Until recently, I had been thinking that summer vacation would last until August 31st. However, it seems things have changed. Just looking at the Kansai region, Shiga and Hyogo prefectures go until the 31st, while Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama prefectures end on the 24th. The reason I’m mentioning this is because I heard that my granddaughter in Tokyo, who is at her mother’s hometown in Hokkaido, is almost starting school. When I asked if she had finished her homework since school is about to start, I was surprised to learn that school had already begun. Furthermore, she said she had finished her homework on July 21st and 22nd, right after summer vacation started, which surprised me again. As for me, I used to struggle with my homework around this time of summer vacation because I played too much.
I found out that recently there’s a trend of shortening the summer vacation. They say it’s because the curriculum has expanded and weekends have become days off, which caused a shortage of school days. You know how people have always said, ‘Play a lot and learn a lot.’ While studying at school is important, there’s also a lot to learn from play. In the long run, I sometimes feel that prioritizing play over school studies might be a good thing.

夏休みは８月31日までとばかり思っていたら、最近は違うんですね。関西圏だけを見ても、滋賀県と兵庫県が31日まで、大阪府、京都府と和歌山県は24日までなんですね。と言うのも、東京の孫娘が、母方の実家がある北海道に行っていると聞いたので、もうすぐ学校が始まるけど宿題は終えたのと聞いたら、学校はもう始まっていると言うんで気付いたんです。しかも、宿題は、夏休みの始まった７月21日と22日に片付けた言うから、二度びっくり。僕なんか、夏休みは遊び過ぎて、夏休みの今頃は宿題を片付けるのに四苦八苦していましたよ。
調べてみたら、最近は夏休みが短縮される傾向にあるんですって。学習内容が増えたし、土日が休みになったので、授業日数が足りなくなったのも大きな理由だそうです。昔からよく言うじゃないですか、「よく遊びよく学べ」って。学校で学ぶ勉強も大切ですが、遊びことから学ぶ事も沢山ある。学校の勉強を削って遊びに回す事の方が、長い目でみたら、いい様な気もするんですがね。

The flowers of the grove begonias have bloomed. They look just like a flower lei worn around the neck of a hula dancer. Begonias come in three main types: grove begonias, rhizomatous begonias, and tuberous begonias. Grove begonias have upright stems that stretch out, showcasing a variety of beautiful flowers and leaves. Rhizomatous begonias have thick stems that crawl along the ground as they grow, and they are enjoyed more for their beautiful leaves than their flowers. Tuberous begonias, being among the showiest types within the begonia family, produce large flowers. With excellent longevity as cut flowers and the ability to bloom year-round, begonias are found in flower beds everywhere and are a familiar sight to all. Grove begonias are particularly popular as indoor ornamental plants, with prices ranging from several times to tens of times that of other begonia varieties.

木立ベゴニアの花が咲きました。まるでフラダンサーが首に飾るフラワーレイの様です。ベゴニアには、木立ベゴニア、根茎ベゴニア、球根ベゴニアがあります。木立ベゴニアは、茎がまっすぐに立って伸び、花が美しいもの、葉が美しいものなど多種多様です。根茎ベゴニアは、茎が太く、地面をはうようにして成長し、花よりも美しい葉を楽しむタイプのベゴニアです。球根ベゴニアは、ベゴニアの中では大きな花を咲かせるところから、最も華やかな種類ともいえます。花持ちが良く、一年を通じて咲き続けるベゴニアは、どこの花壇にも植えられていて、誰もが見かける花です。木立ベゴニアは、その点、室内で観葉植物としても人気があり、価格も他のベゴニアの数倍から十数倍する物もあります。

In the small open space by the waterway flowing alongside the rice paddies, Hanatoranoo (Tiger Lily) is blooming. I remember seeing it bloom around early summer last year. Hanatoranoo is a common flower seen all over the country from summer to autumn. The sight of the gentle pink flowers blooming in clusters brings a momentary sense of coolness even in the lingering summer heat. Although it’s a familiar flower, upon closer inspection, each individual flower has a unique shape. The flower spikes are slender, elongated pyramids, and the flowers bloom in a regular pattern in all directions. Due to its flower’s shape, it is also called Kakutoranoo. Originally native to the eastern parts of North America, it was introduced to Japan during the Taisho period and rapidly spread due to its resilience and vigorous growth. Despite the continued heat, you can indeed feel a faint touch of autumn in the mornings and evenings. It’s probably the Hanatoranoo that had been blooming throughout the summer, but its dignified appearance, standing firm against the heat, truly strikes a chord in the heart.

