枝垂れ紅梅に教えられる「変化と統一」

　写真は「枝垂れ紅梅」の四季による変化の様子です。春はピンクの花が3週間ほど満開となり、行き交う人に優雅な春爛漫を感じさせます。夏は緑色濃く木陰を作り、秋はご覧の通り、すべての枝が紅葉し、何とはなしに侘しさをしみじみ味わわせ、冬は落葉し、雪が降れば枝に積もり、樹木内に栄養を蓄え、春へのエネルギーに備えます。

　４本の梅すべて紅葉している現在、色彩を通して、日本には四季があることを実感させます。それにしても、樹形と色彩によって美の本質とは「統一と変化」であることを私に教えてます。同時に、枝ぶりには、何事にも耐えうる円熟さが増し、年々、樹木としての威厳が窺えます。

　私たち人間も、日々の活動において生き方に信念を持ち、一つの分野のみでなく、可能な限り視野を広げ、一度しかない人生を豊かに生きたいものです。これこそ人間として生まれた特典と言えます。

　ところで、私が生まれて以来住み続けてる倉賀野町では、今日、全地区による祭りの日です。高崎市に合併以降、町長、町会議員がいなくなり、祭りは半世紀ほど途絶えましたが、江戸時代から続く地域の祭りは笛太鼓の音が響き、幼き日々の感動が蘇りつつあります。今後、この祭りが「子供たちの未来」へと引き継がれ、賑やかだった往時の倉賀野の復興となることを願ってやみません。

Dear my overseas friends who like both of nature and music

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be done after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

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

　The photo indicates the seasonal changes of the weeping plum tree. In spring, the pink flowers are in full bloom for about three weeks, with giving passersby a sense of the graceful spring in full bloom. In summer, the deep green leaves create shade like Indian Park, and in autumn, as you can see, all the branches turn red, with creating a sense of loneliness. In winter, the leaves fall, and when snow falls, it accumulates on the branches, with storing nutrients inside the tree and preparing it for spring.

　Now all four plum trees in my garden have turned red, the colors make me realize that Japan has four seasons. Even so, the tree's shape and color teach me that the essence of beauty is "Unity and Change." At the same time, the branches become more ripe and able to withstand anything, and year by year, the dignity of the tree is appeared.

　We humans, too, should have conviction in our way of life in our daily activities, broaden our horizons as much as possible. Because our life is limited only one life so that we must live to the fullest. This is the privilege of being born as a human being.

　Not change the subject, but today is the day of a district-wide festival in Kuragano-town where I have lived since I was born. After the town was merged into Takasaki-city, the town no longer has a mayor or many town council members, therefore festivals ceased for about half a century. However, the local festival which has been held since the Edo period, resonates with the sounds of Japanese flutes and drums. It is bringing back memories of childhood days. I sincerely hope that in the future this festival will be inherited to "the children of the future," and It will help restore prosperous Kuragano to its former self.

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

私のウォーキングコースに点在する倉賀野の新堤と古堤

　倉賀野町には「古堤」と、通常、鯉池と呼ばれる「新堤」の二つの灌漑用溜池があります。写真はご覧の通り、広い「新堤」で、碑文によると、天明３年(１７８３)に着工し、足かけ４年の歳月をかけ、天明６年に完成したものです。天明年間は稀に見る多難な時代で、天明３年７月には浅間山が大噴火し、倉賀野近辺でも火山灰が２０～３０cmも降り積もり、田畑は壊滅的な打撃を受けてます。その後も、天候不順で大凶作となり、いわゆる天明の大飢饉が発生しました。

　このような困難を乗り越えて造られた新堤は、その後、倉賀野町の東部・東南部の田畑を潤してきました。現在、建設当初より若干狭くなりましたが、今なお、現役の用水池として機能し、また、四季を通じで渡り鳥の飛来など独特の水辺の風景を演出しています。

　実は、私の庭を掘り返すと今でも当時に集められたと想われる浅間砂がたくさん出てきます。このため、火山灰を集めた地（灰塚）に私の家は建ってる可能性があります。庭は水はけが抜群で、植物の成長では恩恵になってます。

　一方　古堤について、私が小学生の頃、担任教師に連れられ写生に来たことがある堤で、当時の広さ推定８０ｍ×８０ｍほどで、子供心に広い池であったことが脳裏に浮かびます。しかし、昭和３０年代になり倉賀野保育園開園にあたり、その用地として堤の南半分が埋め立てられ、現在は北半分が残るのみです。

