A single flower stands alone, poking out of the sandy ground. A little distance away, there are leaves resembling small ginkgo leaves, overlapping and creeping over the sand. It must be a flower that has bloomed on a stem growing from those leaves. I took a picture and searched it on Google Lens, and it came up as Hamanigana (浜苦菜). It grows in sandy areas along the coast all over Japan, spreading with long underground stems. The leaves are thick with long stalks, and even if they get covered with sand, they soon extend their stems and bring the leaves back up to the surface. So, that’s probably why this flower is also blooming alone on the sand. The blooming season is from April to October, and the flower closely resembles that of a dandelion. Like dandelions, its seeds have fluffy hair, which helps them spread in the wind. The Chinese character ‘菜’ (meaning vegetable) suggests that the young leaves can be eaten in early spring. The taste is bitter, which is why it’s called ‘苦菜’ (bitter greens).

花だけがポツンと一つ砂地から顔を出して咲いています。少し離れた所にイチョウの葉を小さくした様な葉が重なり合って砂地を這っています。そこから伸びた茎に咲いた花なんでしょう。写真にとってGoogleレンズで検索したらハマニガナ（浜苦菜）とありました。日本全土の海岸の砂地に生え、地下茎を長くのばしてふえるそうです。葉は厚く、長い柄があって、砂をかぶっても、すぐに茎をのばして葉を砂の上にだすそうです。だから、この花も同じように砂の上にポツンと咲いたんでしょうね。花期は、4月から10月で、タンポポの花によく似ています。果実はタンポポと同様に綿毛が付き、風で広がります。漢字名の「菜」が示すように春先の若葉は食用にもなります。味が苦く「苦菜」になったんでしょうね。

November 7 marks the solar term of ‘Rittou’ (the beginning of winter) in the 24 solar terms of the traditional calendar. From this day, winter begins according to the calendar. Coincidentally, on this day, Mt. Fuji experienced its first snowcap, and the first “Kogarashi” (winter wind) blew in both Osaka and Tokyo. It was a rare day, as it brought together Rittou, the first snowcap on Mt. Fuji, and Kogarashi No. 1.
Although Mt. Fuji’s first snow cover was observed from the Shizuoka side yesterday, the Kofu Meteorological Observatory is responsible for officially observing and announcing the first snowcap on Mt. Fuji. Even if snow is seen on Mt. Fuji’s slopes or from the Shizuoka side, the first snowcap is not announced unless the crown of snow is visible from the Kofu Meteorological Observatory in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. This is a curious example of Japan’s distinction between ‘hon-ne’ (true intentions) and ‘tatemae’ (public stance).
In any case, this first snowcap on November 7 was observed 36 days later than average and 33 days later than last year. The previous latest recorded first snowcap on Mt. Fuji was on October 26, 2016, and this year’s observation set a new record. In Tokyo, Kogarashi No. 1 blew 6 days earlier than last year, while in Osaka, it was 4 days earlier. It’s rare for Kogarashi No. 1 to blow in both Tokyo and Osaka on the same day, and even more remarkable that Mt. Fuji’s first snowcap also occurred on this day, reportedly for the first time in recorded observation history.

11月7日は二十四節気の「立冬」です。暦の上ではこの日から冬の季節に入ります。日を同じくして、富士山は初冠雪、大阪も東京も木枯らし１号が吹きました。立冬、初冠雪、木枯らし１号と三拍子揃った珍しい日になりました。
富士山の初化粧は昨日静岡県側から観測されていたのですが、富士山の初冠雪を観測、発表するのは甲府地方気象台です。たとえ富士山の麓や静岡県側から雪化粧が見えたとしても、山梨県甲府市にある甲府地方気象台から富士山の冠雪の様子が見えないときには初冠雪は発表されません。こんなところにも「本音」と「建前」があるのですね。
それはともかく、11月７日の初冠雪は、平年より36日遅く、昨年より33日遅い観測です。これまでの富士山での最も遅い初冠雪の記録は2016年の10月26日で、今年はこれを大幅に更新した訳です。木枯らし1号も東京では昨年より6日、大阪では4日早く、同じ日に東京と大阪で「木枯らし1号」が吹くのは珍しく、しかもこの日に富士山の初冠雪があるのは観測史上初めてのことらしいです。

