On the last day of November, I receive news of the first snow and the first frost from all over the country.  Even in Osaka, when you enter the mountains, the fields are frosty.  The sasanqua flowers that have begun to bloom also have a white frost border, and look like a lady wearing frills.  Sasanqua is so familiar that it is sung as “Sasanqua, Sasanqua, Blooming Road” even in nursery rhymes. Originally from Japan, it was introduced to Europe from Dejima in Nagasaki during the Edo period, and its Japanese name became the scientific name (Camellia sasanqua).  It will continue to bloom all winter, and it will be soothing to you from time to time.

11月も最後の日、全国から初雪、初霜の便りが届きます。大阪でも山間部に入ると田畑にも霜が降りています。咲き始めた山茶花にも霜の白い縁取りがされていて、フリルを纏った貴婦人の様です。童謡でも「さざんか　さざんか　咲いた道」と歌われているほど山茶花は身近な花です。日本原産で、江戸時代に長崎の出島からヨーロッパに伝わり、和名がそのまま学名（Camellia sasanqua）になった植物です。この冬中咲き続けて、折に触れ目にし、心を和ませてくれることでしょう。

Today 29th (Monday) was the coldest of the season.  It was the coldest in the season at more than half of the observation points nationwide, and it seems that the first frost and the first snow of the year were observed in various places such as Kyoto and Sendai.  The first frost in Sendai was two weeks later than normal, while Okayama was observed more than two weeks earlier, and it seems that the season has advanced at once.  Even so, the daytime is still warm and cheerful, and the winter cherry blossoms along the river are in bloom. There are only two days left in November, and the climate has been chaotic in recent years, but the annual event is definitely moving towards the year-end and New Year holidays.

今日29日(月)は今季一番の冷え込みになりました。全国の観測地点でも半数以上で今季一番の冷え込みになり、京都や仙台など各地で初霜や初氷が観測されたそうです。仙台の初霜は平年に比べて2週間も遅かったのに対し、岡山は2週間以上早い観測で、一気に季節が前進した様です。それでも昼間はまだまだポカポカ陽気の小春日和で、川沿いの冬桜が花を咲かせています。11月もあと二日、気候はこのところカオス状態ですが、年中行事は確実に年末年始に向けて動いています。

I sang about Kominka(an old folk house), but I’m not sure if it’s Kominka.  There is no clear definition of Kominka, but in general, a building built before the war and built in traditional Japanese architecture that does not use nails is called Kominka.  Focusing on its retro atmosphere and durability, the regeneration of Kominka has become a kind of boom.  No one lives in this Kominka where Pyracantha blooms in the garden. The splendid garden, where the flowers of the four seasons would have bloomed in the past, is overgrown with dead grass, and only the momentum of the pyracantha stands out.

古民家とは歌ったものの、果たして古民家なのかどうか定かではありません。古民家のはっきりした定義はありませんが、一般的には、戦前に建てられ、その建築方式が釘などを使わない伝統的日本建築で建てられた建物を古民家と言うそうです。そのレトロな雰囲気と耐久性に着目し、古民家再生が一種のブームになっています。ピラカンサが庭いっぱいに咲いたこの古民家も住んでいる人はいません。往時は四季の花々が咲いたであろう立派な庭は枯れ草が生い茂り、ピラカンサの勢いだけが目立ちます。

Speaking of Nanten(Nandina), I remember the round red can “Nandina throat lozenge”.  In addition, Nanten, which bears beautiful bright red fruits from late autumn to early winter, can be found everywhere and is an indispensable flower material for the New Year as a happy lucky charm.  The origin of Nanten is Japan and China, but it has been prized as a lucky tree because the sound of the name leads to “rolling through difficulties”, and it seemed that it had come to be planted in the house.  The flowering time of Nanten is from June to July, and white flowers come in bloom.  However, in general, Nanten is enjoyed by the red fruits and the change in the color of the leaves during the autumn leaves rather than enjoying the flowers that have bloomed, so the best time to see them is around October when the autumn leaves are beautiful and around November to February when they bear fruit.  It is almost always planted in the precincts of shrines and temples.

