本文へジャンプ

【一統の102歳最長老から「生きた」語りを拝受】


 現代日本人は成長期での栄養状態が劇的に改善されたので、健康長寿社会が実現してきた。
 一般的にそのような理解があるし、わたし自身も自分のことをそのように認識してきたけれど、昨日もまた家系史探索のルーティンとして、次兄といっしょに一統の最長老、102歳の叔父を訪ねた。
 わたしの父の12歳年下の叔父。長年連れ添われた叔母を亡くされてからも、戸建て住宅でひとり暮らしで長寿を重ねられてこられていたが、さすがに身の回りのことが大変になって来たので、いまは高齢者施設に入居されている。先述の「日本人の健康要因」とはやや違って、大正13年生まれの叔父ですが、持って生まれた長寿体質としか思えない元気ぶり。
 次兄は、ときどき「お話を伺う」機会を設けて訪問して、叔父が好きな「喫茶店」にお連れして人生経験と、一統の生き様の「証言」を聞き続けてきている。そんなことで、次兄からバトンタッチ命令を受けているわたしも時折、いっしょに「取材」させていただいている。さすがに100歳を超えてきているのでクルマに乗せたり、いっしょに歩くときも慎重になる。
 しかし、日常生活では活発に自力で周辺を「自転車」や徒歩で逍遥されているとのこと。
 で、会話させていただくとやはり亡き父の相貌が立ち現れて仕方ない。うれしい瞬間。
 わたしと次兄の家系史探索に関して、最新の疑問点について意見を伺うのがテーマなのですが、昨日は「ひとりでいる時間の半分くらい」は、樺太での戦争体験がフラッシュバックすると語ってくれていた。それも日本軍の銃とソ連軍の最新式マシンガンとの違いによる「現場体感」。
 ひたすらうずくまって沈み込んでいた樺太の大地の体感的描写を聞いていた。顔を上げて立ち上がろうとすれば、マシンガンの銃弾が降り注いでくるので、じっとその大地に身を屈め続ける。寒冷地の土の実相をただ、みつめ、感じ続けていたという「証言」。
 平和な時代にしか生きてきていないわたしたち兄弟には、貴重な実体験の「伝承」。出征してからの2年間のことが、いま叔父の記憶のなかで常時、走馬灯になっているのだという。
 ときどきこうして伝承の機会に応えてくれていることに、深く感謝する時間でした。

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

English version⬇

[Hearing a “Vivid” Account from the Eldest Member of the Itto Group, Aged 102]
For a generation that has known only peaceful times, this is an account of experiences on the battlefield in Sakhalin. A war story of a 1,000-man unit—of which only 200 survived. The sense of time and place comes through vividly…

 Thanks to dramatic improvements in nutritional status during childhood, modern Japan has become a society characterized by health and longevity.
 That’s the general understanding, and I myself have always viewed things that way—but yesterday, as part of my routine family history research, I visited my 102-year-old uncle—the eldest member of our family—along with my second-oldest brother.
 He is my father’s uncle, 12 years his junior. Even after losing my aunt, his longtime wife, he continued to live alone in his own house and enjoyed a long life; however, as daily tasks have inevitably become too difficult for him, he now resides in a senior care facility. Although he was born in Taisho 13—which is somewhat different from the “factors contributing to Japanese health” mentioned earlier—his vitality leads me to believe he simply possesses an innate constitution for longevity.
 My second-eldest brother has been visiting him from time to time to “chat,” taking him to his favorite “coffee shop” to listen to his life experiences and his “testimony” of a consistent way of life. As a result, having been given the baton by my second-eldest brother, I, too, occasionally join him for these “interviews.” Since he’s now over 100 years old, we have to be careful when helping him into the car or walking with him.
 However, I’m told that in his daily life, he actively explores the neighborhood on his own by “bicycle” or on foot.
 And when I talk with him, my late father’s features inevitably come to mind. It’s a joyful moment.
 The purpose of our visits is to ask for his opinion on the latest questions regarding my older brother’s and my research into our family history, but yesterday he told me that “about half the time he spends alone,” he experiences flashbacks of his wartime experiences in Sakhalin. These were “firsthand experiences” stemming from the difference between the Japanese Army’s rifles and the Soviet Army’s state-of-the-art machine guns.
I listened as he described the physical sensation of crouching and sinking into the earth of Sakhalin. Whenever he tried to lift his head and stand up, machine-gun bullets would rain down on him, so he had to remain crouched on the ground. His “testimony” described how he simply stared at and continued to feel the true nature of the soil in that frigid land.
 For us brothers, who have only ever lived in times of peace, this was a precious “passing down” of firsthand experience. He told me that the two years he spent after being deployed are now constantly flashing before his eyes like a slideshow in his memory.
It was a time to express my deep gratitude that he occasionally takes the time to share these stories with us like this.

