As if to escape the rainy season and summer, hamahirugao are blooming on the sandy beaches. In Japan, this perennial plant grows on sandy beaches across the country, except for the Ogasawara Islands, and is distributed across Asia, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia, and the American Pacific coast. Occasionally, they can also be seen on the shores of lakes and rivers. Near “Niono-hama” in Lake Biwa, Otsu City, there are pink flowers spreading across the area, offering a refreshing view.
The stems of the hamahirugao lie on the sand and can climb up if they touch other objects. The leaves, which have long stalks, grow alternately and are thick, glossy, and round or broadly circular. Around May, before the rainy season, it blooms with pale pink flowers that have long stalks. The flowers are funnel-shaped with a diameter of 4-5 cm, and the strong underground stems extend long under the sand, often seen on sandy beaches near breakwaters in coastal parks.
Hamahirugao belong to the same family as morning glories. As their name suggests, they bloom during the day and wilt by evening. Additionally, the underground stems connect the flowers, which is a characteristic feature and the origin of the flower language “bond.”

梅雨と夏を避けるかの様にハマヒルガオが砂浜に花を咲かせています。日本では、小笠原を除く日本全土の海岸の砂地に生える多年草で、アジア、ヨーロッパ、太平洋諸島オーストラリア、アメリカ太平洋岸にまで分布しています。時には湖や川の岸でもみられます。大津市浜大津の琵琶湖「におの浜」にある「第１なぎさ公園」付近にはピンクの花が一面に広がり、爽やかな景色が楽しめます。ハマヒルガオノ茎は砂の上に横たわり、他のものに触れれば巻きついて上ることもあります。長い柄がある葉は互い違いにつき、円形または幅の広い円形で厚く光沢があります。梅雨前の５月ごろ、長い柄がある淡紅色の花を咲かせます。花は直径4～5㎝のろうと型で、強い地下茎を砂の中に長く伸ばし、海浜公園の突堤付近の砂浜などでもよく見かけます。ハマヒルガオは、アサガオと同じ仲間ですが、名前のとおり日中に花を咲かせ、夕方にはしぼんでしまいます。 また、地下に茎を伸ばし、花同士がつながっているのが特徴で、「絆」という花言葉の由来にもなっています。

On the fence of a house I passed by, white and purple clematis are beautifully blooming. The blooming season of clematis is long, from the end of spring to the beginning of autumn, but it is most noticeable around this time of year. Clematis is one of the garden plants that has been loved for a long time. In the UK, it is positioned as the ‘Queen of Climbing Plants’ and is cherished as a partner plant to roses. It is sometimes called ‘Tessen,’ but in reality, Tessen refers to a variety of clematis that is native to China. There are many wild and original species of clematis around the world, and as a result of crossbreeding over many centuries, it is said that there are now over 2000 hybrid varieties. The origin of the name ‘clematis’ comes from the Greek word for ‘vine’ = ‘klema.’ Because the vine of clematis is as hard as iron, it is also called ‘Tessen’ in Japan, including the native species. In Japan, it is also known by the name ‘Kazaguruma’ (windmill). Clematis does not have petals; its characteristic is that it has sepals that have transformed to look like petals. There are many examples such as hydrangeas and dogwoods, among others, where what appear to be petals are actually sepals or bracts.

通りがかりのお家のフェンスに白と紫のクレマチスが見事に花を咲かせています。クレマチスの花期は長く、春の終わりから秋の初めにかけて咲くのですが、いつも目につくのは今頃です。クレマチスは、古くから親しまれているガーデンプランツの一つです。英国では「つる性植物の女王」として位置づけられ、バラのパートナープランツとして親しまれています。テッセンと呼ばれることもありますが、じつはテッセンとは、中国に自生している、クレマチスの原種の一種です。クレマチスは、世界にたくさんの野生種、原種があり、これらのをもとに何世紀にも渡って交配が続けられて来た結果、現在では2000種を超える交配品種があると言われています。クレマチスの語源は、ギリシャ語の「つる」＝クレマ(klema)からきています。クレマチスのつるが鉄のように固いということで日本では在来種も含めて「鉄線」 と呼ばれる様にもなりました。日本では「カザグルマ(風車)」という呼び名もありますね。クレマチスは花弁(花びら)をもたず、花弁のように変化した萼を持つ点が特徴です。アジサイやハナミズキ、その他たくさん例がありますが、花弁のように見えるけれど萼片とか、花弁のようだけど苞という植物の一つです。

