本当に楽しいこと・・・それは尽きない会話

　今宵はこれから高崎市内の某所で夕食を摂ります。いつもの孤食と違い、友人「時計屋の隣り」さんと過ごすので、楽しいひと時になるでしょう。

　明日から３月なので、改めて前向きに生きられるよう精神を入れ替えます。それでは倉賀野駅から電車で参ります。

追信・・・・・只今電車で帰宅しました。思いの他、楽しく充実した時間が持てました。やはり「人間の楽しみは尽きない会話」ですね。おやすみなさい。

Dear my friends

　Tonight I'm going to have dinner at the tavern "Buku" in central Takasaki-City. Unlike my usual dining alone, I'll be spending this evening with my friend "Next Door to the Watch Shop," so it's sure to be a fun time.

　Tomorrow marks March, so I'm going to reset my mindset and try to live life with a positive attitude than before. Now, I'll take the train from Kuragano-Station.

P.S.・・・ I just returned home by train. I had a much more enjoyable and fulfilling time than I expected. I guess "human's enjoyment is never-ending conversation" after all. Good night.

その名も「萌香」を喫茶店に飾る

　この花はシンビジウムの「萌香」です。今後、一週間ほどはお気に入り喫茶「さんぽ道」に飾ってあります。ママさんのイメージに似ているからです。寒さに強く、明るい日ざしに当てるようにすれば、よく育ち、しばらく花を咲かせるでしょう。

　これからは株を増やし、黄色のディープインパクト共にシンビジウムをたくさん育てようと思います。

　This flower is a Cymbidium called "Moeka." For the next week or so, it will be on display at my favorite cafe, "Sampo Michi," because this flower resembles the mama's image. It is said to be resistant to cold, so if we expose it to bright sunlight, it will grow well and flower for a while.

　From now on, I plan to increase the number of this Cymbidium, along with the yellow Cymbidium named Deep Impact.

悔やまれる・・・若き日の母についてもっと知りたかった

【画像をクリックし拡大すると臨場感が出ます。】　

　一昨日は、ロシアからのコハクチョウが未だ居るかどうかを確かめるため、鏑川の土手を西へ西へとウォーキングしました。長い一本道では正面に御荷鉾山を眺め、胸にきれいな空気を一杯に吸い、広大な景色を満喫しつつ歩き、気持ちが良かったです。肝心なコハクチョウは未だ４羽居ました。

　一方、帰路はコースを変え、木部町一帯の田畑の中の細い道を歩いてみました。実はこの辺一帯は、幼き日の母が遊んだと想われる場所です。母の生まれ故郷である木部町は今でも農業が中心であり、当時とあまり変化はないと想像できます。その一つは現代でもお店が一軒もなく、集落が素朴に散在してます。

　田畑の中を散策してると大きな３本の梅の木に出合いました。年代物でその幹回りは太く、今まさに満開です。如何にも実を捥ぎやすいよう枝が横に広がってます。もしかして幼き日の母はこの梅の木を見たのでしょうか。同様に１００mほど離れた所に柑橘類がなってます。これも年代物に見えます。

　実は、若き日の私は生涯に一度だけ母を自転車に乗せ、この辺一帯を散策したことがあります。今となっては若き日の母のことをもっといろいろ訊いておけば良かったと悔やまれます。ただ印象に残ってることの一つは、南八幡小のときの担任が品格がありとても良い先生だったと言ってました。先生の名は浅田先生で、後で分かったことですが、浅田先生は内村鑑三の娘さんでした。

　不思議なことに、私は母の人生の前半を知らない。逆に、母は私の人生の後半を知らない。

Dear my Facebook friends who are thinking of strangeness of life

　The day before yesterday, I walked west along the bank of the Kabra River to see if there were still any Tundra swans from Russia. Along the long, straight bank, I could see Mt. Mikabo directly ahead, took in deep breaths of clean air, and enjoyed the vast scenery. It felt great to walk. There were still four Tundra swans in Kabra River.

　Meanwhile, on my way back, I changed course and walked along a narrow path through the fields of Kibe Town. I believe this area was a place my mother played as a child. So here Kibe Town, my mother's hometown, is still primarily agricultural, and I imagine it hasn't changed much since then. For one thing, there isn't a single shop today, with settlements scattered as old fashion.

　While strolling through the fields, I came across three large plum trees. They are old, with thick trunks and are currently in full bloom. The branches spread out horizontally, for it easy to pick the fruit. Perhaps my mother saw this plum trees when she was a child. There are similar citrus fruits growing about 100 meters away. These also look antique.

　In fact, when I was young, I took my mother on a bicycle ride around this area only once in my life. Looking back, I regret not asking her more about during she was young. However, one thing that made an deep impression on me was that she said that her homeroom teacher at Minami-Yahata Elementary School was a very good teacher with a lot of dignity. Her name was Ms. Asada, and Lately my mother and I found out in Newspaper that Ms. Asada was the daughter of Uchimura Kanzo.

　Strangely enough, I don't know anything about the first half of my mother's life. Conversely, my mother doesn't know about the second half of my life, for instance, I became the teacher of Maebashi High School.

シンビジュームを味わってもらう

【デーブインパクト】　

　今日は午後より、私の家の前の倉賀野町上４集会所でオカリナの練習会が行われてます。このため、いつも廊下に置いてあるシンビジウム２鉢を庭に出し、皆さんによく見える場所に、先程、セットしてみました。皆さんは、帰りにこれらの花に気づき、笑顔になることでしょう。

　以前に、このオカリナ練習会は私の家で行われてました。集会所が出来てからはそこで練習されてます。

【萌香】　

　This afternoon, the ocarina practice session is being held at the Kuragano Kami-4th Community Center, which is in front of my garden. For this reason, I have moved the two pots of cymbidium that I usually keep in my hallway out into the garden, where it can be easily seen by everyone. I'm sure they will notice these flowers on her way home and smile.

　Previously, this ocarina practice session was held at my piano room. Since the community center was built, they have been practicing there instead.

日の出は６時１７分と大分早まる。【群馬県】

【写真をクリックすると臨場感が出ます。】

　一見、きれいな築山に今年も１週間ほど前からたくさんの水仙の芽が出て来て希望を与えてます。「一見、きれいな」と表現したのは、実は、表面の黒土のすぐ下には昨年の庭中の草が敷き詰められているのです。お陰で築山は少々高くなりました。

　昨夏は猛暑のため、草が繁茂し、私は１週間ほどかかけ、すべての草をこの築山に集め、その上から土を被せました。つまり、枯れ草をゴミとせず、自然の肥料にしてみたのです。結果的に、水仙たちはその草を突き破って芽を出し、何かいつもの春より生き生きして見えます。

　中央にあるS字状の細い樹木は「八重咲きの枝垂れ桜」です。幼木ですが、よく観察すると、こちらも蕾がたくさん出始めてます。今年は２回目の春なので、もしかして、黄色い水仙の花に囲まれて、その中できれいに咲くでしょうか。

　現在の庭は、恰も梅林の如く５本の花梅がよく咲いてます。後２週間ほどは咲き続けるので、お近くの方は見学においでください。駐車場完備です。長かった冬が終わり、これからは私が最も力を入れてる「貴重な日本シャクナゲ、華やかな西洋シャクナゲ」たちが蕾を膨らませ、出番を待ってます。人間の私も、たまには珍しいことをしてみたい。

Dear my friends who are crazy about real spring

　At first glance, the artificial hill looks beautiful, but about a week ago, many daffodils began to sprout this year, giving me hope. I say "at first glance," because, in fact, just beneath the black soil on top is a layer of dry grass from all over the garden. So this has made the hill a little taller.

　As you can remember, last summer, the heat was so intense that the grass grew profusely, so I spent about a week gathering all the dry grass into this hill and covering it with black soil. In other words, instead of throwing the dead grass away, I used it as natural fertilizer. As a result, the daffodils have broken through the dead grass and are looking more vibrant than usual this spring. Perhaps natural fertilizer is effective, I guess.

　By the way, the thin, S-shaped tree in the center is a double-flowered weeping cherry tree. It's a young tree, If we inspect closely, many buds are beginning to appear. This year is the second spring for her, so perhaps it will bloom beautifully among the yellow daffodils.

　Currently, the garden is filled with five blooming plum trees, just like a Kuragano plum grove. They will continue to bloom for another two weeks, so if you are in the area, please come and see them with tea. Parking is available. Now, the long winter is over, and from now on, the precious Japanese rhododendrons and the gorgeous Western rhododendrons, which are my main focus, are swelling their buds and waiting for their turn to bloom. Even as a human, I like to do something unusual beyond your imagination in a while.

コハクチョウ・・・今日も鏑川で泳いでた

　只今、ウォーキングから帰宅しました。もしかして、いないかと思ったコハクチョウが鏑川のいつもの場所に４羽いました。その他の鴨たちも数百羽が長閑に過ごしており、安心しました。

　「鏑川白鳥を守る会」の記録板によると今期は１２月１５日に初めて３羽が飛来し、最も多かったのは１月下旬の２０羽ほど、今日は４羽です。今日は寒くなく暑くなく、ウォーキングには、とても適温でした。今日は３Kほど歩きました。

Dear my friends

　I've just returned home from walking. I was worried that I might not see any tundra swans, but I found four in their usual spot on the Kabra River. I was relieved to see hundreds of other ducks also spending here their time peacefully.

　According to the record board of the Kabra River Swan Protection Society, the first three swans arrived this season on December 15th, the peak was around 20 in late January, and today there were only four. Today was neither too cold nor too hot, and the temperature was just suitable for walking. I walked about 3km today.

いつまでも歩けることが生活の基盤

　室内でも日当たりの良い南側の廊下では、色とりどりに花が咲いてます。温かな場所で水をたっぷり与えていると次から次へと蕾が生じ、やはり、植物にとって咲きやすい環境づくりが大切に感じます。

　私たち人間も勉強しやすい環境、運動しやすい環境作りが、自己改革への基盤でしょう。今日は午前１１時より１時間を喫茶「さんぽ道」で読書して過ごし、午後はこれから２時３０分より、鏑川の土手をウォーキングしてきます。果たしてロシアからの白鳥は未だ鏑川に滞在してるでしょうか。

　お陰様で、喉の調子も回復したので、風邪はもう大丈夫です。では、ウォーキングに行ってきます。

Dear my friends

　Even indoors, colorful flowers are blooming in the sunny south-facing corridor. When keeping in a warm place and be given plenty of water, buds appear one after another, and it really important to create an environment that is conducive to plant blooming.

　For us humans, creating an environment that is conducive to studying and training is probably the foundation for self-reform. Today, from 11am I spent an hour reading at the Sampo-michi cafe, and this afternoon, from 2:30pm I'm going for a walk along the bank of the Kabra River. I wonder if the swans from Russia are still staying on the Kabra River?

　Thanks to your worrying, my throat has recovered and I'm no longer suffering from a cold. Now, I'm off for a walk.

「認知症サポーター講座」受講・・・優しく対応できるようになりたい

　昨日は暫くぶりに学生時代に戻ったように、倉賀野公民館で９０分間の講座を受けました。内容は「認知症サポーター講座」です。講座の後半では、認知症の人に対応すべき方法について、良い対応法と、悪い対応法について、両面の寸劇があり、対応方法についてよく分かりました。

　講座終了時に、高崎市発行による「認知症サポーター」のカードを受け取りました。現在、私の周辺には認知症の方は見受けられませんが、６５才以上になると有病率は高くなるといわれます。今後、すぐに対応しなくてはならないときに、今回の講座で学習したことを思い出し、躊躇せず、やさしく対応する心構えを持ちたいと思います。

　私たちが認知症の人への対応すべき心得は、３つの「ない」が基本にあります。１、驚かせない、2、急がせない、3、自尊心を傷つけない。

  

　そして、具体的な対応には７つのポイントがあると考えられます。1、先ずは見守る。2、余裕を持って対応する。3、声を掛ける時は一人で。4、後から声を掛けない。5、やさしい口調で。6、おだやかに、はっきりした話し方で。7、相手の言葉に耳を傾けて、ゆっくり対応する。

Dear my Facebook friends who are thinking about the measure of senile dementia

　Yesterday, I felt like I was back in my student days after a long interval as I attended a 90-minute lecture at Kuragano Community Center. The lecture was titled "Dementia Supporter Lecture." In the second half of the lecture, there was a skit that discussed both good and bad ways to interact with people with dementia, which really helped me understand how to respond.

　At the end of the lecture, I received a "Dementia Supporter" card issued by Takasaki City. Currently, I don't know anyone with senile dementia around me, but the prevalence is said to increase among people over the age of 65. In the near future, when I need to respond immediately, I will remember what I learned in this lecture and be prepared to respond gently and without hesitation.

　The basic guidelines for how we should interact with people with senile dementia are based on three "don'ts." 1. Don't surprise them. 2. Don't rush them. 3. Don't hurt their self-respect or self-pride.

Furthermore, I believe there are seven key points to specific responses. 1. Watch over them first silently. 2. Respond with ample time. 3. Call out to them alone. 4. Don't call out to them from the rear. 5. Speak gently. 6. Speak calmly and clearly. 7. Listen carefully to their saying and respond slowly.

自然が織り成す美

　暫くぶりの恵みの雨です。私にとって嬉しいことは地下の水位が上がり、これで暫くの間、井戸水が涸れることはなくなります。

　それにしても、二十四節気の「雨水」の今、その名の通り、雨が降るのですから、自然は有難いものです。

　ところが、雨のため、枝垂れ紅梅の花が落下し、ご覧の通り、恰も雪が降ったかの如くです。これも自然の織り成す美であり、暫く掃かないでそのままにしておきます。これで明日から晴れ上がれば、植物たちは生気が漲り、いよいよ春本番に近づくでしょう。

Dear my friends

　After a long interval, we've had such blessed rain. What makes me happy is that the underground water level has risen, I guess, so the well water won't run dry from now on.

