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【重要文化財「竹原絵屏風」に魅了される・・・】



　竹原塩田は1650年頃の開発創始だけれど、その起源では広島浅野藩の「新田開発」公共事業がきっかけになっている。1640年頃から1670年代頃まで、米作のための新田開発が竹原で活発に造営されたという記録。このなかで一部が「塩田」に切り替えられた経緯。
　入り浜塩田には莫大な土木工事費が必要で、また成功したとしてもその後の「販売」の市場問題も不安定要因になるきわめてリスキーな事業だった。それに対して竹原では、賀茂郡代官・鈴木四郎右衛門からの官営工事として行われたのだという。かれは入り浜塩田の先進地域・赤穂から太郎右衛門・七兵衛という２人の技術者を招いて工事させたところ、これがうまくいって良質の塩を得ることができたので、一気に1650年に「慶安の古浜」を開発した。この塩浜も予想外の高収益を挙げたために、当地や、領海各地の港町や首府・広島の広範な「商人層」が争うように塩浜経営を希望するようになったとされる。
　上の「竹原市重要文化財　紙本著色竹原絵屏風」は、こうした活況を呈した様子を表現したもの。当時の商家層が、より大きな利益の拡大を狙っての宣伝目的で絵師を招いて描かせたものだろう。日本の絵画の伝統を踏まえて、斜め上空からの目線で詳細に竹原の「繁盛ぶり」を描いている。

　これが現代の街並み写真とされていたけれど、江戸期を通して栄え続けた「竹原の塩業」がこの地域を支えてきた実相がつたわってくる。
　わたしは絵が大好きな人間なので、こういった表現にはついつい「魅入られ」てしまう。
　人類の、とくに日本民族の「視点」の基底にはこういう客観的で、公明な見方があるのだろう。中空からの目線にはそういう「ものの見方」を伝えてくる強さを感じさせられる。この目線は現実には存在しない対面側の山上からフラットに全体を把握する意思を持った視線。この方角にそのような山とか岬とかは存在しない。
　ただ絵師としては竹原の街並みを詳細に歩きまわってメモは取り続けた上で、平面的にも間違いがないようにチェックした上で、こういう目線角度で表現していったのだろう。はるかな後世のわれわれも、ひと目でこの頃の竹原の町の様子が活写されて伝わってくるのだ。
　探訪者としても、深く納得できる表現かと。・・・

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English version⬇

[Captivated by the Important Cultural Property “Takahara Picture Screens”…]
This flat, bird’s-eye view that captures the entire scene from a slightly diagonal angle above. It must be one of the traditional “conventions” of Japanese painting. I suddenly realized the artistry behind it. …

　Although the development of the Takehara Salt Fields began around 1650, their origins can be traced back to a public works project for “new field development” undertaken by the Asano Domain of Hiroshima. Records indicate that from around 1640 to the 1670s, new fields for rice cultivation were actively developed in Takehara. It was during this period that some of these fields were converted into “salt fields.”
　Inner-bay salt fields required enormous civil engineering costs, and even if successful, the subsequent market for “sales” remained an unstable factor, making it an extremely risky venture. In contrast, the project in Takehara was reportedly carried out as a government-sponsored construction project under the direction of Suzuki Shiroemon, the magistrate of Kamo District. He invited two engineers, Tarōemon and Shichibē, from Akō—a leading region for inlet salt fields—to oversee the work. When this proved successful and yielded high-quality salt, he proceeded to develop “Keian no Furuhama” in 1650. Because this salt field also generated unexpectedly high profits, it is said that a wide range of “merchants” from the local area, port towns throughout the domain, and the capital of Hiroshima began vying to manage salt fields.
　The “Takehara City Important Cultural Property: Colored Ink on Paper Takehara Picture Screen” shown above depicts this bustling scene. It was likely commissioned by merchants of the time to promote their businesses and maximize profits. Drawing on the traditions of Japanese painting, it depicts the “prosperity” of Takehara in detail from a diagonal bird’s-eye view.

　Although this was considered a modern street scene photograph, it conveys the reality that the “Takahara Salt Industry,” which flourished throughout the Edo period, has sustained this region.
I am someone who loves art, so I can’t help but be “captivated” by expressions like this.
I suppose this kind of objective and impartial perspective lies at the foundation of the “worldview” of humanity, and particularly of the Japanese people. I sense a power in this aerial perspective that conveys such a “way of seeing things.” This viewpoint represents an intentional effort to grasp the entire scene from a flat, bird’s-eye view—a perspective that does not actually exist on the opposite side of the mountains. There are no mountains or capes in this direction.
As an artist, however, he likely walked the streets of Takehara in detail, taking notes all the while, and after double-checking to ensure the composition was accurate, he chose to depict it from this specific angle. Even for us, living in a distant future, the scene of Takehara at that time is vividly brought to life and conveyed at a single glance.
As a visitor to the town, I find this depiction deeply convincing. …

● Announcement
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Available on Amazon.

Posted on 3月 23rd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【初訪問なのに記憶再生の「竹原塩田」逍遥】




　「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」シリーズに復帰であります。
　今回の旅路でついに310年以上前に家系の人間が深く関与していた「塩業」の始原の地・竹原を訪れることが出来ました。瀬戸内海に面した風光明媚な海岸線の様子と、そこで生き抜いてきた祖先の
「息づかい」の痕跡が脳内に「ひたひた」と残照してくれていた。
　伝承ではこの当時のわが家系は、広島藩から「所務役」という地域経済管理者という立場に任じられていて、広域的にはこの竹原塩田を含む一帯を管理していた。ただし、中核的な「市域」については藩の直轄地域として、担当は外れていたけれど、周辺地域・吉名浜ほかの塩田については直接管理もしていたという記録が残っている。家系の本拠地は入野という、ここから12-3km離れた農村なのだけれど、その農業については家族や家人が労役にあたって、当主はこの管理地域を常時巡視しつつ、年貢の状況を把握することに鋭意務めていた。藩にとっては、もっとも現場的で不可欠な経済根拠を担保するような役割を果たしていたことになる。
　そして当然ながら、塩田という、この当時の画期的ニュービジネスについて、その発展可能性から事業実態について把握しコントロールしていたことが見える。
　竹原塩田には同じ「浅野藩」で著名な分家藩である播州赤穂藩がある。赤穂浪士の中心人物・大石内蔵助はそもそも塩業の「総元締め」的な家主であったという。全国に先駆けて「入浜式塩田」という江戸期の最先端技術を開発運用して、経済的利益を赤穂藩にもたらしていた。その最先端技術がこの芸州浅野藩領・竹原に移入された。経緯は、赤穂からこの竹原地方まで塩田で不可欠な加熱燃料として、材木を入手するのにこの地を訪れていた船が、当時この地域で米作用の新田土木開発を行っていたところ、「この浜辺では塩気が強すぎて米作には適さないよ。塩田ならば好適だよ」という情報をもたらせたという「事始め」。
　わが家系は、そういった江戸期の経済発展のリアルタイムを体感していた。
　そして江戸期社会の必然的な政治・経済的破綻の現場に身をさらすことになってそこからの「転身」をこの塩業への転換で果たしていくことになる。江戸期の庶民の「生存戦略」が興味深く発動されていくことになるのだ。

