落ち鮎を 白鷺待つや 秋の瀬に

Autumn is finally near at hand. A large egret stands in the clear stream flowing into Lake Biwa without making a slight movement.  I even feel the air of dignity with the standing figure.  Immediately take a picture with my smartphone, search with Google Lens, and it’s a Daisagi(Great Egret).  Some herons have feathers from gray to white and black, and some herons change color depending on the season.  Great egrets, intermediate egrets, little egrets, and cattle egrets with white feathers are collectively called egrets.  This Daisagi is aiming for the sweetfish that going down the river after they grew up in Lake Biwa, went up  the river and finished spawning.

秋もいよいよ押し詰まりました。琵琶湖に流れ込む清流に大きな白鷺が微動だにせずにすっくと立っています。その立ち姿には風格さえ感じます。早速スマホで写真に撮り、Google Lens で検索したら、ダイサギです。サギには羽根の色が灰色から白、黒のものがあり、また季節により色が変わるものもあます。そのうち羽根が白いダイサギやチュウサギ、コサギ、アマサギはまとめて白鷺ともよびます。琵琶湖で育った鮎が川を遡上し、産卵を終えて川を下る落ち鮎をこのダイサキはじっと狙っているのです。

クリスマス ツリーで忙(せわ)しく 人の波

Good news came in from the morning.  It is news that Shohei Ohtani of the American Major League has been elected as the Most Valuable Player of the Season (MVP) of the League with a full vote.  It is said that the Japanese player has won the award for the second time since Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners in 2001, and the election with a full vote is the 19th person since Harper of the Nationals at that time in 2015.  His greatness is not only the excellence of his skill as a professional baseball player, but also his dignity as a human being.  The truth of his dignity can be seen in a little gesture that anyone can do, not in a spectacular gesture.  It is a pleasure to get the world’s attention to Japan and to the Japanese people through him,  and we would like to make a noteworthy response.

朝から嬉しいニュースが飛び込んできました。アメリカ大リーグの大谷翔平選手がア・リーグの今季最優秀選手(MVP)に満票で選出されたと言うニュースです。日本選手の受賞は2001年のマリナーズのイチロー以来2人目で、満票での選出は15年の当時ナショナルズのハーパー以来19人目だそうです。彼の素晴らしさは、プロ野球選手としての技量の卓越性だけでなく、人間としての品格の高さです。目を見張る様な仕草にではなく、誰にでもできるちょっとした仕草の中に彼の品格の本当が見抜けます。彼を通して日本にそして日本人に対する世界の目が向けられることは喜ばしいことだし、それに恥じない対応をしたいものです。

いにしえも 心癒すや 長谷の秋

Hase Temple is located on the hillside of Mt. Hase overlooking the Hase Highway that connects Yamato and Ise.  From the end of April to the beginning of May, more than 150 kinds of peony, which is said to be 7,000 stocks, are in full bloom, and this temple has been called “Flower Temple” for a long time.  It also appears in many classical literature such as “Makura-Soshi(Pillow Soshi”, “Genji Monogatari,” and “Sarashina Diary.”  Above all, the “Sarashina Diary” describes in detail the state of Hase-Temple worship of women in the aristocratic society at that time.  It is estimated to have been built in the first half of the 8th century during the Nara period, but the exact time and circumstances of its construction are unknown.  Perhaps this had been also a sacred place from long ago before Buddhism was introduced, and Buddhist culture was overlaid on it.

長谷寺は大和国と伊勢国を結ぶ初瀬街道を見下ろす初瀬山の中腹に建っています。4月下旬から5月上旬は150種類以上、7,000株といわれる牡丹が満開になり、当寺は古くから「花の御寺」と称されてきました。また、『枕草子』『源氏物語』『更科日記』など多くの古典文学にも登場します。中でも『更科日記』には、当時の貴族社会の女性達の長谷寺信仰の様子が詳しく書かれています。創建は奈良時代の8世紀前半と推定されていますが、創建の詳しい時期や事情は不明です。多分ここも、仏教伝来の遥か昔からの聖地で、その上に仏教文化が被さったのでしょう。

古民家で 篠笛聞くや 秋愁い(あきおもい)

Uda City, located in the northeastern part of Nara Prefecture, is mostly a forest area.  There was a Shinobue concert at an old folk house there.  Even in late autumn, the temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius at night.  The heater that doubles as a light is stylish.  Customers in winter costumes are listening to the high-pitched performance of the Shinobue.  In the autumn that reminds me, I will blend in with the songs that flow various thoughts.  Some customers are dabbing their eyes. While the high-pitched but melancholy tone was tearing tore the night’s silence, it’s getting late at night.

