Katabami(the bermuda buttercups) are blooming all at once along the road.  Normally, it starts to bloom in time with the cherry blossoms, but it seems that it bloomed because of the cheerfulness of like May.  The origin of Katabami is South Africa, and because of its beautiful flowers, it has been imported to various parts of the world.  It was introduced to Japan in the early Meiji era, and initially it was seen only in Kagoshima, but now it has spread to a wide area south of the Kanto region.  It is now commonly found in ornamental breeds and in parks and roadside plantings, but it is harmful to livestock and reduces milk fat when dairy cows accidentally eat in the pasture.  Also, at golf courses and soccer fields, it is difficult to remove because it is a great enemy to the lawn.

道沿いの植え込みにオオキバナカタバミが一斉に花を開いています。例年なら桜の開花に合わせる様に咲き始めますが、五月の陽気に誘われて咲いた様です。オオキバナカタバミの原産は南アフリカで、花が綺麗なので世界各地に移入されました。日本には明治の初め頃移入され、当初は鹿児島だけでしたが今では関東以南の広い地域に広がりました。観賞用に育てたり、公園や道沿いの植え込みでもよく見受けられるようになりましたが、家畜には有害で、牧草地で乳牛が誤食すると乳脂肪量が落ちます。また、ゴルフ場やサッカー場では芝生に大敵なので駆除が大変です。

About 800 Kawazu cherry trees are planted on both banks of the Aono River, which flows through Shimogamo Onsen in the center of Minamiizu Town, the southernmost tip of the Izu Peninsula.  It’s usually in full bloom now, but due to the warm winter this year, the leaves of the cherry blossoms are already noticeable.  Due to the influence of Corona, various events have been canceled, and it seems that the local famous rickshaw has few users and seems to have nothing to do.  Yesterday seemed a cheerful early summer nationwide and that a lot of people rushed to the resort.  If you look at the calendar, it’s still February.  The TV reports the forecast of cherry blossoms nationwide just now.

伊豆半島最南端の南伊豆町の中心にある下賀茂温泉を流れる青野川の両岸には河津桜が約800本が植えられています。例年なら今が見頃ですが、今年は暖冬のせいでもう葉桜が目立ちます。コロナの影響もあり、様々なイベントも中止され、名物の人力車も利用者が少なく手持ち無沙汰な様子です。昨日は全国的にも初夏の陽気で、行楽地にも大勢の人が押しかけたようです。カレンダーを見ればまだ二月。テレビでは全国の桜の開花予想を報じています。

Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, a famous poet of ancient Japan, also has a waka poem about Mitsumata.  Mitsumata was named “Mitsumata” because its branches are divided into three parts.  It is also referred to as mitsumata, three branches, or three forks.  Mitsumata opens pale yellow flowers all at once as if to announce spring, so it was also called “Sakikusa(Flowers telling spring) and it was said to be an auspicious auspicious grass, so it was also called “happy grass”.  Along with mulberry, it is also an important raw material for Japanese paper, and it is also used in Japanese banknotes, which are known worldwide for their excellence.

「春されば　まず三枝の　幸くあらば　後にも逢はむな　恋ひそ吾妹」(春が来ればまず真っ先に咲く三枝のように、幸いならばまた逢えるだろう。そんなに恋焦がれないでおくれ、愛しい人よ)
柿本人麻呂がミツマタ(三椏)を詠んだ和歌です。ミツマタはその枝が必三つに分かれるので、「ミツマタ」と名付けられました。三椏とも三枝または三叉とも表記します。ミツマタはあたかも春を告げるかのごとく一足先に淡い黄色の花を一斉に開（ひ）らくため「先草＝サキクサ」とも呼ばれたり、縁起の良い吉兆の草とされていたので「幸草（サキクサ）」と呼ばれたりすることもあります。コウゾと並んで和紙の重要な原料でもあり、世界的にもその優秀さを知られた日本の紙幣にも使われています。

Rape blossoms in Ita, Numazu City are in full bloom.  The azure Suruga Bay spreads over there, and Mt. Fuji, which is still covered with snow even in the middle, is gently expanding its base in the cloudless sky.  It seems that this view of early spring stands aloof from the world.  The corona vaccine has finally begun to be taken in Japan, and it seems that a ray of light has begun to shine, but it seems that the corona won’t be over this year yet. Looking at the news on TV, there are some bright news, but there are also many depressing news.  Last night I couldn’t stand it and turned off the news and kept listening to my favorite music.