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

【北大イチョウ並木&恵迪寮 紅黄葉散歩】



 初雪の便りも聞かれ、クルマのタイヤも交換して、いよいよ北海道は冬支度にまっしぐら。高齢者夫婦も体調管理をしっかりして冬に備えたいところ。
 カミさんの風邪気味体調がようやく立ち直ってきたので、彼女の希望に添って「北大のイチョウ並木」散策に出掛けておりました。わたしひとりなら札幌市西区山の手のわが家から、直行直退もギリギリ可能かも知れませんが、まぁクルマで駐車場まで往復して、そこからの北大構内散歩。それでも昨日は往復で夫婦とも、北大だけで10,000歩越え。
 北大のイチョウ並木は有名で昨日は「金葉祭り」までも開催されていました。しかしわたし的には北大生のための敷地内の「恵迪寮」壁面の「紅葉」ぶりの方が数寄。
 カミさんも「紅」には一家言があるようで、毎年「う〜ん、紅がもう少しイマイチ」という厳しい評価を聞かされていますが、どうも今年は及第点の参観箇所が多い。とくにこのツタの絡まる壁面紅葉ぶりは、建築美としても非常に個性的であります。
 わが家近くにも、この恵迪寮並みにツタが絡んで四季折々、たのしい外観を見せていただけれるお宅があるのですが、恵迪寮はやはり格別かなぁと。この恵迪寮は当然ながら北大の工学部など建築系のみなさんが創意を凝らした建築。世界的にも有数のすばらしい自然環境のなかで、建築がそれと「対話」している様子を表現してくれている。この寮は、写真のような本体建築が5つの方向に放射配置されて喉元のあたりから出入りするという形状。寮建築本体は合理性最優先ながら、このような北国としての表情変化の反映する壁面緑化が、ゆたかな表情を見せてくれている。
 イチョウ並木の方は地下鉄からの距離も近いので、たくさんの海外客のみなさんがたむろされていましたが、さすがに遠距離になるこちらの恵迪寮まではほぼ来られませんね。
 でもさすがにこういう日中の野外観光スポットということで、ちょっと覗いてみた北大構内の名物コンビニ店では、驚くほどの数の「お弁当」が販売され、しかもレジにも行列用の柵も臨時に設置されていました。かき入れ時なのでしょう。
 ゆっくり楽しめた秋の一日でした。帰宅後はほぼ完全バタンキュー(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⬇

[Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue & Keidai Dormitory: A Walk Among the Red and Yellow Foliage]
As expected, the ginkgo avenue during the Yellow Leaf Festival was crowded with international visitors, but the dormitory building at the very end was nearly deserted. The aesthetic beauty of architecture that engages with nature…

 With reports of the first snow already coming in and our car tires changed, Hokkaido is finally in full swing preparing for winter. As an elderly couple, we want to take good care of our health and get ready for the season.
Since my wife has finally started to recover from her cold, we went for a stroll along the “Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue” at her request. If I were on my own, depending on the situation, I might just barely manage to go straight there and back from our home in Yamanote, Nishi Ward, Sapporo—but really, we drove to the parking lot and back, then took a walk through the Hokkaido University campus from there. Even so, yesterday, just on the round trip to Hokkaido University alone, both my wife and I walked over 10,000 steps.
 The ginkgo tree-lined avenue at Hokkaido University is certainly famous, and yesterday they were even holding the “Autumn Foliage Festival.” However, personally, I find the “autumn colors” on the walls of the “Keidai Dormitory”—located on campus for Hokkaido University students—to be even more charming.
 My wife also seems to have strong opinions about “autumn colors,” and every year I hear her harsh critique: “Hmm, the reds are still a bit lacking.” But this year, there seem to be many spots that meet her standards. In particular, the autumn colors on this ivy-entwined wall are exceptionally unique, even as a work of architectural beauty.
 There’s a house near my home that’s just as covered in ivy as the Keidi Dormitory and offers a delightful exterior view throughout the seasons, but I still think the Keidi Dormitory is in a league of its own. Naturally, this dormitory is a structure designed with great creativity by students from Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Engineering and other architecture-related programs. Set within a natural environment that ranks among the world’s finest, it beautifully expresses how the architecture “dialogues” with its surroundings. The dormitory features the main building shown in the photo arranged in a radial pattern in five directions, with entrances and exits located near the base of the structure. While the main building prioritizes functionality above all else, the green walls—which reflect the changing seasons typical of this northern region—lend it a rich and varied appearance.
The ginkgo-lined avenue is close to the subway station, so many international visitors were gathered there, but as expected, almost none of them make it all the way out here to the Keidi Dormitory, which is quite a distance away.
 However, as this is a popular daytime outdoor tourist spot, I decided to take a quick peek inside the famous convenience store on the Hokkaido University campus. To my surprise, they were selling an astonishing number of “bento boxes,” and temporary barriers had even been set up at the checkout lines to manage the crowds. I suppose it’s peak season.
 It was a leisurely and enjoyable autumn day. After returning home, I practically collapsed into bed (lol).

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

【スマホ165分/新聞11分、メディア現状「可視化」データ】


 図は、博報堂メディア環境研究所「メディア定点調査2025」からの資料。
 メディア「接触時間」の時間配分をわかりやすく表示したもの。
 家系史探索で古文書やその集積である「地域史」資料の大森林のなかでひたすら彷徨い続けながらも、メディア関連で生きてきた自分自身の生き様を、顧みさせられる資料でした。
 やはり今の時代は巨大な「情報世界の地殻変動」真っ只中にあるのだとあらためて気付かせられる内容。
 たしかに自分自身でもちょっとした「スキマ時間」を活用出来るスマホ接触はチョー便利。で、スマホでは孫の様子を知る「みてね」が大きなメディアとして機能していて、その動画などを観ることが増えている。言ってみればメディアツールが個人生活的なレベルで活用されるようになって、求められる情報の中身がまったく一変してきてしまったということなのだろう。たしかに身近な情報伝達が主になってマスコミ要素は退潮ということか。
 世の中の動向についてはYahooのスマホアプリでチェックで、そのなかに情報提供先として、新聞メディア発信情報がある。で、こういうオールドメディアは既成の情報権威としていまや伝統芸かとも思えるような「進歩派」スタンスを取り続けている。こうしたスタンスはメディア業界と学会などで共有され続けてきた。しかしこうしたスタンスは先の学校法人・同志社トップの「不謹慎・不誠実な表情」が象徴するように反感を呼んできている。
 メディアに象徴されるこうしたスタンスは、どんどん一般庶民感覚から乖離してきている。
 新聞社の収益構造では余業である不動産業の収益が実質的に経営を支えている実態も可視化してきている。しかしその不動産は、権力機構側が一種の利益誘導として伝統的に提供してきたものであって、かれらが自分で稼ぎ出してきたものとは言い難い。
 こういう状況の進展は、もはや止めようがない段階にまで到達してきている。コンビニでも新聞メディアの落ち込みぶりは明らか。そしてオールドメディア業界からはこの趨勢を食い止める、革新性のある動きというのは一向に見えてきていない。さて、どういう未来になっていくのか?