　And yet, now is the "Rain Water" which is one of the 24 solar terms in Japan, so as the name suggests, it's raining, and nature is a blessing.

　However, the rain has caused the petals of the weeping plum to fall, and as you can see, it looks just like snow has fallen. This is also part of the beauty of nature, so I'll leave it without sweeping. If the weather clears up after tomorrow, the plants will become full of life, and spring will finally be upon us.

　

今日は勉強してきます

　人生は予想外で分からぬものです。退職後すぐに始まった一人暮らしで、私は日々の生活内容が単純な繰り返しにならぬよう、工夫を重ねてるつもりです。同級生たちを倉賀野町で殆ど見かけなくなりましたが、もしかして、同年齢の人より、今では夢中になる趣味にいろいろ興じているとも言えます。これが「精神の充実」につながればよいと考えます。

　娘が二人います。独立し、毎日が会社勤めであり、比較的近くの前橋市に暮らしてる次女も、二人の女子小学生の子育て中で充実してるようです。特に最近は、土日と言えば、娘たちのバスケットの応援に燃え、私の家に来るのは用事があるときのみです。私も用事があるときこちらから届け物をする時くらいです。でも、二人の娘が元気なので私は寂しく感じてません。このため、今の私は彼女たちに「何々をしてもらいたい」という気持ちはなく、ちょっと離れて見守ってます。

　ところで、今日はご覧の「認知症サポーター養成講座」が公民館で開かれ、私は受講します。認知症に罹る可能性は誰にもあり、現代ではその問題から離れることはできません。先ず、自らが認知症にならないように日々の生活を工夫し、改善し、充実させ、もし、周囲に罹ってしまった人が生じたら、適切にサポートできなくてはなりません。また、将来、自らがその対象になっても優しい社会であってほしいと思います。では講座に行って参ります。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about real happy life

　Life is unpredictable for us. Since I started living alone soon after retiring, so I've been trying to make sure my daily routine doesn't become monotonous. I hardly see my classmates in Kuragano-Town anymore, but perhaps I'm enjoying a variety of hobbies such as caring plants, piano and driving more than people my age. I hope this will lead to spiritual fulfillment.

　As you know, I have two daughters. They're now independent and work every day at companies. My younger daughter, who lives relatively nearby in Maebashi City, seems to be enjoying her time raising two elementary school-aged girls. Especially recently, on weekends, she's so excited to cheer on her daughters' basketball games. Therefore, she only comes to my house when she has something to do. I only go to her home when I have something to do, sometimes to deliver fruits. But because my two daughters are healthy, I don't feel lonely. For this reason, I don't feel I want them to do anything for me, and I just watch over them from a distance.

　Not change the subject, but today I will attend the "Dementia Supporter Training Course" at the community center. Anyone may develop dementia, and in today's world, we cannot escape this problem. First, we must devise, improve, and enrich our daily lives to prevent ourselves from developing dementia, and if someone around us does develop the disease, we must be able to provide appropriate support. We also hope that society will be kind to those who become senile dementia in the future. Well, I'll start to go.

何才になっても新たな事に挑戦・・・私の認知症対策

【画像をクリックし、拡大すると臨場感が出ます。】

　剪定と水遣りなど、年間の花梅への世話が実を結び【？】、今日の玄関前は紅白に彩られ、一際、穏やかにして華やかな春の佇まいになってます。室内からは時折ピアノの音色が響きます。これで、玄関から和服姿の女将が「お待ちしておりました。」と笑顔で姿を表わせば、言うことはないのですが、おっと、私は今、夢を見ていたのでしょうか。

　実をいうと、この植物たちのお陰で私自身も健康を保っていると考えられます。平素は汚れた私自身ですが、どうしたことか、植物たちを目の前にすると、純粋になり、良い枝ぶりとなって色彩豊かに開花することを目指します。このため、暫く我を忘れ、自然のうちに必要な動きとなり、作業に没頭すると１時間くらいはすぐに経ちます。結果的に空腹になり、健康につながればと思ってます。

　ところで、現在、二十四節気の「雨水」です。今日の群馬県南部は珍しく曇りです。ずっと、カラカラ天気が続いて来たので、その名の通り、雨が欲しいところです。風邪は昨日あたりから、回復傾向ですが、未だ、声が少々枯れてます。明日は「認知症サポーター養成講座」を受講することになっており、これも一つの挑戦です。体調を万全にして取り組みたいです。そうだ、今日は新たな「日帰り温泉」に行き、身を清めてこよう。

Dear my friends who are intended to new challenges

　The yearly care for the flowering plum trees, including pruning and watering, has finally effective [?], and today my home entrance is decked out in red and white, creating a particularly serene and gorgeous spring atmosphere. Occasionally, piano music can be heard from inside the house. If the proprietress, dressed in Japanese traditional kimono, appears at the entrance with a smile and said, "We've been waiting for you," I'd have nothing to complain about, but oh no, maybe I was dreaming now.

　As a fact, I believe these plants are also helping me stay healthy. As you know, my heart is normally quite dirty, but for some reason, when I see the plants, I become pure beyond description, striving to develop beautiful branches and bloom colorfully. For this reason, I lose myself for a while, becoming natural movement I need. I immerse myself in my work, and an hour or so passes quickly. Ultimately, I feel hungry, which will lead to better my health.

By the way, it's currently "Rain Water" one of the 24 solar terms in Japan. It's unusually cloudy in southern Gumma Prefecture today. It's been dry and dreary for a while now, so as the name suggests, We are hoping for rain. I've been feeling better since 　yesterday, but my voice is still a little hoarse. Tomorrow I will take a "Dementia Supporter Training Course", which is also one of my challenges. I want to be in top physical condition. Oh, I'll go to a new "day spa" today and cleanse myself.

二十四節気で、現在は「雨水」

【図では、上が水瓶座、左下は獅子座、右下は魚座です。今宵は獅子座が見えます。】
　　

　先日、他の話題を扱ったので忘れましたが、ご存知の通り、現在は二十四節気で「雨水」です。最近、雨が降らず井戸が時々涸れ、今日も長い時間、井戸水を使うと水の出が悪くなり、水仙など芽を出したばかりの植物には少しで我慢してもらいました。果たして「雨水」の通り、今週中に一雨あるでしょうか。

　眩しくて確認は不可能ですが、現在、地球から見る太陽の背景は黄道十二星座の「水瓶座」があります。これは黄道十二星とは、太陽系を挟んで互いに反対側にある星座が決まっているからです。と言うことは、現在の地球は「しし座」の方向に来ています。このため、今宵、午前０時に真南に「しし座」が見えます。

　写真上は現在、太陽の背景にあるので見えませんで、夏にはよく見える「水瓶座」です。この星座は天の赤道に水瓶の底が接してます。日本で見ると逆さまですが、南半球から見ればちゃんと上を向いてます。

　後２５日が経過すると、地球から見る太陽は、ついに「魚座」のすぐ下にある「春分点」【赤点】に達します。ここの太陽黄経は０°で、０hでも表わされ、この日が春分の日」です。

Dear my friends as earthlings

　The other day, I forgot to post it because I was talking about something else, but as you know, we are currently in the "Rain Water" in the 24 solar terms. Recently, there has been no rain in southern Gumma Prefecture, and the well water has occasionally run dry. Using well water in the garden today caused the water to flow poorly, so newly sprouted plants such as daffodils had to endure only a little. As the "Rain Water" suggests, I wonder if, we will see a single rain shower this week?

　Because it's too bright to see, the background to the sun as seen from Earth right now is the zodiac constellation Aquarius. We can understand because the zodiac constellations are located on opposite sides of the solar system. This means that Earth is currently facing the direction of Leo as you see. Therefore, tonight at midnight, Leo will be visible due south.

　In the photo, Aquarius is currently hidden behind the sun, but this constellation that will be easily visible in the summer. The base of this constellation is touching the celestial equator. It looks upside down when viewed from Japan, but it is facing upwards when viewed from the Southern Hemisphere such as in NZ.

　If 25 days pass, the sun as seen from Earth will finally reach the vernal equinox point [red dot] as you can see, located just below the constellation Pisces above the equator. The solar longitude here is 0°, also expressed as 0h, and this day is the vernal equinox.

[In the diagram, the top is Aquarius, the lower left is Leo, and the lower right is Pisces.

今日は梅が満開！

【画像をクリックし、拡大すると臨場感が出ます。】

　今朝７時に、二階の窓から白梅、紅梅を撮りました。２月下旬となり、いよいよ庭の梅が満開です。写真は一見、２本の大きな梅のように見えますが、右下で紅白に二色に咲き分けてる「思いのまま」も写ってるので、この写真には３本の梅が写ってます。本当に今の庭は梅梅梅梅梅の世界で、つまり色彩の異なる５本の梅が咲いてます。梅の木の下に丸いテーブルがセットしてあり、お茶を飲みつつ、観賞したい方をお待ちしてます。

　ところで、今日２月２３日は天皇誕生日です。一方、語呂合わせで今日は「富士山の日」でもあります。群馬県で富士山を見るには平野では東毛地区です。前橋市にはその名も富士見町があり、山頂が少し見えます。

　私が今までに感銘した富士は２０才頃に登った浅間山山頂【標高２５６８m】からの姿です。高い山から富士山を見ると、富士山がそれ以上に高く見え、更に雄大にして美しく見えます。静岡県へ黄色のＴＴで行ったときの印象も忘れません。

　群馬県から富士山がよく見える場所としては、赤城山の地蔵岳・特異の形を成してる鈴ヶ岳などの峰々から、榛名山では相馬山からよく見えます。熊に注意し、今年も富士がよく見える山に登りたい。

【左は浅間山、右は榛名山】

Dear my Facebook friends who like the most splendid mountain in Japan

　At 7 a.m. this morning, I took this photo of white and red plum blossoms from a second-floor window. It's late February, and the plums in my garden are finally in full bloom. At first glance, the photo looks like two large plum trees, but actually the bicolored "Omoi no mama" (as you wish) tree, blooming in red and white in the lower right, is also visible, so there are actually three plum trees in this photo. The garden right now is truly a world of plums, plums, plums, plums, plums, with five plum trees of different colors in bloom. There's a round table set up under the plum trees, and I'm waiting for anyone who wants to chat over tea.

　By the way, today, February 23rd, is the Emperor's birthday in Japan. And, by pun, today is also Mt. Fuji Day. To see Mt. Fuji in Gumma Prefecture, head to the eastern district on the plains. In Maebashi City, there's a town called Fujimi-town, from which we can see a glimpse of the peak of Mt. Fuji.

　The view of Mt. Fuji that has impressed me the most is from the summit of active volcano Mt. Asama (2,568 meters above sea level), which I had climbed 3 times when I was around 20 years old. When we view Mt. Fuji from a high mountain, it appears even higher, more majestic and beautiful. I'll never forget the impression I had when I went to Shizuoka Prefecture on a yellow Audi TT Quattro.

Places from Guｍma Prefecture where we can get a good view of Mt. Fuji is peak such as Jizo-dake on Mt. Akagi and the uniquely shaped Suzuga-dake, as well as Soma-san on Mt. Haruna. Watch out for bears, and I'd like to climb a mountain that offers a good view of Fuji again this year.

　

認知症の人に優しい倉賀野作り

　今日は２月２２日です。ご覧の通り、愛車のナンバーは２２２２で、私は２が好きなのでしょう。あるいは二人が好きなのでしょう。と言う一人暮らしの私は「エック、ドー、ティン、チャル」と言う言葉を「一日に少なくとも３回」は声に出して発してます。多い日は数回発しているでしょう。この言葉の意味は何でしょう。また、何のためでしょう。

　これはインドにおける１、２、３、４の数字の読み方です。答えはキッチンで食事作りを朝昼晩３回行った後、食べ物を二階の居間へ運ぶときに、ガス台から離れるので、４個あるガス栓をきちん閉めたか再点検してるとき、この「エック、ドー、ティン、チャル」と言ってます。

　平素から「安全確認は私にとって最重要課題」です。今や、社会問題である「老人性認知症」にならぬよう、あるいは、遅らせるよう私たちは日々、生活行動を通じて学ばなくてはなりません。認知症にならない対策の基本は「してもらう気持ち」からの離脱が第一歩で、自らやり遂げる強い意志が基盤です。「何でも、してもらう習慣」になると、それが当たり前になり、頭を使わなくなり、いつもと異なると不平も生じるでしょう。

　実は、この件について、２月２５日(水)午前１０時より、あんしんセンター倉賀野主催による「認知症サポーター養成講座」が開かれます。場所は倉賀野公民館です。このため認知症対策について関心ある私は受講を申し込み済みで、認知症について、介護する側、介護される側の心理を学びます。そして、何より認知症の人に優しい倉賀野を作るためです。果たして「認知症サポーターカード」を取得できるでしょうか。頑張ります。

Dear my Facebook friends who are anxious about senile dementia

　Today is February 22nd. As you can see, the license plate number of my Audi TT Quattro is 2222, so I like the number 2. Or maybe I like two people. I who is living alone, say the words "ek, do, tin, chal" out loud at least three times a day. On busy case, I might say them several times. What do these words mean? And what are they for?

