Komazawa University won a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the Hakone Ekiden, and while the excitement did not cool down, a letter from Izu about cherry blossoms.  It was a day when I could feel the beginning of the year and the arrival of spring.  The scenery of the year-end and New Year holidays has changed completely recently, but this year the change is unusual due to the influence of the coronavirus.  The number of first-time visitors to shrines and temples has dropped sharply, and the disappointment of nearby shops has been reported.  Meanwhile, Kawazu cherry blossoms have begun to bloom here and there.  Even though the winter production is yet to come, it’s really quick.  It is said that it is difficult to predict the flowering of Kawazu cherry blossoms until just before, but it seems that the flowering time from the beginning of February to the beginning of March will be earlier than usual.  We hope that Kawazu cherry blossoms, which have both the large flowers derived from Oshima cherry tree and the purple-red petal color derived from Kanhi cherry tree, will make everyone feel better.

箱根駅伝で駒澤大学が劇的な逆転優勝し、興奮冷めやらぬなか、伊豆からの桜便り。一年の始まりと春の到来を一気に感じる一日になりました。年末年始の風景も最近はすっかり様変わりはしましたが、今年はやはりコロナウイルスの影響でその変わり様は異常です。神社やお寺の初詣客も激減し、周辺のお店の落胆ぶりが報じられています。そんな中、河津桜がちらほら咲き始めたそうです。まだ冬本番はこれからと言うのに、なんとも気の早いこと。河津桜の開花予想は直前まで難しいとされていますが、例年の2月初旬～3月初旬の開花時期も早まりそうです。オオシマザクラ由来の大輪の花と、カンヒザクラ由来の紫紅の花弁の色を併せ持つ河津桜が、少しでも気分を晴れやかにしてくれればいいですね。