昨日、育児支援で大忙しのカミさんと久しぶり息抜きに夫婦水入らずで、クルマを走らせて海辺の温泉へ。
　やはり北海道の自然は季節の微妙なうつろいを感じさせて、癒してくれる。つい先日までの大雪では高速道路もしばらく不通だったのですが、除雪も完璧にされていて、みなさんの努力に頭が下がりますね。
　この時期の北海道は雪がたっぷり降り積もっていますが、太陽光は徐々に明るさが増してくる。一種の「季語」として光の春というコトバが北海道にはあるのですが、そんな季節感。
　たしかに雪は多く寒冷は最高潮に達してくるのですが、この光の春の陽光が、白い雪原に反射して視界の明度が格段に上がってくるのですね。それでトンネルの暗転で眼の調節機能が「びっくり」してしまう（笑）。
　そういうことも含めて「季語感」が迫ってきますね。
　写真は、北海道神宮本殿から300mほどの森の中でいつも出会うリス。
　久しぶりに顔を覗きに行ったのですが、かれもこっちを凝視してくる。「お、なんかコイツ見たことあるな。なんだよ、エサでオレを自由に操ろうとするのか？」みたいな波動を伝えてくる（笑）。
　「いやいや、動物虐待である餌やりなどは絶対しないよ。」
　「なんだ、写真撮るだけかよ。オレにも肖像権はあるからな」。
　「いや、ブログでだけくらいだから許してくれよ」
　「う〜む、ワルげはなさそうだから許してやるか、ふむ」
　・・・みたいな妄想対話が楽しい。
　さて本日は投票日。わたしたち夫婦は高齢者らしく天候悪化での危険を避けて期日前投票を済ませていますが、親族の投票の支援のために「留守番」役をしてきます。札幌はいまのところはそう荒天にはならないようですので、未来へのきちんとした意思表示を。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

When winter comes, spring cannot be far behind—toward the light of spring.
“The light of spring”—perhaps a seasonal phrase unique to Hokkaido.
Snow stretches as far as the eye can see, and the sun sparkles brightly upon it.
I pray for fine weather today.

　Yesterday, my wife, who’s been swamped with childcare duties, and I took a rare break for some couple time alone. We drove to a seaside hot spring.
Hokkaido’s nature truly makes you feel the subtle shifts of the seasons and heals you. Just the other day, heavy snow closed the expressway for a while, but the snow removal was perfect. I’m truly impressed by everyone’s efforts.
　Hokkaido at this time of year is blanketed in deep snow, yet the sunlight gradually grows brighter. There’s a term in Hokkaido, a sort of seasonal word, called “light spring” (hikari no haru) – that’s the feeling of the season.
True, the snow is deep and the cold reaches its peak, but the sunlight of this light spring reflects off the white snowfields, dramatically increasing the brightness of the landscape. That’s why when you enter a tunnel, your eyes get a real shock adjusting to the darkness (laugh).
　That sensation, along with everything else, really brings home the feeling of a seasonal word.
The photo shows a squirrel I always encounter in the woods about 300 meters from the main hall of Hokkaido Jingu Shrine.
I went to peek at him after a long time, and he stared right back at me. He seemed to be sending off vibes like, “Oh, I’ve seen this guy before. What’s up? Trying to manipulate me with food?” (laughs).
　“No, no, I’d never do something cruel like feeding animals.”
“Oh, you just want a picture? I’ve got portrait rights too, you know.”
“Come on, it’s just for my blog. Cut me some slack.”
“Hmm… You don’t seem too shady. I guess I’ll let you off. Hmm.”
…That kind of imaginary dialogue is fun.
　Today is election day. Being the responsible seniors we are, my wife and I already voted early to avoid the dangers of worsening weather. But now we’re heading out to “hold down the fort” while helping relatives cast their votes. Sapporo doesn’t seem to be getting hit too hard by the storm just yet, so let’s make sure our voices are heard for the future.

●Notice
My book “Writers and Living Spaces” is now available as an e-book from Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 2月 8th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類