田んぼの脇を流れる水路の僅かな空き地にハナトラノオ(花虎の尾)が咲いています。去年は初夏の頃に咲いていたのを見かけた様に思います。ハナトラノオは夏から秋にかけて、全国いたるところでよく見かける花です。優しいピンクの花が群れ咲く様子は、残暑の中でも、つかの間の涼しさを感じさせてくれます。ありふれた花ですが、よく見ると一つ一つの花の形もユニークで、花穂は細長い四角錐で、花は四方に向かって規則正しく並んで咲きます。その花の形からカクトラノオ(角虎の尾)とも呼ばれます。北アメリカ東部原産で、日本へは大正時代に入り、丈夫でよくふえるため急速に広まりました。相変わらずの暑さですが、さすがに朝晩は僅かに秋の気配を感じます。多分夏中咲いていたハントラノオですが、暑さを凌いだ凛とした姿に心打たれます。

There seems to be no sign of the heat diminishing even after the Obon period has passed. Yesterday’s high school baseball championship game between Keio and Sendai Ikuei had the whole of Japan excited and even more heated. The day before yesterday, I participated in the battle for those tickets and managed to barely secure infield seats, for which my grandchildren were grateful as well. Experiencing high school baseball so intimately like this is also a first for me. After seeing off my grandchildren, I watched the game on TV, and I was surprised to see the vast Koshien Stadium packed to capacity. However, what surprised me the most was that Keio won the championship by a wide margin of 8 to 2, going against most predictions. Regardless of the outcome of the competition, the admirable performance of the players from both schools, the fervent cheering battle between the two schools, and the vibrant colors of the summer vegetables harvested from the fields all were deeply engraved in my heart as the most cherished memory of this summer.

お盆が過ぎても暑さが衰える気配はありません。昨日は高校野球決勝戦、慶應対仙台育英に日本中が湧き立ち、いっそうヒートアップしました。一昨日はそのチケット争奪戦にも参加し、かろうじて内野券が獲得できて、孫達からも感謝されました。高校野球をこんなにも身近に体験できたのも初めてです。孫達を送り出した後は、テレビで観戦しましたが、あの広い甲子園のスタンドが満杯状態にも驚きましたが、あらかたの予想を裏切って、慶應が８対２の大差で優勝したのにも驚きました。勝負の勝ち負けはともかく、両校選手の立派な戦いぶり、両校の熱烈な応援合戦、そして畑から収穫された夏野菜の色鮮やかさと共に、この夏一番の思い出として深く心に残りました。

Shiga (志賀), known for the waka poem by Tadanori Taira: ‘The capital of Shiga, with its ripples, how the wild cherry trees still flourish there.’ Shiga (志賀) was a place name referring to the cu rrent area of Otsu City. It’s a name that also contributed to the origin of Shiga (滋賀) Prefecture’s name. The name ‘Shiga (志賀)’ remains in the region adjacent to Takashima City in the northern part of Otsu City. This narrow area is nestled between the Hira Mountain Range and Lake Biwa, and during winter, it often gets a considerable amount of snowfall. Most of the land is dedicated to rice paddies, with early-harvested rice planted, soon to be harvested. This area boasts clear waters from Lake Biwa and stretches of sandy beaches, making it a popular destination for swimmers. The scent of barbecues wafts through the air, adding to the atmosphere.
Shiga Prefecture, blessed with abundant water resources from Lake Biwa, is renowned for its temperate climate and fertile soil, making it one of the leading rice-producing areas in the country. It is known for producing high-quality strains of Omi rice like ‘Mizukagami’ and ‘Koshihikari,’ and next year, a new variety called ‘Kiramizuki’ will be introduced, said to rival or even surpass the taste of ‘Koshihikari’.

平忠度の和歌「さざなみや志賀の都は荒れにしを昔ながらの山桜かな」で知られる志賀は、今の大津市一帯を表す地名でした。滋賀県の県名の由来にもなった地名です。大津市の北部、高島市に隣接する地に志賀の名前が残っています。比良山系と琵琶湖に挟まれた狭い地域で、冬にはけっこう雪も積もります。ほとんどが田んぼで早稲が植えられていて、間もなく収穫です。この辺りは琵琶湖の水も澄み、砂浜が広がっているので、水泳客も多く、バーベキューの匂いと煙が立ち込めています。「琵琶湖」という豊富な水資源を有する滋賀県では、その温和な気候と豊かな土壌が稲作に適していることもあり、全国でも有数の米所です。「みずかがみ」や「コシヒカリ」といった近江米の産地としても知られ、来年は新品種の「きらみずき」が発売されます。「コシヒカリ」と同等以上の食味らしいです。

