植物の色彩は変化し、社会は動き出す。

　庭の植物たちは日に日に新たな変化を見せてます。写真後方の枝垂れ梅はすでに花が散り、代わって新緑になりつつあります。これから本格的な光合成の季節に入り、新鮮な酸素を胸いっぱい吸える私は有難いです。樹木が大きいので今後はたくさんの梅の実を実らせます。収穫は６月で、私一人ではどうにも対処できないので、収穫した梅は昨年から梅ジュース用に喫茶にプレゼントしてます。

　写真中央はこの地に引っ越して来た前々回の東京オリンピックの１９６４年に、亡父が植えた木蓮のその子供です。一般的に花木の中で紫の花は少なく貴重です。このため、今後大きく育てます。おそらく、父もどこかでこのモクレンの色彩に感銘し、ぜひ庭に植えようとしたのでしょう。父はおよそ半世紀半前に他界しましたが、父の植えた植物は今でもあり、それらは金木犀、ツツジ、コデマリ、椿、合歓木、ユキヤナギ、そして、この木蓮など数種が今でも花を咲かせてます。

　ところで、地元倉賀野小も明日から新学期が始まり、地区役員による朝の交通指導が数日間、行なわれます。私も仲間と共に未来ある子供の安全と成長を期して、挨拶などの声掛け運動を中心に、新一年生や一人ぼっちで登校する児童を特に見守るつもりです。

　　

　このように書くと、一見「世のため人のため」と思われがちですが、実は、この仕事が私自身の「認知症を遅らせる」ために有効な手段と考えてます。今日も一日、身体をよく動かし、一つでも物を覚え、新たな発見を探します。

Dear my friends who began the new fiscal year.

　The plants in my garden are showing new changes day by day. The weeping plum tree in the background of the photo has already finished its blossoms and is now covered in fresh green leaves. Now that the season of photosynthesis is upon us, I'm grateful to be able to breathe in plenty of fresh oxygen in the garden. Because the tree is large, it will bear many plums in the coming months. The harvest will be in June, and since I can't handle it all by myself, I've been donating the harvested plums to a coffee shop for plum juice since last year.

　The tree in the center of the photo is a descendant of the magnolia tree which my late father planted in 1964, the year of the Tokyo Olympics, when we moved to this area. Purple flowers are generally rare among flowering trees, so that this tree is precious. Therefore, I plan to raise it large. Perhaps my father was also impressed by the color of this magnolia and wanted to plant it in the garden. My father passed away about half a century ago, but the plants he planted are still there, and several species, including fragrant olive, azaleas, spirea, camellias, silk tree, kodemari spirea, and this magnolia, are still in bloom.

　Not change the subject, but the new school term will begon tomorrow at Kuragano Elementary School, and for several days, district officers will be conducting morning traffic guidance. Together with my colleagues, I intend to focus on ensuring the safety and growth of these promising children, primarily through greetings and verbal encouragement, and paying special attention to the new first-graders and those walking to school alone.

While this might seem like "doing for the good of society and others," I actually consider that this work is an effective way to "delay the onset of senile dementia" in my own life. Today, I will move my body well as usual, try to memorize English new words at least several words, and look for new discoveries.

来月は・・・楽しみなバス旅行

　未だちょっと先ですが、私の倉賀野町上４地区と、上３地区では合同のバス旅行が計画されてます。皆さんもそうでしょうが、最近はバスに乗ることがめったになくなりました。前回のバス旅行にも私は参加しましたが、不思議なことに、いつも通る道でもバスに乗ると目線が高く、窓が大きいため景色が違って見えるのです。同時に、バスは広くて乗りごごちがよく、リラックスできます。

　一方、バス旅行は車内で、知ってる人や新たな人ともおしゃべりができ、交流の輪が広がります。参加者は圧倒的に女性が多いです。私は上３地区にも知ってる方がいるので、前回同様、参加してくれることを希望してます。その方は以前に私の家の近くに住んでいた方で、若く見える話の好きな女性です。

　ところで、行先は２か所です。最初は「大塚製薬」を見学します。個人では行けない所なので、平素お世話になってる薬ができる過程が見られれば勉強になるでしょう。そして、次に訪れるのは片岡長寿センターです。ここでは入浴と昼食、そして演芸を見たり聞いたり、仲間が出演したりです。きっと、普段の孤独感から解放され、楽しいバス旅行になると今から期待してます。

Dear my Facebook friends including a New-Zealander

　Although it will be scheduled next month, a joint bus trip is being planned for my district, Kami-4, and the Kami-3 districts of Kuragano-Town. Like many of you, we rarely take the bus these days. I participated in the last bus trip as well. Strangely enough, even on familiar routes, the scenery looks different because of the higher vantage point and larger windows. At the same time, bus is spacious, comfortable, and relaxing. 