　新堤より１００年ほど前、つまり、３５０年ほど前の江戸時代前期に造られたこの古堤は、現在では農地が激減し、その役目は殆ど終わっても、由緒ある古堤が現存してることは、令和時代に生きる私たちが目で確認できる倉賀野の歴史的事実の一つです。時折、渡り鳥が羽を休めてる光景が見られます。ここは諏訪神社のすぐ東にあります。

Dear my friends abroad who are fond of history

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be done after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

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

　Kuragano-town where i live has two irrigation reservoirs, the "Old irrigation" and the "New irrigation" which is usually called the "Carp Pond." As you can see in the photo, the "New irrigation is a large reservoir. According to the inscription, construction began in 1783 (Tenmei 3) and took four years to complete in 1786. The Tenmei era was a rare and difficult time, because a major eruption of Mt. Asama in July 1783, causing 20-30cm of volcanic ash to fall in my Kuragano area, dealing a devastating blow to the fields. After that, bad weather caused poor harvests, resulting in the so-called Tenmei Famine.

　After that, the new reservoir was built to overcome these difficulties, and has irrigated the fields in the eastern and southeastern parts of Kuragano-town. Although it is now slightly narrower than when it was first built, it still functions as an active irrigation reservoir, and creates a unique waterside landscape with migratory birds flying in all four seasons.

　In fact, when I dig up my garden I still find a lot of Asama's volcanic sand that is thought to have been collected at that time. For this reason, it is possible that my house is built on land where volcanic ash was collected (ash mound). As a result, the garden has excellent drainage, which is beneficial for plant growth.

　As for the old irrigation, I had once come here to sketch with my homeroom teacher when I was in elementary school. At the time it was estimated to be about 80m x 80m, and I remember it as a large pond in my child's mind. However, in the 1950s, when Kuragano Nursery School opened, the southern half of the pond was filled in to make way for the school, and today only the northern half remains.

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果たして、今宵のビールが美味しくなるか

　
　我が故郷「倉賀野町」には一級河川「烏川」が流れ、川岸一帯は町民のウォーキングコースになってます。緑も多く自然に恵まれてます。健康に必要な要素の一つは光合成によって生じた新鮮な酸素を吸うことでしょう。

　今日も午後５時のこれから私は歩いてきます。ここは「緑地公園」と命名され、健康志向の方々が歩いてる様子がかなり見受けられます。

　歩くことは下肢の筋肉のみならず、呼吸筋を含め、全身の筋肉運動になります。ウォーキング中に頭に入れることは、遠望を見つつ歩く姿勢と考えます。では、行って参ります。

Dear my overseas friends

　My hometown, Kuragano-town is including a first-class river called the Karas-River that means crow-river, and the entire riverbank has become a walking course for the townspeople. This place is blessed with lots of greenery and nature. One of the essential elements for good health is breathing in fresh oxygen produced through photosynthesis.

　Today, I will be out for a walk from 5pm. This place has been named "Greenery Park," and there are many health-conscious people out walking there.

　Walking exercises not only the muscles in our lower legs, but all the muscles in our body, including our respiratory muscles. When walking, I concentrate to keep in mind the posture with looking into the distance. Well, I'm off.

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群馬歴史博物館に展示されてる私の生家の地

　先日、孫娘たちと群馬の森の中にある歴史博物館に行ったとき驚きました。それは江戸時代の倉賀野町の模型が常設展示されてます。中央を横切る太い道は中山道です。

　その模型の中に、手前中央の広い屋敷は私の生家があった場所です。私は２０才までそこで暮らしてました。その証拠が分かるのは右上に赤い大きな鳥居があります。その上の道は１５０年経過した今でも「大門」と言われてます。

　なお、下の私の生家があった右の細い道は九品寺の参道です。たまたま、私の生家があった場所は、現在、広い空き地になっており、私は時々ウォーキングで訪れ、子供の時代を家族８人で暮らした場所なので懐かしく感じます。それが今一人なのですから、時代が経過すると人間の生活も変化することを実感です。

Dear my Facebook friends

T　he other day, I went to the history museum in the forest of Gumma with my granddaughters, and I was surprised. There is a permanent display of a model of Kuragano-town during the Edo period. The wide road that crosses the center is the Nakasendo road.

　In the model, the large house in the center foreground is where my childhood home was. I lived there until I was 20 years old. I can see the proof of this place in the large red torii gate in the upper right. The road above it is still called "Daimon" even after 150 years.

　Incidentally, the narrow road to the right of where my childhood home was located is the approach to Kuon-ji Temple. By coincidence, the place where my childhood home used to be is now a large vacant lot, and I sometimes visit it for walking, and it brings back memories as it is where my family of eight lived when I was a child. Now I am alone, so I really feel that people's lives change as time passes.

