緑の中に映えるユリの天真爛漫さ

　宇宙にぼっかり浮いている地球上で、始まりもない、終わりもない時間の中で私たちは生きてます。ついこの間、令和６年になるや否や能登半島で大地震が起こり、今年はどうなるかと思いました。その今年も今日で５ヶ月が終わりで、光陰矢の如しです。

　群馬県でも、昨夜から今朝にかけて大分雨が降り、ユリを始め植物たちは温暖な今の季節を謳歌してます。このユリのように私も心身ともに生き生きして生活したいものです。
　　
　今日は先程、イチジクの苗を裏庭に植えました。子供の頃、イチジクをよく食べたので、美味しかった味が忘れられず、半世紀以上経ってからまた植えました。

　明日は孫娘たち二人(小４、小１)を預かることになってるので、群馬の珍しい所へ連れて行き、刺激を与えるつもりです。

Dear my friends abroad

　We live in a time which hasn't beginning or end on the Earth, floating in space. Just recently, as soon as the year 6 of Reiwa (2024) began, a major earthquake occurred in the Noto-Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture on New Year's Day. Therefore, I wondered what would happen this year. Today marks the end of the fifth month of this year, so time flies.

　In my Gumma Prefecture, it rained a lot from last night to this morning, and plants such as lilies are enjoying the warm season. Like these lilies, I want to live a lively life both physically and mentally.

　By the way, Just today, I planted a fig seedling in my backyard. I used to eat figs a lot as a child, so that still now, I couldn't forget how delicious they were, so I planted a fig seedling again after more than half a century.

　Tomorrow, I will take care of my two granddaughters (grade 4 and grade 1), so I will take them to some unusual places in Gumma Prefecture to stimulate their brains.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

室内の空気をきれいに・・・基本は床掃除

　今の時代は電気掃除機が当たり前ですが、先日、水を絞って使う床拭き用の雑巾を購入しました。昔のようなスタイルで床を拭くのでなく、柄が付いてるので、立ったまま雑巾がけができます。しかも、柄と雑巾は分離できるので、雑巾を洗うのが楽です。

　多くの時間を過ごす寝室や居間そして階段など埃が溜まりやすい箇所を中心に雑巾がけしたところ、気持ちまですっきりしました。一人暮らしの男が雑巾がけしてる姿をご想像ください。(涙)

　近年はロボット掃除機など自動で掃除する素晴らしい電気製品が登場してますが、「目に見えない細かい埃を除去するには昔ながらの雑巾がけも効果がある」と考えます。雑巾を水洗いすると汚れた水が出ます。昔と同様に、食卓や机などの上は水を絞った布巾で拭いてます。

　私たちは無意識に１分間に１８回ほど呼吸してます。時々は窓を開け、空気を入れ替え、床をきれいにして生活すべきでしょう。庭は樹木に覆われた森のようであっても、生活の基本である室内こそ良い空気にしたいです。健康の基本はきれいな空気を吸うことにあると考えてます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.............................................

　As you know, nowadays, electric vacuum cleaners are commonplace, but the other day I bought a floor mop that I can squeeze out water to use. Instead of wiping the floor in the old-fashioned style, this one has a handle, so I can mop with standing. What's more, the handle and the floorcloth can be separated, so it's easy for me to wash the floorcloth.

　I mopped the bedroom, living room, and stairs, where I spend a lot of time, and it made me feel refreshed. Please imagine a man living alone mopping the floor. (tears)

　In recent years, wonderful electrical appliances that clean automatically, such as robot vacuum cleaner, has appeared, but I think that old-fashioned mopping is also effective for removing invisible tiny dust. When I wash a mop with water, dirty water came out. Just like in the old days, I wipe the dining table, desks, and other surfaces with a cloth wrung out of water.

　We unconsciously breathe about 18 times a minute. We should open the windows from time to time to let in fresh air and clean the floors. Even if the garden is like a forest covered with trees, I want to have good air indoors which is the basis of life. I believe that breathing hygienic air is the foundation of health.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

烏川を眺めつつ、倉賀野緑地公園をウォーキング

　今日も、これから倉賀野緑地公園までウォーキングします。往復４Kです。折角生まれ持った長い脚を有効に使い、歩幅を少々広げ、散歩の感覚から脱却します。

　走っていては物事が考えられませんが、ウォーキングは不思議といろいろ考えられます。脳への血流が良くなるのでしょう。では、行って参ります。

Dear my friends

　As usual, today from now on I will be walking to Kuragano Greenery Park named Ryokuchi in our tongue. It's a 4km round trip. I will walk by effective using of the long legs, since I was born with. And I will widen the stride a bit, and taking away the feeling of taking a walk.

　When we're running, it's hard to think about something, but strangely enough, walking helps us think about a lot of things. Maybe it's because the blood circulation to the brain improves. Now, I go.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

若き日の刺激が高齢期の今に繋がる

　先日、書店で年に４回発行される「天声人語・英文対照２０２４春号」を購入することができ、早速読み始めてます。内容は２０２４年１月１日から３月末日までのコラムが収録され、記事数は約９０日分です。

　次回の発行が８月下旬なので、私は目標を立てました。それは１日に午前と午後に分け２日分読むことです。そうすると計算では７月中旬には読み終わるはずですが、果たして計画通りに行くでしょうか。「勉強とは本来楽しくあるべき」で、新たな漢字や表現法を学んだり、日常生活に結びついた使える英単語を習得できればと思います。

　それにしても、高校時代のあることが切っ掛けで、英語が好きになりました。今振り返ると、それがインド生活に繋がったり、その後、ニュージーランド家族やアメリカ人のホームステイ受け入れに繋がり、高齢期に入った今でも国際交流に興味が続くのですから若いときの刺激は大切に感じます。

　実は、高校時代に、一度だけ、英語の試験で９７点取ったことがあり、２番手の人が７０点台でした。その時、勉強法が分かった感じがしました。それは「予習こそ大切で、授業を復習」としたのです。これで、先生の授業内容がよく理解でき、質問もできるようになりました。５０分の授業がすごく短く感じました。

　遥か昔の高校時代の英語の授業が切っ掛けで、高齢期に入った今の生活に通じてます。「何事も前もってしっかり準備すること」を教わりました。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

........................................

　The other day, I have purchased the "Tensei Jingo VOX POPULI VOX DEI English Comparison 2024 Spring Issue" at a bookstore, which is published four times a year, and I have started reading it right away. The contents include columns from January 1 to the end of March 2024, and the number of articles is about 90 days.

　Since the next issue will be published in late August, I set a purpose. That is to read two days' worth of articles per day. If I do that, I am able to finish reading by mid-July, but will I actually finish as planned? I am of the opinion that "Studying should be fun," and I would like to learn new kanji Chinese characters and new expressions, and acquire useful English words that are connected to daily life.

　However, something happened in my high school age that made me fall in love with English. Looking back now, that led to living in India as the teacher at Japanese school at Calcutta-city and then to hosting a New Zealand family and American ladies, and I still have an interest in international exchange even now in my old age, so I feel that the stimulation at adolescence is important.

　Actually, in my high period, only once I got 97 points on the English exam, and the second-best person got in the 70s. At that moment, I felt like I had discovered a new way to study. I learned that "preparation is important, and then teacher's tuition was reviewing." This allowed me to better understand the teacher's lesson content and I could ask questions. The 50-minute lesson was so fulfilling that I felt so short.

　It all started with the English class in high school so long ago, and it has continued to this day in my life as the elderly person. I learned the importance of "preparing thoroughly in advance for everything."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　　

幸福とは

　今日、５月２９日は語呂合わせで「幸福の日」です。私はやや幸福でしょうか。７６点くらいです。日々、一人暮らしは不自然で、会話がないことが人間らしさから離れてます。昔はよき友人もいて楽しかったです。

　皆さんは如何でしょう。幸福の定義は人によって異なっても、健康と経済は基盤です。その上、自ら得意の分野で気持ちを思い切り表現できることは一つの幸福でしょう。また、時間を忘れるほど集中できることがあると幸せでしょう。今宵、せめてでも、私は幸福な夢が見られるでしょうか。

Dear my friends

　Today, May 29th, is "Happy Day" as a pun in the Japanese words. I would say I'm somewhat happy. I'd give myself about 76 points. Living alone every day is unnatural, and the lack of conversation makes me feel less human. I used to have good friends and it was fun.

　How about you? While the definition of happiness differs from person to person, generally, health and finance are the foundations. On top of that, if we are able to fully express our feelings in our specialty field, it is one of the happiness. It's also happy to be able to concentrate so much that we forget time. I wonder if I'll have happy dreams at least tonight?

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

月面から見る「地球の満ち欠け」を想像する

　皆さんは現在の月から見て、現在の「地球の満ち欠け」がどうなっているかを想像したことはありますか。どちらも太陽の光を同時に受けてます。ですから、太陽から見れば。月と地球のどちらも常に満月のように、すべてが光って見えます。

　では、満月のとき、月から地球を見たらどうでしょう。この時の位置関係は「太陽～地球～月」で、ほぼ一直線に並んでますから、地球は真っ黒で何も見えません。

　では、新月のとき、月から地球を見たらどう見えるでしょうか。この時の位置関係は「太陽～月～地球」で、ほぼ一直線に並んでますから、地球は満月のようにすべてが光って見えます。

　では、半月のとき、月から見た地球はどう見えるでしょうか。この時の位置関係は「地球も月も、太陽からほぼ同じ距離に浮かんでます。ということは、月から見ても地球は半分が光ってます。しかし、この時、月の右が光っていれば(上弦の月)、月から見た地球は左側が光ってます。今朝の早朝のように、月の左側が光っていれば(下弦の月)、月から見て地球は右側が光ってます。

　「ということは、月から見た地球の満ち欠けは、地球から見た月の満ち欠けと、常に左右が逆です。」

　今朝３時に撮った月が左の写真です。すぐに私はアースヴューのサイトでこの時の「月から見た地球」を調べました。それが右の写真です。この時、私は感動を覚えました。それは私が考えていた通りに「月から見て、地球が光ってる場所は地球から見た月と左右が逆である」という事実です。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

..................................

　Have you ever imagined what the current phases of the Earth are, if you view from the Moon surface today? Both the earth and the moon receive the Sun's light at the same time. So, when viewed from the Sun, both the Moon and the Earth always are completely illuminated, like a full moon.

　So, what happens when you look at the Earth from the Moon during a full moon? At this time, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are positioned in almost a straight line, so the Earth is completely so black that you can't see anything.

　So, what is the Earth looked when viewed from the Moon during a new moon? At this time, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are positioned in almost a straight line, so the Earth appears to be completely illuminated, like a full moon.

　So, how is the Earth looked from the Moon during a half moon? The relative positions at this time are: "The Earth and the Moon are both floating at roughly the same distance from the Sun. This means that half of the Earth is lit from the Moon. However, if the right side of the Moon is lit at this time (waxing moon), then the left side of the Earth is lit by seeing from the Moon. If the left side of the Moon is lit, as the case early this morning (waning moon), then the right side of the Earth is lit by seeing from the Moon.

　"This means that the phases of the Earth as seen from the Moon are always the opposite of the phases of the Moon as seen from the Earth."

The Moon taken by me at 3am this morning in the photo is lit on the left. I immediately looked up "Earth as seen from the Moon" at this time on the Earth View website. This is the photo on the right. I was moved at this moment. It was a fact that, as I had thought, "The parts of the Earth that are lit from the Moon are the opposite of the Moon as seen from the Earth."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

周囲を和ますユリの表情に見惚れる

　今朝、今年になって初めてユリが咲きました。緑一色の庭にあって、周囲に愛嬌を振りまき、まるでお喋りしているかのようです。生来、無口な私など羨ましい限りで、明るい表情で人と何でも自由に話せたらどんなに楽しい日々でしょう。

　艶やかな女性を花に例えた「立てば芍薬、座れば牡丹、歩く姿は百合の花」と、蕾のうちから天に向かって伸び伸びし、パッと花開いて周囲を和ませる人のようです。

　そう言えば、女性の名にはユリを含むものがずいぶん多いですね。先ず、百合子、沙友里、優里香、友理奈など、ユリのように愛嬌あって、周囲を明るくする人に育つようにとの思いからでしょう。

　ユリは人気のある植物で開花に存在感があり、毎年５月～６月に数種の色で咲き、球根が年々増えます。しかも、あちこち向いて咲くことも特徴です。お近くの方は見にいらして下さい。今後、私はユリやアマリリスなど色彩と共に表情豊かな植物を数多く育てたいです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

......................................

　This morning, the lilies have bloomed for the first time this year. Located in a garden full of greenery, she spreads her charming around you, as if she were talking to you. I'm jealous because, as you know, I am naturally quiet, but how much fun would my days be, if I could freely talk to people about anything with a cheerful expression.

