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Friday 31/12/2004

いよいよの大晦。天井と壁と床のある家の中で年を越せる幸いに感謝。くり返しTV映像で津波の有様を見る。水の持つ凄まじい力に声もない。「自然の驚異」などという定型句は無意味だ。ヒトは地球の片隅で自然に翻弄されながら生きるものたちのほんの一種類に過ぎないことを肝に銘じさせられる。四季折々の植物を追いかけた今年、花に託して伝えたいことばがいくつ紡ぎ出せただろう。ことばなど要らないのかもしれない。この地球に生きるものとして、ただ共感を伝えたい。来る年の幸いを祈りながら。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。本年のご訪問、どうもありがとうございました。またお会いできますように。

Eventually it's the last day of 2004. I am grateful that I live in a house with the roof, walls, and the floor. Again and again I watch twunami rushing inside of the land on TV. I'm voiceless at the gigantic power of the water. Such a cliche as "the wonder of nature" is nonsense. The mother nature tells us the mere fact that human beings are only one of the spieces living on earth. I followed plants of each season this year. I'm afraid if I could write what I want to express through flowers and leaves. Perhaps no words are necessary. As one of the living creatures, I want to express my sympathy to my fellow creatures. I wish you happiness in the coming year. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I really thank you for your visit to this website in 2004. See you again!


Wednesday 29/12/2004

祝祭シーズンに天は人の定めたことなど知らぬげに大災害をもたらす。スマトラ沖海底地震は津波に姿を変えてアジアからアフリカに至るインド洋沿岸を総なめにした。かつて文通していた少年(今では既に立派な青年だろうが)のいるはずのスリランカの被害が凄まじい。報道によると犠牲者の1/3は子どもたちだという。英字新聞にはtsunamiということばがそのまま使われている。「恐るべき大波」などという表現では足りずに。21世紀は人災と天災の総攻撃を受けているようだ。あと数日を残すばかりで2004年も終わる。ささやかに、本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。ほんとうに、立ち止まって考える時ではないだろうか。

In the festive season, the heaven gives human beings the most horrible disasters. The undersea quake offshore Smatra transformed into the disastrous waves to attack coastlines round the Indian Sea from Asia to Aftica. Sri Lanka where our correspondent, once a boy now a young man, is living is suffering from the devastating worst damages. Reportedly one third of the dead there is children. Newspapers in English use the word tsunami to express the tremendously big waves. It seems the 21st centry has been attacked by both human-generated disasters and natural disasters. 2004 has only a few days left. Today's humble update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Isn't it really the time to stop to think?


Saturday 25/12/2004

娘の後ろを自転車で走り、自宅から武蔵野市吉祥寺まで往復した。電車なら西武線とJR併せて8駅分。流石にしんどかった。16歳はギア付き26インチでスイスイと慣れた走り方をするが、ショッピング用の24インチ自転車ではついて行くのがやっと。久しぶりの爽快な汗だったが(というのは負け惜しみ)へとへとに。武蔵野市には比較的大きな樹木が残り緑地が整備されているのがわかった。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート20」「トルコの紅に魅せられて」です。あの膨大な作品を800字にまとめるにはもっと読み込む必要があったと痛恨の一文ですが、日本に紹介されたばかりのオルファン・パルクの『わたしの名は紅』。目眩く世界が繰り広げられます。

I followed my daugther by bicycle from home to Kichijoji, Musashino City. If we go there by train, there are 8 railway stations in between. I got very tired. 16-year-old girl on a sporty 26 inch bike with triple gear went smoothly all the way; whereas, it was a hardship for me on a 24 inch bike for shopping to catch up with her. It was really refreshing (in a sense) though. I found Musashino City preserves trees and green areas well. Today's update: a short review of a Turkish novel translated into Japanese, Benim Adim Kirmizi by Orhan Pamuk (2004).( Sorry, only in Japanese. )The novel shows an amazing world of the traditional miniature painters in 17 century Turkey.


Friday 24/12/2004

とても忙しい日が続いていた。電車の中で居眠りすることもなかった。ようやく解放され久しぶりに雑木林に入ると、すっかり枝が払われ下草は刈られ、端から端まで透けて見える。落ち葉は深く殆ど緑がない。上水端のセンダンには堅い木の実がいっぱいなっているが、どうにも光の加減で写真には撮れなかった。昨日までイスラム教徒の物語を読んでいたせいか、街に流れるクリスマスソングがピンと来ない。つくづく世界には様々な価値観があると思う。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。「よいお年を」と言い交わす日々。

Eventually I was released from the hectic days. I could hardly sleep on the train. I stepped into a copse to find brancehs had been cleared and grasses too. The small woods looked transparent. I walked on the soft fallen leaves, scarcely seeing green colors anywhere. By a stream were huge satain woods (Melia azedarach) , I wanted to take the photos of their berries but I couldn't. The light was not enough from any angles. Perhaps because I had been reading a novel of Islamic world, Christmas songs in town sounds strange to me somehow. The world has a wilde range of thoughts and beliefs. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I'm saying, "I wish you a happy new year!" to friends and colleagues.


Sunday 19/12/2004

東京、池袋駅西口前に「東京芸術劇場」は聳え立つ。その内と外のコントラストになにかやるせないものを感じる。豪勢な建物であるのは確かなのだけれども、周囲には色も形も様々に雑多なビルがひしめき、広場のベンチにには家なき人々がたむろする。賑やかなストリートミュージシャン、おずおずとしたダンスグループ、所在なげな待ち人たち、仮設舞台での音合わせ。活気なのだろうか頽廃なのだろうか。心浮き立つ祝祭気分にはほど遠い。いや、荒んでいるのは我が胸の内。忙しすぎる。師走もはや半ばを過ぎた。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。花の名前が分かると違って見えるこの不思議。

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space is an enormous building in front of Ikebukuro Railway Station. The contrastive scenes between inside and outside somehow makes me depressed. It's true the Space is gorgeous, but its surroundings are far different: buildings in variety of color and shapes cluster around it, there are homeless people sleeping on the benches, noisy street musicians, hesitant dance groups, people waiting for people, and the tuning on the improvised outdoor stage. Are they all vivid activities or symbols of decay? The city is far from real merriment of the festive season. No, it's my mind which is bleak. I'm too busy. We're already in the latter half of December. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." The wonder of the change in appearance of plants after I learned their names!


Wednesday 15/12/2004

毎日が飛ぶように過ぎてゆく。わずかな時間に植物を眺めながら歩く。「おやこんなところに!」の連続。一週間後が楽しみな堅い蕾や「まぁ、こんな実が!」と驚く変身の数々。自分で育てているわけではないのに感じる親しみ。この季節にしては暖かいせいか、木瓜(ぼけ)やツツジが咲いていたりする。花や葉の向こうに私は何を見ているのだろう。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。(1年9ヶ月目に、一匹残っていたメダカ死す。体長3.8cm。)クリスマスソングを聴きながら。

Everything is rushing in December. I take a walk occasionally for a short time watching plants. I'm continuously saying to myslef, "Look, in such a place!" I find buds which I look forward to observing again in a week. To the amazing transformations of plants, I cannot help crying, "How can they give such fruits/seeds?!" I feel very familiar with them all although I'm not growing them by myself. As it's quite warm for winter, some flowers are blooming out of the season. I wonder what I'm watching beyond those plants. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." (The last medaka died. It lived for a year and 9 months. It's length was 3.8cm.) I've been listening to Christmas songs.


