医師に勧められ、日本蕎麦を食す

【右の景色は鏑川の土手です。拡大してご覧ください。】

　秋分の日の今日、庭に山吹が咲いてることに気づきました。これも父が植えた植物で、子供の頃よく見ました。未だ、咲き始めたところで、これからたくさん咲くでしょう。

　ところで、私は体重があるので医師に勧められ、昼食に日本ソバを食べることが多いです。調べてみると、ソバに含まれるルチンは毛細血管を強化し、血圧や血糖値を下げ、動脈硬化や糖尿病、脳梗塞など、生活習慣病の予防を発揮する成分とのことです。しかし、体重がなかなか減らないです。毎日ソバでは飽きるので週３回位です。

　高崎市は雨も止んだので、夕方、暫くぶりに鏑川の土手をウォーキングしてきます。夕食を食べ過ぎないようにします。しかし、小さいビール缶は許してください。

Dear my friends who like beer and music

　Today, the autumnal equinox day, I noticed that a Yamabuki flower was blooming in the garden. This was also planted by my late father around fifty years ago, and I often saw it when I was young. It has only just started to bloom, so that I'm sure it will bloom more in the near future.

　By the way, I am overweight, so I often eat Japanese buckwheat for lunch, as recommended by my doctor. After researching, I found that the rutin contained in buckwheat strengthens capillaries, lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and is an ingredient that helps prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and cerebral infarction. However, I am not losing weight easily. and I get bored of eating buckwheat every day, so I only eat it about three times a week.

　The rain has stopped in Takasaki-City, so in the evening, I will go for a walk along the bank of the Kabra-River after a long interval. I will try not to eat too much at dinner. Please forgive me for the small beer can.

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

高齢期こそ、楽しみ溢れる時間に

　私は倉賀野中出身で同級生は男女合わせて２００名ほどいましたが、今では街中を歩いても同級生に会うことは殆どなくなりました。女子は結婚で町外に行った方も多いでしょうが、男子にもめったに会いません。もしかして、もう町には居ないのでしょうか。

　私たちは誰でも年齢を重ねると、いっしょに遊べる友達がだんだん減って来ます。このためにも早いうちに「1人で遊ぶ癖をつけておいたほういい」と思います。

　もし、怖いことや危険なことは一切しないという用心深い人間になってしまうと、おもしろい体験ができず、目の前の事案に対する解決策を自ら考えることもなくなり、脳が錆びつく傾向にならざるをえません。冒険は決して青年や壮年だけのものではなく、有り余る時間を持つ高齢期の特権で、この時間を生かさなければ人生の第四コーナーは充実できません。

　寂しいと思ったら、時には年齢が違った人と、もちろん異性を含め、いくつになっても話の合う人たちと食事をすると脳が刺激され、本当に楽しいものです。異性と接すると初々して気持ちで身だしなみを整えるものです。これには健全な色気が生じ、お互いに別世界のように楽しいでしょう。

　人生は意外と短く一回きりのものです。自分の意志を大切にし、毎日、好きなことで忙しい日々でありたいものです。先ず、家に閉じこもらず、小さなことであっても新たな体験に挑戦です。これは喜びや生きがいにつながります。その点、花の咲く植物をいろいろ育てたり、音楽など広く芸術、そして、旅は高齢期の脳に刺激を与えるとても有意義で素晴らしい科目です。

　

Dear my friends abroad

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

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

　I graduated from Kuragano Junior High School and had about 200 classmates including both male and female, but now I hardly encounter them when I walk around town. Many girls have moved out of the town to get married, but I rarely meet boys as well. Maybe they are not in this town anymore?

　As we all grow older, the number of friends we can play with each other gradually decreases. For this reason, I think it's an indispensable idea to get the habit of playing alone as early as possible.

