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【人類の歴史的「超革命」としての直立歩行】



　昨日のつづき。わたしたちの年代になって考古学や人類学の解明が目覚ましく進展し、かつてないほど「人類史」的な視点を容易に持てる時代になったと感じる。
　個人的に興味深いのはこうした人類史的視点を獲得したことで、若い頃に囚われていた政治的「階級闘争」的な歴史観から大きく解き放たれてきたことだ。わたしの青春期「革命」という言葉は、そのまま左翼的活動や政治運動のイメージと直結した。しかし今、私の中でその概念はまったく異なる相貌を見せ始めている。
　人間を真に規定した人類史上の最大の「超革命」とは、階級闘争という政治動乱などではなく、足下に存在する「直立二足歩行」の獲得であったという平明な事実を突き付けられている。
　現在、四百年を超えるわたしの家系の足跡を記しながら、なぜ「家族」という概念が人類共通の普遍的な意識として存在するのかと思いを巡らせることがある。
　上の１枚目の写真の通り、二足歩行によって自由になった両手は、赤ん坊を抱きかかえ、食物を運搬することを可能にした。そして２枚目の写真のように、自由になったそれぞれの両手を使って「家族のもとへ食料を持ち帰る」という行動様式が定着した。ここから人類の大原則である「一夫一婦制」が根拠を持ち、世代を超えて命のバトンを渡していく共通の感受性（家族意識）が育まれていったと想起できる。
　もちろん、その後に形成された社会システムの中で、支配・被支配の葛藤や争闘が生じたのは歴史の必然。しかし、そうしたあらゆる社会課題と向き合う上でも「直立二足歩行以来の原点」に立ち返る視座こそが極めて重要と思える。直立歩行とそこから始まった地球上への大拡散（グレートジャーニー）こそが、現生人類を根本から規定する最大の動釈なのだと思いが至る。

　さらに興味深い知見。人類は陸生動物なのに他の「次元」〜水中なども生活領域化させることに成功してきた、とされる。それは「別次元」への生活能力をもたらしたのだろう。水中動物に主要なタンパク源を見出して長く伝統化させてきた日本列島社会は、その意味では「先端的」なのかも知れない。また、さらなる別次元・宇宙空間にも挑戦は続いていくのでしょう。
　・・・ということで、遅ればせながら人生の最終局面に至って、超オモシロい解明テーマが湧き上がってきて、困惑させられています（笑）。

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[Bipedalism as a Historic “Super-Revolution” for Humanity]
The fact that bipedalism marked the beginning of every great revolution is the starting point of human history. Perhaps we can visualize the future from this starting point? …

　Continuing from yesterday. I feel that, as we’ve reached our generation, remarkable progress has been made in archaeology and anthropology, and we now live in an era where it’s easier than ever to adopt a “human history” perspective.
　What I find personally fascinating is that, by gaining this perspective on human history, I have been greatly liberated from the political, “class struggle”-oriented view of history that held me captive in my youth. During my adolescence, the word “revolution” was directly linked in my mind to images of leftist activism and political movements. But now, that concept is beginning to take on a completely different form within me.
　I am confronted with the plain fact that the greatest “super-revolution” in human history—the one that truly defined humanity—was not political upheaval such as class struggle, but rather the acquisition of “bipedalism” right at our feet.
　Currently, as I document the history of my family lineage spanning over four hundred years, I sometimes find myself pondering why the concept of “family” exists as a universal consciousness shared by all of humanity.
　As shown in the first photo above, the hands freed by bipedalism made it possible to hold infants and carry food. And as seen in the second photo, a behavioral pattern of “bringing food back to the family” using these newly freed hands became established. From this, we can surmise that “monogamy”—a fundamental principle of humanity—found its basis here, and a shared sensibility (family consciousness) for passing the baton of life across generations was nurtured.
　Of course, it was an historical inevitability that conflicts and struggles between the dominant and the dominated arose within the social systems that formed subsequently. However, I believe that when confronting all such social challenges, it is crucial to adopt a perspective that returns to “the origins of upright bipedalism.” I have come to realize that upright walking and the Great Journey—the vast dispersal across the Earth that began with it—are the most significant driving forces that fundamentally define modern humans.

　Here’s another fascinating insight. It is said that although humans are land-dwelling animals, we have succeeded in expanding our living environments to include other “dimensions”—such as underwater. This has likely granted us the ability to live in “alternate dimensions.” In that sense, the societies of the Japanese archipelago—which have long identified aquatic animals as a primary source of protein and established this as a tradition—may be considered “cutting-edge.” Furthermore, I imagine our challenges will continue to extend into yet another dimension: outer space.
　…And so, belatedly, as I reach the final stage of my life, an incredibly fascinating topic for exploration has surfaced, leaving me somewhat bewildered (laughs).

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

Posted on 8月 24th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【人類史から「家系史」へ思考回路の必然性】


　孫の子育てでジイジとして参加するようになると、自分の「子育て」時期からの進化を感じる。
　ほんの数十年単位のことだけれど、人間の意識・考え方もずいぶん変容してきたことを再認識させられることが多くなってきている。
　一方、上の図は、国立科学博物館の「人類史展示」で興味を抱いていた展示。
　一般的な哺乳類、ここではサルが対比されているけれど「次世代創造」のプロセスが、権力を持ったオスだけが子孫を残しうるのが哺乳類動物一般であるのに対して、人類では「一夫一婦」システムに進化してきたことからの違いに大きく気付かされる。図で示されたような「いのちの連鎖構造」〜家族意識が連鎖していくという「世代」という時間感覚によって人間は次世代を生み育ててきた。「経世」という感覚が育ってきた経緯と、そこから同時に「歴史」という概念が育ってきたことが自ずから想像させられていた。
　系統樹的な「系図」把握が人類に育ってきた原初のカタチが明瞭にわかったような気がしたワケだ。
　二足歩行という「大革命」がもたらした衝撃力の凄まじさは、その当事者である人類にとって自覚しにくい。ポイントとしてこのような動物界一般の「強権支配」構造から、より「分権的・民主的」な意識構造へと人類は思考の革命を進行させたのだと理解できると思う。
　人間とはなにかという疑問が人類普遍のテーマであり、その探究のひとつの巨大領域が文学だと思える。
この文学における人間性の解読として「心象」という領域を掘り下げる方法もたいへん重要と思うけれど、一方で系統樹的な把握と言うことも深めて行くことがきわめて自然なのだと思える。
　そういった部分が「歴史」という領域なのだろう。そしてその意識の発生した根源により近い「家系史」という領域は、人間性探究の重要なツールに位置しているように思われるのだ。
　・・・って、まぁ、我田引水気味、引き寄せ解釈が過ぎるかも知れない（笑）、と思いつつ、孫の笑顔と接していると想像力の世界が可視化されるようでたのしい。人類が数百万年かけて育んできた「次の世代へ命と知恵を伝えたい」という本能の根拠が、言葉を超えて可視化されてきて実に楽しい。・・・

