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ルーティンを抜け出して一週間。ようやく緩んできた。自分の住む町界隈で朝から晩まで過ごす。正月の買い出し以外は自転車も使わず歩いている。昨日の大雨は上がり、気温も20度近くまで上昇した。暖冬のせいか、もうコブシの白い蕾がびっしりと枝の先端で揺れている。久しぶりにゆったりと眺める木々は瑞々しい。はっきりした構想はないままに新ページを拵えてみた。改訂をくり返しながら、形を作っていくことにしよう。本日の更新は「樹木」（仮題）です。空を見上げるひとときを。

I have been away from my daily routine for almost one week. I spend whole a day in my hometown. Except for the shopping for new-year's preparation, I don't ride on a bicycle but walk. The heavy rain has gone and the temperature rose up to nearly 20 centigrade today. Perhaps because it's much warmer than usual winter, white buds at the end of twigs were already remarkable when I watched Magnolia praecocissima. Wow! Refreshing are trees. I've started a new page without a very clear plan. I'd like to form it into a good shape in time. Today's update: Trees, for a moment to look up at the sky.

毎年今頃甥や姪や（義）妹たちを招いてささやかな忘年会を開くのだが、今年は我が家の受験生が予備校通い、甥も予備校、姪たちはアルバイト、クラブ活動などに忙しく自宅パーティーは取りやめた。その代わり、近所のカラオケルームで三時間余り歌うことに。（今さらながら私はカラオケルーム初体験。スナックの片隅にあるカラオケで歌ったことは何度かあるのですが。*^_^*）食事や会話を楽しむパーティーとは全く違う。どちらかというとスポーツに近いのではないかと思った。普段は滅多に会わない親戚同士、でも幼い頃からよく知っている同士。そこには曰く言いがたい不文律があり、誰も仕切らないのにみんながそのルールを知っている。何となくはにかみながら、時を共有している感覚。ちょっとこそばゆかったがとても楽しかった。カラオケなんて（合唱するでもなく、各自好きなのを順番に歌うだけというのは）非生産的なと思っていたこともあったけれど、これも一つの間接的な自己表現らしい。恋の歌を歌いながら大人になっていく子どもたちを眩しく眺めていた。本日の更新は「静物」にaoの新作デッサンと「卵」です。関東地方には久々に大雨が降っている。

Every year at this time of the year, I give a party at home inviting my nieces, nephew, my sister and sister-in-law. This year, they are too busy to come: my daughter and my nephew are going to cram schools, nieces are busy with part-time jobs and club activities. Instead, we held a karaoke-party at a neighborhood karaoke-room. (It was my first experience to go to a karaoke room indeed!) This party was completely different from the ones where you enjoy eating and talking. Rather it was like an athletic game. There is a sort of unwritten rules which players (singers) keep well. Although they have known each other since they were born,these young relatives seldom meet with each other in their daily life. Somehow we had a feeling of sharing time together. We enjoyed ourselves with bashful smiles. We were all a little shy but it was fun to sing. For a long time I had a prejudice to karaoke, which I thought was something unproductive. (We never sing songs toghether. Participants just sing one by one in turn.) I've found it's one way of self-expression of our people. I kept watching children who are growing up singing love songs. Today's update: ao's latest pencil drawing and an egg. It's raining heavily in Kanto District.

師走の街にちょっと出てみた。相変わらずの賑わいだが、何となく大人しい。それはこちらの感じ方の問題なのかも知れないけれど。読み終えたばかりの小説のことが引っかかっている。たかが、されど。街に何を見て、何を読み解くのか。かけずり回るばかりで落ち着いて書くことを怠っていた自分が後ろめたい。見ようとしなければ見えなくなるし、かつて見えていたはずのものが姿を消す。喧噪の中の空白。本日の更新は「静物」にaoの油彩最新作とデッサン画二点、そして「卵」です。いよいよ娘の受験出願直前となり（スポンサーとして）カレンダーを作成してみてギョッとした。いただく側ではなく支払う側となって眺めると、何と高額な出費が控えていることか！（今さらではあるが。）「教育産業」とはよく言ったものだ。その末端で禄を食む身としては複雑な思いがする。トカゲが自分の尻尾を食っているような？

I went out for shopping. The town was as busy as ever but it was somehow calm. Probably it was how I took it. I mean my sensibility took it that way. I've been conscious of the novel which I just finished reading. It's only a matter of a fiction, but still ... What do I see and interpret from a town? I'm a little ashamed of myself, moving around busily always not sitting down quietly to write for such a long time. Unless I try to watch, I won't be able to see anything. What I thought I could see disappears easily. I watch the blank space in the bustle. Today's update; ao's latest works in Still Life, (an oil painting and two pencil drawings), and eggs. Now that my daughter is about to take entrance exams of colleges, I made an "EXAM CALENDAR." as a sponsor. To my great surprise, how costly education is! it's a big industry. This time I'm going to pay while I'm getting my salary from it. I feel I'm a lizard eating its own tail.

日頃の寝不足が溜まりに溜まって、午後居間の長椅子で眠ってしまった。いつもなら授業をしている時刻なのだが。こんなことあり得ないと思いながら意識が遠ざかる。直前までやり残しの仕事に追われていた。書類を作成し、何件も電話をかけ、連絡をし...でも、もういい、少し休もう。そう思ったとたん、どこかの栓が外れ、シューッと力が抜けて行き、バッタリ。目覚めた時にはもう真っ暗だった。一瞬の緊張。「遅刻？」「今日は何時までに行くんだっけ？」「流山、それとも本郷？」「自転車、電車？」「雨、晴れ？」「弁当の支度は？」バカだ。休みなんだってば。しかし、冗談じゃない、夕食の支度だ！いや、体が硬くなって動かない。椅子で着の身着のまま眠ったからだ。ダメじゃない、何やってるのと一人ごち。こういう混乱がしばらく続く。そういえば雪山で二十日以上遭難していて奇跡的に助かった人のニュースが続いている。体温を22度くらいにキープして「冬眠状態」だったとか。保護された後、一度血液を抜いて暖めて体に戻したなどという話聞くと驚愕の他ない。う〜ん、睡眠の不思議。本日は短信のみにて。私の脳も冬眠状態。かくて冬至を越えた。

Accumulated shortage of sleep made me fall asleep on the chair in the living room at the time in the afternoon when I usually am teaching in a classroom. It can hardly be true, I was saying to myself, while my consciousness was fading away. I had been extremely busy right before, writing documents, making phone calls, and tying loose ends up. That's enough. I need a rest. Then I lost the tension immediately. When I woke up again, it was already dark. For a moment I was frightened: "Am I late for work?" "What time am I supposed to arrive?" "Should I go to Hongo or Nagareyama today?" "Bike or Train?" "Rain or fine?" "Lunch to fix?" What a fool! I've now on holiday,. But my body was stiff, for I slept on the sofa. What a confusion! BTW, I've read about a man who was lost in a mountain for more than 20 days and was rescued. His body was kept at about 22 centigrade. He survived by staying in a sort of hibernating state. When he was hospitalized, doctors drew his blood out of his body, warmed it and gave it back to his body. Incredible! Today's update: just this short note. Evidently my brain is also in the hibernating state. Thus, we've passed winter solstice.

December 21, 2006

師走は容赦なく日を重ねていく。まだやり残していることばかり。噂通りTIMEの最新号は毎年恒例の「今年の人物」に誰の顔写真もなく、YouTubeみたいな図柄の上に銀紙が張ってあって雑誌を手に取った人の顔が写る。ぎょっとして手元を見ると、コピーは一言、You。笑うと言うより溜息が出る。ま、誰にとっても厄介なヒトではある。煤払いしなくては。本日の更新は「静物」にaoの新作油彩二点と「卵」、そして表紙の写真（LaQuaに開店するEnglish Pub）です。街は祝祭シーズンの輝きを増す。

Days pass by mercilessly in December. Only 10 days are left in 2006. I have a lot to do yet. As advertised before, the latest issue of TIME has no photo of "The Person of the Year" on the cover page but a silver paper pasted in the illustration of what looks like YouTube and it shows the image of a person who takes hold of the magazine. Yuck! The cover says, "You." Yes, it's the most troublesome person for everybody. You need a year-end clearing of her/him! Today's update: ao's latest oil paintings in Still Life; eggs; and the photo on the index page (an English pub which will be opened tomorrow at LaQua, Bunkyo, Tokyo.) The city is bright in this festive season.

銀杏の葉も散り果て、冬至に向かって日はますます短くなる。今年も残すところ半月足らず。慌ただしい。体力も気力もほぼ限界。ちょこちょこした楽しみを見つけて何とか持ちこたえている。昨夜はトランジスタラジオ（そんな呼び方、今でもありか？）で深夜放送をニマニマしながら聴いていた。いや、ラジオ番組を聴こうと思った時ラジカセなんてものがもうウチにはないことに気付いて、慌てて電気屋に買いに行ったのだった。掌に載るラジカセ（つまり、カセットテープに録音するもの）があった。今時こんなの買う人いるかしら。最近、リスニングの授業をLL教室でやっても、テープを聴く装置を持っていない学生がほとんどで、「復習をしておくこと」という課題は無意味に近くなっている。デジタルデータを持ち帰れるようにしないとダメなのだ。でも、ノイズいっぱいのラジオは楽しかった。カセットも悪くない。本日の更新は表紙の写真（東京都武蔵野市の公園に散り敷く銀杏の葉）とこのページのツバキの写真です。aoの新作デッサン二点も「静物」に加えました。本郷の大銀杏の写真は「掲載写真帖」に移動しました。忙中閑ありといきたいものです。御身お大切に。【追伸】昨日アップした『翻訳読書ノート』、最初の段落にまるまる一行落丁がありました。お詫びして訂正いたします。失礼いたしました！

Eventually most of the leaves have fallen from gingko trees. Daytime is becoming shorter and shorter by winter solstice. Only a half month is left this year. I'm so busy. Very little energy is left in my body and soul. I'm sustaining myself by connecting little bits of pleasure; late last night I listened to a radio program with joy. A few hours before it, I realized we have no radio cassette recorder at home any longer. I hurried to an electrical appliance shop. I found an extremely miniature which is smaller than my palm. Once we called this kind "a transistor radio." I wonder how many people want to buy this type of radio now. Recently very few students have cassette-type tape recorder at home; therefore, we can hardly tell them to practice English which we teach at Language Laboratory where cassette tape is the only sound recording medium. We need digital appliances. Anyway, I enjoyed the radio program full of noise. The cassette tape was still useful. Great! Today's update: photos on the index page and the one here. ao's latest pencil drawings are in "Still Life." Old photos of gingko trees in Hongo are now in "Cover Photos." Let us find time to enjoy ourselves on busiest days! Take care!

一日外で働いてようやく家に帰り着き、骨休みをする間もなく台所に立つ。夕食の支度は不思議と苦にならない。好きな音楽を聴きながら、煮炊きする。その間中一日の出来事を反芻している。非常にくやしい思いをしたこと、失望させられたこと、不安なことばかりが去来する。時には感情的になってそのまま抗議のメールでも書こうかという気になるのだけれど、包丁を持って仁王立ちしている自分は我ながら恐ろしい。やめたやめた、言葉なんて空しい。毒気のある気持ちで作る料理は不味くなる。そのうち鍋がことこと言い始め、油がジュウジュウ言い立て、湯気に巻かれていると娑婆の不平もどこかへ。遅い夕飯を食べ終わる頃には疲労感の方が勝り、眠気が押し寄せてきて闘争本能は鈍る。あぁ、これだから女は戦争に向かないのか。ま、よしとしよう。本日の更新は『翻訳読書ノート 31』です。ミニエッセイのタイトルは「アフリカの魂」。ルワンダ女性の声を聴いた。

When I come back after a long work outside, I launch cooking. Basically I like cooking. I prepare soup, salad, vegetables, main dish, and something more while listening to my favorite music. Cooking and music time is also when I remember again and again what happened at work. All kinds of sensation such as indignation, disappointment, uneasiness, happiness, and so on come back to my mind. Sometimes I feel like writing an email to refute someone for his/her incredible statements. Actually I dare not. Written words may well bring another disaster. I'm horrified with myself standing with a cooking knife! Poisonous mind cannot cook delicious food. Stop it! In the boiling, frying, grilling sound which overwhelm me I forget such negative feelings gradually. After dinner, I'm overcome by satisfaction, fatigue, and sleepiness. My fight spirit is all gone. Ah, that's why women are not for wars. Al right. Never mind. Today's update: a mini essay on a book entitled Left to Talk. I wrote a short review on Rwandan woman's life history. Sorry, it's only in Japanese.

December 11, 2006

来年度から担当する三年生のゼミの面接が続いた。これは三年・四年と持ち上がり、卒論、就職まで見届けるので、現在の学部に所属するようになって初めての専門科目だ。経済・経営専攻の学生たちを何故語学・文学系の教員が指導しうるのかと疑問を呈する向きもある。（私自身も半信半疑。）でも一つ言えるのは、超領域的なアプローチで見えてくることもあろうという可能性に賭けること。こちらもだてに二十年間この仕事をしてきたわけではない。短大の学生たちから始まり、非常勤も含めあちこちで鍛えられた。それほど残りの時間があるわけではない。締めくくりに学生たちとオールラウンドな付き合いをしてもよいのではないかと思うようになっている。若い眼差しを見返す時、私の中にも何かかきたてられるものが確かにある。それを感じるうちは大丈夫なのではないかと、思う。本日の更新はaoの卵です。気張りすぎずにゆっくり行こう。

I've been having interviews with students for a seminar starting next year. I am supposed to teach juniors and seniors consecutively in the seminar. Certainly I'll be responsible for instructing their graduation thesis and watching their job-hunting. It will be my first experience to be in charge of a special subject since I started working for the present department of our university. Some say a teacher of English language and literature is not qualified to teach students majoring business administration. Well, I am not confident myself; however, cross-cultural approach might give new points of view possibly. I am not a novice any more myself. I believe 20 years' experience has empowered me in many ways. The rest of my career is not very long. I'm looking forward to putting my energy for students in a new way. I feel the new challenge quite inspiring. Let me do it! Today's update: ao's eggs. Let me go on slowly. Let me do my best slowly and steadily.

あちこちで学生たちが痛んでいる。個性が強く、大勢にフィット出来ない若者たちはよもやというところで壁にぶち当たり、呻吟する。少し緊張を緩めて鷹揚にいけといいたいのだが、そんな世慣れたアドバイスなど聞くわけもなく。自分はどうだったか。呆れるくらい妥協を重ねて今日まで来たような気がする。いい加減なものだ。何でも大雑把にさばいて、途中でくよくよするのを止めてしまう意気地無さ。（だからまともな成果は何も出せないのさという声がどこかから響く。）若さは痛々しくまた眩しい。なんとしても生き延びよ、したたかに生きよと祈るばかり。本日の更新はaoの卵です。学生たちと自分の娘の年齢がいよいよオーバーラップする。

Students are suffering. Those who have remarkable characters and who cannot fit into the majority hit the wall they have never expected. I want them to relax and be more tolerant, but how could they listen to such a worldly advice? I try to remember how I was doing at their age. Oh, I have given in so often and that's why I have never produced anything significant. To be young is to be painful and dazzling. Survive by all means, be tough, I pray for them. Today's update: ao's eggs. My students' age and that of my daughter are now overlapping.

本郷には自転車が似合う。学生たちが自転車で行き交う。キャンパスを街を。「本郷では時が止まっている」と自嘲的に人が言うのを聞いた。古い町並みと裏路地。東大キャンパスは東大の学生たちだけのものではない。銀杏が黄葉の盛りを迎える日には外からたくさんの人がキャンパスに入り込む。私も紛れ込む。一陣の風に銀杏が舞う。吹雪のように。人は見とれている。舞い散る落ち葉を浴びながら私も立ちすくむ。一万年前からの手紙。どれほどたくさんの人々がこの街で銀杏を浴びたことだろう。この街を走り抜けていったことだろう。毎年十二月の初めにこの黄金の日が来る。燃え上がる銀杏の日。本日の更新は表紙の写真（弥生町交差点の大銀杏）とこのページの写真（東大正門付近の銀杏）です。aoの卵もあります。今回は2ページ目の終わりと3ページ目の始めです。昨日までの写真は「掲載写真帖」へ収めました。銀杏が散り終わると、冬。

Bicycles suit Hongo, where students go by cycling in campus and in town. "Time stops in Hongo," I heard someone say. There are old town streets and back lanes. The campus of University of Tokyo belongs not only to its students. On the day when gingko turns perfect gold, many citizens go into the campus. So do I. At a gust of wind, gingko leaves fall dancing. Like falling snow. People are fascinated. I stand still watching the leaves. They are letters from ten thousand years ago. I wonder how many of people have bathed the falling gingko leaves ever? I wonder how many people have passed by. Every year at the beginning of December we have this golden day of gingko flaming up in gold. It's the day of golden gingko. Today's update: the photo in the index page ( an old giant gingko tree at the crossing of Yayoi-cho, Hongo) and the one in this page (a tree behind the main gate of the University of Tokyo.) There are new eggs of ao, too. They are at the last part of p.2 and the beginning of p.3. Old photos are saved in the page of "Cover Photos." When all leaves fall, winter comes.

November 29, 2006

ある案件をめぐって十人が十人とも別のことを言い、多様な情報や見解が錯綜する場合、どのように意志決定をしていったらよいのだろう。まとめ役は調整役であると同時にどこかの時点でオピニオンリーダーになる必要があるのか、それとも黒子に徹して多様性の中から最も実りある道筋を探し出し、他の意見の持ち主たちが納得するのを忍耐強く待つべきなのか。でも大抵の案件には「期限」がある。そう悠長にはしていられない。八方丸く収まることはまずなさそうだ。さあてどうしたものか。（首は捻ってもアタマはあんまり動いていないなぁ。）体験的な、あるいは実践的な感覚に頼っていてもだめだとは分かっていても何ごとかを理論化するのが下手だ、私は。時は過ぎていく。いつしか霜月も尽きる。待っても甲斐なく。本日の更新はaoの「卵」です。

People have different opinions over an issue. I wonder how we can make a decision when various kinds of views and ideas conflict. Should a moderator / facilitator become an opinion leader at some point, or should s/he keep quietly looking for the most feasible way for the majority to agree? Anyway, we almost always have a deadline for anything. We cannot take time forever. I guess there is nothing that makes everybody satisfied. Well, what shall I do? (I've been wondering but my brain doesn't seem working very effectively, alas!) I know I cannot be too much dependent upon my experience or practical knowledge only; however, I'm conscious of my inability to theorize them. Time is passing. It's already the end of November. I've waited long enough for nothing. Today's update: ao's eggs.

2月の記載に対する未知の方からの問い合わせが今頃届く。義弟の私家版の書籍出版について。ドイツの鴎外記念館で聞いたと。非売品のこと故アマゾンで調べても出ているわけがなかった。しかし、こんな些細な短信でも検索エンジンに引っかかり、それを辿ってのお問い合わせ。書籍の持つ力を感じる。本日の更新はaoの新作デッサンと「卵」です。

I received a mail from a person who asked for the information about the book my brother-in-law published in February. He heard about it at Mori Ougai Memorial House in Germany. He wasn't able to search the book at Amazon.com because it is not for sail. Amazing enough, he found this site instead for its brief note, helped by Google. I feel the power a book has. Today's update: ao's pencil drawing and eggs.

本郷の大樹に比べたらまるで子どものような頼りない木々だが、流山キャンパスの銀杏(上の写真)も見事に黄葉してきた。これが後十年、二十年したらどんな木になるのだろう。その頃にはもう私はここにいないだろうが。人は去っても木は茂る。だから木を見ていると木が見下ろしてきた時の流れを思い、些細な愁いは消えてゆく。人がどうしたこうしたというのは、小さなことだ。本日は短信のみにて。

Compared to the huge trees in Hongo Area, Tokyo, gingko trees here at Nagareyama Campus () are just short and thin like children. However, they have been wonderfully turning into yellow. I wonder how they would look like in ten, or twenty years. I won't be here any longer then. If people are all gone, trees will keep growing. Therefore, when I look at the trees, I think of the passage of time they might have seen, when weariness over the human related trivial matters disappear. Today's update: this short note only.

勤労感謝の日。一葉忌。毎年どんより曇った薄ら寒い日となる。ずっと忙しくしていたので、今日ばかりはゆっくり休む。いただいているお便りへのお返事や懸案事項のまとめなど、やりたかったことは色々あるのだが、何となくボンヤリして一日過ぎた。しばらく散歩にも出ていない。このまま冬眠に突入か。気が付いたら春だったなーんて！本日の更新はaoの「毎日卵」と油彩画一点です。「本郷大横丁マッププロジェクト」は、牛歩ながら進んでいる。そろそろ本郷の銀杏も黄葉の時期が来た。輝く黄金の日に今年も出逢いたい。

It's Labor Thanksgiving Day. It's also the anniversary day of Higuchi Ichiyo's death. Almost every year, November 23 is a chilly cloudy day. As I've been extremely busy, I took a rest from everything today. I had letters to write, works to be finished, but I was just hanging around all day long. I haven't been out for a walk these days. Am I going into the hibernation? When I wake up next time, it might be spring. Today's update; ao's Eggs and her latest oil painting. BTW, Hongo Oyokochou Map-project is going on very slowly. Gingko leaves of Hongo are turning yellow. I hope to see the golden trees very soon!

10日ほどもこのページから遠ざかっていた。もちろん忘れていたわけではない。二つのキャンパスを行き来しながら、（もしかすると本業の授業より数が多いかもしれない）会議だの会合に追われていると、自分の時間を確保するのがとても難しい。「無理しなさんな〜」という声を内外に聴きつつ、「でもね、今はしかたないのよ」と自分に言い聞かせている。（ホントにそうなのか？？）★昨日は中学校の同期会に行った。あっという間にタイムスリップ。（私たちが東京都豊島区立高田中学校を卒業したのは1968年のこと。）「過去を懐かしむだけでなく、新しい出会いのために」とスピーチした幹事女史、立派だった。いろんな場所で生きている友人たちの話に聞きほれてしまう。私に決定的な影響を与えてくれた何人かと、あんな風に数十年の時を越え、肩の力を抜いて話ができるなんて幸せなこと。全く思いもよらぬ方からこのサイトの宣伝までしていただき、驚愕のあまり凍り付く瞬間もあったのだが。（どうしてご存じでしたかと直接伺おうと思いながら、その機会を逃してしまった。）ここに書くのは「独り言」のつもりが、実は人前でおしゃべりしていることに他ならないという明々白々な事実を思い出すと身が竦む。改めてご訪問に感謝！★一方、毎週「Keiのワンポイント英会話」というコラムを掲載してくれていたメルマガが先週突然配信中止となり、残念。若い友人の清新なエッセイ発表の場でもあったのだが、有為転変がこの世の習い。いいさ、また新天地を開拓していこう！★本日の更新は「静物」にaoの新作油彩と「毎日卵」です。表紙の写真は御茶ノ水橋。このページはつくばで見た落ち葉の吹き寄せ。以前の写真は「掲載写真帖」へ移しました。★おや雨音がする。また一段と寒くなりそうな気配。何卒ご自愛のほど。

I was away from this page for nearly 10 days. It doesn't mean I had forgotten about it but I was too busy for that, going back and forth between two campuses and attending numerous meeting (probably there are many more meetings than classes!) "Don't work too hard," says my friends and colleagues; I know I shouldn't be too much involved. However, how can I escape from them? "It can't be helped" I say to myself. (Is it really true??) ★Yesterday, I went to a reunion of our junior high school classmates. We graduated from Takata Junior High (Toshima, Tokyo) in 1968."Let us watch the future as well as we retrospect the past with sentiments," said the reunion's chief organizer. Her speech was just wonderful. I was fascinated to listen to my old friends talk of their lives. I had a chance to talk with some of my classmates who had influenced me greatly, in a very relaxing manner. I was so happy to have that kind of occasion jumping over the past few decades. To my amazement, one person introduced this website to all the participants from the stage! Wow, how could he know of it? I missed the chance to ask him the question. I have to remember that I'm not writing here just for myself but writing to casual passers-by anytime. Thanks to your visit! ★BTW, there was an announcement last week that a free e-mail publication in which my mini column on the tips for good English conversation to be terminated. This was also where one of my young friends living in London was writing about her experiences over there in nice essays. Well, things have been changing all the time. Don't be sorry but seek another chance! ★ Today's update: ao's oil painting in Still Life, eggs in An Egg a Day; a photo in the index page (Ochanomizu Bridge) and one in this page above (colorful fallen leaves I saw in Tskuba). Old photos are saved in the page of Cover Photos. ★ I can hear the sound of the rain. It's getting cooler day by day. I hope you'll take a good care of your self.

朝の通勤電車で不覚にも眠り込み、ハッと気付いた駅でつい降りてしまった。下りるべき駅を通過したと勘違いして。実は三つ手前だったのに。すっかり目が覚めた。遠ざかる電車を見送りながら、朝靄にかすむ景色が胸にしみた。苦笑しながらホームに佇んでいた。本日の更新はこのページ「吉川」というその駅の写真と、表紙の写真（つくば中央公園）です。この前TXの終点まで行ってみた。「卵」も新しいのが入っています。昨日までの写真は「掲載写真帖」へ入れました。

This morning I fell fast asleep on the commuter's train. When I woke up suddenly I thought I had passed the station I should have got off, and I jumped out of the train. No, it was three stations before that. I got wide awake then. Looking at the train departing, I was impressed with the misty scene of the railway. I kept standing bitterly smiling to myself. Today's update: the photo in this page (it's the railway I watched this morning at Yoshikawa) and the one in the index page (Tsukuba Central Park). In fact, I went all the way to Tsukuba by TX the other day. New eggs are uploaded as well. Old photos are moved to Cover Photos.

立冬を過ぎてしまった。昨日はぽかぽかしていたので冬のことなど考えもしなかったが、北海道では竜巻が発生し、甚大な被害を及ぼした。千葉にも時々竜巻のニュースがある。自然災害は時もところも選ばない。自然が牙をむくときの人間の無力さ。電車のホーム電光掲示板には相変わらず「テロ警戒中」の文字が流れている。静かな場所がどこかにあるだろうか。本日の更新は「卵」です。だんだんaoの表情が変わってきている。私の知らない若い女の顔。

We're now in winter. It was so warm yesterday that I didn't think of our traditional calendar. However, in Hokkaido a tornado destroyed houses and killed people. Sometimes I've heard of tornados happening in Chiba Prefecture. Natural disasters attack anywhere anytime. We are helpless when the nature shows its fangs. Meanwhile, on electric billboards at train platforms flash the warning of terrorism as usual. Where in the world is a quiet place? Today's update: eggs. ao's face is changing into one of a young woman unfamiliar to me.

