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【こども本の森 札幌・北大、いいね】



　昨日からはお盆休暇が一般的になってきました。
　高齢者の早朝散歩でもすこし変化があって、朝ご飯を遅めにしてふだんなかなか来られない北大構内散歩を夫婦一緒で行って参りました。ヒグマ騒動以来、札幌の真ん中にあって周囲の広大な自然林からは、幹線道路群によってほぼ孤立しているのに、太古のこの地のたたずまいが薫っている北大構内の魅力を味わっています。
　ただ、北大まではクルマで駐車場への移動になるので、ひとりのときは逆にメンドイ。
　気分的にもゆったりできる休暇日には格好と思った次第。
　案の定、北大の学生さんや教職員のみなさんも少なめで、また観光客も少なくゆったり散歩8000歩以上。
　で、休日中に「孫預かり」予定もあるのでいま話題の「こども本の森 札幌・北大」を事前チェック。あ、この施設は主に「事前予約制」であり、予定する日はすでにいっぱいなのですが、当方の孫はまだ「本を読む」ことはできない年齢なので、読書の雰囲気に馴染ませることが主目的。
　最近、日本人の本離れが指摘されますが、やはり読書は最高の「認識」向上機会。本離れが加速するほど、逆に読書習慣はその重要度が増していくのではないかと予想しています。とくに「想像力」が増進する童話や、子ども向けの本は、文化認識の基盤として重要度が増してくると思われます。
　そんな想いで、こちらの施設を参観してみた次第。もちろん早朝なので開場前でもあり、周辺のたたずまい、雰囲気を味わうのが主眼。
　思いの通り、北大構内のサクシュコトニ川のほとりで緑あふれる環境立地。周辺には大好きな川の水の「吹き出し口」があって、いのちの循環感に満ちている雰囲気。北大正門にもほど近い。
　そして緑の環境の中、正面側壁面はすべてガラス張りで、のびやかな曲面で構成されている。ガラス越しに内部空間が視認できますが、本の選択に於いてもたいへん工夫されていることがうかがわれた。一度はこの空間の中で本が醸し出す「世界観」を涵養することは成長を促してくれると勝手に想像していました。
　北大の空間は日本でダントツの雰囲気環境で、世界全体でも第７位という解説もありますが、自然と「学ばさる」（若干北海道弁）環境だと思えます。さて、孫はどういう「反応」を示すか、楽しみ。
　まぁ、ボーッとしている一択でしょうが（笑）。

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English version⬇

[Children’s Book Forest, Sapporo/Hokkaido University—Thumbs Up!]
I don’t get to come here very often, but a new library for young children has opened on the Hokkaido University campus. I really resonate with this concept. My doting grandparent mode is in full swing…

　Since yesterday, the Obon holiday has generally begun.
There’s been a slight change in our early-morning walks as well; we had a late breakfast and went for a walk together as a couple on the Hokkaido University campus—a place we don’t usually get to visit. Ever since the brown bear incident, even though the campus is located right in the heart of Sapporo and is almost completely isolated from the vast natural forests surrounding it by a network of major roads, we’ve been savoring the charm of the Hokkaido University campus, which exudes the atmosphere of this land’s ancient past.
　However, since we have to drive to the parking lot at Hokkaido University, it’s actually a bit of a hassle when I’m alone.
　I figured it would be perfect for a holiday when I wanted to take it easy.
　Sure enough, there were relatively few Hokkaido University students, faculty, and staff, and few tourists as well, so we enjoyed a leisurely stroll of over 8,000 steps.
　Also, since I’m scheduled to “babysit” my grandchild over the holiday, I checked out the much-talked-about “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo・Hokkaido University” in advance. Oh, this facility operates primarily on an “advance reservation system,” and the dates I had in mind were already fully booked. However, since my grandchild isn’t yet old enough to “read books,” my main goal is simply to acclimate them to the atmosphere of reading.
　Lately, there’s been talk about Japanese people drifting away from books, but reading is still the best opportunity to enhance “cognitive development.” I predict that the more this trend accelerates, the more important the habit of reading will become. In particular, children’s books and fairy tales—which foster “imagination”—are likely to grow in importance as the foundation of cultural awareness.
　With these thoughts in mind, I decided to visit this facility. Of course, since it was early in the morning, it wasn’t open yet, so my main focus was on taking in the surroundings and atmosphere.
As I had imagined, it’s located in a lush, green setting along the Sakushkotoni River on the Hokkaido University campus. Nearby is a “spout” where water flows from the river—a feature I love—creating an atmosphere brimming with a sense of the cycle of life. It’s also quite close to the main gate of Hokkaido University.
　Set amidst this green environment, the front facade is entirely glass and features graceful, curved surfaces. While the interior space is visible through the glass, I could tell that great care had been taken in the selection of books. I couldn’t help but imagine that spending time in this space, immersing oneself in the “worldview” evoked by the books, would foster personal growth.
　Hokkaido University’s campus boasts an atmosphere that is unrivaled in Japan—some sources even rank it seventh in the world—and I feel it’s an environment where one is naturally “taught” (to use a bit of Hokkaido dialect). Now, I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of “reaction” my grandchild will have.
Well, I suppose the only option is for him to just zone out (laughs).

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

　

Posted on 8月 12th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【岡山県「後月」郡、この地名って読めますか？】



