Tomorrow is Halloween, and as a result, even when walking through the town, you occasionally come across young people and children in Halloween costumes. I first learned about the Halloween tradition about 30 years ago when a Japanese exchange student named Hattori, in an attempt to get some candy, was mistakenly shot and killed in front of a house. Even back then, Halloween was not a well-known event in Japan.
Now, when this time of year comes around, it’s featured daily on television. Last year, there were numerous deaths in South Korea, and so, this year, it seems that the security measures, especially around the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo’s Shinjuku, are quite stringent.
Halloween is a Christian festival, and the irreligious nature of the Japanese people who become so engrossed in it is often pointed out, but I don’t think it’s something to make a big deal out of. I think it’s okay to just say that Japanese people love festivals. This is because Japanese people have a unique religious outlook that Westerners do not have, and based on this, they have the tolerance to accept any religion in the world. In this way, Japanese culture and customs have been nurtured since ancient times while being strongly influenced by foreign countries, while valuing unique, indigenous things.

明日はハロウィンと言うことで、街中を歩いていても、時々ハロウィン・コスチュームの若者や子供に出会います。ハロウィンと言う行事を知ったのは、今から30年ほど前に、服部君と言うアメリカ留学生が、お菓子をもらうために訪ねた家の前で、不審者と間違えられて射殺されると言う事件が起こった時です。その頃でも、日本ではあまり知られる行事ではありませんでした。
今ではこの時期になるとテレビでも連日取り上げられています。昨年は韓国で多数の死者が出たと言うことで、今年は、特に東京新宿の渋谷交差点の警戒が大変な様です。
ハロウィンはキリスト教のお祭りで、これに夢中になる日本人の無宗教性がよく指摘されますが、それほど目くじらを立てることでもない様に思います。日本人の単なるお祭り好きだと言う事でいいのではないでしょうか。日本人には欧米人にはない特有の宗教観があって、その土台の上に、世界のどんな宗教をも受け入れる寛容性があるからです。こうして、日本の文化や慣習は、独自の土着のものを大切にしつつ、古来より海外の影響を強く受けながら育まれてきたのです。

When autumn comes, Japan is home to dozens of tree species that turn red or yellow. Among them, the iconic representatives of autumn foliage are the Japanese maple, the Japanese red maple, and the ginkgo tree. While the term ‘紅葉’ (kouyou) signifies red leaves, the ginkgo’s golden hue is truly exceptional. Although it’s called ‘yellow,’ depending on the sunlight and wind, it can even become a golden shade. When ginkgo trees adorned in gold sway in the breeze, one might say the word ‘キラキラ’ (glittering) transforms from an onomatopoeia to a mimetic word.
The fact that countries where you can see autumn leaves are rare worldwide is not widely known. They are mainly found in coastal areas of East Asia, some parts of the Americas, and Europe. Furthermore, in countries other than Japan, you can usually only see one color – either ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ – in one place during autumn, whereas in Japan, you can witness the three colors of red and yellow from the autumn foliage and green from the evergreen trees all in one place. What’s more, the colors of autumn leaves in Japan are notably stunning. Additionally, you can enjoy autumn leaves in various variations and situations, not only in valleys and mountains but also within the precincts of temples and shrines adorned with colorful trees, by the lakeside surrounded by trees in various hues, or while soaking in open-air hot springs with a view of the autumn foliage. This unique variety of settings is something only Japan can offer. It’s no wonder that many foreigners who previously had no interest in autumn leaves transform into enthusiasts when they experience the beauty of Japanese autumn foliage.