I received a letter from a friend who lives near Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture. Recently, the climate has completely changed, and I heard that the autumn foliage in various areas is still not fully in color. So, I was a bit surprised by the unchanged beauty of the autumn leaves on Mount Daisen. I used to climb Mount Daisen often, in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In autumn, I always took advantage of Culture Day on November 3rd to make the climb. The view of the mountain foothills, covered in a colorful tapestry of autumn leaves, is truly nature’s own carpet. Sometimes, there were even snow flurries.
Descending from the summit, there is Jorenin Temple by the trail, and I am reminded of the time I stayed in a room with a round window, where Naoya Shiga reportedly worked on his novel An’ya Kōro (A Dark Night’s Passing). If I had the time, I would extend my journey to Hiruzen, on the backside of Mount Daisen, passing through Masumizu Plateau. The autumn colors along the way are breathtaking, and Hiruzen’s autumn foliage is equally magnificent. The memories are endless.
Come to think of it, even the ginkgo trees near my house are laden with nuts, and people gather to pick up the fallen ginkgo nuts. It’s truly autumn, isn’t it?

鳥取県の大山近くに住む友人から便りが届きました。最近は気候もすっかり変わり、各地の紅葉もまだしと聞いていましたので、昔と変わらない大山の紅葉ぶりには少しびっくりしました。大山には春夏秋冬よく登ったものです。秋には決まって11月３日の文化の日を利用して登りました。色とりどりにに彩られた紅葉が広がる山裾の景観はまさしく天然の絨毯です。雪が吹雪く時もありました。
山頂から降りると登山道の脇に浄蓮院があり、志賀直哉が「暗夜行路」を執筆したという丸窓のある部屋に泊まったことも思い出されます。時間に余裕があれば、桝水高原を経て大山の裏側にある蒜山にも足を延ばしました。途中至る所が紅葉紅葉で、蒜山の紅葉ぶりもまた圧巻でした。思い出せばキリがない。
そういえば、家の近くのイチョウの木も銀杏が鈴なりで、落ちた銀杏を拾い集める人もいます。やっぱり秋ですね。

The summer heat continues as usual. Though autumn festivals across the regions have ended and I would normally want to recite something like ‘autumn deepens,’ the heat and summer-like scenes still frequently catch my eye. Nearby, the fallow fields are full of blooming sunflowers, and visiting families are dressed in summer attire, enjoying shaved ice as if it were the height of summer. Yet, around the sunflower fields, some late-blooming cluster amaryllis are blossoming. However, as you go a little further into the hills, the scenery turns fully into autumn. Golden rice fields stretch out as far as the eye can see, with some already harvested. The persimmons are ripening nicely, and red dragonflies flutter through the air. And yet, in the distance, the sound of cicadas still echoes. My head is in a state of chaos. Is it summer or is it autumn? When I look at the calendar, I realize it’s already well past the middle of October.

相変わらず夏日が続いています。各地の秋祭りも終わり、本来なら「秋深し」と詠みたいところですが、この暑さといい、夏を思わせる光景もしばしば目にします。近くの休耕地にはヒマワリが咲き乱れていますし、訪れた親子連れも夏姿。かき氷を美味しそうに食べています。そのくせ、ヒマワリ畑の周りには咲き遅れた彼岸花が咲いています。しかし、その景色も少し山手に入ると、やはり完全に秋景色です。黄金色に染まった稲穂が一面に広がっていますし、刈り終えた田んぼもあります。柿もしっかり熟し、赤トンボも舞っています。そのくせ、遠くでツクツクボウシが鳴いています。もう頭はカオス状態です。夏なのか秋なのか、カレンダーを見れば、もう10月も半ばを過ぎているんですよ。

Sitting on the beach, listening only to the sound of the waves crashing, I find myself drifting into a light slumber. Then, I hear the faint sound of a boat engine in the distance. Though hazy, the sunlight shines brightly, illuminating the far-off sea. A small fishing boat bobs on the waves as if a spotlight were shining directly upon it. It’s hard to believe that the days were so hot just a short while ago. I can feel the coolness of autumn in the occasional sea breeze. At the same time, an inexplicable loneliness wells up inside me. What is this loneliness? Is it because this landscape, carved by the passage of time, reminds me of the fleeting nature of life, born and disappearing into this scene? Ah, a crab just scuttled by at my feet, waving its claws at me as it passed.