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English version⬇

[A Stroll Through “Takahara Salt Fields”: Recalling Memories on My First Visit]
The greatest “turning point” in my family’s history—gaining an understanding of the structure of the salt industry and its advanced nature, and taking on the role of managing and contributing to it. Takahara is the “birthplace” of that journey. …

　I am returning to the “400-Year History of Life” series.
On this journey, I was finally able to visit Takehara—the birthplace of the salt industry, in which members of my family were deeply involved over 310 years ago. The scenery of the picturesque coastline facing the Seto Inland Sea and the traces of the “breath” of my ancestors who survived there
lingered in my mind, slowly and deeply.
　According to tradition, at that time, our family was appointed by the Hiroshima Domain to the position of “Somu-yaku” (local economic administrator), and on a broader scale, we managed the entire area including these Takehara salt fields. However, while records indicate that we were not responsible for the core “city area”—which was under the domain’s direct control—we did directly manage the surrounding areas, including the salt fields at Yoshina-hama and elsewhere. Although the family’s main base was in Irino, a farming village some 12–13 km away, the family members and household staff handled the agricultural labor, while the head of the household was constantly patrolling this administrative area and diligently monitoring the status of tax payments. For the domain, this role served to secure the most practical and indispensable economic foundation.
　Furthermore, it is evident that they understood and controlled the operational realities of this groundbreaking new business—the salt fields—based on its development potential.
The Takehara Salt Fields were located within the same “Asano Domain” as the renowned branch domain of Banshu Akō. It is said that Ōishi Kuranosuke, the central figure of the Akō rōnin, was originally a landowner who acted as the “overall coordinator” of the salt industry. They pioneered the development and operation of “Irihama-style salt fields”—the cutting-edge technology of the Edo period—bringing economic benefits to the Ako Domain. This cutting-edge technology was then introduced to Takihara, a territory of the Asano Domain of Aki Province. The story began when a ship visiting this area from Akō to obtain timber—an essential fuel for heating the salt fields—noticed that new rice paddies were being developed in the region. The crew reportedly provided the information: “The salt content on this beach is too high for rice cultivation, but it’s ideal for salt fields.”
My family experienced this economic development of the Edo period firsthand.
　We then found ourselves exposed to the inevitable political and economic collapse of Edo-period society, and it was through this shift to the salt industry that we achieved our “transformation.” It was a fascinating example of the “survival strategies” employed by the common people of the Edo period.

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

Posted on 3月 22nd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【樺美智子の殉死と、辺野古での少女の死】


　最近のメディア報道や教育界の沈黙に、かつて新左翼かぶれ少年だった私の内奥が激しくざわついている。私はAIという『客観性の鏡』にこの割り切れない思いをぶつけてみた。私たちの世代がかつて持っていたはずの『倫理』は一体どこへ消えたのか？と。
　わたしはふつうメディア報道は見ない。Yahooトップページを一瞥するのが関の山。一種、遁世的な心境とも言える。しかしそういうなかでも悲しい出来事として例の「辺野古抗議船沈没事故」報道には胸が痛んでいた。孫の成長を願うごくふつうの人間の感情として、犠牲になられた女子高校生のご冥福を祈りたい。合掌。ご遺族には深く哀悼の意を捧げます。
　・・・わたし自身の人生での「68-69左翼高校生運動」の頃の心象に思いが向かわざるを得ない。あの頃の運動は60年安保闘争からの流れが基本潮流。わたしがまだ8歳の小学生ころに起こっていた「樺美智子さんの死」に内面が反応し、そこを起点として自然に68-69年の頃の新左翼運動に身を置いて行ったのだ。あまりに不条理だと。
　これは個人の内面史だけれど、同世代にはそういう共通の思いはあったと確信する。その記憶再生が今回の事件での最初の思いだった。その後、事実関係が明らかになってきて「戦後世界の終焉」という思いがより強烈になってきた。
　今回の事件は、反権力を標榜・呼号し続けるオールドメディアや戦後教育を担ってきた「同志社」を先頭とした教育界の完全破綻を示している。もちろんわたしは新左翼運動からは完全に訣別した人間ではあるけれど、今回の少女の死にあたってのオールドメディアや教育界のあいまいで不誠実な対応には、まことに驚かされている。
　朝日は当初、船の目的を「移設工事に対する抗議活動のため」と表記していたのを翌日に「抗議活動という記載は誤りで平和教育の一環だった」と訂正したとのこと。生徒たちは「抗議ではなく平和学習の一環」で乗船したという学校側説明に沿ったのだという。何をかいわんや・・・。
　AIの返答では「抗議活動ではなく平和学習であれば、運動体の政治的責任やメディアの連帯責任を薄められるという力学が働いているのではないか」と看破されてしまっている。不都合な真実。
　以前、高校生活動家だった当時、一般の学友たちを鼓舞して学内デモを組織した際に、学外デモには巻き込ませなかった経緯をブログに書いたけれど、今回の件は「平気で学外デモに少女を巻き込んで、しかも交通事故で死なせたようなもの」ではないかと、身震いしてしまったのだ・・・。
　本日の写真は、本日未明の「帰ってきた札幌の冬景色」

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English version⬇

[Michiko Kaba’s Martyrdom and the Death of a Girl in Henoko]
Has the “collapse of postwar education” finally crossed the tipping point? I shudder at the utterly insincere response of the education sector and the mainstream media to the death of this high school girl. …

