[Movie] All throughout Kanagawa prefecture, the area is blessed with fine weather at the start of the New Year.

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1401010005/

January 1, 2014

The view from the coast of Chigasaki (New Year's Day)

On January 1st, the Pacific Ocean along Eastern Japan was blessed with clear weather. Around 7AM, an orange colored morning sky was seen announcing the New Year throughout all of Kanagawa.

Along the beach area of Chigasaki, where Mount Fuji neighbors off to the West, and the small island of E No Shima to the East, people could be seen rubbing their hands in the cold as they witnessed the first day of the year. Additionally, even in Yokohama City people packed the elevated areas from early in the morning to view the sunrise.

[Movies]




Original text:
【動画】一年の始まり告げる「初日の出」晴天に恵まれ県内各地でも
2014年1月1日

茅ケ崎海岸から見た「初日の出」

東日本の太平洋側では元日、晴天に恵まれた。午前７時ごろ県内の各地でも一年の始まりを告げるオレンジ色の朝日が姿を見せ「初日の出」が見られた。

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茅ケ崎海岸付近では西に富士山を、東に江の島をのぞむかたちで初日が見られ、寒い中手を合わせる姿も見られた。また、横浜市でも見ることができ、朝早くから大勢の市民が高台に詰めかけた。

A big success among locals: The "daruma city" at Dairokuten Temple/Chigasaki

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312280011/

December 28, 2013

All lined up together, a "city" of various sized darumas=Dairokuten Temple

The Daruma City, an annual end of the year tradition, was held on the 27th at the Dairokuten Temple in San-Chome, Jukkenzaka, Chigasaki City. Daruma of various sizes were lined up, as locals packed the area to purchase them for use in the New Year.

According to the temple, the annual event began over 50 years ago. This is said to be the only place to find a "daruma city" within Chigasaki. This year, 10 daruma stores from Hiratsuka City gathered for the event, also selling shimenawa decorative ropes and household Shinto altars.

To sell their Darumas, shopkeepers struck flint stones while dancing and yelling out "Yoooiyoi!" as they prayed for safety in their homes and success in business.

As a family of 6 approached the shops, a local female (age 65) said with a smile "Even though I buy lucky amulets at the super markets, I still shop at the daruma city each year. I wish to pray for the health of children as I decorate with them."


Original text:
地元客で盛況、第六天神社で「だるま市」／茅ケ崎
2013年12月28日

さまざまな大きさのだるまがずらりと並んだ市＝第六天神社

年末の恒例行事「だるま市」が２７日、茅ケ崎市十間坂３丁目の第六天神社で開かれた。さまざまな大きさのだるまがずらりと並び、正月用品を買い求める地元客らでにぎわった。

同神社によると、５０年ほど前から毎年行われており、市内で開催されるだるま市はこの１カ所だけという。今年は平塚市のだるま店など１０店ほどが集まり、しめ縄飾りや神棚なども販売された。

だるまが売れると、店員が火打ち石を鳴らしながら「ヨヨヨイヨイ」と威勢のいい掛け声と手拍子で、家内安全や商売繁盛などを祈願した。

家族６人で訪れた近くに住む女性（６５）は「スーパーでも買えるけど、縁起ものなので毎年だるま市で購入している。子どもたちの健康を願って飾りたい」と笑顔で話した。

[Movie] A lighting test at Samukawa Temple, for a nebuta float that welcomes the New Year with a legend/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312200043/

December 20, 2013

The nebuta float of Samukawa Temple, set up for a lighting test.

At Samukawa Temple (Miyayamai, Samukawa-Cho, Chief Priest: Tone Yasunori) the annual welcoming of the New Year with a float featuring a legend, was set up on the 20th at the shrine's gates. It's been set to light up on 12:00 AM, New Years Day.

[Movies]

This year's theme is Ama No Iwato (Cave of the Sun God). Aomori prefecture's nebuta artist, Kitamura Renmei, spent three months on it's creation. During the process, he poured in his wishes for people to seek and embrace hope for Japanese economic revival during the dawning of each day, as well as to take one steady step at a time towards a happy 2014.

The nebuta is 9 meters wide, 2.6 meters tall and 1.7 meters deep. The float's 250 light bulbs giving off an eerie glow, the lighting tests are performed in the evenings. The float will remain lit at night until February 3rd of next year, welcoming visitors to the shrine.



Original text:
【動画】神話ねぶたで正月出迎え、寒川神社で試験点灯／神奈川
2013年12月20日

試験点灯された寒川神社のねぶた

寒川神社（寒川町宮山、利根康教宮司）で恒例の迎春神話ねぶたが２０日、神門に設置され、元日午前０時の点灯へ準備が整った。

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今年のテーマは「天の岩屋戸（いわと）」。青森ねぶた師の北村蓮明さんが約３カ月かけて制作。経済回復の兆しが見える日本の夜明けに希望を抱き、着実な一歩を踏み出し幸せな一年になるよう、願いが込められている。

ねぶたは幅９メートル、高さ約２．６メートル、奥行き１．７メートル。試験点灯した夕暮れ時には、約２５０個の電球が幻想的な光を放った。来年２月３日まで夜間に点灯され、参拝客らを出迎える。

During Hakone's first snowfall, the mountainous region is covered in white/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312190024/

December 19, 2013

Ashi No Kohan Lake, covered in snow.