Thursday 9/12/2004

小春日和が続く。先日、大学図書館の「店頭選書」をするために、丸の内に開店して間もない丸善本店へ出かけた。店員さんに伴われて書籍を選んでいくのだが、バーコードリーダーの備えがないとかですべて手書きになったため、あまり効率はよくなかった。ハイテクビルの中でマニュアル業務というのもほほえましくはある。それにしても都心は至る所で「再開発」という名のビル建て替えが行われている。六本木、汐留、恵比寿、品川、そして東京駅前も。未来都市のような景観はそれなりに魅力的だが、情緒に欠ける。その点、駿河台あたりは景観に潤いが漂う。本日の更新は久々に「東京散歩」、『神田川の両岸--駿河台と本郷』です。写真に添えた文章には未だ修正の必要なところもありますが、よろしければ晩秋の街をご覧ください。

It's been still quite warm for this season. Several days ago, I went shopping for our university library to the newly opened head shop of Maurzen, a huge book store in Marunouchi, Tokyo. Accompanied by a shop cleark, I chose books; however, having no electronic "barcode reader," she checked all the books I picked by hand. It was not a very efficient procedure. The contrast of the high-tech building and the manual work inside was quiate interesting. Anyway, in many places in the central part of Tokyo, there are constructions of new buildings, which is called "redevelopment" of densely built-up areas; for example in Roppongi, Shiodome, Yebisu, Shinagawa, and the vicinity of Tokyo Station. The futuristic views are attractive in a way but without factors to affect our emotion. On the other hand, views in Surugadai and its neighborhood are pleasant with old corners. Today's update: Both Sides of River Kanda--Surugadai and Hongo in Walking in Tokyo. Thanks for your visit to the page. Please enjoy the late autumnal urban scenes.


Tuesday 7/12/2004

時ならぬ台風の影響で日曜日は25度Cを超える高温になったが、確実に冬は進行している。鉢植えのもの以外に咲き誇る花もなく、紅葉ももはや残りわずか。その残照がまた美しい。移ろう時に巻かれるように、あっという間に自分の誕生日も超してしまった。感慨にふける暇もないけれど、いろいろな生き物の一つとして地上にあることに感謝しよう。あんな風に枯れていつかは地に落ちるのだなと、木々を見上げるのも悪くない。一年のサイクルで生まれ変わる植物や動物は何と潔いのだろう。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。いよいよ暦も12枚目となりました。

Due to the unseasonal typhoon, it was over 20 degrees centigrade on Sunday but the season is going on to winter certainly. Except those in pots, flowers are rare in this season. Even colorful leaves are already scarce althoug the remains of them are extremely beautiful. Being rolled up in the rushing time, my bithday has gone immediately. There is no time to stand still impressed: yet, I feel very grateful to be one of the living creatures. It's not bad tolook up trees to think I'll fall down from the branch of life someday like the dry leaves. How simple and brave those plants and animals are which live and die yearly! Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Now it's the twelfth page!


Thursday 2/12/2004

学生が次々にCDやDVDを貸してくれるので、今まで知らなかった音楽ジャンルに馴染み始めている。最近は音楽と映像が一体になった作品が多い。しかも一筋縄ではいかない。「来週授業でこれやりましょう」と一年生がひょいっと手渡していったDVDを再生してみたら面白い。アメリカのバンドLinkin Parkの"Breaking the Habit"という曲なのだけれど、画像はアニメ仕立て。元のアイディアはアジア系アメリカ人ミュージシャン・プロデューサーのJoe Hahn。バンドの実写をビデオに撮って、原画を起こし、ストーリーに取り込んで、日本のアニメ制作会社に委託した。完成したパッケージにはMANGA Book + DVDの文字。"Making of Breaking the Habit"には製作工程が克明に記録されている。アニメの創造性が存分に発揮され、スリリングな効果を出している。ラフな英語だけれど、アメリカ人も日本人も闊達に喋る。音楽とアニメを介すと言葉は障害でなかったと日本側の政策担当者は語る。教室でも硬直した手法を離れて、言葉の壁を越えてゆけたらいい。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート19 生きて証しすること」です。目次を改変しました。少しは見やすくなったでしょうか。

Since students lend me their favorite CD's and DVD's, I'm getting to know the latest music. Recently the mixtuer of music and video movies are dynamiclly mixed together. They are not so simple. One of the students passed me a DVD today saying "Let's watch this in class next week." I found it very interesting. It's "Breaking the Habit" of Linkin Park, an American rock group (is it rock really?). The promotion vieo is produced in animation style. The original idea came from Joe Hahn, a musician and producer. He shoot the band playing actually by digital video camera, drew the musicians, fit the image in animation story. He had a Japanese anmation production do the work. On the cover of the DVD are printed the words of "MANGA Book + DVD." "Making of "Breaking the Habit" shows the procedure of how the film as a whole was made in detail. With the full use of the creativity of animation, the video gives out really thrilling effects. People in the video speak rough English; but they are quite positive in their work. The representative young Japanese of the animation production says,"Through music and animation, there were no language barriers." It's so nice to be liberated from the fixed ideas to go over the barrier! Today's update: a book review, Testimony of Life". Sorry, it's only in Japanese.


Wednesday 1/12/2004

師走到来。忙しがってばかりいないで、この季節を愉しみたいものだ。いいこといろいろ、ありますように。とりあえず、表紙とこのページの写真を入れ替えて、と。あとはまたゆっくり。ご訪問に感謝。つつがなく今年を納められますよう、みなみなさまのご健勝をお祈りしつつ。(表紙の写真は駿河台上から神田川越しに望む本郷方面。このページの写真は本郷給水所公園の水辺です。)

December has come. Let me not be busy all the time but enjoy this season. May a lot of good things happen! Anyway, today's update is the renewal of the photos of the index page and here. I'll take care of the rest later. Lots of thanks to your visit, wishing you in good health and happiness.(The photo of the index page is the view of Hongo ovserved from Surugadai; the one above is a pond of a park on Hongo Distribution Reservoir.)


Tuesday 30/11/2004

ロンドンに行っている友人から長い長い手紙が届く。物語のような、ドラマのような手紙。たくさんの人間と長い歳月の詰まった文章。外国にいるから書ける日本語なのかもしれない。私はどんな返事を書くことができるだろう。霜月もお終い。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。その名を求めて。(昨日は迂闊にも画像ファイルの名前を重複させて一つ写真を消していた。どなたにも気づかれなかったことを祈りつつ修復しました。)

I received a long long letter from a friend of mine staying in London. The letter is like a story, a drama. It's full of people and many years. She may be able to write Japanese in that way in a foreign country. I wonder how I could respond to her words. November has come to an end already. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I've been looking for names. (Yesterday I deleted one of the photos by putting the same name to two different plants. I recovered it, wishing nobody has found my careless mistake.)


Monday 29/11/2004

小学六年生の頃、大分県の耶馬渓に行った。たぶんこの季節だったのだろう。「青の洞門」を見て、それから渓谷へ行ったような記憶がある。全山紅葉の真っ盛りで、渓流は色とりどりの落ち葉でいっぱいだった。自然がそんなにもカラフルであることに、水の流れの豊かさに、散りかかる落葉の中で子どもながら恍惚としていた。あのような瞬間は滅多に訪れない。記憶から消えることもない。自然の中で育まれたものは何か取り替えがきかないような気がする。(先日大分県の立命館アジア太平洋大学からの訪問者とお会いしたため余計に懐かしくなった。)ところで、卒業生の持ってきてくれた音声認識ソフトはとてもシンプルで、初心者に有用と見た。彼女の成長ぶりが何とも頼もしかった。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。野草の名前を見つけるのは難しい。似たようなものがいくつもあって。図鑑を睨めば睨むほど名前が遠ざかる気がする。

When I was eleven years old, I went with my family to Yabakei Valley in Oita Prefecture. Probably it was in this season of a year. I remember we observed "Ao-no-Domon" (a tunnel which was dug by a single monk in old days) first and then went to the valley. It was the high season to enjoy the leaves in autum colors. I was just astonished to see mountains in such gorgeous colors and the stream running with colorful fallen leaves. I was at a loss. This kind of special moment has scarcely come to me. The scenes I saw then would never go away from my memory. I geuss something given by the nature can never be replaced by anything else. (Because I've met visitors from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita Prefecture very recently, they reminded me of the place clearly.) BTW, the software with speech recognition which one of my old students brought to show me was well made with its simple designs; I'm sure it is useful for beginners. I'm glad to find she's grown to be a very competent attractive woman! Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." How difficult it is to find the right name of a wild grass! There are many similar ones. The more I look into botanical books, the farther it seems to go away.