昨日夕方近く散歩に出たら、あっという間に日が暮れて見上げると大きな黄色いお月様。十五夜だったのだろうか。そういえば先日あちこちで「十三夜」が話題になっていた。一葉の小説を引用している新聞記事もあり、日本人の月に対する思い入れの深さを再認識した。オオカミなら、あれに向かって吠えたくなるのか。思わず私はシャッターを押した。花鳥風月に惹かれるメンタリティーは拭い去りがたい。何を仮託しようと言うのか、ただ誰しもなにがしかの感慨を持って眺めたかも知れない月を私も見たと。晩秋に向かう。本日の更新は上の写真と、表紙の写真、早くもイルミネーションが輝き始めた東京ドームシティ・ラクーアの回廊です。「卵」と「掲載写真帖」も更新しました。

Yesterday evening I went out for a walk. It got dark immediately. Then I found a large orange moon hanging. Was it a full moon? I remember there were many articles on the web and in newspapers talking about the growing moon. One of them was quoting a short story by Higuchi Ichiyou even. It reminded me of the traditional sentiment aroused by the moon in our culture. What in the world are we to imply through the moon? I just want to say I saw the moon too, which you might have seen somewhere. Autumn is coming to the end very soon. Today's update: the photo above and also the photo on the index page, the early illumination at LaQua, Tokyo Dome City. Eggs and Cover Photos are also updated.

我が町東村山には何のめぼしいものもないように思って暮らしているが、実は東京都内唯一の国宝建造物がある。正福寺地蔵堂という。正福寺は鎌倉時代に開かれた古刹で、地蔵堂は「中国から伝えられた禅宗様（唐様）建築の代表的な建造物」とのこと。この度30年に一度の屋根葺き替え工事が終わり、「地蔵まつり」が開かれた。本堂ご開帳と聞き及び、思い立って出かけてみた。雅楽と舞いの奉納には間に合わなかったけれど、堂内のご本尊様とそれを取り巻く千体地蔵を拝んできた。そういえば、八国山の尾根道に鎌倉時代の遺跡があるのを思い出す。東京は江戸とばかり考えるのは不見識なようだ。関東には関東なりの歴史がある。少し視界を広げなくては。ピンと反り返った独特ななお堂の屋根を見上げていると、目先のことにばかり汲々としてどうすると思えてくる。本日の更新は「国宝　正福寺地蔵堂　地蔵まつり」です。地元を見直したひとときだった。それから「卵」も一つ。ご訪問に感謝です。

Usually I feel there is nothing special in my home town Higashimurayama.; however, in fact, we have the only National Treasure Building of Tokyo in our city. It's "Jizou-do" at Shofuku-ji Temple, which was originally built in Kamakura Era (in 1407). Jizou-do has the traditional Zen style coming from China. The roof of the wooden building has been re-covered once every 30 years. The latest recovering was completed in September and today Jizou Matsuri Festival was held. Jizou-do was specially opened to the public. We decided visit the temple. Although we were not in time for the dedication of ancient Japanese traditional music and dance, we got the chance to observe the inside of Jizou-do with its main Jizou Statue and thousand of small jizou statues surrounding it. I remember I saw an ancient site of Kamakura Era in Mt. Hachikoku. When we talk of Tokyo, we tend to think it is the embodiment of Edo Era but actually Kanto Plain in wider scale has longer history. I need to have a larger view of this district. Looking up at the characteristic roof of Jizou-do, I felt I should not be near-sighted. Today's update: a photo page of "Jizou-do Festival." One more egg, too. Thanks for your visit!

霜月到来。ここから年末までは転がるように過ぎていくのが常だ。でもそう簡単に年は越せない。親の出る幕は全くないが、aoの受験が現実味を帯びて近付いてきた。この頃「はぁ〜？」という絵ばかりを持って帰る。本日の更新は「静物」にaoの油彩『左大腿部』です。最初見た時はぎょっとした。「毎日卵」は2ページ目に入った。私は自分が受験生だった36年前を思い出している。ここを越えなくては何も始まらないとしゃかりきになっていた。あれは青春時代の大きな山だった。そんな大袈裟な言葉を使うだけで恥じ入ってしまうのだけれども、確かに。

November has started. Usually time starts rolling so fast at this time to the end of the year. But I can hardly go on to the next year so easily. Although there is almost nothing parents can do, the time our daughter is to take college entrance exams is approaching realistically. Recently all the drawings she brings home are strange--at least to my eyes. Today's update: ao's oil painting, "The Left Leg." She has been producing an egg every day. (An Egg a Day) The second page for eggs has began. I still remember the days when I was preparing for the entrance exam 36 years ago. I was very serious thinking my life won't begin unless I could pass over the mountain successfully. How naive I was! It really was a mountain in my youth.

October 31, 2006

このところ更新できずにいた。前項は数日前に途中まで書き、眠くて断念。それ以来あれこれに追われてここにたどり着けなかった。「ここ」は自分の隠れ部屋なのだが、外に向かって窓をいっぱいに開けているという矛盾。ホームページやブログで「何故人は日記を晒すのか」という問いかけがある。実はこんなものは日記ではないのにそう呼ばれているだけのこと。相変わらず書かないこと、書けないことの方が誰の心にも余計にある。書くのはほんの一端に過ぎない。それでも端をひらひらさせながら人は「私はここにいる」と呟く。それが誰に届かなくても、だ。Sarah Brightmanを大音量で聴きながら、心の中をかき混ぜる。本日の更新は表紙（地下鉄駅の券売機の前に何故か片方だけのハイヒール）とこのページの写真（建築現場の青い空）です。私が更新を怠っている間にも「卵」は増え続けています。昨日までここにあった写真は「掲載写真帖」に移動しました。

I have not been able to update this page for many days. When I wrote this note last time, I couldn't help giving it up in the middle because I was too sleepy. Since then I have been away from this page, which is my private room so to say. I know it's a contradiction; how can it be a private space if I open it to the world? One of the frequently asked questions is why people expose their "diary" on the Internet. In fact I don't think what people write in their websites or blogs are not real diaries although they are called by that name. How can they write what they have in the depth of their heart so casually? It's only a very small part of their heart/mind. But people show the part to cry "I'm here, Watch me!" most of the case in vain. I disturb myself while listening to Sarah Brightman in a large volume. Today's update: a photo in the index page (a high-heeled shoe left alone in front of the ticket vending machine in a subway station) and the one in this page (the blue sky above the construction site). ao's eggs are increasing while I was lazy.　Old photos are moved to "Cover Photos."

いつもより少し早く帰れるかなと思ったら、鉄道事故で足止めを食らう。あと数駅というところで武蔵野線は止まり、乗客は電車からホームに吐き出された。思案のしどころ。そのままホームで運転再開を待つか、アナウンスの通り遠い迂回路へ踏み出すか、それとも行き当たりばったりローカルな路線を乗り継いで行くか。私は第三の道を選んで見慣れぬ駅舎の外へ出た。案の定タクシー乗り場は長蛇の列で論外。路線バスで最寄りの私鉄駅へ向かうこととして停留所で待つ。列はどんどん長くなるがバスはなかなか姿を現さない。痺れを切らしかけたところへ小さな市内循環バスがきた。別の駅へ向かうらしい。確信はなかったが一か八かそちらへ飛び乗る。だが走り出して間もなく、バスは渋滞に巻き込まれた。はかばかしく進まない。いくつめかの停留所で聞き慣れた駅の名前！歩いていける距離ならバスに揺られている筋合いはない。迷わず飛び降りた。しかし、どちらへ歩いたものか見当が付かない。幸いなことに周りに数人、私と同じようなことを考えた人たちがいた。中の一人が「聞いてきます」というなり、人影を追って駅への道を尋ねてくれた。暗い道をそこから見知らぬもの同士は無言で歩き続け、ようやく目指す駅へたどり着いた。結局あの時電車を下ろされた駅でじっと待っていても、はたまた迂回路を辿っても、結局は同じくらい時間がかかったのかも知れない。咄嗟の判断に性格が出てしまう。本日の更新はaoの卵です。

In spite of my original intention to go home earlier than usual, I was detained by a train accident on my way. Only a few station before I wanted to get off, all the passengers had to step out of the train. The announcement told us to take different routes for respective destination. Well, there were several choices: just to take the lines the announce told us; to wait quietly on the platform until the train service began again; to go ahead without any definite plan looking for some luck. I chose the last one. I went out of the train station and looked around. There was a long line for taxi. I stood at the end of the line waiting for a bus. Then came a mini-bus which will drop me at a railway station I know. It started immediately fortunately; however, it was stuck in the traffic congestion. How irritating! I jumped off the bus when an announcement told us a name of another familiar railway station. I had no idea which way to go. One of the passengers who left the bus asked a passer by the way and we walked together in silence in darkness to the station. Eventually we arrived at the station. I was not sure if my choice was right or not. Had I waited quietly on the platform, perhaps I could have come home almost the same time I actually did. Nobody could tell what to do on emergency anyway! Today's update: ao's eggs.

再三の大雨。ぐっと冷え込んできた。珍しく午後の早い時間に乗った武蔵野線、開発途上地帯で広々と地平線まで見えるところが一箇所ある。雨の止み間に北東の方角にうっすらと山影。ああ、あれが筑波山かと初めて思った。快晴の冬日には西に富士山が見える。さすが武蔵野線の面目、関東平野がぐるりだ。ここから抜け出すのは容易でないのだが。本日の更新は「静物」にaoの新作デッサン「布と身体」。そして卵です。毎日一つずつ増える。時には二個。最初は赤玉だったのがここ数日は白玉になった。アドバイザー女史によると「この卵を描くというプロジェクトの意味は真っ白から真っ黒までのその間のグレーのグラデーション階調をいかに描き分けるかという訓練ということです。ラベルを描くとか、卵を立てるとか、下に布をひくとかそういうことは一切せず、愚直なまでに真っ白の卵を真っ白の紙の上に置いてひたすらそれを描くのです。そして卵がちゃんと白いものに見えるように形がちゃんと卵と分かるように描く、それってなかなか難しいんです」とのこと。aoは反発しながらもアドバイスに従って愚直に描き続けている。ここから発見出来ることは、私にもありそうだ。

Heavy rain falls again and again. It's getting very chilly. Unusually I took Musashino Line early in the afternoon today. When I came to the point where the horizon is visible, I could see in the northern east a faint shadow of a mountain. I recognized it to be Mt. Tsukuba for the first time. In a fine cold winter day, we can see Mt. Fuji in the west. Because Musashino Line is running through Kanto Plane, we can see t all around. Today's update: ao's latest work, a pencil drawing of "a cloth and body" in Still Life; and eggs. Everyday one (or sometimes two) egg(s) is(are) added. First the egg was a red one, but it's white now, following the advisor who says, "The purpose of this project--an egg a day--is a practice to draw the gradation sequence clearly from pure white to black. Don't think of drawing a label on the egg, standing it, or laying a cloth under it, but just draw naively a white egg on a white paper. Draw so that the egg looks in the shape of an egg and as white as it is. It's a challenge quite hard to achieve." Feeling a little revolt, ao keeps drawing naively, following the advice. Maybe there is something I can also learn in this practice.

私に届いたと思った紀州梅の小包が、実は近所の同姓の方宛の誤配とわかり、慌てて電話した。ところがご当人は、そのようなものが届く覚えはないと言う。「確かにあなたのお名前と、代金振り込み用紙が」と説明しても訝しがるばかり。とにかくお届けしましょうと申し出たところ「では中間地点で」となって夜半に信号の下で出逢って立ち話した。驚くべきことに、彼女はここ一ヶ月ほどの間に身に覚えのない食品や洋服の「取り寄せ品」がこれで合計三度も届いたとのこと。送り主のメーカーにいちいち問い合わせて返送するのも手間で困惑している。どうやら何処かから漏れ出た彼女の個人情報を誰かが悪用して、通信販売の物品を請求書付きで送らせているらしい。「愉快犯」と呼ぶのも不愉快な犯罪だ。こんなことが続いたらどうしたものか。「消費者センター」のようなところが相談にのってくれるのだろうか。便利の裏にある危険を垣間見る思いがする。本日の更新は、30回目を数える『翻訳読書ノート 』に、「悪童を産んだひと」と題してアゴタ・クリストフをめぐる短いエッセイ。ハンガリー動乱から50年目の今年。そしてaoの「毎日卵」です。おまけに、表紙とこのページの写真を明るい里山からセイタカアワダチソウやルコウソウの枯れ色に換えました。昨日までの写真は「掲載写真帖」へ。しばらく続いていた青空が、どこかへ行ってしまった。

I thought I received a parcel of pickled plums as a present, but in fact it was an ordered goods addressed to a cognominal person in my neighborhood. I called her immediately; however she was bewildered to hear what I explained. She said she had never ordered such a thing herself. According to her, she has received foods and clothes that she never thought of buying three times already with bills. It's very likely someone who illegally obtained her personal information might be making goods sent to her. People may call it "a crime for pleasure" but it is a humorless crime definitely. What could be done to stop it? Would "Consumer Affairs Bureaus" be of any help? I feel I've seen the darkness behind all the convenience we're enjoying. Today's update: a short essay entitled "An author who gave birth to terrible infants" on Agota Kristof in Translated Works. (sorry, only in Japanese.) It's just the 50th anniversary since the Hungarian Rising. There are new eggs by ao. Photos on the index page and here in this page are new. Old ones are moved to "Cover Photos." Where has the blue sky gone?

河原にも野原にもセイタカアワダチソウが繁茂し始めた。この帰化植物は悪者扱いされることが多いが、秋の深まりを感じさせる。ススキの穂も伸びてきた。段々寒くなると、心の中は懐かしさに満たされる。静かに物思う季節。喧噪の世の中とは別に。本日の更新はaoの「卵」です。

Solidago altissima is growing on river banks, fields, and everywhere. This immigrant is very often considered to be evil but it makes me feel I'm in the middle of autumn really. Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is growing too. As it's getting colder, my heart is filled with nostalgia. It's the season to be pensive quietly. Let me be away from the busy world, today's update: ao's "an egg a day."

自転車をこぎながらふと思った。若い頃、私には「どうしてもやり遂げたいこと」が常にいくつかあった。その時々の悩みは、「それがなかなか成就しないこと」だった。今はどうか。「やりたいこと」はいくつかある。だが、「どうしても」かどうかよく分からない。「できれば良し、できなくともまた良し」といった寛容さ、乃至は諦観がまとわりつく。成ることはあまりに少ないと思い知ったからだろうか。それとも、志が段々低くなったのか。大志を抱くより、目先に分かりやすいゴールを設置して、ほどほどの達成で満足するように自分を躾てしまったのか。「そんなはずは」とペダルをこぐ足に力を込めて早くも落葉に覆われた舗道を駆け抜けるくらいが昨今の実情だと思うと、たいへん情けなくもある。日々の忙しさに溺れているとそんなことすら滅多に考えなかったなと、愕然としながら。本日の更新は「静物」にaoの新作油彩「ハンガーラックとハンガー」と、デッサン「そんなあなたも放っておけない」です。「はて〜、これは？」とつい口走ってしまった。それと「卵」を二つ。さすがに夕方は冷え込む。ご訪問の皆様、お風邪など召されませぬようご自愛のほど。

While cycling I thought, "As a young woman, I always had something I wanted to achieve by all means. Do I have such a zeal recently?" Yes, I do have something I want to achieve, but I'm not sure if I want it "by all means." "It's good if I achieve it, but it doesn't matter much if I cannot." This is I'm feeling nowadays. Am I tolerant or have I given up the utmost efforts from the beginning? I'm afraid I've made it a custom to settle easy goals and satisfy myself with small successes. "Never!" I say to myself and push pedals with full force. All I can do is just to ride through the pavement covered with fallen leaves full speed by bike. How helpless! Don't forget to be ambitious, I want to say. While I'm busy doing this and that, I apt to forget ideals. I haven't thought of such a thing these days even. It's a shame. Today's update: ao's latest works in Still Life, an oil painting entitled "a hanger rack and a hanger" and a pencil drawing entitled "I Can't Leave You Alone." They made me puzzled frankly. There are two more "eggs." It's getting very cool in the evening. Please take care of yourself, my dear visitors.

今年のノーベル文学賞はトルコのオルハン・パムクに決まった。パムクの作品は一つしか知らない。「翻訳読書ノート」で二年前に『わたしの名は紅』を取り上げた。たまたま書店で見て関心を惹かれ、手にしたのだった。デンマークの友人の息子がトルコの女性と結婚しているというのも、トルコに関心を持つきっかけの一端だった。息子の元をしばしば訪れる彼女は、いつか一緒に行こうと誘ってくれたこともある。ロンドンに住んでいる若い日本の友人は、イギリスに食傷・辟易するとトルコへ出かける。すると非西欧的な文化に癒されるのだと言っていた。遠い国、未知の世界に、小説を通じて開かれる扉。異文化に対する不寛容が蔓延る昨今の情勢の中で、精緻な言葉に導かれて旅する想念の異境は貴重だ。核実験などより、その国の文学を世界に提示出来たらどれほど深いインパクトを与えられるか知らない為政者は悲しい。本日の更新は「卵」を二個です。

Orham Pumk is the Nobel Laureate in Literature in 2006. I've read only one work of his: My Name is Red. I wrote a very brief review on it two years ago. I happened to find the book in a store and somehow strongly attracted. I have a Danish friend whose son is married to a Turkish woman; that might be one of the reasons I took interest in the author. My friend suggested me to travel to Turkey someday together. She goes there to see his son's family quite often. A young Japanese friend of mine living in London said she sometimes go to Turkey when she gets fed up with British people and culture. She says she is consoled by the non-European factors of their culture somehow. A novel opens a door to the world unknown to us. As intolerance to foreign cultures prevails in our society nowadays, it's precious we have a route to different worlds in literature. It's amazing how gravely people could be impressed with literature. It surpasses much more than nuclear weapons. Miserable is the leaders who have no idea what kind of impact literature can give to the world. Today's update: two eggs in "an egg a day."

毎日色々なことがある。降る日もあれば晴れる日も。何がどうと書くことはできないけれど、「溢れそうな聖杯を抱えて市場を歩く少年」のように、真剣ではある。とはいえ、いつもどこか呑気な性分、これはどうにもならない。さて、『ギャラリー余白』の一隅に「毎日卵」という小さなコーナーができた。aoが受験まで続ける練習に付き合うことに。私も「毎日メモ」を始めようかな。

We have various happenings every day. One day it's sunny and another day it's rainy. I cannot write the details but I'm quite serious like a boy "walking in the marketplace holding a chalice full of sacred wine." I'm relaxing somehow too. It's my nature and couldn't be helped. BTW, there is a corner entitled "an egg a day" in Gallery in Magins. ao declaed to draw an egg everyday until she take the entrance exam to art colleges. I provide the corner for her. Well, should I write "a note a day"?

豪雨が洗い流した後の空は「体育の日」に相応しい晴天となった。地元の「八国山」まで自転車を飛ばし、ゴウゴウと鳴る風に当たりながら、散策を楽しんむ。天恵と言いたくなるような日射しだった。たまには人間にも天日干しが必要だ。本日の更新は表紙の写真（八国山麓北山公園内の刈穂）とこのページの写真（八国山麓のサツマイモ畑）です。こんな日には本もパソコンも要らない。以前の写真は「掲載写真帳」に移動しました。ところで、今朝中学時代の友人から電話があった。歳月をものともしない豪快な彼女。同期会にぜひ出席をと。

Washed by the heavy rain, the sky was perfect blue suitable for the National Sports Day. I went to Mt. Hachikoku by bicycle and enjoyed taking a walk in the growling wind. The sunshine was exactly the bliss. Sometime human beings have to be dried under the sun. Today's update: the photo on the cover page (harvested rice) and the one above (the field of red Japanese potatoes). Not a day for books and computers. Photos for previous days are moved to the page for "Cover Photos." BTW, an old firend of mine called and told me to attend the reunion of junior high school classmates. She is brilliant with no trace of age!

昨日は一日中猛烈に雨が降り続いていた。まさかの遅刻。流山へ通い始めてからよほど気を付けて始業30分前には到着するようにしていたのに、自転車が使えず電車を乗り継いでいく途上の道が傘の行列で歩行者による大渋滞という前代未聞の現象に見舞われ、乗れるはずの電車を逃した。スクールバスも長蛇の列。大量の積み残しをしたまま乗りたかった便は行ってしまった。客待ちタクシーも見あたらず。レインコートから滴を垂らしながら教室に飛び込んだ。時間通りに来ていた学生は僅かだったけれど。帰路も電車の延着が続き、雨と風に弱い武蔵野線らしい。目の覚めるような秋晴れを心待ちにしている。秋草を眺めながら歩き回るんだ。いや、心ゆくまで眠りたい。ちょっと壊れそうになっているのはココロかカラダか。・・・アタマ、かもしれない。（本日の更新は、いまのところ短信のみにて。）

Yesterday, it was raining heavily all day long. I was late in time for my early morning class in spite of myself. Usually I arrive in Nagareyama more than 30 minutes before the beginning of the first period; however, I was blocked by crowd of people, or I should say hundreds of umbrellas right before the entrance gate of a railway station. I missed the train I should have caught. I missed the school shuttle bus too; there was a long waiting line and I couldn't get in the one I should have taken. No taxi either. Thus I stumbled in the classroom in my dripping raincoat. There were just a few students waiting. On my way back, the trains were late just like Musashino Line which is notorious for the delay by strong wind and heavy rain.　I'm expecting a beautiful sunny autumn day to come as soon as possible. I would like to take a walk looking for autumn plants. Also, I want to sleep as long as possible. Something is likely collapsing; my body or soul? Maybe it's my mind.　Today's update: this note only for the moment.

これまでに作成してきた「本郷界隈」関連ウェッブページを先週はあちこちで見てもらった。訪問講義をした本郷キャンパスのゼミ三年生たちからは「こんな所が身近にあるとは知らなかった」「自分でも歩いてみたい」「マップ作成が楽しみだ」などの感想が出た。一方、流山キャンパスの一年生CALLクラスでは「遊ぶところが見あたらない」「写真には人間があまり写っていない（ので面白くない）」「伝通院は子どもの頃の遊び場だった」「北野神社（春日）の石段はよく知っている、なつかしい」「日本庭園なんかに興味はない」などなど、ハチャメチャながら二十歳前の若者のホンネがいっぱい出た。その後、本郷大横丁をめぐる懇談会に出席。正式には二度目だが、前回より活発な意見交換となった。地域活性化の試みは周辺がいくら騒いでも、地元商店街・住民の意向がまずハッキリしていないと先へ進まない。しかしその土地に長く暮らす人々にとって日常を見直し改変する作業は青天の霹靂。当然ズレが生じる。新しいメンバーも交えて、ようやく何かが動き始めるかな、というところ。急ぐことはない。地元を見つめるのは非常に局所的で閉鎖的な営為にも感じられるが、文化・歴史の継承、今後の都市生活の展望、環境保護、経済商業活動の振興、少子高齢化社会と福祉の関係等々、きわめてグローバルで今日的な課題が満載されている。と、僅か数時間の話し合いの中で実感したのであった。完璧に個人的関心と趣味で始めた「本郷散歩」だったが、ふと気が付けば「坂の上の雲」を眺めているような気分がする。（ちょっと大袈裟！）本日の更新は<ギャラリー余白>中「静物」にaoの新作二点です。ようやく文化祭騒動も沈静化し、これからaoも受験勉強に専念するのであろう、と期待しつつ？表紙写真は東京都文京区春日、シビックセンター下のポケットパークの一つ「木」。このページはそろそろ花の終わるカクトラノオに来たトラマルハナバチ（かな？？？）です。以前の写真は「掲載写真帖」へ移しました。

I had my web pages on Hongo Area seen by many people last week, fortunately. Juniors of a seminar which I visited at Hongo Campus for a lecture gave out opinions like "I've never known such interesting spots are around"; "I would really like to take a walk in this area myself."; "I'm looking forward to launching the map-making project." and so on. Whereas, freshmen in CALL at Nagareyama uttered like this: "No place to enjoy ourselves, say a large game-center, in this area?"; "Your photos are not so interesting because I can see few people in them."; "Oh, it's Dentsuin Temple is where I used to play with my friends in my childhood!"; "I know the stone steps leading to Kitano Shrine (in Kasuga) very well. They make me feel at home."; "Oh, come on, I'm not interested in old Japanese gardens." Their opinions varied but I was glad I heard the frank voice of young people. Afterwards, I attended "The Hongo Meeting." Compared to the first time, it was more active and participants exchanged ideas and opinions quite freely. Unless the inhabitants of the area want to start something new by themselves, nothing will change; however, to them the requirement is a sort of a bolt from the blue sky. We need to take time. With a few new members included, something might perhaps start moving gradually, hopefully. To think about Hongo Oyokocho seem to be very local and closed, but I'm coming to realize that it involve a lot of up-to-date issues such as "succession of history and culture," "to draw a grand view of life in large cities," "preservation of natural environment," "development of commercial activities," "welfare of the society with more elders and less children," etc. I started thinking of these things together in a few hours during the meeting. So global and contemporary indeed! I started recording the image of Hongo Area based on my personal interest first, but now I feel I am looking up at clouds high above slopes. (Is it a too much exaggeration?!) Today's update: ao's latest works in 'Still Life', Gallery in Margins. She has finished her activities for her high school cultural festival eventually. I hope it's high time for her to start studying hard for entrance exams.　The photo on the cover page: A pocket-park at Kasuga-Hakusan Crossing in Bunkyo, Tokyo; one on this page: Bombus diversus Smith (???) visiting Physostegia virginiana (maybe) . Old photos are removed to Cover Photos.

