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June 29, 2008

この前築地の場外市場をウロウロしていたとき、魚屋と並んで鰹節屋が何軒かあるのを見た。威勢良く大盛りの削り節やらゴロンゴロンした固まりが積み上げられている。どれも美味そうなのだが、鰹節は本郷大横丁で買うことにしているので見物だけにしておいた。なにせ本郷の若店主が「築地に行ったってうちのは負けないですよ」と自慢するくらいだから、確かに良い味を出している。とりわけ「本枯節」というのが秀逸。鰹節は本来発酵食品とかで、この鰹節の表面は黴の粉をかぶっている。写真にも撮らせてもらった。これで出汁を取って煮たみそ汁は芯から温まる。昨日も寄ったら、店主のお母さん、おばあさんが店番をしていて「いらっしゃい！」と大きな声で迎えてくれた。「本枯節100グラム削ってください」と頼んだ。「うち、この前テレビのロケが来るとこだっだんだけど、看板掛け替えるの品物の箱取っ替えるのっていろいろいうし、半日商売あがったりになるから、最後は断ったんですよ」とサバサバしている。有名なドラマの舞台になるところだったのに欲がないというか、頑固一徹というか、あっぱれだった。築地の路地裏も良いが、本郷の横丁も良い。あちこちでおしゃべりして歩くのは楽しいものだ。本日の更新は表紙の写真（世田谷の緑道にて）とこのページの写真（我が家に咲いたタチアオイ）です。何となく夏めいて。もう六月も終わるなんて、信じがたいこった。

While I was walking along back alleys in Tsukiji, I came across with several shops of "katsuo-bushi"(--dried bonito, which we shave for making soup.). I saw large amount of shaven one and tough rocks of dried bonito. They all looked attractive but I did not buy any because I've decided to buy "katsuo-bushi" at Hongo Oyokocho Street. The young shop master told me the other day that his "katsuo-bushi" is much better than any other ones you find even in Tsukiji where you are supposed to find the best of marine products. I know what he meant. Among all his goods, particularly "hongare-bushi,"dried and molded bonito all covered with pale green powder is, according to his lecture, the best. He let me take photographs. I made soup with it and believed his words. Yes, it tasted and smelled so good. The soup made you warm. When I visited the shop (in Hongo) a few days ago, his mother and grandmother greeted me cheerfully saying, "Hello, welcome!" I asked the mother to shave 100 grams of "katsuo-bushi" for me. She told me a TV program wanted to use their shop for a location shooting of their drama program. She explained to me why she declined the request. She said, "They wanted to change our name boards and sign boards, and also they wanted to bring in boxes of "katsuo-bushi" from the place we never have trades. If we accept their request, our business will be misunderstood by customers. We couldn't do anything against our will." Aha! They have faith in their business. Both Tsukiji and Hongo Oyokocho embody good old Japanese mercantile spirit. It's really interesting to chat at shops. Today's update: photos in the index page (a scene along a green lane in Setagaya, Tokyo) and the one here (flowers of Althaea rosea I planted in front of our front gate). They make me feel summer is coming very soon. Can you believe it's the end of June already?

思い切って初めての美容院に飛び込んだ。よくきれいなチラシを配っている店。本当に若い人ばかりでやっている。私が持っていた読み差しの小説に気付いた一人が、「本、読むんですか？」と話しかけてきた。「読みますよ」と私。カノジョは、「私、本て苦手で。」「そぉ？」などと話していると、別の一人が「私、本好きです。この前読んだのは『ダイブ』っていうんですけど。」「あ、飛び込みの話ね。映画もあるじゃない。」と私。カットをしてくれたお兄さんは、「ボクはマンガですね。」「そ、いいのある？」ときくと、いくつか挙げてくれた。最初の一人は「私、活字読むと眠くなるんですけど、ケータイなら。」「あ、ケータイ小説！ど、面白い？」「面白いですよぉ。泣けます。いつも読んで泣いてます。」「ふーん、ケータイ小説って笑うために読むんじゃなくて、泣きたくて読むんだ？！」「そうですね、一人でケータイ読んで泣くの好きです。通信料掛かりますけど。」「主人公に同情しちゃうの？」「そうですね、サイト行って、タイトル見ながら泣けそうなの探して、読み始めてつまんなかったらまた別のに行きますから。」「ふーん、友達も読んでる？」「結構好きな子いますよ」・・・というわけで、ケータイ小説の読み方を教わった。時々河岸を変えるのも良い。変なお客になって、おしゃべりして帰る。知らない店なら身元不明。少々羽目を外して饒舌になっても気にならない。ひとときの解放。本日の更新は短信のみにて。どうしてこんなにというくらい忙しい。やばいぞ、ストレス大敵。Take it easy!

I jumped in a hair salon which I had never been before. They were often giving out flyers of nice designs. Employees of the shop are all very young. One of them noticed a book which I had. She said, "Hey, do you read books?" "Yes, why not?" said I. "I'm not for it." said she. "Aren't you?" said I. Listening to our conversation, another joined us. "I do, I like reading books. Recently I read a very interesting one entitled, Dive." "Oh, you did" I've heard it's about boys in training of diving. They made a film of it too, didn't they?" "Yes!" Then a hair dresser, a young man, joined us. "I like comics. Not books." "Could you recommend me anything cool+?" I asked. He mentioned several titles which I was not familiar with. Again the first one said, "I like reading by cell-phone,." I asked if she meant "cell-phone novels." "Sure! I love to cry reading them." "Oh, do you cry by cell-phone novels?" I said to her with astonishment. "Yea, they make me cryl. They are fantastic although it costs me quite a lot, I mean the cell-phone bill. Battery is out very quickly." I see it7s the way how young people read cell-phone novels! it's good to change hair salons sometimes. I can be anybody at a new one. I can talk as much as I like just freely while I'm having my hair done. It's a momentary relaxation. I've been busy so much. I need to be free from stresses once in a while. .Today's update: this note only. I wish I could spend time more wisely.

もう先週のことになるが、文部科学省[現代GP]採択プログラムと施設見学のために、母校を訪れた。何年ぶりだろう。卒業後30年目の同窓会の時以来かもしれない。最初は学生として1970年代の初めに、ついで非常勤講師として1980年代の初めに、そしてずっとご無沙汰を重ね、今度は外部からの訪問者として門をくぐった。緑深いキャンパスだったが次々と新しい建物が増え、消えてしまったものもある。けれども新しい建築物にはどれも意匠が凝らされ、集う人々に静かで落ち着いた環境を提供している。最新設備の結集する図書館一階から緩やかな螺旋状の階段を上っていくと、「昔と同じ香り」が漂ってくるのに気付いた。あれは蔵書の匂いか、遙かに静謐なえもいわれぬ図書館の香り。二階の閲覧室には、旧図書館で私たちが愛用したわずかに傾斜するライト付きの机と、背もたれに四角い装飾孔の穿たれた椅子が並んでいた。かつての自分に似た女子学生たちがそこここに席を占めて読んだり書いたりしている。変わらない学窓の光景。新しい構内の教室では熱心な討論が続いていた。あちこちに、見知った顔がいるような錯覚。時はめぐるが、受け継がれていく息吹。学生時代には早く飛び出したくてたまらなかったくせに、今頃しみじみと懐かしい。あの頃の夢の数々は宙に消えても、培われた精神は消えない。超えられない母校がある幸せを、目の前の困難に取り組み続けていくエネルギーに転化するのだと言い聞かせている。本日の更新は表紙の写真（世田谷区砧公園の大樹）とこのページの写真（東京都杉並区、東京女子大学チャペル内のパイプオルガン）です。次々にいろいろなことがあるのに、書き留める時間が足りなくて。更新が滞っていること、お許し下さい。

Last Wednesday, some of my colleagues and I visited "Career English Island" at Tokyo Women's Christian University to study how they have been successfully conducting a program to support students in their career building and the acquisition of English proficiency. We had a chance to observe classes and facilities they provide for the purpose of training students to become realistically competent in business and other activities in society. The program was awarded the fund of "Good Practice in Contemporary Education" by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology. For me personally it was also a good occasion to visit my alma mater. (I hadn't been there for years.) The campus was so beautiful with its well preserved natural environment and quiet atmosphere. Old traditions and new ones coexist there. When I was going up the stairs in the new library, I smelled "something I knew well in the past." It turned out to be the scent of old books and old chairs and desks equipped with classical lights attached, which I used to be familiar with in our days. Both of students actively joining the discussion going on in classes and silent ones in library reminded me of how we were in early 70's. On those days I was eager to get out of the campus; whereas, now I felt so happy to find the same kinds of spirit we used to have still living there. Today's update: the photo in the index page (A big tree in Kinuta Park, Setagaya, TOKYO) and the one here (an organ in chapel at Tokyo Women's Christian University, Suginami, TOKYO). Sorry, updating of this page is so slow! I have a lot to write but don't have time enough!

