榛名富士を見ましょう。

　高崎市や前橋市など群馬県南部の皆さん、榛名富士を見てください。山頂のロープウェイ駅付近にかなり明るい光が見えます。今までにはなかったことです。何のためでしょう。

注・・・午後６時に消えました。 　

　

　それにしても、日没時刻が大分伸びてきました。日没が最も早かったのは１２月５日の１６時２８分【群馬県】でしたが、それから１ヶ月経った本日１月４日の日没時刻は１６時４２分です。このため、すでに１４分も日没時刻が遅くなってます。従って、本当に暗くなるのは５時過ぎになりました。

Dear my Facebook friends

　To everyone in southern Gumma Prefecture, such as Takasaki-City and Maebashi-City, please look at Haruna Fuji. You can see a very bright light near the ropeway station at the summit. I've never seen such a light before. I wonder what it's for?

Note: It disappeared at 6pm.
　　　

　Even so, sunset times have gotten much later. The earliest sunset was on December 5th at 4:28pm [Gumma Prefecture], but one month later, today, January 4th, the sunset time is 4:42pm. This means that sunset has already become 14 minutes later. As a result, it doesn't really get dark until after 5pm.

貴重な「日本シャクナゲ」と共にある四季の生活

　古来より日本の山岳地帯で何十万年も生き続けてる「日本シャクナゲ」に感銘した私は、現在、庭で２本を育ててます。時々、倉賀野をウォーキングし、あちこち見渡しても「日本シャクナゲ」に出会うことは先ずありません。このため、貴重なシャクナゲです。この「日本シャクナゲ」が、ここ数日、色濃く紅葉し、その後、古い葉は落葉し、何とはなしに侘しい晩秋の佇まいが感じられます。

　しかし、日本シャクナゲは常緑樹です。このため、ご覧の通り、現在、緑の葉と紅葉した葉が混在し、コントラストがきれいです。常緑樹とは常に緑の葉をつけてますが、実は、古い葉は紅葉し、その後に落葉します。来春４月の開花後に新芽が生じ、再来年に咲く蕾が生まれます。このため、常に、次の季節のために準備しています。

　近年、私が群馬県北部で「日本シャクナゲ」の群生を確認した場所は嬬恋村の「愛妻の丘」です。その名が示す通り、ここは私には縁のない場所です。しかし、広大な大自然に囲まれた高地で景色は抜群で、群馬県では私のお気に入りです。あるいは、内心、嬬恋と愛妻という地名に憧れてるのかもしれません。来年の５月～６月の開花時には、再度、愛車でこの地を訪れ、本場の「日本シャクナゲ」を見て、深みある日本の美を感じたい。

【英文には、上記の文と多少の差異がございます。】

Dear my friends who are crazy about Japanese rhododendron and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

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

　I'm deeply impressed by the Japanese rhododendron, which has survived in Japan's mountainous regions for hundreds of thousands of years since ancient times. So that I currently have two Japanese rhododendron growing in my garden. Occasionally, I take walks through Kuragano-town and look around, but it's rare to come across a Japanese rhododendron. This means so precious. As you can see in the photo, these Japanese rhododendrons have turned a deep red over the past few days, and then the older leaves fell off. This natural phenomenon is creating a somewhat desolate late autumn atmosphere.

　However, Japanese rhododendron is evergreen tree. Therefore, as you can see, the current mixture of green and red leaves creates a beautiful contrast. Evergreen trees always have green leaves throughout the year, but in fact, the older leaves turn red and then gradually fall off. After flowering in April next spring, new shoots will appear, forming buds that will bloom the year after next. This means it is always preparing for the next season.

　In recent years, the place in northern Gumma Prefecture where I've recognized a gregarious place of Japanese rhododendrons is "Aisai no Oka" that means a hill of beloved wife in Tsumagoi-Village. As the name suggests, this is a place that has no connection to my situation. However, the highland scenery surrounded by vast nature is outstanding, and it's my favorite place in Gumma Prefecture. Or perhaps deep down, I adore the place names both of Tsumagoi and Aisai. When the flowers bloom here in May or June next year, I'd like to return to this place by my blue cope together with you in heart, see the authentic Japanese rhododendrons, and appreciate the profound beauty of Japan.