September 23, 2006

週日はずっと出ずっぱりであれこれの要請に引っ張り回されているため、週末くらいひっそりと自分の関心事にかまけていたい・・・などと思うのは我が儘だろうか。まだ新学期が始まったばかりだというのに。千葉と東京のキャンパスを往来するのは、やはり疲れる。同日に午前と午後で両方に行かなくてはならないことが頻繁に起こると余計に。だが、拒否することはできないし、瞬間移動もできないし、体の力を抜いてふわ〜っとあちこちするしかなさそうだ。何か心楽しいことを見つけながら。本日の更新は、実験ページ「本郷大横町界隈　見たまま・歩いたまま」です。これまで趣味的に集めてきた写真を仕分けして、「マッププロジェクト」に役立てられないかと整備中。（余りパッとしないが、今回は細部の手直しと同リンクページを集中的にまとめてみた。自分のサイトの容量を再び一気に増やしてしまったが、いずれ大学のサーバに移植する予定にしている。）来週はまた本郷会の会合がある。ご町内の皆様方と、さてどんなことになりますか。

I've been so busy doing this and that beyond my capability that I want to stay quietly doing whatever for myself. Is it to selfish to say such a thing? The new semester has just started yet! I get easily tired as I have to go back and forth between two campuses in Chiba and Tokyo. Especially when I have to be in both campuses in one day, in the morning in Tokyo and in afternoon in Chiba, I get just exhausted at the end of a day. But I can never decline the requirement or transport instantaneously like a magic, so I have to learn how to relax anytime and move smoothly. Let me find something pleasant and hopeful. Today's update: "Hongo Oyokocho" which is an experimental page. This time I arranged the Link page. I wish I could make use of what I've been collecting on my own for a more public use; "The Map Creating Project" in Oyokocho Shopping Street. Next week, we'll have a meeting of Hongo-kai. What will happen next with Hongo people?

先日逃亡した二匹の亀のうち、トビダシが戻ってきた。といっても自主的に帰還したわけではなく、近所の家に迷い込んだところを捕獲されて連れ戻された。身元不明の間、トビダシはとりあえず入れてもらった水槽の水草を食い荒らし、次いで入れられたバケツをひっくり返してまた逃げ出し、庭の生ゴミ捨て場の中で屑野菜を食べているところを再度発見された。その家の女主人がお隣さんに「これは一体どこの亀でしょう」と相談したところから足がついて、我が家に連れ戻された次第。私はお礼に果物を持って挨拶に出かけた。「もう逃がさないようにね」と念を押され、もちろんですともと固く約束した。トビダシは心なしか神妙である。この際と古い水槽を気前よく処分してしまっていたので、彼（？）はハニカミの水槽に同居することとなった。ハニカミは意外に大胆で、新参者を踏みつけたり押しのけたりしている。さていつまで大人しくしていることやら。亀は長命というが、飼い主が先にへばったりしないよう、私も気を付けなくては。お帰り、よく戻って来たこと！本日の更新はこの短信のみにて。ご訪問に感謝。

One of the turtles which ran away a few weeks ago has returned! It did not come back, of course, by itself but it was brought back by the person who captured it. After it ran away from our garden, it walked across the lane in front of our house and got into the garden of our neighbor's. It was picked up and put in a water tank where it ate a lot of grass in it. Then it was put in a bucket, from which it ran away again. Finally it was discovered while it was eating rotten vegetables on the ground pit. Our neighbor asked a person next door to whom this turtle belonged. He mentioned my name and thus, the lady brought it to me eventually. I visited her today with a small present of fruit. She asked me never to let it escape again. I promised her that I won't. The turtle named "Runaway" is now living with "shyness" in her water-tank. She is not shy anymore. Runaway is rather quiet so far. I wonder how long it will last that way. I have to take care of myself to survie turtles which are considered to live long. Anyway, welcome back! Today's update: this note only. Thanks for reading.

秋分の日を待たずに彼岸の墓参へ。高尾の山裾にはすっかり秋の気配が漂う。びっしりと葛の葉が茂り葉陰に花が咲き誇っている。おや、虫がお食事中だ。写真を撮っている時には気付かなかった。（でもこれはなんという昆虫だろう？顔と腹側がちょこっとしか見えない。）野の草は旺盛な生命力を露わにし、人の手が届かないところでは際限なく拡がる。くすんだ曇天だったが、谷間を覗くとどこまでも緑が濃い。本日の更新はこのページの写真と表紙の写真（JR水道橋付近、外堀通り沿い神田川縁の水路モニュメント。石柱は江戸時代の「石樋」をイメージしたもの。）です。以前の写真は「掲載写真帖」に移動しました。台風が西から北上しつつある。

I visited our family tomb before the autumn equinox. At the foot of Mt. Takao, the atmosphere is completely that of autumn. I saw kuzu (Pueraria lobata) growing thickly over stone walls in the cemetery.. Behind leaves, flowers were in full bloom. I can see an insect sucking honey, which I did not notice while I was taking the photo. (BTW, what is this insect? I can see only a part of its body.) Plants were growing everywhere with almost outrageous vitality, which human hands can hardly stop. The sky was covered with drowsy clouds but the valley was powerfully green. Today's update: photos of this page and the cover page (the waterway monument along The River Kanda, by JR Suidobashi Station. Stones symbolize the stone water-pipe of Edo Era.) Old photos are now in the page of Cover Photos. A typhoon is traveling from the west to the north of Japan now.

一気に肌寒くなった。一時的なものだろうか。例年体育の日あたりには夏日がぶり返す。体育の日は1964年の東京オリンピック開催に因んで設けられた国民の祝日だが、またぞろ東京でオリンピックを企てようとは信じがたい。この過密都市はただでさえ酸欠状態だというのに。あの時日本橋の景観を壊した首都高速を取り除こうという企てもある。一度失われたものを蘇らせるために費やされる計り知れないエネルギー。悔い改めるに遅すぎることはないというなら、同じ愚行を繰り返さないことが先だろう。5年後には第二東京タワーが建つというし、この街は貪欲すぎる。人工的なものばかりで構築された都市の脆さをいつか晒すのではないかと、不安が募る。悲観的すぎるだろうか。本日の更新は、このページの朝顔に換えて、ケイトウの写真です。夏の赤とは明らかに違う。

It's suddenly so cool. Is it a temporary weather? Usually it gets as hot as summer again around October 10, which was originally National Sports Day, commemorating the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964. It's unbelievable that another Tokyo Olympics is being promoted. This city of overconcentration is almost suffocating. There is also an attempt to get rid of the highway running over Nihon-bashi (historically a very important and graceful bridge in the central part of Tokyo). The concrete highway which was constructed right before the Olympic Games completely destroyed the beauty of the bridge. Just imagine the energy we need to recover the lost heritage. How can we not repeat the same folly? The second Tokyo Tower is going to be constructed in 5 years. Isn't Tokyo too greedy? I'm terrified to think this man-made gigantic city would expose its fragility someday. Am I too pessimistic? Today's update: the photo of this page; cockscombs after a morning glory. The read color is not of summer.

写真の話の続きをしよう。デジカメなどない時代には銀塩写真を分厚いアルバムに貼っていたものだ。私の両親はゆっくりと子どもの成長に合わせて一人一人のアルバムを作成し、家を出て行く時に各自に分け与えた。両親のように丁寧にアルバムを作る習慣は身に付かなかったため、結婚以降に自分が撮った写真はあちこちに散在している。我が子の誕生から数年間は写真を撮りまくったので、それでもアルバムを何冊か作った。だが子どもの成長がそれほど劇的でなくなると写真の枚数が減り、いつしかコンスタントに撮影しなくなってしまった。デジカメ時代になると、今度は闇雲に撮る。現像の手間が要らない分、際限なく撮る。しかしものとしては手元に残らない。だからなのだろうか、母を訪ねた時にアルバムで出会った人々が鮮やかな印象を残す。憮然とした顔でこちらを見ている昔の写真の人々は、いつか遠いところで見も知らぬ子孫に見つめられる日が来ると期することがあったろうか。写真に命の連鎖を記録して手渡す行為を、今私は懐かしくありがたくかみしめる。本日の更新は<ギャラリー余白>中「静物」にaoの新作「意識の輪」です。これも一つの記録？

Let me continue writing about photos. When there were no digital cameras, people used to make thick and heavy photo albums. My parents made it their custom to keep photos of each child as s/he grew, and gave these albums to their children when they got married and left home. I was not so constant as my parents. Although I took photos of my daughter very often while she was growing up dramatically but I lost the custom. Once I got a digital camera, I started taking photos frantically. Unless you print the data, nothing is left at hand. Maybe that's why I was so much impressed with the old photos I found at my mother's place. I wonder if those people who are watching the camera eyes so seriously ever dreamed of someone in the future would see them with great interest somewhere. I appreciate the deed of handing the record of chain of life in photos greatly.Today's update: ao's new work entitled "Consciousness" in 'Still Life', Gallery in Margins. Is it also a style of recording?

雨の中、自転車をこいで実家の母に届け物をしに行く。どこから出てきたものやら、古い写真がたくさんあった。その中に、台紙に張られた母方の曾祖父母の正装写真。添え書きによれば昭和四年、曾祖父77歳、曾祖母74歳。既にこの段階で金婚式も済ませている。二人には十二人の子どもがあった。逆算してみると曾祖母は15歳で嫁ぎ、産み始めたことになる。その末っ子だった私の祖父は実の姉の嫁ぎ先に養子に出された。多産の家もあれば、子どものない家もあり、互いに融通し合っていたことが知れる。家督相続というものが必ずしも「実子」に拘るものではなかったことも明白だ。皮肉なことに貰われた後で継母には実子が生まれ、祖父は家を継ぐ責任を逃れた。庶民は斯様に行き当たりばったりというか大らかだった。一方、父方の祖父母の写真、父の若い頃の写真も多くあり、いずれも戦時中の風俗を如実に表している。父の学生時代が「教練」に明け暮れるものだったことを実感した。教授も学生たちもゲートル履きで野戦実習場にいる。女たちはもんぺ姿だ。父が出征中、昭和20年3月10日東京大空襲の数日後に祖父は亡った。幕末生まれの曾祖父母や第二次大戦に翻弄された父の家族など思いがけない人々に出会ったひと時、命の中継地点としての自分の存在を感じた。何らかの形で縁に繋がる人々の記憶を記録しなくてよいのかと、ふと思う。本日は短信のみにて。雑木林の際に群生する萩の花が咲き始めた。

I visited my mother by bicycle in rain. I found many old photos at her house. Among them was a photo of my great grandparents (of my mother's side) in the formal costume. According to the memo, my great grandfather was at the age of 77, and my great grandmother 74 in 1929. At that point, they had already celebrated their golden wedding. They had 12 children. I calculated and found she got married when she was 15 and started having children right after that. My grandfather, who was their 12th child, was adopted by one of his elder sisters. It was evident that there were couples with too many children and ones with no children at all. They were giving and taking children by necessity. It was not only biological children that inherited but adopted ones did too depending on the situation. Ironically, my grandfather escaped from succeeding the adopted family because his stepmother gave birth to a boy after she adopted her smallest brother. Thus, ordinary people were quite flexible. I also found photos of my father's side: my grandparents and my father in youth. They show how they were living in the days under the World War II very well. My father as a student was spending a long time in the field for combat drills with professors putting on their puttees. Women are in clumsy wartime trousers. While my father was sent to battle fields abroad, Tokyo was attacked by continuous air raids. My grandfather died a few days after Great Tokyo Air Raids on March 10, 1945. Watching those who were born in Edo Era, and those whose life was greatly disturbed by the war, I felt myself as a relay point of the life sequence. I wonder if I should record the memory of the people related to me somehow. Today's update: this note only. Japanese bush clover has started blooming along the small forest in my neighborhood.

既に10年近く飼い続けていた亀二匹が相次いで逃亡した。。逃げた亀の名は「トビダシ」と「ハナイキ」という。（もう一匹「ハニカミ」というのが残っている。）ずっと世話をしてきたので私は困惑している。何故今時？と。長い年月、淡々と「いるのが当たり前」だったのに、もういないと思うとガックリする。どんな生き物も、じっと観察していると表情があり、個性があり、癖もある。食べて排泄して、それだけなのだが動物だから動く。少しずつ大きくなっていた。突然、懸垂力で水槽の縁を乗り越えられたのだ。ハナイキは体長30cmにはなっていた。脱出してどこへ？トビダシは一度お向かいの家の植え込みに逃げ込んだことがあったが、今度は見つからないだろう。犬でも猫でもないから、考えを変えて戻ってくるということはない。だが、かつてハナイキは庭の繁みに半年以上潜んでいて捕獲されたこともあった。歴史が二度繰り返したら、それは奇跡というものだ。彼らの幸運を祈る。本日の更新は表紙の写真（黒姫高原のコスモス畑）とこのページの写真（秋花朝顔）です。前の写真は「掲載写真帳」へ移動しました。写真帳「雨後の江戸川」と「野尻湖・黒姫高原」へは『ギャラリー余白』から入れるようになりました。「休憩雑記帳」へは表紙からだと「あれこれ」が入り口です。

Two of my turtles which I had been keeping for nearly 10 years ran away one after another. They were named "Runaway" and "Snorty" respectively. (There remains one more named "Bashful.") I'm quite disturbed because I've been taking care of them for such a long time. Why they disappeared NOW? I'm disappointed to think there will be no more of them. Surely their life was just monotonous: they ate and evacuated. That's all. But they had characteristics in their ways. Like all animals, they moved. They were growing bigger very slowly. One day they found they could go over a rim of the water tank with their hands. Snorty was as big as 30cm long (from head to tail). Where have they gone? When Runaway disappeared before, it was discovered in our neighbor's garden. Perhaps not this time. Because they are neither a dog nor a cat, they won't change their mind and come home by themselves. I remember, however, Snorty once was hiding under a bush of our garden for half a year and discovered. If that could happen again, it would be a real miracle. I wish them for their luck. Today's update: the photo in the index page (the cosmos garden in Kurohime Highland) and the one in this page (a morning glory in autumn). Old photos are stored now in the page of "Cover Photos."　Photo albums "The Edo River After Rain" and "Lake Nojiri and Kurohime Highland" are accessible from Gallery in Margins.Please access "Keiko's Scribbling Block" through etcetera.

助走というのはじれったいようでもあり、必要不可欠なものでもある。「筆馴らし」という言葉は書道と無縁な私にとっては比喩でしかないのだが、徐々に調子を上げていくための準備期間が貰えるとありがたい。新学期が本格化する前の、今は助走期間。同時に泥縄常習犯の私にとっては滑り込みするための全力疾走期間でもあるのが辛いところ。空白の目立つ"To Do List"を前に焦っている。本日の更新は「休憩雑記帳」に一編「読書日記の恐怖」を追加しました。これも一つの「助走期間」にある。いずれもっと本格的なページにするつもりで。まだるっこしい文章でごめんなさい。

We feel impatient while we are in "the run-up period" although we know it's necessary. Japanese calligraphers take time before they use a new brush fully enough. Metaphorically, I'm still in that period in terms of my work in the new semester. I'm grateful to have this preparatory stage before the frantic daily schedule starts again. Also this is an important period of time for me to tie up all the loose ends in a hurry as usual. I can hardly get out of being a procrastinator. I'm watching my "To Do List" with sighs. Today's update: another title in A Short Break. Sorry, this is a short column only in Japanese. I'm planning to make this into a full (perhaps bilingual) page in time. At this point I'm still writing fearfully like in "the run-up period."

迷わず九月。後へは引けない。昨日より通勤を再開した。久々の本郷である。仕事の後は本郷通りと言問通りの交差点近くにある美容院でカットして貰い、そのまま言問通りを下って、途中老舗「石井いり豆店」で豆菓子を友人のお見舞いに送り、白山通りの「あゆみBooks小石川店」に寄る。ここはほどほどの大きさの本屋で、品揃えがよい。店頭に、ズバリ『散歩の達人』9月号-特集は「元祖山の手を楽しむ方法　神楽坂、本郷、小石川」。（あゆみBooksは地元紹介の書籍雑誌を常備している。立ち読みも含めて、随分お世話になってきた。）ふ〜ん、直接行ったらどうということのないあの場所この場所が、趣のあるレトロなスポットとして掲載されている。＜本郷大横町通りマッププロジェクト＞の参考になりそうだ。（先ほど豆菓子を買った店も押さえてある！）入り口で取った買い物籠に雑誌、文庫、新書、ペーパーバックスをスーパーで買い物するみたいに放り込んでレジへ。（何だかオンラインブックストアのバーチャル版のよう。）暮色に包まれた礫川公園を通り抜けていく時、確かな秋風に全身を包まれた。本日の更新は、お初にお目にかかります『休憩雑記帳』に第一編、「何に書くか、何を書くか」です。エッセイというほどでもなく、日記でもなく、休憩時間のお供にどうぞ。

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it's September. There is no retreating. I started commuting to work again yesterday. Exactly after one month, I went to Hongo. Having finished my work, I walked on the back alley to my favorite beauty shop near the intersection of Hongo Avenue and Kototoi Avenue to have my hair cut. Then I walked down Kototoi Avenue, making a brief stop at an old beans snack shop where I picked up several kinds to make a present for my friend recovering from illness, and visited a bookshop in Hakusan Avenue. As soon as I went into the shop, I found the latest issue of a magazine, Sannpo no Tatsujin (A Master of Walking) which is featuring Kagurazaka, Hongo and Koishikawa as the towns for veteran walkers. I checked it to find photos showing familiar places in Hongo Area. They look retrospectively romantic in them in spite of the fact they look quite common when we see them in daily life. Quite impressed, I decided buy it for Hongo Ooyokocho Map-making Project for reference. Like in a supermarket, I threw in the magazine and several handy paperbacks, in a basket I picked up at the entrance of the shop. (It was as if I was shopping online virtually.) While I was going through Rekisen Park in the evening color, the wind blew to my body making me realize it was really the autumn air. Today's update: a brand-new page entitled "A Short Break"--it's going to be my scribbling block. Sorry, it's only in Japanese at present.

若い女性が二人、近所の銭湯から出てきしなに「夏休み終わっちゃったね」「そうだねぇ」と話していた。「そう、残念よね」と心の中で相づちを打ちながら、「あれ、この辺の若い子もあの銭湯に行くんだ」と妙に感心する。内湯のないアパートに下宿しているのか、家の風呂が壊れたのか、それともバブルバスやジェット水流でマッサージ出来る風呂屋のファンなのかとあれこれ想像してみる。数ヶ月前、私も我が家の風呂を修繕している最中、義母と通った。気持ちよかったという話を伝え聞いた義妹がこの夏は姪たちを連れて泊まりがてらこの銭湯に入りに来た。ちょっとした温泉気分ではある。一回の入浴料金400円は安くはないが、手近に利用出来る公衆浴場があるのはありがたい。散歩しているうちに滅多に行かない路地に迷い込んだら、そこにも銭湯があった。何となくあたりに「風呂屋の匂い」が漂っている。どんなにしんどい一日も風呂で手足を伸ばしている間に溶けていく、ような気がする。ちんまりした家の風呂桶より、風呂屋の湯船の方が効果絶大だと思えてならない夕暮れ時。本日の更新は短信のみにて。

Two young women came out of a public bath talking to each other, "The summer holiday is gone already." "Yes." While I agreed with them in silence, I said to myself. "Well, it's surprising young women in my neighborhood go to the public bath! Do they live in an apartment without a bathroom? Do they come just because their bathroom at home has any troubles? Maybe they love the bubble bath and the jet-streams of the public bath." I went to the public bath house with my mother-in-law when our bathroom was being repaired a few months ago. Hearing our experience, my sister-in-law came to visit the bath house with her daughters during summer. Yes, you can feel as if you are enjoying spa. It cost us \400 per person, which is not inexpensive, but we're happy to have spa-like bath at hand. While taking a walk, I happened to went into a back alley to find another public bathhouse The air smelled the hot water of the public bath. No matter how had our days may be, once you take a bath all the weariness seems to be solved. The large bath pools are much more effective for that than tiny private bathtubs. I feel like that in the evening. Today's update; only this note. See you!

いよいよ休暇は残り少なくなってきた。ちょうど4週間、すっかり仕事から解放されて自由に過ごしたことになる。こんなに気ままに暮らしたのは何年ぶりだろう。先々に気になることはいくらもあるが、ひとまず休養を取れたことに感謝している。久しぶりに旧友と交信したり、溜めて置いた本をいろいろ読んだり、近所をテクテク散歩したり、充電に努めた。先日の信濃路の旅でどれほどリフレッシュされたか知れない。これで当分関東平野にへばりついていても窒息することはないだろう（と思う）。昨日掲載した写真にことばを添えてみた。曖昧な箇所が多く信憑性のあるデータとは言いがたいが、備忘録代わりの写真帳とお許し願いたい。本日の更新は「野尻湖と黒姫高原　昆虫・花・展望」です。そして、「翻訳読書ノート」に一編追加しました。触り程度のものながらグーグルについての一文。ここから勉強を始めたい。

Holiday is almost finished. I've spent exactly 4 weeks, completely independent from work. It's been a long time since I enjoyed holiday so freely years ago. Although I have so many things to worry about, but now I'm grateful I could relax completely. I exchanged mails with old friends, read books I had piled up, and took a walk every evening in my neighborhood. Also I'm refreshed by the trip to Nagano Prefecture last week. Perhaps I won't be so easily fed up with Kanto Plain for a while. I added words to the photos I uploaded yesterday. Unfortunately there are many ambiguous points; so that the page is not correctly informative. I hope I'm allowed to upload the page for my memorandum. Today's update: Lake Nojiri and Kurohime Highland; Insects, Flowers and the Landscape." There is also a new essay about Google in "Translated Works." It's just a brief introduction in Japanese. I'd like to start my research here.

野尻湖と黒姫高原の写真をまとめてみた。ほんのしばらく載せておこう。ゆく夏を惜しみながら。仕事メールが入り始め、そろそろ正気に戻らなくては。よろしければ、どうぞこちらから。

I uploaded photos of Lake Nojiri and Kurohime Height. I would like to watch them just to detain summer for a little longer. I've started receiving business mails. It's time for me to come to my senses! Please click here and enjoy photos if you please.

一泊二日の旅へ出た。長野県野尻湖畔から黒姫高原へ。野尻湖は地下からの湧水を水源にする澄んだ湖。ボート乗り場や遊覧船もあるけれど、俗化を免れた静かな場所だ。学生時代に宗教部主催のキャンプで来たことがある。パスカルの『パンセ』を読むゼミに出て、（何やら）寸劇を演じたのを覚えている。どこへ行こうか考えた時、ふとあの頃の静寂な時間を思い出した。湖水から雲間に見上げる黒姫山の裾野に「一目百万本」というコスモス園がある。バスで高原に登り、リフトで標高1030Mの地点まで連れて行って貰った。眼下に野尻湖、そして目地遙かに山脈を見晴らせば夏雲がわき上がる。至福のひとときだった。これでまた息を吹き返し、秋の喧噪へ飛び込んでいくことができそうだ。本日の更新は表紙の写真（黒姫高原から眺める野尻湖と周囲の山並）とこのページの写真（野尻湖）です。信濃路は麗しい。

We went on a two-day-trip. Our destination was Lake Nojiri and Kurohime Height. Lake Nojiri is very clean because the source of water for the lake is coming from underground. Although the lake has pleasure boats for tourists and various facilities for visitors to enjoy, it keeps quiet, not so popularized. I had been here before. I participated in a summer camp conducted by the religion department of our college. At that time I attended a seminar where we read Pensse by Pascal, and we presented a skit based on our activities at the seminar. While I was thinking of where to go this summer, suddenly I remembered the quiet time I spent by Lake Nojiri as a student. From the lake we looked up at Mt. Kurohime; in the middle of which there is a huge garden where one million of cosmos flowers are grown. We climbed by bus and found the cable lift (for skiers in winter) was working. Good! It took us to the height of 1030M. We had a wonderful view of Lake Nojiri underneath and mountain ranges far beyond. Above them, summer clouds were growing. I spend the time of bliss. I was inspired well enough to get the energy for the coming season. Today's update: photos on the index page (a view from Kurohime Height) and the one here (Lake Nojiri). Shinano was so beautiful.

『グーグル誕生』という本を読みながら、グーグルサイトに行き様々な仕掛けを試してみる。検索から始まった技術革新が文化に大きな影響を与えるに至った現状を、居ながらにしてフィールドワーク。一般ユーザーなりの観察をしてみようと思っている。「グーグルイメージ」に自分の名前を打ち込んで検索をかけたら、このサイトに収録した写真のほとんどが12ページにわたって表示されたのには驚いた。既に閉ざしているページに出ていた写真まで、色鮮やかに表示されると奇妙な気分になる。つまりエンジンはイメージを収集したら、それをストアーし続ける。元サイトから消えても（意図的に消したものも）かつてあったという記録が残る。ということは、グーグルの検索機能は開発者の意志の通り、インターネット上のあらゆるデータを保存し整理し尽くす仕事をひたすら遂行しているわけだ。元のサイト制作者の意志を越えて、あるいは無視して。この世から消えよと命じたものも、消せない。データが一人で存在し続ける。このことの意味を問わないわけにはいかない。本日の更新はaoの新作を『ギャラリー余白』中、「静物」に入れました。少し変わった作風。ヌードモデルがポーズすると同時にレニ・リーフェンシュタールの『民族の祭典』が延々と映写し続けられていたそうな。そういうセッティングをしたアートスクールにはどんな目論見があったのやら。

I'm reading the translation of The Google Story; meanwhile, I frequently go to Google's website to try its various functions. This is a sort of a "fieldwork" by an amateur surveying the present situation of how Google has been changing the cultural habits of present world with its technology. I was astonished to find 12 pages of photos from this website of mine when I put in my name in Google Image. The list included the ones which I've already deleted from this website long ago. I felt very strange to see those photos which had vanished long before. It proves their search engine keeps colleting and sorting them. Regardless of the will of website owners, Google carries on its intention to achieve the goal that they would collect and sort out all the data on the web. We are not allowed to delete what we don't need any more. Ignoring the will of the original owner of the data, Google stores whatever it finds. Data remain for ever theoretically. I cannot help asking what it means. Today's update: ao's latest work in Still Life of Gallery in Margins. It has a different taste from other works. A woman in nude is posing in front of a wall on which the film of Leni Amalie Riefenstahl's Olympia was kept projected on and on. I wonder what the Art School intended.