　Comparing a charming woman to a lily, "When she stands, she looks like a shakuyaku peony, when she sits, she looks like a botan peony, and when she walks, she looks like a lily.'' It is like a person who grows from a bud toward the sky and suddenly blooms with softening the surroundings.

　Come to think of it, there are quite a lot of lady's names in Japan that include lily. First of all, such as Yuriko, Sayuri, Yurika, Yurina, and others to grow up to be charming lady like lily and brighten up her surroundings.

　The lily is a popular plant with a strong presence in flowering, blooming in several different colors from May to June every year, and the number of bulbs increases year by year. Moreover, it is also characterized by blooming in different directions. If you are nearby, please come and see it. I'll make you some tea. In the near future, I would like to raise many plants that are colorful and expressive, such as lilies and amaryllis.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

早朝の時間帯を有効利用したい

　５月２７日、群馬県の今日の日の出は４時２９分、日の入りは１８時５３分、正午の太陽高度は７５°で、夏至の頃ともう殆ど変わりません。１年のうちで特に朝が早く、この時間帯を有効利用し、少しでも自己改革に使いたいところですが、私にとって言うは容易く、実践はなかなか難しいです。勉強や運動など良いことは習慣化が大切と感じてます。

　今日は月曜日で地元倉賀野小児童の下校時交通安全パトロールに参加します。また、民生委員から依頼されてることで、近隣の高齢女性宅のごみ収集の日です。一方、嬉しいことに、年間に４回発行される「天声人語」2024春号・英文対照の発売日で購入予定です。

　ご存じの通り、これはすでに新聞で発表された内容を３ヶ月分まとめた本です。世界や日本の政治経済、社会の動きと共に、森羅万象を扱う内容であり、私には難解漢字や英単語を学ぶ教科書です。しかし、果たして頭に入るでしょうか。

　言葉の勉強は「幼児が日本語を少しずつ話すことと同様」で、日々、実際に使うことで身につくのでしょう。今振り返ると、昔はテストのために勉強したもので、テストが終わると嬉しくて、みんな忘れました。真の勉強とは、自身で「本当に必要性を感じたとき」身に付くものでしょう。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

 .....................................

　Today, May 27th, the sunrise in Gumma Prefecture is at 4:29, sunset will be at 18:53, and the sun's altitude at noon will be 75°, almost unchanged from the summer solstice. Mornings are especially early in the year, and I would like to make effective use of this time for self-improvement, but for me it is easier said than done. I feel that it is important for us to make habit such as studying and exercising.

　Today is Monday, so I will be participating in a traffic safety patrol when the local Kuragano elementary school children are leaving school. Also, at the request of the local welfare committee, it is the day to collect garbage from an elderly woman's house in the neighborhood. On the other hand, I am happy to say that I am planning to purchase the 2024 Spring issue of Tensei Jingo, VOX POPULI, VOX DEI which is published four times a year. Today is on the release date.

　As you know, this is a book that summarizes three months worth of content that has already been published in newspaper named Asahi. The content deals with the entire universe, as well as political, economic, and social trends in the world and Japan, and for me it is a textbook for learning difficult kanji Chinese characters and English words. But will it really get into my head?

　Learning a language is "similar to how a young child learns to speak Japanese little by little," they learn by actually using it every day. Looking back now, I used to study for tests in school, and when the test was over, I was so happy that I forgot all about it. True study is something we can acquire it "when we really feel the need."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　　

シャンプーで洗車後、一年点検の予約にアウディ・ディーラーへ

　今日の午前中、暫くぶりに自分で洗車しました。シャンプーをかけたら、やはり光沢が出ました。普段、車庫に入ってるので、一見、汚れてないように見えても、走行中の砂埃、大陸からの黄砂、花粉などが付着しており、洗車後は一皮むけた感じです。その後、高前バイパスをアウディー・ディーラーまで走り、気分は爽快でした。

　目的は、一年点検の予約で、来月行うことになりました。それにしても、３人いるＣＡと話すのも暫くぶりで、アイスコーヒーまで戴き、用件後、彼女たちとの雑談が楽しく、普段、一人暮らしであっても、世の中捨てたものではないと感じました。

　一年点検では、エンジンオイル交換、バッテリー交換を中心に診てもらいます。これからも、車間距離を厳守し、時間に余裕を持ち、急がば回れで、見通しの良い広い道路のみを走行します。

Dear my overseas friends who like driving and music

　In the morning, I washed my car by myself after a long time. When I shampooed it, my blue TT Quattro became shiny. My car is usually kept in the garage, so at first glance it doesn't look dirty, but in fact, it's covered in dust during driving, yellow sand from the continent, pollen, etc., and after I wash it, it looks like it's peeling off. Afterwards, I drove through the Takamae-bypass to the Audi dealership and I felt refreshed.

　The purpose was to make the appointment for a yearly inspection, which will be done next month. After the appointment, I've talked to the three CAs, and I even got iced coffee, and chatting with them after business was fun beyond expectation. Therefore, even if I usually live alone, I felt the world is not such a bad place after all.

　During the annual inspection, it will be mainly examined the engine oil and battery replacement. From now on, I should continue to strictly adhere that "I don't tailgate a previous car, give myself plenty of time, and avoid rushing around aiming for that "Haste makes waste and turn around", and only drive on wide roads with good visibility.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

町民憩いの広場・・・倉賀野緑地

 

【それぞれクリックし、拡大してご覧ください。臨場感が出ます。Please click on each to enlarge. It gives you a sense of reality.】　

　私の生まれ故郷であり、現在も住んでる倉賀野町の南には広い流域面積を持つ烏川が流れてます。この川は群馬・長野県境の鼻曲山（1655m）付近を水源として流れる約６０ｋｍの一級河川です。鼻曲山近くには烏川の水源である「烏の口」と呼ばれる岩があるといわれ、これが烏川と命名されてる所以です。

　若き日にこの鼻曲山に登りました。頂上からの景色は西に更に高い浅間山(２５６８m)が聳えてます。鼻曲山山頂の下方のどこかにきっと「烏の口」があったのでしょう。現地に行って確認したいところですが、昨今は熊の出没が有り得るので探検はやめておきます。

　ところで、小学生の頃、倉賀野町にはプールがなかったので、夏休みにはこの烏川で友達と泳ぎました。川の水は自然でとても良い感触であったことや、恥ずかしい話ですが、私は一度、深みに入ってしまい、そのまま流され溺れかけたことが思い出されます。やはり自然は危険が伴いました。

　現在、倉賀野町の南東部には烏川に沿って周囲２キロほどの「緑地公園」が広がり、ご覧の通り、緑に覆われた町民の憩いの広場です。ここには写真のように欅の巨木があり、大地にしっかり根を下ろした姿に圧倒されます。こんな巨木を見ると私は上半身の鍛錬のため、すぐに「テッポウ」したくなります。

Dear my overseas friends who like swimming

　The Karasu-River, which has a large basin area, flows to the south of Kuragano-Town, where I was born and I still live. This river is a first-class river with a length of approximately 60 km that flows from its source near Mt. Hanamagari (1,655 m) on the border between Gumma and Nagano prefectures. It is said that there is a rock called "Crow's beak" near Mt.Hanamagari, which is the source of the Karasu-River, and this is the reason why it was named Karasu-River.

　I have ever climbed this mountain when I was young (still young in heart). The view from the top shows the more higher active volcano Mt. Asama (2568m) to the west. There must have been a "Crow's beak" somewhere below the summit of Mt. Hanamagari. I'd like to go there and check it out, but bears are likely to be around these days, so I'll refrain from exploring.

　By the way, when I was an elementary school student, there was no swimming pool in Kuragano-town, so I used to swim at Karasu-River with my friends during summer vacation. I remember that the water in the river was natural and had a very nice feel to it, and It's embarrassing, but I once went into the deep water and almost drowned as I was swept away. After all, nature is fraught with danger.

　Currently, in the southeastern part of Kuragano-Town, there is a "Greenery Park" with a circumference of about 2 kilometers along the Karasu-River, and as you can see, it is a plaza covered in greenery for the townspeople to relax. As you can see in the photo, there is a huge zelkova tree here, and I was overwhelmed by how firmly rooted in the ground. When I see a huge tree like this, I immediately want to "teppo" that means pushing up to train my upper body.

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今夏も神秘的な開花が期待される

　これは以前に咲いた「ねむの木」の花です。一般の植物の花の形態と全く異なり、ご覧の通り、細い絹のような花弁の塊で、英語でSilk Treeといわれる所以が分かります。

　花の近くにある小さな丸い塊はすべて蕾です。このため、かなりの数が咲きます。今、私の庭には3本の「ねむの木」があり、すべて昔からの子孫です。長い時間をかけ子孫に受け継がれます。人間が世代交代しても、神秘な花を咲かせ続けるのですから不思議な植物です。

Dear my friends abroad

　These are the flowers of the "Nemu no ki" in our tongue that bloomed earlier. The shape of the flower is completely different from that of other plants, and as you can see, it has clusters of thin silky petals, so that it is called Silk Tree in English.

　The small round clusters near the flowers are all buds. Because of this clusters, they bloom in large numbers. I now have three "Nemu no ki" in my garden, all descendants from the past that my parents period. It was passed down to descendants over a long period of time. It is a mysterious plant because it continues to bloom even after generations of humans change.

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幼木の「ねむの木」からバランスと生きる力を学ぶ

【画像をクリックするとピントが合います。】

　今日は大陸の高気圧が日本列島を覆うので、昨日より幾分か涼しいでしょう。今後は大陸の高気圧と太平洋高気圧が押し合い、その中間に梅雨前線の停滞がしばらく続きます。７月中旬に、ついに太平洋高気圧が押し切ると関東地方は梅雨明けになります。

　自然はよくできており、このお陰で植物たちは緑色濃くなり、成長します。ご覧の幼木は実生から生えた「ねむの木」で２才です。剪定してませんが、生まれ持ったバランスの良い樹形を呈し、葉が成す緑陰と言い、絹糸のような細いピンクの花が咲き、人間の目に安らぎを与えます。このため「ねむの木」は英語でSilk Treeと言うようです。

　撮影は昨日の午後ですから、写真では未だ葉は閉じてません。「ねむの木」は、その名の通り就眠運動があり、本当にぐっすり眠り、不思議な植物です。６月～７月の開花の光景は「風流」という言葉がぴったりです。

　ところで、今年度、私は地区の本部役員(会計監査)とともに、近隣の班長です。今日は班長会議に出席します。

Dear my overseas friends who are interested in plants and music

　Atmospheric high pressure from the Eurasian continent will cover the Japanese archipelago today, so it will be a little cooler than yesterday I guess. From now on, the continental high pressure and the Pacific high pressure will push against each other, and the seasonal rain front will remain stagnant for some time in between. In mid-July, the Pacific atmospheric high pressure finally breaks through, and marks the end of the rainy season in the Kanto region.

　Nature is well-organized, and because of this, plants turn green and grow. The young tree you see in the photo is a 2-year-old "nemu tree" that has grown from a seedling. Although it has not been pruned by me, it exhibits a naturally well-balanced tree shape, with the green shade created by the leaves and the thin pink flowers that look like silk threads, giving a sense of peace to the human's eye. For this reason, "Nemu no Ki" is called "Silk Tree" in English.

　The photo was taken yesterday afternoon, so the leaves have not yet closed in the photo. As its name suggests, the ``Nemu Tree'' has a sleep movement, and it is a mysterious plant that sleeps really soundly. The flowering scene from June to July is best described as "elegant."

　Not change the subject, but this year, I am the district officer (accounting auditor) as well as the neighborhood group leader named "hancho" in our tongue. I will attend the group leader meeting today.

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ビアガーデンに行きたいほど暑い今日

　今日は誠に暑いですね。午後3時現在、私の部屋では摂氏３１°です。更に気圧も１０１０hPaです。因みに湿度は４５％です。

　私が子供の頃、５月と言えば年間で最も過ごしやすい気候でしたが、近年、確かに気温が上昇しています。エルニーニョ現象でしょうか。フィリピン付近の海上にある熱帯性低気圧が台風１号に発達する気配です。

　ついこの間の３月は気温が低く、桜の開花が例年に比べ１０日ほど遅かったですが、急に暑くなり、蒸しますね。

　こんなに暑ければ「高島屋の屋上ビアガーデン」に行きたいほどです。しかし、ビアガーデンで一人でビールを飲んでいるほど哀れな姿はないでしょう。これからいくらでもチャンスはあるので、それまで待ちます。

Dear my friends who like beer and western classical music

　It's really hot today. As of 3pm, the temperature in my room is 31 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the atmospheric pressure is also 1010hPa. By the way, the humidity is 45%.

