札幌地方も最高気温が10度を超えるほどの春の陽気がすすみ、さすが大雪だったこの冬のなごりが、山からみごとな奔流となって河辺を満々と満たしております。ふだん見慣れた琴似発寒川が、水音の豪快さまで伝わってくるかのような景観。
　この川は段丘状に流れてきていて、その段丘から階段状の水路があるのですが、大量の水がコンクリート面を覆いつくすように、まるで瀧のような姿を見せている。ふだん散歩道として見慣れている付近のみなさんも一様に驚かれてみなさんスマホのシャッターを押している。
　ちょっと荒っぽい北国・雪国らしい「春らんまん」の風情でしょうか。
　こういう時期を超えてようやく北海道にはサクラや梅が咲き始める。なので、春はすべての自然の脈々とした鼓動・うねりがこだますように人間界に迫ってくるのでしょう。ただ、ヒグマだけはこっちに来て欲しくはないけれど・・・。
　一方、人間の方はようやく冬のくびきから自由になってくる。わたしの場合は冬の間は家の周りの除雪作業をカミさんから強く指令されているので、なかなかフーテンの寅さん旅の許しを得られない。のですが、ようやく許しが得られるようにもなってくる。ことしも来週は本州・東北地方のサクラ前線にちょっとご挨拶させていただければと思っています。
　マイカーでフェリー旅。東北各地を行脚したいのですが、そうすると今度は「タイヤ交換、どうしようか」ということになる。オイル交換の用事もあったので自動車メーカーのディーラーさんに問い合わせたら、押すな押すなの状況が勃発しているとのこと。
　さてどうしようか、であります。北海道内ではつい数日前釧路地方で季節外れの大雪があったばかり。しかし向かう予定は東北北部から北海道南部・函館や松前。なかなか悩ましい。
　「え〜、奥入瀬とか走るのに、用心のため、まだ交換しなくていいんじゃない？」というカミさんの鶴の一声が聞こえてきましたが、悩ましい北海道の春であります。

●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⬇

[Along the Riverbank Where Meltwater Rages: A Rush of “Sold-Out” Tire Changes]
The heavy snows of winter have finally come to an end, rushing downstream as torrents of meltwater. It’s also the time of year when drivers struggle to decide whether to change their tires…

　Spring has arrived in the Sapporo area, with high temperatures exceeding 10 degrees Celsius. True to the heavy snowfall of this past winter, the lingering remnants of the season have come down from the mountains as a magnificent torrent, filling the riverbanks to the brim. The familiar Kotoni-Hassamu River presents a scene so vivid that one can almost hear the roar of the water.
　The river flows down a series of terraces, and from those terraces, there are stair-step waterways; however, the massive volume of water completely covers the concrete surfaces, creating a scene that looks just like a waterfall. Even the locals, who are used to seeing this area as a walking path, are uniformly surprised and are all snapping photos with their smartphones.
Perhaps this is the “full bloom of spring” characteristic of the rugged northern snow country.
　Once this season passes, cherry and plum blossoms finally begin to bloom in Hokkaido. That’s why, in spring, the pulsating rhythm and surging energy of all nature seem to echo and surge toward the human world. Though, I certainly don’t want any brown bears coming this way…
　Meanwhile, we humans are finally breaking free from the shackles of winter. In my case, my wife strictly orders me to clear the snow around the house during the winter, so I rarely get permission to go on a carefree journey like Tora-san. But now, I’m finally starting to get that permission. This year, I’m hoping to pay a quick visit to the cherry blossom front in the Tohoku region of Honshu next week.
　A ferry trip by car. I’d like to tour various parts of Tohoku, but that raises the question: “What should I do about changing the tires?” Since I also needed an oil change, I contacted the car manufacturer’s dealership, only to find out they’re swamped with customers.
So, what should I do? Just a few days ago, there was an unseasonal heavy snowfall in the Kushiro area of Hokkaido. However, my planned route takes me from northern Tohoku to southern Hokkaido—Hakodate and Matsumae. It’s quite a dilemma.
　“Hmm… since we’ll be driving through places like Oirase, wouldn’t it be better to wait a bit longer before changing the tires, just to be safe?” I heard my wife’s decisive voice say, but this is the perplexing nature of spring in Hokkaido.

● Announcement
My book, “Writers and Living Spaces,” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 4月 7th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類