Thursday 25/11/2004

何年も前の卒業生からメールをもらう。「音声対応ソフトを作ったので話を聞いてください」と。最近e-learningの開発競争が激しい。パソコンに向かって発話すると内容によって違う反応を返してくる。聞き取れないような英語では何度でもやり直させられる。人間と違って「察する」ということはない。さてどんな製品を持ってくるだろう。当時はパソコン自体が無かった。ましてや私が学生だった頃など、話すチャンスを求めてどこへでも行ったし冒険もした。赤面するような情熱だった。「チャンスが少ない」ことから生まれる欲求が原動力だったなんて。もっぱら書くための道具と見なしているパソコンが会話練習の道具になるという発想、これは新しい方向なのか邪道なのか、いろいろ試してみることにしよう。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。やはりあれ(7 November)はクロガネモチらしい。何冊も見比べてみた結果。ところで今更ながら、「木の実」はnutsでいいのか、seedsなのか、それともberriesかfruitsなのか?はてさて?

A graduate of the junior collage many years ago sent me an e-mail asking if I would see her. The company she is working has developed a computer software with speech recognition. Recently the development of this type of software seems to be competitive. If you talk to the machine, it talks back to you but if your pronunciation is ambiguous, it will demand you to repeat again and again with no compromise. The machine doesn't know how to sense your intentions. I wonder what kind of product she will bring. When she was one of my students, there was not the computer system in our collage. When I was a student myself, we went to anywhere seeking for the chance to speak in English. I dared to go for adventures. The scarcity of chance accelerated our desires. What a passion! The idea of making computer a tool for speaking practice is quite different from my idea of computer as a tool for writing; however, I should try whatever is coming to see if it is the right way or useless. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." It seems, as I suspected, the tree of red seeds (7 November) is kuroganemochi from what I saw in several books. BTW, should they be called "nuts," "seeds," "berries," or "fruits"? Thanks for your instruction.


Tuesday 23/11/2004

瞬く間に前回の更新から一週間が経ってしまった。本日は「勤労感謝の日」でようやく一息つく。(ありがたい祝日なのを今年ほど実感したことはない!)「一葉忌」の法要とこの日だけ公開される伊勢屋質店の内部公開に出かけてみたかったが、体のエンジンかからず断念した。目下「文京ふるさと歴史館」で当地ゆかりの文学者たちの書簡を公開中。一葉もさりながら漱石、鴎外、芥川、谷崎、斉藤緑雨、その他大勢の直筆に触れることができる。片隅にあった佐多稲子から徳永直に当てた手紙が印象的だった。週末には大切なひととのお別れの会があった。病と果敢に闘って、優雅さを失わず美しく生を全うしたひとを参会者一同拍手で見送ることとなった。縁あって出会ったひととの別れは、しかもあまり年の違わないひととの別れは辛い。亡くなった方の祖父作曲の「浜千鳥」を皆で歌って棺を送った。歌詞の悲しさにあらためて気づく。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。よく見る花なのに名前が分からないとストップしてしまう。あきらめてアップ。名前が判明したり、勘違いに気づいたときには適宜修正いたします。(珊瑚樹と思っていたのは、クロガネモチだったのかも?)

A week has swiftly passed since I updated this website last time. Thanks to the Labour Day, I can take a rest finally after the hectic days. I had been willing to attend the memorial day of Higuchi Ichiyou and go to see the inside of Iseya, the pawn shop she frequented, which is open to the public once a year but I'm out of energy today. At this moment in Bunkyo Locay History Museum, letters of the famous writers who once inhabited in Bunkyou-Ward are exhibited. We can see letters of Natsume Souseki, Mori Ogai, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Tanizaki Junichirou, Saitou Ryokuu and many more not to mention Higuchi Ichiyou. It was impressive to find in a corner a letter from Sata Ineko to Tokunaga Sunao. Last weekend, I attended the wake and the funeral of one of my relatives. She had fought against cancer bravely for a few years and passed away keeping beauty and gracefulness. We clapped hands to pay respect to her wonderful life. What a painful experience it was to say farewell to a person who I came to know led by fortune, and who is not far from me by age. We see her coffin off, singing song her late grandfather, a famous composer, wrote. The lyrics of the song was sad particularly on the occasion. Todaya's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Sometimes I cannot wait until I know the names of flowers. Hopefully I'll learn and upload/correct them in time.


Wednesday 17/11/2004

11月も後半に入ると晴天で高温の日もあるが、暗く沈んだ空模様の日が増えてくる。街行く人々は既にコートを羽織っている。ブーツ姿の女性も多い。珍しく地下鉄で和服姿の若い女性を二人見かけた。はんなりと薄化粧の美しい人たちだった。お祝い事か、お稽古帰りか、上気した表情も艶やかで思わず見とれてしまう。このところ美容院に行く暇もなく、スーツを新調することもなく、何かに追いかけられるように毎日忙しくしている自分が少し情けなくなった。誰も彼も余裕を失ってせわしい社会には潤いがなくなる。それは悲しい。贅沢はいらないけれど、心楽しく弾みのある暮らしを創っていけたらなと思う。本郷界隈の公孫樹が色づき始めた。直に黄金色に燃え上がるだろう。楽しみ。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。葉っぱの便りを風に乗せよう。

We're already in the latter half of November. Sometimes it's sunny and warm but more often it's cloudy and chilly these days. Peaople are wearing overcoats. Some women are wearing long boots. I happened to see two young women wearing kimono in the subway. They were wearing simple make up and very attractive. I was not sure whether they were on the way back from some parties or lessons, but they looked excited nicely. I couldn't help watching the beautiful young women. Recently I've had no chance to go to a beauty salon nor buy new suits. I'm a little bit disappointed by myself being run after by schedules day after day. Business makes our life humourless. I don't need no luxury but I wish to create the life with joy and good spirits. Ginko trees in Hongo have started to turn yellow slightly. Soon they will be burning up golden. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Let me write a message on a leaf and fly it.


Friday 12/11/2004

ブッシュ大統領が再選され、イラクでの戦闘は激しさを増し、方やPLOのアラファト議長が逝去し、混迷は深まる。読み差しの週刊誌を閉じて電車を降りたら乗換駅のまわりには霧が立ちこめていた。遠い世界のことを考えても甲斐ないようにも思い、また遠い世界への関心を失ったら危ういとも思う。突然ブルガリアからの便りを受けとった。人との出会いは不思議なものだ。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。中国人留学生が増えてきた。彼らのことばを知らずにいていいのだろうかと思う。

The US President Bush was reelected and battles in Iraq are getting worse; Mr. Arafat, the Palestinian leader, passed away eventually, which will make the situation of the world more confusing for a while at least. Closing the weekly magazine I was reading, I got out of a train for transfer to find the station was wrapped in myst. To think of the world far away from here seems nonsense and at the same time I feel it will be dangerous not to think of the world at all. I've received a message from Burgalia recently; a mystery of human encounters. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." The number of Chinese students are increasing. I don't think it's fair not to learn their language.


