The photo is of the Nanjamonja flowers taken at Matsue Jozan Park in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. Nanjamonja is indeed the name of the flower. On Shimane Prefecture’s homepage, there is a headline that reads, “Early summer snow? ‘Nanja Monja’ (Matsue Shiroyama Park),” and followed by “It’s pleasant and cheerful. It lifts your spirits and makes you want to go out and admire the flowers. I would like to introduce Nanjamonja, which decorates Matsue Shiroyama Park with pure white flowers at this time of year when the cherry blossoms have fallen”. Additionally, Route 66 in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, is called the “Tono Nanjamonja Kaido” (Eastern-Tono Nanjamonja Highway), and this highway is lined with Nanjamonja trees. However, the truth is that there is no tree called Nanjamonja. In every region, according to local legends and literature, trees that were not well-known or unfamiliar, such as camphor trees, paulownia trees, alder trees, and goldenrain trees, were given the name “Nanjamonja” and referred to as such. Among them, the representative tree called “Hitotsubatago” (single-leaf fat-sia) is mentioned as the one called “Nanjamonja.” The tree in the photo is also a Hitotsubatago. Hitotsubatago has recently been seen in various places, but originally, it was found only in limited areas such as the Kiso River basin spanning Nagano, Gifu, and Aichi prefectures, and Tsushima City in Nagasaki Prefecture. Hitotsubatago is famous as a rare species. It is designated as Endangered II on the Red List issued by the Ministry of the Environment, and it is designated as a natural monument by the country and some prefectures. It’s such a rare tree, truly deserving of the name Nanjamonja.

写真は島根県の松江市にある「松江城山公園」で撮ったナンジャモンジャの花です。ナンジャモンジャはれっきとした花の名前です。島根県のホームページに「初夏な雪？『なんじゃもんじゃ』(松江城山公園)」と言う見出しで、「心地よい陽気。心も弾み、花を愛でに外出したくなりますね。今回は、桜の散ったこの時期の松江城山公園を真っ白な花で彩る『なんじゃもんじゃ』について紹介します。」とナンジャモンジャを紹介しています。また、岐阜県の土岐市を走る県道66号線は「東濃なんじゃもんじゃ街道」と呼ばれていて、この街道はナンジャモンジャの並木が植えられています。しかし、実はナンジャモンジャという名の木は本当は存在しないのです。どの地域でも、クスノキやボダイジュ、ニレやクロガネモチなど、よくわからない木や見慣れない木を「ナンジャモンジャ」と名付けて呼んでいたことがその地域の言い伝えや文献から分かっています。その中でも「ナンジャモンジャ」と呼ばれる代表的な木として名が挙がるのが「ヒトツバタゴ（一葉タゴ）」という木です。写真の木もヒトツバタゴです。ヒトツバタゴは、最近ではあちらこちらで見受けられるようになりましたが、もともと長野県・岐阜県・愛知県にまたがる「木曽川流域」と長崎県の「対馬市」といった、限られたエリアのみで自生していました。ヒトツバタゴはそのように希少種としても有名です。環境省が発行するレッドリストでは絶滅危惧Ⅱ類に指定されているほか、国および一部の県では天然記念物として指定されています。それほど珍しい木なので、まさしくナンジャモンジャなのです。

On May 1st, known as May Day, it is celebrated as the festival of workers worldwide. Also referred to as International Workers’ Day, it entails marches and gatherings where workers demonstrate the power of unity and demand labor improvements. In Japan, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (known as RENGO) holds a central assembly in Tokyo and regional assemblies across the country. While many countries observe it as a holiday, OECD member states such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Denmark do not. Although there have been discussions about making it a holiday in Japan, it has not been enacted due to concerns about overlapping with other holidays, such as forming the ‘Golden Week’ around this time and the existence of ‘Labor Thanksgiving Day’ on November 23rd. In Japan, there was an active labor movement shortly after the war, but in recent years, the significance of May Day has diminished as the nation all has become a salaried workforce.