●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⬇
 
[165 Minutes on Smartphones / 11 Minutes on Newspapers: Data “Visualizing” the Current State of the Media]
As someone who once even considered a career in this field, it feels like a world of difference. The current situation, where the problems plaguing the media and academic circles are coming to the surface…

 The chart is based on data from Hakuhodo Media Environment Research Institute’s “Media Barometer Survey 2025.”
 It clearly illustrates the distribution of time spent “engaging with” various media.
 While I’ve been endlessly wandering through the vast forest of historical documents and “local history” archives—a collection of such documents—in my quest to trace my family history, this data made me reflect on my own life, which has been shaped by the media.
 It really made me realize once again that we are, indeed, in the midst of a massive “tectonic shift in the world of information.”
 It’s certainly true that using my smartphone to make the most of those little “spare moments” is super convenient. And on my smartphone, “Mitenne”—which lets me check in on my grandkids—functions as a major media platform, and I find myself watching its videos more and more. In a sense, this means that media tools are now being utilized at the personal, everyday level, and the nature of the information people seek has completely transformed. It certainly seems that personal communication has become the norm, while the role of mass media is on the decline.
 I check global trends using the Yahoo smartphone app, which includes news from print media as one of its information sources. These “old media” outlets continue to maintain a “progressive” stance—one that, as established authorities on information, now seems almost like a traditional art form. This stance has long been shared within the media industry and academic circles. However, as symbolized by the “insensitive and insincere expression” of the head of Doshisha University mentioned earlier, this stance has been provoking public backlash.
 This stance, epitomized by the media, is increasingly diverging from the sensibilities of ordinary people.
 It is also becoming increasingly clear that, within the revenue structure of newspaper companies, profits from the real estate business—which is essentially a sideline—are effectively propping up their operations. However, this real estate has traditionally been provided by those in power as a form of profit-sharing; it is difficult to say that the media companies have earned it on their own.
 The progression of this situation has reached a point where it can no longer be stopped. Even at convenience stores, the decline of the newspaper media is evident. Furthermore, there is no sign whatsoever of any innovative moves from the traditional media industry to halt this trend. So, what kind of future lies ahead?

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

【時空間を行き来する「家系史」でアタマは膨満(笑)】


 写真は久しぶりの札幌円山公園緑地の散歩道。札幌円山の山裾には原始の自然が、アメリカからの開拓技官たちの建言によって残されていますが、この「入口」近くになってくると北大構内とも近似した「札幌ネイティブ」な光景が迎えてくれます。好きな風景。
 ここから画面左手側の池方向に曲がっていくとオシドリやカモなどの水鳥の様子を愛でることができる。また、活発に動き回るリスたちとも遭遇することができる。いつも句読点を提供してくれる存在。
 で、タイトルのように今のわたしは「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」と名付けている家系史に没頭中。基本的に確認可能な事実を積み重ねたいと祈念しているので、大量の「地域史」文献の文字群から、血脈の痕跡を掘り出していく作業に没頭することになる。ひとつの事実が掘り出されると、それが次々と「つながって」またひとつの発見に立ち至る、という連続の中に沈殿することになるのですね。
 いまは、約310年以前の時期について、血脈が遭遇した時空間情報の「嵐」のなかで、暴風に打たれているような結界に立っている心境。
 やはりDNAの流れとして現実を生きた先人のことなので、切実に「自分事」に近い感覚に満たされてしまう。ある事実とある事実をつなぐとき、自分の内面やイキモノとしての内発性が強く刺激されるのですね。もちろん客観的につかめることが基本ではあるけれど、そこは血がどうしても騒ぐ。
 そういったハラハラドキドキが、自分のデスク環境に戻ると波瀾万丈展開するのですね(笑)。
 いや、笑い事ではなく、古文書の行間から激情が立ち上ってきてしまう。
 高齢期に立ち至ってまだ健康を維持できている多くの現代人にとって、調査でのAI活用や各種の記録文書の積層が膨大になって来ているこの時代では、興味深い新領域が広がってきている。
 ・・・そういった環境から、脳味噌に「風を当てる」みたいにして散歩の風景が癒やしを与えてくれる。
 来週にはカミさんとふたたび道南を巡りたいと思っていますが、パソコンは大量データとともに同行する。現代人の環境はその「想像力」を拡張してくれることを深く実感させられますね。

●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⬇

[My head is spinning (lol) from this “family history” that travels through time and space]
The endpoint of my DNA’s journey—my inner self—is overflowing with the true nature of that process. An intriguing area of potential for today’s older adults. …

 The photo shows the walking path at Sapporo Maruyama Park, which I visited for the first time in a while. While the foothills of Sapporo’s Maruyama Mountain still retain their pristine natural state—preserved thanks to the recommendations of American pioneer engineers—as you approach this “entrance,” you’re greeted by a “Sapporo-native” landscape that closely resembles the campus of Hokkaido University. It’s one of my favorite views.
 If you turn toward the pond on the left side of the frame from here, you can admire waterfowl such as mandarin ducks and other ducks. You can also encounter squirrels scampering about—they’re always there to provide a bit of variety.
 So, as the title suggests, I’m currently immersed in a family history project I’ve dubbed “A 400-Year Resume of Life.” Since my goal is to build a foundation of verifiable facts, I find myself engrossed in the task of unearthing traces of my bloodline from the vast sea of text in “local history” literature. Once a single fact is unearthed, it “connects” to others one after another, leading to yet another discovery—and I find myself immersed in this continuous cycle.
 Right now, as I explore the period roughly 310 years ago, I feel as though I’m standing within a barrier, battered by a gale amidst a “storm” of spatiotemporal information where my bloodline intersected with history.
 Since these are our ancestors who lived their lives as part of the flow of DNA, I’m inevitably filled with a profound sense that this is “my own story.” When I connect one fact to another, it strongly stirs my inner self and my innate vitality as a living being. Of course, maintaining objectivity is fundamental, but my blood simply can’t help but boil.
 That sense of suspense and excitement unfolds in all sorts of dramatic ways once I return to my desk (laughs).
 No, this isn’t a laughing matter—passion really does rise up from between the lines of those ancient documents.
 For many modern people who have reached old age and are still in good health, in this era where the use of AI in research and the accumulation of various records are growing exponentially, a fascinating new frontier is opening up.
 …In such an environment, the scenery I encounter on my walks provides a soothing respite, as if “letting the breeze blow through my brain.”
 I’m hoping to tour southern Hokkaido with my wife again next week, though my computer—along with its massive amount of data—will be tagging along. It really makes me deeply appreciate how the modern environment expands our “imagination.”