情熱も体力もあった若き日

  【山の写真はクリックし拡大してご覧下さい。臨場感が出ます。】

　写真の三角錐の山は群馬県の中央に聳える榛名山系・水沢山【標高１１９４m】です。昭和時代に２人の娘を連れて、この尖った山頂へ登りました。未だよちよち歩きだった写真の次女をずっと背負って登ったのですから、当時の私は体力も情熱もあったのですね。

　この辺は太平洋からも日本海からもほぼ同じ距離にあると言われ、同時に日本のほぼ真ん中と考えられます。高崎市の方から見ると榛名山の最も東に位置する峰です。後方に見える市街地は渋川市です。以前に、榛名山系の隣りの雌岳(めだけ)の山頂に登ったとき急に視界に入って来たのがこの三角錐の水沢山で驚いたものです。この写真を撮った雌岳の山頂は群馬県人でも登る人が少ないです。しかし、ここから眺める水沢山の光景はため息が出るほど素晴らしくお薦めです。

　ところで、今朝は７時４０分より倉賀野小学校児童のための交通指導が学校近くの信号機の所であり、私は黄色いユニフォームを着てまじめにやります。２００名程の子供たちがこの横断歩道を渡ります。この交差点は通勤の車が多く、子供たちの退避場所も狭く、目が離せません。このため、私の朝食は交通指導が終わってから戴きます。今日は秋らしい良い気候なので自然散策を予定してます。

Dear my friends who are crazy about mountaineering and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

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

　The triangular mountain in the photo is Mt. Mizusawa (1,194m above sea level), part of the Haruna mountain range, towering in the center of Gumma Prefecture. During the end of Showa era, I took my two daughters and climbed this summit. I carried my second daughter who was still a toddler in the photo, on my back the whole route up, so I was quite physical and passionate at the time.

　This area is said to be roughly the same distance from the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of ​​Japan side, and is also considered roughly the center of Japan. Seen from Takasaki City, this is the easternmost peak of Mt. Haruna. The urban area visible in the background is the city of Shibukawa. I was surprised when previously climbing to the summit of Mt. Me-dake, next to the Haruna mountain range, the triangular Mt. Mizusawa suddenly came into view. Few people, even in Gumma Prefecture, climb the peak of Mt. Me-dake. However, the view of Mt. Mizusawa from here is breathtakingly beautiful, and I highly recommend you to visit.

　Not change the subject, but this morning from 7:40am, I will practice the traffic instruction for the students of Kuragano Elementary School at the traffic lights near the school, and I will be doing it diligently in my yellow uniform. Around 200 children will cross this crosswalk. This intersection is crowded with commuting cars and there is little place to wait for the children, so I have to keep an eye on them. For this reason, I will be having my breakfast alone after the traffic instruction session is over. Today is a lovely autumn day in Gumma Prefecture, so I am planning to go for a walk in nature.

　

「こんにゃくパーク」へドライブ

　先日バス旅行で行った甘楽町の「こんにゃくパーク」まで午前中にドライブし、境内の野菜売り場で、オクラ、茄子、キュウリ、ニンニク、キャベツなどの野菜をまとめて購入してきました。新鮮で安かったです。

　「こんにゃくパーク」に１０時半頃、到着しましたが、夏休みだからでしょう。驚いたことに県外の車を含め駐車場は満車の状態でしたが、どうにか駐車できました。野菜を１０００円程たくさん買ったため一人では食べ切れないので、近くに住むやはり一人暮らしの姉にお裾分けしたら喜んでました。

Dear friends

　In the morning, I drove to the Konnyaku Park that means Devil's tongue Park at Kanra-Town in western Gumma prefecture, where I had recently visited on a bus trip. I bought a bunch of vegetables at the vegetable stand inside the park, such as okra, eggplant, cucumber, garlic, and cabbage. They were fresh and cheap.

　I arrived at Konnyaku Park around 10:30. Because it was summer vacation, it was crowded with people. To my surprise, the parking lot was full, including cars from outside the prefecture, but I managed to find a parking spot. I bought a lot of vegetables, about 1,000 yen worth, and couldn't eat them all by myself, so I shared some with my sister who lives nearby and also lives alone, she was very happy.