既にいくつかの台風に見舞われ、梅雨入りもし、存分の降水を得た菖蒲田はいよいよ今年の開花時を迎えた。東京都東村山市のほぼ唯一の「景勝地」といってもあながち誤りではない北山公園に、母と共に出かけてみた。連れ立っての散策など何年ぶりだろう。緑深いところを歩き回るのが二人とも好きなのでほんの小一時間のこととはいえ、楽しかった。未だ一分咲きに過ぎないのだけれども、咲き始めの勢いが菖蒲田に漲っている。時折湧きあがる蛙の大合唱。あまりの喧噪に最初母は耕耘機の音ではないかと訝しがったが、止んだり起こったり、あちらからこちらからゲコゲコゲコ。最後は命の響きに脱帽だった。花が満開になれば素晴らしいけれど、見物客も増える。花と人がどっこいどっこいの今日は、それなりの見頃だった気がする。日が差したり曇ったり、背後の八国山は夏色に近い。80になりなんとする母が相変わらず花好きで散歩好きでいてくれるのが有り難い。四阿で休憩しながら、最近読んでおもしろかったという小説を貸してもらった。つくづく受け継いだ「似たような傾向」に呆れながら。本日の更新は表紙写真（北山公園と八国山）とこのページの写真（ヘビイチゴ）です。本当によく降る。

Due to several typhoons and the early arrived rainy season, the field of Japanese irises is filled with water and flowers have started blooming. The best view point in Higashimurayama City, Tokyo is Kitayama Park where millions of irises are planted. I visited there with my mother. We haven't been out for walking together for years. We were excited with our coincidental idea of visiting the park one afternoon. It was only for just an hour, but we really enjoyed ourselves. Freshness of the irises were beyond description. Only 10 per cent of the whole field was in bloom yet; however, our imagination made us happy. Occasionally, frogs cried in chorus. First my mother doubted the noise was coming from a certain electric machines working in the field. No! one frog cried here and another answered over there and suddenly numerous frogs arid all together. They are crying for life. Flowers were not in full bloom, but it was alright because the more flowers are the more people will there be. Numbers of flowers and people were matching. It got suddenly sunny and then became cloudy again. Mt. Hachikoku behind the park was already in the colors of summer. I was happy to see my mother (who is going to be 80 years old very soon) walking in the filed. Both of us like walking and watching flowers. She lent me a newly published novel which se has already finished reading. (Both of us are eager for interesting novels, too!) How I inherit some inclinations from her! Today's update: the photo in the index page (Kitayama Park and Mt. Hachikoku, Higashimurayama, Tokyo) and the one here in this page (a hautboy strawberry; Duchesnea chrysantha). It rains so much! Alas!

昨日は本当に久しぶりの快晴だった。雨に洗われた緑の瑞々しさ。武蔵野線沿線は「こんなにあったのか」と驚くばかりに水田が広がる。窓を開け放った教室はいつになく明るく、涼しい風が吹き込む。せめてこんな日くらいと思い切って、学生たちと外に出た。かれらは木陰に、日向に思い思いの格好でくつろぎ、一時間限りの「青空教室」。まだ駆け出しの教員だった頃、時々こんなことしていたなと思い出しながら。柿の木の青葉は本当にまぶしい。チャイムとともにみんな笑いさざめきながら散っていった。知識や技術を詰め込むばかりでは。「良い時を共有した」という思いを持つこともまた。午後は早めに仕舞いにして、流山の「一茶双樹記念館」に寄ってみた。手入れの行き届いた静かな庵と庭で静寂のひとときを過ごす。それから江戸川の河原に出て、広々した空と流れを眺め、三郷駅まで歩いた。時にはそんな一日が私には尊い。本日の更新は表紙の写真（三郷付近の江戸川堤）とこのページの写真（記念館の庭に咲いていたシモツケ）です。「晴好雨奇」という言葉もあるのだった。

It was a rare sunny day yesterday. Green color of trees and grasses were so fresh after the rain. Along the Musashino Line, rice field spread as far as eyes could reach. It was very bright in the classroom in which cool wind blew in from the open windows. We decided to go out of the room. Students sat relaxing on the grass under trees and in sunshine in their favorite manners. We had an outdoor class! I used to do this kind of "special" class when I was a young teacher. Young leaves of a huge Japanese persimmon tree were shining. When the chime rang, students left the place, laughing and chatting. It was not an occasion to give knowledge nor skills but a chance to share "a good time." In the afternoon I left the campus earlier than usual. I visited "Issa Soujyu Museum" in Nagareyama City, a small museum commemorating an old poet Kobayashi Issa, famous for his haiku works. The museum was a neat house and a garden very well taken care of. I appreciated a short time of quietness and peace. Then I climbed the bank of the Edo River. I breathed the breeze of the river and enjoyed the spectacular scenes along the river, walking to Misato Station of the Musashino Line. It was really a precious day for me. Today's update; a photo in the index page (a view of the Edo River bank near Misato) and the one in this page (Spiraea japonica in the garden of Issa Soujyu Museum), We have a phrase "Both in sunshine and in rain, we love their unique beauty" is a phrase quoted from a Chinese poem.

「春眠」のシーズンは疾うに過ぎたろうに、まだ眠くてたまらない。それにしてもよく雨が降った。どうやらこの分では、ろくに爽快な五月を味わう間もなく梅雨に突入となるのではないだろうか。（昨夜も激しい雨音を聞きながら、四川で住居を失った人たちにテントが足りないというニュースのことを思い出していた。）一方横浜で開催される「第4回アフリカ開発会議」が話題になっている。本日新聞に掲載された政府公報・外務省提供の同会議紹介ページに、アフリカと我々の日常生活の接点が挙げられていたけれど、さらに踏み込んだ記事がこれからどのくらい出るか注目しよう。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート 38」です。チョコレートについてのルポルタージュを取り上げた。この本に詳述されている、農産物交易にまつわる不公正は驚愕すべきものだった。アフリカとの真のフェアトレードが成立する日を祈念して。

Although I guess the season of sleepiness has already gone, I'm always sleepy these days. It's been raining so much. It seems we're going into the rainy season before without having the chance to enjoy the sunshine of May. (Last night while listening to the beating of the heavy rain on the roof, I thought of the news informing that the supply of tents for the disaster victims in Sichuan is far insufficient.) BTW, we hear a lot of news on The 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (which is actually held in Yokohama), In the advertisement presented by the Japanese government on a news paper today, I read about the relationship between African industry and our daily life here in Japan. I wonder how the details in depth will be informed hereafter. Today's update: a book review on Bitter Chocolate by Carol Off. This amazing reportage tells us how unfair the trade between industrial countries and African countries (and developing countries in other areas as well) is. Wishing for the real fair-trade in the near future. (Sorry, the review is written only in Japanese.)

昨日は激しい雨が降り、風が吹き、電車が止まった。今日は一転、夏日に近かった。武蔵野ではエゴの花が真っ盛り。重苦しいことが多いけれど、瓦礫はひとつひとつ取り除けていくしかないだろう。あそこでも、ここでも、慟哭と嘆息の中に日が過ぎていくとしても、止まっているわけにはいかないから。木漏れ日のような希望が差し込むことを祈りながら。本日の更新は表紙の写真（壱岐坂から望む東京ドーム）とこのページの写真（雑木林のエゴの花）です。緑に白はよく似合う。

Yesterday, it rained so heavily and the wind blew so hard that the train stopped. Today, the weather turned out to be sunny and very warm. In Musashino, Styrax japonica is in full bloom. Although there are so many depressive things around, all we can do is to get rid of the wreckage little by little. In spite of heartbreaks and grief everywhere, we cannot but go on living. May the ray of hope come into woods! Today's update: a photo in the index page (Tokyo Dome viewed from Iki-zaka Slope) and one here above (flowers of Styrax japonica). How well white flowers go well with green!

日を追って中国・ミャンマー両国の被災者の数が増えている。地震の影響でダム決壊の恐れがあると逃げていく人の群れが新聞の一面に掲載されていた。広大な国の大災害は桁外れ。勤め先で募金活動が始まった。今日は街でも街頭募金が行われていた。被災者救援、インフラ復活にかかる時間と労力と資金は膨大なものになるだろう。それがどんなに途方もないものだとしても人は必ず立ち上がる（はずだ）。だが、手助けは要る。昨年中国へ旅をしてきた学生に今回の災害ニュースに接してどう感じるかと聞いてみたら、「いやぁ...」と言っただけで絶句した。別の学生は「留学生のM君が最近授業に出ていません。地震のこともあるし心配しています」とメールしてきた。M君のケータイは通じない。音信不通の不安。明日にはきっとと期待しながら日が過ぎていく。本日の更新は短信のみにて。曇天は続く。

The number of victims by the disasters in Myanmar and in China is increasing day by day. There was a news photo in which crowds of people are running away from the danger of dam breaks. The enormous scale of great earthquakes in an enormous country is beyond description. We've started collecting donation of money for victims of the two countries. I saw a group of men collecting money in the street for fund-raising. I wonder how much money, labor, and time we need to reconstruct the damages of infrastructure. However large the damage is, I believe people will surely stand up again someday. (But they definitely need help from other people.) I asked one of the students who mad a trip to China last year, "What do you feel and think at the great earthquake over there?" He was at a loss, and wordless. Another student of mine sent me an email, "Do you know anything about M, a Chinese student, who hasn't been in class recently. I'm worried thinking of the earthquake in his country." He doesn't answer my cell phone calls. We feel very uneasy when we are out of touch. Days pass by in spite of the slight expectations. Today's update: this note only. Cloudy weather persists.