朝、起き抜けに学生時代の友人からメールを受け取る。ここ30年余りの間に数えるほどしか会うことも電話することもなかった。でも、彼女にはたいへんお世話になったことがある。1979年夏、始めて海外に旅行した時、当時ロンドン駐在だった彼女の家に泊めて貰った。あの頃やんちゃな二歳児だった双子のお嬢さんたちが今では二人ともそれぞれグローバル企業に勤めている。成長する過程のほとんどを海外で過ごし、高校時代はスイスのボーディングスクールに入っていたため、英仏日三カ国語に堪能という。その一人が、記事に出ているので時間があったらチェックしてみてとウェッブサイトのURLを送ってくれていた。化粧品会社のプロダクトPRマネージャーという役職に就き、製品のプロモーションをしている。若い女性たちがこういう記事を参考にするのだろうが、ターゲットはどんなコンシューマーだろうと想像を逞しくしてみる。あちこちに娘たち世代が登場するようになったかと感慨を覚えつつ。今朝のメールは「拝見しました」という私の便りへの返信。父上と過ごすハワイの別荘からだった。（わぁ〜ぉ！）本日の更新はこのページ上の写真です。品川インターシティテラス。いっそ東京ど真ん中の真昼時。

First thing in the morning I received a mail from a friend of mine. We were classmates at college more than 30 years ago. We seldom met or even talked on the phone during these years but I've been much obliged to her, for she let me stay at her home in London when I went abroad for the first time in my life in 1979. Her twin daughters were "terrible two" at that time. Now they are grown up and working for global companies respectively. As they were brought up in foreign countries, particularly they were in a boarding school in Switzerland in their high school days, they speak three languages. My friend had informed me I would be able to see one of her daughters on the web and sent me a URL. Being a "product PR manager" of MAYBELLINE, she is introducing the latest products of her company. It's a fascinating commercial website. I wonder what kind of consumers will purchase such cosmetics. I'm quite impressed to see the generation of our daughters is now in the frontline. The mail I received this morning was a response to my report that I visited the website. She sent it from Hawaii where she's staying at her father's villa. (Wow!) Today's update: the photo in this page. Let me show you a scene in Shinagawa Intercity at midday of a midtown in TOKYO.

八月も後半。「まだ半分」か「もう半分」か。上り坂は長く下り坂は短い。前半は心身の疲労回復で精一杯だったので"TO DO LIST"にはこれから着手、と呑気に構えている。終戦記念日の昨日、某政党のボランティア活動員という若者二人が戸別訪問に来た。チラシ一式の入った封筒を手渡して、ポスターを塀に貼らせてくれないかと頼む。断ったが、そう落胆した様子もない。某議員の人柄に惚れ込んでNPOに参加しているのだとか。とても闊達な青年たちだった。「どちらの大学？」と聞くと、一瞬躊躇った後「東京大学です」と。60年代とは全く異なるスタンスで、政治に関わる学生たちが生まれているのか。最近のキャンパスでは余り見かけないタイプなので、ついあれこれ尋ねてしまった。我が家の受験生は黙々とアトリエに通っている。若者の夏は熱い。本日の更新はaoの新作を『ギャラリー余白』中、「静物」に入れました。「え、これが油絵？」などと口走って溜息をつかれている。

The latter half of August has begun. Is it "already half" or "still" half? It takes a hard and long time to climb up and it's so quick to come down the slope. As I spent the former half just for relaxing and resting, from now on I'm going to launch attacking my "TO DO LIST." Yesterday two young men visited and asked me if they could get our permission to put on a poster of a political party on the wall of our house. I declined their wish but they did not seem to be disappointed very much. They said they were working for an MP as a volunteer of an NPO. They were very lively. "Which university do you go to?" I asked. After a momentary hesitation, one of them said, "the University of Tokyo." I was a little surprised to meet students politically active, whom I seldom meet these days. A generation, politically commitinging, is uprising. Thier politcal stance is quite different from the one in 60s. In spite of myself, I asked questions to them. Well, well, a student of my family who is going to take exams for college is drawing at an atelier day after day. Summer for young people is extremely hot. Today's update: ao's latest works in Still Life of Gallery in Margins. I asked her "Is it an oil painting, really?" just to make her sigh.

August 11, 2006

飛ぶように過ぎていく時。1200文字程度でとの依頼を受けた、ごく短い文章と格闘したのみで終わる一日。そのくらいしか思い起こせないことにまた些かの焦りを感じる。夏が目の前を通り過ぎていくのに何の手出しもできないと。本日の更新はaoの新作を『ギャラリー余白』中、「静物」に入れました。その絵の動物のような気分で。

Time is flying. I spent a day just struggling with a short essay which I was asked to write. I feel impatient with my inactivity. It's as if I can do nothing but watching summer passing by in front of me while I cannot do anything with it. Today's update: ao's work in "Still Life" at Gallery in Margins. The animal in the painting reminds of ME!

台風一過、炎暑の一日。JR中央線国分寺駅で母、妹と待ち合わせ、二つ隣の駅に当たる国立へ行ってみた。姪の一人（弟の娘）が一橋大へ通うようになり、これまであまり縁のなかった街に何となく親しみを感じる。彼女がアルバイトしているというパン屋を外から眺めた。三人で炎天下をしばらく歩き回って、ようやく古い邸宅を改造して作ったフランス料理店"Le Vent de Vert"に落ち着く。（戦艦「赤城」の元艦長のお屋敷だった洋館とか。）給仕するのは若い女性たちばかり。全員黒のジャケットに品の良い白ブラウスを着て、丁寧な応対ぶりだった。ランチタイムのこと故そんなに気取ったメニューでもなく、久しぶりの四方山話に花が咲く。朗読（指導）を仕事にしている妹に、今度私の関わっている会へ来て講演・実践指導をしてもらえまいかと頼む。考えてみたら、姉妹でイベントに手を染めるのは初めてだ。果たして実現するだろうか。食後は駅前の「たましん歴史・美術館」で『日本の東洋古陶磁展』を見る。流石に母は伊万里焼・九谷焼などに詳しい。私はさっぱりだったが、二人の後ろをついて回り「白磁」や「絵付け」の妙味を味わう。絵はがきをワンセット買って三人で分けた。一緒にいたのはせいぜい三時間足らずだったが、「日頃できないこと」をまたひとつ。本日の更新は表紙の写真（夏雲）とこのページ上の写真（空堀川のコサギ）です。そしてaoの新作二点を「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』に加えました。昨日までここにあった写真は「掲載写真帖」へ入れてあります。夏模様よ、もうしばし。

After the typhoon was gone, it was extremely hot today. I met with my mother and sister at JR Kokubunji Station. We decided to go to Kunitachi, two next stations from there. Now that one of my nieces (my brother's daughter) is going to Hitotsubashi University, somewhat I feel familiar with the town. We looked at the bakery where she's usually working (not today) as a part-timer. We walked about for a while and found ourselves seated finally in a French restaurant called Le Vent de Vert. The old western style house was once a property of the captain of a battleship named "Akagi." Young women in black jacket and fresh white shirt were waiting. Their movement was elegant and efficient As it was lunchtime, dishes were not so stylish but quite reasonable. We enjoyed eating and talking. There I asked my sister if she could come to visit a meeting to which I belong to give an instruction on "declamation" (the art of reading aloud to the audience). She is actually a semi-professional instructor of the art. This is actually the first occasion we, sisters, make a plan of an event. After lunch we visited a small museum near the railway station to see an exhibition of Japanese old pottery. My mother knows well about the pottery of which I have no knowledge. There were works of old Kutani, and old Imari. Plain ones and colored ones were both really beautiful. We bought a set of picture post cards and shared them. We spent less than three hours together. It was for me another "special" occasion in summer only. Today's update: photos on the index page (summer clouds) and this page (an egret). Latest works of ao at "Still Life" in Gallery in Margins. Previous ones are now in "Cover Photos." Let summer linger.

立秋を過ぎたとたん台風襲来だ。間歇的な土砂降りに見舞われている。昨日の夕方、晴れ間に隣町まで歩いていったら、帰りには西の空が燃え上がる夕焼けに染まった。近年これほどの色彩を空に見たことはない。圧倒されて雲を見ながらずんずん歩いた。夕焼けの色は時々刻々変化し、やがて闇に沈む。変哲のない関東平野の一隅で、大自然の営為に直接触れたようなひとときだった。ところで、このところ集中的にネット上のデータを渉猟しながら文書を作成していた。このホームページを始めた1997年頃と現在のインターネット環境は大きく異なる。先日も触れた通り、検索エンジンの発達とそれに伴う戦略的なビジネス・サービスの出現によって、いろいろなものごとの組み替えが起こっている。こうした一方向的な個人ホームページは、単独では自己完結的な「孤島」に過ぎないが、検索に引っかかることによって他世界に細いクモの糸を張る。目下隆盛のブログを使えばトラックバックによって糸の数は増え、別の島々に航路が開けるのだろう。BBSもなくし、敢えて「孤島」に閉じこもっていのは何故か、考えてはいる。ある人々のようにサイトの一部分をブログとする方法も一つだろう。かつては「垂れ流されることばは空しい」と思っていたのだが、単独で完結する文章だけに意味があるわけではなく外部の無数のことばと連鎖・呼応することで意味をなす場合もある。その一方、あくまでも自分流に仕上げていくページの面白さは格別だという気持ちも捨てがたい。（続く。）本日は短信のみにて。

In the Japanese traditional calendar, it's already autumn. Typhoons are coming. We have sporadic heavy rain occasionally. Yesterday I took a walk to the next town in the late afternoon. On my way back, to my great amazement, I found the sky in the west was colored flaming orange. I had never seen such a gorgeous evening glow before. Just overwhelmed, I walked on watching the clouds in the sky. The colors of sunset changed as time passed and finally all sank into darkness. It was a spectacular show of the great nature, which I could observe even at such an ordinary place in Kanto Plain. I was deeply impressed. BTW, I've been writing a material, making full use of online data for a few days. I strongly feel how drastically the Internet circumstances have changed since I started working on this personal website in 1997. As I wrote before, due to the rapid development of search-engines and new business with novel strategies to utilize them, various systems have been under reconstruction. A personal website like this one, as it is, remains an isolated island; only when some keywords are picked up by search engines, it is connected with other islands with thin web. If I use blog, which is now the most popular style for all kinds of personal writers, I will be able to be connected to many more islands through track-back. It will be more like having liners than depending on a few threads. Now here is no BBS. I wonder how I've come to confine myself in an isolated island. Like some of my acquaintances, I could use a blog for one page of this website. For a long time I had a fixed idea that I should not release loose writings on the net; however, I have come to notice that some writings could make sense and value when they are located in the larger interrelated context than in isolation. Well, I still cannot give up the joy of creating what I want in my own way. (To be continued.) Today's update: this note only.

「日頃できないことをする」というのは、結局いつも仕事に追われておろそかになっているあれこれを一つ一つ片付けていくことのようだ。手も付けられずにいたことが山のようにある。それからもちろん読んだり書いたりする自分のための時間も。一日に仕上げられることは本当に少ない。心にかかることはたくさんあるのに。遠くに行った友は皆眩しい。私は地元のホームセンターでリールに巻いたホースを新調して「たいした進歩だ」などと喜んでいる。（散水が5段切り替えなんて凄い。）小さな花の苗もいくつか買った。他の人が育てた花の写真を撮るばかりだったのが、今度は自分でも。本日の更新はaoの新作数点を「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』に加えました。思うように描けない描けないと言いながら。

To do something special is to do, one after another, what I cannot usually do on account of my duties at workafter all. There is so much to do at home. Also I need time of my own for reading and writing. What I can do a day is so small; whereas, I have so much to worry about. My friends old and new who went far away look all sparking. Contrastively I am contented with myself just buying a new set of hose in a reel. (Isn't it amazing that the hose has an attachment at the tip which can give 5 different types of water spray?) I also bought a few sorts of nursery plant. I've been taking photos of flowers in gardens of other people but now I'm starting to take care of plants myself. Today's update: ao's latest works at "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. She's always sighing, "I can't draw as I want."

August 4, 2006

夕刻雑木林の中を歩くとカナカナカナ...とヒグラシの音が頭上に響く。一つなきやむと別のが、そしてまた別のがと 輪唱のように。通奏低音はアブラゼミか。下草にはミズヒキの茎が伸びて、毎年のことながら夏に秋の気配が混じる。DVDで『わが谷は緑なりき』(1941年、ジョン・フォード監督作品）を見た。ウェールズの炭坑の村に暮らした、時代に翻弄される家族の物語。語り手の少年はフォード監督自身の化身とか。モノクロの雄弁さはどうだろう。ウェールズの人々の歌声、家族の絆、地域社会の軋轢等々がつづり合わされ、流石に名作の誉れ高い胸にしみる映画だった。過酷な採掘現場、ストライキ、事故、故郷を出ていく者と残る者、すれ違う思い、信頼と愛情、といった数々の場面が深い印象を残す。若い頃「いつか見てみたい」と思うばかりで機会がなかったものを、長い年月を経て今頃手にした。しかも、一枚たったの500円。文庫本一冊と同じ感覚で。夏休みに入り時間にゆとりが出た分、少しずつ「いつもはできないこと」に手を染めている。先送りしていたものをそっと手元に引き寄せる。ささやかだけれど、私にとっては意味のあるあれこれ。本日の更新はaoの新作一点を「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』に加えました。日中はまさに炎天となった。

When I walk in the small forest, droning of cicadas sounds in chorus. Particularly in the early evening, higurashi "sings" one after another just like trolling with the thorough bass of aburazemi. In the bottom weeds, mizuhiki is growing. I feel, as usual, autumn is hiding in summer. I saw an old film How Green Was My Valley (produced by John Ford in 1941) by DVD. It is a story of a family of coal miners in a Welsh village. Life of the family is drastically changed by unstable circumstances of the time. The narrator, a boy of ten, the youngest member of the family is said to be John Ford himself. How eloquent the monochrome is! Singing voice of the Welsh, the strong family bond, and the conflicts in the local society, etc are all well mixed in the story. It is really an impressive movie, as I have been expecting it to be. All the episodes such as the coal miners' strike, accidents, poor and pround workers, people leaving home and those who are left behind, unhappy love, faith, and so on are so impressive. I had been willing to see this movie since I was very young. Now I'm grown up and got the chance after a long interval. Amazingly the DVD cost me just 500 yen. It's worth of one paperback. Because I'm enjoying a summer break, I can do what I want, in a sense. I try to grasp what I have been running after in vain. They are humble wishes, but meaningful at least for me. Today's update: ao's latest work at "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. During the daytime, it's scorchingly hot.

八月と聞くだけでただならぬ気配を感じる。日頃のルーティーンを離れてのひととき。いずれ煙のようにかき消えるだけとは知りながら、「特別」を待ちかまえそわそわと機会をうかがうような時。ここまで無我夢中で駆け抜けてきたから、ちょっと一息ついていつもとは違うことを等と。「あなたはいつも忙しいねぇ」と義母に言われるたび、「みんなこんなものでしょう」と笑ってかわしつつ、もうちょっと落ち着けないものかと反省はする。（ゆっくり座って話す機会がもっとあってもよいのではと。）雨が上がったとたんウキウキするのも大人げないが、性分なのでいたしかたない。何だろう、いくつになっても変わらないこの心持ちは。夏のマジック。本日の更新は表紙の写真（庭に咲いた鹿子百合）とこのページの画像です。上のヒマワリの絵はaoの新作（部分）です。酷評を受けたとはいうものの、何となくこのページに映えるような気がして借用。全体の写真は「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』に加えました。ところで先日来掲げていた江戸川増水之図は「掲載写真帖」に収めました。また、「雨後の江戸川」にもその二枚を加え、特設ページはもうしばらくそのままにしておきます。（昨日江戸川の鉄橋を渡った時眺めたら水位は通常に戻り、河川敷には運動場がちゃんとあった。今月はあの堤防で「花火大会」というポスターがそこここに。）

Just hearing it's August, I feel something unusual. It's the time away from routines. Although I know it will disappear very quickly, I cannot help waiting for "something special" impatiently. As I have been in a rush all the time doing this and that for months, I feel I'm entitled to take a break for a while and do something I cannot do in my daily life. Whenever my mother-in-law says, "Why are so busy always, Keiko?!" I reply, "Oh, everybody else is, I guess," with a large smile. But in heart, I feel sorry for my busyness. (Can't I sit and talk with her more often?) I seem to be immature in mind to get excited as soon as the rainy season is over but my innate nature can't be changed. What is it, this feeling of "expectation" that I hold regardless of my age? Call it "a summer magic. "Today's update: the photos in the index page (Lilium speciosum in our garden) and in this page. The drawing of a sunflower is a part of ao's latest work, which got very severe comments from instructors but I feel it fits in this page. Thanks to her! The whole drawing is added in "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. BTW, the photos of the Edo River which were on these pages are now stored in the page of "Cover Photos." Also they are included now in the temporary page, "The Edo River after the Rain." (When I watched out of the train window yesterday, I found water had returned to the normal level, with a playground on the bank. I saw posters advertising "Fireworks" on the river banks.)

ようやく雨が上がり、熱暑らしきものが訪れた。気象庁はまだ関東地方の梅雨明けを宣言してくれないが、勝手に梅雨は終わったことにしよう。待ってましたと義母に頼まれて東西南のカーテンを一気に洗濯。暑いしカーテンだし洗ったまま吊す。風に石けんの匂いが絡まって揺れる。スーパーマーケットでは普段4900円するTシャツが二枚で1500円。こんな価格破壊して大丈夫かとこちらの方が心配になる。木陰に座って氷イチゴを食べた。雨では願うべくもない日曜日だったが、あと十日もすれば立秋とはにわかに信じがたい。前髪にツーッと白髪が数本。ほーっ。この前雑誌でイザベラ・ロッセリーニの近影を見た。何と麗しい中年女性。いずれ誰もが老いるとは言え。季節はめぐる。本日の更新はB2 。高三の夏、受験生の夏・・・思い出すのは〜。

At last rain stopped and it has become extremely hot. Japan Meteorological Agency has not declaired the end of the rainy season officially but let it be finished anyway. My mother-in-law who has been waiting patiently asked me to wash curtains in the west, south and east: I washed them all at once! Thanks to the heat, I hung them right after washing. They swang in the wind smelling soap. BTW, at a supermarket 2 T shirts--once \4,900 for each--cost just \1,500 today. I worried how they could sell them so cheaply? Is it better to clear the stock than to keep it? I sat under trees and ate a cup of shaved ice with strawberry syrup, the most typical summer sweet here. It was a sunny Sunday. I can hardly believe it will turn autumn in calendar in 10 days. I found a few long silver hair over my forehead. Well, well. I rememberd I saw a recent photo of Isabella Rossellini in a magazine; an amazinagly attractive middle aged woman. Nobody can escape from agiang but.... Time passes. Today's update: ao's latest works in "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. She's spening the summer of 18 preparing for entrance exams in next January and February. I remember myself being at her age once upon a time.

九州を始め各地での洪水、崖崩れなど大雨の被害のことを考えたら、江戸川の増水くらいで驚いているのは脳天気すぎるのだが、先日の川の風景をまとめてみた。重苦しい梅雨空が一日も早く列島の上から去ることを祈る。夏は来るのだろうか。本日の更新は臨時ページ「雨後の江戸川」です。

When I think of the devastating floods or mud and lock slides in plural areas indcluding Kyushu, how can I get surprised at the sight of the River Edo after the heavy rain? However, I colleted the photos of the waterside I took. I heartily hope the dreary rainy clouds will go away from the sky above Japan islands as soon as possible. Will summer really come at all? Today's update: a temporary page of The River Edo after the Rain.

未知の方から突然メールで「綴りの間違い」をご指摘いただく。前回の記載が3006年になっていたとも。ご教示に感謝。こんなささやかなサイトでもどなたの目に触れるか知れないと思うと「初心に返らなくては」と痛感する。最近出版の相次ぐ「検索エンジン」をめぐる大変化についてはいろいろ考えさせられていた。かつては「床にぶちまけられた玉石混淆の資料」程度だったウェッブ上の情報が、googleを始めとする検索エンジンの進化・発展によって、「整理し尽くされようとしている」という言説が真実味を帯びてきた。「石は石なりに分類される」ということか。仕事をしながらとびこんでくるメールに応答していると、時間が瞬く間に経つ。しかも、それにSkypeが加わった。流石にカメラは付けないが、パソコンのスピーカーからきこえてくる声は画面の向こうに人がいる、と実感させる。話しながらチャットの文字も打つから、耳も口も手もフル稼働となる。（これを語学の教室に持ち込もうというアイディアを検証中。）いやはや「私はミステリーを読み始めるのでパソから離れます。こころの奥ではハイテク人間ではないとよく分かった」と言い残して降りた友人のニヤリと笑う顔が見えたような気がする。一方では夏に散らばる面々で多国間チャットを試みようというプランも出て賑やかだ。ウェッブ上で一つのファイルを共同作成するフリーサイトも試してみた。どこにいても「コラボれる」というのも逃げ場のないことではあるが。ここまでくるとインターネットは可能性に満ちた広大な領域であると同時に呪縛ともなる。機密の保持も難しい。築いたものが一瞬にして崩れ去ることも「想定内」に入れるべし、なのだろう。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』（といっても今回は人物です）にaoの新作を追加しました。まだ雨は降り続く。

I received a mail pointing out my misspelling on this website from a person I never knew. The message told me I wrote 3006 instead of 2006 in the previous note. Sorry and thanks! It's really amazing to know that such a humble website as it is could be possibly visited by anybody anytime. I'm responsible for whatever I write here. I've been thinking of what "search-engines" can do; recently a number of books on enterprises like "google" have been published one after another. Once the Internet was like a library on whose floors rubbish and precious literature are thrown all equally. Now that search-engines are so powerful, they say, that everything on the Net is going to be sort out, and it sounds quite realistic. Rubbish is to be sort out. as it should be. As I was responding to mails coming in while I was working at desk, time flies away so quickly. Skype has been added recently. I won't put a camera! Listening to the voice coming from the speaker, I feel there is really someone behind the monitor. We're busy, speaking and writing short message at the same time. (An idea is to bring the system into a classroom of English.) One of my friends declared to get out of computer saying, "Well, I'll start reading a mystery. At heart, I don't seem to be a hi-tech person!" Good for her! But we're also thinking of chatting over Skype while we're away from each other in summer holiday. Today I also challenged to use a website where we can collaborate on a file. It's great we can work together on one file wherever we are; however it means we can't run away from the work wherever we go. The Internet is a boundless area of possibilities and at the same time it's a spell on us. Whatever you build up, the castle will disappear just with one click! Don't forget that. (I'm saying it to myself.) Today's update: ao's latest work. in "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. It's still raining.

武蔵野線の「三郷（みさと）」で途中下車した。先日来の雨で江戸川は大増水。いつもは草の生い茂る河川敷はどこにも見えない。普段鉄橋を渡る時に見下ろす土手とは様変わりしていた。濁流がコンクリートの堤防を洗い、橋桁はかなり高いところまで水の中に。広々したところに出てみたい一心でやって来たものの、いきなり荒々しい大自然の前に放り出されたかんじだ。それでも時折川を見に来た人々とすれ違った。孫の手を引いた老人。犬を連れた小学生三人組。自転車で堤防を走る若い女性二人。何故か橋の下にうずくまる男の人たち。皆一様に見慣れた場所の激変に、戸惑いながらも魅了されているようだった。厚い雲の下、水辺は明るいとは言いがたかったが、街の中に閉じこもっているのとは大違い。言いようのない開放感があふれ出す。天竜川の堤防決壊のニュースや土砂にのまれた人々のことを思い出しながら、流れ下る川を眺めた。とてつもない力が渦巻いている。本日の更新は表紙の写真とこのページの写真です。カメラのメモリーの中身は、風景写真と言うより、ドキュメンタリーのようなものばかりだった。今度まとめてみよう。昨日までの写真は「掲載写真帖」へ収納しました。

I got off Musashino Line at Misato, Saitama on my way back. Rise of stream has changed the scene of Edo River (Edo-gawa) tremendously. Usually there is a huge space of riverbed, where green grass grows and people enjoy playing and fishing, but I could see none of it. The riverside was completely different from what I look down from the train passing over the iron bridge. Muddy stream was washing the concrete dike directly; bridge beams were deep in waters. Although I went to the river wishing just to get out into the huge space, I was thrown in the wild nature immediately. I passed by some people who came to see the river; an old man with little grandchildren, three boys walking a dog, two young women on bikes, men sitting under a bridge etc. They all looked not only bewildered but also fascinated with the drastic change of the familiar place. Under the thick clouds, the waterside was not bright; however, it was completely different from just being imprisoned in city. A feeling of liberation filled me. Remembering the break in a levee of the River Tenryu and those who got caught in dirt and water, I was looking at the river running. Incredible power was there. Today's update: the photo of the index page and the one above in this page: both at River Edo. In the memory card of my digital camera were not scenic photos but ones with a touch of documentary. I'd like to collect them soon. Old photos are now in the page of "Cover Photos."

July 17, 2006

「旧盆」より一ヶ月早い東京のお盆もあっという間に過ぎた。義母は相変わらず仏壇に毎日お膳を上げ特別の供え物をする。迎え火、送り火も欠かさず、盆が終われば菰にくるんだ供え物を押し車に乗せて小平霊園の炊き上げ所まで持って行く。この時期、私の母が義母を訪問し、仏壇の前で長談義。一年一度の習慣を続けてもう26年経つ。二人の母たちはつかず離れず、かたちの中にこころが入る。そんな平凡なしきたりの続くことがありがたい。老いてゆく義母と母と。周りで接待する私もいい年になった。暑いのでこのところ髪をアップにしている娘が妙に大人びて見える。かしましい女たちの立ち居にやれやれという顔の御仁一人。私も忙しがっているばかりでは、夏は来ないのだった。前期末試験の真っ最中。天気予報によれば明日はまた激しい雨が降るらしい。本日も短信のみにてお許しのほど。

Obon festival ("homecoming" of the spirits of family) in Tokyo which lasted for a few days in the middle of July in Tokyo District has already gone. My mother-in-law as usual decorated the family altar with tiny dishes and ornaments. She never fails to make welcome fire and the farewell fire at the gate. When the festival was over, she put all the offerings wrapped up in a straw mat in her small pushcart and went to the cemetery to throw it into the bonfire. My mother pays a visit to my mother-in-law during this period. They exchange presents and chat in front of the family altar. 26 years have passed since they started this custom. My two mothers are getting along somewhat well. Thanks. They are apparently getting older and older. So am I. My daughter with her hair curled up recently looks very feminine. The only man in the chattering women makes a sigh! Summer never until Obon festival is completed. We're in the middle of the final exams of this semester. Weather forecast says we'll have a heavy rain tomorrow. Today's update: just this note. See you again.