An old lady is walking without even using a cane, carrying a load of flowers on her back. Sharinbai looks like that appearance. Written in kanji, it is 車輪梅. The name “sharinbai” (車輪梅) comes from the resemblance of its flowers to plum blossoms and its leaves and branches forming a wheel shape. The flower’s meaning is “the comfort of a gentle breeze.” True to this meaning, the flowers bloom fully and sway in the May wind. Each flower, upon closer inspection, is very beautiful and elegant. From spring to early summer, the old leaves at the bottom turn red as they are replaced by new leaves. The sharinbai is a hardy evergreen that withstands air pollution, heat, and even sea breezes. It is commonly planted in roadside green belts, parks, and along coastal roads. The bark and wood contain tannins, and the brown dye made from the bark is used in the famous Oshima Tsumugi silk fabric from Amami Oshima. Oshima Tsumugi, known for its deep black color and intricate dyeing and weaving techniques, is considered one of the world’s top three silk fabrics.

花を背中いっぱいに担いだお婆さんが杖も使わず歩いています。そんな姿に見えるシャリンバイ。漢字で書くと車輪梅です。花がウメに似ていて、枝葉が車輪状に生じることからシャリンバイ（車輪梅）と命名されました。花言葉は「そよ風の心地よさ」。その花言葉通り、満開の花を咲かせ５月の風に揺れています。一つ一つの花もよく見るととても美しく気品があります。春から初夏にかけて、新しい葉と入れ替わる形で、下の方の古い葉が赤く色づくのも特徴です。シャリンバイは大気汚染や暑さに強いうえ、潮風にも強い常緑性の花木です。道路の緑地帯や公園、海沿いの道路などによく植えられています。樹皮や材にはタンニンを含み、樹皮から作る褐色染料は奄美大島の大島紬に使われます。大島紬は深い黒に繊細な染めと織りの技術が光る、世界三大織物にも数えられる絹織物です。

Lantana has become noticeable here and there. Lantana is a charming plant with small flowers that gather and bloom round like a ball of hands. It begins to bloom around May, withstands the heat of summer, blooms many flowers, and continues to bloom until around November. When lantana begins to bloom, I am overwhelmed with the feeling that I will spend another hot summer with it. Its Japanese name is “Shichihenge” (Seven Changes), derived from the fact that the flowers change their bright colors. Lantana was brought to Japan in the late Edo period for ornamental purposes. The flowers attract many butterflies, and the beauty of the flowers themselves makes them popular among some enthusiasts.
Recently, lantana has become more noticeable because wild lantana has started to grow from small gaps in stone walls and roadsides, forming splendid clusters with lovely flowers in summer. In Japan’s outdoors, they often wither in winter without human management, but in tropical to subtropical climates, they can increase from self-seeding unless properly managed, becoming a “plant that should not be planted.” Lantana is selected as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. In Japan, it can grow year-round in places like the Ogasawara Islands and Okinawa, and it can become wild around residential areas and ruins, designated as an invasive species to prevent ecological damage.