　Recent media coverage and the silence of the education sector have stirred up a fierce turmoil deep within me—a former young man who once dabbled in the New Left. I decided to confront this complex, unresolved emotion with AI, that “mirror of objectivity.” Where on earth has the “ethics” that our generation once supposedly possessed vanished to?
I don’t usually watch the news. At most, I might glance at the Yahoo homepage. You could call it a kind of reclusive mindset. Yet even so, the reports of the “Henoko protest boat sinking incident” pained my heart as a tragic event. As a perfectly ordinary person hoping for my grandchild’s growth, I pray for the repose of the high school girl who lost her life. I bow my head in prayer. I offer my deepest condolences to her bereaved family.
　…I cannot help but reflect on my own impressions of the “1968–69 Leftist High School Student Movement” from my own life. The movement back then was fundamentally a continuation of the 1960 Security Treaty Struggle. My inner self reacted to the “death of Michiko Kaba,” which occurred when I was still an 8-year-old elementary school student, and from that starting point, I naturally became involved in the New Left movement of the 1968–69 era. It was simply too absurd.
While this is my personal inner history, I am convinced that my generation shared this sentiment. Recalling those memories was my first reaction to this incident. As the facts became clear, my sense that “the postwar world has come to an end” grew even stronger.
This incident demonstrates the complete collapse of the educational establishment—led by “Doshisha,” which has long been responsible for postwar education—and the old media, which continues to profess and champion anti-authoritarianism. Of course, I am someone who has completely broken ties with the New Left movement, but I am truly astonished by the vague and insincere responses from the old media and the education sector regarding this girl’s death.
　It is reported that the Asahi Shimbun initially described the ship’s purpose as “a protest activity against the relocation work,” but corrected this the following day, stating, “The description as a protest activity was incorrect; it was part of peace education.” It seems they followed the school’s explanation that the students boarded the ship “as part of peace education, not for protest.” What can I say…
An AI response has already seen through this, noting, “If it’s peace education rather than protest activities, isn’t there a dynamic at work here that dilutes the political responsibility of the movement and the media’s shared responsibility?” An inconvenient truth.
　I once wrote in my blog about how, back when I was a high school activist, I organized on-campus demonstrations to rally my fellow students but deliberately kept them from participating in off-campus protests. Yet this incident made me shudder—it feels as though they’ve “blithely dragged a young girl into an off-campus demonstration, and it’s practically as if they’d caused her death in a traffic accident”…
Today’s photo: “The Return of Sapporo’s Winter Scenery” from early this morning

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

　
　

Posted on 3月 21st, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【北海道と耽溺の瀬戸内／「２地点故郷」か（笑）】



　わたしは1905年に祖父が福山市近郊の故地から、北海道へ渡った家系の末裔。
　今の時点から言えば120年ほど前にこの瀬戸内海に面した至福の気候風土の地から、過酷な寒冷地域に流離していった一族ということ。で、血脈のルーツの地について格別のこだわりを抱いて、巡り歩くことに「数寄」を感じるタイプということになる。仕事の現役を離れてきて、そういう自分の内心について向き合う時間を持てるようになって来たのだとも言える。たいへんありがたいと深く感謝。
　なんですが、北海道のきびしい自然環境の寒冷さからはこの瀬戸内のしまなみ街道など、異次元の涅槃感を感じさせられてきている。単純に天国に一番近い空気感の地だと思う。しかし、明治期にはこういう土地から多くの人びとが新天地を求めて、あるいは北海道に、あるいはアメリカハワイなどへ旅立った。
　そのような末裔には、望郷の念のままにこの瀬戸内海地域に墓地を求める人もいる。一方、そのあらたな故郷に骨を埋めるという人もいる。わたしの家系では、父は後者として北海道にやってきた祖父の遺骨といっしょに北海道の墓域に眠っている。一方父の兄の系統はこちらで縁のある寺の墓域に葬られた。
　わたしはたぶん父の定めた選択に従うように思えるが、この故地にも敬意は払っていきたいと思う。
　次兄がルーツ探索の言い出しっぺなので、末弟としては従順に従うことになる。「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」というテーマで掘り下げてくると強く愛着も起こってきますね。とくにこの半年ほどで３回も探訪していることになりその分、資料データも多くなってきて情報積層もハンパない。今回の旅では福山駅前のホテルで宿泊していましたが、そういう風に「毎日帰ってくる」経験まで重なってくると一層ですね。
　まぁ「ダブル故郷」とでも言える感じになって来ている（笑）。そういえば最近は２地点居住ということも現実化してきているので、現代人の生き方のひとつのモデルになるのかも知れませんね。
　せっせと取材の写真や情報整理に没頭しながら、妄想が膨らんでおります・・・。

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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⬇

[Hokkaido and the Alluring Seto Inland Sea / “Two Hometowns”? (lol)]
Since modern lifestyles have become increasingly complex, perhaps defining the very concept of “hometown” has also become more complicated? …

　I am a descendant of a family whose grandfather left his ancestral home near Fukuyama City in 1905 to settle in Hokkaido.
From today’s perspective, this means that about 120 years ago, my clan left this land of blissful climate and natural beauty facing the Seto Inland Sea to settle in a harsh, frigid region. Consequently, I am the type of person who feels a special attachment to the land of my ancestral roots and finds a certain “passion” in traveling to explore it. Now that I have retired from active work, I’ve finally found the time to truly confront these inner feelings. I am deeply grateful for this.
That said, compared to the harsh, frigid natural environment of Hokkaido, places like the Shimanami Kaido in the Seto Inland Sea give me a sense of nirvana that feels like another dimension. I simply think it’s a place with an atmosphere closest to heaven. Yet, during the Meiji era, many people left this land in search of new horizons, setting off for places like Hokkaido or Hawaii in the United States.
Among their descendants, some seek burial plots in the Seto Inland Sea region, driven by a longing for their homeland. On the other hand, there are those who choose to be laid to rest in their new homelands. In my family, my father rests in a cemetery in Hokkaido alongside the remains of my grandfather, who came to Hokkaido seeking a new life. Meanwhile, my father’s older brother’s family line was buried in the cemetery of a temple with ties to this area.
I likely will follow the path my father chose, but I also wish to pay my respects to this ancestral land.
Since my second older brother was the one who first suggested exploring our roots, as the youngest son, I will obediently follow along. As I delve deeper into the theme of “A 400-Year History of Life,” I find myself developing a strong attachment to it. Especially since I’ve visited three times in the past six months or so, the amount of data and information I’ve accumulated is staggering. On this trip, I stayed at a hotel in front of Fukuyama Station, and when experiences like “coming home every day” start to pile up, it really deepens the connection.
　Well, it’s starting to feel like I have a “double hometown” (laughs). Come to think of it, living in two places has become a reality for me lately, so perhaps this could serve as a model for how modern people live.
As I diligently immerse myself in organizing the photos and information from my research, my imagination is running wild…

