Bell on New Year's Eve Joya-no-kane is one of the annual events held in Japanese Buddhism during the year-end and the beginning of the year. It is to strike the temple bell at midnight on December 31st (New Year's Eve). Joya-no-kane is struck 108 times in many temples.
Japan’s kanji of the year, ‘mitsu,’ reflects gloom of 2020 pandemic The Asahi Shimbun By RIKAKO TAKAI/ Staff Writer December 14, 2020 at 18:03 JST
KYOTO--Japan has chosen “mitsu" as the kanji of the year, widely cited as part of a social distancing slogan, in a fitting acknowledgement of how the pandemic has held the public atits mercy in 2020. The Kyoto-based Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced Dec. 14 that mitsuwas the top vote-getter among 208,025 suggestions received nationwide, with 28,401 votes. Seihan Mori, chief priest of the famed Kiyomizudera temple here, ceremoniously drew the character with a calligraphy brush on a sheet of traditional “washi” paper measuring 1.5 meters by 1.3 meters to announce the outcome in an annual year-end ritual held at the temple in the city’s Higashiyama Ward. Government and health officials have used mitsu in a slogan to warn the public of the risks of contracting the novel coronavirus. The slogan, “avoid sanmitsu” (3-mitsu), also known as the “three Cs,” urges residents to stay away from “confined spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places with many people nearby and close-contact settings such as conversations at close range.” Many voters cited the pandemic for why the character most accurately described the year's mood, the association said. Other voters chose the character, which also means secret, citing the fact that a slew of secrets in politics and the entertainment industry were exposed in 2020. Not all reasons voters gave for choosing the kanji were negative, according to the association. Some chose mitsu for another one of its meanings, "closeness," saying that the year has allowed them to form an intimate connection with their loved ones. The runner-up was “ka,”which means epidemic, evil and misfortune, receiving 13,655 votes. “Yamai,” meaning illness, came in third, with 10,369 votes. The ceremonial announcement was held at the national treasure-designated Hondo main hall of the temple for the first time in four years. The annual event was held at a different hall from 2017 to 2019 while the temple underwent roofing work. ***
Kanji of the year「今年の漢字」 Wikipedia, the freeencyclopedia 14 December 2020
The Kanji of the year (今年の漢字,Kotoshi no Kanji) is a Japanese character chosen by the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society（日本漢字能力検定協会: Nihon Kanji Noryoku Kentei Kyokai） through a national ballot in Japan, starting in 1995. The character with the most votes, selected to represent the events of that year, is announced in a ceremony on December 12 (Kanji Day) at Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto （清水寺・京都）.
Kanji of the year 2020 2020 ー 「密 Mitsu」(close) Reference to the ３密 (san mitsu, the three Cs), a government recommendation to avoid closed spaces（密閉）,crowds（密集） and close contact （密接）due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also references how people were brought closer together thanks to the stay home directive. 'Mitsu' additionally alludes to secrets unveiled in the political and entertainment worlds in 2020. Kanji of the past years 2019 ー 「令 Rei」(order） Japanese era name was changed into Reiwa（令和Reiwa, lit. "good harmony"）. As safety measures against the storm and downpour（嵐・豪雨）caused by Typhoon Faxai and Typhoon Hagibis（台風15号・19号） in Kantō region（関東地域）, the government issued ("issuing order" is "hatsurei (発令)" in Japanese) evacuation orders（避難命令）. 2018 ー 「災 Sai」(disaster） The 2018 Osaka earthquake（大阪府北部地震）along with the heavy floods in southwestern Japan（西日本豪雨）. This Kanji was also selected in 2004 as Kanji of the Year（「災」は2004年以来、14年ぶり2度目の選出） 2017 ー 「北 kita」(North) North Korea's missile tests and nuclear test（北朝鮮ミサイル実験・核実験）, the heavy rain in northern Kyushu（九州北部豪雨）, and the poor harvest of potatoes in Hokkaido（北海道ジャガイモ不作） 2016 ― 「金 kin」（Gold） High number of gold medals won at the 2016 Rio Olympics（金メダル）, the shift to minus interest (“interest rate” is “kinri” in Japanese)（マイナス金利）, Trump’s U.S. presidential election victory (“blonde hair” is “kinpatsu”)（トランプ大統領）, and Piko Taro, singer of ‘PPAP’, who’s known for wearing a gold-colored animal print outfit （ピコ太郎） 2015 ― 「安 an」(Safety) Safety issues concerning explosion in Yasukuni Shrine（靖国神社爆発）, terrorist attack on Paris（パリテロリスト事件） 2014 ― 「税 zei」(Tax) The social discussion and the additional expense tax（消費税増税） in Japan 2013 ― 「輪 rin」(Wheel) The success bidding for hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics. 2012 ― 「金 kin」(Gold) Several medals are won at the 2012 London Olympics, Shinya Yamanaka（山中伸弥教授） wins a Nobel Prize, and a solar eclipse（金環食）is observed for the first time in Japan in 932 years, amid concerns such as consumption tax and welfare （"金"）is also the first kanji to be selected more than once. 2011 ― 「絆 kizuna」(Bonds) Tohoku earthquake and tsunami（東北地震津波）; people across Japan rediscover the importance of their bonds with family and friends. Japan's women's national football team Nadeshiko Japan（なでしこジャパン）wins the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, a result of confidence and teamwork among its members. 