“Yaku Otoshi,” an annual event at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine to drive out evil /Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212130029/

December 14, 2012

A look at bamboo dusters being used to cleanse each part of the temple grounds=Kamakura City's Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine

Driving away the year's evil energy and dirt, the annual soot sweeping ritual took place on the 13th at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine of Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City.

100 temple staff and miko (shrine maidens) participated. Using bamboo dusters, 5 meter bamboo sticks with bamboo grass attached at the end, they wiped off the dirt from everywhere within the temple, including the front of the main shrine and the tower gates.

For the temple, this event held on the 13th is part of their preparations taken to kick off the New Year.

Original text:

鶴岡八幡宮で恒例の厄落とし／鎌倉

2012年12月14日

「すす竹」を使って境内各所の汚れを落とす様子＝鎌倉市の鶴岡八幡宮

一年の厄や穢（けが）れをはらい落とす年末恒例の「すす払い」が１３日、鎌倉市雪ノ下の鶴岡八幡宮で行われた。

神職や巫女（みこ）ら約１００人が参加。長さ約５メートルの竹の先にササの葉を付けた「すす竹」を使って本殿前の楼門など境内各所の汚れを落とした。

この行事は、１３日が新年の準備に取り掛かる「事始め」であることにちなむ。

Members of the US Navy throw a Christmas party at an intellectual disability center/Yokosuka

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212120015/

December 13, 2012

Dressed up as Santa Claus, a member of U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka distributed presents to members of the facility=Nagasawa, Yokosuka City

On the 12th, in Nagasawa, Yokosuka City , soldiers and personnel of U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka's Ship Repair Facility held a Christmas party at Shiratori Park, Miura’s Facility for the Intellectually Disabled.

The event originated in 1963, when Ship Repair Facility management visited the center to offer presents. This year marks the 50th occasion of what is now an annual volunteer event. 40 personnel from the base visited.

SRF Captain Michael Ballou spoke at the beginning of the event: "We all thought this would be a great opportunity to celebrate the holidays. Merry Christmas!"

Military staff and their families treated people to Christmas cake. A member of the SRF also appeared dressed as Santa Claus to give out presents. 100 members of the facility enjoyed themselves at the party.

Original text:

障害者施設で米海軍隊員ら主催のＸマスパーティー／横須賀

2012年12月13日

基地関係者がふんしたサンタクロースが施設利用者にプレゼントを配った＝横須賀市長沢

横須賀市長沢の知的障害者施設「三浦しらとり園」で１２日、米海軍横須賀基地の艦船修理廠（しょう）（ＳＲＦ）の隊員や従業員が主催するクリスマスパーティーが開かれた。

１９６３年に当時のＳＲＦ幹部が施設を訪問してプレゼントを贈ったことが発祥で、今回で５０回目を迎えた恒例のボランティア行事。基地からは約４０人が訪れた。

イベント冒頭で、ＳＲＦ司令官のマイケル・バルー大佐が「隊員にとっても皆さんと年末の休暇を祝える好機。メリー・クリスマス」とあいさつした。

隊員や家族らがそろえたクリスマスケーキが振る舞われ、ＳＲＦ関係者がふんしたサンタクロースも登場してプレゼントを配るなどして、施設利用者１００人を楽しませた。

Performing a great deed, Vaala the police dog is awarded a certificate of recognition for assisting in the capture of a suspected thief/Kawasaki

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212110023/

December, 12, 2012

Having contributed to the apprehension of a young purse-snatcher, police dog Vaala is photographed with Lieutenant Kouichi=Rinkou, Kawasaki police station

Because of her contribution in capturing a purse-snatching teenager, Vaala the police dog was praised on December 11. At the forensics branch of Rinkou, Kawasaki's Police Headquarters, Vaala received not only a certificate of recognition, but also some chicken breast jerky as a bonus. A 7-year old, female German Shepard, Vaala has been working as a police dog for the last 6 years. Said to have the highest level of skill within Kanagawa prefecture, this is now the 35th time Vaala has received an award.

According to the police, a theft occurred around 6:10PM, December 10th on the Ni-Chou-Me Street of Sakuramoto in the Kawasaki Ward of Kawasaki City. A female part-time worker (age 58) riding a bicycle was approached from behind by a male, also on a bike. As he moved ahead of her, he grabbed 5,000 ($60) out of 40,000 yen ($485.00) from a bag located in the front basket of the victim’s bike.

From there, the suspect escaped. In the grounds of a nearby factory, the bicycle was discovered abandoned. Relying on the remaining odor from the bicycle's seat, Vaala began the pursuit. Suspected by police as the thief, the male was discovered hiding in a factory storehouse. The captured suspect is an unemployed 16 year old male who lives in the area.

Accompanying Vaala, Lieutenant Kouichi commented "Vaala was born with a tenacious disposition; (during the search) her partner was nearly out of breath."

Original text:

お手柄警察犬「ヴァーラ号」に感謝状、窃盗容疑者逮捕に貢献／川崎

2012年12月12日

ひったくりの少年逮捕に貢献したヴァーラと内警部補（左）＝川崎臨港署

ひったくりをした少年の逮捕に貢献したとして、川崎臨港署は１１日、県警鑑識課所属の警察犬ヴァーラに表彰状と副賞の「ササミジャーキー」を贈った。ヴァーラは雌７歳のシェパードで、警察犬歴は６年。これまでに３５回の賞を獲得するなど県警でもトップレベルの実力の持ち主という。

同署によると、事件は１０日午後６時１０分ごろ、川崎市川崎区桜本２丁目の路上で発生。自転車で走行中の同区のパート女性（５８）が後方から自転車で近づいてきた男に、前籠に入れてあった現金４万円入りの手提げバッグ（５千円相当）を追い抜きざまにひったくられた。

男はそのまま逃走。近くの工場敷地内に放置されていた自転車が見つかった。ヴァーラはサドルなどに残されていたにおいを手掛かりに追跡を開始。工場内の倉庫に隠れていた男を見つけ、同署は窃盗の疑いで、同区在住の無職少年（１６）を逮捕した。

ヴァーラとコンビを組む内幸一警部補は「ヴァーラは粘り強い性格が持ち味。妻以上に息ぴったりの相棒です」と話していた。

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。