The Mount Akiba Fire Protection Festival, a traditional fire dance for prosperity/Odawara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212060026/

December 7, 2012

A yamabushi drawing a sanskrit character with a torch=Ryōgaku Temple, Mount Akiba, Itabashi, Odawara City

The Mount Akiba Fire Protection Festival took place on the evening of the 6th, conducted by the Ryōgaku Temple of Itabashi, Odawara City. The annual event features a traditional ceremony to burn off one's sins and impurities accumulated over the past year and welcome a prosperous New Year.

After 7:00PM, 30 fully dressed Buddhist priests gather from all over Japan. In a ceremonial dance, Sanskrit characters are drawn in the air with a torch, which acts as an amulet cut off worldly desires and cleanse the area. As the yamabushi continued, temple visitors walked barefoot over flames placed on the ground, praying for health and wellness.

Original text:
伝統行事「秋葉山火防祭」、繁栄願い火の舞／小田原
2012年12月7日

たいまつで梵字を書く山伏＝小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚

今年一年の罪やけがれを焼き払い、新年の繁栄を願う伝統行事「秋葉山火防（ひぶせ）祭」が６日夜、小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚院で行われた。

午後７時すぎ、全国から集まった約３０人の修験者装束の山伏が、魔よけの「法剣作法」で場を清め、たいまつで梵字（ぼんじ）を書く火の舞の儀式を披露。山伏に続き、参拝者がおき火の上を素足で歩く火渡りを行い、無病息災を祈願した。

Shooing away the Hitotsume-kozō; Yōkazō reappears during a tradition of Yamato city/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212020010/

December 3, 2012

A bamboo cage placed at the building's entrance and Yōkazō, the Hitotsume-kozō (one-eyed boy) doll=The Yamato Furusato Museum (Japanese site) of Shimotsuruma, Yamato City

At Shimotsuruma, Yamato City's Furusato Museum, "Yōkazō" the one-eyed boy reappears in a traditional evil cleansing ceremony, a custom of the city since the Edo Period.

Yōkazō's name is derived from the words 八日　(Youka, the eighth day) and 小僧 (Kōzō, young boy). Twice a year, on February and December 8, people search their homes for forgotten, stowed away footwear. They place the footwear at the front door and garden areas of their home, where it's said that any evil energy within the house has been transferred. An evil-warding bamboo basket or colander is also placed near the home's door. The (visiting) one-eyed boy becomes startled by all the holes in the basket, which appear to be many eyes. He flees, taking along the house's evil energy contained in the nearby sandals with him.

During the late-Edo period, merchants placed bamboo poles under the eaves of the museum, more recently using baskets. A figure of the one eyed boy is also displayed at the museum.

Admission to the museum is free until December 9th (Closed on December 3-4). For questions, the Shimotsuruma Furusato Museum can be reached at 046(272)6556.


Original text:
一つ目小僧追い払おう、大和に伝わる「ヨーカゾー」再現／神奈川
2012年12月3日

玄関先に置かれた籠と一つ目小僧の人形＝大和市下鶴間ふるさと館

大和市下鶴間の「市下鶴間ふるさと館」で江戸時代から市内に伝わる厄払いの風習「ヨーカゾー」が再現されている。

ヨーカゾーの名は「ようか」と「こぞう」に由来する。毎年、一つ目小僧が１２月と２月の８日、玄関や庭先に履物を片付け忘れた家を探して、その家に災厄をもたらすという伝承がある。編み目の多さで驚かせ追い払おうと、玄関先に厄よけの籠やざるを置いた。

江戸後期の商家を利用した資料館の軒下に竹ざおを置き、その先に籠を掛けた。一つ目小僧の人形も展示している。

入場無料。９日まで（３、４日は休館）。問い合わせは下鶴間ふるさと館電話０４６（２７２）６５５６。

Preparing for spring quite early, the New Years' kadomatsu stand at Ishiwara Temple's torii gate.

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20121201-00000302-rtn-l26

Distributed by the Sankei Shinbum (http://sankei.jp/) on Saturday, December 1, 2012, 6:36 PM

Kadomatsu alongside the torii gate.

Spring preparations have come even earlier. At the Ippin Temple of Ishiwara, Fukuchiyama City, a set of kadomatsu stand across from each other. Created by a local man of 70 years, people strolling by are reacting with surprise. "There's already some kadomatsu. It's sure early..."

The kadomatsu are each 1.5 meters high. Besides being made with bamboo, plum wood and pine, nandina  and atukan are added as decorations. Additionally, kale sprouted from seeds of this year's summer decorate the gates.

Before, the local man worked a job where he decorated kadomatsu by hand. "Because of how hot it got during the summer, I was worried about the growth of the cabbage, but it turned out quite beautiful. This is a most excellent kadomatsu," he said, appearing full of satisfaction.