沼津市井田の菜の花は満開です。向こうには紺碧の駿河湾が広がり、まだ中腹にまで雪に被われた富士山が雲一つない大空に悠然と裾野を広げています。超然とした早春の景色です。やっと日本でもコロナワクチンの摂取が始まり、一筋の光明が差し始めた様ですが、今年一年もコロナコロナで明け暮れそうです。テレビのニュースを見ていても、明るいニュースもありますが、気が滅入るニュースも沢山あります。昨晩は居た堪れずニュースを消して好きな音楽を聴き続けました。

The weeping plums are in full bloom.  Seen from the distance, it looks like a red fountain spouting from the earth.  There are many other plants that are named “weeping”, such as weeping cherry blossoms or weeping willow. Most hardwood forests have the possibility of weeping. However, many trees spread branches toward the top and die when the branches hang down.  It seems that the mechanism is how the annual rings are made. Therefore, since trees have branches because they receive sunlight efficiently, so   it’s okey to hang down.  Since there are also weeping persimmons and weeping peaches, “weeping” should have many benefits for plants, and it seems that the mechanism of “weeping” is not really understood.

枝垂れ梅が見事な花を咲かせています。遠目には大地から噴き出た赤い噴水の様です。枝垂れ桜に枝垂れ柳、「枝垂れ」と名を冠する植物は他にも沢山あります。広葉樹林のほとんどは枝垂れる可能性があるそうです。しかし多くの木は上に枝を張り、枝が垂れてくると枯れます。そのメカニズムは年輪の出来方にあるそうですが、木が枝を張るのは太陽光を効率的に受ける仕組みですから、枝を下に垂れてもいい訳です。枝垂れ柿や枝垂れ桃などもありますから、「枝垂れ」は植物にとってもメリットが多いはずで、「枝垂れ」のメカニズムは本当のところは分かっていない様です。

The early blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms fall in the wind of spring storm, and the petals are spread on the road in the early morning.  Since ancient times, many Japanese have seen the spirit of Bushido in the cherry blossoms that bloom and fall.  Bushido means the path that a samurai should take, but as Nitobe Inazo explained to Westerners, Bushido is the heart of the Japanese, and cherry blossoms are a symbol of it.  The song by Norinaga Motoori, a national scholar from the Edo period, expresses exactly that, “My heart as a Japanese is the heart that impresses me with the beauty of the wild cherry blossoms that shine in the morning sun”. The rose flower, which Westerners like, hides the thorns under the sweetness, boasts gorgeous colors and rich scents, and exposes the corpse to the branches as if it were obsessed with life, while the cherry blossoms that Japanese people like do not hide their blades or poisons under their beauty, their colors are not gorgeous, their scents are pale, and they scatter cleanly, Nitobe also explained.

早咲きの河津桜は春蘭の風に舞い落ち、早朝の道に花びらを敷き詰めています。パッと咲いてパッと散る桜に古来多くの日本人は武士道の精神をみました。武士道とは武士の踏むべき道と言う意味ですが、新渡戸稲造が西洋人に説明したように、武士道とは日本人の心であり、桜はその象徴であると。江戸時代の国学者本居宣長の歌、「しきしまのやまとごころを人とはば朝日ににほう山ざくらばな」がまさしくそれを表しています。西洋人か好む薔薇の花は、甘美の下にとげを隠し、華やかな色彩と濃厚な香りを誇り、生に執着するがごとく、その屍を枝上にさらすのに対し、日本人の好む桜の花は、その美の下に刃も毒も隠さず、色は華美でなく、香りは淡く、そして潔く散る、とも新戸部は説明しました。

From now on, various events and sales battles will be held toward the Hinamatsuri.  Some of the houses that decorate the Hinamatsuri may have already finished decorating, and some will decorate from now.  In general, many houses begin decorating Hinamatsuri from Risshun(the beginning of spring, 2/3 this year) to mid-February.  In particular, it is said that it is auspicious to decorate it with Usui(rainwater day, 2/18 this year), which is one of the 24 solar terms (agricultural calendar), so it seems that some houses decorate it from this day.  The photo shows the “hanging chicks” displayed in the “Hina no Yakata” in Izu Inatori Cultural Park, and is counted as one of the “three major hanging decorations in Japan” along with “Sagemon” in Yanagawa, Kyushu and “Kasafuku” in Sakata, Yamagata.  All of them are made as used clothing crafts of Japanese clothes, and you can feel the simplicity and love for children that gorgeous court Hina do not have.