Thursday 11/11/2004

広いガラス窓の前に座って表を眺めていたら、風が吹くたびにザーッと葉が舞い落ちてゆく。あまりの量に驚いて、しばし呆然と見つめていた。樹は美しい葉を惜しげもなく脱ぎ捨てる。時がこぼれてゆくようだ。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。止めることのできないものは見送るしかないのだろうか。

I was looking out of a huge window. When the wind blew, countless leaves were falling together like rain. Astonished with the large amonut, I was just watching the falling leaves at a loss. Trees were letting beautiful leaves go generously. It looked like time was falling. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Perhaps we have to see off what we cannot stop.


Tuesday 9/11/2004

日中は汗ばむほどの日差しが続く。こちらの準備の量・力の入れ方と、受講生の受け止め方が激しくずれる時がある。不満そうな学生たち。こちらも悔しい。こんなはずでは。あんなに時間をかけたのにと。いやいや、来週復活戦を。疲れ果ててポツポツとキーを打つ。これもリハビリ。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。花より葉が自己主張する季節。

It has been quite warm in sunny days. Sometimes in spite of instructor's hard work, students are quite irresponsive or rather dissatisfied. They look angry. I'm irritated too. How much time and energy did I spend for one class? Oh, just forget about it and let me try it once again next week. Completely exhausted, I type slowly. It's a sort of rehabilitation exercise. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." It's the season when leaves more than flowers demonstrate themselves.


Saturday 6/11/2004

例年11月はこんなに忙しかっただろうか。心身の疲れがなかなか消えない。菊の群れ咲く畑でしばしボンヤリ。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。11月の新ページ。加えて特別付録「菊と蜂」観察記もあります。花と虫の特別な関係を見ていました。

Was I usually so busy in November? I've been tired physically and spiritually for a long time. I was lost in flowers of chrysanthemum for a while in the morning. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." In addition, there is a special page of "Chrysanathemums and Bees". I was watching the special relationship between flowers and insects.


Wednesday 3/11/2004

青年がなぜイラクへ行ったのか、誰にもよく分からない。100ドルの所持金でどこまで行くつもりだったのか。若い頃の無謀な旅には誰しも心当たりがあるだろう。もしかすると何とか生き延びて冒険談を宝に、帰国できると思っていたのかもしれない。それまでは何とかなったから今回もと。亡くなった青年がビデオで「あと、また帰りたいです」と言ったときの顔が忘れられない。いつも目の前にいる若者たちと、同じしゃべり方だ。トーンも語彙も。あの青年と大して違わない年頃に「北へは行くな」という声を振り切って、アイルランド共和国のダブリンから英領北アイルランドのベルファストへ汽車で入ったときのことを思い出す。街はきな臭く、兵士が身構え、噴煙が上がっていた。前日にスライゴー沖のヨット上でマウントバッテン伯爵がIRAのテロリストに殺されたとは知らなかった。何ら大義名分のないことを若者はフラリとやってしまう。彼を愚かと言うのはたやすいが、大人とて国家とて正義を遂行しているとも言い難い。青年の亡骸は故郷へ帰る。彼は何かと戦ったのだと思う。冥福を祈りたい。本日の更新は表紙とこのページの写真です。(霜月の表紙は娘の油絵処女作。いつもパソコンでお絵かきばかりの彼女も絵筆を持つようになってきた。)

Nobody knows why the young man went to Iraq. How far had he intended to go only with $100? I guess many of us have experienced reckless trips like his. He might well have been thinking he would be able to come home with invaluable adventures. As he had managed adversities somehow, he could have imagined he would survive again. I cannot forget the last scene in the video where he was saying in a small voice, "And I want to come home again." He spoke in the same way as young people I know do usually, in his tone and vocabulary. When I was almost at his age, I dared to go to Belfast of Northern Ireland from Dublin of the Republic of Ireland. I didn't listen to people saying to me, "Don't go to the north. You'll find nothing good there." When I got out of the train, there was the burnt smell, soldiers in corners, and smokes in the city. I didn't know Count Mountbatten had been assassinated by IRA terrorists the previous day in a yacht off the coast of Sligo. Young people act without much considration for no purposes. You may call the young man an idiot, but adults and the nation are not always acting for justice. The young man's body is coming home. I believe he fought against something. May his soul be peaceful. Today's update: photos of the cover page and this page. The cover photo is of my daughter's first oil painting. Usually she is drawing illustration by computer but recently she has started drawing off-line as well.


Sunday 31/10/2004

「万聖節」という言葉はアイルランドの小説で知った。「ハロウィーン」はロサンゼルス近郊の大学町にいたときに体験した。日本の「神無月」も今日でおしまい。天変地異の続く激しいときだった。「たまたま」難を逃れたに過ぎないと自分に言い聞かせている。先週は都内の高等学校に「出張授業」に行き、100人くらいの高校生に出会った。伝えたいことはもっとあったはずなのにと、反省しきり。新鮮な話をするには、フレッシュでいなくては。気持ちはいつでも変わらないけれど。あの、大人になる前の不安と期待につっぱっていた頃。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。現実は頭をかきむしりたくなる、肩を落とすことばかり。

I learned "All Saints' Day" in an Irish novel and experienced the custom of Halloween in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Japanese "the month with no gods" has come to an end. Natural disasters continued in Octover this year. I am talking to myself we "happened" to have escaped from them. Last week, I went to a high school in Tokyo to give "a visiting lecture." I met more than 100 students. I should have talked something more striking to them. I need to stay fresh in order to give fresh talks. I still feel the same emotion that I had right before I became an adult: the mixture of anxiety and expectation. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." In reality my life is full of repentance and desperation.


Wednesday 27/10/2004

大人数の教室にはやはり新潟県出身者がいる。答案用紙の片隅に「友人たちの安否が気遣われます」と走り書きを。私の長岡の親戚は無事とのことだった。週末に帰省中だった学生の話によれば福島もだいぶ揺れたらしい。いくら新幹線が通っても一歩外れれば、深い山野が立ちふさがる。トンネルの向こうは、じき豪雪に埋もれる。避難中の被災者100,000人とは!何かヒントはないかと、あちこちサイトを見て歩く。(余震は続き、本日午前10時40分頃にも強い揺れを東京で感じた。震源は中越地方、再び震度6.0とのこと。)本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。なんと荒々しい十月、まさに神無月。

Among 80 students, there is one from Niigata Prefecture as I expected. She wrote in a corner of a test paper, "I'm concerned about my old friends over there." I heard my relatives in Nagaoka are safe and sound. According to one of my students, she experienced strong quakes in Fukushima Prefecture when she was home last weekend. What can we do? In spite of bullet trains, we'll be blocked by fields and mountains once we step out of the arterial railroad and large cities. Reportedly more than 100,000 people have been sheltered. I srufed websites for information. (We had another earthquake at 10:40 this this morning. It occured in Chu-etsu District, with magnitude 6.0.) Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." What wild October, truly the month with no gods as the Japanese old calendar calls it.