Snow continually fell from the morning of the 18th, leaving Hakone-Cho's mountain area covered in white.

According to the city's fire department, Sengokuhara measured 8.5 centimeters of accumulated snowfall and Hakone measured 8. From the pile up on the roads, it looks like the snow season has begun. Last season was said to have started one month earlier.

On the 19th, people all over town could be seen clearing away the snow. In the snow covered Ashi No Kohan Lake, a sight-seeing boat emerged from the middle of the fog.


Original text:
箱根で初雪、山間部が白く染まる／神奈川
2013年12月19日

真っ白に雪化粧した芦ノ湖畔

１８日朝から降り続いた雪で、箱根町の山間部は真っ白に雪化粧した。

同町消防本部によると、仙石原で８・５センチ、箱根で８センチの積雪を観測。道路に積もるような積雪は今シーズン初で、昨シーズンに比べ約１カ月早いという。

町内では１９日にもあちこちで雪かきに追われる人の姿が見られ、雪化粧した芦ノ湖畔では、霧がかった中を遊覧船が行き来していた。

Burning off worldly desires, praying for health and peace of mind/Odawara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312060021/

December 7, 2013

During their ceremony, Yamabushi Priests use torches to draw Sanskrit characters through the air.

To burn off this year's earthly desires and pray for abundance in the New Year, the annual Mount Akiba Fire Protection Festival was held on the 6th at Ryōgaku Temple in Mount Akiba, Itabashi, Odawara City.

Amidst the darkness, a pile of firewood inside the temple grounds was ignited. 30 fully dressed Yamabushi Buddhist priests gathered from all over the country began to perform a cleansing ceremony, drawing Sanskrit characters with their torches. As they continued, visitors to the shrine crossed barefoot over a charcoal fire, praying for health and peace of mind.

Original text: 

煩悩焼き払い、無病息災祈願／小田原

2013年12月7日

たいまつで梵字を書く儀式を披露した山伏

今年１年の煩悩を焼き払い、新年の繁栄を願う恒例の「秋葉山火防（ひぶせ）祭」が６日、小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚院で行われた。

暗闇の中、境内に積み上げられたまきに点火。全国から集まった約３０人の修験者装束の山伏が登場し「法剣作法」で場を清め、たいまつで梵字（ぼんじ）を書く儀式を披露した。山伏に続いて、参拝者がおき火の上を素足で渡り歩き、無病息災を祈願した。

Shrine Maidens quietly craft evil warding arrows. The final rush of production for January begins at the Hachimanguu Temple/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312020024/

December 3, 2013

'Mikoshi' (shrine maidens) silently continue their work of creating evil-warding arrows=Hachimanguu Temple

At the Hachimanguu Temple (Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City), the production of evil warding arrows, a lucky amulet for New Years, enters it's final rush. Using bamboo and the feathers of waterfowl within Japan, 245,000 arrows of various sizes are being produced until Mid-December.

As the mikoshi quietly continued their work, the banging of kabura whistles and the sound of decorative bells being attached to the arrows could be heard echoing through the silent temple.

To celebrate the occasion of Minomoto no Yoriyoshi using the arrows of Hachimanguu Temple to end the Zenkunen War, Kyōtō's Iwashimizu-Kachimanguu Shrine sent over their bow(s) and arrow(s) as an offering.


Original text:
巫女が黙々と破魔矢作り　正月控えて鶴岡八幡宮で追い込み／鎌倉
2013年12月3日

黙々と破魔矢作りの作業を続ける巫女たち＝鶴岡八幡宮

鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）で正月の縁起物の破魔矢作りが追い込みに入っている。国産の竹や水鳥の羽根を使用し、今月中旬までに、大小合わせて２４万５千本を製作する。

巫女（みこ）らは、「コンコン」と矢の先端に鏑（かぶら）を付ける音や飾りの鈴の音が静かに響く中、黙々と作業を続けていた。

同八幡宮の破魔矢は源頼義が前九年の役を平定した際に、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う。

(Movie) The 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, open to the public following press access.

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1311200009/

November 20, 2013

The 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, open to the public following press access.

On the 20th, automatic cars inputted with the latest technology were displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show. Held at the Tokyo Big Sight Convention Center in Koto-ku, Tokyo, it will be opened to the general public after the press.

[Movies]

The show will be open to the general public from November 23 until December 1.

Original text:

【動画】東京モーターショー２０１３、報道関係者向けに先行公開

2013年11月20日

報道関係者に向けて先行公開した東京モーターショー２０１３

最新技術を投入した自動車を展示する東京モーターショーは２０日、一般公開に先立って東京都江東区の東京ビッグサイトで報道関係者向けに開幕した。

【動画】

一般公開は２３日から１２月１日まで。