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【池坊、草月・・・表現する「いけ花」の世界観】


 昨日の記事の続篇。もちろんわたしは「いけ花」には門外漢であります。
 しかし、いわゆる「受け手」としては、その受け取った「感覚」について表現することは自由でしょう。その表現者の方から親しくお話しを伺ったことをも踏まえて、率直な心象を書くことをお許し願いたい。
 上の写真が、同期女子が生けた作品。彼女は「池坊」の流儀に踏まえた作品作りをされている。詳細にその素材についての解説も聞くことが出来て、非常に惹かれてしまっていた。とくにわたしは、作品のなかで「背景」的な位置に生けられた「樹皮」の黒々とした表情が、他の素材に対して、いわば「黒子」のように「主張しない」表現パワーを持っていたと感じさせられた。
 この素材が、いわば画竜点睛的な存在なのかと勝手な「理解」。そう見てくると、他の枝振り、葉の繊細さ、切り取られ、それでもなお生命を見せる花の『切なさ』が浮き立ってくるように思われたのですね。
 日本の植物の各パーツが全体として奏でる、音ではない「交響楽」のように受け止めた。一方・・・

 こちらは「草月流」の1作品。
 この作品では、まことに「前衛的」と思えるような構成の迫力を感じさせられる。わたしは花の名前についてはまったく無知蒙昧なのですが、花火のような爆発的な花実の放射円の力感が目を驚かしてくる。そして背景としての「葉」の色味には、非生物的な化学素材材料までもが使われている。自然ではないものまでも躊躇なく「生ける」姿勢に驚かされていた。花器もまた、モダンアートのような感覚で見る者に迫ってくる。
 ・・・このような「違い」が煌々と表現されて訴えかけてくる。
 絵画で言えば、日本画とピカソ的な表現が同居しているような世界。
 しかし、あくまでも「いけ」られた花・植物が主役である。こういう表現の領域があるのだなぁと実感。
 そういった感想の発展形で、ではこれらのような表現作品が日本建築の清華の場としての「床の間」で、どのように人間と「対話」するのだろうと、思いが募っていった次第。いや、必ずしも床の間だけではなく、現代住宅建築の中で、もっとも「似合う」空間はさて? というように思考が遊ばされたのです。ふ〜む。
 住空間との相関関係として、オモシロい領域に気付かされた次第。さて・・・。

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English version⬇

[Ikenobo, Sogetsu… The World of “Ikebana” Expression]
As someone whose passion lies in appreciating art and painting, this was, so to speak, my first encounter with the expressive world of “ikebana.” Inspired by the splendor of this guidance, my imagination begins to stir…

 This is a follow-up to yesterday’s post. Of course, I am a complete novice when it comes to “ikebana.”
 However, as a so-called “viewer,” I should be free to express the “sensations” I experienced. Based in part on a friendly conversation I had with the artist herself, I hope you’ll allow me to share my candid impressions.
 The photo above shows a piece arranged by a female classmate of mine. She creates her works based on the “Ikenobo” school of ikebana. I was able to hear a detailed explanation of the materials used, which captivated me deeply. In particular, I felt that the deep, dark texture of the “bark”—arranged in a “background” position within the piece—possessed an expressive power that, compared to the other materials, was unobtrusive, acting as a sort of “behind-the-scenes” element.
 I came to my own “understanding” that this material served as the finishing touch, so to speak. When viewed in this light, the branching patterns, the delicacy of the leaves, and the “poignancy” of the flowers—cut off yet still radiating life—seemed to stand out even more.
I perceived it as a “symphony”—not of sound, but of the various parts of Japanese plants harmonizing as a whole. On the other hand…

 This is a piece from the “Sogetsu School.”
 This work conveys a powerful impact through a composition that feels truly “avant-garde.” While I am completely ignorant when it comes to the names of flowers, the dynamic energy of the explosive, circular radiations of the flower buds—reminiscent of fireworks—is a striking sight. Furthermore, the colors of the “leaves” used as the background even incorporate non-organic, chemical materials. I was astonished by the artist’s willingness to “arrange” even non-natural elements without hesitation. The vase, too, makes a strong impression on the viewer, evoking a sense of modern art.
 …Such “differences” are vividly expressed and speak powerfully to the viewer.
 In terms of painting, it’s a world where traditional Japanese painting and Picasso-esque expression coexist.
 However, the arranged flowers and plants remain the undisputed protagonists. I truly realized that this is a legitimate realm of artistic expression.
 Building on that impression, my thoughts began to wander: How would such expressive works “engage in dialogue” with people within the “tokonoma”—that quintessential space of Japanese architecture? No, not necessarily just the tokonoma—I found myself wondering, “Which space in contemporary residential architecture would be the most ‘suitable’ for them?” My mind wandered in this way. Hmm.
 I’ve come to realize this is an intriguing area in terms of its relationship to living spaces. Well then…