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English version⬇
　
[The Inevitable Shift in Thinking: From Human History to “Family History”]
We are made to realize that the instinct to “pass on our legacy to our grandchildren”—which we take for granted—is actually the result of a revolution through which humanity has evolved in a way that sets us apart from other animals. …

　As I begin to participate in my grandchild’s upbringing as a grandpa, I feel how much things have evolved since my own “child-rearing” days.
　Although it’s only been a matter of a few decades, I’m increasingly reminded of just how much human consciousness and ways of thinking have transformed.
　Meanwhile, the diagram above is an exhibit that caught my interest at the “History of Humankind” exhibition at the National Museum of Nature and Science.
　While it contrasts humans with typical mammals—in this case, monkeys—it makes me keenly aware of the difference in the process of “creating the next generation”: whereas in most mammals, only dominant males can produce offspring, humans have evolved toward a “monogamous” system. As illustrated in the figure, through the “chain of life”—a sense of time defined by “generations” in which family bonds are passed down—humans have brought forth and raised the next generation. This naturally led me to imagine how the sense of “governing the world” developed, and how the concept of “history” simultaneously emerged from that process.
　I felt as though I had clearly grasped the primordial form in which the phylogenetic understanding of “genealogy” developed within humanity.
　The sheer magnitude of the impact brought about by the “great revolution” of bipedalism is difficult for humanity—the very participants in this revolution—to fully grasp. I believe the key point is that humanity carried out a revolution in thought, shifting from the “authoritarian” structures common throughout the animal kingdom to a more “decentralized and democratic” consciousness.
　The question of “What is a human being?” is a universal theme for humanity, and I believe literature constitutes one vast realm of inquiry into this question.
While I believe it’s extremely important to delve into the realm of “mental imagery” as a way to decipher human nature in literature, I also feel it’s perfectly natural to deepen our understanding through a phylogenetic approach.
That, I suppose, is the realm of “history.” And the realm of “family history”—which lies closer to the very roots where that consciousness originated—seems to me to be a vital tool in the exploration of human nature.
　…Well, I realize this might sound a bit self-serving—perhaps I’m reading too much into it (laughs)—but when I’m with my grandchild’s smiling face, the world of imagination seems to come into view, and it’s a joy. It’s truly delightful to see the basis of the instinct—“to pass on life and wisdom to the next generation”—which humanity has nurtured over millions of years, become visible beyond words. …

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

Posted on 8月 23rd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【57年前の新聞記事と向き合う「自分史」視点】



　友人から1998年に発行した高校の「同窓会誌」を再読したという知らせを受け取って、それに反応して自分でも「編集長」をやっていたこの冊子の中身を再確認していた。
　ちょうどいまは、わが家系の「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」と向き合ってきていることもあり、そういえば「自分自身も、そのワンシーン」ということに、気付かされた次第。この冊子編集時は1969年の新聞記事当時から29年後に当たり、現在時点は57年前当時ということになる。
　この北海道新聞の記事で触れられた一件は、わたしには血肉的な体験だったと思っている。Photoshopを使ってそのモノクロ画像を思わずカラー化させてみた。この事実と向き合うとき、心象はモノクロのままとは言えないのだ。先日のブログ記事でも写真に刻印される自分の「体感覚」、フラッシュバックということを考えて見たけれど、この新聞記事からもそういう「血のニオイ」に似た感覚が蘇ってくる。
　いくつか、この集会での具体的でリアルな自分の行為の身体感覚がいまでもある。
　科学的な「分析」すらも自分感覚として、じっくりと研究可能なのだということがよくわかる。
　たぶんいま、家系史という領域を考えているのには、こういう自分の「眠っているけれど、いざとなれば生々しく起き上がってくる」認識が現にある、こういうことが心的な起動力なのではないか。自分ですら得も言われぬ生々しさで刻み込まれているいくつもの「時代との相克」があり、それによって「いのち」が鮮烈に反応していた事実を、明々白々に知らされるということ。
　多くの先人たちもこういうインパクトを抱えながら、そのいのちを生き切ったのが歴史時間。
　記事の一部にはこう書いてある。　
　〜佐藤首相が訪米した11月17日、道立札幌西高では生徒らが授業を返上して臨時生徒大会を開き、佐藤首相訪米、日米安保条約、政治活動規制反対を決議した。・・・大会の後、生徒約350人が「安保粉砕」「訪米反対」と校内をデモ行進した。この日の生徒大会で17日の授業は全部とりやめとなった。〜引用以上。
　いま現在の政治信条とは乖離はあるけれど（笑）、その情熱は率直に受け止めて生きてきた。高齢期は人類にこういった「自分史をも客観視する」視座を強いてくるものなのでしょうね。輪廻か。

●お知らせ
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English version⬇

[A “Personal History” Perspective on Engaging with a Newspaper Article from 57 Years Ago]
A dialogue with “historical” moments that vividly bring one’s own experiences back to life. In later life, opportunities open up for the time and means to engage objectively with such things. …