　家系史の探究について、昨日までで直近の重要地域・文献調査が一段落。
　江戸期の「宿駅」間の経済交流の実態を調査確認するのに岡山県「井原市史」を読解してきていますが、必要箇所についてはおおむね確認作業が完了。これから分析作業になるところ。わが家系は、山陽道の宿駅として尾道の東隣の「今津」が故地。その地域産業「松永塩田」に依拠した経済活動で江戸後期を生きていた。
　山陽道の宿駅として東隣に「神辺」があり、その先に岡山藩領の「井原」。その地の有力家と人脈コネクションを形成してきていた。
　作業としては順調に推移しているのですが、どうしても引っかかっているのが地名。
　この井原は「後月」という明治以降の郡名地域。
　資料でなんどもこの郡名が出てくるのですがまったく馴染めない（泣）。人間は読みがアタマのなかで残響して、馴染み感覚が生起してモノゴトの整理整頓がついていくのだと思う。
　しかしこの「後月」の読みが「しつき」だとわかってからも、どうも残響してくれない。
　さっぱり現場感・馴染みが持てないのです。家系史ではこの地域の人びととの関係が幕末から明治以降、非常に大きなポイントになる地域なのにであります。わたしの祖母の「生地」でもありその家系伝承の掘り起こしは最重要。なので近々この地を探訪予定でもあります。
　「後」という字を「しり」と読む北海道の「後志〜後方羊蹄〜しりべし」という地名もあるので、まったくわからないではないのです。日本語古語としてそのような「読み方」はあったのでしょう。
　AIの「後月〜しつき」読みについての解説は以下。
　〜名前の由来と歴史
　1.先進地域として渡来人や古代の職業集団（部民）が定住した古代・吉備国は、朝鮮に近い瀬戸内の海上交通の要所。優れた技術を持つ渡来系集団が多く移り住んだ。朝廷に仕える職能集団も多く配置されたため、彼らの言葉や集団名に漢字を当てた結果、独特の地名が残った。
　2.「好字二字化」による強引な漢字の当てはめ。奈良時代、元明天皇の命により「地名には漢字2文字で縁起の良い文字（好字）を使え」というルール（風土記編纂の詔）が出された。これにより「しつき（足次）」地名に対し、意味を無視して強引に「後月」の2文字が割り振られた。現代人がパッと見で読めない地名が誕生した。
　3.古代の言葉の「発音の変化」　何千年も前の「古代日本語の響き」がなまり変化した結果、漢字本来の読み方からかけ離れてしまったケース。〜〜
　まぁ、郷に入らば従え。なんとか習慣化したい。え〜っと「しつき」か・・・。

　
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English version⬇
　
[“Shitsuki” District, Okayama Prefecture—Can You Pronounce This Place Name?]
First of all, I can’t pronounce it (lol). Apparently, it’s “Shitsuki.” It just doesn’t stick in my head. It doesn’t click. I’m planning to visit there soon. I’m going to get used to it! …

　Regarding my genealogical research, I’ve just wrapped up the most recent phase of fieldwork and literature review as of yesterday.
　I’ve been studying the *History of Ibara City* in Okayama Prefecture to investigate and verify the actual state of economic exchange between “post stations” during the Edo period, and I’ve largely completed the verification process for the relevant sections. Now it’s time to move on to the analysis phase. My family’s ancestral home is “Imazu,” located east of Onomichi, which served as a post station on the Sanyo Road. During the late Edo period, our family sustained itself through economic activities centered on the local industry, the “Matsunaga Salt Fields.”
　To the east of Imazu along the Sanyo Road was “Kannabe,” and beyond that lay “Ibara,” part of the Okayama Domain. We had established connections with influential families in that area.
　The work itself is progressing smoothly, but there’s one thing that just won’t let me go: the place names.
　This “Ibara” is part of a region known as “Shitsuki” since the Meiji era.
　This district name appears repeatedly in the documents, but I just can’t get used to it (sigh). I think that when a pronunciation resonates in our minds, a sense of familiarity arises, allowing us to organize and make sense of things.
　However, even after learning that “Shitsuki” is the reading for “後月,” it just won’t resonate with me.
　I simply can’t get a sense of the place or feel at home there. Yet in my family history research, this region is a crucial focal point for my relationships with the people there, spanning from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji era and beyond. It’s also my grandmother’s “birthplace,” so unearthing the family traditions there is of the utmost importance. That’s why I’m planning to visit the area soon.
　There are place names in Hokkaido—such as “Shiri” (from “Shiribeshi” and “Shiribetsu”)—where the character “後” is read as “shiri,” so it’s not as if I don’t understand the concept at all. Such a “reading” likely existed as an archaic form of Japanese.
　The AI’s explanation of the “Shitsuki” reading for “後月” is as follows.
　~ Origin and History of the Name
　1. Ancient Kibi Province, a leading region where immigrants and ancient occupational groups (bu-min) settled, was a key maritime transportation hub in the Seto Inland Sea, close to Korea. Many immigrant groups possessing advanced skills moved there. Since numerous professional groups serving the imperial court were also stationed there, the application of kanji to their languages and group names resulted in the preservation of unique place names.
　2. Forced application of kanji based on the “two-character auspicious character” rule. During the Nara period, by order of Empress Genmei, a rule was issued (the Imperial Edict on the Compilation of the Fudoki) stating, “Place names must use two auspicious Chinese characters (kōji).” As a result, the place name “Shitsuki” (足次) was forcibly assigned the two characters “Gotsuki” (後月), disregarding its original meaning. This gave rise to place names that modern people cannot read at a glance.
　3. “Pronunciation Changes” in Ancient Language: Cases where the “sounds of ancient Japanese” from thousands of years ago have evolved through dialectal changes, resulting in pronunciations that have drifted far from the original readings of the kanji. ~~
Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I’ll try to get used to it somehow. Um… “Shitsuki,” I guess…

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

Posted on 8月 11th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【大分／宇佐国は古代以来、九州屈指の聖域】


　ようやく全県踏破の最終地・大分県を巡り歩くことができた。少年期、修学旅行以外でははじめて旅行できたのがいきなりヨーロッパだったことで、帰国後いわば渇望するように京都や奈良の空気に湿潤したくなって、日本というものを心底、体感したかった。そういう時間を持てたことを深く感謝している。その後の人生で、遠隔地を歩く、知らない日本を巡るということは、最上の「数寄」になっていった人間。仕事の領域選択でもこのことは心理の基底で揺り動かしてくれていたと思う。
　それがようやく人生最終盤で「全地域・全県制覇」として叶えられたことが率直に嬉しい（笑）。やっと来られたぜ大分、であります。そのことを敬して「大分県立歴史博物館」逍遥させていただいた。
　＜太古の昔、宇佐は九州屈指の聖域！
　宇佐平野を南から北へ流れる駅館川（やっかんがわ）東岸の台地上に、3世紀後半から6世紀に造られた前方後円墳6基を含む、数多くの古墳からなる川部・高森古墳群がある。宇佐風土記の丘はその地の史跡公園。
　ここは宇佐平野を見渡す丘にあり、長い間地域有力者たちが眠る聖域。とくに3世紀後半に造られた赤塚古墳は前方後円墳であることから、宇佐地域が九州で最も早くヤマト政権との結びつきを深めたことを示している。
　古代日本では地域の有力者が「国造（くにのみやつこ）」に任命された。古事記には宇佐国造として「宇沙都比古・宇沙都比売（うさつひこ・うさつひめ）」の名がみえる。
　宇佐国造がこの古墳群に葬られた可能性も高く、宇佐がヤマト政権にとって重要な場所だったことを示している。そういう重要地だから7、8世紀に仏教文化や八幡神文化が宇佐において盛んになっていく。〜宇佐風土記の丘の案内文より〜＞
　古代「女系」天皇制になってしまう危機があった。女性天皇・称徳帝（孝謙上皇）との恋愛関係を利用した道鏡は、政治権力を握り次の天皇になろうとした。この日本国の男系男子の皇統の危機を救ったのが、宇佐神宮の神意（和気清麻呂による託宣）。
　そういう古代以来の国家の深淵たる知恵が深く根付いている地域。
　そしてこの九州から瀬戸内海を経てヤマト政権と深くつながり、さまざまな面で日本に大きな影響をもたらし続けた地域。北海道人として最後に訪れるのにふさわしいとも思えていました。