　If we become a cautious person who never does anything scary or dangerous, we tend to not have any interesting experiences, we won't be able to think of solutions to the problems in front of us, and our brain will liable to become rusty. Adventures are by no means only for young people or the prime of life, but are the privilege of old age, who have plenty of time. If we don't make the most of this time, we aren't able to fulfill the third or fourth corner of our lives.

　When you feel lonely, having a meal with people of a different age you can easily talk to, including the opposite sex, stimulates your brain and is really fun. When we come into contact with the opposite sex, we tend to take care of our appearance for the first time. This will create a healthy amount of sex appeal and will be otherworldly fun for us.

　Life is short than our imagenation and only happens once. I want to value my own will and be busy every day doing what I love. First of all, don't stay at home and try new experiences, even if they are small. This leads to joy and purpose in our life. In this respect, raising various flowering plants, art in a wide range such as musical performance, and traveling are very meaningful and wonderful subjects which stimulates our brain.

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

日々、目標に向かって前進あるのみ

　先日は、赤い実のクロガネモチを写真に載せましたが、今日の赤い実は裏庭の南天です。昔から何事にも忌みを避けるべき鬼門の方向である庭の北東の位置に魔除けとして植えたのです。子供の頃は雪が降ると雪でウサギを作り、南天の実を目玉にしたものです。

　ところで、今日はノーベル賞の日です。ノーベル賞の授賞式は，毎年，12月10日にスウェーデンのストックホルムとノルウェーのオスロで行われ、ダイナマイト発明者のアルフレド・ノーベル博士が、1895年11月27日付の遺言書で賞制定の意思を示し、1901年の今日、第1回授賞式が開かれました。

　2022年までの日本人の受賞者数28人はスイスに次いで世界で7番目であり、 一方、ノーベル賞の6つの部門のうち経済学賞については、未だ、日本人受賞者がいないといわれます。

　それにしても、「遺言によって」後の世界の功績のあった優れた人を対象に、１００年間も表彰が続いています。

　ところで、私はまだ「遺言」を考えたことがありません。それどころか、近年よく耳にする「終活」という言葉ほど嫌いな言葉はありません。そんな活動を考える暇があったら、一度しかない今後の人生を、自分の目指す生き方に向かって日々、最大限努力したい。先ず、今の状況を打破したい。

Dear my overseas friends who are crazy about the way of life from now on

　The simultaneous interpretation for you will be later, because from now on I will participate the radio gymnastics held in the park then I take a breakfast in Japan time. After that, I'll interpret into English for your understanding above mentioned contents. 

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

　The other day, I posted a photo of a red-fruited Kuroganemochi, but today's red fruit is a nanten that means nandin in the backyard. Since ancient times, it has been planted in the northeastern part of the garden as a talisman, which is the direction of the Demon Gate that should be avoided in all cases. When I was a child, whenever it snowed, I would make a rabbit out of the snow and use the Nandin fruit as her eyes.

　By the way, today is Nobel Prize day. The Nobel Prize award ceremony is held every year on December 10th in Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway. Dr. Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, expressed his intention to establish the prize by his will, and the award ceremony was held on today in 1901.

　By 2022, Japan will have 28 Japanese laureates, making it the 7th place in the world after Switzerland. On the other hand, it is said that of the six Nobel Prize categories, but, there are still no Japanese laureates in economics.

　Even so, awards have continued "by his will" for 100 years to outstanding people who have contributed to the world's later achievements.

　Not change the subject, but, I have never thought about my "will" yet. On the contrary, there is no word I hate more than this word "preparation for the end of life,'' which I have heard a lot in recent years. If I had time to think about such activities, I would like to make every efforts to the best for the achievements of my purpose in life, which I only have once. First of all, I want to break out of the current situation.