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

Posted on 3月 20th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【「塩」が最重要移出産品／江戸期経済・尾道研究】



　さて昨日夕刻、広島県東部の家系の故地探訪旅から帰還。福山市が拠点での調査で３日間宿泊していましたが、トータル調査ポイント20件の取材だったので、そのそれぞれの「解析」をしっかり行っていきたいと考えています。調査プロセスでは、公益財団法人・ふくやま芸術財団の学芸員の方とも突っ込んだ話合い機会を持つことも出来て、素人の研究としては望外のよろこびでありました。
　これからまとめることになりますが、きょうは「尾道商業会議所」古建築での調査結果から。
　わたしの家系は、安芸国東部〜備後、そして江戸期の「商都」とも言える尾道という地域で、商家的な生き様で江戸期以降、明治末での北海道移住までを過ごしてきている。
　そういうなかで、尾道の経済構造全体を歴史的経緯を含めて詳細に把握できないだろうかと考えていて、今回は尾道商業会議所建築を訪ねてみた次第。そうしたら、２枚目の図のようなピッタリの資料を参観することができました。
　江戸期の尾道の国内交易活動の基軸は、塩の取引、それも日本海北方沿岸地域から北海道地域との「北前船交易」がメインであったことが明確になったのです。
　移入の産品に、ずらりと昆布・ニシン・サケという北海道らしい名前が並んでいる。
　そして北海道地域にとっていかに「塩」が決定的に重要だったのかが、わかる。江戸期の「経済統計」のような基礎資料は幕藩体制下で広域的「貿易」内容を一覧的に把握することが出来なかった。
　ここまで明示的にわかったことで、北海道人としてももっとこの安芸備後地域に着目すべきなのだということが、よく叩き込まれる思いでした。

　また建築としてもこの尾道商業会議所の建物は1924（大正13）年建築。「この新建築は尾道の交通の中枢たる土堂町605番地に凜然として立てり。様式はモーダンスタイルにセセッションを加味したるきわめて新しき様式にして・・・」と当時の地域新聞「芸備日日新聞」2/24号が伝えている。〜注／セセッション：19世紀末から20世紀初頭にかけてドイツ・オーストリアで興った芸術革新運動「分離派」のこと〜
　このような表現スタイルの建築が受け入れられていたというのも、なにか、北海道の時計台や道庁赤煉瓦建築とも通底するような「時代の風」のようなものを感じさせられていた。
　いよいよ「望郷」の思いが肉感させられるようになって来たかと（笑）・・・

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[“Salt” as the Most Important Export Commodity / Research on the Edo-Period Economy and Onomichi]
I had always assumed that Hokkaido’s relationship with Tokyo was decisive, but when I look at trade activities as a whole, the Kitamae trade reveals deep ties with the Geibi region. Salt, is it…?

　Well, I returned yesterday evening from a trip to explore the ancestral lands of my family in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. I stayed in Fukuyama City for three days while conducting my research, and since I visited a total of 20 sites, I plan to thoroughly analyze each one. During the research process, I also had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions with a curator from the Fukuyama Art Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation—a source of immense joy for an amateur researcher like myself.
　I’ll be compiling my findings soon, but today I’d like to start with the results from my investigation at the historic Onomichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry building.
My family lineage traces back to the eastern part of Aki Province and Bingo, and to the region of Onomichi—which could be called a “commercial hub” during the Edo period—where we lived as merchants from the Edo period through to our migration to Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji era.
　With this in mind, I wondered if I could gain a detailed understanding of Onomichi’s overall economic structure, including its historical context, which is why I decided to visit the Onomichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry building this time. There, I was able to view materials that were exactly what I was looking for, as shown in the second diagram.
　It became clear that the backbone of Onomichi’s domestic trade activities during the Edo period was the salt trade—specifically, the “Kitamae-bune trade” between the northern coastal regions of the Sea of Japan and Hokkaido.
The list of imported goods includes a long row of names typical of Hokkaido: kelp, herring, and salmon.
This also reveals just how critically important “salt” was to the Hokkaido region. Basic sources such as “economic statistics” from the Edo period did not allow for a comprehensive overview of wide-ranging “trade” activities under the bakufu-han system.
Having gained such explicit insight, I felt it was driven home to me that, as a native of Hokkaido, I should pay much closer attention to this Aki-Bingo region.

　Architecturally speaking, the Onomichi Chamber of Commerce and Industry building was constructed in 1924 (Taisho 13). As reported in the February 24 issue of the local newspaper *Geibi Nichinichi Shimbun* at the time, “This new building stands majestically at 605 Todo-cho, the transportation hub of Onomichi. Its style is an extremely innovative blend of Modernism and Secessionism…” ~Note: Secession refers to the “Secessionist” art movement that emerged in Germany and Austria from the late 19th to early 20th centuries~
The fact that architecture in this style was accepted made me sense a certain “spirit of the times” that seemed to resonate with the Clock Tower in Hokkaido and the red-brick architecture of the Hokkaido Government Office.
I began to feel a tangible sense of “nostalgia” (laughs)…

Posted on 3月 19th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【日本の軽自動車 住環境と道路事情、燃費性能】