ランタナがあちらこちらで目につく様になりました。ランタナは小さな花が集まって手鞠のように丸く咲く、かわいらしい植物です。５月くらいから咲き始め、夏の暑さにも負けず、沢山の花を咲かせ、11月頃まで咲き続けます。ランタナが咲き始めると、今年もあの暑い夏を共に越すんだなあと、ひとしおの感懐に襲われます。和名はシチヘンゲ（七変化）と言い、鮮やかな色の花をつけ、その色が次第に変化することに由来します。日本には、江戸時代末期頃、観賞用に持ち込まれました。花には多くのチョウが集まり、花自体の美しさも相まって見応えがあり、一部の愛好家には人気な花でした。
ここ最近目立つ様になったのは、野生化したランタナが、石垣や道路脇の僅かな隙間から生え出し、夏には立派な塊になって可愛い花を咲かせるからです。日本の野外では、人の管理がないと冬に枯れることが多いですが、特に熱帯～亜熱帯気候の土地では、よほどきちんと管理していないと、こぼれ種で増えてしまい、「植えてはいけない花」になってしまいます。世界の侵略的外来種ワースト100に選定されていて、日本でも、小笠原諸島、沖縄などでは周年生育が可能で、人家周辺やその跡地で野生化している場合があり、生態系被害防止外来種に指定されています。

We learned about it in high school world history, but there was a conflict called the Wars of the Roses. The Wars of the Roses, from 1455 to 1485, were a civil war over the throne between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that erupted in England after the end of the Hundred Years’ War fought between England and France. The House of York, symbolized by the white rose, and the House of Lancaster, symbolized by the red rose, fought fiercely over the succession to the throne. However, as a result of the war, the House of Lancaster emerged victorious, and thus the red rose became the national flower of England. For England, the rose symbolizes the unification of the country after intense strife.
There is a rose variety called “York and Lancaster.” This rose blooms in various patterns on a single plant, sometimes striped with white and pink, sometimes half-and-half, or sometimes mixed. The name of this rose is inspired by the white rose of the House of York and the red rose of the House of Lancaster, named after the historical union of the two houses. Such is the deep relationship between roses and England that, in 1961, the “English Rose,” considered the masterpiece of roses, was born. The English Rose is a general term for roses developed by British breeder David Austin, combining the strengths of modern roses and old roses. It merges the longevity of modern roses with the fragrance of old roses and is beloved by rose enthusiasts around the world, as well as by many others, as a garden rose.

With the rainy season gradually approaching, it is the time when the white flowers of the dokudami bloom. It reminds me of my great-aunt, who lived with us when I was a child, picking the flowers and leaves of the dokudami to make dokudami tea and tincture. Whenever we got bitten by mosquitoes, applying the dokudami tincture was immediately effective, working better than today’s insect bite ointments. I have many memories of dokudami in various situations, and its flower language, “white recollection,” truly embodies this meaning.
Despite its rather ominous name, “dokudami” comes from the idea of being an antidote to poison, with “doku” meaning “poison” and “dami” meaning “to suppress.” Dokudami is commonly seen all over Japan and is also widely distributed in China and Southeast Asia. The stems and leaves have a unique odor, and the plant often grows in shady, damp places, giving it a somewhat negative impression. However, it has long been used under the name “juuyaku” (ten medicines) for its diuretic effects, prevention of arteriosclerosis, fever reduction, and detoxification, making it a versatile medicinal plant.
The pure white flowers of dokudami that bloom during the rainy season are delicate and charming. In the West, double-flowered varieties and variegated dokudami are cultivated as ornamental plants. In the UK, variegated varieties are known as “chameleon” and are very popular.

ぼつぼつ梅雨入りの時期になりましたが、この頃に白い花を咲かせるのがドクダミです。子供の頃、一緒に住んでいた大叔母がドクダミの花や葉を摘んで、ドクダミ茶やドクダミチンキを作っていたのを思い出します。ヤブ蚊などに刺されるとすぐにそのドクダミチンキを塗ると効果覿面。今の虫刺されの薬よりよく効きました。そのほかいろんな場面でドクダミのことを思い出しますが、ドクダミの花言葉、「白い追憶」はまさしくそういう意味だと思います。
それにしても、ドクダミとはいかにも毒々しい名前ですが，ドクダミは毒に効果があるという意味で、「毒矯み」＝毒を抑える、が名前の由来になったようです。ドクダミは全国至るところで普通に見られる植物で、日本だけでなく中国や東南アジアに広く分布しています。茎や葉には独特の臭気があり、日陰のじめじめしたところにも群生していることが多いので、あまりよい印象を受けないのですが、古くから「十薬」の名で利尿作用、動脈硬化の予防、解熱や解毒など万能薬として利用されてきました。
入梅のころに咲くドクダミの白い清楚な花は可憐で、欧米では観賞用として八重咲き品種や斑入り葉の五色ドクダミが栽培されています。英国などでも斑入り葉のものは‘カメレオン’と名づけられ、とても人気があります。

