I found a small camellia tree in a corner of the promenade where cherry blossom viewers come and go.  Three camellia flowers that are about to drop are in bloom.  This is Otometsubaki.  One of them is wonderful.  The flower with such perfect appearance are rarely seen.  It has petals with pale pink hues and tidy arrangements, which is a beauty that cannot be expressed in any words.  The original species of camellia are in Japan, and they are Yabutdubaki and Yukitsubakiit.  They are now 2,000 types of camellia in natural and artificial mating.  As the flower words “modest splendor” and “unpretentious grace” suggest, Camellia with the glossy green leaves and flower that blooms without completely opening is displayed in the tea room, and there are many lovers all over the world.

花見客が行き交う遊歩道の片隅に小ぶりの椿を見つけました。今にも咲き落ちそうな椿の花が三つ。オトメツバキです。その中の一つが見事です。これほど完璧な姿の花は滅多に見られません。淡いピンクの色合いといい、花びらの付き方といい、どんな言葉でも言い表せない美しさです。ツバキはCamellia Japonicaと言われるように原種は日本にあり、ヤブツバキとユキツバキです。自然交配や人工交配で今では2,000種類ものツバキがあります。「控えめな素晴らしさ」「気取らない優美さ」と言う花言葉通り、光沢のある緑の葉、開き切らずに咲く花は茶室にも飾られ、世界中にも多くの愛好家がいます。

This year’s cherry blossoms are vigorous. Usually, it starts to fall about a week after it is in full bloom, but there is no sign of it.  Kirishima-tsutsuji that being to bloom from the time the cherry blossoms begin to fall are in full bloom without waiting.  Kirishima-tsutsuji which was born from the natural crossing with Miyama-Kirishima, which bloom in Kirishima Highlands, and Yamatsutsuji, blooms bright red like the flower of the land of fire.  The pale cherry blossoms and the crimson Krishima-tsutsuji contrast.  Starting with this, various flowers will bloom one after another.  That flower blooms, this flower blooms, I imagine the flower that will bloom while looking at the calendar, and every day I am thrilled while making a schedule.

今年の桜は元気です。満開から大体１週間経てば散り始めますが、その気配はまったくありません。桜が散り始める頃から花開くキリシマツツジが待ち切れずにもう満開です。生地霧島に咲くミヤマキリシマとヤマツツジが自然交配して生まれたキリシマツツジは、火の国の花らしく真っ赤に花を咲かせます。淡い色の桜と真紅のキリシマツツジは対照的です。これを皮切りにこれから様々な花が咲きます。あの花が咲き、この花が咲く、カレンダーを見ながらこれから咲く花を想像し、予定を立てながら胸をときめかす毎日です。

This year’s floral raft is more luxurious than ever.  Probably because a lot of cherry blossoms bloomed and scattered all at once.  I think I saw a typical cherry blossom phase that suits the Japanese temperament.  It was this year’s cherry blossoms that gave us a new courage to get rid of the depressed mood of the corona.  I would like to take a floral raft and go on a pleasure trip, but can’t be let that.  As the number of people infected with the new coronavirus nationwide exceeds the peak level of the second wave, doctors in the field are raising a sense of crisis that “there is a high possibility that the fourth wave will begin.”  Under these circumstances, it seems that the Olympic torch relay is continuing, but the excitement is only on the spot and at the time, and the rest is really an apathetic mood.  I feel that “Tokyo Olympics is a phantom” is good.

今年の花筏（はないかだ）はいつにも増して豪華です。沢山の桜がどっと咲き、一度にパッと散ったからでしょう。日本人の気性に合う桜の典型的な姿を見る思いです。コロナ禍で鬱屈した気分を払い除け、また新たな勇気が湧く今年の桜でした。このまま花筏に乗って物見遊山と行きたいところですが、現実はそうは行きません。新型コロナウイルスの全国の感染者数が第2波のピークの水準を超える中、現場の医師達は「第4波の始まりの可能性が高い」と危機感を募らせています。こんな中、オリンピックの聖火リレーが継続中らしいですが、盛り上がっているのはその場その時限りで、後は白けムード。「東京オリンピックは幻」がいいような気がします。

There are two major rivers in Osaka, the Yodo River and the Yamato River.  The Yodo River flows from Kyoto, and the Yamato River flows from Nara,  across the Osaka Plain into Osaka Bay.  Since ancient times, both rivers have been important rivers connecting Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka.  It was also an indispensable river for water transportation and farming.  These two rivers, which meander in the Osaka Plain, were at the same time the cause of the great flood and were always the opponents of the battle with the inhabitants.  Both rivers have now flowed straight into Osaka Bay due to major renovations during the Edo period.  The Nagase River, which runs through the center of Yao City, is a remnant of the former Yamato River. During the Yamato River era, the width of the river was 200 meters, but now it is about 5 meters in water.  In early spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom on both banks, and many carps are poking at the petals that have fallen on the gently flowing river surface.

