思わず、シャッターを切る

　午後６時３０分に撮影した８月最後の夕焼けです。もしかして、このまま台風１０号が海の方へ去って行く兆候でしょうか。我が家の三階から撮りました。中央は活火山・浅間山です。

　自然は脅威と、このように恩恵を齎すことが分かります。いよいよ明日から９月です。皆様、本格的な秋になってもブログを介してよろしくお願い申し上げます。

Dear friends

　This is the last sunset of August, photographed by me at 6:30pm. Perhaps, is this a sign that Typhoon No. 10 will move out to sea? I took this photo from the third floor of my house. In the center is the active volcano, Mount Asama.
 　

　You can see that nature can bring both threats and blessings like this. Tomorrow is finally the beginning of September. I hope you will continue to follow me on weblog, even as autumn truly arrives.

低気圧から高気圧への推移

午後６時の段階で、雨を降らせた低気圧が通り過ぎ、西から太陽が差し始めてます。明日は晴れでしょう。しかし、東の空には未だに真っ黒な低気圧の雲が目え、群馬県は現在、丁度、高気圧と低気圧の間にあることがよく分かります。

　写真は上が活火山・浅間山です。その写真内の左下に見える像が高崎観音です。長い山は榛名山です。いずれの写真も３階の窓から撮りました。

　私の風邪もこの天気のように、明日は回復するでしょうか。

Dear my Facebook friends

　As of 6:30 pm, the low pressure system that brought the rain has passed, and the sun is beginning to shine from the west. Tomorrow will be a fine day. However, the pitch black clouds of the low pressure system are still visible in the eastern sky. Therefore, I can recognize that Gumma Prefecture where I live is currently located exactly between high and low pressure systems.

　The photo at the top is of the famous active volcano, Mt. Asama. The figure visible in the bottom left of the photo is Takasaki Kannon. The long mountain is Mt. Haruna near the well-known Ikaho spa. The photo with the black clouds at the bottom right is my Kuragano-town. All of these photos were taken by me from a third-floor window.

　I wonder if my cold will go away by tomorrow, like this weather.

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

暫くぶりに森の中をウォーキング

　鬱蒼とした樹木に覆われてる「群馬の森」の中を昨日の午後、１時間ほどウォーキングしてきました。ここは私の家から比較的近い高崎市綿貫町にある広大な森です。緑の中を歩くと、平素の喧騒とした社会から離れ、こんな私でも「人間性を取り戻す」感覚です。

　多くの樹木は、その１本１本の高さが２０m程の巨木ばかりで、樹齢１００～２００年と推定できます。その中をご覧の通り遊歩道が整備され、歩きやすくウォーキングの理想郷です。平素、私は烏川や鏑川を見ながら土手を歩くことに慣れてますが、このように空気のよい森の中をウォーキングするのも実に健康的です。

　歩きながら、ふと昔を思い出しました。長女が１才でよちよち歩きの頃です。私の両親と共に家族５人でここに来たことが蘇りました。それにしても、当時からずいぶん年数が経ったと実感です。その長女と、当時まだ生まれてなかった次女が今宵それぞれ家族を連れて、我が家で孫娘の誕生会が開かれるのですから時代が変わりました。

　実は、私が小学生の頃、この群馬の森の中に「岩鼻中学校」があり、私は訪れたことがあります。というのは、私の姉がそこで音楽教師をしていたからです。　

Dear my friends abroad

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

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

　Yesterday afternoon, I walked for about an hour through the densely growing "Gumma Forest". This is a vast forest located in Watanuki-town, Takasaki City, which is relatively close to my residence. When I walk through the greenery, I get away from the hustle and bustle of society and though like this man, I feel "regaining humanity."

　Many of the trees are huge beyond expectation, each around 20 meters tall, and are estimated to be 100 to 200 years old. As you can see, there is a well-developed promenade, making it an ideal place for walking. Normally, I'm used to walking along the bank of the Karas and Kabra rivers while looking at them, but walking in the forest with good air like this is also really healthy.