　This is the pronunciations of the numbers of 1,2,3,4 in India. After cooking three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), I step away from the gas stove to carry the food to the living room upstairs, therefore as I double-check to make sure all four gas valves are properly turned off, I say "ek, do, tin, chal."

　Safety in daily life has always been my top priority. Senile dementia, a societal problem, is something we must learn through our daily activities to prevent in advance. The our first step in preventing dementia is not given by others, and it based on a strong will to accomplish things ourselves. If you get into the habit of do everything for you, it becomes second nature, you stop using your brain, and complaints will arise.

　In fact, regarding this issue, a "Dementia Supporter Training Course" will be held on Wednesday, February 25th at 10:00 AM, sponsored by the Kuragano Anshin Center. The course will be held at the Kuragano Community Center. As I am interested in dementia prevention, I have already signed up to take the course, where I will learn about dementia and the psychology of both caregivers and those being cared for. The purpose is to make Kuragano a dementia-friendly place. I wonder if I will be able to obtain a "Dementia Supporter Card"? I will do my best.

夕方の時間を楽しむ

　これからお気に入り喫茶「さんぽ道」で1時間ほどリラックスしてきます。飲み物はカフェラテです。客が少なければ、ピアノで数曲弾かせてもらい、今日は歌謡曲の本を持って行き、その場で曲を決めて弾きます。

  I'm going to relax for about an hour only at my favorite cafe, "Sampo-michi." I'll have a cafe latte. If there aren't many customers, I'll play a few songs on the piano. Today I bring a book of popular Japanese songs of the photo with me, and I'll choose a song to play at the cafe.

起床後の寒さの中、運動を開始

　私の住む倉賀野町で歴史的に最も古く、５世紀頃に造られたと想像されるのは大鶴巻古墳です。実は、今朝早起きして頂上へ登って来ました。アカシヤが生えてる頂上は静寂に満ち、誠に寒かったです。登ってみると頂上は平らで予想を超え広いです。日の出直後の太陽は、ご覧のように、私の足が「かなり長いこと」を証明してくれてます。

「あれっ、カッキーは今、体調が優れないのでは」との声が聞こえてきそうですが、その御心配をよそに、高さ１６メートルの頂上で上毛三山など四方八方が見渡せる抜群の景色を味わいつつ、私はアカシヤの幹に向って上半身を鍛え、「よいしょ、よいしょ」と「テッポウ」をしていました。人生の第３コーナーを回った私がただ一人、大鶴巻古墳の上で早朝から黙々と「テッポウ」をしてるとは、どなたも想像しなかったでしょう。

　頂上では、恰も「額に入ったような活火山・浅間山」が一際その雄大さを見せてます。大鶴巻古墳は素晴らしいですが、倉賀野町の中心地から西南の地にあり、日頃、訪れる人は少ないようです。

　ところが、古墳時代が終わり、都が奈良・京都の時代には、地名が示す通り、倉賀野の倉とは崖を意味し、高い崖の上に広がる野であることから倉賀野と呼ばれ、水害の無い地域として栄えたと考えられます。倉賀野の地区名は奈良・京都に近い方から中仙道に沿って、上町、仲町、下町と命名されてます。これにより倉賀野が古い歴史的背景を持つことが分かります。その後の倉賀野は、江戸からの交通の要所として栄え、舟により海産物が烏川の倉賀野河岸で降ろされ、現存する「牛街道」を経由し、上州はもちろん、信州や越後へ輸送されたと伝えられます。

Dear my friends who are crazy about your own district's history

　The oldest historical site in Kuragano-Town where I live, is the Ozurumaki-Kofun that means old burial mound, thought to have been built around the 5th century. In fact, I got up early this morning and climbed to this summit. The summit, covered with acacia trees as you see in the photo, was silent and extremely cold this morning. Upon reaching the top, I found it was flat and much wider than I'd expected. As you can see in the photo, the sun just after sunrise confirms that my legs are "quite long."

　I can almost hear your saying, "Hey, Kakky, aren't you feeling well right now?" But ignoring your worrying, I enjoyed the breathtaking views of the 16-meter-high summit, overlooking the three well-known mountains in Gumma in all directions, while I trained my upper body against the acacia trunk, doing "teppo" (push-up against pillar or fat tree). Even my Facebook friends probably never imagined that, having turned the third corner of my life, I was alone on top of the Ozurumaki Kofun, and silently doing "teppo" like a sumo wrestler early in the morning.

　From the summit, the majestic Mt. Asama, an active volcano that seems to be framed, stands out in all its glory. While the Otzurumaki Tomb is magnificent, it is located southwest of the center of Kuragano-town, and few people visit it on a daily basis.

　However, after the end of the Kofun period in 5 century , when the Japanese capitals were Nara and Kyoto, as the place name suggests, the "kura" in Kuragano means cliff, and as the fields spread out on high cliffs, it is thought that the area flourished as a flood-free region. The districts name of Kuragano, from the side closest to Nara and Kyoto, are named Kamicho, Nakacho, and Shimocho along the Nakasendo road. This also gives us an idea of ​​Kuragano's historical background. Kuragano later flourished as a key transportation port from Edo that means Tokyo, and seafood was reportedly unloaded by boat at the Kuragano port in the Karas River and transported via the still-existing "Ushi Kaido" that means cow road to not only Gumma prefecture, but also Nagano and Niigata prefecture.

次第に回復傾向か・・・風邪の症状

　お陰様で、私の咳や喉の痛みと言った風邪の症状は大分回復しました。実は先程、近くの掛かりつけの耳鼻咽喉科に行ったら、今の時季のせいでしょうか。待合室には患者が多く、診察には１～２時間待ちと感じられ、機械による体温測定のみ行い、診察を諦めて帰って来ました。体温は３５．９°だったので、安心しました。

　それにしても、普段は何でもないことですが、風邪を引くと「食事の用意が凄く億劫」に感じます。体力が減退してると精神まで消極的になります。増してや三度三度のことなので大変です。「健全な精神は健全に肉体に宿る」は本当です。

Dear my Facebook friends

　Thanks to everyone, my cold symptoms, such as cough and sore throat, have almost improved. Actually, I just went to my local ENT clinic in the afternoon, but perhaps because of this season, there were a lot of patients in the waiting room, so that I felt I had to wait an hour or two hours, so I gave up to be checked up by the doctor and went home after just having my physical temperature taken with a machine. My temperature was 35.9° C, so I was relieved.

　Even so, although it's nothing to me normally, when catching a cold, my physical strength is declining, and my mind becomes passive as well. It's especially difficult for me to prepare meals three times in a day. It's true that "A sound mind in a sound body".

日に日に満開近づく５本の花梅

【画像をクリックし、臨場感をお楽しみください。】

　埼玉県花園町で、この枝垂れ紅梅に出合った瞬間、「うちの庭に来なさい」と衝動買いした３０年ほど前のことが思い出されます。当時の愛車「いすゞ１１７クーペ」のトランクに根の塊を入れ、幹や枝は外に出したまま、約４０Kほどの道のりを倉賀野まで運んだのですから、当時、私にも情熱があったのでしょう。

　４０年前に亡くなった父が日頃言ってた言葉に「先見の明」がありました。「将来を見据え、今すべきこと」なのでしょう。確かに、未だ幼木であったこの枝垂れ梅を見たとき、将来の庭の姿を思い描いてる私がありました。ところが、それをも超越した近年の色彩です。バランスのとれた枝ぶりと言い、樹木全体の品格と言い、それでいて優しさが漂ってます。

　私は6人兄弟の末っ子のため、父との年齢差から、それほど何でも話したわけではありませんでしたが、父の心境に近づきつつあり、今となっては父の言葉の有難さをひしひしと感じてます。特に最初の就職としてのインド行きに母は危険を心配し大反対でしたが、父は私の将来を考え大賛成してくれたことは本当に有難く、今でも日々のブログを英語でも発信してることはこれに起因してます。

　ところで、この１週間、私は微熱や咳など風邪の症状でしたが、今朝は大分回復に向かってます。皆様も、三寒四温の今の季節は体調にお気をつけ下さい。また、時間が許しましたら、自称「倉賀野梅林」の枝の下で、お茶を飲みにいらして下さい。お待ちしております。

Dear my Facebook friends who like flowers of peach tree

　The moment I came across this weeping red plum tree in Hanazono-Town, Saitama Prefecture, I was reminded of the time about 30 years ago when I impulsively bought it and told her to come to my garden. I put the root in the trunk of my beloved Isuzu 117 Coupe at the time, leaving the trunk and branches outside, and drove it about 40km to my Kuragano-town.

　My father, who passed away 40 years ago, would often say "foresight is essential." That means "Looking to the future, what we need to do now." Indeed, when I saw this weeping plum tree when it was still young, I was imagining what my garden would look like in the future. However, its recent color has transcended even that. The well-balanced branches and the dignity of the tree as a whole exude a gentleness.

　As I was born the youngest of six siblings, my father and I didn't talk much about everything due to the age difference, but I'm approaching to his oldness to understand his feelings, and now I truly appreciate his words. In particular, my mother was strongly opposed to my going to India for my first job, worried about the dangers, but my father thought about my future and was very supportive, so that I'm truly grateful. As the result, I still post daily on Facebook in English as well.

　Not change the subject, but for the past week I've had cold symptoms such as a slight fever and cough, but this morning I'm feeling much better. Please take care of your health during this season of three cold days and four warm days. Also, if you have time, please come and have tea under the branches of what I call the "Kuragano Plum Grove." I look forward to seeing you.

本日、くらカフェが開催される

　「こういう場所があるといいね」と言う声に応えて、倉賀野地区協議体「ささえあいくらがの」主催による「くらカフェ」が今日行われ、私も参加します。

「くらカフェ」とは倉賀野町のカフェと言うことで、倉賀野町の住民が気軽に集える居場所づくりとして、現在、お試し開催を続けてます。月に1回で、先月までにすでに４回行われ、老若男女を問わず、どなたでもご利用できます。前回、私も参加したところ、倉賀野の方々と話す機会に恵まれ、楽しかったです。

　お茶やコーヒーを飲みながら、倉賀野と言う共通の地域に住む人々と「自由に交流を深める場」になり、互いに知り合いが広がればと主催者は意気込んでます。同時に、今後の運営に協力できる方を募ってます。

　ご存知の通り、近年、社会の特徴として少子高齢化に伴い、核家族化、一人暮らし増大の結果、「人間の本質である自分の考えや感想を、また、珍しい体験など自由に話す」という機会は激減しているでしょう。私もその一人で寂しさは否定できません、昨日、「ささえあいくらがの」の方が我が家に見えたとき、私は風邪気味であるのにもかかわらず、つい夢中になって対応してしまいました。やはり、人間にとって話すことは精神の中核なのでしょう。

Dear my friends

　In response to requests by residents, Kuragano District Council "Support Kuragano" organized the "Kura Cafe" today, and I will be participating.

　"Kura Cafe" is a cafe for Kuragano Town residents, and is currently being held on a trial basis casually. It is held once a month, and until last month, it has already been held four times, and it is open to everyone, regardless of age or gender. I attended the last event, and it was a great opportunity to chat with people from Kuragano, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

　The organizers are enthusiastic about creating a space where people living in the shared Kuragano area can "deepen their interactions freely" over tea or coffee, and expand their mutual acquaintances. They are also looking for people willing to help with future operations.

　As you know, in recent years, Japanese society has been characterized by a declining birthrate and aging population, as well as an increase in nuclear families and single-person living. As a result, opportunities to "freely share one's thoughts and opinions, rare experiences which are essential to being human," have drastically decreased. I am one of them, and I cannot deny that I feel lonely. Yesterday, when the "Support Kuragano" member came to my home, I was so engrossed in speaking with her even though I was feeling a bit under the weather. Perhaps talking is at the core of the human spirit.

野鳥に国境はない

　昨年１２月に、ロシアから飛来したと想われるコハクチョウや鴨たちの鏑川に滞在しする日数が次第に残り少なくなってきてます。反対に、今度は燕など南国からやって来る渡り鳥たちが日本に来る日のはあと1ヶ月余りでしょう。同時に、色彩豊かな植物たちの開花もこれからです。今日の群馬県の太陽高度は４２°で、自然はいよいよ生き生きし、色彩的に華やかになり、野鳥の声も変化してくるでしょう。

　庭に比較的大きな樹木をいろいろ植え、また、私は野鳥用の水飲み場を設置してることから、ピーチクパーチク賑やかです。降水量が少なく、水不足である現在は、野鳥にとっても深刻です。朝、飲み水を一杯にしておいてもお昼頃には半分に減ってるので、多くの野鳥が飲みに来ます。水に有り付くと、その表情は美味しかった安心に満ちてます。野鳥の体温は４０度前後と考えられ、水が本当に大切なのでしょう。

　ところで、心配をお掛けしてます私の体調は、身体が未だ怠く、生活は下降気味です。医師の指導に従い、解熱剤と咳止めを服用してます。体調とは忘れた頃に崩すので、健康対策は常に手を抜くことができません。今後、一層気をつけます。季節の変わりめにつき、皆さまも、体調管理を充分になさってください。

Dear my Facebook friends

　The days remaining for the tundra swans and ducks that are thought to have arrived from Russia in December are gradually coming to an end at the Kabra River. Conversely, there's only a little over a month until swallows and other migratory birds from tropical regions will arrive in Japan. At the same time, the colorful plants are just about to bloom. Today's sunlight altitude in Gumma Prefecture is 42°, and nature is becoming more and more vibrant, becoming more colorful and the sounds of wild birds are likely to change.