2010 ― 「暑 sho」(Hot) The high temperatures that affected people's health and lives, as well as the natural environment in Japan. The Chilean mine collapse in which all the miners were rescued after having been trapped about 700 meters underground in a hot, humid mine （チリ鉱山崩壊）. 2009 ― 「新 shin」(New) The Democratic Party of Japan swept to power in August 2009 lower house elections to form a new government for the first time as the nation’s voters turned their backs on half a century of LDP single-party government（民主党政権）. Swine flu, known as Shin-gata influenza（新型インフルエンザ）, breaks out around the world. Ichiro Suzuki（イチロウ） sets a new MLB record with nine consecutive seasons with 200 hits. 2008 ― 「変 hen」(Change) Changing of the Japanese prime minister, Barack Obama winning the American presidential elections using the word (change), economical and ecological changes around the world. 2007 ― 「偽 nise」(Deception) A series of food production/mislabeling scandals in which products that had expired were relabeled and sold（食品偽装）. Problems over political funds and faulty pension records（年金記録喪失）. Intellectual Property Infringement Controversy of Shijingshan Amusement Park, Beijing, China（石景山遊楽園,北京）. 2006 ― 「命 inochi」(Life) Prince Hisahito of Akishino（秋篠宮悠仁親王） is born. Feelings of uncertainty about life arising from hit and run accidents due to driving under the influence, suicide due to bullying, the suicide of a member of the Imperial Guard, and other causes. Living things that are born, life that is cut short or taken. 2005 ― 「愛 ai」(Love) Expo 2005 is held in Aichi（愛知エクスポ）. Princess Nori（紀宮内親王） marries Yoshiki Kuroda. Table tennis athlete Ai Fukuhara（福原 愛） plays in China. 2004 ― 「災 sai」(Disaster) The Chuetsu earthquake（中越地震）. Typhoon Tokage lands, causing tremendous damage. Accident at the Mihama nuclear power plant（美浜原発）. Mitsubishi Motors（三菱自動車） scandal involving the cover-up of known defects. 2003 ― 「虎 tora」(Tiger) The Hanshin Tigers（阪神タイガース） win the Central League pennant for the first time in 18 years. 2002 ― 「帰 ki」(Return) Japan and North Korea begin talks. Five Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea return to Japan（北朝鮮拉致帰国）. 2001 ― 「戦 sen」(War) 9/11 terror attacks. The U.S. war in Afghanistan. Global recession. 2000 ― 「金 kin」(Gold) Judo athlete Ryoko Tamura（田村亮子）, now Ryoko Tani and marathon-runner Naoko Takahashi （高橋尚子） win gold at the Sydney Olympics. Kim Dae Jung（金大中） and Kim Jong-Il（金正日） hold the first North-South Korean presidential summit. Deaths of centenarian twin sisters Kin-san and Gin-san（きんさん,ぎんさん） whose names sound like Gold and Silver. 1999 ― 「末 sue」(End) The final year of the century（世紀末）. The Tokaimura nuclear（東海村原発） accident. 1998 ― 「毒 doku」(Poison) Sixty-seven people are sickened and 4 die after eating poisoned curry. Masumi Hayashi（林真須美） is arrested and similar incidents follow. Concern about dioxin. 1997 ― 「倒 to」(Collapse, Knock Down) A wave of corporate bankruptcies and bank failures（山一證券廃業,拓銀経営破綻）. The Japanese team beats regional powerhouses in the Asia qualifying tournament to win a berth in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. 1996 ― 「食 shoku」(Food, eat) Multiple outbreaks of food poisoning due to E. coli O157 occur, affecting school lunch programs. 1995 ― 「震 shin」(Quake) The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake（阪神淡路大震災）. Growing feelings of unease caused by the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway（地下鉄サリン事件）.
Windsurfing Competition Rules 2017-2020 Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix B The Japanese Version of new RRS2021-2024 will be carried on this blog several days later!
Summary of Changes in the 2021-24 Rules Scuttlebutt Sailing News Published on December 9th, 2020
Most of the changes in the new Rules Book are essentially ‘house-keeping’ that may not be noticed whenreading the new rules, such as correcting minor unintended errors/ambiguities. The good news is there are no major adjustments to ‘The Game’ or to the ‘Right-of-Way’ Rules. However, there are many editorial changes and many changes in rule numbers so care should be takenwhen using references to rule numbers in other documents (including the Case Book) where rule numbers are not yet corrected to 2021-24 rules.
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