南天と言えば、丸い赤い缶の「南天のど飴」を思い浮かべます。また、晩秋から初冬にかけて真っ赤な美しい実を付けた南天はどこにでも見かけ、めでたい縁起物としてお正月にも欠かせない花材です。南天の原産地は日本や中国ですが、名前の音が「難を転ずる」に通じることから縁起木として珍重され、江戸時代になると火災除けとしても植えられるようになり、さらに魔除けとしても多くの家に植えられるようになったそうです。ナンテンの開花時期は6〜7月頃で、白い花を咲かせます。しかし、一般的にナンテンは開花した花を楽しむというよりも、赤い実や紅葉期の葉色の変化を楽しむため、見頃は、紅葉が美しい10月頃や、実を付ける11～２月頃とされています。神社やお寺の境内には必ずと言っていいほど植えられています。

About 20 minutes by train from Demachiyanagi Station of Kyoto Eizan Electric Railway to Kurama Station, there is a place called “Maple Tunnel” between Ichihara Station and Ninose Station (about 250m).  This section is surrounded by about 280 Iroha-momiji(Japanese maples) and O-momiji(Acer amoenum), and in early November, the color of the maples, which had been green first, begins to change little by little, and there is a sign of autumn.  In the middle of the autumn, the trees show various colors such as green, yellow, orange, and crimson, creating a vivid landscape with a mixture of leaf colors.  Furthermore, the trees continue to be dyed every day toward the end of the month, eventually becoming a crimson “maple tunnel”.  In the daytime, the powerful sights approaching both sides of the railroad track continue, and the voices of admiration from the passengers are constant.  At night, the illuminated autumn leaves are mixed with the images of the autumn leaves reflected from the car windows as well as behind the car window, and it looks like a kaleidoscope.

京都叡山電鉄の出町柳駅から鞍馬駅行きの列車で約20分、市原駅～二ノ瀬駅間(約250m)に「もみじのトンネル」と呼んでいる場所があります。 この区間はおよそ280本のイロハモミジ、オオモミジに囲まれ、11月上旬になるとこれまで緑であったモミジの色が少しづつ変わり始め、秋の気配が漂います。中旬になると緑、黄、橙、紅と様々な色づきを見せ、葉の色が混ざり合った鮮やかな風景となります。さらに、下旬に向けて日々木々は染まり続け、真紅の「もみじのトンネル」となります。昼間には 線路の両側に迫りくる迫力満点の光景が続き、乗客からの感嘆の声がしきりです。夜間はライトアップされた紅葉が車窓の向こうにはもちろん、車窓どうしに反射した紅葉が混じり合い、まるで万華鏡のような具合です。

The dead grass was frosted and shimmered in the morning sun, but now it has completely disappeared and my silhouette is casting a shadow.  The number of people infected with corona has decreased completely, and I was surprised at the large number of people on the holidays the other day, but I am glad that the liveliness is gradually returning.  A Christmas tree is already displayed in a nearby department store, and Christmas songs are playing.  This busyness is the same as usual, but this year I feel special.   I haven’t seen my grandchildren overseas for two years, but I would like to see them as soon as possible.

枯れた芝に霜が降り朝日にキラキラと煌めいていましたが、今はすっかり消えて、自分のシルエットが影を落としています。コロナ感染者数もすっかり減り、先日の祭日の人出の多さには驚きましたが、徐々に活気が戻ってきている事は嬉しい事です。近くのデパートにはもうクリスマスツリーが飾られ、クリスマスソングが流れています。この気忙しさは例年の事ですが、今年は格別な思いがします。海外にいる孫達とも二年は会っていませんが、出来るだけ早く会いたいものです。

The beauty of Kinkakuji Temple surrounded by the five colors of autumn leaves is exceptional.  It is said that the view seen from the south side of Kyoko Pond in front of Kinkakuji Temple is the most beautiful.  That’s right, Kyoko Pond was originally designed so that the Golden Pavilion is reflected on the surface of the lake from any angle.  However, when you look at Kinkakuji Temple from the back side, you can clearly see the golden phoenix placed on the top of the roof between the autumn leaves, and it looks like you are flying in the sky.  This phoenix is ​​said to be a symbol of the builder, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, who planned to seize the throne.  It seems that the fact that there was actually such a movement remains in historical fact.