　I've planted a variety of relatively large trees in my garden, and I've also installed a bird's drinking watering, so there's a lot of activity, with the birds chirping and humming along. As you noticed, The current lack of rainfall and water shortages are also a serious problem for wild birds. Even if I fill the drinking water bottle in the morning, it's half by lunchtime, so many wild birds come to drink. When they get to the water, their faces are filled with relief and joy, as they've enjoyed the delicious water. The body temperature of wild birds is thought to be around 40°C, so water must be truly important than humans.

　By the way, I apologize for your concern, but I am still feeling sluggish and my lifestyle is on the decline. I am taking fever reducers and cough medicine as instructed by my doctor. Health can deteriorate just when we least expect it, so health measures cannot be neglected. I will be even more careful from now on. With the change of seasons, I ask everyone to take good care of your health.

健康であることがどれ程幸せか感じる

　今日は微熱【36.9°】と咳が出るので、先程近くのクリニックで解熱剤と咳止めをもらってきました。やはり、いつもよりおおごとです。薬を服用すれば良くなるでしょう。ご心配をお掛けしてます。

　I have a slight fever (36.9°C) and a cough today, so I just went to a nearby clinic in the morning and got some fever reducers and cough medicine. It seems like a bigger problem for me than usual. Taking some medicine should make me feel better, I pray. I'm sorry for worrying you.

若き日の今日の思い出

　昔、インドのカルカッタ市にいた頃、確か今頃の季節に「夜、突然大きな花火の音がして何だろう」と驚いたことがあります。様子を見るとインドの人ではなく、中国系の人たちが集まって爆竹を鳴らし、お祝いムードでした。彼らにとって楽しいその日は春節であり、太陰太陽歴で１月１日です。

　実は今日がその日です。中国国内のみならず、中国の人にとって盛大な祝日であり、最大の大型連休といわれる春節です。同様に、日本でも明治５年以前では今日が元日だったことから、梅の花も咲き、私たちの遠い先祖は餅をついて新たな年を祝ったことでしょう。

　太陰太陽暦は、月の満ち欠けを基準とする太陰暦と、季節の移り変わりを考慮した太陽暦を組み合わせた暦法で、 純粋な太陰暦で生じる季節とのずれを「閏月を挿入し」、１年を１３ヶ月にして調整してます。この暦では、毎月３日には西の空に必ず三日月が出て、１週間後は半月が出て、満月が出ると十五夜と分かり、情緒がありましたね。

　私たちが現在使ってる太陽暦では、例えば、７月７日の七夕の晩は「こと座の織姫星と、わし座の彦星」は東の空低くあり、この時季は梅雨の最中であり、殆ど見えません。その点、江戸時代の７月７日の晩では、２つの星はちょうど頭上近くに来ており、空気もきれいであったことから、天の川を挟んで２つの一等星はよく見えたことでしょう。尚、今日は南極で金環食が見えるそうです。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about two kinds of calendars.

　A half century ago, when I was staying at Calcutta in India as a teacher of Japanese school, I was surprised to hear a sudden loud sound of fireworks in the night, probably around this time of year. It wasn't Indians, but rather Chinese people gathered there, setting off firecrackers and creating a celebratory mood. For them, the joyous event was the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 1st in the lunisolar calendar.

　Today is actually that day. The Chinese New Year is a major holiday not only within China but for the Chinese people throughout the world as well I guess, and is said to be the longest consecutive holidays of the year. Similarly, in Japan, prior to 1872, today was New Year's Day, in this season, plums would have bloomed and our distant ancestors would have celebrated the new year by pounding rice cakes named Mochi.

　The lunisolar calendar combines a lunar calendar based on the phases of the moon with a solar calendar. The time lag between the seasons that occurs with a purely lunar calendar is corrected by inserting leap month, making the year 13 months long. With this calendar, a crescent moon would always appear in the western sky on the 3rd of every month, a half moon would appear a week later, and when the full moon appeared, it was the fifteenth night of the full moon, which was very atmospheric.

　In the solar calendar we use today in Japan, for example, on the night of Tanabata on July 7th, "Vega in the constellation Lyra and Hikoboshi in the constellation Aquila" would be low in the eastern sky, at this time of year, in the middle of the rainy season in Japan, they would be almost invisible. However, on the night of July 7th during the Edo period, the two stars would have been just overhead, and the air would have been clear at that time, making the two first-magnitude stars separated by the Milky Way clearly visible. Apparently, an annular eclipse will be visible in Antarctica today.

珍しく体調を壊す

　どうしたことでしょう。今日は朝から寒かったからでしょうか。体調が良くなく、珍しく咳が出たり、喉が痛かったです。このため、内科でトローチと気管の薬ををもらいました。熱は３６°台です。食欲はあり、三食とも食べられました。

　今宵は温かくして休みます。春先なので皆さんも体調にはご留意ください。今宵、果たして良い夢が見られるでしょうか。今宵は無理でしょうか。おやすみなさい。

　※もしかして、原因は飛散が始まった杉花粉か。一昨日、吉井ドリームセンターへ行ったとき、遠方の山々が全く見えませんでした。

Dear my Facebook friends

　I wonder what's wrong. Maybe it's been cold since this morning. I haven't been feeling well, and I've had unusual cough and a sore throat. Because of this, I went to a nearby internal medicine clinic and was given troches and tracheal medicine. My physical temperature is in the 36° range. I have an appetite and was able to eat all three meals as usual.

　I'll stay warm and rest tonight. It's early spring, so please take care of your health. I wonder if I'll have a good dream tonight? Probably not. Good night.

　※Perhaps the cause is the cedar pollen that has begun to fly around. The day before yesterday, when I went to the Yoshii Dream Center, I couldn't see the mountains in the distance at all.

いつまでも「在宅で自立」を目指す

 

　群馬県の今日のの出は６時３１分、正午の太陽高度は４１°、日の入りは１７時２５分で、昼の長さは１０時間５４分です。因みに冬至の太陽高度は３０°で、昼の長さは９時間４１分でしたから、昼の長さはすでに１時間１３分も伸びており、太陽高度は１１°も高くなってます。これから三寒四温を繰り返しつつ、ご覧の通り、梅が本格的に開花しつつあり、希望に満ちる早春です。

　日本でも、明治５年まで使われてた太陰太陽暦(旧暦)では今日は大晦日ですから、明日は新年です。このため明日は月が出ません。今の時季は誠に新春という名に相応しく、梅に限らず、廊下の君子蘭も本格的に咲き出しており、築山では水仙があちこちから一斉に芽を出してます。

　ところで、肝心の私については、育ててる植物から学ぶことは多々あり、特に、いろいろの色彩です。５本の梅はすべて異なる色の花を咲かせ、庭のバランスを取ってます。同様に、楽しみな音楽演奏でも、透明性ある音色ほど「心を打つものはない」と感じてます。これからも趣味である植物の世話と、ピアノやソプラノサックス演奏で良い音色を求め、時には友人に聴いて戴いたりし、生活を充実させたいです。

　そのためには、今後いつまでも「在宅での自立」を目指さなくてはなりません。健康の基盤は「適度な運動と食材」と捉え、トマト、大豆製品、魚、新鮮な野菜類、海藻類を毎日食し、日々の生活を面白く、愉快になるようトライしてみます。

Dear my friends who are researching into pleasant longevity.

　In Gumma Prefecture, sunrise today was at 6:31 AM, the sun's altitude at noon will be 41°, and sunset will be at 5:25 PM, therefore it makes the length of daylight 10 hours and 54 minutes. Incidentally, on the winter solstice, the sun's altitude was 30° and the length of daylight was 9 hours and 41 minutes, so the length of daylight has already increased by 1 hour and 13 minutes, and the sun's altitude became 11° higher. We'll be experiencing three cold and four warm climates repeatedly from now on, and as you can see, the plum blossoms are beginning to bloom in earnest, so we feel an early spring filled with hope.

　Not change the subject, but in Japan, too, according to the lunisolar calendar (old calendar) used until 1872, today is New Year's Eve, so tomorrow is New Year's Day. So the moon won't come out tomorrow. This time of year truly deserves the name of New Spring, and not only are the plum blossoms, but the kaffir lilies in the hallway are also in full bloom, and daffodils are sprouting on the artificial hill named Tsukiyama all at once.

　By the way, as for me, I learn a lot from the plants I grow, especially about the variety of colors. All five plum trees are blooming with different colors, that is balancing the garden. Similarly, I feel that there is nothing more moving than the clarity of a musical tone quality by performance which I enjoy. I would like to continue to enrich my life by caring for plants, and by pursuing beautiful tone qualities through playing the piano and soprano saxophone, and occasionally I want Ms. Run-chan to listen to my performance.

　For this reason, it is important that I continue to aim to be "independent at home" in the future. I believe that the foundation of health is "moderate training and ingredients," so I will eat tomatoes, soy products, fish, fresh vegetables, and seaweed every day, and try to make my daily life more interesting and enjoyable.

頑張った西沢岳人選手

只今、デューアル・モーグルで「西沢岳人」が出場しました。私の姉の孫で、私の両親の曾孫です。応援を有難うございました。

筋肉増強と抗酸化作用の二本立て

　寒冷のため昨年１２月から３ヶ月間休みであったラジオ体操会が２週間後の３月から倉賀野上４公園で再開されます。朝食前に会場まで往復１Kウォーキングし、約３０名の仲間の方々と久しぶりに再会でき楽しみです。女性の方々とも知り合いになれ、話ができるので楽しい交流の場でもあり、朝から自然と笑顔になります。

　ラジオ体操によって全身を柔軟にしたり、ジャンプしたり、筋肉を使うことから血液循環が改善し、結果的に空腹になるので朝食が美味しく、私の場合は味噌汁など朝食を自ら作ります。毎日行うので栄養面でバランスを取り上手になります。４月以降は日の出が早くなるので、ラジオ体操へ行く前の早朝にブログ・フェイスブックを書いてました。英訳は朝食後、「和英辞典」と睨めっこで例文が役立ちます。私にとって英作文は英借文です。

　体を捻るなどの動きを伴うラジオ体操で気づくことは、どの体操も深呼吸しており、肺の健康にとても良いと感じます。平素の生活でも「鼻呼吸」を心掛け、これにより「清潔な空気」が肺に入ると考えられます。と共に現在、私が食生活で最も考慮してるのは「がん対策」です。

　すでに１０年間ほど励行してる「起床した空腹時にトマトジュース、ニンジンジュース、グレープフルーツジュースを日替わりで、コップ一杯飲む習慣」です。これらには抗酸化作用のリコピン、βーカロチンが多量に含まれてるからです。スーパーでは飲み物コーナーでなく、健康飲料コーナーに並んでます。その他の対策では人口調味料より食材本来の持ち味を味わいます。

Dear my Facebook friends who are seeking to anti-cancer measures.

　After a three-month hiatus from December last year due to the cold weather in Japan, radio gymnastics events will resume at 6:30am in two weeks at Kuragano kami-4 Park in March. I walked 1km round trip to the venue before breakfast and am looking forward to reuniting with about 30 fellow participants. It's a fun opportunity to get to know and chat with active ladies, and it naturally tends to become a smile each other in the early morning.

　As you know, radio gymnastics improves blood circulation by moving whole-body flexibility, jumping, and using whole muscles. This makes me hungry, which naturally makes breakfast taste better. In my case, I make my own breakfast, such as miso soup. Doing it every day helps me maintain a balanced nutrient diet. Since sunrise will be earlier from April onwards, I've been posting on Facebook early in the morning before going to radio gymnastics. After breakfast, I'll do English translations using Japanese-English dictionary, and example sentences are very helpful. For me, English composition is all about English loanwords.

　What I notice about radio gymnastics, which involve twisting and other movements, is that all of the exercises involve deep breathing, which I feel is very good for lung health. Even in my everyday life, I try to breathe through my nose, so as to enter clean air to my lungs. At the same time, the measure I'm most concerned about in my daily diet is cancer prevention in advance.

　For about 10 years still now, I've made it a habit to drink a glass of tomato juice, carrot juice, or grapefruit juice on an empty stomach just after waking up. As you notice, this is because these juices contain high amounts of the antioxidants lycopene and beta-carotene. At the supermarket, we'll find them in the health drink section, not the soft drink section. Another thing I try to do is savor the natural flavors of ingredients rather than artificial seasonings.

午後は「さんぽ道」でリラックス

　折角のバレンタインデーにもかかわらず、チョコレートどころか、一日中、誰とも会話する機会がなく、今日、話をしたのはレジの女性とほんの少しだったのみです。

　これでは精神衛生上、良くないことから、午後３時頃より愛車に乗り、お気に入り喫茶「さんぽ道」で１時間半ほど過ごしました。本を読んでましたが、ママさんと、また、帰りしなにママのお父さんと話ができました。いつも笑顔で声を掛けてくださるので嬉しいです。

　喫茶室内では客が帰ってから、つまり、５時近くになってピアノで数曲弾きました。イギリス国歌、校歌２曲、「千の風になって」、フォークダンスの２曲、「雪が降る」です。旋律が印象的な曲は弾いていて楽しいです。

Dear my Facebook friends

　Despite it is Valentine's Day, today, I didn't get a chance to talk to anyone all day, no relation to get any chocolates. Today, I only spoke briefly with the cashier of supermarket in the morning.

　Because this situation wasn't good for my mental health, I drove in my Audi TT quattro around 3pm and spent about an hour and a half at my favorite cafe, Sampo-michi. I was reading a book, but I managed to chat with the proprietress, and also with her father on my way out. It's nice that they always greet me with a smile.

