The cherry blossoms around are already in full bloom. The full fledged flowers also bloomed from the buds of the little branch that grew from the trunk. It seems that the cherry blossoms are in full bloom nationwide, and we are gaining momentum for the new year starting tomorrow.  I sympathize with the students and students who are unable to attend the graduation and entrance ceremonies, but I hope that all of them will believe “inscrutable are the ways of heaven” and aim for a new leap forward.  High school baseball is about to end, and professional baseball has begun.  Corona is also worried about the signs of the fourth wave, but society as a whole is starting to move.  This momentum does not stop.  It seems that general intake of the vaccine has started, so it seems that we can get out of the fear of corona infection with a little more patience.  Under the bright sun, this summer we want to go out to the sea and mountains to the fullest.

辺りの桜はもう満開です。溢れんばかりの勢いで、幹から生え出たばかりの木の芽からも一人前の花を咲かせています。全国的にも桜は満開だそうで明日から始まる新年度に向けて勢いを付けています。卒業、入学の式典もままならない生徒・学生諸君には同情しますが、万事塞翁が馬を信じて新たな飛躍を目指して欲しいものです。高校野球も無事終わりそうだし、プロ野球も開幕しました。コロナも第４波の兆候が気掛かりですが、社会全体が動き出しています。この勢いは止まりません。ワクチンの一般摂取も始まったそうですから、もう少しの我慢でコロナ感染の恐怖から抜け出せそうです。明るい太陽のもと、今年の夏こそ、思いっきり海や山に繰り出したいものです。

The cherry blossom front has already reached Sendai.  Many of the cherry blossoms this year bloom earlier than normal, and Hiroshima and Matsue also bloom on the 11th, and it seems that there are many places that are the earliest in the history of observation.  The cherry blossoms form flower buds that bloom the following spring in summer, and the flower buds that have once entered dormancy are exposed to low temperatures for a certain period of time in winter and wake up from dormancy (breaking dormancy), and then grow and bloom as the temperature rises.  Very strong chills often flowed in this winter, but the temperature in November, which is the entrance to winter, was quite high, so the breaking dormancy was not enough, but the effect of the large high temperature in February and March was effective.  Due to its effect, this year’s flowering seems to be much earlier than normal.  This winter was the first weather condition also for Sakura.

桜前線は早くも仙台にまで達しています。今年のさくらは、平年よりかなり早い所が多くなっていて、11日に広島で開花し、松江も14日に咲くなど、観測史上最も早い開花となっている地点が多いようです。桜は夏に翌春咲く花芽を形成し、いったん休眠に入った花芽が、冬季に一定期間低温にさらされて休眠から覚め(休眠打破)、その後の気温上昇と共に成長して開花に至ります。今年の冬は、たびたび非常に強い寒気が流れ込みましたが、冬の入り口である11月の気温がかなり高かったため、休眠打破は鈍かったのですが、２月３月の大幅な高温の影響が大きいため、今年の開花は平年よりかなり早くなったようです。桜にとってもこの冬は初めて経験する気象状況であったわけです。

The winter fireworks of Lake Kawaguchi, which had been postponed in the corona, blossomed even in March.  It’s hard to say winter fireworks in March, but it’s still snowing around Lake Kawaguchi, so let’s call it a remnant of winter fireworks.  The image of a fireworks display is that you wear a yukata and watch it while fanning it with a fan, but now that fireworks displays are held somewhere throughout the year, fireworks are not a seasonal word for haiku.  From April, there will be a lot of fireworks festivals nationwide.  At one point, there were many places where the displays was canceled due to the influence of Corona, but it seems that it will be resumed in most places due to financial reasons and the limits of patience.  Since fireworks also had a role of exterminating evil spirits, I hope that the fireworks will also get rid of corona.

コロナで延期されていた河口湖の冬花火が３月に入って花開きました。３月に入って冬花火でもありませんが、河口湖周辺はまだ雪がぱらつきますから、冬花火の名残りということにしましょう。花火大会といえば、浴衣を着て団扇で煽ぎながらのイメージですが、今では花火大会も一年中どこかで開かれていますから、花火は季語になりません。４月からも全国の花火大会が目白押しです。一時はコロナの影響で中止する所も多かったですが、経済的な理由や我慢も限界と言うことでほとんどの所で再開されるようです。花火にも厄祓いの役割があった訳ですから、コロナも退治してくれることを願います。

Speaking of firefly squid, Toyama Bay is famous.  During the spawning season from March to May, millions of firefly squids rush near the coast and shine in the dark night.  This is known as a rare phenomenon that is unprecedented in the world, and it is also called toyama squid at the same time as firefly squid in English.  In Toyama Bay, especially from the right bank of the Joganji River to Uozu City, it is designated as a national special natural monument as the “firefly squid group sea surface”.  It seems that the unique terrain of Toyama Bay, which suddenly deepens from the coast, contributes.  Firefly squids live at a depth of about 200 m during the day, but they surfaced all at once at night due to spawning, and some of them were launched into shallow water and sounded like “Kyun, Kyun”, invite melancholy.  In order to prevent its rapid decay and parasite worms, it can be boiled in boiling water as soon as it is landed, or it can be frozen or refrigerated and lined up in food supermarkets and fresh fish stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area, etc.