５月１日はメーデーと言って、世界各地で行われる労働者の祭典の日です。国際労働者の日とも呼ばれます。労働者が団結の威力を示し、労働改善を要求するために行進や集会などを行います。日本でも、代表的な労働者団体である日本労働組合総連合会（連合）が、東京で中央大会を、各地で地方大会を開いています。多くの国は祝日ですが、OECD(経済協力開発機構)加盟国では、日本をはじめとしてイギリス、スイス、デンマークは祝日ではありません。日本でも祝日制定の動きはありましたが、この日の前後に祝日が幾つかあって、いわゆる「ゴールデンウィーク」が形成されていたり、11月23日に「勤労感謝の日」があるのでダブるのではないかと言う意見があったりで祝日制定には至りませんでした。日本も戦後間もなくは労働運動も活発でしたが、近年は、国民総サラリーマン化の時代になり、メーデーの意義も薄れています。

The Southern Japan Newspaper reports that the marronnier flowers, adorning the streets of early summer, are now in full bloom. When we hear ‘marronnier trees,’ we immediately think of the famous Champs-Élysées, a tree-lined avenue stretching approximately 3 km from the Place de la Concorde with its obelisk to the Place Charles de Gaulle with the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Marronnier flowers, much like cherry blossoms in Japan, represent Paris. While still relatively rare in Japan, they are gradually gaining popularity.
One immediately recalls ‘Under the Marronnier Tree’ upon hearing about marronnier trees. This song, a masterpiece of Japanese continental tango, became wildly popular when Matsushima Utako sang it in 1937. Originally intended to be performed by a band at a comfort meeting for families of soldiers departing for war at Asakusa Public Hall during wartime, the arrival of the band was delayed due to repeated air raid warnings. In a rush, someone said to Matsushima, ‘You used to be a music teacher, right? You can play the piano. Play and sing.’ Thus, Matsushima performed an impromptu solo performance. The audience was enchanted by the rare sight of a solo performance at the time, combined with Matsushima’s heartfelt singing. Since then, ‘Under the Marronnier Tree’ became the first solo song in the world of popular music.
Matsushima Utako hailed from Yanai City in Yamaguchi Prefecture and participated in NHK’s Red and White Song Battle from the first to the eleventh editions (missing the second edition due to a traffic accident). Matsushima Utako was also the first to perform ‘Desert of the Moon.’ In Yanai City, there is the ‘Matsushima Utako Memorial Hall,’ and in its garden stands a monument dedicated to ‘Under the Marronnier Tree.’

南日本新聞に初夏の街路を彩るマロニエの花が見頃を迎えていると報じています。マロニエといえば、パリの、オベリスクのあるコンコルド広場から、凱旋門のあるシャルル・ド・ゴール広場までを結ぶ全長約３kmのシャンゼリゼが、マロニエの並木道として有名です。マロニエの花は、日本のサクラのようにパリを代表する花です。日本ではまだ見かけることも少ない花ですが、徐々に広がりつつあります。
マロニエと聞くとすぐ思い出すのが『マロニエの木陰』です。昭和12（1937）に松島詩子が歌ってたちまち大流行した、和製コンチネンタル・タンゴの傑作です。戦時下の浅草公会堂で出征家族の慰安会で歌うことになっていたこの歌が、相次ぐ空襲警報でバンドマンたちの到着が遅れ、「松島さん、元音楽教師だからピアノが弾けるだろ。弾いて歌ってよ。」と急遽弾き語りになりました。当時としては珍しい弾き語りと、松島の心に染み入る歌唱力に会場は酔い痴れることになりました。以来、『マロニエの木陰』は歌謡界で最初の“弾き語り”の歌になったわけです。
松島詩子は山口県柳井市の出で、NHKの紅白歌合戦に第１回から第11回まで(第2回は交通事故で欠場)連続出場しました。『月の砂漠』を最初に歌ったのも松島詩子です。柳井市には「松島詩子記念館」があり、その庭には「マロニエの木陰」の歌碑が建っています。