打ち寄せる波音だけが聞こえる海辺に座って微睡んでいると、微かに船のエンジン音が聞こえてきます。朧に霞んではいますが陽光は明るく、遥か沖合の海を照らしています。その中に小さな漁船が一隻、まるでスポットライトに照らし出されたように、波間に揺れています。ついこの前まであれだけ暑かった日々が嘘のよう。時より吹き寄せる潮風にも秋の涼しさを感じます。と同時に言いようのない寂しさが込み上げてきます。この寂しさはなんでしょう。悠久の歴史を刻むこの景色の中に生まれ、やがてこの景色の中に消えていく命の儚さを思い起こさせるからでしょうか。あれっ、足元をカニが一匹、ハサミをこちらに振りながら通り過ぎていきました。

The red spider lilies in the garden, which had been buds until yesterday, finally bloomed beautifully this morning. It’s already October. Of course, this is the first time we’ve had such a late blooming. While the mornings and evenings have become somewhat cooler, the daytime temperatures still exceed 30°C, feeling like midsummer. This is the same across the country. According to the app ‘Weather News,’ a survey conducted among users revealed that one week ago, in 25 prefectures, more than 30% of respondents reported that the flowers were ‘blooming.’ However, in this week’s survey, that number rose to 43 prefectures. Over the past week, it seems that the red spider lilies have finally started blooming widely from western Japan to the Tohoku region.
Looking at the percentages by prefecture, Kagoshima leads with 86%, followed by Miyazaki with 83%, and Kochi with 82%. While the Kyushu and Shikoku regions show high blooming rates, in the Kanto region, Chiba is at 43%, Saitama at 51%, and even Tokyo is only at 39%, indicating a rather delayed blooming. On TV news, shaved ice is still a big hit at various tourist spots that are crowded with many foreign visitors. One wonders when the real arrival of autumn will come.

昨日まで蕾だった庭の彼岸花が今朝は見事に花を咲かせました。もう10月です。もちろんこんな遅い開花は初めてです。朝晩ははいくぶん涼しくなりましたが、昼間はまだ30度を超える真夏日です。これは全国どことも同じで、アプリ「ウェザーニュース」によると、ユーザーに対して調査を行った結果、１週間前に「咲いている」との回答が3割以上となった地域が25県でしたが、今週の調査では43都府県だったとのことです。この一週間でやっと西日本から東北まで彼岸花が広く咲き始めていることが分かったそうです。
都道府県別では、トップが鹿児島県の86%、次いで宮崎県83%、高知県82%と九州や四国はともかくとして、関東地方ではまだ千葉県43%、埼玉県51%、東京都でも39%ということですからかなり遅い開花であることが分かります。テレビニュースを見ても、外国人観光客が多く押し寄せている各地の行楽地でもカキ氷が大流行りです。本格的な秋の到来はいつになるんでしょうね。

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According to the weather news on TV, while there are still places experiencing scorching days with temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, I’ve received a letter that the October cherry blossoms have started blooming. Including the October cherry blossoms, all cherry blossoms that bloom in autumn to winter are collectively called winter cherry blossoms. The Taiwan cherry is one of them, with its blooming period from January to February. By January, the early-blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms will start to bloom, marking the beginning of next year’s cherry blossom season.
The day after tomorrow is the middle of the equinoctial week, so I expected news about red spider lilies, but instead, I received news of winter cherry blossoms, which is quite surprising. As for the red spider lilies, not only are there no flowers, but even the buds cannot be seen anywhere in the country this year, and it’s predicted that blooming will be much later. This is an unprecedented anomaly that defies common sense. The phrase ‘heat and cold last until the equinox’ has long been said, but now it seems that this saying has become obsolete due to the abnormality of the seasons.
Even now, the news is filled with reports, such as the Noto region, which was struck by a major earthquake at the beginning of the year, now facing torrential rains that occur once every few decades, causing rivers to overflow and massive floods. Despite only 30% of the earthquake recovery being completed, a ‘special heavy rain warning’ has been issued, leaving me at a loss for words of sympathy.
This abnormality in seasonal cycles and extreme weather is not limited to Japan. It is happening across the world, including in the United States and Europe. The entire planet is in a state of emergency. Now is not the time to be repeating wars and conflicts. Humanity must realize quickly that if we don’t act soon, it will be too late.