秋になると紅や黄色に染まる樹木が日本には何十種類も存在しています。その中でも代表的な紅葉の木はモミジ・カエデ・イチョウでしょう。紅葉と書く様に、紅く色づく木が多い中で、イチョウの黄色は別格です。黄色とは言いますが、陽光や風の具合によっては、黄金色にもなります。黄金色に染まったイチョウが風に揺れると、キラキラと言う擬態語が擬音語にもなりそうです。そもそも紅葉が見られる国自体が世界的に珍しく、東アジアの沿岸部やアメリカ、ヨーロッパの一部でしか見られないと言うことはあまり知られていません。その上、日本以外の国では１カ所で見られる紅葉は「紅」か「黄色」の１色のみで、紅葉した木々の紅・黄色と常緑樹の緑、という３色が１カ所で見られるのは日本だけです。さらにその紅葉の色が日本が格段に美しいのです。さらにさらに、紅葉に染まるのは渓谷や山だけでなく、紅葉に彩られた神社やお寺の境内、色づいた木々に囲まれる湖畔、紅葉に染まる景色を見ながら浸かる露天風呂など、様々なバリエーションやシチュエーションで紅葉が楽しめるのが日本です。紅葉に全く関心がなかった多くの外国人が、紅葉愛好家に一変するのが分かります。

When I was a child, I heard that pomegranates tasted like human flesh, so I found them rather unsettling to look at. Later, I learned it was just a superstition, but it left a strong impression on me when I was a child, and it was only recently that I ate pomegranate for the first time. Kishimojin is enshrined at the shrine I visited during my child’s Shichi-Go-San festival, and she holds a pomegranate in her hand. The reason for this is based on an anecdote in which the Buddha admonished Kishimojin, who was kidnapping and eating human children, saying, “Pomegranates taste similar to human flesh, so if you feel like eating human flesh, eat that.”  The connection between pomegranates and humans goes back to ancient times, even as far back as ancient times, possibly arriving in Japan via the Korean Peninsula by the 9th century. Pomegranates are rich in nutrients and are said to have health and beauty benefits, especially for women, and have even become popular as “women’s fruits.”

小さい頃、ザクロは人の肉の味がすると聞かされていたので、ザクロを見ると気味悪く思っていました。その後、それは全くの迷信であることを知りましたが、子供の頃に染み付いた印象は強く、ザクロを初めて食べたのはごく最近です。子供の七五三でお参りした神社には鬼子母神が祀られていて、手にはザクロを持っています。その理由は、人間の子どもをさらって食べていた鬼子母神にお釈迦様が「ザクロは人の肉に似た味だから、人の肉を食べたくなったらそれを食べなさい」と諭した逸話に基づくそうです。ザクロと人との関わりは古く、紀元前からで、日本にも9世紀には朝鮮半島経由で渡来していたそうです。ザクロは栄養豊富で、特に女性には健康や美容に効果があるとされ、「女性の果実」とブームになったこともありました。

I turned harvested astringent persimmons into dried persimmons. It’s ideal to start hanging them around the time when the outside temperature drops below 10 degrees, but in a year like this one, where the heat persists, it’s challenging to find the right timing. I need to consider measures against mold and birds, and while dealing with birds is manageable, it’s difficult to address mold issues during such hot weather. When the daytime temperature exceeds 10 degrees, mold becomes more likely to develop, so I have to spray them with alcohol or something similar. I found various remedies online, but it seems like we didn’t used to worry about this so much in the past. This is yet another example of the impact of global warming close to home. In any case, in just one more month, we’ll be able to enjoy sweet dried persimmons. It’s something to look forward to, but by then, December will be here. Time flies; it’s already the end of another year.

収穫した渋柿を吊るし柿にしました。外気温が10度を下回る頃からが吊るし柿を始めるには最適なんですが、今年の様に暑さが続くとそのタイミングが難しいです。カビと鳥の対策を考えねばなりませんが、鳥の対策は何とでもなりますが、こう暑いとカビの対策が難しい。日中温度が10度を超えるとカビがつき易くなりますから、噴霧器で酒をかけてやるとかしなければなりません。ネットで調べたらいろんな対策法があるらしいですが、昔はこんなに気にかけることもなかった様に思います。これも地球温暖化の影響の身近な例ですね。いずれにしろ１ヶ月もすれば甘い干し柿が食べられます。楽しみではありますが、もうその頃は師走です。早いですね。もう１年も終わりです。