※上記の英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/

年を重ねると共に、筋肉をつける

　木々の葉は紅葉から落葉へと変わり、ここ1週間ほどで季節は晩秋から初冬へと推移してます。

　気温の低下と共に、庭のクロガネモチがいよいよ赤く膨らみ、人や野鳥たちの目を惹きます。特に野鳥たちにとっては今後の大切な餌になります。それまで、つまり、年末までは荒涼とした風景の中にあって、私たち人間が赤い色彩を充分に堪能したいと思います。

　おそらく、野鳥はクロガネモチを食べるには、まだ時季尚早であることを知っていて、啄む姿は見られません。彼らは現在、柿の実に集中してます。もう少し熟してからクロガネモチを啄むことを先天的に知っているのでしょう。

　同様に、一方の人間も「自然の恩恵に肖り」、栄養を摂取しなくてはなりません。４０～５０代ではＢＭＩを２２～２３の基準を目指しても、私の考えでは、還暦を過ぎたら、それより少し数値が高い方を目指すことがよいようです。その理由は、一般的に、高齢になってから筋肉はあまり付きません。年を重ねてからも、もちろん五大栄養素のバランスが大切でも、特に「筋肉を作る蛋白質」を意識して摂取したいものです。

　健康のバロメーターはしっかりした声が出ることです。それには「筋肉」です。いつまでも溌溂とした声で身近な人と話したり、気持ちよく歌が歌えることが心身ともに大切と思います。

Dear my overseas friends who are interested in BMI

　The simultaneous interpretation for you will be later, because from now on I will participate the radio gymnastics held in the park then I take a breakfast in Japan time. Then, I'll interpret into English for your understanding above mentioned contents.

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

　The leaves on the tree are changing from autumnal tint to falling, and over the past week the season has been transitioning from late autumn to early winter.

 As the temperature drops, the Round Leaf Holly in the garden becomes red and swollen, attracting the attention of people and wild birds. Especially for wild birds, it will become important food in the near future. Until then, that is, until the end of this year, we humans can fully enjoy the red color in this desolate landscape.

　Probably, the wild birds know that it is still too early to eat this plant, so I don't see them picking at it. They are currently concentrating on persimmon fruits. They probably know instinctively to pick up it after it is a little more ripe.

　Similarly, human beings must also "become the blessings of nature" and receive nourishment. Even if you aim for BMI of 22 to 23 in your 40s and 50s. However, in my opinion, it is better to aim for a slightly higher BMI after 60s. The reason is that people generally don't gain much muscle as they get older. Even as we grow older, it is of course important to maintain a balance of the five major nutrients, but we especially want to be conscious of "protein that builds muscles" in our intake.

　The barometer of health is having a strong voice. It's muscle. I think it's indispensable for both our body and mind to be able to talk to people around us with a lively voice and sing songs comfortably.

※上記の英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/

「私も一役、高齢化社会」をモットーに生きる

　現在、一人暮らしの高齢者数は全国でおよそ563万人で、 内訳は男性が180万人、女性が約383万人で、女性が男性の2倍以上と言われてます。

　実は、私もその一人で、今のまま肉体的、精神的に健康を増進・維持し、施設に入らず、年齢を重ねても自らの夢に向かって生き、社会に好奇心を持ち、身の回りのことは自ら行い、ずっと我が家で暮らす強い意志を持ってます。

　今日は９月の第三月曜日なので敬老の日です。老人福祉法では６５才以上を高齢者としてますが、現代の６５才はまだまだ若々しい方が多く、嫌がる場合は無理にお祝いしない方がいいでしょう。人によっては私のように「年寄り扱いされたくない」人もいるでしょう。

　７８才以上の高齢者は、現在のウクライナのように厳しい戦争を体験され、敵機Ｂ29爆撃機が上空に現れると空襲警報のサイレンが鳴り、防空壕の中で辛い生活を余儀なくされました。また、戦後の食糧難を体験され、その後は、長年に亘り社会のために働いてきた方々です。大切なことは、今の社会の礎を築いてこられた高齢者を敬い、日頃の感謝を伝えることに重きを置きたいものです。

　そして、「私も一役、高齢化社会」を合言葉に、身近な高齢者のために日々温かい言葉をかけ、お手伝いしたいものです。

Dear my friends abroad who respect the elderly to the core

　Currently, there are approximately 5.63 million elderly people living alone nationwide, of which 1.8 million are men and 3.83 million are women. Therefore, it is said that women are twice than men.

