Situated at the foot of Mount Takamado (432m), which stretches to the south of Kasugayama in the southeast of Nara’s city center, Byakugo Temple overlooks the Nara Basin, offering a picturesque view. This temple is also renowned for its Hagi flowers (bush clover). The Manyoshu, a famous collection of Japanese poetry, includes a verse: ‘In the fields of Takamado, the autumn Hagi blooms and scatters in vain, with no one to see it.’
The name ‘Byakugo Temple’ first appears in historical records during the Kamakura period, and the exact origins of the temple remain unclear. According to tradition, it was originally a villa of Prince Shiki, the seventh son of Emperor Tenchi, and this villa was later converted into a temple. However, there are various theories, including one that suggests it was founded as a result of Emperor Tenchi’s imperial decree. It remains a mysterious temple with uncertain origins.
On the evening of August 15th, the day before the Great Fire Festival (Daimonji) in Kyoto, Daimonji (a large bonfire) is also lit on Mount Takamado. However, this tradition is not well-known to people outside of Nara. From the summit of Mount Takamado, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Nara Basin. In the distance, the Ikoma Mountain Range is visible, followed by the Osaka Plain and the Osaka Bay. In the foreground, Todai-ji Temple can be seen, and to the north of it lies Wakakusayama (Mount Wakakusa), with a distant view of Kyoto.
It is a perfect place to contemplate Japan’s early history during its founding period.

奈良市街地の東南部、春日山の南に連なる高円山(432m)の山麓にあり、境内から奈良盆地が一望できる景勝地に建つ白毫寺は萩の名所でもあります。「高円の 野辺の秋萩 いたづらに 咲きか散るたむ 見る人なしに」と万葉集にも詠まれています。
白毫寺という寺号が史料にみられるのは鎌倉時代以後のことで、寺の草創については明確ではありません。伝えでは天智天皇の第七皇子、志貴皇子の離宮があり、その山荘を寺としたとされていますが、他にも天智天皇の勅願によるなど諸説ある謎のお寺です。
京都大文字の前日８月15日には高円山にも大文字の火が灯されますが、奈良に住む人以外にはあまり知られていません。高円山の頂上からは奈良盆地が一望できます。その遥か向こうに生駒連山が見え、その向こうには大阪平野、さらに大阪湾が広がっています。手前には東大寺が小さく見えますし、その北には若草山、さらに京都が遠望できます。
草創期の日本に想いを馳せる格好の場所です。

I recently realized the difference between the katakana word “ハナニラ” and the kanji word “花ニラ,” which represents the character “花” (flower). “ハナニラ” refers to an ornamental plant, while “花ニラ” is an edible plant, and they are entirely different varieties.
“ニラ” (Chinese chives) is primarily used for its leaves, which have a distinct aroma that enhances various dishes such as stir-fries, hot pots, and dumpling fillings. In terms of nutrition, it is a rich source of carotene, vitamin B2, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and other nutrients. During late summer to autumn, “ニラ” produces white six-petaled flowers in clusters of 30 to 50 on elongated, flat stems that emerge from between its leaves, forming a semi-spherical shape. This is what we refer to as “花ニラ,” and it is also used for culinary purposes.
On the other hand, “ハナニラ” produces star-shaped flowers at the tip of a single stem. Its leaves resemble those of “ニラ,” and they share a garlic-like aroma, making them look very similar. However, it’s important to note that the leaves of “ハナニラ” are toxic, and occasionally, people mistakenly consume them, leading to poisoning incidents.
Another distinction is that “花ニラ” blooms during this season, while “ハナニラ” blooms in the early spring, allowing you to differentiate them in this aspect as well.