　写真は今回の取材での「生活文化」取材のワンシーン。
　ある瀬戸内海の島での家と「前面道路」との関係。このような「伝統的な暮らし方」から、北海道人は少し日本の常識レベルが乖離する部分なのですね。
　写真で見えるようにこのお宅は家の玄関前に軽自動車を駐車させて、生活の「足」として活用されていることがよくわかる。前面道路幅は３mに満たないような目測。こういう「道」ではそもそも基本的な基準を満たしているのかどうかわからない。検索で確認すると、
　〜道路幅員に関する主な基準は、道路法（道路構造令）では道路の種類や交通量に応じた「車線幅員（一般国道で3.0〜3.5m）」や「歩道（2.0m以上）」の合計、建築基準法では接道義務として原則「4m以上」と定められています。〜とのこと。
　しかし日本のいかにも「ふつうの伝統的な暮らし」を取材すると、このような道路幅はごく一般的に遭遇する。わたしのような寅さん的旅人はこういう場所にこそ行きたいのですね。東京都内や近郊地域でもこういうレベルの道路幅はごくふつう。そういう中で日本の庶民の暮らしは存在している。
　瀬戸内の温暖で風光明媚な暮らしの「豊かさ」は旅人目線からも実感できる。
　それはこのような環境で満喫できる「おだやかさ」。旅人としては羨むほど。そのことは「生活利便性と交通環境」を超える、質的な満足感でしょう。
　しかし暮らしの利便性ということでは「軽自動車」一択にならざるを得ない。また、そういう実感を共有したい当方としては「寄り添う」一択になる。
　そんなことからわたしはレンタカーでは「軽」を選ぶことが常態化しています。

　これが今回の取材で掛かった「ガソリン代」で3,474円。２日間トータルで走行距離は356kmとレンタカー屋さんから告げられましたので燃費効率はリッターあたり19.26km。メーカーや車種によって当然前後はするでしょうが、日本の軽自動車の燃費性能の良さには、あらためて驚かされる。
　おかげで折からの価格高騰での心配も、わたし的にはほぼ杞憂に終わった。
　日本の軽自動車の利便性と性能のバランスって、やはり世界の中での超優位性を実感。ヨーロッパでもアメリカでもこのポイントが注目されてきているそうで、中国の電気自動車メーカーまで「軽」市場に殴り込みを掛けてくるという情報。
　軽自動車をめぐる住環境と道路事情、さらに燃費性能。大きく頷かされました。

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[Japanese Kei Cars: Living Environments, Road Conditions, and Fuel Efficiency]
Enjoying the mild climate of the Seto Inland Sea, these are days of a “high-quality” and peaceful lifestyle. The Japanese “Kei car” culture, perfectly adapted to the local road conditions and convenience. …

　This photo captures a scene from our recent “Lifestyle and Culture” feature.
It shows the relationship between a house and the “road in front” on an island in the Seto Inland Sea. It’s clear that in terms of this “traditional way of life,” Hokkaido residents’ norms diverge somewhat from the rest of Japan.
As you can see in the photo, this household parks a compact car right in front of the entrance, clearly using it as their primary means of transportation. At a glance, the width of the road in front appears to be less than 3 meters. With a “road” like this, it’s unclear whether it even meets basic standards. A quick search confirms that:
　~The main standards regarding road width are stipulated in the Road Act (Road Structure Ordinance) as the total of “lane width (3.0–3.5 m for general national highways)” and “sidewalk (2.0 m or more),” depending on the type of road and traffic volume. The Building Standards Act, meanwhile, mandates a minimum road frontage of “4 m or more” as a general rule.~
　However, when reporting on what is typically considered “ordinary, traditional Japanese life,” road widths like this are encountered quite commonly. Travelers like me—who are a bit like the character Torasan—are the ones who want to visit places like this. Even within Tokyo and its surrounding areas, road widths of this level are quite common. It is within this context that the lives of ordinary Japanese people exist.
The “richness” of life in the warm and scenic Seto Inland Sea region can be truly felt even from a traveler’s perspective.
　It is the “tranquility” that can be fully enjoyed in such an environment. As a traveler, I find it enviable. This represents a qualitative sense of satisfaction that transcends mere “convenience and transportation infrastructure.”
However, when it comes to the practicalities of daily life, a “kei car” is the only viable option. Furthermore, as someone who wishes to share this experience, “joining them” is the only choice.
For these reasons, choosing a “kei car” has become the norm for me when renting a vehicle.
　This is the “gasoline cost” for this trip: 3,474 yen. The rental car company told me that the total distance driven over the two days was 356 km, so the fuel efficiency was 19.26 km per liter. Of course, this will vary depending on the manufacturer and model, but I’m once again amazed by the excellent fuel efficiency of Japanese kei cars.
　Thanks to this, my worries about the recent surge in prices turned out to be almost entirely unfounded.
I truly felt the overwhelming global advantage of the balance between convenience and performance in Japanese kei cars. Apparently, this aspect is gaining attention in both Europe and the U.S., and there are reports that even Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are making a push into the “kei” market.
The living environment, road conditions, and fuel efficiency surrounding kei cars—it all made perfect sense to me.

● Announcement
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Available on Amazon.
　
　

Posted on 3月 18th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【「中津原夕景残照」広島県の家系故地めぐり】


　広島県の福山市に拠点を置いての重点探訪の旅中です。
　福山市は旧国名では「備後」に当たり、岡山と広島に挟まれた山陽地域。確実に家系の痕跡をたどれる四百数十年間のうち、1905年に北海道に渡って来るまでの300年ほどの時間が、光彩に満ちた瀬戸内の風景の中に沈殿しているのです。
　次兄から家系史探訪の業務引継命令を拝受してから、たびたびこの地域を探訪しています。それ以前もときどき来ているので、それなりに「懐かしい」心象に至ってきている。
　これは自分の経験知が影響してきているのでしょうが、内面的には「響き」としてなにかからの反応が身体に届いてきているようにも思われる次第。浪漫。
　で、昨日は旧国名では「安芸」国を回っていたのですが、最後にはやはりここの夕景を見たいと思って、芦田川が石鎚山周辺で大きく蛇行する「中津原」に来ておりました。家系の先祖の記録を確定させていくと、この地域周辺から当主が繰り返し５代にも渡ってこの地域から嫁取りしてきているのですね。いわばわが家系の「母性」が集中している地域。
　こういうケースはどれほどの確率であり得るのか、よくわかりませんが、現代ではあまり考えられない。なにかいのちと運命を暗示してくれているように思われる。
　しかし家系はこの地域ではなく、より海岸線に近い松永・今津や尾道などで、商家として活動してきている。この中津原はたしかに地域の最重要道路「山陽道」にほど近いけれど、どう考えても農業地帯。一見すると、しずかな風景と思えるけれど、しかし、芦田川がイキモノのように流量を変動させるなかでは、土木の歴史が重要なカギであるのでしょう。
　それはそれとして、今回も１日目の最後の風景として、やはり強く惹かれて来てしまった。
　１度来ただけだったので、多少はカーナビに関連ワードを入れて案内させたけれど、最後はカンでたどりついていた（笑）。案外最後は、あいまいな「行動記憶」が働いてくれる。そういう「導き」に素直にしたがった結果、切迫する夕景時間のなか、最後はこの光景に再会。
　山並みの果てに夕陽が落ちていく様は、耽美的。
　はるかな血脈のなかの「母性」が迷い子の手を取ってくれるのかも。