　In fact, I am one of those people, and I want to improve and maintain my physical and mental health, stay out of institution, live toward my dreams even as I get older, be curious about society, and take care of my surroundings. I take care of myself and have a strong will to stay in my home forever.

　Today is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan, as it is the third Monday of September. According to the Elderly Welfare Act, people aged 65 and over are considered elderly, but many 65-year-olds today are still quite young, so if they don't want to be celebrated it, it's probably best not to force themselves to celebrate. Some people, like me, may not want to be treated as old.

　Elderly people over the age of 78 have experienced harsh wars such as those in Ukraine today. The enemy B-29 bomber appears in the sky and the air raid siren sounds, people including children were forced to live a difficult life in air raid shelter during world war Ⅱ, experienced food shortages after the war, and have worked for society for many years afterwards. The important thing is to respect the elderly who have built the foundation of today's society, and to place emphasis on our daily gratitude.

　And, with the motto "I too can play a role in the aging society," I would like to speak out to the elderly people around me and help them in daily life.

※上記の英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/

本当によく磨ける「幅の広い歯ブラシ」

　ずっと長い間、私は一般的な歯ブラシを使用してましたが、半年前に、娘の家でもらって初めて「幅の広い歯ブラシ」を使いました。

　これが思いのほか「本当によく磨けることに気づき」、その後は、ずっと幅の広い歯ブラシを使用してます。これはお薦めです。値段も殆ど普通幅のものと変わらず、最近、私がよく行く「百円均一」でも売ってます。

　ご存じの通り、私たちの歯の数は、親知らずを入れなければ２８本です。厚労省では「８０才で２０本残しましょう。」と８０２０運動を推進してます。しかし、本来ならば、高齢になってもすべての歯で食事をしたいものです。歯が揃っていれば咀嚼のみならず、発音が明瞭であり、いつまでも気持ちを込めて歌えます。同時に、顔の表情が豊かです。

　一方、歯を丈夫にするにはカルシュームを含む食事内容が考えられます。例えば、牛乳、骨ごと食べられるシシャモ、軟骨などです。食習慣として、柔らかい物ばかり食せず、多少は硬いもの、歯ごたえのある食品も大切です。また、平素から砂糖を含む甘いものや炭酸飲料を避けることが歯を健康に保つと考えられます。

　ご存じの通り、「虫歯菌と歯周病菌は就寝中に増殖する」ことから、歯磨きは起床時と毎食後です。

Dear my friends abroad

　I've been using a regular wide toothbrush for a long time, but six months ago, I used the "wide toothbrush" which shows in the photo at my daughter's home for the first time.

　"I realized that I could brush really well than I expected", and since then I've been using a wider toothbrush. I recommend you to use it from now on. The price is almost the same as that of the normal width, and it is also sold at the "100 yen uniform" that I often go to these days.

　As you know, we have 28 teeth, not including wisdom teeth. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan is promoting the 8020 movement, saying, "Let's leave 20 teeth at the age of 80." However, if it is originally, we want to eat with all our teeth, even when we are old. If our teeth are aligned, we can not only masticate, but also pronounce clearly, and we can sing with our heart forever. At the same time, the facial expressions well be richer.

　On the other hand, dietary content containing calcium can be considered for keeping strong teeth. For example, milk, shishamo that means smelt that can be eaten together with bones, and cartilage. In terms of eating habits, it is important for us not to eat only soft foods, but to have some hard foods and chewy foods. In addition, it is thought that avoiding sweets containing sugar and carbonated drinks will keep your teeth healthy.