大阪には淀川と大和川の二大河川があります。淀川は京都から、大和川は奈良から大阪平野を横切って大阪湾に流れ込みます。古代から奈良、京都、大阪を結ぶ重大河川でした。水運に農耕に欠かせない河川でもありました。大阪平野で大きく蛇行するこの両河川は、同時に大水害の元凶でもあって常に戦いの相手でもありました。今では両河川とも江戸時代の大改修で真っ直ぐ大阪湾に流れ込むようになりました。八尾市の中心部を貫流する長瀬川は旧大和川の名残りで、大和川時代は川幅が200メートルありましたが今では5メートルほどの疏水になっています。春先には両岸には桜が咲き乱れ、緩やかに流れる川面に落ちた花びらを沢山の鯉が突いています。

The cherry blossoms around are already in full bloom. The full fledged flowers also bloomed from the buds of the little branch that grew from the trunk. It seems that the cherry blossoms are in full bloom nationwide, and we are gaining momentum for the new year starting tomorrow.  I sympathize with the students and students who are unable to attend the graduation and entrance ceremonies, but I hope that all of them will believe “inscrutable are the ways of heaven” and aim for a new leap forward.  High school baseball is about to end, and professional baseball has begun.  Corona is also worried about the signs of the fourth wave, but society as a whole is starting to move.  This momentum does not stop.  It seems that general intake of the vaccine has started, so it seems that we can get out of the fear of corona infection with a little more patience.  Under the bright sun, this summer we want to go out to the sea and mountains to the fullest.

辺りの桜はもう満開です。溢れんばかりの勢いで、幹から生え出たばかりの木の芽からも一人前の花を咲かせています。全国的にも桜は満開だそうで明日から始まる新年度に向けて勢いを付けています。卒業、入学の式典もままならない生徒・学生諸君には同情しますが、万事塞翁が馬を信じて新たな飛躍を目指して欲しいものです。高校野球も無事終わりそうだし、プロ野球も開幕しました。コロナも第４波の兆候が気掛かりですが、社会全体が動き出しています。この勢いは止まりません。ワクチンの一般摂取も始まったそうですから、もう少しの我慢でコロナ感染の恐怖から抜け出せそうです。明るい太陽のもと、今年の夏こそ、思いっきり海や山に繰り出したいものです。

The cherry blossom front has already reached Sendai.  Many of the cherry blossoms this year bloom earlier than normal, and Hiroshima and Matsue also bloom on the 11th, and it seems that there are many places that are the earliest in the history of observation.  The cherry blossoms form flower buds that bloom the following spring in summer, and the flower buds that have once entered dormancy are exposed to low temperatures for a certain period of time in winter and wake up from dormancy (breaking dormancy), and then grow and bloom as the temperature rises.  Very strong chills often flowed in this winter, but the temperature in November, which is the entrance to winter, was quite high, so the breaking dormancy was not enough, but the effect of the large high temperature in February and March was effective.  Due to its effect, this year’s flowering seems to be much earlier than normal.  This winter was the first weather condition also for Sakura.

桜前線は早くも仙台にまで達しています。今年のさくらは、平年よりかなり早い所が多くなっていて、11日に広島で開花し、松江も14日に咲くなど、観測史上最も早い開花となっている地点が多いようです。桜は夏に翌春咲く花芽を形成し、いったん休眠に入った花芽が、冬季に一定期間低温にさらされて休眠から覚め(休眠打破)、その後の気温上昇と共に成長して開花に至ります。今年の冬は、たびたび非常に強い寒気が流れ込みましたが、冬の入り口である11月の気温がかなり高かったため、休眠打破は鈍かったのですが、２月３月の大幅な高温の影響が大きいため、今年の開花は平年よりかなり早くなったようです。桜にとってもこの冬は初めて経験する気象状況であったわけです。

The winter fireworks of Lake Kawaguchi, which had been postponed in the corona, blossomed even in March.  It’s hard to say winter fireworks in March, but it’s still snowing around Lake Kawaguchi, so let’s call it a remnant of winter fireworks.  The image of a fireworks display is that you wear a yukata and watch it while fanning it with a fan, but now that fireworks displays are held somewhere throughout the year, fireworks are not a seasonal word for haiku.  From April, there will be a lot of fireworks festivals nationwide.  At one point, there were many places where the displays was canceled due to the influence of Corona, but it seems that it will be resumed in most places due to financial reasons and the limits of patience.  Since fireworks also had a role of exterminating evil spirits, I hope that the fireworks will also get rid of corona.