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

【いけ花美術展で、華道のみちびきを謹んで伺う】



 高校同期の友人女子が、札幌の老舗デパートの会場での「いけ花美術展」に出展しているという情報を受けて、人生ではじめて「いけ花」の文化にふれることができた。感謝そのものでした。
 で、わたし個人としてはこの文化に触れたことで建築との、具体的には「床の間」との相互作用、その空気感の日本文化ということについて瞑目させられていた次第。いや、目を閉じるのではなく、開かせられたのか。
 2枚目の写真はこの「いけ花美術展」を主催している北海道新聞の記事の一部。こちらの主宰者側からの発言には、基本的な文化としての「ありよう」の趣旨が記載されていると感じた次第。わたしは新聞を購読していませんが、こういう「文化ジャーナリズム」の側面には深く賛意を持ちます。
 こういったフラワーデザインの文化自体は世界共通のものでしょうが、そのなかでも日本の華道はガラパゴス的(AIの解説)な発展を遂げたとされている。現在の「反日」が国是なのかと思える中国ですら、日本のこの文化は文革による弾圧・破壊を経てなお受容され、日式のそのままが大衆的な支持を受けているとされている。
 花や葉、樹木、枝などの構成要素を淡々とみつめ、そのそれぞれの「いのちのつながり」を可視化させて、再構成するという一連の精神活動の結果が、おもしろく伝わってくる。会場ではたくさんの「流派」ごとの明示的な相違も見えていて、その「多様性」にも驚かされてしまった。
 こういった文化が、日本の床の間とそして庭園文化が融合して日本人同士のコミュニケーションの重要な構成要素を作っていたのが実相なのでしょう。そこでさらに茶がふるまわれたりすることで、同じ時空間を過ごすという文化性が立ち上ってくる。日本的な精神世界の主要な舞台装置。
 茶室文化・床の間文化などには一定の「教わる」ような気分で接していましたが、そのさらに奥に日本的な自然美が反映する「いけ花」があること、煌々と照らし出されたような時間でした。
 そこからいろいろ思索を巡らされて楽しい時間を過ごしておりました。深く感謝。
 なお、札幌地下鉄琴似駅には、同期女子が毎日ボランティアで続けている「いけ花」コーナーが常置されているとのこと。これもまったく知らずにおりました。心して参観させていただきたい。

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English version⬇

[Humbly Seeking Guidance in the Art of Ikebana at an Ikebana Art Exhibition]
I visited an art exhibition where a classmate from high school was exhibiting. It made me realize—albeit belatedly—that this is a culture of “bringing out the best” in Japanese plants themselves through artistic arrangement. …

 Upon hearing that a female friend from my high school class was exhibiting at the “Ikebana Art Exhibition” held at a long-established department store in Sapporo, I was able to experience the culture of “ikebana” for the very first time in my life. I was truly grateful.
 Personally, coming into contact with this culture led me to reflect on its interaction with architecture—specifically, the “tokonoma”—and on the essence of Japanese culture embodied in that atmosphere. Or rather, perhaps it wasn’t that I closed my eyes, but that they were opened.
 The second photo shows an excerpt from an article in the Hokkaido Shimbun, which organized this “Ikebana Art Exhibition.” I felt that the remarks from the organizers captured the essence of what it means to practice this art as a fundamental cultural tradition. I don’t subscribe to the newspaper, but I deeply appreciate this aspect of “cultural journalism.”
While the culture of floral design itself is likely universal, Japanese ikebana is said to have undergone a “Galápagos-like” (as explained by AI) evolution. Even in China—where one might think “anti-Japanese sentiment” is a national policy—this Japanese culture is said to have been accepted despite the suppression and destruction it suffered during the Cultural Revolution, and the Japanese style itself is reported to enjoy widespread popular support.
 The result of this series of mental activities—calmly observing the constituent elements such as flowers, leaves, trees, and branches, visualizing the “connection of life” between them, and then reconfiguring them—is conveyed in a fascinating way. At the venue, I could also see many explicit differences between the various “schools,” and I was amazed by that “diversity.”
 The reality is that this culture, fused with Japan’s tokonoma and garden traditions, formed a crucial element of communication among the Japanese people. When tea is served in such settings, a cultural sense of sharing the same time and space emerges. It is a central element of the Japanese spiritual world.
 I had always approached tea room culture and tokonoma culture with a certain sense of “being taught,” but this experience was a moment of revelation—it illuminated the fact that “ikebana,” which reflects Japanese natural beauty, lies even deeper within these traditions.
I spent a delightful time letting my thoughts wander from there. I am deeply grateful.
 Incidentally, I’ve heard that there is a permanent “ikebana” corner at Kotoni Station on the Sapporo Subway, maintained daily by a female classmate of mine who volunteers there. I was completely unaware of this as well. I look forward to visiting it with great interest.

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

 