　When I was a child, May was the most pleasant month of the year, but in recent years the temperature has certainly been rising. Is it an El Niño phenomenon? There are signs that a tropical cyclone offshore near the Philippines will develop into typhoon No. 1.

　As you know, the temperature was very low in March recently in Japan, so that the cherry blossoms bloomed about 10 days later than usual, but it suddenly gets hot and muggy.

　If it continues like this hot, I'd love to go to "Takashimaya's rooftop beer garden". However, there is nothing more pathetic than drinking beer alone in a beer garden. There will be many opportunities from now on. I'll wait until then.

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今度は、何事も早く取り掛かろう

　２０年前に家を建てたときから使っていた居間の蛍光灯が１年前に１本切れました。しかし、交換するにも天井が高くて届かず、ものぐさな私は１本のままでどうにか生活してました。そして一昨日、ついにスイッチを入れたらガーガーと音が鳴り、残りの１本も点かなくなりました。

　気が付くのは夜ですから、さあ大変。食事するにも困りました。結局、場所を変えて一杯飲みました。

　昨日は早速、近くのホームセンターで２本セットになってる４０型と３２型の蛍光灯を購入、その後、高い位置にどうしたら届くか考えた挙句、机を移動して踏み台として使いました。そしたら安定して作業ができました。結果的に、蛍光灯の交換は意外に簡単で、２本とも明るく点いたときは思わず室内の明るさに感銘です。何かやる気が出てきました。

　人間(特に私)は、やればできるのに、ついそのままにしていることがあります。室内が明るくなっただけで希望が湧いてきた感じです。これを機会に、何事も生活改善に向かって今までより明日を明るくしたいです。そう言えば、「明日という字は明るいという字」が使われてます。室内の他に、これからは人生も明るくしたいものだ。そうだ、今度はすぐに取り掛かろう。

Dear my friends throughout the world

　One of the fluorescent lights in the living room that had been using since I built the house 20 years ago, has burned out a year ago. However, the ceiling was so high that I couldn't reach, so after that I was living with just one fluorescent light. Then, the day before yesterday, when I finally turned it on, it made a beeping sound and the other one fluorescent light wouldn't turn on either.

　When I notice it at night, so it was difficult to even eat. I changed place and had a drink.

　Yesterday, I immediately bought a set of two 40-centimeter and 32-centimeter fluorescent lights at a nearby home improvement center, and I thought how I can reach a higher celling, I moved my desk and used them as a step stool. After that, I was able to work stably. As a result, replacing the fluorescent lights was surprisingly easy, and when both lights turned on, I was impressed by how bright the room was. I feel motivated to do something.

　Humans (especially me) sometimes just keep doing as it was, even though I can do it. I feel like I'm starting to feel more hopeful just by getting brighter in the room. I would like to take this opportunity to do everything I can to improve my life and make tomorrow brighter than before. Come to think of it, the word "tomorrow" in Japanese character means "bright" is used. I want to brighten not only my room but also my life from now on. Yes, I will get started right away.

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ウォーキングには良い季節！

　夕食が美味しくなるように、というより実際は一杯が美味しくなるようにかも知れません。これから倉賀野町の東南部をウォーキングします。散歩より少々早めに歩きますが、呼吸が乱れない程度です。意識して手を前後に振ろうと思います。

　なるべく、緑の多い中を選んで歩きます。倉賀野中学校時代の同級生は１８０名程いましたが、果たして一人くらい会うでしょうか。それでは「緑地公園」に向かって出発！

　Aiming to delicious dinner, or rather, delicious cup, from now on, I will be walking in the southeastern part of Kuragano-Town. I walk a little faster than taking walk so as not to be in breathing disorder. I try to consciously wave my hands back and forth.

　If possible, I choose a place where there is a lot of greenery to walk. There were about 180 classmates of Kuragano Junior High School, but I wonder if I will meet at least one of them. Then, I will leave for "Greenery Park" named Ryokuchi!

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スムースな血流と抗酸化作用ある食材を求める

　皆さんは「年齢と体重の数値が等しい」時はいつだったでしょうか。多くの場合、年齢が進むと体重の数値の方が低くなります。男性と女性でも違うかもしれません。一般的には４５才位から５５才位でしょうか。

　良い悪いは別として、現在の私は、年齢と体重の数値が丁度同じです。身長は年齢にしては高い方です。しかも、すでに高齢期に入ってます。

　一般的に、現在では、日本肥満学会の定めたＢＭＩ＝ 体重kg ÷ (身長m)²の基準に照らし合わせ、18.5未満が「痩せすぎ」、18.5以上25未満が「普通体重」、25以上が「肥満」と判断されることが多いです。一方、適正体重は身長m)² ×22の式で表されます。

　しかし、日本肥満学会の定める基準では、この数式は年齢を一切考慮に入れてません。どちらかといえば、いわゆる「中年に当てはまる」ようです。しかし、高齢期になったら、ＢＭＩ＝22より高い方が「基礎体力」があり、健康維持にはプラスすると考えられます。

　適正体重であっても病気になり得ることはあるでしょう。健康のためには、胃腸を丈夫にする食材を求め、食事が美味しいことです。また、日々、スムースな血流をめざし、適度な運動が大切で、同時に、「抗酸化作用ある食材や飲み物」を摂取することが肝心でしょう。

　健康をめざし、最近の私は味噌汁に野菜と共に、ご覧の「カットわかめ」を入れてます。一般の「わかめ」より量的に数倍も安いです。また、玉ねぎをレンジで温め、和製ドレッシングをかけ食してます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　Tell me about the last time when your age and weight were the same numeral. In many cases, as you get older, your weight number decreases. It may be different for men and women. Generally, It will be around 45 to 55 years old.

　For better or worse, my current age and weight are exactly the same numeral. I am tall as age. Moreover, I am already in old age.

　Generally speaking, according to the standard set by the Japan Obesity Society: BMI = weight in kg ÷ (height in m)², less than 18.5 is considered "too thin," 18.5 or more but less than 25 is considered "normal weight," and 25 or more is considered "obese". On the other hand, the appropriate weight is expressed by the formula: height (m)² x 22.

　However, according to the standards set by the Japan Obesity Society, this formula does not consider ages at all. If anything, it seems to apply to so-called middle-aged people. However, in old age, a person with higher than 22 in BMI has "basic physical strength" and is considered to be beneficial for maintaining health.

　Even if we are at a healthy weight, we can still get sick. For our health, we need to look for ingredients that strengthen our stomach and intestines, and make sure our meals are delicious. In addition, it is important to exercise moderately every day to maintain smooth blood circulation, and at the same time, it is important to consume foods and drinks that have antioxidant properties.

　Aiming to be healthy life, lately I've been adding the "cut wakame" sea weed you see in the photo along with vegetables to my miso soup. It is several times cheaper than regular "wakame" in terms of quantity. I also warm up onions in the microwave and eat them with Japanese dressing sauce.

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人間らしいこと・・・それは対話です。

　５月下旬となり、庭では芍薬(写真上)など花の開花は終盤を迎え、最後の力を振り絞って優しさ表現してます。それに代わって日本シャクナゲ(左下)、自然に生えた枝垂れ桃(右下)が青年の如く、生き生きと成長してます。日本シャクナゲは夏になると早くも蕾を付け、来春の開花に備えます。日々、植物を観察すると「常に、早め早めに次への準備に入ってる」ことが分かります。

　これら植物の変化を私自身の生活に当て嵌めてみると、当面のことにのみ心を奪われ、果たして「自らの変革」に、また、娘たちや、その子供たちのために努力してるか少々疑問が残ります。近未来のために、心身ともに少しでも前進する今日でなければならないと植物のように目に見える変化から学びます。

　話は変わりますが、今日は車の税金を納税します。物を運んだり買い物に便利な「軽のバン」、及び乗用車ＴＴの２台分なので費用が嵩みます。しかし、ガソリン代に限っては、２台有っても１台分です。日々、無駄な出費を減らさなくてはなりません。

　と言いつつ、昨夜は暫くぶりに高崎のお気に入り小料理店「バク」に行って友人と楽しく対話しつつ一杯飲みました。これは決して無駄な出費ではなく、一人暮らしである故、人間らしさ取り戻す大切な時間と都合よく考えてます。対話をすると相手方の話に反応し、こちらも話したくなる考えが生じ、脳の活性化にプラスになるようです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my lunch in Japan time.

....................................

　It is late May, and the flowering of the Shakuyaku peonies (above) and other flowers in the garden is coming to end, exerting their last strength to express gentleness. Then, the Japanese rhododendrons (bottom left) and the weeping peach (bottom right) are growing vibrantly like young people. The Japanese rhododendrons will produce buds as early as summer, preparing to bloom next spring. When I observe the plants every day, I can see that they are always preparing for the next step early on.

　When I apply the changes in these plants to my own life, I am only interested in the immediate future, and I am a little doubtful whether I am really working hard to "transform myself" and for my daughters and their children. I learn from the visible changes, like the plants that I must be a day of progress both in body and mind, for the near future.

　Changing the subject, today I pay my car tax. It costs a lot to pay for two cars, a "light van" that is convenient for carrying things and shopping, and a passenger car TT. However, when it comes to gasoline, even if I have two cars, it's still the same spending as one car. I have to cut down on unnecessary spending every day.

　I said that, but last night I went to my favorite tavern "Baku" in Takasaki-city, since two weeks and had a drink with a friend while enjoying a pleasant conversation. I am of the opinion that this was by no means a waste of money; because I live alone, I consider it an important time to rediscover humanity. When he talks which makes me want to talk as well, and it seems to have a positive effect on activating my brain.

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地球は今どの辺を公転しているか。

　宇宙空間に浮いてる地球は太陽の周囲を約３６５．４日かけて反時計回りに公転してます。ところで「地球は、現在、公転軌道上のどこに差し掛かっているでしょうか。」

　これについては、季節と地球の公転上の位置は、毎年、決まってます。例えば、七夕の頃には織姫星【琴座のベガ】と彦星【わし座のアルタイル】が頭上に見えることから、八月上旬、地球は有名な白鳥座を含む「夏の大三角」の方向に来てます。

　では、５月下旬となり「小満」の季節である現在、地球は公転軌道上の、どの辺を進んでいるでしょう。つまり「私たちは今、一体、宇宙のどこに居るか」を知ることになります。

　このためには「太陽と正反対の位置にある黄道十二星座」の方角を調べることになります。ですから「深夜０時に真南を見れば」分かります。宇宙には目印となるものは星座以外にありません。惑星は公転周期がそれぞれ異なり、季節と一致しません。

　現在、黄道十二星座の中でも、図の如く、尾をくねらせたユニークな形の「さそり座」が午前０時に真南にあり、恰も、地球を睨んでいるかの如く輝いてます。実は、一等星「アンタレス」が橙色して「さそり」の首の位置にあるので確認は簡単です。

　ところで、このアンタレスの近くに、同じく「橙色した火星」が、時折、接近することがあります。接近する理由はどちらも黄道近くにあるからです。このため、アンタレスという名はギリシャ語で「火星に対抗する」という意味です。結論として、現在、地球は黄道十二星座の「さそり座」の方向で公転しています。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　The Earth, floating in universe, revolves counterclockwise around the sun by 365.4 days. By the way, "Where is the Earth currently in its orbit?"

　Regarding this matter, the seasons and the position of the Earth's revolution are decided every year. For example, around the Vega festival named Tanabata in our tongue , Orihime star [Vega in Lyra constellation] and Hikoboshi [Altair in Aquila] can be seen overhead in Japan, so in early August the Earth is in the direction of the "Summer Triangle" that includes the famous constellation Cygnus.

　Now, it's late May, the season of "Shoman", "Which side of the earth's orbit is the Earth proceeding? In other words, we will know where we are in the universe right now.

　To know this problem, we need to find out the direction of the "zodiacal constellation that are exactly opposite to the sun." Therefore, you can know by looking due south at midnight. There are no landmarks in the universe other than constellations. Planets have different orbital periods and do not coincide with the seasons.

　Currently, among the zodiac constellations, "Scorpio", which has a unique shape with a twisting tail, is located due south at midnight, shining brightly as if glaring at our earth. In fact, it is easy for us to confirm because the first-magnitude star "Antares" is orange and located at the neck of the "scorpion".

　By the way, "orange Mars" also approaches Antares from time to time. The reason they are so close is because they are both near the ecliptic. Therefore, the name Antares, which means "opposed to Mars in Greek." In conclusion, the Earth that carries us is currently orbiting in the direction of the zodiacal constellation Scorpio.

