昨日のブログ、こどもの本の森に感想が寄せられました。建築家・安藤忠雄の寄贈であることは触れませんでしたが、その設計「本意」はまっすぐに伝わってきていました。孫が「オレ、安藤忠雄って建築家のこどもへのやさしさ、体験してきているぜ！」と話すようになるのではと想像していました（笑）。
　
　で、昨日はついに朝から30度を超える気温に包まれた札幌。
　こういうときは緑の中の「木陰」つたいに歩くのが快適と考えて、散歩コースの中でもいちばん「緑化率」の高い西野緑道コースを選択。カミさんもその前日から「ちょっと行こうかな」とのことだったので、昨日も同行。
　わたし的には30度超えとは言っても、木陰のクールダウンポイントを伝い歩きするのが、それはそれで楽しいのですが、カミさんは早々にキャンセルして乗ってきたクルマに戻って、エアコン環境へ帰還。
　いたわりつつも、わたしはめげずにトータル8,000歩強、１時間半ほどの散策へ。
　その後、１日トータルではほぼ通常ペースで、11,586歩を元気に歩いておりました。
　やはり蒸暑の木々のなかを歩くと、いかにも天国に近づいているような想念がアタマのなかに盛り上がる。ナナカマドはすでに色づきはじめていて、この蒸暑の先には一気にクールダウンする季節が顔を覗かせてくれている。
　しかし毎日1万歩超のわたしでも、さすがにこれくらいの気温環境では、すこし休憩したくなって途中のベンチで、しばし蒼天の空を仰ぎ見ておりました。木々を超えた真夏の空の重い青が蠱惑的に感じられる。
　クルマに戻ったら、エアコンのなかで元気回復のカミさんが笑顔。まぁムリせず、ですね。
　その後、本日のお盆墓参り〜親族での焼き肉パーティ用の大量食料買いだしで、お店４箇所をグルグル。お店とお店の間では散歩歩数をふたたび稼ぐこともできたわたしですが、カミさんはお店のエアコンのなかで元気いっぱいにあれこれと元気に「買い出し」を満喫しておりました。大量荷物運搬でわたしはふたたび歩数追加ゲット。
　ということですが、日頃の散歩習慣のおかげでピンピン状態の維持が続いております。
　天国に一番近い，北国の真夏、たのしく乗りきりたいですね。

●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⬇

[A Brisk Walk Surrounded by Greenery with a High of 33 Degrees]
After all, the midsummer in the northern regions—where it’s hot but “dry”—is the closest thing to heaven. I’m completely enchanted by the heat, the light breeze, and the message from the greenery. …

　I received some feedback on yesterday’s blog post about the Children’s Book Forest. Although I didn’t mention that it was a donation from architect Tadao Ando, the “true intent” behind his design came across clearly. I found myself imagining my grandson one day saying, “Man, I’ve actually experienced the kindness that architect Tadao Ando has for kids!” (laughs).
　
　So, yesterday, Sapporo was finally enveloped in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees from the morning onward.
　I figured that on days like this, it’s most comfortable to walk along the “shade of the trees” amidst the greenery, so I chose the Nishino Greenway course—the one with the highest “greenery coverage” among my walking routes. My wife had been saying since the day before, “Maybe I’ll go for a bit,” so she joined me again yesterday.
　Personally, even though it was over 30 degrees, I actually enjoy walking along the cooling spots in the shade—but my wife called it quits early and headed back to the car we’d driven there, returning to the comfort of the air conditioning.
　While being considerate of her, I didn’t let it get me down and continued on my own for a stroll of just over 8,000 steps, lasting about an hour and a half.
　After that, I walked briskly at my usual pace for the rest of the day, racking up a total of 11,586 steps.
　As always, walking through the muggy, green trees fills my mind with the feeling that I’m getting closer to heaven. The mountain ash trees were already beginning to change color, and beyond this muggy heat, the season of sudden cooling was peeking through.
　However, even for someone like me who walks over 10,000 steps every day, at temperatures like this, I naturally felt the need for a short break, so I sat on a bench along the way and gazed up at the azure sky for a while. The heavy blue of the midsummer sky stretching beyond the trees felt mesmerizing.
　When I got back to the car, my wife was smiling, having regained her energy in the air-conditioned cabin. Well, no need to push it, I suppose.
　After that, for today’s Obon grave visit and to stock up on a massive amount of food for a family barbecue, we drove around to four different stores. While I was able to rack up more steps by walking between stores, my wife was full of energy, happily “shopping” for all sorts of things inside the air-conditioned stores. Carrying all that heavy shopping, I racked up even more steps.
　That said, thanks to my daily walking routine, I’m still going strong.
　I want to enjoy this midsummer in the northern lands—the place closest to heaven—to the fullest.

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

Posted on 8月 13th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類