　While I was walking, I suddenly remembered the past. It brought back memories of coming here with my parents as a family of five when my eldest daughter was one year old and a toddler. My second daughter was not yet born at the time. Even so, I feel that many years have passed since then. Times have changed. By the way, my eldest daughter and second daughter will be holding a birthday party for second daughter's daughter tonight at my home with their families together.

　In fact, when I was an elementary school student, there was a school called "Iwahana Junior High School" in this Gumma forest, and I had visited it. Because my eldest sister was a music teacher there.

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

浅間山を眺める度に、蘇る若き日の登頂

　高崎市木部町の鏑川の土手から、午前中に撮った活火山・浅間山です。青空とマッチして優美にして雄大な白銀の姿です。標高２５６８mの威容を見ると、群馬県に住んでいて良かったとつくづく思います。

　しかし、自然は素晴らしい景色という恩恵を与えるのみでなく、長い年月に私たちの祖先は浅間山の脅威に震えました。１７８３年(天明３年)には、地元・鎌原村を襲う大噴火が起こり、２４１年経過した今でも、多くの民家と４００名以上と言われる人命を飲み込んだままになってます。流れ出た熱泥流は我妻川から利根川を下り、５０km以上離れた群馬県東部にまで被害を及ぼしたと記録されてます。

　私が中学生の頃にも、たびたび大噴火が起こり、頂上から５０００m程もくもく立ち昇る噴煙の光景が今でも目に焼き付いてます。

　若き日、元気だった私はこの浅間山に３回登頂し、山頂は別天地のため四方八方の光景が素晴らしく、広大な関東平野と利根川の蛇行、北アルプスの連なり、高く見えた富士山の姿は今でも鮮明に覚えています。

　それ以上に、浅間山山頂で最も印象深かったことは、直径は３００mほど、２００mほど垂直に切り立った深い火口で、常に崖の途中から煙が出てました。人類は月世界に行けても、浅間山の火口底に降りた人は未だ居ないでしょう。

Dear my overseas friends who are interested in active volcano

　This is the active volcano, Mt. Asama, taken by me in the morning from the bank of the Kabra River in Kibe-town, Takasaki City. It has an elegant and majestic silvery appearance that matches the blue sky in this season. When I see the majesty of the mountain at an altitude of 2,568m, I am truly glad that I live in Gumma Prefecture, Japan.

　However, nature does not only provide us with the blessings of wonderful scenery, but many years ago, our ancestors trembled at the threat of Mt. Asama. In 1783 (Tenmei 3), a large eruption occurred that hit the local village named Kambara, and even now, 241 years passed, many homes and over 400 people were berried by the volcanic eruption. It is recorded that the thermal mudslide that flowed from the Agatsuma River down the Tone River caused damage as far as eastern Gumma Prefecture, more than 50 km away.

　When I was a junior high school student, large eruptions often occurred, and the sight of volcanic smoke rising 5,000 meters from the summit is still etched in my mind.

　When I was young and energetic, I climbed Mt. Asama three times. The summit was a different world, so the views in all directions were spectacular. The vast Kanto Plain and the meandering Tone-River, the Northern Alps, and the high view of Mt. Fuji. I still remember it vividly.

　More than that, the most impressive memory about the summit of Mt. Asama was the deep crater, about 300m in diameter and about 200m vertical depth, with smoke constantly coming out from the middle of the cliff. Even if humans could go to the moon surface, there would still be no one who has descended to the bottom of the crater of Mt. Asama, I guess.