　I received a message from a friend saying he had reread our high school “alumni magazine,” published in 1998, and in response, I found myself revisiting the contents of this publication, for which I had served as “editor-in-chief.”
　Since I’ve been delving into my family’s “400-Year History of Life” recently, it struck me that “I, too, am part of that story.” At the time this booklet was edited—29 years after the 1969 newspaper article was published—and now, 57 years have passed since then.
　The incident mentioned in this Hokkaido Shimbun article was, for me, an experience that became part of my very being. I couldn’t help but use Photoshop to colorize that black-and-white image. When I confront this reality, I can’t say my mental image remains in black and white. In a recent blog post, I reflected on the “bodily sensations” imprinted on photographs and the phenomenon of flashbacks, but this newspaper article also brings back a sensation akin to the “smell of blood.”
　I still retain several concrete, vivid bodily sensations from my own actions at that gathering.
　It’s clear to me that even scientific “analysis” can be thoroughly examined as a personal sensation.
　Perhaps the reason I’m currently contemplating the field of family history is that this awareness—which lies dormant but can rise up vividly when the time comes—actually exists within me, and this is what serves as my psychological driving force. I am made painfully aware of the fact that there are numerous “clashes with the times” etched into me with an indescribable vividness, and that “life” reacted strikingly to them.
　History is the span of time in which many of our predecessors lived out their lives while carrying such an impact within them.
　Part of the article reads as follows:　
　~On November 17, when Prime Minister Sato visited the United States, students at Sapporo Nishi High School, a public high school, canceled classes to hold an emergency student assembly, where they passed resolutions opposing Prime Minister Sato’s visit to the U.S., the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, and restrictions on political activities. … After the assembly, approximately 350 students marched through the school grounds chanting “Smash the Security Treaty” and “Oppose the Visit to the U.S.” All classes on the 17th were canceled due to the student assembly that day. ~End of quote.
Although my political beliefs have diverged from those days (laughs), I have lived my life embracing that passion with sincerity. Perhaps old age compels humanity to adopt this perspective of “viewing one’s own history objectively.” Is this reincarnation?

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

Posted on 8月 22nd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【世界遺産「飛鳥藤原の宮都」登録 よろこびの資料受取り】




　昨日、奈良県橿原に住む知己から、長年取り組まれてきた「飛鳥藤原の宮都」世界遺産登録の地域を挙げた運動がことし、無事に実ったよろこびの資料が送付されてきた。ことし7/26に韓国釜山で開かれた「第48回世界遺産委員会」で審議され、記載が決定したということ。その決定を受けて、世界遺産「飛鳥藤原」協議会が「解説パンフレット」を送付いただいた次第です。
　歴史数寄のわたしは、7-8年前頃からこの飛鳥藤原の地域の古代ニッポンに魅せられて、ちょこちょこと探訪させていただいて来ていました。その過程で、この知己とも知り合う機会を得て、現地のみなさんの熱意にも深く打たれてきた次第です。
　実際に明日香村を中心に探訪を重ねていると、日本で王権がどのように形成されていったのか、まだ日本語としての固定された表記・表音のできる以前の地名と人名などが独特のロマンを感じさせてくれていました。実際に現地に行ってみると、奈良京都とは違ってまだインバウンドもそれほどではなく、たまたま奈良で見学時に大量の外人さんたちに閉口してこの飛鳥に「逃れて」いたほどに、静かな環境が保たれていました。まぁこの点は世界遺産登録によって、今後どうなるか、不明。
　いずれにせよ、まことに喜ばしい限りです。あの飛鳥の地の「悠久感」は日本人として一度は味わっておきたい感覚だと思っています。わたし的にはさらに奥の「熊野」の探訪が数寄の極地のような気がしていますが、しかし熊野から飛鳥を往復したりすることも、無上のよろこび。
　いにしえの神武天皇の足跡までもしのばれて、日本の神話構成のオモシロさに耽溺してしまう。神武東征の説話では九州・高千穂から出発して、瀬戸内海を東進し、はじめ大阪湾地域で上陸を企図するが、長髄彦によって阻まれて長兄はその戦傷で世を去り、末弟の神武が熊野灘から上陸して捲土重来を果たすという流れ。
　西日本に多い「末子相続」習俗の反映のようでもあり、神話的世界を離れても日本民族の文化伝統を深く伝えてくれるようで、まことに興味深い。
　こちらの知己はご夫婦で画業に励まれていて、そのタッチもこうした「地域ロマン」を想起させてくれます。
　多くのみなさんがこうした日本の「眠れる」浪漫に触れられることを祈念します。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

[Receiving Documents Celebrating the Inscription of “The Palace Cities of Asuka and Fujiwara” on the World Heritage List]
The birthplace of the Yamato royal authority. The layers of its relationships with Asia. The atmosphere of the origins of Japanese Buddhism—all of which stimulate the connoisseur’s sensibilities. …

　Yesterday, an acquaintance living in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, sent me some materials expressing his joy that the campaign he has been working on for many years—to have the “Asuka-Fujiwara Palace Capital” area designated as a World Heritage Site—finally bore fruit this year. I was told that the matter was deliberated at the “48th Session of the World Heritage Committee,” held in Busan, South Korea, on July 26 of this year, and the inscription was approved. Following this decision, the “Asuka-Fujiwara” World Heritage Council sent me an “explanatory pamphlet.”
As a history enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by ancient Japan in the Asuka-Fujiwara region for about seven or eight years now and have been making occasional visits there. During that time, I had the opportunity to meet this acquaintance and was deeply moved by the enthusiasm of the local people.
　As I continued to explore the area, centered around Asuka Village, I found a unique sense of romance in the place names and personal names from a time before Japanese had established standardized written forms or phonetic systems—names that offered a glimpse into how royal authority was formed in Japan. When I actually visited the site, unlike in Nara and Kyoto, there weren’t that many foreign tourists yet; in fact, the environment remained so peaceful that I had even “escaped” to Asuka after being overwhelmed by large crowds of foreign visitors during a previous visit to Nara. Well, it remains to be seen how this will change in the future following its designation as a World Heritage Site.
In any case, it is truly a cause for celebration. I believe that the “sense of timelessness” in Asuka is something every Japanese person should experience at least once. Personally, I feel that exploring “Kumano,” further inland, is the pinnacle of connoisseurship; however, even making a round trip from Kumano to Asuka brings me supreme joy.
　One can even trace the footsteps of the ancient Emperor Jimmu, and I find myself completely absorbed in the fascinating structure of Japanese mythology. According to the legend of Emperor Jimmu’s Eastern Campaign, he set out from Takachiho in Kyushu, advanced eastward across the Seto Inland Sea, and initially planned to land in the Osaka Bay area. However, he was thwarted by Nagasunehiko; his eldest brother perished from battle wounds, and the youngest brother, Jimmu, landed at Kumano-nada and made a successful comeback.
　This seems to reflect the custom of “inheritance by the youngest son,” which is common in western Japan, and even when viewed outside the realm of mythology, it deeply conveys the cultural traditions of the Japanese people—which I find truly fascinating.
　A couple I know are both dedicated to their artistic careers, and their artistic style also evokes this kind of “regional romance.”
　I hope that many of you will have the opportunity to experience this “sleeping” romance of Japan.