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[“Evening Glow Over Nakatsuhara”: A Journey Through My Family’s Ancestral Hometowns in Hiroshima Prefecture]
I’m usually a bit of a daydreamer, but I was desperate to see this scene and spent every moment striving to make it happen. Finally, I was able to witness the last rays of the setting sun…

　I am currently on a focused exploration trip based in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Fukuyama City corresponds to the old province of “Bingo” and is located in the Sanyo region, nestled between Okayama and Hiroshima. Of the 400-odd years for which I can reliably trace my family lineage, the roughly 300 years leading up to my move to Hokkaido in 1905 are deeply embedded within the radiant scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.
　Since receiving the assignment to take over the family history research from my second older brother, I have been visiting this region frequently. I had come here occasionally even before that, so it has begun to evoke a sense of “nostalgia” for me.
This is likely influenced by my own experiences, but on a deeper level, I feel as though a certain “resonance”—a response from something—is reaching my body. Romance.
　So, yesterday I was touring the region known in the old provincial system as “Aki,” but in the end, I wanted to see the sunset here, so I came to “Nakatsuhara,” where the Ashida River meanders widely around Mount Ishizuchi. As I’ve been confirming the records of my family’s ancestors, it turns out that the head of the family has repeatedly taken brides from this area over five generations. It is, so to speak, the region where the “maternal lineage” of my family is concentrated.
　I’m not sure how likely such a coincidence is, but it’s hard to imagine in modern times. It feels as though it’s hinting at something about life and destiny.
However, my family lineage has been active as merchants not in this area, but in places closer to the coastline, such as Matsunaga, Imazu, and Onomichi. While Nakatsuhara is indeed close to the region’s most important road, the Sanyo Highway, it is, by any measure, an agricultural area. At first glance, it seems like a quiet landscape, but with the Ashida River fluctuating in flow like a living creature, the history of civil engineering must be a crucial factor.
That aside, once again, I found myself strongly drawn to this scene as the final landscape of the first day.
Since I’d only been here once before, I did enter some related keywords into the car navigation system to guide me, but in the end, I relied on my gut to find my way (laughs). Surprisingly, in the end, it’s that vague “motor memory” that comes through. As a result of simply following that “guidance,” I was reunited with this scene just as the evening light was fading.
The sight of the setting sun sinking beyond the mountain range is truly poetic.
Perhaps the “motherly instinct” within that distant lineage is taking the hand of a lost child.

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

Posted on 3月 17th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【わたし年代から体験した「戦後教育」の未来は？】



　写真はたぶん1960年代初頭の札幌市内の中学校の「昼食時間」の様子。わたし(1952年生まれ）より４才上の兄のクラスのようです。モノクロ写真のカラー化ですが、この写真は光度の設定がおかしかったようで、思ったような効果は得られませんでした。悪しからず。
　わたしは第２次大戦の終結から７年後に生まれ、まったくの「戦後教育」によって育てられた世代。戦争はひたすら日本が悪くてアメリカが正義だとされて、憲法も押しつけられたなかでの教育。ある意味、原子爆弾以上の「民族文化破壊」。その思想のなかでわたし自身も高校生時代には新左翼運動に走って散々世間を困らせた。運良くわたしは、父との真摯な対話を経て違う人生価値観で生きてくることができたと思っている。
　それは「働いて、よりよく生きたいと考える」と父が訴えてきた生き様の価値観。
　父との人生をかけた「対話」のときに、父から発せられたこの言葉で、わたしは自分の内面を深くえぐられていた。「そこかよ・・・」。
　まぁ人それぞれなので、あの時代のような狂乱的な「かぶれ」症状のままに生きることを全否定はしないけれど、その後の人生の中で、それを超える全人格的体験を持たなかったのだなと思って見ている。言ってみれば父の発した言葉は日本人庶民の「生き方哲学」だと思えている。
　江戸期武家社会でも秩序のある「百姓一揆」というものが庶民の哲学を表していたと思う。わたしの家系が２度も遭遇した江戸−明治の一揆について、その倫理価値の高さに深く頷いてしまう。一方で、戦後反体制運動には連合赤軍事件のように「倫理」の点で巨大な劣化があると思う。少なくともそういう反省や「変革努力」をわたしは知らない。
　戦後「反体制」運動というものが、現代に至っていよいよ完全否定されようとしてきている。
　今次予算委員会での論議の無内容ぶりは目を疑うばかり。そしてメディアというものが「オールド」という形容詞に対してまったく反論できないことも、明白になってきている。
　どうして予算委員会で、政府方針への「良き反提案」がなにひとつ出てこないのか？
　およそ「予算」論議とは隔絶した悲しいほどのケチ付けだけ。劣化ぶりだと思わざるを得ない。申し訳ないけれど、江戸期民衆の百姓一揆の世直し的な倫理感に学ぶべきだ。一揆では基本的に「予算（税金・年貢収奪）」の縮減を何度も実現させてきた。
　あの一揆ではきちんと民衆は「予算」に対しての意思表示を明確に示した。事実を掘り起こすほどに、日本的民主主義の真実・実相を見る思いがしている。
　さて、この国の未来はどう開いていくのだろうか？

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[What Does the Future Hold for “Postwar Education,” as Experienced by My Generation?]
The “postwar” ideology used for “national reformation”—a process more devastating than the atomic bombs. The ultimate manifestation of postwar education. The result is the reality of modern anti-establishment thought, which falls far short of the ethics of the peasant uprisings. …