July 15, 2006

鬼灯（ホオズキ）と白百合供え雷雨待つ　　長梅雨を託つうち、連日夕立が来るようになった。用足しに出かけたところで驟雨に捕まった。自転車置き場のご老人に「急ぐこたない、ちょっと待ってから行ったら」と声をかけられたのに来客があるので気がせき、降り始めた雨の中に飛び出した。とりわけ今日は凄まじい降りに雷鳴がとどろく。地を打つのは雹と見まがうほどの大粒。けれど雨雲が一旦去ればもう何ごともなかったようなとろんとした曇天に戻る。まだかーっと晴れ上がるところまでは行かない。このところ学期末でいろいろな用件が重なり、堪忍袋の緒も切れかけている。つい人前でも言い過ぎることが続き、反省もするのだが大抵は後の祭り。人間の中にばかりいるからこうなる。広々したところに出て行かなくては。大河川を渡るたびに思う。今度こそ途中下車して土手を歩いてみようと。荒川、中川、江戸川、深い緑に縁取られた流れが鈍く光る。「川を越えて、遊びに来てくださいね」ととびきりの笑顔でお誘い下さった、柏の素敵な女性の声が心地よく耳の奥に消え残っている。よぉし、関東平野を突っ切って東へ、きっと行ってこよう。本日は短信のみにて。

Chinese lantern plant and white lily/Are offered before the family alta/ I wait for the shower to pass--it's an image of this season. While we're complaining of the long lasting rainy season, we've begun to have showers during midday. I was caught in a shower today, a very heavy one. Thunders growled. Despite an old man in the bike parking lot said to me, "How about waiting for a while until the rain goes away?" I couldn't follow his advice because I was expecting a visitor at home. I went out into the rain. I got drenched by the rain of course. Once the rain goes away, the heavy cloudy sky come back again. The sunny clear summer sky is yet to come. BTW, the tight schedule at the end of this semester makes me impatient. I sometimes (often?) cannot restrain myself from saying too much in public. It's too late when I realize I should not have behaved that way. (I ask myself what in the world I'm doing here for what.) I think I'm spending time too long only among human beings recently. I need to get out of them. Whenever I go over the waters, such as the Arakawa, the Nakagawa, and the Edogawa (which are all huge rivers in Kanto Plain), I decide to get off the train and walk along the banks. I adore the glistening waters running through the dark green field. The cheerful voice of a lady echoes in my head: "Come and visit us to Kashiwa City! I'll show you around in back alleys." Sure! I'll go over the rivers to the east of Kanto Plain.Today(s update: this note only.

July 7, 2006

ついこの前眺めた新潟港にほど近い日本海。波の静かな日だった。あの水平線の向こうからミサイルが飛んでくるらしい。海辺で育った子どもは小さな時に「一人で海岸に行ってはいけない。神隠しにあう」といわれた記憶を持つという。「まさか」と一笑に付すことが、出来るだろうか。恐怖心を煽って敵意と戦意を固めるのは愚かだ。だが、世界が善意だけで成り立つわけも無し。海が見たいという都会人の渇望は、波打ち際の脅威を知らない者の無邪気すぎる感傷なのかも知れない。今夜たまたま借りてきていた映画『グッバイ・レーニン』(2003)のDVDを見た。東西ドイツの統一に至る一年ほどの間、東ドイツの正義を信じていた重病の母親のために、逆さまの統一劇（つまり西が東に併合されるという）を演出して見せた息子の物語。否応なく過酷な歴史に翻弄される庶民を深く暖かいユーモアに包んで映し出す作品だった。1990年にドイツが優勝するワールドカップの映像も出てきて、観客もまた歴史の渦の中にいるのを感じる。「ワールドカップがドイツで開催された年にミサイルは発射されたのだった」などと未来の人々が今年を振り返ることにならなければよいが。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』にaoの新作を追加しました。ちょっと美味しそうな絵です。くたびれ果てて眠る毎日。

I was watching Japan Sea a few weeks ago. The sea was very calm that day. Now it seems missiles were shot beyond the horizon. I heard children grown near the coastline were told never to go to the beach alone. Adult said they might be kidnapped by demons. Could we deny their words as mere fancy today? It's nonsense to build enmity and fight for terror. However, we should notice that the world is made not only by goodwill. The wish to see the ocean is a naive sentiment of city people who never now the threat of the water's edge. Tonight I happened to see a DVD I had rented entitled "GOODBYE, LENIN!" (2003) It is a story of a son who produces a fiction for his dying mother, an enthusiastic believer of the old justice of East German's socialism, that the unity of Germany was realized by the opposite situation: Western people sought freedom from the rotten capitalism. The movie presented the ordinary people perturbed by the history with an exquisite good sense of humor. There is a shot of Germany winning the World Cup in 1990, which makes me feel the audience is also a part of the history. I hope there won't be a description like this in the future to explain 2006, "It was the year of World Cup held in Germany when the missiles were shot." Today's update: ao's latest work. in "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. I always fall down to sleep for the irresistible fatigue.

July 2, 2006

深夜のサッカー観戦。必死の形相の男たちが汗みどろになって激突する様子は凄まじいが、何万人という観衆がうなるスタジアムの沸き返る様子も凄い。歓声とブーイングが交錯し、雄叫びと悲鳴が炸裂する。サッカーは戦争の代替物と聞いたことがある。ひっそりと姿を消した日本チームからはそんな比喩は感じられなかったが。試合前に選手が揃って「人種差別に否を」という横断幕を囲むところ、キャプテンが人種差別反対声明を読み上げる様子がいつも興味深い。（ベッカムの声は意外に高音だった！）さて、七月である。荒れる波間を泳ぐように過ごす毎日。まだ岸は見えない。本日の更新は表紙の写真（雑木林の緑）とこのページの写真（ラズベリー）です。それと「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』にaoの新作を追加しました。今まで表紙とここを飾っていた写真は「写真帳」へ収納しました。蒸し暑さとの我慢比べが始まる。

At midnight I watch football game on TV. Fighting players look tremendously fierce and some hundred thousands of supporters watching the game in the stadium are equally fierce. Exultant shouts and booing from the audience cross each other instantly, yelling and screaming crush. I've heard football games are a substitute for a war although I never felt anything like that from Japan national team who disappeared so quickly and silently. It's very interesting to see players get together around a banner with the slogan, "SAY NO TO RACISM" and captains read the statement against the racism. (Surprisingly Beckham has a high-pitched voice!) Well, it's July. I'm spending a day just like swimming in the rough waves. I can't see the land yet. Today's update: photos in the index page (the growing green of the small forest in my neighborhood) and the one here (raspberry). I also uploaded ao's latest work. Old photos are now in the page of "Cover Photos." Be patient with the humid weather!

June 29, 2006

梅雨明けかと思いたくなるような炎天下、クチナシの花が香る。幾度も幾度も歩いた道筋を、今日も通り抜けていく。街角に何十年も野菜ジュースだけ出す老夫婦の店がある。農薬の付着した皮は全部捨て、中身の繊維は残すジューサーを作って特許を取り、野菜とリンゴを組み合わせた５種類ほどのジュースだけがメニューに並ぶ。常連が多いらしい。「こんな路地の奥なのにねぇ、通ってくださる方がおいでになるんですよ」とその時はただ一人の客だった私に店の奥さんが説明してくれる。キャンパスからキャンパスへ、今日も移動しなくてはならなかった。その道すがら、路地裏を歩くのが楽しみ。ジュースを飲んだ後、この前森さんが話していた「菊富士ホテル」跡に佇む。この町を通り過ぎていった幾多の人々を想像しながら、緑の葉陰も涼しいひっそりした道を、日傘を差してまた歩く。その間はストレスフルな仕事のことは忘れている。地下鉄の駅に吸い込まれる前のほんのひとときのこと。本日は短信のみにて。

The sun was glaring over me as if it has dispelled the rainy clouds for ever. Cape jasmin was scattering the strong scent around. I walked along the lanes which I have trodden so many times. I dropped in a cafe serving glasses of hand-made vegetable juice only. It is run by an old couple. Their juice is very special: they scrape off outer skin of vegetables which might be polluted with remaining chemicals, and they mix several kinds of vegetables with a juicer the master invented. He holds the patent of the juicer. His wife said, "We have customers who come to have juice everyday despite we are back in such narrow lane." I listened to her as the only customer then. I was going to the campus in Chiba from Hongo. It's my great pleasure to walk along the back lanes sometimes like this. After having the refreshing juice, I stood in front of a monument of Hotel Kikufuji, dreaming of those who passed by this town. I walked again with a parasol alone the quiet lane covered with cool green leaves. I forgot the stressful job of mine while I was walking in a moment right before I was absorbed into the entrance of the subway line. Today's update: this note only.

June 27, 2006

一つの試練を何とかくぐり抜けたと思いたい。先週半ばにあった会合のことで参会者からクレームが出ていた。主催者の一人としては思いもかけない問いかけだったので始めは戸惑い、ついで憤懣やる方なかったが、冷静に考えてみると正面切って出されるクレームには応えようがある。水面下でブツブツと不満が渦巻くよりよほど健全だということに気付いた。クレームの対応には、会合の企画や実施より数倍もエネルギーを要する。どうすれば誤解を解き、非を詫び、状況の改善に結びつけることが出来るかと思案しながら週末を過ごした。週明けにクレーム提起者と再度話し合って握手し一段落したとは思うが、根本的な問題の解決にはほど遠い。こうした騒動は本業とは関係ないように思うこともある。だが、渦中でこんなことも考えた。昔若かった頃、自分の職業を持って生きたいと思った。華々しいことが何もなくても、これが自分の仕事だと納得出来る職業に就くと思い定めていた。（しかも「英語に関係する仕事がしたい」という気持ちがかなり大きな部分を占めていたのだったと思う。）だから、現在の状況が良くても悪くてもこれは自分で選んだことじゃないかと思うと、本望だといわざるを得ない。（負け惜しみでも！）というわけで、「♪生きて　泳げ　涙は後ろへ流せ」精神で今日も機嫌良く！本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』にaoの新作を追加しました。また、久々の「翻訳読書ノート 28」に『メソポタミアからの手紙』です。昨晩遅まきながら「華氏911」をDVDで鑑賞した。ブッシュ大統領は石油以外イラクについて何を知っているのだろう。

I hope I've overcome a challenge somehow. On a meeting last week, one of the participants made a claim that he was insulted through the proceedings, which was totally unexpected to me as one of the chairpersons. First I was just embarrassed, and then very indignant, but later I came to feel it is much healthier to get an open claim than to hear of complaints going on underground. In order to answer the claim, I was demanded more time and energy than preparing and running the meeting. I spent the whole weekend, thinking of how to clear up misunderstandings, to give apologies, and to find solutions for problems. At the beginning of this week, I talked again a d shook hands with the person who made the claim. We made a small progress indeed but still very far from conquering the essential difficulties. Sometimes I feel I'm wasting time away from my real occupation but at the same time I also have an idea like this: When I was very young, I was willing to have a professional job in the future; I wanted it to be related to English language. Therefore, what I'm doing at present is what I chose no matter how demanding the job is with various aspects. (It may sound sour grapes on my part.)　So, let me live cheerfully by all means, singing "Live and swim upstream, shedding tears backwards." Today's update: ao's new work, "Teatime" in Still Life, Gallery in Margins; a book review on Desert Queen in Translated Works (sorry, only in Japanese).BTW, I watched "FAHRENHEIT911" last night by DVD. I wondered what George Bush knew about Iraq other than its oil.

この二週間あまり、細々としたことに手を取られてサイトの更新が出来ずにいた。前記、森まゆみさんの講演会は150人余りの聴衆を集め、盛会のうちに終了した。地元の長老から、文学散歩の好きな人、街に興味のある人、そして学生まで多彩な聞き手を得た。（私の母も参加した一人です。）語り手の温かなお人柄と鋭い観察眼、ほのぼのとしてしかも下町の気っぷの良い語り口は出る話題をどれもきわめて興味深いものにした。森さんは娘さんと二人で著書や『谷根千』を積んで自転車で来られた。タクシーを呼びましょうかとの申し出にもにこやかに「いえいえ、慣れていますから」と屈託ない。汲めども尽きぬ本郷界隈に縁の文人たちの話に魅了された。また、先週は遠縁の親戚に不幸があり、急遽新潟と山形の県境に近い新潟県岩船郡山北町へ赴くことになった。本当に久々の関東脱出がこんな形でめぐってくるとは。新潟で新幹線から羽越本線に乗り換え一時間半余り。列車は「笹川流れ」と呼ばれる風光明媚な日本海岸を走る。海と山に挟まれた田園地帯で、故人は地元の川に上ってくる鮭を捕って薫製にしては各地の親戚に送ってくれたものだ。晴耕雨読の実践者の仕事部屋には、大きな鮭が何匹も下がり、作業途中の漆塗りの器が棚に溢れていた。米どころの水田はどこまでも青く、曇天の日本海は鈍色に凪いでいる。こんな機会でなければゆっくりと海山を眺めてきたかった。本日の更新は、表紙の写真（羽越本線「府屋」駅）とこのページの写真（山北町常楽寺の桜）です。また、「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』にはaoの新作を四点追加しました。さて、今週はどんなことになるのやら・・・。

For more than two weeks since I wrote the previous note, I've been unable to work with this website. The lecture by Ms Mayumi Mori (on which I wrote on June 10) was a success with the audience of more than 150. Local people, lovers of modern Japanese literature, those who are interested in Hongo town, and of course students came to listen to her.(My mother was included in the audience.) Ms Mori talked with good sense of humor and shrewd observation on various things related to Hongo, namely novelists, poets, and critiques of Meiji Era who lived in Hongo area. All the audience was charmed by the virtuoso lecturer. Ms Mori came with her daughter, bringing her books and magazines in boxes on their bicycles. They softly declined our offer of calling a taxi for their way back, they swiftly left by bicycle saying, "No, thanks. We're used to this style. BTW, I visited Sanpoku-machi in Niigata Prefecture last week to attend the funeral of one of our relatives. I went out of Kanto District suddenly by such accidental occasion. I got off Joetsu Shinkansen at Niigata and changed to Uetsu Line. The express train went along the scenic coast line of Japan Sea.The deceased was living a life of a farmer in sunny days and of a craftsman in rainy days: he loved to catch salmons going upstream on, smoke them and send them to relatives everywhere. I went into his working room and saw many bodies of salmon hung there, and wooden bowls waiting lacquering. Outside of the house, rice fields were just green expanding to the foot of mountains, and the sea looked very quiet under the cloudy sky of the rainy season. If I had not been there for his funeral, I wished I could stay longer to appreciate the marvelous mountains and the sea. Today's update: photos in the index page (JR Uetsu Line) and in this page (cherry in Jorakuji Temple in Sanpoku-machi). Also 4 of ao's recent works in Still Life, Gallery in Margins. What will this week be like...?

授業と会議の間の僅かな時間に、本郷通り弥生町交差点近くの美容院まで行ってきた。カットしてもらっている間に、店のオーナーと街のことなどいろいろ話す。変わるのがいいのか、変わらないのがいいか。当地の一大コミュニティーである東大は、このところますます敷地内に様々な商業施設を入れ「囲い込み」に熱心で、中の人がキャンパスを出ずに用が足せるようになってきているとのこと。地元が栄えるわけもない。帰路、正門前の棚澤書店で油を売って、ご主人と歓談する。定期的に執筆されているコラムの載ったパンフレットを頂戴した。今回は本郷の老舗旅館「鳳明館」について。掲げられた木製看板の文字は明の字の「偏」が「四の字の中に口」の入った古いものであることから説いて、この界隈の旅館・下宿屋の変遷を語っている。来週私の勤め先で行われる、「森まゆみ氏講演会」のポスターを店に張ってあげるからお持ちなさいと言ってくださった。森さんは地域誌「谷根千」（谷中・根津・千駄木）で有名になった文筆家。古い町並みや建物の保存活動にリーダーシップを発揮しながら精力的な執筆活動を続けている。講演会が楽しみだ。棚澤書店を出た後は、裏道を通って「ユーミン」の野菜ジュースを一杯飲み、菊坂から炭団坂経由で壱岐坂に戻った。久しぶりで本郷を歩くと懐かしくて困る。困るというのもおかしな話だが、流山から見えるものにもっと目を向けなくてはとも思っている。本日の更新は前回に引き続き大横丁マッププロジェクトのための試作サイトを手直ししがてら「森まゆみ氏講演会」のポスターをアップしました。ご参考まで。さらに、ギャラリー余白中「静物」にaoの木炭・鉛筆画、『垂れ下がる布』を。酷評され、うなだれて持ち帰った画用紙でした。

During the short time between a class and a meeting, I went out to have my hair cut at a beauty salon near Yayoicho Crossing in Hongo. I talked with the master of the shop over various things about the town: to change it or not to change it. According to him, the University of Tokyo in front of his salon, a huge community in that area, has been busy constructing shops and restaurants inside of the campus so that people working and studying there don't have to go out into the town. There is little hope the town will recover the prosperity of old days. Next I dropped in Tanazawa Bookstore (dealing with used books only) in front of the main gate of the University of Tokyo. I enjoyed chatting with the master for a while. He gave me a pamphlet in which he is writing a column periodically. For this issue he writes about one of the oldest inns in Hongo. He kindly offered me to pin up a poster of the lecture which will be given next weekend by Ms Mori Mayumi in Toyo Gakuen University. She is famous for her community magazine entitled "YaNeSen" which stands for "Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. She has been working hard for the preservation of old towns and their buildings. She is an activist and an excellent writer. I'm very much looking forward to attending the lecture. On my way back, I stopped by "Yuming," a cafe specializing in natural vegetable juice. I walked through the narrow lanes of Kikuzaka and Tadon-zaka back to my office in Iki-zaka. I feel really at home in Hongo. However, I'm feeling I need to pay my attention more to Nagareyama and its environs. Today's update: a poster of the lecture by Ms Mori Mayumin in Oyokocho Site. Just for your information. One more: ao's charcoal and pencil drawing "hanging cloth" in Still Life/ Gallery in Margins. She brought the paper pack home all discouraged by the severest criticism.

June7, 2006

一週間が駆け足出過ぎていく。二つのキャンパスを行き来するようになって以来まだ軸足が定まらず、右往左往というのが偽らざる現状だ。午前中の授業を流山で終えて、昼食もそこそこにTXに飛び乗り「新御徒町」経由で地下鉄都営大江戸線の「本郷三丁目」へ、そして本郷キャンパスで会議というスケジュールが続く。いつも眠くて眠くて、会議の途中で意識の遠のくこともしばしば。非常にいただけない。気分転換に本郷でお馴染みのCDショップへ寄って新譜をいくつか手に入れる。たまにはゆったり音楽でも聴きながらのんびりしよう。いつのことになるやら。鼻風邪が治りかけていたのに、自転車で雨に降られて足踏み。北海道に学会出張してきた同僚たちはすっかり活性化された表情をしている。そう、たまにはどこかへ行かなくちゃ。これもまた、いつのことになるのやら。本日の更新は、本郷大横丁のマッププロジェクトのために資料置き場を建設中。まだまだ準備段階ですが、どんな街か少しはお分かりいただけるかもしれません。古い地域と新しい地域の接点にある、エッジな場所です。これらの素材を加工してマップ作りの一助にしようかと。

A week passes by so quickly. Since I started working in two campuses, I have yet settled down neither of them. I'm just shuttling between them. When I finish my morning classes in Nagareyama, I swiftly catch NX (Narita Express train) to go to Hongo, via Sin-Okachimachi of Oedo subway line. Then I have meetings after meetings in Hongo Campus. I'm always uncontrollably sleepy. Very often I nearly fall asleep while meetings are going on. Wake up! For a change, I went to an old CD shop in town. I selected several new albums of music. I really want to relax listening to music. When will it be? Some of my colleagues who have come back from a conference in Sapporo, Hoklkaido look very vitalized. Yes, it's necessary to go away sometimes. When will it be for me? Today's update: a test site of Hongo Oyokocho for its "Map Project." This is just for experiment. I am making it in the hope that some of the materials here would be of any use in the future. If you are interested, please have a look and stroll along the lane.

May 31, 2006

梅雨入り直前に思い出したような五月晴れが訪れる。千葉県流山市のキャンパスで、空き時間が出来た。弁当を買いに出たついでに、通称「紫陽花寺」へ行ってみることにした。人の話ではものの15分も歩けばということだったのに、行けども行けども。しかし、日傘を差してきょろきょろしながらたどり着いた「本土寺」は、予想を遙かに超える広大な古刹だった。紫陽花の季節には観光バスで乗り付ける参拝客で賑わうとのことだが、まだ花には早いためほとんど誰もいない。菖蒲田でもほんの数株が花を付けているだけ。みどりのうみに飲まれてひととき我を忘れるようだった。本日の更新は表紙の写真（本土寺の花菖蒲）と、このページ上の写真（途中立ち寄った広徳寺境内に咲く「オオヤマレンゲ」←前から出会いたかった！　）です。それからギャラリー「余白」の「静物」にaoの新作二点もあります。昨日までここにあった海の写真は「掲載写真帖」に移動しました。

Right before the rainy season, there come sunny days of May. Unexpectedly as I had a free time in Nagareyama campus in Chiba Prefecture, I decided to go to a temple which is famous for its hydrangea when I went out to buy lunch. I had hard people say it would take about 15 minutes to go there but it was not true. I walked and walked with a parasol, looking this way and that. Eventually I arrived and found the temple Hondo-ji far beyond my expectation: it had vast gardens inside. In the high season, tourists visit the temple by sightseeing coaches. It was too early for flowers, and I met few visitors. In the iris pond were few flowers either .I was absorbed in the sea of green grasses and mosses. Today's update: the photo of the index page (iris in a garden of Hondo-ji Temple) and the one above (Magnolia sieboldii, how much I wanted to see it!). Also ao's recent works are in "Still Life," at Gallery in Margins. Old photos are in "Cover Photos."

May 27, 2006

つくばエクスプレスで通っている同僚に終点まで行けば筑波山が間近に拝めるのかと尋ねたら、「そこからバスに一時間は乗らないと山の麓にはたどり着きませんよ。遠景なら見えますが。何しろ平らなところですから。」と笑われてしまった。武蔵野線新小平には奥多摩や秩父へ誘うポスターが多く、南流山には九十九里や房総半島へ誘うポスターが目立つ。そのうちどこかへ。さて、七名の同僚と共に永年勤続表彰を受け、記念品の時計をいただいた。この時代に「永年勤続」など流行らないけれど、時の流れそのものには感銘を受ける。勤め始めて３年目に生まれた娘の変化を見ると、親鳥の方の頑なさはどうだろう。しかし、これから何が出来るかを考えよう。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中、「静物」にaoの「鏡に映る天井」です。既に梅雨だろうか。

When I asked one of my colleagues who is commuting by Tsukuba Express if I could have a close view of Mt. Tsukuba at the terminal station, he laughed to say, "You've got to take a bus and go at least one hour from the station. Certainly you can see the mountain in a distance from Tsukuba Station It's only because the land is so flat." At Shin-Kodaira Station of JR Musashino Line, I can see posters inviting to visit Okutama and Chicibu and at Minami-Nagareyama Station, I can see ones to Kujukuri Beach and Boso Peninsula. They are all very attractive. I had like to go somewhere in time. BTW, I was awarded of my long-term service with seven other colleagues and was given a present of a watch. These days "long-term service" does not seem very striking but I am very impressed with the time I spent. Looking at my daughter who was born in the thrid year of my employment, I am overwhelmed by the power of time. How she has grown! Compared to her, how stubborn! But let me think of what I cand do from now on. Today's upload: ao's oil painting "the ceiling in a mirror" in Still Life, Gallery in Margins. Are we already in the rainy season?

May 23, 2006

ようやく壊れたカメラが修理から戻ってきた。だのに古いカメラも手放せない。欲張りだ。朝は猛烈な勢いで駆けていくから写真を撮っている暇はないが、ずっと畑のフェンスに絡まる白い花が気になっていた。帰り道はとっぷり暮れているので花は見えない。たまたま今日は日のあるうちに畑の脇を通った。よくよく見れば木苺だ。花は散りかけ、実は青い。ずっと花の写真が撮りたかった。その先の国立療養所の杜も深い。そばを通ると草と木のにおいがする。そのうち侵入して進ぜよう。本日の更新は久々に「いのちのすがお」第３ページに「五月の虫絵本」です。接写が映し出す楽しい世界をどうぞ。

Eventually the repaired camera came back to me. But I cannot leave my older one too. I'm greedy! Although I've been paying attention to white flowers over a fence of a vegetable field, I'm in a rush on bike in the morning so that I can hardly have time to take photos. On my way back, it's always too dark for watching flowers. Today I happened to return home much earlier than usual, which enabled me to watch the white flowers closely. They were raspberry! The flowers are starting to be withered and the berries are still green. I was fascinated by them. I've been willing to take photos of flowers so much. I'm interested in the forest of a national sanatorium, too. It smells leaves and trees. Let me intrude into it before long. Today's update: "Bugs in May" in p.3 of "Lives Around." Please enjoy the micro world of bugs and flowers.

May 21, 2006

昨日「真夏日」と書いたら豪雨に襲われた。寒気と暖気が上空でぶつかったとか。それは凄まじい風雨が一時間余り続き、嵐の過ぎ去ったあとには雲の饗宴、そして夕焼け。本日は雨に洗われた緑が清々しい一日となった。懸念されていた衆院での「共謀罪新設法案」の強行採決は土壇場で中止となったが、法案そのものが消えたわけではない。このところ歴史小説を読んでいるため、戦のない時代が例外なのかと思ってしまう。いや、戦は常に見えないところで行われている。作家秦恒平氏から送られてきた日本ペンクラブの「共謀罪新設法案反対声明」を求めに応じて掲載しておく。明日、同僚がベルリンで行われるペンクラブの世界大会へ出席するため日本を発つという。女性宰相メルケル首相の話が聞けると嬉々としていた。私は後衛を守るのみ。本日の更新は、表紙及びこのページの写真です。狭いところから少しでも目を外に向けていたくて。

Soon after I wrote "It's like summer suddenly" yesterday, the stormy rain and wind attacked Kanto District. According to the weather report, the cold air and the warm air clashed up above. It continued raining and blowing heavily for more than an hour. After the rain was gone, gorgeous clouds colored the sky with the sunset. Washed green leaves and trees were so beautiful today. A new conspiracy bill escaped from being railroaded at the last moment in the Lower House; however the bill is not yet abolished. As I've been reading historical novels, I tend to feel the age without wars might be exceptional. No, wars are everywhere but they cannot be seen. I will upload the statement against the conspiracy bill (in Japanese only) which was sent from an author, Mr Hata Kouhei of Japan P.E.N. club by e-mail. One of my colleagues said with excitement that she is leaving for Germany to attend the international conference of P.E.N. She's looking forward to having a chance to see Chancellor of Germany, Ms Merkel. Good luck! I'll stay in the rear-guard as usual. Today's upload: photos of the index page and here in this page. Let me pinup the scenes of the sea. I want to look out of the small space.