【札幌中央市場にて魚類のいのちの絶叫にふれる】


 ここのところ、調査活動の進展はいったん小康させて、ライティングに注力。
 そうするといかにも脳味噌が「らんらん」としてきて、活動期の熱気がたまってくる。それを心理的にクールダウンするのには、自然観察などが効果的だと思っています。
 わが家近隣の琴似発寒川へのサケの遡上、その活動ぶりなどは象徴的。そういうイキモノの魂の叫び声は脳味噌にジミジミと沁みてくるものがあります。同じイキモノとしての人間の行動軌跡を考えて行くのにも、こういった野生の叫び声は、大きな参照要素だと思えております。
 そんな思いからか、好きな札幌中央市場での魚たちを見ることが楽しい。
 毎日の散歩道のコースとして、最近、ちょこちょこと歩いております。自宅のある札幌市西区山の手から、札幌市中央区北10条西22丁目あたりまで、片道5,000歩前後、往復ではちょうど10,000歩程度のコースですが、ワクワクしながら歩けるコースであります。
 市場ではたくさんのお魚や活気のある取引の様子参観。そして背中のリュックに魚類関連商品を背負って帰ってくる定番コース。写真は「八角(はっかく)」であります。北海道人としてはその独特の風貌と味わいから親近感の湧くヤツですが、北海道以外の方はあんまり知らないかも。
 〜正式名称:トクビレ  
 • 名前の由来:体の断面が八角形をしているため漁師から「八角」と呼ばれる。
 • 生息地:北海道太平洋沿岸・オホーツク海などの冷たい海底。富山湾などでも獲れるが、まとまった水揚げがあるのは北海道。
 • 味わい:いかつい見た目でトゲや硬い骨板に覆われている。身は透明感のある美しい白身。脂がのっていながら上品な旨みがあり「幻の高級魚」とも称される。
 • おすすめの食べ方:コリコリした食感の刺身や、背開きにして味噌を塗り香ばしく焼く郷土料理「軍艦焼き」、塩焼きや一夜干しが絶品。〜
 いかにも食いついてきそうな顔相が、なんともシビれる(笑)。
 朝の散歩路で、こういう表情に触れられるのは、やはりサイコーであります。

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English version⬇

[Hearing the Screams of Fish at Sapporo Central Market]
A cool, tough-looking squid thriving on the cold seafloor of Hokkaido. Its expression looks like it’s about to strike—a scream that cuts through all obsession. …

 Lately, I’ve put my research activities on hold for a bit to focus on writing.
 When I do that, my brain starts to feel all “buzzing,” and the energy from my active period builds up. I find that observing nature is an effective way to psychologically cool down from that.
 The salmon run up the Kotonami-Hassamu River near my home—and the way they go about it—is particularly symbolic. There’s something about the soulful cries of these creatures that seep deeply into my mind. I feel that these cries of the wild serve as a major point of reference when considering the behavioral patterns of humans, who are also living beings.
 Perhaps because of these thoughts, I find it a joy to look at the fish at the Sapporo Central Market, a place I love.
 I’ve been taking occasional strolls there recently as part of my daily walking route. The route runs from Yamanote in Nishi Ward, where I live, to the area around Kita 10-jo Nishi 22-chome in Chuo Ward—about 5,000 steps one way, or exactly 10,000 steps round trip—but it’s a route I walk with excitement.
At the market, I see plenty of fish and the lively trading activity, and then I head home with fish-related products in my backpack. The photo shows a “Hakkaku.” As a Hokkaido native, I feel a special connection to this fish because of its unique appearance and flavor, but people outside Hokkaido might not be very familiar with it.
 ~ Official Name: Tokubire  
 • Origin of Name: Fishermen call it “Hakkaku” because its cross-section is octagonal.
 • Habitat: Cold seabeds along Hokkaido’s Pacific coast and in the Sea of Okhotsk. While it is also caught in Toyama Bay and other areas, Hokkaido is where the bulk of the catch comes from.
 • Taste: It has a rugged appearance and is covered in spines and hard bony plates. The flesh is a beautiful, translucent white. It’s rich in fat yet has an elegant umami flavor, earning it the title of “the elusive luxury fish.”
 • Recommended ways to eat it: Sashimi with a crunchy texture; “Gunkan-yaki,” a local dish where the fish is split open along the back, coated with miso, and grilled until fragrant; and salt-grilled or dried overnight versions are all exquisite.〜
 Its face looks like it’s about to pounce—it’s absolutely thrilling (lol).
 Coming across a face like this on my morning walk is, without a doubt, the best. Take that! (lol).

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

 
 

【ドリップコーヒーから作った「氷」をアイスコーヒーに】


 さて今週も本日で仕事はエンド。なんですが、わたしは継続案件で脳味噌パンパン。
 まぁ、こういうアタマの状態はむしろ活性化して楽しくもある。どんどん行くぞ、っと。
 で、そういうときにウレシイのがコーヒータイム。あんまり飲み過ぎると就寝時、夜間のトイレが気になってしまいますが、青春期以降、慣れ親しんできた嗜好品はこころ安らぐ。
 そのコーヒー、夏場には自然にアイスコーヒーということになりますが、ことしからカミさんからの業務命令で中に入れる「アイス」をドリップコーヒーで落としたコーヒーで作ることになりました。
 写真はそのアイス。作り方も特段変わっていなくて、落としたコーヒーを冷凍庫に仕舞い込んで、凍結したら、温水の流水で型枠をあたためてカパッと外して貯め込んでおくだけ。
 先日、親族が九州から一行できたときに、食後にお出ししたら大感激してくれて、数日経っても「あれ、よかったよね(笑)」と喜んでくれていたとの情報を聞いた。ドやぁ、であります(笑)。
 日本人は千利休など、茶の湯文化が盛り上がってきた文化風土ですが、コーヒーは洋風料理の浸透と共に栄えてきた飲食文化なのでしょう。わたしのような戦後世代では、抹茶、煎茶などの文化よりも、より大衆化した文化として楽しんできた。
 そういうなかでのひと工夫として、このアイスコーヒーとコーヒー氷の組み合わせは面白い。
 〜氷が溶けても味が薄まらない非常に理にかなった美味しい工夫。
 メリット1 味が薄まらない: 普通の水で作った氷だと、溶けたときにコーヒーが水っぽくなってしまいます。コーヒーで作った氷なら、溶けても濃さが保たれる。
 メリット2 最後まで美味しい: 飲むのに時間がかかっても、コーヒーの風味やコクがしっかりキープされる。〜 という解説がAIからかえってきていた。
 サケも遡上してきて、朝晩の冷え込みも10度を下回ってきて、もうすぐアイスコーヒーも季節はずれになってくる札幌ですが、もうちょっと、この夏季限定コーヒー文化を楽しみたいと思います。

