浅草神社大祭取消抬轎巡遊

Recently the Asahi News reported the following:
　勇壮な神輿（みこし）渡御で知られる浅草・三社祭（浅草神社例大祭）が中止されることになった。浅草神社と浅草神社奉賛会が２０日、東日本大震災の被災を考慮し、決めた。
　今年は５月２０～２２日に予定していたが、２１日の例大祭式典のみ、被災地の早期復興への願いを込めて行う。神輿渡御はとりやめる。戦後、祭りが今の形になって以来、中止は初めて。
　奉賛会の内田宗孝事務局長は「大きな被害者を出した現状を考えると、自粛すべきだと判断した」と話している。昨年の祭り期間の人出は約１６０万人に上った。

(試譯文)
At the Asakusa's Sanja Festival (Asakusa Shrine Festival) the known brave proceeding of the portable shrine would be discontinued. Asakusa Shrine and the Asakusa Shrine Sponsoring Association on the 20th made the decision after considering the disaster caused by the East Japan great earthquake.
Although this year was scheduled for 20 -22 in May, only the festival ceremony on the 21st put in the wish for the early revival of the stricken area. The carrying of miniature shrines would be discontinued. The festival took the current shape after the War, it was the first time to discontinue.
Shuutakashi Uchida the secretary-general of the Sponsoring Association said that "It was judged necessary to exercise voluntary restrain after considering the current state in which a large amount of victim was seen". Last year during the festival period the crowd had gone up to about 1.6 million people.

The East Japan great earthquake has affected the mood of the Japanese. I hope people's daily life could return to normal as soon as possible.