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

　
　
　

Posted on 8月 21st, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【変わり続ける「Replanハウス」現在地インタビュー】


　・・・を受けました。建築家の藤島喬さんから連絡があって、氏の「数寄」領域、って、建築家ですからその基本的視点から、そして年齢も熟してきて、さまざまな建築への視点も重層的になられているのでしょうか、職住一体型で過ごしてきたわが家についてインタビューに来られていました。
　その内容についてはそのうちに氏のブログで表現されることと思います。ぜひご覧ください。
　わたしは、そういうことで建築のプロの方から「腹の底を見られる（笑）」みたいな心境で神妙にお答えしておりました。
　わたし自身はお話ししながら、自分の生きてきた時間の半分以上になってきたこの建物との対話時間を自分の内面を見つめるような気分で過ごしておりました。
　先日のブログで人生時間とそのときどきに撮影した写真との「邂逅」感について書きました。そして書いていて、脳科学的な分析でもその深い関係性に気付かされてもいました。しかし、やはり「空間と人間」の関係性というものも、たぶんこれからは大きく「解析・分析」が進展していくのではないかと想像しています。
　あんまり科学的知見を勉強していないので、いまは自分の感じること、自分の脳味噌が反応してきたことを「沈思黙考」し続けております。自分如き人間には「手に余る」広大無辺さを感じていますが、しかし、たとえば建築の素材として自分も納得して選んだ素材（コンクリートブロックや煉瓦など）との「対話感」は自分の中で、ずっとあり続けている。
　日本には数少ない「石造」の住宅での人間の感じ方という実験的な分析でしょうか。とくにレンガ施工をしてくれた専門工事店の「旦那」が残してくれた「施工者の感覚」のコトバは、ずっと人生時間で残響し続けている。かれがじっと施工後の煉瓦壁・ブロック壁をみつめて「いい壁できたね（笑）」と施工者としての「満足感」を表明してくれたことは、深いよろこびだった。・・・
　こころの底から「ありがとうございます」と応えていた。
　そういったこころに響き渡ってくるようなパワーが、建築空間にはある。
　高齢化社会の中で、果たすべき役割として、こういう「人間との関係性の深掘り」が必要な役割のように思ってきています。・・・

●お知らせ
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English version⬇

[Interview on the Current State of the Ever-Evolving “Replan House”]
An exploration of the relationship between “architecture and people” from a personal perspective. Since I’m not well-versed in the subject, I’ll start with introspection and self-analysis before moving on to scientific analysis. …

　…I was interviewed. I received a message from architect Takashi Fujishima. He came to interview me about my home—a space where work and living are integrated—from the perspective of his “Suki” philosophy. As an architect, this is his fundamental viewpoint, and perhaps because he’s reached a certain age, his perspectives on architecture have become more multifaceted.
　I expect he’ll share the details of our conversation on his blog soon. Please be sure to check it out.
　Given the circumstances, I answered his questions with great solemnity, feeling as though a professional architect was “seeing right through me” (laughs).
As I spoke, I found myself reflecting on my inner self during this dialogue with the building—a space that has now accounted for more than half of my life.
　In a recent blog post, I wrote about the sense of “encounter” between the passage of my life and the photographs I’ve taken along the way. As I wrote, I also realized—through neuroscientific analysis—just how deep that connection really is. However, I imagine that the relationship between “space and humans” will likely see significant progress in “analysis and research” moving forward as well.
　Since I haven’t studied scientific findings in great depth, I’m currently continuing to “contemplate deeply” what I feel and how my brain has reacted. I sense a vastness that is “beyond my grasp” for someone like me, yet the “sense of dialogue” with the building materials I personally chose with conviction—such as concrete blocks and bricks—has always remained within me.
　Perhaps this is an experimental analysis of how people perceive one of Japan’s few remaining “stone-built” homes. In particular, the words expressing the “builder’s intuition” left behind by the “boss” of the specialized contractor who laid the bricks have continued to resonate throughout my life. It brought me deep joy when he gazed intently at the finished brick and block walls and expressed his “satisfaction” as a builder by saying, “We’ve built a nice wall, haven’t we? (laughs).” …
I responded with a heartfelt “Thank you” from the bottom of my heart.
Architectural spaces possess this kind of power that resonates deep within the heart.
In our aging society, I’ve come to believe that this “deepening of human relationships” is a vital role we must fulfill. …

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

Posted on 8月 20th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【車両保険・加入率5割「報道」の違和感】