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

群馬県西部の光景に思わず惹かれる

【画像をクリックし、拡大すると臨場感が出ます。】

　昨日のウォーキング中、位置の高い「新鏑川橋」から群馬県西南部の方角に聳える雄大な荒船山に目を奪われ、思わずシャッターを切りました。ご覧の通り、頂上付近は平らで長いテーブルマウンテンです。周囲は推定１２０mほどの切り立った断崖絶壁で、左に見える高い山は経塚山【１４２３m】と命名されてます。

　荒船山は、群馬県下仁田町から長野県佐久市にかけての県境に位置します。ドライブでは今は亡き両親と幼き長女を連れて行ったり、また、風穴を訪れるなど幾度も近くに行きましたが、群馬県側の遠方から見るこの景色がとてもよく、その名の通り、荒海を進む不沈空母のような姿です。

　私が最初に荒船山に登頂したのは１７才で、艫岩などこの山の魅力に惹かれ、その後も４回登ってます。頂上からは活火山・浅間山がより雄大に見え、眼下に神津牧場が見えます。最後の登頂は１５年ほど前に今は亡き友人Ｔと共にです。

　この時、私は未だレース鳩を飼育していたので、数羽の鳩を籠に入れ登りましたら、行き交う登山客に「この中に何が入ってますか」と度々尋ねられ、その都度、「鳩が入っており、頂上から高崎市の私の家まで飛ばします」と答えました。

　この長い頂上を右から左へ【北から南へ】の一帯は、まさに、「高天原」で背丈の低い樹木の中を１時間ほど進むと、左の小高い経塚山に着きます。ここから鳩を1羽1羽飛ばしました。放鳩位置が高いので、方向判定は良く、間もなく視界から消え、鳩たちは無事に私の鳩舎に先に到着してました。

Dear my overseas friends who like nature and the symbolic bird as a peace

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

　While walking yesterday, my eyes were fascinated to the majestic Mt. Arafune towering in the southwestern part of Gumma Prefecture from the high New-kabra-River-Bridge, and I couldn't help but snap the photo. As you can see, this table mountain is flat and long in the top. It is surrounded by sheer cliffs estimated to be about 120m high, and the high mountain on the left is named Kyozukayama [1423m].

　Mt. Arafune is located on the prefectural border between Shimonita-Town, Gumma Prefecture and Saku-City, Nagano Prefecture. I took my deceased parents and young eldest daughter on drives, and I visited the wind cave many times, but the view from a distance on the Gumma Prefecture side was very beautiful. It looks like an unsinkable aircraft carrier moving forward.

　I first climbed this Mt. Arafune when I was 17 years old, and was drawn to the mountain's charms such as the Tomoiwa formations, so I have climbed it four times since then. From the top, we can see the active volcano Mt. Asama even more magnificently, and you can see Kozu-Farm below. The last time I climbed it was about 15 years ago with my late friend T.

　At that time, I was still breeding racing pigeons, so when I bring a few pigeons in a cage and climbed up, the climbers passing by often asked me, "What's inside?" I answered, "There are pigeons in there, and I will fly it from the top to my loft in Takasaki City."

　This long summit from right to left [north to south] looks like exactly "Takamagahara" that means the dwelling place of gods in Japanese mythology. After walking through the short trees for about an hour, I arrived at the slightly elevated Mt. Kyozuka on the left. From here I released the pigeons one by one. Because the pigeon release position was high, they had good direction judgment, and soon they disappeared from sight, and the pigeons arrived safely at my loft first than me.

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

　

高気圧に覆われ、高崎市から谷川岳を望む

　今日の群馬県の天気は高気圧に覆われ、周囲の山岳は手に取るように眺めることができます。写真は、高崎市山名町の高台から撮った「谷川連峰」です。雲一つなく、これほどきれいな白銀の景色も珍しいです。

　長女が小学生のとき連れて、頂上まで登ったことがあります。もちろん夏です。また、谷川岳上空をヘリコプターで遊覧飛行したことがあります。このときは当時３才の次女も一緒でしたが、おそらく彼女は記憶にないでしょう。

　また、この山の裏側【新潟県・湯沢町】からレース鳩の訓練をしたことがあります。鳩が北海道から高崎市まで直線コースで帰還する場合、最後にこの山の上空を通過することになるからです。

　この近くには温泉があります。湯檜曽温泉、谷川温泉、みなかみ温泉などです。雪が解けたら、青い車で暫くぶりに関越道を走り、行ってみます。

【日本文と英文に多少の差異がございます】

Dear my friends abroad

　Today's weather in my Gumma Prefecture in Japan is covered in anticyclone, therefore we can see the surrounding mountains as if we could touch them. The photo is the well-known Tanigawa Mountain Range taken from a hill in Yamana-town, in Takasaki-City. It is rare to see such a beautiful silvery-white scenery without a single cloud.