Autumn is the season of harvest, and among them, rice is the most essential harvest for the Japanese. The cultivation of rice, estimated to have begun around 10,000 years ago in the Yangtze River region of China, was transmitted to Japan through the Chinese mainland or the Korean Peninsula, but the exact timing of this transmission remains unclear. Rice cultivation mainly involves field cultivation and paddy cultivation, but the commonly practiced paddy rice cultivation in present-day Japan is believed to have been first introduced in northern Kyushu around 3,000 years ago (10th century BC). Paddy rice cultivation spread to the Kinki region approximately 300 years later (7th century BC) and reached the northern tip of Honshu about 600 years after that (4th century BC). Since then, it has been an integral part of the lives of the Japanese, continuing to this day.
The couple, having completed the rice harvest, loads rice bags onto a large cart and carries a basket of flowers they cultivated by the side of the field on their way back home. Across the river, you can see modern houses, but it’s unclear if they are aware of such a scene or not as they leisurely take a break.

秋は収穫の季節。中でもお米は日本人にとって最重要な収穫物です。約1万前に中国の長江流域で始まったと推定される稲作は、中国大陸から、もしくは朝鮮半島を経由して日本に伝わりましたが、それがいつ頃なのかははっきり分かりません。稲作には主に畑での栽培と、水田での栽培がありますが、現在の日本でも一般的な水田稲作は、約3,000年前(紀元前10世紀)に九州北部に最初に伝わったと考えられています。水田稲作は、それから約300年後(紀元前7世紀)には近畿地方まで広がり、約600年後(紀元前4世紀)には本州の北端まで伝わりました。爾来今日に至るまで日本人の命を繋いできたわけです。
お米の収穫を終えたご夫婦が大八車に米俵を積み、田んぼの傍で育てた花々を籠に入れて家に帰る途中でしょう、川向こうには今風の家が建っていますが、そんな光景を知っているのか、いないのか、のんびりと一休みしています。

Oh? Some of you might be wondering. That’s right, the bird called “hototogisu” is famous for the three haiku by Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu that start with “Nakanunara, ~ (If you don’t sing, ~)”. I never knew there was a flower with the same name. When I visited a nearby art museum, I noticed an interesting flower blooming by the garden pond, so I approached it and saw a name tag that said “Hototogisu.” Upon investigation, I learned that the name “Hototogisu” was given to the flower because its spots resemble the feather patterns of the Hototogisu bird. Hototogisu is a cold-resistant perennial plant in the lily family that is native to Japan, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and more. It has been cherished by people for a long time and has also been used as a tea flower in autumn.
By the way, the English name for Hototogisu is “Toad Lily,” and it seems that to Westerners, the beautiful spots look sadly like the patterns of a toad.
As a side note, the haiku that mentioned Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu’s Hototogisu is famous for capturing the personalities of these three Sengoku warlords. But Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic), wrote a haiku that goes, ‘If it doesn’t sing, that’s fine too, the Hototogisu.’ It’s a verse that reflects Mr. Konosuke’s unique and seasoned character.

あれっ？と思われる方もおいででしょう。そうですね、信長、秀吉、家康の「鳴かぬなら〜」の3つの句で有名なのは鳥のホトトギスです。まさかそれと同じ名前の花がある事は知りませんでした。近くの美術館に行った折、庭園の池の側に面白い花が咲いているので近づいてみると「ホトトギス」と名札に書いてあります。調べてみると、花の斑点が鳥のホトトギスの羽毛の模様に似ていることからホトトギスという名前がついたそうです。ホトトギスは、日本、台湾、朝鮮半島などを原産とするユリ科の耐寒性多年草で、古くから人々に親しまれ、秋の茶花としても使われてきたことも知りました。
ちなみにホトトギスの英名はToad Lilyだそうで、欧米人には美しい斑点は悲しいかなヒキガエルの模様に見えるらしいです。
余談になりますが、先ほどの信長、秀吉、家康のホトトギスを詠んだ句は、戦国武将三人の人柄をよく表している事で有名ですが、松下電器（現:パナソニック)の創業者である松下幸之助氏は「鳴かぬなら それもまた良し ホトトギス」と詠んだそうです。幸之助さんらしくて味わいのある句です。

