As Christmas approaches, strawberries are piled up in the fruit section at department stores and supermarkets.  All of them are big and bright in color, and it is a sight that I did not see a long time ago.  It’s not just the fruit section.  The Christmas cake in the cake section is full of strawberries.  Strawberry parfait, strawberry sweets, etc. are probably the season when strawberries are most noticeable in the year.  The shades based on red and white are reminiscent of Santa Claus.  In haiku, strawberry is the Kigo (the season word) for summer, but I think it should be winter.  Not only strawberries, but also vegetables and fruits that are on the market all year round.  Nowadays, not only greenhouse cultivation but also factory cultivation has become popular, and the sense of season is gradually diminishing.

クリスマスが近づくと、デパートでもスーパーでも果物売り場にはイチゴが山積みです。どれも大きくて色目も鮮やか、ひと昔前には見掛けなかった光景です。果物売り場だけではありません。ケーキ売り場のクリスマスケーキはイチゴで満艦飾。イチゴパフェにイチゴスイーツ等々、おそらく一年で一番イチゴが目に付く季節です。赤と白を基調とした色合いはサンタクロースを連想します。俳句では、イチゴは夏の季語ですが、いっそのこと冬にすればと思います。イチゴだけではなく、一年中出回っている野菜も果物は沢山あります。温室栽培だけでなく、工場栽培も盛んになった昨今、季節感が段々薄れます。