ホタルイカといえば富山湾が有名です。３～５月の産卵期には海岸近くまで数百万匹のホタルイカが押し寄せて闇夜に光り輝きます。これは世界でも例のない珍しい現象として知られており、英名でもfirefly squidと同時にtoyama squidとも呼ばれます。富山湾の中でも特に常願寺川右岸から魚津市にかけては「ホタルイカ群遊海面」として国の特別天然記念物に指定されています。海岸から急に深くなる富山湾独特の地形が寄与しているようです。ホタルイカは日中水深200ｍ前後の所に生息していますが、産卵のため夜一斉に浮上し、中には浅瀬に打ち上げられ「キューン、キューン」という音を出して鳴いているようにも聞こえ、哀愁を誘います。腐敗が早いのと寄生虫を防ぐ為、水揚げするとすぐに熱湯で茹でるか、冷凍・冷蔵で首都圏などの食品スーパーマーケットや鮮魚店に並べられます。

The front of the station, which used to be a dull landscape a long time ago, has changed completely.  In front of many shops under the overpass, there is a small but well-maintained flowerbed.  Now, poppies and tulips are planted based on Orychophragmus violaceus, and the name plate of “Ekimae Kadan Best Ten(Flowerbed in front of the station to be honored)” is proudly erected.  Seasonal flowers are planted here, and the illuminations shine on summer and winter nights.  It’s all managed by volunteers.  This is a normal landscape for young people, but for those who have lived in Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa, the transition in front of the station is also an emotional landscape.

ひと昔前は殺風景な駅前も今ではすっかり様変わり。高架下に沢山の店が立ち並ぶ前には狭いながらも小綺麗に手入れされた花壇があります。今は、オオアラセイトウをベースにポピー、チューリップが植えられ、「駅前花壇ベストテン」の銘板が誇らかに立てられています。ここには四季折々の花が植えられ、夏や冬の夜にはイルミネーションが輝きます。すべてボランティアの人達が管理しているそうです。若い人達にはこれが普通の風景でしょうが、昭和、平成、令和を生きてきた者にとっては、この駅前の変遷は感慨深い風景でもあります。

The origin of Tsutaba-Unran(Kenilworth Ivy) is from the Mediterranean coast to West Asia, and it came to Japan in the Taisho era for decorative plants.  It will take root so that it sticks to the rocky area with spring water in the highlands.  It is a vine with leaves that resemble vines, and its flowers resemble Un-Ran(Linaria), hence the name.  It blooms in the highlands in summer, but in the lowlands it blooms all year round.  It is cultivated as a material for gardening and park ground covers.  Furthermore, it has become wild and can be seen growing naturally in small gaps such as stone walls and roadsides near houses, lawns in housing complexes, and concrete blocks on roads. It’s a small flower about the size of the tip of your thumb, and it doesn’t stand out in the distance, but when you look closer, it’s a lovely flower.

ツタバウンラン(蔦葉海蘭)の原産地は地中海沿岸～西アジアで、日本へは観賞用として大正時代に渡来しました。高地の湧き水のある岩場にへばり付くように根を張って行きます。葉が蔦に似ている蔓性の植物で、花は海蘭に似ているのでこの名が付きました。高地では夏に咲きますが低地では一年を通して花を咲かせます。現在でもガーデニングや公園のグランドカバーなどの素材として栽培されています。更に、それが野生化して、人家付近の石垣や道端、団地の芝生、道路のコンクリートブロックなどちょっとした隙間などでも自生しているのが見られます。親指の先くらいの小さな花で遠目には目立ちませんが、近寄って見ると何とも愛らしい花です。

In December 1998, eight objects of temples, facilities, historic sites, natural monuments, etc. were registered on the World Heritage List as “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”. Tobihino spreads out in front of one of them, “Kasugayama Primeval Forest”.  In ancient times, it was also called Kasugano, and from its spacious lawn square, you can overlook the mountains such as Mt. Wakakusa, Mt. Kasuga, and Mt. Takamado.  The scenery rich in seasonal colors is really beautiful, and the scenery where deer, the sacred beast of Kasuga Taisha, are scattered in twos and threes and eating the lawn is really peaceful.  Now, the Japanese andromeda trees are blooming around the Kasuga primeval forest.  Japanese andromeda trees contain toxic components such as Japanese andromeda, Japanese andromeda purpurin, and Japanese andromeda, which have “Japanese andromeda” on their heads, and are often planted in forests that are easily damaged by deer.