At 10:00 am, reservation tickets for the high school baseball finals that will be held tomorrow will go on sale. For my son and grandson who came all the way from Tokyo to watch the semi-finals and finals, I was forced to participate in the hot battle to get tickets. I promptly opened the ticket reservation site and waited for the start time of sales. As soon as 10 o’clock arrived, I tried to access the site, but the internet wouldn’t connect. The message “Due to an overwhelming number of reservations, it is difficult to establish a connection” appeared repeatedly, over and over again. This cycle repeated dozens of times. Even if I thought I had finally connected, I was rejected again during the process of the procedure. In this way, I managed to secure tickets for both the semifinal and today’s final game, but I am simply amazed by the fervor of this tournament. What will be the result of the final match between Sendai Ikuei and Keio tomorrow? The cheering match is also worth seeing.

朝10時、明日開かれる高校野球決勝戦の予約チケットが発売されます。東京から準決勝戦と決勝戦を見にやって来た息子と孫の為に、そのチケット獲得の熱き戦いに参戦するすることになりました。チケット予約サイトを早々と開けて発売開始時刻を待ちます。10時とともにサイトに入ろうとしまししたが、ネットが繋がりません。「予約が殺到して繋がりにくい状況です」と何回も何回もでます。繰り返すこと数十回。さあ繋がったと思っても、手続きの過程でまた弾かれます。こうして、準決勝戦も今日の決勝戦のチケットも何とか獲得できましたが、今大会の熱狂振りには只々驚くばかりです。あすの仙台育英と慶應の決勝戦の行方はいかん。その応援合戦も見ものです。

Risshū (立秋), marking the beginning of autumn, fell on August 8th this year, and soon we will approach Shosho (処暑), which falls on August 23rd. Shosho is the period when the intense heat begins to subside. Cool breezes start to blow in the mornings and evenings, and the pleasant sounds of insects can be heard. The heat eases, and the grains start to ripen, yet it also signifies the arrival of the typhoon season. Traditionally, Shosho has been described in this manner.
But forget about the notion of Shosho. Today, on the 20th, we are in the latter part of Risshū (August 18th to 23rd), a period known as ‘fukaki kirimatou’ (蒙霧升降), when thick mist envelops the forests and waters, creating a fantastical scene in the cool and pleasant morning and evening air. However, the heat persists. It wouldn’t be strange to send ‘hot-summer greetings’ instead of the usual ‘late-summer greetings.’ Nonetheless, the persimmon trees are bearing large, swollen green persimmons.

今年の立秋は８月８日、そして間もなく８月23日の処暑を迎えます。処暑とは、厳しい暑さの峠を越した頃です。朝夕には涼しい風が吹き、心地よい虫の声が聞こえてきます。暑さが和らぎ、穀物が実り始めますが、同時に台風の季節の到来でもあります。と従来からは処暑はこの様に語られてきました。
処暑なんてとんでもない。今日20日は、立秋の末候(8月18日〜8月23日)で、蒙霧升降(ふかききりまとう)と謳われる時期です。森や水辺に白く深い霧がたちこめ、朝夕のひんやりとした心地よい空気の中、深い霧が幻想的な風景をつくりだす頃だとされます。ところがこの暑さです。残暑見舞いどころか、暑中見舞いを出してもおかしくありません。しかし、柿の木には大きな青柿が大きくみを膨らませています。

In the midst of the town too, there is the cafe that have been intricately designed with elegance. The ceilings are adorned with woven reed mats, and hanging wind chimes produce a refreshing melody from there. Inside the spacious establishment, retro furnishings are tastefully arranged, effectively shielding the interior from the scorching heat outside. Amidst this ambiance, a large television is placed, broadcasting the quarterfinals of a high school baseball game. Despite the sweltering weather, the stands are packed with spectators. The cheering squads from both schools fervently dance, shaking their bodies with boundless energy. When a player head-slides home base, a cloud of sand soars up that the player cannot be seen. Sweat trickles down the sun-darkened neck of the player. Strangely, a mysterious warmth lingers within the ostensibly insulated interior of the cafe. Even the meticulously brewed hot coffee has grown cold.