カタカナの「ハナニラ」とハナが漢字である「花ニラ」の違いに最近まで気付きませんでした。「ハナニラ」は観賞用植物で「花ニラ」は食用植物で全く別の品種なんですね。
ニラ（韮）は主に葉を食用にし、独特の香りが料理を引き立て、炒め物や鍋物、餃子の具などに使われる野菜です。栄養面でも、カロテン、ビタミンB2、ビタミンC、カリウム、カルシウムなどを含む栄養豊富な植物です。このニラが、晩夏から秋にかけて、細長く平らな葉の間から伸びた花茎の先に、白い６弁花が３０～５０輪、半球形になって花を咲かせます。これが「花ニラ」です。「花ニラ」ももちろん食用に供します。
一方、「ハナニラ」は1本の茎の頂点に星形の花を一つだけ咲かせます。葉はニラとよく似ていて、香りもニンニクの香りがし、そっくりです。しかし、「ハナニラ」の葉は有毒で、ニラの葉と間違えて食べ、中毒を起こす人が時々います。
「花ニラ」はこの時期に花が咲きますが、「ハナニラ」は春先に花が咲き、この点でも区別できます。

With its dignified posture and elegant flower color, the language of flowers for this plant is “Unchanging love, purity, sincerity, and elegance.” Despite such symbolic meanings, the blooming bellflower is full of vitality. Just a few days ago, it had swollen buds resembling purple paper balloons, but perhaps enticed by the coolness of the mornings and evenings in recent days, they all burst into bloom simultaneously. It sounds like you can hear the sound of flowers blooming, one after another. The bellflowers that began to bloom from the mid-June rainy season take a break in the midst of summer. In this scorching heat, both people and flowers are alike. And now, bellflowers, counted among the seven autumn herbs, are finally taking the stage. However, the bellflowers lined up at the flower shop are mostly cultivated varieties, and it has become rare to see them bloom in the wild. When you go to the mountains, you often find yourself captivated by the bellflowers blooming between the rocks, but bellflowers are now an endangered species. Bellflowers have been cherished since the Manyoshu (the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry), but even in cultivated varieties, they bloom so beautifully, providing some consolation at the very least.

凛とした佇まいと気品のある花色から、その花言葉は「 変わらぬ愛、清楚、誠実、気品」 。そんな花言葉とは無関係に、咲いた桔梗は元気溌剌そのものです。数日前までは紫色の紙風船の様な蕾を膨らませていましたが、ここ数日の朝晩の涼しさに誘われたのか、一斉に花開きました。ポンポンポンと花開く音が聞こえて来そうです。６月中旬の梅雨時分から咲き始めた桔梗も夏の最中は一休み。この酷暑では人も花も同じです。そして今、秋の七草に数えられる桔梗もいよいよ出番です。しかし、花屋さんにヅラっと並んでいる桔梗はほとんどが栽培種で、自生で咲く姿は見られなくなってしまいました。山に行くと、岩間から咲く山桔梗に見惚れることがよくありましたが、桔梗は今や絶滅危惧種です。万葉以来親しまれてきた桔梗ですが、栽培種でもこんなに綺麗に咲くのですから、せめてもの慰めです。

Regardless of scorching heatwaves, the resilient Saru-suberi continues to bloom vigorously. While many flowers wither during the daytime despite blooming in the mornings and evenings, both the Saru-suberi and Kyochikuto (oleander) keep blooming throughout the day. Originally from southern China, they are distributed across tropical regions worldwide. Despite enduring such prolonged hot weather, they continue to bloom just as they did in the past. Whenever I see Saru-suberi during this season, it fills me with a sense of having weathered this summer. Although Saru-suberi is said to have arrived in Japan before the Edo period, it blooms for nearly 100 days, as its alternative name ‘百日紅’ suggests. The name ‘crape myrtle’ in English also derives from the way its petals curl, resembling the texture of summer crape fabric.