The popularity of ramen shows no signs of stopping. Wherever you go in Japan, there are ramen shops, and each shop has its unique flavor, so there’s rarely a miss. Recently, it’s not uncommon to encounter foreigners at these shops. Ramen has become a popular dish worldwide, and the word ‘ramen’ is generally understood even in English.
Who was the first person to eat ramen, and when? There was an interesting article in the Yomiuri Shimbun. Traditionally, it was thought to be Tokugawa Mitsukuni, known as Mito Komon, during the Edo period. However, recent research has traced it back to a Zen monk, a prince of Emperor Go-Daigo, in the 1300s during the Nanboku-cho period. This discovery was made because the term ‘keitai-men,’ believed to be the root of Chinese noodles, was found in the monk’s poetry. This new insight is drawing attention as a fresh perspective in the study of the history of the nation’s food.
The term ‘keitai-men’ is quite intriguing. At first, I misunderstood it as ‘portable noodles,’ thinking it referred to modern instant ramen. Since I always thought that instant ramen was invented by Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods, I considered this a major discovery. However, ‘keitai-men’ actually refers to noodles similar to today’s kishimen, indicating the form of the noodles.
Regarding the origin of the word ‘ramen,’ there are various theories, but it seems to come from the Chinese ‘lamian,’ meaning ‘pulled noodles.’ However, it is also said that the term ‘ramen’ became widespread with the release of the world’s first instant ramen, ‘Chicken Ramen,’ by Nissin Foods in 1958 (Showa 33). Instant ramen became a global hit as ‘magic ramen.’ Since then, the annual production of instant ramen in Japan has continued to increase, reaching about 5.723 billion servings in 2018. Invented in Japan and recognized worldwide, instant ramen has even found its way into space. In 2005, instant ramen developed with the participation of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) was carried aboard the space shuttle as the first ‘space ramen.

ラーメン人気は止まることを知りません。日本国中どこに行ってもラーメン店があり、どの店に入っても、その店独特の味があり、まず当たり外れはありません。最近は店で外国人に出会うのもしばしばです。ラーメンは今や世界中でも人気のメニューだそうで、英語でも「ramen」でだいたい通じます。
そのラーメンを最初に食べたのは誰で、いつなのか。読売新聞に面白い記事が載っていました。従来は江戸時代、水戸黄門として知られる徳川光圀とされてきましたが、最新の研究で１３００年代の南北朝時代、後醍醐天皇の皇子とされる禅僧にまで遡ることが分かったそうです。中華麺のルーツとされる経帯麺の文言が禅僧の詩に見つかったためで、国民食の歴史研究に一石を投じる新見解として注目されているそうです。
経帯麺と言うのが面白いですね。最初は携帯麵かと勘違いしましたので、今で言うインスタントラーメンかと思いました。インスタントラーメンの発明者は日清食品の創業者安藤百福さんとばかり思っていましたので、これは大発見だと思ったわけです。実は、経帯麺とは今のきしめんのような麵のことで、麺の形態を表す言葉だったわけです。
ところでラーメンの語源には諸説あるようですが、中国の「拉麺＝引っ張る麺」が起源のようです。しかし、ラーメンの呼称を広めたのは、１９５８年（昭和３３年）に日清食品が発売した世界初のインスタントラーメン「チキンラーメン」であるとも言われています。インスタントラーメンは「魔法のラーメン」として世界で爆発的にヒットしました。その後、日本国内でのインスタントラーメンの年間生産数は増加し続け、2018年には約57億2,300万食に達しました。日本で発明され、世界中で認められたインスタントラーメンは、活躍の場を宇宙にまで広げ、2005年、JAXA（宇宙航空研究開発機構）が開発に参加したインスタントラーメンが、初の「宇宙食ラーメン」としてスペースシャトルに搭載されました。

From Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama, Kyoto, heading upstream along the Katsura River and climbing towards the park, you will find ‘Yusai-tei’. Located on the site of the former imperial villa ‘Kameyamaden’ built about 800 years ago, Yusai-tei was originally constructed as the restaurant inn ‘Chidori’ during the Meiji era. It has been renovated by dyeing artist Yusai Okuda into a dyeing art gallery. Since opening to the public in 2021, it has been cherished by visitors from around the world as a special place to enjoy the beauty of Japan, where traditional and modern elements merge.
You can also view and observe the creation process of ‘Yume Kouro-zome’, a dyeing work conceived by Yusai. This ‘Yume Kouro-zome’ is a mysterious dye that changes color depending on the light, and you can see how it transforms when exposed to light. Additionally, the beautiful location borrowing the scenery of Arashiyama is captivating, with the Oi River flowing right in front, and you can enjoy the picturesque view of houseboats passing by.
Whether it’s the fresh green leaves sprouting in spring, the dense greenery of summer, or the early autumn where patches of red and yellow begin to mix, the scenery viewed through the round window and reflections is truly breathtaking, showcasing various expressions that change with the seasons.

京都嵐山の渡月橋から桂川沿を川上に向い、公園の方に登って行ったところに「祐斎亭(ゆうさいてい)」があります。「祐斎亭」は、約800年前に造営された離宮の跡地「亀山殿跡」にあり、明治時代に料理旅館「千鳥」という料理旅館として建てられたものを、染色作家の奥田祐斎氏がリノベーションした染色アートギャラリーです。2021年に一般公開されて以来、伝統とモダンな要素が融合した日本の美を楽しむ特別な場所として、世界中からの訪問者に愛されています。
祐斎氏が考案した「夢こうろ染」の作品も展示され、制作の場も見学させていただけます。この「夢こうろ染 」は光によって染め色が変化する大変不思議な染め物で、実際に光を当てて変化する様子も見せていただけます。また、嵐山を借景とした美しいロケーションが魅力で、すぐ目の前には大堰川（おおいがわ）が流れ、屋形船が行き交う風流な光景も楽しめます。
爽やかな青もみじが萌える春や、鬱蒼と茂る濃緑の夏、ところどころに赤や黄色が混ざり始める早秋など、季節によって変わる様々な表情を、丸窓やリフレクション越しに見る景色はまさに絶景としか言いようがありません。

When the cherry blossoms have finished and the wisteria flowers are past their peak, you may see purple flowers blooming in abundance along the edges of farm roads, creating a landscape that looks as if it is covered in a light purple haze. These are Matsuba-unran (pine-leaved toadflax. From now until early summer, they will grow stems about 30-50 cm tall from the ground, with numerous light purple flowers blooming at the tips of the branched stems. Matsubaunran is not a plant that has long been native to Japan; it is an introduced species that came from overseas. Its origin is North America, and the first record of it being collected in Japan was in 1941 in the Mukōjima area of Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. Since then, it has rapidly spread nationwide and can now be seen throughout Japan except for Hokkaido. Because its flowers resemble those of the native coastal plant Unran (Linaria japonica) and its leaves are as thin as pine needles, it came to be called Matsuba-unran. The most notable feature of Matsuba-unran is its strong reproductive ability, allowing it to spread quickly. Although the flowers are cute in appearance, it is often treated as a weed. The flowers are very small, about 1 cm, and the plant’s height ranges from 30 cm to 50 cm. Its slender appearance sways gracefully in the wind, making it quite striking. Recently, more people are planting it in their gardens for ornamental purposes, but if it takes root in the garden, it can become difficult to remove.