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English version⬇

[Oita / Usa Province: One of Kyushu’s Most Sacred Sites Since Ancient Times]
This is the land where the divine will of Usa Jingu—which prevented Dōkyō from ascending to the throne—was nurtured. We explore this prefecture, which has preserved its unique cultural traditions within the global context, with deep respect. …

　I was finally able to walk around Oita Prefecture, the last stop on my journey to visit every prefecture in Japan. As a teenager, my first trip outside of school field trips was to Europe—and upon returning home, I found myself yearning to soak in the atmosphere of Kyoto and Nara, as if to quench a deep thirst, and to experience the essence of Japan from the bottom of my heart. I am deeply grateful to have had that time. Throughout the rest of my life, walking through remote areas and exploring the unknown corners of Japan became my greatest “passion.” I believe this desire also served as a fundamental driving force behind my career choices.
It gives me sincere joy that, finally, in the twilight of my life, I’ve been able to fulfill this goal of “conquering every region and every prefecture” (laughs). “I’ve finally made it to Oita,” I thought to myself. Out of respect for that achievement, I took a leisurely stroll through the Oita Prefectural Museum of History.
　

Posted on 8月 10th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【全県歴訪の最後・大分の古民家「ナイショ」の探訪】



　お盆休暇の「前哨戦」のような土日ですが、みなさまいかがお過ごしでしょうか？
　11日には「山の日」の休日もあるので、10日の出社日を挟んではいるけれど、どうも大型の夏期休暇が世間に広がっているように思います。半引退の高齢者には、その世間との対応という印象。
　たぶん多くの「親族」との出会い機会が増えてさまざまに「内緒話」が盛り上がるでしょう。
　そんな気付きから、しばらく忘却していた「日本全県探訪」の個人的体験、最後の地・大分県の個人記録写真集を再見しております。実はこの大分県の古民家、大分市の野津原地区にある「後藤家住宅」の間取りに「ナイショ」という室名が記されていて、内心唸っていたことを思い出した次第。
　上の写真と間取り図がその古民家ですが、このナイショとは「寝所」のことで、家族だけが就寝するための室名だということ。ただ、ナイショという名付けはなかなか言い得て妙。たしかに家族だけでひそひそと「あの人さぁ、チョットさぁ」「うんうん、わかるわかる（笑）」みたいなぶっちゃけ話をホンネそのままにさらけ出し合うのには、格好の場所だと思われました。日本人のある種の諧謔性が室名に反映したのか、それとも逆に室名の由来から習慣言語が発生したのか？
　たぶんその合間のような感覚が漂ってきました。
　一応、検索などでは以下のような解説。
　〜「ないしょ」の語源は仏教の「内証」／自分の内面だけで深く悟る。・・・言葉の移り変わり他人に見えない・分からない⇒外に漏らさない秘密。漢字当て字：のちに「内緒」の字が当てられた。〜とのことでした。
　しかし最近のわたしはAIに「ツッコミ」を入れて重層的関わりを持ちたくなってきているので、さらにこの「大分県の実例」を引用して追究したら、以下の回答。
　〜面白いことに、「ナイショ」という部屋が指す内容は地域によって少し異なります。大分県などの一部地域では家族の「居間」や夫婦の「寝所」を指すことが多いのに対し、長崎県の五島列島などでは「料理をする場所（台所）」を指すなど、いずれも「ゲストの目から隠された生活の裏側」という点では完全に一致しています。〜というように微妙な「深掘り」をドヤ顔してきた（笑）。
　この室名を家族間で言い交わすとき、どのような心理が響きあっていたか、また来訪者がこの室名を聞いたときどういう心象だったか、興味深い。

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English version⬇

[The Final Stop on My Tour of the Prefecture: Exploring “Naisho,” a Traditional House in Oita]
I believe traditional houses represent the very origins of “folklore.” When enveloped by their atmosphere, I can almost feel the breath and thoughts of those who lived here long ago. …

　This weekend feels like a “prelude” to the Obon holiday—how is everyone spending their time?
Since “Mountain Day” is a holiday on the 11th, even though we have to go to work on the 10th in between, it seems like a long summer vacation is taking hold across the country. For seniors like me who are semi-retired, it feels like we’re just going through the motions to keep up with the rest of society.
I imagine there will be more opportunities to meet with “relatives,” and all sorts of “private conversations” will be in full swing.
　Prompted by this realization, I’ve been revisiting my personal photo album documenting my final stop on my “Exploring All of Japan’s Prefectures” journey—Oita Prefecture—a project I’d forgotten about for a while. In fact, I recalled how I was secretly impressed when I noticed the room name “Naisho” listed on the floor plan of this traditional Oita house, the “Goto Family Residence,” located in the Nozuhara district of Oita City.
　The photo and floor plan above show that traditional house. It turns out that “Naisho” actually means “sleeping quarters”—a room designated solely for the family to sleep in. Still, the name “Naisho” is quite apt. It certainly seemed like the perfect place for family members to whisper candidly to one another, sharing their true feelings without holding back: “You know that person… just a little…” “Yeah, yeah, I know, I know (laughs).” Did a certain Japanese sense of humor get reflected in the room’s name, or did the colloquial usage actually stem from the origin of the name?
　I got the feeling it was somewhere in between.
　For reference, here’s an explanation I found online:
　~ The etymology of “naisho” comes from the Buddhist term “naishō” (内証) / achieving deep enlightenment solely within oneself. …The evolution of the word: “invisible or unknown to others” ⇒ “a secret not revealed to the outside world.” Kanji adaptation: Later, the characters for “内緒” (naisho) were assigned to it. ~That’s what it said.
　However, lately I’ve been wanting to engage in a multi-layered dialogue by “poking fun” at AI, so when I cited this “real-life example from Oita Prefecture” to probe further, I received the following response.
　~Interestingly, the meaning of a room called “Naisho” varies slightly by region. While in some areas, such as Oita Prefecture, it often refers to the family “living room” or a couple’s “bedroom,” in places like the Goto Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture, it refers to the “place where cooking is done (kitchen).” In all cases, however, they are completely consistent in that they represent “the hidden side of daily life, concealed from guests’ eyes.”~ I proudly presented this subtle “deep dive” with a smug look on my face (lol).
　It’s fascinating to consider what psychological dynamics were at play when family members used this room name among themselves, and what impressions visitors formed when they heard it.