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改めて、対位法音楽に感銘する今日この頃

　ご覧の通り、午後になったら天気が回復してきたので、ピアノの練習を早めに切り上げ、身体がウズウズしてきて外出したくなりました。

　それでも、どうしたことか、若い時からG-moll(ト短調)の音楽が好きで、先程も半世紀以上前に習ったチェルニー30番のト短調を指慣らしに数回弾きました。

　それにしても、よくこんな素晴らしい楽曲を作曲できるものかと、改めてチェルニーの作曲家としての偉大さに感心します。

　ピアノは右手と左手で、対位法的に別々な音楽を一人で弾くことができますが、このようなことは他の楽器ではできません。これからも頭の体操になる対位法的楽曲に挑戦します。

Dear my overseas friends who like piano performance

　As you can see, the weather in Gumma prefecture started to improve in the afternoon, so I ended my piano practice early, and I am itching to go out.

　Still, for some reason, I've liked G-moll music since I was young, and I just played G-minor music in Czerny No. 30, which I had ever learned more than half a century ago, a few times to practice my fingers.

　Even so, I am once again impressed by Czerny's greatness as a composer. I wonder if he was able to compose such wonderful music.

　By means of piano, we can play separate contrapuntal music with our both hands. In general, playing counterpoint is impossible by other instruments. I will continue to challenge myself with contrapuntal music that will train my brain from now on.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

最近は「グレープフルーツジュース」も飲んでます。

　今日は二十四節気の一つ「小満」です。次第に雨の日が多くなり、穀物が成長しつつあり、農家は「小さな満足」という頃でしょう。ご覧の通り、我が家の庭も日に日に緑色濃くなって奥に佇む私の住まいが前の道から見えなくなってます。それでも、ご覧の通り「カッキーの家はここですよ。」と、赤く目立つアマリリスが左右を向いて案内してるかの如くです。 

　雨が降ると通勤通学が大変です。しかし、雨はすべての生命維持の源で、一見、気づき難いですが、「光合成」がより盛んになり、樹木が酸素を生成しています。また、私には嬉しいことがあります。それは井戸水が増えることです。

　話しは変わりますが、私は毎朝、がん対策として早朝の空腹時に飲んでるジュースがあります。日替わりでトマト(リコピン)、あるいはニンジン(βーカロチン)の他に、最近は「グレープフルーツ」のジュースを飲む頻度を多くしてます。目的は口当たりではなく「抗酸化作用」ですが、なかなか美味しく、これなら長続きできそうです。

　グレープフルーツの効能を調べると「ナリンギンというポリフェノールの一種が含まれ、これが独特の苦味のもとになっている成分で、強い「抗酸化作用」があり、更に、老化予防や血行促進が期待できる」とされてます。

　　

　群馬県の今日は雨で、晴耕雨読と行きたいところですが、室内で筋トレとピアノの練習、そして、少々プレジデントを読みましょう。

Dear my friends abroad

  The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.....................................

　According to the Japanese traditional calendar, today is "Shoman", one of the 24 solar terms. There will be more rainy days and the grain will grow, so farmers will probably feel a little bit of satisfaction. As you can see, my garden is getting greener day by day, and my house which is located in the back, is no longer visible from the path in front of my garden. And, as you can see, the red amaryllis stands out, and she is pointing left and right, as if telling passerby "Kakky's house is here.''

　It's difficult to commute to work or school when it rains. However, rain is the source of all life support, and at first glance, it may be difficult for us to notice photosynthesis, but it is becoming more active and trees are producing oxygen. Also, I have something to be happy about. The well water is increasing.

　To change the topic, I drink juice every morning on an empty stomach as a cancer prevention measure. In addition to daily tomato (lycopene) or carrot (β-carotene), recently I have been drinking grapefruit juice more often. The purpose is not the taste but "antioxidant effect", More over it is quite delicious and seems to keep a long time.

　According to research on the efficacy of grapefruit, "it contains a type of polyphenol called naringin, which is the source of its unique bitter taste, has a strong antioxidant effect, and is also expected to prevent aging and promote blood circulation."

　It's raining today in Gumma Prefecture, Japan, so I'd like to obey a old saying that "plow the field on fine day and read bools on wet days", but I'll do some muscle training indoors, practice the piano, and read a bit the monthly magazine President.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　　

日本人が就寝中に推移する世界経済

　6人兄弟の末っ子として生まれた私は小学生の頃、母に尋ねました。「家(うち)はお金がないのに、どうしてよそにはお金持ちがいるの」と当時、純真だった私は、その不思議さを訊いたことがあります。

　母の即座な答えは「お金持ちは、お金がお金を増やすんだよ。」とのことでした。子供の私にはその意味が全く分かりませんでした。その後、高校生くらいになってから「ああ、そうか」と母の言ったことに気づき、理解できたのは「複利」ということでした。つまり、「利子を元手に、その利子がまた利子を生む」つまり、「お金がお金を生む」という経済の仕組みです。

　ところで、私は２０年前に妻に先立たれ、一人暮らしを余儀なくされて以来、僅かな資金を基に投資を続けてます。この間、リーマンショックをニュースではなく、自ら体験し、どうなることかと思いましたが、それにも負けず、経済研究を続けました。

　世界経済の中心である米国、ダウ平均株価は史上初めて3万ドルを超えた2020年11月からおよそ「３年半で1万ドル上昇し」、この間、アメリカ経済は、コロナ禍からの回復と景気の先行きへの期待が株価を押し上げたのでしょう。日本時間の昨日５月１８日未明には、ダウ平均株価が値上がりし、史上初めて4万ドルの大台を超えました。このように世界経済とは「日本人が眠ってる間に推移」してます。

　この要因は、アメリカでインフレへの懸念が和らぎ、FRB＝連邦準備制度理事会が利下げを始める時期が早まるのではないかとの観測が投資家に広がり、株価上昇に繋がったと考えられます。

　これからも、証券会社の経済講演会には積極的に参加し、経済の現状と今後の成り行きに注視します。併せて、大きな病院で開かれる「特に、がん対策の講演会」に参加し、高齢期を生きる二本柱「経済と健康」を生涯に亘り研究します。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

....................................

　I was born as the youngest of six siblings, and when I was in elementary school, I asked my mother, "Why is it that there are rich people elsewhere, while our family has no money?" I was innocent at the time, so I asked her why this was so strange.

　My mother's immediate answer was, "For rich people, money makes money." However, as a child, I couldn't understand what she meant. It wasn't until I was in high school that I realized what my mother was saying and understood the concept of "compound interest." In other words, it is an economic system in which "interest is used as capital, and that interest produces interest," or in other words, "money produces money."

　By the way, since my wife passed away 20 years ago and my daughters were independent of me each so that I was forced to live alone. Since then, I have continued to invest with a small amount of money. During this time, I experienced the Lehman Shock not only as news, but for myself, and I wondered what would happen to me, but I didn't give up and continued to study economics and invest.

　As you know, the United States is the center of the global economy, and since November 2020, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 30,000 for the first time in history, it has risen by 10,000 dollars in about three and a half years. During this time, the American economy's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and expectations for the future of the economy have boosted stock prices. In the early hours of May 18th, Japan time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose, surpassing the 40,000 mark for the first time in history. In this way, the global economy is "moving while the Japanese people are sleeping."

　This is thought to be due to the easing of concerns about inflation in the United States, and the spread of speculation among investors that the Federal Reserve Board may begin to lower interest rates sooner, leading to a rise in stock prices.

　I will continue to actively participate in economic lectures held by securities companies in Takasaki-city and keep a close eye on the current state of the economy and its future developments. In addition, I will participate in "lectures on cancer prevention in particular" held at large hospital in Takasaki-city, and will study the two pillars of living in aging society, "economy and health," throughout my life.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

次回の「ハレー彗星」出現は３７年後、長生きして見ましょう。

　今日の午後、ドライブを兼ね、お気に入りの「吉井ドリームセンター」へ行ってきました。広い浴槽では牛伏山を眺めつつ、一人で浮世の喧騒から離れ、心身ともにリラックスできました。今のご時世に入浴料２００円も何か得したようです。

　写真の道路は近年建設された「鏑川新橋」で、交通量が少なく、ご覧の通り、榛名山に向かって愛車はスイスイ走る感じです。この橋の下は冬季にロシアからのコハクチョウが越冬する鏑川で、多いときは５０羽ほど確認できました。カモを含め渡り鳥は「ここは安心して休息できる」と本能的に分かるのでしょう。

　ここ木部町は亡き母の生まれ故郷です。母曰く、子供の頃、土手で「大きなほうき星」を見たとよく話してました。話の様子では、最近の出現と異なり、ずいぶん大きかったようです。調べてみると、この「ほうき星」は１９１０年に出現した「ハレー彗星」です。

　ところで、次回のハレー彗星出現は2061年7月下旬といわれ、前回１９８６年(昭和６１年)のときより、遥かに地球に接近し、かなり明るく大きく見えると予測されてます。あと３７年後です。長生きして一緒に見ましょう。お互いに何歳になるでしょう。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my dinner in Japan time.

........................................

　This afternoon, I went for a drive to my favorite "Yoshii Dream Center". I was able to relax both physically and mentally, escaping the hustle and bustle of the world while gazing at Mt. Ushibuse in the spacious bathtub. I felt like I got something out of the 200 yen bathing fee in this period.

　The road in the photo is the recently constructed "Kaburagawa New Bridge", and as you can see, there is little traffic, and my car runs smoothly towards Mt. Haruna which is one of the well-known three mountains in our prefecture. Under this bridge is the Kabura-River where Tundra Swans from Russia spend during winter, and at times I could see as many as 50 of them. Migratory birds, including ducks, instinctively know that "this is a place where they can rest in peace".

　Kibe-Town around here is where my late mother was born. My mother often told me that when she was a child, she saw a "big comet" on the bank together with her mother. From what she said, it was much larger than recent appearances of it. After some research, I found that this "comet" was a famous "Halley's Comet" that appeared in 1910.

　By the way, the next time Halley's Comet will appear is said to be in late July 2061, and it is predicted to be much closer to Earth and appear much brighter and larger than the last time in 1986 (Showa 61). That's after 37 years. Let's live long enough to see it together. How old will each of us be?

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

人間とは、いろいろのことをすると楽しい

　昨日の午後、私はまるで庭師のようでした。百日紅(サルスベリ)に梯子をかけ、高い位置の枝を治療しました。ご存じの通り、群馬県平野部で２月に降った雪の重さで、枝が持ち堪えられず途中で裂けてしまいました。それにしても、枝は折れず、ずいぶん粘り強さがある樹木と感じてます。

　このような不利の状況でも、３mも横に張り出した枝先まで、現在、新緑となり、私はサルスベリの強い生命力に感心してます。作業は、下がってしまった枝を正常の高さまで戻すため、下から竹竿で押し上げた状態にしてから紐で結びました。しかし、一度裂けた枝は重く、作業は簡単ではありません。

　作業は梯子に登って両手を離した状態で行い、私自身が落下の危険があります。梯子を押さえてくれる人はいません。こんな所にも一人暮らしの不自由さがあります。

　ところで、中国南部が起源とされる百日紅は南国の植物ですから、周囲に広い日陰を作って涼しくしてくれ、地球温暖化を心配する人間にとても優して植物です。また、その名が示す通り、７月初旬から１０月中旬までおよそ１００日間、紅く情熱的に咲き続け、物心両面から人間に優しい植物です。

　ここだけの話ですが、私の住む倉賀野町では最も大きなサルスベリに成長しつつあると自負してます。開花したらご覧においでください。お茶とピアノ演奏も致します。

Dear my overseas friends

　Yesterday afternoon I was like a gardener. I put a ladder up on a crape myrtle and repaired the high branches. As you know, the branches could not hold up due to the weight of the snow that fell in the plains of Gumma-Prefecture in February and split in the middle of the branch. Even so, the branch does not break, so that I feel that the crape myrtle is quite tenacious.

　Even in such unfavorable conditions, the tips of the branches that overhang 3 meters are now fresh green, and I am impressed by the strong vitality of this crape myrtle. In order to return the branches to the normal height, I used bamboo poles to push them up from below and then tied it with string. However, once a split branch is heavy, it is not easy for me to work on it.

　The work must be done by climbing a ladder with both hands separated, putting me at risk of falling. There is no lady to hold the ladder. There are also inconveniences of living alone like this.

　By the way, crape myrtle is a tropical plant that is said to have originated in southern China, so it creates a large area of ​​shade and keeps us cool, making it a very kind plant for humans who are worried about global warming. Also, as its name suggests, it blooms passionately red for about 100 days from early July to mid-October, therefore, the crape myrtle is kind to humans both physically and mentally.