May 20, 2006

関東地方は梅雨入りと見まごう悪天候が続いた。ようやくの晴れ間。あまりに次から次とプラスαの予定が立て込んだために、ついに某日肝心の仕事をキャンセルする羽目に陥った。あの「ダメだ、今日は無理」という感覚は茫然自失と悔恨のミックスで情けない。降り込められていた時だけに余計こたえた。しかし、そこで立ち止まっているわけにも行かず、αはβに、γに・・・∞。面白いこともある。数年来関心を持ち続けてきた「本郷界隈」、職場の地元「大横丁商店街」が地域活性化の試みの一つとしてマップ作りをすることになり、隣組メンバーである大学にも協力を要請してきた。同僚数名と町内の会合にデビューした。実は大横丁のみならず本郷界隈は商業的には衰退の一途を辿っている。若年層は出ていき、高齢化が進み、住宅はマンションに変貌し、個人商店は元気が出ない。菊坂方面はそれなりに観光ルートとして定着しているのだが、大横丁は素通りされる。そこを何とかかつての活況を呼び戻せないかと議論沸騰。たまたま地元の氏神様「三河稲荷神社」御遷座四百年を来年に控え、イベント含みの「町興し」が画策されつつある。曲がりなりにも通い始めて二十年、子どもの頃は父が大横丁入り口にある銀行に勤めていたご縁もあり、知らん顔はしていられない。さてどんなことになりますか。追々ここでもご報告いたしましょう。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中、「静物」にaoの油彩と紙細工です。今日は夏日となり、蒸し暑くなってきた。

The climates like in a rainy season covered Kanto District for weeks. At last it cleared up today. Because of extra works continued one after another, I was stuck one day and had to cancel a class. I was overcome by repentance and helplessness on the rainy day. But I cannot just stop doing anything. There is an interesting thing happening tool. In Hongo Area in which I have been working for 20 years and have been indefinitely interested, inhabitants and shopkeepers of Ooyokocho-dori have decided to publish an illustrated map of the street. They requested us, a college in their town, to cooperate with them. I made a debut with a few of my colleagues to a meeting of the town people. In fact, not only Ooyokocho-dori but also everywhere in Hongo Area, local shopping streets are slowly declining. Younger generation has departed, aging of population is gong on, houses have been transformed into high-rise condominiums, and individual shops are not very active. Although Kikuzaka area is popular as a famous destination for walkers, they just pass through Ooyokocho-dori. We discussed how to revitalize the old fashioned street. 2007 happens to be the 400th year since Mikawa Shrine was located in this area at the beginning of Edo Era. Town people look forward to celebrating the special anniversary and connect the event with the revitalization of the street. Not only because I've been commuting to this town for 20 years, but also my father was once working for a bank at the entrance corner of Ooyokocho Street, I feel special attachment to this area. I cannot be indifferent to the movement. Let's see what we can do. I will report on activities with Hongo people. Today's update: ao's works in "Still LIfe," Gallery in Margins. Well, it's getting very warm today. It's like summer suddenly.

May 14, 2006

E-Learningについての調べを始めた。オンラインで利用出来るフリーサイトを渉猟して随分時間を使った。また、関連の文献も収集中。これからこのサイトでもいろいろな実験をしてみようと思う。大学の個人サイトも利用するが、やはり試行錯誤はこっそりと。趣味のサイトから少し逸脱するかも知れない。考えてみると、これまで私がやってきたことには趣味と仕事の間に余りはっきりした線が引けない。好きで始めたことがいつの間にか仕事にという面が強い。好きでなくてもやっているうちに何だか面白くなったこともいくつか。大学に新しくできたCALL(computer-assited language laboratory)教室で何が出来るか試している。学生も好奇心を露わにする。これを逃す手はない。実は前回の分からこの「短信」も英語部分はダウンロードした文章チェッカーにかけている。語彙数、文法、作文レベルなどが判定されて、赤くなったり青くなったり。元はといえば文章修行の場として始めたのだから、せいぜいお世話になろう。だが、生きている人との交信にまさるものはどこにもない。

II have started making investigation into "E-learning." I've spent a long time exploring free website for language learning. I am also collecting academic references of the genre. I think I will try various experiments in this website. I am sure I will do experiments in my website at the network of our university, but I would rather challenge various things privately at home here first. My website will be no longer a personal hobby site. It is hard for me to divide my hobbies and my work. What I liked doing has become my work and my works have become what I like. I am now involved in the experiments at the brand new CALL(computer-assisted language laboratory) at Nagareyama Campus. Students show curiosity too. It's a good chance to involve them into academic activities. BTW, I am trying to use the spelling and grammar check by a downloaded free software which I found at a CALL website for my notes of this page. It shows me how to use "proper English." Well, it was one purpose for me to start this website for polishing language communication. Let me learn. But nothing teaches me more than the correspondence with lving people.

May 12, 2006

連休が明けたとたん大渦に飲まれている。全く予想もしなかったことの中には、近所の女性の急逝もある。僅か47歳で家族を残しての死だった。大学を卒業して今春から働き始めたばかりの娘さんの涙をこらえている姿が胸に痛い。生死は歳の順ではないという厳正な事実をまたしても突きつけられた気がする。ずっと元気だった人が職場の健診で不整脈を発見され、たった三年のうちに心臓疾患で命を奪われるとは。当たり前のことだが、ガンだけが死に至る病というわけではない。そして、現代の医療では救えないことは如何に多いか。老いた父上が呟いていた。「二時間前にはベッドの上で普通に話していたのに、息を止めたらもう命がないんですから、死は不思議なものです。」この明るい五月に、天に召されていったのはどういう運命か。私の義父が亡くなったのも20年前のこの季節だった。毎日忙しがってかけずり回っているうちにいつしか命の終わりが来るのだろうか。何もしないうちに。雲間の青空を眺めながら考えてしまう。そういうわけで、さびしい夕暮れだった。本日は短信のみにて。

Since the end of the Golden Week holidays, I've been caught in a maelstrom. One unexpected thing is that a woman in my neighborhood passed away suddenly. She was died only at 47, leaving her family behind. Her only daughter who graduated from college and started working for a company in April behaved bravely never showing tears in public. Her independent manners made me sad all the more. I fell I was told the fact that death comes not in the order of age. My neighbor was detected to have the arrhythmia at a group examination of her workplace. In three years, her heart disease deprived her of life. Naturally cancer is not the only disease to kill people. There are so many cases that any contemporary medical care can never save. Her elderly father said, "How strange! Only two hours before, she was alive talking on the bed. But now that she is dead, there is no life at all." In May so bright how was she destined to die? My father-in-law also passed away in this season 20 years ago. I am making myself busy every day, but someday so suddenly I might be caught in death for no reason. I've done nothing significant so far. I was in a pensive mood looking up at the pale sky in clouds. I felt lonely in the evening. Today's update; nothing but this note.

May 5, 2006

ここのところ「東京国際スリーデーマーチ」のため、玉川上水緑道、境・多摩湖自転車歩行者道、八国山緑地など私のいつもの散歩道を、ゼッケン付けたウォーカーが列をなして歩いている。こんなところに遠くからわざわざおいでなされたかと、いささか面食らいもするが、武蔵野の平坦な緑陰は歩くのにはちょうど良い場所であることをあらためて実感する。その一方、自分ではいつもと違う場所に身を置いてみたくて、海を見に湘南へ出かけた。まずは鎌倉で鶴ヶ岡八幡宮の「牡丹園」をゆっくり見て回った。色とりどりの牡丹には唐傘が差し掛けられ馥郁たる香りがあたりを満たす。それから超満員の江ノ電でガタゴトと片瀬海岸へ。押すな押すなの人波にしたがって江ノ島先端の稚児ヶ淵あたりの岩場まで行き、ようやく荒波を目の当たりにすることができた。それはイヤになるほどの人出だった。しかし、海辺に出たいと焦がれる気持ちは押さえられず。雄大な海はいくら見ていても見飽きることが無く、見足りることもない。思い切って出かけて良かった。本日の更新は表紙の写真とこのページの写真です。いずれも波と戯れる見知らぬ少女たち。昨日までここにあった「山ツツジ」は「ギャラリー余白」の『掲載写真帳』に移動いたしました。

Due to Tokyo International Three-Day March, so many walkers with number clothes on their back have come to the paths where I usually take a walk, such as the lane along Tamagawa Jousui Waterway, Sakai-Tama Cycling-Walking Road, Mt. Hachikoku and so on. Although I'm a little embarrassed to see so may people walking in my neighborhood, I cannot help feeling now how suitable these places (flat and blessed with rich green areas) are for walking. On the other hand, I want to get out of them once in a while. To the sea! First I went to Kamakura and watched tree peonies in a garden of Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine. The gorgeous flowers were protected by parasols! Then I took a jam-packed tram to Enoshhima Island. The way to the island was filled with people, much more crowded than rush hour trains. Finally I reached the rocky head of the island facing the Pacific Ocean. No matter how long I keep watching the sea, I never get tired of it nor satisfied with it. Anyway, it was good I could go out. Today's update: the photo in the index page, and the one here in this page; both are of unknown girls playing with waves. Photos which were in these pages are now in "Cover Photos" of Gallery in Margins.

May 1, 2006

黄金週間に入った。僅か一週間そこそこにもせよ、暫しの解放を味わう。昨日は自転車で自宅から西武多摩湖線に沿って国分寺まで走り、街を少しぶらついた。（壊れたカメラをようやく販売店で修理に出した！）本日は地元の里山「八国山」の尾根歩きをした。狭山丘陵の東端、住宅地に囲まれた孤島のような緑地だが、大切に保存されているので気持ちがよい。新田義貞の軍勢が鎌倉に攻め上った時(1333年)に一時逗留したという山中の「将軍塚」を訪ねてみた。たまにホトトギスが鳴く。新緑を彩るのはヤマツツジばかり。今年最初の夏日とか。深呼吸しながら歩いた。いつもは車窓から遙かに見晴らすばかりの山に踏み入って、木々の精気を浴びるしあわせ。本当にいい季節。本日の更新は表紙の写真（八国山のヤマツツジ）とこのページの写真（北山公園の池で遊ぶ子どもたち）です。写真は古いカメラを引っ張り出しての撮影です。

Now it's May. The beginning of the Golden Week! It's time to relax for a while. Yesterday I went cycling along Seibu Tamako Line to Kokubunji. I enjoyed walking in town. Finally I brought my broken digital camera to a shop for repairing. Today I walked along the ridge lane of Mt. Hachikoku in my neighborhood. It's in the east end of Sayama Hills. Although it is surrounded with residential areas, it's so well preserved that walking in the woods is really refreshing. In the mountain I visited "the Mound of Shougun," which is considered to be the spot where Nitta Yoshisada stayed his troops when they made attacks to Kamakura Shoungnate in 1333. Sometimes I could hear little cuckoos twitter. In the fresh green leaves, wild rhododendrons were the only flowers I could see. It was hot like summer. I breathed deeply in the woods. Happily I bathed in the spirit of trees. What a good season for walking! Today's update: photos in the cover page (Rhododendron obtusum var. kaempferi) and in this page (boys playing in a pond in Kitayama Park, Higashimurayama, Tokyo). I took the photos with my old camera.

April 30, 2006

過日分厚い封筒が勤め先から届いた。何でしょうと開いてみると、時計のカタログだった。「永年勤続記念品をお贈り致しますので、どうぞお選び下さい」とのこと。永年勤続というのは20年。五月には全教職員が集まるパーティーがあり、そこで表彰状と一緒に時計をいただくのが慣例となっている。よもや自分の番がもう来るとは。瞬く間の20年！「ご挨拶して頂くこともありますので、ご承知おき下さい」との添え書きにドキッとする。（他の方に当たりますように。）だって、この20年間に一体どんなことができたというのだろう。何の成果も特に思い浮かばない。どうしましょう。もっと勤勉に独創的に働いておくのだった。ところで計算上はあと何年勤められるのだろう？干支一巡分か。これもまた瞬き一つの間の月日。心して過ごせよ、と自分にハッパを。本日の更新は短信のみにて。青葉が煌めく。

I received a thick envelope from headquarter of our school the other day. I opened it and found some catalogues of watches. A letter enclosed read, "We are going to award you a watch/clock to commemorate your long-time service to our university. Please choose one from the catalogues." Long term means 20 years. In May we are going to have an annual party in which all the teachers and office people will participate. Employees at their 20th year service are awarded with the present on the occasion. "20 years" seems to have passed in a moment. Is it my turn already? I hope I won't be appointed to make a short speech. I cannot remember anything significant I've done for the university so far. I should have been more diligent and creative. I wonder how many more years could I keep working from now on. 12 years? It will be in a moment again. Don't waste time, I say to myself. Today's update: this note only. Green leaves are shining.

April 29, 2006

東京の西端から埼玉を経由して千葉県へと、関東平野をぐるり三分の一くらい横断する通勤にもようやく慣れてきた。15分全速力で自転車をこぐのも、一時間近く電車に揺られているのもそれほど悪くない。なにせ身動きもままならないラッシュ時の電車で都心に向かうのとは違う。新緑の雑木林を横目にサイクリングロードを抜け、ひっそりとした療養所の杜を迂回し、畑の脇に聳える欅の若葉を見上げながら走る。武蔵野線では行きも帰りも必ず座れる。朝はどうしても授業の予習タイムになるが、帰りは読書と黙想と居眠りを代わる代わる楽しむ。悩ましい懸案はいくつもあるが、渋面で過ごすのは性に合わない。四月の過密スケジュールを何とかこなし、ようやく黄金週間に手が届く。ささやかに贅沢をしよう。つまり、歩いたりサイクリングしたり読書したり。変哲もない日常だが、息せき切って駆け抜ける毎日を少し休む。壊れたカメラは依然、カバンの中。本日の更新はaoのちいさな作品です。「ギャラリー」の「静物 03」中、『雲』と『サザエ』です。

From the west end of Tokyo through Saitama to Chiba, I make a short trip to my work place by JR Musashino Line. I'm getting used to it. 15 minute-ride in a full speed by bike and one-hour-ride on the train are not so bad as I was anxious about because it's different from the ordeal of riding on the jam-packed train at the rush hour bound for Tokyo. I go by the woods of freshly sprouting leaves, along a neat cycling road, and around the quiet land of a sanatorium by bike to a small station by which are tall zelkova trees. I can always find an empty seat in Musashino Line. In the morning I spend an hour checking text books for the day's classes, but on my way back, I can read, indulge myself in thinking this and that freely and take a nap. In spite of the fact that I have a lot of troubles and problems to think about, It's far from my nature to live in a difficult face. Having survivied busy weeks in April, I'm glad I can take a short break during "the Golden Week." I will live in luxury; that is to say, to take a walk, go cycling, and read as much as I like. It's nothing special, but I can get out of the extremely tight schedule. The broken camera is still in my bag, Today's update: small works of ao, "clouds" and "a top shell" in Still Life 3, Gallery in Margins.

April 24, 2006

（承前）カメラの保証書を片手にサービスセンターに電話した。もちろん自分の過失だと分かっているので修理代は全額負担に違いないが、どこへ持ち込めば最速・経済的か探ろうと思った。販売店かメーカーの窓口か。どうやら後者が正解の模様。但し、センターはどこにでもあるわけではないから、場所を選ばなくてはならない。新宿か上野かというところ。果たしていつ行けるものやら。自業自得で忙しくなる。チャンスがあったらいつでも行けるよう、カメラをハンカチにくるんで鞄にしまった。何だか掌にずっしり重い傷ついた小鳥のような感触だった。このカメラでどれほどたくさんの風景・植物・生き物を見つめてきたことか。自分の一部が痛んでいるような錯覚。サイトの画像を減らそうとしたとたんの失態だったので、どこかで連動しているのかなとふと思ってみる。そんなこと、あるだろうか。短信ばかりでお許しを。

(continued from previous notes) I made several phone calls with a card of guarantee on my digital camera. I wanted to know where I should bring it in for the fastest and the cheapest repair; to a shop or to a service center of the manufacturer. They advised me to go directly to the latter. However, service centers are not everywhere; one is in Shinjuku and another is in Ueno. When could I go? I feel I'm making myself busy by my own mistakes. I wrapped up the damaged camera in a handkerchief and put it in a bag so that I can go to the center anytime. The camera was small and heavy on my palm just like an injured bird. How many landscapes, plants, and animals have I watched through the eye of the camera? I hd an illusion that a part of me is injured. The accident happened right after I decided to decrease the amount of image files from this website, I cannot help thinking there might possibly be a connection between the decision and the accident. Really? Forgive me for writing only notes these days.

あっと思った時にはもう遅かった。手から滑り落ちたカメラはコンクリートに叩き付けられてファインダーに見事なひびが入った。慌ててスイッチを押してもなにも表示されない。これはまずい。数年来カメラを持ち歩かない日はなかったが、落としたのは初めて。果たして修理可能だろうか。これが三台目のデジカメである。携帯などよりよほど愛用してきた。文字通りポケットに入る便利さが「常備」を可能にしていたわけだけれど、慣れというのは怖い。注意散漫になっていたのかもしれない。悔やんでも後の祭り。カメラ屋に行かなくては。相当の重傷だ。私自身も事故に遭わないよう、気を付けるべし。欲張りすぎずに動きましょう。本日も短信のみにて。

It was too late when I was startled. The camera slipped out of my hand and hit on the concrete-covered lane; thus, the glass of its finder was cracked. Nothing shows when I push the switch. Too bad! This is the first time I dropped my camera through out years when I never went out without one. I wonder if the camera is repairable or not. Actually this is the third digital camera that I've possessed. I thought I loved all of them really much more than cell phones. Literally they were all held in my pockets. The camera was almost a part of me, but maybe I was getting very careless with it recently. Spilt milk! I have to go to a camera shop on the earliest occasion. It's heavily damaged. I need to be careful not meet any accident myself. I shouldn't be too greedy for anything. Today's update: only this note again.

変化への微動を感じたら、逃がさないようにしないとチャンスを逃す。変わって欲しくないことも致し方なく変わる時には無駄な抵抗をするより、思い切って流れに乗って何が起こるか見るのも一興か。もうこれ以上何一つ新しいことを入れる余地はないと思って必死になってると、突然思いもかけないことがするりと入り込んでくる。「そんな、幾らなんでも」と足掻いてみたところで押しとどめる術もなく、エイヤッとこちらのキャパを拡げるのだ。そんな風にして出来ないと思っていたことが出来るようになっていくこともある。逆に守備範囲を縮小する場合もある。そんなこんなの四月も下旬にかかり、桜のトンネルは新緑のトンネルになった。その中を疾走する。授業に遅れまいと、会合に間に合うようにと、はたまた何だかよく分からない焦燥に駆られて。だから休日にはゆっくり歩こう。本日の更新はつぶやきのみにて。

When I feel the slightest movement for a change, I try to catch it so as not to lose the chance. If the change is something irresistible, I would rather jump in the new stream to see what will happen than to resist in vain. While I'm feeling I have no more room for anything new, the most unexpected things happen and sneak into my schedule. Then I have no way to resist; I am forced to enlarge my capacity somehow. Thus, I've been learning various things. Certainly I've been giving up a lot more things. April is the time when we meet a lot of new things and say farewell to some of our routines. After cherry blossoms, the world is filled with fresh green leaves and grasses at the end of April. I run through under the foliage full speed, not to late for classes, to meetings and for nameless goals, feeling an unreasonable urge in me. Now, let me walk slowly in a holiday. Today's update: only this mumble.

April 18, 2006

平野をこれほど緑が覆い花が彩るようになったのだから、きっと山にも雪が消えた後に小さな花々が咲き競っていることだろう。毎年同じ花が咲く幸いを喜ぶ気持ちはどこにいても変わらない。憧れるだけでなかなか遠出できないので、せめて画像なりと眺めたいものだと、私はネット上を彷徨う。また、とろりとした色で流れる川面を車窓に眺めながら、想像は軌道を離れていく。目の前の現実では細かな約束事を守るために多くのエネルギーが費やされる。それももちろん必要なことだが、世界はそれだけで終わっているわけではない。若い人達の前に出るものは、常に新鮮な息吹を自ら感じなくては魅力ある指南役は務まらないと、少し焦りながらも強く思う。本日の更新は前回に引き続きハクセキレイの追加です。思いがけないところでの遭遇。「いのちのすがお」にて。迂闊なことに、前回の『掲載写真帖』、更新し損ねておりました。あらためてもう一度。

Now that the plain is covered with abundant green glasses and flowers, lots and lots of flowers must have been appearing in mountains after snow was gone. Wherever we are, we appreciate the happiness of finding same flowers in the same season. As I can hardly go out far, I explore on the net looking for floral images. My imagination takes the liberty of wandering away from the daily routine while watching the rivers running in a melting color. I spend so much energy just for keeping the order of my work and life. It's important to do so; however, the world is not definitely limited within our reach. We need to be inspired by freshness of some new aspects of life all the time if is our job to stand to face young people. Unless we are feeling fresh, how could we manage to inspire them? Impatiently I feel it necessary for me to be fresh in spirit. Today's update; a couple of photos of the same birds again in "Lives Around. "Cover Photos" is also renewed.

授業が始まって最初の週は、学生も教員も事務員もてんてこ舞いだ。新しい試みが突如始まったものだから、「万全を期して」などということばは無用もいいところ。とにかくカモが一斉に池に飛び込んだようなもの。バシャバシャ大騒ぎといったところか。勤め始めて二十年目の大改革に遭遇している。武蔵野線にも馴れてきた。関東平野は広い。まだまだ「荒野」（というとちょっと大袈裟だが）がひろがっているところもある。荒川、江戸川が悠然と流れる。ラッシュの地下鉄で揉まれるよりはずっと健康的かもしれない。それでも週に一度は行く本郷が懐かしくもあり狭苦しくもあり。今はあれこれ考えて立ち止まっている暇もない。この週末だけで一体何通のメールを受け取り、書いたことか。流石に疲れて、久しぶりに近所を散歩する。空堀川の橋の下では少年たちが水遊び。どこもかしこも新緑に覆われ始めた。一息付いたら電車か自転車に乗ってどこかへ行ってみよう。緑の中を走れば浮き世の憂さは飛んでいく。軌道に乗せるまでは何ごとも遮二無二行くしかないのだろう。本日の更新は表紙の写真（タンポポの野原）とこのページの写真（橋の下で遊ぶ少年たち）です。それから、写りはよくないのですが、川面で見かけた（多分）ハクセキレイを「いのちのすがお」に。更新が滞ってごめんなさい。前日までの掲載写真は『掲載写真帖』へ。

The first week of classes in the new semester was extremely busy. Students, teachers, office people, all were just frantic. As our new system has started, nothing is "well organized and prepared." Just like wild ducks jumped in a pond all at once, we were making a big fuss everywhere. Probably this is the biggest change that I have experienced since I started working for this institute twenty years before. Anyway, I'm getting used to commuting by Musashino Line. The Kanto Plain is huge. There are some places where "the wild land" (too exaggerated!) is expanding. The River Arakawa and the River Edogawa are running calmly through the plain. It may be healthier to go outside dynamically than to be pushed in the crowded subway. When I go to Hongo once a week, I feel suffocated somewhat. I have no time to stop and think for the moment. I received and wrote countless e-mails during this weekend. Completely tired, I went out for a walk in my neighborhood. Boys were playing in the stream of the River Karabori. The landscape is getting to be colored fresh green everywhere. I would like to go for a long walk or cycling, or go somewhere by train as soon as I get holiday. Green leaves will make me feel much better. For now, I have to go on this way by all means. Well, today's update: photos of the top page and this page above. Also photos of a bird I found in the stream in Lives Around. (Sorry, they are not well focused.) I wish I could update this website more often.　Recent cover phtos are in "cover photos"

April 9, 2006

新学期のオリエンテーション行事がひとまず終了し、いよいよ授業が始まる。四月に仕切直しがある組織はどこでも、今が新人の登場する眩い季節だ。ちっとも新しいところのない自分も、せめて新調のスーツなど着て背筋を伸ばしてみる。う〜ん、襟ぐりの大きく空いたシャツを着てももう寒くない。二ヶ月ぶりに美容院で髪をカットしてもらい（誰にも気付かれなかったが）気分爽快。新たな気持ちで教室の扉を開けることにしよう。そこからが格闘の始まりなのだけれど。本日の更新は二ヶ月ぶりの「翻訳読書ノート」で、題して『勝負の相手』。すっかりこのところ分の悪いフェミニスト・ノベルだが、この小説を読んでいる間中、贔屓のスポーツ選手が出場する試合観戦の気分だった。原稿を送信したらすぐ返信をくれた編集者曰く「この本、読んでみたくなりました。家事・仕事・子育て・・・昨晩、ふとマンションを見上げると我が家のバルコニーだけ洗濯物が満艦飾。食べ盛り・よごし盛りの子供3人をかかえパートに奮闘する家内のことを考えてしまいました。考えるだけではダメですけども。」ありがたいおことば。それに返して私からもう一言、「是非読んでみてください。いや、それより奥様にお勧め下さい。小説など読んでいる暇はないと一蹴されるのを覚悟の上。」（＾-＾）うふふ。（追伸、前回の「翻訳読書ノート」に書いた文京区千駄木のファーブル昆虫館「虫の詩人の館」を啓蟄の数日後に訪ねてみたら、子どもも大人もたくさん来ていた。標本だけでなく、生きている昆虫も見られる。とても小さな、手作りのぬくもりのある館だった。）

Now that orientation events of the new semester have almost finished, it's time to start classes. I believe all the organizations which get restarted in April have now freshmen and women with sparkling aura. Having nothing particular new, I try to straighten up in a new suit. Well, it's not cold in a shirt with the neck wide open. After two months, I had a chance to go to a beauty salon to have my hair cut. Quite refreshing! All right, I'll open the doors of classes full of expectations although it's also the time to face new battles of all kinds. Anyway, today's update: a review on the Japanese translation of I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson. (Sorry only in Japanese.) Soon after I sent my essay to the publisher, I received a mail saying, "I'd like to read the novel. Household chores, work outside, children, ... Last night I looked up at the balcony of my house and found it was the only one still with the whole bunch of washed clothes hanging in the apartment building. I couldn't help thinking of my wife who is making strenuous efforts, with three growing kids. How they eat and mess up our household! Just by thinking, I cannot help her at all." Well said! In return I added a message: "Please do read this book, or ask your wife to read it. Please be prepared to get her answer; I don't have time to read a novel, you know?" (Smile!) [PS: I mentioned a private museum of insects was opening in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, commemorating Jean Henri Fabre. When I visited the newly opened museum, it was filled with children and adults as well. It's such a nice heartwarming place for loves of Fabre.)