It seems that this year, the blooming of wisteria is two weeks earlier everywhere. The same goes for Yamafuji, which can often be seen in the mountainous areas of Kyushu and Shikoku, but usually it is in full bloom around the holidays in May, but this year it seems to be in full bloom early. The wisteria seen at famous wisteria spots across the country is mostly cultivated wisteria, but the wild wisteria native to Japan can only be found in remote areas. The photo was taken during a pilgrimage to the Shikoku 88 Temples about five or six years ago during the Golden Week in May, and it was blooming abundantly, covering the surrounding trees like a wisteria waterfall. Cultivated wisteria is well-maintained everywhere and elegant, but wild wisteria has the ruggedness of a wild warrior. Its fragrance is so intense that it surpasses that of cultivated wisteria, but its unique sweet scent softens its intensity, almost rivaling the fragrance of roses. Humans have had a relationship with wisteria since the Jomon period, and its vines have been widely used, from buildings to furniture, furnishings, and clothing.

今年はフジの開花がどことも2週間は早いそうです。ヤマフジとて同じで、九州、四国当たりの山間部に多く見られるフジですが、いつもなら５月の連休当たりに満開になるのが、今年は早くから満開だそうです。各地のフジの名所で見られるフジは大概ノダフジですが、日本古来のヤマフジは人里離れた所にしか見られません。写真は5、6年前の５月の連休に、四国八十八か所巡りをした時に撮ったものですが、辺りの木々を覆い尽くす様に咲いていました。まるでフジの瀑布といった光景です。ノダフジはどことも手入れが行き届き、優雅で上品ですが、ヤマフジは野武士の様な逞しさを持っています。香りはノダフジを上回るほど強烈ですが、独特の甘い香りがその強烈さを和らげて、バラの香りを凌ぐ程です。人とは縄文時代からの関わりで、蔓は建物から家具、調度品、衣服に至るまで広く利用されました。

I received the horse mackerel from a fisherman for 500 yen. At first, they said they didn’t need money and offered it to me for free, but I felt bad about that, so I insisted on leaving 500 yen even though they refused. The horse mackerel looks delicious with its fresh, fatty appearance right after being caught. There are plenty of butterburs growing on the nearby mountain, still a bit slender but soft and with a good butterbur flavor, so I picked only as much as I could eat for now. While they say ‘dumplings over flowers,’ both cherry blossoms and wisteria are delightful, yet nothing beats the freshness of spring food. They often say appetite peaks in autumn, but I think it’s not a bad idea to call it ‘appetite of spring.’ I’m contemplating how to cook the horse mackerel and butterburs today, but I’m also worried about not gaining weight.

アジは釣り人から500円で譲っていただきました。最初はお金はいらない、あげるよと言っていただいのですが、それでは申し訳ない、500円だけでも取って下さいと500円を無理やり置いてきました。釣りたての見るからに脂の乗った美味しそうなアジです。フキは近くの山に沢山できていて、まだ少し細目ですが、これも柔らかくてしっかりフキの味が楽しめますので、とりあえず食べられる分だけ摘み取りました。花より団子ではないですが、サクラも良し、フジも良しですが、やはり春の新鮮な食べ物には代え難いですね。食欲の秋とはよく言いますが、これは片手落ちで、食欲の春と言っても決して悪くないと思います。今日のアジとフキをどう調理しようか思案中ですが、また太らないか、そのほうも心配です。