　As you know, "cavities and periodontal bacteria multiply during we sleep," so we should brush the teeth when waking up and after each meal.

※上記の英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/

もしかして 現役時代より 退職後が長いかも

　現役時代は、毎年、目の前の仕事が変化の連続で、脳が新たなことへの適応に迫られました。私の場合、その中で最も大きなことは職場が７回も異動したことで、その度に、今までと全く異なる新たな人間関係が始まりました。職場に数十人もいると最初は名前と顔が一致せず、ましてやその人の性格、特徴など知る術はありませんでした。ところが歓送迎会は新たな人脈を作るのに誠に有意義でした。

　若かった当時は１ヶ月も経過すると、仕事や周囲の人たちとも打ち解け、新たな通勤路、新たな環境や仕事の種類に適応し、不思議なことに、次第に今までの職場を忘れ始め、２年目には全く慣れてしまったものです。この頃は「脳が柔軟だった」のでしょう。

　ところで、３０～４０年して誰にもやって来る「退職後とはどうか」というと、一般的には悠々自適でのんびり過ごす生活になると考えがちですが、私は、これが「脳活動と健康長寿に最も悪い」と考えてます。

　身体の動きが鈍化し、脳は「新たな変化に対応できない」習慣が身に付いてしまいがちです。退職後こそ、自分らしく創造的になり、「水を得た魚の如く」待ってましたとばかり、新たな自分で生きることではないでしょうか。

　それには「まず、現役中の肩書や組織の地位などを思い切ってすべてを捨てる」ことで、初めて退職後の新たな自分の人生を構築できることになるでしょう。今までになかった「新しい自分」のスタートラインに就く意気込みこそ退職後では肝心なことと考えます。

　今や、人生１００年～１２０年時代ともいわれてます。もしかして現役中の期間より退職後の期間の方が長くなる可能性もあります。退職後では、創造性と健康長寿ほど大切なことはありません。

Dear my friends throughout the world

　During my active career, the works in front of me were constantly changing every year, and my brain was forced to adapt to new things. In my case, the biggest thing was that I changed workplaces seven times, and each time I started a new relationship that was completely different from before. At first, there were dozens of people in new workplace, their names and faces didn't match, and there was no way to know their personalities and characteristics. However, the welcome and farewell party was really meaningful for making new human relations.

　At that time, when I was young, after a month or so, I became familiar with my work and the people around me, adapted to new commuting routes, new environments, and types of work. Strangely enough, I gradually started forgetting my old job, and by the second year I was completely used to it. At that time, "My brain might be flexible".

　By the way, for everyone, when the active service comes to 30 to 40 years, "What about retirement?", people tend to think that it will be a relaxed and leisurely life, but I think this is the worst for "brain activity and healthy longevity".

　The movement of the body slows down, and the brain tends to acquire the habit that "we can't respond to new changes." After retirement, we should be creative in our own way and live actively in the new environments like a fish in water.

　For doing that, "first, throw away everything we had, such as our title and position in the active service period" and we should build a new life for ourselves after retirement. I am of the opinion that the enthusiasm to get to the starting line of a “new life” that has never existed before is the most important thing after retirement.

　Now, It is said that we live in an age of 100 to 120 years. It may be possible that the period of after retirement will be longer than the period of active duty. Creativity by brain and healthy longevity have more indispensable for our after retirement.

※上記の英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/..