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

【いわゆる「文学」作品市場の先行きは?】


 最近、芥川賞とかの名前を目にすることが少なくなってきた。
 たまにWEBで見かけるケースは、左翼的な受賞者人物が政権側に噛み付いている発言を左派系のメディアがキャッチフレーズ「芥川賞作家が〜」とYahooトップページでの「見出し」として利用しクリックさせるために使っていることが目に付く程度。あ、政治的主張については自由だと思いますが・・・。
 わたしは別に本をまったく読まなくなった人間ではない。むしろ、古文書などに接する機会が圧倒的に増えてほぼ沈没している一方、いわゆる「小説」に接することは非常にレアになってきた。当然の流れとして芥川賞というキャッチ自体にも反応しなくなってきた。やや悲しいけれど。
 パソコン時代になって情報伝達は紙のメディア独占状態から大きく変容、従前の「文学」を巡る社会状況もまた激変してきているのだと思う。
 紙の新聞は、Yahooトップページの見出しからの「概要」チェックで済ませ、実際の紙メディアを購入する習慣はなくなった。メディアの存在理由は「写真映像」に完全に置き換わったのだと思われる。写真画像にはその「空間から伝わってくる空気感」があり、文字情報以上の「臨場感」を特性として持っている。
 一方、文字テキストだけでの表現力では太刀打ちできない。
 日本の出版市場全体は1996年の約2.6兆円をピークに減少が続いている。最新の2025年統計では紙の出版市場がついに1975年以来初めて1兆円を割り込み9,647億円(前年比4.1%減)。書籍出回り部数でもピーク時の45%程度(約50年前と同水準)まで落ち込み、本が物理的に刷られなくなってきている。
 一方で紙を補うと期待された電子書籍もほぼマンガが独占。2025年の電子出版市場5,815億円の9割以上の5,273億円を電子コミックが占拠 。小説などの文字もの電子書籍はわずか459億円(全体の約8%)。
 そもそも書店数自体も2025年度末で全国書店数は1万店割れの9,993店、全国自治体の3割以上が書店ゼロ(無書店地帯)とのこと。
 若い頃、芥川賞発表ということに注目したことは、遠い夢のまた夢のかなたになって来た。
 小説という表現形式自体が、歴史のなかに沈殿していくのだろうか? さて。

●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⬇

[What Does the Future Hold for the Market for So-Called “Literary” Works?]
Novels are finding it increasingly difficult to secure a place in our web-centric daily lives. The “postwar society” has receded far into the distance. …

 Lately, I’ve been seeing the name “Akutagawa Prize” less and less.
 The only times I occasionally come across it online are when left-leaning media pick up on remarks made by left-leaning winners who are taking a stand against the government, using catchphrases like “Akutagawa Prize-winning author…” as headlines on Yahoo’s front page to drive clicks. Oh, though I do believe people are free to express their political views…
 It’s not that I’ve stopped reading books entirely. Rather, while my exposure to historical documents and the like has increased dramatically—to the point where I’m practically drowning in them—my exposure to so-called “novels” has become extremely rare. As a natural consequence, I’ve stopped reacting to the “Akutagawa Prize” label itself. It’s a bit sad, though.
 With the advent of the computer age, the transmission of information has shifted dramatically from the monopoly of print media, and I believe the social context surrounding “literature” as we once knew it has also undergone drastic changes.
 When it comes to print newspapers, I’m content to check the “summary” from the headlines on Yahoo’s homepage; I’ve lost the habit of actually buying the physical paper. It seems the raison d’être of print media has been completely supplanted by “photographs and video.” Photographs possess a certain “atmosphere conveyed from that space” and are characterized by a “sense of presence” that goes beyond what written text alone can convey.
On the other hand, the expressive power of text alone simply can’t compete.
 Japan’s overall publishing market has been in decline since peaking at approximately 2.6 trillion yen in 1996. According to the latest statistics for 2025, the print publishing market finally fell below 1 trillion yen for the first time since 1975, reaching 964.7 billion yen (a 4.1% decrease from the previous year). The number of books in circulation has also fallen to about 45% of its peak (roughly the same level as 50 years ago), and books are increasingly no longer being physically printed.
Meanwhile, e-books—which were expected to supplement print—are almost entirely dominated by manga. In 2025, digital comics accounted for 527.3 billion yen, or more than 90% of the 581.5 billion yen digital publishing market. E-books consisting of text, such as novels, totaled a mere 45.9 billion yen (about 8% of the total).
 To begin with, the number of bookstores nationwide is expected to fall below 10,000—to 9,993—by the end of fiscal year 2025, and more than 30% of municipalities nationwide will have no bookstores at all (bookstore-free zones).
 The days when I used to look forward to the announcement of the Akutagawa Prize in my youth have receded into the distant past, a dream within a dream.
 Will the novel as a form of expression itself fade into the annals of history? Well, we’ll see.