街中にも風流を凝ったカフェがあるものです。天井は葦簀張り、そこから吊るされた風鈴が涼やかな音を奏でています。ゆったりした店内にはレトロな調度品がほど良く飾られていて、外の暑さが完全に遮断されています。そんな店内に大型テレビが置かれていて、高校野球準々決勝の模様が映されています。この暑いのに観客席は満員。両校の応援団が満身の力を込めて踊る様に体を揺すっています。選手がヘッドスライディングでホームインすると、選手の姿が見えない位の砂煙が舞い上がります。真っ黒に日焼けした選手の首筋に汗が噴き出ています。遮断されたはずの店内には不思議な熱気が漂っています。折角の熱いコーヒーがすっかり冷えていました。

There is a shrubbery that separates the sidewalk that I always take from the road. This sidewalk is spacious, just as wide as the road, and along the shrubbery, there are flower beds here and there where the residents plant their favorite plants. Flowers bloom with each passing season, making it a delightful and soothing pathway. This morning, as I rode my bicycle on my way to the hospital, I noticed unfamiliar flowers in bloom. I was in a hurry, so I decided to take a closer look on my way back. When I stopped by on my way home, it was Rain Lily. It’s strange that I never noticed them on my usual route. Come to think of it, they must have bloomed due to the rain this morning. True to their name, Rain Lilies bloom after rainfall. Their scientific name is “Habranthus,” derived from the Greek words “habros” (graceful) and “anthos” (flower), meaning “graceful flower.” Although they are commonly called Rain Lilies, this name suits them well. It is very similar to Tamasudare (official name is Zephyranthes) and is difficult to distinguish., but while Tamasudare blooms directly upright, Rain Lilies tilt their heads slightly as they bloom. These resilient flowers bloom multiple times from early summer to autumn, but because they only bloom after rain, I had inadvertently overlooked them.

いつも通る歩道には道路と隔てる植え込みがあります。この歩道は、道路と同じ位の幅があるゆったりとした歩道で、植え込みには所々花壇があり、住民の方が好きな草木を植えています。四季折々に花が咲き、楽しく心癒される歩道です。今朝は、病院への行きしな、自転車で通りかかると見慣れない花が咲いています。急いでいましたので、帰りにゆっくり見ようとその場を通り抜けました。帰りに寄って見ると、レインリリーです。いつも通る道なのに気づきませんでした。そう言えば、今朝は雨が降ったので咲いたのでしょう。その名の通り、レインリリーは雨後に花を咲かせます。正式名称はハブランサスで、ギリシア語のハブロス(優雅な)とアンサス(花)からきており、「優雅な花」という意味です。レインリリーは通称ですが、この名の方がしっくりきます。タマスダレ(正式名称はゼフィランサス)とよく似ていて見分けがつきにくいですが、タマスダレが真上に花を咲かせるのに対して、レインリリーは少し首を傾げて咲きます。丈夫な花で、初夏から秋口にかけては何咲かせますが、雨後にしか花を咲かせないので、うっかり見落としていたのです。

From the gaps between the tiles laid at the entrance, bamboo tree  shoots are sprouting about 10 cm. There lies a large bear cicada on its back there. When I touch it, wondering if it’s dead, it flips over and flutters its transparent wings. It no longer has the strength to fly. Come to think of it, cicadas are representatives of ephemeral creatures. They spend 3 to 17 years underground, only to emerge for a mere month. From a human perspective, their life history can be summed up in just one word: ephemeral.
And so, the males continue to cry throughout the summer in search of females, but less than 30% of the males are able to meet females. The majority of males, without meeting a female, end up sulking, lying on the ground on their backs, and dying. Among living creatures, there are those like praying mantises and cellar spiders that, even after meeting a female, ultimately get eaten by the female. Males are, after all, the most fleeting creatures.

玄関に敷き詰めたタイルの隙間から竹の芽が10cmほど芽を出しています。そこに大きなクマゼミが仰向けになって横たわっています。死んでいるのかと触ってみると、くるっとうつ伏せになって透明な羽をばたつかせています。もう飛ぶ元気はありません。思えばセミは儚い生き物の代表格。土の中で3〜17年、土の中から出てせいぜい1カ月。人間から見たらその生活史はもう儚いの一語につきます。
そしてその雄、雌を求めて夏中鳴き続けているのですが、雌に出会える雄は30%にも満たないのです。大部分の雄は雌に出会えまいまま、不貞腐れて、道に仰向けになって死んでしまいます。生き物の中には、雌に出会えても結局は雌に食われてしまうカマキリやゴケグモの様な生き物もいます。雄は究極、最も儚い生き物なのです。