＜動画はYoutubeで配信。こちらをクリック＞　https://youtu.be/UQjZu_rY7u0

　ことし北海道では、サケの遡上は悲観的な見通しが立てられているようです。
　〜2026年の北海道内における秋サケの遡上・来遊状況は、過去最低水準と予測されており極めて厳しい見通し。
　＜全体的な来遊・遡上の状況＞
　北海道立総合研究機構の予測によると、2026年の道内への秋サケ来遊数は約364万〜365万匹にとどまる見込み。これは前年（2025年）の約685万匹から半減する計算であり約20年前のピーク時（約6000万匹）と比べるとわずか6％程度までの激減ぶり。川へ遡上する親魚の絶対数が不足しているため、各地で危機感が高まっている。〜
　ということだそうですが、高齢期の健康増進策として生き甲斐になっている散歩道で、チョコチョコとわが家（札幌市西区山の手）近くの琴似発寒川で「秋鮭ウォッチ」が日課になってきていまして、昨日はついに「動画」に納めることができました。なのでYoutubeにその動画をアップして上にリンクも設定しました。ぜひご覧ください。
　一定数、目視で確認できたのは４匹ほどの個体でした。川底が小石や砂地のポイントがかれらの滞留地点になるようで、このすぐそばには人工的な段丘が造作されていて、個体によってはさらに上流でも魚影を確認しましたが、観察しているとこの場所にいる個体群は、どうもこの場所で産卵行為に及ぶのかなぁと推測しています。
　・・・最近、動画について興味を深めてきています。これまで紙とWEBでの情報発信を中心に生きてきた人間ですが、いまや社会は動画が情報接触の大きな領域。映像と音声を一緒に伝えられ、再生速度まで選べる。動画での接触時間は１本あたりで数分から長くても十数分で、しかも「早送り」もできる。「タイパ」がいい。
　わたしにも、これまで蓄積した大量の写真と文章があり動画でまとめたいテーマがある。74歳にして『動画の手習い』開始中。今回のサケ君にはその練習台になってもらった。ちゃんと根気が続くかどうか不安ですが、ジミジミ取り組み中（笑）。サケは何万年も変わらない方法で川を遡るけど、人間はYouTubeを覚えるぞ（笑）。

●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⬇

[I managed to film a video of salmon (!) on September 29 at the “Kotoni Hassamu River” near my home]
I successfully filmed a video for the first time in a while and uploaded it to YouTube. Even at my age, I’m still learning the ropes of video posting—a “new hobby in my 70s” (lol) …

　This year in Hokkaido, the outlook for salmon runs appears to be pessimistic.
　The autumn salmon run and migration in Hokkaido through 2026 are predicted to reach record lows, presenting an extremely grim outlook.
　
According to forecasts by the Hokkaido Prefectural Research Organization, the number of fall salmon arriving in Hokkaido in 2026 is expected to be only about 3.64 million to 3.65 million. This represents a 50% drop from the previous year (2025), when the number was about 6.85 million, and a drastic decline to just about 6% of the peak level recorded about 20 years ago (approximately 60 million). With an absolute shortage of adult fish migrating upstream, a sense of crisis is growing in various regions. ~
　That’s the situation, but as part of my health regimen in my later years—and as a source of fulfillment—I’ve been taking daily walks along the Kotoni-Hassamu River near my home (Yamanote, Nishi Ward, Sapporo), where “autumn salmon watching” has become a daily routine. Yesterday, I was finally able to capture the scene on video. So I uploaded the video to YouTube and included a link above. Please be sure to check it out.
　I was able to visually confirm about four individual fish. It seems that spots on the riverbed with small stones or sandy bottoms serve as their resting areas. Right next to these spots, there’s an artificial terrace, and while I spotted fish even further upstream depending on the individual, as I observed them, I began to suspect that the group in this particular spot might be preparing to spawn right here.
　…Lately, I’ve been getting more and more interested in video. I’ve spent my life primarily sharing information through print and the web, but nowadays, video has become a major avenue for accessing information. It conveys both visuals and audio, and you can even choose the playback speed. The viewing time per video ranges from a few minutes to, at most, a dozen or so minutes, and you can even “fast-forward.” It’s very time-efficient.
　I, too, have a massive collection of photos and writings I’ve accumulated over the years, and there are themes I’d like to compile into videos. At 74, I’m currently “learning the ropes of video.” I’ve used Sake-kun as my practice subject this time. I’m a bit worried about whether I’ll have the patience to stick with it, but I’m steadily working at it (laughs). Salmon swim upstream using methods that haven’t changed for tens of thousands of years, but humans are going to learn how to use YouTube (laughs).

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

Posted on 9月 30th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類