　This is just between you and me and lamppost, I'm proud that it's growing into the largest crape myrtle in Kuragano town where I live. Please come and appreciate it when it blooms. There will also be tea and piano playing for you who live in NZ.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

期待できる「ねむの木」の枝ぶり

「寝る子は育つ」と言いますが、植物の中でも就眠運動する「ねむの木は」朝寝坊です。群馬県の今朝の日の出は４時３６分ですが、上の写真は５時の段階です。対の葉が重なり合い未だ爆睡中です。「ねむの木」は植物ですが、その生態はまるで動物の如くです。

　下の写真はその後、５時１５分に撮りました。しかし、一部の葉は未だ眠たそうな様子で、起きるのを嫌がってる感じです。拡大してご覧ください。

　この「ねむの木」は元々ある「ねむの木」から３年ほど前、種が零れて生えましたが、見る見るうちに成長し、今後は３mほどの高さになると期待してます。よく観察すると梢の方に蕾がかなりの数で生じてます。実は、育ちが良いので、昨年、築山の西端の観賞しやすい位置に植え替え、私は毎日のように水を遣ってます。

　ご存じの通り、「ねむの木」の花は花弁が針のように細く、一つの花に百本以上の塊で咲き、その風貌は恰も「極楽浄土」を想わせる雰囲気です。開花は７月頃ですので楽しみに毎日水遣りです。枝ぶりと花を人間によく見せたいのでしょう。緩やかに撓ってます。後方の窓はピアノの部屋です。シューベルトの「子守歌」を弾きましょう。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqVpVdvgpu8

Dear my overseas friends who like plants and western classical music

　It is said that "Children who sleep grow" in human world, but among plants, the "Silk Tree" is one that sleeps till morning. The sunrise in my Gumma Prefecture this morning is 4:36, but the photo above was taken at 5:00. The leaves of the pair overlap and are still sleeping like a log. The "Silk Tree'' is a plant, but its ecology is similar to an animal.

　The photo below was taken at 5:15. However, some of the leaves still look sleepy and don't want to wake up. Please enlarge it for a closer look.

　This "Silk Tree" was born from seeds that spilled from the original "Silk Tree" about three years ago, but it has grown rapidly so that I expect it to reach a height of about 3 meters in the near future. If you look closely, you will see a large number of buds growing on the treetops. In fact, it's growing well, so last year I replanted it in a position where it can be easily admired on the west end of the artificial mound named Tsukiyama in our tongue, and I've been watering it almost every day.

　As you know, the petals of the flower of "Silk Tree" are thin like needles, and each flower blooms in clusters of over 100, which gives us an atmosphere reminiscent of the "Pure Land of Paradise". The flowers will bloom around July, so I look forward to blossom by watering every day. They probably want to show their branches and flowers to humans. So it's bending slowly. The rear window is the piano room. Let's play Schubert's "Lullaby" for her.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

緑溢れる環境づくりに勤しむ

【画像をクリックすると臨場感が出ます。】

　今日は５月１６日。日の出は４時３６分、日の入は１８時４４分(群馬県)で、昼の長さは１４時間０８分と大分長くなりました。太陽高度は７２°となり、冬至の２倍以上の高さになってます。ですから、一日として同じ日はありません。樹木はますます新緑が進み、年間でも最も過ごしやすい季節です。このため、一日を健康的に過ごしましょう。

　特に、昼間の時間が長いので、私たちは日中、身体を柔軟に動かし、また、筋肉をつけたいものです。本来、運動は健康のために行うものです。ですから勝負や記録に拘らず、ポイントはやり過ぎないことです。気楽に「適度の範囲」が最も健康的と考えます。

　今の季節、私たちは新緑の自然界に身を委ね、胸いっぱい新鮮な空気を吸い、同時に、長い昼の時間を使い、脳活動こそ大切で、それには「自分らしい輝く時間を創りたい」ものです。

　昨日のニュースで驚きました。現在の日本で　認知症患者と認知症予備軍である軽度認知障害（MCI）を合わせると一千万人に達したと報じてます。この数字は国民の約１０人に１人です。もちろん、認知症になっても人間らしく生きられる社会でなければなりません。

　認知症を回避するためにも、私たちは近隣社会とつながりを持ちつつ、時間を忘れるほど夢中になれる「創造的楽しみを持つ」ことが大切ではないでしょうか。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

................................

　Today is May 16th. Sunrise is at 4:36 and sunset will be at 18:44 (Gumma Prefecture, Japan), making the length of the day much longer during 14 hours and 8 minutes. The solar altitude at noon will be 72°, more than twice the height of the winter solstice. Therefore, no two days are the same. The trees are becoming greener and greener, making it the most pleasant season including fresh oxygen of the year. Therefore, we want to spend our day in a healthy environment.

　Especially, since daytime hours are long, we want to move our bodies flexibly and build muscle during the day. Originally, exercise is for the sake of health. So, regardless of the match or record, the key is not to overdo it. I believe that a "moderate range" is the healthiest.

　This season, we surrender ourselves to the natural world of fresh greenery, breathe in the fresh air, and at the same time we should make use of the long daytime hours for "Brain activity", and we want to "create time that shines in our own way.''

　Not change the subject, but I was surprised by yesterday's news. It has been reported that in Japan today, the total number of people with senile dementia and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are at risk for dementia, has reached 10 million. This number is approximately 1 in 10 people. Of course, we need a society where people can live like humans even if they suffer from dementia.

　In order to avoid dementia in advance, isn't it important for us to maintain connections with our local communities and to "enjoy immersive creative fun" so as to forget the time?

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

久しぶりに孫娘と過ごす喜び

　今日は孫娘【小４】が下校後、彼女を前橋まで車で迎えに行き、午後一時的に私の家で預かり、彼女は宿題をしました。

　平素いっしょに暮してないので会うチャンスが少なく、手伝うことも少ないですが、娘から頼まれたとき私はいつでも手助けするつもりでいます。それにしても、一緒にいるといろいろ話をするチャンスが生じ、家族がいると楽しいですね。

　After my granddaughter [4th grade] returned home from school, I drove to Maebashi to pick her up, and I temporarily kept her at my home, and she did her homework.

　Though we are relatives, since we don't usually live together, I don't have much of a chance to meet her and help out, but I'm always willing to help when my daughter asks. Anyway, being together gives me a chance to talk about various topics, and it's fun to have family around.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

時代が変わっても、文字を手書きする習慣を持つ

　最近は手書きで文字を書く機会が本当に少なくなりました。昔は(彼女に)手紙を書いたり、返事がもう来るかと家の郵便受けの前でそわそわし、ポストを覗きつつ待った青春時代が私にもありました。

　時代は変わり、近年はメル友などと言われてましたが、現在では、恰も、幾人かのグループで一緒に話してるようにやり取りするラインですから、文字は書くものでなく、打つものになり、日によっては手書きで字を書くことがない日が起こっています。このため、意識して文字を書く習慣を持たなくては素晴らしい日本の文字が次第に書けなくなる傾向です。

　私はたまたま英語に興味があることから、日々、英単語帳に英語は筆記体で書き、その意味を日本語で書いてます。しかし、横書きです。日本語の美しさが表れる縦書きとなると今ではその機会は皆無の状況です。

　不思議なことに、慣れてしまったことから筆記体で書いた英文の方が日本語より上手く書けてるようです。筆記体はいわば一筆書きですから速く書けます。しかし、日本の文化遺産であり、平安時代に生まれたとされる「ひらかな」、そして、先人のお陰で、古代の中国から渡って来た「漢字」文化を書くことを意識し、先ず、日々の生活の中で丁寧に手書きする習慣を心掛けたいです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

......................................

　These days, I have fewer opportunities to write letters by hand. In my youth, I used to write letters (to sweetheart at that time) and fidget in front of my mailbox, waiting for her reply, peeking through my mailbox.

　Times have changed, in recent years, people have been keeping in touch with friends through e-mail, but now it's a line where people communicate as if they were talking together in a group, so letters are not written but typed. There are days when I don't even write by hand. For this reason, unless we consciously develop the habit of writing, we will gradually become unable to write the wonderful Japanese characters.

　I happen to be interested in English, so every day I write English words in cursive in my English word book and write the meanings in Japanese. However, it is written horizontally. When it comes to vertical writing, the beauty of the Japanese language can be seen, there are no opportunities for us to write by hand these days.

　Strangely enough, I seem to be able to write English in cursive better than Japanese because I've gotten used to it. Cursive writing is written in one stroke, so it can be written quickly. However, I was conscious of writing "Hirakana" which is a Japanese cultural heritage that is said to have originated in the Heian period, and "Kanji" which was brought over from ancient China thanks to our ancestors. I will make it a habit to write carefully by hand in my daily life.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

「面白くてたまらない喜び」を追究し実践したい。

　子供のとき、誕生日が来ると嬉しかったものですが、その後、成人し、やがて中年になり、いつしか高齢期に差し掛かり、人生の経過は案外早いものです。そして今まで経験しなかった大台の年齢に達してきます。このため、誕生日が来ると、内心、必ずしも嬉しいものとは限らないかもしれません。でも、誕生日が迎えられることは本当に素晴らしいことです。

　私は生まれ故郷・倉賀野町に今でも住んでいます。しかし、街中を歩いても同級生や先輩に殆ど会わなくなり、それにもまして、人生途上で出会い、本当に仲良くしてくれた友人３人もすでに天に召され、その上、一人暮らしは家での話し相手はいません。

　しかし、人生１００年時代を生きるには、この現象は万人にいつしか起こり得ることで、この環境を精神的に克服してこそ、「人生で本当に大切なことは何か」、「自分の本当の喜びは何か」を改めて真剣に考えるようになってます。

　前者は低栄養を防ぐと共に適度な運動、経済研究、社会とのつながりでしょう。後者は時間を忘れるほど夢中になれ、生き甲斐に通じる「面白くてたまらない趣味や研究」ではないでしょうか。

　とは言うものの、人間として生まれたからには、人との雑談ほど楽しいことはなく、最近はラジオ体操会場に行っても、集まった人たちとの四方山話は楽しいものです。人は年齢と共に知り合いが変わっていくと感じてます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

................................

　When we were children, we were happy when our birthdays came, but then we grow up, and then we reach middle age, we are approaching old age, therefore our life passes by surprisingly quickly. And we will reach new age that we have never experienced before. For this reason, when our birthday arrives, we may not necessarily be happy in mind. But it's really wonderful to have a birthday.

　I still live in my hometown of Kuragano-town. However, even when I walk around the town, I rarely meet my classmates or seniors. To make matters worse, three of really my good friends who I met during my life, have already passed away, at the same time, I live alone and have no one to talk to at home.

　However, in order to live in the era of 100-year lifespans, this phenomenon will tend to happen to everyone in the remote future, so that it is necessary to mentally overcome this environment and to ask myself, "What is really important in life?" and "What is the real Joy for myself?.'' I'm starting to think it seriously again.

　The former will prevent malnutrition, and we put a moderate exercise, economic research, and connections with society. And the latter will be our engrossing hobby or research that we forget the time.

　Having said that, since I was born as a human, there is nothing more fun than chatting with people. When I go to radio gymnastics venues at 6:30 every morning, I enjoy talking with the people gathered there. I feel that people's acquaintance changes as we get older.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今後も「がん対策」及び「血流促進」に邁進

　今日の午前中、年１回の定期健康診断を近くのクリニックで受けました。その内容は、血圧測定、血液検査、胸部レンドゲン、心電図、医師による触診、尿検査、大腸がん検査、前立腺がん検査などです。結果は２～３週間後とのことです。

　近年の検査結果は多くの場合、数値で示され、基準値内なら正常であり、基準値からはみ出ると異常と判定されます。私の考えでは、もう少し幅を持たせ、前立腺のように年齢で基準値を設けることが正確ではないでしょうか。

　一方、多くの病院では血圧測定を椅子に座って測ります。これには疑問が生じます。正しい測り方は「測定器と心臓の高さが同じ」であることです。しかし、私の場合、座高が高いので(もちろん足も長いです。)心臓が測定機より高くなってしまい、結果的に血圧が１０～２０mmHg高くなります。このため椅子の高さが調節できる測定器を使うことで正しく測れると考えます。

　今日、結果がすぐに分かったのは心電図でした。結果は規則正しく脈打ってます。実は、私は心電図に自信を持ってます。というのは毎日、脹脛を鍛えているからです。これは台の上につま先を載せ、踵の上下運動を２００回～３００回実践しているからです。「達磨さんが転んだ」で数えるとすぐにできます。

　血流を心臓だけに負担させず、下半身の血液を上半身に持ち上げるには脹脛の筋肉に負担させることで心臓の負荷が減るからです。この運動はキャフレイズです。

　また、前立腺対策でも自信を持ってます。私の年令の基準値は４．００ですが、毎年０．４程度でかなり低いです。秘策は、前立腺対策の講演会で習ったことを毎朝実践しています。それは早朝の空腹時に飲むトマトジュース、又は人参ジュース、又は大豆ジュースが前立腺対策に効果があるとガン専門医に教わったからです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my dinner in Japan time.

....................................