Original text:
早くも迎春準備　石原の神社に正月用門松立つ
両丹日日新聞 12月1日(土)18時36分配信

鳥居のそばに立つ門松

早くも迎春準備－。福知山市石原、一品神社に門松１対が立てられた。地元の男性（７０）が作ったもので、散歩の人たちも「もう門松。早いなあ」と驚いている。

門松の高さはそれぞれ約１・５メートル。竹や梅、松のほか、ナンテン、センリョウを配している。今夏に種をまいて育てたハボタンもあしらった。
 　
男性は以前に勤めていた職場に、手作りの門松を飾ってきた。「ハボタンが夏の暑さで育つか心配だったが、きれいになり、門松も上々の出来」と満足そうに話していた。

At the Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine, a scene of the finishing touches being applied to evil-warding arrows/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212010027/

December 1, 2012

A look at the completion of evil-warding arrows=Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine

At the Tsurugaoka-Hachimangū shrine (Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City), the time has come to apply the finishing touches to many hamaya (evil warding arrows). As the New Year approaches, 24,500 arrows of various sizes are being prepared.

After Minamoto No Yoriyoshi ended the Zenkunen War that took place during the late Heian period, (Tsurugaoka’s) bow and arrows have been offered to Hachiman, the God Of War enshrined at Yuiga Beach.

At the tip, the head of the arrow is wrapped with Japanese style paper, then decorated with a bell. As the miko (shrine maidens) skillfully hammer on the arrowheads, echoes can be heard throughout the shrine during the year’s final month.

Original text:

鶴岡八幡宮で破魔矢仕上げ、佳境を迎える／鎌倉

2012年12月1日

佳境を迎えた破魔矢の仕上げ＝鶴岡八幡宮

鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）で、破魔矢の仕上げが佳境を迎えた。新年に向け、大小２４万５千本を用意する。

源頼義が平安時代後期の前九年の役を平定後、由比ケ浜の八幡神に奉納した弓矢にちなむ。

矢の先端の鏑（かぶら）に和紙を巻き、鈴で飾る。巫女（みこ）が手際よく鏑を打ち付け、師走の境内に「コンコン」と響く。

Each painted with their own character, 5 Rebuild of Evangelion taxis are introduced in Sapporo.

Translated from the original article at: http://sapporo.keizai.biz/headline/1520/

November 19, 2012

The eva-taxi.

In the city of Sapporo, 5 "eva taxis" have been sent out to promote the release of the latest Rebuild of Evangelion movie. Each car has been painted with one of the movie’s characters: Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Shikinami Langley, Mari Illustrious Makinami and Kaworu Nagisa.

Pictured: The taxi depicting Asuka Shikinami Langley.

All the cars rolled out on the 17th of November as part of the EXHIBITION of EVANGELION in SAPPORO PR campaign with Sapporo Factory (Higashi 4, Kita 2, Chūō-ku, Sapporo). Choei Taxi, located in Sapporo’s Northern Ward, Shinkoto Ni2-Jou13, is handling the service.

On the first of the month, Rei Ayanami was the first car to begin operating within the city. On November 17, the same day “Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo” premiered in theaters, all 5 cars went into operation. On twitter, scattered "eyewitness reports" from fans who rode the taxi came in from Sapporo and surrounding areas.

The car’s character is depicted along the side of the car on the doors. The NERV logo is also stamped on the hood of the car. For the body colors: the Shinji and Rei cars are blue, Asuka is red, Mari is pink and Kaworu is purple.

The taxi company commented "Compared to all our cars in dispatch, the Evas have received a high amount of reservations."

The starting fare is 650 yen. The cars are scheduled to be in service through February 11, 2013.

Original text:

札幌に5台の「エヴァタクシー」－「新劇場版」登場キャラ5人ラッピング

（2012年11月19日）

エヴァタクシー

札幌市内で「ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版」の登場キャラクター「碇シンジ」「綾波レイ」「式波・アスカ・ラングレー」「真希波・マリ・イラストリアス」「渚カヲル」5人をラッピングした「エヴァタクシー」が運行を始め、話題を呼んでいる。

【画像】式波・アスカ・ラングレーのエヴァタク

同車は今月17日、「サッポロファクトリー」（札幌市中央区北2東4）で始まった「エヴァンゲリオン展×札幌」のPR企画として運行。市内のタクシー会社「長栄交通」（北区新琴似2条13）が手掛ける。

今月1日に「第1弾」となる綾波レイのタクシーが市内で運行を始め、同展開催初日までに5台の「エヴァタク」が完成。ツイッター上では「目撃情報」が拡散し、北海道外からも「乗りに行く」とツイートするファンもいるなど反響を呼んでいる。

車体側面のドア部分にキャラクターをラッピングし、ボンネットには「NERV」のロゴをラッピング。車体の色は「シンジ車」「レイ車」が青、「アスカ車」が赤、「マリ車」がピンク、「カヲル車」が紫。

同社では「たくさんの予約も頂き配車率も高まっている」という。

初乗りは650円。来年2月11日まで運行予定。

Nissan's Miniature Electric Cars to be made available for testing in Central Yokohama/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1211160005/

November 16, 2012

Miniature electric vehicles, available for trial.