　When my eldest daughter was in elementary school, I took her to the summit of this mountain. Of course it's summer. I have also taken a scenic flight by a helicopter over Mt. Tanigawa. My second daughter who was about 3 years old at the time, was also with me at the time, but she probably doesn't remember it.

　I have also trained racing pigeons from behind this mountain [at Yuzawa-Town in Niigata Prefecture]. This is because when pigeons return from Hokkaido to Takasaki-City on a straight course, they will pass over this mountain at the end.

　There are some hot springs near here. These include Yubiso-Onsen spar, Tanigawa-Onsen, and Minakami-Onsen. When the snow will be melted, I'll drive through the Kanetsu Expressway by my blue car after a long interval with you in dream.

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

充実した一日でした。

【庭に生る金柑です。】　

　昨日は用事があって東京へ行き、山手線に最近オープンした「高輪ゲート駅」に降りました。前もって、地図を頭に入れておいたので、スムースに目的地に向かいましたが、途中、コンビニがあったのでトイレを借りようと思ったら、店員が「買い物をしなければトイレは使えません」とのことで、緊急時なのに驚きました。

　仕方なく、ガムを１個買って用を済ませましたが、一瞬、東京で生きる厳しさを感じました。群馬・高崎ではこんなことはなく、自由にコンビニのトイレが使えます。本来、コンビニは便利な所という意味ですが、これでは、インコンビニエンスです。

　昨日は所用が済み次第、東京から帰宅の途に就きましたが、高崎に着いたのは午後８時頃だったので、そのまま、馴染みの「バク」に行き、一日を振り返りつつ、一杯戴きながら夕食を済ませました。

　それにしても、東京は人・人・人・ビル・ビル・ビルです。このため、私は、「緑があり、上毛三山など自然が豊かで広々し、温泉がある群馬県で生活できる喜び」を再認識できました。

Dear my overseas friends

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

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

　Yesterday I went to Tokyo for some business and got off at the recently opened Takanawa-Gate Station on the Yamanote Line. I had a map in mind beforehand, so I headed to my final destination smoothly, but there was a convenience store on the way and I wanted to use the restroom, but the store clerk said, "You can't use the restroom unless you buy." I was surprised, even though it was an emergency.

　I had no choice but to buy a piece of gum and finish my errands, but for a moment I felt the harshness of living in Tokyo. This doesn't happen in my Gumma Takasaki-city, and we can freely use the convenience store's toilet. Originally, a convenience store means a convenient place, but in this case, it is an inconvenience.

　Yesterday, as soon as I finished my errands, I headed home from Tokyo, but I arrived in Takasaki around 8pm, so I went straight to my familiar tavern named "Baku" and had a drink while reflecting on the day. I finished my dinner there, of course including "Bottoms up".

　Anyway, Tokyo is people, people, people, huge buildings, buildings, buildings. For this reason, I have reconfirmed the joy of living in Gumma Prefecture, where is full of greenery, spacious nature such as the three well-known mountains and hot many springs.