In the Kuhoji Green Park in Yao City, Osaka, Halloween ghosts made from tree stumps always line up around this time. Halloween is an annual Christian festival held on October 31st, with its origins dating back to the ancient Celtic people. In ancient Celtic culture, November 1st marked the new year, and a grand festival celebrating the gathering of autumn harvests was held on the preceding night of October 31st. Later, as the Celtic people converted to Christianity, the customs of the celebration persisted, and the evening before the Church’s designated “All Hallows’ Day” on November 1st was shortened to become known as Halloween. Halloween was believed to be a time when not only ancestral spirits but also demons, witches, and wandering souls would come from the afterlife. As a result, people disguised themselves to look like these entities, believing that this would help protect them. This is why dressing up as witches, evil spirits, or monsters has become a classic style even in modern times.
In Japan, Halloween is primarily associated with the enjoyment of dressing up. Along with the classic costumes of witches, demons, and monsters, people often have fun by cosplaying as anime, manga, movie characters, or celebrities.

大阪八尾市にある久宝寺緑地公園には、いつも今頃になると、切り株で作ったハロウィンのお化けが並んでいます。ハロウィンは、毎年10月31日に行われるキリスト教のお祭りで、その起源は、紀元前のケルト民族にまでさかのぼります。古代ケルトでは11月1日が新年で、前夜の10月31日から秋の収穫物を集めた盛大なお祭りが開かれました。その後、ケルト民族はキリスト教化していきますが、祝祭の習慣は残って、キリスト教会が定めた11月1日の「諸聖人の日(All Hallows’ Day)」の前夜（All Hallows’ Evening）が短縮されてハロウィンと呼ばれるようになったと考えられています。ハロウィンには、先祖の霊だけでなく、悪魔や魔女、さまよえる魂なども死後の世界からやってくると考えられていました。 そのため、人々はそれらと同じ格好に扮装して仲間だと思わせることで身を守ったのです。 そのため、魔女や悪霊の仮装やメイクは現代でも定番のスタイルとなりました。
日本では、ハロウィンといえば仮装を楽しむイベントとしてのイメージが強く持たれています。魔女や悪魔、モンスターといった定番の仮装だけでなく、アニメや漫画、映画のキャラクター、芸能人などのコスプレをして楽しむのが特徴です。

Standing in the field, I look around and see a riot of colorful flowers. There are no flowers that dominate the scene like the cherry blossoms of spring. Instead, the flowers come together to create a landscape of autumn. Soft clouds float in the clear blue sky, and they are reflected in the water of the pond below, sparkling in the ripples. As I stand in my designated spot and take a full turn, I become entranced as if I were gazing into a kaleidoscope. It is a quiet, solitary world. I wonder if I will wither away like the flowers that will eventually die, or if I will have a life that will return like these flowers after the winter. Such musings blend with the earlier kaleidoscope, circling in my mind.

こうして野に立って辺りを見渡すと、色とりどりの草花が咲き乱れています。春の桜の様に辺りを席巻する様な花はなく、全体の花がひとまとまりになって秋の景色を作り上げています。澄み切った青空には綿雲が浮かび、その下に広がる池の水面にそれが映り、漣に煌めいています。定位置に立ってぐるりと一回りするとまるで万華鏡を見ている様な錯覚に囚われます。静かな静かな自分一人の世界です。やがては枯れ果てる草花と同じ様に自分も枯れ果ててしまうのか、それともこの冬を越せば、またこの草花と同じ様に吹き返す命があるのか、そんな空想もさっきの万華鏡に混ざって巡ります。