季節はずれの低温、時ならぬ台風など、五月晴れから見放された空を見上げて、焦燥感ともあきらめとも付かない思いに駆られていると、「ミャンマーや中国での大災害を考えても見ろ」という声がどこかから聞こえてきそうだ。天変地異は太古の昔からあったが、昨今の災害の人的側面は無視できない。例えば今関東地方を大規模地震が襲ったら、過密都市部での被害はいかばかりか。だが、愚かなことに人は今享受している安寧を超えた状況を想像することができない。それは目下の被災地にどのような支援が可能か、即座に機転も想像力も働かないことと通底している。何万という人の数、その凄さを即座に把握できないことの方に焦燥感を抱かなくとはならないはずなのに。数日前、関東地方には不気味な揺れが続いていた。思わず飛び起きるほど揺れたときは栃木県沖地震だった。他人事ではない。本日の更新は短信のみにて。「あめ、あめ、ふれふれ、おとといおいで！」

Looking up at the sky which is far away from the typical "May sunshine," I get irritated and desperate; however, I feel I need to listen to the voice which is claiming that I should think of the disasters in Myanmar and in China." Since ancient days there have been all sorts of natural disasters, but nowadays we cannot ignore that there are various aspects of human disasters included. If a great earthquake attacks Tokyo area, what will the total damage be like? To my dismay, I can hardly work my imagination beyond the well-being that I appreciate. It's horrible because it means I cannot think of how I could be of any help to those who are in need right now. Remember some hundred thousands of people are suffering. I should be irritated and desperate with my own inability. A few days ago, I woke up at midnight feeling the strong earthquake. I learned it happened offshore Ibaraki Prefecture, which was very close to us. Today's update: this note only. "Rain, rain, go away! Come again another day!"

関東地方では、ぐずぐずと肌寒い曇天・雨天が続く。フジテレビ『全国一斉！日本人テスト』に使用されるかもしれなかった金魚の写真は、結局諸事情でボツに。写真を見つけて使おうと奮闘していた女性が何度か慌ただしいテレビ番組制作現場の雰囲気を伝えるメールをくれた。どの世界も時間に追われ、制約に阻まれ、なかなか厄介なことが多いらしい。あんなにたくさんいた我が家の金魚も気が付けばついに一匹を残すだけとなっている。この20cmの金魚はタフだ。亀も残り一匹（ほかは全員逃走）が金魚の隣の水槽に生息する。時々皮膚病になるが、そのたび庭のドクダミを引き抜いて入れてやるとばりばり食べているうちに傷は治る。玄関の下駄箱の上に水槽を置いているので朝に夕に顔を見る。何も言わない動物たちに、「ご飯よ。さあいっぱい食べなさい。じゃ、行ってくるね」とこちらは毎度声に出しているのがおかしい。本日の更新は表紙の写真（狭山湖堰提から狭山丘陵を望む。かすかに西武ドーム球場が見える）とこのページの写真（都内の植え込みに咲くシャクナゲ）です。晴れたらよいのに！

In Kanto District, it has been chilly on cloudy and rainy days. The photo which had been planned to be used for a TV program eventually it turned out to be a dead issue. The woman who had found the photo in my website mailed me occasionally to tell how hard it was to work for the production of a TV program. Well, well, the world is like this everywhere. Always people are in a rush, under pressures. BTW, my goldfish, which is 20 centimeters long, is the only one surviving of many tiny ones I had before. So is the tortoise. (Other 3 have all gone somewhere.) They are living in aquariums next to each other. Sometimes the tortoise gets skin troubles. Then I pluck some Houttuynia cordata into the water. The tortoise eats the grass and the skin is cured soon. The power of the grass is miraculous! I place the aquarium on the shoes case in our entrance hall so that I can see them when I go out and come home. I always talk to them when I feed them. No sound comes back from them. Today's update: a photo in the index page (Sayama Hills behind the bank of Sayama Lake. You can see the top of Seibu Dome Baseball Stadium in the distance) and the one here (rhododendron in town). How I wish it will be sunny soon!

高尾で義父の二十三回忌を行う。我が家の墓地は特定の寺に属していないため、石材店の紹介する僧侶にお墓の前でお経を唱えてもらうだけなのだが。義母は出かけられないので、子供と孫たちの世代だけで法要は行い、帰宅してからともにお膳を囲む。たまたま今年の三月には実父の十三回忌もあった。父たちの記憶にはかすかに霞がかかる一方、健啖ぶりを示す若者たちを目の前にしていると、受け継がれていく命を実感する。世界中で無数の家族が、形は違えこのようなことをしているのだろうか。本日の更新は短信のみにて。

In Takao we had a special service (in a Buddhist style) commemorating my father-in-law's 23rd anniversary since his death. As our cemetery doesn't belong to any particular temple, we asked a monk to come and pray in front of our family's grave. My mother-in-law cannot go out and attend the ceremony, so that only their children's and grandchildren's generation got together. Afterwards, we came home and had dinner with her. In March, we had the 13th anniversary of my father too. Memories of fathers are going vague somehow, but at the sight of our children's generation eating healthily, I feel life continues strongly. I wonder if countless families are doing something like this in various styles in the world. Today's update: this note only.

今朝、何気なく新聞を開くと文京区の元町公園が大きな写真入りで紹介されていた。意匠を凝らしたモダン建築で、植栽も豊かに都心のオアシスの趣がある。関東大震災後に建設された震災復興公園と聞いた。建築の専門家や環境保全、景観保護に関心のある人たちから存続を望む声が上がっている。その至近距離に通う私も、貴重な文化財としてまた都市部に潤いをもたらす樹木の宝庫として、是非とも残して欲しい場所と思っている。だが、それだけで過密都市の広いスペースを守るに十分な説得力を持ちうるかどうか心許ない。街のそこここで、猫の額のような土地に強引なマンション建設が進行していて、住民が反対を唱える旗を立てているのを見かける。古い街は内側から作り替えられようとしている。「景観」「自然」「文化遺産」というキーワードだけでそのような勢いを押しとどめることができるかどうか。未来に向けての明らかな価値を提示できなくては弱い。マスメディアの記事になることにどんな力があるか、新聞を持ったまましばし呆然と考え込んでしまった。本日の更新は短信のみにて。

This morning I happened to find a large photo of Motomachi Park of Bunkyo, Tokyo, in a newspaper. The park was built right after the Great Kanto Earthquake that happened in 1923. Before that there had been no idea of having the space for town people to resort Trees are growing in the luxurious space equipped with fountains, swings, slides and benches utilizing the uneven land facing Sotobori Avenue. The park itself is a work of modern art. It is famous for its decorative architecture. However, the municipal government is planning to build a public gym in the place of the park. There are residents, architects, people conscious of preserving the landscape and historical architecture are against the plan. I hope the park will remain, but I wonder of the keywords like "landscape," "nature," "cultural heritage" are persuasive enough. In Hongo Area, tall condominiums are being constructed here and there, getting rid of the old houses I see banners protesting against the construction hung by town people. What can really make the town alive? With the newspaper in my hands, I was silent. Today's update; this note only.

今日の関東地方は一日中五月雨が降り続いていた。これもまた瑞穂の国の風物詩。降るとなるとしめやかに止めどなく。出るに出られず身の回りのことをしたり、ガス器具の点検を受けたり、古本屋で買ってきたDVDを見たりしていたら奇妙な便りが飛び込んで来た。テレビの某クイズ番組で使いたいので写真の元データを貸してほしいと。そういえば以前にもこんなことがあった。あのときは青虫だった。今度は金魚だ。かつて「金魚坂」で撮った「らんちゅう」を使わせてほしいのだとか。よくまあこんなマイナーサイトから画像を見つけてくれるものよ。サーチエンジンはどこまで探るのか。元の文脈を外れ別のシナリオの中で発光し始める素材は、誰のものでもないネット上の資産と言うことになる。こんな風に無名の人間が意図せずにおいたデータを、誰かが不意に拾い上げる様を見ていると、ネットは「集合知」だというのが実感される。単なるエンタテインメント番組だとしても、素材は素材だ。見いだされた金魚の健闘を祈ろう。本日の更新は短信のみにて。

t was raining quietly all day long. We have quite a lot of rain in May as well as sunshine. We need both in this country for growing rice. I stayed home and did daily chores, had our gas fan heater checked, watched a DVD which I had bought at a secondhand bookstore, and so on. At the end of the very quiet day, I received a curious mail. it was from a member of a crew producing a TV program, a kind of Quiz Show. She asked me for the permission to use one of the photos I have in this website. She wanted the original image data. I've had a request like this before. At that time it was a tiny caterpillar; this time goldfish. She was interested in "ranchu" which I took at "Kingyo-zqka" a few years ago. It's really amazing that search engines can pick up a tiny image uploaded in such a minor website! Out of the original context, all the data on the Internet are considered to be the free source for anybody to use for completely different purposes. When I experience someone happen to pick up an image file in such a minor website as this, I feel the Internet is an indefinite collection of information. If it is just for an entertainment program, I hope the goldfish will be utilized well. Today's update: this note only.