　On the other hand, bus trip allow us to chat with people we know and new people, expanding our social circle. The vast majority of participants are ladies. I know a lady in the Kami-3 district, and I hope she'll participate again, just like last time. She used to live near my house before. She's a young-looking, talkative beautiful lady like you.

　Generally, it's a place we can't go to individually, so it will be educational to see the process of how the medicines we use every day are made. Next, we'll visit the Kataoka Longevity Center. Here, we'll have a bath, lunch, and opportunities to watch entertainment, including performances by our friends. I'm really looking forward to this fun bus trip, which will surely free me from my usual loneliness.

喜びを分かち合う

　今日の上毛新聞の読者投稿欄「ひろば」に友人「時計屋の隣りさん」の文章が掲載されたことから、彼からお誘いがあり、今宵は高崎の某所でお祝い会です。

　一方、ご存知の通り、掲載されたWBCの放送に関する彼の文章を私のブログでも他県の人に紹介しました。このため、私と一緒に祝います。では行って参ります。

　My friend "The Watch Shop Neighbor" invited me to a celebration party at the tavern "Baku" in Takasaki tonight, following an article by him being published in the reader's submissions section "Hiroba" in today's Jomo Newspaper in Gumma Prefecture.

　Meanwhile, as you already know, I also shared his opinion about the WBC broadcasting on my weblog for people from other prefectures, so he and I will celebrate today's Joy. Well, I'm off from Kuragano-Station.

半世紀前に作曲した「あった５１２番」

　私は今までに歌を２曲作詞作曲しました。その中の一曲は、半世紀ほど前、一番上の姉の長男が高校に合格した記念に、その喜びを作曲したのが「あった５１２番」です。本人の嬉しさはもちろん、私の両親を含め、家族が本当に喜んだので、その心境を歌にしました。

　不思議なことに、歌詞だけではいつかは消えてしまいますが、メロディーを作曲をすると、人の心の中にそのメロディーが刻み込まれ、ずっと生き続けることから、生涯に亘り消えることはありません。

　実は、この歌を今から２５年ほど前に彼の結婚式で、私が自らギター伴奏しながら歌い、暫くぶりに披露しましたら、本人はもちろん、彼の新婦は初めてこの歌を聴き、すごく嬉しそうだった笑顔が忘れられません。

　一般的に、人は歌や楽器演奏は好きですが、作曲する経験は少ないと思われます。従来の音楽教育では、合唱を含め、歌ったり、鑑賞は多いですが、作曲は極端に少ないです。これからの音楽教育では、自らの作品が「人々の心の中に宿り続ける不思議さを持つ作曲」を大いに取り入れるべきでしょう。

Dear my Facebook friends who are interesting to real joy of music

　I have written two songs so far. One of them, "Atta 512" was composed about half a century ago to commemorate my eldest sister's eldest son's successful high school entrance exam. It was a song I composed to express his joy at the occasion. It was not only the joy he felt, but also the joy it brought to my family, including my parents, so I immersed those feelings in composition.

　Strangely enough, lyrics will eventually fade away naturally, but when we compose a melody, that melody is engraved in the human heart and lives on forever, never to fade for the rest of our life.

　In fact, about 25 years ago, I sang this song myself, accompanying myself on guitar at his wedding, and performed it for the first time after composition. I will never forget the look of delight on the faces of not only him but also his bride, who were hearing this song for the first time.

　Generally, people enjoy singing and playing instruments, but have little experience composing music. Traditional music education involves a lot of singing and listening to music, including choruses, but very little composing. In future music education, we should make full use of composition that have the mysterious qualities that reside in people's hearts.

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.

　

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.

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.

月末と週末が重なる

　今日の午後は柴崎町の喫茶「さんぽ道」でカフェラテを戴きつつ、１時間ほど本を読みながら、のんびり過ごしました。女性客２名のみで空いていたので、今年になって初めてピアノを弾きました。楽譜を持って行くことはなく、いつものように知ってる曲を歌うように弾きます。その方が音色に重点を置きつつ弾けるので楽しいです。

　音楽の喜びは、音色を大切に、一本調子でなく急緩や音の大きさに変化つけ、しみじみ語るように表現したいものです。

　ところで、「カッキー、また行くのか」と叱られそうです。しかし、月末で週末なのでお許しください。その代わり、自分に厳しく倉賀野からウォーキングを兼ね、高崎まで５Kをてくてく歩いて行きます。今宵、いつもの高崎田町の某所で夕食を摂ります。

Dear my Facebook friends who like relaxed conversation.