願い込め 倉賀野神社に 参拝す

　今日、４月１９日は語呂合わせで「良いキュウリの日」です。その名の通り、旬のキュウリは本当に美味しいです。また、今日は歩いて５分のところにある倉賀野神社の春の大祭です。

　ここでは植木市が開かれ、今日は天気も春らしく賑わうでしょう。私も参拝し、この一年の健康に感謝し、もし、神が受け入れてくれるなら、一つお願いをしてきます。

　庭は一年でも最もよい花の時季になり、ご覧の通り、紅い西洋シャクナゲと八重桜が共演しています。

　このシャクナゲは背が高い私よりもっと高さがあります。花の咲き具合から樹勢は健康です。私もこのシャクナゲに負けぬよう今日一日、Anti-aging をめざし、外で身体を動かし、ウォーキングでは２cmほど歩幅を広げて長い脚を有効に使いたいと思います。

Dear my friend who loves health and visiting shrine

　Today, April 19th is "Good Cucumber Day" in pun here in Japan. As the name suggests, seasonal cucumbers are really delicious beyond description. Also, today is the spring festival of Kuragano Shrine where is a 5-minute on foot from my residence.

　The market of plants will be held here, and the weather will be springy today. I also worship and thank God for my health of the days gone by. On the other hand, if God accepts me, I will ask God for important one for me.

　Now, the garden is the best flower season of the year, and as you can see, the red western rhododendron and the double cherry blossoms are co-starring.

　This rhododendron is taller than me. The tree vigor is healthy because of observing the condition of blooming. I would like to aim for Anti-aging all day today so as not to lose to this rhododendron, move my body outside, and when walking, I would like to widen my stride by about 2 cm using my long legs effectively.

※上記の英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

姿勢こそ 人に印象 与えるもの

　杉の木が「テッポウ」に丁度良い高さになり、いよいよ毎朝、体を鍛えてます。「テッポウ」は上体や肩甲骨のみならず、全身運動になります。腕で押した後、更に片足を樹木に引き寄せると一層、圧力が高まります。1セットは続けて２０回です。

　姿勢とは人の印象をあたえるものと感じます。また、姿勢は心の状態をも表現してます。良くない姿勢は胃や肺を圧迫します。「テッポウ」した後は牛乳を飲む習慣にしてます。運動と栄養は対になってると考えるからです。

Dear my friends abroad

 The height of the cedar tree as you see in the photo is just right for "Teppo" which means pushing-up like a sumo wrestler's exercise , and I finally train every morning. "Teppo" is not only for the upper body and shoulder blades, but also for whole body exercise. After pushing with my arms, I pull one foot toward the tree to increase the pressure. One set is 20 times in succession.

 I feel that "Posture changes people's impressions." Posture also expresses the state of mind. Correct posture does not put pressure on the stomach or lungs. I make it a habit to drink milk after "Teppo". I think exercise and nutrition are a pair.

上の拙い英文をネイティブの発音で聴くには英文をドラッグしてコピーし、次に貼り付けて下さい。なお、右上の欄を必ずUS Englishにしてください。https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

年を重ねるほど筋肉トレの重要性を悟る

　家で時間があると筋トレしてます。私の考えでは「生活することとは要するに筋肉を使うこと」です。私たちの身体には無意識に働く呼吸筋を初め、多くの筋肉が取り巻いてます。同じ種類の筋トレのみでなく、押したり持ち上げたりのほか、最近では引く力を鍛え、バランスを考えトレーニングします。

　引く力を鍛えるには筋トレ用のゴムを使います。引くことは結構楽しいです。１セット２０回引きます。

　いかに昔の考えから脱却できるかどうかです。今では学術的にも、年令が増すほど筋トレの必要性が叫ばれています。なお、筋トレ後は牛乳を飲みます。

　実は、筋肉が増えると安定した歌声になります。つまり、生活の質が向上します。

 When I have time at home, I do muscle training. I am of the opinion that "living is basically using muscles." Many muscles surround our body including the unconsciously moving respiratory muscles. Not only the same type of muscle training like pushing and lifting, but recently I train pulling force as well with a well-balanced method.

 I use the rubber for training. It's fun to pull. Drawing 20 times per set.

  How can we get rid of the fixed ideas? Nowadays, academically, the need for muscle training is being called out as the age increases. After muscle training, it is effective to drink milk.

 In fact, when gaining muscles, we will have a stable singing voice. In other words, it improves our quality of life.