多くの外国人が働いてる現状を見る

　昨日、倉賀野町上３地区と私の所属する上４地区合同による久しぶりのバス旅行では「甘楽こんにゃくパーク」を訪れました。このすぐ南には上信越道が走っており、交通が便利なこともあるのでしょう。月曜日の午前中であるのに、多くの人で賑わってました。

　目的地に着くや否や目に入って来たのはご覧の色彩的な観覧車です。足湯もあるには驚きました。しかし、それ以上に私の心を奪ったものは写真上の木造の休憩所です。仲間とお弁当を食べ、一休みしたくなるような雰囲気です。試しに座ってみたら椅子の背もたれの角度がよく、リラックスできました。内心、私の家の庭に作りたくなりました。しかし、庭に作って、一人で休憩してても絵になりませんね。

　中に入って驚いたことは工場見学のときです。「こんにゃくを原料とした製品」を作る過程です。見学コースが出来ていて、高い位置から作業の様子が見られます。生産されてる製品は私たちがスーパーやコンビニでよく見られる「ゼリーなど、こんにゃくが原料の食品」の数々です。機械が生産しつつ、それをベルトコンベアーによって運ばれる流れ作業で製品がどんどん出来上がり、最後に段ボール箱に詰められます。

　ところで、現在、参議院議員選挙の真っ只中ですが、各党の演説を聞くと、中には、外国人を排斥すべきと主張してる候補者もいます。しかし、ここで驚いたことの一つが「工場内で働いている１００人以上と思われる従業員の殆どがアジア系の男女の外国人」です。良く動き、せっせと働いてます。結果として、出来た製品の殆どは私たち日本人が常食する食品の数々です。「私たちの食生活はこれらの人たちによって支えられてることを実感」しました。店内で働いてる外国女性がいたので「お国はどちらですか」と尋ねたところ、「ネパールです。」と応えてくれました。私はダン二ャバード【有難うございます。】と返しました。

Dear my friends who are crazy about our daily life and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my dinner in Japan time.

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

　Yesterday, on a joint bus trip for the first time in a while, Kuragano Town's Kami-3 District and Kami-4 District which I belong to, we visited "Kanra Konnyaku that means Devil's Tongue Park." The Joshinetsu Expressway runs just south of here, so transportation is convenient. Even though it was a Monday morning, the park was crowded with people.

　As soon as we arrived at our destination, the first thing that caught my eye was the colorful Ferris wheel shown in the picture. I was surprised to see that there was a foot bath. However, what captivated me even more was the small wooden rest hut shown in the picture. It has an atmosphere that makes us to eat lunch with friends and take a break. I tried sitting in it, and the angle of the chair back was just right, so I was able to relax. In my heart, I wanted to make one in my garden in the future. However, it wouldn't be picturesque to make one in my garden and take a break by myself alone.

　The thing that surprised me inside was the factory seeing. It was the process of making "products made from konnyaku." There was a tour course about 300 meters, and I could see the working place from a high vantage point. The products they produce are a variety of "foods made from konnyaku, such as jelly," which we often see in supermarkets and convenience stores. As machines produce the products, they are transported along a conveyer belt, and the products are completed one after another, and finally packed into cardboard boxes.

　By the way, throughout Japan, we are currently in the midst of the House of Councilor's election, and when listening to the speeches of each party, some candidates are arguing that foreigners should be excluded. However, one thing that surprised me here is that "Most of the employees who seem to be more than 100 people working in the factory, are foreign men and women from Asian descent." They move around a lot and work hard. As a result, most of the products they produce are a variety of foods that we Japanese eat regularly. "Feeling that our diet is supported by these people," I left Konyaku Park. There was a foreign lady working in the store, so I asked her, "Where are you from?" She replied, "Nepal." I replied, "Dannyabad that means thank you."

　

明日はバス旅行・・・「こんにゃくパーク」へ

　明日は久しぶりのバス旅行で、９時３０分に倉賀野を出発です。私が住む上４地区と、上３地区合同で、行き先は午前中に甘楽町小幡の「こんにゃくパーク」の工場見学、買い物、バイキング試食などです。

　午後はそのままバスで移動し、「片岡長寿センター」で入浴、昼食、そして親睦会です。会員の８割は女性です。私は昔、勤務が富岡だったので、小幡へは幾度か行きましたが、「こんにゃくパーク」へは今回が初めてです。

　Tomorrow is our bus trip in a while, departing Kuragano-town at 9:30. It's a joint trip between Kami-4 district where I live, and Kami-3 district. Our destination in the morning is a factory tour of Konnyaku that means devil's tongue Park in Obata in Kanra Town, where we'll go shopping and enjoy a buffet tasting.

　In the afternoon, we'll continue on the bus and go to the Kataoka Longevity Center for a bath, lunch, and a social gathering. 80% of the members are ladies. I used to work in Tomioka-city, so I've been to Obata several times, but this will be my first time at Devil's tongue Park.

