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。・・・

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[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.

Posted on 10月 1st, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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　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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[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.
　

Posted on 9月 29th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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　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.

Posted on 9月 27th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

　ガソリンスタンドって、ほぼみなさん自宅の近くに決めているだろうと思います。
　わが家では、高校同期の友人がやっていた店舗はやや遠くでしたが「ここに決めてるから」と会社の管理車両のGS（と以降、省略表記）で利用していたものが閉店するに伴い、わが家の近くに変更。
　ところがそのGSも今年の６月くらいから「改修」ということで閉鎖。やむなくそのさらに遠く、わが家から1.5kmくらいの販売店で入れています。散歩道の１コースにもなっているので、ときどき「ガソリンスタンドの建築改修工事って、どうなっているんだ？」という興味から覗き見させてもらっています。どうもいまだに「建築の内臓までの観察」動機が内発してくる（笑）。
　モータリゼーションの普及から半世紀以上経過してきて「装置産業」としてのGSも更新時期を一斉に迎えるのでしょう。一時期は、ひょっとして電気自動車の普及でどうなるのか、という疑問もあった業界でしょうが、全世界的にはEVの進展はあるが日本はそうはなっていない。むしろEV車の問題点が出てきている。アメリカのテスラ創業者は目敏く事業基盤を情報産業にも拡大転換させてきている。こちらも日本ではテスラは売れないのが現実のようだ。
　EVと同時並行して拡大したソーラー発電「畑」は、今次の台風で千葉県・印旛沼では冠水後、電気設備のショートが原因とみられる火災が発生。自然災害時の太陽光設備の安全管理という問題も可視化。
　そういう状況の中で、GS業界でこのような「改装」に踏み切る経営者も出てきた、ということか。
　で、装置産業である様子が端的に示されているのが、この写真かと。この改修には約半年かかるとアナウンスされていますが、いったん既存配管を撤去してそのあとに敷設されたのが写真の配管装置。長期にわたる「安全性」「機能性」を確保する根幹部分なのだろうと推測。
　まさに「世に連れ」がわかりやすく可視化されている光景のようで、ときどき工事状況を見学させていただいております。　ふ〜む。

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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⬇

[A Look at a Gas Station Renovation Site]
Reports of a fire involving a solar power system at Inbanuma. A gas station undergoing a six-month equipment upgrade amid Japan’s low EV adoption rate. A glimpse into the inner workings of the “equipment industry.” …~

　I imagine most people choose a gas station that’s close to their home.
　In our case, the station run by a friend from high school was a bit far away, but since we’d been using it for our company’s fleet vehicles (GS, as it will be abbreviated hereafter) with the excuse, “We’ve decided to use this one,” we switched to a station closer to home when that one closed.
　However, that GS has also been closed since around June of this year for “renovations.” We’ve had no choice but to fill up at a station even farther away—about 1.5 km from our house. Since it’s also part of one of my walking routes, I occasionally stop by out of curiosity to see how the construction and renovation work on the gas station is coming along. It seems my inner urge to “observe the inner workings of a building” still kicks in (laughs).
　More than half a century has passed since the spread of motorization, and gas stations—as part of the “equipment industry”—are likely reaching their renewal phase all at once. At one point, the industry must have wondered what would happen with the spread of electric vehicles, but while EVs are advancing globally, that hasn’t been the case in Japan. Rather, problems with EVs are beginning to surface. The founder of Tesla in the U.S. has shrewdly expanded and shifted his business base into the information technology industry. Here in Japan, too, the reality seems to be that Teslas don’t sell well.
　Meanwhile, solar power “fields”—which expanded in tandem with EVs—were hit by a recent typhoon in Chiba Prefecture’s Imba Marsh, where flooding led to a fire believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the electrical equipment. This has brought to light the issue of safety management for solar power facilities during natural disasters.
Given this situation, it seems some executives in the GS industry have decided to take the plunge and undertake such “renovations.”
　This photo, I think, clearly illustrates the nature of this equipment-based industry. It has been announced that this renovation will take about half a year; the piping system shown in the photo was installed after the existing piping was first removed. I surmise this is the core component designed to ensure “safety” and “functionality” over the long term.
It’s a scene that clearly visualizes how the industry is “keeping pace with the times,” and I occasionally visit the site to observe the progress of the construction. Hmm.