　千葉を中心とした豪雨被害、友人知人からは特段の報せはないものの、まことに近年の気候変動の猛威を物語る痛ましい事態。被害にあわれたみなさまに心からお見舞い申し上げます。
　写真のレーダー画面が示す激しい雨雲の群れ。千葉で起こった災害は、いつどこで発生してもおかしくない。常に自然災害の危険と隣り合わせの日本列島、その凶暴化の度合いは年々増しているのが実感。
　そうした中、今回の報道を見ていて個人的に考えさせられたのが「車両保険」に関するニュース。一昨日あたりから「被災車両の多くが未加入、車両保険の加入率は５割程度」といった報道が相次いだ。「え、そんなに保険に入っていないの？」と一瞬驚かされたが、どうもこの「車両保険５割」という言葉には、報道に不可欠な「詳細な注釈」が欠落しているのではないかと思えたのだった。
　自動車保険は、法律で義務付けられた「自賠責保険（強制保険）」と、補償内容を自由に選ぶ「任意保険」の二層構造。今回ニュースで語られているのは、任意保険の中のさらにオプションである「車両保険（特に冠水・水災事故をカバーする補償特約）」の付帯率のことのようだ。対人・対物などの任意保険自体には多くのユーザーが加入しているけれど、自身の車体を守る車両保険は保険料も跳ね上がるため付帯率は約５割にとどまるというのが実相だと思う。
　「車両保険に入っていない」という大ざっぱな表現だけでは、あたかもユーザーが無保険のまま無謀に車を走らせているような誤解を与えかねない。さらに言えば、車両保険に加入していても「免責金額（自己負担分）」の設定や、補償範囲の選択によって受け取れる保険金は多様。わが家のクルマの保険内容でも５万円の自己負担枠があるようにユーザー個々の選択は多岐にわたるのが一般的。
　報道は「ローンだけが残り、修理も移動もできなくてかわいそう」といった感情的な側面訴求に終始していたが、保険制度の仕組みや選択肢の多様性についての総合的な説明が不足で、ただ不安と恐怖心ばかりを煽っているように感じられた。
　これまでの気象常識を超えた巨大災害が頻発する現代だけれど、固定費を抑えるため簡易でコスパの良い保険を選択してきたユーザーの判断は、至極自然だと思える。メディアは単なる情緒的報道にとどまらず、制度の正確な詳細を提示してと切に願う。
　今回の痛ましい出来事が激甚化する災害に備えた私たち一人ひとりのリスク管理や保険内容の冷静な見直しへと繋がることを祈念します。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

[Vehicle Insurance: The Discomfort of the “50% Coverage Rate” Report]
Wait, for a split second I thought, “Not that many people have insurance?” But I think the actual point is that 50% of policyholders have insurance that “covers water-related incidents as well.” Hmm…

　The torrential rain damage centered on Chiba—while I haven’t heard anything specific from friends or acquaintances—is a truly heartbreaking situation that speaks volumes about the ferocity of climate change in recent years. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to all those affected.
The radar image in the photo shows a cluster of intense rain clouds. The disaster that struck Chiba is the kind that could happen anywhere at any time. Living on the Japanese archipelago, where we are constantly at risk of natural disasters, I can really feel that the severity of these events is increasing year by year.
　Amidst all this, what personally caught my attention while watching the news coverage was a report regarding “vehicle insurance.” Starting around the day before yesterday, there was a flurry of reports stating things like, “Many of the damaged vehicles were uninsured, and the vehicle insurance coverage rate is only about 50 percent.” I was momentarily surprised—“What, that few people have insurance?”—but it struck me that the phrase “50 percent vehicle insurance coverage” seemed to be missing the “detailed context” that is essential to any news report.
　Automobile insurance has a two-tier structure: “compulsory liability insurance” (mandated by law) and “voluntary insurance,” where policyholders can freely choose their coverage. What the news is discussing here appears to be the uptake rate of “vehicle insurance” (specifically, coverage riders that protect against flooding and water damage)—an optional add-on within voluntary insurance. While many users have voluntary insurance covering bodily injury and property damage, the reality is that the uptake rate for vehicle insurance—which protects the vehicle itself—remains at around 50 percent because premiums for it skyrocket.
　Using only the vague phrase “not enrolled in vehicle insurance” risks creating the misconception that users are recklessly driving without any insurance at all. Furthermore, even for those with vehicle insurance, the amount of insurance payout varies depending on the “deductible” (the portion the policyholder must pay out of pocket) and the scope of coverage selected. As evidenced by my own family’s car insurance policy, which includes a 50,000-yen deductible, it is common for individual users to have a wide range of choices.
　While the media coverage focused entirely on emotional appeals—such as “It’s so sad that they’re left with only the loan, unable to repair or drive the car”—it lacked a comprehensive explanation of how the insurance system works and the variety of available options, leaving the impression that it was merely stoking anxiety and fear.
　In today’s world, where massive disasters that defy conventional meteorological wisdom occur frequently, it seems perfectly natural for users to have chosen simple, cost-effective insurance policies to keep their fixed expenses down. I earnestly hope that the media will go beyond mere emotional reporting and present accurate details about the system.
　I pray that this tragic incident will lead each of us to calmly review our risk management strategies and insurance coverage in preparation for increasingly severe disasters.

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

　

Posted on 8月 19th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【DNAの「響き」／自分の過去写真を見つめる】


　ビジネスで写真がメイン表現である住宅雑誌をやっていたので「写真を扱う」という行為が自分のなかで時間積層していくことになった。
　住宅空間探訪からは距離を置くようになって、しかし画像編集の作業行為自体は根強く「数寄」こころが残り続けている。住宅取材では「個人情報」を扱うのに慎重であるべきという制約を、解除できる領域に自然と惹かれるようになる。制約を解除できる領域として、自分自身のことが浮かび上がってくる。
　で、自分の古写真を整理整頓し始める中で、その写真撮影の瞬間の「心理」というものには、ある「記憶」が籠もっている、という事実に気付かされる。
　人物写真だけには限らないかも知れない。しかし自分で撮影した、あるいは「写されている」ことを理解しながら、その瞬間に抱いていた「気のながれ」が、しっかりと記憶の中に保存されているのではと思い始めています。ただ、よく言う「ものごころ」臨界点が人間意識には存在するので、その前後では大きな「乖離」が発生するのだろうか、と考えられる。
　写真は恥ずかしながら（笑）、72年前当時のわたし自身の様子。
　祖母の葬儀の集合記録写真で満２才当時。現代のPhotoshopなど写真アタッチソフトを介して再生復元を試みたけれど、解像度はほぼ限界。墨絵に似た雰囲気でなかなか味わいがあると思っている。
　この写真を見ることは多いけれど、そのたびに写真撮影の時の瞬間の、自分の心理が再生されてきてしまう。この２才のわたしは、集合していた家族の中で前列に居た３兄の「耳たぶ」に異常なフェッチこころを抱いていて、その耳たぶを触りたいと必死に手を伸ばしていたのだ。
　ナゾ、なんですね（笑）。
　そういう行動心理分析はそれはそれとして、その瞬間の心理記憶がいわば「ピンナップ」される、という別の感覚の初源のような写真だと自分では思っている。
　なぜ、人間はそのように写真画像に対しての心理を持ちうるのか、わからない。AIの解説は以下。
　〜「写真＝記憶のインデックス（検索タグ）」説
　脳科学において人間の記憶は「感情や衝動を伴った静止画（スナップショット）」で保存されると言われる。２歳時の「兄の耳たぶを触りたい」という強い身体的衝動は幼少期の脳の扁桃体（感情・欲求を司る部位）に強く刻み込まれている。写真データを見た瞬間、その画像が「検索タグ」として機能し、脳内に保存されていた当時の身体感覚や感情が一気に再構成されて再生されると考えられている。〜

