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According to the weather news on TV, while there are still places experiencing scorching days with temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, I’ve received a letter that the October cherry blossoms have started blooming. Including the October cherry blossoms, all cherry blossoms that bloom in autumn to winter are collectively called winter cherry blossoms. The Taiwan cherry is one of them, with its blooming period from January to February. By January, the early-blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms will start to bloom, marking the beginning of next year’s cherry blossom season.
The day after tomorrow is the middle of the equinoctial week, so I expected news about red spider lilies, but instead, I received news of winter cherry blossoms, which is quite surprising. As for the red spider lilies, not only are there no flowers, but even the buds cannot be seen anywhere in the country this year, and it’s predicted that blooming will be much later. This is an unprecedented anomaly that defies common sense. The phrase ‘heat and cold last until the equinox’ has long been said, but now it seems that this saying has become obsolete due to the abnormality of the seasons.
Even now, the news is filled with reports, such as the Noto region, which was struck by a major earthquake at the beginning of the year, now facing torrential rains that occur once every few decades, causing rivers to overflow and massive floods. Despite only 30% of the earthquake recovery being completed, a ‘special heavy rain warning’ has been issued, leaving me at a loss for words of sympathy.
This abnormality in seasonal cycles and extreme weather is not limited to Japan. It is happening across the world, including in the United States and Europe. The entire planet is in a state of emergency. Now is not the time to be repeating wars and conflicts. Humanity must realize quickly that if we don’t act soon, it will be too late.

テレビのお天気ニュースではまだ35度を越す猛暑日が至る所で起こる中、十月桜が咲き始めましたよという便りです。十月桜も含め、秋〜冬に咲くサクラを総称して冬桜とも呼びます。寒緋桜もその一つで開花は1月〜2月です。1月にもなれば、早咲きの河津桜が咲き始めますから、もう来年の桜シーズンの幕開けです。
明後日はお彼岸の中日ですから、彼岸花の便りかなと思いきや、冬桜の便りですからびっくりです。その彼岸花も全国の至る所で、今年は花はもちろん蕾も見られない、開花はもっと先だろうというから、常識では考えられない異常事態です。暑さ寒さも彼岸までと言われてきましたが、もはやこの言葉も反故になった様な異常な季節巡りです。
こうしている今もニュースで盛んに報じられていますが、年初めに大地震に見舞われた能登地方が数十年に一度という大雨で至る所の河川が氾濫、大洪水に見舞われています。地震の復旧も30%にも達していないというのに、「大雨特別警報」が出る中、お気の毒でお見舞いの言葉も見つかりません。
季節巡りの異常さ、異常気象は日本だけでなく、アメリカやヨーロッパ、その他全世界で起こっているということですから、地球全体が異常事態です。戦争や紛争を繰り返している場合ではありません。早く手を打たなければ手遅れは間近に迫っているということに人類は早く気付かなければなりません。

Today is the ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ (Mid-Autumn Full Moon). It is a traditional Japanese event that has continued since the Heian period. ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ refers to the custom of moon-viewing on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. In the lunar calendar, autumn is from July to September, and the 15th day of the 8th month, which falls in the middle, was called ‘Chūshū’ (Mid-Autumn). The moon that rises on the night of the 15th day of Chūshū is called the ‘Chūshū no Tsuki’ (Mid-Autumn Moon), and because the moon appears particularly beautiful around this time, it became known as the ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ (Mid-Autumn Full Moon).
In the modern solar calendar, there is about a one-month discrepancy, so this year (2023), the day of ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ falls on September 29. Since ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ is based on the solar calendar, the date changes every year. For example, in 2022, it was on September 10, in 2023 on September 29, in 2025 on October 6, and in 2026 on September 25, showing that the date can differ by nearly a month depending on the year.
When it comes to offerings for moon-viewing, ‘Tsukimi Dango’ (moon-viewing rice dumplings) and pampas grass are traditionally used. A table is set up in a place where the moon is easily visible, and 15 dumplings, representing the 15th night, are piled high on a large plate, with pampas grass arranged beside them as a stand-in for rice ears.
The pampas grass in the photograph was coincidentally taken today, and its formal name is ‘Shiroganeyoshi’ (silver grass). In English, it is called ‘Pampas Grass,’ and it originates from the grasslands (pampas) of South America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Pampas grass was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era, and it is now commonly seen in parks and wetlands across the country.

