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Here again, the characteristics of the Japanese language are much seen here. It is written as “銀杏” and read as “Ichou” as well as “Ginnan”. Generally speaking, “Ichou” means a tree, and “Ginnan” means a fruit. Aside from that, Midosuji in Osaka is famous for its row of ginkgo trees. Around this time of year, I often saw people walking down Midosuji with bags full of ginkgo nuts. But these days, I don’t see many of those people anymore. For one reason, Midosuji was the busiest area in Osaka, so traffic was restricted. A total of 972 ginkgo trees are planted along Midosuji, stretching over four kilometers. Ginkgo trees are dioecious, and only female trees produce gingko nuts. When ginkgo nuts fall and pop, they give off a foul odor and cause cars and people to slip. Therefore, in recent years, there is a circumstance that it is replanted with a male tree that does not bear fruit. The other day, there were a lot of ginkgo nuts that had fallen, but most of them were trampled without anyone picking them up. It’s a waste even though it’s delicious.
ここでもまた日本語の特徴がよく出ていて、「銀杏」と書いて、「いちょう」とも読み「ぎんなん」とも読みます。普通「いちょう」と読めば木を言い、「ぎんなん」と読めば実を表します。それはさて置き、大阪の御堂筋は銀杏並木で有名です。この時期になると、袋に銀杏をいっぱい詰めて御堂筋を行き交う人達をよく見かけたものです。しかし、最近はそういった人達をとんと見かけなくなりました。一つには、御堂筋は大阪でもいちばん交通量の多い所なので交通規制がかかっていたこと、もう一つは、銀杏自身に理由があります。御堂筋には合計972本ものイチョウが約4キロ以上にもわたり植えられています。銀杏は雌雄異株で銀杏の実は雌木だけに出来ます。銀杏の実は落ちて弾けると異臭を放ち、車や人のスリップの原因にもなります。そこで、近年、実のならない雄木に植え替えられているという事情があります。先日も沢山銀杏の実が落ちていましたが、誰も拾う人もなく、ほとんどが踏み潰されていました。美味しいのにもったいないことです。