五月。何をするにも良い季節。今日は友人宅でご馳走になった魚料理とサラダに挑戦してみた。何年もパリにいた彼女の本場仕込みのフランス料理。本当は鯛を使う。けれどうちの近くのスーパーに本日鯛は見あたらず、何となく顔の似ているイシモチで代用。おなかの中にニンニクのすり下ろしを塗って、表には塩と各種スパイスをふりかける。（私はあり合わせのパセリ、オレガノ、バジル、胡椒を少しずつ。本当は厳密なレシピがあるのだろうが、テキトーに。）そして220度に温めたオーブンで約20分焼く。こってりしたソースなんかかけない。焼きたてを賞味すると、（本物の鯛なら）白身がトロリと実に美味しい。イシモチだとなんだか日本の焼き魚風になるが、まあ何とかいける。これに色よく炒めたパプリカとピーマン、ナスとズッキーニなど添えるとよく合う。サラダはレタスを基調にアスパラガス、セロリの細切り、そしてハッサクのむき身をたっぷり入れて、柑橘系のドレッシングで軽くあえる。本当はこれにホタテのバター焼きを一つ二つ添える。冷たいサラダと焼きたてホタテは相性が良い。おもてなしに与ったその足で食材を買い集めてすぐ試してみた。肝心なところが揃わず似て非なるものになったけれど、レパートリーが少し広がった。随所でオリーブオイルを使うのがコツらしい。シンプルなのに見た目も鮮やか。これにチーズとワインと焼きたてのフランスパンがあれば至福のひととき。カロリーのことなんかしばし忘れるべし！本日の更新は短信のみにて。

It's May. It's the best season for doing anything. I challenged cooking, remembering what I had at my friend's party. When she stayed in Paris for many years, she learned French cooking. She used sea bream, but I couldn't find one in a local supermarket in my neighborhood so I bought some black spot cardinalfish instead. I put a pinch of grated garlic inside of the fish, and sprinkled salt and spices (such as parsley, oregano, basil and black pepper) all over. Then I broiled it in the oven (at 220 centigrade degrees for 20 minutes). I prepared no heavy sauce. If you eat it hot from the oven, the white soft meat of the fish is so delicious. (My cardinalfish was not so delicate as sea bream. It tasted very close to Japanese broiled fish, alas!.) It was not so bad, anyway. It goes very well with light fried colorful bell peppers, egg plant, and zucchini. Here comes also a bowl of salad: thinly sliced celery, boiled asparagus, plus small peeled blocks of Chinese citron. If you have a few scallops, bake them and eat with the salad while they are hot. They go very well with each other. On my way back from the party, I bought ingredients for trial. Certainly the result was far from my friend's performance, but I successfully added new recipe. It's important to use olive oil generously. In spite of the simplicity, today's menu was rich and tasty. If you have good wine, cheese, and the freshly baked baguette, you can get a blissful time. Forget about calorie! Today's update: this note only.

世の中は連休の狭間だが、なんとしたことか私はまたしても休日に恵まれた。日頃疎かな家事をと思いつつ、あまりの好天に誘われて午後外へ出た。電車に三駅乗ると狭山丘陵のど真ん中。そして昔「おとぎ電車」といっていた二両編成のちいさなライナーに乗り換えてもう二駅。西武球場前にて下車。狭山不動尊に参拝がてら丘陵を上ると狭山湖の堰提にたどり着く。広い、空も水面も広い。霞んだ湖水は密かな森に囲まれている。山道では久々に「ホーホケキョ」の鳴き声を聞いた。東京都水道局が管理する首都圏の水瓶だけあって、この狭山湖も隣の多摩湖も水面には船一艘いない。ドーム球場のあたりから時折かすかに音楽が聞こえてくるものの、おおむね静寂に包まれている。数年前に耐震工事をすませたとかで、立派な堰提だ。人もまばら。たっぷり水と緑を味わって同じ道を戻る。全行程二時間半の「ミニミニ旅行」だった。本日の更新は表紙の写真（狭山湖）とこのページの写真（狭山丘陵の新緑）です。次は「ミニ旅行」くらいに出かけよう。

Although it was a working day between holidays for many people, I had another day off fortunately. I knew I had to do household chores which I'm not doing satisfactorily usually, but it was so sunny that I couldn't resist the temptation for going out. I jumped on a local train. At the third stop, I changed for a small liner going though an amusement park and got off at a station famous for a domed baseball stadium. I climbed the hill and arrived at the bank of Lake Sayama. The sky was huge there and so was the lake. Because this is a water supply reservoir, there is not a single boat on the water. On my way in the woods, I heard Japanese bush warblers singing. Except for the occasional music slightly heard from the baseball stadium in a distance, it was peacefully quiet by the lake. The bank was rebuilt quake-resistant so that it looked brand new and stately. There were few people around. I enjoyed watching the glittering water and breathing in the scent of trees. I came home in 2 hours and a half. I made "a mini-mini trip. " Today's update: a photo in the index page (Lake Sayama) and the one here in this page (trees in Sayama Hills). Next time, I'll challenge "a mini trip."

短くも美しき休日の始まり。果たして今日は「昭和の日」というのであった。叔母の一人は「和子」という。子供の頃名前の由来を尋ねたら「昭和生まれだからよ」と教えてくれた。そうか、昭和一桁生まれの人にとってそれは新生の息吹を感じる呼称だったのだ。今ではすっかりレトロモダンの代名詞。62年余り続いたからには現在の日本の人口の大方は昭和生まれが占めるのだろう。昨年から大学にも「平成生まれ」が入学してくるようになった。私たちの世代が「明治」「大正」に感じるような隔世の感を彼らは「昭和」に抱くのか。もっとも元号とは関係ないところで生きている人たちなのかもしれないけれど。なぜこの日を「昭和の日」と呼ぶのか知っている大学生がどのくらいいるだろう。（知ってどうするという気もするが。）いやいずれこの日はまた改称されるのかも知りれない。これまで幾度かそうされてきたように。それほど、本当は何の意義もない「記念日」なのかも、なんて言ったら不敬罪？「和」は『平和』の和、『和敬静寂』の和。『和漢洋』とくればこの国のことでもある。何人かの懐かしい「和子さん」たちを思い出しながら、緑の風に吹かれていよう。本日の更新は短信のみにて。

We're at the beginning of the short but beautiful holidays. Why is it a holiday today, anyway? I nearly forgot it was once the birthday of the previous Japanese Emperor. While he was alive we were supposed to celebrate his birthday by taking a holiday. Since he was dead, this day was settled to be a holiday to commemorate the era "Showa" he reigned. "Showa" includes a Chinese character meaning "peace." One of my aunts has a name which includes this Chinese character. When I was a child she told me that she was named after the era. I was quite impressed to think that on the early days of the era, the name "Showa" sounded and looked very fresh to people. These days, however, "Showa" has the nuance of "retrospective" more than anything else. I wonder how many college students today know the origin of this holiday. It might perhaps be renamed someday again. (In that sense, it is not really a meaningful day indeed.) "Wa" also signifies "Japan" and "Japanese culture" when it is compared to foreign countries and cultures. I would rather think of lovely people with this name, like my aunt, than my country today. Today's update: this note only.

百花咲き競い、新緑が日ごとに濃くなる。ツツジが盛りを迎えた。毎日たくさん用事がある。こんな風にうかうかと春をいかせて良いのだろうかと不安になるが、時はとどめようもない。乱読も続く。もう一息で黄金週間。少しは自分のペースが取り戻せるだろうか。生きています、何とかやっていますと一言添えて、本日の更新は表紙の写真（水ぬるむ川辺）とこのページの写真（ハナミズキ）です。

Hundreds of flowers are being in bloom. Green leaves are fresh. Azaleas are gorgeous now. I'm worried if it's all right to let spring go on like this, without doing anything particular. I'm completely occupied with daily duties. There is no way to stop time. My random reading goes on. After a few days, "The Golden Week" holidays will start. I wish I'll be able to get back to my pace of life. Let me write to you "I'm alive. I'm all right." Today's update: a photo in the index page (girls playing by a stream) and the one here (dogwood; Cornus florida).