今日は中秋の名月。平安時代から続く日本の伝統行事です。中秋の名月とは、旧暦8月15日の十五夜に月見をする習わしのことです。旧暦では秋を7月～9月としており、その真ん中にあたる8月15日を中秋と呼んでいました。この中秋にあたる8月15日の夜に昇る月を「中秋の月」と呼び、さらにこの頃の月が特に美しく見えることから、「中秋の名月」と呼ばれるようになったとされています。
新暦ではほぼ１ヶ月のずれがあり、今年は9月の17日が中秋のの名月の日になります。中秋の名月は太陽暦に基づき決まるため、毎年日付が変わります。ちなみに2022年は9月10日、2023年は9月29日、2025年は10月6日、2026年は9月25日と、実は年によって１ヶ月近くの開きがあります。
お月見のお供え物といえば、「月見団子」とススキ。月がよく見える場所に台を置き、十五夜にちなみ15個の団子を大皿にうず高く盛り、側には稲穂に見立てたススキを飾るのが伝統的なお供え物です。
写真の大ススキはたまたま今日撮った写真で、正式名はシロガネヨシです。英名をパンパスグラスと呼び、原産地はブラジル、アルゼンチン、チリなどの南米大陸の草原(パンパス)です。日本には明治時代に入ってきて、今では全国の公園や湖沼で見かけます。

The mornings and evenings have become slightly cooler, but during the day, the temperature still feels like it’s in the height of summer. The once-bustling beach is now deserted, and you can faintly hear the sound of fishing boats far off in the distance. Occasionally, a red dragonfly flies by, subtly reminding you that autumn is approaching. It’s a strange seasonal feeling—too early to call it late summer, but not quite early autumn either. In haiku, it’s customary to include seasonal words to signify the season, but even the seasonal almanacs are of little help. For instance, “late summer” is a seasonal term that, according to the almanac, refers to the period from Shōsho (around July 7) to Risshū (around August 7), but this time frame is still the peak of summer, making it an awkward term to begin with. Especially with this year’s weather, it leaves one wondering, “When exactly is late summer?” Next week, on the 19th, marks the start of the autumn equinox period. Ideally, we’d call it early autumn, but that too feels off given the current weather. Recently, the climate has shifted dramatically. I’m concerned about the environmental changes brought about by these climate fluctuations.

朝晩は微かに涼しくなりましたが，昼間はまだ真っ盛りの様な気温です。賑わった海辺には人影はなく、遙か沖合を行く漁船のエンジン音が微かに聞こえてきます。時折飛んで来る赤トンボが秋の訪れをふと気づかせます。晩夏とも言い難く、初秋とも言い難い何とも奇妙な季節感です。俳句では原則、季語を入れることで季題を表しますが、歳時記もまるで役に立ちません。例えば「晩夏」、歳時記によると、小暑(７月７日頃)から立秋(８月７日頃)の時期を表す季語ですが、この時期はまさに夏の真っ盛り、元々無理がある季語です。ましてや、今年の様な気候では「晩夏」っていつなんだということになります。来週の19日は秋の彼岸の入り。初秋と言いたいところですが、これもそぐわない気候です。この様に最近は気候がガラッと変わりました。気候の変動がもたらす地球環境の変化が心配です。

The term “Nihyakutōka” (the 210th day) was commonly heard in the past, but it’s rarely mentioned these days. “Nihyakutōka” is one of the traditional seasonal divisions and refers to the 210th day from the start of spring (around February 4th), which falls around September 1st each year. Around this day, various rituals such as Kazamatsuri (Wind Festivals) and Fūchinsai (Wind Calming Festivals) have been held at shrines across Japan to pray for protection from wind damage.
Additionally, on September 1, 1923 (Taisho 12), the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, and in 1960 (Showa 35), this date was designated as “Disaster Prevention Day.” Wind festivals meant to protect crops and calm the winds still remain in various parts of the country. Particularly famous is the wind festival held in Yatsuo Town, Toyama City, the “Owara Kaze no Bon” of Etchu Yatsuo.
“Owara Kaze no Bon” is one of the most representative events of Toyama Prefecture, held annually from September 1st to 3rd in the Yatsuo district of Toyama City. In this festival, silent dancers wearing straw hats perform sophisticated dances along the streets of the hilly town, accompanied by the mournful melody of the Etchu Owara Bushi. The festival features graceful female dancers, vigorous male dancers, and the poignant music of the kokyū (a traditional Japanese string instrument), captivating visitors. During the three days of the Owara Kaze no Bon, from September 1st to 3rd, approximately 250,000 spectators visit Yatsuo.

「二百十日」（にひゃくとおか）という言葉は昔はよく聞きましたが、最近はめっきり聞かなくなりました。「二百十日」は雑節のひとつで、立春（2月4日頃）から数えて210日目の日で、毎年9月1日頃にあたります。この日の前後には、風害を免れるよう祈願して、各地の神社で風祭（かざまつり）や風鎮祭（ふうちんさい）などの祭りが催されてきました。
また、1923年（大正12年）には、ちょうどこの9月1日に関東大震災が発生し、これに因んで1960年（昭和35年）には「防災の日」として制定されました。農作物を守るために風を鎮めるための風祭りは全国各地に残っています。特に有名なのが富山市八尾町で行われる風祭り、越中八尾「おわら風の盆」です。
「おわら風の盆」は、富山県富山市八尾(やつお)地区で、毎年9月1日から3日にかけて行われている富山県を代表する行事です。 越中おわら節の哀切感に満ちた旋律にのって、坂が多い町の道筋で編笠を被った無言の踊り手たちが洗練された踊りを披露します。艶やかで優雅な女踊り、勇壮な男踊り、哀調のある音色を奏でる胡弓の調べなどが来訪者を魅了します。おわら風の盆が行なわれる９月１日から３日までの3日間には、合計25万人前後の見物客が八尾を訪れます。