コロナで延期されていた河口湖の冬花火が３月に入って花開きました。３月に入って冬花火でもありませんが、河口湖周辺はまだ雪がぱらつきますから、冬花火の名残りということにしましょう。花火大会といえば、浴衣を着て団扇で煽ぎながらのイメージですが、今では花火大会も一年中どこかで開かれていますから、花火は季語になりません。４月からも全国の花火大会が目白押しです。一時はコロナの影響で中止する所も多かったですが、経済的な理由や我慢も限界と言うことでほとんどの所で再開されるようです。花火にも厄祓いの役割があった訳ですから、コロナも退治してくれることを願います。

Speaking of firefly squid, Toyama Bay is famous.  During the spawning season from March to May, millions of firefly squids rush near the coast and shine in the dark night.  This is known as a rare phenomenon that is unprecedented in the world, and it is also called toyama squid at the same time as firefly squid in English.  In Toyama Bay, especially from the right bank of the Joganji River to Uozu City, it is designated as a national special natural monument as the “firefly squid group sea surface”.  It seems that the unique terrain of Toyama Bay, which suddenly deepens from the coast, contributes.  Firefly squids live at a depth of about 200 m during the day, but they surfaced all at once at night due to spawning, and some of them were launched into shallow water and sounded like “Kyun, Kyun”, invite melancholy.  In order to prevent its rapid decay and parasite worms, it can be boiled in boiling water as soon as it is landed, or it can be frozen or refrigerated and lined up in food supermarkets and fresh fish stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area, etc.

ホタルイカといえば富山湾が有名です。３～５月の産卵期には海岸近くまで数百万匹のホタルイカが押し寄せて闇夜に光り輝きます。これは世界でも例のない珍しい現象として知られており、英名でもfirefly squidと同時にtoyama squidとも呼ばれます。富山湾の中でも特に常願寺川右岸から魚津市にかけては「ホタルイカ群遊海面」として国の特別天然記念物に指定されています。海岸から急に深くなる富山湾独特の地形が寄与しているようです。ホタルイカは日中水深200ｍ前後の所に生息していますが、産卵のため夜一斉に浮上し、中には浅瀬に打ち上げられ「キューン、キューン」という音を出して鳴いているようにも聞こえ、哀愁を誘います。腐敗が早いのと寄生虫を防ぐ為、水揚げするとすぐに熱湯で茹でるか、冷凍・冷蔵で首都圏などの食品スーパーマーケットや鮮魚店に並べられます。

The front of the station, which used to be a dull landscape a long time ago, has changed completely.  In front of many shops under the overpass, there is a small but well-maintained flowerbed.  Now, poppies and tulips are planted based on Orychophragmus violaceus, and the name plate of “Ekimae Kadan Best Ten(Flowerbed in front of the station to be honored)” is proudly erected.  Seasonal flowers are planted here, and the illuminations shine on summer and winter nights.  It’s all managed by volunteers.  This is a normal landscape for young people, but for those who have lived in Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa, the transition in front of the station is also an emotional landscape.

ひと昔前は殺風景な駅前も今ではすっかり様変わり。高架下に沢山の店が立ち並ぶ前には狭いながらも小綺麗に手入れされた花壇があります。今は、オオアラセイトウをベースにポピー、チューリップが植えられ、「駅前花壇ベストテン」の銘板が誇らかに立てられています。ここには四季折々の花が植えられ、夏や冬の夜にはイルミネーションが輝きます。すべてボランティアの人達が管理しているそうです。若い人達にはこれが普通の風景でしょうが、昭和、平成、令和を生きてきた者にとっては、この駅前の変遷は感慨深い風景でもあります。

The origin of Tsutaba-Unran(Kenilworth Ivy) is from the Mediterranean coast to West Asia, and it came to Japan in the Taisho era for decorative plants.  It will take root so that it sticks to the rocky area with spring water in the highlands.  It is a vine with leaves that resemble vines, and its flowers resemble Un-Ran(Linaria), hence the name.  It blooms in the highlands in summer, but in the lowlands it blooms all year round.  It is cultivated as a material for gardening and park ground covers.  Furthermore, it has become wild and can be seen growing naturally in small gaps such as stone walls and roadsides near houses, lawns in housing complexes, and concrete blocks on roads. It’s a small flower about the size of the tip of your thumb, and it doesn’t stand out in the distance, but when you look closer, it’s a lovely flower.

ツタバウンラン(蔦葉海蘭)の原産地は地中海沿岸～西アジアで、日本へは観賞用として大正時代に渡来しました。高地の湧き水のある岩場にへばり付くように根を張って行きます。葉が蔦に似ている蔓性の植物で、花は海蘭に似ているのでこの名が付きました。高地では夏に咲きますが低地では一年を通して花を咲かせます。現在でもガーデニングや公園のグランドカバーなどの素材として栽培されています。更に、それが野生化して、人家付近の石垣や道端、団地の芝生、道路のコンクリートブロックなどちょっとした隙間などでも自生しているのが見られます。親指の先くらいの小さな花で遠目には目立ちませんが、近寄って見ると何とも愛らしい花です。