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

Posted on 8月 9th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【住環境「住めば都」と人それぞれの幸福感】



　「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」というテーマを決めて、家系の慶長年間以降の生き様をたどる「ライフワーク」に取り組んできていますが、次兄からバトンタッチされたこのお役について、やはり自分としては可能な限りのリアリティを求めて、その土地、その空間になるべく近づいて「息づかい」を感受したいと思っています。
　400年前当時に「紀州から」移転してきて住み着いた「故地」にはたぶんいろいろな機会を捉えて、もう７−８回レベルで探訪してきています。その地形の特徴から生業の実相、信じた生き方の痕跡、時代状況の中でどのような「桎梏」に遭遇し、どのようにわたしに繋がってくるいのちのリレーが生成してきたのか、という一連の空気感を追体験したいと念じているわけです。
　写真はいまのわたしの住環境のなかで，毎日10,000歩越えの散歩のひとつのルート景観。
　散歩は毎日同じルートを歩くのが好きな方もいるでしょうが、わたしは家の周りでいくつかの「基本ルート」を定め、この写真ルートは「自然に親しむ」系のもの。
　先祖の生き様を想像し続ける日々では、やはり「山の景色」は近景・遠景のコントラストを意識するのに欠かせない。そしてそこに「水」が流れているのは人間の基本のように思える。たぶん時空を超えて共有できる基本。
　こういう現代社会が実現した環境の美感のなかで、毎日を過ごせている「シアワセ」感が沸き起こって来る。そして血脈が自分のいまを導いてきてくれたことにも、シンプルに感謝したくなる。
　故地は広島県東部地域で複数箇所にわたっている。家系の人びとは厳しい蒸暑気候の夏を過ごしていただろうけれど、120年ほど前に祖父以降の一統はこのカラッとしたさわやかな夏の地に新天地を開いた。
　たしかに冬の寒さ・雪の困難は隔絶するが、現代では自分もその運動に関わった「住宅性能進化」が困難を克服した。さらに人間が暮らす街区としての「幸福感」はかなりのハイスペックに到達している。
　散歩で歩ける範囲にこういう自然環境もあり、同時に新千歳空港までも１時間以内で到達し、札幌市中心部にも地下鉄利用で10数分以内の利便性。さらに歩いて買い物出来る1km以内に生活を豊かにする大型スーパー・ドラッグストア類が10を超えて存在し、かつ公共図書館は家の目の前。
　長尺スパンで生き様を考えるとき、より天国に近づいている、という実感がある。

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English version⬇

[Living Environments: “Home Is Where the Heart Is” and Each Person’s Sense of Happiness]
From a sweltering climate to a place with dry, crisp air. One’s personal perception shifts toward the idea of “the place closest to heaven.” In old age, one traces the path their family has walked over the generations. …

　Having chosen the theme “A 400-Year History of Life,” I have been working on a “life’s work” that traces the lives of my family line from the Keichō era onward. Regarding this role, which my second older brother has passed on to me, I naturally seek as much realism as possible; I want to get as close as I can to that land and that space to sense its “breath.”
　I’ve probably visited my “ancestral home”—the place where my family settled after moving “from Kishu” 400 years ago—seven or eight times now, taking advantage of various opportunities. I’m eager to relive the overall atmosphere of that place: from the characteristics of its terrain to the realities of their livelihoods, the traces of the way of life they believed in, the “shackles” they encountered amid the circumstances of their time, and how the relay of life connecting them to me has unfolded.
　The photo shows a view along one of the routes I take on my daily walks—which exceed 10,000 steps—in my current living environment.
　While some people prefer to walk the same route every day, I’ve established several “basic routes” around my home, and the route in this photo is one designed to “connect with nature.”
　In my daily life, as I continue to imagine how my ancestors lived, “mountain scenery” is indispensable for appreciating the contrast between near and far views. And the fact that “water” flows there feels like a fundamental aspect of being human—perhaps a fundamental truth we can share across time and space.
Amid the beauty of this environment, made possible by modern society, a sense of “happiness” wells up within me as I spend each day here. It also makes me want to simply express my gratitude for the bloodline that has guided me to where I am today.
My ancestral homeland spans several locations in the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture. While my ancestors likely endured harsh, sweltering summers, about 120 years ago, my grandfather and his descendants carved out a new life in this dry, refreshing summer climate.
　Admittedly, the harsh winter cold and the challenges of snow are a world apart, but in modern times, the “evolution of housing performance”—a movement in which I myself was involved—has overcome those difficulties. Furthermore, the “sense of happiness” as a residential community has reached a remarkably high standard.
　This natural environment is within walking distance, yet New Chitose Airport is less than an hour away, and downtown Sapporo is just over ten minutes away by subway. Furthermore, within a 1-kilometer walking radius—convenient for shopping—there are more than ten large supermarkets and drugstores that enrich daily life, and the public library is right in front of my house.
　When I consider my way of life over the long term, I truly feel that I am getting closer to paradise.