※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.co

ドライブには絶好のシーズン

　群馬県の方ならお判りでしょうが、ここは何処でしょう。遠方にテーブルマウンテン、つまり頂上が平らな「荒船山」が見えます。愛車アウディーＴＴクワトロでドライブによく行く場所です。

　実は、遠方の「荒船山」も私のお気に入りの山で、記憶してる限りでは５回登頂し、平らな頂上の左の山【標高１４２３ｍ】から数羽の鳩を飛ばして私の家まで約５０Ｋを帰らせたことがあります。鳩もこんな高い所を飛んだことはないでしょう。

　ところで答えです。写真の車が止まっているところは上毛三山の一つ「妙義山」で、中ノ岳神社の駐車場です。ここからは群馬県南西部がよく見えます。妙義山は紅葉の名所ですが、紅葉はもう終わりました。

【本文と英文に多少の差異があります。】

Dear my overseas friends who like autumnal tint

　If you are person who live in Gumma Prefecture, you probably know this parking lot, but where is this place? In the distance you can see Table Mountain named Mt. Arafune which has a flat summit. I often go there for drive with my beloved Audi TT Quattro, but, regrettably with no lady in the passenger's seat.

　In fact, the distant Mt. Arafune is also my favorite mountain, and as far as I remember, I have climbed it five times, and I released a few pigeons from the mountain of the left in the flat summit [1423m above sea level] to return my house. The distance is 50km to my home. Even pigeons have never flown so high altitude.

　By the way, here's the answer. The car in the photo is parked at Mt. Myogi which is one of the three well-known mountains in Gumma prefecture. So here is in the parking lot of Nakanodake Shrine. From here we can clearly see the southwestern part of Gumma Prefecture. Mt. Myogi is a famous spot for autumn leaves, but the autumn leaves have already finished now.

※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/

御荷鉾山山頂からの景色に感銘

【写真をクリックすると臨場感が出ます。】

　写真は、群馬県の平野部から、よく見える東御荷鉾【みかぼ、左１２４６m】と西御荷鉾【右１２８６m】です。とりわけ、私のウォーキングコースである鏑川の土手からは丸みを帯びた雄大な二つの山並みが迫って見えます。

　実は、幼き日の二人の娘を連れて両峰とも山頂を極めました。特に下の娘は２才だったので、私が殆ど背負って登りましたが、頂上に近くなってからは自身に歩かせ、日本アルプスや、関東平野の景色が開ける瞬間を味わわせました。４０代になった娘たちは覚えているでしょうか。

　山頂から北に目をやると、高崎・前橋など群馬の中央部が手に取るように見えます。また、平地で見る姿と異なり、高い位置からは赤城山・榛名山が更に大きく聳えて見えます。南に目をやると富士はもちろん、山梨や長野県の山々が見えます。日本は山また山を実感します。

　御荷鉾山の山頂へ登ると驚くことがあります。それは平素はあり得ないことですが、榛名山の全景の遥か上に谷川岳を中心とする上越国境の山脈が連なって見えることです。頭で分かっていても、実際にこの光景を眺めると、平素の榛名山の景色とは全く異なり、群馬県民でも思わず溜息が出るでしょう。

Dear my overseas friends who have a hobby of mountaineering

　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 photo shows Mt. Higashi Mikabo [left 1246m] and Nishi Mikabo [right 1286m] clearly visible from the plain of Gumma Prefecture. In particular, from the bank of the Kabra-River which is one of my walking routes, I can see two majestic, rounded mountains approaching me.

　In fact, I took my two young daughters to the top of both mountains. In particular, when my younger daughter was 2 years old, I carried her up most of the way up the mountain, but once we got close to the top, I let her walk on her own, and her experience to the moment when the scenery of the Northern Alps and the Kanto Plain opened up. Do my daughters, now in their 40s, remember?

　If you look north from the summit, you can see the central part of Gumma, including Takasaki-city and Maebashi-city. Also, unlike you look from the plain, Mt. Akagi and Mt. Haruna appear even larger by seeing from a higher position. If you look to the south, you can see not only Mt. Fuji but also the mountains of Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. Japan is full of mountains.

　We may be surprised when we climb to the top of Mt. Mikabo. This is something that is not normally possible, but far above the panoramic view over Mt. Haruna, you can see the Joetsu border mountain range, centered on Mt. Tanigawadake. Even if you know it in your head, when you actually see this scene, it is completely different from the usual scenery of Mt. Haruna, and even Gumma residents will sigh with this reality.