　In recent years, regular health checkup results are often expressed in numerical values, and if they are within standard values, they are considered normal, but, if they are outside of the standard values, they are considered abnormal. In my opinion, it would be more accurate to have a little more range and set standard values based on age, like the prostate.

　On the other hand, in many hospitals, blood pressure is measured while sitting in a chair. I doubt this way of measuring. The correct way to measure is to make sure that the measuring device is at the same height as our heart. However, in my case, because my trunk is high (of course I have long legs), my heart is positioned higher than the measuring machine, so that my blood pressure became 10 to 20 mmHg higher. For this reason, I believe that using a measuring device that needs to adjust the height of the chair will help our measuring accurately.

　Today, I got the results right away from the electrocardiogram. During checkup I felt my pulsing was regular. Actually, I have confidence in electrocardiogram. That's because I train my calves every day. This is because I put my toes on a stair and move the heel up and down 200 to 300 times. I can easily count by saying "Daruma-san ga koronda" from one to ten.

　This is because in order to lift blood from the lower body to the upper body without the burden of blood flow only by the heart, the load on the heart is reduced by placing the burden on the calf muscles. This exercise is called "calf raise".

　I am also confident the result of prostate checkup. The standard value for my age is 4.00, but my result is about 0.4 every year, which is quite low like a young man. My secret strategy is to practice for prostate cancer measures every morning. That's because a cancer specialist told me in the lecture that drinking tomato juice, carrot juice, or soybean juice early in the morning on an empty stomach is effective against prostate cancer.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

防空壕の中で育ててくれた母

　この植物は日本シャクナゲです。日本の高山に自生し、群馬県では「草津温泉」や「愛妻の丘」で有名な嬬恋村に群生してます。確か、今春の開花をフェイスブックでご覧いただけませんでしたが、よく咲きました。

　私の庭では、大きな梅の木の下で育ててますから、昨日、花弁が少し萎れてしまった芍薬のようなことはなく(注・今朝は回復してます)、いわゆる半日陰の状態で育ててます。私の住まいは関東平野の奥まった所で、本来、日本シャクナゲに適さない平地ですが、山岳のように冬季は陽が当たり、夏は半日陰になるよう工夫してます。

　ご覧のとおり、来春開花する新たな枝がすでに勢いよく生じ、私に安心感を与えてます。これからも貴重な日本シャクナゲを毎年庭で咲かせるつもりです。このように健康的な新芽を見ると、私まで影響を受け、「生きる力」が湧いてきます。

　実は、私は防空壕の中で育ちました。ですから性格が暗くなったのでしょう。今日は私を育ててくれた母の日。すでに３７回忌ですが、大学に受かったとき「良かったね」と肩を叩いてくれた母の手のぬくもりが今でも忘れません。

　また、就職でインド滞在が決まったとき「飛行機が見えなくなるのが辛い」と羽田に見送りに来ませんでした。一方、滞在中には十何通と手紙をくれました。今でも、すべて保管してあります。ところが、帰国のときは羽田まで迎えに来てくれました。そのときの「本当に安心した母の顔」が今でも忘れられません。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　This plant is a Japanese rhododendron. Generally, it grows wild in the high mountains of Japan, for instance, in my Gumma Prefecture, it grows in large numbers in Tsumagoi Village which is famous for "The hill for beloved wife" and Kusatsu Spa. If I remember correctly, I couldn't show the flowers blooming this spring on Facebook, but she bloomed well beyond description.

　In my garden, I am raising her under a large plum tree, so I don't have the same problem as the Shakuyaku peonies that the petals wilted a little yesterday (note: they have recovered this morning), and I raise Japanese rhododendron in the semi-shade conditions. I live in a remote part of the Kanto Plain, which is flat land that is not suitable for Japanese rhododendron, but I have tried to make sure that it receives sunlight in the winter and half shade in the summer, just like in a high mountain.

　As you can see, new branches are already sprouting that will bloom next spring, giving me a sense of security. I plan to continue to have this precious Japanese rhododendron's bloom in my garden every year. Seeing these healthy sprouts has an impact on me and gives me the strength to live.

　By the way, I actually grew up inside an air raid shelter during world war Ⅱ. That's probably why my personality has become darker. Today is Mother's Day, so my mother who raised me inside the air raid shelter. It's already been the 37th anniversary of my mother's death, but I still remember the warmth of mother's hand when she touched on my shoulder and said, "Good for you," when I passed the entrance examination of Gumma university.

　Also, when I decided to stay in India for my first work, she did not come to Haneda airport to see me off, saying, "It was painful not being able to see the plane." On the other hand, during my stay in India, she sent me more than ten letters. I still have it all in storage. However, when I returned to Japan, she came to Haneda airport to pick me up. I still can't forget my mother's relieved face at that time.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　　

直射日光に弱い・・・シャクヤクの大輪

　一年かけて世話し、やっと綺麗に咲いた「芍薬」を今朝晴れたので表に出しておいたら、午後になって直射日光に当たってしまい、花弁がかなり萎れてしまいました。本来このような花は木陰が半日陰か相応しいのでしょう。明日から「芍薬の気持ちになって」場所を適切にします。

　すぐに玄関の中に入れ、根元に水をたっぷり与えたら少し持ち直してきたのでホッとしました。実は、この芍薬は未だ咲き始めたところで、人にあまり見てもらってません。このまま花が終わりになったらもったいないです。

　芍薬は球根なので毎年３月末に芽が出て５月に咲きます。夕日は殊のほか暑く、人間だって１時間も直射日光に当たっていれば健康を害します。植物には陽が当たった方が良いものと、直射日光を嫌うものがあることを今更ながら痛感しました。

Dear my friends throughout the world

　After spending a year caring by me, the "peony" of Shakuyaku finally bloomed beautifully. It was fine this morning, so I put it outside, but she was exposed to direct sunlight in the afternoon, and the petals had wilted considerably. A flower like her would probably be best suited for semi-shade under the tree. Starting tomorrow, I will "be in her mind of a peony" and set the place appropriately.

　I immediately put her inside the entrance and gave her plenty of water at the root, as a result, she started to recover a little, so I was relieved to the core. In fact, this peony has just begun to bloom, so not many people see it. It would be a waste if the flowers stopped like this.

　Because peony is bulb, so she will bloom every year without doing. Sunset is especially hot, therefore, if a human being exposed to direct sunlight for even an hour, it can be harmful to our health. I realized now that some plants do better in the sun, while others hate direct sunlight like her.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

結局は繰り返し使うことか。・・・・英単語の記憶術

　今朝、やっと「天声人語２０２３冬」号を読み終わりました。この本は３ヶ月分(約９０日分)の内容が日本文と英文で書かれ、年に４回発行されます。読者の多くは、日本にいる外国人で「日本語を勉強してる人」と言われます。ですから、漢字にルビーが付いてます。

　私は日本人ですから、逆に日本文の後、英文を読み、新たな言い回しや英単語を学習してます。ご存じの通り、内容は森羅万象を扱っており、世界情勢から歴史、芸術に至るまで網羅し、執筆者は交替で３人といわれます。新聞社であっても、時に、政府を批判する内容も見受けられます。

　私は「天声人語」を大分前から読んでおり、最新の話題に触れ、英単語・熟語の習得が目的です。現役時代はＡＥＴの先生と交流し、時にはビアガーテンに一緒行って楽しく過ごたこともありました。しかし、現在、彼らはイギリスやニュージーランドなど母国に帰り、フェイスブック友人として交流してます。

　ところで、「如何にしたら英単語が使えるように脳に定着するか」その効果的な方法を模索中です。しかし、年齢のせいもあって思うように覚えられません。それでも「自分にとって、どうしても必要である。」と言い聞かせつつ、結局は「繰り返しであり」、「声に出して耳からも聞くこと」を取り入れてます。よい記憶術がありましたら、お教え願います。　　

　

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.....................................

　This morning, I finally finished reading the "Tensei Jingo VOX POPULI VOX DEI 2023 winter" issue. This book contains three months' worth of information (approximately 90 days' worth) written in Japanese and English, and is published four times a year. Many of this readers are foreigners living in Japan who are said to be "studying Japanese." That's why the kanji of Chinese characters have rubies.

　I'm Japanese, so I read English texts after Japanese texts and learn English new phrases and words. As you know, the content deals with all fields in the world, from world affairs to history and art, and is said to be written by three people in rotation. Even newspaper's company, the article sometimes criticizes the government.

　I have been reading "Tensei Jingo" for about 40 years so far, and my purpose is to learn the latest English sentences and to learn English vocabulary and idioms. During my active years, I interacted with the AET teachers and sometimes went to beer gardens with them and had fun. However, they are now back in their home countries, such as England and New Zealand, so that we are communicating through Facebook.

　By the way, I'm trying to seeking an effective way to memorize English words fixedly in my brain so I can use them, but I can't remember because of my age. Still, I keep telling myself, "It's absolutely necessary for me," but in the end I incorporate "repetition, actually using it on Facebook," and "speaking it out loud and listening to it." If you have a good mnemonics, please let me know.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

庭で美味しそうに飲んでます。

　今日から愛鳥週間です。野鳥も近年では側溝が塞がれ、飲み水に苦労してます。水を用意すると飛来するようになります。おやすみなさい。

It's Bird Love Week starting today. In recent years, wild birds are also having trouble finding drinking water due to blocked gutters by humans. If you prepare water in your garden, she will fly from somewhere. Have a nice dream!

俳句は季節を詠み、川柳は人間を詠む

★★★★有老協・シルバー川柳より★★★★

〇 自己紹介 名前、出身 趣味、持病

〇 翔平か 朗希にしよう 孫の名は

〇 免許より 夫返納 したい妻

〇 樹木葬 スギとヒノキは 避けてくれ

〇 人生も 野球も最後は ホームです

Dear my Facebook friends abroad

.............These are Senryu that means traditional witty epigrammatic Japanese poems about the way of life for the elderly people containing seventeen syllables ....................

★Self-introduction are Name, hometown, hobbies, and chronic disease.

★Let's choose Shohei or Rohki, when giving my grandson's name.

★A wife wants to give back her husband rather than her driver's license.

★ Avoid cedar and cypress trees, when you make my tree burial, because of hay fever.

★In the end, both of life and baseball go to facilities named home.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

日中の活動量に比例する睡眠の深さ

【写真をクリックすると、画像が明瞭になります。】　

　５月10日、今朝の日の出は４時４１分【群馬県】です。写真は数年前に種が零れ、自然に生えた「ねむの木」です。上の写真はすでに明るくなった今朝５時３０分に撮りましたが、未だ葉が閉じたままで意外と寝坊です。下の写真は、昨日の日中に同じ位置で撮り、葉が開いてます。

　二枚の写真を比較すると葉が閉じてる状態と開いてる状態がよく分かります。下の写真を拡大すると、葉が全く左右対称に生えてることが分かり、眠るときはその２枚がピタッと閉じてます。一枚として閉じる相手がいない葉はありません。

　ところで、ねむの木は「夜になると何故、葉が閉じるのでしょう。」誠に不思議な植物でまるで人間のようです。(もちろん、人間の中には昼間寝て、夜活動してる人もいるようです。)

　しかし、ねむの木の就眠運動について、その原因は今でもよく解明されてないようです。上の写真はすでに明るい時間帯なのにまだ閉じていることから、あるいは気温にも関係するかもしれません。

　一方、人間の場合、充分な睡眠を得るには「日中の活動量が多ければ自然と深い睡眠になるでしょう。」現役中は夜１０時にはバッタンキューで朝までぐっすりでした。高齢となった現在では、努めて日中の脳活動と身体活動の両面を多くしなくてはならないと自覚していますが、寄る年波には勝てず、夜中に目が覚めます。その分、日中、うとうとしてるようです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

....................................

　The sunrise this morning on May 10th is 4:41 [Gumma Prefecture]. The photo shows a Silk Tree" whose seeds were spilled a few years ago and have grown naturally. The photo above was taken at 5:30 this morning when it was already light, but the leaves were still closed so that she was surprisingly overslept. The photo below was taken at the same location during the daytime yesterday, of course the leaves are open.

　If comparing the two photos, we can clearly see the fact that the leaves are closed and opened. If you enlarge the photo below, you can see that the leaves are completely symmetrical, and when she sleeps, the two leaves are tightly closed each other. There is not a single leaf that does not have a partner to close with.

　By the way, the "Silk Tree" is a mysterious plant, "Why does she sleep at night?" She looks just like a human. (Of course, some humans sleep during the day and are active at night.)

　However, the cause of the sleep movement of Silk Tree is still not well understood. The photo above shows that she is still closed even though it is already daylight, or the cause may relate to the temperature.

