Here it is again, the season of roses. Even standing in front of the fully decorated gate with rose flowers, at my age I can’t help but become sentimental. I wonder how many times I’ve passed through such gates before and if I will pass through them again in the future. That’s not good, is it? I visit this rose garden every year, and this rose gate is not only beautiful, but when I approach it, I feel an aura, and when I pass through it, it’s like a weight is lifted off my shoulders and I feel refreshed. The sentimentality from earlier is gone. Maybe that’s the role of the rose gate. Well, I wonder how this year’s roses will be. Will that rose that caught my attention last year be blooming again this year? My heart is swelling with anticipation.

またやってきました、バラの季節です。バラの花で満艦飾の門を前にしても、この歳になるとつい感懐に耽ります。今まで幾つこんな門を潜り抜けて来たんだろう、これからこんな門を潜り抜けることがあるんだろうか、とね。いけませんね。毎年このバラ園を訪れるんですが、このバラの門は美しいだけでなく、近づくとオーラを感じ、潜り抜けると肩の荷が降りたというか、スッキリするんですね。先ほどの感懐も何処へやら。バラの門はそんな役割があるのかもしれません。さあ、今年のバラはどうなんだろう、去年気に掛かったあのバラは今年も咲いているんだろうか。楽しみに胸が膨らみます。

On a corner of the sidewalk along the road, the Matsubagiku (Osteospermum) are blooming all at once. They look like higasa (parasol) or bangasa (beach umbrella), and seem to hide and reveal people who use them to avoid the spring sunshine. The plump leaves are succulent and the shape of the flowers is similar to some types of cacti. They also resemble umbrellas in that they open up when exposed to the sun and close when shaded. The Matsubagiku was introduced to Japan in the early Meiji period and is a perennial evergreen herb native to South Africa, not a cactus or a chrysanthemum. They are often seen planted in flower beds or stone walls on the streets, and some have become naturalized. They grow along the ground and can reach a width of about 100 cm for larger plants. Although the flower language for Matsubagiku is “lazy” because the flowers do not bloom on cloudy or rainy days or at night, it seems rather cruel. It probably means that people want the flowers to continue blooming as long as possible.

道路沿いの歩道の一角に松葉菊が一斉に花咲かせています。日傘の様でもあり、番傘の様でもあり、春の日差しを避けて傘差す人が見え隠れする様にも見えます。ふっくらとした葉は多肉であり、花の形もある種のサボテンにも似ています。日を浴びると開き日が陰ると萎んでしまう様子も傘そっくりです。明治初年ごろに渡来した松葉菊は南アフリカ原産の常緑多年草でサボテンではありません。また菊でもありません。路地の花壇や石垣に植えられているのをよく見かけますが、野生化しているのもあります。地面をはうように生長し、大きい株だと、幅100cmほどになるものもあります。松葉菊は夜だけでなく、曇りや雨の日にも花は開きませんので、「怠け者」と言う花言葉がありますが、酷いですね。裏を返せば、花が咲いている間は咲き続けてほしいと言うことでしょうね。

As soon as you leave the Shakuyaku garden, there are pure white flowers swarming like a group of white butterflies right in front of you. They are swaying gracefully in the occasional May breeze. When I took a picture with my smartphone and researched it, I found out that the flower is called Gaura, a plant that is native to Texas and Louisiana in the United States, grows to a height of 90-150cm and blooms from May to October. It is said to have been introduced to Japan in the mid-Meiji era, and was named “Hakuchousou” (white butterfly flower) because its appearance resembles that of a flying butterfly. Although each flower only lasts about three days after blooming, it can be enjoyed for a long time from early summer to autumn because it blooms one after another. Despite its delicate appearance, it is a very strong plant that can withstand both heat and cold, and its optimal temperature for growth is 15-25°C. It is said to be able to tolerate even -10°C in its native North America, where it is also called Bee blossom.