五色の紅葉に囲まれた金閣寺の美しさはまた格別です。中でも金閣寺の前に広がる鏡湖池の南側から見た光景が一番美しいといわれています。それもそう、元々鏡湖池はどの角度から見ても金閣が湖面に映るように設計されてされているそうです。しかし、裏側から金閣寺を見ると、紅葉の間から屋根の天辺に据えられた金色の鳳凰がはっきり見え、まるで天空を飛翔している様です。この鳳凰には曰わくがあり、建造者の足利義満が皇位簒奪を画策した象徴だと言われてきました。実際にそう言う動きがあった事は史実にも残っているそうです。

Kabura(Turnip) is also called Kabu.  Originally it was called Kabura, and what the court wives of the Heian period used to call it a “O-kabu” came to be called Kabu after the “o” was removed.  Nowadays, it seems that more people call it Kabu than Kabura.  Kabura has  long been cultivated because white Kabura was the main and red Kabura was used for celebrations.  Yellow Kabura is mainly cultivated in Europe, and it wasn’t until the Meiji era that they came to Japan, and even now they are still unfamiliar in Japan, and can only be found at farm products direct sales offices.  Yellow Kabura has been cultivated mainly as feed for livestock in both Europe and Japan, but it has come to be added to recipes in the sense that it adds color.

カブラ(蕪)はカブとも言います。元々はカブラで、平安時代の宮廷女房達が「おカブ」と呼んでいたのが「お」が取れてカブとも言われる様になりました。今ではカブラと言うよりはカブと呼ぶ方が多いようです。カブラは昔から白カブラが主で赤カブラは祝い事に使うので栽培されてきました。黄カブラは主にヨーロッパで栽培されていて、日本に入ってきたのは明治時代になってからで、今でも日本ではまだ馴染みが薄く、農産物直売所などで見かける程度である。 黄カブラはヨーロッパでも日本でも主に家畜の飼料として栽培されてきましたが、色取りを添えると言う意味でレシピにも加えられる様になりました。

Kamikochi is a place where the bustle of summer seems like a lie.  The peaks of the Hotaka mountains are clearly visible against the clear blue sky.  The white spots in Dakesawa are also remnants of the remaining snow.  The peaks are lightly covered with the first snow.  The dry wind blows mercilessly on Japanese pampas grass.  The scenery of Kamikochi is really lonely, and there are a few people.

夏の賑わいが嘘の様な上高地です。透き通る様な青空をバックに穂高連峰の峰々がくっきりと浮かび出ています。岳沢の白点も残雪の名残り。峰々には薄く初雪が被さっています。身を切る様なから風が枯れススキに容赦なく吹き付けています。見かける人も三々五々、実に寂しい上高地の風景です。

In the fall, the trees are colored and fascinate people as much as or even more than the beauty of flowers.  This is the same regardless in all parts of the world.  However, it is said that Japan has the best beauty of autumn leaves.  It has a lot to do with Japan’s natural environment, especially the climate and terrain.  The environment such as temperature, moisture, and light is closely related to the vivid appearance of autumn leaves.  It is necessary that there is a large difference in temperature between day and night, that there is moderate humidity, and that ultraviolet rays are strong.  That is why even in Japan, the autumn colors are especially beautiful near mountain streams such as Nikko, Oirase, and Hakone.  The mechanism by which the trees turn red is the same in Japan and abroad.  However, we would like to pay attention to the importance of its beauty and strive to protect the natural environment in a sustainable manner.

秋になると木々が色づき、草花の美しさと同じかまたはそれ以上に人の心を魅了します。これは洋の東西を問わず同じです。しかし、秋の紅葉の美しさは日本が一番だと言われています。それは日本の自然環境、特に気候や地形が大いに関係します。紅葉が鮮やかに発現するためには、温度、水分、光などの環境が密接に関係します。昼夜の寒暖の差が大きいこと、適度の湿度があること、紫外線が強いことなど必要です。日本でも日光、奥入瀬(おいらせ)、箱根など山間部の渓流の近くで紅葉が美しいのは、そのためです。木々が紅葉するメカニズムは日本も外国も同じです。しかし、その美しさが一番であることの重要性に目を向け、サステナブルな自然環境保護に努めたいと思います。