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

Posted on 9月 25th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

　一昨日の寿司にぎり１升２合で疲れが溜まっていたので、昨日は念を入れてボーッとしていた（笑）。
　わたし以上に疲れがありありと見えていたカミさんも、終日ボーッと。
　こういう「ボーッ」祈願には、わたしは温泉でまったりがいちばんなので、近郊・余市の海岸沿いのお好み温泉へ。湯の質はわかりませんが極上のドロ湯という触れ込み、疲労回復にいいとのご託宣。すぐ近くには大好きな海鮮のお魚屋さんがあるのですが、握り寿司はしばらくは日を置きたいので、きのうは完全スルー。立ち寄ればまたぞろ「お、よさげな鮮魚じゃないか、ふむふむ」と、数寄こころが沸き立つ確率が高いのです。
　という過ごし方でアタマも、休息日を心がけ（って、毎日かも）。
　そういう時はやはり雲と海の表情を見て過ごすのが、最適であります。加齢とともに、少年期のワクワクこころが俄然、復元してきて仕方がない。北海道札幌の空の造形がさまざまに「想像力」を掻き立てててくれた。遠い石狩川の蛇行に沿った上空の「ゴジラたちの行進」模様の雲のつらなりなどが妄想力を涵養してくれた。
　そういういちばん単純な「心理のゆらぎ」に、高齢期の心理は還ってくるのでしょうか。
　この写真は北海道の西岸、日本海側を見晴らす光景です。近くには「フゴッペ洞窟」があって、古代からの人びとの壁画が描かれている。約2,000〜1,500年前の続縄文時代に刻まれた、国内でも非常に珍しい800点以上の岩面刻画（壁画）が残る国の史跡。
　このような地形位置が、こうした壁画芸術の存立基盤であったように思える。この海の先には北東アジアのアムール川流域地帯が広がり、樺太から北海道の西海岸を伝って、この積丹半島地域と交流があったと思えるのです。そうした交流を可能ならしめたのは、海と空の表情に表れる天候条件だったことでしょう。
　「雲行き」を見ながら、フゴッペ洞窟での語らいの前後、船での人びとの交流が妄想されてくる。
　ボーッとしたいとき、ってわたしの場合は常時なのですが（笑）、こういう自然風景の、絵画を超える天地を見ている時間が、サイコーの過ごし方なのであります。無念無想というのは、すばらしい言語表現。

●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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https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[No Regrets, No Thoughts: A Day Spent Watching the Clouds Drift By]
The Fugoppe Cave site evokes images of exchanges between Northeast Asia and this region in ancient times. On that seashore, I let my mind wander and give free rein to my imagination…

　I was still feeling the effects of eating 1 sho and 2 go of sushi nigiri the day before yesterday, so yesterday I made a point of just zoning out (lol).
　My wife, who looked even more exhausted than I did, spent the whole day zoning out too.
　For this kind of “zoning out” session, I think relaxing at a hot spring is best, so we headed to Okimi Onsen along the coast in Yoichi, just outside the city. I don’t know much about the water quality, but it’s advertised as a top-notch mud bath, and the wisdom goes that it’s great for recovering from fatigue. There’s a seafood shop I love right nearby, but since I want to give nigiri sushi a break for a while, I completely skipped it yesterday. If I’d stopped by, there’s a high probability my connoisseur’s instincts would have kicked in, making me think, “Oh, that looks like some fresh fish—hmm, hmm.”
　Spending my time this way, I made a conscious effort to give my mind a rest (though, come to think of it, maybe I do that every day).
　On days like that, there’s nothing better than spending time watching the ever-changing expressions of the clouds and the sea. As I get older, that sense of excitement I felt as a boy is suddenly coming back—I just can’t help it. The ever-changing shapes of the sky over Sapporo, Hokkaido, really sparked my “imagination.” The pattern of clouds in the sky—resembling a “march of Godzillas”—tracing the meandering course of the distant Ishikari River, nourished my imagination.
　Perhaps the mind in old age returns to these simplest “psychological fluctuations.”
　This photo shows the view overlooking the west coast of Hokkaido, facing the Sea of Japan. Nearby is “Fugoppe Cave,” which features wall paintings created by people since ancient times. It is a national historic site where more than 800 rock engravings (wall paintings)—extremely rare even in Japan—carved during the Late Jomon period, approximately 2,000 to 1,500 years ago, remain.
　It seems that this specific geographical location served as the foundation for the existence of such wall painting art. Beyond this sea lies the Amur River basin region of Northeast Asia, and I believe there were exchanges between that area and the Shakotan Peninsula region, traveling along the western coast of Hokkaido from Sakhalin. It was likely the weather conditions reflected in the expressions of the sea and sky that made such exchanges possible.
　As I watch the “clouds gathering,” I find myself imagining the interactions between people on boats, both before and after their conversations at Fugoppe Cave.
　When I want to zone out—which, in my case, is all the time (laughs)—spending time gazing at natural scenery like this, at a world that transcends even a painting, is the absolute best way to spend my time. “No thoughts, no worries” is a truly wonderful way to put it.

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

Posted on 9月 23rd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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