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

【遠出先での散歩道。足下しっかり凝視、むむ】


 現在の札幌市西区山の手に移転してきて以降35年間ほど、いくらかは途中休みはあったにせよ、散歩習慣を継続してきています。はじめのうちはまだ30代だったので特段健康留意という目的意識は強くはなく、周辺環境に「なじむ」ことが目的で、そのうちに歩き続けていると適度な視界の変化ぶりが楽しくなっていったと記憶しています。
 北海道の中央部・石狩平野南端部で、南側には山岳地形が迫ってきている様子が、いろいろな季節変化を伝えてきてくれるオモシロさ。健康状態では何度か入院治療なども経験していますが、そのときにも病院内の廊下などを巡り歩くことを継続していた。最近はiPhoneアプリ「ヘルスケア」で歩数を記録してくれるのでメルクマールになっているけれど、そういうチェック機能なしでも継続してきていた。
 散歩では前述のように視界の移り変わりが楽しいのだけれど、しかし他方、足下をしっかり確認することも大切。
 最近はあまり感じなくなったけれど毎日10,000歩程度歩いていると、1回くらい多少の「ふらつき」を感じた時期もあった。ふっと、右足のあとの左足の着地点確認が「あれ」と意識が薄くなる瞬間があり得たのです。
 そういうときは、その後意識を強めに足下に集中させていくことにする。
 用心として足下へのしっかり凝視も欠かせない注意ポイントになってくるのですね。
 写真は先日、孫の「ハイハイ競争参加」の抱っこ要員として同行した近郊・南幌町で定刻前のスキマ時間での散歩道のたのしい「地上絵」であります。南幌町には海は接していませんが、ここに描かれたのは遡上してくるサケの絵柄。「あ、南幌にもサケが遡上してくる川があるんだ」と伝えてくれるのです。こういう「コミュニケーション」というのもわかりやすい「地域紹介」になっているなぁと。
 遠くの景色の「ながれ」を楽しむのも有意義だけれど、しっかり「ふらつき防止」のために足下を確認するのにも、こういう視覚的たのしさを提供してくれている。まぁ、札幌市内でも全国どこでも。こういった地上絵は多く提供されていますが、高齢期の人間にはありがたいサービスだと再認識。
 彩色された石を使ったアートとしても、なかなかいいなぁと。

●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⬇

[A walking path on a trip. Staring intently at my feet… Hmm.]
Footpath art designed to help seniors avoid stumbling. These all-weather stone sculptures are quietly delightful. Even when the path is covered in snow, there’s the joy of shoveling it away and rediscovering them all over again…

 For about 35 years since moving to Yamanote in Sapporo’s Nishi Ward—though there have been a few breaks along the way—I’ve kept up my habit of taking walks. In the beginning, I was still in my 30s, so I didn’t have a strong sense of purpose regarding health; my goal was simply to “get to know” the surrounding area. As I continued walking, I recall coming to enjoy the moderate changes in the scenery.
 Located in central Hokkaido at the southern tip of the Ishikari Plain, with mountainous terrain looming to the south, the area offers the fascinating experience of witnessing the changing seasons through these shifting vistas. Although I’ve been hospitalized several times for health reasons, I continued to walk the hospital corridors even during those stays. Lately, the “Health” app on my iPhone has been tracking my step count, so that’s become a benchmark for me, but I had been walking consistently even without that kind of tracking feature.
As mentioned earlier, I enjoy the changing scenery during my walks, but at the same time, it’s important to keep a close eye on where I’m stepping.
 Although I don’t notice it much anymore, there was a time when, walking about 10,000 steps a day, I’d occasionally feel a slight “wobble.” There were moments when, for a split second, my awareness would waver as I tried to confirm where my left foot would land after my right foot had stepped.
 When that happens, I make a point of focusing my attention more intently on the ground beneath my feet.
 As a precaution, keeping a close watch on the ground becomes an essential part of staying safe.
 The photo shows a delightful “ground painting” I spotted during a walk in Minamihoro Town, a nearby town I visited the other day to accompany my grandchild as a “carrier” for their “crawling race.” I took this picture during a spare moment before the event started. Although Minamihoro Town isn’t located by the sea, the design depicts salmon swimming upstream. It tells me, “Ah, so there’s a river in Minamihoro where salmon swim upstream, too.” I realize that this kind of “communication” serves as an easy-to-understand “introduction to the local area.”
While enjoying the “flow” of distant scenery is meaningful, these visual delights also help us keep our eyes on the ground to prevent us from stumbling. Well, whether in Sapporo or anywhere else in the country, there are many such ground art designs, and I’ve come to realize once again that they’re a welcome service for older adults.
I also think they’re quite nice as art made with colored stones.

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

【新幹線・札幌延伸の最終区間、工事の説明表示】




 昨日は札幌駅のすぐ西隣りのJR桑園駅駅舎の中の「暖房風景」について書きましたが、寄る年波か、先に世を去られた倉本聰さんに寄せたような詠嘆的な書き方になってしまった(苦笑)。
 実際は、その桑園駅からさらに札幌駅側に散歩を進め「新幹線延伸工事」の様子を興味深くウォッチ。この工事は札幌市民としては非常に興味深い工事。北海道新幹線(新函館北斗〜札幌間、約212km)の延伸工事は、2012年に着工され、開業時期は当初予定の2030年度末から大幅に遅れ、概ね2038年度末になる見込み。
 今後の進展がどうなのかによると思いますが、いまから12年後には姿を現すかも知れない。
 自分の生存期間を考えると「微妙」だとは思いますが、子や孫はこれが現実になった世界を生きることになる。そういう意味では、血のつながりで考えての未来の具体的なカタチのように思える。
 こういう公共的な交通手段のビッグプロジェクトなので、いま現在をウォッチしたいと思った次第。
 現場の工事被覆壁面には説明図が表示されていた。3枚目の写真には、新幹線が地下運行〜半地下〜地上〜高架運行という、桑園駅から札幌駅までの区間の運行箇所の変容ぶりが描かれている。以下、写真からは読み取れないと思うので、説明記述内容を別記。
 〜当工事の区間は以下の4パターンの構造となります。
・①開削トンネル部:地上から掘削して駆体を構築する構造物で完成後は地下埋設物となります。
・②掘割式RCボックス:四角い箱状の精造物を構築し、完成形は半地下構造となります。
・③盛土区間部:四角い箱状の構造物を構築し、完成後は地上構造となります。
・④高架橋ブロック区間部:隣接するJR工事線と同様の構造物となります。〜
 こういうコミュニケーション手段は、説明イラストも描かれていて、わかりやすい。なんですが、実際は動画構成なので、細かい文字部分は読解する時間的ゆとりがない(泣)。
 ということでiPhoneで撮影して、文字部分を「解析取り出し」して文章化した次第。
 2026年段階で、工事現場開設と「会話」する現状報告ということになります。こういう会話、完成するだろう2038年段階ではどういうコミュニケーションが可能になっているかなぁと妄想も湧いていた次第(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⬇