Monday 25/10/2004

台風の被害も収まらないうちに、今度は中越地方で大震災。関東でも一時間以内に三度、強く体に感じる揺れがあった。その大きさから震源地の被災が予測できた。新潟県長岡市付近は父方の祖父母の出身地。父の死後間もなく親戚まわりをしたときに泊まった濁沢の山の湯を思い出す。そこにも被害が出た様子だった。あの夏の長岡には青い稲穂が目地遙か広がっていた。山から平野から、若い日の祖父母はそれぞれ遠い道のりを経て東京にたどり着いた。出会って墨東に落ち着いてからも紆余曲折だったと聞く。父の生後まもなく関東大震災が東京を襲った。幸い家族は生き延びた。東京大空襲も。天災人災をかいくぐって得た命の連鎖がここにと思うと、偶然の果たす役割の不思議に打たれる。この先の連鎖はどのような道を辿るのだろうか。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。多種多様な菊の花を愛でるこの季節。

Not having time enough to recover from the disasters of the typhoon, we had a big earthquake in Chuetsu District. I could imagine the severe disaster from the quakes I felt in Kanto District. There were at least three very clear quakes in an hour. Nagaoka, one of the main spots which experienced the earthquakes this time, is where my grandparents of my father's side are from. There is a quiet spa in Nigorisawa in the mountains near Nagaoka, which I visited soon after my father's death. TV news was telling Nigorisawa had damages although they didn't explain what they were exactly. In summer of 1996, I saw rice fields still green stretching out in Nagaoka Plain. My grandparents went out of the country to go to Tokyo respectively in their youths. It was a long way from home. Eventually they were settled in a downtown in the east side of River Sumida. One year after my father was born there was the Great Kanto Earthquake. The family survived. They survived the Great Air-raids on Tokyo, too. The chain of life escaping natural and man-made disasters has brough me here. What a miracle! I wonder how this chain will go on. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." We're in the middle of the season when we appreciate variety of chrysanthemums.


Saturday 23/10/2004

台風23号は大豪雨だった。TVに映し出される各地の様子や新聞報道写真に、これが同じ日本か、これが現代の日本か、 と信じられない気持ちだった。東京はたまたま今回も難を逃れた。それは本当に「たまたま」のことではないか。 天気がよいというだけで天恵のように感じる。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。少し修正加筆を。さすがに実りの季節。ずっと見ているうちに同じ植物が変化するのもスリリング。

The 23rd typhoon brought tremendously heavy rain. Watching the scenes of various places of Japan on TV and newspapers, I can hardly believe they are of Japan today where I live. Tokyo happened to escape from serious disasters again. We just happened to escape, didn't we? The simple fact of having a good weather seems to be the grace of heaven. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I made a small collection, added a few information. It's the season of harvest. It's thrilling to observe the changes of same plants along seasons.


Tuesday 19/10/2004

わずか数日の晴天のあと、またしても台風が来るようだ。行ってみたいところしてみたいことは色々あるけれど、思うようにはいかない。制約のあることは不自由でもあり、逆に想像力をかき立てることでもある。だからどうということではなく、ただ不如意を託ちつつも毎日突きつけられる課題難題を引き受けてゆく。そのようにして瞬く間に時が過ぎる。せめて生きている証に言葉を刻む。嵐が吹けばひとたまりもなく消えてゆく言葉を。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。生きています、ここにいますと、声なき声がネットに響く。

After a few sunny days, another typhoon is coming. There are many places where I feel like going and many things that I want to do, but circumstances won't allow me. Restrictions does not only mean unfreedom but they also inspire my imagination as well. I don't mean anyghing special; I just go on challenging all the tasks and problems given to me day after day. Thus time passes at once. As a proof of my life, I write. Storms will blow away my words anytime. Words can easily come to nothing. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Sounding are voiceless cries on the Net, "I'm living, I'm here!"


Monday 18/10/2004

このところの雨と太陽のおかげで草や花は生き生きしている。しかし、身近な草花を調べていて「環境省:絶滅危惧II類」などと記載されているのに出会うとドッキリする。自生できなくなることと、栽培によって生きながらえるのでは全く意味が異なるのだろうか。近所の畑に藤袴を見つけて嬉しかったのだけれど。秋草の美しい季節。どこか寂しげな風情によけい心惹かれる。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。ところで、普通の亀が平気で35年以上生きている話を読んで驚いた。うちの亀はまだ6年くらいだから、あと30年?私はもう生きていないのではなかろうか。

With rain and sunshine, plants look very lively these days. While checking the names of plants, I sometimes find notes like "endangered spieces" and I'm shocked. Does that mean they won't be able to live on their own in natural circumstances? To grow them by human hands is totally another thing, isn't it? I was glad to find "thoroughwort" near my house. It's a season for beautiful autumn flowers. They look more attractive for their lonesome sight. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." BTW, I was surprised to read about a common turtle living for more than 35 years. My pets are about 6 years old, which means they might live more than 30 years from now. I'm afraid I won't be any longer then!


Saturday 16/10/2004

昨日のような快晴の日には文京シビックセンター25階大展望台からどれほどの眺望が開けていただろう。夕刊にはヘリコプターからの撮影としてくっきりと青い富士山の写真が掲載されていた。季節はめぐり再び都心からですら、山影が望めるようになってきた。建物が高く高く競い合うだけ自然の景観は逃げていくのに、まだ都心の開発は進んでいる。片やふと立ち寄った緑深い公園では、ホームレスの人々が眠ったり食べたりしていた。都会の陰と陽。誰もが細い境界線の上を歩いている。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート18 若い旅路」です。チェ・ゲバラの青春に魅せられて。

I wonder how far I could have seen if I had been to the observatory on the 25th floor of Bukyo Civic Center in such a fine day as yesterday. I found in a newspaper a photograph taken from a helicopter, showing the clear image of Mr. Fuji observed from the central part of Tokyo. The change of seasons has brought the mountain views back to Tokyo. Ironically, the higher the skyscrapers grow, the farther dynamic natural lanscapes are going away; yet, the development of the central part of the metropolis has been going on. In the meanwhile, I saw homeless people sleeping and eating in a park with shady trees. Both sides of the enormous city. Everyone is walking on a narrow edge. Today's update: a short review entitled "Youthful Travelers" on the Japanese translated version of The Motorcycle Diaries; Notes on a Latin American Journey by Che Guevara and Traveling with Guevara by Alberto Granado. Sorry, only in Japanese.


Friday 15/10/2004

本人は大まじめなのに、会議の席で爆笑されるのはたまらない。黙っていれば避けられたはずの失敗だなぁと夜道をうなだれて歩きながら反芻する。いい年をしてまたしても。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。花は喋らないから美しい。しかし、今朝は久しぶりの快晴。くよくよしてはいられない。

I was very serious but all the members of the meeting laughed. I should have kept silence to avoid such a stupid scene. How old am I now? Oh, no! Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Beauty of flowers are in their silenc. It's a wonderful sunny day after the long rainy days! Cheer up!


Thursday 14/10/2004

東西の文化比較はよく行われてきたが南北については寡少だ(という気がする)。二項対立でものを見てはならないのかもしれない。しかし、知らなすぎることへの自覚はあってよいと自分に言い聞かせている。ここのところずっと南米についての爽快な本を読んでいた。書かれていることは爽快どころではなかったのだけれども。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。雨空を見上げながら遠くの世界のことを考える。

In my notion we've been used to compare east and west, but not so much with north and south. It won't be fruitful to observe things from two polarities; however, I tell myself to be conscious of my ignorance. I've been reading very attractive books on South America although the reality written there is far from attractive. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Lookig up at the rainy sky, I think of the world far away.