　もしそうだとすると、この領域は独特なNEXTの可能性を孕んでいるかも知れない・・・。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

[Is It the “Echo” of DNA? / Gazing at My Old Photos]
“Oneself”—a realm where personal information restrictions don’t apply. The psychological memories of myself trapped within those photos. Huh? A mystery that makes you think, “No way…” …

　Since I used to work on a home design magazine where photography was the primary form of expression, the act of “working with photographs” gradually became a part of me over time.
While I’ve distanced myself from exploring residential spaces, the act of image editing itself has left a deep-rooted sense of “suki” (a love of the art) within me. I’ve naturally come to be drawn to areas where I can set aside the constraints of handling “personal information” with caution—a requirement I face when covering homes. As an area where such constraints can be lifted, my own self begins to emerge.
　And so, as I began organizing my old photographs, I realized that the “psychology” of the moment I took them contains a certain “memory.”
　This may not be limited to portraits. However, I’m beginning to think that the “flow of energy” I felt in that moment—whether I was the one taking the photo or was aware that I was being photographed—is firmly preserved in my memory. That said, since there is a commonly cited “threshold of self-awareness” in human consciousness, I wonder if a significant “discrepancy” occurs before and after that point.
　The photo, embarrassingly enough (laughs), shows me as I was 72 years ago.
It’s a group photo taken at my grandmother’s funeral when I was exactly two years old. I tried to restore and enhance it using modern photo-editing software like Photoshop, but the resolution is practically at its limit. I think it has a certain charm with its ink-painting-like atmosphere.
　I look at this photo often, and every time I do, the emotions I felt in that split second when the picture was taken come flooding back. As a two-year-old, I had an unusually strong fascination with the “earlobe” of my third older brother, who was standing in the front row among the gathered family, and I was desperately reaching out to touch it.
It’s a mystery, isn’t it? (laughs).
　Setting aside that kind of behavioral analysis, I personally think this photo is the very origin of a different kind of sensation—one where the psychological memory of that moment is, so to speak, “pinned up.”
　I don’t understand why humans are capable of having such psychological associations with photographic images. Here’s the AI’s explanation:
　~ The “Photograph = Memory Index (Search Tag)” Theory
　In neuroscience, it is said that human memories are stored as “still images (snapshots) accompanied by emotions and impulses.” The strong physical impulse I felt at age two—to “touch my older brother’s earlobe”—is deeply etched into the amygdala (the part of the brain that governs emotions and desires) of my young brain. It is believed that the moment one views a photograph, the image functions as a “search tag,” instantly reconstructing and replaying the physical sensations and emotions from that time that were stored in the brain. ~

　If that is the case, this field may hold unique potential for the future…

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

Posted on 8月 18th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【高齢期の「脳活」か（笑） 墓碑銘＆戸籍解読】



　ある表現作品を最終的には目指している「家系史探究」。
　人間が文章などで表現を目指す大きな「心理要因」は、基本的に人間への尽きせぬ興味の探究ということだと思います。いろいろな「生き様・死に様」の多様性・輻輳ぶりから伝わってくる「残響」。文学者・作家たちの告白を読み聞いても、そういう動機・思いが強いと感じる。
　ビジネスの世界から徐々にこういう「表現」の世界に導かれてくると、結局人間のやってきたことへの探究心が最大の起動要素だと深く思い至るのですね。そういう意味で一般人としていちばん「わかりやすい」のは、自分のDNAに直接関わる先人の足跡。
　で、こういった足跡探査のもっとも１次資料は「戸籍簿」の類い。
　いくつもある戸籍謄本とにらめっこする時間が増えてくる。まぁデジタル画像化することで整理整頓は比較的ラクにはなってくるけれど、ときどき「意味内容」で立ち止まる瞬間もある。上の戸籍の「一部」からの造作写真は、ある先人の「隠居届出」の表記部分。現代で「隠居」という人生局面表記があるのかどうか、それが公的機関で「認証」され登録されることがらなのか？、と立ち止まらされた次第。
　この遠縁の家系の人物は、自分の人生に「ひと区切り」付けたいと考えて役所に届け出たのでしょう。家制度上からの「責任感」を終えたい心理かと。自分事として考えると現代人は健康面のことも含め、もうちょっと「前向き」で、死に臨んでも前のめりで倒れたい、みたいな心理が大きいと思う。生涯現役感。そういう思いの落差に気付かされる。この人物の事跡をあれこれ知るほどに、重層的な気分がしてくる。
　一方、血縁者が送ってくれた情報写真で遠縁の墓域情報も寄せられた。実は墓の墓碑銘までも送っていただけて、その碑文写真を最新の「画像解析」で分析し、120-30年前の肉親・血縁の女性の「生々しい叫び声」のようなものと突然めぐり会えてしまった・・・。
　あまりの「邂逅」感で、ちょっとこころが揺り動かされていた。彼女はどのような人生を、どのような地域空間で生き抜き、そして眠っていったのかが残響して来たのです。大きく時代は移り変わってきたけれど、少なくとも「場所・空間」は追体験できる余地がある。
　月末にこの地を探訪予定ですが、前奏曲のようなものとして波動してきた・・・。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

[“Brain Training” in Old Age? (lol) Deciphering Tombstone Inscriptions & Family Registers]
I wonder if modern people even have the concept of “retirement”? I gain insight into the sense of responsibility tied to the family system through family registers. Furthermore, the “thoughts” of our ancestors seem to radiate from their tombstone inscriptions…