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English version⬇

[Adding “Ice” Made from Drip Coffee to Iced Coffee]
People praised it, saying, “The flavor never gets watered down.” The process of making it is fun, too (lol). I wonder if I can enjoy it a little more here in Sapporo. …

 Well, today marks the end of another workweek. That said, I’m completely swamped with ongoing projects.
Well, this kind of mental state actually gets me fired up and is kind of fun. Let’s keep pushing forward!
And what’s really nice at times like this is coffee break. If I drink too much, I end up worrying about having to get up to use the bathroom at night, but this indulgence—which I’ve grown accustomed to since my teenage years—is truly soothing.
 That coffee naturally turns into iced coffee during the summer, but starting this year, my wife issued an official order: the “ice” I put in it has to be made from brewed drip coffee.
 The photo shows that iced coffee. The method isn’t particularly different: I just put the brewed coffee in the freezer, and once it’s frozen, I warm the mold under running warm water, pop it out, and store it.
The other day, when a group of relatives came to visit from Kyushu, I served it to them after a meal, and they were absolutely thrilled. I heard that even a few days later, they were still raving, “That was really good, wasn’t it? (laughs).” I’m so proud! (laughs).
 While Japan has a cultural background where the tea ceremony—as exemplified by Sen no Rikyū—has flourished, coffee culture has likely developed alongside the spread of Western cuisine. For my generation, born after the war, we’ve enjoyed coffee as a more mainstream culture rather than the traditional tea ceremonies like matcha or sencha.
 In that context, this combination of iced coffee and coffee ice cubes is an interesting twist.
 ~It’s a delicious and highly logical idea that keeps the flavor from diluting even as the ice melts.
 Benefit 1: The flavor doesn’t dilute: If you use ice made from plain water, the coffee becomes watery as it melts. But if you use ice made from coffee, the richness is preserved even as it melts.
 Benefit 2: It tastes great until the very end: Even if it takes a while to drink, the coffee’s flavor and body are firmly maintained.~ That’s the explanation I received from the AI.
 Salmon are swimming upstream, and morning and evening temperatures are dropping below 10 degrees—it won’t be long before iced coffee is out of season here in Sapporo, but I’d like to enjoy this summer-only coffee culture just a little longer.

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

【ことしも残り3ヶ月、サケも母川で涅槃へ】


 昨日は関係する会社の年度替わり。それに伴って若干の擦り合わせが必要になって、その前段打合せを行っておりました。節目の日ですね。
 写真は時間の合間を縫って見て来た「琴似発寒川」河畔の様子。どうやら日の当たらない草むらの付近はサケたちの産卵場所のようで、そこで最期のいのちの叫びを上げていたメスの個体が、役務を終えて川の流れに身を任せて「横たわって」いる様子が見られた。同じイキモノとして、深く慟哭させられた。
 しかし、こういう種への献身が積み重なって「いのち」は紡がれていくのでしょう。
 人間もまた、その役割を果たしながらやがて輪廻転生の定めに淡々と身を任せていくほかはない。
 こういう姿を見て、この最期の姿を「供養」するにはこの役務を終えた肉体を食すべきか、とも考えていたけれど、持ち帰って捌いてアニサキス対策で冷凍させて、と考えたら、いや、このまま自然のことわりのままにすべきだと考えるに及んでいました。
 さて、会社スタッフと久しぶりに会話して、いま現在の住宅建築業界の状況の情報交換。
 ここに来て建築コストの高騰ぶりから、家づくりでは新築を諦めざるを得ない若いユーザー層の実相と、そういう市況状況の中で、どう「生き残っていくか」を試行錯誤する作り手の状況が伝わってきた。
 さらにいまは活字だけの情報摂取から動画などの「テキスト・音声・ビジュアル」を組み合わせたタイパの良いメディアの優位性が高まっている時代。私自身も日々こうしたAI技術や動画作成ツールを試行錯誤で触っているが、驚くのはそこにほとんど「メイドインジャパン」のツールが見当たらないこと。
 ほとんどがアメリカやアジア各国から生まれたものばかり。日本の起業家スターターの姿が見えてこない。
 さらにリモートワーク時代に変わってきて、これまでの日本の企業文化を支えてきた人材の意識構造も大きく変化してきているのが現実のようです。わたしたち年代から30-40年後輩の現役「管理職」の人たちすら、イマドキの若年労働力の「怪物ぶり」に驚いている実相も伝わってきた。
 日本の戦後経済を支えた企業マインドの行方が気になってきた次第。・・・

●お知らせ
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English version⬇
 
[With Only Three Months Left in the Year, Salmon Return to Their Native Rivers to Find Nirvana]
While the “passing on of life” continues uneventfully in the natural world, modern Japanese society offers little sign of any movement to lead the way into the AI revolution, leaving one with a sense of gloom. …