Wednesday 13/10/2004

後期の授業にエンジンがかかってきて、向丘(本郷追分け)での非常勤も再開。今期は午前中2コマを終えたとたんに本務校を飛び出し、ひたすら歩いて目的地へ。どのようなルートが最短距離か、あるいは面白みのある道筋か試しながらの数ヶ月が待っている。かつて体調不良の頃は本郷通りでバスを待っているのも辛く、タクシーに乗ったりしていた。一区間\630も払って!歩くことが苦にならなくなり、楽しみに変わり、関心が広がっていくのを感じた頃の喜びは何にも代え難かった。町歩きは依然喜びだ。それなのにいずれ転勤かもしれないとは。まあ、何がどう変化するかは人智を越えたことかもしれない。気楽にしていよう。今年の「一葉忌」には行けるといい。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。(うぅ〜、次なる締め切りを過ぎている!!)

I've strated teaching a class at a school in Mukogaoka (Hongo-oiwake) again. We are already in the middle of the fall semester. I start walking out of the campus where I work immediately after finishing the morning classes bound for another work place. For a few months I'll try to find the shortest and the most interesting routes. When I was not in good shape, it was a hard job even to wait for a bus at Hongo-dori Avenue. I couldn't help catching a taxi quite often. It cost me as much as 630 yen just to ride for a few minutes. Gradually I began to feel it was OK to walk. Walking has become my pleasure and interest. However, there's the possibility of transfer. Well, let me take it easy. Nobody knows the future. I wish I'll be able to attend "the Memorial Day of Higuchi Ichiyou" this year. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." (Oh, NO! The next deadline was yesterday!)


Monday 11/10/2004

台風は懸念されていたほどではなかったが、関東地方にも様々な被害を残して去った。台風一過の晴天はついに訪れず、雨模様の日々が続く。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。友人が言う「ピンチをチャンスに」という言葉はなかなかタフだ。極意はしぶとくしたたかに愉しみつつ。

The typhoon was not so serious as had been predicted, but it left various disasters in Kanto District. When it's gone, there comes no clear atutumn sky yet. Rain continues. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." A friend of mine says, "Change the pinch into a chance!" Her words are always encouraging. Well, it's good to be persistent, enduring, while enjoying.


Friday 8/10/2004

数十年来最大級の台風襲来とのこと。太平洋側を直撃という。どんな週末になることやら。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。ようやく十月のページをめくって。瞬く間に時が過ぎてゆく。瞬き一つの間の一生とは・・・。

A tremendous typhoon is coming. Reportedly it seems to be the biggest in a few decades. What will become of this weekend? Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Eventually I turned the page of October. Time passes in a moment. Our life lasts for a moment, a song says.


Monday 4/10/2004

紅い実は、ゴンズイ改め山椒と分かりました。ピリリとスパイシーなご教示に改めて心よりの感謝を申し上げます。また、孔雀アスターの名をお教えくださいました方にも、厚く御礼を申し上げます。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。未だ暦は九月のままに。十月分も「調べ」を待ってスタンバイしてはいるのですが、今暫く。このところ締め切りに追われ、降り続く雨を口実に蟄居しておりました。明日こそ、投稿して参ります。(おぉ、出来映えを問うなかれ!)気が付けば秋。しみじみとなつかしい。

The read seeds are found to be Chinese pepper. I am truly grateful for the stimulating and spicy instruction. My thanks goes also to the instruction of "kujaku-aster." Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." The calendar is still of September although a new page of October is ready, waiting for my research of flower names. Thank you very much for your patience. I've been staying home writing intensively before a deadline. The rain gave me an excuse for my inactive life. I'll submit my paper tomorrow. (Please don't ask me how I did it!) It's autumn! I'm deep in my memory.


Friday 1/10/2004

神無月の訪れとともに、秋冷といってもよい澄んだ空気になった。本日の更新は表紙とここ「短信・更新」ページの写真です。表紙は文京シビックセンターから台風一過の朝。小さなみどりの島は「小石川植物園」です。上の写真は高尾「多摩森林科学園」、桜保存樹林へ向かう林道の途中。どちらも東京のイメージです。

The air of October is cool and clean. Today's update: the index page and here, the latest note. The photo of the index page is taken yesterday in the morning right after the typhoon. Please find Koishikawa Botanical Gardens, like a small green island. The photo above was taken in a moutain of Takao, "Tama Forest Research Center." Both are the images of Tokyo.


Thursday 30/9/2004

台風一過。そういえば九月は「西向く士(さむらい)」の一員であった。間に合わない。何とかもう一がんばり。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。一段落付いてから図書館へ参りましょう。

The typhoon has gone. Remeber September has only 30 days, Alas! Time is flying away. Wait! Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Let me go to the library after hassles at hand.


Wednesday 29/9/2004

人間は威張っているけれど、多種多様な生物の一種類に過ぎない。現状は奇跡でもあり変化の一時期に過ぎないのかも知れないと、時々はそんな風に考えてみる。世界の見え方が少し変わる。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。蝶の名前と木の名前をご教示いただきました。ありがとうございます。

Human beings are very proud of themselves, but they are only one species of all the living creatures. What a simple fact! The present situation may be a myracle and it may also be just in a stage of the long transformation process. Sometimes I think of ourselves in that way. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Thanks to the kindest instruction, I added the names of a butterfly and a tree. Thank you very much.


Tuesday 28/9/2004

いつの間にか小型植物図鑑が4冊、歳時記代わりの写真集が4冊、園芸書が2冊手元に並んでいる。それなのに、知りたい植物が見つからない時は手も足も出ない。ウェッブ上には素晴らしい植物サイトがいくつもある。でも、何か手がかりがないことには調べようがない。たかが花の名前と言えばそれまでなのだけれど、その名を知ることから開ける想像の世界があるのに気付いてからは、分からないと辛い。こんなことなら知らなければよかった?花を見ても何も感じないでいた方が心は平和だったのだろうか。多分詳しい人が見れば、「なんだこんなのはごくありふれた花ですよ」ということになるのだろう。知の初歩、というのはすべてそんなものかも知れない。いくつになっても「入門」はあり得ることに気付いたのも最近。憧れは消せない。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。もの思う、秋。

I've got four small volumes of flower book, four flower calendars, and two gardening books at hand. In spite of the collection, I'm just helpless when I can find no clue of the plants which I want to identify. I know there are several wonderful websites for plants; however, I definitely need some hints for research utilizing them. It's just the names of flowers, but once you find the wonderful imaginary world which opens with learnig them, you feel impatient not knowing them. Should I have been happier had I not known the joy of learning about flowers? Perhaps those who know well about plants would say, "Oh, they are just common flowers you can find everywhere." The first step of learning must be like this no matter what you may begin. Also you may begin anything at any age. (I also learned the simple fact recently.) You can never deny your longings. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Autumn is the season to ponder.


Monday 27/9/2004

長い酷暑の後、今朝も雨。暑さは辛かったが、急に秋めいてくると何やら心細い。週末、高校の文化祭を見に行った。娘が仲間たちと夏中勉強から遠く離れて練習に励んでいた劇。高校生にしかできないことがあるものだ。私の隣で若い英語の先生が劇を見ていた。新任の初々しい女性。生徒と大して年が違わない。いいなぁと思う。劇中にアドリブで彼女の授業風景が語られて、先生は「いやーん」と言いながら顔を覆う。微笑ましい。新任の人にしかできないことってあるものだ。スペリングなんか間違えてもいいんですよ、先生!いつまでもフレッシュでいてくださいね。さーてと、私も気分新たに今週の授業へ参りましょう。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。あれかな、これかなと自信が無くてブランクのままのあの紅い実なあに?(ナナカマド?)