猛暑日もなんのその、元気に咲き続けたサルスベリ(百日紅)が今も元気に咲いています。朝晩は咲いても昼間は萎れている花が多いなか、サルスベリとキョウチクトウ(夾竹桃)だけは昼間も咲いていました。中国南部が原産で世界の熱帯各地に分布する^[とは言え、猛暑日がこんなに続いても、昔通りに咲いています。いつもこの時期に見るサルスベリを見るたびに、ああこの夏を乗り切ったと言え感慨が湧きます。サルスベリは日本へは江戸時代以前に渡来したと言われていますが、百日紅の別名どおり100日近く咲き続けます。木肌の特徴から付いたサルスベリは日本独特の名称で、その様な意味合いを持った名称は外国にはない様で、花の柔らかさに着目した名称が多い様です。英語名の「crape myrtle」も花弁が夏肌着のクレープのように縮れていることから付いた呼び名です。

A splendid bougainvillea blooms gracefully, draping itself over an old concrete wall with cracks. I look forward to witnessing this sight and visit here every year. Bougainvillea is a tropical climbing plant belonging to the Nyctaginaceae family. Its bold and vibrant colors, characteristic of tropical regions, are captivating. It originates from Central and South America. In Japan, this flower is commonly seen in Okinawa, but recently it has started to be seen in other parts of Japan as well. Bougainvillea is hardy and easy to cultivate, producing flowers in various colors such as red, pink, white, purple, and yellow for an extended period. Although it is sensitive to cold, you may still spot its flowers in Japan even in November and December. Perhaps Japan has become more tropical in recent times. Bougainvillea, with its name evoking an exotic ambiance, is a sight to behold against the backdrop of Greek white houses. However, seeing it like this, entwined with a weathered concrete wall, also adds a touch of sabi  (a special kind of beauty that results from aging) and beauty.

割れ目の入った古いコンクリート塀に覆い被さる様に立派なブーゲンビリアが咲いています。この光景を見るのが楽しみで、毎年の様にここを訪れます。ブーゲンビリアはオシロイバナ科のつる性熱帯植物です。南国らしい大胆で鮮やかな色合いが魅力的な花で、中南米が原産地です。日本では、沖縄あたりでは普通に見かける花ですが、最近は日本各地でもよく見かける様になりました。丈夫で育てやすく、赤やピンク、白、紫、黄色などの花を長期間咲かせます。さすがに寒さには弱いですが、日本でも11月、12月になっても花を見かけることがあります。それだけ日本も熱帯に近くなったのでしょう。名前からして異国情緒を感じさせるブーゲンビリア、ギリシャの白い家々を背景に咲き誇るブーゲンビリアの写真を見たことがありますが、こうして見るブーゲンビリアも寂が効いていいものです。

While walking along the road, I came across a small agricultural shed, and there were about 5 or 6 gourds hanging haphazardly between the rafters. I distinctly remember seeing them hung there last year as well. Whenever I see gourds, it reminds me of the song ‘Hyoutan wa Hyokorintan.’ This song was featured in a radio drama series called ‘Nichiyomaru,’ which was broadcasted on NHK radio about 65 years ago. I can’t quite recall if that was the exact title, but the theme song was indeed ‘Hyoutan wa Hyokorintan.’ As it being just a four-episode radio drama, I’ve tried reaching out to NHK and conducted various searches, but I haven’t been able to find the title, lyrics, or, of course, the music. I’m attaching the song that I vaguely remember.

♭♯♭ Hyoutan wa Hyokorintan♭♯♭

道を歩いていると農作業小屋が立っていて、取って間のない瓢箪が5、6個無造作に吊るしてあります。確か去年も吊ってありました。瓢箪を見るといつも思い出すのは「ひょうたんはひょこりんたん」と言う歌です。65年ほど前に、NHKラジオで放送された、豊臣秀吉の少年時代の連続ラジオドラマで、「日吉丸」と言う題名だったかどうか忘れましたが、その主題歌が「ひょうたんはひょこりんたん」なんです。連続ラジオドラマと言ってもたった４回放送されただけで、その後NHKにも問い合わせたり、いろいろ調べたのですが、題名も歌詞も、もちろん曲もわからんじまいです。うる覚えで覚えていた歌を添付しておきます。

