time supporting them.”

Original Text:

ズーラシアにホッキョクグマ「バリーバ」－愛媛の動物園から来園へ

来園するホッキョクグマの「バリーバ」

よこはま動物園ズーラシア（横浜市旭区上白根町）に11月29日、雌のホッキョクグマ「バリーバ」が来園する。

国内のホッキョクグマの飼育頭数は減少傾向にあり、日本動物園水族館協会は「ホッキョクグマ繁殖プロジェクト」を推進。同プロジェクトは、全国のホッキョクグマ飼育園間で個体移動をすることで新たなペア形成を行い、繁殖行動を活性化させることを目的の一つとしている。

同園では6月に雌のホッキョクグマ「チロ」が急死。以来雄のジャンブイ（19歳）1頭の飼育となっていた。一方バリーバ（20歳）も愛媛県立とべ動物園（愛媛県伊予郡）でパートナーがいない状態だったことから、同プロジェクトの一環で今回の来園が決まった。

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。