芍薬園を出てすぐ、目の前に白いチョウが群がっているかの様な真っ白な花が咲いています。時おり吹く五月の風にしなやかに揺れています。スマホで撮って調べてみるとガウラという花です。アメリカ合衆国のテキサス州やルイジアナ州に自生する植物で、草丈は90～150cm、開花期は5～10月とあります。日本へは明治時代中ごろに入ったといわれ、花の姿が蝶の飛んでいる姿に見えることから「ハクチョウソウ(白蝶草)」と名付けられました。ひとつひとつの花は咲いてから3日ほどで散ってしまいますが、初夏から秋の長い期間、次から次に花を咲かせていくため、長い間観賞することができるそうです。可憐な姿には似合わず、とても強い植物で、暑さにも寒さにも強く、生育適温は15〜25℃ですが、原産地の北アメリカではマイナス10℃でも耐えるとされています。現地でもBee blossomと呼ばれているそうです。

Perhaps it was already ten years ago, but I have a memory of encountering this flower. As I was walking along a country road, I saw this flower blooming near a small, rusty gate. It had a dignified appearance and I thought it was such a beautiful flower. I took a picture of it with my smartphone and did some research, but I just couldn’t figure out the name of the flower. In the past, I would usually be able to find out with some research, but if I couldn’t, I would give up. However, this flower was different. I decided to go to a botanical garden in Nagai Park in Osaka city, which was about an hour’s drive away. There were botanical specialists there, and when they looked it up, they found out that the scientific name was Watsonia and the Japanese name was Hiougi-suisen. Since then, I eagerly anticipate the time when this flower blooms every year, and I visit the fields frequently. This memory always comes back to me.

もう10年も前になるでしょうか、この花の出会いには思い出があります。田舎道を歩いていると、錆びついた小さな水門のそばにこの花が咲いていました。キリリとした佇まいに気品があり、なんと言う美しい花だと思いました。早速スマホで撮り、いろいろ調べたのですが、どうしても花の名前が分かりません。今までなら、よく調べたら大概分かったし、分からないは分からないで諦めたのですが、この花は違いました。車で小一時間はかかりますが大阪市の長居公園にある植物園に行く事にしました。植物園には植物専門の学芸員がいて、調べてもらったら、学名はワトソニア、和名を檜扇水仙であることが分かりました。それ以来、この時期になると、この花の咲くのが待ち遠しく、足繁く通う毎日が続きます。そしていつもこの思い出が甦ります。

The flower language of the Shiran (Spiranthes sinensis) includes three meanings: “I will not forget you”, “Unchanging Love”, and “Beautiful Appearance”. The image of a person in love with the Shiran may come to mind when seeing it blooming, slightly bowed, amidst its strong and large leaves. The Shiran is a member of the Orchidaceae family and grows in Kanto, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, and China. It is said to have been introduced to Japan during the Nara period. Like other imported plants, it was initially introduced as a medicinal herb, but eventually it was grown as an ornamental plant and some of them became naturalized. Although it is now commonly seen in horticulture due to its ease of cultivation, wild Shiran is rare, and it is a valuable plant that is designated as a quasi-endangered species. The underground stem is called “Haku-kyu-kon” and is used as a traditional Chinese medicine for digestive health and hemostasis, and as an adhesive to attach the silver parts of Shippou-yaki pottery.

シランの花言葉は「あなたを忘れない」「変わらぬ愛」「美しい姿」の3つがあります。しっかりした大きな葉の間に、うつむき加減に咲くシランに恋する人を思い浮かべるのかもしれません。シランは、日本の関東から沖縄、台湾、中国に自生するラン科の植物で、奈良時代に日本に伝えられたと言われています。他の伝来植物と同じ様に、最初は薬草として伝えられましたが、やがて観賞用として育てられ、その一部が野生化したものと思われます。育てやすいランであることから、今では園芸で見かける機会は多くありますが、野生のものはほとんどありません。そのため準絶滅危惧種に指定されている貴重な植物です。地下茎は「白及根」と呼ばれ、健胃や止血の生薬として漢方薬として使われる他、七宝焼きの土台に銀の部分を貼り付ける接着剤としても使われます。

Now that Golden Week has ended, it’s time to get down to work and studies in earnest. The weather has been alternating between sunny and cloudy as we transition into a new season, but it looks like we’ll have a stretch of clear May weather starting this week. In the rice paddies where the planting is finished, the frogs have begun their chorus, and the irises along the rice paddies are in full bloom, creating picturesque scenes for taking a break. On the other hand, in Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, there have been continuous earthquakes, leaving no time to enjoy the sunny weather. My heartfelt condolences go out to them. Since the beginning of the year, we have gradually seen an easing of the pandemic, and it has passed without any major incidents, but we don’t know what will happen in the future. This is a country where earthquakes, floods, and typhoons occur. It is important to prepare for any disaster that may occur, anticipating what might happen and being prepared for that day.