When I go to the park early in the morning, I find many ginkgo nuts have fallen due to last night’s wind. People can be seen here and there picking them up, but there are still untouched areas. A little later, a crowd of people arrives, and in no time, the fallen ginkgo nuts disappear. By that time, some people come with long bamboo poles and fishing gear to knock down the remaining ginkgo nuts. The jade-like color of the nuts when you crack open their shells is truly reminiscent of ancient fossils. Ginkgo trees are survivors from over 100 million years ago, thriving in the era when a diverse range of large dinosaurs like Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Apatosaurus evolved and flourished. They are believed to have escaped extinction during the Ice Age when most other plants and animals perished due to their relatively warm habitat in the China region, where they are originally from. Ginkgo nuts are roasted and eaten or used in dishes like chawanmushi, despite their slightly bitter and chewy texture, which has its own unique appeal. However, it’s advised to limit ginkgo nut consumption to 1-2 nuts a day for children and to avoid giving them to those under 5 years of age. For adults, it’s recommended to consume about 6-7 nuts a day as a guideline, emphasizing the importance of not overindulging.

朝早く公園に行くと、昨夜の風で沢山の銀杏が落ちていました。あちらこちらで銀杏拾いをしている人がいますが、まだ手付かずの所もあります。もう少しすると大勢の人達がやって来て、瞬く間に落ちた銀杏は無くなります。その頃になると長い竹竿や釣具を持って銀杏を落としに来る人もいます。殻を割った時の翡翠色をした実はまさしく行きた化石を彷彿とさせるものがあります。銀杏は、ブラキオサウルス、サイスモサウルス、アパトサウルスなど多様な種類の大型恐竜が進化し繁栄した時代に最も繁栄した植物で、1億年以上も前から生き続けている植物です。ほとんどの動植物が絶滅した氷河期に、比較的に暖かかった中国地方で絶滅を免れたと考えられており原産は中国と言われます。炒って食べたり、茶碗蒸しに入れて食べたりしますが、ほろ苦くてもっちりした食感がなんとも言えません。ただ、小児は、1日に1～2個に抑え、5歳未満には控えるようにと言われています。 大人でも1日6～7個程度を目安に、“食べ過ぎない”ことが重要です。

I harvested a lot of astringent persimmons. It’s going to be a lot of work to peel them, string them up, and dry them. But the sweetness when I tried it when the surface of the dried persimmon turns white is exceptional. I’m even moved by the wonder that astringent persimmons can become so sweet. It’s also unrefined to think about tannins and everything in terms of reason. I guess people in the old days knew from experience that astringent persimmons would eventually become sweet if left on the tree. However, if you leave it alone, the birds will eat it sooner or later. So, the idea of skewering astringent persimmons was born. If you dry it in a place where birds don’t come, you can put it under a mirror cake on New Year’s Day and use it as a sword of the three sacred treasures. Around the Edo period, the current method of making dried persimmons became established because it was more efficient to hang astringent persimmons with strings than to skewer them. Since the sweetness of dried persimmons is 1.5 times that of sugar, it is said to be the king of sweetness among fruits.

渋柿をいっぱい収穫しました。これから皮を剥いて、紐に吊るして、大変です。でも、干し柿の表面が白く色づく頃、試しに食べてみたときの甘さは格別です。あの渋柿がこんなに甘くなる不思議さに感動さえ覚えます。タンニンがどうのこうのと何でも理屈を考えるのも野暮と言うもの。昔々の人たちは、渋柿を木なりのまま放っておくとやがて甘くなると言うことを経験的に知ったのでしょう。しかし、放っておいたら、いつの間にか鳥達に食べられてしまう。そこで考え出したのが、渋柿の串刺しです。これを鳥達の来ない所で干せばいい。お正月にはその一本をお鏡餅の下に敷き、三種の神器の剣にも見立てた訳です。江戸時代頃になると、渋柿を串刺しにするよりも紐で括って吊るした方が、数も多く、形も崩れないと言うことで、今の干し柿の作り方が定着する訳です。干し柿の甘さは砂糖の1.5倍と言うことですから、果物の中では甘さの王様といった所です。