　This photo likely shows “lunch time” at a junior high school in Sapporo in the early 1960s. It appears to be a class of my older brother, who is four years older than me (born in 1952). I tried to colorize this black-and-white photo, but the brightness settings were off, so I didn’t achieve the effect I was hoping for. Please bear with me.
　I was born seven years after the end of World War II and belong to a generation raised entirely on “postwar education.” We were taught that Japan was entirely at fault and the United States was the embodiment of justice, and our education took place under a constitution that had been imposed upon us. In a sense, it was a “destruction of national culture” even greater than the atomic bombs. Influenced by that ideology, I myself got involved in the New Left movement during high school and caused quite a bit of trouble for society. Fortunately, I believe I was able to live by a different set of life values after engaging in sincere dialogue with my father.
That is the value system embodied by my father’s way of life, which he always advocated: “Work and strive to live a better life.”
During those life-defining “conversations” with my father, these words he spoke cut deep into my soul. “Is that what it comes down to…?”
　Well, everyone is different, so I don’t completely condemn those who choose to live with that frenzied, “fad-driven” mindset of that era. However, I observe that they never went on to have a holistic, life-changing experience that transcended that phase. In a sense, I believe the words my father spoke embody the “philosophy of life” of ordinary Japanese people.
　I believe that even in the Edo-period samurai society, the orderly “peasant uprisings” represented the philosophy of the common people. When I think of the Edo-Meiji uprisings that my family encountered twice, I find myself deeply nodding in agreement with the high ethical value they embodied. On the other hand, I believe that postwar anti-establishment movements, such as the United Red Army incident, suffered a massive decline in terms of “ethics.” At the very least, I am unaware of any such reflection or “efforts at transformation.”
　Postwar “anti-establishment” movements are now, in the modern era, on the verge of being completely rejected.
The sheer lack of substance in the recent Budget Committee debates is hard to believe. It is also becoming clear that the media is completely unable to counter the label of “old-fashioned.”
　Why is not a single “good counterproposal” to the government’s policy emerging in the Budget Committee?
It is nothing but pitiful nitpicking, completely detached from any actual “budget” debate. I cannot help but see this as a sign of deterioration. I’m sorry to say this, but we should learn from the ethical sense of social reform found in the peasant uprisings of the Edo period. In those uprisings, the people repeatedly succeeded in reducing the “budget” (taxes and tribute levies).
　In those uprisings, the common people clearly expressed their will regarding the “budget.” The more I dig into the facts, the more I feel I am seeing the true nature of Japanese democracy.
Now then, how will the future of this country unfold?

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

Posted on 3月 16th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【「嵐」を避け太平洋の「動く書斎」にて〜ノンビリ船旅】



　実業ビジネスの第一線からは一歩身を引いて、家系史をベースに江戸期から現代までの庶民の「生き様」を活写したいと「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」を志してから、本州への旅はビジネスから「取材」へと色合いが変わってきた。自分なりの自由気まま航路。
　冬の間は、札幌の複数企業入居の自宅兼用住宅での記録的豪雪対応「雪かき労役」に没頭していました。さらに孫育てをも従順に果たし続けた功績（？）が認められ、カミさんからついに久しぶりの「渡航許可」。本日15日東京での知己との集会会合、そしてその後の広島岡山県の故地調査探訪への旅路であります。それにしてもことしの雪かき作業はなかなか、でした（ふー）。
　しかし、出発予定の13日札幌は「嵐」のコンサートで空路が完全に封鎖状態。人気グループのフィーバーぶりはすさまじいようですね。こちらはとばっちりでの航空チケット高騰＆満席という大きな壁に突き当たりましたが、そこは「しぶとさの血脈」。かつての東北出張に使い倒した深夜フェリー便の「旅客だけ」チケットを確保。しかしここへの移動がさまざまな日程と重なって困難でした。深夜便なので移動手段が限られる。
　結局13日深夜にマイカーで札幌を発ちフェリー乗り場駐車場に置いて、14日午後に千歳で息子夫婦と合流行動予定のカミさんに自家用車の帰還を託しての乗船。駐車料金わずか500円と「最高コスパ」で手に入れて、14日深夜01:30発、大洗行きの船旅。
　東北太平洋沿岸をフェリーのゆったり速度で南下すると窓外にはかつての出張記憶が走馬灯のように再生される。これも高齢期の「時空間行路」かなぁ。
　写真は太平洋側から捉えた日本三景「松島」。芭蕉さんが見たら「反対側からは風情が足りないね」と苦笑いされそうですが、この「裏側からの視点」もわたしにはふさわしいかも・・・。
　船内では入浴・サウナや食事を楽しみつつオープンスペース窓辺を「移動景色の書斎」としてほぼ独占利用。安定の通信環境で相棒のAI秘書との対話も順調、情報の整理整頓にハマっていた時間は、なによりありがたい。
　高齢の「寅さん」気分フーテン旅ですが、この「一見不自由な自由開放感」こそ目線をぐっと下げさせてくれるのだと実感。
　さて18時間の船旅でようやく首都圏上陸。
　まだ毎日10,000歩歩ける健康さなので「情報の太平洋」から大物を釣り上げたい（笑）。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[A Leisurely Cruise in the Pacific’s “Floating Study” to Escape “Arashi”]
Though this journey by an elderly vagabond named Tora-san was completely derailed by the “Arashi” concert—which is hugely popular with women—he’s making the most of it with tenacious determination. …