サクラの花も終わり、フジの花も盛りを過ぎた頃、農道の脇に紫色の花がいっせいに咲き、あたかも淡い紫色の霞がかかったような風景をつくることがあります。マツバウンラン(松葉海蘭)です。これから初夏にかけて高さ30～50cmほどの茎を地表から立ち上げて、枝分かれしたそれぞれの先端に淡い紫色の花を多数咲かせます。マツバウンランは古くから日本に自生していた植物ではなく、海外から日本へやってきた帰化植物です。原産地は北アメリカで、1941年に京都市伏見区向島で採集された記録が最初とされています。それから急速に全国に広がり、今では、北海道を除く日本全域で見られる様になりました。古くから日本の海岸に自生しているウンラン(海蘭)の花に似ていることと、葉が松葉の様に細いことからマツバウンランと呼ばれる様になりました。マツバウンランの最大の特徴は、繁殖力が強く、あっという間に広がるので、花の見た目はかわいいですが、雑草として扱われることが多い植物です。花はとても小さく１cmほどで、草丈は３０cmから５0cmほどと、すらっとしていて風でユラユラとする姿が印象的です。最近は観賞用とし庭に植え込む向きも増えていますが、庭に入り込むと、駆除が面倒になることがあります。

According to the “Simplified Life Table (Reiwa 4)” by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average life expectancy of Japanese people in 2022 (Reiwa 4) is 81.05 years for men and 87.09 years for women. In 1955, the average life expectancy was 63.60 years for men and 67.75 years for women, both in their 60s. This means that in the 67 years, the average life expectancy has increased by about 17 to 20 years. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare estimates that the average life expectancy in 2040 will be 83.27 years for men and 89.63 years for women, predicting that the average life expectancy of Japanese people will continue to increase.
The reasons for the continuous increase in the average life expectancy of Japanese people include:
1. Advances in medical technology,
2. Decrease in infant mortality rate,
3. Improvement in living environments.
However, as the average life expectancy has increased, various problems that were not previously experienced have arisen. One example is dementia. When the average life expectancy was in the 60s, many people died before developing dementia. However, with the average life expectancy reaching the 80s, it is natural that more people will develop dementia as brain functions decline. This brings the issue of healthy life expectancy into focus. Healthy life expectancy is an indicator that represents the average period a person is expected to live in good health. In Reiwa 1, the healthy life expectancy for Japanese people was calculated to be 72.68 years for men and 75.38 years for women. Given that the average life expectancy in Reiwa 4 is 81.05 years for men and 87.09 years for women, there is a gap of about 9 to 12 years between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Healthy life expectancy can be extended through dietary habits, exercise habits, and quality sleep. These actions also contribute to daily health maintenance, making it important to engage in them proactively.

厚生労働省の「簡易生命表（令和4年）」によると、2022（令和4）年の日本人の平均寿命は男性が81.05歳、女性が87.09歳です。1955年時点では男性63.60歳、女性67.75歳といずれも平均寿命は60歳台でした。67年間で17～20年間ほど平気寿命が延びたことになります。なお、厚生労働省では2040年の平均寿命を男性で83.27歳、女性で89.63歳と推計しており、今後も日本人の平均寿命は延びていくと予測しています。日本人の平均寿命が延び続けている理由は、
　1. 医学医術の進歩
　2. 乳児死亡率の減少
　3. 生活環境の整備
があげられます。
ただ平均寿命が伸びたが故に、今までに経験しなかった様々な問題が生じています。一つ例を挙げれば痴呆症です。平均寿命が60代なら、多くの人が痴呆症に罹る前に亡くなったわけですが、平均寿命が80代にもなれば、脳の機能も衰え、痴呆症に罹る人が増えるのも当然です。そこで問題になるのが健康寿命です。健康寿命とは、ある健康状態で生活することが期待される平均期間を表す指標のことです。令和元年における日本人の健康寿命は、男性が72.68歳、女性が75.38歳と算定されています。令和４年の平均寿命が男性81.05歳、女性87.09歳であることを踏まえると、健康寿命との間には約9～12年もの差があります。健康寿命は食習慣や運動習慣、良質な睡眠などによって伸ばすことが可能です。これらは日々の健康づくりにも役立つ行動ですので、積極的に取り組むことが大切です。