After the terrible summer, it started raining. Although the heat was too hard this year, the sudden coolness makes me feel lonesome. I went to see a high school festival. My daughter and her classmates were putting all their time and energy for practice and preparation for a drama to perform in the festival. I found what only high school student can do today. Next me a young teacher of English was watching the play. Students talked of her class ad-lib on the stage, which made her blush and cover her face with both hands saying, "Oh, no!" Don't worry, Ms! You are doing what only you can. It doesn't matter if you make spelling mistakes in class. Please keep fresh as long as you can. Well, it's time for me to start classes of this week, feeling refreshed by young people. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I'm not sure of the name of the red nuts after checking books several times, alas!


Friday 24/9/2004

車中読書に選ぶ本で通勤が楽しくなったり眠いだけになったり。目下、中勘助の『銀の匙』。丁寧な装丁の箱入り本で。(まさか箱まで持ち歩きはしないが。)本郷の古書店で購入した。旧漢字、旧仮名遣い、「ゐ」などの文字もそのままに、古めかしい活字はとても大きい。クリーム色のページに鮮やかな印刷。どんなに電子書籍が流行ったとしても、本は必ず生き残るだろうと感じさせる美しさ。押されて揺られてそれでも想念は大正時代に飛んでゆく。引き締まった床しい文体につくづく感心しながら、去年の今頃は樋口一葉を車中立ち読みしていたのを思い出す。今年は、書簡集と日記を読もうと思っていた。いろいろな「義務」を離れるひととき。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。もっと涼しくなって欲しいもの。

The choice of books to read decides the quality of commuting time; pleasant and joyful or dreary and sleepy. At present I go accompanied by "A Silver Spoon" by Naka Kansuke in a hard covered book. I bought it from a buquinist in Hongo. The book is printed with old Japanese letters, which are large and clear on the cream colored pages. I can see no matter how fashionable e-books would be, printed books will surely survive for their beauty. Pushed and tossed, I go back to Taisho era in my imagination. The precice and refined style of the work is very impressive to me. I remember I was reading novellas of Higuchi Ichiyou on the train in this season last year. I was planning to read her diary and letters this year. Commuting is the time for escaping from all kinds of duries for me. Shold I escape, hide, or surrender? It's a shame! I'm drooping my head in autumn. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I wish it will be cooler.


Thursday 23/9/2004

書きあぐねていた原稿の一つをようやく終える。中間的だが別の課題もとりあえずの一段落。ホッとする間もなく授業に追いまくられ、九月も終盤に近付いた。いよいよ彼岸で暑さも終わるのだろうか。気象異変は本当らしい。一番大きな課題には未だ手も付けていない。すでに催促されているというのに。逃げようか、隠れようか、降参してしまおうか。ああ面目ない。項垂れる秋。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。名前の調べが追いつかないうちにアップするのは恥ずかしいけれど。

Finally I finished writing an essay I had been bothered with. I have also finished another requirement although it's still need more work later. Having no time to relax, I have to start working for classes. Now it's already in the last stage of September. The long heat of summer, hopefully will likely to come to an end finally. We'are said to be in a really adverse climatic change. Alas, I haven't even started a truly demanding task in spite of getting the final call. Shold I escape, hide, or surrender? It's a shame! I'm drooping my head in autumn. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Sorry, I haven't identified a few of the names of plants.


Saturday 18/9/2004

毎日毎日くるくる動き、内でも外でもバタバタしていると、自分をどこかに置き忘れてくる。電車のつり棚に載ったまま今頃知らない街を走っているのじゃなかろうか。忙中閑有。この前ふらりと「東京都水道歴史館」(本郷給水所となり)へ寄ってみた。江戸・東京の上水道の仕組みがよく分かる。改めて玉川上水の果たした役割を認識。東村山浄水場は淀橋浄水場の代わりだったなんて。「へぇ〜」を連発。多摩川、玉川上水・野火止用水・千川上水、神田川などなどの関わりがようやく頭の中で繋がり始める。(とろい、のろい、にぶい。)本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。しぶとい残暑。

Working busily day after day, both in office and at home, I feel I've left "myself" somehwere. I'm afraid it might be traveling on the rack of a train going far away. At a brief leisure time I visited "The Historic Museum of Tokyo Water Systems" (located next to Hongo Water Station). It tells us the system of water supply of Edo and Tokyo efficiently. I got a fresh reminder of the importance of Tamagawa Jousui (Tamagawa Waterway). I never knew The Water Purification Plant in Higashimurayama is the substitute of that in Yodobashi, Shinjkuku. I kept saying to myself, "I see! I didn't know that! Really?!" Eventually though vaguely, the relationship of Tama River, Tamagawa Waterway, Nobidome Waterway, Senkawa Waterway, Kanda River et al is connected visually in my mind. (How stupid, slow, and dull am I!) Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." The remains of summer heat stays.


Friday 17/9/2004

あれもこれもでひたすら眠い。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート17 ティーンズのために」です。近頃世の中狂っていないか。それともおかしいのは私の方か。

Sleey all the time, busily doing this and that. Today's update: "Notes for Translated Works 17--For Teenagers." Isn't the world crazy these days? Or is it me who is strange? Sorry, the article is only in Japanese.


Wednesday 15/9/2004

もともとは「敬老の日」だった日。老いた人々に何をなす。生み給い育て給いた老いたる人に。ただただ忙しく先へ先へと急ぐわれらは。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。花の名前は分からない。空気が澄んでくると遠くへ目がいく。

Until a few years ago, it was the day for the elders. What can we do for them? For those who gave us birth and who brought us up. What are we doing just making ourselves busy and only trying to go ahead? Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I have no idea what the flower is called. I'm looking afar now that the air is getting transparent.


Tuesday 14/9/2004

早朝の風が涼しくなってきた。心なし、空が高い。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。沢山の背負い荷。ええぃ、負けてはいられませぬが。

The early morning wind has become cool. Somewhat the sky is higher. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." A lot of burden's on my back. Certainly I won't surrender!


Monday 13/9/2004

さまざまな夏の残り香。ひとつひとつ、ゆっくりと始末を付けていきながら、時々ふぅーっと溜息が出る。まだまだ暑い。野には秋草が茂り始めているのに。週末は一足早く高尾へ行って彼岸の墓参。帰りには念願の「多摩森林科学園」に寄り道した。広大な敷地に樹木園と桜保存林がある。林道を歩きながら殆ど誰にも会わなかった。桜の花の頃には大勢来るのだろう。紅葉には早すぎた。いずれまた来よう。向かいの武蔵野御陵には足が向きそうにないが。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。秋風が待ち遠しい。

Various smells of summer remain. While tieing up loose ends of this and that slowly, I find myself sighing deeply sometimes. It's still very hot although autumn plants are growing in fields. On the weekend, I visited the family grave in Takao a little before the equinoctial week. On my way back I went to "Tama Forest Research Center," which I had been willing to visit for so many years. They have huge forests of variety of trees and those particlarly for cherry trees. Walking along the trails in the mountain, I seldom met anybody. I imagine crowds of people come in the season of cherry blossoms. It was too early to enjoy the autumnal colors of trees. I'm sure I'll come back again. It's very unlikely I would visit the enormous emperor's grave forests across the road.Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I'm longing for the breeze of autumn.


Saturday 11/9/2004

久しぶりで帰路、特急に乗る。一駅分の贅沢。流石に数ページ読んだだけで本は閉じ、ギリギリまで熟睡。リクライニングシートの堅さが心地よい。これだから、歯科の診療台に昇ってもすぐさま眠る。心得たもので医師は私に「開口器」をあてがう。初めの頃は何度も「もう少し大きく口を開けて下さい」と言われたのにこの頃は何も。「終わりました」と衛生士に呼びかけられるまで気が付かない。たいへん失礼をしていると、分かってはいるのだけれど。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。いまだに真夏の格好でいる。

On my way home, I took the limited express from Ikebukuro to Tokorozawa; a luxuary of one station, 20 minute trip. After reading only a few pages, I closed the book and fell fast asleep; the hard reclining seat is a comfortable bed. Thus, I also sleep on the dentist's bed. The dentist knows well about my implausible behaviour and apply a special item to keep my mouth open. He has forgotten the repeated phrase, "Keep your mouth wide open, please" long time before. "Now that's all for today,"says a dental hygienist and wakes me up. I know I should pay more respect to them. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I'm still wearing summer clothes.