 Yesterday marked the start of the new fiscal year for a partner company. As a result, we needed to iron out a few details, so we held a preliminary meeting. It’s a milestone day.
The photo shows the banks of the “Kotoni Hassamu River,” which I managed to visit during a break in my schedule. It seems the shaded areas of the grassy banks serve as spawning grounds for the salmon. There, I saw a female salmon—having let out her final cry of life after fulfilling her duty—lying “stretched out,” having surrendered herself to the river’s current. As a fellow living creature, I was deeply moved to tears.
 Yet, it is through the accumulation of such devotion to the species that “life” is woven together.
 Humans, too, have no choice but to fulfill their roles and eventually, with stoic acceptance, surrender to the cycle of reincarnation.
 Witnessing this scene, I even wondered if I should eat the body of this salmon—whose duty was now complete—as a way to “honor” its final moments. But when I considered taking it home, filleting it, and freezing it to prevent anisakis, I ultimately decided it was better to leave it as it was, in accordance with the laws of nature.
 Anyway, I had a conversation with some company staff for the first time in a while, and we exchanged information on the current state of the residential construction industry.
It became clear to me that, given the recent surge in construction costs, many young homebuyers are being forced to give up on building new homes, and that builders are struggling through trial and error to figure out how to “survive” in this market environment.
 Furthermore, we’re now in an era where media that combines “text, audio, and visuals”—such as videos—is gaining an advantage over text-only sources. I myself experiment daily with AI technologies and video creation tools, but what surprises me is that I can hardly find any “Made in Japan” tools among them.
 Almost all of them originate from the United States or various Asian countries. I don’t see any Japanese entrepreneurs making their mark in this space.
 Furthermore, as we transition into the era of remote work, it seems the reality is that the mindset of the workforce—which has long underpinned Japanese corporate culture—is undergoing a significant shift. I’ve even heard that current “managers,” who are 30 to 40 years younger than my generation, are surprised by the “monstrous” nature of today’s young workforce.
 I’ve begun to wonder about the future of the corporate mindset that supported Japan’s postwar economy. …

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

【サケの動画撮影できた(!) 9/29わが家近く「琴似発寒川」】


<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)。

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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.
 

【人口減少社会での子育てと「家」制度の行方】


 昨日は1日中、孫の世話に集中していました。
 まぁ1日12,000歩の散歩が習慣化している体力で乗り切れましたが、寝ている間は疲労感を感じていた。あちこちへ移動させるのに頻繁に抱っこヒモを装着して、体重ももうすぐ10kgくらいじゃないかという元気いっぱいの孫。無上に楽しい時間を過ごしておりました(笑)。写真はわが家の居間。孫のハイハイ運動のためにあれこれ変化している。
 しかし若い時期の子育てとは、さすがに違いが出てくる。
 小さいけれど自我を持った人間としてその気持ちに添って、対話型でずっと過ごす時間。やはり肉体的には、孫の体重増加・成長とともに負担感は増大する。最後、息子が来てくれてホッとしておりましたが、その若い息子でも孫の体重増加ぶりに驚いていた。「重すぎ(笑)」と。子育てはなかなかに重労働であることに今更ながら気付かされる。
 一方でその愛らしさがすべてを忘れさせてもくれる。イキモノとしての人間の存立基盤。
 わたしの年代の人間は幼年期が人口増大期でもあり、親や祖母はたくさんの兄弟を産み育ててくれた。わが家は6人兄姉。子守りの中核だった祖母は、2人の子どもをいっしょにオンブして育ててくれたのだという。すごい体力だったんだなぁと思わされる。
 現代は少子化が進展し、また「核家族化」が常態化してきてもいる。子育ても世に連れて大きく変容していくものなのでしょう。
 わたしは住宅雑誌というビジネスをしてきたけれど、この過程でも日本人の「家」意識の変容ぶりはつぶさに目にしてきた。現代はその進展がさらに顕著になってきている。人口減少の趨勢は「反転」しそうにはない。一方で核家族・個人主義の根付いた社会では、子育ての役務は親世代に集中せざるを得ないけれど、社会構造としては労働力の減少から夫婦とも職を持つことが一般化する。
 こういう社会趨勢の中、子育て負担の分散は必須でもあるでしょう。以前の多世代型の「家制度」の良き面が想起されてくる。核家族では子育ての環境としては難しい側面がある。
 他方で高齢者の寿命は伸びてきて、しかも健康を十分に維持したまま高齢期を迎えている。一定の子育て生存スキルも持っている。
 核家族社会から、もう一歩先の家・家族制度に進化させる必要があるのではないだろうか?