奈良県の東北部に位置する宇陀市は市と言ってもほとんどが山林地帯。そこの古民家で篠笛の演奏会がありました。晩秋とは言え、夜ともなれば気温は5度以下。明かりを兼ねた暖房器が洒落ています。冬装束の客達が甲高く響く篠笛の演奏にじっと耳を傾けています。物思わせる秋、様々な思いが流れる曲に溶け込んでいきます。目頭を抑えている客もいます。甲高くも哀愁を帯びた音色が夜のしじまを引き裂きながら夜は更けていきました。

心浮く 銀杏落ち葉の 夜明け道

Fallen leaves of ginkgo are piled up on the road that has not yet dawned, illuminating the road much brighter than the light of the streetlight.  My heart dances so much that I forget about the cold morning.  After mid-November, a big Christmas tree is already displayed in the plaza inside the large supermarket, and I feel busy at the end of the year.  The infection of Corona Will, which had been raging for two years, has subsided like a lie, and I hope that the New Year will continue as it is.

まだ明けやらぬ道に銀杏の落ち葉が降り積もり、街灯の明かりよりよほど明るく道を照らし出しています。朝冷えも忘れるほど心が踊ります。11月も半ばを過ぎ、大型スーパーの店内広場にはもう大きなクリスマスツリーが飾られていて、年末の気忙しさを感じます。2年間吹き荒れていたコロナウイルの感染も嘘のように収まり、どうかこのまま新年を迎えられればと祈る気持ちです。

菊の香が 滲みて嬉しや 七五三

Several pairs of parents and children was visiting a small shrine nearby with “七五三(Shichigosan) celebration”.  It’s a scene that doesn’t change at any time.  On both sides of the hall of worship, there are many fine chrysanthemum pots made of Sanbon-sitate(triple cordon). The scent of chrysanthemums smells even to me, who is aware of the decline in my sense of smell. Shichigosan is said to be based on three rituals that have been held in the palace since the Heian period.  In those days when the mortality rate was very high, children were treated as “of God (children of God) until the age of seven” and were recognized as the first to be full-fledged at the age of seven.  In the Edo period, it spread to samurai and merchant houses in the Edo period, and eventually to Osaka and other regions.  It was called “Shichigosan” in the Meiji era and spread to the common people, and it is said that the current shape was completed after the Taisho era.

近くの小さな神社に七五三詣でで親子連れが何組か訪れていました。いつの時代になっても変わらぬ光景です。拝殿の両脇には三本仕立ての立派な菊が何鉢も置かれています。嗅覚の衰えを自覚する身にも菊の香が匂ってきます。七五三は平安時代の頃から宮中で行われていた3つの儀式が基になっているそうです。死亡率がとても高かった時代は、子供は「7歳までは神のうち(神の子)」として扱われ、7歳になって初人として一人前であると認められていました。江戸時代に入って江戸圏内の武家や商家に広がり、やがて大阪そして地方に広がりました。それが明治時代には「七五三」と呼ばれて庶民にも広まり、大正時代以降に現在のような形ができあがったとされています。

秋深し 訪ね来たのは 浄瑠璃寺

Tohno-no-sato is located on the prefectural border far from the center of Kyoto and the center of Nara.  From ancient times, it is said that a monk who was strongly influenced by Nanto Buddhism and who was reluctant to secularize Nara Buddhism built Sōan(a thatched cottage) as a place of tranquility and devoted himself to Nembutsu.  It is said that Sōan eventually transformed into a temple, and the tower heads lined up to form a “tower ridge,” which eventually became known as “Tohno”.  The road connecting Gansenji and Joruri-ji is called the “Stone Buddha Road,” and stone Buddhas such as “Warai Buddha,” “Ippon Fudo,” and “Buddha’s Head and Shoulder Buddha” appear one after another.  These stone Buddha statues are still gentle guides to the people who pass by.