Friday 10/9/2004

一緒に働いている若い父親である人に「坊ちゃんが二十歳になる頃、世界はどうなっているのでしょうね」と語りかけたら、「地球は未だあるのかなぁと思います」という答え。車中で読む近未来小説が妙にリアルに感じられた。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。あちこちに曼珠沙華が燃え立っている。

As I asked one of my colleagues, a young father, "What will become of the world when your son grows up to be twenty," he said, "I doubt if the earth would still exist then." I felt the near-future novel I'm reading in the commuter's train quite realistic. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Cluster-amaryllis is burning red here and there.


Thursday 9/9/2004

真砂町ご出身の未知の方が掲示板にお寄りくださった。どこの国からのお便りだろう。ブラウザー「検索機能」の魔法。私もそのようにしてどれほどさまよい歩いてきたことか。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。いいことば、「少年時代」。

There is a visitor to BBS. He writes he's from Masago-cho. I wonder where he's writing from. It's the magic of serch engine. How often I've been exploring the cyber world so far in the same way! Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." "Boyhood" is a good word.


Wednesday 8/9/2004

さて、頭をはっきりさせなくては。チームワークに耐えられるだろうか。長丁場が始まる。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。頂き物のジンジャーの花が香る。これをまとって出かけましょう。

Well, I should be wide awake now. I wonder if I can cooperate well with others for the team work. It will be a long task. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." Let me wear the fragrant breath of ginger flowers, a gift I received a couple of days ago.


Tuesday 7/9/2004

一日中机に向かっていた日は、どうしても夕方歩きたくなる。歩けば遠いマーケットまで行き、マーケットに行けば食材を買い込み、徒歩なのだから少しだけと思いながら、結局両腕にいっぱいウェートリフティングのトレーニング状態になる。それで少しエネルギーを消費して、新たなカロリー摂取の資格が出来る、かな?本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。昨日分の英語が余りにひどかったので修正。再びの台風、直撃地域ではどのようにお過ごしでしょうか。ご無事をお祈り致します。関東地方にも7日16:30現在、強風が吹き荒れております。非常に蒸し暑いです。

After sitting at the desk all day long, I cannot help walking in the evening. Once I start walking, I go to a supermarket far away from home; when I go there, I start buying foods; although I tell myself not to buy too much because I'm on foot, I end up with loads of foods in both arms just like a weightlifter; thus, I do my daily excercise to spend enough energy for taking in calories again. (Serious?!) My regular routines will start tomorrow. The holiday season has really come to an end. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I corrected English of the previous note. It was so poorly written! What a shame!


Monday 6/9/2004

台風があり、地震があり、戦は続き、そしてテロが繰り返される。幼い人質が犠牲になる世界。再び9.11が近付いてくる。週末は原稿を書きあぐねて足掻き続けていた。読んだばかりの北條民雄著『いのちの初夜』(角川文庫)が深く重く心にかかっている。実は清冽な読後感ではあったのだが。私の住んでいる東村山市にある全生園での1930年代の記録文学。<書く/生きる>意味を極限にまで。ハンセン病の特効薬が発見されたことの幸いを思う。僅か70年前にこの地にあった悲惨と崇高をことばがこれほど強く伝えうるとは。人は書くべきことを書かなくてはならないと思う。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。なにかよいこともきっと、と信じて。

There come typhoons and earthquakes; wars continue and terrorism is repeated. This is the world where young hostages are sacrificed. Again 911 is approaching. During the weekend, I was struggling with my writings in vain. One book I have just read is heavy in my mind. It's The First Night of Life by Hojo Tamio. I got a grave but purely clean impression from the book. It's the literature born in Zenshou-en of Higashimurayama City, where I live, in 1930s. It pursues the essence of "Writing" and "Living" to the extremity. The blessing is the discovery of medicine for leprosy. How straightly his words tell us the misery and the sublimity which existed only 70 years ago here. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems." I believe something good will also happen.


Saturday 4/9/2004

いくらイヤだと思っても「職業の色」が人を染めるのかも知れない。そんな風にはなりたくないと思っている「説教癖」が滲み出てくる。学生からの激しい反発につい声を荒げてしまった。プライドを傷つけられ続けてきたことが明らかな若者に対して、もっと別のアプローチがあったはずだとあとから悔やむ。もし再び語り合うことがあるなら、今度はあんな風にはすまい。抵抗の眼差しは鋭く輝いていた。本日の更新は「はなのこよみうたのこよみ」です。第9ページ目へ。秋色鮮やか。

In spite of my wish not to be a typical teacher, my occupation seems to have molded me like that. How I hate to find myself "lecturing." At the offensive attitude of a student, I talked too oppressively. To a youth who has evidently experienced many occasions of humiliation, I should have tried a different approach. If I have another chance to talk to him, I won't do the same thing again. His eyes of resistance were glaring. Today's update: Calendar in Flowers and Poems". It's the 9th page. I hope you'll enjoy the fresh colors of autumn.


Wednesday 1/9/2004

長月に入ったとたん学生から、同僚から、事務室から、メールや電話が相次ぐ。「目を覚ませ」と言われているようだ。台風一過、再び暑い。本日の更新は表紙の写真とこの「更新・短信」ページの刷新です。いずれも気仙沼港。戻りカツオとサンマ漁に湧く活気ある港だった。しかし、漁船の乗組員には(日本船籍でも)外国人が増えているとのことで、十年後の日本の漁業は危ういという声を聞いた。遠洋漁業には船員が成田からニューヨーク経由でアフリカに飛び、そこに係留してある日本の船に乗り込むとか。船の整備も経費の安い外国で行うそうだ。写真を撮った日はたまたま台風を避けて普段の五倍もの船が入港していた。地元東北のみならず、北海道・関東・四国・九州など全国の地名を船体に読んで歩いた。港の賑わいに比べると、数キロ離れた鉄道駅周辺は寂れてひっそり閑としていた。そういえばカナダのニューファンドランド島の港には日本向けの魚加工場があったのを思い出す。食糧問題はグローバルだ。

As soon as September started, I began receiving e-mails and phone calls from students, colleagues, and the office; it's as if people are saying, "Wake up!" After the typhoon, it's extremely hot and humid again. Today's update: the photo of the top page and the renewal of this page, "Latest Notes." Both of the photos were taken in Kesennuma. The port was lively with the fishing boats of returning skipjacks and sanma. However, a taxi driver told us that sailors of Japanese fisihing boats include more and more of people from overseas. He was very pessimistic about the Japanese fishing industry of 10 years from now. For deep-sea fishing, I heard that sailors fly from Narita via New York to ports of Afican countries for example. Their boats are kept there for cheaper maintenance costs. On the day when I took the photos, there were five times as many ships as usual visiting Kesennuma escaping from a typhoon. I could read the names of their home town on the body of ships: they were not only from Tohoku District, but also Hokkaido, Kanto, Shikoku, and Kyushu, all over Japan. Compared to the bustle in the port, the railway station was so quiet and almost desolate. I remember I saw fish factories in ports of the Newfoundland in Canada. Food production issue is global.



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