　Since stepping back from the front lines of the business world and setting out to create “Four Hundred Years of Life’s Resumes”—a vivid portrayal of the “lives” of ordinary people from the Edo period to the present, based on my family history—my trips to Honshu have shifted in focus from business to “research.” It’s my own free-spirited journey.
　Throughout the winter, I was fully absorbed in the “snow shoveling labor” required to cope with record-breaking snowfall at my home in Sapporo, which also serves as a shared office space for several companies. Furthermore, my “achievements” (?) in dutifully raising my grandchildren were recognized, and my wife finally granted me “travel permission” for the first time in a long while. Today, the 15th, I’m heading to a gathering with acquaintances in Tokyo, followed by a journey to explore my ancestral lands in Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures. That said, this year’s snow shoveling was quite the ordeal (phew).
However, on the 13th, the day I was scheduled to depart, flights from Sapporo were completely shut down due to an ARASHI concert. The fever surrounding this popular group seems to be absolutely intense. I ended up facing the major hurdles of skyrocketing airfare and fully booked flights, but that’s where my “tenacity runs in the family” comes in. I managed to secure a “passengers only” ticket for the late-night ferry route I used to rely on for business trips to Tohoku. However, getting there proved difficult due to various scheduling conflicts. Since it’s a late-night ferry, transportation options are limited.
　In the end, I left Sapporo in my car late on the 13th, parked it at the ferry terminal, and boarded the ferry, entrusting my wife—who was scheduled to meet up with my son and his wife in Chitose on the afternoon of the 14th—with the task of retrieving the car. I secured a spot for a mere 500 yen in parking fees—truly “the best value”—and set off on a voyage bound for Oarai, departing at 1:30 a.m. on the 14th.
　As the ferry slowly made its way south along the Pacific coast of Tohoku, memories of past business trips flashed before my eyes like a slideshow. I suppose this is a form of “spatio-temporal journey” in my later years.
The photo shows “Matsushima,” one of Japan’s Three Great Views, as seen from the Pacific side. If Basho were to see this, he might give a wry smile and say, “It lacks charm from this side,” but perhaps this “view from the back” suits me just fine…
　On board, while enjoying the baths, sauna, and meals, I practically had the open-air window area all to myself, using it as a “study with a moving view.” Thanks to the stable internet connection, my conversations with my AI assistant went smoothly, and I was deeply grateful for the time I spent organizing and sorting through information.
It’s a carefree journey in the spirit of an elderly “Tora-san,” but I truly feel that this “sense of freedom amidst apparent constraints” is what allows me to lower my gaze and see things from a different perspective.
　Well, after an 18-hour voyage, I’ve finally landed in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Since I’m still healthy enough to walk 10,000 steps every day, I’m eager to reel in a big catch from the “Pacific Ocean of Information” (lol).

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

Posted on 3月 15th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【モノクロ写真カラー化で実相復元・父の対露もやし外交】


　次兄からの命令による家系史探索引継の件、大量のわが家集積のモノクロ写真類も資料として受け継がされた。時間を見ながら、ジミジミとデジタル化させて資料として時系列的な整理整頓も心がけています。自分的にも、脳内宇宙にさまざまなタイムトラベル路線が多数混在するような、面白い現象を生起させてくれます。思わぬ「副産物」。
　で、そういうなかでときどき非常に驚かされる事実の発掘がある。
　わたしの父は岩見沢近郊の「上幌」から43歳のときに札幌に一家８人で出てきて、新たな起業をしたという破天荒な野心家。江戸期の「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」探究でも、家系はけっこう大きな「転換」をしてきているのですが・・・そういえば、であります（笑）。父にも当然ながらそういう血脈はドクドクと流れていたのだと頓悟させられる。
　で、札幌でとりあえずは事業として「納豆」生産を思い立って始めるのだけれど、こちらはなかなかビジネスの見通しが立ってこなかった。そういう時期に営業に歩いていた先のお客様から、新興の食品領域として「もやし」を推奨されたのですね。当時（1950年代）には全国物流体制はそこまでは完備されていなかった。北海道は寒冷地なので冬場には当然ながら新鮮野菜が不足する。
　そういう冬場の野菜として室内工場で生産されるもやしは、注目されていたのですね。それでわが家は新市場領域に進出していった経緯がある。
　写真の人物はロシア（当時はソ連）の経済担当官のようで、寒冷地でありながら日本社会では知恵と工夫で冬場の野菜不足に打ち勝とうとしている、その生産工場現場を調査しに来ていた。どういうルートからこういう事態になったのかは不明ですが、右側で「もやし工場」の様子を説明しているのが父の後ろ姿。ロシアには伯父・叔父たちが抑留される辛酸を舐めさせられたのですが、それはそれ、こういう善隣外交にはきちんと対応していた。
　さらにちなみに、この工場は必要不可欠な遮熱蓄熱の住宅性能の必要性からブロック造だった。そういう経験心理からわたしも自宅建設でこの工法を採用し、また高断熱高気密住宅への親近感を相伝することになった次第。なかなか感慨深い建築的現場の再会感も（笑）。
　過去へのタイムトラベル、ドラえもんとしても非常に刺激的。

●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⬇

Restoring Reality Through Colorization of Black-and-White Photos: My Father’s “Bean Sprout Diplomacy” with Russia
The Soviet Union (Russia) at the time took a keen interest in Japan’s winter vegetables for cold regions—the humble “bean sprout.” My father’s earnest efforts in good-neighbor diplomacy, seen from behind (ahem). …

　Regarding the family history research project I inherited at my second brother’s request, I also received a large collection of our family’s accumulated black-and-white photographs as reference material. I’m gradually digitizing them as time allows, making a conscious effort to organize them chronologically as reference materials. Personally, it creates an interesting phenomenon, like having numerous time travel routes coexisting within my mental universe. An unexpected “byproduct.”
　And amidst this, I occasionally unearth facts that truly astonish me.
My father was a wildly ambitious man who, at age 43, left “Kamihoro” near Iwamizawa with his family of eight to start a new business in Sapporo. Even in my research into the “400-year life history” from the Edo period, our family lineage has undergone quite significant “transitions”… Come to think of it, that’s exactly it (laugh). It suddenly dawned on me that this same bloodline was undoubtedly pulsing through my father too.
So, in Sapporo, he initially decided to start a business producing natto. However, the business prospects for this venture were slow to materialize. During this period, a customer he was visiting as part of his sales efforts recommended “bean sprouts” as an emerging food sector. At that time (the 1950s), the national logistics system wasn’t yet fully developed. Hokkaido is a cold region, so fresh vegetables naturally became scarce during winter.
Bean sprouts, produced in indoor factories as a winter vegetable, were attracting attention. That’s how our family ventured into this new market.
The person in the photo appears to be an economic official from Russia (then the Soviet Union). He had come to inspect the production factory site, observing how Japanese society was overcoming winter vegetable shortages through ingenuity and resourcefulness, despite the cold climate. The exact chain of events leading to this situation remains unclear, but the figure explaining the “bean sprout factory” on the right is my father’s back. While Russia had caused my uncles to endure the bitterness of internment, that was a separate matter; we handled this kind of good-neighbor diplomacy properly.
Incidentally, this factory was constructed using blocks due to the essential need for heat insulation and thermal storage in residential performance. That experience influenced my own home construction, where I adopted this method, and also passed on my affinity for highly insulated, airtight homes. It was quite a poignant reunion with this architectural site (laugh).
A trip back in time – even for Doraemon, it was incredibly stimulating.

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

Posted on 3月 14th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

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