　After the customers had left the cafe, before 5pm, I played a few music by the piano. The music were the British national anthem, two school songs such as Takasaki Girls High School and Maebashi High School, "A Thousand Winds," two folk dance pieces, and "Snow Falls." I enjoy playing music with memorable melodies.

雪が降った朝は・・・上毛新聞「みんなのひろば」より

　このブログのコメンテーター「時計屋の隣りさん」の投稿文が今朝の群馬県・上毛新聞「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、県外の皆様にも、お読み戴きたくここに掲載します。

タイトル・・・雪が降った朝は・・・

　８日、冬季五輪をみようと朝早く起きた。まだ日の出前だというのに、外はいつもより明るい。東の空が徐々に白むのではなく、積もった雪がほの白く光を返し、地上の方から夜明けが始まり、辺り一面を明るくしているのだった。雪の朝だけに許される小さな逆転の魔法である。

　屋根にも雪が積もり、瓦の波形の稜線だけがわずかに浮かんで見えた。まるで家々の屋根に白い布団をそっと掛けたようで、静けさの中に凛とした気配が漂う。窓の桟の雪に触れると、指先に伝わったのは驚くほど軽く乾いた感触。音もなく降り積もった粉雪は湿り気をほとんど含まず、触れた途端にふわりと崩れ、ほどけていくようだ。

　高崎では年末以降、雨が降らずに乾燥しきっていた。まさに雪の恵みに庭木も生気を取り戻すだろう。地上から始まったあの淡い明るさは、冬がそっと差し出した恵みの兆しだったのだと、雪明りの朝に思った。

今日の日が来ると、悔やまれる

　２月１４日バレンタインデー。本来、キリスト教圏の欧米では家族や親友と祝い、家族に贈り物をすることが習わしのようです。一方、キリスト教圏でない日本では、いつからか「女性から男性にチョコレートをプレゼントする日」になったようですが、この慣習に批判もあり、日本におけるバレンタインデーの様相は変わりつつあるようです。

　実は今日は私にとって忘れられない日です。それは母の命日です。今、振り返ると、と言っても私の記憶には全くありませんが、私が生まれ育った頃は食料が欠乏し、考えられない困窮生活だったのです。母は赤ん坊の私を背負って空襲警報が鳴る中、真っ暗な防空壕の中に敵機が去るまで避難を続けたそうで、これは戦争が終わるまで幾度も繰り返したと言ってました。

　食糧難であっても、お陰でどうにか成長し、今でも忘れられないことは、大学合格を新聞で知ったとき「良かったね」と、肩を叩いてくれた母の手の感触が今でも忘れられません。私は本当に母に心配をかけていたのです。

　一方、今でも後悔してることがあります。私が３５才の頃です。母の小学校の担任の先生が新聞に掲載され、当時、先生は９０才位だったのでしょう。母は記事を読んで、先生が内村鑑三の娘さんであることを知ったのです。先生は桐生近くにお住いのため、母は懐かしい恩師に会いたいと私に「連れてってほしい」と頼んでました。しかし、当時多忙で実現できず、母は手紙を送り、先生から返事が来たときは本当に嬉しそうでした。やはり、万難を排して連れて行ってあげれば良かったと今でも心から悔やまれます。今日は近くの菩提寺に行きます。

【英訳は２段路以降です。】

Dear my friends

　Today is actually an unforgettable day for me. It's the anniversary of my mother's death. Looking back now, although I have no memory of it at all, when I was born and raised, there were food shortages and we lived in unimaginable poverty. During the World War Ⅱ, My mother apparently carried me, a baby, on her back as air raid shelter nearby, sirens rang and took refuge in a pitch-black air-raid shelter until the enemy planes had passed, this escape escape repeated many times until the end of the war.

　Thanks to her hardships, I grow up despite the food shortage, and one thing I'll never forget is the feeling of my mother's hand patting me on my shoulder and saying, "That's great" when we read in the newspaper that I had passed the entrance examination of university. I really did worry my mother.

　On the other hand, there's something I still regret. When I was around 35, my mother's elementary school homeroom teacher Ms. Asada was featured in the newspaper. She must have been around 90 years old at the time. When my mother read the article, she learned that the teacher was Uchimura Kanzo's daughter. The teacher lived near Kiryu, so my mother wanted to meet her beloved teacher and asked me to take her there. However, I was too busy at the time to go there, so she sent her a letter, and when she received a reply from the teacher, she looked so happy. I still regret that I should have took her at all costs. Today, I am going to visit her grave.

　　

リラックスして話せる不思議な環境

　円卓はいいですね。室内にも庭にも用意してあります。不思議なことに、ここに座ると、いわゆる上座や下座なるものがなく、社会的位置に関係なく、話題の事象について自らの考えや感想を自然に話したくなるものです。

　興味あること、最近、体験たこと、以前に驚いたことなど何か話したくなったら倉賀野へおいで下さい。これから５本の梅の花が満開に近づきます。

Dear my friends who like talking.

　Round tables are great. I have them both indoors and in the garden. Strangely enough, when you sit here, you will feel there is no such thing as a higher or lower seat, and regardless of our social position, you naturally feel like sharing your thoughts and impressions about the topic at hand.

　If you feel like talking about something that interests you, something you've experienced recently, or something that surprised you in the past, come to my Kuragano. The five plum trees will soon be in full bloom.

高齢期の生活は健康第一、趣味第二

　今日は１３日の金曜日。英語ではこれを「金曜日の１３日」と語順を逆に言うようです。昨日の夕刻は寒い中、倉賀野から高崎の街中までＪＲ高崎線沿いに１時間２０分歩き、某所での楽しい夕食になりました。しかし、ウォーキングとしては私にはちょっと距離があり過ぎました。でも、今朝の体調はいつもと変わりません。今後はあまり無理をしないよう心掛けます。いつも自ら言ってる通り、運動のポイントは「適度がベスト」です。

　ところで、予報は今日から暖かくなるとのことで、ちらほら梅が咲き始めた早春の庭に希望を感じます。昨日５Kほどのウォーキング中では、人生の第３コーナーから第４コーナーに差し掛かってる今の私にとって「肝心なことは何か」を考えました。それは結局「どうしたら生き甲斐を見つけられるか」でした。

　退職後、予想外の一人暮らしが始まり、私のみならず、多くの高齢者に共通することは、子育てが終わり、寿命が延びて今後２０年、３０年と長い日々を生きる時代です。高齢者が「どうしたら生き甲斐を持って、自分らしく充実して生きられるか」は万人の共通課題です。昔と異なって核家族となり、高齢者の仕事は減ってます。特に、子育ての補助者としての役割は余り求められず、子守りや子供の遊び相手は減り、孫と会うのは時々です。

　これでは繋がりが希薄となり寂しいです。今後はこちらから時々出向くように努めます。先日は孫娘たちのバスケットの応援に行き、普段見られない彼女たちの姿に驚き楽しめました。高齢者の幸せとは、若き日からの得意の分野で夢中になったり、可能であれば、今までにない新たな分野の発想やその実践と考えます。私は今日も植物への水遣りや剪定、ピアノ、そして英単語に挑戦し、時間的に可能であれば日帰り温泉へドライブです。

Dear my friends who are seeking for the meaning of life

　Today is called the 13th of Friday in Japanese. Apparently, in English, this is expressed in reverse order: "Friday the 13th." Last evening, in the cold, I walked 1 hour and 20 minutes along the JR Takasaki Line from Kuragano to downtown of Takasaki-City, and enjoyed a pleasant dinner at the tavern "Baku". However, it was a bit too far for me to walk. This morning, however, I felt the same as usual. I'll try not to push myself too hard from now on. As I always say, the key to training is "moderation is best."

　Not change the subject, but the forecast predicts warmer weather starting today, and the sight of the early spring garden, where a few plums have begun to bloom that gives me hope. During my 5k walk yesterday, I thought about what was most important to me as I approached the third and fourth corners of my life. Ultimately, it came down to "how can I find real meaning in life?"

　After retiring, I unexpectedly began living alone. This is not just for me, but for many older people as well, that is child-rearing or baby -sitting is over, our life expectancy is increasing, and we're living longer, with years of life ahead of us, perhaps even 20 or 30 years in the future. The question of how elderly people can find meaning of life and live fulfilling lives true to themselves is a common concern for all people. Unlike in the past, as you know, the trend has shifted to nuclear families, and the number of jobs available to the elderly is decreasing. In particular, there is less demand for elderly people to assist with ground childcare, there are fewer babysitters and playmates, and we have only a few opportunities to see grandchildren occasionally.

　This weakens connections and makes me feel lonely. I will try to visit them from time to time. The other day, I went to cheer on my granddaughters' basketball game, and was surprised and delighted to see them in a way that I don't usually see. I believe that happiness for the elderly comes from being passionate about the fields they've been good since their youth, and, if possible, coming up with new ideas and practicing. Today, I'll be watering and pruning plants in the garden, practicing the piano, and trying to increase English vocabulary, and if time allows, taking a drive to a day spa in Gumma Prefecture.

咲き出した「紅梅枝垂れ梅」

　早春の光を浴びて、いよいよ今日から咲き出した「紅梅枝垂れ」です。今後、日に日にピンクの色彩が増え、開花していくでしょう。「紅梅枝垂れ」の枝ぶりは何事も受け入れてくれるような優しさが感じられます。今週末にかけて温かくなると予報されており、紅梅枝垂れにとっては自己を美的表現する絶好のチャンスです。後１週間もしたら、お近くの方は鑑賞においでください。お茶も出ます。

　満開は３月中旬まで続くでしょう。現在は１分咲きにも満たない状態ですが、私は今年の開花に期待しています。今宵はこの「枝垂れ紅梅」に肖り、私も自己表現をしてきます。いつも行く某所です。楽しみを得るためには努力もします。つまり、天気も良いので倉賀野から約６Kある高崎田町まで歩いて行く予定です。毎晩、孤食なので、たまには羽を伸ばしたいです。お許しください。

Dear my friends

　　Bathed in the early spring light, the weeping red plum finally began to bloom today. The pink color will increase day by day, and the plums will continue to bloom. The branches of the weeping red plum exude a gentleness that seems receptive to anything. Warmer weather is forecast for this weekend, providing the perfect opportunity for the weeping red plum to express itself aesthetically. If you're in the area, please come and admire it in just a week. Tea and piano performance will also be served.

　Full bloom will likely continue until mid-March, I guess. Currently, the plums are less than 10% in bloom, but I'm hopeful for her splendid blossom this year. Tonight, in the spirit of this weeping red plum, I too will express myself. I'll visit the tavern "Buku" as usual. I make an effort to find enjoyment. Since the weather is nice, I plan to walk about 6 kilometers from Kuragano to Takasaki-Tamachi. Since I eat alone every night, I'd like to enjoy myself beyond description for a change. Please forgive me. 

　こちらは昨年の満開の様子です。画像をクリックし拡大してご覧ください。　

以前の体験を生かして決断

　数年前、左目が霞んでちょっと見え難い状態だったことから眼科医の勧めで白内障の手術を受けました。手術は目に局所麻酔を使うので痛みが殆どなく、入院することもなく、眼帯して日帰りでした。翌日、眼帯が外れた瞬間のことは今でも鮮明に覚えています。今までとは変わって、世界が嘘のようによく見えたことです。

　ところが、最近、右目も少々霞む感じです。このため前回の手術の効果を考え、体力のある今のうちに手術することを私自身で決断しました。今回は医師の強い勧めではありません。しかし、医師の見解も「白内障の手術は一度すれば、その後はずっとよく見え続けるので日常生活の改善には早い方が望ましい」とのことです。日程は５ヶ月先で、７月１７日に決まりました。

　ところで、上の図を参考に、正常な水晶体は透明で光をよく通します。しかし、加齢などさまざまな原因で水晶体の中味のたんぱく質が変性し、濁ってくることがあります。これが白内障です。水晶体が濁ると光がうまく通過できなくなったり、光が乱反射して後方の網膜に鮮明な像が結べなくなり、視力が低下する一種の加齢現象です。

　目の手術と言うと、怖いイメージがあり不安なものです。しかし、白内障の手術は進歩し、材質の良いレンズが開発されているので、医師を信頼し、安心して手術に臨みます。

Dear my Facebook friends who are anxious about cataract

　A few years ago, my left eye was blurred and I had difficulty seeing, so that by the recommendation of my ophthalmologist, I underwent cataract surgery. The surgery was performed using local anesthesia, so it was virtually painless. I didn't need to be hospitalized, and it was an outpatient procedure using an eye patch. I still vividly remember the moment the patch was removed the next day. The world seemed so clear, it was unbelievable.

　However, recently, my right eye has also been blurry. Considering the effectiveness of my previous surgery, I decided to undergo cataract surgery while I still had the physical strength. This time, the doctor didn't strongly recommend it. However, he said, "Once cataract surgery is performed, your vision will remain good forever, so it's best to have it sooner rather than later to improve your daily life." The surgery is scheduled for July 17th, five months from now. This day is the next of my birthday.

　As you can see in the diagram above, a normal crystalline lens is transparent and transmits light well. However, due to various causes, including aging like me, the protein insides the lens can denature and become cloudy. This is called a cataract. When the lens becomes cloudy, light cannot pass through properly, or the light is scattered. as the result, this makes it difficult to form a clear image on the retina behind the lens, resulting in a decline in vision as aging.

　In general, eye surgery may be frightening image. However, cataract surgery advances recently, and better lens materials have been developed, so I trust my doctor and undergo cataract surgery with peace of mind.