　“Exploring Family History” is ultimately the goal of a certain creative work.
I believe the major “psychological factor” that drives people to express themselves through writing and other means is, fundamentally, the pursuit of an insatiable curiosity about humanity. It’s the “echo” that resonates from the diversity and complexity of the various ways people live and die. Even when reading the confessions of literary figures and writers, I sense that this motivation and sentiment run deep.
　As I’ve gradually been drawn from the business world into this realm of “expression,” I’ve come to deeply realize that, ultimately, the curiosity to explore what humans have done is the greatest driving force. In that sense, the most “accessible” subject for the average person is the footprints of our ancestors, which are directly linked to our own DNA.
　And the most primary source material for this kind of footprint exploration is the “family register” and similar documents.
　I find myself spending more and more time poring over the numerous copies of family registers. Well, digitizing them does make organizing them relatively easier, but there are moments when I pause to reflect on their “meaning.” The photo above, taken from a “portion” of a family register, shows the section where an ancestor filed a “notification of retirement.” I found myself pausing to wonder: Is there even such a life stage designation as “retirement” in modern times? And is this something that gets “certified” and registered by a public agency?
　This distant relative probably filed a notification with the local government because he wanted to draw a “line” under his life. I suspect it stemmed from a desire to put an end to the “sense of responsibility” imposed by the traditional family system. When I think about it from my own perspective, I believe modern people—including when it comes to health—tend to be a bit more “forward-looking”; there’s a strong mindset of wanting to fall forward, even in the face of death. A sense of staying active throughout one’s life. I’m struck by the contrast between these two mindsets. The more I learn about this person’s life, the more complex my feelings become.
Meanwhile, a relative sent me some photos along with information about the grave site of this distant relative. In fact, they even sent me a photo of the tombstone’s inscription. When I analyzed that image using the latest “image analysis” technology, I suddenly came face-to-face with what felt like the “vivid cry” of a female relative who had lived 120 to 30 years ago…
　The sheer sense of this “encounter” shook me to the core. The echoes of what kind of life she lived, in what kind of geographical space, and how she eventually passed away continued to resonate within me. Although the times have changed dramatically, there is at least room to relive the “place and space” she inhabited.
　I plan to visit this area at the end of the month, but this experience has been rippling through me like a prelude…

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

　
　

Posted on 8月 17th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【謹白 清華亭様　石山軟石の敷石パクりました・・・】


　昨日は孫にはじめての「安藤忠雄建築体験」機会ということで「こども本の森 札幌北大」に行かせておりました。「行かせて」というのは、同行はカミさんと息子の嫁さん・孫の母のふたりに任せて、私は別行動で、ご近所の明治建築「清華亭」を再度体験していたからです。
　「こども本の森 札幌北大」の方では１日20人限定の「当日入場」が叶ったワケですが、孫は元気いっぱいに「ハイハイ」してくれたようで、安藤建築に触れたよろこびを爆発させていたようです（笑）。ジジバカもうれしい。読み聞かせの絵本の方では目が泳ぎ続けていたそうですが、まぁ先は長い。焦らずジックリ、読書というのはその人間の人生とほぼ同期する長期戦であります。６ヶ月の幼児には読書はできないけれど、読書には人類社会が続いてきた文化としての空気感の格調がある。それをカラダいっぱいに「浴びる」ことは非常にすばらしい。安藤さんの考え方に深く敬意を表します。
　ということでクルマでの送迎役なので選に漏れざるを得なかったわたしは、写真の清華亭へ。
　この建築はわたしのこのブログでも以前に「北海道の開拓期の創生期建築」として書いていたのですが、最近、修復工事が終わっていたようなので、歩いて５分ほどの距離なので、再訪。で、わたしは明治天皇が北海道開拓に込められた熱意を、このはじめての訪問に感じられると思っています。
　溌剌とした明治国家の創意が込められた開拓のつち音、一刻もはやくその地を訪れたいと祈念された様子に深く敬意を抱くものです。わたしたち北海道人が根底にもつ心意。そのはじめての来訪のときに「小休所」として、北海道初の「公園」として整備された「偕楽園」のなかに建てられた。歴史事実としても明治帝はこの施設で一時を過ごされた。


　開拓の状況をお知らせしようと、道産木材で建てられたとされている。
　内部でもその大径木の道産木材の天井張り板などから、心意気が伝わってくる。
　なんですが、わたし的には天皇が足を踏まれた敷石にまで「石山軟石」という地元産材が使われたことにある感慨を持たされた。で、わが家の玄関前にも「踏み石」として石山軟石を生産工場に買いに行って、60×30cmの材を３枚敷き込んである。
　個人的には自分自身の「歴史好き」の心情と建築に関連して生きてきたことのフックを意識させてもらった。パクリについてこころ爽やかに告白。・・・

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English version⬇

[A Humble Note to Seikatei: We’ve “borrowed” your Ishiyama soft stone paving stones…]
Both those reporting on the achievements of the colonization efforts and the young Emperor Meiji, who received the report, connected through their shared experience of the Seikatei’s architecture. I can only try to follow in their footsteps, however faintly. …

　Yesterday, since it was my grandson’s first chance to experience Tadao Ando’s architecture, I sent him to “Children’s Book Forest: Sapporo Hokkaido University.” I say “sent him” because I left him in the care of my wife and my son’s wife—my grandson’s mother—while I went off on my own to revisit the Meiji-era “Seikatei” building in our neighborhood.
　At “Children’s Book Forest, Hokkaido University, Sapporo,” they managed to secure one of the 20 same-day admission spots available each day. My grandson was apparently crawling around full of energy, bursting with joy at getting to experience Ando’s architecture (laughs). This doting grandpa is happy too. I heard his eyes kept darting around during the picture book reading session, but well, he’s got a long road ahead of him. Take your time and don’t rush—reading is a long-term endeavor that runs almost parallel to a person’s entire life. A six-month-old infant can’t actually “read,” but reading possesses a certain dignity and atmosphere as a culture that has sustained human society. To “soak in” that with every fiber of one’s being is truly wonderful. I have the deepest respect for Mr. Ando’s philosophy.
So, since I was the designated driver and couldn’t join them, I headed to Seikatei, shown in the photo.
　I’d previously written about this building on my blog as an example of “architecture from the formative period of Hokkaido’s settlement,” and since restoration work seemed to have recently been completed—and it’s only about a five-minute walk away—I decided to revisit it. I believe that on this first visit, one can sense the passion that Emperor Meiji poured into the development of Hokkaido.
　I have deep respect for the vibrant creativity of the Meiji state that was poured into the pioneering efforts, and for the Emperor’s earnest desire to visit the land as soon as possible. This spirit lies at the very foundation of us Hokkaido residents. The pavilion was built within “Kairakuen,” which was developed as a “resting place” and Hokkaido’s first “park” during the Emperor’s inaugural visit. Historically, it is a fact that Emperor Meiji spent some time at this facility.