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生まれ故郷・倉賀野町を高い位置から眺める

　たまには高い所から自分の棲家を見下ろすのも楽しいことです。ここは私が住む倉賀野町で最も高いマンションの最上階から西の方角を撮ったもので、手前に連なる山の真ん中には高崎観音も写ってます。この辺はおよそ北緯３６度１７分で、東経１３９度０２分です。

　雲に隠れてますが、中央の遠望は浅間山で、左の鋸のような山が妙義山です。右の尖った山は浅間隠山です。

　肝心の私の家は写っていません。もっと左です。今日も倉賀野をウォーキングし、Hunger is the best sauce.を胸に夕食が美味しくなるように心掛けます。歩けば、思いのほかビールが美味しい。

【日本文と英文に多少の差異がございます。】

Dear my friends abroad who do not afraid of acrophobia

　Sometimes it's fun to look down on my home from a high place. This photo was taken looking west from the top floor of the tallest apartment building in Kuragano-Town, Takasaki-city, Japan where I live. You can also see Takasaki-Kannon Statue in the middle of the mountains in the foreground. This area is approximately 36 degrees 17 minutes north latitude and 139 degrees 02 minutes east longitude.

　Although hidden behind clouds, the distant view in the center is the famous active volcano Mt. Asama, and the saw-shaped mountain on the left is Mt. Myogi. The sharp mountain on the remote right is Mt. Asama-Kakushi.

　To the regret, the most important my house is not shown. It's more to the left. I will be walking again in this evening so as to be delicious dinner with the idea that "Hunger is the best sauce." if walking around, the beer will be delicious beyond description, of course, thinking of you.

※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/

「ようこそ！倉賀野」の歌

【クリックし、拡大してご覧ください。】

　倉賀野で生まれ育った私はずっとここに住み続け、今後、どこかに引っ越すつもりはありません。歴史的にも倉賀野は災害の記録が殆どなく、小さな町であっても高崎線と八高線が通ってる「ＪＲ倉賀野駅」があり、東京など、どこへ行くにも便利です。

　倉賀野の歴史は古く、それは薬師寺内の古墳に残る彫刻の歴史を見ても分かります。また、倉賀野には５～６世紀に造られた巨大な古墳が５基現存します。町内は中仙道に沿って「京都に近い方から」今でも上町、仲町、下町と命名されており、１０００年以上の昔からこの町が続いている名残です。

　倉賀野と言う地名は、大河「烏川」が流れていることにより、この川の北側が数Ｋに亘って、１５ｍほどの高い崖が連なってます。つまり、倉賀野と言う地名は「崖の上にある野原」であったことに由来します。

　昔は崖のことを「倉」と呼び、全国でも断崖がある所には「倉」の文字が使われてます。このため倉賀野は「倉の上の野」と言うことから「倉賀野」と命名されたと推測できます。

　ところで、この度、「ようこそ！倉賀野」という歌があることが分かり、ご紹介いたします。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdqtAZo4qFM

Dear my friends abroad

　I was born and raised at Kuragano-town in Takasaki-city, Japan and have lived here so far, and have no plans to move anywhere from now on. Historically, Kuragano has almost no record of disasters, and even though it is a small town, there is JR Kuragano-Station, which is connected to the Takasaki Line and Hachiko Line, making it convenient for going anywhere, including Tokyo directly.

　Kuragano has a long history, which can be seen by looking at the history of the carvings left on the ancient tomb within Yakushiji Temple. In addition, five huge old burial mounds built in the 5th and 6th centuries still exist in Kuragano. The town is still named Kami-cho, Naka-cho, and Shimo-cho along the Nakasendo road, "from the direction of Kyoto", and it is a remnant of the Kuragano's existence for over 1,000 years.

　The name Kuragano is due to the large river "Karas River" flowing in the south side, and the north side of this river is lined with high cliffs about 15 meters high and the distance is 4km. In other words, the name Kuragano comes from the fact that it was a "field on top of the cliff."

　In the old days, cliffs were called "kura", and the character "kura" is used in places with cliffs all over Japan. For this reason, it can be assumed that my town was named "Kuragano" because it was existed on "the field above the cliff."

　By the way, I recently learned that there is a song called "Welcome! Kuragano" therefore I introduce it to you.