いよいよ春の到来・・・間近

　いよいよ梅の開花が始まってます。色彩の異なる５本の梅は、すべて大きく成長してます。真っ赤な紅梅は品種名「鹿児島」というだけあって「立春」前から満開です。 

　ご覧の通り、実が生る「白梅」は枝先がちらほら咲き出し優雅です。紅白二色に咲き分ける「思いのまま」(右下)は明日か明後日に開花の気配です。残りの２本も週末には開花する勢いです。今週末は気温が高くなると予報されてるので、自称「倉賀野梅林」はいよいよ春間近です。

　しかし、梅は咲いても、「一向に人生に花の咲かない私」は先程、愛車の調整のため、４Kほど倉賀野近辺を周回してきました。免許返納した人の話では毎日の買い物が本当に不便とのことです。時代は変わり、ちょっと遠いスーパーへ歩いて行かなくてはなりません。昔のような食料品店が近くになくなりました。このため、私は未だしばらく返納せず、愛車ある生活を続け、群馬県内の旅や、最も楽しみな温泉巡りをめざします。

　近々、倉賀野を通過する方は「倉賀野梅林」にお立ち寄りいただき、梅の香りを味わってください。お待ちしてます。

Dear my Facebook friends who like fragrance of plum flower

　The plum blossoms are finally starting to bloom. The five plum trees, each a different color, are all growing large recent years. The bright red plum, named "Kagoshima," is already in full bloom before Risshun the beginning of spring.

　As you can see, the fruit-bearing "Hakubai" white plums are gracefully blooming, with scattered blossoms at the tips of the branches. The bicolored "Omoi no Mama" (bottom right) is expected to bloom tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and the remaining two plum trees are expected to bloom by the weekend due to warm temperatures forecast for this weekend, spring is finally approaching for the self-proclaimed "Kuragano Plum Grove."

　However, even though the plums are blooming, I, "a person whose life never blooms," recently drove around the Kuragano-town area about 4km to get good condition. According to someone who gave up their driver's license, daily shopping is really inconvenient. Times have changed, and now he has to walk a little further to the supermarket. There aren't nearby grocery stores as we used to be. For this reason, I will not return it for a while yet, and will continue to live with my beloved Audi TT quattro, traveling around Gumma Prefecture and, most of all, visiting hot springs.

　When you pass through Kuragano-town in the near future, please stop by "Kuragano Plum Grove" and savor the scent of plum blossoms. I'll be waiting for you to the core.

　

予選1回目を無事に通過し、今度は予選２回目へ

　ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピックでは昨日「男子モーグル」が行われ、私の姉の孫である「西沢岳人」が日本の選手として出場し、急坂を一気に駆け下り、難しい空中での回転をクリアーし、予選1回目を無事に通過しました。今度は予選２回目へ進みます。

　男子モーグルに出場した日本選手４人の中では、彼は年齢が２６才と最も低くても、こぶの連続する急坂のゲレンデをスピードを持って滑り降り、途中では写真のように２度の高い位置での空中回転ジャンプを行い、ゴールした瞬間をテレビで見ていた私も胸をなでおろし、感銘でした。

　平和の祭典オリンピックのステージで、著名で実力ある外国選手の中に入り、日本の代表選手として堂々と自らの実力を発揮できたことは、体調維持はもちろん、精神面でも余程の力が必要と考えられます。写真上は競技を終えた直後のインタービューに応えてるところです。どことなく、若き日の私に似てるところがあるかな。

Dear my friends who are crazy about Winter Olympics

　The men's moguls competition was held yesterday at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. As one of the Japanese athlete, Taketo Nishizawa who is my elder sister's grandson, competed for Japan. He raced down the steep slope and completed a difficult aerial spin, successfully passing the first qualifying round. He will now move on to the second qualifying round.

　At 26 years old, he was the youngest of the four Japanese mogul athletes competing in the men's mogul. Despite this situation, he sped down the steep, bumpy slope with impressive speed, even performing two high aerial spin jumps, as seen in the photo. Watching his cross the finish line on TV, I was deeply moved to the core.

　To be able to confidently demonstrate skills as a representative of Japan, among such renowned and talented foreign athletes on the stage of the Olympic Games, a festival of peace, demonstrates not only his physical strength, but also his incredible mental strength, I guess. In the photo above, he is responding to an interview immediately after the competition. He may look a bit like me when I was younger.

氷の上を歩く鴨たち

　今日は昨日と異なり比較的温かなだったので、昼食が美味しくなるように午前１１時に家を出発し歩き出しました。倉賀野駅の東にある「鯉池」を一周し、帰路はそこから南下し、下町の「鈴木あつこ」事務所に立ち寄りましたら、残念にも本人はお留守でしたが、事務の方が対応してくれました。

　そのまま、旧国道を西へと向かい、子供の頃の友人宅に立ち寄り、昔話しになり、合計１時間２０分ほどのウォーキングでした。

　　

　鯉池には氷が張っており、鴨たちは殆どが水中にいましたが、ご覧の通り、氷上を滑りながら歩く鴨もいて早春が感じられました。

Dear my Friends

　Unlike yesterday, today was relatively warm, so I set out for a walk from home at 11am so as to be taste my lunch better. I walked around the carp pond east of Kuragano-Station, then headed south on my way home, stopping by Suzuki Atsuko's office in the downtown area. Unfortunately, she wasn't there, but the office lady staff was there to help me happily.

　I then headed west along the old national road, stopping by the home of a childhood friend and reminiscing about old times. So my walk took about an hour and 20 minutes in total.

　As you see in the photo, the carp pond was frozen over, and most of the ducks were in the water, but some ducks were sliding across the ice. It was giving me a real early spring feel.

 　

白銀のイタリアで輝け！

　２０２６年ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピックが現在、開催されてます。生まれた時から家の前は天元台スキー場であったことから、幼少の頃よりスキーに親しんでいた少年が、ついに「夢の舞台」であるオリンピックに本日出場します。

　この選手はモーグル男子の「西沢岳人」です。先日お伝えしました通り、この選手の祖母は、現在、倉賀野町に住んる私の実の姉です。つまり、私の両親にとって曾孫です。

　放送時間は本日２月１０日、NHK総合１チャンネルで午後７時3０分からです。応援していただければ幸いです。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is07qBDAG4s

Dear my friends

　The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are currently underway. A boy who has been skiing since he was a child, as the Tengendai Ski Resort in Yamagata Prefecture was located in front of his house since he was born, will finally compete on the Olympic "stage of dreams" today.

　This athlete is "Taketo Nishizawa", a men's mogul skier. As I told the other day, his grandmother is my own sister, who currently lives in Kuragano-Town. This means he is my parents' great-grandson.

　The program will air today, February 10th, at 7:30 PM Japan time on NHK General Channel 1. I hope you will support him.

上半身と下半身の筋肉をつける

 

　写真上は、裏庭で上半身を鍛えるための杉の木です。住宅街にしては高くなり過ぎたので大工さんに「テッポウ」用に、丁度良い高さに切ってもらい、ここへ行っては朝晩鍛えてます。概して年令を重ねると猫背になる傾向であり、呼吸が浅くなる傾向なので、これらを防ぐ目的で一人黙々とやってます。

　一方、冷たい風が吹いていて遠くまでウォーキングできないときは家の前の道を往復してます。先日お伝えした通り、一往復したら塀の上の小石を隣に移動し、端から端まで小石を動かして丁度１０００mになります。

　早春でも風のない温かな日には、鏑川の土手をストライドを広げ遠方を見つつ歩きます。ここには未だ暫くロシアからのコハクチョウがいるでしょう。いっしょに歩く方を募ってます。

Dear my friends　

　The photo above shows a cedar tree in my backyard that I use to train my upper body. It had grown too tall for our residential area, so that I had a carpenter cut it down to just the right height for "Pushing Up" the upper body called Teppoh, morning and evening. Generally, as we get older, we tend to be hunchbacked and our breathing becomes shallower, so I train alone, silently, to prevent these bad customs.

　On the other hand, in case of the cold wind so that I can't walk far, I walk back and forth along the way in front of my house. As I mentioned the other day, after one walk, I move the pebble on the fence to the next one, if I move from one end to the other, as the result, it will be exactly 1,000 meters.

　On warm, windless days in early spring, I stretch my stride and walk along the bank of the Kabra River (bottom center), gazing into the distance. There will probably still be Tundra swans from Russia here for a while. I'm looking for people to walk with me.

選挙の印象

　新内閣が発足して僅か２ヶ月余りの時期に、今まで与党であった公明党が野党に変貌し、立憲民主党と合併し、党名を中道改革連合と変更しました。その組織の基盤が整わない不安定な情勢の直後に、日本海側では稀に見る大雪の降る寒冷な時季に、選挙権のある18歳の若者が人生の進路を決める大学入試の真っ最中に、どの政党も消費税廃止や減税を掲げ、つまり、一般論として、焦点が無く解散する意味が見い出せないと言われた今回の衆議院選挙を総理大臣は断行しました。

　最大野党の足踏みが揃わないこの「不安定な情勢のときこそ」、同時に日本で初めて女性総理大臣が誕生した直後に選挙を行えば、与党にとって絶対的有利となり、今こそ千載一遇のチャンスと捉えたのでしょう。選挙結果は与党の歴史的、圧倒的勝利となり、狙いが的中です。アメリカ経済はこの結果を事前に予想してか、日本時間土曜日の早朝にはダウが１２００ドルも値上がりし、ナスダックは４９０ポイントの値上がりしてました。

　テレビで見る総理は、いつ見ても笑顔が多く、概して、他の党首のように難しい顔をしてることがなく、国民から見て身近で親しみやすい印象なのでしょう。女性総理の誕生で日本でもやっとジェンダー平等が近づいたと感じる女性が多かったのでしょう。選挙権を持つ国民の半数は女性です。党首の印象は発言内容が第一ですが、実際にはその党の顔であり、党の印象です。このため、その党に属する立候補者の選挙結果に大きく作用します。

　ところで、安定多数となった自民党の公約には「食料品の消費税を２年間に限って廃止する」というものです。しかし、これは私たち国民にとって凄く心配です。国の税収が減額になれば、特に高齢者にとって最も大切な年金、医療費、社会保険料などにしわ寄せが来る可能性があります。一方、食料品を初め、国民の生活必需品の多くは海外に依存してます。外交こそ第一に取り組んで欲しいです。

Dear my Facebook friends who are anxious for Japan's political stability in the future.

　Just over two months only after the new cabinet was formed, the Komeito Party which was belonged to previously the ruling party, transformed into the opposition party, merging with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and changing its name to the Center-Way Reform Alliance. Immediately amidst this unstable situation, with the organizational foundations yet to be established, and during a cold, rare snowfall along the Sea of ​​Japan coast, and while 18-year-olds eligible to vote were in the midst of university entrance exams that determine their future life, the Prime Minister Takaichi decided the House of Representatives election, with all parties calling for the abolition or reduction of the consumption tax. In other words, the Prime Minister Takaichi went ahead with the election, despite the general consensus was no focus and no point in dissolving the Diet.

　It was precisely at this "time of instability," when the largest opposition parties were unable to move forward in unison, at the same time, Japan's first lady prime minister inaugurated, it would have an absolute advantage. They would be thought this is one in a million chance. The election result was a historic, overwhelming victory for the ruling party, proving their strategy a success. Perhaps the American economy "anticipated" this outcome in advance, as the Dow rose 1,200 dollars by early Saturday morning Japan time, and the Nasdaq rose 490 points.

　When watching television, the Prime Minister Takaichi always appears to be smiling and generally doesn't have the serious expression of other party leaders. So she seems familiar and approachable to the public. With the arrival of a lady Prime Minister, many ladies likely felt that Japan was finally on the verge of gender equality. Half of the voting population is female. While the first impression of a party leader is based on the face and impression of the party. This greatly influences the election's result of candidates belonged that party.

　By the way, one of the campaign promises of the Liberal Democratic Party, which now has a stable majority, is to "abolish the consumption tax on food products for two years only." However, this is of great concern to us citizens. If national tax revenues are reduced, it could have a negative impact on pensions, medical expenses, social insurance premiums, especially for the elderly. On the other hand, many of the nation's daily necessities, including food, are dependent on overseas sources. I would like the government to prioritize diplomacy.

これ位の雪なら、投票率に影響ないでしょう。

　今日は日本の未来を決定する衆議院選挙です。しかし、今朝の光景は暫くぶりの銀世界です。昨夜遅くから未明にかけ、群馬県南部も５cmほどの降雪となりました。山岳地帯のダムも水位が多少回復するでしょう。１２月より井戸水が時々涸れていたので、こちらも水位が高くなるでしょう。平野に住んでる私たちは雪に慣れてないことから交通が大変ですが、幸い今日は日曜日で子供たちの通学に影響しません。これくらいの雪でしたら投票率に影響しないでしょう。

　平素、水道の蛇口を捻れば水は出るものと当たり前に考えてます。しかし、水源地に雨や雪が降ってこそです。これでカラカラだった湿度も５０％を回復し、健康面からも今回の雪は私たちにとって自然の恩恵と考えます。

　立春が過ぎると、気候は三寒四温となり、体調が狂う傾向です。実はここ数日間、私は腰痛でした。日々、楽しみな庭仕事に明け暮れてることから、原因は無意識のうちに不自然な力が腰に働いたのでしょう。貼り薬を貼っても治らず、腰痛は気持ちまで暗くなります。ところが一昨日、近くの内科で痛み止めの「飲み薬」を処方してもらったら噓のように回復しました。もう大丈夫で選挙に行けます。皆さんも、春先は体調にご留意してください。

Dear my friends who are anxious for Japan's political stability in the future

　Today is the House of Representative election, which will determine our Japan's future. However, this morning's scene was a snowy white here after a long time. Southern Gumma Prefecture where I live received about 5cm of snowfall from late last night through the early hours of this morning. Dams in mountainous areas will likely see some recovery in water levels, I guess. My well has been running dry at intervals since December, so the water level here will likely rise as well. Living on the plains, we're not used to snow, so making travel difficult, but fortunately, today is Sunday, so it won't affect our children's commutes to school. This level of snow won't affect voter turnout.