　On the other hand, in the case of humans, in order to get enough sleep, "If we have a lot of activity during the daytime, we will naturally get a deep sleep." During my active duty, I had a good sleep as soon as going to bed around at 10 p.m. and slept soundly until morning. Now that I'm older, I'm aware during night time. I need to make effort to increase both my brain and physical activity during the daytime, but I can't beat the aging process so that I wake up in the middle of the night. As a result, I seem to be dozing off during the daytime.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

２０代の私を回想させる一枚の絵画

【画像をクリックし、拡大してご覧ください。】

　音楽はその曲によって快適なテンポになったり、あるいは、ゆっくりしたテンポに乗って時間と共に進みます。演奏者はより良い音色を求め、一瞬一瞬に感情を音に託し、大きく膨らませたり、小さくしつつ刻々と進むので、恰も私たちが生きてることのように存在します。演奏が終われば音は消え、同じ演奏は二度とありません。

　一方、絵画はどんなに遠い昔に描いても、その後、鑑賞してもそのままの姿で再現され、描いた当時の状況や感情がいつまでも不変に描写され続け、現在、鑑賞しても当時の状況が生き生きと蘇ります。

　この絵は、私が２０代の若き日に現地で描いたもので、現在でもピアノの部屋に飾ってあり、生涯の記念になってます。この建物はインド・カルカッタ市にあるヴィクトリアメモリアルです。私の住まいの近くにありました。イギリスのヴィクトリア女王を記念した建物で、大理石の外観がとても美しい博物館です。内部は植民地時代の歴史的な絵画などの展示が充実しています。

　ところで、生まれた頃からこの絵を見て育った次女は大学時代に、若き日に私が住んでたカルカッタ市を訪れ、実際にこのヴィクトリアメモリアルを見学してきました。同時に、青年時代の私の生活環境を実際に見てきたのですから「娘もやるなあ」と思いました。

【よちよち歩き頃の次女と水沢山山頂で。私が背負って登りました。覚えているだろうか。 】

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

................................

　Depending on the comfortable tempo, or it may proceed at a slower tempo in music. Performers strive for a better tone quality, by entrusting their emotions to the sound moment by moment, making it bigger and smaller. So it exists just like the way we live. Once the performance is over, the sound disappears, and the same performance will never be repeated.

　On the other hand, no matter how far in the past a picture was painted, it will remain exactly as it was when viewed, and the situation and emotions of that time will remain unaltered. It comes back to life.

　I drew this picture when I was young in my twenties, and it still hangs in my piano room today, serving as a souvenir of my lifetime. This building is the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta-city, India. It was built near my residence. This museum is a memorial to Queen Victoria of England, and has a beautiful marble exterior. The interior is filled with exhibits including historical paintings since the colonial era.

　By the way, my second daughter Marie, who grew up seeing this painting since she was born, visited Calcutta-city where I had ever lived in my 20's. When she was an university student, actually toured the Victoria Memorial. At the same time, she had actually seen my living environment, so I thought, "My daughter had a splendid experience".

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　　

「カッキー髪が黒いね」と褒められる

　目が覚めるように赤いこの花は南アフリカ原産といわれる「ゼラニウム」です。庭の入り口に目の高さで咲いてるので遠くからも目立ちます。植物として小さくても、色彩的に存在感があります。実はここには2種類のゼラニウムが植わってます。右側は紅のみであり、左側には少し模様が入ってます。生まれがケープタウンの方ですから、きっと、日本の気候にも適応できるでしょう。

　ところで、私自身、一人暮らしの現在、どうにか健康で暮らしてます。昨晩は生活に変化をつけるため暫くぶりに高崎へ行き、外食しましたら、そこでも「カッキーは髪が黒いね。」と言われ、内心「しめしめ」と思いました。やはり、早朝の空腹時に日替わりで飲んでるジュースに含まれてる人参のβーカロチン、トマトやグレイプフルーツのリコピン、あるいは大豆に含まれてるイソフラボンなどの成分が功を奏しているのではないかと思いました。

　一方、今日は旧暦の４月１日です。また、世界赤十字デーです。社会的に大きなことはできませんが、私自身の認知症回避のため社会との接点を大切にしてます。先ず、挨拶運動に始まり、可能な限り、近隣で困っている人に手を差し伸べたいです。政治的立場、人種に区別なく支え合うことが大事だと考えます。

　世界赤十字デーのテーマは「何があっても立ち止まらない(unstoppable)」です。一人暮らしの高齢者支援や地区の子供たちの交通安全のため、今日もできることを実践したいと思います。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.........................................

　This eye-catching red flower is a geranium that is said to be native to South Africa. It blooms at eye level at the entrance of the garden, so it can be seen from a distance. Although it is small as a plant, it has a strong presence due to its color. Actually, there are two types of geraniums growing at a same pot. The right side is only red, and the left side has a little pattern. She was born in Cape Town, so I'm sure she can adapt to the Japanese climate.

　By the way, as you know, I am currently living alone and somehow staying healthy. Last night, I went to Takasaki-city's downtown after a long interval to make a change in my life as a dinner. The mama of the tavern said to me, "Kakki has black hair,'' and I thought to myself, "I'm healthy". I thought that ingredients such as beta-carotene from carrot, lycopene from tomato and grape fruit, and isoflavone from soybeans, which are contained in the juice I drink daily on the empty stomach early in the morning, may be effective.

　On the other hand, today is April 1st in the lunar calendar. It's also World Red Cross Day. Although I can't do much socially, I value my contact with society in order to avoid senile dementia myself. First of all, I would like to start with a greeting campaign at the neighborhood and reach out to those in need in my neighborhood as much as possible. I believe it is important to support each other regardless of political position or races.

　The theme of World Red Cross Day is "unstoppable no matter what happens". I would like to reach out what I can today, such as supporting elderly people living alone and ensuring traffic safety for children in the area.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

開花は峠を過ぎ、樹木は緑一色に変わる

　つい一ヶ月半前の３月は寒い日が続いたため、例年と異なり、桜の開花はもとより、花桃なども２週間ほど遅くなってから咲きました。ところが、あの寒さを忘れるほどにゴールデンウィーク中はすでに３０°近くになった日々が続きました。

　しかし、今日からは梅雨の前触れの如く、関東以北は雨が続く気配です。結果的に気温の下降に私たちの体調はついていけなくなりがちです。

　この時季に生活上、注意する点は二つあり、一つは、風邪を引かないようにします。ついうっかり、うたた寝すると喉を傷めます。ということは、恥ずかしながら私自身が体調を崩しました。

　もう一つは、すでに食中毒の季節に入ってます。「冷蔵庫を過信せず」、生ものなどは買い置きしないことでしょう。日にちが経つと、海藻類のうち生ワカメは溶けてきます。モズクも日にちが経過すると色褪せてきます。ですから、購入後は早めに使用します。

　と言うものの、自然界はバランス上、良く出来ており、今まで気にしてた大陸からの黄砂や、杉・ヒノキの花粉は減少し、空気は清々しくなります。芍薬などを除き私の好きな花は少なくなりましたが、ご覧の通り、樹木は緑色濃く一変し、梅の実が日に日に大きくなってます。雨が一時的に止んだら屋外に出て、良い空気を胸一杯吸いつつ身体を動かし、柔軟性と共に筋肉の維持増強に努めたいです。

Dear my Facebook friends abroad

　Just a month and a half ago, in March, we had a series of cold days, so unlike usual, not only cherry blossoms but also peach blossoms started blooming about two weeks later in our nation. However, during Japanese Golden Week, the temperature was already close to 30 degrees Celsius, so that we forgot how cold it was in March.

　However, from today onwards, it seems that the rain will continue north of the Kanto region, as if it were a harbinger of the rainy season. As a result, our physical condition tends to be unable to keep up with the changes in temperature in this season.

　During this season, there are two things to be careful about in our daily life. One is to avoid catching a cold. If you accidentally take a nap, you will hurt your throat. So, shamefully, I myself have a sore throat.

　The other thing is that we are already in the season for food poisoning. Don't put too much faith in your refrigerator and don't stock up on perishables. As the days pass, the raw seaweed of wakame will start to melt. The color of mozuku also fades over time. Therefore, we have to use it as soon as possible after purchasing.

　However, the natural world is well-balanced, for instance, the yellow sand from the Asian continent and pollen from cedar and cypress trees, which we worried about before, have decreased, and the air has become fresher. With the exception of Shakuyak peonies which I indicated yesterday, my favorite flowers have decreased, but as you see, the trees are turning green deeply and the plums are getting bigger day by day. Once the rain stops temporarily, I would like to go outside, breathe in the fresh air, move my body, and maintain and strengthen the flexibility of muscles.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

地球温暖化を肌で感じる昨今

　未だ５月であるのに、昨日は群馬県でも本当に暑かったです。このためでしょうか。山形県南陽市で4日に起きた森林火災は5日に一気に燃え広がり、９５ヘクタールが焼けたと伝えられます。この面積は東京ドーム21個分と同じといわれ、周辺住民410人に避難指示が出されてます。

　近年は、世界的にも森林火災が多く、ハワイ・マウイ島の火災のほか、カナダ、ギリシャ、ポルトガル、チリなど各地で大規模な山火事が相次ぎ、犠牲者は多数と伝えられてます。

　森林火災の原因として「高温と乾燥した気候」が考えられ、鎮火しにくく、燃え広がりやすいでしょう。地球温暖化が深刻になれば、今回のように、日本も森林火災が増える可能性はあります。焼けた森林の再生は百年単位でかかり、動植物へ影響は計り知れません。

　一方、トンガやソロモン諸島など南太平洋の島々では海面上昇や海岸浸食が深刻であり、水没の危機に瀕してる伝えられます。大気中の二酸化炭素などの濃度が増えてくると、温室効果が高まり、結果として地球の平均気温が上昇していきます。発電のため、多量の石炭に依存している日本は温室効果ガスの削減に早急に取り組まなければならない。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

............................

 　Even though it's still May, it was really hot in Gumma Prefecture yesterday. Is it for this reason? A forest fire that broke out in Nanyo-City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan on the 4th spread rapidly on the 5th, reportedly burning 95 hectares. This area is said to be the same as 21 Tokyo Domes, and evacuation orders have been issued to 410 residents in the area.

　In recent years, there have been many forest fires around the world, including fires in Maui, Hawaii, as well as large-scale wildfires in various places such as Canada, Greece, Portugal, and Chile, and it is reported that many people have died.

　"High temperatures and dry climate" are thought to be the cause of forest fires, making them difficult to extinguish and spreading easily. If global warming becomes more serious, there is a possibility that there will be occurred more forest fires in Japan, like this time. Regeneration of burnt forests takes hundreds of years, and the impact on flora and fauna is immeasurable.

　On the other hand, it is reported that islands in the South Pacific such as Tonga and the Solomon Islands are facing serious sea level rise and coastal erosion, and are in danger of being submerged. As the concentration of carbon dioxide and other substances in the atmosphere increases, the greenhouse effect increases, and as a result, the average temperature of the earth rises. Japan which relies on large amounts of coal for power generation, must urgently work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

現在、地球は公転軌道上のどの辺を進んでいるでしょう。

　今日５月５日は子供の日であると共に、二十四節気では「立夏」です。早くも「立春」から３ヶ月が経ちました。ところで、太陽の回りを１年かけて周遊している地球は現在、「宇宙空間の、一体、どの辺を公転しているでしょうか。」

　それを知るには、午前０時に真南を見て判断します。そこには「天秤座」があります。ご存じの通り、太陽系の周囲には黄道十二星座がほぼ等間隔に並び、「天秤座」もその一つで、西に「おとめ座」があり、東は「さそり座」と接してます。ですから、地球は現在「天秤座」の方向にありますが、今後、次第に「さそり座」の方向に公転して行きます。

　ところで、「天秤座」は紀元前に天の赤道の位置にあったとされ、南半球と北半球を天秤に測って丁度釣り合ってると考えたのでしょう。しかし、現在、天秤座は天の赤道にはありません。その理由は自転してる地球がコマのように頭を振る歳差運動に因ると考えられてます。

　歳差運動の周期は約２６０００年と計算され、この運動は今後も続き、例えば北極星は真北の位置ではなくなると考えられてます。正に天文学的な遠い未来のことで、私たちは心配しなくていいでしょう。

　話は変わりますが、写真の花は現在、西隣のＴさんの庭で咲いてる「クレマチス」です。二年前にＴさんの奥様から聞いて私は驚きましたが、この「クレマチス」は生前に妻がＴさん宅にプレゼントしたのだそうです。すでに２０年以上、毎年咲いているそうで不思議なこともあるものです。そのＴさんはすでに亡くなり、現在、奥様は施設に入居されてますが、昨今の感染対策により私は会えない状況にあり、寂しいです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

...............................

　Today, May 5th, is Children's Day in our nation, as well as "Ritsuka" that means the first day of summer in the 24 solar calendars. It's already been three months since the first day of spring. By the way, what side of revolving space is our Earth currently revolving around?

