日本上千人參加新年書法大賽

日本東京當地時間1月5日舉辦第48屆新年書法大賽，吸引了近3000人蔘加比賽。經歷了2011年大地震和海嘯的日本民衆希望藉此機會祈求新的一年會更好。

參賽者需要在規定的24分鐘時間內把各組指定的書法內容寫好，他們所寫的都是對新的一年的祝願。這些參賽者根據年齡大小分成不同的組別，然後書寫難易程度不等的書法內容。這項比賽吸引了來自日本全國各地的民衆參與，去年遭海嘯襲擊以及核泄漏影響的福島縣也派出選手參賽。除了兒童，比賽還吸引了不少長者參與，其中年齡最大的已經有85歲。這些長者都很高興可以有機會和年輕人同場競技。這次比賽的勝負將由一個評判小組集體決定，比賽結果將在1月22日公佈，獲勝選手將得到獎勵。

From small children to octogenarians, thousands came together in Tokyo on Thursday for a new year's battle of the brushes in an annual national calligraphy contest.

In what has long been a ritual for the start of the year, people all across Japan write down their resolutions and hopes, or good luck characters, using a traditional horse-hair brush and ink made of charcoal.

This year's contestants brushing their welcome to the Year of the Dragon included children from Fukushima prefecture, which is still struggling with the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years, set off by last year's massive earthquake and tsunami.

"I wasn't sure if I would be able to write well, but I did better than I thought so I think it's good," said Natsumi Yazawa, a 14-year-old from Fukushima who travelled hundreds of kilometres to take part.

Contestants, who ranged from those aged four all the way up to 85, were assigned Chinese characters such as "Spring Wing" and "Year of the Dragon" and given 24 minutes to complete their masterpieces.

One of the older participants was Etsuko Saotome, who said she had looked forward to taking part as it gave her energy.

"I'll be 74, and while that's embarrassing, this gives me a chance to feel youthful again, writing with all of these children," she said.

The pieces were collected to be reviewed by judges according to rules such as their flow, line strength and angles. The winners will be announced on Jan 22.

Calligraphy is a widely practised and revered art in many parts of Asia, with the act of writing Chinese characters believed to sharpen the mind and improve concentration.