※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/

住んで良いとこ・・・倉賀野町

　我が小さな町・倉賀野町に住んでいて良いことはいろいろあります。江戸時代に参勤交代の宿場町であった名残でしょう。まず、静かで落ち着いた町で、大河・烏川が低い位置に流れ、素晴らしい光景です。今では、スーパーがいくつかあり買い物に不便はありません。また、昔から水害や山崩れなどの自然災害がありません。ですから、嫁に行くなら倉賀野町です。

　その中で特筆すべき便利なことは、高崎線・八高線のＪＲ倉賀野駅があることです。このため、東京へも熱海へも倉賀野駅から快速で乗り換えなしで直接行けます。小さな町なのに本当に有難いことです。

　その中で、最近、ちょっと不便に感じることがあり、今まで東京など遠方へ行くにはクレジットカードが使えて便利でした。しかし、倉賀野駅では切符の購入にクレジットカードが使えなくなりました。買うならスイカです。しかし、私はそれほど電車に乗りません。ですから切符を現金で買わなくてはなりません。

　実のところ、私が現金を持つのは飲み屋さんへ行くときぐらいです。ガソリンスタンドはもちろん、最近では大きな病院でもクレジットで支払いができます。このため、昔と違って、最近は財布を持ち歩かなくなり身軽です。

Dear my overseas friends

　There are many good things about living in my small town named Kuragano. It must be a remnant of the post town during the Edo period. First of all, this town is quiet and calm, and the great Karasu River flows at a low position, which is a wonderful sight. Now there are some supermarkets so that there is no inconvenience for shopping. In addition, there have been no natural disasters such as floods or landslides since ancient time. Therefore, Kuragano-Town is the ideal place to get married, so I recommend you to live here as a homemaker.

　Among them, a notable and convenient factor is that there is JR Kuragano-Station on the Takasaki Line and Hachiko Line. Therefore, we can go to both Tokyo and Atami directly from Kuragano-Station by rapid train without changing trains. Kuragano is a small town, but I'm really grateful.

　In the midst of this, I've recently felt a little inconvenient. Until now, it was convenient to use a credit card to go to distant places such as Tokyo. However, credit cards can no longer be purchased tickets at Kuragano-Station. If we buy it, it's a Suica. But I don't take the train so much. So I have to buy ticket in cash.

　Actually, the only time I have cash is when I go to a tavern. I can pay with my credit card not only at gas stations, but also at large hospitals these days. For this reason, unlike in the past, I no longer carry my wallet around, so that it became more comfortable.

※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/

子供の健やかな成長ほど尊いものはない

　写真の花は藤を逆さまにしたような形であることから「登り藤」とも言われます。原産地は北アメリカで、日本へは明治時代に入って来たと伝えられます。実は、１ヶ月ほど前に咲き終わった正式名ルビナスです。

　しかし、再度、下から花芽が出て来て咲き始め、色彩的に目立ちます。他のルビナスにも新たな花芽が出ています。ご覧の通り、蕾はこれからも上に伸びる気配で、まるで「人間の子供の可能性を表現しているようで」しばらく楽しめそうです。

　ところで、今日５月５日は子供の日です。私が年齢を重ねているせいか、「子供の健やかな成長ほど尊いものはない」と感じてます。今日、私の地区では午後から「山車」が出て、子供たちが太鼓を叩き、町中を巡行します。地区でも子供の成長を後押しします。

　私自身は、これからも倉賀野小学校児童の登下校の安全と、不審者対策に役員の一人として継続します。娘の娘たちも倉賀野小学校にいれば時々会えて嬉しいのですが、彼女たちは前橋の小学生です。私的な感情はさておき、今の時代、子供は社会でも見守る体制が大切です。

　一方、子供たちの間では、依然として「いじめ」があると言われます。民主主義国家である日本で「いじめ」はもっとも悪いことであると認識させ、社会全体でこれを撲滅する教育を推進しなくてはなりません。そして、子供たちの「意見が尊重される社会」の実現こそ大切です。
　

Dear my overseas friends who like children

　The flower in the photo looks like an upside-down wisteria, so it is also called a climbing wisteria. Allegedly the place of origin is North America, and it is said that it came to Japan in the Meiji era. Actually, the official name is Lupinus which has finished blooming about a month ago.

　However, once again, the flower buds came out from the bottom and started to bloom, and the color stands out. Other Lupinus have also new flower buds. As you can see, the buds are likely to continue to grow upwards, therefore it looks like expressing the potential of a human child.

　By the way, May 5th is Children's Day in Japan. Perhaps because I am getting older, I feel that there is nothing more precious than the healthy growth of children. Today in my district, the floats will be set up in the afternoon, and the children will beat the drums as they parade through the town. The district also supports the growth of children.