April 5, 2006

再び通勤談義。晴れた日には自転車と武蔵野線を乗り継いで、ドアからドアまで1時間30分の最短通勤時間を記録した。これには20分の徒歩も加えてあるのでもしうまくスクールバスに乗れれば更に10分短縮できる可能性あり。雨が降るとそうはいかない。本日帰路は南流山から「つくばエクスプレス」に乗ってみた。車内は快適だが、秋葉原駅では深い地下駅から地上のJR中央口まで長い長いエスカレーターを何度も乗り換える。4時にキャンパスを出たのに帰宅は6時。二時間の壁は厚かった。通勤時間をどう短縮しその時間に何が出来るか工夫するのは、まあ趣味のようなものだ。眠る予定が同僚とバッタリ出会って「情勢分析」なんてことも。足りない予習をしなくてはならない場合は、誰にも会わない場所を狙わなくてはならない。感心な仲間は車中を外国語リスニングタイムにするらしい。そうか、いよいよiPodの出番かな。春眠こそ何よりの快楽のこの季節に。本日の更新は「あれこれ」ページの開設（未だ制作途上ですが）と、表紙（庭のチューリップ）及びこのページの写真（流山キャンパスの桜）です。気に入ったカバー写真は「ギャラリー」の『掲載写真帳』へしばらく入れておきます。容量を増やしすぎないよう気を付けながら。

The topic of commuting strategy again. In a sunny day, I made a record of taking just 1 hour and 30 minutes from door to door by bicycle and train. It includes the walking time also; so there is a possiblity to make it 10 minutes shorter if I can take the shuttle bus from Minaminagareyama station to the campus. On the oter hand, however, in a rainy day things never go so smoothly. I challenged to take Tsukuba Exparess on my way back today. The new train is very comfortable to ride but you have to take the escalator from the bottom of the earth all the way up to the land for a gateway of JR trains at Akihabara Station. I departed Nagareyama Campus at 4 p.m. and arrived home at 6 p.m. It was quite difficult to break the barrier of 2 hours. Certainly it's a kind of my hobby to think of how to shorten the commuting time and to think of what to do during that time. Sometimes my plan of taking a nap is blown away by meeting some of my colleagues and the time is spent for discussing our present situation. When I definitely need to prepare for classes, I do have to find a corner never to be discovered by anybody. Surprisingly, I've found out some of my colleagues practice listening foreign languages while they are on the train. Well, I'll buy an iPod for that purpose at last. But it's such a good season for relaxing and sleeping leisurely in breeze. Today's update: a link to a new page "etcetera" (not completed yet);a photo in the index page (tulips in my garden) and the one above (cherry blossoms in Nagareyama Campus). Some of the cover pages of my favorite are stored in a new page "cover photos" in Gallery for a while. I have to be careful not to increase the amount of bytes.

April 2, 2006

新車を購入・・・といっても私のことだから自転車を。（生まれて初めての三段ギア付き！）千葉県流山市のキャンパスに通うにはどんなルートが一番よいか思案するうち、最寄りの武蔵野線の駅まで自転車で行けばかなり時間の短縮になることに気付いた。自宅から新小平駅まで直線距離にするとさほどでもないが、広大な国立療養所とブリジストン工場を迂回しなくてはならないので、疾走15分。問題は駐輪場だ。市営駐輪場へ場所を確保する登録に半年から一年以上かかるという。それまでは一時預かりが空いていることを祈りながら走るしかない。駅に着いて止める場所がなかったらどうしよう。昨今自転車の路上放置には厳しい取り締まりがある。今まで通り、乗り換え乗り換え二時間かけて行くか、幸運を信じて走るか。馴らしサイクリングに武蔵村山市の野山北公園まで出かけた。ここでも山の斜面にカタクリの花がいっぱいだった。明日を思い煩うよりあちこち走り回ることにしよう。満開の桜を雨が叩く。（えっ、明日は雨の中を疾走か？）本日の更新はギャラリーの「静物」にaoの近作を三点です。この頃素材が色々だ。

I bought a new bicycle with three-speed derailleur! While I was thinking of the shortest way to go to Nagareyama campus in Chiba Prefecture, it occurred to me that I should try Shin-Kodaira Station of JR Musashino Line. It takes me at least 15 minutes by bike from my house. The huge estates of Bridgestone Factory and a national sanatorium prevent me from going there straight. The biggest problem is where to park my bike. I have to be in the long waiting list for registering a place in the city bike lot near the station. I don't know what to do if the lot has no vacancy when I arrive there in the morning. Free parking on the street is strictly prohibited. Should I spend for 2 hours for commuting by changing trains several times just as I was doing before, or venture to believe in good luck? Anyway I went to Noyama Kita Park in Musashimurayama City by cycling. A slope of a hill was covered with flowering Japanese dog's tooth violet again. OK, let me not worry about the unknown future but go as far as possible. Heavy rain was beating cherry blossoms today. (Well, will I have to run in the rain tomorrow?) Today's update: ao's recent works with several materials in "Still Life, " in Gallery.

March 29, 2006

「玉川上水小金井堤」経由で「小金井公園」へ行ってみた。堤は未だほとんど咲いていなかったので早まったかと思ったけれど、公園の方は豪華絢爛の桜の園。八、九分咲きだった。風は冷たく震え上がるほどなのに、桜の花の下ではシートを拡げて宴会が始まっている。おそらくこの週末は、東京ではどこも大賑わいとなることだろう。園内の「江戸東京たてもの園」では『できゆくタワーの足もとで』という昭和30年代のくらし展をやっていた。何と、自分の育った時代が「回顧展」になるとは驚きだ。ゴミ捨て場から「発掘された」という当時の食器や道具の復元コーナーまであって、自分が縄文人の仲間であることを知る（笑）。これから出来るらしい「新東京タワー」もいずれは懐古の対象間違い無しだ。職場からじゃんじゃんメールが届いて、いよいよ新学期の始まり。幾度繰り返してもたじろぐ気分は変わらない。本日の更新はこのページの写真（東京都武蔵野市「小金井公園」の桜の園）です。

We went to Koganei Park via the banks of Tamagawa Jousui. While we were cycling along the banks, we could hardly see cherry blossom, we thought we came too early for cherry trees in bloom. Once we stepped in the park, we were in the gorgeous cherry gardens almost in full bloom! In spite of the cold wind, people were having parties under the cherry trees. I'm sure this weekend will be the high time for cherry-blossom-viewing in Tokyo. In Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum inside of the park, an exhibition entitled "Under Tokyo Tower in Construction--Life in the 30s of Showa Era (1955-65)." It was really surprising to find the day when I was growing up was the focus of an exhibition. There was a corner to exhibit goods dug up from a landfill; fragments were restored to the original figures for show, tiny pots, cups, tools, and so on, just like those of clay pots of ancient times are often restored. I understood I'm one of Jomon Era people.;-) New Tokyo Tower, which is planned to be constructed very soon, will someday be the object for retrospect for sure. Now e-mails are sent to me one after another to remind me that the new semester is beginning. I feel very reluctant as usual after countless repetition of new semesters. Today's update: the photo of this page above (Cherry gardens in Koganei Park, Musashino City, Tokyo).

March 25, 2006

20日間近くサイトを閉ざして改訂作業をしていた。ページを増やすのに比べると削るのはむずかしい。既に梅は散り、辛夷や木蓮が満開となり、いよいよ桜の番だ。関東平野にも色彩が戻りつつある。風はほんのり花の香りを含んで、縮こまっていた心も体も何だかのびのびしてくる。東村山市から清瀬市へ、10Kmほど「空堀川」（上の写真）に沿ってサイクリングした。柳瀬川との合流点の少し手前にある緑地保全林「おばけ山」斜面にはカタクリの花（表紙写真）が可憐な姿を見せ始めている。川辺はひろびろのどか。春の日射しをたっぷり浴びた。「サイトの再開を首を長くして待っています」というメールをいただき、感謝にたえない。余り変わり映えはしないけれど少しずつ手を入れていこうと思う。（リンク切れ・未完成のページなどの不備、しばしお許し下さい。）これからもどうぞよろしく！本日の更新は、あちこちいろいろです。

For almost 20 days I've closed this website to reconstruct it. It was much harder for me to delete files and pages than to increase. Flowers of Japanese plum have already gone, magnolia has been in full bloom, and now it's time for cherry blossoms at last! Colors are coming back to the Kanto Plain. The breeze smells fragrant and makes my body and soul vivid again. From Higashimurayama City to Kiyose City, we cycled about 10 Km along the River Karabori.(the photo above). Right before it meets the River Yanase, there is a green zone preservation area called "the Hill of Ghosts," where tiny flowers of "Japanese dog's tooth violet" (Erythronium japonicum)--see the photo in the index page--are growing. The sunny riverside is so relaxing. I enjoyed the flowers and sunbathing. I truly appreciate the message "longing for the renewal of your website." Please let me continue remodeling it little by little. Thanks again for your visit. Today's update: besides photos of the index page and here above, and many more everywhere!

March 7, 2006

自分に計画性のないことは自覚していたつもりだが、このサイト構築はかなり桁外れに無計画だった。1997年開始当時のファイルまでそのままあるから、昨夜点検したところ驚くべき容量となっていた。いくらなんでもここらが限界。思い切った整理整頓をしなくてはならない。気が遠くなりそうだ。精選ということを学ばねば。しばらくガタガタいたします。見にくいことと思いますが、何卒ご容赦下さい。サイトといっしょに私もスリムにならなくちゃ〜♪...と言う舌の根も乾かぬうちに、本日の更新は「いのちのすがお」に『町のコサギ』です。（ファイル削除作戦は、後からかならずやりますってば！）

I know well I am a planless person but I'm astonished to find the outrageous amount of volume that I use for this website. Even the first primitive files that I made at the beginning in 1997 are still included. I've already gone out of the limit. I definitely need to clean up. (I need to learn how to throw away and delete the past.) Sorry this website will be in confusion for a while because I'm not a good designer/organizer. Thanks for your patience. I'll be slim with this website! Now today's update: "Little Egret in Town," in Lives Around. (I'm sure I'll start cleaning later. I promise!)

March 5, 2006

気温が上昇し始めたのがはっきり分かる。厚いオーバーが重い。確定申告書の封筒をポストに放り込んで、いくらかさっぱり。（計算間違えしていませんように。）年度末の仕事を一つ一つ片づけているうちに、いつの間にかまた新しい役目を背負い込んでいたりする。ノーと言えないダメな自分に呆れつつ、何とかなるさ（ホントか？）。古いものの尻尾は新しいもののあたまに繋がる。そして何度も繰り返す。本日の更新は題名をちょっぴりあらためた「関東平野にて」に少し追加しました。今年はどんな花や風景に出会えるでしょう。楽しみです。

I can feel the temperature rising. Overcoats are heavy. I dropped an envelope of tax return form into a post-box! (In Japan March is the end of a fiscal year.) I hope I didn't make any mistakes in calculation of taxes. While I'm finishing the works of the passing year, I find myself accepting new ones. Alas, how stupid am I! I am too awkward to say "No." Let it be. Tails of old things are connected to the heads of new ones. And things are repeating again and again. Today's update: "In the Kanto Plain." I changed a bit of the title. I'm looking forward to finding flowers and landscapes this year.

March 4, 2006

桃の節句も終わり、一日ごとに春を感じる。何の特別なことがあるわけではなくとも、心楽しい季節の到来。昨日までとは光が違う（ような気がする）。一切合切脇に寄せて、ぽっとどこかに出かけてみたい（と、毎年言い暮らしいてる）。「近旅」でもよしとしよう。どこに行けるかな。本日の更新は「いのちのすがお」に、霊長類の仲間です。おまけの画像ページ付き。どちらかというとおまけの方がボリュームがあります。たまにはくつろいでこんな場面も。ご批判もありましょうが湯島天神で見た「猿回し」です。

Yesterday was The Doll's Festival. Day by day, I feel the coming of spring. Although I have nothing special to expect in a few weeks, I enjoy the change of the seasons. The brightness of light is different. I really want to go out to somewhere out of my routine. (I'm saying so every year at this time.) A very short trip is all right with me. Where shall I go? Today's update: one of the member of primates in "Lives Around.". You have an extra page related to it. The extra page is more voluminous than the main article, alas! Please relax and enjoy a traditional Japanese monkey show. I guess there may be some criticism to it.

March 1, 2006

雪山の写真を見れば心が騒ぎ、海辺の写真を見れば心が揺れる。遠い街の写真を見ればまた、落ち着かない。弥生を迎えてそわそわしている。暦一枚で何だというのだろう。三月兎か。年甲斐もなく、性懲りもなく。四月が来る前にやっておかなくてはらないことは、あれとあれとこれと。え〜い、きりがない。だからといってがんじがらめはゴメン被る。本日の更新は表紙（湯島天神本殿裏手の枝垂れ梅）とこのページの写真（神田川から見上げる聖橋）です。表参道ヒルズより、どうもこちらの方が性に合う。

A photo of in a snow mountain disturbs me and so does one by the sea. A photo of foreign cities makes me feel uneasy. Now that it's March I can hardly be calm. Why, it's only the matter of one sheet of a calendar! Am I a March hare? In spite of my age and bitter experiences of mine, I'm expecting something. I've got a lot to do before April comes. But I don't want to be bound by restrictions any more. (It's spring at last!) Today's update: a photo in the index page (a blooming Japanese plum tree at the back of the main building of Yushima Shrine in Tokyo) and the one above (Hijiri Bridge viewed from the River Kanda in a downtown Tokyo). I feel more at home with this kind of place than fashionable places like Omotesando Hills.

February 28, 2006

何とも早い如月だった。このまま突っ走って新学期というのではたまらない。何とか軌道を外れたい、と思うのだが...。いつの間にか色々なものを背負っている。オーストラリアから帰国したばかりの同僚を交えて久々にイタリアンレストランでランチ（といっても勤め先前の大通りを越えたところにある店なのだけれど）。活きのいい英語シャワーが心地よい。本日の更新は「いのちのすがお」に「ホタテ貝の呼吸？」です。何と撮影場所は台所。思いがけない命のアピールに出会った。ささやかな、春の予感。

February passed so quickly. I can hardly stand if I have to go on like this to the beginning of the new semester. I really wish to go out of the routine although I know I have so much on my back. Today we had lunch with one of our colleagues who has just come back from her stay in Australia. (We went to an Italian restaurant just across the street in front of the building of our office.) It's really refreshing to be in the shower of lively English. Today's update: "Breathing Scallops?" in 'Lives Around.' I took the photos in the kitchen. I was confronted with the unexpected appeal of life. It's the delicate feeling of spring.

February 27, 2006

週末には寒々とした雨が降り、瞬く間に休日は飛び去る。トリノオリンピック、フィギュアスケートのエグジビションなど見ながらだいぶ長い時間テレビの前にいた。目の覚める演技は素晴らしかったが、限定的な地域に住む人々のスポーツだと痛感する。そこに映らない世界の状況を想像してしまう。さて、入試シーズンは佳境に入り試験する方も受ける方も忙しい。先日訪れた湯島天神には夥しい数の絵馬が奉納されていた。春よ、来い！本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」にaoの『傘のある静物画』です。

We had a lot a lot of rain during the weekend. I spent a long time in front of TV, watching the exhibition of figure skating in Torino. Skaters' performances were just awesome but I couldn't help feeling that it is the sport for people belonging to definite areas of the world. Imagine the various situations going on that TV never covers. Well, here in Japan, we're in the high time of entrance-exam-season. Both test-takers and givers are busy. I saw lots and lots of ema (a small wooden plate on which students write their wish for the success in entrance examinations.) Come on, Spring! Today's update: ao's oil painting "under an umbrella" in "Still Life," Gallery in Margins.

都心では梅の開花が始まっている。いつもと違う経路で出勤しがてら湯島天神に寄ってみた。まだ一分か二分咲きとはいえ、紅白の梅が境内を彩る。折しも旧友から「昔、日本の人々は、花が咲くと神が降りてきたと思い、空高く花を捧げたりしました」というメールがケータイに届いたところだった。花はやはり懐かしく嬉しい。これから次々と百花繚乱の時へ続く。本日の更新は「関東平野」に花の写真数枚（短詩とも）です。花を撮るのは本当に久しぶり。毎年のことであっても、時々に違う花の姿。今日はトリノの氷上に舞う名花も見た。

In the central part of Tokyo, Japanese plum has started blooming. On my way to work, I made a side trip to Yushima Shrine. It was only 10 to 20% of full bloom; yet, white and pink plum flowers were making the shrine garden slightly colorful. Then I recieved a message to my cell phone from an old friend of mine, saying "You know, the Japanese in old days thought gods landed on earth when flowers bloomed. People pushed flowers high up into the sky." Yes, flowers make us feel happy and pious. From now on various flowers will start blooming one by one. After a long pause, I also start taking photos of flowers again. Today's update: some photos and short poems in "The Kanto Plain." Today I saw beauties on ice in Torino as well.

February 21, 2006

三寒四温と言うよりは、寒の戻りの昨日今日。トリノの雪景色が眩しい。アメリカ、イギリス、オーストラリア、中国と出張で駆け回る同僚がいる一方、ひねもす東京にへばりついている私。苔が生えてきそうだ。少しは転がれと自分にハッパをかけても、深く錨を下ろしてしまった感がある。長い冬眠と思し召せ。生きていればいつかまた移動する日もあろう（希望的観測）。さて本日の更新は「いのちのすがお」に「梅のつぼみとメジロたち」です。ようこそ、春の使者。

It's still very cold everyday. On TV the snowy scenes of Torino look extremely bright. Some of my colleagues go to USA, UK, Australia, and China on business very actively. On the contrary I'm sticking to Tokyo day after day, year after year. Be careful not to gather moss. "Go rolling" I tell myself in vain. It's as if I'm fast anchored. Just imagine I'm still in hibernation. As long as I'm alive, maybe I'll get moving again someday (hopefully). Well, well, today's update: "Buds of Japanese Plum and White-eyes" in "Lives Around." Welcome, herald of spring!

February 20, 2006

御年八十三になる義母の背中はだいぶ曲がった。だが気丈さは変わらず、一日おきに駅前のスーパーまで身仕舞いを正して買い物に出かける。そのお供は手押し車。別名「シルバーカー」とも言う。なかなか気に入るものがない。せっかく介護用品の店で買ったものも二台ほどお蔵入りしている。先日まで「レジャーカー」という寸胴の大容量のを愛用していた。けれども義母の背中は益々曲がり、手押し車にすがって歩くところは元の身長の三分の二ほどにしか見えない。彼女はこれが痛くご不満である。もっと背筋を伸ばして歩きたいのだという。ごもっとも。後ほんの数センチ手すりの位置が高ければと思っていたところ、昨日恰好のモデル発見。腰掛けも付いている。しかし、私としては即買いする勇気はない。御本人が気に入らなければ三台目のガラクタになる。思案の末、デジカメで撮影してイメージだけ持ち帰り、「どうですか？」ときくと、お気に召したよし。早速自転車で購入に出かけた。車のない我が家は何をするにも自転車か歩きである。なせばなるもの。荷台にシルバーカーを積んで帰った。例になく義母は一発で気に入った。今朝も早くから名前を印刷して張って欲しいと、出かけたくてたまらない様子。\22,000のところ、セールで\16,000にまで下がっていたのを「現品限り」と展示品になっていたため更に二割方値切って買った甲斐があった。おや、お出かけだ。お化粧もばっちり。毛皮の襟巻きを巻いて和服に草履である。たとえ行動半径は駅までだとしても、女はこうでなくては。本日は短信のみにて。さて私も出かける時間だ。

The backbone of my 83 year-old mother-in-law has been bending forward. Being independent as before, she goes to a supermarket in front of a nearby railway station every other day on foot. A shopping cart, whose another name is "a senior cart is her company. It's quite difficult to find a one which satisfies her. Already tow carts which she bought in a specialty shop for senior citizens' shop are in a junk room. Recently her favorite was a cart with a big metal basket, which people usually use for leisure time. When she walks over the cart, she bends over it; accordingly, her height looked two third of what she was. She didn't like her appearance. She said she wants to walk in the upright posture. She is quite reasonable. I wanted to find a cart with a few more centimeters higher than what she had. Yesterday I found a very good model which has a seat on the shopping bag. But I was not sure what my mother-in-law would think of it. Unless she likes it, it will be the third junk. I took several photos of it by my digital camera to show her before decision. She said she would take it. All right! I went back to the store immediately and purchased it. I put the cart in the rear basket of my bicycle; I go anywhere on foot or by my bike because we have no car. Exceptionally my mother-in-law found it good for her. This morning, she was eager to go out. Now she went out fully dressed up in kimono. She is a fashionable woman for ever. Now it's time for me to go out as well. No update today, but this note. See you!

February 16, 2006

やわらかな雨が降り始めた。隣家の梅がいつの間にやらほころんでいる。昨夜、青山劇場へ出かけるついでに、原宿・表参道を通ってオープンしたての「表参道ヒルズ」をちょっぴり見物した。豪華な内装に驚いた。噂の吹き抜け大空間。エッシャーの絵を思わせる、傾斜のある回廊を歩くといつの間にか一階上下してしまう。ぐるっと回っても元の位置へは戻れない。ビルの高さはかつてあった同潤会アパートを越えるものではないのに、内部が驚くほど広々している。いつかまたゆっくり行ってみたい。本日の更新は「ギャラ入りー余白」にaoの油彩「風景の中の私」です。描きたいことが絞り切れていないと評されたとのこと。たしかに！それと上の写真、表参道ヒルズ内部の吹き抜けです。

It started raining softly. Flowers of Japanese plum tree are now in bloom in our neighbor's garden. Last night on my way to Aoyama Theater, I stopped by at Omote-sando Hills which opened quite recently. I was amazed to see the gorgeous interior of the building. Look at the huge space surrounded by corridors! It reminded me of the drawings by Escher, which never bring us back to the same spot once we start walking along the slight slopes. We find ourselves one story higher or lower than where we were. Although the height of the building is not higher than the old Dojunkay Apartment Houses which were in the same place for a long time, the inside of the new building looks vast. I really want to visit the building to watch it more closely. Today's update: ao's new drawing "Me in a Landscape" in Still Life, Gallery in Margines. According to her, the oil painting was severely criticized for not having a real focus. And the photo above, the inside space of Omotesando-Hills.

February 14, 2006

身近なところから二冊の本が出版された。ひとつは義弟（私の妹の伴侶）が彼の亡き母の子ども時代の日記を。これは彼の姉が長い間温めていた企画だったのを果たせずに逝去した後を継いで、自らが出版元となり解説を加えて丁寧に作った私家版の書物である。1920年代末のベルリンへ、作曲家の父に同行した12, 3歳の少女が見たドイツや旅先での見聞の希少な記録となっている。弘田瑠璃子著『私の12 13歳の時の外国旅行日記　父弘田龍太郎とすごしたドイツ・ベルリン1928・1929年』 。もうひとつは『理学を志す人のための 数学入門』。大学の教科書の体裁を取るが、一般読者にも向けた本格的な入門書である。こちらはわが伴侶とその若い友人の共著。本日の更新は、二冊の書籍の画像とまえがきを掲載し、謹んでこの二作を紹介させていただきます。

Two books were published very recently by the nearest people of mine. One was by my brother-in-law (my sister's husband). His elder sister had been eager to publish their late mother's diary in her childhood for a long time; however, she passed away without accomplishing it. He took over the plan. He wrote some columns to explain the background of the days when the diary was written, established a small private firm for the publication, and dedicated the book to his dearest mother and sister eventually. It is a diary of a girl of 12 to 13 years old who was observing the world with wonder and curiosity when she accompanied her father, an eminent composer, to Berlin in late 1920s. Another book is an introduction of mathematics written by my husband and a young colleague of his. Both are written in Japanese. Today's update: Please let me introduce these books with photos and introduction. A Girl's Diary in Berlin, 1928-29 and An Introduction to Mathematics for Scientists

February 10, 2006

同世代の友人の訃報に接した。「同病相憐れむ」で似たような時期に似たような経験をした者同士、ささやかにメール交換をしてきた。ほんの少し前、このサイトに悪質なポストが相次いで掲示板を閉鎖せざるを得なくなる直前まで、彼女はよくメッセージを書き込んでくれていた。彼女と会ったことはない。いつか会えるとも思っていなかった。永遠に相まみえることはなくても互いが生きていることを時たま確認しあえればそれで十分だった。数は少ないけれど、そのようにして言葉を交わし合う人々がいる。予想を遙かに超える衝撃を受けた。彼女は無事に生き延びたと信じていたから。五年を経過することの困難をあらためて思い、命のはかなさを深く悲しむ。人がふっといなくなるこの頼りなさはどうだろう。それでも地球は回っている。本日の更新は「翻訳読書ノート26」　『啓蟄を待ちながら』です。

A friend of mine, who belonged to my own generation, passed away. We experienced a similar illness at a similar time. We have exchanged e-mails occasionally. Before I closed BBS of this website because of villainous intrudors, she had posted message very constantly. I had never seen her. We had never promised to meet someday; however, we were happy to know each other beeing in good health. I have some acquaintances and friends online. They are not many in number but are really precious to me. I'm shocked by her death, much more than I have ever imagined. I believed she had successfully survived the first 5 years after the illness. I deeply deplore the loss of her life. How painful it is to find there she is no more! Yet, the world goes on. Today's update: a review on Souvenirs Entomologiques by Jean-Henri Casimir Fabre (its Japanese translation).

February 7, 2006

天気予報の通り雪が降った。遠い寒い国の友人とメールで語り合う。互いの無事を祈りながら。どこにいても、生き延びていくのは挑戦だ。だがたまに言葉を交わし合う幸福もある。本日の更新は、久々に「東京点景」へ数点。昨年夏に始めたきり忘れられていたが、どうやら復活させた。そこから引き剥がされるとなると、街はいよいよ生彩を帯びて立ち上がる。懐古に走るのではなく、とがったトーキョーを捉えようと私はシャッターを押す。「ライトアップ・トーキョー」「赤煉瓦の高架橋」「石造聖堂」を連続でどうぞ。

Ture to the weather forecast, it snowed. I exchnaged mails with a friend of mine in a distant snowy country, praying for the welfare of each other. Wherever we are, surivial is a challenge. Once in a while we are blessed with the happiness of communication. Today's update: several photos in Tokyo Shot. Not for nostalgia but for capturing edged Tokyo, I take photos. Please have a look at "Tokyo Lighted Up," "Elevated Bridges in Red Bricks," and "A Stone Cathedral."