　To know this question, you should look at due south at midnight. There's Libra. As you know, the zodiacal constellations are arranged at approximately equal intervals around the solar system, and ``Libra'' is one of them, with Virgo to the west and Scorpio to the east. Therefore, the Earth will gradually revolve in the direction of the constellation Scorpio.

　By the way, "Libra" was said to have been located at the celestial equator in BC, and it was probably thought that the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere were exactly balanced by Libra. However, Libra is currently not on the celestial equator. The reason for this is thought to be due to the precession of the rotating Earth, which shakes its head like a top.

　The period of precession is calculated to be approximately 26,000 years, and it is thought that this movement will continue. For example, Polaris will no longer be located at due north. In the astronomically distant future, so that we needn't worry about it.

　On a different topics, the flower in the photo is a "clematis" currently blooming in Mr. T's garden next door to my west. I was surprised to hear that Mr. T's wife said two years ago that this "clematis" was presented to Mr. T's home as a gift by my deceased wife during she was alive. It seems that it has been blooming every year for over 20 years, which is strange. Mr. T has already passed away, and his wife is currently living in a facility, but due to recent infection control measures, I am unable to see her and feel lonely.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

南国のように「枝が横に広がる樹木」を植える

【画像をクリックするとピントが合います。】

　今日５月４日の日の出は4時４６分(群馬県)で、正午の太陽高度は７０°です。(因みに冬至は３０°)、このため朝の時間帯が長くなり、私はすべての植物に水遣りした後、公園まで１０分歩いて行き、ラジオ体操会に参加しました。

　このため、毎朝３０分間は身体を動かすことに使ってます。結果的に、手足の筋肉のみならず、呼吸筋や胃腸も活発に働き、お腹が空いて、朝食が美味しく感じます。Hunger is the best sauce.とはよく言ったものです。

　ところで、今日は私の大好きな「みどりの日」です。ご覧の通り、庭は緑に覆われ、家がほとんど見えなくなりました。これにより一日中、多くの樹木による「光合成」が盛んになり、樹木が育つと共に、人間の生命に最も必要な「酸素」がたくさん生成されます。

　未だ５月初めというのに、今日も日中は真夏の気温になる気配です。近年、叫ばれてる「地球温暖化」に対処するにはエアコンを使う時間を可能な限り短くし、基本的には、南国のように枝が横に広がる樹木を植え、太陽光を遮断する日陰を広く作ることと考えてます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

......................................

 Today, May 4th, the sun rose at 4:46 (Gumma Prefecture), and the solar altitude at noon will be 70° (by the way, it was 30° at the winter solstice). As a result, the morning hours are long, so that after watering all the plants in the garden, I walked 10 minutes to the park and participated in the radio gymnastics session this morning as usual.

 For this reason, I spend more than 30 minutes every morning moving my body. As a result, not only the muscles of limbs, but also my respiratory muscles and stomach and intestines work actively, it makes me hungry and breakfast taste becomes delicious. As the saying, "Hunger is the best sauce". I was learnt this maxim by a Indian person during stay at Calcutta.

 By the way, today is my favorite "Greenery Day" in our nation. As you can see in the photo, my garden is covered in greenery and the house is almost invisible. As a result, photosynthesis by many trees is active throughout the day, and as the trees grow, a large amount of oxygen which is most indispensable for human life, is generated.

 Even though it's still early May now, there are signs that the temperature will be midsummer today as well. In order to deal with the "global warming" that has been talked about in recent years, we should reduce the amount of time to use our air conditioner as much as possible. I am of the opinion that we should plant "trees with branches that spread horizontally'' like in tropical countries, so that the trees create large areas of shade to block sunlight.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　  

８０億人が住んでる青い地球

【画像をクリックすると臨場感が出ます。】

　私たちは、うっかり宇宙は明るいと思いがちですが、このような地球の昼間の地域の写真を見ても「宇宙は暗黒」であることが分かります。太陽光が当たっている部分のみが明るく、これは私たちが「暗い空に浮かぶ満月」を見ているのと同じです。

　太陽～地球間の距離は約１億５千万㎞と言われ、地球が太陽からちょうど良い距離に浮いていることで気温が適温であり、地球人は生きていられます。地球の公転軌道はやや楕円と考えられ、これは金環食や皆既日食が起こることで分かります。また、地軸が約２３．４°傾いたまま公転を続けることで有難いことに四季が生じてます。

　平素、「私たちは宇宙に浮いてること」を意識せず暮らがちですが、時にはＩＳＳからの写真を見て、地球は雲と海に囲まれ、水があり、それにより地上では沢山の樹木が光合成し、結果的に食料ができ、酸素が生成されることで私たちは生きてます。

　この掛け替えのないこの地球に、現在、約８０億人が暮らしてます。しかし、人間とは愚かなのでしょうか。歴史を紐解いても、昔から現在に至るまで、あちこちで戦火が絶えません。日本では今日は「戦争放棄を誓った憲法記念日」。今や、世界平和は優れた指導者の腕に掛かってます。

　先日、私は孫娘【小４】に誕生日プレゼントとして「地球儀と英語のかるた」を贈りました。海と陸地の割合、世界の国の位置や地軸の傾きを知ると共に、地球上で日本語を話す人は２％のみであること、故に英語を勉強すべきこと、宇宙空間に浮かび、自転と公転を続ける地球に住んでる意識を彼女が持てるようにと願ってます。もっとも嬉しいことは地球に住んでるからこそ音楽が楽しめることです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

...................................

　We tend to think that space is bright, but when we look at photo of Earth's daytime regions, we can recognize that space is really dark. Only the parts of the earth that are exposed to sunlight are bright, similar to a full moon floating in a dark sky.

　As you know, the distance between the sun and the earth is said to be approximately 150 million km, and because the earth is floating at the suitable distance from the sun, the temperature is also suitable so that people on earth can survive. The Earth's orbit is thought to be elliptical, and this fact can be recognized by the occurrence of annular and total solar eclipses of the sun. Additionally, thanks to the fact that the Earth's axis continues to revolve with tilt at the angle of approximately 23.4 degrees, therefore we have four seasons.

　Normally, we tend to live without being conscious of the fact that we are floating in space, but sometimes when we look at photos from the ISS, we realize that the Earth is surrounded by clouds and oceans, and it rains, so there is a lot of water on the ground. Trees photosynthesize, resulting in the production of food and oxygen, which allows us to live.

　Approximately 8 billion people currently live on this irreplaceable earth. But are humans stupid? No matter how much history we look at, since the ancient times to the present, wars continue to rage here and there. In Japan, today is the anniversary of the Constitution day pledging to renounce war. Now, world peace rests upon the hands of excellent leaders.

　By the way, the other day, I gave my granddaughter [4th grade of elementary school] a celestial globe and English karuta which is Japanese cards as a birthday present. In addition to learning about the proportion of land and ocean, the location of countries in the world, and the tilt of the earth's axis, for her learning that only 2% of the people on earth speak Japanese, so it is indispensable for her to learn English. We are living on our planet floating in space that continues to rotate and revolve. I hope she can know it. The happiest thing is that we can enjoy music because we live on Earth.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

茶から学ぶ商いの心・・・上毛新聞「みんなのひろば」より

　ブログにコメントをくださる「時計屋の隣りさん」の文章が群馬県・上毛新聞の読者投稿欄「みんなのひろば」に掲載されました。誠におめでとうございます。

　つきましては、群馬県外の皆様にも彼の文章を紹介いたします。

タイトル・・・・「茶から学ぶ商いの心」・・・・

　行きつけのお茶屋の主人は、商品への誇りと愛情を持ち、親切に接客してくれる。新茶を振る舞ってくれた際の会話は忘れられない。　

　「娘を嫁に出す親の気持ちで、商品をお客様に提供しています。私の大切な娘には、熱湯をかけないで下さい。優しくお湯を注いで下さい」と言いながら、湯冷ましで、湯加減を丁寧に調整し、最高の味と香りを引き出して淹れてくれた。

　「二本下さい」と頼むと、「嫁さんは一人、茶は一本で十分です。茶は生き物です。買い置きをせず、こまめに買いに来て下さい」とアドバイスしてくれた。鮮度と品質を保つため、さらに、客とのコミュニケーションの機会を増やすための考慮のようだ。

　少しでもエコに貢献したいと思い、商品を入れる紙袋を遠慮すると、憮然とし、「むき出しはいけません。嫁に出す娘を晒しものにする気ですか」と商品への敬意と配慮を促した。

　商いの心とは、ただ商品を売るだけではなく、常に、商品に愛情と敬意を持ちお客との長期的な信頼関係を築くことにあると学んだ。お茶屋を後にした時、客として成長したような充足感を覚えた。

　上毛新聞（令和６年・５・１）「ひろば」に掲載

シルバー川柳より

〇病院で　サミットしている　爺セブン

〇ばあちゃんが　おしゃれにきめる　通院日

〇退職の　翌日からは　妻上司

〇守ろうと　誓った嫁から　身を守る

〇三回忌　光始める　未亡人

〇昔酒、今は病院　はしごする

〇あの世から　ひっぱらないで　わたしの手

〇健康に　粗食が合うと　手抜き妻

〇資産家は　最期に親戚　ドッと増え

〇 共白髪　まっぴらごめんと　妻茶髪

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

......................................

　First of all, I have to explain about Senryu for your understanding. Silver senryu is a Japanese traditional witty epigrammatic poem concerning the elderly's daily life by seven syllables.

〇 Seven Grandpas are having a summit conference at the hospital.

〇 Grandma tends to wear on her beautiful cloth and make up when visiting hospital.

〇 Since the day of my retirement, my wife became my boss.

〇 Now, I must protect myself from my wife, though I decided to protect my wife when we got marriage.

〇 After third Anniversary of her husband, the widow begins to stand out in her appearance.

〇 In old days, sake hopping, but now hospital hopping.

〇 Wife says "Don't pull my hand from the heaven".

〇 Wife says "a simple diet is good for your health, then wife is lazy to cook.

〇 Relatives increase dramatically at the funeral of wealthy elderly.

〇 They decided to live together until becoming silver hair when they got marriage, in fact, wife dislikes that, but her hair became brown now.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

野にも山にも若葉が茂る

【西洋シャクナゲです。】

　今日は八十八夜で、日の出は４時５０分(群馬県)です。つまり、立春の頃より「２時間近く」も朝が早くなりました。と言うことは日没についても同様のため、昼の時間は４時間ほど長くなってます。お陰で、昨日は夕方になってお気に入りの土手を１時間ほどウォーキングでき、その後のビールの味は格別でした。

　庭は現在、西洋シャクナゲがほぼ咲き終わり、日本シャクナゲが開花中です。また、3種類のツツジも咲き始め、庭は色とりどりへと変化を見せてます。変化しないのは「人間の私だけ」のようで困ったものです。

　しかし、このような私でも生活に変化を求め、新たな事象に出合い、新たな人に出会って「魂を揺さぶられる」体験がしたいです。脳を活性化するには「生活をマンネリ化せず、日々に新た」が大切なポイントで、私は新たな英単語に出合っただけでも嬉しく、フェイスブックやブログで使いたいです。

　一般論として、「この英単語の意味は何か」と言う観点より「この事を英語で何と言うか」という視点に立つと、頭に入りやすく、幼い子供が日本語を覚えるように「実際に使うことで」脳に定着するように感じます。私は英和辞典も使いますが、実際には和英辞典を引く方が多いです。今、一人で外国にいるとすればこうなります。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my breakfast in Japan time.

.....................................

　Today is the 88th night from the first day of spring in our nation. The sunrise is at 4:50 (Gumma Prefecture). In other words, morning became "nearly two hours" earlier than around the first day of spring. The sunset is the same, so the daylight hours became about 4 hours longer. Thanks to this, I was able to walk around my favorite bank for about an hour yesterday in the evening, and the beer afterwards tasted exceptional, but anyone didn't came as "jumping in" that I had hoped for.

　In the garden, the Western rhododendrons have almost finished blooming, and the Japanese rhododendrons are currently blooming. In addition, three types of azaleas are starting to bloom, so that the garden is changing into a variety of colors. It's troubling that I'm the only one who doesn't change.

　However, even though I am like this situation, I want to make changes in my daily life, for instance, encounter new phenomena, meet new people, and have new experiences that "shake my soul." "The key to activate my brain doesn't get stereotyped in my life and try new things every day." I'm happy even just coming across a new English word, and I want to use it on Facebook and weblog.

　Generally speaking, if we think from the perspective of "How do I say this Japanese word in English?'' rather than "What does this English word mean in Japanese?" I feel that by using it, it becomes fixed in the brain, the same as child memorize Japanese by using. In many case, actually I use the Japanese-English dictionary rather than using the English-Japanese dictionary. If you are alone in a foreign country right now, a Japanese-English dictionary would be extremely useful.

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