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English version⬇

[Raising Children in a Society with a Declining Population and the Future of the “Household” System]
A nuclear family system that places the burden of child-rearing solely on dual-income households will not lead to population stabilization. Isn’t the active involvement of older adults becoming essential? …

 Yesterday, I spent the entire day focused on taking care of my grandchild.
Well, I managed to get through it thanks to my stamina—I’ve made it a habit to walk 12,000 steps a day—but I did feel tired while sleeping. I frequently had to put on the baby carrier to move him around; he’s full of energy and probably weighs close to 10 kg by now. I had an absolutely wonderful time (laughs). The photo shows our living room. We’ve been rearranging things here and there to accommodate my grandchild’s crawling.
 But there’s definitely a difference compared to raising children when I was younger.
 Spending time in a conversational way, attuned to his feelings as a small but independent human being. Physically, of course, the burden increases as my grandchild gains weight and grows. I was relieved when my son finally came over, but even he was surprised by how much my grandchild had gained. “He’s way too heavy (lol),” he said. It’s only now that I’m truly realizing just how physically demanding raising children really is.
 On the other hand, their cuteness makes me forget all about it. It’s the very foundation of human existence as living beings.
 People of my generation grew up during a period of rapid population growth, and our parents and grandmothers gave birth to and raised many siblings. In my family, there were six older siblings. My grandmother, who was the backbone of childcare, apparently used to carry two children on her back at the same time. It really makes me realize what incredible stamina she must have had.
 Today, the birthrate continues to decline, and the “nuclear family” has become the norm. I suppose child-rearing is something that changes significantly with the times.
 I’ve worked in the home magazine business, and throughout that time, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformation in Japanese people’s perception of “home.” This trend has become even more pronounced in recent years. The trend of population decline shows no signs of “reversing.” On the one hand, in a society where nuclear families and individualism are deeply rooted, the responsibility for child-rearing inevitably falls on the parents’ generation; yet, due to the shrinking labor force, it has become commonplace for both spouses to hold jobs.
Amid these social trends, spreading the burden of child-rearing is essential. This brings to mind the positive aspects of the traditional multigenerational “family system.” Nuclear families present certain challenges when it comes to the environment for raising children.
 On the other hand, life expectancy among the elderly is increasing, and they are entering old age while maintaining good health. They also possess certain practical skills for raising children.
 Isn’t it necessary to evolve from a nuclear family society to a more advanced form of household and family structure?

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

【北海道の高齢者「サケ型」心理からの故地探訪】



 ここのところ家の近くの「琴似発寒川」に1日に複数回足を向けている。どうしても「サケ」類の遡上の様子に惹かれる心理が強くなってきている。
 以前のようにただ「季節の風物詩」として眺めている、というよりもなにか、自分自身の内発的な動機がその欲求心情には籠もっているように思える。気付かされるのが次兄からバトンタッチされた家系史研究。
 わが家系では1905年に祖父が北海道に渡って来た。北海道で人生を送るようになって3代。そして自分自身の仕事ライフにも一段落がつき始めたときに次兄から、つい目を覚ませられた気分。
 そうか、人間としての自分には刻みつけられたDNAが息づいていて、そして自分自身にも子ども孫が生まれてきて、その流れのワンパートだと気付かされるのです。自分自身にも「あと」の世代が元気に息づいてきているように、自分自身の人生も先人から受け継いできた流れなのだと。
 そう気付かせていただいて神妙に、少なくとも400年は遡れる血の流れがたどった「地域・土地」の空気に自分の身を置いて感じたいと思うようになってきた。勝手に名付ければ「サケ型心理」。自分のいのちの再確認的な希求なのかと。
 写真上はどんどん個体数が増えて「群れを成して」生まれた「母川」を遡ろうとするサケたち。
 そして、その下の写真は、わたしの家系の家名の故地と思える播州・英賀神社の夕景。
 こういうビジュアルに心理が沈殿してくるのであります。
 まだ毎日12,000歩ほどは歩き回れる体力がある今の人生時間のウチに、子孫のためにもサケの目指しているような、いのちの原点の光景をこのカラダで体験し、伝承しておきたい心理。
 北海道人は大多数がこういうこころの故地を持っている。これまでの人間の寿命は比較的短くて、こういう追究をできにくかったけれど「健康を維持して迎える高齢化」社会の到来で、その最初期にも相当するわたしたち年代は、あらたな「サケ型」領域を開拓すべきでは、ということ。
 でもまぁ、この領域はまだまだ「フロンティア」的でNHK大河で扱うような歴史のメインステージ化させるには、まだまだ時間掛かるだろうなぁ・・・。それと、北海道だけでなく首都圏地域の人びとは?

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English version⬇

[Visiting Their Hometowns: The “Salmon-Type” Psychology of Hokkaido’s Elderly]
A new frontier likely to emerge as human society achieves greater health and longevity. A new frontier in historical dramas where figures like Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu do not appear. …