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

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

【朝は「冷涼感」も感じる札幌の夏 2026】


　大学生と社会人の会社勤め時期の都合８年間ほどの東京暮らし以外は、ずっと札幌住まいの人生。郷に入らば郷に従うという素直な性格なので（笑）案外東京時代の夏場体験も、そう苦にはしていませんでした。が、最近の本州以南地域での40度超えというニュースを見ていると、隔世の感がありまことにお見舞い申し上げる次第。
　とくに被災され避難所での暮らしを強いられているみなさんのことを思うと、まことに思いが募ります。
　写真は昨日久しぶりに朝散歩していた近くの「西野緑道」の様子。
　６月にはやや暑さが強かった北海道ですが、その後「エゾ梅雨」的な多雨気候でやや冷涼感に包まれていました。ようやく８月の声を聞いてから連日30度を超えるか超えないかの一進一退状況。まぁ本州以南地域のみなさんには申し訳ないような低レベルでの「暑さ」ではありますが。
　室内でエアコンをあまり掛けっぱなしにすると「寒い」くらい。夫婦でも「体感」には違いがあるので、わたしはその寒さにガマンして室内でPCと向き合っております。カミさんはとくに台所仕事など室内作業でヒートアップするようで、すれ違いというか夫婦ケンカがあります（笑）。
　で、本日も早朝４時に外を見てみたら外に駐車しているクルマのガラス面とフロント側には、うっすらと「結露」が発生しておりました。

　こんな様子でしたが、散歩道の西野緑道では、早朝で低め、たぶん20度も下回っている上に緑にほぼ囲われた散歩道環境なので、多少の風もあってやや肌寒さを感じながら、徐々に上がっていく気温に安堵感を感じていました。　
　北海道の夏は、ここからお盆までが最盛期。
　日中街を歩いていると、日焼けした子どもさんたちの笑顔に出会えて楽しい。夏休みまっ最中の楽天ぶりが自分の過ぎ去りし日々を思い出させてもらえます。昨日も書いたように、ライフワーク的に取り組んでいる「家系史」探究で昔人である先祖の生き様・暮らしぶりを追体験する日々なのですが、現代の人びととイメージが重なってきて、ふと出会う子どもたちの表情から、刺激される部分が大きいのですね。通底する「人間らしさ」。
　あのとき、曾祖父はどういう心理で過酷だった明治初年の夏をしのいでいたのだろうか、などと思いが行きつ戻りつさせられる。北国で過ごしていられる幸せを噛みしめつつ、暑中お見舞い申し上げます。

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

English version⬇

[Sapporo’s Summer 2026: A “Cool Breeze” in the Morning]
I happened to glance over and noticed condensation forming on the car’s windows and windshield due to the temperature difference. Perhaps it’s caused by the contrast between the nighttime temperature in the 10s and the heat of the car’s body during the day. Season’s greetings in the heat of summer. …

　Apart from the roughly eight years I spent living in Tokyo while attending college and working as a company employee, I’ve lived in Sapporo my entire life. Since I have a straightforward personality and believe in “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” (laughs), I actually didn’t find the summers during my time in Tokyo all that difficult. However, seeing recent news reports of temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in regions south of Honshu makes it feel like a different world, and I’d like to express my sincere sympathy to those affected.
　My heart goes out especially to those affected by disasters who are forced to live in evacuation shelters.
The photo shows the “Nishino Greenway” near my home, where I went for a morning walk yesterday for the first time in a while.
　In June, it was a bit hot here in Hokkaido, but after that, we were enveloped in a somewhat cool atmosphere thanks to a rainy spell reminiscent of the “Ezo rainy season.” Finally, with the arrival of August, we’ve been in a back-and-forth situation where the temperature hovers around 30 degrees day after day. Well, I suppose this is a rather mild level of “heat” that I almost feel bad about compared to what people in Honshu and further south are experiencing.
　If I leave the air conditioner running indoors for too long, it actually feels “cold.” Even between us as a couple, our “perceived temperature” differs, so I’m putting up with the chill while working on my PC indoors. My wife, on the other hand, seems to get really hot doing indoor chores like cooking, so we end up having little disagreements—or rather, marital spats (laughs).
　Anyway, when I looked outside at 4:00 a.m. today, I noticed a faint layer of “condensation” had formed on the windows and front of the car parked outside.

　That was the scene, but on the Nishino Greenway walking path—where it was still early morning and the temperature was on the low side, probably well below 20 degrees, and the path was almost entirely surrounded by greenery—I felt a slight chill in the air despite the gentle breeze, yet I felt a sense of relief as the temperature gradually rose.
Summer in Hokkaido reaches its peak from now until Obon.
Walking through the city during the day, it’s a joy to see the smiling faces of sun-kissed children. Seeing them so carefree in the midst of summer vacation reminds me of my own days gone by. As I wrote yesterday, I’m currently immersed in researching my “family history”—a lifelong project—trying to relive the lives and lifestyles of my ancestors from long ago. Yet, their images often overlap with those of people today, and I find myself deeply inspired by the expressions on the faces of the children I happen to encounter. The underlying “humanity.”
　My thoughts keep circling back to questions like, “What must my great-grandfather have been thinking as he endured the harsh summers of the early Meiji era?” As I savor the happiness of living in the northern regions, I’d like to send you my best wishes for a cool summer.

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

Posted on 8月 7th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【308年の星霜を経て「古縁者」から便りが・・・】


　昨日、次兄から驚ろかされる知らせが届いた。
　今年５月下旬、九州を旅した折り、わたしは単独日帰りで福岡県宗像から広島県東広島市へと向かった。わが家系は400年前の当時この広島の「故地」に根付いていたことが『広島県史』の公的資料とわが家の伝承によって裏付けられ、当時の檀家寺と推認される安芸門徒の「順教寺」を訪問する目的。
　わが家系はその後、1718（享保3）年に当地で起きた百姓一揆による「打ち毀し」被災を経て、隣の福山藩領・松永塩田へと移動の大きな転進を遂げる。しかしその際この地に留まった家系、すなわち別れた本家筋の一統が存在したことが推認されていた。事実『広島県史』では、一揆から10年ほど後の藩の記録として、その当時の当主の名が当時の故地の経済報告に記載されている。当主の息子（わが家系の直接の祖）が藩境を越えて福山藩領へ移動したにもかかわらず、なのだ。
　そこで５月の訪問時、順教寺のご住職にそれ以降の本家筋の消息をお尋ねしたのだった。まさに「あたって砕けろ」の心理。その際、次兄が編纂したわが家系史の書物をご住職にお預けしていたのだが、今回、そこから大きな「反応」が寄せられることとなった。
　寺院側は５月末頃にさっそくそのお宅を訪問してくださっていたようなのだ。ご高齢ということもあり、その場での直接の対話は叶わなかったものの、次兄の記した家系史の書物はご当主のもとに渡り、じっくりと読み進めていただけたという。