暫くぶりに「上信越道」を走行・・・しかし１０分

　今日は午前１０時頃から喫茶「さんぽ道」でリラックスしてきました。今日は３月１１日なので、最初にピアノで東北大震災復興曲「花が咲く」をト長調で弾きました。今でも自宅に戻れない人たちの辛さを胸に弾きました。

　その後、五輪真弓の「恋人よ」を、ホ短調で静かに語りかけるように旋律をしんみり弾き、単純な伴奏付けて弾いてみました。以前よりこの曲の悲しみが表現できたように思います。今度、寂しそうにしている女性客が一人でいたら、何気なくそっと弾いてみようと思います。帰りに大きなトマト４個を買いました。

　午後は先程、吉井ドリームセンターで入浴してきました。暫くぶりに藤岡インターから吉井インターまで上信越道経由で走行したところ、愛車Audi TT Quattroは「水を得た魚の如く」快調に時速１００Kで走りました。扁平率３５％のタイヤは路面に吸い付くような安定走行となり、僅か１０分で着きました。今度は軽井沢の方まで走ってみます。たまには高速道を走り、この車本来の調子を上げてやりたいです。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSb4Ro81AAE

Dear my FB friends who are crazy about driving through high way and great music.

　Today, I have been relaxing at my favorite cafe "Sampo-michi" since 10am. Today is March 11th, so I started by playing the song "Hana ga Saku" (Flowers Bloom) in G major by the piano, which is a song about the recovery from the Northern-East earthquake. I played it with thinking the pain of those who are still unable to return to their homes.

　After that, since there were no customers, I played the melody of Mayumi Itsuwa's "Koibitoyo" that means "Oh my sweetheart" by the piano in E minor, as if speaking quietly with simple accompaniment. I think I was able to express the sadness of this music better than before. Next time, if I see a lonely-looking lady customer alone, I will play this music casually and quietly. I bought four large tomatoes as a souvenir.

　In the afternoon, I just took a bath at the Yoshii Dream Center. It's been a while since I last drove from Fujioka Interchange to Yoshii Interchange via the Joshinetsu Expressway, and my beloved Audi TT Quattro ran smoothly at 100K/h like a fish in water. The 35% aspect ratio tires were stable and seemed to stick to the road surface, and I arrived in just 10 minutes only. Next time, I'll drive to Karuizawa on the highway once in a while and get into good shape

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

私のお気に入りウォーキングコース

 
　私のお気に入りの一つは、トンネル内のウォーキングでもあります。季節を問わず、一定の温度です。ここ旧碓氷峠の信越線は、昔、軽井沢へ行く途中、この中を列車で通過した思い出があります。既に数回のここでのウォーキング中、トンネル内で歌うとよく響き上手に聴こえます。トンネルを出ると有名な「めがね橋」の上に出て、下には碓氷峠の道路がくねってます。

　周囲の風景は新緑の頃がお薦めですが、秋も良く、「秋の夕日に照る山紅葉」の歌詞で始まる唱歌「もみじ」はこの碓氷峠の紅葉がモデルになってます。歩いて疲れたら、近くに「峠の湯」があり心身ともに寛げます。もう少し待って本格的に春になったら、また、３～４K歩きに行きます。元々鉄道のトンネルですから、勾配は一定です。

Dear my friends who are crazy about nature, spa and great music

　One of my favorite trainings is walking in the tunnel. As you know, the temperature is constant regardless of the seasons. I remember passing through this old Usui Pass on JR Shinetsu Line on my way to Karuizawa a long time ago. I have already walked a few times here. If singing in the tunnel, it resonates well. When we leave the tunnel, we will be on the famous "Megane Bridge" that means like huge grasses, and below we will see the winding road of Usui Pass.

　The season I recommend you to go, is during fresh greenery of May, because the surrounding scenery is best, but autumn is also good. The song "Momiji" which begins with the lyrics "The autumnal tint on the mountain shines in the autumn sunset" was modeled of this Usui Pass. If we get tired from walking, there is a spa named "Toge no Yu" nearby where we can relax both body and mind. I wait a little longer and spring comes, I will go 3-4km walk, but I would like to find someone to walk with me. Since it was originally a railway tunnel, the gradient is constant.