先月はたった4回しかこのページを更新できずにいたら、「病気で入院でもしていらしたのかと思いました」とのお気遣いをいただいてしまった。誠に面目ありません。授業がない分余裕で過ごせたはずなのだけれど、現実は厳しかった。毎日、毎週、何かしらの課題をこなさなくてはならず、とうとうささやかな遠出もかなわなかった。海を見に行きたかったし野にも山にも出てみたかったし、遠くの町へも行ってみたかったが、時期尚早らしい。その代わり（負け惜しみ？）近所を精力的に歩いてはいた。知らない角を曲がり、ずんずん歩いていくのはそれなりに爽快だった。だが、これからますます良い陽気になると、授業があろうがあるまいがどこかへ飛び出してしまいそうな気もする。本の中では目下南米とアフリカを行き来している（謎）。本日の更新は短信のみにて。胸一杯の新鮮な空気を！

In March I could update this page only three times. One of my readers asked me if I had been sick in bed. Sorry, I was not diligent enough. Although I didn't have any obligation to teach for a few months, I had so much else to do everyday, every week. I couldn't make my humble dream to go out to the beach, countryside, or to mountains. I didn't seem to be ready for that yet. However, I walked in my neighborhood energetically day after day. I was curious to turn corners without knowing where to go. Yes, it was refreshing to walk on and on. Now that the season is turning to be better and better, I'm not sure if I can stay home for ever. No matter whether I have classes or not, it doesn't matter. BTW, in a book which I'm reading now, I'm traveling between South America and Africa dynamically! (Wow!) Today's update: this note only. Let me breathe fresh air!

春の嵐が吹き荒れ、咲き誇っていた桜の花は散り果てた。三月の終わりから四月の始めは新学期の準備と学年始めの諸行事で忙殺される。かけずり回っているうちに授業が始まってしまった。今年の新入生は自分の娘より年下だ。若い人たちと接する日々はとてつもないエネルギーを要するものであると同時に、清新な息吹を与えられるものでもある。彼らの中に入っていける幸いを今年もありがたく享受しよう。さて、どんなことが待ちかまえているのやら。ところで、「本郷大横丁商店街マップ」を改訂し、テストサイトから大学のサーバに移植したところ、早速商店街のパン屋さんから「見ました」のメールをいただく。まだまだ埋めなくてはならない情報の空白だらけで申し訳ない状態なのだけれど。ぐずぐずしていられないことばかり。二人の姪がこの春、社会人となった。眩しく頼もしい。本日の更新は表紙の写真（清瀬中里保全地区にて、カタクリの花）とこのページの写真（同所、スミレの花）です。Spring ephemeralという美しい言葉を味わいながら。

All the cherry blossoms were blown away by a spring storm. I've been extremely busy doing this and that for the new semester since the end of March and at the beginning of April. Classes have begun already! Freshmen of this semester are younger than my daughter. It requires tons of energy to work with young people; at the same time, however, it inspires me tremendously. I'm grateful to be able to go into them as usual. I wonder what will happen this semester! BTW, I updated Hongo Oyokocho Shopping Street Map and uploaded it on the server of our university. Immediately the master of a bakery in the street emailed me to tell that he saw the map. He likes it. Good! Thanks! I know we need to fill in much more info in it. Oh, I've got to do a lot of things. Meantime, two of my nieces graduated from universities and started working for companies. They are really energetic. Today's update: the photo in the index page (Japanese dog's tooth violet, at Kiyose, Tokyo) and the one in this page (small violet). Spring ephemerals are beautiful.

突然桜が咲き始めた。毎年のことなのに、まるで天変地異であるかのように慌てて外へ飛び出す。まだ蕾の方が断然多い。けれどもそこかしこ、ほんのりとピンクの靄がかかって世界は春色となる。どんなニュースより、大事件。いや、桜に免じて他のことはしばし脇へどけておこうというところか。野に出るところまでは行かなかったが、今日は郊外をさまよい歩いた。本日の更新は表紙の写真（東京都練馬区「関町公園」のメタセコイアと桜）とこのページの写真（同所）です。卒業式も数々の送別会も終わり、束の間の静寂。

All of a sudden, cherry blossoms are starting to bloom. This is just the natural cycle of the nature but I can't help going out to see them as if it's an exceptional happening. At this moment, buds are more than flowers in bull bloom. Here and there we can see haze of pink which makes the world in a spring color. It's the bigger news than any other serious world issues for now. In other words, we can put off other issues for the sake of sakura. Although I couldn't make the real outing, I wandered aimlessly in the suburbs running after cherry blossoms. Today's update: the photo in the index page (cherry blossoms and Metasequoia in Seki-machi Park in Nerima, Tokyo) and the one in this page (flowers and buds of sakura--Japanese cherry tree). The commencement ceremony and farewell parties are all over. I've got a very brief break before the beginning of the new semester in April. What can I do?

三月は進みがことに早い。新旧の年度の変わり目は、表舞台も楽屋も慌ただしいものだ。「予想通りでしたけれど、ひどい成績。無念です」という学生からの便りも来れば、新たな出発に意気揚々とした同僚の言葉に出会うこともあり、また去りゆく人々を惜しむ別れもある。それが三月。街も野も少しずつ色づき始めた。一つ、また一つ、色彩が増えて行く。豪奢な桜はまだ半月後。それまでの淡い色合いが何とも麗しい。何はなくとも、新しい春を迎えられるという幸福。どこにいても、何をしていても。本日の更新は表紙の写真（御茶ノ水・聖橋の上から見晴らす「湯島聖堂」）とこのページの写真（湯島天神の梅）です。街も良いけれど、野に出たい。

Time passes faster than usual in March. At the turning point between the old and the new academic years, we're having hectic schedule both on the stage and behind it. I received a mail from a student of mine who is complaining, "I should have done much better! My grades were terrible. How disappointing!" I read hilarious words of one of my colleagues full of hope for a new life starting very soon. I also feel lonely when I think of the coming departure of my old colleagues. It's March. In town and in the suburbs scenes are getting more and more colors. It will take half a month ahead before cherry blossoms paint the world in gorgeous pink. I love the subtle colors before that feast of flowers. I'm happy to be able to have a new spring again. Wherever you are, whatever you do, spring is a blessing. Today's update: the photo in the index page (Yushima Seido Temple viewed from Bridge "Hijiri" in Ochyanomizu, Tokyo) and the one up above in this page (Japanese plum tree in full bloom at Yushima Tenjin, Tokyo). How I wish to go out of town!

日ごとに暖かくなってくるのは嬉しい。学年末の仕事は山積みで、どこかへ出かけたいという周期的に襲ってくる願望を実現するのはなかなか難しいけれど、どんなに忙しい時にでもありがたいことに本は読める。ここ数週間、隙間の時間を縫って没頭していた本を読み終え、ごく短いエッセイにまとめた。本当は1000字足らずで何か言えるような作品ではない。それなのに、語らずにいられない作品というのはあるものだ。姜戎著『神なるオオカミ』(原題　『狼図騰』)。日本国内では一世紀も前に絶滅したオオカミに関心を持つのは、余程の動物学・生態学・歴史学の専門家か、ハンター、あるいはエコロジストくらいかも知れない。但し、この本を読んだ後では中学生だってオオカミのことを考えるようになるだろう。関東でも関西でも、黄砂に煙る高層ビルの風景が数日前に新聞紙面を飾った。中国大陸の砂漠は別世界ではないと信じるに足る現象が目の前にある。草原の生態系バランスを保つ、遊牧民にとって守護神のような存在だったオオカミの消滅は、砂漠化を促し、大陸の風土も文化も変えた。オオカミがこの国へも波及する激流のモメントだったと知ったら、誰も心穏やかではいられまい。もちろん『神なるオオカミ』は先ず読み物として面白い。オオカミとヒトとの関わりを詳述する部分がこの作品の白眉であることはいうまでもない。文化大革命当時に内モンゴルの草原に下放された「知識青年」の33年をかけた思索と行動の軌跡である。黄砂の生まれる世界への想像力をこれほど激しくかきたてる作品を他に知らない。物理的には現在「世界」に飛び立てなくても、旅する時空は無限と知った。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート 37　『オオカミが来た！』」です。まだ読後の高揚感の中にいる。

I'm happy to feel it's getting warmer and warmer day by day. Although it's so difficult for me to go out of my daily routine and make even a short trip to somewhere in reality, thanks I have time and passion for reading books. For weeks, I devoted myself to reading a voluminous novel entitled Wolf Totem written by Jiang Rong. (A very concise review of the book is available in English at "Arts & Artists" / Guangzhou University Town through A Lens.) In Japan where wolves have been exterminated for 100 years, none but scholars in zoology, environmental biology, history, hunters, or ecologists might be interested in wolves; however, after reading this work even junior high school students would be fascinated by wolves. It's really impossible to write a short review for such a huge book. But I couldn't help writing something on it particularly on a day when yellow sands came blowing over cities and towns both in the east and west of Japan. We actually see how we are connected to deserts inside of China. Since the extermination of wolves, which had kept the balance of environment of huge grassland, the speed of desertification has increased. Once we learn how wolves were respected and feared by nomadic people, it's inevitable for anyone to realize that wolves were the momentum of the drastic change of culture and society. Changes in China give us influence immediately. Certainly Wolf Totem is a very interesting book first of all. The best part of it is the relationship between wolves and men. An intelligent young man who was expelled to the inner Mongolian Plain for 11 years during the Great Cultural Revolution wrote this book. It took him 33 years to complete his work. It can't be a novel but the record of his thoughts and action. I've never known such a work that stirs up my imagination to the world beyond yellow sand. If I have no chance to travel abroad at this moment, I've found the inner world is indefinite, reading this book. I'm still in rapture of reading it. Today's update: a short review of Wolf Totem for a mail magazine. Sorry, it's only in Japanese.