　そしてなんと、その読後感を綴った一統からの便りが「速達」で筆者である次兄宛に届いたのだ。
　ご高齢ゆえ読書や返信にも相応の時間を要したこととお察しするが、届いた便りの行間からは「ついに巡り会えた血脈」としての魂の震えが響いてくるようだった。
　手紙には百姓一揆の顛末を巡って本家筋には全く異なる奇異な「伝承」が語り継がれてきたことが詳細に記されていた。一方で、公的資料に基づいて明かされた事件の実相と以降のわが家系の歩みに触れ、「初めてすべての背景がわかり、深く腑に落ちた」という率直な心境が告白されていた。
　308年の時を超えた、枝分かれした一統の「再会」・・・。
　歴史の暗雲の中に埋もれていた事実が、こうして再生認識されたことに、ひとりの情報人として、また末裔として未踏の喜びを感じずにはいられない。
　写真はわたしが「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」と名付けて編纂中の一書の表紙画像撮影場所の真夏の風景。この喜ばしい前進でさらに家系の歩みと向き合いたい。あたって砕けろ（笑）。

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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⬇

[After 308 Years, a Message from an “Old Acquaintance”…]
A reply that came like a distant thunderclap from a branch of the family that split off following the “destruction” caused by a peasant uprising in the Hiroshima Prefecture region in 1718. As a researcher, this brings me an unprecedented joy. …

　Yesterday, I received some surprising news from my second-oldest brother.
　In late May of this year, while traveling through Kyushu, I took a solo day trip from Munakata in Fukuoka Prefecture to Higashi-Hiroshima City in Hiroshima Prefecture. Official records from the *History of Hiroshima Prefecture* and our family’s oral traditions confirm that our family lineage was rooted in this “ancestral homeland” in Hiroshima 400 years ago, so my purpose was to visit *Junkō-ji*, a temple of the Aki Monto sect believed to have been our family’s parish temple at that time.
　My family line subsequently underwent a major relocation to the Matsunaga Salt Fields in the neighboring Fukuyama Domain after suffering damage from the “destruction” caused by a peasant uprising that occurred in this area in 1718 (Kyōhō 3). However, it had been inferred that a branch of the main family—one that had split off—remained in this area at that time. In fact, according to the *History of Hiroshima Prefecture*, a domain record dating from about ten years after the uprising lists the name of the head of the household at that time in an economic report on the former territory. This was despite the fact that the head’s son—the direct ancestor of our family line—had moved across the domain border into the territory of the Fukuyama Domain.
　So, during my visit in May, I asked the head priest of Junkyo-ji Temple about the whereabouts of the main family line since then. It was truly a case of “go for it and see what happens.” At that time, I had left the book on our family history—compiled by my second-eldest brother—with the head priest, and this time, it elicited a significant “response.”
　It seems the temple staff promptly visited the family home around the end of May. Although a direct conversation on the spot was not possible due to the head of the household’s advanced age, the book on our family history written by my second-eldest brother was handed to him, and he reportedly read through it carefully.

　And lo and behold, a letter from the head of the household—expressing his thoughts after reading it—arrived by “express mail” addressed to my second eldest brother, the author.
While I can imagine that, given his advanced age, reading the book and composing a reply took a considerable amount of time, the lines of the letter seemed to resonate with the soul-stirring emotion of having “finally encountered his bloodline.”
　The letter detailed how a completely different and peculiar “legend” regarding the outcome of the peasant uprising had been passed down through the main branch of the family. At the same time, it touched upon the true nature of the incident—revealed through official records—and the subsequent history of our family line, confessing his candid feelings: “For the first time, I understand the full context, and it has finally clicked.”
　A “reunion” of a branched lineage spanning 308 years…
As a researcher and as a descendant, I cannot help but feel an unprecedented joy that these facts, long buried beneath the dark clouds of history, have been rediscovered and recognized in this way.
　The photo shows a midsummer scene at the location where I took the cover image for a book I’m currently compiling, which I’ve titled “A 400-Year Resume of Life.” With this joyful step forward, I want to delve even deeper into the history of my family line. I’ll just have to dive in headfirst (laughs).

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

　
　

Posted on 8月 6th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

【Photoshop不調からアプリ乗り換えで「画像調整」チャレンジ】


　わたしは1990年代から、Macを使うようになった。
　仕事の出版編集ではDTPという、Macネットワーク上のデータをスタッフ間で共有して住宅雑誌を作って行くプロセスが社会に導入されていった初期段階にあたります。そのコアな部分にAdobe社のPhotoshopが位置していて、それが写真表現上の事実上の「プラットホーム」として機能してきていた。
　そういった事業環境を積極的に導入して、画像品質の向上とその表現の「管理」を並行させてきた。編集と制作が事実上一体化することで、写真表現の段階での「表現活動」が進化していく経過。
　そういう人類的な表現活動進化のワンシーンだったのだろうと、いま思えています。
　で、そういう環境で個人的にも過ごしてきて、自分自身の興味分野の深化で、住空間写真と人間のそこでの「息づかい」みたいな領域が「数寄」になって内面に残り続けてきている。DTP的な環境からはやや距離感ができてきているけれど、自分自身の「表現」環境としてはPhotoshopは継続的に同伴してきていた。
　なんだけれど、もう30年以上の時間経過のなかで徐々にアプリからのアラートが出てくるようになった。
　面倒さの方が優ってきて、今後もこの環境を維持していくべきかどうか、思案の段階になって来た。具体的にはその「アラート」に対して、別のMac標準アプリでもその機能を活用すれば「それなり」の表現活動は可能だと言うことに気付かされるようになったのですね。いまのわたしは、画像解析の第１線的な立ち位置ではないし、むしろ大量に保存してきた画像データの再活用の方に主たる興味は変容してきている。
　むしろ表現での「新領域開拓」的な方面に意識が向いてきているので、画像処理についてはより簡便な「標準型」ソフトで十分と思えるようになって来たのですね。Adobeとのわかれ、かと。
　まぁ親和的なMac標準ソフトなので、基本的にできる作業領域は確保できていると思える。
　写真は昨日の散歩道で撮影したiPhoneでの写真ですが、幻想的な水上のカモさんと水面の様子。それにMac標準アプリを使ってみて、実験的に画像処理してみた次第。自分なりには面白みも感じながら、操作できていた。
　しばらく「様子見」しながら、先行きを考えて見たい。う〜む、どうもピンと来ないかなぁ・・・