テレビのお天気ニュースではまだ35度を越す猛暑日が至る所で起こる中、十月桜が咲き始めましたよという便りです。十月桜も含め、秋〜冬に咲くサクラを総称して冬桜とも呼びます。寒緋桜もその一つで開花は1月〜2月です。1月にもなれば、早咲きの河津桜が咲き始めますから、もう来年の桜シーズンの幕開けです。
明後日はお彼岸の中日ですから、彼岸花の便りかなと思いきや、冬桜の便りですからびっくりです。その彼岸花も全国の至る所で、今年は花はもちろん蕾も見られない、開花はもっと先だろうというから、常識では考えられない異常事態です。暑さ寒さも彼岸までと言われてきましたが、もはやこの言葉も反故になった様な異常な季節巡りです。
こうしている今もニュースで盛んに報じられていますが、年初めに大地震に見舞われた能登地方が数十年に一度という大雨で至る所の河川が氾濫、大洪水に見舞われています。地震の復旧も30%にも達していないというのに、「大雨特別警報」が出る中、お気の毒でお見舞いの言葉も見つかりません。
季節巡りの異常さ、異常気象は日本だけでなく、アメリカやヨーロッパ、その他全世界で起こっているということですから、地球全体が異常事態です。戦争や紛争を繰り返している場合ではありません。早く手を打たなければ手遅れは間近に迫っているということに人類は早く気付かなければなりません。

Today is the ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ (Mid-Autumn Full Moon). It is a traditional Japanese event that has continued since the Heian period. ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ refers to the custom of moon-viewing on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. In the lunar calendar, autumn is from July to September, and the 15th day of the 8th month, which falls in the middle, was called ‘Chūshū’ (Mid-Autumn). The moon that rises on the night of the 15th day of Chūshū is called the ‘Chūshū no Tsuki’ (Mid-Autumn Moon), and because the moon appears particularly beautiful around this time, it became known as the ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ (Mid-Autumn Full Moon).
In the modern solar calendar, there is about a one-month discrepancy, so this year (2023), the day of ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ falls on September 29. Since ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ is based on the solar calendar, the date changes every year. For example, in 2022, it was on September 10, in 2023 on September 29, in 2025 on October 6, and in 2026 on September 25, showing that the date can differ by nearly a month depending on the year.
When it comes to offerings for moon-viewing, ‘Tsukimi Dango’ (moon-viewing rice dumplings) and pampas grass are traditionally used. A table is set up in a place where the moon is easily visible, and 15 dumplings, representing the 15th night, are piled high on a large plate, with pampas grass arranged beside them as a stand-in for rice ears.
The pampas grass in the photograph was coincidentally taken today, and its formal name is ‘Shiroganeyoshi’ (silver grass). In English, it is called ‘Pampas Grass,’ and it originates from the grasslands (pampas) of South America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Pampas grass was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era, and it is now commonly seen in parks and wetlands across the country.

今日は中秋の名月。平安時代から続く日本の伝統行事です。中秋の名月とは、旧暦8月15日の十五夜に月見をする習わしのことです。旧暦では秋を7月～9月としており、その真ん中にあたる8月15日を中秋と呼んでいました。この中秋にあたる8月15日の夜に昇る月を「中秋の月」と呼び、さらにこの頃の月が特に美しく見えることから、「中秋の名月」と呼ばれるようになったとされています。
新暦ではほぼ１ヶ月のずれがあり、今年は9月の17日が中秋のの名月の日になります。中秋の名月は太陽暦に基づき決まるため、毎年日付が変わります。ちなみに2022年は9月10日、2023年は9月29日、2025年は10月6日、2026年は9月25日と、実は年によって１ヶ月近くの開きがあります。
お月見のお供え物といえば、「月見団子」とススキ。月がよく見える場所に台を置き、十五夜にちなみ15個の団子を大皿にうず高く盛り、側には稲穂に見立てたススキを飾るのが伝統的なお供え物です。
写真の大ススキはたまたま今日撮った写真で、正式名はシロガネヨシです。英名をパンパスグラスと呼び、原産地はブラジル、アルゼンチン、チリなどの南米大陸の草原(パンパス)です。日本には明治時代に入ってきて、今では全国の公園や湖沼で見かけます。