Like maple leaves with deep serrations, the fence was densely covered with foliage, but lately, enticed by the cool morning and evening breezes, the Rukosou (Rukosou) has begun to bloom cute flowers reminiscent of miniature red hibiscus. The character “縷” means slender and long, describing the characteristics of its leaves. Rukosou produces small star-shaped flowers one after another from late summer to early autumn. While its leaves thrive in the summer, it doesn’t bloom much, as it is a short-day plant and begins to flower more profusely around late August when the days become shorter. During the Edo period, Rukosou, which had just been introduced, was called “Kabocha Asagao” because of its flower’s resemblance to morning glory and its origin from Cambodia. By the way, “Kabocha” in this context is a word derived from Cambodia. Its native habitat is tropical America, where it thrives in heat, and in Japan, it quickly naturalized. There are two main types of Rukosou: the featherleaf Rukosou and the roundleaf Rukosou, with the red-leaved Rukosou differentiating from the featherleaf variety. The photo depicts the red-leaved Rukosou. Apart from red, there are also pink and white varieties of Rukosou, and they will continue to bloom more and more as we head towards the end of autumn.

深い切れ込みのあるもみじ葉のような葉が柵いっぱいに茂っていましたが、このところの朝晩の涼風に誘われて、ルコウソウ(縷紅草)が赤いハイビスカスを小さくした様な可愛い花を咲かせ始めました。「縷」は細長いと言う意味で、葉の特徴を表しています。ルコウソウは星型の小さな花を夏の終わり頃から秋にかけて次から次へと咲かせます。夏は葉がよく茂りますが、あまり花は咲かず、短日植物なので日が短くなった８月下旬頃からよく花を咲かせるようになります。江戸時代に入ってきたルコウソウは、当時は朝顔のような花であることと、カンボジアから来た花であることから、「カボチャアサガオ」と呼ばれていました。ちなみに、このカボチャは、カンボジアが「カボチャ」と転じた言葉です。原産地は熱帯アメリカで暑さに強く、生育旺盛で、日本では早くから野生化していました。ルコウソウは葉の特徴から羽衣ルコウソウと丸葉ルコウソウがあり、羽衣ルコウソウから紅葉葉ルコウソウが分化しました。写真は紅葉葉ルコウソウです。赤以外にもピンクや白のルコウソウもあり、これから秋の終わりにかけてどんどん花を咲かせます。

On Thursday, August 31st, the moon that rose was the last full moon of this summer in the northern hemisphere, and it was the biggest, brightest, and most splendid “Super Blue Moon” of the year. When a “Super Moon” coincides with a “Blue Moon,” it is referred to as a “Super Blue Moon.” A “Super Moon” is when the moon is at its closest approach to Earth and is in sync with a full moon. Its apparent size from Earth increases by about 14%, and its brightness increases by about 30% compared to a full moon at its farthest point. On the other hand, a “Blue Moon” does not actually turn blue; it refers to a second full moon occurring within the same month. The previous “Blue Moon” occurred on August 2nd. In terms of frequency, “Super Moons” occur once to a few times a year, while “Blue Moons” happen roughly once every two and a half years. As for the “Super Blue Moon,” the last one occurred in December 2009, and the next occurrences are projected for January and March 2037, making it a celestial event that takes place roughly every 14 years.

8月31日木曜日に昇った月は、北半球でこの夏最後の満月であり、今年最も大きく、最も明るい、最高の「スーパーブルームーン」でした。「スーパームーン」と「ブルームーン」が重なったお月さんを「スーパーブルームーン」と言います。「スーパームーン」とは、お月さんが地球に再接近した時と満月が一致したお月さんで、一番遠い時の満月と比べて、地球から見たサイズは約14％、明るさは約30％増します。一方、「ブルームーン」とは、お月さんが青くなるわけではなく、月に満月が２度あって、同じ月で2度目の満月のことをさします。前回の「ブルームーン」は８月２日でした。頻度としては、「スーパームーン」が１年に１〜数回、「ブルームーン」は約２年半に一度の割合で起こります。そして「スーパーブルームーン」となると、前回は2009年12月でしたが、次回は2037年1月と3月と言いますから、だいたい14年に一度の天体ショーと言うことになります。