 Lately, I’ve been heading to the “Kotoni Hasshikawa” river near my house several times a day. I find myself increasingly drawn to the sight of salmon and other fish swimming upstream.
 Rather than simply observing it as a “seasonal tradition” as I did before, it feels as though there is some kind of intrinsic motivation within me driving this desire. What has made me realize this is the family history research passed down to me by my second-eldest brother.
In my family, my grandfather came to Hokkaido in 1905. Three generations have now lived out their lives in Hokkaido. And just as my own professional life was beginning to settle down, my second-eldest brother suddenly made me wake up to this reality.
 I realized that the DNA etched into my very being as a human being is still alive, and as I now have children and grandchildren of my own, I’ve come to see that I am just one part of that flow. Just as the generations “after” me are thriving, my own life is also part of the stream I’ve inherited from my ancestors.
 Having been made aware of this, I’ve come to feel a solemn desire to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the “region and land” traced by a bloodline that stretches back at least 400 years. If I were to give it a name, I’d call it the “salmon-type mindset.” Perhaps it’s a yearning to reaffirm my own life.
 The photo above shows salmon, whose numbers are steadily increasing, forming a school as they attempt to swim upstream toward their “home river.”
 And the photo below shows the evening view of Aga Shrine in Banshu, which I believe is the ancestral home of my family’s name.
 It is through visuals like these that my psyche settles into a state of tranquility.
 While I still have the physical stamina to walk about 12,000 steps every day—during this phase of my life—I feel a desire, for the sake of my descendants as well, to experience with my own body the scenery representing the origin of life, just as the salmon strive to do, and to pass that legacy on.
 The vast majority of Hokkaido residents have such a spiritual homeland. Until now, human lifespans have been relatively short, making it difficult to pursue such inquiries, but with the arrival of an “aging society” where people maintain their health well into old age, our generation—which is among the very first to experience this—should pioneer a new “salmon-style” realm.
 But well, this realm is still very much a “frontier,” and it will likely take quite some time before it becomes a main stage of history, the kind featured in NHK’s Taiga dramas… And what about people in the Tokyo metropolitan area, not just those in Hokkaido?

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

【散歩道行かば中央市場で TikTok女子。メディア激変】


 高齢者の「徘徊」スレスレながら(笑)わたしの日々の早朝散歩は、自宅から東西南北あらゆる方向にその食指(足の指)が伸びてきています。おおむね往復で6km超ほど。
 料理数寄が昂じてきているので、最近チョコチョコと「札幌中央市場」場外店群に出没。こちらには目抜き通りに面した観光客向け店舗も多いですが「場内市場」側に面した日用鮮魚専門店舗群もあって、非常にたのしい。ときどき「場内」セリ場もある本格的「卸店舗群」に顔を出すこともあります。わたしは食品製造業を営んでいた生家がこの中央市場と深い「付き合い」があったので、アルバイト的に市場に出入りしていた経験もある。カラダに染みついている部分がある。
 場内の方はほぼ「男の世界」で、活発な掛け声などがこだましていて「札幌市民の台所を支えている」雰囲気が充満している。こういう市場にふだんチョコチョコと散歩がてら背中に布製リュックを背負って、好みの魚があれば背負って帰ってくるのですね。なんか、サケの帰巣的行動と似ているかなぁ(笑)。
 一度、東北からの建築家一行の札幌接遇でここを案内したことがあり、みなさん目を丸くしていたこともありました。「え、三木さん、建築じゃなくそういう筋なの?」
 で、昨日土曜日はいつもの場外店舗群を歩いていたら、こういう光景に出会っていた。
 場内の「男達の世界」とは違って場外では女子も多いのですが、作業用の服装とはいえ煌々と化粧してマイクとスマホ、モニター画面に向かって「現場中継」的な動画番組をやっている(!)。
 おお、であります。
 聞くともなくチラ見していたら「あ、なんか立ち止まって見てくれている(笑)、ウレシイ」みたいにわたしの姿も映ってしまった。聞いたらSNSのTikTokでの放送生中継中。ヘンなオジさんとして視聴者のみなさんに知れ渡ってしまった(笑)。市場の雰囲気を伝えて来場を誘引しようという作戦行動で、その日の目玉商品などの案内をしているようでした。
 わたしはこういう行動派が大好きですが、リアルな現場からのナマの声が自らSNSを利用するのがイマドキの時代相なのですね。「定食化」したオールドメディアはいよいよ追い詰められていくなぁ、と。アメリカトランプ政権もメディアと絶縁関係とのことですが、確かに現代の側面を象徴していますね。
 面白がりつつ、うーむと唸らされておりました。

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English version⬇

[On a Stroll to the Central Market: A TikTok Girl. The Media Landscape Is Changing Dramatically]
I’m on the hunt for some good fresh fish. I ended up going viral on a live social media stream with a weird old guy (lol). It’s surprising how far the world of information has come…

 Although I’m teetering on the edge of “wandering” like an elderly person (lol), my daily early-morning walks have my toes—or rather, my feet—taking me in every direction: north, south, east, and west. It’s generally a round trip of over 6 km.
 My passion for cooking has been growing, so lately I’ve been popping in here and there at the shops outside the “Sapporo Central Market.” While there are many tourist-oriented shops facing the main street, there’s also a cluster of specialty fresh fish shops facing the “market hall” side, which is a lot of fun. Occasionally, I even pop into the authentic “wholesale shops” that include the “market hall” auction floor. My family ran a food manufacturing business that had deep “ties” to this Central Market, so I actually used to come and go through the market part-time as a student. It’s ingrained in me in some ways.
The “Inner Market” side is almost entirely a “man’s world,” with lively shouts echoing through the air and an atmosphere that truly feels like it’s “supporting the kitchens of Sapporo’s citizens.” I often take little strolls through markets like this, carrying a cloth backpack on my back, and if I find a fish I like, I just sling it over my shoulder and head home. It kind of reminds me of salmon returning to their spawning grounds (laughs).
 Once, when I was hosting a group of architects from Tohoku in Sapporo, I took them here, and they were all wide-eyed. “Wait, Mr. Miki, so you’re into that kind of thing instead of architecture?”
 Anyway, yesterday—Saturday—as I was walking through the usual cluster of shops outside the market, I came across this scene.
 Unlike the “men’s world” inside the market, there are plenty of women outside. Even though they were dressed for work, they were wearing full makeup and hosting a “live from the scene” video show (!), facing a microphone, a smartphone, and a monitor.
 Oh, indeed.
 I was glancing over without meaning to listen, and before I knew it, I ended up in the shot—as if they were saying, “Oh, someone’s stopped to watch (lol), that’s so nice.” When I asked, they told me they were live-streaming on TikTok. I ended up being known to all the viewers as a “weird old guy” (lol). It seemed to be a strategic move to convey the market’s atmosphere and attract visitors, as they were promoting that day’s featured items.
 I really love this kind of proactive approach, but it really reflects the spirit of the times—people using social media themselves to share raw, real-time voices from the field. It makes me think that the “formulaic” old media is finally being cornered. I hear the Trump administration in the U.S. has also cut ties with the media—that certainly symbolizes a facet of our modern era.
 I found it amusing, but it also left me pondering.