これからは雛祭りに向かって様々なイベントや商戦が繰り広げられます。雛祭りを飾るお家でももう飾り終えたお家もあるでしょうし、まだこれからだと言うお家もあるかと思います。一般的には雛飾りは、立春(今年は2/3)から二月中旬くらいに掛けて飾り付けるお家が多いようです。特に二十四節気(農業暦)の一つである雨水(今年は2/18)に飾ると縁起がいいと言うことで、この日に飾り付けるお家もあるようです。写真は伊豆稲取文化公園にある「雛の館」に飾られた「吊るし雛」で、九州柳川の「さげもん」、山形酒田の「傘福(かさふく)」と共に「日本三大つるし飾り」に数えられています。どれも 和裁細工のさげ物で作られ、豪華な宮廷雛にはない素朴さと子供達に対する愛情が感じられます。

Yamayaki(the mountain burning) and open burning are done all over Japan in early spring.  Yamayaki of Wakakusa-yama in Nara, which is held in January, is a famous event that thousands of spectators visit every year.  In addition, it is a major sightseeing event such as Izu Omuro-yama in the photo, Hakone Sengokuhara, Yamaguchi Akiyoshidai, and Kyushu Aso.  Originally, it was directly related to daily life such as shifting cultivation.  It had many advantages such as burning weeds, exterminating pests, promoting grass germination, and using burnt ash as fertilizer.  However, larger shifting cultivation and open burning that are being carried out all over the world are also the cause of global warming.  It is said that the large fires that occur every year in the Amazon basin and the Austrian wilderness also affect the concentration of carbon dioxide and oxygen on the earth.

山焼きや野焼きは春先に日本各地で行われます。一月に行われる奈良若草山の山焼きには毎年数千人の見物客が訪れる名物行事です。その他、写真の伊豆大室山、箱根仙石原、山口秋吉台、九州阿蘇など一大観光行事になっています。元は焼畑農業など生活に直結するものでした。雑草を焼き払い、害虫を駆除し、牧草の発芽を促し、焼けた灰を肥料にするなど多くの利点がありました。しかし世界各地でも行われているもっと大規模な焼畑や野焼きは、地球温暖化の元凶にもなっています。アマゾン流域やオーストリア原野で毎年のように発生する大火災は、地球の二酸化炭素や酸素の濃度にも影響を与えていると言われているほどです。

February 14 February St. Valentine’s Day is considered a day of love vows around the world.
During the Roman era, the Roman emperor Claudius II during the war banned soldiers from marrying to prevent them from falling in love with their families and lovers and demoralizing the army.
At that time, Christian priest St. Valentine (St. Valentine) secretly held a wedding ceremony for soldiers who wanted to get married.
 This incurred the Roman emperor’s anger, and St. Valentine was executed on February 14, 269.
After that, in Rome, this February 14th became the patron saint of men and women loved by the martyred St. Valentine, and in the 14th century it was the same Valentine’s Day as it is now.
On this day, in Japan, chocolates are given to lovers and acquaintances, but in many foreign countries, flowers and cards are given.

February 2月14日 St.Valentine’s Day（セントバレンタインデー）は世界各地で愛の誓いの日とされています。
古代ローマ時代、戦争中の古代ローマ皇帝クラウディウス２世は、兵士が家族や恋人を恋しがって、軍の士気が低下しないよう兵士たちの結婚を禁止していました。
そんな時代に、キリスト教司祭・聖ウァレンティヌス(聖バレンタイン)は結婚を望む兵士たちのためにこっそり結婚式をとり行っていました。
このことがローマ皇帝の逆鱗に触れ、269年の2月14日に聖バレンタインは処刑されてしまうのです。
その後ローマでは、この2月14日は殉教した聖バレンタインが愛する男女の守護聖人になり、14世紀には今と同じようなバレンタインデーになったそうです。
この日、日本では恋人や知人にチョコレートを贈りますが、外国の多くの国々では花とカードを贈ります。

The season for Kibinago(silver-stripe round herring) is said to be from spring to early summer during the spawning season.  It is best to eat Kibinago with shirako and plenty of eggs as tempura.  However, although Kibinago is still a little small around this time in February, it is firm and oily, and when it is baked, the oil exudes and the unique aroma spreads, which is also the best.  Although it is used as a spring season word in haiku, Kibinago is delicious even when eaten in autumn.  In this way, there are ways to eat it matching for four seasons.  I can hardly drink alcohol, but I can’t forget the taste of raw sake that I drink a little while eating Kibinago.

キビナゴの旬は産卵期の春から初夏の頃と言われています。白子や卵たっぷりのイカナゴを天ぷらにして食べると最高です。しかし二月今頃のイカナゴは少し小ぶりですが、身が引き締まって油が乗り、焼くとその油が滲み出て、独特な香りが広がり、これまた最高です。俳句では春の季語として使われますが、キビナゴは秋に食べてもまた美味しく、四季折々の食べ方があります。お酒は下戸の部類に属しますが、キビナゴを口にし、ほんの少し飲む生酒の味は忘れられません。