From the 19th, Nissan Motors will be testing their Miniature Electric Cars (EVs) in the Central Yokohama area. By participating in a questionnaire, local residents and visitors will be able to rent the cars, free of charge. Nissan aims to take the results and issues raised in the questionnaire into account before introducing it into the marketplace.

The mini-EV has a body length of 234 centimeters (7.6 feet) and can accommodate 2 passengers across the front and back. It travels up to 80 kilometers an hour (50MPH) and can travel 100 kilometers (62 miles) off a full charge, which takes 4 hours. Though current traffic laws do not allow the car to be driven on public roads, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has granted permission for the car to be driven in the East Yokohama Station, Minato Mirai 21, Kannnai, Yamate and Motomachi areas.

Until January 31, 2013, users will be able to drive the vehicles for 3.5 hours per day. Vehicles can be loaned out from Nissan's global headquarters (Takashima, Nisha Ward, Yokohama City), the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Japanese site) (Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama City) and the Yamashita-cho underground parking garage.

Applicants being sought are regular, everyday drivers who have received a normal driver's license at least 3 years prior. The registration homepage is located at http://nissan-rentacar.com/yokohama/. At a later date, drivers will in advance be issued a reservation for membership cards.

Original text:

日産の超小型電気自動車、横浜都心エリアで貸し出しへ／神奈川

2012年11月16日

試乗が可能となる超小型ＥＶ

日産自動車の超小型電気自動車（ＥＶ）が１９日から、横浜都心エリアで試乗可能になる。地域住民や観光客らに無料で貸し出し、アンケートを利用者に実施。効果や課題を検証し市場への導入を目指す。

超小型ＥＶは、全長２３４センチで前後２人乗り。最高速度は時速約８０キロで、４時間の充電で約１００キロ走る。現行法では公道を走れないため、国土交通省が許可した横浜駅東口、みなとみらい２１、関内、山手・元町エリア限定で走ることができる。

２０１３年１月３１日までで、利用可能時間は１日最大で３時間半。日産グローバル本社（横浜市西区高島）、横浜赤レンガ倉庫１号館（同市中区新港）、山下町地下駐車場で貸し出す。

利用対象者は普通自動車免許取得後３年以上を経過し、日常的に運転している人など。ホームページ（http://nissan-rentacar.com/yokohama/）で会員登録し、後日発行の会員カードで事前予約をする。

Caught in a fishing net, a ghostly deep sea squid is on display at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1211150041/

November 16, 2012

The Shin-Enoshima Aquarium has begun taking care of a chiroteuthis imperator, a phantom-like deep sea squid. (Photo provided by the aquarium)

On the morning of the 15th, an extremely rare, deep sea dwelling chiroteuthis imperator squid was caught in a fixed fishing net off the Enoshima coast of Fujisawashi City. Being confirmed alive, it was transferred to the nearby Shin-Enoshima Aquarium and put on display that afternoon. A specialist at the aquarium said "This was the first time I've seen a live specimen."

The squid is about 19 centimeters (7&1/2 inches) in length and milky pink in color. A deep sea dweller, they’re said to usually reside in-between Sagami Bay and the South China Sea, at a depth of 200 to 600 meters. They're (normally) observed alive from submarines, etc.  "Capturing, and especially housing one at an aquarium for a period of time is considered an extremely rare occurrence," said the aquarium’s spokesperson.

Known for its floating, gently swinging body, round eyes and arms that emit light, little detail is known of its ecology. The images taken from the squid’s time at the aquarium will also serve as research material.

Original text:

幻の深海イカが定置網に掛かる、新江ノ島水族館で公開／神奈川

2012年11月16日

新江ノ島水族館で飼育が始まった幻の深海イカ「ユウレイイカ」（同水族館提供）

生きている姿が確認されるのは極めて珍しいという深海に生息するイカ「ユウレイイカ」が１５日午前、藤沢市江の島沖の定置網に掛かった。近くの新江ノ島水族館に運び込まれ、同日午後から展示されている。水族館の専門家も「生きているのを見るのは初めて」と話している。

発見されたユウレイイカは、体長１９センチほどで色はピンク色がかった乳白色。通常は相模湾以南から南シナ海の水深２００～６００メートルの深海に生息しているという。生きている姿は、潜水船の調査などでは観察されたことはあるが、「捕らえられ、一時的にせよ水族館で飼育するというのは非常に珍しい」（広報担当者）という。

体をゆらゆらと静かに漂わせ、目の周りや、腕から光を放つと知られているが、詳しい生態は分かっていないという。水族館では映像を残し飼育研究にも役立てたいとしている。