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

節分で追い出された鬼を全国から呼び込む鬼石町

　調べてみると、節分の今日の群馬県の日の出は６時４４分、日の入りは１７時１１分ですから昼の長さは１０時間１７分です。また、今日の正午の太陽の角度は３７°です。因みに冬至の昼の長さは９時間４１分で、太陽の角度は３０°でした。

　２月には日の出は毎朝１分ずつ早くなり、同様に日の入りも１分ずつ遅くなるので、昼の時間は毎日２分ずつ長くなります。日照時間に敏感な植物はいよいよ芽を吹き出し、荒涼としていた庭は次第に緑が多くなるでしょう。

　ところで、節分といえば「福は内、鬼は外」の掛け声で鬼を追い出し、厄よけ招福を願うものですが、群馬県鬼石町は違います。全国の節分で追い出された鬼を呼び込みます。

　地名から「鬼と三波石」を大切にしてきた鬼石町では「鬼は内、福は内」という掛け声で、鬼を呼び込み、全国から追い出されてきた鬼にとっては楽園かもしれません。

Dear my friends abroad who are interested in bean throwing festival held tonight

　According to my research, the sun rises at 6:44 and sets at 17:11 today's Setsubun that means when dividing spring from winter, so the length of the day will be 10 hours and 17 minutes. Also, the angle of the sun at noon today is 37°. By the way, the day length of the winter solstice was 9 hours and 41 minutes, and the angle of the sun was 30 degrees.

　In February, the sun rises 1 minute earlier each morning, and the sun sets 1 minute later, so the daytime lengthens by 2 minutes day by day. Plants that are sensitive to daylight hours will finally sprout, and the desolate garden will gradually become greener.

　Not change the subject, but when it comes to Setsubun, in General, Japanese people shout out "Fortune-in, devils-out" to ward off devils and pray for good luck. But Onishi Town in Gumma Prefecture is different. It attracts demons that have been driven out on Setsubun nationwide.

　In Onishi-Town, which has been cherishing "devils and Samba-stone" from the name of the place, it may be a paradise for devils who have been driven out from all over the country. The people of Onishi-town shout out "Devils-in, Fortune-in".

※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/..

群馬県から埼玉県へ 歩いて県境を越えた

【写真をクリックし拡大すると、臨場感が出ます。】

　昨日は高崎総合医療センターで、午前９時より上顎洞の経過観察を受けてから一旦家に戻り、その後ウォーキングに集中しました。病気回復や健康増進には、やはり、医師や薬に頼るのみでなく、自らできることは「血流促進と筋肉増強」と考え、大げさに言うと、群馬県から埼玉県へ生まれて初めて徒歩で県境を越えました。

　と言っても、昨年１２月３日に開通した新町～上里間の新しい神流川橋の幅３mもある歩道をてくてく一人で歩きました。橋の長さは推定８００m。それにしても巨大な橋で、この地の渋滞解消に大きく前進です。橋は暫定的開通で、将来は４車線になり、その橋桁はすでに完成してます。

　実は、この辺一帯は烏川と神流川の合流地点です。以前に勤務したことがある上武大学の近くに駐車し、そこから、先ず烏川の土手の上を歩いて、その後、神流川の土手【写真下】に入り、やっとのことで、この巨大な橋に辿り着きました。

　新しい神流川橋は誠に強靭な作りで、大型トラックが連続して走って来ても、全く揺れません。日本の橋建設の高度な実力を

感じます。この日は天気も最高。埼玉県側に着くだけで１時間かかり、帰路も同じコースをウォーキングし、私としてはよく歩きました。

　　

Dear my friends abroad who like walking and nature

　I received follow-up observations of the maxillary sinuses at 9:00 a.m. at the Takasaki General Medical Center yesterday. Then I returned home. After that I concentrated on walking. In order to recover from illness and improve health, we should not only rely on doctors and medicine, but I think that what I can do on my own way is "improvement of blood flow and muscle strengthening".

　Though I said that, I walked alone on the 3-meter-wide sidewalk of the new Kanna River Bridge between Shinmachi-town and Kamisato-town, which opened on December 3, last year. The length of the bridge is estimated at 800m. Even so, it is a huge bridge, and it is a big step forward in relieving the traffic jam in this national road 17. The bridge is tentatively opened and will have four lanes in the future, and the girder has already been constructed.

　"Actually, this area is the confluence of the Karasu River and the Kanna River." I parked my blue car near Jobu University, where I used to work, and from there, I first walked on the bank of the Karasu River, then entered the bank of the Kanna River [bottom right of the photo], and finally I reached this huge bridge.　

　The new Kanna River Bridge is so strong that it doesn't shake at all even when large trucks come running continuously. I feel advanced capabilities of Japanese bridge construction. The weather is clear up on this day. It took me an hour just to reach the Saitama Prefecture side, and I walked the same course on my way back, therefore I walked a lot after a long interval.

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