I received a photo of Tachitsubo violets from Akita. Unlike common violets, which have leaves directly from the roots, Tachitsubo violets grow stems that rise above the ground, and when the stems elongate, leaves sprout there, which is their characteristic feature. Additionally, their flowers are a light purple color. Tachitsubo violets are widely distributed from Hokkaido to the Ryukyu Islands, and outside Japan, from southern Korea to southern China. They can be found in various places such as fields, mountain forests, roadside in urban areas, parks, suburban groves, and even along irrigation channels. Although common violets are more dominant in urban areas, Tachitsubo violets are considered the largest among Japanese violets in terms of population. Even in Tokyo’s well-known Mount Takao, where many types of violets are found, Tachitsubo violets are overwhelmingly abundant. Near my home, I often see Akane violets, which have a reddish-dark purple color. It’s quite endearing to see them bravely blooming in small gaps between concrete along roadsides or in tiny crevices in sidewalks made of bricks.

秋田からタチツボスミレの写真がとどきました。タチツボスミレは、葉が根から直接でる普通のスミレと違って、成長すると茎は地表に伸びて立ち上がり、茎が伸びると葉もそこにつくようになるのが特徴です。また花の色も薄紫色をしています。タチツボスミレは、 北海道から琉球列島、国外では朝鮮南部、中国南部まで広く分布し、野原から山林内、市街地の道端、公園、郊外の雑木林、畦道まで広い範囲で見られるます。都会ではタチツボスミレよりスミレの方が優勢とされますが、個体数では本種が日本産スミレ中最大との評もあります。スミレの種類が多いので知られる東京の高尾山でも圧倒的にタチツボスミレが多いそうです。我が家の近くでよく目にするのはアカネスミレで、赤みがかった濃い紫色をしています。道路脇のコンクリートの隙間とか、歩道のレンガのちょっとした隙間に、健気に咲いているのが何ともいじらしいです。

The cherry blossom represents spring, but the wisteria, too, blooms abundantly across Japan, rivaling the cherry blossom. The history of wisteria cultivation is ancient, and expressions admiring garden wisteria can be found even in the Manyoshu anthology. There are two main types of wisteria: Yamafuji and Nodafuji. Yamafuji is native to Japan, and at some point in history, Nodafuji likely originated from Yamafuji. The way their vines twist differs: Yamafuji vines twist counterclockwise, while Nodafuji vines twist clockwise. Most wisteria seen today are Nodafuji, so when people refer to wisteria, they usually mean Nodafuji. The name was given by Dr. Tomitaro Makino, who named it after seeing wisteria in Nishi Ward, Osaka City. Wisteria attractions are now found throughout Japan, attracting foreign tourists just like cherry blossoms. The great wisteria tree at Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, often likened to the “Tree of Souls” from the movie “Avatar,” was selected as one of CNN’s “10 Dream Destinations for 2014” from Japan in January 2014. The popularity of wisteria among foreigners surged with the spread of images of the wisteria tunnel at Kawachi Fujien in Kitakyushu City on the web. Other famous wisteria attractions include the “Ushijima Wisteria” in Saitama Prefecture known for its nine-meter-long wisteria, the “Wisteria Shelf Road” in Hidakagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture, which boasts the longest wisteria shelf in Japan and Fuji in Wake Town, Okayama Prefecture, which has the largest variety in Japan. There are countless other famous wisteria spots throughout Japan.

サクラは春を代表する花ですが、フジもサクラに負けず、日本全国に咲き乱れます。藤栽培の歴史も古く、庭の藤を愛でる言葉は万葉集にもみられます。フジにはヤマフジとノダフジがあり、ヤマフジは日本原産で、いつの時代にか、多分ヤマフジからノダフジが生まれました。蔓の巻き方が、ヤマフジは左巻き(時計の反対巻き)、ノダフジは右巻きです。今見られるフジはほとんどがノダフジで、フジと言えば普通はノダフジを指します。命名者は牧野富太郎博士で、大阪市の西区にあるフジを見て名付けました。今や藤の名所は全国至る所にあり、サクラと同様、外国人観光客で溢れかえっています。栃木県にある「あしかがフラワーパーク」の大藤の木は、映画「アバター」に登場する「魂の木」に似ていると称賛され、2014年1月にCNNに、「2014年の世界の夢の旅行先10カ所」に日本から唯一選出されたり、北九州市にある「河内藤園」のフジのトンネルの様子がウェブ上で拡散されたことなどで、外国人人気が一気に高まりました。そのほか、埼玉県の「九尺フジ」で知られる「牛島のフジ」とか、和歌山県日高川町の日本一長い「フジ棚ロード」、日本一種類の多い岡山県和気町のフジ、などなどフジの名所は数え上げたらきりがありません。