　I myself will continue to work as one of the officers to ensure the safety of children at Kuragano Elementary School on their way to and from school and to prevent suspicious persons. My daughter's daughters are also elementary school students, but in Maebashi-city. Aside from personal feelings, in this era, it is indispensable to have a system to watch over children in society.

　On the other hand, it is said that there is still "bullying" among children. "Bullying" is the worst behavior in Japan, therefore as the democratic nation, we must promote education to eradicate it throughout the society. It is also important to realize a society where children's opinions are respected.
　　

※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/

拙いブログが長寿会報に載りました。

【拡大してご覧ください。】　

　この度、令和５年初の倉賀野町「上四長寿会お知らせ版」に拙い私のブログ記事が掲載され光栄に思います。

　これは以前に上毛新聞読者投稿欄「ひろば」に掲載された文章で、近所の方々と５人で赤城山の最も東の峰である「長七郎山」に正月登山したときの印象を書いたものです。

Dear my overseas friend who like mountaineering

　This time, I am honored that my clumsy weblog article was published in Kuragano-Town's "Kami 4 Chojukai that means Longevity meeting Announcement Edition" at the beginning of 2023.

　This was previously published in the Jomo Newspaper readers' column, "Hiroba". The content is about my impressions of climbing Mt. Choshichiro which is the easternmost peak of Mt. Akagi together with 5 people of neighbors.

※interpretation of the article　

　Every year on the morning of New Year's Day, I climb mountains in the Gumma prefecture with my neighbors. At the top of the mountain, we have a party to drink sake and eat ozoni that means Japanese traditional cuisine mixed with rice cake and vegetables.

 　We went to Mt. Akagi this year. We sit down in the sunny place on the southern side where we can see Mt. Fuji, and look down on the great plain and toast to the New Year. When we look in the sunny southeast direction, we can clearly see the skyscrapers of the Shinjuku subcenter in Tokyo. What's more, in the background, the reddish sea which is reflected in the sunlight, Tokyo Bay can be seen long and wide.

　At the top of the mountain, the five of us were surprised and delighted by this discovery, and forgot about the passage of time with hot sake and ozoni. I am grateful for the blessings of this great nature, and this year I will tackle everything with a fresh feeling.

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驚き！ 倉賀野から丁須岩が見える

　この写真は倉賀野から撮った上毛三山の一つ「妙義山」です。「上毛かるた」にも、紅葉に映える妙義山と詠われてます。

　左の峰々を表妙義と言い、大砲岩などが含まれます。右の峰々を裏妙義と言い、丁須岩などが含まれます。一般的には表妙義に行き、裏妙義は本格的な登山者向きと言えますが、どちらも岩登りであるため非常に険しいことに変わりありません。度々、転落事故が起こります。

　私は裏妙義の丁須岩に登ったことはありませんが、友人や姪がが登り、凄い勇気がいると言ってました。その分、登頂の感銘は大きいのでしょう。

　実は、この写真を拡大したところ、丁須岩が見えるので誠に驚きました。というのは、倉賀野から見えるとは思っていなかったからです。写真の右端を大きく拡大すると「丁」の形をした岩が確かにあります。

　直線距離で約４５Kと遠方であり、また、裸眼では小さ過ぎて気づかないことから、倉賀野からは見えないものと思ってました。しかし、実際には見えるのですから、何事も先入観に囚われず、現実を直視することが大切ですね。

【丁須岩】

　　　

Dear my overseas friends who are crazy about mountaineering

　This photo is Mt. Myogi which is one of the three well-known mountains in Gumma prefecture, taken by me from Kuragano-

town where I live. "Jomo Karuta" which is Japanese syllabary cards also mentions that Mt. Myogi shines in autumn leaves.

　The peaks on the left are called Omote Myogi including the famous Cannon Rock. The peaks on the right are called Ura Myogi including the well-known Chohsu Rock. Generally, people go to Omote Myogi and Ura Myogi is for expert climbers, but both are rock climbing, so it's still very steep. Fall accidents often occur.

　I have never climbed Chohsu Rock in Ura Myogi, but my friend and niece have climbed it and said it takes a lot of courage. For that reason, the impression of climbing must be great.

　Actually, when I enlarged this photo, I was really surprised because Chohsu Rock is visible. Because I didn't expect to see it from Kuragano-town. If you zoom in on the photo, you can definitely see the rock in the shape of "choh" in Chinese character.

　I thought it would not be visible from Kuragano-town because it was about 45km far away in a straight line, and it was too small to notice with the naked eye. However, since I can actually see it, it is important for us to accept reality as it is carefully without being bound by preconceptions.

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