　We normally take it for granted that water comes out when we turn on the faucet. However, actually it only comes with rain and snow falling in the water source. The previously dry humidity will return to 50%, and I consider this snow a blessing from nature, even from a health perspective.

　After the Risshun that means beginning of spring in Japan, the weather changes from cold to warm repeatedly, which can be disruptive. I've actually been suffering from lumbago for the past few days. Since I spend my days doing the gardening I enjoy, I think the cause was an unconscious unnatural force exerting on my lower back. No medication helped, and the lower back pain even made me feel depressed. However, the day before yesterday, I went to a nearby internal medicine clinic and was prescribed some oral painkillers. As the result, I felt better like magic. I'm fine now and can vote. Everyone, please take care of your health in the early spring.

　

久々の雪

倉賀野は今、雪が降ってます。明朝は気をつけてください。

高齢期は孤独に耐えつつ、人との交流を求める

　今まで食したことがなかった伊予柑ですが、先日、近所に住む姉に頼まれて買いに行き、私も味見したところ、なかなか美味しく、１個でもかなりの量があります。これに味をしめ、最近は昼食時にデザートとして食してます。写真の殆どは最近安くなった伊予柑です。そして、右上の葉が付いてるものはデコポンで、先日、某所に夕食に行ったとき「時計屋の隣りさん」に戴きました。こちらも、なかなかの味です。

　平素、私が食してる柑橘類は庭に生ってる金柑で、こちらは皮ごと種ごとを丸かじりです。今年は余りの豊作のため私一人では減りません。お近くの方はどうぞ捥ぎにいらして下さい。一方、植木屋でミカンの木を見たら衝動買いしてしまい、庭に植えました。今後の成長が楽しみです。

　これら柑橘類に含まれる栄養素は概してビタミンCやカリウムといわれ、ご存知の通り、ビタミンCは身体の調子を整えたり、皮膚や粘膜の健康維持を助け、大切な抗酸化作用を持つ栄養素といわれます。一方のカリウムはナトリウムの吸収を抑制し、尿への排泄を促進し、血圧を下げる効果がある考えられ、美味しさと健康に一石二鳥です。

　ところで、高齢期を迎え、ますます健康維持が基本であり、同時に私にとって肝心なことは「心の持ち方」です。一人暮らしでも、友人が少なくなっても、日本ほど恵まれた国はないことを再認識してます。このため、孤独に耐え、一方、人と会ったときは声を掛け、何の分野にも興味をもって話し、温かな人間的な交流を望んでます。昨日も喫茶「さんぽ道」でママさんや居合わせた方と話ができ、心は満ち足りました。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about eating antioxidant properties

　Still now, I'd never eaten Iyokan produced in Ehime Prefecture in Japan, but the other day my sister, who lives nearby, asked me to go and buy some. At the time I tasted them myself too and they were quite delicious, with just one fruit is quite big. I loved them so I've recently bought 10 Iyokans as a dessert with my lunche. Most of the Iyokan in the photo have recently become cheaper. The one with the leaf on the top right you see is Dekopons, which were presented from my blog's commentator named "Neighbor to the watchmaker" when I went to dinner at the tavern "Buku" the other day. This one is also quite tasty.

　Normally, the citrus fruit I eat is the kumquat that grows in my garden, and I eat it including skin and seeds. This year, there's been such a bumper harvest that I can't eat it all by myself. If you're in the area including NZ, please come and pick some. Meanwhile, when I saw a Japanese tangerine tree at a gardener, I impulsively bought one and planted it in my garden. I'm looking forward to seeing it grow.

　As you may know, the nutrients contained in these citrus fruits are generally including vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C is said to be a nutrient with important antioxidant properties, helping to regulate the body and maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes. On the other hand, potassium which inhibits sodium absorption, promotes urinary excretion, and is thought to lower blood pressure, therefore, killing two birds with one stone in terms of both deliciousness and health.

　As I am approaching old age the same as Barry, maintaining my health is more essential than ever, but at the same time, what's most important to me is my "mental attitude." Even if I live alone and my circle of friends is thin, I've come to realize once again that there is no country more blessed than Japan. For this reason, I endure loneliness, but at the same time, I make an effort to speak to people when I meet them, with showing interest in conversations in all areas, and human warm interaction. Yesterday, I was able to chat with the proprietress and other customer at the cafe "Sampo-Michi," and my heart was filled with joy.

　　

いよいよミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピック開会

　　2026年ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピックの開会式がいよいよ始まります。先日、お伝えしました通り、山形県・天元台スキー場で幼少の頃からスキーに親しんでいたのはモーグル男子の「西沢岳人」選手です。この選手の祖母は私の実の姉で、私の両親にとっては曾孫です。子供の頃は倉賀野へ時々遊びに来た当時の少年が今回、オリンピックの舞台へ立つとは驚きです。テレビを通してしっかり応援します。

https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/video/player/23693902

  

　ところで、女子体操選手の床運動に以前はピアノ伴奏が必要でした。このため、当時、学内の選手のピアノ伴奏を私は依頼されてました。そしたら、大学の体操部の先生が日本体操協会の要職にあり、その関係で日本の一流の選手【松久みゆきさん・小田千恵子さん】の伴奏を私がつけることになり、群馬まで来ていただき、彼女らの動きを見て音楽をつけました。

　その後、私は大学を卒業し、カルカッタ日本人学校教員としてインドに滞在してましたが、滞在中にメキシコオリンピックが開かれ、驚いたことに前述の松久さんと小田さんが出場したことを知りました。ですから当時、彼女らと私は互いに遠くの国にいたのです。こんな関係で、帰国後も県内の高校生を中心に床運動と新体操の伴奏音楽をつけ、前々回の東京オリンピックに出場した相原俊子さんとも知り合い、彼女の体操音楽を県内の選手に使ったこともあり、ピアノを習ったことが体操音楽に結びつきました。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about the Olympic held in Miran

　The opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics is about to begin today. As I mentioned the other day, men's mogul skier Taketo Nishizawa has been skiing since he was a child at Tengendai Ski Resort in Yamagata Prefecture. His grandmother is my older sister who lived in Kuragano now, so that he is my parent's great-grandson. It's amazing to think that this boy, who occasionally came to Kuragano as a child, will now compete on the Olympic stage. I'll be cheering him through the TV.

　Not change the subject, but as you know, piano accompaniment was previously required for lady's gymnastics for floor exercise competition. For this reason, I was asked to provide piano accompaniment for the athletes on my university campus. It turns out that a teacher from my university's gymnastics club held an important position in the Japan Gymnastics Association. So that through this connection, I was asked to provide piano accompaniment for two of Japan's top gymnasts, Ms. Miyuki Matsuhisa and Ms. Chieko Oda. I asked them to come to Gumma, watch their movements, and create music for them.

　After that, I graduated from Gumma university and stayed in India as a teacher of Calcutta Japanese School. While I was there, the Mexico Olympics were held, and to my surprise, I learned that the aforementioned Ms. Matsuhisa and Ms. Oda had competed. So at the time, they and I were in far-away countries each other. Because of this relationship, after returning to Japan, I continued to compose accompaniment music for floor exercises and rhythmic gymnastics, mainly for high school students in the prefecture, and I also got to know Ms. Aihara Toshiko, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics 1964. I used her gymnastics music for athletes in the prefecture, and so my piano studies led to my involvement with gymnastics music.

果たしてお腹が減るか！

　夕方、陽が伸びたので、先程５時頃より家の前の道を１０００mウォーキングしました。日中は暖かでしたが、夕方は気温が下がってます。歩いていると、例えば「彼女は今頃何しているかな」などと、どうしても何か考え事をしてしまい、肝心の往復した回数を忘れてしまいます。私の家の前の道は５０mあります。

　このため、いつものように一往復したら、塀の上の石を右へ一齣動かします。この石が左端から右端まで移動し終わると１０００m歩いたことになります。今日は最近、習慣となったストライドを広げ、前方を見て、鼻呼吸を徹底してみました。これで夕食の【軽い？】一杯は美味しくなりそうで今からワクワクしてます。

Dear my friends who like walking and drinking the same as me.

　As the sun grew longer in the evening, I walked 1,000 meters on the way in front of my garden starting around 5 o'clock. It was warm during the day, but the temperature has dropped in the evening. As I walk, I can't help but think about somethings such as "I wonder what she is doing right now". Therefore I tend to forget the important number of times I've walked back and forth. The way in front of my house is 50 meters long.

　For this reason, as usual, after each walk, I move the stone on the wall one step to the right. Once the stone has moved by me from the left end to the right end, I walk 1,000 meters. Today, I tried to lengthen my stride, which has become a habit recently, by looking ahead and breathing through my nose more thoroughly. I'm excited that this will make my "light" drink with dinner even more delicious.

久々に、鏑川で渡り鳥の楽園を見る

【画像をクリックすると臨場感が出ます。】

　立春の昨日、群馬県は比較的穏やかな気候だったので、午後になってから、私のお気に入りウォーキィングコースである木部町の鏑川の土手を南西に向って歩き始めました。快晴のため景色は最高、進行方向の遠方には東西二つの御荷鉾山、西に雪を被った活火山・浅間山、北にこれまた真っ白な谷川岳を眺めつつ、もしかして今日は「ロシアから幾羽のコハクチョウが来ているだろうか」と、希望を胸に２０分ほど歩いたところ、川岸は予想を超え物凄い数の水鳥の楽園になってました。

　コハクチョウを数えたところ２２羽もいて、こんなにたくさん見たのは今年初めてです。それにしても、のどかな光景は「平和そのもの」です。種類の異なる数百羽の水鳥が、適度な間隔を開け、争うこともなく、温暖な日本の気候をゆったり満喫しています。この姿は誠に「自由であり、思いのまま」です。現在のロシアは考えられないほど寒冷な気候であり、渡りという習性により、石器時代より日本で快適に生きる術を持ってます。

　しかも、たくさんの仲間と行動を共にし、その表情は安心してます。水鳥であっても、実力は国から国へ海上を数千キロも飛ぶ飛翔力は計り知れない体力で、私のウォーキングどころの距離ではなく、この卓越した抜群の耐久力に感心せざるを得ません。しかも、食料は自ら探しての栄養補給です。これらの水鳥たちの生きざまを見て、同じ地上に住む人間の私が学ぶべきことは「他に頼らない」ということです。

Dear my Facebook friends as earthling

　Yesterday was "Risshun" the first day of spring in Japan, Gumma Prefecture was relatively mild weather, so in the afternoon I began a southwestward walk along the bank of the Kabra River in Kybe Town, one of my favorite walking trails. The clear skies offered me spectacular views. In the distance ahead lay the two Mt. Mikabo mountains including one east and one west, the snow-capped active volcano Mt. Asama to the west, and the equally snow-capped Mt. Tanigawa to the north. Hoping to see how many Tundra swans had arrived from Russia this time, after I walked for about 20 minutes, I found that the riverbank was a paradise for an incredible number of waterfowl than I'd expected.

　I counted 22 Tundra swans. this was the first time I'd seen so many this year. The idyllic scene was truly "peace itself." Hundreds of different species of waterfowl, spaced apart and they are not fighting, leisurely enjoying Japan's warm climate. They truly exuded "freedom and as they please" Russia today has an unimaginably cold climate, but their migratory habits have given them the skills to live comfortably in Japan that they have had since the Stone Age, I guess.

　What's more, they travel with many of their companions, and their expressions look reassured. Even though they are waterfowl, their flight ability to fly thousands of kilometers over the ocean from Russa to Japan requires immeasurable stamina, and distances that are far beyond my walking course, and I can't help but be impressed by their outstanding endurance. What's more, they have to find their own food to supplement their nutrition. Watching these waterfowl live, I, as a fellow terrestrial human, can learn something from them "don't rely on others."

今日は「立春」・・・地球の公転上の位置を考える

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0sFQjf9bos...　　

　枝垂れ白梅が咲き始め、この日を待っていたかの如く、庭に飛来する野鳥が美味しそうに蜜を吸ってます。写真はメジロです。季節はこれから、三寒四温を繰り返しつつ、日に日に春らしくなっていくでしょう。しかし、私たち人間にとって、この季節は体調を崩しやすい早春です。健康管理には、適度な全身運動、また、低栄養を避け、今まで以上に、体調管理を心掛けたいです。

　ところで、地球から見る太陽は、今日、太陽黄経がついに３１５°に達する「立春」です。これは「魚座」の近くの天の赤道上にある「春分点」からの度数です。今日の太陽の背景は黄道１２星座の一つ「やぎ座」です。地球から見る太陽の動きを時計のように考え、１周を２４hとすると「立春」の太陽は２１hに達し、二十四節気ごとに１５°ずつ移動していきます。

　一方、私たちを載せてる地球は「立春」の今日、公転軌道上のどの辺に到達しているでしょうか。

　これは前述の太陽の背景の「やぎ座」と正反対の位置にあります。今宵、午前０時に真南を見るとその答えが分かります。そこには黄道１２星座の「かに座」が薄く光ってます。「かに座」にはあまり明るい星がなく、分かり難いですが、すぐ西には有名な「ふたご座」があり、すぐ東には「獅子座」があるので、空が澄んでる現在なら見えるでしょう。私たちを載せてる地球は今後、「獅子座」の方向へ、秒速約２９kmの速度で公転軌道上を反時計回りに進んで行きます。

Dear my earthlings

　 The weeping white plum blossoms have begun to bloom in the garden, and as if they had been waiting for this day, wild birds have flown into the garden, sucking nectar deliciously. The photo shows a Japanese white-eye. From now on, the season will alternate between cold and warm weather repeatedly, and each day will feel more like spring. However, for us humans, due to early spring, a time when it's easy to get sick. To maintain our health, we need to be more mindful of our health than before, by getting moderate full-body training and avoiding malnutrition.