1998年12月「古都奈良の文化財」として世界遺産リストに８つの施設・史跡・天然記念物が登録されました。その中の「春日山原始林」の前に飛火野が広がっています。古くは春日野とも呼ばれ、その広々とした芝生広場からは、若草山、春日山、高円山といった山々が一望できます。季節ごとの色合いに富んだ風景が実に美しく、春日大社の神獣である鹿が三々五々散らばって芝生を食べている風景は実にのどかです。今はその春日原生林を囲む様に馬酔木が花を咲かせています。馬酔木には、アセボトキシン、アセボプルプリン、アセボインと言った、頭に「アセボ」を付けた有毒成分が含まれていて、鹿などによる食害を受け易い森林にはよく植えられています。

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the moat of Osaka Castle.  The plum blossoms in the plum garden have passed, but they are still in bloom.  The flower peaches of peach garden bloom at the same time as the cherry blossoms, and the chrysanthemum-peach bloom last.  However, due to the recent climate change, the order is out of order, and plums, cherry blossoms, and peaches are blooming freely.  Just now , when you go around Osaka Castle, you can see all the flowers.  There are two main types of peaches, edible peaches and cultivars of flower peaches.  Flower peaches are in bloom in the peach garden of Osaka Castle, and the buds of edible peaches have just begun to swell on the farm in southern Osaka.  Peach was the earliest to be introduced to Japan, and it was not until the Edo period that flower peaches became popular as a horticultural species, and most of the existing flower peaches were born in this period.  Chrysanthemum-peach is a kind of flower peach, and as the name suggests, it looks like a chrysanthemum blooming on a tree.  Taiko Hideyoshi would have been pleased to see this cherry blossom.

大阪城のお堀ばたは桜が満開です。梅園の梅も盛りは過ぎましたがまだ咲き残っています。桃園の花桃は桜と同時位に咲き、菊桃は最後に咲きます。しかし最近の気候変動の影響で、順序もバラバラ、梅も桜も桃も好き勝手に咲いています。今は大阪城を一巡するとどの花も見られる状態です。桃は大きく分けて２種類あり、食用の実桃と園芸品種の花桃に分けられます。大阪城の桃園に咲いているのは花桃で、実桃は大阪南部の農園でまだ蕾が膨らみ始めたばかりです。桃はいちばん早くから日本に移入され、その内、花桃が園芸種として盛んになったのは江戸時代になってからで、今ある花桃のほとんどはこの時代に生まれました。菊桃は花桃の一種で、名前の通り、まるで木に咲いた菊の様です。太閤さんが見たらきっと喜ぶでしょう。

People say “Happiness dwells over the mountain far to wander “
Alas, and I went in the crowd of the others
I came back with my eyes wet
People say “Happiness dwells over themountains far,
far away over there.”

Needless to say, it is Carl Hermann Busse’s “Over the Mountains “.  This poem, recorded in Bin Ueda’s “Kaicho-on” has been far more popular in Japan than in Carl Hermann Busse’s homeland Germany.  I think it depends largely on the translation of Bin Ueda.  The words chosen as Shichigocho captured the hearts of the Japanese people.  The admiration for the traditional Japanese wandering poet, followed by Noin Houshi, Saigyo, and Matsuo Basho, and the emptiness drawn from the impermanence shook my heart.  When I go on a trip alone, when I come across a scene like the one in the picture, I think of this poem and another one, “How many mountains and rivers I need to cross Before I get to a land where loneliness never prevails? I’m prepared for this journey just as I was yesterday”.  This tanka by Bokusui Wakayama is also a poem inspired by “Over the Mountains”.

山のあなたの空遠く
「幸(さいわい)」住むと人のいふ
臆(ああ)、われひとと尋(と)めゆきて
涙さしぐみかへりきぬ
山のあなたになお空遠く
「幸」住むと人のいふ

言わずと知れたカール・ブッセの「山のあなた」です。上田敏の『海潮音』に収録されたこの詩はカール・ブッセの祖国ドイツよりも日本の方がはるかに人口に膾炙しました。ひとえに上田敏の名訳に依るところが大きいと思います。七五調と選ばれた言葉が日本人の心を深く捉えました。能因法師、西行、松尾芭蕉と続く日本の伝統的な漂白詩人に対する憧れと、無常観から引き出された虚しさが胸を揺するのです。ひとり旅に出た時、写真の様な光景に出くわした時に浮かぶのがこの詩と、もうひとつ「幾山河越えさり行かば寂しさの終てなむ国ぞ今日も旅ゆく」です。若山牧水のこの短歌も「山のあなた」に触発されて生まれた詩です。

There is a small flower garden beside the footpath between rice paddies.  Until a few days ago, the buds of irises were tightly closed, but they opened as if to match the declaration of cherry blossoms.  The cherry blossoms are still one-tenth in bloom, but the irises are in full bloom.  Normally, irises bloom when the cherry blossoms begin to fall, but it seems that such an order has disappeared.  Such as the declaration of cherry blossoms is the fastest since the start of observation, everything seems to have entered an era of great change.

畦道の傍に小さな花園があります。数日前までは蕾を固く閉じていたのですが、桜の開花宣言に合わせるかの様に花を開きました。桜は一分咲きといったところですが、アヤメはすっかり開花しています。例年なら、桜が散り始めた頃にアヤメが花開くのですが、もうその様な秩序は無くなったようです。桜の開花宣言も観測開始以来最速といった所ばかりですから、何もかもが大変革の時代に突入した様です。