During the late Muromachi period, at its peak, Negoro-ji Temple, located in Iwade City, Wakayama Prefecture, formed a major religious center with as many as 450 (some sources claim 2,700) priests’ residences. It held a vast temple estate of 720,000 koku and boasted a military force of over 10,000 warrior monks known as the Negoro Warriors. The sacred precinct of Negoro-ji, including the picturesque Seiten Pond, reflects the fallen cherry blossoms this year. Negoro-ji was founded by Kakuban, a monk from Mount Koya in the late Heian period. Kakuban, considered a learned monk following in the footsteps of Kukai, attempted to revive the faith at Mount Koya, which had declined at the time, and restore the teachings of the founder, Kukai. However, he was unable to achieve this and was driven out by the followers at Mount Koya, leading him to establish Negoro-ji at its current location. Subsequently, Negoro-ji grew into a major religious center as described earlier. In the era of the Warring States, not only warrior clans but also temples possessed numerous warrior monks. At that time, it was a monk of Negoro-ji who noticed the newly arrived matchlock gun on Tanegashima Island. They brought back the matchlock gun from Tanegashima and, using it as a model, had Sakai craftsmen produce the first matchlock gun in Japan. The matchlock gun quickly spread among the Warring States warlords, ultimately changing the course of Japanese history.

室町時代の末期の最盛期には坊舎450（一説には2,700とも）を数え、一大宗教都市を形成し、寺領72万石を数え、1万余の根来衆と呼ばれる僧兵軍団を擁した根来寺は、和歌山県岩戸市にあります。その名勝聖天池に浮かぶ聖天堂は、今年も散ったサクラが浮かんだ池にその影を映しています。根来寺は、平安時代後期の高野山の僧で、空海以来の学僧と言われた覚鑁(かくばん)が、当時堕落していた高野山の信仰を建て直し、宗祖・空海の教義を復興しようと努めたが果たせず、高野山内の衆徒に追い立てられる様に今の地に移り、立てた寺です。その後、根来寺は上にも述べた様に一大宗教都市を築き上げます。世は戦国時代で武士集団だけでなく、寺院も多くの僧兵を擁しました。当時、種子島に伝来したばかりの火縄銃に目を付けたのが根来寺の僧でした。その火縄銃を種子島から持ち帰り、それを手本に、堺の鍛治職人に日本で最初の火縄銃を作らせました。火縄銃は瞬く内に戦国武将にも広がり、日本の歴史を変える事になるのです。

In the garden of an abandoned house in what is known as a marginally viable community, Shakunage (the rhododendrons) bloom gracefully. Carefully tended, their blossoms evoke memories of the kindness of the owner. The buzzing of bees breaks the silence of the surroundings. Shakunage is plant native not only to Nepal and Bhutan in the Asian continent but also to Japan. Introduced to the Western world from China by plant hunters in the mid-19th century, their beauty and grandeur astounded people of that time, leading to numerous hybridizations. Over 5000 horticultural varieties have been developed worldwide, becoming an indispensable part of Western gardens as flowering trees that adorn spring. Some of these varieties have been reintroduced to Asia and Japan, sometimes referred to as ‘Western Shakunage’ Compared to the native Japanese species, they grow faster and are easier to cultivate. Moreover, they boast vibrant colors and lavishness, earning them titles like the ‘Queen of Flowers’ or the ‘Queen of the Mountains.’