The mornings and evenings have become slightly cooler, but during the day, the temperature still feels like it’s in the height of summer. The once-bustling beach is now deserted, and you can faintly hear the sound of fishing boats far off in the distance. Occasionally, a red dragonfly flies by, subtly reminding you that autumn is approaching. It’s a strange seasonal feeling—too early to call it late summer, but not quite early autumn either. In haiku, it’s customary to include seasonal words to signify the season, but even the seasonal almanacs are of little help. For instance, “late summer” is a seasonal term that, according to the almanac, refers to the period from Shōsho (around July 7) to Risshū (around August 7), but this time frame is still the peak of summer, making it an awkward term to begin with. Especially with this year’s weather, it leaves one wondering, “When exactly is late summer?” Next week, on the 19th, marks the start of the autumn equinox period. Ideally, we’d call it early autumn, but that too feels off given the current weather. Recently, the climate has shifted dramatically. I’m concerned about the environmental changes brought about by these climate fluctuations.

朝晩は微かに涼しくなりましたが，昼間はまだ真っ盛りの様な気温です。賑わった海辺には人影はなく、遙か沖合を行く漁船のエンジン音が微かに聞こえてきます。時折飛んで来る赤トンボが秋の訪れをふと気づかせます。晩夏とも言い難く、初秋とも言い難い何とも奇妙な季節感です。俳句では原則、季語を入れることで季題を表しますが、歳時記もまるで役に立ちません。例えば「晩夏」、歳時記によると、小暑(７月７日頃)から立秋(８月７日頃)の時期を表す季語ですが、この時期はまさに夏の真っ盛り、元々無理がある季語です。ましてや、今年の様な気候では「晩夏」っていつなんだということになります。来週の19日は秋の彼岸の入り。初秋と言いたいところですが、これもそぐわない気候です。この様に最近は気候がガラッと変わりました。気候の変動がもたらす地球環境の変化が心配です。

The term “Nihyakutōka” (the 210th day) was commonly heard in the past, but it’s rarely mentioned these days. “Nihyakutōka” is one of the traditional seasonal divisions and refers to the 210th day from the start of spring (around February 4th), which falls around September 1st each year. Around this day, various rituals such as Kazamatsuri (Wind Festivals) and Fūchinsai (Wind Calming Festivals) have been held at shrines across Japan to pray for protection from wind damage.
Additionally, on September 1, 1923 (Taisho 12), the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, and in 1960 (Showa 35), this date was designated as “Disaster Prevention Day.” Wind festivals meant to protect crops and calm the winds still remain in various parts of the country. Particularly famous is the wind festival held in Yatsuo Town, Toyama City, the “Owara Kaze no Bon” of Etchu Yatsuo.
“Owara Kaze no Bon” is one of the most representative events of Toyama Prefecture, held annually from September 1st to 3rd in the Yatsuo district of Toyama City. In this festival, silent dancers wearing straw hats perform sophisticated dances along the streets of the hilly town, accompanied by the mournful melody of the Etchu Owara Bushi. The festival features graceful female dancers, vigorous male dancers, and the poignant music of the kokyū (a traditional Japanese string instrument), captivating visitors. During the three days of the Owara Kaze no Bon, from September 1st to 3rd, approximately 250,000 spectators visit Yatsuo.

「二百十日」（にひゃくとおか）という言葉は昔はよく聞きましたが、最近はめっきり聞かなくなりました。「二百十日」は雑節のひとつで、立春（2月4日頃）から数えて210日目の日で、毎年9月1日頃にあたります。この日の前後には、風害を免れるよう祈願して、各地の神社で風祭（かざまつり）や風鎮祭（ふうちんさい）などの祭りが催されてきました。
また、1923年（大正12年）には、ちょうどこの9月1日に関東大震災が発生し、これに因んで1960年（昭和35年）には「防災の日」として制定されました。農作物を守るために風を鎮めるための風祭りは全国各地に残っています。特に有名なのが富山市八尾町で行われる風祭り、越中八尾「おわら風の盆」です。
「おわら風の盆」は、富山県富山市八尾(やつお)地区で、毎年9月1日から3日にかけて行われている富山県を代表する行事です。 越中おわら節の哀切感に満ちた旋律にのって、坂が多い町の道筋で編笠を被った無言の踊り手たちが洗練された踊りを披露します。艶やかで優雅な女踊り、勇壮な男踊り、哀調のある音色を奏でる胡弓の調べなどが来訪者を魅了します。おわら風の盆が行なわれる９月１日から３日までの3日間には、合計25万人前後の見物客が八尾を訪れます。