弥生の節句。義母がいつものようにちらし寿司を作る。私は混ぜ合わせる錦糸卵を作る約束をしていた。前の晩に仕上げておけばよかったものを、今朝目覚めた時には既に義母の料理は終わっていた。（常に始動午前五時半。）あぁぁ．．．。それでも寝ぼけ眼で卵を焼いて刻む。何かの役には立つだろうと、そっと差し出す。何やら真っ黄色のちらしになった。（卵かけごはんみたい！）お雛様にお供えしてささやかな雛祭り。夕飯には蛤を買って帰った。ドタバタつぎはぎだらけの日々だけれど、何とか季節はめぐる。実母の庭には今年も福寿草が開いていた。深山に群生する様はさぞかし見事だろう。ささやかな庭でしばし光を満たす杯のような花に見入る。やっとたどり着いた三月。明日は父の命日。本日の更新は表紙ページの写真（清瀬市柳瀬川「金山橋」から下流を望む）と、このページの写真（母の庭の福寿草）です。頭の痛い仕事をしばし忘れて、早春賦を綴ろう。

March is the turning point of seasons. On this day, my mother-in-law cooks "chirashi-zushi" (vinegar flavored rice mixed with colorful bits of various fillings) every year. I had promised her that I would make golden egg threads to mix with the vinegar rice. I overslept a little. When I woke everything was ready. My mother-in-law starts working at 5:30 every morning. I hurriedly cooked eggs anyway. As a result the mixed rice was covered with yellow egg threads all over! I put a tiny dish of "chirashi-zushi" in front of dolls, Yes, this is the girl's festival of dolls. How we love this custom! On my way home in the evening I bought clams to make the soup for doll7s festival. Our tradition makes our daily life colorful and joyful. In the garden of my mother, "amur adonis"( Adonis amurensis) were in bloom. I imagine how they look in mountains. I kept watching the flowers like cups filled with liquor of light. Eventually we've come to March. Tomorrow is my father's memorial day. Today's update: a photo in the index page (the River Yanase in Kiyose City, Tokyo) and the one up above (amur adonis in my mother's garden.) Oh, let me forget all works which brings only headaches but let me write about the joy of early spring.

関東平野には猛烈な風が吹きまくった。身を切るように冷たいので寒の戻りかと思ったら、なんと「春一番」だとか。古屋を吹き飛ばすのではないかというほどゴウゴウと猛り狂っていた。季節の狭間は荒れる。天も地も人もなかなか収まらない。先日久しぶりに延々と川縁を歩いた。東村山市秋津から埼玉県の所沢市を通って再び東京都清瀬市へ。空堀川と合流した柳瀬川に沿って「金山緑地公園」を目指す。日本水仙が咲き始めたという小さな記事を読み、いても立ってもいられなかった。ワーズワースの水仙は黄金色だが、こちらは可憐なミルクホワイト。花の面を光に向かって精一杯掲げている。小さきものの命に打たれて、私も春を生きよう。本日の更新は表紙の写真（柳瀬川）とこのページの写真（清瀬市金山緑地公園の水仙）です。

Fierce gale was blowing over the Kanto Plain. As it was freezing cold, I had thought it must be the return of the winter, but it was not; on the contrary, it was reported to be the first blow of the spring! The wind was so hard that I was afraid our old house might be blown away. Between the seasons, the weather is wild. So are the sky, the earth and people. A few days ago I had a chance to take a long walk after a considerable pause. I started walking from Akitsu, Higashimurayama, through Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on to Kiyose City in Tokyo again. I walked along the River Yanase, which was joined by the River Karabori, down to Kanayama Green Park. As I read the news telling me that the narcissus is starting to bloom in the park, I couldn't help going there to see the flowers. Daffodils of Wordsworth are "golden," but ours were milky white. Tiny faces of the flowers were all towards the sun bravely. Touched by the small lives, I've decided to live sprightly in the early spring. Today's update:the photo in the index page (the River Yanase) and the one here above (narcissus in Kanayama Park, Kiyose, Tokyo).

鳥は賢いと思うことがある。先日、いつものように隅田川を眺めながら歩いていた時のこと。久方ぶりの晴天で、蕩々と流れる水は明るく、あたりは輝いていた。冷たい川風も心地よい。勝鬨橋をくぐってきた船の周りをカモメが乱舞している。何か餌でもあるのだろうか。私はカモメに向けて何度もシャッターを切った。そして橋の上を歩いていくと、一羽のカモメがスーッと欄干に降りてきた。鳥を間近で撮影しようとすると必ず逃げられるので無理かなと思ったが、心を落ち着けて至近距離のカモメにカメラを向けても鳥はじっとしている。一枚、二枚、そしてゆっくりと正面に回ってもう一枚。カモメはクイッと首を曲げた。まるでポーズを取るように。それを無事撮り終えたとたん、「もういいわね」というタイミングで私のモデルはまたスーッと飛んでいった。空の青、水の青、に溶けてしまった一羽のカモメ。やっぱりどう考えても上空から観察されていたような気がしてならない。なんてお茶目なカモメなんだ！本日の更新は表紙の写真（振り向くカモメ）とこのページの写真（すましたカモメ）です。ま、カモメはカモメ、なのだろうが。

I believe birds are clever. A few days ago I was walking along the River Sumida. It was sunny after dreary cold days and the world was shining brilliantly. The river was running in the fresh cold wind. I found seagulls were flying over a boat which came passing under Kachidoki Bridge. I wondered if there was some food around the boat. I kept taking photos of seagulls. As I went on the bridge, a seagull swiftly came down and perched on the parapet. "Oh, let me take your photo," I said in my mind slowly approaching it. Whenever I try to take photographs of birds they always fly away immediately; so I was not expecting much. But the gull was different. It stayed there while I took one, two, three photos. When I went around slowly in front of it, it still remained there. Suddenly it turned its neck as if posing for me. When I took a shot all right, it left swiftly again as if saying, "You've taken enough of my photos, haven't you?" My model was gone into the blue of the sky and the water. I never doubt it had watched me from far above before it came down in front of me. What a charming seagull it was! Today's update: photos of seagulls one in the index page (a gull turning its head) and the one here (a serious gull). I know a seagull is a seagull though.

薄い空色を眺めながら、風船のように心を飛ばす。昔々、風船をほしがった幼い娘に公園の入り口で一つ買ってやり、「ハイッ」と渡したとたん、ちいさな手から逃れた風船は空に上っていった。娘は泣きもせず、追いかけもせず、風船の行方に見とれていた。風船もこころも空に吸われた。面白いものがない時は、空を見上げる。枯れ枝の造形に溜息をつく。こんな季節もいつか終わり、何か良いことが起こるのではないかと昔は信じていたし、今もまだ少しはそんな気がする。風船を買うような時代ではなくなったとしても。本日の更新は表紙の写真（「日だまりの空堀川」）とこのページの写真（のびのびする枯れ枝）です。我が家の亀は冬眠しなかったが、餌も食べない。ふー。

Looking up at the pale sky, I let my heart soar like a balloon. Long time ago, when my daughter was a toddler, I bought her a balloon. As soon as I gave it to her, she lost the end of the thread and the balloon went swiftly up. Without crying nor trying to catch it, she just kept watching it going far up into the sky. So did I with her. Both of our hearts were absorbed by the sky with the balloon. If I don't find anything amusing on earth, I watch the sky. I adore the creation of branches of bare trees. Once I believed the endlessly cold season would end soon and something good would surely happen someday; so do I still now a little although the day of balloon s have gone for ever. Today's update: the photo in the index page (the River Karabori in sunshine) and the photo in this page (branches against the winter sky). My turtle didn't hibernate this winter nor does it eat anything either. Well, well,

危うく「節分」を忘れるところだった。（セツブンと入力したら「拙文」と変換された！）何しろ今日は珍しく関東地方にも雪が降り、思いっきり冬だった。一日中降ったが、昼過ぎになると近所から雪かきの音が聞こえてきて、私もシャベルと竹箒を持って表に出る。通りの雪は既にシャーベットだった。儚い雪だが、夜中に凍ってしまうのも困る。お向かいの門の前には小さな雪だるまが。朝には雪をかぶって重たげだった梅の枝も滴をしたたらせながら紅色の花に彩られている。確かに、冬と春とが隣り合う、今日はまさしく節分と納得した。いや実はここからが厳しい寒暖の繰り返しに苛まれるのではあるけれど。本日の更新は再び表紙の写真（雪解けの梅）とこのページの写真（ロウバイ）です。百花繚乱までの長い道のりがスタートする。

I nearly forgot that today is the last day of winter in Japanese old calendar. We celebrate this day by throwing beans. It snowed so heavily today even in Kanto District that how could we believe the winter is coming to the end? However, right after noon, people started cleaning the fallen snow from the lane in front of their gateway. I couldn't help going out myself with a shovel and bamboo bloom. Already the snow was like sherbet. Certainly we had to prevent it from freezing during night. I found a tiny snowman in front of the house across ours. In the morning a Japanese plum tree looked so heavy covered with snow, but its dribbling branches were colored with small red flowers in bloom. In fact spring is next to winter today! Although I know cold days and warm days will reapeatedly switch their position again and again continuously for months from now on, I agreed that today is the beginning of the long way toward the season of hundreds of flowers. Today's update: the photo in the index page (Japanese plum tree in snow) and the one here in this page (Edgeworthia papyrifera).