[Information Sign for Construction on the Final Section of the Shinkansen Extension to Sapporo]
Significantly behind schedule; opening now projected for 2038. Is the Shinkansen line to Sapporo, Hokkaido, one of Japan’s “long-cherished dreams”? Will I live to see it come true? …

 Yesterday, I wrote about the “scene of heating” inside the JR Kuwabara Station building, located right next to Sapporo Station. Perhaps due to my advancing age, my writing ended up sounding rather wistful, as if I were paying tribute to the late Satoshi Kuramoto (wry smile).
 In reality, I continued my walk from Kuwano Station toward Sapporo Station and watched the progress of the “Shinkansen extension project” with great interest. As a resident of Sapporo, this project is of immense interest to me. Construction on the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension (between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Sapporo, approximately 212 km) began in 2012, but the opening date has been significantly delayed from the originally planned end of fiscal year 2030 and is now expected to be around the end of fiscal year 2038.
 It depends on how things progress from here, but it might make its appearance 12 years from now.
 Considering my own lifespan, I think it’s “a bit iffy,” but my children and grandchildren will live in a world where this has become a reality. In that sense, it feels like a concrete shape of the future, viewed through the lens of blood ties.
 Since this is such a major public transportation project, I wanted to take a look at the current progress.
 Explanatory diagrams were displayed on the construction site’s protective walls. The third photo illustrates the changes in the route from Kuwazono Station to Sapporo Station, where the Shinkansen transitions from underground operation to semi-underground, then to ground level, and finally to elevated operation. Since I don’t think this information is clear from the photos alone, I’ve included the explanatory text below.
 ~ The section covered by this construction project will consist of the following four structural types:
・① Open-cut tunnel section: A structure excavated from the ground surface to form the tunnel body, which will become an underground structure upon completion.
・② Excavated RC Box: A precision-built rectangular box-shaped structure that will become a semi-underground structure upon completion.
・③ Embankment Section: A rectangular box-shaped structure that will become an above-ground structure upon completion.
・④ Viaduct Block Section: This structure will be identical to that of the adjacent JR construction line. ~
 This type of communication material includes explanatory illustrations and is easy to understand. However, since it’s actually a video, there isn’t enough time to read the fine print (sob).
So, I filmed it with my iPhone, “extracted” the text, and transcribed it into written form.
This serves as a status report “conversation” with the construction site as of 2026. Seeing this kind of conversation made me wonder what kind of communication will be possible by 2038, when the project is scheduled for completion (laughs).

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

【北海道のJR「桑園」駅ぬくもりの暖房シーン】


 先日富良野で、プリンスホテル敷地の倉本聰さんのゆかりの建物群を逍遥して倉本さんへの鎮魂の寄せ書きに署名もしていた。氏は、NHK大河ドラマの演出家として活躍中のところ、現場スタッフによってかれの書いた脚本とはまったく違う筋立てに勝手に変更されることに抗議したところ、NHK上層部の逆鱗に触れて、東京から追われて札幌に「逃れてきて」いた。
 その当時、わたしは大学卒業後東京で勤務していた広告代理店から転勤で北海道に帰って来た頃で、たしか、フジテレビ系列の地方局の関係者向け「講演会」があって倉本さんの「逃げてきた」実相を克明に聞いていた。
 わたしは、父との今生のわかれの可能性が非常に高まっていた時期だったので、遠距離でわかれが叶わないのは一生の痛恨事だと思っていたので、長兄がその前に「たぶんオヤジはそろそろヤバい」とわざわざ東京のわたしに告げに来てくれたことをきっかけに、会社に依願して転勤願いを提出した。そもそも入社時点で同族経営会社の社長から「いずれ札幌に転勤してもらう」という内意を告げられていたので申し出たのだが、無事に受理された経緯。
 その東京から札幌への帰還便では途中で大きく機体が揺れて、東京暮らしでのさまざまな経緯・心残りが「オマエ、ホントに帰るのかよ。」と揺さぶってくれているようだった。・・・
 そういった自分事と、倉本聰さんの人生に一種のハーモニーを感じていた。
 それから倉本さんは戦後ニッポンの文化世界で「北の国から」という不朽の名作を遺していくことになる。わたしの創刊した雑誌でも氏へのインタビュー企画を2本掲載した。
 写真は、昨日撮影したJR「桑園」駅の冬景色。札幌から西へ1駅移動する駅だけれど、近代的な駅舎の一隅にこういう石油ストーブが設置されている。倉本さんは、こういう北海道のふつうのたたずまいでの経験積層からドラマの基底部分を作ってくれたように思っている。
 外気の冷却に対して多くの北国人が持つ、みんなで暖まる空間のいごこち。それも一歩外に出れば、過酷な寒さに打ちのめされるけれど、得られるいっときのやすらぎ感。
 なかなか忙しくたくさんの「描きたいこと」があるけれど、倉本さんへの鎮魂の書き付けに託した思いが、ジワジワとしずかに沁みてきています。

●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⬇

[A Heartwarming Scene of Heating at JR “Kuwano” Station in Hokkaido]
It is said that *From the North* embodies the longing for the warmth of people gathering together—a sentiment that resonates with those living in cold climates. …