●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⬇

[Switching Apps After Photoshop Issues: The “Image Adjustment” Challenge]
An opportunity to reevaluate my creative environment, which I’ve maintained even after overcoming a major “turning point” in my life. What should I do about the apps I’ll use for my future creative work? …

　
　I started using a Mac in the 1990s.
　In my work as a publishing editor, this coincided with the early stages of the widespread adoption of DTP—a process in which staff members shared data over a Mac network to produce home design magazines. Adobe Photoshop was at the core of this system, functioning as the de facto “platform” for photographic expression.
　We actively embraced this business environment, simultaneously improving image quality and “managing” its expression. As editing and production effectively merged, the “creative process” at the level of photographic expression evolved.
　Looking back now, I realize that this was likely just one scene in the evolution of human creative expression.
　Having spent time in that environment personally, and as my own areas of interest deepened, the realm of residential space photography and the “breath” of human life within those spaces has become a kind of “suki” that continues to linger within me. Although I’ve distanced myself somewhat from the DTP-oriented environment, Photoshop has remained a constant companion in my own “expressive” environment.
　However, over the course of more than 30 years, alerts from the app have gradually begun to appear.
　The hassle has started to outweigh the benefits, and I’ve reached the point where I’m pondering whether I should continue maintaining this setup. Specifically, these “alerts” have made me realize that I can still achieve “adequate” creative results by utilizing those same functions in other standard Mac apps. I’m no longer on the front lines of image analysis; rather, my primary interest has shifted toward repurposing the vast amount of image data I’ve stored over the years.
　In fact, my focus has shifted toward “pioneering new frontiers” in creative expression, so I’ve come to believe that simpler, “standard” software is sufficient for my image processing needs. Is this my parting of ways with Adobe?
Well, since these are Mac’s native apps that work well with my workflow, I feel I’ve basically secured the necessary scope of work.
The photo below was taken with my iPhone during yesterday’s walk—it captures a duck floating on the water in a dreamlike scene. I also experimented with some image processing using the Mac’s standard apps. I found the process quite interesting and was able to navigate the controls fairly well.
I’d like to “wait and see” for a while and think about where this is headed. Hmm, I’m not quite sure if it’s the right fit for me…

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

Posted on 8月 5th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【福山「備陽史探訪の会」ほかの活発な情報発信】



　わたしの家系は広島県がながく留まっていた地域。関ヶ原の合戦が終わって以降ですから400年前からほどがわかってきている。芸州浅野藩が広島入りした時期と同時期に現在の東広島市河内町入野に入植した一族。そこで短期間に地域経済活動の中心的な存在である「庄屋」に代々なっていた。その後、江戸時代中期、1730年頃に当時の新開地・松永塩田に移住した一統。一族としては「枝分かれ」した流れの末裔です。
　その松永の近く、山陽道の宿駅「今津」近辺から1905年に当主が北海道に移住してくるまでの間、175年間はこの周辺で過ごしていた一族。家系史をたどり続けてきて、そういう実相が浮かび上がって来ている。
　当然ながら、この地域の情報を求めていろいろな「つながり」を訪ね歩いてきています。次兄からのバトンタッチで徐々にわたしもそういうご縁に沿って動いてきています。
　そういうなかで「地域史」研究グループの存在を知って入会申込みし、毎回「会報」も受け取ってきています。会の名前は「備陽史探訪の会」という存在。2026年６月末段階で会員数は187名とのこと。
　また今津の「旧檀家寺」蓮華寺さんも住職さんがたいへん現代的な活動ぶりで、写真のように「蓮華寺通信」という郵送してきていただいております。わたしの家は父が北海道の同じ真言宗寺院でお世話になって檀家になっているので、旧縁ではあるのですが、歴史探索には欠かせないつながり。
　という次第ですが、やはり本州、広島県地方という歴史積層地域では「地方史」の研究活動が非常に活発。備陽史探訪の会では活動内容に沿った出版物も多数出されている。またほぼ月イチ程度で各種イベント活動まで行われているのですね。まぁ北海道でもこういう活動自体はあるのでしょうが、この備陽史探訪の会のようなレベルには遠いように思えます。またわたしは北海道人ですが、当然ながら「故地」は本州地域にあることは自明なので、地方史として興味を持つのはこういう地方になるのが自然ですね。移動交通などハンデキャップはありますが、やむを得ない。
　こういう志向性は柳田國男の民俗学や民藝運動などともつながる日本人らしさの重要なファクターなのでしょう。終の志向性と考え、捉えていきたいと思います。北海道人にもそういう気分はある、と。

●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⬇

[Fukuyama’s “Biyō History Exploration Society” and Other Active Information Outreach Efforts]
A modern-day continuation of Kunio Yanagita’s folklore studies and the Mingei Movement. We in distant Hokkaido would like to join in response to their vibrant activities. …