あっという間に如月となる。駅へ向かっている時頭上で生き物の気配がしたので振り仰ぐと、梅が咲いてふっくらしたメジロが二羽飛び跳ねていた。「あ、もう。こんなところに」と思う間もなく通り過ぎてしまった。確実に春に向かっていると思うと心が弾む。満開のロウバイ、ふくらみ始めたミツマタの蕾、白い灯火のようなコブシの蕾も見かけた。もう一息だ。どこから来てどこへ向かうのか、ホームで通り過ぎる弾丸のような貨物列車を見送りながら、そぞろ湧き上がる旅への思いを鎮めつつ（なんの当てもないのに）もう少ししたらと微かな希望を育んでいる。春が近いと思うだけで心が騒ぐのは何故だろう。本日の更新は表紙ページの写真（小平市の畑）とこのページの写真（武蔵野線新小平駅ホームにて）です。風は冷たい。

Can you believe it's February already? As I was walking in a hurry to a station, I heard some animals moving over me and looked up. I found two white-eyes were hopping on the branches of a blooming Japanese plum tree. I passed them by before I could say, "Oh, you've arrived in our town! Welcome, birds!" My heart leaps up when I feel spring can't be far. I also found a gorgeous tree of wintersweet in full bloom, plump buds of Edgeworthia papyrifera, and numerous white buds of Magnolia praecocissima. What can they be but the heralds of spring? On a platform of a train station, I was watching the freight train passing like bullets. I wonder where it came and where it's going. Unclattering my irritation, I was saying to myself, "Perhaps very soon I 'll be able to travel somewhere." Actually I have no plan to do so, however. It's always like this: my heart begins to tremble when I feel the spring approaching. Today's update; a photo in the index page (field in Kodaira City, Tokyo) and the one up here (on the platform of Shinkodaira Station of JR Musashino LIne, Tokyo), The wind is freezing cold.

昨日は余りにも寒かったので、仕事の合間に勤め先のある商店街でうどん屋に飛び込んだ。ここは手打ちうどんが名物で、ご主人がいつもガラス窓の内に立ち、うどんを打っている。「道行く人に見せてらっしゃるんですか？一番いい宣伝ですね」と言うと、「いやぁ、私が道行く人を見るのが好きだからですよ。人を見るのがイヤなら奥で打てばいいんです」と。（高倉健似の、いなせなご主人だ。）いつもはかき揚げうどんを頼むところ、昨日は大奮発して鍋焼きうどんにした。宮崎から材料を仕入れるとかで、だし汁も澄んだ関西風。以前は透明の汁に慣れない江戸っ子のお客ががわざわざ醤油をかけて食べていたというのを聞いて笑った。「このあたり、マンションだらけになっちゃいましたけど、以前はお屋敷が多くて、ビックリするような洋館なんかあったんですよ」と話してくれた。取材だなんてみみっちいことを言わずに、そういう本郷の昔話をいっぱい聞きたい。そろそろマッププロジェクトを仕上げなくては。本日の更新は、ひきこもりで続けていた本郷大横丁商店街テストマップを試しに。まだ改訂途上です。（リンクは未整備！）動くかな？うどん屋さん、どこか分かりますか。

Yesterday it was so cold that I jumped in a noodle restaurant in the neighborhood of my work place in Hongo, Tokyo. This restaurant is famous for its hand-k kneaded noodle. The master always stands kneading and batting the udon-dough in the front show window. "Are you demonstrating your handicraft to passers-by? It must be the best way of appealing your specialty," I said. He smiled and said, "Oh, no, I'm not showing but I am watching passers-by. It's so interesting to watch people. If I don't like people, I will work in the kitchen far behind." (He is really a cool guy.) Usually I order a bowl of noodle with fried vegetables, but yesterday I treated myself with the noodle in a small pan boiling. The master told me that cooking materials are all sent from Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu; the taste of the soup is quite subtle. In old days, customers in Tokyo didn't know the Kansai taste so that they poured soy sauce in the clear soup to make it Kanto flavor. Wow, what a shame! "There used to be grand mansions in this area in the true meaning of the term although these days, so many large apartment houses are built everywhere in this town." I listened to him with awe and adoration. How I wish I could keep listening to the old stories of Hongo. I think I have to finish the second version of the town-map as soon as possible. Today's update: a test map of Hongo Oyokocho Street. It's just a work in progress. I wonder if it's clickable. Could you point out the noodle shop in it?

年末から年始にかけて「不測の事態」が相次ぎ、本来なら先月末までに送らなくてはならない原稿を「書かなくては、書かなくては」と思いつつ引きずっていた。しかし幾らなんでももうと思っていた矢先、「メルマガの発行は明日の予定です」との督促状を今朝受け取った。今日は新しい洗濯機が届く予定になっている。（うー、どうしよう。）原稿に取りかかったとたんピンポンが鳴り、「配達でーす」との元気な声。設置場所の片付けも出来ていないうちに！（もう観念して作業の人と一緒にバタバタ動く。）それから一気に書き上げて原稿を送信したのが昼過ぎ。すぐさま「助かりました。」の返信が届いた。（ごめんなさ〜い！！）今年はゆったり暮らす予定だったのだが...。原稿はヒラリー・クリントンの弁舌について書いた。演説の際の一貫して低く落ち着いた声は傾聴に値する。このところクリントン陣営のサイトを興味深く見ている。大統領選挙候補者の発言をこんなにじっくりとオンラインでウォッチ出来るようになったのも驚くべきことだ。しばらく授業から解放されるので日頃やってみたかったことに色々手を出してみよう！本日の更新は短信のみにて。

There were so many things happening at the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 that I delayed writing a column for a mail magazine which was due by the 31 of December. While I knew I had to send it on the earliest occasion, I was alarmed this morning to receive a reminder saying the mail magazine is going to be issued tomorrow. Oh, today a new laundry machine will arrive. I had to clean up the corner for it; however, as soon as I started writing, the machine arrived! Alas, I had no time for cleaning at all! I flapped around with workers. After they left, I wrote up the draft immediately and sent it. Immediately a response came, saying, "Thanks! You were just in time!" I wish I could live more peacefully. BTW, I wrote about speeches of Hillary Clinton. Her constantly stable, low tone of the voice is very impressive. Recently I've been watching Hillary's official website for presidential campaign. It's amazing we can follow candidates' words so closely online. Now that I'm free from classroom, I'll do whatever I've been willing to. Today's update: this note only.

今年20歳になる娘のところへレンタル振り袖の広告が頻繁に届く。成人式は来年だが、「早撮り」と言って、19歳の内に写真を撮る事を勧めてくる。要するに少しでも若い映像を残せとのことらしい。19と20でどこが違うのかと面食らうばかりだが、戸惑う方がおかしいらしい。世のお嬢さん方はみな写真を撮ってから成人式に臨むのだろうか。しかも、みな振り袖にふわふわの白いショールを巻いて？つい数日前の「成人の日」にも何人か見かけた。この時代に一目で「あら、二十歳ね」と分かるのはあのスタイルだけだから、それなりの意義はあるのだろう。娘の従姉妹達も次々と振り袖で成人式を通過していっている。写真を見れば「あの小さかった子がこんな綺麗になって」と感慨深いものがあるのは確かだけれど、いざ自分のところの番が近付くと些か気分はフクザツだ。その昔、私は着物を着なかった。振り袖は持っていない。色々な意味で世の習いに背を向けたがっていた。愚かな青春ではあった。今も、セールスの電話を聞き違えて「えっ、お風呂掃除サービス？間に合ってます！」と答えて、「いえ、あの、お振り袖の○○ですが」と言われ、「はぁっ？！」と焦っているダメ母である。本日の更新は表紙（冬の酒川縁--千葉県流山市）とこのページの写真（街の冬薔薇--東京都東村山市）です。

Again and again brochures of "kimono for rent" for coming-of-age ceremony are sent to my daughter who is going to be 20 in 2009. They are repeatedly inviting customers-to-be to take photos in kimono while they are 19. (It seems they believe younger women are more beautiful and fresh than those of 20. Isn't it an evident discrimination?) I'm greatly embarrassed with such a sales strategy; however, that seems to be the way majority of people take for granted recently. In Japan, majority of women wear kimono with long sleeves, which shows they are not married, wrapped up with a white furry shawl and get their portraits taken at a professional photo studio. Personally I'm not very comfortable with 20-year-old women unanimously in long-sleeved kimonos at the ceremony, but I can't complain of it when I remember the style clearly proves those women are 20 in today's world where it's extremely hard to say how old people are from their appearance. My nieces celebrated their coming-of age in kimono. They look so beautiful in the national costume. I'm always impressed with them so much that how could I be against the custom? When it comes to the case of my own daughter, however, I can't keep very calm. When I was young, I was foolishly rebellious to customs of all kinds. I did not wear kimono myself but should I recommend my daughter to be against trends? I don't think myself to be a well-balanced matured mother yet! Today's update: the photo in the index page (a riverside in winter, Nagareyama, Chiba) and the one in this page (a winter rose in town, Higashimurayama, Tokyo).