京都の中心部からも奈良の中心部からも遠く離れた県境辺りに当尾の里(とうののさと)があります。古来、南都仏教の影響を色濃く受け、世俗化した奈良仏教を厭う僧侶が穏遁の地として草庵を結び、念仏に専心したと伝えられています。やがて草庵が寺院へと姿を変え、塔頭が並び「塔の尾根」ができ、いつしか「当尾」と呼ばれるようになったといわれます。岩船寺と浄瑠璃寺を結ぶ道は「石仏の道」と呼ばれ、「わらい仏」や「一願不動」「藪の中三尊磨崖仏」など、石仏たちが次々と姿を現します。道を行き交う人々を今も優しく見つめてくれる道しるべとしての石仏達です。

抹茶立て 絢爛和菓子に 惜しむ秋

When I open the website of my smartphone, it is lively with autumn leaves from all over the regions.  I won’t get tired of seeing the autumn leaves of famous temples and the autumn leaves of parks.  I may have seen the same scene last year and two years ago, and I will review it with new thoughts. When I’m looking at the past photos, I found a photo of Japanese sweets with the same date as today.  Even if I trace my memory, I can’t remember where I got the Japanese sweets.  I wonder that it was Kyoto or Nara, or somewhere.  Anyway, I just remember that I was impressed with the beauty and cuteness of the Japanese sweets and hesitated to put on chopsticks for a long time.

スマホのウェブサイトを開けると、各地からの紅葉便りで賑やかです。名刹の紅葉、公園の紅葉、どれを見ても見飽きません。昨年も一昨年も同じ光景を見ただろうに、また新たな思いで見直します。過去の写真を見ていたら、日付けが今日と同じ、和菓子の写真です。記憶を辿っても、どこで頂いた和菓子やら思い出せません。京都か奈良か、はたまたどこであったのでしょう。兎も角、その和菓子の美しさと可愛さにお箸を付けるのを長くためらったことだけは覚えています。

歩むほど ぬくさ伝わる 落ち葉道

Even if it is bright in the photo, the fallen leaves that were blown up by the small storm last night covered the road without any gaps in the morning when the streetlights were still on.  The exhaled breath is still slightly white, but the warmth of the deciduous road is transmitted.  A person who looks like a dot is walking ahead, but I can’t see the trace of walking.  I sometimes see foxes around here, but is that true?

写真に撮ると明るくても、街灯の灯がまだ点っているほどの朝方、昨晩の小嵐で吹き積もった落ち葉が道を隙間なく覆っています。吐く息もまだ微かに白味を感じる程度の寒さですが、落ち葉道の温かさが伝わってきます。先には、点の様に見える人が一人歩いていますが、歩いた跡が見えません。この辺りはたまにキツネを見掛けますが、まさか?

老木の どこに命の 木守柿

It is written as “木守柿” and read as “Kimorigaki” or “Komorigaki”.  Also, it is written as “子守柿” to match the sound of “Komorigaki”.  There are only a few persimmon fruits on the top, which had grown in clusters.  The tree is almost completely naked as the leaves had been completely carried away.  The moss and Huuran(vanda falcata) clinging to the tree are slightly green.  There are various legends about Kimori persimmons, whether they are the remaining persimmons that will survive next year or the remaining persimmons that are at least for the birds.

木守柿と書いて「きもりがき」と読んだり、「こもりがき」と読んだりします。また、「こもりがき」の音に合わせて「子守柿」とも書きます。鈴なりにになっていた柿の実も、今ではてっぺんの方に幾つか残っている程度です。葉も木枯らしがすっかり運び去りほとんど丸裸です。木にへばり付いた苔とフウランが僅かに緑を留めています。明日に命を継なぐ残り柿なのか、鳥たちにせめての残り柿なのか、木守柿には様々な言い伝えがあります。