February 6, 2006

「立春寒波」などと皮肉られる低温攻勢が連日続く。再びの雪かと身構えていたら、どうやら今日のところは肩すかし。とうとう文京区向丘の専門学校での非常勤がお終いになった。あちらも大学の学部に変わって埼玉県のキャンパスに一年生は移動するし、こちらも四月からは千葉県のキャンパスでの勤務が始まる。出会うのも突然なら、別れるのも突然。それのくり返しで時はめぐる。一クラスに80人で英語というのは決して恵まれた環境と言い難かったが、とても良い学生たちだった。最後の授業で選んだ「本日の音楽」は"My Heart Will Go On"。ご存じ『タイタニック』のテーマだ。ラストの台詞入りバージョン。「何があっても諦めないと約束して欲しい。そして約束したことを忘れないと。」極限状態での切実な願いは、しかし現実にはいずれ反故にされるのだろうか。忘れてしまわなければやっていけないと。本日の更新は「いのちのすがた」に『滑空する輪郭-カモメのいる川岸』です。酉年は終わったのにどうも鳥の姿が目につく。

The cold wave is attacking at the beginning of "the sparing in Japanese traditional calendar" ironically. While we were trying to get ready for the heavy snow in Kanto Area again, it seems the weather forecast has betrayed us so far. My part-time job at a school in Mukougaoka, Bunkyo in Tokyo has come to an end. It started and finished suddenly. The school is going to be transformed into a department of a university and will move to a campus in Saitama Prefecture; while freshers and sophomores of our university are moving to a campus in Nagareyama, Chiba. A class with 80 students was not a very comfortable condition for a teacher of English, but I enjoyed working with them. They were really good students. The music I chose for our last class was "My Heart Will Go On," the very well known song from the movie Titanic. It was a special version with the dialogue of the hero and heroin. Jack says, "You promise me that you won't give up no matter what happens. Promise me now, Rose. And never let go of that promise." Oh, will the promise in the extreme circumstance be let go someday, or will it be kept for ever? There are things that have to be let go in order to survive sometimes. Today's update: The outline of gliding--at the riverside where gulls gather in "Lives Around." Birds attract me recently.

February 3, 2006

節分（「せつぶん」と打ち込んだら、まず「拙文」と変換された。このパソコンでは当然のことであろう！）は凍る寒さだった。夜道を自転車で走ると、耳がちぎれそうに痛い。夜空は暗闇の中でも青いのが分かる。強烈な青だ。人工衛星か、飛行機か、光りながら天空を行くものがある。あの光から見たらこちらの世界はどんな風に見えるのだろう。闇に向かって豆をまく。届かないものに向かって、限りないものに向かって。無力であることを忘れて、季節の狭間に楔を打ち込むように。本日の更新は、短信のみにて。キリキリ舞の日々。

"Setsubun" in Japanese means "the end of winter," and also in a different context "my poor writing." The word-processor of this computer chose the latter one when I typed s-e-t-s-u-b-n-n although what I meant was the former. It couldn't be helped as long as I am writing poorly for so long! Anyway, today at the very end of winter in Japanese traditional calendar, it was extremely cold. While I was riding a bike, my ears ached in the freezing wind. The night sky looked deep blue. I saw the light of a space satellite, or an airplane going in the air high above. From that object of light I wonder how this land looks like. I scattered beans toward darkness to celebrate the coming of spring. Toward what can never be reached, toward something indefinite. I scatter beans, forgetting I'm powerless. I scatter beans just as I knock in a wedge into the slight gap between two seasons. Today's update: just this short note. So busy everyday.

February 1, 2006

今日は雪ではなく雨が降っている。微かな、微かな、希望。どんなに背中の荷物は重くても。本日の更新は表紙とこのページの写真です。もっと良いものが撮れたら、いつでも差し替えのつもりで。上は千葉県流山市のキャンパス、研究室の窓からの眺め。表紙は狭山丘陵の冬木。如月の枝光るはだなめらかに

It's raining today, not snow. A shower of subtle, tiny hope in spite of the heavy burden on the back. Today's update: the photo of the index page(a winter tree in Sayama Hills) and the one above (a view from my office in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture). "In February/ Branches shine/ With their skin so smooth"

January 31, 2006

新年を迎えたばかりだと思っていたら、もう一月が終わる。「行く月、逃げる月、去る月」は本当に目まぐるしい。今年は梅の開花が遅いとか。そういえばまだ一つも見ない。相変わらず冬の底を厚着してうろうろしている。答案の束を抱えて本日は終日引き籠もり、の予定だがじっとしていられるだろうか。花便りが待たれる。さて、仕事すべし。この寒さで、体調を崩す友人・同僚が多い。どうか御身お大切に。（本日は短信のみにて。）

I feel it was only yesterday when a new year started, and already it's the end of January! January goes, February runs away, March leaves." is the traditional saying in Japan. Reportedly Japanese plum trees are later in blooming than in ordinary years. That's true; I haven't seen a flower in blossom yet. I've been stumbling in the bottom of winter dressed heavily yet. I'm planning to stay home with bunches of test paper today, but I'm not sure if I can remain quietly all day long. I'm eager for news of flowers. Well, start to work! In coldness, some of my friends and colleagues are not feeling well recently. I hope you will take care of yourself. (Today's update: nothing but this note.)

January 28, 2006

転居する友人から、処分する本の中に欲しいものがあったら持って行ってと声をかけてもらった。古い家の二階はあらかた家具が片づけられ、畳の上には本だけがずらりと並んでいる。午後の日が差すその部屋は、まだ昭和時代が続いているような雰囲気だった。三十年、四十年前の映画パンフレットの山に、まず目が釘付けになる。（これに引っかかっていたら、選書など永遠に出来そうもない！）岩波書店の日本古典文学大系を頂戴することにした。私が気づかなかった詩集、評論、画集なども拾い出し「これは是非お持ちなさい」と。あっという間に三箱となり、近所の宅配便の店へ運ぶ。この店がまた米屋なのだけれど、ゴタゴタと米袋が無造作に積んであるだけの商売気のない店舗。店番の老婦人は、ゆっくりゆっくり伝票を書く。時は移り人は老いる。しかし変わらないのは珠玉のことばを収めた本。人の手から手へと渡される本には命が潜んでいるようだ。私もまたいつかその本を誰かに託して消えてゆく。本日の更新は、「いのちのすがお」に『ムクドリ--群れと個体』です。たいそうな題を付けてしまったが、昨年始めた同ページ最初の鳥と同じものを今年は違う角度から。あのときはこんなありふれた鳥の名前も特定できず。今回は声に惹かれて。

A friend of mine who is moving offered me to have any of her books she won't bring to her new residence. I was invited to her study, where there were only a few of furniture left but the numerous books were on the floor. From the windows of the old room, afternoon sunshine was flooding in; the room had the taste of Showa Era. First, my eyes were attracted by a pile of cinema pamphlets of 30-40 years ago. I could have spent the whole afternoon just devouring them. Eventually I chose to have the series of Japanese classic literature published by Iwanami Books. My friend picked up several more books of poetry, criticism, and art for me to take home. We packed three large boxes with books at once. We brought them to a nearby store, a door-to-door percel dleivery service station, to send them to my office in Nagareyama. The store was an old rice dealer. There were rice bags not very neatly on the floor. An old woman, a shopkeeper, took care of me taking time. Well, people get old as time passes by. Precious words in books won't grow old. Good books are passed from someone to another. I'll leave them to somebody when I go away from the stage of life someday. Today's update: "A bevy and Individuals--starlings" in Lives Around. They are the same birds that I uploaded on the first page of Lives Around; this time the angle of photos is different from the first page. At that time I couldn't say the name of this comon kind. This time I was fascinated by their songs.

January 24, 2006

「センター入試」初日には関東地方、雪が降った。一日中降り続いて千葉県では10センチも積もっただろうか。行きも帰りも雪まみれ。週末のためスクールバスはなく、老いも若きもひたすら歩く。二日目は快晴。武蔵野線「新秋津」からしばらく車窓に富士の見事な山容を楽しんだ。茫漠たる関東平野に普段は見るべきものも余りないが、冬の日の富士山だけは本当に素晴らしい。日曜とあって登山の装備をした人達と何組もすれ違った。秩父へ行くのか、どの顔も高揚して見えた。どこかへ行ってみたいという衝動を鎮めて雪道を急ぐ。（私の姪の一人も別の会場で受験した。）本日の更新はこのページ上の写真です。シケンカントクの休憩時間に研究室の窓から見えた周辺の雪景色。昨日までここにあった多摩湖の写真は「多摩湖一周自転車道」に収めました。

We had a lot of snow last weekend. It snowed more than 10 cm in Chiba Prefecture, where I had the work of observing the students taking the tests given by the University Entrance Examination Center. During the weekend, there is no bus service between the nearby railway station to the campus of our university; we had to walk in snow, the young and the old as well. The only thing I enjoyed was the marvelous view of Mr. Fuji I could have out of the window of Musashino Railway Line. In the vast Kanto Plain we usually have little to see, but in winter on sunny days Mr. Fuji gives us the most impressive scenes. I saw many groups of people who were going out for climbing. I guess they were going to the mountains in Chicibu. I wish I could go! Anyway, I had to work. (One of my nieces was taking the tests in Tokyo.) Today's update: the photo above. a scene in snow which I had from my office while I was taking a break. I put the photo which was in this page until yesterday in "A cycling Road around Lake Tama"

January 20, 2006

変わらないものはないけれど、変わり目にはたじろぐ。変化していくのが命だと知りながら。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中、『静物』にaoのスケッチ連作「手」と油彩「ブロック」です。明日・明後日はシケンカントク強行軍。早朝電車で眠り込んで遅刻することだけは避けなくては。

Everything changes, I know; yet, I am disturbed at changing points. Certainly, changing is LIFE. Today's update: ao's pencil-sketch series of "hands"and an oil painting "blocks." Tomorrow and the day after tomorro I'll keep standing for the hard scheduled exam-observation. I've got to be very careful never to fall asleep on the early morning train to miss the station to get off. No delay is allowed.

January 18, 2006

読みたい本が何冊も集まった。平行して読み進めている。あちこちブログを訪ね歩くと、丹念に「読書日記」を書いている方々に出会う。その記事を読んで手に取ってみた本が何冊もある。かつてブックレビューは評論家の専売特許だったが、今では誰でもオンライン・コメンテーターになれる。（私自身ささやかなレビューを書かせてもらっている。）だが「読書日記」となると、それはその人の内側をかなり大きく開示することになりはしないか。恣意的な「日記」より、よほど勇気の要ることであるような気がする。「私はこんな本を読んできた」と公言できるほどの自信を持てたらすごい。また、読みたい本と読まなくてはならない本は少し違う。本についてあれこれ考えているところだ。本日の更新は「多摩湖一周自転車道」。先日のサイクリングの記録です。富士山の写真も。徒歩ではないけれど、「東京散歩」の中に収めました。再び寒気が戻ってきそうな気配。

I have several books to read at hand. I'm reading them all at once. When I visit blogs, there are people who are writing their reading diary. I've picked up books led by their words. Once upon a time only professional critics were those who wrote book reviews in print, but today anyone can make comments on books they read online. (Even I'm writing reviews once in a while.) However, to keep a reading diary is a little different from usual book reviews. To write on books we read on daily basis is to expose part of our inner activity. You must be brave enough to show what you are. BTW, there are books you want to read and ones you have to read. I've been thinking of books recently. Today's update: "A cycling Road Around Lake Tama" in Tokyo Walking, although cycling is not walking.　A couple of photos of Mr. Fuji are included. It's getting cold again.

January 16, 2006

今学期の授業が次々と終了してゆき、試験が始まる。ここから後期末試験、入学試験各種が続く。試験を受ける人達はもちろんたいへんだが、準備し、監督し、採点する方も大仕事だ。春は遠い。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中『静物』にaoのイタチの絵です。「主題の影が一番薄くてダメ」と言われてきた。確かに台木と背景の方が描き込んである。学生時代の試験を思い出させる、時間切れの悪夢。

Classes are coming to an end; the season of examinations is beginning. From now on semester final exams and entrance exams are coming up one after another. It will be a hard time for those who take exams for sure, but same to those who give them. We prepare, observe, mark exams. We have a lot of hard jobs. Spring is far away. Today's update: ao's pencil drawing "a weasel" in Still Life 02 of Gallery in Margins. It was severely criticized because "The subject matter is the weakest." Indeed, the wooden stand and the background are detailed. I remember the nightmare of "time out" at exams when I was a student myself.

January 15, 2006

何とも不思議な小春日和だった。昨夜は久しぶりの雨。夜半にけたたましいサイレンが何度も鳴り、思わず外へ出てみたのだが音はすれども姿は見えず。近くの火災でないことを確かめた後も雨の中を少し歩いてみた。吐く息が白くならないのに驚く。一夜明けて本日は快晴。コートも不要に感じられるほどの陽気。心なしか道行く人の表情も穏和に見える。これから大寒が来るというのに。先週末は湖畔を走り、今週末は所用で都心をめぐった。新宿駅西口地下で1954年4月開店という珈琲屋『スカラ座』に寄る。座席が昨今のカフェとは違う。ビロード地のゆったりした背もたれ付きスツール。街には街の木陰あり。（思いがけない本に出会うという幸運も！）本日は短信のみにて。

Mysteriously warm days continued. Last night we had a heavy rain. Late at night sirens of fire engines were heard loudly in our neighborhood. I went out of my house to look around. After I was sure the fire was not nearby, I kept walking for a while in darkness because it was not cold at all. My breath was not white. This morning it turned out sunny and very warm. I felt my overcoat unnecessary. People looked somewhat happier than usual for this season. I could hardly believe the most freezing season is coming. BTW, I cycled round a lake last Sunday; today I went round the central part of Tokyo. We had a coffee break at an underground cafe La Scala in West Shinjuku, which was opened in April, 1954. It was so different from recently opened fashionable cafes. The biggest difference was of the seats; they were coated with velvet and the cushion was so soft. Very luxurious! The city has its own oasis. (I was lucky to find a book I've started looking for!) Today's upload is only this note.

January 12, 2006

通勤電車が今度は読書室に変身。一冊の優れた本は人から惰眠を奪う。本日の更新は「関東平野」です。都市に住んでも人はいつも木々と共に生きる。

Commuter's train has changed to be a reading room. An excellent book stops me sleeping idly. Today's update: "The Kanto Plain." In a city, we live with trees.

January 11, 2006

既に時は疾風のよう。キリキリ舞させられそう。本日の更新は「関東平野」です。背後に静かな湖があると思うと心が潤う。表紙も少し模様替え。お気づきかどうか。

Arleady time flies like gale. I'm beginning to be extremely busy. Today's update: "The Kanto Plain." My heart becomes peaceful when I remember I have a quiet lake right behind me. I've changed the index page a little bit. I wonder anybody has noticed it.

January 10, 2006

始まれば、あっという間に渦の中。通勤電車は仮眠室。まだ浮遊状態から抜け出せず。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中、『静物』にaoの木炭デッサン「うずくまるヴィーナス」です。居間に拡げる場所が無くて冷蔵庫の扉に貼ってみたため、曲がってしまい余計なものも写っています。いずれ撮り直そう。辛うじて参考作品となり、美術学校のパンフレットに掲載してもらうとか。（ちなみにヴィーナスの背中についている奇妙なものは、「子どもの手」の残存物とのこと。このヴィーナスはお母さんだったのか。確かにとってもふくよか。）

Once the routine has started, I'm immediately in the swirl. The commuter's train is a napping room for me. My feet have not reached the ground yet. Today's update: ao's charcoal drawing "Squatting Venus" in "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. As I put it on the doors of a refrigerator, the drawing is not straight. . I have to take it again. The drawing was chosen as one of the works to be printed in a brochure of her art school. (BTW, something on the back of Venus is a remnant of a child's hand. I see, she is a mother Venus! Yes, she is plump indeed.)

January 9, 2006

合計17日間、通勤電車に乗らずに暮らした。年末年始の忙しさはあったものの、人混みのストレスから解放され、仕事の緊張からも離れて極楽だった。せーの、で再び渦の中に飛び込むべし。大渦巻きが待っている〜。ひぇ〜。本日は悲鳴のみにて。

I've been away from the commuters' train for 17 days as a whole. Although I was busy doing this and that before and after new year's days at home, I was relaxing free from the stress at work and duties. It's time for me to return to all the tasks waiting for me. Let me jump into the swirl, a very big one! Help! Today's update: nothing but the scream of horror.

January 8, 2006

年明け以来曇天の寒々とした日が続いたが、本日は文句なしの快晴。じっとしていられず、サイクリングに出かけた。多摩湖自転車道路をどこまで行けるかと走り始めたら、なんと多摩湖畔を一周してしまった。（これで武蔵境の起点から終点まで自転車道路を走破したことになる。）狭山公園の入り口あたりから湖の周囲は約11km。目下東半分の湖は護岸工事中のため、湖底が干上がった状態で堤防に近寄ることは出来ない。西半分は満々と水をたたえている。それは美しい冬景色だった。いずれ写真をまとめてみたい。本日の更新は"The Active Generation"です。若い友人達の活躍を少しずつ紹介して行けたらと思います。それから、湖の写真を一枚だけこのページに。画面右端に富士山も写っているのですが、このサイズでは見えないのが残念。

Since the beginning of the new year, it has been cloudy in coldness. Today the weather turned to be perfectly sunny. I couldn't keep staying home and went out for cycling. My destination was Lake Tama. I went on Tama Lake Cycling Road, which is not far from home. I didn't know how far I could go; however, I cycled round the whole lake, about 11 km, eventually. At present the eastern half of the lake is under reconstruction so that we cannot approach the banks closely. The western half is full of water, fortunately. The lake was terribly beautiful in the winter light. I would like to prepare a page for the photos I took soon. Today's update: "The Active Generation." Please let me introduce young friends of mine and their activities by and by.　Just one photo of the lake in this page. Mt. Fuji is in the upper right corner of it, but it's too small in here, Alas!

January 7, 2006

山茶花、椿、鉢植えのシクラメンくらいしか街には花の姿が見あたらない。雑木林には枯葉が厚く積もっている。豪雪地帯のニュースを聞けば、関東の冬など冬とも呼べないと思う。だが、年末まではひたすら冬の底めがけて突き進んでいたのに、年が明けたら遠い春を待ち望む気配なきにしもあらずだ。既に木々の枝には堅い蕾が顔を出している。冬の仕事はいよいよこれからが本番とはいえ。本日の更新はささやかに、「関東平野」です。

Camellia, and cyclamen in pots are the only flowers I can find in towns recently. The ground in small woods is covered thickly with fallen leaves. When I hear news of snow countries, I have to admit winter in Kanto District can hardly be called "winter." Anyway, before the end of the previous year, we were stepping toward the bottom of winter, but now that a new year began, something tells us that we can expect spring in a distance. Tiny buds are appearing at the tips of twigs. Certainly I know works of winter are going to be demanding from now on. Today's update: a little bit of "The Kanto Plain."

January 6, 2006

溌剌とした便りをもらう。かつて短大の英文科の学生さんだった人が、今では「スポーツと健康科学」専攻の大学院生。関東を遠く離れ、福岡県で就職も決まったという。彼女がコーチをしている大学女子サッカーチームの写真も一緒に届く。爽快。若い女性達の活躍を心から願っている。ただ今若い世代の活躍を紹介するページを企画中。

I received a very refreshing mail from one of my old students. She is now a graduate student majoring Sports and Health Science at Fukuoka University. She has got a job there, too. She sent me a photo of a women's soccer team for which she is working as a coach. How cool she is! I wish young women will work as much as they want. I am planning to build a page where I can introduce the active young people.

January 5, 2006

半年ぶりに築地（の病院）へ行く。地下鉄の階段で前を行く人が長靴竹籠姿なのに気づく。今朝から市場が開かれたのだ。場外も盛んな人だかりだった。一膳飯屋、うどん屋、カレー屋、あまたの鮨屋に人が群がっている。路地を運搬機がグゥワーンと走り回る。東京都は地元の反対を押し切って、築地市場を豊洲に移転することを決めた。七年後というと、何と私も還暦か。遠い未来のことのようにも思えるし、あっという間という気もする。築地に通い始めて四年目。その倍足らずの月日だと思えばやっぱりそう長くもない。と、そんなことを考えながら、帰路「佃権（つくごん）」で出来たての薩摩揚げを買い込んだ。本日は短信のみにて。

I went to a hospital in Tsukiji after half a year. While climbing up the stairs in Tsukiji Subway Station, I saw a man in front of me wearing long rubber bouts, holding a bamboo basket; a typical style of a fishmonger. Yes, in 2006 Tsukiji Fish Market started again this morning. The outer market was crowded with people too. All the small diners and sushi shops along the main street were busy. Small carts were moving about in back alleys. BTW, Tokyo Metropolitan Government has decided to remove the Market from Tsukiji to Toyosu in 7 years against the will of local citizens and merchants. Unbelievable, I will be 60 years old then. It seems to be far away in the future, but I guess it will come very quickly. I've been going to Tsukiji for 4 years. Well, well, I bought freshly cooked satuma-age at Tsukugon on my way home. No update today but this note.

January 4, 2006

この冬は何処も厳しい寒さと聞く。関東平野も例外ではない。未だ雪は降らないし、むろん寒冷地とは比べものにならないのだけれど。寒さに震えてばかりいないで、動き回りたくなってきた。せめて気持ちだけでも快活にいきたいものだ。今年も花や虫や風景を追いかけてさまようことになるのだろう。ささやかな記録を始めよう。本日の更新は新な写真と短詩のページ、「関東平野」です。さてどんなことになりますか。

They say it's extremely cold everywhere in Japan. The Kanto Plain where I live is not an exception although we haven't had snow yet. I know our district is quite mild compared to northern countries. Not shivering in coldness, I would like to be as active as possible. I hope my spirit at least will be always supple. Perhaps I'll hang around looking for flowers, bugs, and interesting scenes again this year. Let me start recording what I see. Today's update: The Kanto Plain, a new page for poems and photos. I wonder what it will be like.

January 3, 2006

地元の「八坂神社」へ初詣に出かける。普段は深閑とした境内に大勢の参詣客が列をつくっていた。晴れ着姿はまずいない。近所から歩いてきた人が殆どと思われる。寒風吹きすさぶ曇天のもと、人々は寡黙で時折子どものはしゃぐ声だけが響く。例年は参道にいくつも露天が並んでいたのに、今年はだるま屋と食べ物屋がほんの一つ二つ。参拝を済ませた人達の囲む炊き上げだけが威勢よかった。景気は回復傾向にあるといわれながら、「修学援助」を必要とする児童・生徒が四年間で四割増えたという新聞記事のことが胸を過ぎる。都市部でその傾向は著しいと。学納金未納が理由で退学していく学生達のことをふと考える。希望をどこに求めよう。本日の更新は「ギャラリー余白」中、『静物』にaoのグリーティングカードです。それから、サイトマップの整備を始めたところです。

We visited Yasaka Shrine in our neighborhood to pray for a peaceful and prosperous year. In the usually very quiet place, so many people were standing in lines to wait for their turn to pray in front of the main building. I could hardly find people in gorgeous kimono; in fact, visitors were in ordinary dark clothes. Perhaps most of them came on foot from nearby quarters. Under the cloudy sky in cold wind they stood silently, only with occasional merry voice of children. In the past years, there were stalls selling food and souvenirs along the approach, but I could find only a couple this year. The open fire burning in a corner of the precincts was most lively. Although they say the economy of Japan is becoming better, today's newspaper is reporting the increase of poor family who need the official aid for children's schooling expenses. I remember those who drop out of college being unable to pay tuition fee. Where shall we look for hope? Today's update: ao's greeting card in "Still Life" of Gallery in Margins. Also I'm trying to improve the sitemap.

January 2, 2006

正月は親族再会の時。元旦、二日と会食が続く。子どもらはお年玉をもらい、大人達は一献を酌み交わす。そして鬼籍に入った人々のことを語り合う。義弟はつい先頃亡くなった姉が手がけていた本を出版するという。彼らの母が幼い日に書いたドイツ滞在日記とのこと。彼はこの出版のために姉の名前の出版元を作り、姉の遺稿を巻頭に納めた。「人は書かなくてはならないことだけを書くべきだ」というカフカの言葉を思う。出版予定日は今月末の、姉の誕生日。義弟の、アメリカ人と結婚した姪に春には初めての赤ん坊が生まれ、彼は「大叔父」となる。今日の義弟はいつにまして機嫌良く、饒舌だった。本日は短信のみにて。

New year's days are the time of family reunion. Yesterday and today, we had new-year parties. Young ones get special gift of money (otoshi-dama) and adults enjoy drinking together. We remember those who have passed away. My brother-in-law said he is going to publish a book which his late sister had been preparing: a diary of their mother which she wrote when she was a child staying in Germany. He made a publisher named after his sister only for this book and put her last writing in the foreword.. I remember Kafka said, "People must write solely what must be written." The book is going to be published at the end of this month, on his sister's birthday. One of his nieces (his late sister's daughter) who got married to an American will give birth to her first child in April, therefore, he will be "a granduncle" very soon. My brother-in-law was happily talkative more than usual today. No update today but this note.

January 1, 2006

謹賀新年。「成人式」を迎える姪の一人が貸衣装一式と記念写真を携えてきた。祖母に見せるために。彼女の母親が一所懸命着付けをする。赤い衣が色白の頬に映える。「その子二十歳／櫛に流るる黒髪の／奢りの春のうつくしきかな」（与謝野晶子）を思い出す。この子の場合は茶髪だが。ついこの前「七五三」のべべを着せたばかりのような気がしている。脇で姉を見つめる妹と従妹は17歳。この子らも直ぐに。父母・叔父・叔母・祖母は一気に背景へ引いていく。さてどんな一年になることか。新しいページに言葉を書き始めるとき、私は身震いする。期待とおそれで。本日の更新は表紙ページ（正月バージョン）とこのページ（絵は「ギャラリー余白『静物』」より借用）です。ご訪問に感謝いたします。本年もここで幾度もお会いできますように。

A Happy New Year! One of my nieces who are going to celebrate coming-of-age came with a set of rental kimono and the commemorative photo album to show her grandmother. Her mother tried hard to dress her. The red silk reflects beautifully on her white cheeks. She reminded me of a short poem written by Yosano Akiko: The girl is twenty./ Her black hair in the comb runs like a stream/ The beauty of the proud spring!" Her hair is dyed light brown, though. I feel we dressed her for the celebration of "Shichi-Go-San" (In Japan, we celebrate children of seven (shichi), five (go), and three (san) for their health and happiness.) Her sister and cousin watching her are both 17. They will soon follow her. Her parents, uncle and aunt, and grandmother are all fading away. Well, what will become of this year? When I start to write in a new page, I get the shakes for expectations and fear. Today's update: the index page the new-year version) and this page. The drawing above is taken from Still Life 02 in "Gallery in Margins." Thank you so much for your visit. My wish is to meet you here as often as possible.