　My family lineage traces back to an area in Hiroshima Prefecture where my ancestors resided for a long time. We now know that this dates back about 400 years, beginning after the Battle of Sekigahara. Our clan settled in Irino, Kawachi-cho, in what is now Higashi-Hiroshima City, around the same time that the Asano clan of Geishu entered Hiroshima. There, generation after generation, they served as “shoya”—the village headmen who played a central role in the local economy—for a short period. Later, during the mid-Edo period, around 1730, a branch of the family moved to the then-newly developed Matsunaga Salt Fields. I am a descendant of this “branch” of the family.
From the area near Matsunaga, close to the “Imazu” post station on the Sanyo Highway, until the head of the family moved to Hokkaido in 1905, the family lived in this vicinity for 175 years. As I have continued to trace our family history, this reality has gradually come to light.
Naturally, I have been visiting various “connections” in search of information about this region. Taking over the baton from my second-eldest brother, I, too, have gradually begun to follow these leads.
In the course of this, I learned of the “Regional History” research group, applied for membership, and have been receiving their “newsletter” every issue. The group is called the “Biyō History Exploration Society.” As of the end of June 2026, the membership stood at 187.
　Furthermore, at Renge-ji Temple in Imazu—my family’s former parish temple—the head priest is very active in modern initiatives, and, as shown in the photo, he sends us the “Renge-ji Newsletter” by mail. My father was a parishioner at a Shingon sect temple in Hokkaido, so we have a long-standing connection with the temple; this connection is indispensable for my historical research.
　That being said, research into “local history” is indeed very active in regions with a rich historical legacy, such as Honshu and the Hiroshima Prefecture area. The Biyō History Exploration Society has published numerous works related to its activities. They also hold various events roughly once a month. Well, I suppose such activities exist in Hokkaido as well, but they seem far from reaching the level of the Biyō History Exploration Society. Also, although I am from Hokkaido, it goes without saying that my “hometown” is on Honshu, so it’s only natural that I take an interest in the history of regions like this. There are some challenges, such as transportation, but that’s unavoidable.
This kind of inclination is likely an important factor in what makes us Japanese, one that connects to Kunio Yanagita’s folklore studies and the Mingei Movement. I intend to view this as my ultimate aspiration. I believe even people from Hokkaido share this sentiment.

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

　
　

Posted on 8月 4th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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【「前向き」抱っこヒモで孫と目線・感性の同期（笑）】


　友人たちとの年に一度の高校同期会のゴルフ大会は、なんとも運悪く亡父の命日法要と重なったので参加できなくなった。ブービーの恐怖から解放されるので悲しいような良かったような（笑）・・・。　
　ということですが、体力維持の方は散歩10,000歩以上が毎日達成されているほどなので、ほぼ大丈夫。そこで昨日は息子の家の孫を「北海道開拓の村」に連れていって、前向きに抱っこするのに「抱っこヒモ」を装着して散策しておりました。まぁ出張に出ていた息子の代理役なのですが、無事任務完遂。
　北海道開拓の村は、北の「古民家園」なのですが、市街地から交通の便がイマイチなので、狙い通り夏休みの日曜日ですが比較的ゆったり気味。
　現在8kg超の６ヶ月児。腰に疲労が出てくるかなぁと不安で、今朝は起き抜けには寝具の中で腰のストレッチをしてから起床しましたが、いまのところ支障は無い（ほっ）。
　写真は会場内を往復している馬車鉄道の様子ですが、前向き抱っこしていると、どうもこっちの心理は孫と同期してくるような気がする。漁家の廻りでは野ウサギも発見して、とっさに孫の思いとわたしの思いが完全に一致して、追いかけていた。「うさぎ追いし〜」。
　建築を見ているときには、知らず知らず孫に「興味」を持ってもらいたくてあれこれと解説。ときどき「ダァダァ」という反応が返ってくるので、ジジバカ丸出しで大喜びしてカミさんと嫁さんからは呆れ笑いされておりました。そんなのは一切気にしない。「この家はなぁ、昔の漁師さんの親方の家だぞ、たくさんの季節雇い人さんたちがここで暮らして、ニシンとかの魚を捕っていたんだ、ダァダァ」
　そうこうするうちにこの馬車とご対面。やはり孫の動物への目線、その目力感というのは感じる。
　ジイジ抱っこ状態では孫は怖いもなにも感じるスキは無いでしょう。なるべくお馬さんとの会話を口に出して、孫のこころにイキモノの出会い感を同期させるように努めておりました。孫の人生教育と、ジイジの「若返り」作戦の両立なのかなぁ。しかし今のところは孫には取り立てた変化は感じられず、ジイジの精神年齢の低下のみが加速してきているようです（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⬇

[“Upward-Facing” Baby Carrier: Synchronizing Eye Level and Sensibilities with My Grandchild (lol)]
Since my son was away on a business trip, it fell to me to spend some quality time with my grandchild. I ended up realizing that, for the whole day, I was basically at the same “eye level” as my grandchild. …

　The annual golf tournament with my high school classmates—which happens once a year—unfortunately coincided with the memorial service marking the anniversary of my late father’s passing, so I couldn’t attend. I’m both sad and relieved to be freed from the fear of finishing last (lol)….　
　That said, as for staying in shape, I’m managing just fine—I’ve been hitting over 10,000 steps on my daily walks. So yesterday, I took my grandson from my son’s family to “Hokkaido Pioneers’ Village,” and I put on a baby carrier to carry him facing forward as we strolled around. Well, I was just filling in for my son, who was away on a business trip, but I successfully completed the mission.
The Hokkaido Pioneers’ Village is a “traditional folk house park” in the north, but since transportation from the city center isn’t great, it was relatively quiet—just as I’d hoped—even though it was a Sunday during summer vacation.
My grandchild is a 6-month-old who now weighs over 8 kg. I was worried my back might start to ache, so this morning I did some back stretches right in bed before getting up, but so far, I’m feeling fine (phew).
　The photo shows the horse-drawn tram going back and forth through the venue. When I hold him facing forward, I feel like my mindset somehow syncs with my grandson’s. We also spotted a wild rabbit near the fisherman’s house, and in that split second, my grandson’s thoughts and mine were completely in sync—we both chased after it. “Chasing the rabbit~.”
　While looking at the buildings, I found myself unconsciously explaining this and that, hoping to spark my grandson’s “interest.” Every now and then, I’d get a “Da-da!” in response, and I’d get so excited—showing off my doting grandpa side—that my wife and daughter-in-law just laughed in exasperation. I didn’t care one bit. “You know, this house used to belong to a master fisherman back in the day. Lots of seasonal workers lived here and caught fish like herring, da-da!”
Before I knew it, we came face-to-face with this horse-drawn carriage. I could really sense my grandson’s fascination with animals—that intensity in his eyes.
　With Grandpa holding him, my grandson probably didn’t have a chance to feel scared or anything like that. I made a point of talking aloud to the horse as much as possible, trying to help my grandson experience that sense of encountering a living creature. I suppose this is a way to balance my grandson’s life education with Grandpa’s “rejuvenation” strategy. However, so far I haven’t noticed any significant changes in my grandson; it seems the only result has been a decline in Grandpa’s mental age (laughs). …

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

Posted on 8月 3rd, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類 | No Comments »

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