いわゆる限界集落の廃屋の庭にシャクナゲ(石楠花)が優雅に咲いています。よく手入れされ、主人の優しさが偲ばれる咲き様です。蜜蜂の羽音が辺りのしじまを破るかの様に響きます。シャクナゲは、ネパールやブータンなどのアジア大陸のほか、日本にも自生している植物です。シャクナゲの原種が19世紀中期、プラントハンターによって中国から西欧にもたらされ、その花の美しさと豪華さで当時の人々を驚嘆させ、数多くの交配が行われてきました。これまで世界各地で5000を超す園芸品種が作出され、西洋では春を彩る花木として庭に欠かせない存在となっています。こうした品種が再びアジアや日本にも導入され、日本では「西洋シャクナゲ」と呼ばれることもあります。日本に自生するニホンシャクナゲに比べ、生長も早く、ずいぶんと作りやすくなっています。さらに、非常に色鮮やかで豪華なものが多く、「花木の女王」または「山の女王」と呼ばれています。

At the northern tip of Osaka Castle, along the northern outer moat, lies the ‘Osaka Castle Peach Orchard.’ It opened in March 1999 and currently boasts approximately 200 peach trees of about 12 varieties. Among these peaches, there are fruit-bearing ones and flowering ones, but all the peaches here are of the frower-bearing variety. Early-blooming varieties like Yaguchi and Kanpaku start flowering from early to mid-March. Following them, varieties like Genpei, Terute, and Kikumomo bloom, allowing visitors to enjoy until mid-April, including late-blooming ones.
The Kikumomo currently in bloom here have a tree height ranging from 2m to 3m, with branches thinner than ordinary peaches, and the trees are compactly clustered. Leaves do not appear when the flowers bloom; they emerge after the flowers have faded, similar to cherry blossoms. Another name for them is ‘Genjiguruma’ (Genji’s carriage). Genjiguruma, also called Goshoguruma, originated as a pattern on kimonos, depicting carriage wheels. It evokes the refined world of The Tale of Genji and was used as a family crest for its aesthetic significance. Kikumomo is a flowering peach imbued with such an elegant atmosphere.
Peaches are said to have been introduced to Japan during the Yayoi period, and in the Heian period, the Peach Festival on March 3 became a tradition, and peach blossoms began to be admired. During the Edo period, there was active breeding for ornamental peach blossoms, and most of today’s horticultural varieties were developed during that time. Currently, there is not much new breeding being done. In this sense as well, the Edo period was quite prosperous and laid the foundation for subsequent Japan.

大阪城の北端、北外堀の袂に「大阪城桃園」があります。1999年3月に開園し、現在は約12種200本の桃の木が植えられています。桃には実桃と花桃がありますが、ここの桃は全て花桃です。早咲きの矢口や関白は、３月上旬～中旬ごろに花を咲かせます。その後、源平や照手、菊桃などが咲き、遅咲きを含めると4月中旬まで楽しむことができます。今咲いている菊桃は樹高が２m〜３mで枝は普通の桃より細く樹木はコンパクトにまとまります。葉は花が咲いているときには出ず、花が終わった後に出るのは桜と同じです。別名を「ゲンジグルマ(源氏車)」といいます。源氏車は御所車とも呼び、元々着物の柄で、車輪を文様化したものです。源氏物語の雅な世界観を連想させ、賞美的な意義によって家紋としても用いられました。菊桃はそんな雅の雰囲気を持った花桃です。桃は日本へは弥生時代に渡来したとされ、平安時代には3月3日の桃の節句を祝うようになり、モモの花が観賞されるようになりました。観賞用の花桃としては、江戸時代に盛んに品種改良が行われ、現在の園芸品種も江戸時代に作出されたものがほとんどです。現在、品種開発はあまり行われていません。こう言う意味でも、江戸時代はかなり豊かでその後の日本の礎になった事がわかります。