　This afternoon, I spent an hour relaxing at the cafe "Sampo-michi" at Shibasaki-town, sipping a cafe latte and reading a book of psychology. There were only two other lady customers, so I played the piano for the first time this year. I don't bring sheet music with me, I always play music I know as if I'm singing. This way, I can focus on the tone quality which is fun.

　I am of the opinion that the joy of music is to cherish the tone quality, not just play in a monotonous style, but vary the speed and volume of the sound, and express it as if speaking a heartfelt story.

　By the way, I'll suppose your saying "Kakky, are you going again?" But tonight is the end of this month and this weekend, so please forgive me. Instead, I'll be so strict with myself that I walk 5km from Kuragano to Takasaki, which will be healthy and hungry, I guess. Tonight, I'll have dinner at my usual tavern named "Baku" in Takasaki Tamachi.

今宵、心を解放できるか！

　今宵は、高崎田町の某所で楽しく夕食です。ブログのコメンテーター「時計屋の隣りさん」も、おそらく参加予定で、いわば旧正月を祝います。

　毎日、一人での食事が続くと精神面で良くないので、１０日に一回ほどはここに行き、会話を楽しみつつ喉も潤します。

　今宵、たまには、ソプラノサキソフォーンを持って行こうと思います。もちろん、乾杯の前に演奏します。曲は「一月一日」F dur、「早春賦」F dur、「恋人よ」d minor を予定してます。

Dear my Facebook friends who are crazy about tone quality of music.

　Tonight I'll have a fun dinner at the tavern named "Baku" in Takasaki Tamachi. My blog commentator "The Clock Shop Neighbor" will probably join me, so we'll be celebrating the old New Year, so to speak.

　Eating alone every day isn't good for my mental health, so I come here about once every 10 days to enjoy conversation and quench my thirst.

　Tonight, I'm thinking of bringing my soprano saxophone with me for a change. Of course, I'll play before the toast. I'm planning to play "January 1st" in F dur, "Early Spring Song" in F dur, and "Sweetheart" in d minor, of course, thinking of you!

謹賀新年！

　１０数年前の１月１日、友人は暗い時間に家を出て、群馬県の榛名山系・水沢山山頂をめざし暗い中を一人で急勾配を登り、山頂で撮った地平線から昇る「初日の出」の写真を私に送ってくれました。この写真をよく見ると右下に微かに太陽に反射し光ってるものが見えます。これは群馬県北部を水源とする利根川です。時間帯は、太陽が赤城山南面の裾野からすっぽり顔を出してるので午前７時頃と推測されます。

　皆様、明けましておめでとうございます。昨年中はフェイスブックやブログを通じて、交流していただき心より感謝しております。特に群馬県にお住いの多くの方々、一方、遠く北海道や九州から、また、海外ではニュージーランドから毎日のようにアクセス戴き、若き日には、このような時代になるとは考えられなかったことで、夢のような文明の機器に不思議さを感じてます。

　私はフェイスブックやブログを起床してすぐに書いてきましたが、今年も継続したいです。それには健康管理を徹底し、どこへでも行ける体力と探究心の維持、何事も自らの目による確認を第一とし、新たな体験を通じて感想を持てるようにします。また、地球を含め天体の動き、音楽演奏【ピアノ、ソプラノサクソフォーン】の楽しさ、年を重ねても生活に結びついた英単語の習得などは今年も継続です。皆様、今年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。カッキー

Dear my Facebook friends in Northern and Southern Hemisphere

　On January 1st, over 10 years ago, a late friend Mr. Todokoro of mine left his home in the dark and climbed alone up the steep slope to the summit of Mt. Mizusawa in central Gumma Prefecture's Haruna mountain range. He sent me a photo of the first sunrise of the year, rising from the horizon. If you look closely at this photo, you can see a faint glint in the lower right. This is the Tone River, which originates in northern Gumma Prefecture. The time of day is estimated to be around 7:00 AM, as the sun rose completely from the foot of Mt. Akagi's southern slope.

　Happy New Year, everyone! I'm truly grateful for your communication I received through Facebook and my blog last year. I've received daily access from many people, especially those living in Gumma Prefecture, as well as from as far away as Hokkaido and Kyushu, and even from as far away as New Zealand at Auckland. In my younger days, I couldn't have imagined we'd live in such an age, and I find these dreamlike devices of modern civilization truly fascinating.

　I've been writing on Facebook and my blog as soon as I wake up, and I hope to continue doing this year as well. To achieve this, I will thoroughly manage my health, maintain the physical strength to go anywhere and research, and prioritize seeing things with my own eyes, so that I can form impressions through new experiences. I will also continue to learn about the movement of celestial bodies, including the Earth, the joy of playing music (piano and soprano saxophone), and learn English vocabulary that is relevant to daily life as I get older. Thank you all for your continued support this year. from Kakky