正月休みの後、一気に仕事が押し寄せてきた。隠遁していた身を「よっこらしょ」と奮い立たせて、通勤電車に乗る。元気の良い顔の詰まった教室、厳めしい顔の並ぶ会議室、そして頼もしい同僚達の笑顔を前に、固くなっていた心身がほどけていくようだ。次々と書類を作成しながら、また授業や試験の準備をしながら、ルーティーンの重みを感じる。こういうことが自分の生活基盤を支えているのかという、唐突な感慨。その傍ら、取り憑かれたように読み続けている一連の本がある。力業と知的なスリルに溢れた小説。数冊を同時読みしているが、最も集中して読み継いでいるのが高村薫のミステリー（というような、固定的なジャンルを記すのは無意味と知った）。彼女も私の同世代。何故これまで読まずにいたのだろう。エンタテインメントに時間を費やすことへなにがしかの抵抗があったらしい。自分の不見識を恥じるのみだ。本日は短信のみにて。

Since the end of the new year's holidays, work has come back all at once. I urge my lazy body to stand up, and I get on the commuter's trains. At the vivacious faces in classrooms, solemn faces in meeting rooms, and smiling faces of my colleagues, I feel myself relaxing again. While I make documents one after another, prepare for classes and for exams, I feel the weight of routines. It's a revelation that my life is supported by these tasks. Besides, I've been reading several books at the same time in rapture. Among the powerful and thrilling novels are the works by Kaoru Takamura, one of the contemporary Japanese female authors. I can hardly call her novels "mystery." They shouldn't be defined in one fixed category. She belongs to my generation. I wonder why had I not read her book before? It seems I was resisting spending time for entertainment novels. I'm ashamed of my dishonorable behavior. Today's update: this note only.

まったくどうでも良いようなことだけれど、ちょっと驚くことがたまにある。昨日大きな書店のカウンターで順番を待っているとき、妙なものに気付いた。メタリックなボールペンかシャープペンシルだと思ったのだが、違う。「二十一世紀の耳かき」と書いてある。思わず本と一緒に「これもお願いします」と買った。帰宅して早速開封してみると、なんと「耳かき部分」は金属製スパイラル構造になっている。柔らかく全方位に屈伸し、「獲物」を掻き出す。棒の反対側には専用ブラシが収納してあり、これでスパイラルを掃除する仕組み。非常に快適な使用感で、しかも高性能だ。「耳かき」の形状は永遠に伝統的なものひとつきりのような気がしていたが、こんな発想があったのかと耳垢ならず目からウロコ。海外四ヶ国でも特許申請中とか。生活の細部に関心を払い、工夫を重ねて「ものをつくる」人がいることを実感した。「たかが」耳かきに1344円は高いかどうか、書店カウンターで売るのは誰のアイディアか? ちなみにこの商品、「ミミダス」という。何かのパクリのような気もするが、絶妙なネーミングであるような気も。ご関心のある向きは発売元のホームページをのぞいてみてください。コンテンツはこの商品のみの、颯爽たる作りのユニークなサイトです。本日の更新は、短信のみにて。（蛇足: 「耳かき」は英語でなんという？ヒントは「楊枝」の親戚です。）

It' nothing to take seriously, but there is something which we notice with a little amazement. Yesterday while I was waiting at a counter of a large bookstore, I found something strange on it. It looked like a metallic ballpoint pen or a mechanical pencil, but it was not. It was introduced as "the ear pick of the 21st century." Without hesitation, I decided to buy one. As soon as I returned home, I opened the plastic case and found that the end of the ear pick was made of very thin metal in spiral. It is so delicate and flexible that you can clean inside of your ear with ease and comfort. There is a brush to clean the spiral is attached on the other end of the stick. It shuttered my fixed idea that the shape of an ear pick should always be the traditional one for ever. This one is really enlightening! They are applying for a patent in 4 countries abroad. I was impressed to know that there are people who pay attention to detail of daily life and create something useful and unique. I'm not very sure if \1344 is too expensive "just for an ear pick" or whether a counter of a book store is a right place to sell one. BTW, this good is named "MIMIDAS." (Literally meaning, "to scrape out earwax.") It sounds a sort of parody of something else but it's very well named! If by any chance you are interested in it, visit the website of the company selling it. The website is dedicated solely for this product. It's very well made. Today's update: this note only.

いよいよ仕事メールが飛び交うようになった。昨年末職場を離れて既に二十日近く経っている。年末は完全に隠遁していたので、久しぶりに外からの風が吹き込む。締め切りのある提出物も重なって、おちおちしてはいられない。こうして背中を押されるような感覚を弾みにして色々なことをこなしてきたけれど、今年はどのくらい出来るだろう。これまた久しぶりに近所を散歩した。すっかり葉の落ちた雑木林、夕暮れの遊歩道。いつもの半分の速度で、ゆっくりゆっくり歩く。今年はすべてにおいてこんな感じかなと思いながら、歩き回れる幸いを噛みしめる。本日は短信のみにて。

After a break, I've started exchanging job-related e-mails. Already nearly 20 days have passed since I left my work at the end of 2007. Because I was completely away from society, I feel the fresh wind coming into my room from outside. Now that I've got several documents to hand in by deadlines, I can hardly keep relaxing any longer. I was always like this; pressed by something urgent to do, I encouraged myself just to go on and on; however, how much can I do this year? I took a walk in my neighborhood after a long interval. I walked in the small forest with leafless trees, and on the promenade in the late afternoon. I walked at a half speed of my usual pace. I would do anything in this way this year. I appreciate the happiness of walking anyway. Today's update: this note only.

年が明けてから漸く年賀状に取りかかり、あちらにもこちらにもご挨拶が遅れて失礼してしまったが、私としてこの度は年賀状を書けただけありがたいとしておこう。いただいた賀状をゆっくり読みながらのお返事となる。国内外への旅行先を留める写真が幾枚か。家族の肖像が幾枚か。その方の一年を総括する文章も幾枚か。意匠を凝らした図案の一つ一つを味わい、一言二言の添え書きに友人知人の動静を知る。面白いようにその人となりを表す文面だ。このメール全盛の時代に相変わらず賀状が行き交う風習は楽しみでもあり些かの重荷でもある。特に賀状を準備する余裕のない時には、気に掛かれども叶わずの焦燥がある。賀状交換は生きている証と思えば、一枚一枚が何とも貴重に感じられる。本日の更新は短信のみにて。

I began writing new-year's greeting cards only a few days ago. I'm very sorry for my delay but that's all I can do this year. (I should say I'm glad I can write cards at all.) In fact, I'm writing reply to those who gave me their cards. I read them carefully and think of what to write. There are a few cards which show where they traveled, abroad and in Japan; a few show family portraits; a few write the resume of their life in 2007; and others all show unique designs. All the cards are so artistic. I enjoy reading the short message in a few words most of which are just formal greeting but they all demonstrate the writer's personality. In this day of e-mails, we still appreciate the custom of exchanging greeting cards by sneaker's mail. It's enjoyable but sometimes burdensome as well particularly when we're not in the condition of writing. It's rather disturbing if we can't write even if we wish to write. Anyway, when I remember that new-year greeting cards prove we're alive, I feel every one of the cards so precious. Today's update: this note only.

関東地方郊外の街には人の気配が少なく、空は澄み渡っている。ポッカリ開けたところからは秩父の山並みが青々と見晴らせる。静かでないところも穏やかでないところも多々あるが、年の初めにはやはり世の中の平安を祈りたい気持ちになる。正月を迎えると何故か少しばかり厳粛な気持ちがするのは不思議だ。多くは望まない。一日一日を健やかにに生きていければ、これ以上の幸福はないと切実に思う。心から、謹賀新年。本日の更新は表紙の写真（東京築地市場の夜明け）とこのページの絵（ao制作のニューイヤーイラスト）です。今年もここで何度もお目にかかれますように。ご訪問感謝。

In the suburbs of Kanto Area, there is the atmosphere that not so many people as usual are around. (People have gone home to every part of Japan.) The sky is clear and we can get the view of a blue mountain range of Chichibu from an open space. I know there are many places where people can't leave quietly or peacefully; however, at the beginning of a new year I would like to pray for peace of the world all the same. When a new year starts, to my amazement, I always feel somewhat solemn. I won't wish much. I earnestly hope that we'd be able to live healthily each day. Nothing is more valuable than that. Heartily, I wish you A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today's update: A photo in the index page (a daybreak at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo) and the illustration above (a new-year message card drawn by ao). I hope I'll be able to meet you often here. Thanks for your visit!