※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/

足が竦んだ怖い思い出！

　「赤城颪に送られて、学びの窓に集まりし」の歌詞で始まる前橋高校校歌のみならず、群馬県下の多くの小中高の校歌の歌詞として歌われてる赤城山です。標高１８２８mです。赤城山と命名された由来は、夕日に輝くと山全体が赤く染まることによると伝えられてます。

　写真をクリックし拡大しますと、各峰々がよく分かり、左から三角形のように尖った峰が「鈴ヶ岳」で山頂からの眺望は群馬の西の山々が手に取るように見えます。次が「鍋割山」「荒山」「地蔵岳」「黒檜山」(最高峰)「駒ヶ岳」「長七郎山」です。

　私はすべての峰に登りましたが、眺望にそれぞれ趣があり、どの峰からも「富士山」が見えます。特に、東端の「長七郎」の山頂からは関東平野が一望でき、東京・新宿の高層ビル群や東京湾が見えます。近所の方々と正月登山を行い、山頂では一杯戴きながら楽しいひと時を過ごした思い出があります。

　赤城山の頂上付近にはカルデラの「大沼」と「小沼」があり満々と水を蓄えてます。前者の周囲はおよそ４kmで私のお気に入りウォーキングコースの一つで、湖畔の南側には終戦時の内閣総理大臣「鈴木貫太郎」の碑が建立されてます。彼は、前述の前高出身です。

　一方、「小沼」の周囲は１Kほどで、手つかずの自然が残っており、やはり、幾度か周遊しました。しかし、近くには恐ろしい「三途の川」があり、近くでは後から何か出そうです。

　いいですか。よ～く聞いてください。実は、私は一人で「三途の川」を探検しようと思い源流に向かいました。ところが、途中でついに身の毛がよだち、足が前に進めず、やむを得ず引き返したことがあります。森林が薄暗く生い茂り、一人では恐ろしさで背筋がぞくぞくし、何か音がしたとき、ついに「出た～！」と思い、慌てて逃げました。

Dear my overseas friends who love nature

　Mt. Akagi is sung not only in the Maebashi High School's school song, which begins with the lyrics, "We are sent to wind from Akagi, and we gather at the window of learning," but also in the lyrics were used by school songs of many elementary, junior high, and high school in Gumma Prefecture. The altitude is 1828m. It is said that the name of Akagiyama came from the fact that the mountain turns red entirely when the setting sun shines in the evening.

　If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can clearly see each peaks. The triangular peak from the left is Suzugatake, and the view from the top looks the mountains of the west of Gumma. Next are "Nabewariyama", "Arayama", "Jizodake", "Kurobiyama" (the highest peak), "Komagatake" and the easternmost "Choshichiroyama".

　I have climbed all the peaks, and each one has its own unique view, and I could see Mt. Fuji from every peaks. In particular, from the easternmost peak of Mt. Choshichiro, I could see a panoramic view of the Kanto Plain, as well as Tokyo Shinjuku's skyscrapers and Tokyo Bay. I have fond memories of going to mountain climbing on New Year's Day with my neighbors and having a great time with drinking at the top of this mountain.

　Near the top of Mt. Akagi, there are the caldera named "Onuma" and "Konuma" that store plenty of water. The former is about 4km in circumference that is one of my favorite walking courses, and on the south side of this lake there is a monument of Suzuki Kantaro, the Japanese Prime Minister at the end of the world war Ⅱ. He is a graduate from the aforementioned Maebachi High School.

　On the other hand, the surrounding area of lake "Konuma" is about 1km in circumference and has untouched nature, so I went around it several times. However, there is a scary "the River Styx" nearby, and something will probably come out later.

　Listen to me carefully. Actually, I decided to explore "The River Styx" by myself and headed to its source. Halfway through, I finally got so scared that my legs couldn't move forward and had no choice but to turn back. The forest was dark and thick. When I was alone I felt a shiver of fear run down my spine, and when I heard a sound I thought, "A ghost appeared!" I panicked and ran away.

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