ゴールデンウィークも終え、仕事に勉学にいよいよ本格始動です。季節の変わり目で晴れたり曇ったりのお天気が続いていますが、今週辺りから五月晴れの日が続きそうです。田植えを終えた田んぼでもカエルの大合唱が始まり、畔の杜若が咲き揃い、一服の絵になる光景が広がっています。一方、石川県の能登では地震の連続で、五月晴れを楽しんでいる暇もない事でしょう。心からお見舞いの言葉を送ります。年明けからは、コロナ禍も徐々に収まる傾向にあり、おおむね大禍なく過ぎてきましたが、この先どんな事が起こるか分かりません。地震あり、水害あり、台風ありの国です。またどんな災害が起こるか、起こると考えてその日に備える準備はしておきたいものです。

That being said, this took place inside the greenhouse of the “Sakuyakonohana-kan” that was built on the site of the Osaka Expo. “Ippe” is the name used in Okinawa, while in its native Brazil and Colombia it is called “Ipe.” Its Japanese name is “Koganenousen.” It grows to a height of over 5 meters and can become a large tree that exceeds 10 meters in height. Its bright yellow flowers bloom from spring to early summer on these large trees, and it is loved in Brazil as the national flower, much like cherry blossoms in Japan. The Jacaranda tree from Australia, the Spathodea (flame tree) from West Africa, and the Spathodea (Chinese phoenix tree) from Madagascar are called the three great flowering trees of the world, but the Ipe is sometimes included to make it the four great flowering trees of the world. It can be found throughout Okinawa in Japan, but only in warm regions such as Kyushu and Izu. By the way, it is called “Golden Tree” or “Sunshine Tree” in English.

と言っても、大阪花博の跡にできた「咲くやこの花館」の温室内でのこと。イッペーと言うのは沖縄県での呼び名で、原産地のブラジルやコロンビアでは「イペー」と呼んでいます。和名は「コガネノウゼン」です。樹高は５m以上になり、高くなれば10mを超える大木にもなります。その大木に春から初夏にかけて明るい黄色の花が満開になり、ブラジルでは国花として日本における桜のように親しまれています。オーストラリアのジャカランダ（紫雲木）、西アフリカのスパトデア(火焔木) 、マダガスカルのホウオウボク（鳳凰木）を世界三大花木と呼びますが、このイペーを加えて世界四大花木と呼ばれることがあります。日本では、沖縄では至る所にみられますが、九州や伊豆などの暖かい地域にしか見られません。ちなみに英名では「ゴールデンツリー」とか「サンシャインツリー」と呼ばれています。

I peeked over to a corner of the park where people were gathered, and saw a street performer manipulating a marionette to the rhythm of the Awa Dance. The small children were also dancing along to the beat, and everyone around them couldn’t help but smile. It was a peaceful moment towards the end of Golden Week. Marionettes are one of the puppets commonly used in puppet shows. They are also known as string puppets in Japan. One famous story featuring marionettes is Pinocchio, which remains popular to this day. Italian-made Pinocchio marionettes, which can cost tens of thousands of yen, are sold on the internet. In Japan, the Yuki-za theater company has been carrying on the tradition of traditional string puppetry for about 370 years since the Edo period and has been designated as a “Selected National Intangible Folk Cultural Property” and an “Intangible Cultural Property of Tokyo.

公園の一角に人が群がっているので覗くと、大道芸人が阿波踊りのリズムに合わせてマリオネットを操っています。小さな子どもがまたそれに合わせて踊っています。周りの皆んなからも思わず微笑みがこぼれます。ゴールデンウィークも終盤の長閑なひと時でした。マリオネットは人形劇でよく使われる操り人形の一つです。日本では糸繰り人形とも言います。マリオネットを扱った有名な話として『ピノキオ』が上げられますが、今でも根強い人気があり、ネットでは何万円もする様な、本場イタリア製のピノキオのマリオネットが売られています。日本でも、江戸時代から約370年も続く、伝統的な糸操り人形を継承する結城座があり、『国記録選択無形民俗文化財』、 『東京都の無形文化財』に指定されています。

Today is Children’s Day, a day to “respect children’s personalities, promote their happiness, and express gratitude to mothers.” Originally, May 5th was the day of the Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Festival), a day to celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of boys. In 1948, shortly after the end of World War II, the Tango no Sekku was renamed Children’s Day to celebrate all children. Furthermore, it was also intended to express gratitude to mothers, and to promote gender equality and the advancement of women’s status.
Now, 75 years later, the problem of declining birthrates in Japan has become more serious, and the issue of women’s status remains unresolved. In 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that the number of births had fallen below 800,000 for the first time since 1899, with a decrease of 5.1% compared to the previous year. Annual births in Japan peaked at around 2.7 million in 1949 during the first baby boom, but have since followed a gradual downward trend with some fluctuations.
The causes of declining birthrates are often attributed to “increased rates of unmarried individuals,” “delayed marriage,” and “lower birthrates among married couples.” In short, the key to solving these problems is to create a society where all women can feel secure in giving birth, regardless of their circumstances.

