November 7 marks the solar term of ‘Rittou’ (the beginning of winter) in the 24 solar terms of the traditional calendar. From this day, winter begins according to the calendar. Coincidentally, on this day, Mt. Fuji experienced its first snowcap, and the first “Kogarashi” (winter wind) blew in both Osaka and Tokyo. It was a rare day, as it brought together Rittou, the first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, and Kogarashi No. 1.
Although Mt. Fuji’s first snow cover was observed from the Shizuoka side yesterday, the Kofu Meteorological Observatory is responsible for officially observing and announcing the first snowcap on Mt. Fuji. Even if snow is seen on Mt. Fuji’s slopes or from the Shizuoka side, the first snowcap is not announced unless the crown of snow is visible from the Kofu Meteorological Observatory in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. This is a curious example of Japan’s distinction between ‘hon-ne’ (true intentions) and ‘tatemae’ (public stance).
In any case, this first snowcap on November 7 was observed 36 days later than average and 33 days later than last year. The previous latest recorded first snowcap on Mt. Fuji was on October 26, 2016, and this year’s observation set a new record. In Tokyo, Kogarashi No. 1 blew 6 days earlier than last year, while in Osaka, it was 4 days earlier. It’s rare for Kogarashi No. 1 to blow in both Tokyo and Osaka on the same day, and even more remarkable that Mt. Fuji’s first snowcap also occurred on this day, reportedly for the first time in recorded observation history.

11月7日は二十四節気の「立冬」です。暦の上ではこの日から冬の季節に入ります。日を同じくして、富士山は初冠雪、大阪も東京も木枯らし１号が吹きました。立冬、初冠雪、木枯らし１号と三拍子揃った珍しい日になりました。
富士山の初化粧は昨日静岡県側から観測されていたのですが、富士山の初冠雪を観測、発表するのは甲府地方気象台です。たとえ富士山の麓や静岡県側から雪化粧が見えたとしても、山梨県甲府市にある甲府地方気象台から富士山の冠雪の様子が見えないときには初冠雪は発表されません。こんなところにも「本音」と「建前」があるのですね。
それはともかく、11月７日の初冠雪は、平年より36日遅く、昨年より33日遅い観測です。これまでの富士山での最も遅い初冠雪の記録は2016年の10月26日で、今年はこれを大幅に更新した訳です。木枯らし1号も東京では昨年より6日、大阪では4日早く、同じ日に東京と大阪で「木枯らし1号」が吹くのは珍しく、しかもこの日に富士山の初冠雪があるのは観測史上初めてのことらしいです。

I received a letter from a friend who lives near Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture. Recently, the climate has completely changed, and I heard that the autumn foliage in various areas is still not fully in color. So, I was a bit surprised by the unchanged beauty of the autumn leaves on Mount Daisen. I used to climb Mount Daisen often, in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In autumn, I always took advantage of Culture Day on November 3rd to make the climb. The view of the mountain foothills, covered in a colorful tapestry of autumn leaves, is truly nature’s own carpet. Sometimes, there were even snow flurries.
Descending from the summit, there is Jorenin Temple by the trail, and I am reminded of the time I stayed in a room with a round window, where Naoya Shiga reportedly worked on his novel An’ya Kōro (A Dark Night’s Passing). If I had the time, I would extend my journey to Hiruzen, on the backside of Mount Daisen, passing through Masumizu Plateau. The autumn colors along the way are breathtaking, and Hiruzen’s autumn foliage is equally magnificent. The memories are endless.
Come to think of it, even the ginkgo trees near my house are laden with nuts, and people gather to pick up the fallen ginkgo nuts. It’s truly autumn, isn’t it?

鳥取県の大山近くに住む友人から便りが届きました。最近は気候もすっかり変わり、各地の紅葉もまだしと聞いていましたので、昔と変わらない大山の紅葉ぶりには少しびっくりしました。大山には春夏秋冬よく登ったものです。秋には決まって11月３日の文化の日を利用して登りました。色とりどりにに彩られた紅葉が広がる山裾の景観はまさしく天然の絨毯です。雪が吹雪く時もありました。
山頂から降りると登山道の脇に浄蓮院があり、志賀直哉が「暗夜行路」を執筆したという丸窓のある部屋に泊まったことも思い出されます。時間に余裕があれば、桝水高原を経て大山の裏側にある蒜山にも足を延ばしました。途中至る所が紅葉紅葉で、蒜山の紅葉ぶりもまた圧巻でした。思い出せばキリがない。
そういえば、家の近くのイチョウの木も銀杏が鈴なりで、落ちた銀杏を拾い集める人もいます。やっぱり秋ですね。