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

 

【サケの遡上観測は視力もきたえる、かなぁ】




 一昨日の「ことし初」のサケ遡上との遭遇以降、時間があると琴似発寒川で観測するように習慣づけ。
 昨日も、朝の散歩時、ついつい足が向いてしまって気がついたら「農試公園」の「いたどり橋」の上から川面を見つめてしまっていた。サケたちはそのDNAが導く本能に従って、生まれた母性の地に還っていくのでしょう。イキモノとしてのその「まっとうさ」に神々しさを見る思い。
 一方それに引き寄せられている人間は、やはり自然の摂理でそういうサケを食糧としようとする人間DNAの性〜サガの現れなのでしょうか。初源的な「動機」はそういったところにあるとは思いますが、しかし人間としても、そういったサケ類の本能には、強くリスペクトする部分があるのではないか。
 そのいのちを捕獲し食する行為には、逆に尊崇するこころが同時に存在すると思う。いのちのやり取り。
 いただいた後、深く感謝するみたいな。アイヌの人びとの心象・儀礼とも通底するのかも。
 米作民族である日本の人びとの内面世界でさまざまな農業関連儀礼が育っていったことと似た心情。
 ・・・というところですが、高齢期を迎えたわたしとしてはワクワクしながら川面をみつめて、その魚影をみつけることは、たいへん目の運動に役立っていると思っています。水面にわずかな変調をみつけ、そこから魚影を探知する一連の目視認識は、脳味噌の活性化・賦活行為だと思えるのです。一瞬にしてこころがこどものように若返って、きわめて原初的なこころに身を任せるワケ。こうした行為は、老化をストップすると感じられる。あ、これはあくまで本人の感じ方です(笑)。
 気候変動の日本列島的なあらわれとも思える強雨災害が頻発してきている。激しい雨が降る。川の姿も変わる。人間社会も毎日のように騒がしい。それでも今年もサケは1匹1匹と母川に帰ってきた。
 こうしたサケ類の遡上という自然のいとなみの安定感に癒やされる心理が、現代ではより大きくなっているのでしょう。

●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⬇

[Watching Salmon Run Upstream Might Be Good for My Eyesight, I Guess]
Salmon run upstream, guided by the maternal call of their DNA. I find this primal behavior thrilling. Straining my eyes to watch each individual fish might actually be good for my brain. …

 Ever since my encounter with the “first salmon run of the year” the day before yesterday, I’ve gotten into the habit of observing the Kotoni-Hassamu River whenever I have a moment.
 Yesterday, too, during my morning walk, my feet just naturally led me there, and before I knew it, I found myself gazing down at the river from the “Itadori Bridge” in the Agricultural Experiment Station Park. The salmon are likely returning to the land of their birth, guided by the instincts encoded in their DNA. I find something divine in that “integrity” as living creatures.
 On the other hand, is the human instinct—or perhaps our nature—that draws us to them simply a manifestation of the human DNA’s tendency, driven by the laws of nature, to seek such salmon as food? I believe the primal “motive” lies in that, but as humans, shouldn’t we also have a deep respect for the instincts of these salmon?
 I think that the act of catching and eating their lives is, conversely, accompanied by a spirit of reverence. An exchange of life.
 It’s like feeling deep gratitude after receiving a gift. Perhaps this resonates with the inner world and rituals of the Ainu people.
 It’s a sentiment similar to how various agricultural rituals developed within the inner world of the Japanese people, a rice-farming culture.
 …That’s my take on it, but as someone who has reached old age, I find that gazing excitedly at the river’s surface and spotting the fish is extremely beneficial for my eye exercises. The entire process of visual recognition—spotting the slightest disturbance on the water’s surface and detecting the fish from there—feels like an activity that stimulates and revitalizes the brain. In an instant, my heart feels rejuvenated like a child’s, and I surrender myself to a deeply primal state of mind. I feel as though this activity actually halts the aging process. Ah, but this is strictly my own personal perception (laughs).
 Heavy rain disasters—which seem to be a manifestation of climate change specific to the Japanese archipelago—are occurring with increasing frequency. Torrential rains fall. The appearance of the rivers changes. Human society is also in a constant uproar, almost every day. Yet even so, this year the salmon returned to their home rivers, one by one.
The sense of stability found in the natural cycle of salmon migration is likely becoming an even greater source of comfort in modern times.

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