 The other day in Furano, I strolled through the complex of buildings on the Prince Hotel grounds associated with Satoshi Kuramoto and even signed a memorial message in his honor. At the time, he was active as a director for NHK’s Taiga dramas, but when he protested against on-set staff arbitrarily changing the plot to something completely different from the script he had written, he angered NHK’s upper management and was driven out of Tokyo, “fleeing” to Sapporo.
 At that time, I had just returned to Hokkaido after being transferred from the advertising agency where I’d been working in Tokyo following my college graduation. I recall attending a “lecture” for staff at a local Fuji TV affiliate, where I heard a detailed account of the true circumstances behind Mr. Kuramoto’s “flight.”
 It was a time when the likelihood of parting with my father in this lifetime had become very high, and I believed that being unable to say goodbye due to the long distance would be a lifelong regret. So, when my eldest brother went out of his way to come to Tokyo and tell me, “Dad’s probably on his last legs,” I took that as a sign and submitted a request to my company for a transfer. I had actually made this request because, when I first joined the company—a family-run business—the president had informally told me, “We’ll have you transferred to Sapporo eventually.” My request was accepted without issue.
On that flight back from Tokyo to Sapporo, the plane shook violently at one point, and all the various experiences and unresolved feelings from my time in Tokyo seemed to be shaking me, as if asking, “Are you really going back?” …
I felt a kind of harmony between my own personal experiences and the life of Satoshi Kuramoto.
From then on, Mr. Kuramoto went on to leave behind the timeless masterpiece *From the North* in the cultural world of postwar Japan. The magazine I founded also published two interview features with him.
 The photo shows a winter scene at JR Kuwazono Station, taken yesterday. It’s just one stop west of Sapporo, but tucked away in a corner of the modern station building is a kerosene heater like this one. I believe Mr. Kuramoto built the foundation of his dramas from the layers of experiences he accumulated in these ordinary Hokkaido settings.
 The comfort of a shared, warm space—a feeling many northerners share as a respite from the biting cold. Even though stepping outside means being overwhelmed by the harsh cold, it offers a momentary sense of peace.
I’ve been quite busy and have many things I want to write about, but the feelings I entrusted to this tribute to Mr. Kuramoto are slowly and quietly sinking in.

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

【散歩コースの分散・多様化で幼少時記憶地へ】



 散歩での1日10,000歩、雨天との見合いでときどき実践できないことが、月に1回くらいはありますがほぼ順調に歩き続けております。そういうなかで「足の向くまま、気の向くまま」が基本とは言え、一定の「コース」は出来上がってくる。自宅からの東西南北方向へ、その日の気分次第ですが、いったん選択して歩き始めるとほぼルートが定まってくるのが自然なのでしょう。
 それはそれで毎日の変化があるので無上の楽しみではあるのですが、ときどき「新規開拓」に強く惹かれる気分にもなってくる。仕事生活時代、わたしの無上に「血湧き肉躍る」気分はそれこそこのあらたな可能性への挑戦心だったのだと(笑)思い知らされる。
 ということで先日今のわが家、札幌市西区山の手から直線距離では4.5kmくらいある幼少期に過ごしていた地域、北大植物園の西側に面した「ふるさと」まで足を伸ばしておりました。
 まぁちょっとしたついででクルマでほぼ中間地点まで行って用事を済ませたあと、ことわって駐車させてもらって、往復で4-5kmを散歩してみた次第。
 まことに人生模様のミニ「時空間旅行」でした(笑)。
 徐々に目的地に近づくほどに記憶中枢が刺激を受けて、ああ、そういえばあそこはどうなっているのかなぁ、と血湧き肉躍る気分に。幼少時から高校入学時くらいまでの時期なので、70年前から60年前くらいまでの時期に当たる。写真は当時住んでいた家の前面のいまの状況。市内有数の交通量の「石山通」に面していてその向かい側に北大植物園が眺望できるスポット。
その当時の時間を共有してくれた友人たちの痕跡もいまは極少になっている。その住宅箇所に行っても多くは高層マンションに建て変わってしまっていますね。大都市としての札幌は中央区のみが人口膨張期を迎えてきているそうで、その変貌ぶりがある種、興味深い。空間としては友人たちとの交友が、ほんのちょっとした場所にその痕跡を伝えてくれている。そういうちょっとした「街の記憶・構図」などから、新鮮な興奮が湧いてくる。そういうものだということが意識されるのですね。
 散歩道としては人生懐古・掘り起こし篇とでも言えるか。そういう脳味噌刺激機会として有効活用できそうだとよろこびジワジワ、であります・・・。

●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⬇

[Exploring Childhood Memories Through Diverse and Varied Walking Routes]
Walking for health. Exploring new routes not only stimulates the brain but also helps fight dementia (lol). From discovering new paths to rediscovering my life…

 I aim for 10,000 steps a day on my walks. While there are times—about once a month—when I can’t manage it due to rain, I’ve been keeping up with my walks fairly consistently. Even though my basic approach is to “go wherever my feet take me and follow my whims,” a certain “route” naturally emerges. Depending on my mood that day, I might head in any direction—north, south, east, or west—from home, but once I make a choice and start walking, the route tends to settle into a natural pattern.
 While the daily variations are a source of immense joy in and of themselves, I sometimes find myself strongly drawn to “exploring new territory.” It makes me realize (laughs) that back in my working days, what truly made my blood boil and my heart race was precisely this spirit of taking on new challenges.
 So, the other day, I set out from my current home in Yamanote, Nishi Ward, Sapporo—a straight-line distance of about 4.5 km—to my “hometown,” the area where I spent my childhood, located west of the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden.
Well, it was just a little detour: I drove almost halfway there to run an errand, then asked if I could park there, and ended up taking a 4–5 km round-trip walk.
 It was truly a mini “time-space journey” through the patterns of my life (lol).
The closer I got to my destination, the more my memory center was stimulated, and I found myself getting excited, thinking, “Oh, come to think of it, I wonder what that place looks like now?” This covers the period from my childhood until around the time I entered high school—roughly 70 to 60 years ago. The photo shows the current view in front of the house where I lived back then. It faces “Ishiyama-dori,” one of the city’s busiest streets, and offers a view of the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden across the way.
Traces of the friends who shared those times with me are now extremely scarce. Even if I go to those neighborhoods, most of them have been replaced by high-rise apartment buildings. Apparently, Chuo Ward is the only part of Sapporo—as a major city—currently experiencing population growth, and that transformation is, in a way, fascinating. In terms of space, my friendships with those friends leave traces in just a few small places. A fresh sense of excitement wells up from these little “memories and scenes of the city.” It makes me realize that this is simply how things are.
As for this walk, I suppose you could call it a “Reflections on the Past and Rediscovering Memories” edition. I’m feeling a slow, steady joy at the thought of being able to make good use of this as an opportunity to stimulate my brain…