As you enjoy chilled soba on the riverside terrace of Kifune, the back parlor of Kyoto, the season has come when the cicadas , known as ‘Tsukutsuku-boshi’ chirp vigorously. This year, nationwide records of scorching and midsummer days have been rewritten due to the intense heat. In Kyoto, the 29th marked the 38th scorching day of the year. Until now, the most scorching days recorded in Kyoto within a year were 36 days in 1942, a record that has now been surpassed for the first time in 81 years. The streak of consecutive scorching days was interrupted on the 30th, as it turned into just a midsummer day, but the 31st today seems likely to be another scorching day.
Usually, the cicadas, known as ‘Tsukutsuku-boshi,’ begin their cries around the time of the Obon festival, but this year they started chirping even earlier. As the extremely hot days continue, the tsuk tsukuboshi also mistakenly believe that autumn has not yet arrived, and it seems like it will be late to start singing, but this is contradictory. Since the weather conditions have changed so much, Tsukutsukuboushi may have gone crazy. However, this is no time for such carefree talk. The Earth is teetering on a crisis from which there is no turning back. The ignorance and nonchalance of the world’s leaders are concerning.

京都の奥座敷、貴船の川床で冷やし蕎麦を食べていても、ツクツクボウシが盛んに鳴く季節になりました。今年は全国的にも猛暑日、真夏日の記録が塗り替えられていますが、京都では29日も今年38回目の猛暑日でした。これまで京都で1年間に記録した猛暑日は、1942年の36日間が最多でしたが、これを81年ぶりに更新したわけです。30日は真夏日で猛暑日の連続記録は中断しましたが、今日31日も猛暑日になりそうです。ツクツクボウシは、普通ならお盆が過ぎた頃から鳴き出すのですが、今年はもっと早くから鳴いていました。猛暑日が続くので、ツクツクボウシも秋の訪れを勘違いして、鳴き出すのも遅れそうなのに、矛盾していますよね。こうも気象状況が変わったので、ツクツクボウシも感が狂ったのかもしれません。しかし、こんな呑気なことを言っている場合ではありません。もう後戻り出来ないほどの危機的状況に地球は差し掛かっています。世界の指導者達の無知と呑気さが気になります。

When you light an incense firework, initially a small ball of fire resembling a bud forms, then vigorously bursting sparks fly out, much like peony flowers blooming one after another. Gradually, it builds up to a climax, exploding in shapes reminiscent of pine needles, and soon the momentum of the sparks wanes, with long and slender ones cascading like willow branches. In the end, it releases sparks akin to chrysanthemums, which, while beautifully blossoming, drop their petals one by one, eventually releasing a final fiery droplet. This incense firework was created during the Edo period and has been passed down to the present day. However, the origin, Kansai-style incense fireworks, have gunpowder attached to straw tips, whereas the Kanto fireworks that inherited it have gunpowder attached to the tip of the paper string. Incense fireworks, scattering sparks as if tracing a person’s lifetime, still enjoy enduring popularity. Nevertheless, there are only two firework companies in Japan that produce incense fireworks, and more than 99% of these, including incense fireworks, are imported from China.

線香花火に火を付けると、最初に蕾のような火の玉ができ、次に牡丹の花が咲くように勢いよく火花が飛び出します。やがて松の葉の形のように弾けてクライマックスを迎え、間もなく火花の勢いは衰え、柳の様に細長い火花が垂れ下がります。最後には、美しく咲きながらも、花びらひとひらずつ落としてゆく菊の様な火花を放って、ぽたっと火玉を落とします。この線香花火は江戸時代に作られ、そのまま今に引き継がれています。ただ発祥の地、関西の線香花火は藁の先に火薬が付いていますが、継承の地、関東の線香花火は紙こよりの先に火薬が付いています。人の一生を辿るかの様に火花を散らす線香花火はいまだに根強い人気があります。しかし、線香花火を作る花火会社は日本には２社しかなく、線香花火も含めて、99%以上が中国からの輸入品です。