　It is said to have been built with Hokkaido-grown timber to showcase the progress of the region’s development.
　Inside, too, the spirit behind the project comes through in details such as the ceiling planks made from large-diameter Hokkaido timber.
　However, what truly moved me was the fact that even the stepping stones where the Emperor walked were made from “Ishiyama Soft Stone,” a locally sourced material. So, I went to a factory to buy Ishiyama soft stone to use as “stepping stones” in front of my own home’s entrance, and I’ve laid three 60×30 cm slabs there.
　Personally, this made me aware of the connection between my own passion for history and the fact that I’ve spent my life involved in architecture. A refreshing confession about copying. …

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

　
　

Posted on 8月 16th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【「庭を愛でる」ことが日本の家文化の本流なのかなぁ？】


　写真は大分県杵築市の「杵築城」周辺の武家屋敷の庭のたたずまい。臨池式庭園の「格式高い」庭を愛でることが住空間としての最大着目点だったと思える造作の住宅。
　庭はたしかにその地域の自然を知る・楽しむ大きな装置であることはまったくその通りだと思う。異論は無いけれど、しかしわたしは北海道の冬の積雪状況を知った札幌人。冬になると雪山に覆われ、庭の視覚的楽しみはまったく消滅する気候環境のなかで生きてきた。
　まずなにより冬の寒さという最大障壁をどうするのか、が住宅建設の最大関心事。庭を愛でるという要素は精神生活上でもウェートは低い。高級住宅で「庭への目線」を重視した住宅を取材で冬に見ることもあった。
　当然、庭の様子を最大の楽しみに広い縁側・開放的開口部を持つ室内からの視線が、屋根からの落雪がうずたかくその視線を遮る期間が３−４ヶ月にもなる。そんな家が「高級住宅のステータス」だとは、どうしても思えなかった。
　３−４ヶ月の喪失忍耐期間のうえ愛でるための用意期間が１−２ヶ月とすれば、ほぼ半年は苦役の時間。
　こういう住宅では室内空間からの視線的快感の「眺め」が最重視される。北海道ではそんな「楽しみ」は吹きすさぶ寒風ブリザードの襲来で吹っ飛んでいく。
　実際、住み手の方からも「まぁ冬はこんなもんですけどね・・・」というため息交じりの感想を聞くことが多かった。やはり「庭が最高の高級住宅の条件」という価値観は持ちにくいのが北国人。
　一方で周囲の環境は広大で野趣に満ちた大自然環境が展開していて、その圧倒的美感からは、強烈な刺激を受け続けてきた。それには庭程度は敵いようがない。
　そういう太刀打ちできない美感に対して、相対的に圧倒的に狭い自分の敷地のなかの庭を重視するという心理はほぼ無かった。だいたい、冬囲いやら樹木の枝の養生を考えるようなことはやっていられないのが普通の感覚。
　それに対して本州地域の「武家住宅」ではこれ見よがしにドヤ顔で臨池式回遊庭園が最大の趣味関心事として提示されている。もちろんそういう文化伝統には敬意を持つけれど、彼我の極端な環境の違いに醒めた目線になる。
　立派なお庭ですね、すごいなぁ・・・と。
　しかし、その上で寒冷地ニッポン人の異次元の庭文化を密かに心待ちしてもいる。

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English version⬇

[Is “appreciating the garden” really the mainstream of Japanese home culture?]
As someone from a cold region who’s had to spend nearly half a year feeling left out, I find it hard to wholeheartedly agree with this part… (sob).

　The photo shows the ambiance of the gardens at samurai residences surrounding “Kitsuki Castle” in Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture. This custom-built home seems to have been designed with the primary focus on appreciating the “distinguished” beauty of the pond-style garden as a living space.
　I completely agree that a garden is indeed a major means of understanding and enjoying the nature of the region. I have no objection to that, but I am a Sapporo native who knows firsthand the snow conditions of Hokkaido winters. I have lived in a climate where, come winter, the landscape is blanketed by snow, and the visual pleasure of a garden vanishes entirely.
　First and foremost, the biggest concern in home construction is how to deal with the greatest obstacle: the winter cold. The element of appreciating the garden carries little weight in my spiritual life. I have occasionally visited luxury homes during winter for reporting purposes that emphasized “views of the garden.”
　Naturally, in homes designed to make the garden the greatest source of enjoyment—with spacious engawa and open interior spaces offering views of the outdoors—snow piling up from the roof blocks that view for as long as three to four months. I simply could not bring myself to believe that such a house represented the “status of a high-end home.”
　If you consider the three- to four-month period of endurance followed by a one- to two-month period of preparation to appreciate the garden, nearly half a year is spent in hardship.
　In homes like this, the visual pleasure of the “view” from the interior space is given the highest priority. In Hokkaido, however, such “pleasure” is blown away by the onslaught of howling cold winds and blizzards.
　In fact, I often heard residents sigh and remark, “Well, that’s just how it is in winter…” Indeed, it’s difficult for people in the northern regions to embrace the value that “a garden is the ultimate criterion for a luxury home.”
　On the other hand, the surrounding landscape unfolds as a vast, wild natural environment, and I have been constantly inspired by its overwhelming beauty. A mere garden simply cannot compete with that.
　Faced with such unrivaled beauty, there was virtually no psychological inclination to place importance on the garden within my own, relatively tiny plot of land. Generally speaking, it’s only natural not to have the time or inclination to worry about winter protection for plants or pruning tree branches.
　In contrast, in the “samurai residences” of Honshu, strolling gardens with a pond are presented—almost ostentatiously—as the greatest hobby and passion. Of course, I have respect for such cultural traditions, but I view the extreme difference in our environments with a sober eye.
“What a magnificent garden—it’s amazing…”
However, even so, I secretly look forward to the garden culture of cold-climate Japanese people, which exists on a whole different level.

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

Posted on 8月 15th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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