　By the way, today marks "Risshun" which is the beginning of spring in Japan, when the sun's ecliptic longitude finally reaches 315°. This is the number of degrees from the vernal equinox, which is located on the celestial equator near constellation "Pisces". The background to today's sun is Capricorn, one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac. If we think of the movement of the sun as seen from Earth like a clock, with one revolution taking 24 hours, the sun on the day of spring will reach 21 hours, and will move 15° with each of the 24 solar terms.

　Meanwhile, where has the Earth reached in its orbit today, on the day of the beginning of spring named Risshun?

　It is in the exact opposite position to Capricorn, which appears in the background of the sun mentioned above. Tonight at midnight, we earthling will find the answer. We are able to see the faint glow of Cancer, one of the 12 zodiacal constellations. There are not many bright stars in Cancer, so making it difficult to see, but it is just to the east of the famous Gemini, and just to the west of Leo, so you should be able to see it when the sky is clear. From now on, the Earth carrying us will move counterclockwise on its orbit towards Leo at a speed of approximately 29 km per second.

Devils out, Fortune in！

　午後は２名の来客があったのでコーヒーで対応し、その後、夕方になってから「さんぽ道」でリラックスしてきました。「昼食時には混んでたそうです」が、私が行った4時前には誰もいなく、ママさんと暫く話ができました。また、ピアノで「千の風になって」など５曲弾かせて戴き、いつもに比較して充実した一日でした。

　これから薄暗くなって豆を撒きつつ、みすぼらしい現状の打破をめざし「福は内」を行います。

　I had two guests come in the afternoon, so I served them coffee, and then in the evening I relaxed at Sampo-michi. "Apparently it got crowded at lunchtime," but when I arrived just before 4pm there was no customers there, so I was able to chat with the Mama for a while. I also had the opportunity to play five music by the piano, including "A Thousand Winds." So it was a more fulfilling day for me than usual.

　When it gets dark, I will scatter soy beans and shout "Fuku wa Uchi" that means "Good Fortune in" in order to break out of my current miserable situation that means living alone.

年の数だけ豆を食べられなくなりました。

　節分とは本来、立春・立夏・立秋・立冬の前日を意味しますが、現代では、その中でも立春の前日に行なわれる節分の「鬼払いの風習」が残っており、今年は２月3日の今日です。

　今の時季は、冬から春に転じるときで変化が大きく、特に、病や災禍をもたらすとされ、そこで家の中から疫鬼を駆逐し、福を家に取り入れようと願う古くから行われてる行事です。「悪いことが起きませんように」、今の時季に心をリセットするのでしょう。

　私も今夕は声を出してしっかり豆撒きます。特に、「今年こそいいことがありますように」と「福は内」を中心に行います。果たして、効果があるでしょうか。ただ、年の数だけ豆を食べることはできなくなりました。

Dear my friends who desire real fortune

　Setsubun originally referred to the days before the beginning of spring, the beginning of summer, the beginning of autumn, and the beginning of winter, but in modern times, in Japan, the custom of "driving away demons" on the day before the beginning of spring remains only, and this year it is on February 3rd, today.

　This season of year marks the transition from winter to spring, so that is a time of great change, tends to bring illness and disaster in particular. Therefore, this ancient event is held to drive out evil spirits from the home and pray for bringing good fortune into the home. Perhaps it is a way to reset our minds for "hoping that no bad things will happen."

　I will also scatter beans out loud this evening, focusing particularly on wishing for good things to happen this year and wishing for good fortune to come. I wonder if it will actually be effective? However, I can no longer eat the same number of beans as my age.

この日が来るとは・・・望外の喜び

　2026年ミラノ・コルティナダンペッツォ冬季オリンピックは、2026年2月6日（金）から2月22日（日）まで開催されます。

　

　生まれた時から家の前は天元台スキー場であり、幼少の頃からスキーに親しんでいた少年はついに「オリンピックという夢の舞台」に出場と地元・福島の新聞は伝えてます。

　この選手はモーグル男子の「西沢岳人」です。彼の祖父はスキーの名手でした。このため、生まれながらにしてスキーの環境は整っていたのでしょう。実は、祖母は私の実の姉で、現在も倉賀野町に住んでおり、この新聞も彼女に見せてもらいました。

　もうすぐイタリアで冬季オリンピックが始まります。子供の頃から知っている少年が夢の舞台へ行くとは望外の喜びです。私の両親にとっては曾孫です。応援をお願いいたします。

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

Dear my friends

　The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will be held from Friday, February 6th to Sunday, February 22nd, 2026.

　The local Fukushima newspaper reports that this athlete who has been skiing since he was a child and whose family has been near the Tengendai Ski Resort since he was born, will finally be competing on the "Olympic stage."

　This athlete is Taketo Nishizawa, a men's mogul skier. His grandfather was an accomplished skier, so he was likely born with an ideal skiing environment. In fact, his grandmother is my sister, who still lives in Kuragano Town the same as me, and she showed me this newspaper.

　The Winter Olympics will soon be starting in Italy. It is an incredible joy for me to see a boy I've known since his childhood competing on the stage of his dreams. He is my parents' great-grandson. Please support him.

もうすぐ春だ、そわそわする

　群馬に生まれて以来、住み続けて良かったことは、日本列島のほぼ中央に位置しているためでしょう。概して自然災害が少ないこと、及び素晴らしい山々の存在です。その光景は日々私の家の三階から眺められます。代表格は谷川連峰と浅間山です。そして赤城山、榛名山、妙義山、荒船山、武尊山、白根山、四阿山、御荷鉾山など、それぞれ個性ある姿を呈しており、眺めて飽きません。良かったことは若き日から、これらの山々のすべてを登頂しました。

　特に心に残ってるのは、２０代に３回登頂した浅間山、四半世紀前に登った谷川岳、そして谷川連峰の平標山です。写真右下は平標山から見た仙の倉山です。写真左下は赤城の地蔵岳から見た小沼です。また、群馬といえば尾瀬です。ここへは４回訪れ、西に聳える至仏山頂から見た尾瀬ヶ原の光景は脳裏に焼き付いてます。

　ところが、退職後、予想もしてなかった一人暮らしが始まり、これらの山岳に登ることは少なくなり、遠くから眺めることが増えました。近くへ行くことはあっても愛車でのドライブに変わり、それでも、山奥の露天温泉など群馬の自然を心から満喫し、年齢に即した楽しみも味わい深いです。

　先日、夕食のため倉賀野から高崎の街中まで、北風の吹く寒い中、数Km歩いて行けたので体力に自信がつきました。明日は節分、明後日は立春で「何だか、そわそわしてきました。」そうだ、家の前の５０mある道を毎日往復ウォーキングし、一往復したらご覧の石を隣に移動し、端から端までで１Kmです。姿勢に注意し、群馬の低山への体力増進に備えよう。

【日本文と英文には微妙な差異があります。】

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about mountainous beaty.

　One of the great things since I was born and lived in Gunma in Japan is that it's located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago. Therefore, natural disasters are generally rare, and there are magnificent mountains beyond your expectation. I can see these views every day from the third floor of my house. The most notable are Mt. Tanigawa Range and the active volcano Mt. Asama. Then there are Mt. Akagi, Mt.Haruna, Mt. Myogi, Mt. Arafune, Mt. Hotaka, active volcano Mt. Shirane, Mt. Azuma, Mt. Mikabo. Each has its own unique appearance, and I never tire of looking at them. The great thing is that I've been able to summit all of these mountains since I was 17 years old.

　Particularly memorable are Mt. Asama, which I summited three times in my twenties, Mt. Tanigawa, which I climbed a quarter of a century ago, and Mt. Tairappyo in the Tanigawa Mountain Range. Mt. Sennokura seen from Mt, Tairappyo in the bottom right of the photo. Lake Konuma seen from Mt. Jizo in Akagi's mountains in the bottom left. Speaking of Gumma, Oze is also a must-see. I've been here four times, and the view of Ozegahara plateau from the summit of Mt. Shibutsu is burned into my memory still now.

　However, after my retiring, unexpectedly starting living alone, I climbed these mountains less and instead viewed them from afar. Even when I go nearby, I now drive in my beloved Audi TT Quattro. Even so, I still thoroughly enjoy Gumma's natural beauty, such as open-air hot springs deep in the mountains, and I deeply appreciate the pleasures with my age the same as Barry in NZ.

　The other day, I walked several kilometers from Kuragano-town to downtown Takasaki for dinner in the cold north wind, which gave me confidence in my stamina. Tomorrow is Setsubun that means the end of winter, and the day after is the beginning of spring, so I'm feeling a bit expectation to go somewhere. That's right, I walk 50-meter path in front of my garden back and forth every day. After each round trip, I move the stone you see on the fence other side, making it 1 kilometer from one end to the other. Watch my posture and prepare for the physical training needed to climb Gumma's low mountains in the near future together with sweetheart in heart.

旧暦で１２月１５日

　後４時間ほど経過すると、太陰太陽暦(旧暦)で１２月１５日ですから、今宵はほぼ十五夜です。空に薄い雲がかかっているのでしょう。周囲がほんの少し白くなってます。

　現在、この月面から地球を見ると夜のため殆ど何も見えないでしょうが、もしかすると、月明かりでかすかに見えるかもしれません。

　月の右上に見える明るい星は木星で「双子座」の中に入ってます。これから半年ほどは毎晩見ても「双子座」の近くにあるでしょう。

Dear my Facebook friends who are interesting in celestial body

　In about four hours, it will be December 15th on the lunisolar calendar (old calendar), Therefore it means tonight is almost the fifteenth night of the full moon. We earthling can see thin clouds in the sky, so that the edges are slightly white.

Currently, if we look at Earth from the surface of the moon, we can see almost nothing because it's night, but if possible, we may be able to see it faintly by the moonlight.

The bright star visible to the upper right of the moon is Jupiter, which is in the constellation Gemini. For the next six months or so, it will be near Gemini even if we look every night, I guess.

脳のための栄養を今後のテーマに

　つい先日、新年になったと思ったら、もう２月で土日が８日、祝日が２日あるので今月は２８日のうち休日が１０日間もあります。名歌「早春賦」の通り、「春は名のみの風の寒さや」の季節ですが、徐々に温かくなるでしょう。嬉しいことは屋外での活動時間が次第に長くなります。

　今日の日の出は６時４５分、太陽高度は３６°、日の入りは１７時１０分【群馬県】で昼の時間が１０時間２５分と伸び、冬至に比較して４４分も長くなってます。因みに、冬至では昼の時間が９時間４１分で、太陽高度は３０°だったので今日は太陽が６°も高くなります。

　人生の第３コーナーから第４コーナーへと差し掛かってる私にとって「身体の健康づくり」、及び「脳の若さを維持すること」が最も大切であり、最近、私は身体のみならず、脳の若さを保つにも、日々の栄養補給が関係すると考えてます。このため、繊維類を含み、バランスのとれた栄養摂取が今後のテーマです。適度な運動と共に、日々、低栄養になるぬよう、美味しさより、身体にプラスになる長寿食の研究です。同時に、体内の水分を常に６０％に保ちます。

　そのためには、可能な限り「在宅での自立をめざし」、知り合いや近所の方々との交流の機会を心掛け、明るく、よく笑い、よくお茶を飲む日々にしたいです。一方、脳に大切なことは天体の動きや植物など自然に対し、好奇心を持ちたいです。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about activation of brain

　Just the other day, 2026 year began, but it's already February. Due to eight weekends and two national holidays in Japan, there are 10 days off out of the 28 this month. As the famous poem "Shoshunfu" (Poem of early spring) says, "Spring is only in name, but the wind is cold," actually the weather will gradually warm up day by day. The good news is that we'll be able to spend more and more outdoors.

　Today's sunrise was at 6:45 AM, the sun's altitude will be 36°, and the sun set will be at 5:10 PM [Gumma Prefecture] Japan. The daylight hours have increased to 10 hours and 25 minutes, it becomes 44 minutes longer than the winter solstice. Incidentally, at the winter solstice, the daylight was 9 hours and 41 minutes, and the sun's altitude was 30°, so today the sun's angle is 6° higher in the sky.

　As I approach the third to fourth corners of my life, "maintaining a healthy body" and "maintaining a youthful brain" are of utmost important elements. Recently, I've come to believe that daily nutrition plays a role in maintaining not only the body but also the brain's youth. For this reason, a balanced nutritional intake, including fiber, will be my future focus. Along with moderate exercise, I am researching longevity foods that are beneficial to the body rather than tasty, so as not to become malnourished on a daily basis. At the same time, I must keep my body's water content at 60% at all times.

　To achieve this, I will aim to be independent at home as much as possible, make efforts to interact with acquaintances and neighbors, and live a cheerful life, laughing a lot and drinking plenty of tea. At the same time, I would like to have a curiosity about nature, such as the movement of celestial bodies and plants. This is indispensable for the brain.