今日は「こどもの日」。「こどもの人格を重んじ、こどもの幸福をはかるとともに、母に感謝する」日です。元々５月５日は「端午の節句」で、男の子の健やかな成長や幸せを祈ってお祝いをする日でした。その「端午の節句」が、戦後間もなくの1948年に「こどもの日」になり、子どもたちみんなをお祝いする日になりました。さらに子どものお祝いだけではなく、「お母さんに感謝する」という意味も込められました。男女平等と女性の地位向上が謳われた訳です。それから75年経った今、子供の少子化問題は深刻化し、女性の地位向上問題は未だにさけばれています。2022年には、生まれた赤ちゃんの数（出生数）が前年比5.1％減の79万9728人で、1899年の統計開始以来初めて80万人を下回ったことが厚生労働省の人口動態統計（速報値）で分かりました。我が国の年間の出生数は、第１次ベビー ブーム期の1949年がピークで約270万人でしたが、それ以来、多少の増加と減少を繰り返し ながら、緩やかな減少傾向を辿ってきました。少子化の原因として、「未婚化の進展」、「晩婚化の進展」及び「夫婦の出生力の低下」などがよく挙げられますが、一言で言えば、どんな境遇の女性でも安心して子供を産める社会を実現することです。

I went to a nearby Shakuyaku garden. It is open from April 28th to May 19th this year. It was a bit chilly in the beginning, but fortunately, now is the best time to see the flowers. Shakuyaku is mostly single-flowered, with especially large and developed stamens that adorn the center of the flower, giving it an overall neat appearance. Shakuyaku, which blooms later than Botan known as “Kaou (King of flowers)”, are called the “Kashou (Prime minister of flowers)” because of their beauty. Both flowers look very similar and are difficult to tell apart, but Botan blooms in late spring, while Shakuyaku blooms in early summer. Botan leaves have incisions, while Shakuyaku leaves do not. Shakuyaku grows naturally in northern China, southeastern Siberia, and the Korean Peninsula, and have been cultivated in China since ancient times. They are also known as medicinal plants and have been used from flower to root, and have been enjoyed as a tea flower since the Edo period. There is a famous phrase that describes beautiful women as “standing like a Shakuyaku, sitting like a Botan, and walking like a lily.” Originally, this was a prescription for Chinese medicine that showed how to use women’s herbs, indicating that women prone to irritability should use Shakuyaku roots, women who tend to sit should use Botan root bark, and women who walk unsteadily should use lily roots. This usage is still used in Chinese medicine today.

近くの芍薬園に行きました。今年は４月28日〜５月19日までの開園です。先始めの頃は少し肌寒かったですが、それが幸いしてちょうど今が見頃です。芍薬は一重咲きが中心で、特に雄蕊が大きく発達して盛り上がり、花の中央部を飾っていて、全般にすっきりした花容です。「花王」と呼ばれる牡丹から遅れて咲く芍薬は花の宰相、「花相」と呼ばれます。どちらの花もよく似ていて見分けがつき難いですが、こうして、牡丹は晩春、芍薬は初夏というふうに、花の咲く時期に違いがあります。葉も、牡丹には切れ込みがありますが、芍薬にはありません。芍薬は中国北部、シベリア南東部、朝鮮半島などに自生し、中国では古くから栽培されていました。薬用植物としても知られ、花から根まで余すことなく使用され、江戸時代からは「茶花」として観賞用としても親しまれてきました。美女の形容として「立てば芍薬、座れば牡丹、歩く姿は百合の花」という都都逸があります。これは元々は女性の生薬の使い方を示す漢方の処方箋で、イラ立ちやすい女性は芍薬の根を、座りがちの女性は牡丹の根の皮を、フラフラ歩く女性は百合の根を用いると良いという意味を持ち、今でも漢方ではそういう使い方をしているそうです。