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

【サイバー攻撃で緊張高まる国際情勢】


 さて、執筆本格化でわたしはMacに向かってきていますが、いろいろなHPにはサイバー攻撃での変動が感じられてきている。GoogleのAIとの「壁打ち対話」の一部、こういうやり取りもしていました。

 〜問い「攻撃の対象は、日本が最大の標的なのか?」
 <AIの回答>日本は世界最大の標的ではありませんが、世界トップクラスに狙われている主要標的の一つです。米マイクロソフトなどの最新の分析やデータから国別のターゲット構造が明らかになっています。
 1. 世界「最大」の標的はアメリカ
 中国の国家系ハッカー集団やサイバー犯罪者が狙う最大のターゲットは、現在も変わらずアメリカ合衆国です。• 圧倒的な攻撃ボリューム:軍事、宇宙、先端技術、金融などあらゆる分野において、中国系ハッカーが仕掛けるサイバー活動(情報窃取やインフラへの侵入)の最大割合は米国に向けられています。
 2. 日本は世界で「3番目」に狙われている国
 マイクロソフトが観測する国別割合において、日本は世界全体の約20%を占め、世界で3番目に標的になっている国です。これは巻き添えではなく日本国や企業が明確な目的を持って狙われていることを意味します。
 3. なぜ日本がここまで狙われるのか?
 安全保障やサイバーインフラの専門調査によると、日本が上位の標的になる理由は主に3つ。
• 経済・先端技術の窃取:半導体、自動車、先端素材、バイオ、宇宙防衛といった「ハイテク情報」が狙い。
• 地政学的な監視(安全保障):日米同盟の動向や台湾有事などを念頭に防衛省、外務省、政府機関、インフラ(電力や通信)動向を監視し有事に備えてシステム内に「足場」を築く狙いがあるとの指摘。
• サプライチェーンの「抜け穴」:日本の大企業はセキュリティが強固でも取引先である中堅・中小企業、海外拠点の防御が甘いケースが多く、そこを踏み台にして侵入しやすい国とみなされている。
 アメリカが最大標的ですが、アジア地域において日本、韓国、オーストラリア、台湾などが最前線のターゲットとしてサイバー攻撃に晒され続けています。<AIの回答は以上>
 2026年10月26日〜29日に北京で「5中全会」日程が公表されている。主な議題は「全面的な厳しい党内統治」であり、規律徹底、組織の引き締めがテーマとなっているとされる。
 当面、緊迫する情勢に要注意ですね。

●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⬇

[International Tensions Escalate Amid Cyberattacks]
As I really get into my writing, all the information I’ve gathered beforehand starts to overwhelm me, and my head feels like it’s about to explode. I seriously hope the international situation calms down. …

 Now that I’m in full swing with my writing, I’ve been spending a lot of time at my Mac, and I’ve started to notice fluctuations on various regular websites due to cyberattacks. Here’s part of a “back-and-forth dialogue” I had with Google’s AI—this is the kind of exchange we were having.
 ~Question: “Is Japan the biggest target of these attacks?”
  Japan is not the world’s biggest target, but it is one of the top-tier major targets being targeted globally. The structure of targets by country has been revealed through the latest analyses and data from companies such as Microsoft in the U.S.
 1. The world’s “largest” target is the United States
 The United States remains the primary target of Chinese state-sponsored hacker groups and cybercriminals. • Overwhelming volume of attacks: Across all sectors—including military, space, advanced technology, and finance—the largest proportion of cyber activities (such as information theft and infrastructure breaches) carried out by Chinese hackers is directed at the United States.
 2. Japan Is the “Third” Most Targeted Country in the World
 According to Microsoft’s country-by-country data, Japan accounts for approximately 20% of global attacks, making it the third most targeted country in the world. This indicates that Japan and its companies are being targeted with a clear purpose, rather than merely being caught in the crossfire.
 3. Why Is Japan Targeted to This Extent?
 According to specialized research on national security and cyber infrastructure, there are three main reasons why Japan ranks among the top targets:
• Theft of economic and cutting-edge technology: “High-tech information” in sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, advanced materials, biotechnology, and aerospace and defense is the target.
• Geopolitical surveillance (national security): It has been pointed out that attackers monitor the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government agencies, and infrastructure (such as power and telecommunications)—with an eye on developments in the U.S.-Japan alliance and potential contingencies involving Taiwan—with the aim of establishing a “foothold” within systems in preparation for emergencies.
• Supply chain “loopholes”: Even though major Japanese corporations have robust security, their business partners—mid-sized and small enterprises—as well as their overseas operations often have weak defenses. Japan is viewed as a country where it is easy to gain entry by using these vulnerabilities as a stepping stone.
While the United States is the primary target, countries in the Asian region—including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan—continue to be exposed to cyberattacks as frontline targets.
 The schedule for the “5th Plenary Session” has been announced for October 26–29, 2026, in Beijing. The main agenda item is “comprehensive and strict intra-party governance,” and the themes are said to be the enforcement of discipline and organizational consolidation.
 We’ll need to pay close attention to the tense situation for the time being.

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